Ukrainian Canadian

The long-lost CBC documentary – Ukrainian-Canadians: A Time to Remember

Andrew — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:40:06 +0000

In 1988 the CBC produced a great documentary exploring the history of Ukraine, its culture and its politics as it reached across to Canada through 100 years of immigration. It covers the origins of Ukrainian nationalism, the waves of immigration to Canada and their challenges, and even looking forward as to what it means to [...]

Book Review: Ukrainian Dance–A cross-cultural approach

Andrew — Sat, 05 May 2012 14:33:30 +0000

Professor Andriy Nahachewsky of the University of Alberta chronicles Ukrainian dance across borders and time in his new book Ukrainian Dance – A cross-cultural approach, analyzing traditional village culture as it expresses national identity as a an art form. Ukrainian dance is a vibrate, colorful and full of high energy with a European style that [...]

26th Anniversary of Chornobyl

Andrew — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:58:52 +0000

26 years ago yesterday was the anniversary of the Chornobyl (Ukrainian spelling) disaster. While there’s little new news coming from that event, here are some finer points all should remember: The Soviet Union stayed silent after the explosion, exposing Ukrainians to the deadly radiation while Communist apparatchiks were evacuated from neighbouring cities. The event was finally [...]

How a Ukrainian Canadian helped draft the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Andrew — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:47:20 +0000

Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of one of the most important Canadian documents – the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, that finally allowed Canada to fully govern itself outside of British parliament. It had made Canada a truly independent nation, allowing courts and judges to defend the citizen against the state and guarded the minority from [...]

Ukrainian Easter round-up 2012

Andrew — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:17:22 +0000

Happy Easter! For those celebrating this weekend, here are some articles and videos that should get you into the spirit: While we’re in hockey playoff season, even Don Cherry gets into the spirt… sorta :/ Ukrainian Easter in Kerhonkson Parishioners Saturday at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Kerhonkson celebrated Easter and Ukrainian traditions [...]

How to make Ukrainian Easter Eggs: The Pysanka

Andrew — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:27:00 +0000

As Easter approaches (Sunday the 15th on the Julian calendar and this Sunday on the Gregorian), one of the oldest Ukrainian traditions is decorating Easter Eggs known as Pysanky (which is plural, where as Pysanka is one). An ancient custom pre-dating Christianity in the region over 1,000 years ago, these eggs were decorated to symbolize new life [...]

Weekend catchup: March 30

Andrew — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 15:24:41 +0000

Here are a collection of news items that I didn’t get a chance to write posts about this week: Ukrainian woman whose rape caused protests dies An 18-year-old Ukrainian woman who prosecutors say was gang-raped, half-strangled and then set on fire in an attack that sparked street protests in a provincial Ukrainian town, has died, [...]

Demjanjuk update: German law leaves him innocent after death

Andrew — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:35:52 +0000

It’s not being publicized as much as his death, but John Demjanjuk’s vindication may have come as the result of his passing last week: Munich state court spokeswoman Margarete Noetzel said this week that under German law, Demjanjuk is “still technically presumed innocent,” because he died before his final appeal could be heard, and “a person is [...]

Toronto Sun slams “Ukraine at the Crossroads?” conference

Andrew — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:43:53 +0000

An odd, bitter piece was published in the Toronto Sun last weekend, dismissing the efforts of the Ukrainian community’s recent “Ukraine at the Crossroads?” conference that discussed democracy, human rights, law and freedom in Ukraine. often involving some of the same “experts” — was the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development. [...]

John Demjanjuk, who battled accusations he was Nazi camp guard, dies at 91 [Article]

Andrew — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 14:07:32 +0000

John Demjanjuk, a retired U.S. autoworker who was convicted of being a guard at the Nazis’ Sobibor death camp despite steadfastly maintaining over three decades of legal battles that he had been mistaken for someone else died Saturday, his son told The Associated Press. He was 91. From The Chronicle Herald: John Demjanjuk Jr. said [...]