Canadian issues

The 10th KOBZAR Book Award Presentation was a great success! 150 guests from across Canada gathered on March 21 at Winnipeg’s Canadian Museum for Human Rights to celebrate our Canadian storytellers. The Ukrainian story in Canada spans over 130 years from the first settlers in 1891 to today’s newly arrived Ukrainians displaced by the war in their homeland. The Shevchenko Foundation launched the KOBZAR Book Award (KBA) with a mission to encourage writers to interpret our Ukrainian Canadian stories boldly and creatively for the world to enjoy...

September 23, 2023. OTTAWA, ON. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) welcomed Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s President, and First Lady Olena Zelenska to Canada on their historic visit. President Zelenskyy addressed Canada’s Parliament, met with business leaders and, together with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, held an event with Canadians, including many members of the Ukrainian Canadian community, in Toronto. A UCC delegation headed by Alexandra Chyczij, National President of the UCC, attended President Zelenskyy’s address to Parliament. “In his historic address to Canada’s Parliament, President Zelenskyy made a passionate and compelling case for increasing military and economic aid to Ukraine to ensure Ukraine’s victory over Russia’s genocidal aggression.” stated Chyczij. “President Zelenskyy’s visit highlighted the...

On August 24, 2023, Ottawa Supports Ukraine Democracy (OSUD) organized an event "Solidarity on Independence Day - Invincible KYIV" at the Canadian War Museum with the support and sponsorship from BCU Financial and BCU Foundation. The highlight of the event was the streaming of the documentary “Against All Odds” by film director, Artem Lytvynenko, and Q&A session with the director that followed. The documentary dives into military analysis and portrays the pivotal moments that thwarted the Russian invasion. Guests also had an opportunity to take part in a silent auction and view the exhibition "4 Seasons" which showcased specific items and events symbolizing the triumphs and ...

Fifteen people died when a bus crashed into a lorry on the Trans-Canada Highway near Carberry, two hours west of Winnipeg, last week. One more victim died from her injuries on Wednesday. "The impact of this loss will be felt for a long time to come," said RCMP Supt Jeff Asmundson on Thursday. Nine people are still in hospital with serious injuries. Most of the elderly people aboard the bus were from Dauphin, Manitoba, and the surrounding areas. They were traveling to the Sand Hills Casino in the town of Carberry...

The 2023 Tryzub Awards Gala united 260 guests on May 11 at the Art Gallery of Ontario in a tribute to the heroic defenders of Ukraine and a celebration of the Ukrainian identity for which they continue to fight. Boris Horodynsky and William Browder were honoured with Tryzub Awards – each recipient being recognized for their respective contribution to strengthening the Ukrainian brand. Ukrainian musician and choirmaster Pavlo Fondera opened the evening’s program by singing a “Prayer for Ukraine.” Shevchenko Foundation (TSF) President Boris Balan delivered welcoming remarks, focusing on the consequences of the war on cultural preservation and development both in Ukraine and Canada. “As we continue to watch the genocidal attempts of an aggressor nation to eradicate Ukrainian culture and identity, TSF understands that its role as...

To commemorate and celebrate #Vyshyvanka Day, as Chair of the Canada Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group, I organized an all-party photo in the House of Commons. I have been celebrating Vyshyvanka Day for many years, wearing the Vyshyvanka (the embroidered shirt) that was made for me by my grandparents, Olena and Ivan. For Ukrainians, the embroidered shirt is not just a garment but a sacred emblem of Ukrainian culture, tradition, and history since ancient times. The embroidery tradition has been passed on from generation to generation, as well as the spirit of freedom, courage, and bravery. Today as Ukraine faces Russian genocide, people around the world wear a Ukrainian embroidered shirt to show support for their fight for freedom and independence. Since the beginning of Russia's brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the...

The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition, released the following statement on Vyshyvanka Day: “Today, we join millions of Ukrainians in Canada, Ukraine and around the world to celebrate Vyshyvanka Day. For centuries, the vyshyvanka has been a powerful symbol of Ukraine’s unique heritage and identity. Its iconic, colourful embroidery is inextricably tied to Ukraine’s rich history and culture and has served as an emblem of hope for generations of Ukrainians in times of unbelievable hardship. “Today, this remains as true as ever, as Ukraine has once again been plunged into the devastation of war. For over a year, the world has watched in horror as Russia has carried out its unprovoked attack and brutal atrocities on Ukrainian soil. In equal measure, the free world has watched in awe as the people of Ukraine have valiantly defended their homeland. "On Vyshyvanka Day, we admire the...

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) National Holodomor Awareness Committee is launching National Holodomor Awareness Week, November 21-27, commemorating the 89th anniversary of the Holodomor, the Soviet Communist regime’s genocide against the Ukrainian people. The UCC is honoured to be joined by the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Canada’s Prime Minister, the Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Leader of Canada’s Official Opposition, and Mr. Jagmeet Singh, Leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, to launch National Holodomor Awareness Week. This year, as we mark the 89th anniversary of the Holodomor and launch the...

n the midst of the accusations and hate vandalism, the Ukrainian community has endured Nazi labels, and has repeatedly said this was part of the disinformation campaign created and coordinated by the Russian regime against Ukrainians. If one thinks the Nazi labels levied up on Ukrainians by Vladimir Putin started on February 24, 2022, they are mistaken. This campaign has been going on for decades by Russian operatives in the West and sympathizers of the Russian historical narrative of disinformation. We are thankful to the Edmonton Police Service for diligently investigating and making an arrest for the trespassing and defacing of our monument of Ukrainian military commander Roman Shukhevych (and another to fallen Ukrainian soldiers at St. Michael’s Cemetery) in the middle of the night on August 6-7, 2021. Shamefully, it seems the accused, an...

On 14 October 2022, Duncan Kinney of Edmonton was charged by the Edmonton Police Service with mischief. Kinney is the editor of The Progress Report/Progress Alberta which, according to its website, is a “non-profit news organization focused on uncovering and unpacking the news through original investigative and explanatory journalism.” In August 2021, an act of vandalism occurred at an Edmonton community centre. Members of the community described this act of vandalism as a hate crime. Kinney actively promoted the story that this vandalism was perpetrated by persons unknown when, in fact, he has now been charged as being the perpetrator. Commenting, the UCCLA’s director of research, Professor Lubomyr Luciuk, said: “In August 2021 Mr. Kinney widely broadcast a story about how a person or persons unknown trespassed onto private property and committed an act of criminal vandalism. According to ...