2011 Remembrance Day Ceremony
November is the month when leaves have fallen and we brace ourselves for the coming of winter. It is also a time for remembrance. We mourn the fallen soldiers of war and honour their lives and contributions. The Remembrance Day Committee of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Toronto Branch would like to recall and share the stories of several Ukrainian Canadians who have served and contributed to the defence of Canada.
Brigadier-General Joseph Romanow
Brigadier-General Joseph Romanow was the first Ukrainian-Canadian to be promoted to the rank of General in the Canadian Forces. He was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 1921 and contributed to the Ukrainian community from an early age. In 1940, upon graduation from high school, Joseph enrolled in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Upon completion of basic flight training on a Tiger Moth, he was transferred to England and ultimately Burma. There, flying transport aircraft re-supplying the British 14th Army, he dodged Japanese fighter aircraft.
After the Second World War, Joseph returned to the Air Force as a senior Canadian technical officer and worked on the development of the Avro Arrow. After completing the National Defence College, Joseph Romanow became the first Canadian of Ukrainian descent to be promoted to the rank of General in the Canadian Forces. He was also made a Commander of the Order of Military Merit (CMM), the highest exemplary service award given by the Canadian Forces. One of BGen Romanow’s most lasting contributions was as one of the founders of the Central Ukrainian Relief Bureau (CURB) at the end of the Second World War. The CURB defended Ukrainian displaced persons from forced repatriation to the Soviet Union and saved the lives of thousands of Ukrainians, many of whom ultimately settled in Canada.
BGen Joseph Romanow passed away in Ottawa in March 2011.
For more information on BGen Romanow please consult www.veterans.gc.ca
www.infoukes.com/ucpbaott/newsletter012007.html
www.ucc.sk.ca/oldsite/programs/nbuilders/2006/index.html#NB04
Alex Fediuk
Born in Whitford, Alberta in 1914 to a Ukrainian immigrant family, Alex Fediuk was proud of his Ukrainian-Canadian identity. In 1940, he volunteered for service with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, with whom he served in France, northern Africa and Italy. In 1944, he was fighting in the Battle of Cassino and there on May 23rd a piece of shrapnel ended his life. At the age of 30, Private Fediuk died for Canada. He will be remembered for his enthusiasm and good nature – a true Canadian hero with a Ukrainian heart.
For more information on Alex Fediuk please consult www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/feature/italy2004/italy_overseas/akira1
Lieutenant-Colonel Roman Jarymowycz
On January 18, 1945, Roman Jarymowycz was born in Vienna, Austria to Ukrainian parents. The family soon moved to Canada. In 1964, he enrolled in the Canadian Army and his military career quickly blossomed. Eventually he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and became the Commanding Officer of the Royal Canadian Hussars (RCH) – an armoured reconnaissance regiment.
After the Hussars, he served as a Senior Staff Officer for Land Force Quebec Area Headquarters. Perhaps his most important appointment came in 1982 when he became an instructor for the Militia Command Staff Course at the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff College. He was an instructor for over 15 years and in 1994 was made Dean of the Course. He has been twice decorated, with the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) for long service and the Order of Military Merit (Canada).
For more information on LCol Roman Jarymowycz please consult http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Jarymowycz
BGen Joseph Romanow, Private Alex Fediuk and LCol Roman Jarymowycz are shining examples of citizens contributing to Canada’s military forces and the defence and security of Canada. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress Toronto Branch, with support from the Ukrainian War Veterans Association of Canada, invites all members of the community to honour these contributions and sacrifices at the Memorial Service and Wreath Laying on Sunday, November 6th at 2:00pm at the Ukrainian Canadian Memorial Park at Scarlett Road and Eglinton Avenue West in Etobicoke, Ontario.
Compiled by Kateryna Shpir