Portage la Prairie is marking a significant milestone for Canada's Ukranian population. Yesterday afternoon Mayor Irvine Ferris signed a proclamation marking 125 years since the first wave of Ukranian Immigrants landed in Canada, and August 24th as the 25th Anniversary of Ukrainian's independence after the fall of the Soviet Union. Tess Achtemichuk is the co-chair of the group working to plan the anniversary celebrations and joined other Ukranian Portagers at city hall yesterday for the signing.

She's excited the city is recognizing the importance of the anniversary, and the Ukrainian population's contributions to the country. She notes when the first wave landed they were given plots of land in the prairies, and required to pay to register the land, and also had to clear the land as mandated by the government. She says it was a hard life for the first arrivals, but says with so much oppression in Ukraine, the Ukrainians really just wanted to create a better life for future generations, as even higher education wasn't available under the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

"I think we're all very proud to be Ukrainians, and to be able to contribute back to our country. Even our first pioneers, they came and their descendants were able to get an education here to go into different professions, and give back to Canada. Canada was their new country, their new home."

Since that first wave prior to World War 1 there would be three more waves of Ukrainians including before and after the Second World War, and once Ukraine declared independence from the USSR in 1991.

Achtemichuk says even though the first arrivals came at a very different time, the appeal of Canada to many across the world remains. She's grateful to be one of the many Ukrainians born and living in Canada, noting it's one of the best countries in the world.

"We're just very privileged to be living in a country like Canada. When you look around what's happening in the world today, you think Canada's the safest place that accepts us, and many other cultures. We're a very multi-cultural country and we're very proud of that."

She's looking forward to the multiple celebrations taking place to mark the milestone. The first is a flag-raising at city hall on August 24th to mark the Independence of Ukraine, and the second is a banquet set for September 18th, which will celebrate the 125 years since Ukrainians first came to Canada.