Seventeen new Canadian citizens were welcomed to Canada by Gov. Gen. Micha'lle Jean at a special citizenship ceremony held Sunday afternoon in Whitehorse.

'The country you have chosen, and which we all share, is a generous one and allows us the great privilege of dreaming big,' Jean told the approximately 150 attendees at the ceremony in the Yukon government administration building.

'Dream big for our families and dream big for the greater good.'

Looking at the families and individuals who swore their citizenship oath, Jean said she saw for them a wonderful future in Canada.

'Our citizenship is a bond of fellowship,' she said. 'A bond as you in the Yukon are well aware is a bond that requires us to stand united together. We must not forget that.'

The new citizens came to Canada from eight countries: Algeria, France, Germany, Japan, the Philippines, Switzerland, Thailand and the United States.

Becoming citizens of Canada is such an important moment for the new Canadians, said Jean.

It is an experience both Jean, who is from Haiti, and her husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond of France, have had.

'Each of our stories is unique,' she said, 'but one thing is certain: we have found in Canada the ideal society in which the rights of all citizens are equal.

'We cannot minimize how lucky we are or leave it unsaid, not while barbarism and misery affect so many countries and drive so many people to despair.'

The Cohe family was among those who received their citizenship at the special ceremony.

'I can't explain. It was beautiful. It was like when I have my children. It was a beautiful day of my life,' said Marie-Claire Cohe.

The family, with husband Jean-Pierre and their five children, first settled in Quebec when they came to Canada from France.

They decided to move to the Yukon in March 2006. Cohe said they preferred the Yukon, where the people are friendly and so much of the population comes from another place be it a different country or a different province.

Receiving their citizenship certificates from Jean was filled with emotion, said Cohe.

'We are very proud and we were very stressed and now it's very nice,' she said.

Being handed the paperwork by a woman like Jean is just beyond explanation, she said.

'We are very proud to become Canadian citizens with Micha'lle Jean because we are just like the Governor General,' she said.

Jean encouraged the new citizens to use their strengths and actions to improve Canada and to make it richer 'with our own history, experience and vision of the world.

'There are rights that come with your new citizenship, but responsibilities as well. I invite you all to take every opportunity you can to strengthen the society you are entering with your own unique contribution.'

During the ceremony, the new Canadians had to state an oath of citizenship. They pledged allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II and promised to observe the laws of Canada and fulfill their duties as Canadian citizens.

It's Jean's first visit to the Yukon. The official tour, which will conclude Thursday, is the final leg of her visits to all the provinces and territories since she was named governor general in 2005.