After waiting more than a year, Edmonton has a new citizenship judge. Lebanon-born Sonia Bitar, the executive director of Changing Together: a Centre for Immigrant Women, was named to the post by Immigration Minister Joe Volpe.

Bitar, a recipient of the 2003 Governor General’s Awards, immigrated to Canada 27 years ago. She has a background in journalism and taught French in Lebanon.

She was a Government of Canada federal employee for eleven years. 

Bitar has served on a number of local, provincial and national committees dealing in issues related to immigration/refugee, gender, settlement, tobacco and employment.

Citizenship judges are responsible for making decisions with regard to applications, presiding over citizenship ceremonies and administering the oath of citizenship to new citizens.