THREE CANADIANS AWARDED ORDERS OF MERIT FROM PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE
February 24, 2016
Today, three members of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation’s Medical Mission team were awarded with Orders of Merit from Peter Poroshenko, President of Ukraine. Dr. Oleh Antonyshyn, Mission Lead and Plastic Surgeon from Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, was awarded the Order of Merit (Орден «За заслуги»), and Dr. Carolyn Levis, Plastic Surgeon from Hamilton, ON, and Krystina Waler, Director of Humanitarian Initiatives from Toronto, were awarded the Order of Princess Olga (Орден Kнягині Ольги).
The Order of Merit, bestowed to men, and the Order of Princess Olga, bestowed to women, are both awarded for outstanding achievements of service to Ukraine. The Canada-Ukraine Foundation is currently in Kyiv undertaking their fourth medical mission.
"Oleh, Carolyn and Krystina represent the many many volunteers who have worked tirelessly to help wounded soldiers and civilians in Ukraine. On behalf of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, I wish to thank the Government of Ukraine for recognizing these three individuals and by extension, our entire team. I also wish to thank the Government of Canada for their financial support of our missions and to the donors and sponsors of the "United for Ukraine" Gala, which funded our first two medical missions," said Victor Hetmanczuk, President of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. "I'm sure I speak for all Canadians when I say that we look forward to a peaceful and prosperous Ukraine".
"It is indeed my great honour to help not only the patients we saw, but also help build the capacity of the medical system in Ukraine," said Dr. Oleh Antonyshyn. "I have learned just as much as I have taught, from my Ukrainian counterparts. It is with a deeply grateful heart that I accept this award on behalf of all the medical staff on our mission of Ukrainian heritage who are helping our brothers and sisters in Ukraine build a stronger, brighter future".
"Thank you President Poroshenko for this great honour. I draw strength from and am inspired by the patients I have treated, along with my Ukrainian counterparts at the Military Hospital," said Dr. Carolyn Levis. "I grateful accept this award on behalf of the wider Canadian community and we stand united with Ukrainians who want a better future."
"I am very grateful and humbled by this honour. I accept this award on behalf of all the volunteers for our four medical missions, without whom, our missions would not have been a success," said Krystina Waler, Director of Humanitarian Initiatives for the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. "I am also grateful to all my Ukrainian counterparts who worked tirelessly to help us make our medical missions a reality. I would also like to thank the Embassy of Canada in Ukraine, and specifically Ambassador Roman Waschuk for their never-ending support".
The Third Medical Mission was featured on a CTV documentary ‘Helping Hands’ on W5, airing in January 2016. The program also highlighted the plight of 11 yr old Mykola Nizhikovsky, who lost both legs and his arm when he and his brother came upon an undetonated grenade. Mykola was the first paediatric patient the doctors saw. He is now in Montreal for additional treatment of his injuries. More information about Mykola is available at www.HelpMykola.com
Funding for the first two medical missions came largely from “United for Ukraine”, a fundraiser which took place in September 2014, attended by Wayne Gretzky. The Canada-Ukraine Foundation is grateful to the sponsors of United for Ukraine. They include: Eugene Melnyk, Canadian Tire, Molson Coors Canada, the Temerty Family, the Ihnatowycz Family, Bell Canada, the Globe and Mail, the National Post, the Jacyk Foundation, the Ukrainian Credit Union, Buduchnist Credit Union, Caravan Logistics, Yarcia Huculak and Family, CIBC, Manulife, and Community Trust Credit Union.
The Canada-Ukraine Foundation is also grateful to the Holiday Inn Kyiv and Sunnybrook Hospital for their continued support.
The Canada-Ukraine Foundation was established by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress to coordinate, develop, organize and deliver assistance projects generated by Canadians and directed to Ukraine. It is a registered charitable foundation. Donations for the mission and other projects may be made at http://www.cufoundation.ca.
