Through multiple events in four Canadian cities — Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, and Winnipeg — Nobel Peace Prize recipient Oleksandra Matviichuk raised awareness of the plight of the thousands of Ukrainian children stolen by Russia, the impact of the war on women and children, and her ongoing work with the Centre for Civil Liberties Ukraine in cataloguing human rights abuses and war crimes, while raising funds for the civil society work of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation to aid in these areas.
Ms. Matviichuk discussed the ongoing human rights abuses perpetrated by Russia in Ukraine with Canada’s government officials and politicians, respected academics, think tank experts, and students ranging from elementary to university levels.
In Ottawa, on June 3rd, Oleksandra Matviichuk met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to talk about pressing needs in Ukraine – justice for war crimes, and the return of the 20,000 Ukrainian children stolen by Russia, and later testified before the Senate Committee on Human Rights. She was warmly received by the ambassadors of Sweden and Norway (the two Nobel prize sponsoring countries) and the ambassador of Ukraine, who jointly hosted a reception in her honour. Ms. Matviichuk also held a private lunch with women leaders, including Canadian human rights activists and major influencers within Canada’s political parties.
On Tuesday, June 4th, the Nobel laureate started the day meeting with MPs from the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group where they discussed the need to strengthen legal frameworks for investigating Russian war crimes – and generally keeping Ukraine on the public radar. That was followed by a similar meeting with a group of senators – particularly those active in the foreign affairs, defence and human rights space. She held a thorough policy discussion with representatives from the Official Opposition on how best to support Ukraine.
She then visited both chambers of Parliament – the Senate gallery and the House of Commons gallery – and was formally recognized by both Speakers, to applause from parliamentarians. After that came a courtesy call with the Speaker of the House, and a private tête-à-tête with Foreign Minister Melanie Joly to discuss the immense challenges of identifying and returning Ukraine’s 20,000 stolen children. They spoke about the upcoming Peace summit in Switzerland, and about facilitating exchanges so Canadian parliamentarians can see firsthand what is happening in Ukraine. Ms. Matviichuk then formally presented to the House of Commons Subcommittee on International Human Rights. Between events, she also managed to sneak in an impromptu brief bilateral with Canada’s Industry minister, which quickly turned into a tri-lateral when his Official Opposition critic joined in.
She ended the day with a fundraiser reception to raise resources for civil society work and the ongoing work of investigating war crimes.
Throughout the day on Tuesday, grassroots activists held a vigil outside the Parliament buildings with a “DeTy” exhibit – a double-entendre from the Russian word for “children” that was written on the Mariupol theatre that was obliterated in a Russian bomb raid. In Ukrainian, the same letters spell the words “where are you” – an apt coincidence highlighting the crisis of Ukraine’s missing children.
Wednesday, June 5th started with a meeting of the broader Ukraine team at the Department of Foreign Policy about Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Ms. Matviichuk then received a standing ovation by the Bloc Quebecois caucus – no strangers to the theme of cultural preservation – and held a frank meeting with the BQ leader about cultural and linguistic genocide. She then was the keynote at a luncheon event with Canadian Justice Minister Arif Virani, where they later shared the stage in a moderated Q&A on prosecuting war crimes, moderated by journalist extraordinaire Paul Wells. Minister Virani graciously presented her with a framed copy of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms written in Ukrainian.
Ms. Matviichuk then went to the offices of the Parliamentary Centre – an Ottawa-based democracy promotion NGO, where she met with the heads of numerous Canadian developments, human rights and democracy organizations. Following the round table, Oleksandra Matviichuk visited the Dominion Arboretum in Ottawa, where she ceremonially planted a white chestnut – the official tree of Kyiv – in memory of the children victims of war. Once she officially tagged the tree, it became an official part of the “Living Collection” of Canada’s national arboretum – a living monument under the stewardship of the Crown, for future generations.
The day concluded with another diplomatic reception hosted by the ambassador of Denmark in celebration of their national day. Ambassador Hanne Fugl Eskjær introduced Oleksandra and formally thanked her for her work before the who’s-who of the diplomatic community in Ottawa. She was able to have a second, informal, discussion with Foreign Minister Joly before departing that night for Montreal.
On Thursday, June 6th, Ms. Matviichuk met with the staff of Equitas, a Montreal-based international human rights education organization of which she herself is an alumnus. She then went to the Old Port quarter of Montreal to deliver the inaugural John Lemieux Human Rights Leadership Lecture, organized by the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies (MIGS) under Concordia University. Her keynote was followed by a journalist-moderated discussion with former ministers and Canadian human rights luminaries Irwin Cotler and Chris Alexander.
Then off to the airport to fly to Toronto where she just arrived in time for a gala fundraiser at the Old Mill in Etobicoke, where she gave another keynote address followed by a musical performance by international vocal sensation (and Ukrainian-Canadian from Winnipeg) Chantal Kreviazuk, who flew in from Los Angeles just to show her support for Oleksandra’s work. James Temerty, a generous supporter of Ukrainian projects, introduced Ms. Matviichuk to the stage. She privately presented the tour’s lead sponsor with a guelder rose (kalyna) to be planted on Canadian soil as a reminder of the suffering and resilience of Ukrainians in their ongoing struggle for freedom. Despite the somber message, the gala was a resounding success, and brought together the leadership of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada’s largest metropolis, along with allies of Ukraine in its dark hour.
Photo credit: Andrey Syrko
Friday, June 7th opened with a breakfast with the financial leadership of Canada’s business community. Some 250 guests – mostly not from the Ukrainian community – came to hear Ms. Matviichuk’s message about Russian aggression and the need to prosecute war crimes. The event proved to be the single most successful fundraiser of the tour. She then met with newcomer children and parents at St. Demetrius Eastern Rite Catholic School in Toronto to talk about her work.
As word got out about Ms. Matviichuk’s tour, she was approached by representatives of an art gallery to visit a special pop-up Banksy exhibition which included photos of the mysterious dissident artist’s recent street art in Kyiv protesting Putin’s war of aggression. To Ms. Matviichuk’s surprise, the exhibit curator and numerous staff at the Lighthouse gallery spoke flawless Ukrainian.
The final event of the day was a guest lecture at the University of Toronto’s Munk School where students were able to ask her questions about her work and the ongoing war. The lecture was followed by a dinner in her honour hosted by the faculty, where special guest Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland joined in for the discussion. (But don’t tell anyone; she was supposed to be door-knocking for the St. Paul’s by-election that houses UofT!)
Saturday morning, Oleksandra flew to Winnipeg where she was beautifully greeted at the airport with a Ukrainian ornate bread – korovai – and salt. This is an ancient traditional greeting for honoured guests. She visited Oseredok for a guided tour by institution’s leadership team, who took her through the art gallery and the archives that have been preserving priceless Ukrainian artifacts for eighty years.
With just enough time to change for another gala, Ukraine’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate transfixed the audience with her appeal for ongoing help for Ukraine. In a moving moment of solidarity, Knowledge Keeper Buffalo Stone from the Dakota nation welcomed Ms. Matviichuk with two gifts: a ribbon skirt simultaneously representing the Indigenous children of residential schools, missing and murdered Indigenous women, and Ukraine’s stolen children, as well as a white eagle feather wrapped in blue/yellow ribbons – praying for peace in Ukraine.
Ms. Matviichuk was introduced by accomplished lawyer, judge and senator, Sen. A. Raynell Andreychuk, as well as MLA Mark Wasyliw who brought a greeting on behalf of the premier. Canadian chanteuse Chantal Kreviazuk again enchanted the room with her song in tribute to Ms. Matviichuk.
Photo credit: Andrey Syrko
On her final day in Canada, Sunday, June 9th, Ms. Matviichuk lay flowers at the Holodomor memorial outside of Winnipeg City Hall. She then visited the Canadian Museum for Human Rights for a guided tour by the museum’s leadership team. She concluded with a join press conference with CEO Isha Khan. Guests then proceeded to a screening of a documentary about Ukraine’s stolen children, while Ms. Matviichuk bade farewell to Canada and went to the airport to fly to a conference in Berlin.
Following her tour, Ms. Matviichuk said she is “sincerely grateful to the Foundation for this tour, which I can call the best of my life. Every minute of my stay in Canada was thoughtful and effective. It was a truly remarkable tour, a testament to the exceptional team that organized it. I will always remember it with gratitude for all your efforts!!!”
She also sent a video which CUF has posted on her behalf, with the following message to all Canadians: “Dear Canada, thank you for welcoming me so graciously over the last seven days. Thank you for listening to the important message that Ukraine is suffering. Daily. That innocent people are being slaughtered by Russia’s genocidal war. Ukraine needs your help. Please do not forget my people. We are fighting a war for freedom. It’s a war for civilization itself – on your behalf as well. Thank you to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation for making this trip possible, to be able to visit your beautiful country. Slava Ukraini!”