THE UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CONGRESS – ONTARIO PROVINCIAL COUNCIL 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND LAUNCH OF THE TRILLIUM AWARD
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Ontario Provincial Council of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the UCC-OPC held a Champagne Brunch at the Old Mill Toronto. The event was attended by 180 guests who came to mark this anniversary as well as to congratulate the recipients of the UCC- OPC Trillium Award. This Award honours individuals who have made meritorious contributions in a volunteer capacity, to create a strong, vibrant, and active Ukrainian Canadian community in the province of Ontario.
After a welcome and remarks by Taras Bahriy, the current president of the UCC-OPC, the microphone was passed to MC Markian Shwec. Following the national anthems of Canada and Ukraine, Markian introduced special guests Oleksandr Shevchenko, Consul General of Ukraine, Alexandra Chyczij, President UCC National, and actress Kathryn Winnick. A special note was made to introduce the past presidents of the UCC-OPC, Bohdan Onyschuk, KC, Petro Hlibowych, Bohdan Maksymec, Dr. Evhen Roslycky, Dr. Orest Rudzik, Orysia Sushko, CM, John Pidkowich, Olha Sheweli, Yvan Baker, Steve Andrusiak, Lidia Narozniak, Walter Kish, Anna Kuprieieva, and Bohdan Wynnycky who were greeted with a warm round of applause. Taras Bahriy, presented Bohdan Onyschuk, the first president of the UCC-OPC with a commemorative Trillium lapel pin, thanking him for taking on this important roll 50 years ago.
A toast was ably delivered by UCC Oshawa President Kateryna Rohovska, who thanked those who had built the UCC-OPC over 50 years and also thanked and congratulated the recipients of the Trillium Medal.
Father Bohdan Hladio, said Molytva/Grace which was followed by a lovely brunch accompanied by violinist Oleksandra Fedyshyn.
The presentation of the UCC-OPC Trillium Medal and a lapel pin was made to the following individuals: Maria Antoniw-Cambridge, Irene-Chromej-Johnston-Oshawa, Marta Czolij Cechosh-Toronto, Nadia Dusanowsky- Stoney Creek, Father Bohdan Hladio-Oshawa, Bozhena Iwanusiw-Toronto, Anna Jacyniak-Toronto, Peter Kardash-Toronto, Daria Luciw-Toronto, Mykola Lytvyn-Toronto, Myron Maksymiw-Toronto, Andriy Melnyk-Bradford, John W. Moskalyk-Toronto, Natalie Nebesny-Burlington, Daria Pavlova-Hryckiw-London, Emil Pidwerbecki-West Toronto, Irene Schumylo Newton, St. Catharines, Lyubov Slavatynska-Toronto, Lesya Winnicki-Toronto. The three recipient who could not be in attendance, Nadia Luciuk-Kingston, Mary-Ann Oshukany-Waterloo and Walter Warywoda-Thunder Bay will be presented their medals in their home communities at a later date. Assisting Taras Bahriy with the presentation were the sponsors of the Trillium Medal, Andrew Tarapacky, Chair of the Board of Directors, Buduchnist Credit Union, Roman Medyk, Chair of the Board of Directors, BCU Foundation and UCC-OPC Secretary Marika Kobzan Diakow. A wonderful community chorus of Mnohaya Lita was sung by the assembled guests in hour of the recipients of the UCC-OPC Trillium Medal.
Each medal recipient also received a Kalyna plant courtesy of Luba Zaraska. Today, as previously in Ukrainian history, the “Chervona Kalyna” is the rallying song of the Ukrainian nation as it battles for survival against brutal Russian invaders.
MC Markian Shwec thanked the following sponsors for their generous contributions: Platinum and Trillium Medal Sponsor BCU Financial, Buduchnist Credit Union; Platinum Sponsors: Temerty Foundation, Leslie B. Salnick (nee:Oleksa Borislaw Tsaleiuk), Horodynsky Farms Inc.; Gold Sponsors: Ukrainian Credit Union Ltd., Zaraska Family Foundation; Silver Sponsors: Barrel House Korchma, Huculak Foundation, Ihnatowycz Family Foundation, Myhal Family Foundation and Wiar Brick Stone Ltd.; Bronze Sponsors; Caravan Group of Companies, New Canadian Drain and Plumbing Company, Lerners Lawyers, Meest, Olena Chepil at Terra Law, Shevchenko Foundation; UCC_OPC Supporter Kantor Currency Exchange and UCC_OPC Friends Bohyni, Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce, Leaning Post Winery, Mitchell Bardyn Zalucky LLP and Svitlana Janchynska -The Art of Denture Inc. Forum TV and Kontakt, media sponsors, were also acknowledged and thanked.
Irene Schumylo Newton, chair of the organizing committee concluded the afternoon by thanking UCC-OPC President Taras Bahriy for his initiative to create this 50th Anniversary event and the Inauguration of the Trillium Medal, the organizing committee which included Taras Bahriy, Marika Kobzan Diakow, Daria Hryckiw, Olia Kalymon, Oksana Rewa, Lesya Winnicki, Bohdan Wynnyckyj and Olya Grod for their efforts in creating the event, Mary Trach-Holadyk for the creation of the Trillium Medal design, Sonia Holiad for the preparation of the program booklet and Lesia Antoniw for the beautiful floral arrangements and boutonnieres for the medal recipients.
