09/04/2026
It was a great honor for the alumni and current students of the Saint Gabriel Institute to meet with Ambassador Larisa Galadza, former Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine.
Ambassador Galadza spoke openly about her journey into diplomacy and the role of faith in her professional and personal life. In particular, she shared how her faith and church community carried and sustained her through the first year of Russia’s full-scale invasion, while she was serving as Ambassador to Ukraine.
Drawing on her diplomatic experience, she also offered valuable insights into working with people who find themselves on opposite sides of a border, a conflict, or a difficult issue. One thought stood out in particular: begin with the relationship. Genuine dialogue becomes possible when we encounter others as human beings and remain authentically ourselves.
Together, we reflected on how we can become more effective representatives of Ukraine and of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church—communicating with integrity and always upholding the dignity of the people and communities we represent.
We are deeply grateful to Ambassador Galadza for her openness, wisdom, and inspiring example of diplomacy rooted in faith and authentic human encounter.