Event Highlights:

• OSUDemocracy celebrated three years of intercultural collaboration — 25 OSUDemocracy Certificates were presented to our outstanding local champions—individuals whose actions continue to reflect and promote democratic values in their communities.
• Meet our champions here.
• A Certificate of Intercultural Collaboration was awarded to OSUDemocracy by the Honourable Greg Fergus, then Speaker of the House of Commons.
• PowerPoint Presentation: "Cultures in Struggle: Stories of Democracy Through Art"
• Hamoon Hasannezhad performed traditional Iranian music on the Kamancheh, transporting the audience to pre-revolutionary Iran and offering a glimpse into life before and after the rise of the authoritarian Islamic regime. His performance underscored the value of democracy and reminded us that the first victims of its absence are often women.
• Choeur Nomade performed “Gens du pays” by Quebec’s beloved Gilles Vigneault. This song serves as an anthem for Quebec's enduring culture and its determination to preserve its identity for future generations.
• Vasyl Popadiuk, the Ukrainian musical prodigy, shared a deeply emotional performance on the violin. His story reflects the high cost of standing for freedom: as a child during Soviet times, his father was imprisoned because Vasyl drew a Ukrainian trident at school. Today, in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he mourns the loss of his brother and close family friend, Dr. Dmytro Serbin, who was killed by a Russian sniper while giving first aid to a Ukrainian soldier. Vasyl’s music spoke of grief, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit.
• A minute of silence was held in honour of the late Mykola, brother of OSUDemocracy President Victoria. Mykola, a Ukrainian soldier from Kupiansk, lost his life just two days before the event. We extend our deepest condolences to Victoria and her family. May the hero rest in peace. Slava Ukraini! Heroyam Slava!
• Georgian cuisine: Maia Geladze
• Catering: Duke Fine Foods
• Pastry Chef: Ivanna Ostrovska

Additional Information:

• Purpose of the event: Radio-Canada must follow journalistic norms and stop using the outdated Russian transcription of the Ukrainian capital! The public broadcaster must overcome Russian bias and use the correct Ukrainian transcription in French: Kyïv.
• Volunteers: 30 participants
• Sponsors: Duke Fine Foods, LATCA, Painting with Janet, Oleksandra Guyowa
• Media Coverage: Western Quebec, TVA
• OSUDemocracy Newsletter Subscription: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/c7f3a17c-dc54-4c0b-8a9f-b36fe793a9ba
• Languages Used: French and English
• Attendance: 200 people