Writer’s Creativity Sparked by Holodomor Commemoration

by Christine Turkewych

Writers cannot always identify the very moment when their narrative ignites from their thoughts into words on a page. Ukrainian organizations cannot always measure the tentacles of their influence. Here, in the case of Tanya Berezuk, the 2010 Kobzar Writer’s Scholarship recipient, readers have information on both: an organization’s influence and a writer’s inspiration. 

Tanya vividly recalls attending a Holodomor commemoration in Brampton, Ont. (near Toronto) in 2007, organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. There, she witnessed Holodomor survivors weeping as they were validated for their suffering by Canadian government officials and members of the Ukrainian Canadian community. During this emotionally charged event, Tanya realized that acknowledgement of the Great Famine Genocide in 1932-33 as an atrocious event in the history of Ukraine by an international community was very necessary not only for the survivors but also for the Ukrainian nation.

That very night when Tanya returned home, heavy hearted and emotionally engaged, she began writing her narrative. She states, “My goal is to write a novel that is accurate in political detail and poignant in its depiction of characters that suffered or perished in Holodomor…. I hope to dignify millions of lost lives and rescue memories.”  She had not planned this narrative but it emerged from deep emotional responses to honour survivors and a commitment to ensure that “Holodomor is entered in the consciousness or lexicon in the catalogue of human suffering”.  Since that day, Tanya’s narrative has taken many twists and turns, countless hours of research and rewrites. She pursued the Kobzar Writer’s Scholarship for the opportunity to refine her work by learning from published Canadian authors.

As a secondary school teacher of history and literature, Tanya values authenticity, which led her to seek consultations from academic experts. For their selfless generosity in sharing their expertise, Tanya is grateful to Dr. Roman Serbyn, Professor Emeritus of Russian and East European History at the Universit du Qubec  Montral, and to Dr. Lynn Viola, a specialist in twentieth century Russian history at the University of Toronto.  Dr. Viola’s book “Peasant Rebels under Stalin”, particularly, provided very useful data for Tanya’s understanding of Stalin’s domination.  Tanya’s plotline and character development were strengthened by her new learnings.

The main characters in Tanya’s narrative evolved from her own family experiences. As the youngest of three daughters of Mykola Berezuk (from the village of Viktoriv in Ivano-Frankivske in Western Ukraine), Tanya was born and raised in St. Catharines, Ontario. Along with sisters Luba and Vera, she enjoyed a traditionally post World War II Ukrainian migr upbringing in Canada. This included participation in the Ukrainian Youth Association SUM with summer camps at Veselka as well as Ukrainian heritage schooling that culminated with Matura. Although Tanya’s mother is Austrian, she honoured her husband’s culture, learned to speak Ukrainian and became very active in the Black Sea Hall community in St. Catharines.

Tanya’s father Mykola passed away three years ago but his presence is vivid in his daughter’s narrative as is her 86 year-old mother, Theresa. Both parents are reflected among the main characters. Tanya recalls her mother’s unique character as “selfless to a fault…always there for her girls… always a strength in our family. Her influence can be seen in the formation of the ‘mother’ in the story …. The woman who, to the end, regardless of circumstances, takes care of her family and gives comfort.”

Currently, Tanya lives in Oshawa with her three children Marta, Alexa and Kalyna. Tanya works for the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Catholic District School Board (PVNCCDSB) in the Centre for Success. Active in an innovative dual-credit program, Tanya  works fervently to provide easier access to college training for “tough cookie” type high school students who would not have extended their education beyond Grade 12. She is challenged by her work, her family and by the demands of completing her narrative yet remains enthusiastic about all aspects of her life.

The writing workshop at the Humber School for Writers in Toronto provided her with specific feedback on her own writing style, tempered the plotline of her narrative and the development of its characters. For Tanya, special moments of learning occurred with writers Alistair McLeod, Mary Gaiteskill, Miriam Toews, Annabel Lyon, Richard Scrimger, and Marsha Skrypuch. The interest and support from seasoned and published writers were motivating and encouraging. “It is so fantastic to have my admired writers become demystified”, reflects Tanya.  Tanya feels fortified as she progresses to completion of the narrative along the arduous journey to finding the right publisher.

Tanya Berezuk is the fourth scholarship recipient since 2007. The Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko funds the Kobzar Writer’s Scholarship annually and to date, has funded annually one literary expert at the Humber School for Writers in Toronto through the Kobzar Literary Endowment Fund.  The Kobzar Writer’s Scholarship is awarded to a Canadian writer with an advanced manuscript on a Ukrainian Canadian theme.

Dr. Christine Turkewych is Director of Literary Arts at the Shevchenko Foundation. For submission guidelines view www.kobzarliteraryaward.com.

L. to R.: Marsha Skrypuch, author, Tanya Berezuk, scholarship recipient, Christine Turkewych, Director of Literary Arts, Shevchenko Foundation