Raising of the Ukrainian Flag at Queen’s Park in Celebration of the 33rd Anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence Day
Ukraine’s 33rd Independence Day was commemorated with an official flag raising at the Ontario’s Legislative Assembly on Friday, August 23, 2024. As the war in Ukraine reaches a 30-month mark, it is important to show support and solidarity with Ukrainians both in Ukraine and worldwide. This year’s event once again presents the hard-earned value of Ukraine’s independence and national self-determination as it is being defended with blood and immense human sacrifice. The League of Ukrainian Canadians (LUC) and the League of Ukrainian Canadian Women (LUCW) organized the annual Ukrainian flag-raising event on the grounds of the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen’s Park, under the auspices of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Toronto and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Ontario Provincial Council. It was attended by members of the Ukrainian community, as well as politicians at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.
The program began with an opening address from the Master of Ceremonies, Ariana Iwaniura, who welcomed the participants and addressed the tremendous challenges Ukraine has faced in the past decade and specifically in the last 12 months. She then invited the Very Rev. Father Bohdan Choly of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of Canada, Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada, and the Very Rev. Father Vasyl Kobrii of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, Eastern Eparchy, to deliver the ecumenical prayer.
This was followed by opening remarks from the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, MPP for Wellington-Halton Hills, Honorable Ted Arnott. Speaker Arnott has supported the Ukrainian-Canadian community in his riding and throughout the province. After the address of the Speaker, Sheref Sabawy, MPP for Mississauga-Erin Mills, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario; Chris Glover, MPP for Spadina—Fort York, Ontario New Democratic Party; and Bonnie Crombie, Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, delivered greetings and expressed their support for Ukraine and its people who are bravely defending their homeland against Russia’s genocidal war. The leader of the Green Party of Ontario and MPP for Guelph, Mike Schreiner, was unable to attend the event; however he sent his remarks and sincere congratulations on the occasion of Ukraine's independence.
Then the square was filled with an exceptional musical performance, a song called “One Family”, sung by a Ukrainian lyric baritone Bohdan Kirieiev. The national anthems of Ukraine and Canada followed as the members of the Ukrainian Youth Association CYM, Mississauga and Etobicoke Branches, as well as members of the Ukrainian Youth Association Plast raised the flag and stood on guard.
After the official flag raising, Ariana Iwaniura invited Oleh Nikolenko, the Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto, to deliver his greetings 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 Ukrainians and providing a safe heaven for the newcomers who had to leave their home in Ukraine and settle in Ontario.
The MP for Etobicoke Centre and Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group, Yvan Baker, extended his congratulations on behalf of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to the organizers and acknowledged the immeasurable contributions of Ukrainians to Canada. MP Baker shared a story about his grandfather and the significance of protecting democracy, a lesson which Ukrainians know all too well. MP for Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman in Manitoba and Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on National Defence, James Bezan, addressed the event attendees on behalf of the Conservative Party of Canada. He spoke about his experience of visiting the frontlines in Ukraine, the significance of defending one’s country and preserving one’s heritage, even in fifth-generation Ukrainians born in Canada. He read a message from the Leader of the Official Opposition, Pierre Poilievre, underlining that Canada will continue to support Ukraine.
Vice President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Ontario Provincial Council, Sonia Holiad, spoke of the resilience of Ukrainians and their continued dedication in the face of adversity, extreme challenges and death.
The event was concluded by an address from the Vice-President of the League of Ukrainian Canadians, Ihor Kozak, who 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. He spoke about his countless trips to Ukraine’s frontlines as well as Canada’s support for Ukraine’s military. He added that Russia is an existential threat to Ukraine, and indeed Europe and the free world. Therefore, Canada and Ukraine must move forward together in stopping Russia by imposing harsher sanctions, and by timely providing the Ukrainian Armed Forces with additional much-needed weapons systems.
The League of Ukrainian Canadians and the League of Ukrainian Canadian Women proudly stand with the Ukrainian people and as community organizations will continue to stand at the forefront of issues impacting Ukraine and Ukrainians. Slava Ukraini! Heroyam Slava!
Attached is a group photograph of attendees (Photo by Akshata Goswami).
