For me it was especially significant given Trudeau’s decision to allow a 12-person Canadian-Ukrainian stakeholder delegation to accompany him throughout his visit to Ukraine.

I thank Canada’s Minister of Trade Chrystia Freeland, Canadian Ambassador Roman Waschuk and Canadian member of parliament Borys Wrzenewskyj for the honor of being included in this delegation.

On July 11, history was made with the signing of the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement by Freeland and First Deputy Prime Minister Stepan Kubiv, in the presence of Trudeau, President Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman.

The agreement will take the close relationship to a new level — from one built on longstanding personal, cultural and community ties, to the forging of new business, investment and trade relationships.

Few know that already hockey sticks, one of the most cherished Canadian products, are manufactured in Ukraine; that EPAM provides IT outsourcing services for Canadian Tire’s website/on-line shopping platform; or that Pratt & Whitney Canada will supply turboprop engines to Antonov to produce and modernize AN 32 aircraft.

The trade agreement, on the back of a successful Canada Ukraine Business Forum in Toronto on June 20 and attended by 500 people, is already bearing fruit with three deals signed, also on July 11.

These are: Bombardier Rail Transportation partnering with Ukrzaliznytsia in upgrading the locomotive fleet of the Ukrainian railway; International Finance Corporation and Borsch Ventures/E-Farming joining forces to create eFarmer360 to enhance the ability of farmers to access credit; and Canadore College of Canada and the National Aviation University of Ukraine, with a student exchange agreement.

At the same time, the visit is symbolic for both nations.

It comes during the year when Ukraine is celebrating 25 years of independence – with Canada being the first Western country to recognize Ukraine’s independence on Dec. 2, 1991; a year during which Canadian-Ukrainians celebrate the 125th anniversary of Ukrainian immigration to Canada and the immense contribution that 1.3 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent have made to build Canada, and also the 75th anniversary of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the voice of Canada’s Ukrainian community.

The official program was fast-paced and included events and places important in Ukrainian history.

The prime minister honoredmore than 100,000 Jews massacred at Babyn Yar by laying a wreath with his son Xavier at the memorial, accompanied by Rabbi Yaakov Bleich.

He paid homage to Ukrainian soldiers who died during World War II, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

He laid flowers at the feet of the peasant girl holding the sheaves of stolen wheat that sealed her fate and lingered at the Holodomor museum to commemorate the millions of Ukrainians starved to death in 1932-33, innocent victims of Stalin’s famine, a third of whom were children.

He also focused on Ukraine’s recent history with a flower-laying ceremony at the Cross of the Revolution near Maidan and a closed, hour-long roundtable with Ukrainian civic society and human rights activists playing a significant role in Ukraine’s reform efforts where he spoke candidly and eloquently, thanking them for “reminding everyone around the world that democracy, justice and the rule of law and opportunity for citizens are worth fighting for.”

The final day was dedicated to visiting Canadian troops stationed in Yavoriv and providing military training to Ukrainian troops. He reminded them that the reason for the mission is because Ukrainains are fighting for “the values and principles that we stand for and we fight for.”

The theme of this visit was the values and principles that unite Ukrainians and Canadians.

Canadians share the values that Ukrainian hold so dear and demonstrated to the entire world that they were ready to die for – basic human rights including freedom, dignity, rule of law and self-determination.

This is what lies at the heart of Canada’s support of Ukraine’s efforts to restore stability in its country, provide humanitarian and security assistance and implement democratic and economic reforms that have resulted in $700 million in technical and financial assistance to date.

This visit was about demonstrating Canada’s commitment to Ukraine. It was about the leader of a prosperous G7 nation, wildly popular at home and a celebrity abroad, who shone his star power on Ukraine.

A simple analogy is one that kept coming to mind throughout his visit – a vision of the star quarterback striding across the field to put his arm firmly around, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder, with the bullied kid shunned by many who are willing to help from afar, but afraid to confront and face the wrath of the bully.

Trudeau is not afraid to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine. For this, Canadian-Ukrainians are truly grateful.

Lenna Koszarny is a Canadian who has lived in Ukraine for 22 years. She serves as chair of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Advisory Council in Ukraine, is a board member of the Ukrainian World Congress and is leading businesswoman.