MORE UKRAINIAN CANADIANS HONOURED WITH ROYAL JUBILEE MEDAL
Yvan Baker, Toronto
Yvan Baker’s endeavours have previously been reported in our press:
a successful management consultant, a lecturer in the MBA program at the Schulich School of Business (York University), a recent president
of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (Ontario), an active and consistent public figure in various spheres of public life.
The Ukrainian community remembers his significant contribution to the revitalization of community life, including the establishment of / Ukrainian Heritage Day/ in Ontario. It is the official recognition of the great contributions of many generations of Ukrainian immigrants in the growth of this country of the maple leaf. Of course, the celebration of Ukrainian Heritage Day is for Ukrainian Canadians not only a major recognition of their contribution, but also an obligation of further productive work.
Yvan Baker’s dynamic and dedicated community work has not been overlooked on the Canadian provincial and federal levels. The former premier of Ontario nominated him to the high award – the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Recently, a member of the provincial parliament Donna Cansfield (Etobicoke Centre), on behalf of the Governor General of Canada David Johnston, presented Yvan Baker with the Diamond Jubilee Medal and certificate which stated: "In granting you this honour, 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. I wish to convey to you the heartfelt congratulations of your fellow Canadians, to which I add my own."
Further, as a promising polit cian, Yvan Baker intends to seek the nomination to become the next provincial candidate for the Liberal Party in Etobicoke Centre when the Ontario Liberal Party opens the nomination process in the near future.
It is worth noting that the Ukrainian community responded to Yvan Baker’s recent call: it enlarged the membership in the Etobicoke Centre Riding Association, it multiplied the number of volunteers, etc.
And so, a new star has appeared on Toronto’s political horizon. First of all, it is up to us how brightly and how long it will shine for all Canadians.
Irena Bell, Ottawa
OTTAWA - April 17, 2013 -The Ukrainian Canadian Congress is pleased to congratulate Ms. Irena Bell of Ottawa on being presented the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal by Senator Raynell Andreychuk in a ceremony on Parliament Hill yesterday attended by UCC Executive Director Taras Zalusky and Ukraine's Ambassador to Canada Vadym Prystaiko.
"It is with great pride that I awarded Irena the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. Her record of community service and her dedication to issues of importance to Canada and our community is remarkable," stated Senator Raynell Andreychuk. "Irena has been and continues to be one of our community's unsung heroes who deserves to be recognized."
Born in Krakow as her parents fled the Communist take-over of Western Ukraine, Irena Bell (nee Zajszlyj) grew up in Montreal, where she was active in the Ukrainian community. She received a teaching diploma, a B.A. degree from Loyola in Montreal, and a B.L.S. degree from the University of Toronto.
In Ottawa, she worked from 1974 to 1995 in the federal government's multicultural program, lastly as Acting Chief of the Multilingual Biblioservice Division of the National Library of Canada. Then, from 1996 to 2005, Irena Bell was Coordinator for the Chair of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Ottawa. She is fluent in English and Ukrainian, and has some knowledge of French and other languages.
Since 2003, Irena produces and hosts the weekly Ukrainian radio program in Ottawa (CHIN, 97.9 FM) that is also accessible via the internet (http://chinradioottawa.com). She previously hosted the Ottawa 'Ukrainian Profile' TV program on Rogers TV.
Irena continues to be active in Ukrainian and other community activities. Since 1997, she produces a monthly Ottawa Ukrainian-interest Events Calendar that has wide distribution via e-mail, web sites, media, and in community venues. Irena has been, and is, on the executive of Ukrainian organizations, and organized many events over the years. She was twice president of the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association in Ottawa (UCPBA), editor of the UCPBA newsletter, and vice-president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (Ottawa).
Irena is also on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Foundation for Ukrainian Studies, and Senior Advisor to the Board of Directors of the Chair of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Ottawa.
Irena was Canadian advisor at the State Historical Library of Ukraine, Kyiv, in 1995, as part of the Canada-Ukraine Partners Program project, funded by the Government of Canada via the Institute of Public Administration of Canada.
Irena has previously been active in Ukrainian Youth Association 'Plast', the Marunczak Dance Ensemble (Montreal), and teaching Ukrainian school.
Irena Bell was the first recipient of the Ottawa UCPBA's Filip Konowal Lifetime Achievement Award, in 1995, for long-term volunteer service to the Ukrainian-Canadian community. She also received the Ukrainian Canadian Congress volunteer service award, and the Ontario Government's 20-year Volunteer Service Award.
Bohdan Shulakewych, Toronto
Bohdan Shulakewych, president of the Mississauga Arts Council, has been awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
The medal was presented to Shulakewych at MAC’s annual Cranberry Breakfast, held this morning at the Living Arts Centre, by Ward 5 Councillor Bonnie Crombie.
He is a practicing lawyer in Toronto and a partner with the firm "Pellman, Shulakewych Barristers". He was born in Montreal, attended Ukrainian schools in Montreal and Ottawa, was a member of Plast both in Montreal and Ottawa, and is fluent in Ukrainian, English and French. He holds degrees from University of Lethbridge, Alberta, London School of Economics, Law Degree from University of Windsor and Osgood Hall in Toronto.
