UCC Tribute Gala to honour contributions to public service
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.
“We are pleased to honour Ambassador Waschuk with the Shevchenko Medal, the highest form of recognition granted by the UCC. Ambassador Waschuk’s distinguished diplomatic career is a source of immense pride for our community. In his final posting in Ukraine, Ambassador Waschuk was a leader in the diplomatic community and a strong voice for Canada’s leading role in supporting the Ukrainian people,” stated Alexandra Chyczij, National President of the UCC. “Ambassador Waschuk’s exemplary record of public service is a model for future generations of our community to emulate.”
The Shevchenko Medal is the highest form of recognition granted by the UCC. The Shevchenko Medal recognizes individuals for their outstanding national contribution towards the development of the Ukrainian Canadian community.
As Canada’s longest-serving Ambassador to Ukraine, Roman Waschuk worked to bring Canada-Ukraine relations to a new level at a time of increased interest in Ukraine. With his depth of knowledge of Ukraine, he was a leader amongst Ambassadors in Kyiv and fully developed the Canadian presence in Ukraine. Ambassador Waschuk practiced diplomacy with integrity, openness, sincerity, accessibility and optimism. He was able to articulate the need for a strong Canada Ukraine relationship both with government officials, in the media and the general public.
Successful public service and effective diplomacy always being the result of teamwork, on February 1 the UCC will also honour Oksana Smerechuk, Ambassador Waschuk’s spouse, who was President of the Ambassadors’ Spouses Club of Kyiv. Together their commitment to community and public service and boundless energy provided Canada with a powerful voice in Kyiv
Ambassador Waschuk and Ms. Smerechuk have graciously agreed to share this Tribute Evening with Canadian police officers who have been providing training to Ukraine’s police forces as part of Canada’s support for security and democratic development in Ukraine, and whose contributions we will also celebrate.
Tickets are on sale now for the Tribute Gala taking place Saturday February 1, 2020 at the Liberty Grand in Toronto. Click on the poster above to purchase tickets or visit our website.
Proceeds from the Tribute Dinner are dedicated to the Roman Waschuk & Oksana Smerechuk Fund within the UCC Charitable & Educational Trust, which will support the UCC Parliamentary Internship Program, as well as to the UCC Community Development Fund, which supports important community programming initiatives.
Thank you for the many generous sponsors who have stepped forward to support this event and the Waschuk-Smerechuk Fund!
