SARAH WILLIAMS
STAFF WRITER
Prince Edward County Council is seeking a Friendship Agreement with the Ukrainian city of Krasyliv. Being mostly symbolic in nature, the agreement will focus on camaraderie, support and solidarity as opposed to a “twinning” agreement, which would focus on the commercial and cultural relationship between the two regions. Council received a staff report during the April 25th meeting detailing this matter.
Speaking of the Friendship Agreement, Councillor Bill Roberts pointed to the important show of solidarity this will provide for beleaguered Ukrainians who have had to deal with the Russian invasion since early 2022 along with an uncertain future.
“This sends a public statement made to our publics, of the intent and the hope of the municipality – a message of understanding, awareness and respect of the sacrifice and bravery of Ukraine and Ukrainians, not only for the war, but what happens after the war,” Roberts expressed.
Bill Roberts. (Jason Parks/Gazette Staff)
Mayor Steve Ferguson intends to contact elected officials in Krasyliv Territorial Community to discuss the new relationship and how the two municipalities could work together. Should interpretation services or translation be required during the agreement process, cost is estimated at $1,000 to $1,500.
Future costs would be dependent on the nature and content of the agreement.
Though not currently occupied by Russia, Krasyliv is suffering the consequences of war and providing refuge to more than 3,000 displaced Ukrainians.
The town of Krasyliv’s population is 19,761 and is comprised of a region that includes 30 smaller villages, which make a population of just under 30,000.
In July 2019, the County hosted a delegation of 14 elected officials from Ukraine to support them with municipal reform. Its restructuring resembled the process that reduced the number of Ontario municipalities to from 814 to 447, resulting in the amalgamation of Prince Edward County to a single-tier municipality in 1998.
Nila Ostrovska, Mayor of Krasyliv, was part of this delegation of Ukrainians. Speaking of this, Mayor Steve Ferguson recalled a “wonderful” delegation eager to learn.
“They were wonderful people,” said Ferguson. “We had a bit of a language problem, but we got around that. I look at the pictures that I took when they were here and they were happy, and they were engaged and they were learning about us, learning from us. And I wonder, almost on a daily basis, what has happened to those people.”
Throughout 2022, there have been a host of community events and demonstrations of aid for Ukraine. This includes:
Staff will provide council with a Friendship Policy to guide the relationship with Krasyliv, including how this relationship will be administered and resourced.
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