EDMONTON—Where Ukrainian-Canadians once had to go to Toronto for consular services, they now have a home in Edmonton.

Speaking at the opening of the new Consulate General of Ukraine on Friday, Pavlo Klimkin, minister of foreign affairs for the eastern European country, said he felt he was “among friends” in the city, where thousands of Ukrainians have lived for generations.

He said the location will be more convenient for the many Ukrainians living in Western Canada who previously had to go to east for consular services. For Klimkin, the opening of the consulate also meant an opportunity for economic and cultural growth between the two countries.

“Many, many years ago, just two Ukrainians came over here and basically they felt: it’s not like Ukraine 100 per cent, but it’s very similar,” said Klimkin to a crowd outside the new consulate. “It felt like Ukraine, and they decided to get back and to come again with 35 Ukrainians, and now we have 367,000 (in Canada).”

According to the 2016 census, there are around 1.3 million Canadians who claim Ukrainian heritage.

Klimkin went on to thank Canada for supporting them in their struggle against Russia since 2014, when the Crimean peninsula was annexed. Canada has denounced Russia’s annexation.

“I can do it in any sequence, whether it’s about federal government, about people here, for your amazing support in our fight against the Russian aggression ... for us, it’s about our survival,” he said.

Echoing his sentiment was Kirsty Duncan, the federal minister of sport and persons with disabilities, who said in her speech that the Canadian government has sent $750 million in support to Ukraine since Russia’s actions.

“We are steadfast in our commitment to the people of Ukraine. We know that the combination of Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and the ensuing conflict in eastern Ukraine have had a devastating impact on the Ukrainian economy,” said Duncan.

She also said Ukrainian-Canadian Heritage Day was an emotional one for her since her family came from the country in the early 1900s.

“They settled in the West, but when they came to Canada, they often lost contact with their families,” she said. “The letter writing became less, and today, this strengthens once again that strong friendship between our two countries.”

Premier Rachel Notley and Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson also expressed their excitement at the new economic, cultural, and academic opportunities between Alberta and Ukraine.

After dignitaries and guests listened to the singing of the Canadian and Ukrainian anthems — in French, English and Ukrainian — they lined up to cut a yellow-and-blue ribbon, officially signifying the opening of the consulate.

Feeling a little homesick after hearing the Ukrainian anthem was Halyna Miller, an immigration lawyer in Calgary who moved to Canada from Ukraine eight years ago.

“It was the first country that recognized Ukrainian independence, so, traditionally, there’s really strong ties between Ukraine and Canada,” she said. “The consulate will strengthen those ties.”

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Her appreciation for Canada preserving Ukrainian traditions goes back to when the country was part of the Soviet Union and many people living there lost touch with their culture. Once the Soviet Union fell, moving to Canada provided an opportunity to reconnect.

“So many Ukrainian people who resided in Ukraine, they didn’t know many Ukrainian traditions,” Miller said. “But here, Ukraine’s traditions are so preserved — like many people, they do embroideries, they paint Easter eggs, they cook very old traditional Ukrainian recipes, so it is great that people respect that tradition.”

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