KYIV – Three members of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation’s Medical Mission team were recognized with awards presented by President Peter Poroshenko of Ukraine. Dr. Oleh Antonyshyn, mission lead and a plastic surgeon from Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, was awarded the Order of Merit, and Dr. Carolyn Levis, a plastic surgeon from Hamilton, Ontario, and Krystina Waler, director of humanitarian initiatives from Toronto, were awarded the Order of Princess Olga in a ceremony on February 24.
The awards are bestowed for outstanding achievements in service to Ukraine. At the time of the award presentation, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation was in Kyiv undertaking its fourth medical mission.
“Oleh, Carolyn and Krystina represent the many, many volunteers who have worked tirelessly to help wounded soldiers and civilians in Ukraine. On behalf of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, I wish to thank the government of Ukraine for recognizing these three individuals and by extension, our entire team. I also wish to thank the government of Canada for their financial support of our missions and to the donors and sponsors of the United for Ukraine Gala, which funded our first two medical missions,” said Victor Hetmanczuk, president of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. “I’m sure I speak for all Canadians when I say that we look forward to a peaceful and prosperous Ukraine,” he added.
Dr. Antonyshyn commented: “It is indeed my great honor to help not only the patients we saw, but also help build the capacity of the medical system in Ukraine.” He added, “I have learned just as much as I have taught, from my Ukrainian counterparts. It is with a deeply grateful heart that I accept this award on behalf of all the medical staff on our mission of Ukrainian heritage who are helping our brothers and sisters in Ukraine build a stronger, brighter future.”
Dr. Levis said, “Thank you, President Poroshenko, for this great honor. I draw strength from and am inspired by the patients I have treated, along with my Ukrainian counterparts at the Military Hospital. I gratefully accept this award on behalf of the wider Canadian community and we stand united with Ukrainians who want a better future.”
Ms. Waler echoed her colleagues’ words. “I am very grateful and humbled by this honor. I accept this award on behalf of all the volunteers for our four medical missions, without whom, our missions would not have been a success,” she said. “I am also grateful to all my Ukrainian counterparts who worked tirelessly to help us make our medical missions a reality.”
Ms. Waler also thanked “the Embassy of Canada in Ukraine, and specifically Ambassador Roman Waschuk, for their never-ending support.”
The Canada-Ukraine Foundation’s third Medical Mission was featured on a CTV documentary “Helping Hands” that aired in January. The program also highlighted the plight of 11-year-old Mykola Nizhikovsky, who lost both legs and his arm when he and his brother came upon an undetonated grenade. Mykola was the first pediatric patient the doctors saw. He is now in Montreal for additional treatment of his injuries. (More information about Mykola is available at www.HelpMykola.com.)
Funding for the first two medical missions came largely from the United for Ukraine fund-raiser that took place in September 2014. The event was attended by Wayne Gretzky and sponsored by Eugene Melnyk, Canadian Tire, Molson Coors Canada, the Temerty Family, the Ihnatowycz Family, Bell Canada, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, the Jacyk Foundation, the Ukrainian Credit Union, Buduchnist Credit Union, Caravan Logistics, Yarcia Huculak and family, CIBC, Manulife and Community Trust Credit Union.
The Canada-Ukraine Foundation was established by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress to coordinate, develop, organize and deliver assistance projects generated by Canadians and directed to Ukraine. It is a registered charitable foundation. Donations for its medical missions and other projects may be made at http://www.cufoundation.ca.