Christmas lights in Canadian capital extended until Jan. 8

OTTAWA - Christmas lights on Parliament Hill in the Canadian capital will remain lit until January 8 as a result of lobbying by ethnic communities that celebrate Christmas on January 7.

Sen. Raynell Andreychuk announced she is delighted that the Senate has displayed sensitivity to Canada's multicultural communities. She had raised the matter in the Senate in December.

"I want to express my appreciation to Sen. Al Graham, the leader of the government in the Senate, for his understanding of our multicultural communities and to the National Capital Commission for extending these illuminations," Sen. Andreychuk said.

Oksana Bashuk-Hepburn, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Ottawa Branch, who lobbied for the extension of the lights, said, "This is great news. We are impressed with the government's response. The blackout is over, the lights are shining. Merry Ukrainian Christmas, Canada."

Canadian multicultural communities, including the Ukrainian, Armenian, Serbian, Coptic and other members of the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox communities, celebrate Christmas according to the Julian calendar. A number of individuals had made representations asking that the Christmas lights display schedule on Parliament Hill be adjusted to reflect their celebrations of this key religious and family holiday.

"The communities have made a massive contribution to Canada and possess a natural desire to feel a part of Canada. In turn, Canada has displayed the courtesy and sensitivity to the fact that they celebrate Christmas on different dates and through the Christmas Lights Program has recognized this reality," Sen. Andreychuk added.

A news release from the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association noted that, acting on the initiative of Member of Parliament Sarkis Assadourian, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the UCCLA and individuals in the community wrote to the National Capital Commission to recommend that the Christmas lights on Parliament Hill remain lit until at least January 8. Support for this initiative also came from supporters of the community, like the MP for Kingston and the Islands, Peter Milliken, who is deputy speaker of the House of Commons.

On December 10, 1998, Jaap Schouten, vice-president of the NCC's National Programming and Marketing Branch, informed Dr. Lubomyr Luciuk of the UCCLA that this year the Parliament Hill display will be the last site to have its lights dismantled. In coming years, he noted, the NCC will "take good note" of the suggestion of extending the illumination dates of the program, which "many people have requested."

The UCCLA urged community members to add their voices to requests that the Christmas Lights Program on Parliament Hill be permanently extended until January 8 each year by writing to: National Capital Commission, 202-40 Elgin St., Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 1C7.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 3, 1999, No. 1, Vol. LXVII

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