Incoming citizenship judge says decades of military experience an asset in role DUSTIN COOK
Having served in the Canadian Forces for more than 37 years, Maj. Claude Villeneuve will be removing his uniform to take on a new role as Alberta’s new citizenship judge.
“At one point you have to remove that uniform,” Villeneuve said Friday at Canadian Forces Base Edmonton where he currently holds the position of formation manager for civilian personnel of the 3rd Canadian Division Support Group. “I saw it listed in Governor-inCouncil opportunities, so I started to read the description, what it entails, and I said that would be a good bridge ... to a civilian career.”
Villeneuve, born in Quebec, has lived all over Canada in his years with the Armed Forces that required him to move practically every three years. The experience of constant change will be an asset in his new role of welcoming new Canadians, Villeneuve said.
“I’ve moved probably 12 to 15 times. Each time you’re moving it’s like you’re changing countries. I have to go and get a new driver’s licence and get the health care for my kids,” he said. “These are the challenges new Canadians will have to face.”
While moving to new places, Villeneuve said it was always important to him to get involved in the
What a great opportunity to see people from the community they’re living in and what great deeds they do for their own community.
community. He is currently a volunteer aide-de-camp for Alberta’s Lt.- Gov. Lois Mitchell.
“What a great opportunity to see people from the community they’re living in and what great deeds they do for their own community,” he said of the role.
The announcement of 10 new citizenship judges was made May 17 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The 10 new appointees join the small list of four judges currently in place across the country. Villeneuve will be a full-time citizenship judge in Alberta on a three-year term with the opportunity to continue.
Currently, he will be the only citizenship judge in the province presiding over citizenship ceremonies, administering the oath and making independent decisions on specific applications referred to him.
Applications are first reviewed by citizenship officers, but can be passed to the citizenship judge for final decisions to confirm the residence/physical presence requirement.
“I think the most important part of the job is the advocating of the Canadian citizenship,” said Villeneuve, who will officially begin the role June 11. “I would like to make sure they understand what it is to be a Canadian citizen, all the great advantages and what about this great nation that they should be made aware of.”
Villeneuve completed three overseas deployments with the Armed Forces, which he said made him appreciate how fortunate it is to live in Canada.
He served as a legion officer during the Gulf War, served in Kosovo and finally in Afghanistan as the chief of civil-military co-operation.
The citizenship decisions he will be making will have a significant effect on the lives of the applicants, Villeneuve said, and will be something he takes very seriously with the goal of building stronger communities.
“You’re going to change peoples’ lives and you have to take that job very seriously,” he said. “We’re all welcoming these people within our own society and we want to make sure they are well-integrated and we will be a positive part in their lives.”