UCC Regina's Saskatchewan Centennial celebration

by Ed Lysyk, Organizing Committee

The concert, "Building Saskatchewan -- Ukrainians Celebrate the Centennia,l" held on February 12 was well attended with over 1,000 spectators enjoying the show and other attractions at the Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts in Regina.

Photos by Mark Greschner

300 performers and volunteers combined together under the direction of Terry Zwarych and Karen Warnyca to produce a show that included music, song and dance. The show commenced with four Regina groups (Chaban Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Regina Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Tavria Ukrainian Folk Dance Ensemble and Zapovit Ukrainian Folk Dance Ensemble) performing Pryvit together, followed by the 40-person Celebrate Saskatchewan Ukrainian Choir signing O Canada in Ukrainian. Regina's dancers were joined by Saskatoon's Yevshan Ukrainian Folk Ballet Ensemble. The choral component of the show included Duet Maryna and the Celebrate Saskatchewan Ukrainian Choir (directed by Vera Feduschak) both singing Ukrainian folk songs.

The dance groups, in addition to performing individual dances, also combined to end the first half with a rousing Hutsul number performed by 60 enthusiastic youth (and choreographed by Serhiy and Liana Zabutnyy). The finale of the final half of the show was a Hopak choreographed by Yuri Pats and Nina Pyrogova.

Entering the Centre of the Arts, in traditional Ukrainian fashion concert-goers were greeted by the music of the Zuchkan family band, which hails from Foam Lake and Parkerview. The Zuchkins also entertained the crowd during intermission in the lobby.

The lobby also included the spectacular "Vasyl Avramenko History of Ukrainian Dance" display, which was developed by a committee of the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko and which also received funding from other community organizations such as Regina's Ukrainian Canadian & Professional Association and Saskatoon's Tryzub Society. Accompanying the display were Shevchenko Foundation's Executive Director, Lesia Szwaluk and the Curator of the exhibit, Irka Balan.

The show culminated with Saskatchewan's Speaker of the House, the Honourable Myron Kowalsky unveiling a 3 foot by 5 foot birthday cake decorated in the colours of the Saskatchewan flag. The Choir sang Mnohya Lita at this point and then finished the program with all performers on stage to Ukraine's national anthem, Shche ne Vmerla Ukraina.

The show was organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Regina Branch as its Centennial project and appreciates the funding it received from Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Saskatchewan Provincial Council.

UCC-SPC Executive Director Danylo Puderak also attended the celebration and took some photographs of the reception following the show.

Left: UCC-SPC Executive Director Danylo Puderak, Youth Advisory Council members (with Youth Action Now) Calista Meinert and Tyler Billay at the UCC-SPC table. Right: At the Vasyl Avramenko exhibit, UCC-SPC Executive Director Danylo Puderak with Exhibit Curator Irka Balan of Winnipeg.