November 2, 2019. OTTAWA. Over 300 delegates and guests continued deliberations and discussions during the second day of the XXVI Triennial Congress of Ukrainian Canadians, being held in Ottawa.
The theme of the Congress – Share Your Vision, Build Our Future! – provides the inspiration for the gathering of representatives of Ukrainian Canadian organizations from coast to coast – Halifax, NS to Victoria, BC – which will set the direction and elect the leadership of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) for the next three years.
The delegates of the Triennial Congress participated in a series of working group sessions during which they developed resolutions that will be debated and voted upon by the Congress tomorrow.
Two panel sessions focused on the community’s relations with Ukraine – an engaging and insightful session with Vasyl Bodnar, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, and Paul Grod, President of the Ukrainian World Congress, Ukraine and Ukrainians in the global context, moderated by Jurij Klufas.
His Excellency Roman Waschuk, Canada’s outgoing Ambassador to Ukraine, and His Excellency Andriy Shevchenko, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada – provided a thoughtful and fascinating discussion on Canada-Ukraine relations. Alexandra Chyczij, UCC National President, announced that the Ukrainian Canadian community will honour Ambassador Waschuk’s and his spouse Oksana Smerechuk’s decades of public service to Canada during a Tribute Dinner to be held in early February 2020.
Tonight, the Congress will honour the recipients of the Taras Shevchenko Medal and the UCC National Leadership and UCC National Youth Leadership Awards.
