Commentary

        (UE). Ukraine marks 26 years since the Declaration of Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. The day is not only celebrated in Kyiv with a patriotic and large-scale military parade, but also observed and celebrated across the world wherever Ukrainians reside. In Toronto, the League of Ukrainian Canadians (LUC) and the League of Ukrainian Canadian Women (LUCW) organized an official Ukrainian flag-raising event in front of the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen’s Park. The celebration was attended by the Ukrainian Community members as well as politicians of federal, provincial and municipal levels. During the speeches many of the politicians greeted the crowd with the patriotic “Slava Ukraini” or “Glory to Ukraine!”

        The program began with an ecumenical prayer delivered by His Grace Bishop Stefan Chmilar of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada and the Very Rev. Archpriest Bohdan Hladio of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, Eastern Eparchy.

        This was followed by opening remarks from the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, MPP for Brant, Honorable Dave Levac. Levac has supported the Ukrainian-Canadian community in the introduction and sponsorship of the Holodomor Memorial Day Act. The recognition of the Holodomor as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people was a very important step forward for our Ukrainian Canadian community. In his opening remarks Hon. Dave Levac spoke about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the sacrifices made by the Ukrainian troops.

        Following this, the Concert Marching Band “Baturyn” of the Ukrainian Youth Association of Canada, Toronto Branch, with John Samijlo conducting, played the national anthems of Ukraine and Canada. During Ukraine’s national anthem, Pawel Stech raised the blue and yellow flag while Nestor Sanajko, Larysa Stech and Alexander Soltys of the Ukrainian Youth Association, Mississauga Branch, stood on guard.

        The Minister of Housing/Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy, MPP for Etobicoke Lakeshore, Honorable Peter Milczyn, delivered the official greetings on behalf of the Premier of Ontario, Hon. Kathleen Wynne, who issued the following remarks; “The Ontario government is firm in our support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. We stand with the international community in our commitment to ending foreign aggression and intervention in Ukraine to ensure freedom, democracy and independence.” 

        MPP for Etobicoke Lakeshore, Yvan Baker had prior obligations with the Premier and was unable to attend the event, however he extended his congratulations to the organizers and sent in his best wished for the 26th Anniversary of Ukraine’s freedom.

        The Leader of the Official Opposition in Ontario, Patrick Brown also sent his greetings on behalf of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Caucus. In his greetings, he acknowledged the immeasurable contributions of the Ukrainian community to the province in Ontario and in Canada.

        MPP for Parkdale-High Park, Cheri DiNovo of the Ontario New Democratic Party delivered her greetings and stressed the importance of community cooperation and hard work. She also spoke on the 2009  passing of  the Bill 147 “An Act to proclaim Holodomor Memorial Day” which received tri-party support.

        The talented soloist mezzo-soprano Viera Zmiyiwsky and Klooch guitarist Yurko Mychaluk enriched the official program with a musical performance of “Mamyna Sorochka”. After the performance, the Master of Ceremonies Adrianna Medyk invited the MP for Etobicoke Centre and Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group, Borys Wrzesnewskyj to deliver greetings and a message from the Prime Minister of Canada. The Rt. Hon. Justin P.J. Trudeau, P.C., M.P., extended his warmest greetings and wrote that “Since 1991, Canada and Ukraine have forged a strong relationship based on common values and shared ambitions for the future of our people.” In his speech, Mr. Wrzesnewskyj spoke on the current situation in Ukraine and the significance of accountability which the Canadian government takes very seriously. The example provided was the amending of Canada’s sanctions to include the rights violations called the Magnitsky Act, which is  “in honour” of the whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky, who died in a Moscow prison after accusing officials of tax fraud.

        On behalf of the Leader of the Official Opposition in Canada, Andrew Sheer M.P, Hon. Peter Kent, MP for Thornhill delivered a congratulatory message which stated that the “Conservatize Caucus continues to be a steadfast advocate for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.” 

        The Deputy Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto, Sviatoslav Kavetskyi, congratulated all Ukrainians in Canada on behalf of the Government of Ukraine. He thanked the government of Canada, Province of Ontario and City of Toronto “for staying shoulder to shoulder with our [Ukrainian] soldiers, with our young and old … in building a new Ukraine while fighting back the invader.”

        His address was followed by Anna Kuprieieva, President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Ontario Provincial Council, who underlined how Canada has supported Ukraine as it moves forward to provide security, economic independence and prosperity to its people. The flag raising was concluded with official thanks on behalf of the event organizers. Member of the League of Ukrainian Canadians, Toronto Branch, Kalyna Kardash thanked everyone for their contribution in making the event a success, and reaffirmed the importance of Canada’s recognition of “the Ukrainian people’s great sacrifice on the arduous road to freedom, and Canada’s support for an independent, democratic, secure and prosperous Ukraine.”