Diaspora

THEY WHO SURROUND US is a movie directed by and starring Troy Ruptash. Inspired by his Ukrainian ancestry and released to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence, he brings us a collection of true stories wrapped up in this drama. A Ukrainian farmer living in Alberta loses his wife in a tragic accident. Guilt and grief send him into an emotional spiral where mysterious and inexplicable events force him to relive traumatic incidents from his childhood in Ukraine...

This text should have been titled “Easter traditions in Galicia”, but then I realized that traditions are common and are spread on significantly broader territory. In the process of writing, it became apparent that apart from clerical traditions there are plenty Easter-related superstitions and straight-out fiddlesticks. Finally, it became clear that writing about traditions will not be enough, there is a need to present a personal story based on what I know “from home” and some things I picked up throughout my life. Easter bread is the foundation for celebration in all Christian countries. It is always yeasted dough, with plenty of eggs, butter, sugar, spices and seasonings. It is an embodiment of everything that is best, the most delicious and the most valued of what one could afford – almonds, vanilla, cinnamon, saffron, and I don’t even mention dozens of eggs and the best flour and butter. Easter bread or Paska is baked in...

In Ukraine, Easter was celebrated for three days, with many hours spent in church as well as with family and friends. During this time there were various songs and dances known as the haivky and many games played by the children. Most often the games required a boiled coloured egg known as a krashanka from the word “kraska”, meaning “color”. A game called line rolling required two groups of children to stand in two parallel lines and roll the eggs back and forth between partners. The pair with the last remaining un-cracked egg would win all of the eggs that had cracked. Older children would do the airborne variation of the parallel line game. The eggs would be thrown between the teenagers in the lines. Again, the team with the last un-cracked egg would be the winner. There was also another game called chockamia. In this game, children...

I am about to share with you one of the most horrific and heart-wrenching genocides known to man, Holodomor. Holodomor is based on two Ukrainian words, holod-hunger, and moryty-to kill, together they make “Death by Starvation”. In this essay, I will completely immerse you and dive into all parts of this man-made genocide inflicted by the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics), led by Joseph Stalin, dictator of the Soviet Union (Kuryliw, V. 2018). These events are real, raw, and first-hand experiences from the brave survivors who managed to escape or survive this famine. If you did not know already, Ukrainians are fighters. No citations needed, I know this myself. They are not ones to fight with their fists and act in violent matters, but the fighters to rise as a whole and devote themselves entirely to their country. Their honest infatuation for their country is undoubtedly moving for anyone who can experience it, even though they all have their differences, their bonds over culture, language, and...

After a long battle with cancer, Anna passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by closest family, just a few days shy of her 60th birthday. A Mother, Grandmother, daughter, sister, she leaves in sorrow her son Andrij Kisil and wife Oresta Kisil and her dearest grandchildren Andrew and Victoria, her daughter Iryna Kisil Maslej with her husband Roman Maslej and adoring grandson Maxym. Anna will forever be remembered as a devoted daughter to her mother, Yevdokia Marchuk and a loving sister to Mariya Nakonechna and Volodymyr, their children; goddaughter Nataliya and family, nephew Serhij and family. Her sister, Lubov Platko with husband Bohdan and their children; Nadia, Khrystyna, Iryna and their families. She will also be remembered by her partner Ihor Bokij and his sons, Nazary and Ruslan. Anna will be fondly remembered by her numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and dear friends...

As it became evident that German manpower was inadequate and that the Third Reich would probably be denied victory, Berlin began to create military units of nationalities other than ethnic Germans—contrary to earlier policy. Between 1943 and 1945, 24 non-German units were formed, almost all of them designated Waffen SS divisions. The Waffen SS was the military wing of the Schutzstaffel (SS). Although under the command of Reichsführer SS Heinrich Himmler, the Waffen SS participated in military, not police, actions. There were four Hungarian divisions; three Dutch (one of them included Danes and Norwegians); two each: Belgian, Italian, Croatian, Latvian, Russian, and Don Cossack; and one each: French, Estonian, Albanian, Bosnian-Herzegovinian, and Ukrainian. With some exceptions, all were sent to the Soviet front. Other military units were also formed of ethnic Germans (Volksdeutsche) living in several occupied countries of southeastern Europe...

We, the members of the Edmonton Branch of the League of Ukrainian Canadian Women are alarmed at the cowardly act of defacing a monument at the St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery in Oakville. This is a hate crime and should be investigated immediately by the Halton Police. Ukrainians were victims of both Nazi and Soviet terror during World War 2 and fought against both totalitarian regimes. Allegations slandering the Ukrainians who fought on two fronts is a tired old Kremlin narrative designed to sow doubt and distrust against a nation that is now again on the forefront of war with Russia...

On May 11 my family and I have celebrated the 100th anniversary of my father's birth, one day after celebrating Mother's Day. We love and miss him and love our mother dearly and deeply, as well. My father, Wasyl "Lucky Bill" Welhasch, was born in Ukraine in the village of Humynets (Postumytivsky region of Lviv oblast). He was a blessed man who lived a full and incredible life. Youngest in the family, my father was predeceased by his parents, Stephan and Paraskevia, and by his brother and sisters, all in Ukraine. He also lost his dear wife Sofia Tukalo who died in Winnipeg (b. March 8, 1922 - 1998). They were married 49 years. Father passed away on the eve of his 90th birthday, one day after Mother's Day. Miraculously surviving WWII my father, having to leave his home and family, made his way (walking across Europe) to Belgium where he met and married my mother, Sofia Tukalo. There they started a family (my sister Marika and me), then moved to Canada in 1952. After a few years they were blessed with another child, my sister Irka, who was born in 1956. They settled in wonderful Winnipeg and lived in the north end of the city for the rest of their lives...

January 15, 2020. OTTAWA, ON. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) is pleased to announce that His Excellency Roman Waschuk, former Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine, will be awarded the Taras Shevchenko Medal for his outstanding contribution to public service. The Medal will be presented to Ambassador Waschuk at the UCC Tribute Gala taking place February 1, 2020 in Toronto...

The Edmonton-based food blogger and bestselling cookbook author, Karlynn Johnston, has recently published another masterpiece of more than 100 recipes inspired by her Ukrainian heritage and family gatherings. The Prairie Table (Appetite by Random House, 2019) features a number of Ukrainian staples, including holubtsi (cabbage rolls), varenyky, medivnyk, and Johnston's personal favourite, nalysnyky, or Ukrainian crepes, made with dill and a cottage cheese/ricotta filling. Johnson offers endless preparations of the local bounty from salads to vegetable dishes; home-baked breakfasts to easy main meals; crowd-pleasing appetizers to portable desserts...