Outgoing CIUS Director Honoured

Edmonton, 10 October 2012 – A farewell celebration honouring Dr. Zenon Kohut, the outgoing Director of the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta, took place in Edmonton on 2 October 2012. Dr. Kohut served as CIUS Director for eighteen years, leading the Institute during a time of transition following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rebirth of Ukraine as an independent state. He has numerous achievements to his credit, including the creation of the Kowalsky Program for the Study of Eastern Ukraine, the Kule Ukrainian Canadian Studies Centre, and the Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine project. He was honoured with a Ukrainian state award for his role as head of the Baturyn Archaeological Project.

About 100 guests gathered at the Faculty Club to greet Dr. Kohut, including provincial dignitaries, university officials, and community members. Following an invocation by the Rev. Hryhorij Fil, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Eugene Zwozdesky, spoke about governmental support of Ukrainian Studies and culture in Alberta. He emphasized the role of CIUS as the leading scholarly and educational institution in this process, indicating a number of successful projects, such as the bilingual school program. Andrew Hladyshevsky, the President of the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko, noted the crucial role of the community, whose dedication and generosity have made it possible to sustain and develop the Institute’s programs and projects. Dr. Manoly Lupul, the founding director of CIUS, shared his recollections about the formative years of CIUS in the context of the politics of Canadian multiculturalism and available community resources.

Other speakers greeting Dr. Kohut were George Pavlich, Associate Vice-President (Research); Jars Balan, Coordinator of the Kule Ukrainian Canadian Studies Centre at CIUS; Iryna Fedoriw, representing the non-academic staff of CIUS; Lesley Cormack, Dean of Arts; and Peter Savaryn, former Chancellor of the University of Alberta.

In his response, Dr. Kohut said that he had been privileged to serve as Director of CIUS for almost two decades, working to promote the development of Ukrainian Studies in Canada, Ukraine, and throughout the world, and to make CIUS a viable and vibrant institution. He noted that “the many achievements would not have been possible without the work of outstanding colleagues and staff, family, friends, donors, and Ukrainian community members who have given me such outstanding support.” Dr. Kohut will stay at the Institute to direct the Kowalsky Program for the Study of Eastern Ukraine.

Dr. Kohut then introduced the new CIUS Director, Volodymyr Kravchenko, and spoke about their long-standing collaboration, which began when Dr. Kravchenko became Director of the Kowalsky Eastern Institute of Ukrainian Studies at the V. N. Karazin National University of Kharkiv in 2000. In a symbolic gesture, Dr. Kohut passed the ceremonial mace (bulava) to Dr. Kravchenko and wished him every success in his new endeavours. Dr. Kravchenko assured the audience that he would do his best to continue the work of the Institute, making the changes required to attain new objectives and respond to the challenges of the day.

The celebration also featured a launch of the English language translation of Volume 6 of Mykhailo Hrushevsky’s History of Ukraine-Rus’, prepared by the Peter Jacyk Centre for Ukrainian Historical Research at CIUS and published by CIUS Press. Dr. Frank Sysyn, Director of the Centre, spoke about the translation project and highlighted topics presented in the new volume - economic, cultural, and national life in the Ukrainian lands from the Fourteenth to Seventeenth Century. The preparation of Volume 6 was supported by a generous donation from Dr. Jeanette Bayduza, a medical doctor and alumnus of the University of Alberta, and the late Dr. Peter Jacyk of Toronto, the founding benefactor of the Jacyk Centre. Additional funding came from the estate of the late Edward Brodacky of London, England, and numerous individual donors. Volume 6, like all published volumes of the History of Ukraine-Rus’, is available from CIUS Press.

The event was graced with works for cello and piano performed by two young musicians, Julian Savaryn and Julia Hui. Letters of greeting were received from Linda Duncan, Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Strathcona, and Senator Raynell Andreychuk.

Recognition in Toronto of Dr. Zenon Kohut honouring him for his many years of service as CIUS Director will be part of the event “Celebration of Three CIUS Milestones” that also includes a presentation on the publication of the new volume of Mykhailo Hrushevsky’s History of Ukraine Rus’ (in English translation) and welcoming Dr. Volodymyr Kravchenko as the new CIUS Director. This event will be held on October 26 at 7:30 pm., KUMF Gallery – Canadian Ukrainian Art Foundation, 2118-A Bloor St. W., Toronto.

PHOTOS

1 - R. to L.: Zenon Kohut passing the bulava to Volodymyr Kravchenko

2 - Zenon and Zorianna Kohut

3 - L. to R.: Eugene Zwozdesky, Zenon Kohut, and Genia Leskiw, Alberta MLA

4 - Frank Sysyn presenting the new Hrushevsky volume to Diana Holowaychuk, cousin of the volume’s major sponsor, Jeanette Bayduza