Awards Recipients for 1999
The Honourable Senator R. Andreychuk
His Grace Most Rev. Archbishop - Metropolitan
Michael Bzdel CSsR
Peter Dmytruk
His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Wasyly
(Fedak)
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The Honourable Sylvia Olga Fedoruk
Dr. Roma (Stratychuk) Franko
Alex Gordon Kuziak
Paul J.E. Ortynsky
The Honourable Roy Romanow, Q.C.
Peter Rupchan
Dr. Peter Woroby
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Awards Luncheon
The fifth annual recognition event of the Saskatchewan Provincial
Council of the UCC-SPC was held on Sunday, November 7, 1999, in
Saskatoon, when 265 guests, family and friends from across Canada
gathered for lunch and a program in the Battleford Room of the Delta
Bessborough Hotel. The occasion honoured 11 recipients of the prestigious
Nation Builders Awards presented annually since 1994 to recognize
community contributions of outstanding Ukrainian Canadians from
Saskatchewan. The 1999 awards focused on distinction through career
achievements. Those present ranged from a large number of young
grandchildren of recipients to several nonagenarians. Seven former
recipients were also present, including Dr. Stephen Worobetz who
had been invested into the Saskatchewan Order of Merit on October
28, 1999, in Saskatoon.
The award recipients included two church Metropolitans, a Senator,
a Premier, a Government Minister, a war hero, an artist potter,
three professors and a pharmacist. Four of these were additionally
authors, two were researchers, one was a mayor and one a former
Lieutenant-Governor. Through their distinguished careers they brought
distinction to their heritage community.
The program was conducted by Master of Ceremonies, Danylo Puderak,
a Languages and Marketing Co-ordinator at the Centre for Second
Language Instruction at the University of Saskatchewan, whose bilingual
facility and expertness at his task made for an enjoyable afternoon.
UCC-SPC President Eugene Krenosky, presented award plaques.
Mrs. Mary Cherneskey, Recognition Committee Chair, concluded her
biographical presentations, carried out with the assistance of Ostap
Skrypnyk, UCC-SPC executive director, with this appreciation of
the role played in community development by the 1999 recipients
of the Nation Builders Awards: Внесок вищепредставлених сьогодні
осіб у розбудові нашої країни - воістину величний. Хай їм добро
та успіхи сприяють у всьому і надалі га благо нашої спільної справи,
в ім'я нашої держави та її народу.

Standing: P. Woroby, Mary cherneskey (Chair
Recognitions Cmte), Myron Kowalsky (for R. Romanow), Vera Labach
(Recognitions Cmte member), Metr. Michael Bzdel, P. Ortynsky, Rt.
Rev. Oleh Krawchenko (for Metr. Wasyly), UCC-SPC President Eugene
Krenosky, Executive director Ostap Skrypnyk, alex Balych (Recognitions
Cmte member). Sitting: A.R. Andreychuk, R. Franko, Stella Kushniruk
(for P. Dmytruk), George Rupchan (for P. Rupchan), S. Fedoruk, A.G.
Kuziak. Missing Tony Harras (Recognitions Cmte member).
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Photo Album
There are currently no pictures for this year of the Nation Builders
Luncheon. If you have any, please contact UCC-SPC at uccspc@ucc.sk.ca
or 652-5850.
|

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The
Honourable Senator R. Andreychuk
Born in Saskatoon, SK
Raynell Andreychuk's activities in her community, church
and school life in Saskatoon lead to her development as a
person of intelligence, charm and sensitivity to others' situations.
These attributes would serve her well in life circumstances
that would come her way. Even as a youth she was described
as standing out as "a special person."
Raynell Andreychuk's Saskatoon education culminated in graduation
from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1966, and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1967. Admission
to the Saskatchewan Bar in 1968 lead to a law practice position
with a private firm in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. A higher legal
status came her way eight years later when, in 1976, Raynell
was appointed a Judge of the Saskatchewan Provincial Court.
Subsequent to this, she established a Family Court in Regina,
under the jurisdiction of the Provincial Court. This was a
new concept within the Saskatchewan Justice court system.
At the same time, Raynell Andreychuk served, over a six-year
interval from 1977-1983, as Chancellor of the University of
Regina. In 1985, she was appointed Associate Deputy Minister,
Social Services, in Saskatchewan.
In 1987, Raynell Andreychuk accepted new challenges when
she was named High Commissioner to Kenya, Uganda, and Ambassador
to Somalia, the Comores. In addition, in 1990, she became
the Ambassador to Portugal. During this period she served
as Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environmental
Programme and the United Nations Centre for Human Settlement:
HABITAT. For the subsequent five years, from 1988 to 1993,
she also served as Permanent Representative to the United
Nations Human Rights Commission.
In 1993, Raynell Andreychuk received her highest honour when
she was called to the Senate of Canada. In 1994, Senator Andreychuk
served on the Special Joint Committee for the Review of Canada's
Foreign Policy. She is the Vice-Chair of the Standing Senate
Committee on Foreign Affairs and a member of the Standing
Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples, the Standing Senate
Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, the Standing
Committee on Privileges, Standing Rules and Orders, and the
Special Committee on Security and Intelligence. She has been
described as "one of the hardest working Senators"
with a high attendance record. With another senator, she is
focusing on the health concerns of Canadians. This is in keeping
with observations by former classmates that "she was
always doing good things for people."
Senator Andreychuk has been very active in service with prominent
national and international organizations. Interestingly, between
1975 and 1981 she served as National President and International
Vice-President of the Young Men's Christian Association. The
Senator has also played an active role with the United Way
of Canada, the Big Sisters' Association and the Canadian Ukrainian
Professional and Business Association, amongst others.
Senator Andreychuk has been honoured as the recipient of
several prestigious awards: the YMCA Fellowship of Honour,
the Vanier Outstanding Young Canadian Award, the Centennial
Medal and the Regina YMCA Women's Award. In 1993, the University
of Regina granted her a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.
With the presentation of this particular honour of the Nation
Builders Award, the Ukrainian community of Saskatchewan acknowledges
the multitude of accomplishments achieved by this outstanding
member of its community. |

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His
Grace Most Rev. Archbishop - Metropolitan Michael Bzdel CSsR
Born in Wishart, SK
Michael Bzdel, the 11th child of 14 born to Theodore Bzdel
and Eudokia Wasyluk of Wishart, SK, showed early signs of
the path he would choose to follow throughout his life and
the character and personality he would bring to his endeavours.
The foundation to this was built upon a very happy home and
community life through the church and school. He recalls the
happiness of family gatherings particularly travelling to
Babcha Wasyluk's house for Christmas Eve celebrations.
His education proceeded from a one-room school during the
Depression to the Redemptorist Father's College, now St. Vladimir's
College, in Roblin, Manitoba. Responding to a calling to the
priesthood the young Michael Bzdel began a novitiate with
the Redemptorist Fathers in Yorkton, Saskatchewan proceeding
through the process to temporary vows in 1948 and perpetual
vows in 1952. Seminary studies in Philosophy and Theology
were completed at Waterford-Meadowvale, Ontario 1948-55 and
a graduate course in Pastoral Counselling was undertaken at
Ottawa's St. Paul's University 1971-72. He was ordained to
the diaconate in February 1954 by Bishop Isidore Borecky of
Toronto and received his priestly status from Bishop Andrew
Roborecki, Saskatoon eparch, on July 7, 1954 at St. Mary's
Church, Yorkton. Winnipeg, Manitoba was the site for the Archiepiscopal
ordination of Father Bzdel on March 9, 1993, at Sts. Vladimir
& Olga Cathedral by His Grace Metropolitan Maxim Hermaniuk,
CSsR and His Excellency Myron Daciuk OSBM, Winnipeg and His
Grace Metropolitan Stephen Sulyk, USA, elevating him to the
rank of Archbishop Metropolitan of Winnipeg and all Canada.
From 1955 Father Bzdel commenced his parochial assignments
first in Yorkton and Ituna as assistant parish priest then
to Roblin and area as parish priest for 11 years, to July
1967. During this interval, he also served as teacher at the
Minor Seminary of St. Vladimir's College in Roblin, Manitoba.
At this point the duties of rector were added to his parish
priest assignments serving at St. Joseph's Monastery and Church
in Winnipeg, 1967-71; Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Saskatoon,
1972-81; St. Mary's Church, Yorkton and area, 1981-84. Additionally,
he was Vicar Provincial of Yorkton Ukrainian Redemptorist
Province of Canada and USA, 1967-69 and Provincial Superior
1983-92. As Archbishop Bzdel he became a member of the Permanent
Council of the Canadian Catholic Conference of Bishops. He
has also been an Ex-Officio member of the Synod of Bishops.
To his parochial and administrative duties as Father Bzdel,
he accepted chaplain and spiritual director positions with
the Knights of Columbus and all three levels of the youth
and ladies' organizations.
Michael Bzdel was comfortable and dynamic in his priestly
roles. Guided to his vocation by Father Gregory Shyshkowich
he initiated church construction, stressed tradition in the
decoration of church interiors and full congregational participation
in liturgies. His management skills and influences continue
with him in the role of a visionary Archeparch with reorganization,
press renewal and compassionate and wise care of the clergy
and people under his care. On the international scene his
knowledge and experience have been gratefully received by
church leaders both in Canada and Ukraine. The inspired-by-God
influence of Metropolitan Michael Bzdel has been a fortunate
blessing for a broad community. |

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Peter
Dmytruk
May 27, 1920 (Radisson, SK) - December 9, 1943 (Les Martres
de Veyre, France)
Peter Dmytruk lived his brief life in so selfless a manner
that he inspired people in a country far beyond his home land
to cherish his memory by annually commemorating his sacrifice
of life for their freedom.
An only son in the George Dmytruk family, Peter relocated
with his family from his birthplace to Wynyard, SK just prior
to the outbreak of World War II. When he enlisted in July
1941 in the RCAF his interviewer described him as confident
and eager to start flying. Assigned as a sergeant to 405 Bomber
Squadron he embarked for Britain on July 20, 1942 to serve
as a tail gunner in missions over occupied Europe. Forty years
later, in August, 1972, the mayor of Wynyard received a letter
from a mayor of a place in France called Les Martres de Veyre,
who proposed an honour for Peter Dmytruk, formerly of Wynyard,
in the form of twinning the two towns.
It appears that Peter Dmytruk ultimately ended up in the
French town of 2,500 in the Auvergne region of France after
a fear-filled progress from a spot east of Paris where his
plane was downed by German cannon fire. Although presumed
dead Dmytruk survived and made his way undetected through
German-occupied France. Befriended by Resistance members and
encountering Allied airmen he shared his gunnery training
and skill at operating heavy vehicles. Locals remember him
as a very handsome, charming boy who, despite his heavy accent,
always wanted to talk. Possessing an adventurous spirit, Dmytruk,
dubbed Pierre le Canadien, declined to be smuggled out and
received permission for a transfer to the Resistance. There
he established a reputation as one willing to go anywhere
to do anything. The French soon forgot he was a Canadian as
he seemed as "one of them." It was as such, that
on the evening of December 9, 1943 he was instantly killed
by Germans who associated him with the sabotage of a heavily
loaded troop and munitions train. The Germans, however, left
without the usual reprisals having been lead to believe that
with Peter's death the backbone of the Resistance movement
had been destroyed. Peter's death spared the execution of
some 1,400 French civilians. Les Martres buried Pierre with
honours, proclaiming him a hero, and a valued fighter whose
death saved their lives and freed them from living "under
an enemy's yoke."
It took a year for the Canadian Department of National Defence
to notify the father of his son's death while fighting with
the Resistance. Some 30 years later the 1972 letter from France
showed that Peter Dmytruk was not simply a name on a war memorial
but a genuine war hero.
After overcoming national government apathy to the twinning
project through media and public prodding and with initial
provincial assistance, a 13-person Wynyard delegation of family
and officials joined the French commemoration ceremony on
December 9, 1972 at the monument to Pierre/Peter. The Canadians
were overwhelmed at the strong emotions and the hospitality
of the French and invited them for several return visits.
A Reader's Digest 1995 article describes Dmytruk as
"The Prairie Kid Who Died for France." In Saskatchewan,
some citizens have initiated an ongoing process to recognize
Peter Dmytruk's place in history by naming some locality in
his honour.
By honouring Peter Dmytruk, we honour all the other Ukrainian
boys who selflessly left the comfort and love of their Canadian
homes to obtain freedom for others in other lands. |

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His
Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Wasyly (Fedak)
Born in Kadubivtsi, Bukovyna, Ukraine
When not yet three, the young Wasyl Fedak arrived in Canada
with his parents, the senior Wasyl and mother Anastasia (Ternowetska),
settling in the Sheho area of Saskatchewan. There he availed
himself of the educational opportunities and following high
school graduation he enrolled at the Teachers' College in
Saskatoon. As a student-resident at the Mohyla Institute he
was fortunate to be mentored by Father Wasyl Kudryk.
Armed with a Teachers' Certificate, Wasyl Fedak taught for
14 years at various public schools. He contributed his training
to the Ridna Shkola and involved himself with organizing the
young people. At the same time he continued with his studies
at the university level. His 1932 marriage to Paraskevia Tymofij
was blessed with three sons, seven grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.
His children have involved themselves in an active Ukrainian
cultural and church life.
Desirous of further devoting his life to service in the Ukrainian
Orthodox Church, he enrolled into the Ukrainian Orthodox Seminary
in Winnipeg in 1941, receiving a Certificate in Theology in
1944 with a subsequent Licentiate of Theology from St. Andrew's
College. Ordained in the Holy Priesthood by Archbishop Ioan
in 1944, Father Wasyly commenced devoted pastoral work that
would extend to more than thirty years of service to parishes
in Manitoba and Ontario. In Manitoba he organized new parishes
in Oakburn and Rossburn and supervised construction of five
new churches in Oakburn, Sandy Lake, Sich and Angusville.
In 1948 he moved to the Grimsby area in Ontario serving seven
parishes. In 1950 he commenced a thirty-year tenure at the
Cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Hamilton where a new edifice
was completed in 1954 and an iconostas added in 1962. He also
served on the Consistory Board for ten years during this interval.
His devoted service was recognized by three Metropolitans
with a final achievement of the rank of Protopresbyter.
Widowed in 1976, he was recommended as a candidate for bishop
and was consecrated July 15, 1978 receiving the title of Bishop
of Saskatoon and Vicar of the Central Diocese. He proceeded
through the ranks as Archbishop of Toronto and the Eastern
Eparchy (1983) and Archbishop of Winnipeg and Primate of the
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (1985). In 1990, Metropolitan
Wasyly was instrumental in attaining Eucharistic Union with
the Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Metropolitan Wasyly has also been recognized as a Ukrainian
Canadian leader and a distinguished community figure receiving
honours from the City of Hamilton and the Premier of Ontario
(1966), and two honours from Canada through the Governor General
including appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada
and the Canada 125 Commemorative Medal (1992). He received
the Shevchenko Medal from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
He also holds honourary doctorates from St. Andrew's College
in Winnipeg and the Ukrainian Free University in Munich.
Church and country have prospered under the blessings flowing
from the devotion to his calling and the attributes of Metropolitan
Wasyly. |

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The
Honourable Sylvia Olga Fedoruk
Born in Canora, SK
Sylvia Olga Fedoruk, the only child of Annie (Romaniuk) and
Theodore Fedoruk, received her first nine years of education
from her father, a rural teacher, who instilled in her a love
for learning. With the family's relocation to Windsor, ON
during the war years, Sylvia had the good fortune to have
her "scientific bent" recognized by an English teacher
in her high school. Equipped by a top-level education and
sustained by love and encouragement from family and teacher
mentors she enrolled at the University of Saskatchewan in
Saskatoon when the family returned to the province. Here she
received two Bachelor of Arts degrees with great distinction
(1949) and high honours in Physics (1950), Masters degree
in 1951. In future years she would be honoured with four honourary
degrees. Nine scholarships came her way between 1946-1952
including two from the Canadian Cancer Society. She was the
outstanding female high school graduate in 1946 and the outstanding
gold medal university graduate in 1949.
Her professional career was twofold - in academics and research.
Now a Professor Emeritus, University of Saskatchewan, she
was a Professor of Oncology, College of Medicine and Associate,
Department of Physics. She was also Director of Physics Services,
Saskatchewan Cancer Commission in 1965. She was a member of
many boards such as the Atomic Energy Control Board of Canada,
Society of Nuclear Medicine, the Canadian College of Physicists
in Canada where she is a Fellow, as well as with the Science
Council of Canada and National Research Council. Sylvia Fedoruk
has received many other university appointments, serving as
Chancellor, 1986-89. Currently she sits on the Board of Governors,
the Senate and the Crown Foundation Board. She is President
of the Fedoruk Family Foundation.
The areas of interest for research by Sylvia Fedoruk centre
on medical and biological physics, nuclear medicine, radiology
and cancer. She has made presentations on topics in these
areas to conferences in Munich, Rome, Tokyo, Harrogate, Vienna
and Caracas. Her writings have been published in professional
journals around the world including articles on the history
of radiation therapy in our province and Saskatchewan's place
in radiotherapy research. Her focus is on radiation protection
and education for health and safety.
Sylvia Fedoruk has also assumed prominent community roles
foremost being her appointment as Saskatchewan's Lieutenant
Governor, 1988-1994. She has been appointed honourary or life
member of an assortment of clubs and organizations as well
as a member of various advisory committees including that
on Judicial Appointments for Saskatchewan, Justice Canada,
1994-1999. A great sports enthusiast Sylvia Fedoruk has participated
successfully in a gamut of sports with her greatest fame achieved
in the area of curling. She has been involved with the Canada
Games, the Brier, Participaction and Sask Sport, amongst others,
and was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame,
1973, as well as many other "halls."
Sylvia Fedoruk has been recognized for her efforts through
a wide range of honours, including Officer, Order of Canada
and Member, Saskatchewan Order of Merit, and the Taras Shevchenko
Medal, Ukrainian Canadian Congress, 1995.
The Honourable Sylvia Fedoruk has indeed measured up outstandingly
to the early expectations of her by family, teachers and all
who came in contact with her. |

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Dr.
Roma (Stratychuk) Franko
Born in Meacham, SK
When Roma Stratychuk Franko graduated from Canora High School
in 1954, she already showed promise, diligent scholarship
and energetic creativity forthcoming from an individual of
humour and perseverance who was totally committed to the values
and beauty of her cultural inheritance.
In her progress through her life as student, teacher, professor,
community activist, wife and mother, Roma acquired three undergraduate
degrees from the University of Saskatchewan with High Honours
and Distinction from 1959-65, a Master of Arts in Slavic Studies,
1971, and a 1990 Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. Her
scholarships included University Entrance, Connaught Fellowship,
and a Canada Council Doctoral Scholarship.
Roma's teaching career commenced with parish schools, continued
to elementary schools (1956-66) and after 1967 was devoted
to university teaching and relevant professional innovations.
Additionally, administrative responsibilities came with Department
Head: of Slavic Studies 1981-89; and of Modern Languages from
1994 to an early retirement in 1996. She served on numerous
College and University committees and also chaired university
exchange programs with Chernivtsi, Ukraine (1982-86).
Roma's focus on introduction of new university courses and
professional development of teachers of Ukrainian through
the refinement of methods courses and co-preparation of audio-visual
methods and accompanying texts, earned for her a Teaching
Excellence Award in 1995. Invitations to conduct seminars,
present papers and keynote addresses at educational assemblies
attested further to her inspiring professionalism.
Roma Franko fully appreciated the role of excellence in teaching
materials and course development, and solidarity of the professionals
presenting these courses and materials. To this end, sometimes
together with co-authors, she prepared and published numerous
materials to use at various school levels, through correspondence
courses and by audio-visual methods with text accompaniment.
This was done primarily through the Department of Education
where she also served on the Curriculum Committee from its
inception in 1967 to 1996. Her novel 1994 instructional program
for adults of all levels serves a great need.
To ensure a firm professionalism for teachers of Ukrainian
Roma was a founding member of the Saskatchewan Teachers of
Ukrainian in 1967, as well as president and journal co-editor.
She also served at various levels of the Ukrainian Educational
Council of Canada. In additional community involvements she
participated in the establishment of the Mohyla Total Immersion
Ukrainian Summer School Program (1971) and the Saskatchewan
Ukrainian Arts Program (1974). Invited to serve on the Board
of Governors of the National Film Board of Canada from 1972-1980
she served as Vice Chairman for five of those eight years.
In 1998, Roma received the UCC Shevchenko Medal and the Ukrainian
Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko Award, being one of
the first inductees into the Kobzar Society.
Roma Franko has extended her inventiveness and love of Ukrainian
literature even into her retirement years. She joins with
her sister, Sonia Morris, also a retired professor, to provide
a six-volume English translation of the literary writings
of Ukrainian women through historical periods of Ukraine,
in proud tribute to her early promises of accomplishment and
success. |

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Alex Gordon Kuziak
Born in the Canora District, SK
Alex Kuziak was one of ten children born to Jacob and Mary
(Luchuk) Kuziak, who had come to Canada from Ukraine, in 1898,
settling in the Canora district in Saskatchewan. They came
with hope for a better life for themselves and their children.
Alex reflected this focus of achieving satisfaction in life,
in his endeavours. He extended this hope to the community
he served by considering the impact on others of events arising
within his spheres of responsibility.
Alex Kuziak's preparation for what would be a life of service
proceeded through high school at Yorkton Collegiate and at
Nutana Collegiate in Saskatoon, time out in Alberta and Michigan,
USA, then normal school and five years of teaching. His 1935
marriage to Ukrainian Canadian teacher Ann Jarman was blessed
with four children. Another 1935 acquisition was his business
partnership in Canora Electric and Heating.
A more dramatic change of careers was precipitated by a chain
of positions as rural municipality secretary, treasurer and
chairman of the Canora School District (1945-46) as well as
the Canora Union Hospital (1946). By 1948, attracted to the
CCF political party, he achieved election to the legislative
assembly with re-election in 1952 and 1958. His talents were
recognized with ministerial appointments: 1952 - Minister
of Telephones and Minister in charge of the Government Finance
Office; 1956 - Minister of Natural Resources and Minister
in charge of the Northern Crown Corporation, which included
various resources, boards and co-operatives. First-hand knowledge
of business, agriculture and administration contributed to
Kuziak's competence and facility of service delivery.
In 1981, the Yorkton Provincial Building was named the A.G.
Kuziak Building in token of the exemplary work and dedication
of a man totally committed to the people of Saskatchewan in
his endeavours.
Kuziak's legislative responsibilities extended to administration
of an incredible array of projects and enterprises requiring
decisive action on intensive problems. He was described as
being a "powerhouse" having no match for his "killing
pace... and driving energy." He had sweeping authority
over vast territories and intricate projects. He presided
over all his enterprises with a stewardship that reflected
his advocacy of the rights of individuals inherent in their
humanity.
Alex Kuziak's efforts at effecting noticeable changes leading
to a better way of life for Saskatchewan people were evident
in myriad developments under his skillful management during
his 16-year tenure. Building new roadways contributed to ease
of travel for citizens as well as tourists who provided a
lucrative trade, and facilitated the movement of commerce
from fishing and forestry resources. Campsites and beaches
were improved, controlled cutting and reforestation was emphasized
together with fire control. Provision was made for the technical
training of northern native youth along "self-help lines"
as a form of job enablement. Some form of these projects continues
to this day.
Alex Kuziak was the first Ukrainian in Canada to receive
a cabinet appointment. He was one of the charter members of
the Ukrainian Professional and Business Association in Yorkton
and was noted for the sage advice he offered from his background
in business and politics. |

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Paul J.E. Ortynsky
Born in the Canora District, SK
Paul Ortynsky was born in the Canora district, an area of
Saskatchewan that has produced an inordinate number of community
activists. He found an outlet to his diverse interests and
leadership skills in a broad assortment of activities. His
endeavours have brought honour and distinction to his town,
his cultural community and his profession.
A graduate in Pharmacy from the University of Saskatchewan,
Paul has owned and operated drugstores in Canora and Yorkton
and was the Director of Pharmacy at the three Canora area
Union Hospitals up to 1985. Presently semi-retired Paul continues
as Coroner for the province. His involvement with the Saskatchewan
Pharmaceutical Association earned him a 1984 national recognition
award and a 1999 recognition for his 50-year contribution
to the field of Pharmacy.
Showing leadership qualities even as a student, he carried
on an interest in the university serving as President of the
Yorkton area Alumni Association of the University of Saskatchewan,
on the Senate of the University of Regina, and as Vice President
of the Parkland Regional College.
A veteran of World War II Paul Ortynsky continues as a member
of the Royal Canadian Legion - Canora Branch having held the
position of District Commander. Always interested in young
people he has been involved with the Royal Canadian Air Cadet
movement for 16 years in executive capacities and being recognized
twice as Provincial Area Director of the Year.
As an entrepreneur he has involved himself organizationally
with projects and from an education aspect. Active with the
Chamber of Commerce in committee and executive assignments
he is also a member of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce of
Canada. He has a current appointment to the prestigious eight-member
Saskatchewan-Ukraine Advisory Council, which serves as a forum
for public and community involvement and makes recommendations
respecting initiatives and projects. He has been National
President of the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business
Association. He shares his business acumen by serving as curriculum
consultant and executive member of Saskatchewan Business Education
and on the executive of Saskatchewan Economic Development.
Paul's association with a variety of organizations in member
and executive capacities reveals his diverse interests: Agricultural
Society, EMO, Red Cross, Heart Foundation, Hudson Bay Route
Association, Shriners, Saskatchewan Arts Council. He was Lieutenant
Governor of Kiwanis International, Western Canada District.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress
have also profited from his executive skills and support of
cultural programs such as the Saskatchewan Arts Program.
Paul Ortynsky worked his way through various levels of Canora
community government holding top executive positions with
the School Board, Housing Authority, Canora Centennial Celebration
and currently the 2000 Centennial Committee. An alderman in
Canora he is currently Mayor, proud of the increase in building,
the change to well-source water and national and provincial
awards for the town's "niceness."
Paul Ortynsky has been honoured with the award of the Canada
125 Commemorative Medal in 1992 and the Shevchenko Medal from
the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in 1998. |

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The
Honourable Roy Romanow, Q.C.
Born in Saskatoon, SK
Roy Romanow has used his gifts of intelligence, charisma
and humanitarianism to hone his skills of leadership and oratory
primarily in the areas of law and politics. Pronounced an
astute and consummate politician Roy Romanow has left an historic
mark on events in both Saskatchewan and Canada. Throughout
all of his involvements, he has always presented himself as
a member of the Ukrainian community with frequent references
to attributes of hard work and love of community transmitted
to him by his father, Mike and mother, Tekla throughout their
life together as a family and members of a Ukrainian community
and church. Roy pays tribute to his mother for her unstilting
efforts at making it possible to complete his studies after
his father's untimely death.
A graduate from the University of Saskatchewan with degrees
in Arts and Law he involved himself in party politics even
as a student. His skills as a speaker were developed in broadcasting
hockey games at his school in Grade Seven and over station
CKOM leading to assignments there through high school and
university as sports and news announcer amongst other duties.
His practice of law in Saskatoon was conducted between his
periods as a politician. As a member of the New Democratic
Party he was first elected to the Saskatchewan Legislature
in 1967, then re-elected seven more times: in 1971, 1975,
1978, 1986, 1991, 1995 and 1999.
As the Deputy Premier and Attorney General between 1971 and
1982, Roy Romanow was instrumental in the introduction of
significant new justice systems such as a legal aid plan,
a Saskatchewan Human Rights Code and a Human Rights Commission,
and the creation of a Provincial ombudsman's office. Between
1986 and 1991 Mr. Romanow served as Opposition House Leader
and was acclaimed Leader of the Saskatchewan New Democratic
Party (NDP) on November 7, 1987. On November 1, 1991, he assumed
duties as Premier of Saskatchewan, having led his party to
a 55-seat majority government. This was followed by a majority
government re-election in June 1995 and minority/coalition
government re-election in September 1999. Among his key achievements
were consistent balanced budgets and fiscal, economic and
social reforms.
As Saskatchewan's first Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
in 1979 he was a key player in federal-provincial negotiations
which culminated in the Canadian Constitutional Accord of
November 1981 and the co-authored Canada Notwithstanding on
the negotiations process. He has remained in a key role in
Canadian constitutional matters. He was also invited to serve
as advisor to the Ukrainian government on constitution development
subsequent to attainment of independence.
As a young man, he was involved with activities at St. George's
Cathedral in Saskatoon and the Ukrainian National Youth Federation.
He served as president of the Canadian Ukrainian Professional
and Business Association and played a role in the establishment
of the Ukrainian Museum of Canada in Saskatoon and the initiation
of a Saskatchewan-Ukraine program. He led a successful entrepreneurial
exploration of business in Ukraine and received visits to
Saskatchewan by Ukrainian President Kuchma.
A leader of international stature, Roy Romanow has brought
credit to his Ukrainian and Saskatchewan origins whose influences
have had a major impact on his life's work. |

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Peter
Rupchan
June 17, 1883 (Molodia, Bukovyna, Ukraine) - July 17,
1944 (Endeavour-Usherville, SK)
Peter Rupchan followed his parents, Aksenniya Vihnan and
Nikolai Rupchan, to Canada in 1905 joining them ultimately
in the Saltcoats-Calder area of Saskatchewan. They had come
to Canada in 1899 without their oldest son having apprenticed
him to a blacksmith for economic reasons. He had ended up
at a pottery factory east of Chernivtsi where he became accomplished
in crafting pottery. Acquiring his own entrepreneurial ambitions
and having suffered a crippling injury to his left arm from
a shooting incident, he determined on a better life elsewhere
and set sail for Canada. With the family re-settled to Endeavour-Usherville,
Peter soon married Safta Safruk and they embarked on a life
that would be full of hard work, tragedies and hardships as
Peter attempted to cope with reconciling his ambition to be
a potter with the realities of providing a homestead and an
income for a growing family.
With his attempts at acquiring land thwarted by one tragedy
after another and with his family decimated by a flu epidemic
Peter found himself drawn to his pottery-making as a distraction
from his problems. He had selected his land to include clay
properties beneficial to pottery crafting. Lacking proper
equipment and tools, his ingenuity and resourcefulness, coupled
with an industrious character, guided him to innovative creation
for his needs. He was a pioneer of early settlement struggling
to survive without losing his sense of self.
To be a potter before cottage industry and diversification
were familiar concepts was difficult not only for the individual
but also for his family. In the pioneer days of the west it
was difficult to comprehend why someone would choose to make
a living by forming clay. Peter's children were teased about
their father but the sight of him executing his wares to perfection
despite his stiff, injured arm, was familiar to them and being
allowed to make toys and whistles was pleasurable. It was
also enjoyable to accompany their father and uncle Metro Safruk
as they peddled the utilitarian wares about farms and towns
and received the occasional treat.
Making pottery, however, was hard work. Rupchan, first, had
to make his own pottery wheel, build a stove/kiln, dig out
the clay, give it a long kneading, experiment with glazes
and try to guess what people would buy when he brought his
items to them. Working in isolation from other craftsmen and
markets he relied on his own resources of ingenuity and on
his Ukrainian design background. Living his life humbly, Rupchan
was unaware of the celebrity and historic potential to his
ambition and passion.
It took providential visits from auspicious persons such
as Dr. George Dragan, medical practitioner and Liberal MLA
from Saskatoon and ceramics professor Worcester, to spread
the word about the artistic creativity of Peter Rupchan and
facilitate its exposure. Some 30 years later after his untimely
death, Rupchan's works were fetching hundreds of dollars,
not the cents he received in his life-time. Through the efforts
of then-Attorney General Roy Romanow, a gallery collection
of 19 Rupchan pieces was presented to the Ukrainian Museum
of Canada in Saskatoon. At the January 17, 1981 event Mr.
Romanow described Rupchan as embodying "the spirit
of pioneer Saskatchewan... creative, resourceful, persistent
and above all independent... [with] products of his labours...
of style and function... learned in Ukraine but... uniquely
Ukrainian Canadian." The collection continues to be
displayed in the museum on rotation. |

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Dr.
Peter Woroby
Born in Starhorod, Ukraine
An economist, educator, researcher and author Peter Woroby
put the influences of his life on two continents, his international
education and his interests in economics and sociology to
use in areas of teaching and government projects. The second
of two children born to Dmytro and Warwara (Muzychuk) Woroby
in Starhorod, Western Ukraine, he already indicated a possible
direction to his life with the acceptance of a teaching post
in Ukraine after his 1939 graduation. Further graduations
took place in 1944, University of Berlin, Diploma in Economics;
1948, University of Goettingen, Ph.D. magna cum laude,
in economics. The year 1948 was important also for his March
14 marriage to Nadia Cherniak, a teacher, and emigration to
Canada. The marriage was blessed with three daughters, Tania,
Tamara, Katya, and four grandchildren. Through his studies
and travels Professor Woroby acquired a proficiency in five
languages: Ukrainian, German, Polish, Russian and English.
In the early years in Canada, between lecturing at the University
of Manitoba in Winnipeg, 1949-51, including St. Paul's College,
1950-51 and working on government projects he also acquired
a Masters of Science in Economics from the University in 1957.
His consulting work with provincial and federal governments
included: economist, Red River Basin Investigating Board,
Winnipeg (1951-52); statistics analyst, Saskatchewan Power
Corporation, Regina (1952-57); analyst to the Royal Commission
on Agriculture and Rural Life (1954-57); and senior sociologist,
Centre for Community Studies, Saskatoon (1965). He held professorial
posts at the University of Regina from 1962 to 1987 lecturing
in economics, sociology and statistics.
Woroby was an active member in many professional organizations
such as the Ukrainian Free Academy of Science, Canadian Association
of Slavists, Canadian Economics Association as well as the
American Association. Author of numerous articles and analytical
reports on conference themes he has contributed some 50 commissioned
investigative reports, research reports, papers and artwork
to the "Canadian Geographer" and other professional
publications. He has participated in many international conferences
in centres such as Kyiv, Belgrade, Moscow, Ottawa, and Sydney.
Despite his all-consuming academic and professional life,
Woroby also found time and desire for community involvement.
In Regina he held posts on the Regina Welfare Council, the
City Planning Commission and the Symphony Board. In the Ukrainian
community Peter Woroby was founder of the Regina Ukrainian
Business and Professional Association in 1963 and held the
national vice-president's office, as well. He was also president
of the Regina branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
Even into his seventies, Professor Woroby was being called
upon to share his expertise through teaching assignments in
Kyiv and Lviv on economics and marketing; a presentation before
the Ukrainian Parliament; accompanying Ministers, the Premier
and businessmen on visits to Ukraine for purposes of establishing
trade and commerce links between Saskatchewan, Canada and
Ukraine, and serving as special advisor.
Favoured with gifts of intelligence and astuteness Peter
Woroby used his skills of teaching and research generously,
to share his knowledge with the two worlds from which his
life evolved. |
Compiled by Mary Cherneskey |
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