UCC Montreal’s Annual Events: Shevchenko Commemoration

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) - Montreal Branch held its annual Shevchenko Concert, attended by nearly one hundred, on Sunday, March 11, 2012 at the Ukrainian Youth Centre.

The guest speaker was Stepan Balatsko, a history teacher and Assistant Director of Montreal’s Metropolitan Sheptycky Ukrainian School, who presented an overview of Taras Shevchenko’s impact on the formation of Ukraine’s identity and the struggle for independence.  He also tied Shevchenko’s aspirations then, with the current political crises in Ukraine today.  He emphasized the urgency to unite the opposition and overthrow “the Tabachnyk’s” in the current government to stop their ongoing effort to introduce a new-wave of Russianization policies, undoing the achievements of the last 20-years of Ukraine’s renewed independence and threatening its fledgling democracy.

Also present, and briefly addressing the public, was Mykola Yakovyna, former member of the Ukrainian Parliament and Vice-President of the Olzhych Foundation in Ukraine.

Opening and concluding remarks were given by UCC Cultural-Education Committee Chairperson, Bohdanna Klecor-Hawryluk.  She also announced the passing of Mykola Plawiuk on March 10, leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, and President of the Olzhych Foundation, as well as, former President of the Ukrainian National Republic in Exile, which existed until the fall of the USSR. This was followed by a minute of silence in his memory.

The Shevchenko Concert’s musical component was organized by Ivan Hutych, Director of the “Vidlunia Choir”, and Vera Turko-Kulycka, Director of the Ukrainian School children’s choir.

Included among other major events organized by UCC Montreal was the annual Holodomor Famine-Genocide remembrance in November, consisting of a “panakhyda” commemorative service held at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, and the showing of the Ukrainian-language documentary film “Okradena Zemlya” in the Church Hall, with famine-genocide survivors living in Montreal present. On February 19, UCC held its annual “Sviato Sobornosty” marking the 93^rd anniversary of the Unification Ukrainian Lands, that of the Western Ukrainian National Republic and the Ukrainian National Republic in Kyiv, with guest speaker Stepan Balatsko.

The President of UCC Montreal and Quebec Provincial Council is Zorianna Hrycenko-Luhova. The UCC Montreal Branch includes thirty member organizations and their delegates, as well as, representation from Northern Quebec. Recent events include; the 26^th Annual Chornobyl commemoration, held on April 26 at St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral; and a roundtable discussion “Ukrainians in Quebec – Past, Present and Future” held on April 29 at the Ukrainian Youth Centre. The UCC Montreal Annual General Meeting was held on May 5, 2012, at the Ukrainian Youth Centre.

For further information contact 514-725-0812 or view the web site: uccmontreal.org

PHOTO

Mykola Yakovyna, VP Olzhych Foundation in Ukraine; Zorianna Hrycenko-Luhova, President UCC Montreal; Bohdanna Klecor-Hawryluk, Chairperson UCC Cultural Educational Committee; Ivan Hutych, choir director; Wolodymyr Mota, bandurist; Stepan Balatsko, guest speaker at the Shevchenko Concert