Shevchenko Foundation Annual Meeting in Ottawa

Winnipeg – The Annual Meeting of the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko (Shevchenko Foundation) was held on June 24-26, 2011 in Ottawa, Ontario to coincide with the June 26^th unveiling of the Taras Shevchenko Monument in our Nation’s Capital.

In attendance were Andriy Hladyshevsky, Q.C. of Edmonton who was re-appointed as President and Chair of the Shevchenko Foundation [Board of Directors], as well as: newly-appointed Vice-Chair Boris Balan of Toronto; re-appointed Treasurer Bohdan Halkewycz of Winnipeg; Members Sophia Kachor of Winnipeg, Chrystyna Bidiak of Toronto, Ernest Paluck of Regina, and the Board’s newest member Eugene Roman of Mississauga. Also in attendance were Wallace Shoemay of Burnaby, Chair of the Shevchenko Foundation’s Investment Committee; Dr. Christine Turkewych, Program Director of the Kobzar Literary Awards; and Executive Director Lesia Szwaluk.

In keeping with the Shevchenko Foundation mission of “preserving and promoting Ukrainian Canadian cultural heritage and the advancement of a flourishing Ukrainian community for the enrichment of Canada”, the Board reviewed 40 grant applications and approved a total of $99,560 in grant monies for distribution among these applications. They include film and research projects, cultural centres, dance and drama groups, and publications, to name a few. The Board also reviewed and approved the 2010-2011 Financial Statements of the Foundation, which were prepared and presented by PKBW Group, Chartered Accountants.

On the evening of June 25^th, Board Members enjoyed the opportunity to attend Ottawa’s Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association’s “Pre-Shevchenko” social evening marking the unveiling of the monument and to meet with members of Ottawa’s Ukrainian-Canadian community.

The highlight of the weekend was the official unveiling of the Taras Shevchenko Monument on the grounds of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine in Ottawa on Sunday Afternoon, June 26th. Hundreds of people were in attendance, coming from all across Canada and from as far away as Ukraine.  Members and staff of the Shevchenko Foundation were proud to be in attendance and President Andriy Hladyshevsky, brought official greetings on behalf of the Foundation. For highlights of the unveiling, to hear an excerpt Andriy Hladyshevsky’s greetings, and to learn more about the Shevchenko Foundation and the valuable work it does, please visit our website www.shevchenkofoundation.ca.