Ukraine’s flag flew over Alberta’s legislature in Edmonton Canada on Sept. 7 as officials from Ukraine and Canada, along with businesspeople, press, and members of the Ukrainian diaspora gathered to officially open Ukraine’s newest foreign consulate.
The opening of the consulate, which coincided with Ukrainian-Canadian Heritage Day in Alberta and Ontario, was hailed by both Canadian politicians and visiting Ukrainian dignitaries as a big boost to an already strong international friendship.
Over 1 million Canadians trace their roots back to Ukraine, with roughly 367,000 of those residing in Alberta. In Edmonton alone, fully 12 percent of the capital’s population identify as Ukrainian or Ukrainian-Canadian.
The day began with the raising of the Ukrainian flag on the grounds of the Legislative Assembly ahead of a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the nearby Ledgeview Building, which will house the consulate.
Federal Minister of Science and Sport Kirsty Duncan, a descendant of some of Canada’s earliest Ukrainian settlers, was one of those to address the crowd.
“Today for me is very emotional,” Duncan said. “When (my predecessors) came to Canada, they began to lose contact with their families, the letter writing became less. Today, this (consulate) strengthens once again the friendship between our two nations. It’s fitting that we are in a part of Canada so reminiscent of the Ukrainian countryside.”
Visiting Foreign Affairs Minister Pavlo Klimkin echoed the calls for greater cooperation between the nations in exclusive comments to the Kyiv Post.
“What is still missing is that we’ve started working on goods, now we need another round of negotiations on services and investments,” Klimkin said. He noted that while relationship-building has been and continues to be a strength, “our investment level on both sides is marginally low. Trade has been growing, but now we need to use this person-to-person contact to support investment.”
Klimkin also addressed the issue of visa-free travel of Ukrainians to Canada, an election promise made by the now-ruling Liberal Party of Canada. “We’re in a discussion, it’s not an easy issue, but we need to follow a phased approach, and getting better with the level of refusals and getting more trust.
“But visa-free travel in the future is my ultimate goal.”
The evening saw a gala banquet with entertainment featuring Ukraine’s literary, musical and performing arts traditions, including a performance by the renowned Shumka dance ensemble.
While the mood was festive and celebratory, some speakers, including Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, repeated Canada’s condemnation of Russian aggression and Ottawa’s support for Ukraine’s independence. Iveson noted the effect of the war on Ukraine’s economy.
“We’re steadfast in our commitment to the people of Ukraine,” Duncan said. “We know that the combination of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and the ensuing conflict in eastern Ukraine have had a devastating impact on the Ukrainian economy.”
