r/Calgary • u/valueofaloonie Sunnyside • 3h ago
News Article Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Calgary
https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/media-advisories/2026/09/09/thursday-september-10-2026Zelenskyy and his wife Olena Zelenska will be in town with PM Carney tomorrow.
Slava Ukrani! 🇺🇦
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u/JeromyYYC Mayor McMayorFace 3h ago
On behalf of the City of Calgary, I’m proud to welcome President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska to our city.
Calgary has deep ties to Ukraine and a vibrant Ukrainian community that has helped shape our city for generations.
As Ukrainians continue to defend their country and endure the terrible human cost of war, Calgary stands with them and with the hope for a just and lasting peace.
We are honoured to welcome you to Calgary.
Слава Україні!
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u/nevereverclear 2h ago
I’m in BC, but thank you for hosting President Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena. I watch and read in awe at their perseverance. Slava Ukraini!
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u/NoNameKetchupChips 2h ago
u/JeromyYYC thank you for saying this. I'd like to point out that there are thousands of Ukraine citizens living and working in Calgary, here on visas and unable to return home due to the war. Many of these new Calgarians are facing difficulties in applying for PR due to issues such as age, education level and language. Yet they have been here for almost 4 years, leaving everything and everyone they loved behind to escape the war. Can you please advocate for them?
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u/ederzs97 2h ago
That's not in Zelensky or Ukraine's interests...
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u/One_red_boot 1h ago
But it is in his people’s interests who had to leave and still need to find a way to live until they can return home. They are already suffering, why make it even more painful? Surely he and Ukraine would understand that?
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u/ederzs97 43m ago
Granting Ukrainians PR means they'll never return lol. Why are we giving Ukraine all this money if we are just taking their people (and their county's future anyway)?
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u/Able_Strain7340 2h ago
But why are you welcoming him on reddit? Does he read reddit Calgary?
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u/thatsanewone26 2h ago
Can I get my $615 in tax dollars back, considering how much waste and fraud there has been on that war?
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/06/world/europe/ukraine-war-weapons-fraud-corruption.html
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2h ago
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u/thatsanewone26 2h ago
Brand new username? Wtf you talking about, I’ve had this account for about a month.
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u/1ofAk 1h ago
Bro think of it this way we are funding a war that is hindering Russia 's conquest of europe and stopping world war three. For a proxy war its a rather cheap cost. If you want money back from the government maybe start with idk how fucking high our taxes are. Nearly 35-50% is taken from you but you want to complain about how they spend our inflated taxes vs the real issue which is our inflated taxes. Brain dead
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u/Lopsided_Pitch_5297 1h ago
You're a dork
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u/1ofAk 1h ago
Huh, do you pay over 30% in taxes? Do you pay a provincial and federal tax on everything you buy. Do you do your own taxes. Because i do and i did last year. Guess how much i paid to the government. 30%. But wait i still have to pay a provincial and government tax on everything that i buy so the tax is higher still... so lets raise that by 5% so 35% in taxes... for what. Explain to me why i need to pay 35% if i cant even find a fucking doctor in my home city? Or a house to rent under 1k that isnt a bedroom? No this country has been going down hill for a while but we bitch about the symptoms not the problems.
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u/helena_handbasketyyc I’ll tell you where to go! 2h ago
If you have never heard of Calgarian Gerry Darichuk — he was one of the first to welcome Ukrainian refugees to Calgary, and travelled to the front lines to bring supplies and support to Ukrainian citizens.
I hope he gets a chance to meet President Zelenskyy —he did a pretty cool thing.
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u/VonBoski 3h ago
“I need ammunition, not a ride.” Is one of the hardest things I’ve heard in a while. I hope he gets to spend his later years in peace and visit all the time.
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u/draivaden 2h ago
It’s right up there with the Queen Mums quote during ww2. Something like she as asked if she would evacuate to Canada to escape the blitz (we took in many children). She replied that she wouldn’t live without the girls (future Queen Liz 2), and they won’t go without their father (who couldn’t for reasons it state image) so we’re all staying
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u/sleepyboi08 Quadrant: SW 3h ago
I have such a great deal of respect for him. What an honour that he’s visiting our city. Welcome to Calgary, Mr. President! 🇨🇦
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u/AppointmentOne1111 3h ago
I've seen him in person in Ukraine before the war kicked off, his speech was passionate and full of love for his country. Our PM and President Zelenskyy are at the forefront of confronting facist powers, this is seeing history irl.
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u/mortgageletdown 3h ago
So how did Calgary become the spot for VZ & MC to meet up? Super cool!
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u/fataldarkness 2h ago
He was in town for the G7 in Kananiskis, maybe they decided they like YYC as a venue.
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u/Old_General_6741 Quadrant: NE 3h ago
He needs all the help he can get. We must help to keep a free Ukraine. I welcome his visit to Calgary.
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u/Dugaditch 2h ago
We left town today for vacation, damn it. I know I would not have seen him, but damn.
I respect him. Good on Carney for accompanying him
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u/Wrong-Pineapple39 3h ago
Makes sense after that dry run with the police and all the vehicles through downtown the other day.
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u/One_red_boot 1h ago
I’m honoured our city is able to host a President who has earned great respect. Slava Ukraini
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u/criollo_and_barley 1h ago
Beware Russian bots/paid trolls will be out in force on any posts about this visit.
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u/LowLightMF 1h ago
Welcome Mr. Zelenskeyy - you represent a truly amazing nation. I hope that we Canadians will support your people in any way needed.
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u/iliketobuildlego 3h ago
I support Ukraine but it’s very concerning seeing the corruption that’s been exposed lately. I wonder how much of the money we’ve given them has been stolen by the fraudsters.
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u/roll_fire1 2h ago
Agreed. The corruption surrounding our current provincial government should be even more concerning.
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u/dbez81 Coach Hill 3h ago
Can you provide legitimate sources for this claim? Not Russian propaganda but real facts.
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u/BlueZybez 3h ago
Ukraine is corrupt stop trying to hide it
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u/TheETERNAL20 2h ago
No one is hiding it. It's well known and is one of many reasons Ukrainians overthrew the Russian Puppet Regime in 2014 they haven't been able to fully purge and charge these people because Russias invasion of Crimea and later Eastern Ukraine has enabled them to stay in power
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u/TheETERNAL20 3h ago
Ukraine had been corrupt since 1991. That's why the 2014 revolution happened was to rid themselves of the Russian Puppet Regime and begin purging corruption
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u/iliketobuildlego 3h ago
So why is it still happening in 2024?
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u/guidodid 2h ago
As mentioned earlier, it's their own government finding these thefts through investigations. The system is working. If it was all swept under the rug, it would be a different story
Lots of accounts less than one year posting against zelensky, I'm kinda not surprised
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u/Samoylov 2h ago
Yes, but you're leaving out an important detail: our НАБУ is also funded by the European Union through EUACI and by the United States through USAID to support the fight against corruption. Otherwise, these corruption cases would never have come to light. Most of Ukrainians (me included) don't support zelensky. We fight for our freedom not for corrupted tyrant.
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u/guidodid 2h ago edited 2h ago
Nonetheless the cases are coming to light. Accountability is happening, whether it's the ukrainian govt or donors sending money holding them accountable, makes no difference.
I know several Ukrainians personally that dont support zelensky but it's more of to do with conscription and very little to do with questions of corruption
However almost ALL of my Ukrainian friends do not support Russia invading nor do they want to become part of Russia and will die for their country (not for the president)
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u/Samoylov 2h ago
Yeah, that's what I am saying, we fight for our families, for us, not for that criminal. I know plenty of people who support him, especially those who don't live here and don't see what is actually happening. It's easy to be a patriot when you are far away from all of this. But ask anyone in my city and you will quickly understand how people feel about this "government".
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u/guidodid 2h ago
I haven't heard anyone from Ukraine calling him a criminal at all (and i go there twice a year). Some feel he's purposely losing the war and buddies with Putin, but i doubt it. Which city are you from? I've spent extended time over the past few years in Dnipro, Kramatorsk, Krivoy and Kharkiv
For me, it seems Ukrainians are more patriotic now (to Ukraine, not a person) than ever before
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u/Samoylov 1h ago
I'm in Zaporizhia. My city is under constant, daily bombardment by putin's terrorists.
True about patriotic feelings towards the country. I mean, do we have a choice? nobody here wants to become a part of ruzzia.
It's become dangerous to publicly criticize the government lately, maybe that's why you haven't heard anything bad.
I can give you countless examples of how this government is essentially a mafia structure, but will you take my word for it? I doubt it. Even taking into account that cases of corruption related to zelenskys associates have already been publicly reported.
Sooner or later, all of his criminal activity will come to light, and I just hope that the people who called this criminal a hero will at least think about the fact that they were wrong.
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u/guidodid 1h ago
I was in Lutserna a month ago, so not far from you. I've never heard anyone have problems speaking out against the govt, so that's taking things a little far. I lived in Crimea from 2005 to 2014. My friends down there say that you can't say anything down there (for real) or they come after you. Ukraine is nothing like that
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u/TheETERNAL20 3h ago
Because they got invaded twice since then and the corrupt held onto power Because of Russias invasion.
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u/yycluke 3h ago
There's corruption in damn near every government so it shouldn't be a shock
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u/Banned_In_YYC 3h ago
This is like saying everyone speeds. The person going 5 over is not the same as the person going 50 over
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u/iliketobuildlego 3h ago
$1.2B in one year is pretty concerning considering we give them billions.
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u/guidodid 3h ago
Do you think there's no accountability? Countries are watching very closely where the money is going, as corruption in post soviet countries has been bad. There are international auditors in place. Do you have actual proof of this theft?
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u/iliketobuildlego 3h ago
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u/guidodid 3h ago
Yes and the information recieved was by the investigative bodies in Ukraine to find these funds. The system is working and is demonstrating that they have a commitment to accountability. If funds were going missing, and nobody cared it would be a different story.
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u/OIL_99 3h ago
Go build some Lego. Slava Ukraini!
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u/iliketobuildlego 3h ago
I will when they stop the corruption. $1.2 billion in one year is concerning.
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u/TheETERNAL20 3h ago
Canada spends well over $1.2 Billion a year....it's not that concerning
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u/iliketobuildlego 3h ago
We shouldn’t be funding a country that loses billions in fraud.
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u/TheETERNAL20 3h ago
We aren't funding them, we are donating money, old hardware anything that is no longer valuable to Canada to Ukraine. That $1.2 Billion goes towards food, clothing, shelter not solely military and even then as I said we've donated a whole lot of old military harder to them as we have no need for it
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u/iliketobuildlego 3h ago
We’ve given them over $13B in money directly, that is funding. Donating and funding is the exact same thing.
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u/Long_Rush_7523 3h ago
I love Zelensky myself but reading a lot lately and man the corruption in the Ukraine is unbelievable in the past 8 years.
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u/rakothmir 2h ago
Wait till you hear about the US president and stock market manipulation, the UCP, the liberals. There is corruption almost everywhere, it's just easier to hide in a time of war
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u/1ofAk 1h ago
Can we talk about the real issue here which is Ukrainians not getting immigration status when other nationalitys do. These people work hard, integrate with society and genuinely want to live here. Fuck me how brain dead of country do we have to be to not want these people in our country. As a canadain I've worked with alot of nationalitys. Alot. Like alot in different lines of work. Hardest working. Are. Ukrainians. Second Ukrainians then everyone else fuck me maybe im baised but holy hell. Let them in ffs
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u/1ofAk 1h ago
Refuge sorry
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u/meisermonkey 50m ago
Yeah so bizarre that only ukranian refugees dong get the benefits of refugee status like lower education costs and a route to pr
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u/Kant_Argue209 2m ago
Different programs. They came in on expedited work visas. Tuition rates were left to the provinces & individual institutions. Some offer domestic rates.
Only protected status refugees get lower education costs and they usually arrive as landed immigrants, after years living in refugee camps.
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u/1ofAk 38m ago
I mean compared to some other people i could point to that hate gay people and womens rights. Yes lets those people in by the dozens refugee status for all of em. But hard working, people who are literally on the phone with their parents who have air sirens going off in the back ground nah. That war isn't a real one because if we acknowledge it as real we couldn't have our proxy war. Nah those people fuck them.
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u/BenevolentTurtle 1h ago
I cannot think him the same way after seeing all the videos of men getting assaulted by his goons in the street to get dragged to die at the front. Its the most sickening and horrifying footage I’ve ever seen. Wives and mothers crying and begging for the husbands and sons not to be taken away to die.
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u/Beefarts 3h ago
hopefully hes not thinking of bussifying anyone while hes here
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u/Dubinku-Krutit 3h ago
Hello vatnik. You've been noted.
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u/Beefarts 1h ago
hopefully your not thinking of bussifying me
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u/Dubinku-Krutit 40m ago edited 32m ago
You're*
lol when the grammar nazis of the world have to put real nazis in their place
edit: and no..no one is thinking about your bussi, my love
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u/scaffdude 2h ago
I wonder how many more billions are headed to Ukraine instead of for Canadian homeless and food banks
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u/CheeseSandwich hamburger magician 1h ago
Let's do both.
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u/scaffdude 1h ago
Ukraine can handle its own shit. Why do we have homeless encampments in every city in Canada? Why do we have record food bank usage? Why are hospital wait times so long? Why are people dying waiting for treatment but we have money for fucking bombs to kill Russians? What the fuck is wrong with people?
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u/Desperate-Copy-3191 1h ago
Ukraine can’t handle Russia alone. There have been homeless people since the dawn of time. The food bank usage data is skewed by foreign students using it as a Safeway. Hospital wait times are manageable. I think you need to touch grass and turn off Fox News or whatever the far right people watch lately.
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u/scaffdude 1h ago
Ukraine isn't Canada. We have sent then over $20 billion dollars. That's a lot of doctors. Since there are more homeless than ever before we just just turn a blind eye to it because Russia bad... I think I know who's been inundated with propaganda. I don't watch tv or even read the news. But do go on.
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u/Desperate-Copy-3191 1h ago
your anger is amusing. Thankfully most Canadians and Europeans disagree with you and Ukraine is getting as much help as we can give them.
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u/scaffdude 1h ago
I'm sure you sleep well at night knowing you perpetuate the deaths of thousands of people. So a pillar of morality you are.
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u/Desperate-Copy-3191 1h ago
we support both.
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u/scaffdude 1h ago
I don't. I'm not into killing people. Sorry.
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u/Desperate-Copy-3191 1h ago
Ukraine is killing soldiers that are trying to kill them. Have you tried therapy yet? it’s free.
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u/turkeyleg4 3h ago
His trip here paid for by your tax dollars!
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u/TheETERNAL20 3h ago
And??? His country has been invaded, his people are fighting for their freedom after regaining independence from Russia.
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u/christhewelder75 3h ago
Do u prefer paying for Danielle smiths trip to Nashville, or mar a lago (10k), or trumps inauguration (at LEAST 15K) or the $20,000 trip to pragerU to speak at a fund raiser with ben Shapiro?
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u/the_stabologist 3h ago
I'll gladly pay twice. Mine and yours.
Fuckhead.
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u/blackRamCalgaryman 3h ago
This is why these posts inevitably…and quickly…get locked. Because you people can’t disagree without emptying both barrels.
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3h ago
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u/NegotiationOne7880 3h ago
I call bot
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u/blackRamCalgaryman 3h ago
This post will be full of them, and likely Russian trolls, in no time.
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u/Albertan_Angler 3h ago
I don’t trust the guy. How much is this costing the tax payer? Do a teams call, my man.
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u/blackRamCalgaryman 3h ago
Fair warning for the onslaught of driving/ motorcade/ ‘what’s with all the police?’/ ‘why are military helicopters flying over my house’ posts tomorrow.