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| At an April 18, 2007 banquet organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and with the patronage of the Ukrainian Embassy Canada’s 18th Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Brian Mulroney was honoured with the highest award that can be bestowed by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, theShevchenko Medal and the highest honour Ukraine can extend to a foreign citizen, the prestigiousOrder of Kniaz Yaroslav the Wise.
These special awards – presented in the presence of current Prime Minister Stephen Harper and 14 of his cabinet colleagues as well as numerous parliamentarians, Ambassador Ihor Ostash, former Premier of Saskatchewan Roy Romanow, Archbishop Yurij of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, Bishop Stephen Chmilar of the Ukrainian Catholic Church – were made to commemorate the decision of Brian Additionally, Ukrainian Canadians remember that Brian Mulroney appointed the first Ukrainian Canadian, John Sopinka, to the Supreme Court of Canada and it was under his government that the first Ukrainian Canadian, Ramon Hnatyshyn became the Head of State as Governor General. Mr. Mulroney called two Ukrainian Canadians from the Province of Saskatchewan to the Senate of Canada, David Tkachuk and Raynell Andreychuk. Over 400 guests gathered at Ottawa’s Château Laurier Hotel witnessed UCC President Orysia Sushko presented the award to Mr. Mulroney. Earlier, the Ukrainian Ambassador Ihor Ostash had awarded him the prestigious Order of Kniaz Yaroslav the Wise on behalf of the President of Ukraine. The importance of Mr. Mulroney recognizing Ukraine is very much understood and appreciated in Ukraine. The ceremony was reported on Ukrainian television the following day. Visit the UCC website to see the footage from 5 The fact that such a large and important gathering of Ottawa decision makers was present at this event shows the importance that Canada places in its relationship with Ukraine and the acknowledgement that Canadians of Ukrainian descent have played and will continue to play a significant role in Canada’s development. There was a large turn out of national media at the banquet, impressing even long-time observers of the political scene in Ottawa. Indeed, it is doubtful if in the entire history of the Ukrainian community in Canada there has ever been such a high-powered assembly of politicians and journalists UCC Board member Bob Onyschuk related to the assembled audience how Mr. Mulroney while in Kyiv in 1989 made a point of making a gesture of moral support to the In his acceptance remarks, Mr. Mulroney cited the contribution of Canadians of Ukrainian descent to the development of Canada and the importance that his government put to supporting democracy and national self-determination of the people of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Money raised at the banquet will go to support the Children’s Hospital of the Future project in Kyiv, Ukraine. This is an undertaking of the Ukraina 3000 Foundation. Senator Raynell Andreychuk and Northland Power President James Temerty served as Masters of Ceremony for the event. |
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For more photographs of the event, go to the site of the Canada Ukraine Chamber of Commerce. CPAC video on Brian Mulroney Tribute
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Orysia Sushko presents the
UCC Shevchenko Medal to Mr. Mulroney
Ambassador Ihor Ostash awards Mr. Mulroney the Order of Kniaz Yaroslav the Wise
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| For more information please contact:
Ostap Skrypnyk, Executive Director |
