Ukrainian
Canadians: 200 Years of History - Ukrainians in All Walks of Life
By Andrew Gregorovich
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The following
excerpt is the conclusion of a lecture “Ukrainian Canadians: 200 Years of
History” delivered by Andrew Gregorovich at St. Vladimir Institute, Toronto, in
October 2011. Previous excerpts printed in The New Pathway were on: “The War of
1812” and the Ukrainian community’s pre-history in North America before 1891;
“Four Waves of Immigration” to Canada; and the “Highly Organized Community”.
Ukrainians have
entered all walks of Canadian life and have contributed to the progress and
prosperity of Canada. As farmers they
laid down a carpet of golden wheat on the Prairies. As labourers they built railroads, bridges,
roads, and buildings. Builder William
Teron in 1966 erected and named the town of Kanata near Ottawa which has become
Canada’s “Silicon Valley.” Teron became
the first Ukrainian Canadian to head a Crown Corporation.
Builder
and financier Petro Jacyk was an important philanthropist. James Temerty, CEO of Northland Power, is
noted for his generous support of Ukrainian culture in Canada. Temerty was the
key person in arranging exhibits of the Scythians and the Trypillian
Civilization in Ukraine at the Royal Ontario Museum. Ihor Ihnatowycz is a
prominent financier and philanthropist. The Zaraska Family also supports the
heritage of Ukraine. Biovail Pharmaceuticals founder Eugene Melnyk is a billionaire
and a philanthropist. These philanthropists have contributed both to Canadian
society and to the Ukrainian community.
Politicians
like Michael Starr and John Yaremko became Cabinet Ministers in Ottawa and
Toronto. Governor General Ed Schreyer had
a Ukrainian heritage and was proud of it. His Excellency Ramon Hnatyshyn was
appointed Governor General of Canada, the highest and most prestigious office
in Canada. Mr. Justice John Sopinka
served with distinction on the Supreme Court of Canada. Four leaders, Saskatchewan Premier Roy
Romanow, Manitoba Premier Gary Filmon, Ontario Premier Ernie Eves and Alberta
Premier Ed Stelmach, have won considerable respect for their integrity and
abilities. Senator Paul Yuzyk introduced the word and concept of multiculturalism
in his maiden speech in Parliament on March 3, 1964. There have been over 100
Ukrainian Members of Parliament including such prominent names as Anthony
Hlynka, Labour Minister Michael Starr, present Minister Rona Ambrose, Borys
Wrzesnewskyj, and Senators Paul Yuzyk and Raynell Andreychuk.
Premier
Roy Romanow played a major role in the patriation of the Canadian Constitution
and in the formulation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Artist
William Kurelek was one of Canada’s most prominent painters and a prize-winning
author. Sculptor Leo Mol has a monument of Prime Minister Diefenbaker on
Parliament Hill north of the Library of Parliament, a statue of Taras
Shevchenko in Washington, D.C., a monument of King Vladimir the Saint in Toronto
at St Vladimir Institute, and a magnificent Sculpture Garden in a Winnipeg
Park.
Sport
has attracted many Ukrainian Canadians. World champion skier Steve Podborski
and world champion curler Ed Werenich brought international honour to Canada.
Terry Evanshen is in Canada’s Football Hall of Fame. Canadian swimming champion
and record holder Joanne Malar of Hamilton won three gold medals and one bronze
at the 1999 Pan Am Games in Winnipeg. The Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto has
such Ukrainians as all-time great goalie Terry Sawchuk, Mike Bossy, Bill
Mosienko, John Bucyk and Wayne Gretzky. Goalie Vladislav Tretiak, whose
surname, comes from his Ukrainian father, is also in the Hall. Wayne Gretzky’s
grandparents, his grandmother told me, came from Pidhaitse in Ternopil region
of Ukraine. His father, Walter Gretzky,
speaks the Ukrainian language.
Writers
such as dramatist George Ryga, novelists Vera Lysenko, Myrna Kostash, Janice
Kulyk-Keefer, and Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch, have all made important contributions
to Canadian Literature. Poet Peter Kuzyk was nominated for Poet Laureate of
Canada.
CTV
President Ivan Fecan is one of the most powerful men in Canadian television.
Comedian Luba Goy is famous for her TV roles on the Royal Canadian Air Farce.
Erin Karpluk is the star of the TV show Being Erica which is popular in
over 100 countries around the world. Investigative reporter Victor Malarek is
famous as an investigative reporter at the Globe and Mail and the CBC
TV. Some Ukrainians have sought success by going south to the USA. For example
Alex Trebek from Sudbury is the perennial host of Jeopardy! on TV.
Hollywood movie director Edward Dmytryk, from British Columbia, is famous for
his film Caine Mutiny. Film maker Roman Kroitor was a founder of the
giant IMAX movie system.
A
Ukrainian Canadian genius who went to the USA from Alberta is Dr. Joseph V.
Charyk, appointed head of Communications Satellite Corp. by President John F.
Kennedy. He put the first satellites in space which allowed us to see the first
step of a man on the Moon and the Olympics live in Japan. COMSAT provided the
first television and telephone communications around the entire world thanks to
Charyk’s brilliant work.
Ukrainian
Canadian singer Juliette has a star in front of Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall. Artist William Kurelek is
honoured as the first prize winner of the City of Toronto Book Awards (1974) on
the north sidewalk at 356 Queen St. W. near Spadina Ave. Canada issued postage
stamps to honour Kurelek.
There
are so many professionals, lawyers, doctors, dentists, teachers, real estate
agents and others that it is possible for a Ukrainian speaking person to obtain
almost all services they need in Ukrainian. Ukrainian art exhibits are held at
the Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation. There are two weekly Ukrainian TV
programs Kontakt (Jurij Klufas) and Svitohliad (Stefan
Genyk-Berezowsky). There are in Toronto four Ukrainian newspapers: Novyj
Shliakh (The New Pathway), Homin Ukrainy (Ukrainian Echo),
Mist (Meest) and Slovo. An important Ukrainian internet
site is Toronto’s Infoukes at http://www.infoukes.com/
Andrew Gregorovich
is a Librarian Emeritus of the University of Toronto. Currently, he is
President of the Taras Shevchenko Museum in Toronto, and President of the
Ukrainian Librarians Association. He is also former Executive Director of the
Ukrainian Canadian Research & Documentation Centre, former Chairman of the
Toronto Historical Board, and a past President of the Ontario Library
Association.
The
series of excerpts in The New Pathway of Andrew Gregorovich’s lecture Ukrainian
Canadians: 200 Years of History coincided with the year celebrating the 120th
Anniversary of Ukrainian Settlement in Canada (1891-2011). On September 7,
1891, the first officially recorded Ukrainian immigrants Vasyl Eleniak and Ivan
Pylypiw arrived in Canada. The national celebrations officially come to a close
at the Toronto Ukrainian Festival in Bloor West Village, September 14-16, 2012.
PHOTOS
1 – Vasyl Eleniak
2 – Ivan Pylypiv