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Parish Priest:
Father Ihor Okhrimtchouk
Ukrainian Day on the Hill
Celebrating 120 years of Ukrainian Settlement in Canada
UCC President Paul Grod's Speech
October 24, 2011-Ottawa, Canada
Reverend Fathers, Minister Kenney, Minister Kulynyak, Honourable Ministers, Senators, Members of Parliament, representatives of the diplomatic corps, community leaders and distinguished guests
Good evening, Bon Soir, Dobryj vechir, slava isusu xrystu!
Thank you for gathering here this evening for this very special event - Ukrainian Day on the Hill.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress brings together and represents the interests of a very large and dynamic community. A community that is rich with cultural centers, schools, libraries, museums, institutes, churches and just about every kind of Ukrainian organization you can imagine - from coast to coast.
We have a long history of caring for Canadians from cradle to grave and assisting in the resettlement of new immigrants. As the Congress, we have represented the interests of our community for over 70 years by uniting the community and speaking with one common voice to government.
The Ukrainian Canadian community - 120 years old!
Tonight, as we look back at the 120 years since Ukrainians first came to settle the Canadian prairies and now reside in almost every part of Canada, one cannot help but realize that Ukrainian Canadians are a unique group of people.
We have a deep sense of our birthright as Canadians who settled western Canada and shaped Canadian values, which is coupled with a devout connection to our Ukrainian heritage and ancestral homeland.
Throughout these years in Canada, Ukrainians experienced periods of severe prejudice and indignation, often being referred to as bohunks, peasants in sheep skin coats and even enemy aliens.
Canada's First National Interment Operations (1914-20) deprived Ukrainians from Galicia of their basic civil rights by interning thousands in 24 camps across Canada, stripping several thousand more of their Canadian citizenship and forcing the rest to register and report to the government.
As a result many Ukrainians changed their names and tried to leave their heritage behind. Some feared further repression and others simply wanted to succeed in Canadian society.
It has even been said that the Ukrainian community suffered a crippling blow and still live in fear of the barbed-wire fence.
Ironically, Ukrainians who immigrated from outside the Austro-Hungarian empire joined the Canadian army, and in great numbers where many lost their lives and others were recognized for bravery such as Sergeant Filip Konowal, who was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Despite these prejudices, hardships and the challenges of four distinct waves of immigration, Ukrainian Canadians have been successful in transforming western Canada into what it is today.
We were instrumental in formulating many of Canada's key values such as multiculturalism, and leading the Canadian nation in politics, sports, culture, academia and business. There have been Ukrainian Canadian Governors general, Olympic gold medallists, gemini and juno award winners, scholars and captains of industry.
Many, including myself believe that Ukrainian Canadians are a founding people of Canada. Our personal history and contribution have shaped this country as much as Canada has shaped us.
For 120 years (100 of which were in isolation from our ancestral homeland) Ukrainian Canadians have maintained a vibrant and distinctive community built around their religion, culture, values, commitment to civil society, respect for others and a desire to see an independent and prosperous Ukrainian nation.
I am confident that Ukrainian Canadians will continue to flourish and play a leadership role in defining Canadian society, for as long as these principles carry on.
Our forefathers came to Canada to escape political oppression and were instrumental in crafting many of the values that have made Canada the envy of the world: universal respect for human rights, democracy as a pillar of stability and prosperity in the world, multiculturalism and Canadian heritage, multilingual education, acceptance and successful integration of new immigrants, respect for the rule of law, and a commitment to support a people's right to self-determination.
Ukrainian Canadian values are Canadian values and we anticipate that one day they too will become the values of the Ukrainian people.
As we celebrate 120 years of Ukrainian settlement in Canada, we must continue to be strong advocates of core Canadian values by engaging our fellow citizens and government to stand with the Ukrainian people and to oppose all efforts, inside Ukraine and from outside its borders, that would undermine Ukraine's hard won independence.
Today we salute with pride the many achievements and contributions of Ukrainian-Canadians over the past 120 years. We thank you for joining us in celebrating them tonight.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress along with all our constituent organizations are built upon volunteerism. It takes a great team of volunteers and generous sponsors to make an event such as tonight's possible.
Firstly I would like to recognize and thank our generous sponsors that are listed in your program booklets.
A special thank you to the organizing committee of Vera Yuzyk and Andrea Kopylech (program and creative co-chairs), as well as Mykola Bilaniuk, Adriana Buyniak Willson, Chrystia Chudczak, Halya Kuchmij, Olenka Reshitnyk, Lesia Spolsky, and Dennis Syenik. Thank you to Larissa Sembaliuk Cheladyn for the wonderful visual art display. Thanks to our dancers, singers, musicians and all the volunteers.
Lastly, I would like to thank Senator Raynell Andreychuk and Robert Sopuck for masterfully conducting our ceremonies this evening. Please join me in thanking and recognizing our generous donors and talented volunteers who have made this evening very special.
http://www.ucc.ca/programs/projects/ukrainian-day-on-the-hill/
UCC Launches 120th Anniversary of Ukrainian Settlement in Canada
On a Victoria Day enveloped by typically and historically unpredictable Alberta weather, a group of determined, undeterred enthusiasts gathered to officially mark two historic events.
As the 2011 Summer Season officially got underway at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village (UCHV), a provincial Historic Site just east of Edmonton, a seemingly unremarkable, yet historically significant addition was made to the permanent interpretive display of the Village. This cooperative project between the Alberta-Ukraine Genealogical Society and the Alberta Land Surveyors' Association unveiled a replica homestead marker, identical to those planted by the very first Ukrainian settlers in Alberta, some 120 years ago.
Guests at the ceremony included St. Albert MLA Ken Allred. In attendance also were descendants of Iwan Pylypow, Nykola Tychkowsky and Anton Paish, -- the original immigrants from Nebyliv, Galicia, Austro-Hungary, located today in Western Ukraine. These were the first such settlers to the unbroken lands of East Central Alberta, who endured untold hardships and seemingly insurmountable challenges to put down roots and build lives on the untamed Canadian prairies. As part of the ceremony, the replica marker was pounded into its permanent place by descendants, community and professional representatives. A solemn Prayer Service in memory of all pioneer settlers of East-Central Alberta was celebrated by Reverend Fathers of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.
The gathering, hosted by Radomir Bilash, Chief Historian of the UCHV, also served as the official launch of a full year's celebrations marking the 120th Anniversary of Ukrainian Settlement in Canada, under the umbrella of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. Events from banquets to festivals to academic conferences will be held across the country between now and May of 2012. These will be listed and archived at the UCC website, www.ucc.ca, and will also include the incorporation of social media to get the word out and keep the message current.
In addition, the official 120th Anniversary logo was unveiled, as the culmination of a country-wide call for proposals that saw upwards of 30 different submissions made by inspired artists, several of whom were from beyond the Ukrainian-Canadian community. The winning submission is by Toronto-based artist Oleh Lesiuk, and will be immediately made available for general use by the community as it organizes and realizes Anniversary events and projects.
"Let's mark this milestone with highly-charged enthusiasm and unbridled creativity," declared Roman Brytan, Chair of the National 120th Anniversary Commemorative Committee, and echoed by Daria Luciw, National Vice-President and Provincial President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. "Driven by our official Jubilee Theme KANADA-UKRAINA 120: GROUNDBREAKERS - NATION-BUILDERS - TRAILBLAZERS," continued Brytan, "this is the year for highlighting our individual accomplishments, wondering at our infinite community potential and driving towards making this Ukrainian-Canadian milestone one in which all Canadians can take pride and claim as part of our shared, national history."
Please click here for artist Oleh Lesiuk's biography and logo design description: Artist Oleh Lesiuk
For further information:
|
Roman Brytan 780-863-2040 roman.brytan@rci.rogers.com |
Daria Luciw 780-718-4739 daria.luciw@gmail.com |
Radomir Bilash 780-862-3469 radomir.bilash@gov.ab.ca |
UCC Media Contact:
Darla Penner
Telephone: (204) 942-4627
Email: dpenner@ucc.ca
Website: www.ucc.ca
Canada-Ukraine Youth Mobility Agreement comes into force International Experience Canada-Ukraine Opens April 4th
Winnipeg, Manitoba- March 31, 2011-The Ukrainian Canadian Congress is pleased to inform Canadians that the International Experience Canada Ukraine program will begin accepting applications starting April 4, 2011.
This program is a result of a bilateral arrangement between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ukraine, and will allow up to 200 Ukrainian citizens between the ages of 18-35 to apply for a temporary work permit to travel and work in Canada for up to 1 year. Similar opportunities exist for young Canadians who wish to work or study in Ukraine.
"The Ukrainian community in Canada is very pleased to see the doors opened to citizens of Ukraine allowing them to experience our great Canadian culture, and I believe both countries will have long term benefits from this information and cultural exchange program," stated UCC President Paul Grod. "Similarly, Canadians will be able to work, study, or visit Ukraine for periods of up to one year and I encourage our youth to apply."
For more information regarding the program and application process, please visit: International Experience
UCC Media Contact:
Darla Penner
Telephone: (204) 942-4627
Email: dpenner@ucc.ca
Website: www.ucc.ca
Liturgical Vestment Colors of the Orthodox Church
The Orthodox clergy wear two kinds of robes, non-liturgical and liturgical. The non-liturgical robes are the ordinary daily clothing of the clergy, worn underneath ‘liturgical robes’. Liturgical robes, or ‘vestments’, are worn during church services.
The non-liturgical robes are called cassocks (Greek rason, Ukrainian pidryasnyk) and outer cassocks (Greek exo-rason, Slavonic riassa). Cassocks are floor-length garments that have long sleeves fitted like shirtsleeves. Outer cassocks are also floor-length garments, but they’re more loosely fitting, with very large sleeves.
Holodomor Ceremony on Parliament Hill: November 24, 2009
OTTAWA, November 24, 2009 - The memory and experiences of survivors of the Holodomor — the Ukrainian Famine/Genocide in 1932 and 1933 – were commemorated on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 on Parliament Hill in an evening ceremony dedicated to remembering those who both perished and survived the man-made tragedy.
His Excellency Ihor Ostash, Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada and Mark Warawa, Member of Parliament and Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group, co-hosted the Holodomor Commemoration Ceremony on behalf of the Embassy of Ukraine and the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group. Senator Raynell Andreychuk, Vice-Chair of the Friendship Group and Master of Ceremony for the service, reminded guests that the evening would be centred around heightening awareness of the forgotten Famine/Genocide as well as promoting international recognition of this deliberate attempt to exterminate a nation.