July 2021 Canadian Newsletter
Greetings!
As you will see below the past month has once again shown the power of collective action by our community to deal with offensive and hateful symbols/products. Thank you to everyone who wrote and had their voices heard! 

There were a number of important international summits in June, and you can read about the UCC’s positions on the issues that were discussed below. 

We said farewell to our Parliamentary Interns Matthew and Alex, and you can read their reports in our monthly newsletter. We also announced the new Parliamentary Intern, who will start work in the fall.  
We now have our full team of seven summer students, supported through Canada Summer Jobs. They are working in Victoria, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal and I am impressed every day with their dedication to our community.  

As we look ahead to the summer don’t miss the great online festival programming. As reopening continues, we look forward to celebrating the 30th anniversary of Ukrainian Independence Day on August 24. Please send us information about events taking place in your community! 
Ihor Michalchyshyn
CEO & Executive Director
60th anniversary of the Shevchenko Monument unveiling
July 9 marked the 60th anniversary of the unveiling of the Shevchenko Monument in Winnipeg, Manitoba on July 9, 1961.

The Shevchenko Foundation has released never-before-seen footage of the unveiling. To view, please click on the video to the left.

Our website also features archival news coverage from that day, click here to read
UCC STATEMENTS & NEWS
Door to NATO is open; Ukraine must take advantage
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) welcomes the reaffirmation by NATO leaders that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance. Ukraine’s authorities must take advantage of this opportunity and strengthen efforts to implement reforms necessary to accede to NATO. The UCC looks forward to working with the Government of Canada to enhance support for reforms in Ukraine.

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UCC Brief – Stop Nord Stream 2 
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) is calling for the stopping of the construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The completion of this pipeline would have disastrous consequences for global security.

UCC Calls on MP’s to Establish Ukrainian Heritage Month
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) calls on all Members of Parliament to establish September as Ukrainian Heritage Month in Canada.

On June 17th 2021, An act respecting Ukrainian Heritage Month was introduced in first reading by Yvan Baker (MP Etobicoke-Centre).


Canada imposes additional sanctions on Belarusian individuals and entities over attacks on human rights and fundamental freedoms
The UCC welcomes the announcement of additional Canadian sanctions in response to gross human rights violations by the Belarusian regime.

On June 22, 2021 the Government of Canada, together with EU, American and British allies imposed sanctions against 17 Belarusian individuals and 5 Belarusian entities in response to gross human rights violations in Belarus, including the hijacking of a commercial RyanAir Flight and the abduction of opposition journalist Roman Protasevich

Farewell to UCCs 2020-21 Parliamentary Interns
We would like to wish both Dr. Alexander Kostenko & Matthew Selinger farewell!

They have both completed the UCC Parliamentary Internship Program, and are excited to put their experiences, knowledge and acquired skills to us in future employments.
To read about their 2020-2021 internship experience click the link below!

UCC Announces 2021 Parliamentary Intern
We would like to welcome the 2021 UCC Intern Elizabeth Franceschini.

Born in Ternopil Ukraine, she grew up in Montreal, Quebec and speaks four languages. This past year Elizabeth graduated from McGill University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Russian Studies. She was active in the McGill Ukrainian Students’ Association as Communications Director.  

UCC letter to LCBO & P.E.I. Liquor on "Stalinskaya Vodka"
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress applauds the recent decision of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) to discontinue the selling of Stalinskaya Silver Vodka, which carries the name of the murderous Soviet tyrant – Joseph Stalin. Upon learning about this offensive product, the UCC took immediate action by writing a letter to the LCBO, demanding the product be removed from its shelves. The PEI LCC also stated that this product has been removed from its shelves. 

The UCC thanks everyone who shared their concerns and took action to have this product discontinued. The UCC will continue to ensure that Communist and Soviet symbols are not used to sell merchandise or promote any causes.

UCC Advisory Council welcomes
Senator Stan Kutcher and former Ambassador Roman Waschuk
To learn more about Senator Stan Kutcher click HERE.
To learn more about Roman Waschuk click HERE.
DONOR'S CORNER
Celebrating our vibrant and devoted community
volunteer - Rosalia Sametz
Celebrating our vibrant and devoted community volunteer, UCC President's Club member and monthly donor Rosalia Sametz (nee Kulchyk). She turns 91 this August. We wish her continued health and happiness for many more years to come! Многая та Благая Літа та Здоров’я Вам на всі літа!
 
Just this year, Ms. Sametz retired from the Board of St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral -Toronto. Not to be deterred by Covid, she became proficient with Zoom meetings, livestreaming and was always happy to talk and give us excellent ideas.

Ms. Sametz was born in Hafford, Saskatchewan in 1930. She grew up in a thatched roof and dirt floor homestead where her parents cleared the land and was always surrounded by love and Ukrainian culture and traditions. 

Janine Kuzma, CFRE
UCC National Fund Development Manager
COMMUNITY NEWS
New UCC Appointments
Welcomes Darcy Koshman as New Treasurer

Originally working as a sole practitioner, Mr. Koshman partnered with Dara Schaaf and has worked for 20 years as a business owner and operator. His specialty is assisting various enterprises with year-end financial reporting, tax planning, and offering his planning expertise.

For many years, Mr. Koshman has volunteered his time with the Ukrainian Canadian community, including as a Director and Treasurer at St John’s Institute, as an international election observer in Ukraine. Originally working as a sole practitioner, Mr. Koshman partnered with Dara Schaaf and has worked for 20 years as a business owner and operator. His specialty is assisting various enterprises with year-end financial reporting, tax planning, and offering his planning expertise.

UCC Welcomes Iryna Shyroka as New Vancouver Branch President

Iryna is a Senior Project Coordinator at the British Columbia Institute of Technologies, and holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration. She began her career as an intern at the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, and later moved to Vancouver, British Columbia after being accepted to the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

She is a Ukrainian activist who has been organizing local events and fundraising for the Children’s Hospital in Ukraine and been a long-term contributor to a web-based newspaper - Ukrainian Vancouver.

UPDATES FROM UCC COMMITTEES
On May 16, the 2021 online National Conference for Ukrainian Educators “Ukrainian education in Canada: New Reality” took place. The Conference was organized by the National Ukrainian Education Council of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC NUEC) in partnership with the International Educational Coordinating Council of the Ukrainian World Congress.
UPCOMING EVENTS
UCC Legacy Gift Webinar July 22, 2021
Please join Janine Kuzma BA, CFRE, member of CAGP (Canadian Association of Gift Planners) and learn about the options that will best work for you and your estate. Janine will also share a free tool that can help calculate how much money you can leave to charity to get maximum benefits on your final taxes.


Capital Ukrainian Festival 2021
The Capital Ukrainian Festival will be online for 2021. Join us from Ottawa on Saturday, July 24. Available around the world … Connect with our social media accounts for a celebration of Ukrainian culture. Stay tuned for more details. #OCUF2021 … Big thank you to Snow Conrad for creating this unique artwork.


Manitoba 150 - Oseredok
Oseredok warmly invites you to join us virtually or in-person to see this unique exhibit and to celebrate Ukrainians in Manitoba beginning June 30, 2021! The Manitoba 150 exhibition is an immersive, multi-dimensional experience created in response to the real experiences of Manitobans.


Canada's National Ukrainian Festival
After much discussion, careful consideration, and government consultation, we are pleased to announce that we will be hosting our festival this year, however it will be presented to our patrons “Virtually”, from July 30th to August 1st.

Governor in Council appointments are public appointments by the Government of Canada to Crown corporations and federal entities (such as boards, agencies and commissions etc.)
We encourage qualified Ukrainian Canadians to put their names forward and to serve Canada and its people.
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