Diaspora

Over 10,000 people came out in the blistering minus 10 degree weather to downtown Toronto to join our Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Toronto Branch’s “Mega March” on Feb. 24, 2023 marking the one year anniversary of Russia’s brutal, illegal and genocidal invasion of Ukraine. Honoured guest speakers included Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, Minister of National Defence Anita Anand, Premier of Ontario Doug Ford, Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto Oleksandr Shevchenko , Leader of the Official Opposition of Canada Pierre Poilievre and Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie. It was an evening full of inspiration, hope and support... 

Dear Friends, McGill-Queen's University Press recently published Enemy Archives - a collection of primary documents on the experiences of the Ukrainian nationalist underground before, during, and after the Second World War. Volodymyr Viatrovych and Lubomyr Luciuk have carefully curated and annotated the documents shedding light on a wide range of experiences of the resistance movement of the OUN and UPA which lay the foundations for the continuing Ukrainian struggle against foreign domination. As we approach the one-year mark of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine which seeks to destroy its state and nation, we ask for your help in spreading awareness about Ukraine's liberation struggle. Please request your main public library and...

In its last week’s issue, Time published a special report on what was going on in the Ukrainian village of Yahidne, Chernihiv Oblast, during the nearly month-long occupation by the Russian invaders in March 2022 – “Inside the Basement Where an Entire Ukrainian Village Spent a Harrowing Month in Captivity.” The Ukrainian World Congress has already addressed the topic twice. In early August 2022, we published our own story on Yahidne, based on accounts given to Ukrainska Pravda. Zhyttya by two volunteers, Svitlana and Lilia, who had been caught up in the Russian offensive on their way home and had to remain in the village during its...

Buduchnist Credit Union, operating as BCU Financial, is proud to continue its legacy of support for Ukraine and her people. As part of its ongoing support, today BCU Financial is making another substantial contribution of $100,000USD to the Friends of Ukrainian Defense Forces Fund to provide essential supplies, including power generators, medical equipment for military hospitals, and rehabilitation support for veterans and their families. We are confident in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the networks of territorial defenses which stand bravely and nobly because they are protecting their land, their people. This funding is in addition to the $125,000 CAD which BCU Financial donated to FUDFF on behalf of its members in the early weeks of the invasion in March 2022. FUDF Fund was established in 2014 in response to the unprovoked aggression of Russia in eastern Ukraine. For the past 8 years, Ukraine has been fighting a war, while the Ukrainian Defence Forces as well as volunteer battalions have been fulfilling their duty in defending their nation. Donors of the FUDF Fund have been assisting those serving in the Armed Forces as well as the casualties of war, displaced persons, families of those serving, and children who have lost a parent due to war...

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Ontario Provincial Council of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the UCC-OPC held a Champagne Brunch at the Old Mill Toronto. The event was attended by 180 guests who came to mark this anniversary as well as to congratulate the recipients of the UCC- OPC Trillium Award. This Award honours individuals who have made meritorious contributions in a volunteer capacity, to create a strong, vibrant, and active Ukrainian Canadian community in the province of Ontario. After a welcome and remarks by Taras Bahriy, the current president of the UCC-OPC, the microphone was passed to MC Markian Shwec. Following the national anthems of Canada and Ukraine, Markian introduced special guests Oleksandr Shevchenko, Consul General of Ukraine, Alexandra Chyczij, President UCC National, and actress Kathryn Winnick. A special note was made to introduce the past presidents of the UCC-OPC, Bohdan Onyschuk, KC, Petro Hlibowych, Bohdan Maksymec, Dr. Evhen Roslycky, Dr. Orest Rudzik, Orysia Sushko, CM, John Pidkowich, Olha Sheweli, Yvan Baker, Steve Andrusiak, Lidia Narozniak, Walter Kish, Anna Kuprieieva, and Bohdan Wynnycky who were greeted with a warm round of applause. Taras Bahriy, presented Bohdan Onyschuk, the first president of the UCC-OPC with a commemorative Trillium lapel pin, thanking him for taking on this important roll 50 years ago...

Today, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced an additional $10 million for the Ukrainian World Congress’ (UWC) Unite with Uk­raine initiative. #UniteWithUkraine is a UWC global fundraising initiative focuses on providing protective and medical equipment for Ukraine’s defenders. Building on a $5 million in funding announced by Premier Kenney for UWC in March 2022, this round of $10 million will go towards tactical medical supplies and tactical medical training, and winter gear for Ukraine’s defenders. “It’s important for us, as Albertans, to continue to support Ukrainians who are fighting for their very survival,” said Premier Jason Kenney. “We promised the people of Ukraine that we would have their backs and we continue to, as this unjust war continues into the Fall and Winter”...

Ukraine and Ukrainians worldwide marked 31 years since the Declaration of Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. This year’s celebration took on a new significance, as the value of Ukraine’s independence and national self-determination is being defended with blood and immense human sacrifice. In Toronto, the League of Ukrainian Canadians (LUC) and the League of Ukrainian Canadian Women (LUCW) organized an official Ukrainian flag-raising event in front of the Ontario Legislative Building at Queen’s Park. The event was organized under the auspices of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Toronto and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Ontario Provincial Council. It was attended by members of the Ukrainian community, as well as politicians at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. During the speeches many of the politicians greeted the crowd with the patriotic “Slava Ukraini” or “Glory to Ukraine!”...

Toronto journalist and musician Nate Hendley has been feeling helpless every night when he watches the news. “Ukraine has suffered more than its share of devastation, warfare, and calamities throughout its history, he says. “(It) is heartbreaking.” So when he was invited to be the Master of Ceremonies at a musical benefit for Ukraine, he jumped at the chance to make a difference. “We have to stop Putin’s aggression,” says Hendley. “Now.” The benefit will raise money for the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, which sends humanitarian aid to the war zone. It takes place Sunday, May 15 at 7pm, at the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Holy Protection (33 Leeds St., Toronto). The lineup features a diverse array of musical acts: dancers (the Yavir School of Ukrainian Dance), Ukrainian singers (Kalendar), folk singers (Lunar Bloom), and more. Melodies can unite disparate groups, says Hendley. “The power of music is that… (it) is universal.” Hendley hopes the concert will entertain audiences, raise money, and also spread awareness about...

For more than a month, the Russian Federation has waged an unprovoked and brutal war of choice against Ukraine. As a military aggressor against a peaceful nation, Russia has broken the world’s trust, is in violation of international agreements to which Russia is a signatory, and has become a violent transgressor of borders and laws. There is no parity between the actions of Russia, which offensively inflicts mass destruction on Ukrainian people and land, and of Ukraine, defending her people and land...

Stepan Bandera was born on 1 January 1909 and died on 15 October 1959. He was a revolutionary and gifted strategist of the struggle for Ukraine's statehood. Born into a clerical family (his father Reverend Andriy was a priest in the Ukrainian church), from his early days Bandera was always active in Ukrainian community affairs, was a member of the Ukrainian scouting organization Plast, and an agronomy student at the Lviv Politechnical Institute. He became a member of the Ukrainian Military Organization (UVO) in 1927, and of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) in 1929. In the OUN he rose very quickly to top positions of leadership in the Homeland Executive of the organization, namely: chief of the Directorate for Publications and Propaganda (1930-32); deputy head of the Homeland Executive (1932); and head of the Homeland Executive (1933-June 1934)...