Councillor Natalia Lishchyna

Happy New Year Everyone! It’s 2020 and the start of a new Decade! Had a wonderful time today chatting with residents at Town of Oakville annual Mayor and Council New Year’s Levee. Town Crier Ian Burkholder welcomed all to the event and @MayorRobBurton brought New Year greetings and showed a great video of Town of Oakville accomplishments over the last decade. (Coming to Youtube soon - stay tuned!). Raise Her Voice Chamber choir and Wind Quintet of the Oakville Chamber Orchest...ra entertained us with their beautiful voices and music. Thank you to my friend @MaggieHabeida of @Fotografiaboutique for capturing some of the images. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2020! Cheers, Natalia

Elections of governments that are free, fair, open and transparent are the hallmark of democratic countries. I have been lucky to grow up in Canada where this is a way of life. In my country of birth, it’s a relatively new concept. That is why I was interested to join Mission Canada 2019 as a short term observer (STO) for the Parliamentary Elections held in Ukraine last week on July 21st. Upon our arrival in Kyiv, we were warmly greeted at the airport by Canadian Ambassador t...o Ukraine, Roman Waschuk, Mission Head, Dr. Lloyd Axworthy and Deputy Mission Head, Olya Odynsky-Grod. The mission is neutral and impartial in its organization, conduct of observation and in its findings. While in the capital city of Kyiv, STOs received briefings and training for the upcoming election. As part of the CANADEM team (CANADEM is an international not-for-profit NGO) I was able to observe the campaign, and the opening, voting, counting and tabulation procedures on Election Day. You can find more information on the Mission Canada Ukraine Elections 2019 along with the Preliminary Statement on the Parliamentary Election at the website: canademmissions.ca From Kyiv my STO partner, Marc, and I were dispatched to the Khmelnytskyi Oblast in southwestern Ukraine. In particular, we were stationed in the beautiful city of Kamienets-Podilskyi (yes, there was a castle around the corner from the hotel). Our interpreter Julia and driver Sasha were fantastic in helping us do our work. For those who have traveled recently in Ukraine, you will know that whether you are in the capital of Kyiv or visiting the countryside, the beauty of the land is breathtaking. I would like to share some photos I was able to take along this amazing journey. Natalia

#Oakville Town Council overwhelmingly supported the Opt-Out option re: private cannabis retail stores. I speak to the motion starting at 1:54:00 youtu.be/JX-8DZGJ8SY via @YouTube

Today was a special Remembrance Day because a 100 years ago at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the Armistice was signed to end World War One -the Great War. Since 1918, Canadians have stood in two minutes of silence on this day to remember the members of the Canadian armed forces who died in the line of duty and thank the veterans who made it home. The Great War did not end all wars and today we continue to see armed conflict in the world. On Remembrance Da...y, we honour the sacrifice of all veterans who continue to serve our country. A 100 years later it’s even more important to learn the history of Canada’s nationhood. I am so proud of my friend General Rick Hillier for executive producing this incredible documentary Forged in Stone that takes you to the WW1 battlefields where Canada’s brave fought for the freedom we enjoy today. Please take some time out of your busy schedules to watch this truly emotional documentary. Lest we forget. Natalia https://youtu.be/cYYOH6PH2Yk

Thank you Councillor Jeff Knoll and Councillor Marc Grant for organizing this beautiful Remembrance Day ceremony and for including me. It was an honour to read the poem Why wear a poppy by Don Crawford. For those who could not make it to a Remembrance Day ceremony this year, please watch it here. Lest we forget.