Photo: Marko Boychuk Left to Right:: Consul General Oleksandr Danyleiko, Forth Saskatchewan – Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, Bohdan Romaniuk, Olesia Luciw-Andryjowycz, Nadia Cyncar, Christine Moussienko, UCC - APC President Orysia Boychuk. (Missing: Dr. Amil Shapka)
NP-UN Western Bureau.
Five members of Alberta’s Ukrainian community were honored with the Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee Medal during the Hetman Awards Banquet in Edmonton December 3. The commemorative medal has been created to mark the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the Throne as Queen of Canada. It will be awarded to 7,000 Albertans throughout 2022 in recognition of significant contributions to the province. The Platinum Jubilee Medal program is continuing as planned despite the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and will conclude on February 5, 2023.
The five honorees are as follows:
Nadia Cyncar has been described as “a walking, talking, cultural institution.” She has worked tirelessly for more than 70 years in our community organizations. Be it creating and maintaining the library & archives of the Edmonton branch of Plast Ukrainian Youth Association, or designing and creating the costumes for operas performed by Dnipro Ensemble and Alberta Ballet, she has never shied away from such challenges in order to maintain and enhance Ukrainian culture in Canada. Her activity and dedication within the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada (UCWLC) – locally and provincially, and as curator of their Museum, has earned her the status Honourary Life Member. She remains active, producing the most recent museum exhibit entitled, “Той старий кожух”, commemorating 70 years of the UCWLC’s Museum in Alberta & the 130th Anniversary of Ukrainian Settlement in Canada. Nadia Cyncar’s personal dedication and her understanding of the history and significance of Ukrainian folk art, has made her a vital contributor to the essence of folk art itself and the Ukrainian community in Edmonton.
Olesia Luciw-Andryjowycz continues to be an active leader and mentor, working to engage, educate and advocate for the Ukrainian community. She has been involved in both the Provincial and National Ukrainian community for many years, including serving as President of UCC-APC from 2012-2019. Olesia’s achievements as an active community leader include but are not limited to:
- Supporting the opening of the Ukrainian Consulate in Edmonton
- Supporting the drafting of the Legislative Proclamation, and championing the Proclamation of Alberta Heritage Days
- One of the leads of the Guardian Angels Committee; providing Aid to Veterans in Ukraine
In all of her roles, Olesia works towards fostering unity and cooperation for all Ukrainian organizations within the province and works to preserve Ukrainian Heritage, history, culture and language.
Throughout her life, Christine Moussienko has been active in nearly all domains of the Ukrainian community, including arts and culture, media, sports, education and youth, advocacy and government, social services, religion, and many others. She has served as a director (in various capacities) for many organizations, including the Calgary Ukrainian Radio Program, Calgary Ukrainian Credit Union, UCC Calgary, UCC- APC, Echoes of Ukraine Association, CYM Calgary, League of Ukrainian Canadian Women, Barvinok Ukrainian Dancers, and is currently serving her third term as Chairperson of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church (ABVM). Christine has also incorporated her professional training as a Social Worker into all her work as a leader, mentor, advocate, and volunteer in the Ukrainian community.
Bohdan Romaniuk is lawyer, economist, entrepreneur and semi-retired business executive. He has been an active member of the Ukrainian community in Canada for over 50 years. For the past 15 years he has served in various capacities on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association of Calgary, including eight years as President. For the past seven years, he has been the representative of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Alberta Provincial Council on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of the Canada Ukraine Foundation and, for the past four years, has been a member of the Board of Directors of New Pathway – Ukrainian News, a national newspaper serving the Ukrainian community in Canada continuously since 1930. Bohdan previously served for over a decade on the Investment Committee of the Shevchenko Foundation. In addition, he has been a member of CYM for over 60 years.
Bohdan is delighted to report that he was part of the latest cohort of Canadians (effective November 14, 2022) to be officially sanctioned and declared persona non grata by the Kremlin.
Dr. Amil Shapka has devoted a great deal of his time and energy to maintain the Ukrainian Canadian community in St. Paul. Amil has been on the board of the All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cultural Centre for nearly 30 years. Since his retirement in 2019, he has taken more of a leadership role within the local Ukrainian community, joining the St. Paul and District Ukrainian Cultural Society, successfully placing a statue and interpretive panel to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the end of Canada's WWI internment operations, and most recently, completing a permanent exhibit in the local museum, honoring the early Ukrainian immigrants to the area. Amil has been an active volunteer in the community throughout his entire adult life, advocating for individuals with disabilities and their families with Inclusion St. Paul, improving the quality of life and appearance of the town with Champions For Change, in addition to supporting other local organizations.
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