Ukrainian War Veterans Association members Sergeant (Retired) William Kowalchuk and Corporal (Retired) Mike Pyniansky stand at the ready in front of the newly unveiled plaque to honour Corporal Filip Konowal VC on 2 December 2023. Konowal was the first and only Ukrainian to be awarded the Victoria Cross. Photograph by Sophia Sochaniwsky.
Sophia Sochaniwsky for New Pathway – Ukrainian News.
On Saturday, 2 December 2023, the Ukrainian War Veterans Association of Canada (UWVA) unveiled a new plaque in honour of Victoria Cross winner, Corporal Filip Konowal. Cpl Konowal was the first Canadian Corps member not born in the British Empire and the only Ukrainian to be awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry given to British and Commonwealth Forces. The unveiling ceremony took place in Bloor West Village in Toronto, Ontario which included a blessing given by Reverend Bohdan Czolij of Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Holy Protection and Reverend Vasyl Fediv from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Andrew. In addition to members of the Ukrainian War Veterans Association, the ceremony was attended by representatives of the Ukrainian Canadian Veterans Fund at Taras Shevchenko Foundation, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Toronto Branch, the UNF Foundation, the Ukrainian Credit Union Limited, the Ukrainian National Federation of Canada, the Ukrainian Women’s Organization of Canada and the Royal Canadian Legion – Maple / Swansea Branch. The project was spearheaded by UWVA member Yurko Serhijczuk, with financial support from the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko, the U.N.F. Foundation and the Ukrainian National Federation West Toronto Branch.
After the ceremony, guests were invited to a brief reception where Captain (Retired) Andre Sochaniwsky CD, UWVA President, highlighted Filip Konowal’s military achievements. Filip Myronovych Konowal was born in 1887 in the Russian Empire at the time, today in Ukraine. In his early twenties, he joined the Imperial Russian Army and became an instructor in hand-to-hand combat. When World War I started, he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force and deployed to the Western Front with the 4th Canadian Division. He fought at Vimy Ridge and then in August 1917, at the Battle of Hill 70. At Hill 70, Canadians successfully fought back 21 German counterattacks and were ultimately victorious. It is at this battle, that Konowal distinguished himself in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy and earned his Victoria Cross. Hill 70 is a significant battle in Canadian history as it was the first battle that Canada's military forces (the Canadian Corps with its 4 divisions) fought together as a single formation and under Canadian command.
The Konowal plaque is located in the heart of Bloor West Village at 2397 Bloor St West, near the intersection of Bloor Street West and Jane Street, on the south side of Bloor Street. This is in a high-traffic area where hundreds of thousands of tourists pass by to attend the annual Toronto Ukrainian Festival. With this plaque, many more people can now learn about this Ukrainian Canadian war hero.
Sophia Sochaniwsky is currently enrolled as a full-time student in the Commerce Program at McMaster University. In her free time, she volunteers with the Ukrainian War Veterans Association of Canada and assists with its important projects.
Share on Social Media
