Montreal Television Station Launches New Ukrainian Program

Montreal CH Televison has launched a new weekly half-hour Ukrainian program called Suziria.  The program reflects the activity of the Ukrainian community in Montreal and the province of Quebec. 

Suziria, which means a constellation of stars, features interviews, primarily in the Ukrainian-language, on various topics with personalities such as Canadian opera singer Taras Kulish, Montreal artist Serhij Burtovyy, lawyer Evhen Czolij on the August 2006 Fourth World Forum of Ukrainians,   Prof. Roman Serbyn on his recent  research in Kyiv.

A special CH Television crew covered this year’s annual September Ukrainian Festival in Rosemount in which over 10,000 Montrealers participated. As part of Suziria’s coverage of the unveiling of a commemorative internment plaque in Beauport and Valcartier, Quebec this October, a special program was produced on the internment of Ukrainians in Quebec. Interviews were conducted with Peter Pawliw from Sherbrooke, whose mother was interned at Spirit Lake, with Kim Pawliw, his daughter, whose poem on the internment won a Quebec competition and with Zorianna Hrycenko-Luhova, a researcher on the internment documentary Freedom Had A Price.

Every week, the television program highlights the newest top-three popular songs from Ukraine and instructs viewers how to find specific Ukrainian sites on the internet. Recent segments have introduced viewers to the works of young-and-upcoming Montreal-based Ukrainian filmmakers and presented the presidents and activities of the many Montreal organizations. Weekly community event announcements are also part of the regular lineup.

Though Suziria is geared both to young and old viewers, it is especially appreciated by the elderly who are unable to attend the various functions but still want to have a connection with the community.

CH Television is a division of CanWest MediaWorks and the new Ukrainian program fulfills CH Television’s mandate to reflect the various communities in Canada.

Suziria was initiated in large part by Isabella Federigi, CH Television’s station manager, who recognized that the Ukrainian community in Montreal and Quebec is over 100 years old, and by Istan Rozumny, a filmmaker and a CH TV program director.

The duration of the program is guaranteed for six months. However, “the station could bring it back if the show proves to be a good investment and serves the community properly,” says Ms. Federigi. “CH tries to give a chance to communities, to have a local show by using a rotation process,” she adds.

Many of Montreal’s 18 ethno-cultural communities have continuous programming by financially supporting their community TV program.

The weekly hosts of Suziria are Oksana Zhovtulia and Anastasia Kyva. Working on production line up and research is Valentyna Golash and the program director is Istan Rozumny.

Suziria can be viewed on CH Channel 14 four times a week: Saturdays at 9:30 p.m., Sundays at 9:00 p.m., Tuesdays at 11:00 p.m. and Fridays at 5:00 p.m.

Suziria welcomes comments and suggestions. Contact the producers by phone at (514) 522-4150 or e mail at info@chmontreal.com