Ukraine’s Constitution Day and Canada Day

By John Pidkowich

Key historic milestones for two countries, Ukraine and Canada, virtually coincide with each other on the calendar and share common significance for both, upholding democratic principles, rights and freedoms for their respective citizens. Ukrainian Canadians, government representatives and members of the diplomatic community gathered in a festive atmosphere at the UNF Trident Banquet Hall on Thursday, June 25 in Toronto to observe Constitution Day of Ukraine (June 28) and begin July 1^st Canada Day celebrations. The event was presented by the Canada Ukraine Chamber of Commerce and Ukraine’s Consulate in Toronto.

 Lubomyr Kwasnycia, CUCC Director, opened the event by calling upon all guests to rise for the Canadian and Ukrainian National anthems and led the introduction of speakers for greetings and key note address delivered by Senator Raynell Andreychuk. On this auspicious occasion, exceptional this year was the presence of a large consular corps representing Germany, Greece, India, Japan, Korea, Macedonia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, and Spain. The event’s varied programme continued with a musical interlude performed by international operatic singer Pavlo Hunka. The evening concluded with a fine reception hosted by the Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto, Oleksandr Danyleiko and CUCC President, Zenon Potichny.

Greetings were delivered on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Government of Canada by Mississauga-Erindale MP Bob Dechert, Etobicoke Lakeshore MPP Laurel Broten on behalf of Premier Dalton McGuinty and the Government of Ontario, Toronto City Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby on behalf of Mayor David Miller, Consul General Oleksandr Danyleiko on behalf of the Government of Ukraine, Ukrainian Canadian Congress Toronto Branch President, Markian Shwec

In his welcome and opening remarks, Zenon Potichny emphasized that the Chamber of Commerce was revived following the Orange Revolution and historic democratic presidential election in Ukraine and further energized with the recent opening of the CUCC Branch in Kyiv, in conjunction with Governor General Michaelle Jean’s Official State Visit to Ukraine in May 2009.

Consul General Danyleiko drew parallels between the basic provisions found in Ukraine’s Constitution and Canada’s British North America Act (July 1, 1867) and later formally embodied in its Constitution, repatriated in 1982, and Charter of Rights. He stated that the respective constitutions are two fundamental documents based on common values and principles such as ensuring rights and freedoms, protecting their lives, honour and dignity.  Mr. Danyleiko iterated that on June 28, 1996, the Verkhovna Rada, the Parliament of Ukraine, adopted a constitution that reflected the will of all Ukrainians to live in an independent, sovereign and democratic state. Aside from affirming security, independence and territorial integrity, amendments to Ukraine’s Constitution now address distribution of executive, representative and judiciary powers, and electoral process, added Danyleiko. He went on further to say that Ukraine’s constitutional process has a long tradition going back 300 years, dating to 1710 when Hetman Pylyp Orlyk presented the “Pacts of Rights and Freedoms” adopted by the assembly of Cossacks at Zaporizhian Sich.

In her Keynote Address, Senator Raynell Andreychuk on this occasion drew attention to the  double-edged symbolic meaning of Ukrainian Canadians celebrating the Constitution Day of Ukraine together with the Canada’s National Holiday – Canada Day. Firstly, this celebration reflects the linkages between Ukrainian and Canadian people coming together, complimented by the Prime Minister’s announcement that a major point of entry for thousands of immigrants to Canada, including many Ukrainians, the historic Pier 21 in Halifax, has just been designated a National Museum, only the second such institution outside of Ottawa’s National Capital Region. More importantly, the joint CUCC and Ukrainian consulate celebration of the two national holidays now indicates the direction Canadians and Ukrainians are taking to build stronger economic and bilateral relations between Canada and Ukraine. In that Ukraine has now achieved world status and recognition as an in independent nation at the professional-diplomatic level, Canada-Ukraine bilateral relations needs to develop beyond its foreign policy component and into stronger formal ties in trade and investment. Senator Andreychuk added that getting this message out is “where we go”, now a role played by the CUCC, namely to make this direction of Canada-Ukraine bilateral relations message heard and bring the government to account to build strong ties on all fronts and evolve together with Ukraine.

The speakers’ portion of the evening’s programme repeatedly stressed how close and sincere the relationship is between Ukraine and Canada and its people who share common democratic values, and fundamental freedoms and dignity embedded in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Moreover, recognition of significant contributions Canadians of Ukrainian descent have been making to the overall success of Canada underlines the relationship of special partnership between Ukraine and Canada.

The cultural component of the programme provided for guests being treated to a special performance by opera star bass Pavlo Hunka who sang three Ukrainian art songs by Mykola Lysenko with Albert Krywolt on piano accompaniment.

In the reception that followed, the “icing” and final treat in celebration of Ukraine’s Constitution Day and Canada Day, symbolic to the “relationship of special partnership”, Consul General Danyleiko and Zenon Potichny served a many layered “Birthday” cake replete with decorative festive icing in keeping with the spirit of the occasion.