Kyiv Pavilion hosts thousands during Folklorama (08/01/99)

Kyiv Pavilion hosts thousands during Folklorama

by Roman Yereniuk

WINNIPEG - The Kyiv Ukrainian Pavillion was again one of the best pavillions at Winnipeg's multicultural festival, known as Folklorama. The 1999 festival took place July 9-17, three weeks earlier than usual, so as not to overlap with the Pan American Games scheduled for July 23-August 8.

Approximately 40 pavillions representing 35 ethnocultural communities participated this year - some communities had two pavillions. More than 360,000 pavillion visits were recorded for the festival; about 20,000 volunteers and performers worked the pavillions. The Kyiv Pavillion recorded 14,000 visitors, as well as 250 volunteers and entertainers.

The Kyiv Pavillion this year featured one of Canada's funniest comics, Luba Goy, who is well known in Canada as the only female performer on CBC TV's "Royal Canadian Air Farce"; she performed during eight days of the festival and did 29 shows. The five-foot bundle of a comic used a quick-paced slapstick routine that included sketches from Queen Elizabeth II, to going to Ukrainian summer camp, to lunches at school with kovbasa sandwiches. She also "localized" her humor with reflections on Manitoba's political leaders (the "two" Gary's), Manitoba's flood of the century (1997) and her trips in and around Winnipeg.

In addition to Ms. Goy, the pavillion entertainment featured eight Manitoba dance ensembles, three choirs and 14 different singing and instrumental groups or soloists.

The Kyiv Pavillion also included food by Alica's Restaurant and four rooms of displays, a coffee house (kavarnia) and two rooms of souvenirs available for purchase.

The pavillion this year was chaired by Martin Pasichko, who pulled together an outstanding and dedicated team of volunteers and performers. The pavillion was hosted by the Winnipeg branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

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