Alberta Premier Adds Shine to CUCC Event

By John Pidkowich

On November 24, the Canada Ukraine Chamber of Commerce hosted a ”Meet and Greet” reception for Toronto’s Ukrainian Canadian business community with The Honourable Ed Stelmach, the Premier of Alberta and Canada’s only Premier currently in office of Ukrainian heritage. Many had the opportunity to get acquainted with the Premier Stelmach and his wife, Marie, who were generous with their time throughout the evening, organised and hosted by CUCC President Zenon Potichnyj and Board Executive members.

The event was held at The Liberty Grand, restored to the original “grand” opulence as the former Government of Ontario Building on the grounds of the Canadian National Exhibition. Toronto’s “premier” entertainment and event venue combined with the organizers’ reception format to “rub shoulders” created an atmosphere conducive for guests to move around, mingle, exchange ideas, interact with each other and even talk some business. In a room charged with this kind of energy, the Stelmachs’ expressed enthusiastic and “shining” sincere interest in meeting all who introduced themselves, finding it difficult to keep meeting the next guest within the limited time available.

Amongst the nearly 250 guests were Ukraine’s Consul General in Toronto, Aleksandr Danyleyko, UCC – Toronto Branch President, Markian Shwec and UNF of Canada President, Taras Pidzamecky, instrumental in helping promote the event with many of its members present. Also present were Ukrainian business men and women now living in Toronto, and from Ukraine - Lviv Oblast Council Member Oleh Mandyuk and Lviv City Councillor Stepan Kubiw.

In his welcome and introduction, Zenon Potichnyj set the tone for the Premier’s remarks to be well-received, fresh from the Grey Cup and the Calgary Stampeder’s win. Attendees and CUCC Members learned of Mr. Stelmach’s background from his heart-felt speech sharing his genuine pride in his pioneer roots, respect for his cultural heritage and accomplishments of Alberta’s Ukrainian Canadian community.

Premier Stelmach spoke of living on and still operating the farm of his pioneer settler great-grandparents who arrived in Canada from Ukraine 110 years ago, before Alberta became a province. They travelled by train to Strathcona (now part of Edmonton), settled to the east and established a homestead. This decision overrode their agent’s original plan, by-passing the bald prairie of Saskatchewan for the much preferred wooded land in Alberta, laid with rocks which are still being picked to this day! This family bond with and respect for his ancestors is also reflected in the Premier’s retention of well-spoken Ukrainian.

The Premier informed captivated and attentive listeners that Edmonton is Canada’s most Ukrainian city, if not strictly in numbers of inhabitants, then in relative size compared to other communities that make up the city. Alberta is a leader in trade with Ukraine, primarily in energy exploration equipment, agricultural machinery and fertilizer, worth about $6 million. This trade is expected to more than double in the near term, particularly in agriculture and geomatics for purposes of natural resource exploration, land use and registration. Many educational and cultural exchanges exist between the University of Alberta, the CUIS at U of A, and Grant MacEwan College with higher learning institutions in Western Ukraine.

In his concluding remarks and appreciation of CUCC efforts, the Premier commended his home province’s Canada Ukraine Development Association for becoming the CUCC Alberta Branch and hopes that this will further stimulate discussion and business activities between Canada and Ukraine, signs of which appeared during the evening’s frank and open discussion between Ukrainian Canadians and Ukrainians, and even among Ukrainian business people for potential business growth with Canada.

In appreciation, CUCC Member John Vellinga thanked the Premier for his prepared remarks, brought to life when interspersed with related personal commentary and experiences. In gratitude, CUCC Members John Iwaniura, Stefan Merena and Bohdan Workun, partners in Caravan Logistics, presented Ed and Marie Stelmach with a gift – the “Holodomor Genocide by Famine” exhibit presentation materials kit.