Pièce 2008.024.c005 - Andriesky, Mitchell J.

1 audio cassette (=1 audio file)

Born August 20, 1926 in Kingston. His father came to Canada in 1912 from Kamianets-Podil’s’k, worked in tannery, went back to Ukraine in 1914, married his mother and left her there. She came only in 1925. His father never joined any organizations. The first group of Ukrainians in Kingston worked for the Tan Hightes Company (???). Learned English only when went to school. Small community of Ukrainians in Kingston when Andriesky was growing up but no basic organizations. Had yearly parties like Malanka. Still there was a Ukrainian school in a private house where children learned the language. No Ukrainian church back then, only Roman-Catholic cathedral (in the late 1930s there were 2 of them already). Priest Boreky (???) who later became a bishop. Felt foreigners because of the last name. Most of the Ukrainians were in the city. Had a Jason Farm next to them, there was Braznyky (???) family. Kotovych and Vudiks (???) came in the 1930s, but not much of an immigration to the Kingston area between the wars. Then Nyc Gulka came into town and split the community up, and they started to build a Hall (UNF). Fascists vs Commies camps. Andriesky’s father subscribed to a Ukrainian newspaper. During WWII Andriesky made corvettes. In about 1946-48 the community really polarized: either Fascists or Communists. DPs developed a new Hall. John Sapletynsky (???) was the last treasure of the original Hall (Labor Temple). Andriesky’s organization operated under a warrant of the Ontario Company’s Act. Fred Katovich (???)
Kingston had between 25000-30000 population between the wars, not it is a diverse community. Andriesky is an electronic technician repairing appliances now. Wife - Wilda Helen Andriesky (nee Harker), her mother was German and father was a methodist minister. have no children. Three dancing Ukrainian groups in the community: Maky, Sadochok, The Doors - all run by the Ukrainian-Canadian Club of Kingston that was formed 3 years ago. Andriesky helped to write its Constitution. Liubomyr Lutsiuk was the originator. Tarnowecky (???) married the John Wytyk’s daughter, and started a professional dance group, which now stations in Toronto.