It's always inspiring to see youth putting their energy into positive activities. We especially enjoy hearing about Latin youth striving for excellence, particularly in the situation where they immigrate and all the while deal with all the changes of their new life, learning a new language and they choose to be involved and come out on top.
Congratulations on all your successes Luis!
Just one day after he receives his Canadian citizenship on Monday Luis Valdiva will be heading to Germany to represent Canada in an international boxing tournament.
The 17-year old from Brampton feared last week that his citizenship would not arrive in time to represent this country at the Brandenburg Cup in Frankfurt, Germany, beginning next week.
However after an article in The Guardian on Friday the family received a phone call from the Department of Immigration that their request for citizenship was being fast-tracked.
They are to be sworn in as Canadians on Monday. Bal Gosal, the MP for Bramalea-Gore-Malton and the newly minted Minister of State for Sport in the federal government said he saw the article in The Guardian explaining Valdiva’s plight. He said he spoke with other Brampton MPs Kyle Seeback of Brampton West and Parm Gill from Brampton Springdale and the Department of Immigration and there was no reason why the citizenship should not be granted.
“I read the article and I felt for the boy,” said Gosal. “The federal government is the largest supporter of amateur sport in this country, contributing $200 million and we want our athletes to excel at the international level.”
A native of Chile, Valdiva has lived in Canada since the age of 7. The family began the process of obtaining Canadian citizenship about two years ago. While they had completed all the requirements they were still waiting to receive the final documents allowing them to be sworn in. Valdiva, who boxes out of Brampton’s Champion Gym has had a sparkling amateur career with a record of 32-4.
That included winning the gold medal in the 64 to 69 kilograms division earlier this year at the Canada Winter Games in Halifax. As the top rated boxer in Canada in his division, Boxing Canada selected him to compete at the Bradenburg Cup running June 21 to 26. He is also scheduled to go the Commonwealth Youth Cup on the Isle of Man in September. If he had not received his citizenship someone else would have been sent.
Valdiva, who was travelling with his family on the weekend could not be reached for comment, but his coach John Melich, who had been making numerous calls on Valdiva’s behalf to government officials and media is happy that the citizenship issue appears to be resolved. He said it is crucial that Valdiva get international experience because there are few fighters in the province willing to go into the ring with him.
“It was getting frustrating. I’ve taken him to so many tournaments and people have cancelled, somebody suddenly gets a broken leg or something,” he said.
Valdiva, who is a student at Turner Fenton, said his goal is to compete for Canada at the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.
Melich feels with his skills he can be successful at the international level but he needs to gain the experience against the top competition.
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