BOOK REVIEW: Ewanchuks latest on Canadian experience (01/21/96)

BOOK REVIEW

Ewanchuks latest on Canadian experience

Michael Ewanchuk, "Reflections and Reminiscences: Ukrainians in Canada 1892-1992." The Author: Steinbach, Manitoba, 1995. 169 pp. $16.95.

by Wolodymyr T. Zyla

At present in our society there is a serious attempt to preserve the traditions and individual identities of all ethnic groups that constitute the broad spectrum of Canada. Michael Ewanchuk has previously published six interesting books in English ("Pioneer Settlers: Ukrainians in the Dauphin Area 1896-1926"; "Vita: A Ukrainian Community" [a set of three books]; "Spruce, Swamp and Stone: A History of the Pioneer Ukrainian Settlements in the Gimli Area"; "Pioneer Profiles: Ukrainian Settlers in Manitoba"; "Hawaiian Ordeal: Ukrainian Contract Workers 1897-1910"; "Young Cossack" [a novella].

His most recent work, "Reflections and Reminiscences: Ukrainians in Canada 1892-1992," brings his years-long courageous project, as he says, to an end. The book offers new insights into the traditions of Ukrainians in Canada, and therefore is an important contribution to creative cultural activities among Canadians "Reflections and Reminiscences" is an effective illustration of the success story of the Ukrainian community in Canada. The Ukrainians form a large group of citizens that transplanted well and took root in Canada. By coming to the New World they were fulfilling not only their supreme wish to secure work, prosperity and freedom, but also to find a safe haven for their children.

Mr. Ewanchuk said that it was a healthy, willing and self-reliant Ukrainian peasant who came to the Canadian West and started to settle there a century ago and who contributed to the "prairies' bloom." Led initially by clergymen and intelligent laymen, guided spiritually by Christianity, patriotism and passionate love of freedom, inspired by hard work and initiative, they developed extremely well in Canada.

Canada, the land of the free, gave the Ukrainians an opportunity not only to adjust, but also to retain their culture, traditions, language and religion.

After all, few nations have suffered as much, faced so many reverses of fortune in their native land and yet retained their ethnic and cultural identity, and vigor. As "Reflections and Reminiscences" points out, such endurance in the face of adversity inspires confidence in the future. Those who enjoy freedom and often take it for granted may have something to learn from Ukraine's historical experience.

This book amounts to another contribution on the part of pioneers and their descendants in Canada. The author traces their development and shows the progress they and their descendants made. In his study Mr. Ewanchuk adopted a kind of synecdoche approach by having a few families speak for many Ukrainians. One may say he recorded the feelings of the ambitious and hard-working people only.

It is also interesting that the Ukrainian settlers, despite their poverty, worked hard to enable their children to have career choices. They encouraged and helped them to attain a higher education and to advance in the professions. Here, too, the author shows the success of various capable individuals.

The work consists of 10 parts: "Beginnings of Ukrainian Settlements in Canada: Men of Vision"; "Reflections from Early Years"; "Memoirs, Reminiscences and Letters;" "For the Record"; "Dr. Vladimir Kaye (Kysilewskyj): An Overview"; "Growing Up in Canada"; "Educated Away from the Land"; "In the Footsteps of Dr. Joseph Oleskiw"; "Church Leadership"; "Canada from Sea to Sea."

The volume consists of authentic material: memoirs, interviews and letters. Here one will also find four interesting appendices: "CBC Documentary Honors World War II: Ukrainian Canadian Hero"; "Ukrainian-Canadian Servicemen's Association, Executive and Officers for 1945": "From the Roll of Honor."

The book has over 60 illustrations and closes with a bibliography and index. Its front and back covers are reproductions of paintings (oil on canvas) by Peter Shostak from the series "For Our Children."

Michael Ewanchuk has lived an interesting and useful life. He was born March 14, 1908, in Gimli, Manitoba. He has been a pedagogue, inspector of secondary schools in Winnipeg and a historian. He studied at Detroit City College, Wesley College and the University of Manitoba. During World War II he served in the Canadian Air Force. In the 1960s he was member of the Senate at the University of Manitoba. Mr. Ewanchuk has an honorary doctorate from the University of Winnipeg.

"Thus our task," writes the author, "is now ended and as we conclude the study of the good life and the vicissitudes of the Ukrainians who left their native land, we are pleased to observe that there is a great future for their succeeding generations whose native land is Canada."

In sum, one can say that the author has achieved two goals: he complemented his previous works on Ukrainian immigrations and provided an overview of the Ukrainian Canadian experience and achievement during its 100-year presence in Canada. Accordingly, the book includes representatives of the three main phases of Ukrainian immigration to Canada, as well as Canadian-born Ukrainians. The research involved in this study leaves one with a greater appreciation for the diversity of the field and for the highly varied achievements of Michael Ewanchuk.

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