XXVI NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE LEAGUE OF UKRAINIAN CANADIANS XX NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE LEAGUE OF UKRAINIAN CANADIAN WOMEN
The XXVI National Convention of the League of Ukrainian Canadians (LUC) and the XX National Convention of the League of Ukrainian Canadian Women (LUCW) took place on June 20-22 2014 inToronto. The conventions were dedicated to several significant anniversaries – the 65th anniversary of LUC, the 65th anniversary of “Homin Ukrainy,” and the 70th anniversary of the Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council. The 200th anniversary since the birth of Taras Shevchenko was also commemorated.
Both conventions were held in the context of the difficult political situation in Ukraine – the illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, military actions of pro-Russian terrorist groups in eastern Ukraine, and Ukraine’s continued struggle for its freedom, independence, and democracy against both internal and external enemies. It is for these reasons that the motto of the conventions was a call to action by Taras Shevchenko, “Fight – and you will overcome” - the motto with which Ukrainians defended their right to freedom during the Maidan Revolution of Dignity, their confrontations on Hrushevskoho Street, and the kidnapping, beating, torture and shooting of Maidan activists from November 2013 to February 2014. Under this motto we continue our fight for Ukraine on the geopolitical world stage.
The conventions were hosted by the LUC Etobicoke-Mississauga Chapter and the LUCW Etobicoke Chapter, with the support of the LUC Toronto and LUCW Toronto Chapters, at the Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian Community Centre on 482 Horner Ave. in Toronto. The participants of the conventions would like to express special thanks to the president of LUC Etobicoke-Mississauga, P. Kardasz, and the president of LUCW Etobicoke, Maria Kret, for their hospitality and warm welcoming of the delegates and guests.
The delegates at the conventions gathered from cities across Canada - Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Windsor, Hamilton, London, St. Catharines, Oshawa, Ottawa, Montreal; the program also included representatives from the American Council in Support of Ukraine – Stefan Kaczurak, Ihor Diaczun, Oles Strilchuk, Halyna Turyk, as well as Prof. Volodymyr Zaryckyj, Member of Ukraine’s Parliament Oleh Medunytsya, and the advisor to the Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security Council, Vitaliy Vovk.
At the conclusion of the conventions, it was announced that Orest Steciw was re-elected as president of LUC, and that Lesia Shymko was elected as president of LUCW.
