Ukrainian Canadian professionals to present Nation Building Awards (06/20/99)

Ukrainian Canadian professionals to present Nation Building Awards

by Olga Kuplowska

TORONTO - The Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Federation (UCPBF) has announced the winners of the 1999 UCPBF Nation Building Awards: Don (Bohdan) Lahanky, in the category of Friend of Ukraine; Roman Kroitor, in the category of Business Achievement; Terry Evanshen, in the category of Professional Achievement; and Lubko Belej, in the category of Youth Achievement.

The Nation Building Awards, inaugurated at the 1997 UCPBF Biennial Convention in Calgary, were created to recognize the contributions of Canadians in building Canada through their local, national or international endeavors, and are presented at the biannual Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Federation Conventions.

The first four recipients of the Nation Building Awards were: Lloyd Axworthy, minister of foreign affairs; Roy Romanow, premier of Saskatchewan; Ivan Fecan, president, Baton Broadcasting; and Jon Tomas, past president, Ukrainian Canadian Students Union (SUSK).

Mr. Lahanky is a successful business entrepreneur currently residing in Moncton, New Brunswick. Mr. Lahanky is being recognized in the category of Friend of Ukraine because of his lifelong dedication to and active promotion of the Ukrainian culture and heritage both in Canada and more recently in Ukraine. In Canada, he has used his resources to make the Ukrainian culture known to his fellow New Brunswickers, be it through sponsoring dance and choir performances, donating books on things Ukrainian to university and municipal libraries, or supporting a diversity of other charitable and community projects and activities.

In Ukraine, he has contributed most generously to such endeavors as the building of a village church, a monument in honor of Taras Shevchenko and a museum in honor of Ukrainian freedom fighters.

On the business front, Mr. Lahanky is president of Allsco Building Supplies, a successful manufacturing company he has built up over the last 20 years that today employs over 200 people and exports products internationally.

Mr. Kroitor, co-founder, former senior vice-president and former director of Imax Corp. (Imax), began his career at the National Film Board (NFB) of Canada and is now one of Canada's leading filmmakers, with numerous awards and honors for his work. One of his first films, "Paul Tomkowicz," which focused on the life of a Canadian railway worker, is considered a milestone in the development of documentary film.

Other major achievements include: "Candid Eye," the world's first cinema verité television series; "Universe," the first depiction with pictorial realism of the geography of space; "Labyrinth," the multi-screen hit at Montreal's Expo '67; and of course, the IMAX motion picture system that over the last 30 years has revolutionized cinema and created a worldwide industry. Mr. Kroitor continues to explore new ways to use the IMAX medium, expanding its use of 3D technology.

Mr. Kroitor was born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, and currently resides in Rouge River, Quebec.

Mr. Evanshen, a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, who was twice voted the "Most Outstanding Canadian" in the CFL, is the holder of numerous pass-reception records, some of which still stand today.

In 1988 he was in a car accident that nearly claimed his life and inflicted neurological damage, causing him to lose his memory including all recollections of personal and family experiences. With the help of friends, family and a caring chiropractor - and by his own determination to survive - Mr. Evanshen made the long road back to himself, rebuilding his identity, confidence and purpose, one step at a time.

Today, the former football legend travels across the country sharing his remarkable story with thousands of people from all walks of life, hoping that his experiences will help others. Born in Montréal, Mr. Evanshen currently resides in Oshawa, Ontario.

Mr. Belej, immediate past president on the current executive of the Ukrainian Canadian Students' Union (SUSK), has been a very active and involved member of the Ukrainian Canadian community from a very young age. His early years include altar boy service and active membership in youth organizations, first in SUM and then in Plast. During his university years Mr. Belej became involved with the Ukrainian students' movement and helped to revitalize the Brock University Ukrainian Students' Club. He went on to become president of SUSK, giving up much of his personal time and earnings potential to help place SUSK on a solid ground. During his term in office, Mr. Belej visited many of the member clubs across the country and ensured that the Ukrainian Canadian student voice was heard at many community events and forums.

This past December, he was one of four panelists for the World Congress of Ukrainian Youth Organizations Conference and was elected to represent SUSK for a four-year term in the conference. Mr. Belej lives in Toronto.

This year the UCPBF will also present a Humanitarian Award to the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association of Yorkton and District in recognition of its moral and financial support of two Ukrainian families from Bosnia over a two-year period.

This Special Jury Award was created to recognize the association's generous and selfless act and so that others could learn by its leading example.

The five awards will be presented at the Nation Building Awards Banquet, a "black tie" reception and dinner, to be held at the Holiday Inn on King Street in Toronto, on Saturday, July 3.

The community is invited to attend the celebratory banquet to honor and thank the 1999 Nation Builders. To order tickets for the awards banquet or for information regarding the 1999 Convention, please contact: telephone, (416) 236-2093; fax, (416) 253-9745; e-mail, [email protected].

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