Battlefords Ukrainian Canadian Cultural Council

Contact Information:

2220 Douglas Avenue
North Battleford, SK  S9A 3M3
306.446.0283
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President: Paul Kardynal
Secretary: Evelyn Kardynal
Treasurer: Pat Bohun
Auditors: Orest Woytiuk & Elmer Woytiuk

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History:

The Battlefords Ukrainian Canadian Cultural Council was formed in 1976.

The seed for the Battlefords Ukrainian Canadian Cultural Council was sown in 1975 during a conversation between John Stratychuk, President of the Provincial Council of the Ukrainian Canadian Committee (UCC) and the UCC North Battleford branch President Alex Balych.

At the time, the UCC was a body formed by representatives of Ukrainian organizations such as the Ukrainian Catholic Brotherhood, the Ukrainian Self-Reliance League, the Ukrainian National Federation, Ukrainian Veterans, League for the Liberation of Ukraine, etc. That not all the founding Ukrainian organizations existed in North Battleford prevented the local UCC branch from operating along constitutional guidelines.

However, many people felt they should be affiliated with the highly respected national body of the UCC, but were at a loss as to how this could come about. The Provincial Council took steps to try and evaluate the situation and, along with interested local people, come up with a solution.

On August 4, 1976, at a meeting with about 125 people in the Chamber of Commerce auditorium, John Stratychuk presented the possibility of creating an organization of interested Ukrainians instead of representatives from Ukrainian organizations. At a subsequent meeting held in the auditorium of the Greek Orthodox Church on August 18, 1976, Mr. Stratychuk explained that the head office in Winnipeg suggested that a coordinating council or multicultural committee could be formed to represent UCC in that community. Mr. Stratychuk proposed that a council be formed with a name to be registered with UCC in Winnipeg and with paid-up membership fees.

A motion was made for the name of the new organization to be Battlefords Ukrainian Canadian Co-ordinating Council.

It was further agreed to have a nominating committee comprised of two members from each church and three members at large to pick an Executive.

After a meeting later that month, the Nominating Committee decided on a slate of Officers to be presented at the next general meeting in late September. The slate of officers was presented as:

President- Pearl Balych
Vice-Pres - 1. Eugene Kucey, 2. Orest Woytiuk 3. Nestor Kowalsky
Secretary - Nancy Bobick
Treasurer - Sophia Choma
Program - Jane Lasiuk, Jennie Porochnavy, Sophia Tkatchuk

In October and November, meetings were held at the Chamber of Commerce. John Stratychuk attended to help establish a constitution and to alter the name to Battlefords Ukrainian Canadian Cultural Council.

The Constitution was reread, amended and given to Mr. Stratychuk in January 1977 to take to Saskatoon to the Provincial Council to review.

At a general meeting on February 9, 1977 with 40 members present, the constitution was unanimously accepted. A membership fee was established at $5.00 per person; $10.00 per family $25.00 per organization.

The constitution was presented to UCC National on Feb. 26, 1977. At the June 1977 Annual Meeting held at the Chamber of Commerce, three letters read from Winnipeg, recognizing the Battlefords Ukrainian Canadian Cultural Council as members of UCC. Funds of the former UCC branch North Battleford were transferred to Battlefords Ukrainian Canadian Cultural Council.

New BUCCC Executive:
President - Eugene Kucey
Vice-Pres. - 1. William Lewchuk, 2. Jean Sternig 3. Julian Sadlowski
Treasurer - Sophia Choma
Secretary (Ukrainian) - Vesper Bilokury, (English) - Nancy Bobick.

UCC Provincial Council congratulated the residents of North Battleford for this step forward and wished them the best progress. Alex Balych was appointed as BUCCC representative to the Provincial Executive.