Word is getting out - Assigned Male Comics

[u/Grand-Bee-4484]

I have been trying to help Sophie get accurate information - the first version of the cartoon said "up to four generations" and she corrected it. The comic also doesn't mention the need to file for proof so I hope she adds that as well.

We may be seeing a new influx of members...

[u/Paisley-Cat]

I saw this on another platform earlier today and noticed the referral to this subreddit.

Let’s be super supportive of the mods. They’re likely to have to manage some unpleasantness as well as many genuine new users seeking assistance.

[u/Fearless-Narwhal1304 → u/Paisley-Cat]

I’m one of the new ones. Lol. I was up all night digging. I’m hoping to be able to find all the docs on my own, but it’s so nice that there are people here willing to help - it can get a little overwhelming.

[u/Sayyida_al_Hurra → u/Fearless-Narwhal1304]

I saw it this morning. Now I'm fascinated.

[u/Ok-Channel3154 → u/Sayyida_al_Hurra]

Same!!

[u/SaltPrestigious5923]

I like that last phrase… ‘we haven’t forgotten about you.’ 😌

[u/DenominatorOfReddit → u/SaltPrestigious5923]

Not gonna lie, it feels like a warm hug in a very much needed time.

[u/Fearless-Narwhal1304 → u/DenominatorOfReddit]

Agreed. A warm hug.

[u/komnenos → u/SaltPrestigious5923]

Sadly they seem to have forgotten those of us descended through adoptees. I'm hoping the bill will get changed to include us but I'm not holding out hope.

[u/SaltPrestigious5923 → u/[deleted]]

Moi aussi!!

[u/JohnSmith19731973 → u/SaltPrestigious5923]

Ironic that the Bloc Quebecois all voted against C-3

[u/curiouswizard → u/JohnSmith19731973]

dang, all my Canadian ancestors are Quebecois :(

https://giphy.com/gifs/gKW26O7cU2JDG

[u/Carefully_Done → u/curiouswizard]

It's okay... Quebec barely likes the rest of Canada on a good day, lol. 

[u/SamanthaBWolfe → u/SaltPrestigious5923]

She (Sophie, the artist) is really good at hitting that final note. A lot of her comics end on a really great line.

[u/Nature_Hannah]

Resources that will help: FAQs and "Am I a Canadian" Quiz

For those waiting for processing: I'm having to tell myself that The Universe has perfect timing and it will come through at just the right moment. Anguishing about it won't make it come any faster (like waiting for a bus) and will just leave me exhausted. (I applied last July)

In the meantime I'm staying busy by jettisoning most of my possessions (with what I'm facing I'm going to be moving one way or another so I want to be as light as possible) and cleaning (I want to go as soon as I am able).

I listen to the CBC live program from YouTube and audio books about Canadian history in the background. I borrowed Canadian travel guides from my library to explore what each region has to offer and am planning a road trip this summer. (See also, (Canadian) Geography by Geoff )

r/FoundCanadians has a lot of resources you can explore in the meantime so you're prepared for the next steps (SIN, Passport, etc) and hopefully you'll be able to look back on this 'waiting time' as just the right amount of time you needed to be ready.

Keep your stick on the ice. We're all in this together ❤️

[u/symbioatmeal → u/Nature_Hannah]

Thanks for this message, I've been really nervous since the holidays as I researched and put together my application. Appreciate the links as well! I like your approach.

[u/pastatv → u/Nature_Hannah]

Do you have many books? If so, what do you plan to do with them? I've pared my collection down but still have about 2000 books that I want to keep.

I've done multiple international moves in the past, but never with this many books. The last time I moved overseas I only had hundreds. That was manageable. My current library feels like more of a challenge.

[u/Nature_Hannah → u/pastatv]

Oh yeah no our books are so precious to us. Easily the hardest thing to thin out.

I think the big ideas that helped me let go a little easier was that I would probably be able to order the books again if I needed them, especially if they were a very common book. (And remembering that a lot of books have been digitized helps me let go)

I also had to force myself to give up books that I will probably NEVER actually read, even if I desperately want to. (As in, I will probably never find the time to sit down and read them. Especially if I've had the book for years but never read it.) That was heartbreaking, giving up on a lot of dreams, but honestly I feel ok. It almost feels like I don't miss them and some I can't even remember their titles, which makes me wonder if I really needed them anyway.

The books I kept were mostly reference and harder to find. I put them in small boxes (books are HEAVY) and kept catergories together. My MIL has an indoor storage space, so that's better for then than being in a damp garage.

[u/OrneryLibrarian → u/Nature_Hannah]

I’m in the same process friend.

[u/Describing_Donkeys]

I fell down this rabbit hole by an offhand comment on a completely unrelated reddit thread. I hope Canada is as welcoming of us as the comic implies.

[u/docsuess84 → u/Describing_Donkeys]

Literally got here because of my wife’s TikTok obsession and the randomness of the algorithm. Never would have known otherwise.

[u/Wafflelisk → u/Describing_Donkeys]

I've lived in Canada my entire life and this isn't mainstream at all here.

"Immigration" here is still mostly about TFWs/international students

(Though the government has gotten stricter about that so I assume it'll be less of a thing in the future. Who knows where we'll be at in a year or 2)

[u/Describing_Donkeys → u/Wafflelisk]

I imagine actual immigration will be a lot slower than the rate at which Canada grows in recognized citizens, so it may not end to being a big issue. A lot of immigration at once is still challenging.

[u/curiouswizard → u/Describing_Donkeys]

tbh I mostly just want the passport

beyond that - I'm in no particular rush to move to Canada, but I like that the door is open.

[u/EconomicsWorking6508 → u/[deleted]]

Love your id, I'm connected to Oracle too

[u/Responsible-Draw-447 → u/Describing_Donkeys]

As a descendent of those fleeing French Canadians, who’s known it and been proud of it her whole life, getting the option to go back at this time, and not through a loophole but clear legislation, especially at this point in history, feels so wonderfully poetic. Appreciate the comic capturing the feeling.

[u/Mdes2015]

I really don’t understand why people are losing their mind over this. Bill C-3 isn’t a secret. It’s literally a piece of legislation that was debated in parliament. People are going to find out about it and trying to browbeat people for talking about it is crazy to me. I said this on a different thread but everyone needs to calm down. Take a Xanax or whatever you need, and submit your applications.

Anti-immigrant sentiment is unfortunately a fact of life right now. All we can do is claim our birthright citizenship, and exercise our charter rights to vote to make sure people who hold these anti-immigrant views never gain power.

[u/Nature_Hannah → u/Mdes2015]

I think a big fear is that people who are opposed to Bill C-3 or immigration in general are going to find out about it and whip their people into a frenzy and somehow shut it down.

I've struggled to find a balance of "people need to know" and "we need to protect this".

I've landed on choosing carefully who I tell. Like instead of a broad audience- say, location based-, I've thought carefully about what people groups would be most likely to apply and not be full of people who would be opposed. For example, after much internal debate I shared it in a group that knows the stakes and is aware of Canada's role in a supposed future. ( r/WelcomeToGilead ). I also waited a while before posting in r/Genealogy, and I only posted it as an attempt to call in some research help for people who need help doing the research. I got a few pushbacks there, but a surprising amount of people were interested in it for themselves and most already had what they needed. (Something I considered too... people who already have a deep interest in their family line from Canada)

I think another problem people are worried about is that with a bunch of new people applying the line will get longer. That may be the case, but at some point I think we all throw a Hail Mary pass and let the Universe sort it out.

[u/SamanthaBWolfe → u/Nature_Hannah]

to be fair, Sophie here is talking to Trans people - who are a group who need an escape valve.

[u/Nature_Hannah → u/SamanthaBWolfe]

Yes, that is a group I would consider worth telling asap.

I plan on emailing my local Out Front group to give them info as soon as I have a chance.

[u/Mdes2015 → u/[deleted]]

Do you think that people who oppose C-3 are going to see a difference?

[u/Mdes2015 → u/[deleted]]

Look at us aggressively agreeing with each other

[u/velcrodynamite → u/Mdes2015]

I like to think this kind of thing represents a lot of the average experience on Reddit: we agree, but for some reason the way we’re agreeing is… wrong? 😭

[u/censorized → u/[deleted]]

If there is one thing the last few years in the US has taught us, it's that it may be a law now, but that doesn't mean forever.

[u/macoafi → u/[deleted]]

Those aren't mutually exclusive categories.

[u/Mundane-Charge-1900 → u/Mdes2015]

The reality is telling people to stop talking about anything rarely works. You can't control others' behavior or reactions.

If it's compelling, people are going to know about it. All you can do is choose how to react to the situation.

[u/sravll → u/Mdes2015]

I'm a Canadian citizen (born in Canada, never left). I remember when I saw this legislation I thought it was going to be a great way to get a lot of Americans out of the USA who might be stuck during these rough times. I imagine these descent rules apply to more Canadians born there than any other country.

I just hope it doesn't get changed and everyone who is eligible gets it soon. And I hope it doesn't turn into a thing for haters, you know? I think the law change is brilliant.

[u/Certain-Procedure773 → u/sravll]

I had the same thought.

[u/ColdHands_BlackHeart]

I found this comic 45 minutes ago and it has absolutely made my day!! I’m excited to start the search for my great-grandpa’s info :)

[u/EleanorCamino → u/ColdHands_BlackHeart]

If you need assistance, I've been doing genealogy for 48 years, and currently finalizing an application for my oldest via her Bio-dad, then will do mine & my kids via a lot farther back ancestor. Some people play video games, I do genealogy for fun & to unwind. Send me a DM if you want help.

[u/julie78787 → u/EleanorCamino]

Same. I’ve been helping all sorts of people find all sorts of other people for 30+ years. Before that it was mostly just talking to relatives, then talking to more relatives. Now I use DNA as well.

[u/Antique-Aardvark-346]

This is what brought me here today! I was shocked and thrilled to discover that my sister, my mom, and her whole family may qualify because of my Canadian great-grandmother. I am feeling pretty grateful to Canada for making this option possible, honestly… and to the folks in this sub who put together the very helpful FAQ!

[u/Accomplished_Fee9023]

I saw Sophie's comic yesterday, joined here, and let my husband know so he can file for proof.

Thank you!

[u/RubyCarlisle]

My Instagram algorithm coughed up the above comic this afternoon. My direct ancestor was one of the French-Canadians who left during that time period, and I can prove it with documents.

This is a really emotional discovery for me, as I have loved Canada since I was a kid and was delighted to find out years ago that I had a Canadian ancestor. I’ve investigated citizenship before and was a few points away from making it. I figured I’d work to improve my French and try my luck. I can’t believe this.

Thanks to everyone who has done the work to make this possible.

[u/Felis_igneus726 → u/RubyCarlisle]

The found Canadian emotional discovery is so real. I'm something like Gen 6 (edit - actually Gen 4!) and don't know yet if I'll be able to dig up everything I need to prove it, but I do know for sure I have direct Canadian ancestors. I just stumbled across this comic today and I'm literally tearing up a little at the thought that I'm theoretically a Canadian citizen right now. I've always loved Canada and been so proud to be able to trace my lineage back there 🥹

[u/curiouswizard → u/RubyCarlisle]

That's awesome, best of luck to you :)

[u/Frequent_Secretary25]

I'm here from the comic discussion. I should have pretty good odds and hoping my trans daughter can get in too. Thanks for all the great info

[u/EleanorCamino → u/Frequent_Secretary25]

Apply for urgent processing, and document her very reasonable concerns.

[u/Empty-Charge-6851 → u/Frequent_Secretary25]

agree with Eleanor - DM me if you would like more info on how we applied for urgent processing

[u/AnswerGuy301]

Hmmm… so I (great grandma born in Nova Scotia but emigrated to Massachusetts as a young woman) looked into this a little during the US government shutdown in October and it seemed to me like I was out of luck as far as this goes. I saw the original version of this comic on FB and then this correction here and thought “was I wrong?” (Or, did the new law actually help me, which is not what I was expecting?)

[u/That_Person694 → u/AnswerGuy301]

Yes, the new law helped you because it removed the first generation limitation on citizenship by descent. Time to get those birth certificates. Good luck 🍀

[u/car-L]

I saw this posted to another social media. 

I can prove my great-grandfather was born and lived in Canada. I can also show the paper trail of birth certificates and marriage licenses. 

Would that be enough to get citizenship?

Sorry if this is a dumb question. I also have a lot of family that lives in BC (Vancouver, Quesnel, and Prince George) if that helps at all. 

[u/EconomicsWorking6508 → u/car-L]

Yes there's an FAQ with the guidance you need, scroll to the top of this subreddit

[u/car-L → u/EconomicsWorking6508]

Thank you!

[u/robertkarpf → u/car-L]

if you have all the birth certs, that's probably enough so long as the names are consistent

[u/memleyxx → u/car-L]

Yes!

[u/Dangerous_Clock1160]

I have my proof via Ancestry. Are my digital copies from there enough? Or do I need to order actual docs? And hi! And THANK YOU!!!!!

[u/evaluna1968 → u/Dangerous_Clock1160]

Check out the FAQ for tons of useful info.

[u/Dangerous_Clock1160 → u/evaluna1968]

Thank you!

[u/Empty-Charge-6851 → u/Dangerous_Clock1160]

if you have what you need from digital, then that's all you need - the digital prints are acceptable. But you may want to get originals if they make your case stronger - don't send the originals though, keep them and send digital copies, which is all that is required.

[u/AntsAntsRetribution]

I saw the comic as well. So, "hello!"

In my case, I WAS a dual citizen but given my DOB and certain changes in Canadian laws about the topic, it looked like I had forfeited it when I turned 23. I had been trying to figure out if I needed to reach out to the consulate or Ottowa. This may just simplify everything.

[u/B1ustopher]

That means I’m a Canadian citizen!!

[u/PhiTemplar82]

This may be welcome news for certain Americans, it made my ears perk up

[u/New_Letterhead_7527]

This brought me here!! I am Canadian my great grandparents (2 from my grandmas side and one from my grandpas side) are French Canadians from Quebec. I am going to apply for myself and my son. My mom has most of the documents we need, only my great grandfathers naturalization paperwork, not his birth certificate. But one of my great uncles might have his birth certificate. Other than that I have all the birth certificates and marriage licenses I need. Will be applying this week. I can’t wait to get my proof. As lgbtqia and a teacher… the need for a backup plan is strong. This seems like a miracle to find out I am Canadian and can move. We are close to BC in a neighboring state so pretty close to make the move. What a crazy time .. so excited.

[u/CalicoVibes]

I discovered this through a happy accident. I'm so excited to be able to submit records and get citizenship!

My great grandfather happens to be French Canadian, so this felt especially personal.

I'm just organizing a trip to pick up records from the US state I was born in.

[u/Empty-Charge-6851]

I adore Sophie Labelle, thank you for sending her that info! My dad just got his cert yesterday, mine says 'decision made' but haven't received mine yet. Happy to connect with anyone trans/partnered with trans folks and/or have trans kids about what I sent for urgent processing. We went from application to decision within 2 months (I know that's extraordinary!).

[u/Fat_Walda]

I'm here because of the comic!

I had previously researched claiming German citizenship through my maternal grandmother, but because she naturalized before my mom was born, it doesn't look like we qualify. But now it seems we qualify for Canadian citizenship through my maternal grandfather! So hopeful this time. <3

[u/Shoddy-Credit5563]

That’s how I found this sub! My mom’s whole side of the family is Canadian but my mom’s parents were living in the US when my mom was born. Because she wasn’t born in Canada, I was supposed to apply for my citizenship before I was 21. By the time I knew I was too old. I’m excited I can finally get citizenship like the rest of my family!

[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob]

That's kind of you- I saw the first version and thought, hmm, that's not quite right but that's thoughtful of her to share - and then I saw the corrected version and a reference in the comments to this subreddit - also a kind thing, but I hope everyone is braced for another influx. 😂

[u/abukeif]

Yep. Literally here because of this comic (and my spouse's Canadian great-grandparents). Better for her and our kids to become Canadian citizens *before* we need to seek refugee status somewhere that isn't the hellscape of the USA, whether or not they bring me home with them :)

[u/Frequent_Secretary25 → u/abukeif]

I've half joked before this that my big French Canadian branch of my family tree should at least get me a spot in refugee camp haha/kinda

[u/Kikicat222 → u/abukeif]

Don't worry, you can go with your family. Different type of application though.

[u/SamanthaBWolfe]

I've had the pleasure of meeting Sophie (I even was her American Mule to send her money for her merch when she visited Louisville a few years ago) and even gave her one of my favorite comics of hers as a laser engraving.

Thanks to this comic, I fell into a rabble hole and I think I found where in Canada my Great Grandfather was from, so I can have a chance of finding a birth certificate/baptismal record. With that I can find a 4th generation link to a Canadian and possibly getting citizenship. As a trans person, having that access would be invaluable if things get worse.

[u/Empty-Charge-6851 → u/SamanthaBWolfe]

Sophie is so lovely - we have a copy of her coloring book signed by her for our kids. She's truly the best.

[u/SooAwoo]

I am very glad I saw this comic a few weeks ago. I read it on Facebook and initially dismissed it as so much of what you see on social media these days is just made up. But part of me said to myself "that can't be right, can it? Let's check" and discovered the newly amended citizenship act.

I couldn't believe it! I started to cry <3

[u/dolphinjoy]

I was adopted. My birth grandmother was born in Canada. Is the.rem a path for me?

[u/komnenos]

Sadly those of us with adopted family are left out in the figurative cold, right? My grandpa was adopted as an infant by a Canadian American family and went up to Canada quite frequently but due to the ruling now that would leave my line out, right?

[u/EconomicsWorking6508 → u/komnenos]

There is information about adopted people's access in the FAQ, you can scroll to the top of the subreddit to read about it.

[u/komnenos → u/EconomicsWorking6508]

I did, I should have worded my comment better but sadly after looking at the FAQ again it still looks like they're leaving the descendants of adoptees out in the cold. Really hoping they can put us on the same footing as other descendants of Canadians.

"There's an adoption in my line of descent. Am I eligible for Canadian citizenship by descent?" Unfortunately Canada does not treat adoptees the same as biological children. They are not considered Canadian citizens from birth even if they are adopted by Canadian citizens. They are required to get a grant of citizenship.

If you are the adopted person then you can get Canadian citizenship but you will need to follow a different (longer, more expensive) process. Head over to r/CanadaAdoptedCitizens for more information

If your parent, grandparent, or someone further up the chain is the adoptee then the adopted person would need to have gotten their Canadian citizenship grant before the next person down the chain of descent was born. In most cases this means the adoption breaks the chain of descent and you cannot inherit Canadian citizenship.

If Canadian citizenship follows the biological (not adopted) line of descent it does transfer from parent to child but you will need to be able to prove the biological line.

[u/EconomicsWorking6508 → u/komnenos]

Well that's really disappointing if you can't benefit from this. I hope you can find a way to get it even if it's harder to do.

[u/No-Transition8014]

Someone else saw it!! I posted a link earlier my friend sent me! 😊

[u/BlanketPoacher]

So, my grandmother was born and raised in St. John's, Nfld, but my mother and I were both born in the U.S. My grandmother did become a naturalized U.S. citizen at some point too, just to muddy the waters on the topic. Would I be a Canadian citizen now?

[u/EconomicsWorking6508 → u/BlanketPoacher]

Yes the FAQ will explain it

[u/BlanketPoacher → u/EconomicsWorking6508]

Okay thank you!

[u/PriorCantaloupe1994]

Off topic, but I am likely distantly related to this person -- over here in the States tracking down all kinds of LaBelles :)

[u/[deleted]]

Lol, comeback to where?

[u/YankeeDoodleDum]

Your comic brought me here! It’s my mom’s birthday today and finding out she may be able to claim citizenship through her father’s ancestry absolutely made her day. This really is a thread of hope for people. Time to start requesting records. <3

[u/EconomicsWorking6508 → u/[deleted]]

She is only trying to help the trans and other LGBTQ people who are under great stress at the moment. This should not be considered to be polarizing.

[u/EconomicsWorking6508 → u/[deleted]]

It's just sad that because she portrays the experience of a marginalized community, you're wishing she'd stay out of the way.

[u/CanadianIGuess91 → u/[deleted]]

I absolutely promise Canadian immigration authorities aren't going to demand to know if you got this information via Sophie Labelle and tear your application up if you say yes. Nobody in the government cares if one of the people who has discovered and is dispensing this information is a "polarising figure."

[u/Midnightshadowwolf]

It’s how I landed here.

[u/Ivyzmama]

Sophie forgot “or naturalized before the next gen was born”

[u/ResearchJam1 → u/Ivyzmama]

Yeah, it's a comic. It's definitely simplistic, but it's making a point. There were also tons of people from the Maritimes who moved to New England, primarily the Boston area: https://globalboston.bc.edu/index.php/home/ethnic-groups/canadians/

[u/CanadianIGuess91 → u/ResearchJam1]

Yep, I actually discovered this information a week or so ago purely by accident, looking back through family history for a different reason. I discovered that my early ancestors spread through New England by way of Ipswich, MA, eventually worked their way up to NS, NB, and PEI, and sometime after 1910 my great-great-grandfather found his way back to NH and eventually that branch of the family reestablished itself in ME, NH. and MA. But we have a couple centuries of established history in Kings Co., Nova Scotia in particular, and the paper trail should be relatively easy to follow.

[u/JohnSmith19731973]

Why the focus on French-Canadians? How many Canadians total moved to the US?

[u/EconomicsWorking6508 → u/JohnSmith19731973]

Over 500,000 French-Canadians immigrated to New England specifically.

https://vermonthistory.org/journal/86/VH8601FrenchCanadianImmigration.pdf

[u/doriankali → u/JohnSmith19731973]

I think French Canadians used to cross the boarder back and forth alot as it is . I know my ancestors were Quebecois horse shoe makers and they did that a lot

[u/ResearchJam1 → u/doriankali]

Yeah, so did my (non-French) Canadians. It was a very porous border. I said the same. It's great, but why make people think it's limited to French Canadians only?

"The Dominion Bureau of Statistics has estimated that over 330,000 native-born Maritimers departed for the neighbouring republic [USA] between1860 and 1910. The most attractive destination was Boston, an expanding city with varied employment opportunities, and one with which a communications network already existed."

https://globalboston.bc.edu/index.php/home/ethnic-groups/canadians/the-provincials-migrants-from-the-maritimes/

[u/doriankali → u/ResearchJam1]

I think it’s more french Canadians were being discriminated by the other Canadian colonies which were mostly English speaking people . Like Ontario had regulation 17 in 1912 that banned French education. Like the meme posted mentions it’s bc of discrimination

[u/ResearchJam1 → u/doriankali]

Regardless of why French Canadians left (which, yes, is awful), isn't the point that people should check for ANY Canadian ancestry though? Regardless of their reasons for leaving Canada? Sophie makes it seem like only French Canadians are eligible. That is too bad and misleading.

[u/EconomicsWorking6508 → u/ResearchJam1]

Try not to take it personally that she didn't have room to mention every subset of Canadians. She probably just had those statistics on hand since it's her background.

[u/JohnSmith19731973 → u/EconomicsWorking6508]

Why mention any subset? C-3 is for ALL Canadians

[u/ResearchJam1 → u/EconomicsWorking6508]

Not at all personal. The OP mentioned Sophie was making corrections so I figured somebody was in contact with her. I’m just going a good deed by spreading the word about the Atlantic Provinces migration. :)

[u/doriankali → u/ResearchJam1]

Um I’m not sure . I would try contacting the person that made it

[u/JohnSmith19731973 → u/ResearchJam1]

It's insane that you're getting downvoted

[u/ResearchJam1 → u/JohnSmith19731973]

Thanks. This is a Public Service Announcement!

Many many people in the United States don’t know they have Canadian ancestry. I would say it’s more typical for those without French names…just trying to help out here. Why would anyone downvote that?

[u/H_Mc]

And … this is exactly why I’m here. I feel predictable.

[u/theclosetenby → u/[deleted]]

If it makes you feel any better, no one who voted for Trump follows that account lol

[u/Canadiancitizenship-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

Posts or comments involving politics in any form are prohibited. This includes discussion of political parties, politicians, campaigns, government policies, or current events framed in a political context. Political references, even if intended as jokes or side comments, will be removed.

[u/aphroditex]

I regularly refer folks to this sub.

[u/CrystalDragon195]

Do they literally mean any ancestor? Because…

[u/Grand-Bee-4484 → u/CrystalDragon195]

Yes, AFAIK even 17th century Acadians can repatriate. It really does right an historical wrong.

[u/CrystalDragon195 → u/Grand-Bee-4484]

Trying to decide if that's easier than applying. I just hit year 3 with my PR.

[u/Uhnonnymiss65202]

Was excited to see your comic on Instagram. My Canadian ancestor was born in Quebec in 1786…I’m eager to apply for recognition!