UNF of Canada Celebrates 75 Years of Community Service

UNF of Canada President Michael Kalimin was interviewed by The New Pathway’s John Pidkowich prior to the XXXV Triennial National Convention and of the UNF and AO, November 16-19, 2007 at the UNF Community Centre in Toronto and celebrating the 75^th Anniversary of the UNF of Canada: 1932-2007.

John Pidkowich, NP: What is the significance of the upcoming XXXV National Convention of the UNF and AO?

 Michael Kalimin: Our Convention is a celebration that has been enriching our community for 75 years. The UNF has had a long and glorious past. The UNF experience provided young and older people with an opportunity for group activity in educational, cultural social and political fields.

 JP-NP: What is the Vision and Mission Statement of the UNF of Canada?

 Michael Kalimin: The vision of the UNF of Canada is to fulfill the needs of all its members through and by programs, communication and leadership.

 Our membership must be made to understand the mission –POKLYKANNYA—of the UNF of Canada.  The mission of the UNF of Canada is to unite all members of the Ukrainian Canadian community in the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada in order to serve their interests, to preserve and protect their rights and privileges, and to promote their well-being and culture through programs, communication and leadership.

JP-NP: How is the UNF of Canada forward-looking and which steps have been taken during your term to depart today and arrive in the future?

Michael Kalimin: To begin with, we are prepared to go ahead with a web site for the UNF of Canada and all the Branches.  The delay is due partly to the time and effort in planning this convention and response from people with the knowledge and expertise of services to help us define our needs to launch the web site.  This should be resolved in the very near future.

To reverse the trend of the recent past and bring our organization into the 21^st century, we held two national conferences to define the role of the UNF today and take it forward into the future.

To this end, the UNF of Canada Board of Directors took upon itself to: visit all Branches; review our current programs; and make plans for integrating the Fourth Wave of immigrants; encourage Branches to have youth and young groups such as the MUNO Toronto and Toronto West Branches; consider having an organizer that can go out to the Branches and help them become more active and find ways to draw in more members, especially young people; encourage every Branch to have active membership and programs committees looking for new members and developing programs that will interest and benefit members and the community at large. Hearty congratulations to all Branches that were able to increase their membership!

JP-NP: How has the UNF of Canada embraced changing membership demographics as individuals and as Branches?

Michael Kalimin: In the past, unfortunately, we failed to take into account the changes that were occurring, not only in the world, but also in our community such as: Ukrainians moving out of local “ghetto” neighbourhoods and mixing with the general population; the acceleration of mixed marriages; young people not knowing the Ukrainian language; media, television, internet vying for people’s interest; most are Canadian born and their “motherland” is not Ukraine; and appeal to their Ukrainian patriotism was less effective. Therefore, it is a challenge for us to attract new members. The old adage of “join the organization and work for it” no longer applies. The current attitude is “what does membership in the organization offer me?”

Our branches are varied. Some have found themselves in locations that have become very commercially viable and have given them a steady source of income. Others have been less fortunate. They found themselves in locations that have become undesirable. Others must renovate and update their facilities. The well being of our Branches must become a priority for our organization as a whole. We are as strong as our weakest link. Each Branch should set aside a fixed percentage of income for future needs.

JP-NP: How do you see the UNF of Canada’s role in the community and in providing support for aid to Ukraine?

Michael Kalimin: The UNF has always worked with other Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian community organizations and I believe we should continue to do so. However, it has come to my attention that certain individuals believe that I am opposed to supporting activities and programs in Ukraine.  I am not opposed to any activities that will improve the lot of the people in Ukraine.  As a matter of fact, my wife and I personally donate many thousands of dollars each and every year to assist students and orphans.  We donated money for computers in Ukrainian schools as well as to the UCC Democratic Appeal for the Election Observer Mission in Ukraine during the 2004 Presidential Elections. 

However, I am strongly against our organization (as opposed to individuals or special campaigns) donating funds that are badly needed here, in Canada, to people or causes in Ukraine.  I strongly believe and support the need to rebuild our branches into a strong and vibrant organization that will be able to serve our Ukrainian Canadian community here in Canada. By concentrating on building a strong organization in Canada we can have influence in the Community and government at all levels. The strength of an organization attracts attention of the government and creates opportunities for government support. In strength, we have the influence on our Canadian government to give assistance and support to Ukraine either directly or jointly with the community.  In unity there is strength.  And in strength there is power.

Michael Kalimin, CMA, has been a UNYF and UNF member for many years and is well known in the community, having been Treasurer for the Ukrainian Canadian Congress –Toronto Branch for over 15 years. Mr. Kalimin is a recipient of the UCC Shevchenko Medal. He has held various executive and controlling positions at the UNF Toronto Branch and National level being elected in 2004 as President of the UNF of Canada Board of Directors.