Malala Yousafzai, the young Pakistani education activist who shared this year's Nobel Peace Prize, will come to Canada Oct. 22 to receive an honorary citizenship, CBC has learned.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper pledged to make Yousafzai an honorary citizen during last year's speech from the throne.
Asked in the House of Commons Friday what the status of her honorary citizenship was, Immigration Minister Chris Alexander would only say that the commitment remains in place.
Sources tell CBC News her honorary citizenship will be bestowed on Oct. 22.
Yousafzai will become just the sixth person to be given honorary Canadian citizenship. The others are:
World World II-era Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg. Nelson Mandela. The Dalai Lama. Aung San Suu Kyi. The Aga Khan.
Alexander said Friday Canada was proud to see the Nobel honour bestowed on a young woman who literally faced up to terrorism.
Yousafzai, an outspoken advocate for girls education, was shot in the head by Taliban gunman two years ago as she was on her way home from school.
She survived to become an international spokesperson for the right of girls to go to school.
with files from Canadian Press
Post By http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/malala-yousafzai-nobel-winner-coming-to-canada-oct-22-1.2795241
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