Canadian history · Drawing 28 of 43
Canadian citizenship
January 3, 1947
On January 1, 1947, Canadian citizenship was created: being a citizen means officially belonging to the country. On January 3, in Ottawa, 26 people received their certificates at the very first ceremony.
Look together
What is the judge giving to the woman?
An idea to try
Make a welcome card for someone who has just arrived in your class or neighbourhood, with a drawing and a kind word.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
The Canadian Citizenship Act came into force on January 1, 1947. Before then, people born in Canada and naturalized immigrants were classified as British subjects. Canada became the first Commonwealth country to create its own citizenship. On January 3, in the Supreme Court chamber, 26 people received certificates; Prime Minister Mackenzie King received number 0001. Citizenship did not yet bring equal rights: Japanese Canadians could vote in federal elections only from 1948, and First Nations people could do so without losing their status only in 1960.
If your family has a citizenship story, share it. If not, ask your child what connects people who live in the same country.
Sources and illustration notes (3)
A symbolic ceremony: the judge, the woman and the child are imaginary and do not represent the first 26 citizens.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 — Canadian Citizenship Act, 1946Act in force on 1 January 1947; before 1947, people born in Canada and naturalized immigrants were British subjects; first ceremony on 3 January 1947: 26 certificates, number 0001 to Mackenzie King.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — Recognizing 70 years of Canadian CitizenshipAct became law on January 1, 1947; first ceremony on January 3, 1947, in the Supreme Court chamber; certificate 0001 to Mackenzie King; first Commonwealth country to create its own citizenship.
- Elections Canada — A History of the Vote in Canada, Chapter 3Voting restrictions on Japanese Canadians continued until 1948; First Nations people gained the unconditional federal vote in 1960.
Page prepared on September 24, 2026. Illustrations simplify places and scenes; they are not historical documents.
This drawing is from the book Canada’s Great Moments to Colour
Tax calculated at checkout. Terms of sale