of the Ukrainian National Federation - September 7-9, 2001
Submitted to the Convention by the Resolutions Committee: Andrew Gregorovich (Chairman, Toronto), Walter Maceluch (Toronto) and Ann Prybyla (Hamilton), on behalf of all delegates.
The 33rd National Convention of the Ukrainian National Federation and Affiliated Organizations assembled in the City of Toronto on September 7-9, 2001 extends warm greetings to the citizens of Ukraine in the 10th year of their independence, in which we rejoice. Greetings also are extended to all Ukrainians in the Diaspora, to the leaders of the Ukrainian Churches, and to the National Executives of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Ukrainian World Congress. [All references to the UNF below include the Affiliated Organizations: Ukrainian War Veterans Association, Ukrainian Women’s Organization and Ukrainian National Youth Federation.]
Resolution No. 1
WHEREAS in 1240 A.D. the Mongol Armies originally formed by Genghis Khan captured Kyiv (Kiev) and ended the independence of the Kingdom of Rus-Ukraine, and
WHEREAS Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky won the independence of Cossack Ukraine from Poland in 1648, but lost it in 1654/57 to Russian domination, and
WHEREAS the Ukrainian National Republic on January 22nd 1918 declared its independence from the Russian Empire and survived four years, and
WHEREAS Ukraine under the leadership of President Leonid Kravchuk proclaimed the Declaration of Independence on August 24, 1991 from Soviet Russia, and
WHEREAS in the past 761 years Ukraine has been independent only 24 years, making the past decade the longest period of independence for the Ukrainian nation
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UNF extends congratulations on the 10th Anniversary of their independence to the Ukrainian people, the government of Ukraine and President Leonid Kuchma on Ukraine’s progress and growth as a democratic society.
Resolution No. 2
WHEREAS Vasyl Eleniak and Ivan Pylypiw, the first two officially recorded Ukrainian immigrants in Canada, stepped onto Canadian soil 110 years ago on the historic date September 7, 1891, and
WHEREAS this date was originally established by a UNF proposal to the Canadian Government and is celebrated annually across Canada as Ukrainian Canadian Day, or Ukrainian Canadian Pioneer Day and
WHEREAS the official Cenus of Canada in 1996 recorded 1,026,000 Ukrainian Canadians
THEREFORE be it resolved that the UNF of Canada calls on all UNF members to support and promote the study and teaching of the history of Ukrainian Canadians in UNF branches and in the schools, colleges and universities of Canada.
Resolution No. 3
WHEREAS the UNF Board of Directors has set up the UNF Foundation and the Ukrainian Education and Recreation Society which may provide funds for cultural and educational purposes and issue tax receipts for donations; and
WHEREAS the Ukrainian National Federation has established these foundations to contribute financial support for Ukrainian cultural identity in Canada,
THEREFORE be it resolved that this convention supports the efforts to establish a permanent endowment fund to propagate Ukrainian culture and Ukrainian Canadian history in Canada.
Resolution No. 4
WHEREAS the UNF of Canada has an unmatched record of achievements in its 69 years of activities in Canada; and has published a large two-volume history of the UNF of Canada in Ukrainian;
THEREFORE be it resolved that this Convention requests the UNF Board of Directors to publish a brief, popular one volume history of the UNF and its achievements and history in English and that an appropriate budget be assigned and an author or editor chosen.
Resolution No. 5
WHEREAS the Ukrainian language, moulded into a literary language by Taras Shevchenko, is spoken by 50 million people as the 14th language in the world and,
WHEREAS the Ukrainian language is an integral element of Ukrainian culture,
THEREFORE be it resolved that the UNF reaffirms its strong support of Ukrainian identity among its members through the preservation of its most important element, knowledge of the Ukrainian language, and cultural heritage.
Resolution No. 6
WHEREAS the Canadian Immigrant Act Recommendation 137 permits suspected war criminals to suffer a revocation of citizenship without a right of appeal, a loss of all status in Canada and subsequent deportation; and
WHEREAS this in effect circumvents the basic rights afforded to all citizens of Canada,
THEREFORE be it resolved that anyone accused under Recommendation 137 should have the right to a criminal trial based on the full rights citizens have enjoyed the past 800 years under the British legal system. This Resolution should be communicated through appropriate means by the President of the UNF of Canada to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Justice and the Minister of Immigration of Canada.
Resolution No. 7
WHEREAS there are over one million Canadian citizens of Ukrainian origin who have made a significant contribution to Canadian culture and prosperity; and
WHEREAS due to the Iron Curtain and Soviet policy for the past 50 years we have basically had no immigration of Ukrainians to Canada; and
WHEREAS Ukraine is now an independent and free country with a democratic government; and
WHEREAS the Government of Canada by its harsh immigration quota policy is severely restricting immigration of Ukrainians to Canada annually compared to quotas for other ethnic groups;
THEREFORE be it resolved that the UNF of Canada voices its displeasure that so few applications for Ukrainian emigrants through the Canadian Embassy in Kiev have been permitted and calls on the Minister of Immigration to stop discrimination immediately against Ukrainian immigrants and to establish a reasonable quota reflecting the size and importance of the Ukrainian Canadian community and its contribution to Canada.
Resolution No. 8
WHEREAS the UNF of Canada has a distinguished record of publishing the New Pathway weekly newspaper (founded 1930) and Women’s World; and
WHEREAS there is a need to expand the readership of these publications;
THEREFORE be it resolved that efforts be made to promote our Ukrainian Canadian newspaper to appeal to the younger English speaking Ukrainian population and also to attract the latest wave of Ukrainian immigration to Canada into an active role. Our UNF publications should report on the broad activities of the UNF of Canada, its branches and affiliated organizations. The New Pathway is our voice to the Government of Canada and should be the voice of all four Ukrainian immigrations to Canada since 1891. We should also not neglect radio, television and especially the computer Internet to attract members and publicize our activities to greater numbers of people in Canada, the World and in Ukraine.
Resolution No.9
WHEREAS an estimated 10,000 Ukrainian Canadians joined the Canadian Armed Forces and fought for Canada in World War I, and
WHEREAS Corporal Philip Konoval V.C., as a Canadian hero was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest honour “For Valour”, by King George Vth and,
WHEREAS the Government of Canada in 1914-1920 incarcerated 5,120 Ukrainian Canadian men, women and children during World War I without just reason in 26 internment concentration camps across Canada; and
WHEREAS the Government of Canada has never officially acknowledged this action; and
WHEREAS the Rt. Hon. Jean Chretien before he was elected Prime Minister of Canada made a solemn promise to the Ukrainian community that he would address this matter but has never kept his word
THEREFORE be it resolved that the 33rd National Convention of the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada requests that the President of the UNF Board of Directors again approach the Government on this matter to obtain an appropriate statement of apology for the Canadian historical record. Suitable restitution, similar to that awarded by Canada for the Japanese internment in World War II, should also be considered.
Resolution No. 10
WHEREAS the UNF of Canada has been an active organization in Canada; and
WHEREAS the character, principles, strength and spirit of the UNF are embodied in the culture, ideals and heritage of Ukraine; and
WHEREAS the primary purpose of the UNF of Canada is to unite Canadians of Ukrainian ancestry;
THEREFORE be it resolved that the UNF celebrates the richness of the Ukrainian heritage.
Resolution No. 11
WHEREAS the Census of Canada in 1996 recorded 1,026,000 Canadians of Ukrainian ancestry, and
WHEREAS thousands of young people over the past half century went through the ranks of the Ukrainian National Youth Federation in Ukrainian dance groups, choirs and other activities, and
WHEREAS many of these are now successful professionals, managers and department heads, and
WHEREAS they are now not active in the UNF nor in the Ukrainian community, which however, needs their leadership skills, professional talents and financial support,
THEREFORE be it resolved that this Convention recommends the UNF start an active campaign to reach out to all these former UNYF as well as former UNF and UWO members and other sympathetizers to attract them back to an active role in the UNF.
Resolution No. 12
WHEREAS the financial support and leadership of the older Ukrainian Canadian generation, which has been the main support of Ukrainian institutions and activities in Canada and maintained our survival, will be decreasing in the next few years,
THEREFORE be it resolved that this Convention calls on the UNF to start a campaign to renew every type of activity (such as folk dance, bandura and music, sports and karate, computers, etc.) which will attract more youth into membership.
Resolution No. 13
WHEREAS the lives of many distinguished Canadians have been influenced by the UNF (such as Senator Paul Yuzyk and John Sopinka of the Supreme Court of Canada) this Convention calls upon the new UNF Executive to create an archive of biographies and portraits of distinguished UNF members to be used as examples of success for the younger generation. These could be published in the New Pathway, branch bulletins or elsewhere.
Resolution No. 14
WHEREAS the fourth wave of Ukrainian immigration resulting from Ukrainian independence since 1991 now numbers an estimated 25,000 in the Greater Toronto Area, and
WHEREAS many are young, talented, and highly educated men and women who could contribute to our community,
THEREFORE be it resolved that the UNF should investigate the possibilty of attracting these people to the UNF just as the first three waves of immigration found a home in the UNF to celebrate their rich heritage.
Resolution No. 15
WHEREAS the UNF founded Canada’s first Ukrainian Credit Union in Saskatoon on January 26, 1939, and
WHEREAS credit unions are an important element in the life of the Ukrainian Canadian community,
THEREFORE be it resolved that the 33rd UNF Convention encourages all UNF members to become members of their local credit unions and to volunteer to serve on their boards.
Resolution No. 16
WHEREAS the 1998-2001 UNF Board of Directors has worked over the past three years to fulfill the many responsibilities that a national Ukrainian Canadian organization requires, and
WHEREAS the members, suppporters and friends of the UNF deserve credit for the variety of activities that have been carried on in the past three years,
THEREFORE this convention offers a vote of sincere thanks to all members who have contributed to the success of all UNF programs and also the planning and preparation of this 33rd UNF Convention.
Resolution No. 17
WHEREAS the 33rd National Convention of the Ukrainian National Federation and Affiliated Organizations recognizes the contributions of Mr. Michael Romach, Dr. Modest Mycyk and Mrs Anna Wach,
THEREFORE be it resolved that the UNF shows appreciation for their outstanding service by bestowing Honourary Membership and awarding them certificates.
Resolution No. 18
WHEREAS the Ukrainian National Federation is primarily a bilingual organization, Ukrainian and English,
THEREFORE be it resolved that these Resolutions be published
in Ukrainian and English in the New Pathway newspaper.