UCC Congress Votes Pavlo Grod for President

By John Pidkowich

At the XXII Ukrainian Canadian Congress, held in Winnipeg October 19-21, Paul Grod was elected as the new National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress over incumbent candidate UCC President Orysia Sushko. The Congress theme was Connecting our Com-munity which Grod was able to capitalize on in his effective presidential campaign with support across UCC member organizations, in particular, from the youth delegates. As UCC Vice President, Grod declared his candidacy for President and was put forward by the League of Ukrainian Canadians. He is a former president of the Ukrainian Students’ Union of Canada and SUSK was revived in the time for the Congress. Mrs. Shushko declared her intention to run again as President with the backing of the Ukrainian Self Reliance Association of Canada and support from across the community.

 Paul Grod’s election campaign platform was based on leadership for effective coordination and representation of the Ukrainian Canadian Community. Grod is President of Rodan Power, an energy services company based in Mississauga, Ont. He is married and has a young family with three children. Hamiltonian Orysia Sushko stood by her record of accomplishments as UCC President and leadership in communication and consensus building. She offered voting delegates continued community representation of with her extensive contacts in Canadian society, broad community involvement over many years and career experience in issues of equity and inclusion at the municipal level. Both candidates subscribe to fiscal responsibility, demonstrated and attest to prudent use of limited community financial resources.

Of the amendments to the UCC Statutes passed by the Congress, included is the election of four UCC Officers in addition to the President by the Congress. Member organizations still send their representative to the UCC National Board of Directors and Board of Auditors and approved by the Congress. Many round table sessions covered a range of current important topics, attended by hard-working delegates, yielding plenty of crafted resolutions. Youth involment was evident and the revival of the Ukrainian National Youth Federation resulted in several MUNO delegates from across Canada being sent to the Congress. Meeting new contacts and old acquaintances provided many opportunities for formal and informal exchanges of ideas.