50 people become new Canadians at comic expo
Geekiest Citizenship Ceremony at city’s comic expo also one of the most touching
Standing in a NASA space suit costume with tears welling up in his eyes, new Canadian citizen Daniel Straka recalled his childhood fascination with Star Trek.
“When I was little, I was watching Star Trek episodes and that was like my dreamland,” said Straka, clutching his citizenship certificate. “When I came to Canada, I realized that this is my Star Trek. That’s what I said to myself when I landed in Canada. It’s so diverse, so beautiful.”
This is why it made perfect sense to Straka to become a Canadian citizen with his husband Ali Finley during the launch of the Edmonton Comic and Entertainment Expo on Friday morning.
“It’s an important day for us because neither of our native countries would have us at the time when we got married,” Straka shared after the ceremony. “Canada was the only country that would have us, so we’re incredibly grateful.”
Straka was originally from Czechia before residing in the United States with Finley, originally from Chicago. Living in Pennsylvania, the couple had to travel to Washington, D.C., to be married because same-sex marriage wasn’t legal yet in their home state.
“We are all beautiful and that is what Canada stands for,” Straka said while holding back tears.
The pop culture and fan community is incredibly diverse, said ceremony clerk Craig Nash — also a massive Star Trek fan — which makes the expo a perfect place to welcome 50 new Canadians.
“I see the bridge of the Enterprise,” Nash said at the beginning of the ceremony while addressing the citizenship applicants. “I see people from different nations, different countries, different races working alongside each other.”
Star Trek, which first aired in 1966, was known for having diverse characters from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures, but who all accepted one another — like in Canada, Nash said.
“These ideas are all about inclusivity and celebrating diverse ideas.”
This was the first Geekiest Citizenship Ceremony held during the Edmonton event, expo spokeswoman Alex Kingcott said, but not the first in the country. The Saskatoon expo was initially approached by Citizenship Canada with the idea.
The newest citizens were greeted at the Edmonton Expo Centre by the local cosplay community in classic Star Wars fashion. Darth Vader, Storm Troopers and Jedis — with lightsabres of course — were on hand to welcome the new Canadians.
Self-proclaimed geeks, Straka and Finley jumped at the chance to become citizens at this special ceremony when they were first told about it during a citizenship interview. They will spend their first days as Canadians attending the expo, which runs until Sunday.
I realized that this is my Star Trek. That’s what I said to myself when I landed in Canada. It’s so diverse, so beautiful.