This year marks the 125th anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Canada. Not too many plans have been shared to date, hence I am offering some of my ideas on how to mark this important historic year and going forward.
1. The Canadian Museum for Human Rights might develop a historic time line marking Canada’s development in human rights based on lessons learned from its harsh treatment to Ukrainians; Canada’s first major non-Anglo-Celtic, non-Francophone settlement. This would be a fine tribute to a founding Canadian community and a history of progress in human rights.
The large settlement of Ukrainians – some 170,000 arrived between the 1890s and end of World War I – suffered severe discriminations. Financial shenanigans by immigrant agents, unattractive land settlements in virgin territories without government support, mockery of the settler’s language and dress, and beatings were common.
Among the most serious was legislation prohibiting Ukrainian language in schools – the Manitoba Language Question. It was considered un-Canadian to speak any language other than English. School children were strapped for non-compliance.
Perhaps the best known violation of rights was the arrest and detention of Ukrainians in internment in camps around Canada. It was a shameless response to the turmoil of World War I. The “enemy aliens” performed forced labor in some of the most remote places in Canada, including building the magnificent Banff Springs Hotel.
Such abuses led Canada to establish one of the most progressive human rights legislation in the world. It protects minorities and contains handsome immigrant resettling programs. Credit to early Ukrainian settlers for what they endured to make this happen is timely.
2. John Sopinka, a leading lawyer, violin player and football star, was the first and only Supreme Court justice of Ukrainian descent in Canada.
Appointed in 1988, he served until his untimely death of a rare blood disease in 1997. He was instrumental in setting up Canada’s judicial assistance program to Ukraine. Some find his premature death – the illness started after his return from a trip to Ukraine – suspicious.
The anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Canada is a fine time to consider another such appointment.
3. Canada’s New Democratic Party calls for women to be featured on its money. Ukrainian Canadian women’s organizations need to respond by putting forward deserving names.
Certainly Dr. Silvia Fedoruk, a former lieutenant governor of Saskatchewan, is an obvious candidate. She scaled many “firsts” in academia and politics, including the development of the world’s first nuclear medicine scanning machines, which are indispensable in diagnosing cancer.
Another “first” is astronaut Dr. Roberta Bondar, whose grandfather came from Odesa. She orbited some 35 million miles in the spaceship Discovery to study our universe.
Not to be forgotten are some of the first businesswomen in Western Canada: Ukrainian nuns. They ran schools, orphanages and nursing homes when education services were sparse and Canada’s social assistance programs non-existent.
4. Since Ukraine’s independence, but especially since the Maidan, Canada’s government has shown exemplary support for Ukraine’s struggle for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Ukrainian Canadian community might recognize the outstanding leadership provided here by former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He understood the fight for democracy and was a global giant in promoting it.
On the occasion of the anniversary of its first settlement, the Ukrainian community might consider creating a special global leader in democracy award and present it to the prime minister, making him its first recipient. Better yet would be to convince the government of Canada to develop such a national award to underscore the value of democracy and good government worldwide.
5. Canada’s current Liberal government got off to a good start in partnering with Ukraine by announcing $13.6 million for investment projects supporting the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement. Making the announcement in December 2015, Minister of International Trade Chrystia Freeland said, “By bolstering the growth and competitiveness of Ukraine’s small and medium-sized businesses, we are building mutual prosperity for both our countries.”
Moving forward, Canada’s government has the opportunity to increase its global foreign policy profile – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s election promise – by engaging Ukraine in a similar relationship to the one the United States has with Israel. This would be a fitting thank-you to the contribution Ukrainians made to Canada, including converting virgin prairies into a global agricultural giant.
6. Some individuals are already initiating worthwhile projects. One from Manitoba petitions the minister of international trade to grant Ukrainian nationals visa-free travel to Canada for periods of stay up to 90 days. Any other fine initiatives out there?
7. Another idea of mine: let’s increase relationships with the various Canadians involved in Ukraine.
Canada is the 4th largest donor in Ukraine.
Since January 2014, Canada has announced more than $700 million in international development assistance, and financial, humanitarian and security support to Ukraine including: $400 million in low-interest loans; $226.4 million to advance democracy and the rule of law, and to promote sustainable economic growth; $42 million for security related programming; $19 million in humanitarian assistance for people affected by the conflict; $14 million for election observation missions; and $3 million for anti-polio vaccination.
This money flows to Ukraine via Canadian consulting firms delivering the projects. It’s a lot of money! Is it enough to merely seek more government support for Ukraine without follow-up, without knowing how it’s spent? The time has come to understand who is delivering the programs, monitor their progress, evaluate results and capitalize on the new information.
This calls for the establishment of an oversight entity. Something the Ukrainian Canadian Congress might consider at its upcoming congress.
Meanwhile, what about inviting Canadian troops – returning by the hundreds – to share their experiences with the community? A friendly thank-you wine and cheese soiree might be nice. Or a roundtable discussion with members of the defense staff?
And finally, a request to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the umbrella organization of some 30 groups (the largest being the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League with 4,000 members, among them this writer): rather than call those who arrived some 125 years ago “immigrants” in official announcements, consider referring to them as “settlers” or, as they had referred to themselves, “pioneers.”
After all, Ukrainians were invited by Canada to come and help develop the prairies and succeeded handsomely. A more dignified and historically accurate appellation is warranted.