President of Ukraine's First Official State Visit to Canada

Ukrainian President Yushchenko Addresses Joint Session of Parliament

On May 26, 2008, President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko, accompanied by his wife Kateryna Yushchenko, began his official three day State visit to Canada. The official welcoming ceremony with military honours took place at Government House, Rideau Hall. After being greeted to Canada by their Excellencies Michaëlle Jean, Governor-General and Mr. Jean-Daniel Lafond, Mr. Yushchenko proceeded to plant a tree on the grounds of the Official Residence in honour of his visit to Canada.

President Yushchenko was welcomed to Parliament Hill by Senate Speaker the Hon. Noel Kinsella and House of Commons Speaker, the Hon. Peter Milliken. Then, the President first met privately followed by an expanded bilateral meeting with The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada. The two leaders discussed a range of bilateral and international issues, including the further development of political and commercial ties between the two nations as well as Canada’s firm support for Ukraine’s bid for a NATO Membership Action Plan and Canada’s firm support along with Ukraine’s cooperation in the UN-mandated Mission in Afghanistan.

Prime Minister Harper added that Ukraine can expect Canada’s full support as it continues its post-Communist evolution into a free and democratic nation.

Having been given a rare honour, the President addressed a joint House of Commons and Senate session of Parliament. While greeting Mr. Yushchenko to Parliament, Prime Minister Harper expressed support for a private member’s bill which recognizes the 1932-33 Famine in Ukraine (Holodomor) as an act of genocide.

“In Canada we aren’t afraid of history or of truth,’’ Prime Minister Harper told Parliament.

Prime Minister Harper stated categorically that Canada will continue to support Ukraine’s efforts for Euro-Atlantic integration and that the sovereignty of the Ukrainian State is undisputable.

During his well-received parliamentary address, President Yushchenko told both Houses of Parliament of the deep affection and respect that Ukrainians have for Canada, not only because of the support that the country has given to Ukraine in the past, but because of the strong 1.2 million Ukrainian Canadian community which acts as a bond between the two nations.

The President encouraged Canadians to become more active economically in Ukraine, especially in the strategic and growing energy sector.

During a special awards ceremony on Parliament Hill in the Senate Foyer, President Yushchenko presented one of Ukraine’s highest honours, The Order of Prince Jaroslav the Wise (medal) to the Hon. Senator Raynell Andreychuk for her significant personal contribution towards the development of Canada-Ukraine relations and great humanitarian work, as well as, to MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj for his notable contribution to help strengthen Ukraine’s international authority, the popularization of historic and contemporary achievements of the Ukrainian Nation, and for his active participation in the Ukrainian community. Both Andreychuk and Wrzesnewskyj are Canadians of Ukrainian heritage.

Late in the afternoon, on the grounds of Parliament Hill, President and Mrs. Yushchenko  participated in the Eternal Candle Ceremony in a national commemoration of the 75^th Anniversary of the Holodomor 1932-33 in Ukraine, organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. This event coincided with the arrival of the International Holodomor Remembrance Flame on Parliament Hill. This was the culmination of a month-long flame torch relay across Canada, raising awareness of the Holodomor Famine Genocide. Present at the event was Holodomor survivor Stepan Horlatsch who has been the carrier of the torch throughout its Canadian sojourn. The torch will visit over 30 countries before ending its journey in Kyiv in November 2009. Secretary of State (Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity), the Hon. Jason Kenney announced that the Government of Canada made the decision to recognize the Holodomor as genocide against the Ukrainian people and that the private member’s bill standing in the House of Commons will be passed in the immediate future.

The President’s first day in Canada concluded with an Official State Dinner hosted by the Governor General of Canada in the Ballroom of Government House. The Rideau Hall event had about 120 VIP invited guests.

The UCC cooperated with the both the Embassy of Ukraine and the Government of Canada to ensure that Victor Yushchenko’s State Visit to Canada was a success.

Winnipeg Hosts President Yushchenko

President Victor Yushchenko enjoyed a six hour visit to Winnipeg on May 27, 2008 and showed his love for Ukraine as well acknowledged the contribution of Ukrainians to Canada and to Ukraine. The president had four important functions in Winnipeg and at each one spent considerable time with his hosts and individual members of the community before being honoured.

Upon arrival at the Manitoba Legislative Building, Premier Gary Doer greeted and received President Yushchenko in a private meeting to discuss issues of mutual benefit to both Ukraine and the Province of Manitoba. In addition, there was a formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Agriculture between the Province of Manitoba and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast by Premier Doer and Governor Victor Bondar. The agreement highlighted agricultural ties between the two jurisdictions as well as other areas of endeavour including trade, education and business.

Next, the President of Ukraine and the Premier of Manitoba proceeded from the Legislature Building to the Grounds and the Taras Shevchenko Monument where flowers were placed at it base. The Premier introduced President Yushchenko to a crowd of 1200 with a very warm phrase “You are truly a world leader of freedom and democracy in this 21^st Century.” Yushchenko acknowledged the warmth of the Ukrainian community in Canada and proceeded to inform all present about initiatives in Ukraine to honour the Holodomor-Genocide, 1932-33 (75^th Anniversary Commemoration), to build the Cossack museums at Khortiza, and Baturyn. In addition, he congratulated the community for erecting the monument to Taras Shevchenko and emphasized the poet’s immense contributions to Ukraine and Ukrainian Canadians.  At the ceremony, the President was thrilled to hear and see 350 students of the Ukrainian English Bilingual Program of Manitoba. They performed the two national anthems with great gusto and pride.

The third stop on the Winnipeg visit was the University of Winnipeg where its president, The Hon. Lloyd Axworthy and 1000 guests witnessed a special convocation conferring an Honorary Doctor of Laws on his Excellency President Yushchenko. Vasyl Balan, Vice President of the University of Winnipeg, presented biographical data about the honouree, and subsequently the doctorate gown and hood were presented to President Yushchenko. In his remarks, President Yushchenko acknowledged his special gratitude for the honorary degree, explained his views on the post 2004 direction of Ukraine (including Ukraine’s potential entry into the ECM as well as NATO), and acknowledged the great work of Dr. Lloyd Axworthy when he was Minister of External Affairs in for the Canadian Government. The Hoosli Choir of Winnipeg performed the anthems and sang the traditional Mnohy lita for the honouree.

The last stop on the President’s tour Yushchenko was a Ukrainian Canadian Congress community reception, attended by 400 guests chaired by Professor Ostap Hawaleshka and welcomed by Ukrainian Canadian Congress National President Pavlo Grod. President Yushchenko was strongly applauded by community leaders and answered in great length several questions on issues such as civil society, adoption services, integration of Eastern Ukraine, the Canadian Museum of Human Rights in Winnipeg and others. At the end of the meeting, Lesia Szwaluk, President of the UCC Manitoba Council, presented President Yushchenko with a sculpture entitled Hetman by the late Winnipeg sculptor, Roman Kowal and creator of the Famine Memorial in front of Winnipeg City Hall. Prior to his departure for Toronto, President Yushchenko visited the Memorial a placed a candle in remembrance of the Holodomor’s victims.

President Yushchenko in his various remarks portrayed his love for the democratic and civil society processes in Ukraine, acknowledged the contributions of Ukrainians to Canada and stated boldly that “Ukrainian Canadians were also to be included as builders of the new Ukraine”.  The editorial cartoon of the Winnipeg Free Press of May 28^th, portrayed a beautiful depiction of President Victor Yushchenko holding in his mouth a stalk of wheat and in hand a loaf of Manitoba bread which fittingly underscored his new title as “Victor Yushchenko, President of The Prairies”.

Business and Economic Day in Toronto

Canada’s largest city, financial capital and media hub centre, Toronto, hosted President and Mrs. Yushchenko on, Wednesday, May 28. Many Torontonians knew of the official visit by the President’s impressive motorcade travelling around the city’s downtown core and expressways.

The final day of the Ukrainian State Visit began with a warm greeting from the large Ukrainian Canadian Community at a highly successful Breakfast Meeting held at the Old Mill in Toronto’s West- End. Concurrently, The Canada Ukraine Chamber of Commerce with the Government of Ukraine and Embassy in Canada organized a successful “Business Forum on Ukraine”, opened by Volodymyr Ohryzko, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. With welcoming remarks from CUCC President Zenon Potichny, the Forum was attended by members of the Presidential official delegation, the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade – Canada, and key Canadian corporate representatives. Sessions on business partnering and investment opportunities proved beneficial, where informal business was explored and contacts were made. The Forum culminated, in the presence of President Yushchenko, with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement for CANDU Nuclear Technology between Yuriy Nedashkovskiy, Deputy Minister of Fuel and Energy and Dr. Ken Petrunik, Executive Vice President and COO, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL). Toronto’s broader business community welcomed President Yushchenko as Keynote Speaker at the Economic Club of Toronto sold-out luncheon held at the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel Convention Centre, a major event covered by national and local media.

Prior to departing Toronto for Ukraine, President and Mrs. Yushchenko visited the Royal Ontario Museum, the venue for the exhibit “Mysteries of Ancient Ukraine: the Remarkanle Trypillia Culture”, slated to open in the Fall of 2008.