The Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Manitoba Provincial Counsel was pleased to once again host the annual Bulava Award.  The Bulava Award is dedicated to the celebration and acknowledgement of Manitobans who have contributed their time, energy and expertise to enhance our Ukrainian Canadian community

in Manitoba ensuring it remains strong, vibrant and active for future generations.

The Award Luncheon took place on Sunday, September 23, 2018 at “Bergmanns on Lombard”  in the Grain Exchange Building.  A large gathering of Ukrainian Canadian community members came together to help celebrate the achievements of the eleven honorees and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada on the occasion of its Centenary.Father Eugene Maximiuk,  of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, presented an intellectually interesting key note address on the spiritual importance of volunteerism from the Christian perspective. 

The Honorees for 2018 are:

METROPOLITAN LAWRENCE HUCULAK
Most Reverend Lawrence Huculak, OSBM joined the monastic community in 1969 and was ordained on August 28, 1977. He went on to Rome to continue specialized studies in Eastern liturgical theology and practice at the Pontifical Oriental Institute and was awarded a doctorate in Oriental Studies in 1990.
Most Reverend Lawrence Huculak was appointed pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Parish in Mundare, Alberta from 1986-1996. Shortly after this he was appointed ihumen of the Sts. Peter and Paul Monastery as well as Master of Novices.

Most Reverend Lawrence was ordained bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton in 1977. He was chosen by the Catholic Bishops of Western Canada to represent them on the Permanent Council of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
In 2006, Metropolitan Huculak was chosen to serve the Ukrainian Catholic Community in Canada as Archbishop of Winnipeg and the Metropolitan for all of Canada. He was installed on February 11.
Metropolitan Lawrence is a senior member of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and has served on a number of synodal commissions over the years. He is also member of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops representing the interests of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. He presently chairs the CCCB commission for Christian Unity, Religious Relations with the Jews and Interfaith Dialogue.

Metropolitan Lawrence continuously strives to preserve the Ukrainian ecclesial legacy of faith in Manitoba. His love of Ukrainian liturgical music has encouraged faith communities to preserve Ukrainian song and to revive its significance for the future of the Church of Canada. Metropolitan Lawrence recognizes the need for a strong bond between Ukraine and the Ukrainian community of Canada. He has overseen various fundraising efforts with his Archeparchy to aid various causes in Ukraine. He brings a prayerful religious presence to events in support of causes for Ukraine and the Ukrainian community in Canada.

HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN YURIJ
Archbishop of Winnipeg and the Central Eparchy, Metropolitan of Canada, Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, Locum Tenens of the Eastern Eparchy.
Metropolitan Yuirj was born in Lachine, Quebec on May 26, 1951, to Petro and Anastazia Kalistchuk. In 1970 he entered St. Andrew’s College in Winnipeg. Here he received his Licentiate in Theology (L.Th.) as well as Bachelor in Theology. He studied liturgical music under the guidance of Archbishop Boris and Dr. Pavlo Macenko. In 1980 Metropolitan Yurij recieved an Honours Bachelor of Music in History and Theory from McMaster University. He also has a B.Ed. from the University of Toronto.

During 1983-87 he was Project Director of the Bortniansky Project which recorded the thirty-five sacred choral concertos of Dmytro Bortniansky.
In 1988 Metropolitan Wasyly was ordained Deacon Yurij Kalistchuk into the Holy Priesthood and was tonsured a monk in 1989. From September 1988 to December 1991 he was professor for Church Music at St. Andrew’s College. In 1989, he was elevated to Bishop. After a series of appointments as Bishop of Saskatoon, and Archbishop of Toronto, on July 18, 2010 the Sobor of the UOCC chose His Eminence to become the sixth Metropolitan in the history of the church.
Metropolitan Yurij has repeatedly represented the UOCC in Constantinople before the Patriarch, most recently in September 2018 at Synaxis of the Hierarchys of the Ecumenical Throne where the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ukraine was discussed. He has played a prominent role in supporting the quest for the canonical independence of the Church in Ukraine.
Metropolitan Yurij has served as one of the Vice-Presidents of the Canadian Council of Churches, where he has been representing the UOCC since 1991. He is a member of the Permanent Conference of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops Beyond the Borders of Ukraine

UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF CANADA
The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada is celebrating its Centennial this year — 100 years of faithful Christian service to the Ukrainian Canadian community across three eparchies and its National Consistory office in Winnipeg. From its humble beginnings at its formative meeting in Saskatoon in 1918, to a National institution with some 300 parishes across Canada, the UOCC has been a major spiritual and faith tradition in the lives of several hundred thousand Ukrainian Canadians. The Church has served the three major waves of Ukrainian settlers to Canada and their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as the present fourth wave. The UOCC has had a strong leadership of fourteen metropolitans and bishops as well as fourteen Chairs of the Presidium of the Consistory (Chancellors). Among the major metropolitans was Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) 1951-1972, a major world renown scholar of the Church and Ukrainian culture. Since 2010 the UOCC has been headed by Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk). The UOCC has always placed great emphasis on the role of laity in church life and at various levels of church governance. In addition, the lay organization — the Ukrainian Self Reliance League of Canada (with its men’s, women’s and youth components) has played a significant role in the life of the UOCC. The UOCC continues to be a major partner in the structure of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and its many annual events across Canada.

DR. TARAS BABICK
Taras Babick is a family physician who was born and raised in Winnipeg. He earned his medical degree at the University of Manitoba. He is presently the Deputy Registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba, and is responsible for Standards, Quality Improvement, and Physician Health. In 2018 he was the recipient of the Canadian Medical Association Honorary Life Award. Taras is the medical director of St. Josephs Residence, and is a member of the medical staff of Holy Family Home.

Taras is the founder and artistic director of the ORLAN Ukrainian Folk Ensemble. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Carpathia Credit Union and a member of the Board of Directors of the St. Boniface Ukrainian Foundation. Taras is actively involved in the Kyiv Pavilion. He is a member of the St. Vladimir and Olga Cathedral. He received the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Gold Medal. In addition he received an award for volunteerism from the United Nations. Taras is also the only person who has received the Medal for Distinguished Artistry from President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine despite the fact that Taras was not born in Ukraine. This award is only bestowed upon individuals born in Ukraine.
Taras is married to Patrusia. They have two children — Andrea and !vas. Taras continues to practice family medicine with his daughter Dr. Andrea Babick.

BORISLAW BILASH
Borislaw Nicholas Bilash was born to pioneer school teachers Nykola and Maria Bilash. His father was a member of the last graduating class of the Ruthenian Teachers Training College in Brandon, who then discovered that his training was almost all for naught due to the abolition of bilingual education in Manitoba in that same year. After become a public school teacher at the tender age of 16, Borislaw set his sights on re-legitimizing the Ukrainian language as a subject in the secondary education system of Manitoba. He became a driving force through his Ukrainian-Canadian community work in the 1960s, through such avenues as: the Ukrainian-Canadian community’s presentation to the Bilingualism and Biculturalism Policy review; UNF’s Вищчі Освітні Курси, the Markian Shashkevych Teacher’s Society, and the Ukrainian Catholic Church’s Кураторія Українських Шкіл, plus his “off-line” activity as a teacher and Assistant Inspector of Languages in Winnipeg School Division #1. He eventually saw the establishment of Ukrainian as an elective subject in junior and senior high school, and the re-establishment of a Ukrainian-English bilingual program in the Province of Manitoba. All the while, he championed the Ukrainian language, teaching it to young and old alike, “рано, ввечір, вдень, вночі”. He is a pioneer, who embraced the mission of our first pioneers, and has passed it on to the future of Ukrainian-Canadian society.

ANNA GEMBARSKY
Anna Gembarsky was born in Rafailov, Ivano-Frankivsk oblast. During the Second World War, she was an activist in the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists.
After moving to Winnipeg with her family in 1956, she became involved in community life at Institute Prosvita. From 1959 to 1985 Anna Gembarsky was a member of the board of the Women’s Organization of the League for the Liberation of Ukraine, acting as branch president from 1962 – 1966 and 1974 – 1976. She enthusiastically participated in its various activities, such as performances on stage, Christmas events, teas, etc. From 1978 – 1990 she was member of the board of the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League at the St. Volodymyr and Olga Cathedral in Winnipeg, acting as recording secretary from 1980 -1984. During the years 1962 -1992 Anna Gembarsky was a member of the Boards of the national and local Ukrainian Canadian Women’s Committee. From 1972 – 2002 Mrs. Gembarsky enjoyed singing with the Institute Prosvita “Dumka” choir, being the chair of its board from 1972 – 1982 and 1982 – 1992, during which time she also participated in the Winnipeg “Millennium” choir formed to celebrate 1000 years of Christianity in Ukraine.

GEORGE HESHKA George Heshka is the son of Ukrainian immigrants and is very proud of his Ukrainian heritage. He has had a long and varied career in education. Since 1980, he has been the principal of Sisler High School, Manitoba’s largest school. Under his visionary leadership, the school has established many award-winning programs and was recognized by Maclean’s magazine as the best all-around school in Canada. He has been awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for education and community excellence, an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Winnipeg, and has also been vested with the Order of Manitoba. He remains dedicated to the community he serves.

JEANNIE MAY
Jenny May developed her love for the Ukrainian culture and arts through her parents. As a young adult she joined the Ukrainian National Federation and became a member of the O.Koshetz choir.
After the birth of her children, Jenny became a teaching assistant at the UNF sadochok. She joined the UNF Women’s Organization and later became president.
Jenny volunteered weekly at the UNF bingos, the Kalyna Gift Shop, the Ukrainian Partisan Army Veterans Association as well as Folklorama’s Kyiv pavilion. She has conducted workshops on making baybaraky for Oseredok and planning a national conference for the Organization of Ukrainian Canadians in Winnipeg.
Jenny continues to be an active member of the National Association of Federal Retirees, Heartland Chapter of the Heritage Club, and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Women’s Council as a board member of the Ukrainian National Federation.

OLGA MICHALCHUK
Olga in her teenage years became a member of the Ukrainian National Youth Federation-MYNO, and started singing in the choir. Upon graduation Olga became a member of the Ukrainian Women’s Organization OYK, and was involved in all the activities. Olga held executive positions and was president for many years.
Olga represented OYK to the National Canadian Women’s Council in Winnipeg and on the National level, holding executive positions as well as president. Olga represented OYK on the Winnipeg Council of Women, holding positions on their executive. Olga was involved in the U.N.F. Dance School, sewing and designing dance costumes for over 30 years. As a member of All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Olga served many years on the church executive, and sang in the choir. Olga has served on the Board of the Carpathia Credit Union and the Board of Kalyna Co-operative. She has volunteered at Concordia Hospital for 10 years and Middlechurch Nursing Home for 15 years.

JOHN PASKIEVICH
John Paskievich is an award winning documentary filmmaker and Born in Austria, he immigrated to Canada, as a child with his family, and then in Winnipeg. He graduated from the University of Winnipeg photography at Ryerson in Toronto.
Over the course of his career, Paskievich has produced a body of work has described as “poignant, funny, angry by turns, it brims with rare focused on a diverse range of humanity that includes Inuit carvers in Slovakia, Orthodox Russians living in Northern Alberta; and Winnipeg inner-city high school students and their teacher who form an after hours storytelling class. Paskievich has produced several films that directly relate to the Ukrainian experience in Canada. These include My Mother’s Village as well as Ted Baryluk’s Grocery and The Price of Daily Bread, both done with Michael Mirus. His current work in progress is a documentary on the contributions of Ukrainian Canadians service personnel in World War 2.

An accomplished still photographer, his work has been exhibited widely and published in several books including A Voiceless Song, The North End and The North End Revisited. The Globe and Mail has written that Paskievich ‘has a magical ability to pluck the perfect moment from the vanishing collisions of time and place. There’s tremendous depth in these photos, and a humour that never fades.”

HON. RON SCHULER
Ron Schuler was elected as the MLA for St. Paul in 1999 and re-elected in 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2016. Schuler is a graduate of the University of Manitoba with a degree in international relations and has served as a trustee with the River East School Division. An entrepreneur, former small-business owner and community volunteer, he has devoted his time to organizations like Big Brothers, Citizens on Patrol, Max Reinhardt Theatre Canada and the Manitoba Inter-cultural Council. He has three children and lives in East St. Paul.

In May 2016 Ron Schuler was appointed as Minister of Crowns Services and August 2017 was appointed as the Minister of Infrastructure.

SYLVIA TODASCHUK
Sylvia is the semi-retired entrepreneur of Todaschuk Sisters’ Ukrainian Boutique as well as Sylvia’s Silhouette Studio. She has volunteered her skills and energy to many organizations spanning several decades. Amongst her many contributions, Sylvia is currently president of the Ukrainian Professional and Business Foundation Inc. As a member of this organization, Sylvia has organized Ukrainian New Year’s Levees at City Hall and the Legislative Building, Malankas honouring d
istinguished community leaders and a fundraiser for the Canadian Museum of Human Rights. Sylvia has served on the Folk Arts Council of Winnipeg, Inc. as a board member in various capacities, most noteworthy being the Vice Chair of Pavilions. Sylvia has served as the Kyiv Ukraine ambassador, Pavilion Coordinator, advisor and member of the Board of Trustees. Sylvia also writes weekly articles in the Ukrainian Sun.

Sylvia has been distinguished with many awards including: Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, The City of Winnipeg Community Service Award, Government of Canada 150 Certificate of Achievement, and the 120th Anniversary of Ukrainian Settlement in Canada Volunteer Service Award presented by Dr. Thor Ostash, Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada, and the Alpha Omega Alumnae Woman of the Year Award.
Sylvia has two daughters, known as the “Todaschuk Sisters” performing duo.
She thanks God for her continued guidance.