Vera Seychuk

Sophia Kowal arrived at the Ruthven train station in Southern Ontario on Christmas Eve, January 6, 1927. Her Aunt Tetiana and Uncle Harry Mysko drove from Point Pelee in their Ford pick-up truck to meet her. For Sophia it had been a long roundabout journey – from Europe to the Canadian Atlantic shore, then to the snow- blown train station in Saskatchewan, and finally backtracking to the "sun parlour" county of Essex, Ontario.

Sophia left her hometown of Tyahliv (near Lviv), Ukraine in December 1926. Her Uncle, Professor Mykola Kowal had arranged passage for Sophia to Canada so that she could spend some time with her aunt Tetiana and uncle Harry Mysko. Professor Kowal, who was principal of a high school in Sokal, even provided money and a return ticket so that she would be able to come back home, if she so desired. Sophia traveled with a lady guardian; they were fifteen days at sea. After they landed in Halifax, Canada, Sophia was put on a train to Ituna, Saskatchewan, where the Myskos had lived. Meanwhile, her Aunt and Uncle Mysko had moved to Ontario. Sophia was stranded, but insisted on remaining at the train station in Ituna, refusing to spend even one night anywhere else, until the Myskos were contacted. She then began her turnaround trip to Ontario. Her return ticket was cashed in to help her aunt and uncle purchase a farm.

Sophia was astonished at the poor conditions in the farming country. That first summer in Point Pelee, much of the crop on the farm that the Myskos rented was destroyed and the price for onions was very low. Her return ticket was cashed in to help her aunt and uncle purchase a farm. In the springtime, of 1928, a couple encouraged Sophia to go to Windsor. They said that jobs were abundant; racing season was in full swing. The great race horse "Man of War" (that eventually won 14 consecutive races), was running at the Windsor Racetrack. Sophia went with them to the "big city". That same day she was hired at the Prince Edward Hotel and started work immediately. During her break she sat in the staff lounge and began to worry where she would be able to find a place to sleep. A young lady happened to walk in and began singing "Mize tymy horenkamy" and Sophia began to cry. The singer was Julia Martyniuk (Mrs M Yaworsky). Sophia was introduced to Mrs Pidporehora, who offered Sophia a place in her home. Sophia shared a room with Pavlina Shostopav (Mrs Pitrus), and to this day they are the best of friends.

The following Sunday, Sophia went to Sts Vladimir and Olga Ukrainian Catholic Church (called Ukrainian Greek Catholic at that time), where, in time, she would meet Michael Lysy. Michael arrived in Windsor in 1927, coming from Buchach, (near Ternopil) Ukraine. Michael and Sophia were amongst numerous others who had joined the Church and later formed the Ukrainian National Federation, Windsor branch.

Michael and Sophia were married in 1933 and went into the grocery store business. They named the store "Western Meat Market" (later called "Western Meat and Groceries") after a chain of stores started by Michael’s older brother Harry Lysy and Mr Gulevich. Times were tough; they were busy, but they were always there to help their family, neighbours, their community, their Church and to participate in the activities of the UNF. Sophia was a charter member of the Ukrainian Women’s Organization, held Executive positions and is a member to this day.

Vera Seychuk, who lives in Toronto, is the daughter of Sophia Lysy.