University of Manitoba Ukrainian Canadian Alumni Honoured

A committee of Ukrainian Canadian departments and units as well as graduates of the University of Manitoba celebrated its first ever Alumni event by hosting a banquet that honoured 13 prominent Ukrainian Canadian Alumni, attended by 110 alumni and guests on September 25, 2010 at St. Andrew’s College, Winnipeg. This event was organized in conjunction with the UofM Alumni Association, Manitoba Homecoming 2010 and the 140^th Anniversary of the Province of Manitoba.

The guest speaker at the banquet was Dr. Louis Melosky, a 1955 UofM alumnus, former Chair of the UofM Board of Governors, retired distinguished orthodontist and UofM dentistry professor as well as prominent community leader. Dr. Melosky spoke about his personal family background, his studies and his career and highlighted the need for all alumni to be mentors for future students at the UofM. He illustrated his short talk with a number of anecdotes and stories from his experiences.

The prominent alumnus graduates honoured at the banquet were introduced individually by Orysia Tracz and assisted by Professor Iryna Konstantiuk and Nellie Drozd. The following alumni received citations and an art piece for their valuable and distinguished professional career and Ukrainian community work: Victoria Adams – former bilingual school principal and community educator; Dr. Jaroslaw Barwinsky – retired cardiac surgeon and professor; Sonja Bejzyk – retired high school teacher and women’s organization leader; Hon. Benjamin Hewak – lawyer and retired Chief Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Manitoba; Orysia Hull – bilingual school principal; Zorianna Hyworon – business leader in hi-technology; Dr. Robert Klymasz – retired curator emeritus with the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Ukrainian Canadian folklorist and Zurawecki research scholar; Alexis Kochan – Ukrainian music researcher, producer and international performer; Dr. Peter Kondra – agriculture professor former National President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress; Metropolitan Yuriy (Kalistchuk) – religious leader, Orthodox bishop and specialist of Ukrainian liturgical music (unable to attend); Dr. Ihor Mayba – orthopedic surgeon; Dr. Louis Melosky; Dr. Mary Pankiw – music specialist, school principal, and published writer and poet.

The Banquet Programme included greetings, a musical interlude by Sofia Bilozor and several door prizes.  The evening’s MC was Dr. Roman Yereniuk.

The university departments and units involved (with their representatives) in planning the alumni homecoming included: Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies (Dr. Roman Yereniuk and Victoria Kaschor), German and Slavic Studies (Prof. Iryna Konstantiuk), St. Andrew’s College (Dobr. Genia Bozyk), Office of International Relations (Nellie Drozd), Slavic Library and the Archives of the Ukrainian Canadian Experience (James Kominowski) and Alpha Omega Alumnae (Orysia Tracz).

The University of Manitoba has had students of Ukrainian ancestry dating back to the early 1920s and produced an outstanding number of graduates in all faculties and departments. It is estimated that some 20,000 Ukrainian Canadians have graduated from the University of Manitoba over the past century.

A lasting tribute from the banquet was the start of a fund to establish entrance bursaries for future students of Ukrainian Canadian ancestry beginning in the 2011-2012 Academic Year. Donations for this purpose will be accepted throughout the following year.

For more information, please contact Victoria Kaschor at (204) 474-8905 or e-mail: cucs@cc.umanitoba.ca

PHOTO

Alumni Honoured at the 2010 University of Manitoba Ukrainian Canadian Alumni Banquet. First Row (seated left to right): Alexis Kochan, Orysia Hull, Dr. Jaroslaw Barwinsky, Hon. Benjamin Hewak, Dr. Mary Pankiw, Dr. Peter Kondra and Victoria Adams. Second Row (left to right): Dr. Louis Melosky, Dr. Ihor Mayba, Sonja Bejzyk, Zorianna Hyworon and Dr. Robert Klymasz