MP Wrzesnewskyj Meets Interns of Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Program

Ottawa - Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj (Etobicoke Centre) held his 5th informal welcome meeting on October 5 with university student interns from Ukraine participating in the 2010 Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Program (CUPP). Founded by Ihor Bardyn under the auspices of the Chair of Ukrainian Studies Foundation at the University of Toronto, CUPP is celebrating its 20th anniversary year.

Twenty-three students from all parts of Ukraine arrived in Ottawa on September 13. They were assigned to work in offices of MPs and Senators of all parties, given the role of completing tasks, conducting research, and contributing to special projects. The CUPP participants have the unique opportunity to meet key figures in Canada`s political, academic, diplomatic, and NGO communities, as well as prominent representatives of the Ukrainian Diaspora. They also participated in other educational events.

The evening’s pizza dinner organized by Wrzesnewskyj was one of the first on Parliament Hill the Ukrainian students attended since their arrival.

A committed supporter of CUPP since its inception, Wrzesnewskyj has regularly hosted interns from Ukraine. During the open discussion with students, Wrzesnewskyj shared his personal insight into his ancestral homeland. He shared stories about his own participation in the process of Ukraine becoming an independent state, under conditions “when everything was prohibited, but everything was possible.” The CUPP students expressed their interest in those historic events, and were pleased to hear from an eye-witness and his impressions of that period, as well as the hopes and expectations he cherished. Many of the questions posed by the students touched on Ukraine`s democratic, civil society, economic, social and geopolitical future.

“While fascinating to historians, Ukraine’s history has often been tragic for her people. For over 600 years, Ukraine was ruled by foreign occupiers. During those centuries, Ukraine suffered oppression, internal and external dislocation, linguistic imperialism and divisions that were outside of the people’s control. Nineteen years of independence cannot roll back the after-effects of occupations lasting centuries. Programs like the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Program were envisioned to begin addressing these consequences by establishing constructive experiences for the future leaders of Ukraine. These students will have benefited from being exposed to and immersed in Canada’s democratic traditions and practices. By taking this positive experience back to Ukraine, the CUPP hopes to do its part in transforming Ukraine through the leadership that its graduates will provide,” said Wrzesnewskyj.

CUPP interns after this evening were left full of impressions and inspiration:

“Mr. Wrzesnewskyj gave me a valuable lesson on how to express thoughts in a diplomatic and unbiased way, while telling his story, he led us to make our own conclusions,” said Nadiya Fedoriv, a student from Yaroslav the Wise National Law Academy of Ukraine;

“I enjoyed discussing high policy in such an open atmosphere,” said fellow law student Liliia Ibadova;

“It was definitely a thought-provoking evening that made me think critically and analytically about the issues,” said Kyrylo Korzh, from the Zaporizhia Institute of Economics and Information;

“Borys shared his view on some controversial topics - now we can compare those views with views of others and our own,” said Stanislava Tsarkova, from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy;

“What I found most interesting is that, unlike with many politicians, [Wrzesnewskyj] has his own thoughtful opinions on current topics and shares them,” said Yurii Medentsii, from Uzhorod National University; and

“It has been a great pleasure to meet Mr. Wrzesnewskyj. He serves as a good example for Ukrainian deputies and Ukrainians overall,” said Bohdan Bolonnyy, from Queen Mary, University of London, UK.

On November 12-13, Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Program interns and alumni present papers at the Ottawa Model Ukraine Conference: the Politics of Education and Elections in Ukraine, hosted by CUPP, Chair of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Ottawa, Katedra Foundation, and CUSF. The conference takes place at Desmarais Hall, 12th Floor, 55 Laurier Ave E., University of Ottawa Campus. A public lecture is in English. Admission is free. As seating is limited, please register with the Chair of Ukrainian Studies at chairukr@gmail.com or phone 613- 562-5800 ext. 3692.

Also, on November 12 at 6:30 pm., the Ottawa UCPBA, with the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada, present Model Ukraina cocktail reception with CUPP, held at the Foundation Restaurant in ByWard Market. The band Ukrainia will perform as well as special guest performer Denys Drozdyuk, winner of CTV’s “So You Think You Can Dance Canada”. Tickets are $10. For more event information, visit http://www.infoukes.com/ucpbaott/

PHOTO  

MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj (far end of table) speaks to 2010 CUPP student interns on Parliament Hill