THE AWARDING OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH’S II DIAMOND JUBILEE MEDAL TO UKRAINIAN CANADIANS
The Canadian Conference in Support of Ukraine (CCSU) congratulates all the distinguished recipients of the Queen Elizabeth’s II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and wishes them still greater personal and professional success and further accomplishments for the good of the Ukrainian Canadian community and Canada
Orest Steciw
Toronto
(UE). On November 28, 2012, Mr Orest Steciw joined the ranks of Canadians who were awarded with Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. Mr. Steciw, a professional educator, who has distinguished himself for his dedicated community activism and leadership, is currently National President of the League of Ukrainian Canadians and President of Ucrainica Research Institute.
The medal was presented to Mr. Steciw at Queen’s Park by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario the Honourable Dave Levac, who introduced the recipient:
"Orest's drive and passion in building partnerships with government, as well as Ukrainian Canadian organizations was instrumental in passing Bill 147, the Holodomor Memorial Day Act, 2009. Because of Orest, there is now an increase in the public's understanding of the Holodomor and its horror. I awarded Orest the Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal for his outstanding commitment to his community and his unwavering focus to ensure that Ontarians are educated on the impact of the Holodomor."
In turn, Mr. Steciw acknowledged the honour by saying: “ I would like to thank you, Mr. Speaker, Dave, for your principled stand on Holodomor recognition – the recognition of the Holodomor as an act of genocide perpetrated against the Ukrainian people. You introduced, sponsored and championed Bill 147, the Holodomor Memorial Day Act, which was passed unanimously in the Ontario Legislative. And for this, Dave, Ukrainian Canadians will be forever grateful.”
Lisa Shymko
Toronto
Among the first Ukrainian Canadian recipients of the Queen Elizabeth’s II Diamond Jubilee Medal was political scientist and human rights activist Ms. Lisa Shymko. Ms Shymko is the founder and chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Centre in Kyiv, Ukraine, established by Canadian Friends of Ukraine in cooperation with the Government of Canada. Ms Shymko is also National Vice-President of the League of Ukrainian Canadian Women.
The Jubilee Medal was presented to Ms Shymko on April 28, 2012 (Homin Ukrainy, N18, 8. 05. 2012) by Senator Asha Seth and Member of Parliament Ted Opitz. Senator Asha said: “In granting you this honor, I thank you for your dedicated service to your peers, to your community and to Canada. The contributions you have made to our nation are most commendable and deserve our praise and admiration”.
Lesia Szwaluk
Winnipeg
Congratulations!
Shevchenko Foundation is proud to announce that our Executive Director Lesia Szwaluk was recently awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal for her many years of outstanding work in the community. We are very proud to have someone of her dedication and passion as part of our Foundation. Congratulations Lesia & Мнoгая Лiта!
And from a statement in the Manitoba Legislature
“Lesia Szwaluk has led a life of tremendous involvement and leadership. Born in 1950 to Ukrainian immigrant parents, she became involved in Ukrainian education and her wider community at a young age. Working with children and youth is a passion of hers. She has remained involved with the Ukrainian Youth Association, CYM, since she herself attended as a child, which has provided her with opportunities to organize leadership training around the world.
After a 17-year career with the YM-YWCA, including a time as executive director of the north YM-YWCA, Lesia continued her work in Ukrainian education as an executive assistant to the Multicultural Secretariat Department. She is currently chair of the board of the Manitoba Adolescent Treatment Centre, an organization she's worked with for 20 years.
Lesia Szwaluk has contributed to the advancement of countless Ukrainian-Canadian organizations in Manitoba. Notably, she spent 20 years as the president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Manitoba Provincial Council, and has been the executive director of the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko since 2001.
Three Ukrainian Canadians to be Honoured at Ceremony in Montréal
Montreal, Quebec-The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal was be presented to three deserving recipients by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) during a public ceremony in Montreal on Saturday, December 1, 2012.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress hosted a special awards presentation ceremony to recognize the outstanding achievements of three members of Montreal's Ukrainian Canadian community in conjunction with its Board of Directors meeting which took place on December 1-2, in Montreal.
The Medal presentations was followed by a community town hall meeting and reception at the Delta featuring, UCC National President Paul Grod as the keynote speaker.
The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal was presented to Mr. Eugene Czolij, Mr. Yurij Luhovy and Dr. Roman Serbyn by UCC National President Paul Grod.
RECIPIENTS' CITATIONS
Eugene Czolij
Montréal, Quebec
Eugene Czolij is a partner at Lavery where he focuses on corporate and commercial law. For over a quarter century, he has been actively involved in the Ukrainian Canadian community and is a past National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. He is the current president of the Ukrainian World Congress.
Dr. Roman Serbyn
Montréal, Quebec
Roman Serbyn is a historian (PhD McGill) and was professor emeritus of History at University of Quebec at Montreal and a specialist on Ukraine. He is an acknowledged expert on the Holodomor and has authored many articles and books on 19th and 20th century Ukrainian history. Dr. Serbyn is the editor of the scholarly journal Holodomor Studies.
Yurij Luhovy
Montréal, Quebec
Yurij Luhovy is a pioneer in documentary film. Yurij is an award winning film-maker, with 35 years experience in the film industry. A member of the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, he has produced, directed and edited many independent, compelling films, including the documentary Genocide Revealed and Freedom Had a Price.
Paul Grod
Toronto
Winnipeg, Manitoba- May 17, 2012 - Ukrainian Canadian Congress National President Paul Grod was presented the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in an exclusive ceremony at the House of Commons on May 14, 2012 by Jason Kenney, Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and Multiculturalism.
“On behalf of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Ukrainian Canadian Community, it is with heartfelt warmth that I congratulate President Paul Grod on his award,” stated Ukrainian Canadian Congress Executive Director Taras Zalusky.
As a volunteer, Paul has served as the National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress since October 2007. Prior to his election as President, Paul served as the Congress’ Vice President and member of the Board of Directors since 2001. During that period Paul also chaired and served on a number of UCC National Committees including Justice, Internment and Canada Ukraine.
In March of this year Paul was most recently recognized by Embassy magazine, Canada’s Foreign Policy newsweekly, as being among the “top 80 individuals influencing Canada’s foreign policy.”
Father Roman Dusanowskyj
Cape Breton
Mr. Speaker, the Ukrainian parish community has been a vital part of Sydney for the last 100 years, enriching the lives of not only the Ukrainian people but also the people of Cape Breton.
On August 2, I attended the 100th anniversary celebrations of the Holy Ghost parish in Whitney Pier. There was an immense turnout at the event, which included the awarding of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal to Father Dusanowskyj.
As member of Parliament for Sydney—Victoria, I was proud to recognize and present the Queen's Jubilee Medal to Father Roman, pastor of the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church in Whitney Pier in honour of his commitment to the Holy Ghost parish over the last decade and keeping the Ukrainian community alive in Cape Breton.
Hon. Mark Eyking (Sydney—Victoria, Lib.):
41st PARLIAMENT, HANSARD 151
Dr. Borislaw Bilash
Winnipeg
Dr. Borislaw Bilash received Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal on August 22, 2012 at Northwood Community Center.
"Once again a big congratulations to all the recipients of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, your efforts and contributions have truly made our communities a better place for everyone, well done!" - Kevin Lamoureux
Dr. Borislaw Bilash is a professor and author of “Bilingual Public Schools in Manitoba 1897-1916” and “Ukrainian with Ease”. Active in the Ukrainian community in Winnipeg, he was a founder of the Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers (CASLT) in 1970.
Dr. Bilash is a member of the Advisory Committee to Manitoba Parents for Ukrainian Education and is also a director of the Canadian Foundation for the Ukrainian Free University.
(UE). On November 28, 2012, Mr Orest Steciw joined the ranks of Canadians who were awarded with Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. Mr. Steciw, a professional educator, who has distinguished himself for his dedicated community activism and leadership, is currently National President of the League of Ukrainian Canadians and President of Ucrainica Research Institute.
