06Jul

Shevchenko Monument 1961

https://shevchenkofoundation.com/about/our-history/

In 1959 the Ukrainian community in Canada embarked on a significant undertaking – to place a monument to Taras Shevchenko, Ukraine’s national poet, on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature. $175,000 was raised for this endeavor.

Two years later, on July 9, 1961, nearly 25,000 Ukrainian Canadians from across the country gathered in Winnipeg to witness Canadian Prime Minister John Difenbaker solemnly unveiled a monument to Taras Shevchenko. The sculpture was created by New York artist Andrew Daragan and Winnipeg sculptor Roman Koval. It cost $ 150,000.

The fundraising for this monumental project led to a surplus of $30,000, which was invested into an endowment fund dedicated to the preservation and development of Ukrainian culture in Canada – the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko.

Through the efforts of Senators John Hnatyshyn, William Wall and Paul Yuzyk, and MP Nicholas Mandziuk, Bill S-21 – “An Act to Incorporate the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko” was successfully introduced in the Canadian Parliament, and signed on July 22, 1962 by Governor General G.P. Vanier.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) appointed the first Board of Directors, and in 1964 the Shevchenko Foundation was officially launched. Dr. Isydore Hlynka was founding President of the Foundation, serving for its first fifteen years.