On behalf of the members and supporters of St. Vladimir Institute, president Gregory Hamara on April 21 presented a donation of $15,000 to the Linguistic Department of the University of Toronto in support of the Edward N Burstynsky Ontario Graduate Scholarship.

Accepting the donation on behalf of the University of Toronto was Prof Peter Reich, Chair of the Department of Linguistics.

The money was raised at a dinner, held October 28, 2001 at U of T's historic Hart House, attracted more than 200 friends and colleagues of Prof Burstynsky, who retired in 2001 after a 34-year teaching career with the Department of Linguistics at the U of T.

Beginning in 2002 the Burstynsky scholarship, valued at $15,000, will be awarded annually to a graduate student studying linguistics at the U of T. St Vladimir Institute and the Department of Linguistics each made a commitment to raise a total of $50,000 toward the establishment of the scholarship, with the University matching an additional $50,000. The Province of Ontario has guaranteed an annual contribution of $10,000.

The dinner featured many speakers who reflected warmly on various aspects of Prof Burstynskys career and his volunteer activities at the Institute. Speakers from the U of T were: Prof Wendy Rolph, vice dean academic; Prof Emeritus Henry Schogt, Faculty of Arts and Science; and Prof Reich.

From the Institute, speakers included: former administrator and member of the board, Marianna Zaparyniuk; and former president, Victor Krisel. Several family members also paid tribute to Prof Burstynsky.