Genya Hunchak

(UWO) Did we have fun? We sure did. Ukrainian Women’s Organization of Canada, Toronto Branch, held its Annual Indoor Garden Party on Sunday, September 8, 2002, at our new hall in the midst of renovations that we are happy to say have commenced.

It was a hot steamy summer Sunday afternoon with 60 or more guests in attendance. They were welcomed at the door by our behatted Irene Kostuk, who sold them a ticket and bade them enter.

As requested, most of the guests came in garden party hats, some outlandish, some funny and some beautiful just for the fun of it. Our members and guests paraded their hats before our very select knowledgeable panel of judges, Peter Fedina, Paul Romanyshyn, Morris Diakowsky and William Bodykevich. The winners were Olya Harasymchuk, Orysia Chwaluk and Helen Kulchyski and Anna Adamowich presented them with their awards.

Anna Adamowich, our social convenor organized the Garden Party in such a way that it was an afternoon of conversations, fun and games. She arranged for members to bring in their garden flowers and field flowers and these summer flowers were artistically arranged by Pat Adamowich in empty canned food containers that Anna been collecting. Irene Fedina called out the numbers for the many door prizes.

The other highlight of the afternoon was the Fashion Show given by Olya Sliwka of Weekender Fashions. The fabrics, colours and styles made our audience applauded vigorously. We were lucky to have volunteer models, Irene Fedina, Olya Leschuk, Pat Adamowich, Nadya Cord, Daria Diakowsky, Orysia Chwaluk, Vera Storoniak, Genya Hunchak and Lydia Lelyk. Olya Sliwka also donated two door prizes from Weekender Fashions.

A favourite of Garden Parties is the 50/50 draw which Ada Didulka ran and the very lucky winner took home half of the pot.

Our branch executive, who has also become our social committee (Senta Wozniuk, Anne Fedun, Lida Peretz, Genya Hunchak, Irene Fedina, Irene Cord, Anna Adamowich, Orysia Chwaluk and Vera Storoniak) made sure there food was out, the punch made, the tea and coffee on and the deserts ready. Our executive was very delighted and grateful to have the energetic and ready help of Pat Adamowich and Nadya Cord.

We laughed, we smiled and we enjoyed! It was a wonderful afternoon for all of us.