C-203 · Ukrainian Heritage Month Act
An Act respecting Ukrainian Heritage Month
- Designates September as 'Ukrainian Heritage Month' in Canada.
- Recognizes the contributions of Ukrainian Canadians to Canadian society.
- Aims to educate Canadians about Ukrainian heritage and history.
This part of the bill establishes September as Ukrainian Heritage Month across Canada.
This designation recognizes and celebrates the contributions of Ukrainians to Canadian society, promoting awareness of their culture and heritage. It helps foster inclusivity and diversity in the country's cultural landscape.
The bill addresses the need for formal recognition of the cultural contributions made by Ukrainians in Canada.
Ukrainian communities in Canada benefit from enhanced visibility and recognition of their heritage.
The tradeoff involves using government resources for cultural promotion, which some may argue could redirect funding from other community initiatives.
Read the actual text (2)
1This Act may be cited as the Ukrainian Heritage Month Act .
2Throughout Canada, in each year, the month of September is to be known as “Ukrainian Heritage Month”.
Official drafter summary (parl.ca)
This enactment designates the month of September as “Ukrainian Heritage Month”. Available on the House of Commons website at the following address: www.ourcommons.ca 1st Session, 45th Parliament, 3 Charles III, 2025 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-203 An Act respecting Ukrainian Heritage Month Preamble Whereas the first official Ukrainian immigrants to Canada, Vasyl Eleniak and Ivan Pylypiw, arrived on September 7, 1891, and Ukrainian immigrants began arriving in Canada in larger numbers in the years that followed; Whereas today Canada is home to more than 1.3 million Ukrainian Canadians; Whereas Canada was the first Western nation to recognize Ukraine’s independence in 1991; Whereas Canada has recognized that the Holodomor was a genocide perpetrated by the Soviet regime of Joseph Stalin, causing the death of millions of Ukrainians in 1932 and 1933, with the intent to destroy the Ukrainian people’s aspirations for a free and independent Ukraine; Whereas Canada opposes Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and continues to support Ukraine in its fight for its sovereignty and territorial integrity; Whereas Ukrainian Canadians have left and continue to leave a historic mark on Canada, with contributions that span communities across the country and are reflected in Canada’s economic, political, social and cultural life; And whereas Parliament wishes to recognize the inspirational role that Ukrainian Canadians have played and continue to play in communities across the country and to educate Canadians about that role by celebrating it; Now, therefore, His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the Ukrainian Heritage Month Act . Ukrainian Heritage Month Ukrainian Heritage Month 2 Throughout Canada, in each year, the month of September is to be known as “Ukrainian Heritage Month”. Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of Commons Publication Explorer Publication Explorer ParlVU Senate House of Commons Library of Parliament Employment at Parliament Important Notices $(function () { $('[data-toggle="tooltip"]').tooltip({ delay: { "show": 300, "hide": 50 }, placement: "top" }) }) $(document).ready(function () { var rawUrl = '/documentviewer/en/45-1/bill/C-203/first-reading'; $("a[href$='#StartOfContent']").each(function() { var newHref = rawUrl + "#StartOfContent"; $(this).attr('href', newHref); }); })
All parties expressed support for the bill, emphasizing its significance.







- First reading (House of Commons)Jun 4, 2025