Olga (Karpinka) Andruschak
b. February 26, 1921 (Krydor, SK)
d. July 17, 1976 (Saskatoon, SK)

Olga was the eldest of John and Sarah Karpinka’s four children. Ukrainian was spoken at home and Ukrainian customs and traditions were an important part of her family life.

Since her father was employed by different grain elevator companies, the family lived in places like Ituna, Wakaw, Krydor, Redberry and Whitkow. This allowed the family to participate in the cultural and social life of those Ukrainian communities.

In addition to schooling, Olga’s formative years were influenced by a deep respect for and involvement in her cultural heritage. All contributed to her life’s achievements.

For 27 years Olga and her husband, Fred, lived in Hafford where he taught school and Olga provided leadership in many areas. These were in the church community, women’s associations, Ukrainian youth groups (CYMK), Ukrainian summer youth camps as director (Wakaw and Crystal Lake), Ukrainian and Sunday schools, and the Ukrainian Arts Program as the organizer.

In 1942 Olga became a member of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada (UWAC) Hafford Branch. She held various leadership positions in UWAC, both locally and provincially. With her enthusiastic participation, vitality and spirit, Olga contributed to the Ukrainian Canadian social and public life in general.

The Andruschaks moved to Saskatoon in 1969. There Olga continued working with UWAC, serving as President from 1971-1976. In 1971 Olga became Executive Director of the Ukrainian Arts Program, under the auspices of the Ukrainian Canadian Committee. As director, she coordinated three very successful and widely popular provincial festivals.

A writer of beautiful pysanky, Olga had a sense of beauty, aesthetics and creativity. Because of her artistic achievements, she was asked to judge in pysanky contests at festivals in Dauphin and Ottawa. The Canadian Museum of Civilization exhibited one of Olga’s paintings, which now hangs at the Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Saskatoon.

Motivated by her love and respect for her heritage, she inspired others to maintain their traditional values to enrich their community. She believed that to be a good Ukrainian was to be a worthy Canadian.

Olga married Fred Andruschak in 1941.

Dr. Frederick Theodore Cenaiko
b. March 21, 1926 (Chestohorb, Poland)

When he was three, Fred Cenaiko’s family came to Canada from Poland to Medicine Hat, Alberta. In 1930 the family moved again, this time to a farm near Clair, a short distance west of Wadena, Saskatchewan, where Fred attended elementary school. During the depression years he left home to attend high school at Humboldt, Saskatchewan. There he had to work to pay for his room and board. Upon completing Grade Eleven, he was offered a teaching job after attending Normal School for just six weeks. One year later he returned to complete his Grade Twelve and again taught for another year. He enjoyed teaching but always knew his first love was medicine.

Upon completing his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1950 at the University of Saskatchewan, he was accepted to the College of Medicine. In 1952, he and his wife, Helen, moved to Edmonton to complete his medical education. In 1954, Fred became Dr. Fred Cenaiko. After interning at St. Paul’s Hospital and Quill Lake Hospital, he came to Wakaw, Saskatchewan in 1955.

Dr. Cenaiko has been very active in civic affairs, serving as Mayor for 11 years. In 1990 he was the recipient of the Saskatchewan Order of Merit for his work and involvement for the development and growth of the Town of Wakaw. The community of Wakaw has named a Heritage Park in his honour.

Besides extensive medical and community involvement, Dr. Cenaiko is a member of the Christian Medical Society. This group of people take their medical expertise to Honduras each year to work with less fortunate people.

The Cenaiko family has established the Cenaiko Foundation. This foundation has made life easier for many in Ukraine by donating items for basic needs.

Dr. Cenaiko still works at his clinic and the hospital in Wakaw. This self-made man has served his community for 50 years with unshakable commitment, based on strong personal integrity and extraordinary professional ethics.

In 1950 Fred married Helen Manchur. They raised four children: David, Harvey, Lloyd and Ruth.

John Edward Chyzowski
b. January 16, 1932 (Ranger, SK)
d. January 5, 2003 (Saskatoon, SK)

John worked in Saskatchewan’s public education system for 40 years. Dedicated to his Ukrainian community, church, Eparchy and family, John was a man of great integrity. He believed in using his talents to better society.

John’s Ukrainian immigrant parents, Peter and Mary, instilled in him a love of his heritage, the importance of family and a strong work ethic. He spent his early years in Ranger and Leoville. In 1952 he attended Grade Twelve at Nutana Collegiate in Saskatoon, residing at P. Mohyla Institute, where he became lifelong friends with other Ukrainian students.

John attended Teachers’ College in Saskatoon (1953-54). He taught in many rural one-room schools and in city high schools; he held various positions including teacher, vice-principal, principal and Department Head of Mathematics. While teaching, John obtained a Bachelor of Education (1962), and a Bachelor of Arts (1966) from the University of Saskatchewan.

In 1971 he joined the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation (STF) as Executive Assistant serving teachers in Education and Teacher Welfare. He was straightforward, principled and an effective negotiator. Upon retirement from STF, John was instrumental in establishing the League of Educational Administrators, Directors and Superintendents (LEADS) and was their Executive Director for the first 11 years. He was a member of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Superannuation Commission and its Chairperson for 15 years. In 1999 the Department of Education recognized his outstanding service to education. He was granted an honourary life membership in the STF.

John served as President of Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church’s first Parish Council and as President of North Battleford All Saints. He served on the Board of St. Joseph’s Home and was President of the Ukrainian Professional and Business Club of Saskatoon. John was instrumental in creating St. Volodymyr Villa—an Eparchial Millennium project. His goal as Board Chair was ensuring our pioneers would live their senior years in comfort and dignity. In 1998 he was the Chairperson of a Forum on Eparchial Renewal.

He married Vera Demchuk in 1955 and they have three children and two grandchildren.

Bernard Allan Federko
b. May 12, 1956 (Foam Lake, SK)

Born of Ukrainian parentage, Bernie attended Foam Lake School and E.D. Feehan High School in Saskatoon.

Bernie’s early interests were sports, enjoying and devoting much time to ice skating. At age 16 he played for the Foam Lake Flyers’ senior club. His abilities suggested a career in hockey. For three seasons Bernie played with Saskatoon’s Junior Blades in the Western Canada Hockey League, leading them to the finals in 1975-76. NHL scouts noted his record, awarding him a 1st Team All-Star berth, WCHL MVP honours and a high-ranked position among eligible draft prospects.

Federko was selected sixth overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the WHA Draft and seventh overall in the NHL. Progress with the St. Louis Blues was rapid. Bernie trained at the Blue’s Central Hockey League farm club in Kansas City. Recording 69 points in 42 games for the Baby Blues earned him an immediate recall to St. Louis and a permanent NHL job. Bernie was awarded a berth on the 2nd All-Star team and the Ken McKenzie Trophy as Rookie-of-the-Year.

Bernie began the 1977-78 season as a member of the St. Louis Blues. The ever-patient playmaker rapidly led St. Louis to noted improvements and a second place finish—a single goal from winning the Stanley Cup final in 1986. Bernie achieved new hockey records and became known as "The Magician" in St. Louis circles.

During his 13 seasons with the Blues, Federko was respected and loved by the St. Louis fans. Never one to bask in the limelight, his consistency earned him 1,130 points during a 14-year NHL career of which one was spent with the Detroit Red Wings enabling him to reach the 1,000 games played milestone.

Federko retired on Mach 16, 1991 and his number "24" sweater was raised to the rafters of the St. Louis Arena. He remains in St. Louis working with the Blues as Colour Commentator on television broadcasts. In 2002 Federko was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Bernie married in 1978 to Bernadette Stadnyk. They have three sons.

Benjamin Michael Stephen Hladun
b. November 5, 1948 (Preeceville, SK)

Ben completed high school in 1966 at the Kamsack Collegiate Institute. He attended the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Manitoba and received his Bachelor of Environmental Studies in Architecture in 1969 and a Master of Architecture in 1973. In the same year he also received his Diploma in Commercial Art by correspondence from the Art Instruction Schools, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

During his university years, Ben travelled the world. During a ten-month period he visited 34 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia seeking out and studying the architectural wonders of the globe.

During his professional career he worked with a number of firms as well as establishing his own company of Hladun Maunu Architects in 1980.

Formal recognition of Ben’s architectural accomplishments include: for the Ens Toyota building in Saskatoon, the Varco-Pruden Hall of Fame Design Award (1984); for the James L. Alexander School in Saskatoon, publication in the Steel Design Magazine (Dofasco Inc. – 1985); for the Prince Albert Satellite Receiving Station, the Premier’s (Saskatchewan) Award of Excellence (1996); for St. Michael’s Community School in Prince Albert, the Saskatchewan Masonry Design Awards (1996); and, for the Prince Albert Credit Union, the Saskatchewan Masonry Design Awards – 2000 Architectural Award of Excellence.

An accomplished artist Ben’s favourite mediums are Egg Tempera and Quill Pen with India Ink. Over the years he has received numerous awards and acknowledgements at art festivals, travelling exhibitions, art schools and art salons in Saskatchewan and Minnesota.

Ben has worked extensively in the Ukrainian community, from 1973 to 1989 as a member of Saskatoon’s Ukrainian Self-Reliance Association (TYC) and from 1989 to the present with Prince Albert TYC. From 1986 to 1996 he was a volunteer and Board member of Green Grove Camp at Wakaw Lake, Saskatchewan. While on the Board he designed four eight-capacity children dormitories (reflective of Hutsul cottages). He was Vesna Festival’s Assistant Artistic Director and Board member of the Ukrainian Orthodox congregation in Prince Albert and is a member of the Veselka Ukrainian Heritage Club in Prince Albert.

Ben married Joni Taylor and they have a daughter, Celine.

The Right Honourable Ramon John Hnatyshyn, P.C., C.C., C.M.M., C.D., Q.C.
b. March 16, 1934 (Saskatoon, SK)
d. December 18, 2002 (Ottawa, ON)

Twenty-fourth Governor General and Commander in Chief of Canada (1990 to 1995), Mr. Hnatyshyn served in the House of Commons from 1974 to 1988 and was sworn to the Privy Council in 1979. During his career he served as Minister of State for Science and Technology, Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, Government House Leader, President of the Privy Council, Minister for Regulatory Affairs, and Minister of Justice and Attorney General. In 1984 he was Opposition House Leader for a period of six months.

An honourary life member of the Law Society of Saskatchewan and the Law Society of Upper Canada, Mr. Hnatyshyn was appointed Queen’s Counsel (Q.C.) in Saskatchewan in 1973 and Q.C. in Canada in 1988.

The Ramon John Hnatyshyn Award for Law is presented annually by the Canadian Bar Association to recognize outstanding contribution to the law and legal scholarship in Canada.

Mr. Hnatyshyn held numerous honourary degrees (LL.D.) from many universities both in Canada and around the world including the State University of Chernivtsi (Ukraine) and Doctor of Philosophy at Yonsei University (Korea).

As Senior Partner with Gowlings Ottawa, Mr. Hnatyshyn had a high profile career in both the public and private sectors.

Mr. Hnatyshyn received awards for his public and private sector endeavours, including the St. Volodymyr Medal Award – World Congress of Ukrainians. Mr. Hnatyshyn played a leadership role in a number of charities, including the United Way Campaign, United Community Funds, the Saskatoon Gallery and Conservatory Corporation, and the YMCA.

To the vice-regal position, Mr. Hnatyshyn brought warmth, openness and his contagious sense of humour. During his term he established the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards. Ray Hnatyshyn’s encouragement and celebration of Canadian excellence is possibly his greatest legacy.

Mr. Hnatyshyn paid homage to his Ukrainian heritage in his decision to include in his official Governor General’s coat of arms the elements of the Ukrainian Tryzub and the bull symbolic of Bukovyna, Ukraine. In 1992, Mr. Hnatyshyn visited Ukraine, where he was welcomed as a returning hero.

Ramon John Hnatyshyn was the son of John and Helen Hnatyshyn. He married Karen Gerda Nygaard Andreasen in 1960. They have two sons: John and Carl.

Dr. Edward Klopoushak
b. February 21, 1929 (Hafford, SK)

Edward Klopoushak attended primary and secondary school in Hafford; post-secondary training began at Teachers College, Saskatoon. He received his B.A. and B.Ed. degrees (with Great Distinction) from the University of Saskatchewan. He received several scholarships, assistantships and sabbatical leaves and achieved an M.Ed. (U of S) and a Ph.D. (University of Alberta).

His professional career spanned 47 years—in rural schools, Saskatoon High Schools, Instructor in Regina Teachers College and as Assistant Dean and Associate Dean at the University of Regina. He retired in 1992 as full Professor and was named Professor Emeritus. During his professorship, Edward served on University Council committees, on Department of Education curriculum development and teacher training committees. He counselled and advised undergraduates on their university programs. In Masters programs in Education, he served as supervising professor, facilitator and administrator of theses defences.

In the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, Edward served on the Board of Directors of St. Andrew’s College in Winnipeg (five years) and as a Member of the UOCC Consistory Board for ten years. He was a member of the Central Diocesan Council and Secretary for many terms. Locally, Edward has been Church President, Treasurer and Secretary, a Church Elder for 22 years and recently a Cantor. He serves on the Auditorium Management Committee and as Director of Selo Seniors Complex Board where he was President, Vice President and now Treasurer. As member of Regina’s Society of Prosvita, Edward wrote several articles, briefly chronicled their history and made a presentation at their 70th Anniversary celebrations.

Edward spent many years on the Executive of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Regina Branch, including one term as President.

Edward is a generous financial benefactor of Ukrainian institutions, including the Descent of the Holy Spirit Sobor in Regina, the UO Church of Canada, St. Andrew’s College, and the SUS and Shevchenko Foundations.

Edward and his late wife, Eileen, were supporters of Globe Theatre, MacKenzie Art Gallery and charitable organizations: Hospitals of Regina Foundation, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Diabetes Association, Lung Association and Alzheimer’s Society.

Edward married Eileen Shewchuk in 1950. They had two children: Lori and Gary.

Morris Orest Korpan
b. March 16, 1927 (Laniwci/Aberdeen, SK)

After high school Morris obtained employment with the federal Customs & Excise Department. In 1953 he was a Customs Officer in Saskatoon. In 1957 he was transferred to Vancouver as a Special Exciseman Officer. In 1961 Morris moved to Edmonton as Excise Act Administrator inspecting breweries and bonded factories. In 1963 he was transferred to Ottawa as a research officer for the Excise Duty Branch, returning to Vancouver in 1967 as District Surveyor for Excise Duty and promoted to Regional Director in 1968. Subsequently named Regional Chief of Collections and Duty for B.C. and Yukon, he remained in this capacity until retirement in 1981.

Proud of his Ukrainian heritage Morris was actively involved in the Ukrainian parishes and organizations where he lived: Vancouver – St. Mary’s; Edmonton – St. Josaphat’s Cathedral; Ottawa – St. John the Baptist; New Westminster – Holy Eucharist Parish. After 38 years he returned to Saskatoon and was instrumental in establishing Saints Peter & Paul Parish.

For 28 years he was actively involved at the Holy Eucharist Parish being President and Treasurer. From 1989 to 1994 Morris was Administrative Assistant for the Eparchy of New Westminster during which time the Pastoral Council was implemented, a clergy and staff pension plan was established and a uniform cleric compensation package was developed.

Morris was unceasingly involved in several organizations taking a leading role: the Ukrainian Catholic Brotherhood of Canada, being awarded as Sir Knight of St. Volodymyr; Ukrainian Canadian Congress; Knights of Columbus – Sheptytsky Council 4938; Prairie Centre for the Study of Ukrainian Heritage; Musйe Ukraina Museum Inc.; Canadian Ethnocultural Council – Ottawa; Council of Aging; and, fundraiser for the Endowment Fund at Lester Pearson College.

The Ukrainian community benefited greatly from Morris’ participation. He assisted the Canadian Social Services, Vancouver Branch in the delivery of a shipment of medicine and medical equipment to Ukraine. In 1997 six members of the Korpan family participated in UCC Saskatchewan Council’s video "Eldercare Challenges Choices and Change". Morris also assists seniors in completing income tax returns, applications for federal supplements and Health Drug Plan.

Morris married Anna Syroishka in 1951. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.

Iryna (Danylak) Lazurko
b. August 29, 1921 (Sudova Vyshnia, Lviv oblast, Ukraine)

All of her life Iryna Lazurko was keenly aware of the necessity of promoting Ukrainian language, customs and culture. To this day she exhibits great zeal in pursuit of this goal.

For more than 50 years she was involved in such activities as teaching Ukrainian school and organizing countless Mother’s Day concerts. She was involved in plays and drama productions, both with young people as well as adults. She prepared children for Konkurs – Ukrainian Arts Program competitions, offering extra training sessions in her home. Needless to say, her students always achieved high standing in such competitions. Concerts in honour of Taras Shevchenko were high on her list of priorities.

She was always involved with the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada, Canora Branch, having served on the Branch Executive.

Her involvement with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Canora Branch, including serving on the UCC Executive, provided another avenue to showcase things Ukrainian. She took part in organizing the Centenary celebrations commemorating Ukrainian settlement in Canada. She was instrumental in organizing Ukrainian Independence Day celebrations. Together with her husband, Klym, sister and brother-in-law, Halyna and Stefan Popowych, they donated a building to the Canora UCC Branch to house the museum artifacts. She is very involved in fundraising efforts to meet the museum expenses as well as promoting the museum.

She keeps abreast of the political, economic and cultural situation in Ukraine and is very much concerned with the well-being of that nation. Whenever artistic touring groups from Ukraine would come to Canora, she would always welcome them, providing billets and gifts to help them out.

Iryna Lazurko is a person with an inexhaustible store of energy, enthusiasm and love for her homeland. She spares no effort to promote what being Ukrainian is all about in this land of Canada. She has added a very important piece to the cultural mosaic. Canada and Saskatchewan are richer for it.

Iryna married Klym Lazurko in 1946, two years prior to immigrating to Canada in 1948. They raised four children: Yurij, Oksana, Markian, and Andrij.

Molly (Bassaraba) Lenhardt
b. December 25, 1914 (Western Ukraine)
d. March 7, 1995 (Melville, SK)

Molly Lenhardt was the daughter of Paraska and Wasyl’ Bassaraba.

Her parents, appreciating the importance of education, encouraged Molly to pursue training in the visual arts. After obtaining her Grade 10, she enrolled at Sacred Heart Academy in Yorkton to complete her high school; however, illness prevented her from achieving that goal. She subsequently enrolled in the Business College in Yorkton in 1930.

Molly and her husband Joseph purchased the Fairway Confectionery in Melville in 1950. This was a joint occupation for the couple. The time required to operate a business and raise a family left Molly with little time to devote to painting. Once the children left home, she dedicated more time to her artwork and began displaying her art in the confectionery and had her works accepted by the Watrous Art Salon in 1973.

The Dunlop Art Gallery in Regina exhibited some of her paintings in 1990. Articles written on the display "Molly Lenhardt Retrospective" commented that her works are crudely simple yet starkly beautiful. Reflecting Molly’s pride in her Ukrainian heritage, most of the pioneers depicted are women, emphasizing the role they played in settling the west. Her portraits of older women poignantly capture the pain and hardship they endured in their struggle to establish themselves and raise families in a strange and often hostile land.

Molly Lenhardt’s art is exhibited in prominent art galleries across Canada, in the homes of noted art collectors and locally in Melville. Molly Lenhardt’s family is now in the process of establishing an art gallery of her works in the confectionery that the Lenhardts once owned.

Molly addressed the broader issue of Ukrainian nationalism in her portraits of Taras Shevchenko, reflecting his status as a cultural saint to all Ukrainians.

It is perhaps because of Ukraine’s tragic history that Molly Lenhardt’s love for Canada and its multicultural character was so intense.

In 1940 Molly married Joseph Lenhardt. They had two children: a daughter, Joyce, and a son, Wayne.