Youth

      The Ukrainian Youth Association (UYA) held its triennial Canadian National Conference in Edmonton on March 1-3, 2019.  Delegates and representatives were in attendance from branches in Winnipeg, Hamilton, Edmonton, Etobicoke, Calgary, Mississauga, Montreal, Ottawa, St. Catherines and Toronto.

      Breakout sessions at the Conference focused on subjects endemic to community service organizations, especially Ukrainian diaspora groups, at a time of both economic and membership challenges.  As an organization that strives to meet the needs of both long-established Ukrainian-Canadian families and recent emigrants from Ukraine, the key challenge is to engage youth with developmentally-oriented programming, and find ways to bridge the gap between Canada and Ukraine. This obviously must include the incorporation of social media and more effective communication platforms to ensure that UYA works most effectively for the benefit of its members.

      Parallel to the Conference a Leadership Seminar was held, working with a group of future UYA leaders to help hone their skillsets and identify ways in which they can most effectively contribute to the critical day-to-day work with youth.

      A gala banquet marked the 70th anniversary of the local UYA Edmonton Branch.  In addition to the delegates, the event was well attended by the local Ukrainian community including Ukrainian Greek Catholic Bishop David Motiuk and clergy.  Joining the guests were representatives of federal, provincial and municipal levels of government, and the Consul General of Ukraine. 

      The program was a tribute to the organization’s 70 years in Edmonton and showcased local UYA talent – youth of the Edmonton branch, Verkhovyna choir and Dunai Dance Ensemble. Opening remarks were delivered by UYA Edmonton Branch President Laryssa Szmihelsky who welcomed the delegates and guests.

      UYA National President Tamara Tataryn extended greetings on behalf of all members across Canada with a special thank you to members of the Edmonton branch for their contribution to the growth and development of not only their branch, but also the continued well-being and prosperity of the organization nation wide, the Ukrainian community in Canada and the people of Ukraine.

      National President of the League of Ukrainian Canadians Roman Medyk congratulated UYA members on their continuing efforts to educate Ukrainian youth about their heritage, history and culture while nurturing the future leaders of our community.

      In his role as President of the BCU Foundation, Roman Medyk also presented donations of $10,000 each to the UYA National Executive and UYA Edmonton Branch.

      The culmination of the program was a symbolic passing of the torch from the elder generation to the young.  Five founding members of the organization - Petro Dackiw, Natalka Talanchuk, Maria Bahniuk, Zonia Fialka and Stephania Duchnij - presented young oak trees to three of the youngest members of the branch wishing all future generations of UYA members the strength and resolve to continue the work of those who lay the path ahead of them.

      The Conference elected its new leadership for the next three years.  In addition to the obligatory Auditing and Grievance Committees, a new National Executive was installed, consisting of:

      • Yuri Broda (Edmonton) – President

      • Michael Wowk (Edmonton) – Vice-President

      • Zenon Ciz (Etobicoke) – Treasurer

      • Natalya Melysh (Calgary) – Secretary

      • Natalia Schturyn (Etobicoke) – Co-Chair, Educational Council

      • Tanya Choly  (St. Catharines) – Co-Chair, Educational Council

      • Anna Zakharova (Calgary) – Coordinator, Membership West

      • Oksana Stech (Mississauga) – Coordinator, Membership East

      • Daniel Moussienko (Calgary) – Communications Coordinator

      • Natalia Kardasz (Etobicoke) – Camp Coordinator

      • Tamara Tataryn (Toronto) – Past President

      • Ulana Kawun (Mississauga)* (non-voting member) – Representative of Camp Veselka

      The Ukrainian Youth Association is an international organization created 90 years ago in response to political repressions in Soviet-occupied Ukraine, which evolved into a Diaspora organization-in-exile.  Its primary mandate is to meet the challenge of raising young people of Ukrainian heritage to be historically and politically astute and supportive of initiatives to maintain their ethno-cultural identity, while working with affiliated organizations to strive towards strengthening a sovereign, fully independent Ukrainian nation state.

For further information:  Harry Nesmasznyj, Executive Director, UYA Canada – 416-537-2007