Ukrainians in Canada

“They were continuously thanking me for all the supplies I was able to bring, the letters, t-shirts with their logo… But mostly they were just thankful that someone cares enough to come visit them from a country as far away as Canada – especially a girl!” Twelve GPS Garmin Navigators, two packages of various medical supplies from Health Partners International of Canada, hand warmers, Celox, and Halo Seals are amongst the many items Ukrainian Canadian Ania Jacyniak was able to personally deliver on a recent trip toUkraine. Although she has been a...

Nineteen-year-old Vasyl Pelysh, a volunteer with the Aidar battalion, knows what it is like to make unimaginable sacrifices in the name of freedom for one’s country. While being held captive by Russian forces he had his right arm cut off. His Russian captors had found the Ukrainian coat of arms, the trident, and the words “Slava Ukraini! (“Glory to Ukraine!”) tattooed onto his shoulder. They made sure he would pay dearly for his patriotism. It is young Ukrainian war amputees such as Pelysh that Gene Berzovski and John Broadhead have made it their mission to help. Berzovski is a native of Kyiv, having come to Canada ten years ago. He has been involved with local Ukrainian community events, but this past summer something triggered him to do more. “I saw [online] a double...

The Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre’s backyard was transformed into a sunflower-filled Ukrainian Village with Baba’s House, traditional costumes, and colourful decorations made by the residents. Yvan Baker, MPP for Etobicoke Centre opened the event for over 270 family members, residents, volunteers, staff and the community who enjoyed the strolling musicians, food, music, games and prizes, donated by over 30 local businesses and volunteers. The BBQ kicked off the Care Centre’s participation in this year’s October 19, 2014 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, our largest annual one day fundraiser, sponsored by Cardinal Funeral Homes Ltd. The afternoon created awareness and sparked interest in those who want to have fun and walk or run to raise funds for the quality of life for our seniors. Contact Anna Denkova at 647-725-0843 to...

Meeting in conclave in Banff, Alta., on Oct. 19, members of the executive of the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association (UCCLA) discussed a wide range of projects it recently completed or will be moving forward with in the year ahead. After first noting the successes of Project CTO, which saw the simultaneous unveiling of 115 plaques across Canada recalling the internment operations of 1914-1920, the group noted the opening of the "Enemy Aliens" exhibit the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation (UCCLF) helped curate at the Canadian War Museum. This exhibit will, it is hoped, travel to a number of cities across Canada during the next several years, bringing further attention to the experience of Ukrainians and other Europeans unjustly imprisoned and forced to do heavy labour for the profit of their jailers during...

You just couldn’t miss them on the street. Some 250 individuals each wearing a vyshyvanka marched in the North End in celebration of Ukrainian Independence Day. Their route took them from Sts. Vladimir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral (McGregor & Stella) to the Shevchenko Park (McGregor and Burrows), then to St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral (Burrows & Sinclair), finally ending at the Institute Prosvita Hall (Pritchard & Arlington). A vyshyvanka, the familiar dress code for many Ukrainian celebrations, is a Ukrainian top (e. g. shirt, blouse, T-shirt, hoody) with Ukrainian embroidery ornamentation. Based on the traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt of rural folk apparel, it has been successfully adapted to...

On Saturday, September 20, 2014, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Manitoba Provincial Council (UCC-MPC) held the inaugural Bulava Award Recognition Luncheon at the Fairmont Hotel in Winnipeg before a sold-out crowd. The Bulava (pronounced boulahvah) was a type of mace consisting of a handle and sphere-shaped head. It was widely used in Ukraine, first as a weapon and then as a symbol of authority. In the 16th–18th century Cossack officers bestowed the bulava on the elected leader or hetman. More recently, the Bulava has come to be seen as an enduring symbol of leadership and commitment in the community and, hence, the aptly named Bulava Award. In Canada, a ceremonial mace is the symbol of the authority of the...

On September 23, 2014 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox Theatre over 500 people gathered to witness the world premiere of the long-awaited film - Music of Survival, The Story of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chrous. The 60-minute documentary film was produced and directed by Emmy and Genie award winning Canadian filmmaker, and Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus alumnus, Orest Sushko. Through Mr. Sushko’s powerful and reverent lens, the film tells the story of seventeen members of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus who survived the most horrific times in the history of the modern world – World War II. Their story of defying the odds to carry their gift of music across the ocean to freedom is revealed, often poignantly, by the two surviving...

A Canadian postage stamp to honour Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko has been issued in March by the Taras Shevchenko Museum in Toronto. The Government of Canada in the 1980s appointed Andrew Gregorovich to the Postage Stamp Design Committee of Canada Post. This inspired him in 2013 to propose the Canadian Government issue a Shevchenko stamp to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the poet. The Government declined because he was not a citizen of Canada. As President of the Taras Shevchenko Museum Mr. Gregorovich, together with Museum Director Lyudmyla Pogoryelova, designed and organized a postage stamp issued by Canada Post which can be used...

A civic committee broke with policy this morning and opted to designate an honorary street name change for a 200-year period. Members of the property and development committee unanimously agreed to have the one-block stretch of Aberdeen Avenue, between Main Street and the Red River, to be known as Honorary Taras Shevchenko Way. The honorary designation was made at the request of the Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate, an Ukrainian Catholic order of nuns, which owns all the private property on that portion of Aberdeen, including the...

In 2013 the third Holodomor Writing Competition was held under the auspices of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC). This year’s competition, advertised across the country resulted in 26 accepted submissions from many parts of Canada including Toronto, Hamilton, Winnipeg, Edmonton, North Battleford, Ottawa, Yorkton and Mississauga. This was also the first time that the competition was promoted in Canadian school boards, and the Toronto Holodomor Education Team is pleased to announce that some of the entries from non-Ukrainians received honourable mentions. The Holodomor Writing Competition was open to high school students 14 to 19 years of age. Using historical facts of the 1932-33 Holodomor in Ukraine, students were able to choose to submit an entry in any of the...