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Friday, May 23, 2008
Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko to visit Canada
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko will arrive in Canada for a state visit from May 26 to 28.
The two leaders will have the opportunity to discuss bilateral and international issues, including the further development of our political and commercial ties, Ukraine's future in NATO, and cooperation on Afghanistan.
President Yushchenko will be accompanied by several ministers, including Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko, and his wife, Kateryna Yushchenko.
On May 26, he will address Parliament and meet with the speakers of the Senate and of the House of Commons. President Yushchenko’s visit to Canada will also include stops in Winnipeg and Toronto.
-30-
I’ll be sure to get my hair done.
Posted by Matthew Johnston on May 23, 2008 | Permalink
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Comments
Will set you free and Ed Stelmach be meeting him as representatives of Alberta?
Posted by: The Stig | 2008-05-23 6:01:35 PM
I spent some formative years in Vegreville, home to one of Canada’s largest Ukrainian communities, Alberta's Premier Ed Stelmach and the world's largest pysanka – a decorative Ukrainian Easter egg.
I endured this Easter egg eyesore for almost a decade, and for what? We get passed over for Winnipeg and Toronto when the President of Ukraine comes to town. Where's the justice?
Posted by: Matthew Johnston | 2008-05-23 7:28:15 PM
Stig, you ignorant slut:
Since I am not of Ukrainian descent, what role would you have me play as an Alberta representative?
Posted by: set you free | 2008-05-23 7:34:28 PM
I got food poisoning in Vegreville in 1980.
I heard that Easter egg contains some sort of Ukranian spores, and after a nuclear apocalypse it's going to break open and repopulate the world with Ukranians.
I heard a story last year about a teacher who got a job at the highschool there and had some trouble buying a house. He was told by the realtor and a couple of homeowners that certain neighbourhoods were off limits to non-Ukranians. The experience caused him to turn down the position, and pass on living in Vegreville (being non-Ukranian). From my experience, I'd say he was lucky to find this out before being stuck there.
Posted by: dp | 2008-05-23 7:43:16 PM
By the way, it's only a matter of time til someone reprimands you for misspelling Ukranian.
Posted by: dp | 2008-05-23 7:46:12 PM
dp:
It's a damned fine thing you didn't get food poisoning in Drumheller.
We'd then have to endure conspiracy theories about dinosaurs.
Posted by: set you free | 2008-05-23 7:53:41 PM
Stig, you ignorant slut:
Since I am not of Ukrainian descent, what role would you have me play as an Alberta representative?
Posted by: set you free | 23-May-08 7:34:28 PM
Do you have a problem with Ukrainians?
Posted by: The Stig | 2008-05-23 7:58:40 PM
Come on, dp. You can't be serious about the teacher story.
Posted by: Matthew Johnston | 2008-05-23 8:07:09 PM
I have no problem with any honest human beings.
Posted by: set you free | 2008-05-23 8:08:19 PM
And, Stig.
I have no problem with factual statements, either.
Posted by: set you free | 2008-05-23 8:10:43 PM
It's not a first hand story MJ. A guy who used to work for me went to school with the teacher. They grew up down the road (Mannville I think).
In my experience working with Ukranians, I can believe it's possible. They're a very tight knit group. They probably wouldn't even consider it a form of racial prejudice. Ukranians suffered some serious prejudice over the years, and the hazing appears to be going strong. I make these comments in fun, and I doubt that I've offended anyone.
I think it's just fine to encourage people to live where they're more welcome. I think it's fine for people to express their pride in their racial heritage. I just wish white people could get away with it since every other race is free to do it.
Posted by: dp | 2008-05-23 8:25:25 PM
"Ukranians suffered some serious prejudice over the years..." but not in Canada. Robert Conquest wrote that the Ukraine resembled a gigantic Bergen-Belsen during the Holodomor. Instead of sticking their hand out to demand $12 million for "cultural and commemorative initiatives" as blood money for WWI internments they should be down on their knees kissing the feet of the Anglo-Saxon racists who endured them before Stalin and his Jews starved their sorry asses.
Posted by: DJ | 2008-05-23 9:29:21 PM
"Ukranians suffered some serious prejudice over the years..." but not in Canada. Robert Conquest wrote that the Ukraine resembled a gigantic Bergen-Belsen during the Holodomor. Instead of sticking their hand out to demand $12 million for "cultural and commemorative initiatives" as blood money for WWI internments they should be down on their knees kissing the feet of the Anglo-Saxon racists who endured them before Stalin and his Jews starved their sorry asses.
Posted by: DJ | 2008-05-23 9:30:06 PM
DJ- I was refering to simple schoolyard prejudice toward Ukranians. The sort of thing that tends to mold personalities.
I agree that on the whole, they haven't answered for some questionable behaviour. I've met a few descendants of Waffen SS Ukranians. They were some of the worst Nazis because they were willing to do almost anything to please their German masters. They performed some jobs in the death camps the Germans refused to do. If it hadn't been for the cold war hatred of Stalin, they might not have gotten a free pass in Canada.
Posted by: dp | 2008-05-23 11:48:46 PM
I grew up in Alberta and am old enough to remember significant prejudice against Ukrainians. Now the Ukrainian presence is celebrated but it wasn't always so.
Posted by: DML | 2008-05-25 12:00:05 AM
as to 5/23/08 post as being a tight knit group abd being offlimits to "non-ukies"... there is a reason ...more like off limits to russians more than anyone else...
Posted by: tdw026 | 2008-05-25 6:58:28 PM
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