Shevchenko Foundation celebrates opening of new offices in Winnipeg (12/25/05)

Shevchenko Foundation celebrates opening of new offices in Winnipeg

WINNIPEG - In the presence of Metropolitan Michael Bzdel of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and Archbishop Yuri of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and over 80 members of the Ukrainian Canadian community, Dr. Leo Mol cut the ribbon officially opening the new offices of the Shevchenko Foundation on Friday, November 4.

The official celebrations were conducted under the direction of foundation Vice-President Oleh Gerus. In his remarks, Dr. Gerus welcomed his fellow directors of the foundation, all of whom were in attendance; members of the clergy, including the Very Rev. Richard Soo, S.J., chancellor of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Winnipeg; the Rt. Rev. Michael Skrumeda and Father Roman Bozyk of St. Andrew's College in Winnipeg; as well as the many guests in attendance for this celebration. Official greetings were brought from Ukrainian Canadian Congress President Orysia Sushko, who emphasized the close historical relationship between the UCC and the foundation over these last 42 years.

By decision of the fifth Congress of Ukrainian Canadians, held in Winnipeg in 1956, the UCC began the initial task of establishing a monument in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Shevchenko's death; which was unveiled in 1961 by the late John Diefenbaker, prime minister of Canada. From the residuals, amounting to $30,000 from this project, the seventh Congress of Ukrainian Canadians held in 1962 agreed to invest this amount in a fund to be known as the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko - the establishment of which was formalized by an Act of Parliament in 1963 with the assistance of Sens. John Hnatyshyn, William Wall and Paul Yuzyk and Member of Parliament Nicholas Mandziuk.

Since its initial grant of $400 in 1964-1965, the Shevchenko Foundation today provides over $300,000 in the preservation and promotion of Ukrainian Canadian cultural heritage and the advancement of a flourishing Ukrainian community for the enrichment of Canada.

Following the official greetings, the traditional blessing was undertaken by the hierarchs of both the Ukrainian Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches in Canada.

The program concluded with an address from the president of the foundation, Andrew Hladyshevsky. He expressed his deep appreciation to Ben Wasylyshen for the architectural interior design and Mike Kuzyk of Sparkus Construction for creating space for the foundation. The new office reflects and showcases the work of the foundation, and the new home is truly a space that the Ukrainian community can be proud of, Mr. Hladyshevsky said.

In expressing his tremendous thanks to the donors and supporters of the foundation, Mr. Hladyshevsky also reflected on the new chapter that the opening of these offices provides in the life of the foundation. He reflected on the fact that making the decision to leave the former offices at 456 Main St. was not an easy choice. Throughout the last 40 years those premises provided the initial ground upon which the foundation was nurtured and developed.

However, thanks to the support of Ukrainian Canadians, the foundation today walks confidently into the 21st century secure in the knowledge that this partnership - the community and the foundation - is making a difference for the future of the community and for Canada. The president concluded his remarks by thanking the members of the board of directors for their ongoing work; he indicated that it was appropriate that this opening should correspond with a meeting of the board on Friday and Saturday.

With the formal part of the program completed, guests enjoyed refreshments and toured the new offices located on the second floor of Carpathia Credit Union Building at 952 Main St.

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