Shevchenko Medals awarded to 29 activists (11/15/98)

Shevchenko Medals awarded to 29 activists

WINNIPEG - During the Ukrainian Canadian Congress's triennial congress, an awards banquet was held on October 10 to honor recipients of the umbrella body's highest prizes: the Shevchenko Medal.

According to the evening's program, the laureates are 29 individuals "who have made an outstanding effort and accomplished extraordinary deeds in the Ukrainian Canadian community. The public recognition of a lifetime of tireless and selfless work - because it was given freely out of love for the community and not for personal gain - hopes to inspire a whole new generation."

According to a press release issued the previous day, the medal "is awarded to individuals of Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian descent for their outstanding contribution towards the growth of the Ukrainian presence in Canada on a national level."

However, at this congress, the UCC also decided to include organizations among the recipients, and recognized the contributions of two Ukrainian youth associations, Plast and SUM.

Among the Shevchenko Medal recipients at this congress was the late Justice John Sopinka (1933-1997). The UCC press item mentioned that Judge Sopinka was the first Ukrainian Canadian appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada and the first to speak Ukrainian at his swearing-in ceremony.

While still in private practice as a lawyer, the honoree represented the UCC before the Deschênes Commission of Inquiry in 1986 and was legal counsel for an International Commission on the Great-Famine Genocide in Soviet Ukraine in 1932-1933, which presented testimony to the International Court in The Hague.

Thirty-five recipients of the Shevchenko Diploma of Merit, the UCC's second highest award, were recognized at the congress's Thanksgiving Day (Canadian) brunch on October 12. The diploma is awarded to individuals of Ukrainian or non-Ukrainian descent who "have significantly contributed to the development of the Ukrainian Canadian community on a regional or local level," as the UCC media item specified.

Based on organizational or individual recommendations, candidates are selected by the Shevchenko Awards Committee and approved by the UCC's National Executive.

Shevchenko Medal recipients

Listed alphabetically, beginning with three posthumous recipients: the late Dr. Anatol Bedriy, the late Rev. Mychaylo Blazenko, the late Justice Sopinka; Petro Boykiw, Petro Bubela, Yaroslaw Czolij, Mykola Dutchak, Dr. Roma Franko, Isidore Goresky, Andrew Gregorovich, Teodor Humeniuk, George Karmanin, the Rev. Serhij Kiciuk, Jurij Klufas, Zynowy Knysh, Bohdan Kulchyckyj, Dr. David Marples, Zenon Pohorecky, Dr. Petro Potichny, Walentina Rodak, Olya Savaryn, Maria Szkambara, Ariadna Sumovsky-Stebelskyj, Julia Stashuk, Alexander Surasky, Natalia Talanchuk, the Rev. Volodymyr Tarnawsky, Ukrainian Youth Organization - Plast, Ukrainian Youth Association - SUM, Theodosy Woloshyn, Luba Zaraska and Olha Zawerucha-Swyntuch.

Shevchenko Diploma of Merit recipients

Listed alphabetically, beginning with three posthumous recipients: the late Wasyl Andriashyn, the late Petro Kindrachuk, the late Ivan and Halia Kobulnyk; Sonja Bejzyk, the Rev. Petro Blazuk, Myroslaw Bugera, Anna Burtnick, Maria Ciona, Bill Diachuk, Natalka Faryna-Kit, Volodymyr Haluk, Lucy Hirniak, Mykola Kocijowsky, Andriy Komorowsky, the Rt. Rev. Meroslaw Kryschuk, Nadia Kryschuk, Ivan Lahola, Josie Lakoduk, Jane Luchak, Ivan Melnyk, Volodymyr Molodecky, Nell Nakoneczny, Katryna Norris, Paul Ortynsky, Mykola Petrykiw, Dr. Nadiya Popil, Hryhoriy Prockiw, Bogdan Radesch, Anastasia Shemeluk-Radomsky, Sofia Skrypnyk, Jaroslaw Stachynsky, Mychaijlo Swenarchuk, Jaroslaw Sywanyk, Pawlyna Zahrebelna and Anna Zwozdecky.

| Home Page |