Shannon Stubbs honours Vyshyvanka Day in Ottawa

May 19 was a celebration of color in the House of Commons, as many Members of Parliament (MP) donned traditional Ukrainian attire to recognize Vyshyvanka Day.

MP Shannon Stubbs was one of those who wore traditional clothing to the session. She and MP RoseMarie Falk who share the border city of Lloydminster stood alongside the Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre.

When asked about Vyshyvanka Day in Ottawa, MP Stubbs said, “ I am proud to wear a beautiful Vyshyvanka from Ceramic Cottage in Vegreville on Vyshyvanka Day in Ottawa.

My husband and I grew up in Lakeland. I have so many memories of the loving Ukrainian families in Lamont County who regularly included me in their family and holiday celebrations because all my extended relatives were in Atlantic Canada and Ontario. My husband Shayne’s Ukrainian family have been settled in the region around Two Hills and Innisfree for 120 years, since 1903 before Alberta even became a province, and we gather at ever-growing family reunions every 5 years near Mundare so I’m looking forward to seeing everyone this summer. Of all the federal ridings across Canada, the highest percentage – 25% – of Ukrainian Canadians live in Lakeland, and I’m proud to represent their families and communities”.

Vyshyvanka Day

Vyshyvanka Day is an international holiday that aims to preserve the Ukrainian folk traditions of creating and wearing ethnic embroidered clothes called vyshyvankas. It is celebrated on the third Thursday of May.[1] Vyshyvankas are, along with pysankas (traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs), one of the best known symbols of Ukrainian culture.