UWO­–Toronto Holds Another Successful Movie Night

By Ulana Steck-Kowal

A group of Ukrainian Women’s Organization of Canada – Toronto branch members gathered at our “home” at 145 Evans Ave. on Thursday, November 23 with a two-fold purpose in mind.  The first was to learn the fine art of baking apple strudel and, second, if our efforts succeeded, to have prepared our own dessert for UWO’s second Movie Night the following evening.

Hanya Cirka, our resident professional chef and initiator of our first baking class, was in charge of the eager-to-learn group. Following her instructions, we peeled and sliced a bushel of apples, then, with the correct amount of spices mixed in, several brave ladies tried their hands at brushing the delicate pastry and rolling up our “works of art.” The delicious strudels exceeded our expectations and proved that we were indeed excellent pupils, as every piece was snatched up by our movie guests. In addition to the strudel dessert, our ladies also served the usual tasty borshch, varennyky, and sausages with kapusta.

Over 100 friends arrived for the showing of the movie–Marusia– also known as Oj ne khody Hrytsiu.  The film, a tragic love story, was produced in the late 1930s by Vasyl Avramenko’s film studio along with the Koshetz Chorus.

Natalie Obal, in her opening remarks, described Oleksander Koshetz as “a phenomenal conductor, composer, arranger, writer and lecturer who popularized Ukrainian music around the world and whose name is familiar to anyone who has sung in a choir. Oleksander Koshetz, born in 1875, graduated from the Kyiv Theological Academy but it was music that captured his soul. He subsequently graduated from the Lysenko School of Music and Drama and was appointed conductor and choirmaster of the Kyiv Opera. In 1919 he organized the Ukrainian National Chorus and toured Europe and the Americas, with the Choir receiving rave reviews everywhere they appeared. In 1922 Oleksander Koshetz moved to New York City and in 1941, at the invitation of the UNF National Executive, he accepted the position of lecturer and choral director at the UNF’s summer educational program for potential choir teachers in Winnipeg. He remained there until his death in 1944. The Oleksander Koshetz Choir in Winnipeg is named in his memory.”

The evening was definitely a success and, except for the tears that were shed at the tragic ending of the movie, everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Another movie night is in the planning stages, possibly to be held at the end of February.

Currently, we are in the process of preparing for Malanka on Saturday, January 13 and Sviata Vecheria on Sunday, January 14, at 2:00 p.m., both at the UNF Community Centre at 145 Evans Ave. For further information or tickets for Malanka please call Michael Kowalchyk at 905-507-3267, Darko Kowal at 416-898-2056 or Slavko Kowal at 905-274-2250. For tickets for Sviata Vecheria please call Irene Boddy at 416- 245-5049 or Anne Fedun at 416-249-0907.

 Ukrainian Women’s Organization of Canada – Toronto branch wishes all its members, supporters and friends a very Blessed and Loving Rizdvo and a Happy and Healthy New Year! We look forward to seeing all of you at our upcoming events.