Mr. Speaker, it is quite an honour to rise in the House today to speak to Bill S-210, concerning Ukrainian heritage month, and to recognize the extraordinary contributions of Ukrainian Canadians across our country, particularly the vibrant, compassionate and deeply rooted Ukrainian community of Mississauga. Canada is home to over 1.3 million people of Ukrainian descent, a community whose presence here dates back more than 125 years. That is why I want to thank the member for Etobicoke Centre for bringing forward this bill to designate the month of September as Ukrainian heritage month and to give all Canadians the opportunity to learn, to remember and to celebrate.
I want to begin with something personal. I am not of Ukrainian descent; I was born in Portugal. Like so many families, my parents came to Canada seeking opportunity and a better life, but through marriage, family and community, I have gained a deep appreciation and respect for the Ukrainian community and spirit. My wife, Christina Yaremczuk, is proudly of Ukrainian heritage. Her family comes from the beautiful and historic Lviv region, a region known for its culture, its faith and its fierce commitment to freedom.
Through Christina, her parents and our extended Ukrainian family, I have come to understand what Ukrainian identity means: perseverance, dignity, cultural pride and love of community. Christina is also dedicated to the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League, an organization that has done so much, especially in recent years, to mobilize humanitarian aid and support for newcomers, to preserve traditions and to strengthen community life.
Our two boys, Alexander and Sebastien, grew up dancing with Barvinok, one of Canada's most-celebrated Ukrainian dance ensembles. My wife and I wanted them to learn culture and to feel those stories in the steps, in the music and in the colours. I remember watching them backstage at performances and seeing the pride in their faces as they put on their embroidered vyshyvanka shirts and their boots. Those are memories that I hold deeply.
In Mississauga we are proud to be home to one of the most active and influential Ukrainian communities in our nation. Walking through our neighbourhoods, whether in Cooksville or Applewood, or across our broader region, we can see the legacy of a people who came here seeking opportunity, safety and dignity, and who helped build the Canada we know today.
St. Mary's Canadian Ukrainian Catholic Church in the heart of Mississauga has long been more than a place of worship; it is a spiritual anchor and a gathering space for thousands. Just a couple of weeks ago I was there with my family, meeting Father Jerry and the community for their annual Christmas bazaar, where hundreds gathered for folklore and festivities. St. Mary's is where families celebrate baptisms, weddings and Christmas Eve liturgies filled with candlelight, incense and the unmistakable beauty of Ukrainian hymnody. It is where newcomers have found support groups, charitable assistance and a community that welcomes them with open arms.
Nearby, the Barvinok Ukrainian Dance School, under the leadership of Fedir Danylak, continues a tradition that stretches back generations. The dancers, children, teenagers and adults, carry forward the colours, the steps and the stories of Ukraine. Every time Barvinok performs in Mississauga, across Canada or, for that matter, throughout the world, it reminds us that culture is not only preserved but is lived, danced, and sung, and is passed from one generation to the next.
We cannot speak of the Ukrainian presence in Mississauga without honouring the role of St. Sofia Byzantine Catholic School. For decades, St. Sofia has taught thousands of young people the Ukrainian language, Ukrainian history and enduring values of faith, community and cultural pride. The impact of that school is profound; many of its graduates become leaders, educators, entrepreneurs or artists who carry their heritage proudly while contributing to the fabric of our country.
Not long ago I spoke with a Mississauga parent who told me she enrolled her daughter at St. Sofia because she wanted her to know who she is and where she comes from. That young girl is now in high school, fluent in Ukrainian, still volunteering at community events and still dancing with Barvinok. This is how culture endures. This is how Canada grows stronger.
One cannot spend time with Ukrainian Canadians in Mississauga without hearing stories of sacrifice and resilience. I met a newcomer, a mother, who arrived with her two children after fleeing the war in Ukraine. She spoke about landing at Pearson airport with one suitcase, no job and no certainty about the future, but she also spoke about how St. Mary's parishioners rallied around her, finding her temporary housing, helping her access settlement services, bringing her clothing and food and ensuring that her children were enrolled in school within days.
Canada was the first western nation to recognize Ukraine's independence in 1991, and we remain steadfast in supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity today. Canada and Ukraine are a partnership of values, courage and friendship. We stand for sovereignty, democracy, human rights and peace. Beyond recognizing Ukraine's independence in 1991, Canada was one of the first countries to condemn Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, impose sanctions against those attacking Ukrainian sovereignty, provide military training through Operation Unifier, supply humanitarian aid, welcome displaced Ukrainian families and support Ukraine on the international stage in every forum, NATO, the G7 and the United Nations. Canada has helped rebuild power grids, supply medical equipment, support demining and strengthen Ukraine's democratic institutions.
Ukraine is not only fighting for its territory but for the principles that we hold together, and Canada stands proudly beside it. This is why I want to take a moment to thank my colleague, the member for Etobicoke Centre, who has been a true champion for Ukraine in this Parliament, advocating tirelessly for humanitarian aid, military support and the protection of Ukrainian culture and identity. His leadership has been felt not only here but in Ukraine and in communities across the GTA and Canada.
As we celebrate culture and heritage, we must also remember the history, especially its darkest chapters. The Holodomor was a man-made famine imposed by Stalin's regime in 1932 and 1933, killing millions of innocent Ukrainian men, women and children. It was a genocide, an attempt to erase the people, their language, their identity and their existence. In Mississauga, people gather yearly at a memorial organized with the leadership of St. Mary's, and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the UCC, has helped to make sure that Canadians are aware of the Holodomor through school programs, public exhibits, the Holodomor bus that arrives at Parliament Hill, survivor testimonials and community vigils.
The UCC, both nationally and through its Ontario and local chapters, is the backbone of Ukrainian community life in Canada. It advocates, educates, organizes cultural events, supports newcomers and mobilizes volunteers. Its work in Mississauga, together with my wife, Councillor Christina Yaremczuk-Fonseca, and chairwoman Liliya Gulych, held the first Ukrainian flag-raising and art exhibition in the city of Mississauga this year. The UCC ensures that the Ukrainian identity remains strong and future generations understand their heritage.
Ukrainian heritage month is a moment to celebrate the music and art of Barvinok, the faith and community of St. Mary's church, the education and cultural grounding of St. Sofia school, the leadership of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the resilience of families that came here seeking hope and the generations that helped build Mississauga into the thriving multicultural city it is today and Canada into a true symbol of hope.
In the House, during Ukrainian heritage month and throughout the year, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting Ukraine, defending democracy, promoting peace and celebrating the heritage of all who call Canada home. May Canada always stand with Ukraine, may our communities continue to grow in friendship, and may the spirit of the Ukrainian people be resilient, hopeful and unbreakable and continue to shine brightly across Mississauga and across our great country.
Slava Ukraini.