The Saskatchewan Centenary Song: video clips

See Saskatchewan Students of Ukrainian practise the Saskatchewan Centenary Song Video clips

Centenary Celebration of St. Peter & St. Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church of Bodnari

Sask Centennial (Visnyk Winter 2005 online reference) -- Celebrations take place July 9, 2006; restorations are taking place; assistance sought. The contributions of some very special people were acknowledged at a formal luncheon in the Sheraton Cavalier Hotel in Saskatoon on November 6, 2005. Story

The remarkable Lucyks of Radisson

Sask Centennial (Visnyk Winter 2005 online reference) -- Still at home in Radisson; married for 72 years; he will celebrate his 100th birthday; about their pioneering past, and More

The Saskatchewan Centenary Song

Words in English & Ukrainian (PDF)

Saskatchewan Students of Ukrainian perform the Saskatchewan Centenary Song. Click on the title below to listen (MP3 format) Saskatchewan, We Love This Place (Guest Artist -- Stan Garchinski) Тебе любимо -- Саскачеван (Ukrainian version) Recorded May 2005, Saskatoon, SK

Celebrating the Centenary with Saskatchewan Students of Ukrainian

Nadia Prokopchuk, Ukrainian Education Consultant, Saskatchewan Learning

The Centenary Song Saskatchewan, We Love This Place, composed by well-know songwriter Stan Garchinski, is a beautiful tribute to our province -- its land, its people and its unique multicultural identity. In fact, according to Canadian statistics, over half of the population of Saskatchewan is neither British or French, by origin. It is evident that people of many cultural backgrounds love this place!

Since the first wave of Ukrainian immigrants arrived in Saskatchewan, people of Ukrainian heritage have played an important role in the growth and development of our rich and diverse province. During the past one hundred years, thousands of people of Ukrainian heritage have proudly made this province of Canada their “home and native land”. The words of the Centenary Song convey that deep love for the land which held such great promise for Ukrainian pioneer families. Unfortunately, the province’s untamed wilderness also claimed many lives, especially in the early years of settlement.

In tribute to the historic contribution of Ukrainian settlers to the province, the Saskatchewan Teachers of Ukrainian, assisted by Saskatchewan Learning, unveiled their 2005 Centenary Project in May of 2005. The Saskatchewan Centenary Song was translated into Ukrainian and titled Тебе любимо -- Саскачеван, with the permission of the provincial Centenary Committee. Copies of the Centenary Song in both English and Ukrainian were distributed to all Ukrainian language teachers in Saskatchewan. Ukrainian language students between Grades 3-12 were then invited to perform the song at Vesna Festival in Saskatoon. In addition, the students were asked to participate in the production of a digital recording of the Centenary Song in Ukrainian and English for several provincial websites. The project was enthusiastically received by teachers, students and parents in all parts of the province.

On May 6th and 7th 2005, almost 100 Ukrainian language students from Saskatoon and Regina gathered at the Saskatoon Centennial Auditorium to perform a unique bilingual (Ukrainian-English) rendition of the Centenary Song at Vesna Festival. The performance was a highlight of this year’s festival theme, ‘Celebrating 100 Years of Ukrainian Pioneers’. The students were accompanied each evening by Mr. Stan Garchinski, the Centenary song writer, who proved to be one of the most avid supporters of the project from its very inception. Mr. Garchinski commented that the word Saskatchewan sounds great in more than one language! The student choir was directed by Ukrainian language teacher and talented choir director Cathy Schabel, assisted by the musically-gifted Sonia Kodak.

Digital recordings of the Centenary Song in Ukrainian and English may be accessed on the following websites:

• Saskatchewan Centenary 2005 website: http://www.sask2005.ca
• Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Saskatchewan Provincial Council: http://www.ucc.sk.ca
• Saskatchewan Learning Ukrainian Education Portal: http://www.sesd.sk.ca/ukrainian

The songs may be placed on Saskatchewan school websites upon request. To make these arrangements, please contact Nadia Prokopchuk at Saskatchewan Learning by phone (306) 933-8497 or e-mail at Nadia.Prokopchuk@sasked.gov.sk.ca.

Participation in Ukrainian language programs can lead students to involvement in exciting initiatives such as the 2005 Centenary Song Project. Saskatchewan students who have made a commitment to an intense study of language, culture and our province’s history deserve to be supported and highlighted at every opportunity.

Thank you – ДЯКУЄМО! – to all parents, teachers and community members who took part in this unique Centenary initiative of the Saskatchewan Teachers of Ukrainian, in conjunction with Saskatchewan Learning. A special note of appreciation is given to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress -- Saskatchewan Provincial Council for their financial assistance to this project through the Community Development Fund, as well as to Vesna Festival, for their cooperation in showcasing the students’ performance at this year’s festival. Other individuals who contributed time and talents to this project are Ihor Kodak and Marko Baran. The unwavering support of these community groups and individuals is commendable.

The Saskatchewan Centenary Song: video clips

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