Governor General Clarkson Presents Commendation to UCC

EDMONTON – The Ukrainian Ca-nadian Congress (UCC) received a Governor Gerneral’s Certificate of Commendation on August 31 for its role in Ukraine’s Presidential Elections.  The Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson presented the award to UCC president Irene (Orysia) Sushko in a ceremony held in Edmonton.

Clarkson said that the Certificate of Commendation is rarely given and is only the second non-military commendation presented during her mandate.  At the ceremony, Clarkson, whose term ends this month, said that the commendation “reflects an intense personal as well as national gratitude for what Ukrainian Canadians have done for freedom in their country of origin and the example they helped to set for the world.”

The commendation acknowledges that “the effort undertaken by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress to raise funds, recruit observers and mobilize and train the participants was unprecedented and is a testament to the energy, dedication, and ideals of all those who took part in the mission.”

It also notes that the sacrifices made on the part of Canadians “particularly during the holiday period, demonstrated the great importance that you, and indeed all Canadians place in ensuring that the vote would be carried out in a free, fair and peaceful manner.”

“Your elections observers,” the commendation states, “contributed to the international effort to ensure a neutral and non-partisan environment in order to give Ukrainian voters the comfort and security they needed to vote freely and openly.”

Finally, the document stated that “the dedication, hard work and sacrifice demonstrated by all those who participated in the mission will serve as an inspiration to those who are struggling to achieve their democratic right to free and fair elections.”

In her speech at the ceremony, Clarkson quoted from a poem by Taras Shevchenko. She also said she stood on the platform close to President Yushchenko when he made his inaugural speed in the Maidan earlier this year. Clarkson said that she attended a lunch with Victor and Kateryna Yushchenko in Ukraine and that her Ukrainian hosts “knew what their Canadian sisters and brothers had given and how vital this contribution had been to their democratic quest.”  She added that Yushchenko has been made aware of the commendation that the UCC was receiving.

 The commendation, said Clarkson, “expresses Canada’s – and my – admiration and respect for this community’s international response last year, and for its strong tradition of civic responsibility within our country.”

In addition, she made reference to the contributions of Ukrainian immigrants “who made themselves into an indispensable part of our country, especially here in the West.” She singled out Albertans Michael Luchkovich and Anthony Hlynka, who were elected to Canada’s Parliament in the first half of the 20th century, as well as two of her predecessors, former Governor Generals Schreyer and Hnatyshyn.

The UCC’s role in Canada was also mentioned. The organization was “a strong advocate for the loosening of Canada’s restrictive immigration policies, which did much to lead the way towards the welcoming society that we are today,” said Clarkson.