“OYK” Annual Garden Party

By Genya Hunchak

Now our Annual “INDOOR” Garden Party and, what a party, was put on by the Ukrainian Women’s Organization of Canada, Toronto Branch, on Sunday, September 23, 2007, at the UNF Community Centre. The Committee under the direction of Irene Boddy and Lydia Lelyk wanted everything to be perfect - table centre pieces, coordinating colours and, a specially selected menu for lunch with cannelloni, salad, fresh rolls, coffee, tea and dessert. The big day came. Our greeters were ready at the doors, our ticket sellers were ready at their desks inside the door, and the tables were set with ceramic teapots and cookie jar centrepieces filled with autumn flowers & vines, a prize that would go home with the lucky guest at each table whose birth date was the closest to September 23. Our prize lady Irene Fedina had arrived with the door prizes and our kitchen was operating at full speed. We were ready. Our guests started arriving, smiling and most of them with their hat creations ready for our parade of hats before the selected judges, Laurel Broten, MPP for Etobicoke Lakeshore, Marika Szkambara, National President of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations and Roman Nazarewycz, President of the  Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association of Toronto. Borys Wrzesnewskyj, MP for Etobicoke Centre, stopped by to say a few words to us and share his hat adventure with his Mother trying on hats at Eaton’s. He couldn’t stay because he was catching a flight to Ukraine to perform duties as an election observer. Our president, Stacey Suessmuth, warmly welcomed our many members, guests and friends and made a point of introducing our special guests - the ladies from the Red Hat Society in their marvellous hat creations - in particular, Nadia Andrejiw, Queen of the “Crimson Royals”, Toronto Chapter, Maureen Nelder, Queen of the “Majestic Mavens” from the chapter in Clear Water, Florida and Bonnie Sanlison, Queen of the “Ravishing Rosettes”, Toronto Chapter. Our president introduced Laurel Broten, MPP, who told the story of her grandmother’s hats, the summer hat and the winter hat, which were stored in special boxes at the end of each season. Natalie Obal told us the story of one of our guests, Mrs. Bilyk. When she was a young girl, she had gone to a dance with a girl friend. A young man walked them home. He walked the girlfriend home first and then Mrs. Bilyk. They started “courting”. After they married, Mrs. Bilyk asked her husband how it was that he noticed her. He told her he admired her at Church in her black hat with a red ribbon band.

Our president introduced our Mistress of Ceremonies, Orysia Chwaluk-Sopinka and as always Orysia Sopinka-Chwaluk performed gracefully and graciously, giving us interesting little asides throughout the afternoon. After our lunch, coffee and dessert was served and a few door prizes were called. Then, the Grand Parade of Hats started and our judges announced their verdict. The funniest hat prize went to Ulana Steck-Kowal, that of most original to Olga Pylypiuk, and the most elegant hat prize went to Mrs. Bilyk, of the love story. The grand slam winner was Maureen Nelder, Queen of the “Majestic Mavens” of Clear Water, Florida. Also, and each child who wore a hat got a prize. Our Mistress of Ceremonies thanked everyone who participated.

Once our Garden Party was over and we could start to get ready for the next one. The question in many minds was “What kind of hat can I make for next year?”