The friendship between a Canadian woman and her Filipino caregiver is stronger than ever following Wednesday’s citizenship ceremony.

Eva Fernandez and her 10-year-old daughter Bianca were sworn in as Canadian citizens while Yvonne Johnson watched proudly from her wheelchair.

The two women have become close friends since they first met in 2004.

“My heart just melts,” said Johnson, a few minutes before the Fernandez family sang O Canada.

Fernandez, 33, wanted a better life for her and her family. An aunt living in Red Deer sponsored her to come to Canada in February 2002.

Fernandez was a nanny for her aunt and then did similar work for another woman in town. She was out of a job after the woman went on maternity leave.

But as fate would have it, Johnson needed a caregiver. After suffering a stroke 23 years ago, she had always had caregivers from the Philippines, and she had liked them all.

Fernandez answered Johnson’s ad. Shortly after, Fernandez came to live in Johnson’s spacious home.

“I found out about her daughter still living in the Philippines,” Johnson said.

Fernandez had been trying to bring her daughter over since 2002.

Johnson called Calgary immigration lawyer Henry Beaumont.

“We weren’t having any success with the Canadian government,” Johnson said. “He had Bianca over here in two months and one week.”

And like many proud grandmothers would say, Johnson said Bianca is “the love of my life.”

Bianca remembers landing in Canada on April 4, 2006. She was “scared” about meeting her mother again.

“I didn’t know my mother very well. I was very shy.”

“I left her when she was three years old,” said Fernandez. “She had only seen pictures after that.”

Bianca is an intelligent and industrial girl who loves Canada. She attends Grade 5 at St. Patrick’s Community School.

“There’s more food to eat here and clothing here (than in the Philippines),” Bianca said.

Fernandez said she’s “learned a lot” from Johnson.

“I really love her,” Fernandez said.

She’s also grown to appreciate her new country, including its public health care and school system.

And she is excited to vote for the first time in Tuesday’s federal election.

“We are so blessed to being in Canada,” said Fernandez, whose husband arrived in Canada six months ago.

She plans to bring her parents over to Canada next. Citizenship Judge Raymond Lee of Calgary presided over the ceremony that saw 102 people from 32 countries become Canadians.

Red Deer College hosted the event that normally attracts politicians from all three levels of government, but due to the federal election they were not permitted to attend. Lee said later it’s important for the ceremony to be perceived as non-partisan during this time.

Contact Laura Tester at ltester@reddeeradvocate.com