Left to Right: Shannon Bodez; Dr. Alex Pavlenko, Chair of the Canadian Foreign Council of the Order of St. Panteleimon; CUF Director Lubomyr Markevych. Photo: Marco Levytsky
Marco Levytsky, NP-UN Western Bureau Chief
Two Awards for Professionalism and Mercy “The Order of St. Panteleimon” were presented, at Ukrainian Day, held at the Alberta Legislature Grounds, August 24.
This award is presented for humanistic and noble activities in the field of health care that positively impact the spiritual development and health of Ukrainian citizens.
They were presented by Dr. Alex Pavlenko, Chair of the Canadian Foreign Council of the Order of St. Panteleimon.
The first award, which is for individuals, was presented to St. Albert nurse Shannon Boddez who has taken many trips to Ukraine bringing bags and bags of medical supplies to help front line defenders and beleaguered Ukrainians.
Terming the award “a humbling honour” Boddez noted that her connection to Ukraine began in 2002 when she traveled there with her 89-year-old grandmother.
“She hadn’t been back in 75 years, and witnessing her reconnect with her roots deeply moved me. It sparked a lifelong love for the country and its people. When the full-scale invasion began in 2022, I wanted to help,” she stated in the program booklet..
“I posted in a private Facebook group at work, asking for unused medical supplies to ship to Ukraine. Just four days later, I received over 116 kg of donations—bandages, medications, food, and letters of support.
“That one box turned into many. More and more people stepped forward—medical professionals, coworkers, friends, and family. We collected, sorted, packed, and shipped. In September and again in December 2022, I traveled to Ukraine personally, carrying over 20 suitcases filled with supplies.
“What started as a small project in 2022 has grown to be a collaborative effort and a community accomplishment,” she said
The second, organizational one, was presented to the Canada-Ukraine Surgical Aid Program (CUSAP), a groundbreaking medical initiative launched in 2022 by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion. of Ukraine. CUSAP provides life-changing reconstructive surgeries for civilians and soldiers with severe wartime injuries.
In addition to surgeries, the program offers hundreds of follow-up consultations, mental health care, and prosthetic support to aid in recovery. It also focuses on sustainability by training over 3,000 Ukrainian healthcare professionals through hands-on mentorship and educational webinars
Accepting the award on behalf of the organization CUF Director Lubomyr Markevych paid tribute to all the doctors who have persevered through the most difficult operations and thanked all the people who generously donated throughout the years.
The award's origins trace back to 2009 with the Ministry of Health's “Cross Panteleimon the Healer.” It was blessed by the Primates of Ukraine’s three largest Christian Churches.
In 2017, the modern Public Award for Professionalism and Mercy was launched, with its first national award ceremony held on August 9, 2017, in Kyiv. Since its founding, dozens of prominent figures have been honoured, including M.M. Amosov, O.О. Shalimov, His Holiness Patriarch Filaret, and others.
The award has expanded to include medals for youth, international nominations for foreigners, and categories such as “Best Doctor,” “Healthcare Innovator,” and “Best Medical Worker.”
Since 2022, the award has focused on honouring medical and humanitarian courage during the war, including a category for foreign citizens making significant contributions to Ukraine’s freedom and independence.
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