Volodymyr (Walter) Palagniuk
About​
Volodymyr (Walter) Palagniuk came to Canada in pursuit of the same promise that so many immigrants chased – the opportunity to build a better life. The true north, strong and free. Those words resonated with him in the same way they resonated with the millions of people who immigrated before him in search of a better life. He followed the footsteps of the Ukrainian pioneers who overcame difficulty to forge a new beginning.
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Walter came to Canada at a time when you could earn a good wage, afford a decent home, and raise your family in a safe neighbourhood. That’s why he rolled up his sleeves and worked tirelessly to give back to the country that gave so much to him. But the Canada that once welcomed Walter has changed – and not for the better. Hope has faded. Hardship has emerged.
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Walter believes the Liberal government has taken new Canadians for granted. The Liberals believe immigrants owe them their vote. This is wrong. But this assumption – this arrogance – is exactly why so many new Canadians are attracted to Pierre Poilievre’s Common Sense Conservative vision for Canada. This is a vision that Walter deeply believes in. It is a vision that aligns with his personal and professional experiences.
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Walter commitment to change started long before he moved to Canada. In Ukraine, he was a passionate student rights advocate and the Student President of Ukraine. He played a pivotal role in coordinating the Chernivtsi Euromaidan, which rallied support for Ukraine’s fight for freedom and democracy.
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When Walter arrived in Canada, he became the Marketing and Public Relations Manager at Meest Corporation. He joined Toronto Euromaidan and later founded the Vyshyvanka Day in Canada – a commemoration of Ukrainian culture now celebrated across Canada. As Chair of the Vyshyvanka Committee of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Walter remains committed to promoting Ukrainian heritage. He has also organized projects like the Canada-Ukraine Twin Cities Initiative, which connects Canadian cities with municipalities in Ukraine.
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His dedication to both his heritage and to Canada has earned him widespread recognition. In 2021, he was named one of the 30 Under 30 Ukrainian Diaspora Leaders by the Ukrainian World Congress. He received the Youth Leadership Award from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in 2019, and in 2024, he was honoured with the Lifetime Leadership Achievement Award from UCC-Ontario.
Walter’s professional experience goes beyond his cultural work. He built a successful career in Canada’s Parliament as a communications director, where he exposed numerous scandals in the Trudeau government to a national audience. He has advised Conservative parliamentarians on foreign and domestic policies in various senior roles. He has extensive legal and legislative knowledge that has equipped him to provide trusted advice and deliver effective results in Canada’s Parliament.
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His achievements have earned him recognition from many Conservative Members of Parliament as a strong voice for change.
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In his personal time, Walter and his wife, Julia, are raising their daughter, Victoria. They are teaching her to speak both Ukrainian and English. With the support of his family, Walter is focused on rebuilding the Canada he was blessed to discover – so that his daughter Victoria has the same opportunities that were available to him when he arrived in Canada.