Tribute to John Yaremko in Ontario Legislature

On November 24^th, 2010, Members of Provincial Parliament (Legislative Assembly of Ontario) delivered a tribute in honour of the late John Yaremko, Q.C. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Ontario Provincial Council requested the tribute to Mr. Yaremko for his many years of public service as an MPP, cabinet minister and philanthropist. His family, friends and leaders of the Ukrainian Canadian community observed the tribute from the Speaker’s Gallery in the Legislature.

MPPs Cheri DiNovo (Parkdale-High Park), Donna Cansfield (Etobicoke Centre) and Gerry Martiniuk (Cambridge) each spoke eloquently in tribute to Mr. Yaremko. At a reception that followed, Mr. Yaremko’s family and community leaders thanked the MPPs for their commemorative remarks.

“It is a testament to Mr. Yaremko’s service to Ontario that all three parties joined together to pay tribute to Mr. Yaremko” said Yvan Baker, President of UCC - Ontario. “As we reflect on Mr. Yaremko’s life, we celebrate his many accomplishments and draw inspiration from a man who was not only a champion in the Ukrainian Canadian community but throughout the Province of Ontario.”

In addition to thanking the MPPs who spoke, Baker also expressed thanks to Speaker Steve Peters, Opposition House Leader John Yakabuski and their staff members for their efforts in coordinating the tribute to Mr. Yaremko.

Donna Cansfield, MPP for Etobicoke Centre speaking for the Government:

“We pay tribute to John Yaremko, a great leader, a community member, a benefactor and, most importantly, a gentleman…To all of us here today and to countless other Ontarians, he inspired everyone he met to public service... He has our eternal gratitude.” 

Gerry Martiniuk, MPP for Cambridge speaking for the Official Opposition:

“Not only was John Yaremko a great Ontarian, he was also a legend in (our) Ukrainian Canadian community… Today, we remember John Yaremko for his many contributions to his country, as an advocate and supporter of multiculturalism, and as a man dedicated to improving the lives of seniors, the disabled and cultural minorities.”

Cheri DiNovo, MPP for Parkdale-High Park speaking for the NDP:

“This was a man who came into an Ontario [and]… Canada very different from (what) we know today… and helped change… I like to think that in part in his honour and in his memory, we passed an all-party bill here recognizing November 15 as the day we commemorate the Holodomor as what it was: a genocide, a famine…That bill would never have happened were it not for people like John Yaremko.”

The Speaker of the Legislature Steve Peters:

“As a Ukrainian Canadian standing here and sitting here in the Speaker’s Chair, it makes me really proud of what John Yaremko did… my grandfather, in 1937 in Toronto and going from Dymtro Pidwerbeski to Dick Peters - that was racism… (Yaremko) was a pioneer... look at what he did to change the face of this chamber… a much different place in 1951… It’s something that we all need to be proud of, no matter what country we come from and what our origin is.”

John Yaremko was born in Welland, Ontario in a family of immigrants from Ukraine. He graduated from the University of Toronto and Osgoode Hall Law School. In 1951, Mr. Yaremko was elected to the Provincial Parliament of Ontario where he served for 25 years.

 PHOTOS

1 - John Yaremko

2 - MPPs Gerry Martiniuk, Donna Cansfield and Cheri DiNovo join members of John Yaremko’s family, community leaders and Borys Wrzesnewskyj, MP, on the main steps of the Ontario Legislature after the tribute to John Yaremko