President Yushchenko in Canada

[sjoyce]

May I just say how pleased we are that President Yushchenko and his wife are visiting Canada. He was a great hit in our parliament, receiving a long standing ovation. They have been well received wherever they have gone, and last night in a ceremony in Ottawa received the Holodomor torch after it had traveled across our country.
He brought a large entourage, who are consulting with our various ministries on ways we can help our great friends in Ukraine. There are over 1.2 million Ukrainian Canadians in Canada second only to the diaspora in Russia!!! Keep to your chosen path. It can be tough, but worth the work!

[bm-21Lemko]

very true, most ukrainians immigrated to the U.S. and Canada. If i'm not mistaken Canada has more ukrainians outside of ukriane than any other country.

Do you have a lot of ukrainian communities in your city or town?

[stepanstas]

I like Canada, so silent yet so good at everything. Just wanted to mention it.

If i am not mistaken durring the elections most spectators came from Canada.

[sjoyce]

Canada has a very large community of Ukrainian people. Family members who emmigrated to the U.S. were encouraged to shorten their names. In Canada we just learned how to pronounce them, and we learned to love pyrogy, borscht and other delecasies. Canada has many outstanding Ukrainian people. Our Governor General (representative of Queen Elizabeth) was Ukrainian. I live in western Canada and we have been very diligent in remembering our heritage and customs. A beautiful replica Ukrainian village has been built outside Edmonton depicting village life when the first settlers came here. Our young people have been taught the old songs and dances. The tradition lives on.

Yes, Canada sent many election observers. We were also the first western country to recoginze Ukraine independence. And so hopefully we move forward in a positive way. Right now my friends are volunteering to bring medicine and supplies into 50+ villages. All of the team are Ukrainian Canadians. They are able to help the villages their ancestors came from.

[is5512]

I *saw* that village (I drove to Alaska when I was a beardless boy) and it is Awesome! As is what you're doing. My hat's off to you.

[sjoyce]

Hi Kathy: I am not sure if you have received an email or not, but the Alberta Ukrainian genealogy society is planning on documenting many cemetaries and church lands in north east Alberta beginning in June. I could forward the e-mail to you if you like.

You must be thrilled your g great grandfathers home is in the village. I hope Mr. Yushchenko enjoyed his time there.

[Max_the_Highlander]

I hope it was good chance for Canadian Ukrainians to touch the present-day life of Ukraine, to see one of our leaders, to shake his hand... also I hope this will draw the attention to current momentum of Ukraine life instead of long historic reflections and classic culture.

Yushchenko instead of Shevchenko, TNMK, Green Gray and Tartak against the folk songs of Kvitka... this road is more funny and modern.