In the presence of the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, five Canadian educational institutions signed memorandums to join the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies.
“Russia is fighting us not only with weapons. It is also waging an information war against Ukrainian history, culture, language, and identity. That is why knowledge about Ukraine is also part of our defense today. This is precisely why the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies was launched in 2024 – to counter Russian disinformation through deeper study of our history, culture, language, literature, and present-day Ukraine,” the President’s wife emphasized.
The First Lady noted that in two years, the coalition has brought together 100 universities in 27 countries around the world, while another 100 institutions have expressed interest in joining. This cooperation is leading to new departments, programs, courses, summer schools, and scholarships, as well as direct connections between Ukrainian and foreign universities.
“Usually, in every country, I have to explain why this matters. I have to emphasize that knowledge about Ukraine matters to the entire free world. I have to stress that truth makes everyone stronger. It arms us against evil and its manipulation. But here in Canada, I don’t need to convince anyone. Your community preserved Ukrainian heritage when Ukraine itself could not. The same is true of your educational institutions: for decades, they have turned that memory into a system – courses, departments, and research centers,” Olena Zelenska said.
The President’s wife thanked Canadian members of the Coalition, as well as the institutions that signed memorandums to join today but have already been developing Ukrainian programs for decades: Toronto Metropolitan University; the University of Alberta and its Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies; the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy; MacEwan University; and the Ukrainian Museum of Canada.
Olena Zelenska also met with First Lady of Canada Diana Fox Carney and thanked her for Canada’s key role in the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. Thanks to international cooperation through Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Bring Kids Back UA initiative, 2,525 children and young people abducted by Russia have already been returned.
In addition, Olena Zelenska invited Diana Fox Carney to join events held as part of the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen.
“On August 24 this year, our global community held its sixth gathering in Kyiv. It focused on societal resilience. Guests from around the world shared their own experiences of resilience – a combination of practices, connections, and solutions that help people, communities, and countries withstand pressure and recover after periods of turbulence and challenges. We now plan to continue this conversation at a special Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen event during the UN General Assembly in New York,” the President’s wife noted.
A Ukrainian-language audio guide is also now available in Toronto on a sightseeing route operated by City Sightseeing Worldwide. This gives Ukrainian visitors the opportunity to learn about Toronto’s history, culture, and landmarks in their native language.
The Toronto audio guide is the 126th in a project that brings together leading landmarks in 59 countries.
“Ukrainian is being heard around the world, telling the stories of landmarks and events that matter to all civilized countries. This is how the language of a people fighting evil should sound – freely and loudly – supporting its own people and making new friends,” the First Lady emphasized.