“I pray that you continue to open your homes and your hearts to the world’s most defenceless children and families” Malala Yousafzai made an honorary Canadian citizen

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Malala Yousafzai as they walk through the Hall of Honour during her welcome to Parliament Hill.

The 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate is presented with honorary Canadian citizenship by Prime Minister Trudeau in the Library of Parliament. She also received a Canadian flag previously flown on the Peace Tower as she became only the sixth person to be granted honorary citizenship

Malala Yousafzai sings the guest book as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Speaker of the House of Common Geoff Reagen look on

Malala  receives one of several standing ovations from MPs, senators, dignitaries and guests in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill during her speech

“If you stand with me, I ask you to seize every opportunity for girls’ education over the next year.”

“The man who attacked Parliament Hill called himself a Muslim — but he did not share my faith. He did not share the faith of one and a half billion Muslims, living in peace around the world. He did not share our Islam — a religion of learning, compassion and mercy,”

Malala Yousafzai, the teenage Nobel Peace Prize winner who famously survived a Taliban bullet in 2012, delivered an enduring message of hope, perseverance and inspiration and she she received her honorary Canadian citizenship.

Yousafzai used her newfound membership in the Canadian family and towering presence on Parliament Hill to send messages across to Canadian kids, women and to the world leaders. Her address was so powerful that it was  punctuated frequently by thunderous standing ovations by the members of the house.

“I know where I stand,” Yousafzai said during a moving speech to a joint session of Parliament “If you stand with me, I ask you to seize every opportunity for girls’ education over the next year.”

The 19-year-old called on Canada to make girls’ education the centrepiece of its work as host of the G7 next year something that would bring full circle the process of how the Pakistani activist became Canada’s sixth honorary citizen.

The accolade was originally to be conferred by former Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper, whose inner circle thought honouring Yousafzai would be a logical offshoot of their government’s focus on women and girls’ health when Canada last led the G7.She was to have personally received the honour on Oct. 22, 2014, but on that day a gunman rampaged through the very building. “The man who attacked Parliament Hill called himself a Muslim — but he did not share my faith. He did not share the faith of one and a half billion Muslims, living in peace around the world. He did not share our Islam — a religion of learning, compassion and mercy,” she said. “I am a Muslim and I believe that when you pick up a gun in the name of Islam and kill innocent people, you are not a Muslim anymore,” she added.

Malala sang Canada’s praises throughout her speech, which even included a subtle jab at the shifting political landscape in the United States.

“‘Welcome to Canada’ is more than a headline or a hashtag,” she said.”It is the spirit of humanity that every single one of us would yearn for, if our family was in crisis. I pray that you continue to open your homes and your hearts to the world’s most defenceless children and families — and I hope your neighbours will follow your example.”

She urged the federal government to put its upcoming presidency of the G7 to good use, and also to use its influence to help fill the global education funding gap, noting some 130 million girls are without access to education.”The world needs leadership based on serving humanity — not based on how many weapons you have,” she said. “Canada can take that lead.”

Yousafzai appeared at times even younger than her now-famous activist countenance as she related how much excitement there was at home over the prospect of meeting Trudeau in person.They say: ‘He’s the second-youngest prime minister in Canadian history! He does yoga! He has tattoos!’ she smiled and said. “While it may be true that he is young for a head of government, I would like to tell the children of Canada: you do not have to be as old as Prime Minister Trudeau to be a leader. I used to think I had to wait to be an adult to lead. But I’ve learned that even a child’s voice can be heard around the world.”

She added, to the “young women of Canada” in particular: “Step forward and raise your voices. The next time I visit, I hope I see more of you filling these seats in Parliament.”

Trudeau said later he was inspired by her words.

“She challenged us as Canadians to think about how we can continue to strive for justice, for equality for opportunities for girls and women around the world,” he said. “I certainly look forward to renewing our efforts to have a positive impact in the world.”

Canada’s other five honorary citizens are the Dalai Lama, the Aga Khan, Nelson Mandela, Burmese activist Aung San Suu Kyi and Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg.