By JASON BOTCHFORD -- Toronto Sun
  When Horia Naimi becomes a Canadian citizen today, one word will encompass everything it means to her: Freedom.  The word has been swirling in the Afghani refugee's head for weeks as she prepared to say "Yes" to Canada with more than 2,000 others who will be granted the privilege of citizenship in a massive ceremony today.

 "I am so glad I will be a Canadian," said Naimi, who escaped Afghanistan's bloody civil war in 1995 as a sponsored refugee. "It means everything to me."

 To Naimi, 26, Canada is peace, opportunity and most importantly, home.

 When speaking about her life here, she will repeat "freedom" again and again to punctuate the differences between Canada and Afghanistan. Alone with her husband, Farid Ahmedi, she has whispered the same word often, looking forward to becoming Canadian on this country's birthday.

 "For her, especially as a woman, there was no freedom back home," said Afghani Ahmedi, 30, who met Naimi here shortly after she arrived.

 In Toronto, Naimi said she walks the streets without fear. She said she's empowered as a woman and no longer feels like she's living under a man's shadow. She is raising two young children -- aged three years and 18 months -- and is convinced their possibilities are limitless.

 With Naimi's family having fled Afghanistan for Pakistan, there are few things back home she still thinks about. She is eager to bring her family to her new home.

 "They would be safe here. This country has everything I could ever dream of," she said.

 Naimi will be sworn in as a Canadian today at Downsview Park where the largest-ever citizenship court will be held to celebrate Canada Day 2000 as part of an all-day event.

 More than 50,000 people are expected at the party at the former military base which will feature an eclectic mix of concerts, children's shows and extreme sport performances.

 Highlights include homegrown stars like Maestro and Colin James, an Olympic trampoline show and fireworks.

Source: Canadian Heritage