From July 21 to August 1, 2018, a study tour to Canada for mayors from PLEDDG partner cities took place. The study tour was dedicated to Canadian practices in inter-municipal cooperation, regional and local economic development. The Ukrainian delegation included mayors of PLEDDG partner cities such as Berdiansk, Horishni Plavni, Dolyna, Kremenchuk, Khmilnyk, Yaremche, as well as the head of the Department for Economy of Zhmerynka City Council and a representative of the Executive Directorate of the Association of Ukrainian Cities. Participants were accompanied by Oleksandr Kucherenko, Director of PLEDDG Project, and Maryana Nikoula, Canada Program Manager, FCM.
In the course of the study tour, Ukrainian delegation visited some of the largest and most interesting Canadian cities, such as Toronto and Vaughan in the province of Ontario, and Strathcona and Edmonton in the province of Alberta. The study tour was intense, consisting of a range of meetings with local officials and public activists, through which the Ukrainian mayors learned about Canadian models and best practices in democratic governance and local economic development. Specifically, the meetings focused on urban development integrated planning, public consultations, investment attraction, tourism development, gender budgeting, and support for small and medium business. Ukrainian delegation attended a session of Toronto City Council, where they had a lively discussion on openness and transparency of the city management with Mr. Maurizio Bevilacqua, Mayor of Vaughan, and visited some city facilities such as the Waste Management Centre and Fire Rescue Services, Strathcona Public Recreation Facility, and the Public Library in Vaughan. The Ukrainian delegates also visited the Ukrainian Village, an open-air museum near Edmonton in which Ukrainian emigrants’ way of life during 1892–1930 in the province of Alberta was recreated.
Study tours to Canada which PLEDDG Project organizes for representatives from project partner cities, are aimed at promoting adoption by Ukrainian cities of Canadian expertise in local economic development and open governance and establishing cooperation between Ukrainian and Canadian cities.
