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Vyshyvanka Day

Thursday, in response to the Minister's statement, I spoke on Vyshyvanka Day at the Manitoba Legislature (from Hansard).
Mr. Gerrard: Madam Speaker, I join other members of the Legislature in celebrating Vyshyvanka Day. It is an important day for people of Ukrainian origin. It is a colourful day with many colourful garments, and with symbols which are inspiring and meaningful and talk of optimism and hope for the future. The Ukrainian history for people who came from Ukraine to Manitoba dates back well more than 100 years when many people came in the early parts of the 1900s and, to some extent, even in the late 1800s. Ukrainian people who have come to Manitoba have made a huge contribution to our province in virtually all areas of life, from agriculture to science to health care, you name it, and there are many Ukrainians who are involved.
      We are very cognizant of the fact that the Holodomor occurred in the Ukraine and, of course, there are Ukrainians who have come to Canada since then. And it is one of the reasons why in Manitoba and Canada we are very strong in standing up for and with Ukraine, particularly since the independence of Ukraine from the Soviet Union and in the years since, working with people, colleagues, friends in Ukraine trying to do what we could in Manitoba and Canada with regard to helping people in Ukraine.

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