Cyril Genik honored as "father of Ukrainian immigration to Canada" (04/11/99)

Cyril Genik honored as "father of Ukrainian immigration to Canada"

by Dr. Roman Yereniuk

WINNIPEG - The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, the informed and impartial advisory board to Canada's minister of heritage on matters relating to the commemoration of Canada's history, honored Cyril (Kyrylo) Genik (1857-1925) on February 15 in Winnipeg, during the celebration of Canada's Heritage Day and commemorations of Canada's Citizenship and Heritage Week.

The Winnipeg celebration was attended by some 150 people, including many from the Ukrainian Canadian community. All three levels of government were represented at the celebration. Two Ukrainian Churches were represented by their respective metropolitans - Metropolitan Wasyly Fedak of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and Metropolitan Michael Bzdel of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Cyril Genik was one of the foremost leaders of the first wave of Ukrainian immigration to Canada (1891-1914) from western Ukraine, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was the head of only the second group of immigrants to arrive in Canada in 1896. Because of his formal education, knowledge of languages, including English, and excellent diplomatic skills, he was quickly appointed an immigration agent by the government of Canada. He became the first federal civil servant of Ukrainian ancestry in Canada.

For 18 years, until his retirement in 1914, Mr. Genik worked with Ukrainian immigrants, assisting them in the many tasks of settlement, including land claims and farming practices, employment issues and citizenship matters. He never forgot about the settlers and traveled throughout various Ukrainian settlements in order to inform the Canadian government about their progress, needs and accomplishments.

In so doing, Mr. Genik diligently served Canada's new policy on immigration from Eastern Europe (at a time when many were skeptical of this new direction in immigration in Canada), as well as facilitated Ukrainian Canadian cultural development that saw the birth of many of the early Ukrainian institutions in Canada.

At the time of his death in 1925, some 200,000 Ukrainians had settled in Canada, providing historical continuity for many of today's Ukrainian Canadians, as well as Ukrainian Canadian institutions.

The commemorative program was chaired by Prof. William Neville, a Manitoba member of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board. Greetings on the occasion were brought by various individuals from local, provincial and federal governments, as well as from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

Lesia Szwaliuk, president of the UCC's Manitoba/Winnipeg Council, emphasized Mr. Genik's role as a pioneer leader of the first wave of Ukrainian immigrants.

Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray underlined his own Ukrainian connection while growing up in Montreal, and talked about Mr. Genik's passionate work as the "father of Ukrainian immigration to Canada."

Representing the Manitoba provincial government, Rosemary Vodrey, in her capacity as the minister of culture, heritage and citizenship, honored Mr. Genik as "a great Manitoban and a great Canadian who has finally been recognized."

Remarks on behalf of Canada's secretary of state were delivered by the Sharon Carstairs, deputy leader of the government in the Canadian Senate. She emphasized that Mr. Genik represents Canada's pride in its rich and diverse mosaic of heritage communities and serves as an important role model for the country's youth.

The official unveiling of the plaque honoring Mr. Genik was performed by the Ms. Carstairs along with Jerry Genik from British Columbia, a grandson of the honoree. Also present was another grandson from Winnipeg, Con Genik, and his family.

The historical perspective for the event was presented by Prof. Jaroslaw Petryshyn of Grande Praire Regional College in Alberta, a prominent scholar of Ukrainian Canadian history. He provided biographical data on Mr. Genik and underlined the relationship he had with Clifford Sifton, Canada's minister of the interior.

Prof. Petryshyn also emphasized Mr. Genik's concern with the plight of the new settlers and his important work as an intermediary between them and the government of Canada. He especially reiterated Mr. Genik's role as the "first leader of the Ukrainian Canadian community" and illustrated this point with several anecdotes from the archives.

The celebration was a fitting tribute to one of Canada's great personalities. For the Ukrainian Canadian community, this event was also an acknowledgement of the role of a native son in developing social cohesion in the Ukrainian community as well as preparing for the interaction of Ukrainians within Canadian society. Mr. Genik's story is one that rejected the assimilationist policies of many Canadians of that time and paved the way for the future development of Canada's multicultural policy.

Dr. Roman Yereniuk is associate professor at St. Andrew's College in Winnipeg, which is affiliated with the University of Manitoba.

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