Sometimes small people accomplish big things. Sudbury’s Ollia Mysyk Rohatyn is one such individual. A key veteran activist in the Ukrainian community of this norhtern ontario mining town, Ollia was feted May 19 at a banquet at the local branch hall of the Ukrainian National Federation (UNF). Special guests attending the event included Father Chajka from Rouen-Noranda, Quebec, a long time friend and supporter, local MP Diane Marleau and her husband, Sudbury mayor Jim Gordon, UNF President Roy Kostuk and Irene Washchuk, National President of the Ukrainian Women’s Organization (UWO). The New Pathway presents the text of Maria Cloutier’s speech at the banquet. She spoke on behalf of Joe Durkac, President of the UNF Dnipro Choir & Veselka Ensemble of Sudbury.
Maria Cloutier
It gives me great pleasure to speak for our choir members about a lady, I have known for about 20 years. Although small in stature, she succeeded in projects many would have believed impossible. She never gives up, and no task is too daunting.
If Ollia hadn’t been a teacher, she would have run a Bingo hall. She has produced thousands of pyrohy and cabbage rolls, organised teas, draws, bake sales, garage sales, penny sales, dances, concerts and of course trips, leaving nothing to chance with the full support of our choir president, Joe Durkac and her husband Walter.
The proceeds from all these endeavours have enabled the choir to travel all over the world. Not only did we represent the Ukrainian community, but we also brought greetings from Mayor Gordon and the City of Sudbury as well as our country – Canada.
The funds raised were also used to support other worthwhile projects such as education, the Heart and Soul Champagne, senior residences, the UNO (UNF) Hall, churches and many worthwhile causes in Ukraine.
Ollia took the choir to places they never dreamed they would visit. With her contacts and planning, she always made sure we were well looked after and would return with memories that would remain with us forever. Such as: singing in a cathedral in Caracas when a Cardinal died; performing at 3 world Expos in Vancouver, Australia and Spain; visiting the grave site and museum of our poet Taras Shevchenko in Ukraine; singing at Disney World in France; participating in the Festival at Dauphin Manitoba, to mention a few.
The Ukrainian school (Ridna Shkola) has been very important to Ollia and she has dedicated over 45 years of her life teaching with love, the language and the singing to both young and old.
The CD the choir produced in 2001, represents how much of yourself you have given in the voices of your choir from 45 years ago to now. This year the students of the Ukrainian School (Ridna Shkola) taped all the songs they learned during the year.
The choir would like to thank you for the wonderful songs you taught us, amid the chattering going on around you, as you made your way from group to group, sometimes playing the piano as well.
You shared your gifts with us and by doing so have enriched our lives.
Thank you Ollia and mnohaya lita!
* * *
UNF “Jewel of the North”
Shines Brightly
Roy Kostuk
On Saturday May 18, we said farewell to Ollia Mysyk Rohatyn, who retired from the position of choirmaster of the UNF Dnipro Choir. She came to Canada as an immigrant with her mother and older sister Anna Wach to be with her father in Ituna, Saskatchewan. She acquired her primary and secondary education in Saskatoon, and studied choral music at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto. She led choirs in Vancouver, Winnipeg and then Sudbury, where she eventually organised the Dnipro Choir.
In spite of a full schedule as a schoolteacher, a Saturday Ukrainian schoolteacher, Ollia found the time to be a mother, a wife and received a great number of awards and degrees.
The Dnipro Choir and the Veselka Dance Ensemble of Sudbury brought great honour to Ukrainian culture. They traveled to many placed in the world including their beloved Ukraine.
Among the guests at the event were numerous graduates of her classes. The magnificent dinner was prepared by volunteer ladies and gentlemen from the local UNF branch.
The following day, a Spring Concert took place at the UNF hall on Frood Road. It featured performances by the Ukrainian school students, Dnipro Choir and the Veselka Dance Ensemble. The guest artists were the Toronto Bandura Capella led by the Merited Artist of Ukraine Victor Mishalow. The recently- formed Capella, which holds its rehearsals at the UNF hall in Toronto, fielded 18 bandurists and 27 singers. They started out with a rendition of “Christ is Risen” (Khrystos Voskres) the likes of which this writer has never heard before and closed the show with a powerful version of “Bozhe Velykyj”. The audience wildly applauded each song and the fantastic performers earned six standing ovations.