Ukrainian Festival in Toronto's Bloor West Village draws 400,000 visitors (12/18/05)

Ukrainian Festival in Toronto's Bloor West Village draws 400,000 visitors

by Melanie Melnyk

TORONTO - Once again, Ukrainians proved they are a hearty bunch.

It's become a bit of a running gag that some rain will fall at each year's Ukrainian Festival, and this year, as promised, it poured on Saturday afternoon. But no amount of rain could dampen the festive atmosphere surrounding the ninth annual Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival, which took place in Toronto's West End on August 26-28.

Over 400,000 people jammed Bloor Street West to enjoy food, beverages, vendors, attractions, and song and dance from the two festival stages between Jane Street and Runnymede Road. This year's attendance set a new record, surpassing last year's figure of 300,000 visitors.

Among this year's headliners were singer-songwriter Vika Vasilevych from Kyiv, contemporary violin virtuoso Vasyl Popadiuk and the world-renowned Syzokryli dancers from New York. Cabaret performances featuring these and many other exciting musical, dance and vocal acts from Toronto and abroad captivated audiences at the main stage on Friday and Saturday nights.

Popular groups such as the Kubasonics from Edmonton, Taran from Winnipeg and the Dunai band got the crowd dancing at the Friday and Saturday night "zabavy" (dances).

The roar of the Brampton Motorcycle Club cleared the way for the ever-popular Saturday morning parade. While featuring Ukrainian Canadian groups ranging from marching bands, veterans and youth clubs to kindergartners, the parade reflected an increasingly multicultural presence through the participation of Chinese, Croatian and other ethnic groups. Ukrainians and non-Ukrainians alike who served as observers in Ukraine's 2004 election marched alongside former Prime Minister and 2005 Festival Parade Marshall John Turner.

The opening ceremonies were well-attended by local and federal politicians, including Conservative leader Stephen Harper, local MP Borys Wrzesnewskyj, Edmonton East MP Peter Goldring and Waterloo-Kitchener MP Andrew Telegdi. All applauded the contributions of the Ukrainian community to Canada and wished the festival continued success.

Non-stop performances sponsored by the Ukrainian Credit Union continued throughout Saturday and Sunday at the Jane Street Main Stage, featuring the Pid Oblachkom vocal ensemble, the Metelytsia a cappella singers, the Zoloti Struny bandura ensemble, Ozornie Ogonki from Belarus, the Desna Ukrainian Dance Company of Toronto and Montreal's Carpathia Ensemble. Up and coming acts were showcased on the intimate Youth Stage at Windermere Avenue, sponsored by So-Use Credit Union.

Despite a light drizzle that persisted after Saturday afternoon's downpour through to the evening, the Lvivske and Slavutych beer gardens remained packed to the rafters with revelers enjoying Ukrainian food and beverages.

By Sunday, the sun shone again over the "Birds of Prey" exhibit, which proved a much-sought-after returning attraction. Hundreds attended its three free shows to get up close and personal with rarely seen birds indigenous to Ukraine. The crowds remained well beyond the festival's 5 p.m. closing, no doubt in hopes they had won the raffle for two free tickets to Kyiv, courtesy of Aerosvit Airlines.

The Ukrainian Festival grows bigger and better each year thanks to the tireless efforts of its volunteers and the generosity of its many sponsors. Next year's festival, scheduled for August 25-27, 2006, this will mark the 10th anniversary of the festival, with many surprises already being planned for this landmark celebration. Mark your calendars - and pack your rain gear - it's going to be the biggest one yet.

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