Constitution Day of Ukraine and Canada Day

By John Pidkowich

A double layer of festive fun atmosphere enveloped the UNF Trident Banquet Hall on Thursday, June 28 in Toronto to observe Constitution Day of Ukraine and begin July 1 Canada Day celebrations. The event was presented by the Ambassador of Ukraine in Canada, Dr. Ihor Ostash, the Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto, and organized by the Canada Ukraine Chamber of Commerce.

Lubomyr Kwasnycia, CUCC

Director, led the introduction of speakers for the programme portion of the evening which was followed by a fine reception with wine, hors d’oeuvres, dessert and coffee.

Greetings were delivered by Senator Consiglio Di Nino on behalf of Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper, the Hon. Laurel Broten, Ontario Minister of the Environment, Consul General Olexander Danyleiko, Ukrainian Canadian Congress Toronto Branch President, Markian Shwec and Zenon Potichny, CUCC President.

The Keynote Speaker was Patrick Boyer, Constitutional Lawyer and former Member of Parliament. A musical interlude was performed by internationally acclaimed operatic baritone, Pavlo Hunka, who sang the Canadian and Ukrainian National Anthems as well as yet to be recorded Ukrainian songs.

Olexander Danyleiko expressed his great pleasure to be here among the participants celebrating Constitution Day of Ukraine and Canada Day.  He stated “I am very proud to serve as Consul General of Ukraine here in Toronto where we have a large and very active Ukrainian community.  Canada is a great country to live, to prosper, to succeed and it’s a very welcoming country.”

Danyleiko felt privileged to address the audience with heartfelt greetings from Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, on behalf of the President and Government of Ukraine, from which he read …“Eleven years ago 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 … The Ukrainian Constitution (and) the Constitution of Canada (are) two fundamental documents based on common values and principles such as ensuring rights and freedoms, protecting their lives, honour and dignity. It is symbolic that away from Ukraine on Canadian soil, that Ukrainian Canadians celebrate Constitution Day of Ukraine together with the Canadian National Holiday – Canada Day … is the vivid example of how close and sincere the relationship is between our countries and people.

As “icing” and final treat to celebrate the Constitution Day of Ukraine and Canada Day, symbolic to the “relationship of special partnership”, Consul Olexander Danyleiko and CUCC’s President, Zenon Potichnyj cut and served everyone a share of a layered cake replete with white icing and decorated in “Maple Leaf” red akin to being draped in the Flag of Canada.