WINNIPEG, Manitoba – The Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Manitoba Provincial Council awarded its top honor, the Bulava Award, at a recent community luncheon in Winnipeg.
The Bulava Award is an annual event dedicated to the celebration and acknowledgement of persons who have volunteered their time, energy and expertise to enhance the Ukrainian Canadian community in Manitoba, ensuring that it remains strong, vibrant and active for future generations.
The celebratory program on September 27 consisted of community greetings and the introductions of the individual recipients along with short outlines of their achievements. Additionally, Dawn Bourbonnais of Volunteer Manitoba gave an inspirational address on the value of volunteerism in our society.
The honorees for 2015 included Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin, and the Gardenton Ukrainian Museum and Village Society, which hosts the Gardenton Ukrainian Festival. Both Manitoba festivals celebrated their 50th anniversaries in 2015.
Individuals honored with Bulava Awards were:
• Olena Garrity, known for her leadership in women’s organizations and volunteering with youth;
• Dianna Bryk Grabinski, a well known leader in the Ukrainian dance community and the Ukrainian National Federation;
• Sophia Kachor, a Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization leader and credit union leader;
• Maurice Lakusta, a former teacher and community activist;
• Peter Monastyrsky, a youth soccer organizer, credit union leader and community activist;
• Myroslava Pidhirnyj, a Ukrainian Youth Association activist and community volunteer;
• Lesia Szwaluk, a leader in the Ukrainian Youth Association and long-time president of the UCC-MPC;
• Dr. Roman Yereniuk, university educator and community leader;
• Danny Zabiaka, a well-respected Ukrainian dance instructor and businessman in Dauphin; and
• Susan Zuk, a key volunteer in Manitoba Parents for Ukrainian Education.