Mr. Speaker, this past weekend I joined fellow Calgarians on their journey of all things Ukraine at the 8th annual Calgary Ukrainian Festival. Every year this Calgary festival aims to inform, educate, and entertain in a celebration of the beautiful customs and traditions of Ukraine. It offers the unique and rich Ukrainian heritage brought to Canada over 125 years ago.
I want to take the opportunity to honour the memory of all those brave Ukrainians who traversed the oceans in search of a better life for their families and who, in the process, proudly contributed to the rich cultural history of Canada.
Through Ukrainian folks songs, dance performances, traditional cuisine, arts and crafts, and especially, beautiful pysanka eggs, this weekend's festival offered Canadians of all backgrounds the opportunity to gain an appreciation of and experience true Ukrainian hospitality, undiminished by the passage of time.
I would like to congratulate the organizers, including my friend Michael Ilnycky, on another successful festival that showcased the rich and vibrant culture of Calgary's Ukrainian community.