The Ukrainian flag was raised over Ottawa City Hall in honor of Ukraine’s Independence Day.
MPs and senators, staff of the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada, members of the diplomatic community, and members of Ottawa’s Ukrainian community took part in the flag-raising ceremony, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.
Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe assured attendees that Canada’s capital would continue to support Ukraine in its struggle. “The City of Ottawa and its residents are proud to support Ukraine and our Ukrainian community,” Sutcliffe said.
Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada Andrii Plakhotniuk also addressed those gathered. “Ukrainians are not only honoring independence, but also defending it,” Plakhotniuk said, thanking Canada and Canadians for their support.
At the end of the flag-raising ceremony, the Ukrainian ambassador presented embroidered Ukrainian shirts (vyshyvankas) to Ukrainian children born in Canada this year. “These children were born at a time when Ukraine is fighting for its freedom and future. But we want them to grow up knowing Ukraine not through war, but as a strong, independent, and democratic state,” he emphasized.
