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Authority record
Kozicky, Helen
Person · 1916-2007

Helen Kozicky was born on February 6, 1916, in Calgary. Her mother came to Canada as a 2 year old child, and her father was 18 when he came. Her family was Greek-Catholic. During the Russian revolution her uncles and father came first to the USA and then to Canada; her father was a president of the Ukrainian church. Her mother grew up in Vegreville; she belonged to the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League.

During the WWII, in November 1942, Helen Kozicky went overseas as a Sergeant. There were 8 women from each province. She took a course on driving a vehicle and repairing it. She was part of the Alberta Women’s Service Corp, first female contingent overseas to provide services for the Headquarters. Ukrainian Canadian Services Association was established in 1944; Ukrainian Club in London. Kozicky was the Secretary of the Club for 2 years.

Helen Kozicky died in Calgary in 2007.

Corporate body · 1984-

The Alberta Parents for Ukrainian Education Society (APUE) is a non-profit organization and was incorporated in September 1984 – exactly 10 years after the foundation of the Ukrainian Bilingual Program (UBP) – with a goal to provide opportunities for parents of students in the province's varied Ukrainian programs. It is a provincially incorporated body of six parental groups involved in Ukrainian bilingual education in six of Alberta’s school districts: UBLA = Ukrainian Bilingual Association - Edmonton Public Schools, PAC = Edmonton Catholic School Parental Advisory Society, Brentwood Ukrainian Bilingual Committee, Bilingual Ukrainian Catholic Parent Society of Sherwood Park, Bonnyville Ukrainian Cultural Society, and LUBA = Lamont UBLA.

APUE acts as an umbrella organization in the province of Alberta of these parental organizations and is “a spokesman”, “a coordinated voice for the continued support, promotion and expansion of Ukrainian language education in Alberta’s schools”. APUE serves as a subcommittee of the Ukrainian Canadian Committee (UCC) and deals exclusively with educational matters. APUE’s primary objective is to ensure that each child in the Province of Alberta can acquire Ukrainian language and cultural knowledge through access to Ukrainian Bilingual Programs.

APUE’s activities include recruitment campaigns, organizing events, for instance, conferences, festivals, and the Ukrainian Daycamp, promotion, ministerial correspondences and meetings, and assistance of the UBP’s establishment in Calgary.

APUE has one staff member – the Ukrainian Bilingual Coordinator, who is hired under the auspices of the Ukrainian Canadian Committee - Alberta Provincial Council (UCC-APC). Seconded to APUE, the Bilingual Coordinator acts as their facilitator, and coordinates their efforts in continuing the program's growth and expansion, liaising with parents’ groups associated with the program throughout Alberta, and maintaining contacts with school divisions and the provincial government.

Lahola, Ivan
Person · 1923-2001

Lagola Ivan is a public figure born in 1923, in the Zolochiv region of Western Ukraine. He passed away in Edmonton on November 14th, 2001. In 1943, he was arrested and sent to Nazi prisons and concentration camps (Zolochiv, Lviv, Birkenau, Auschwitz, Mattenhausen, Melk, Ebenze). On May 6th, 1945 he was released by American troops and lived in Germany until he moved to Canada in 1948. He lived in Edmonton and was a member of the Ukrainian Youth Association, secular Catholic organizations, the Committee of Ukrainian Political Prisoners.

Pelech, Fiona
Person · 1914 - 2002

This biography was composed by Fiona Pelech in January 1990

A. PERSONAL
Born in Duvernay, Alberta on 10 July, 1914 in a family of four girls and two boys. Had been married for 15 years. Husband passed away in 1955 during a heart attack. Fiona raised four children (Betty, Patricia, Johann, and Andrew).

B. EDUCATION

  • After high school, took one year of business training at McDougall Commercial High School
  • B.Ed. Degree from the University of Alberta plus an additional year towards a Master's as well as summer courses in Business Education and Languages
  • Bilingual (English and Ukrainian) - speak, read and type in both
  • Took several interest courses throughout the years in leadership, photography, crafts, pottery, weaving, gardening, etc.

C. TEACHING EXPERIENCE

  • 15 years in rural Alberta - elementary 4 yrs., Junior High 11 yrs.
  • 1 year in the North Edmonton Junior High School
  • 5 years at McCauley Junior High, Edmonton
  • 14 years at Victoria Composite High School
    Retired early after completing 35 years of teaching when the family was more or less through university. Throughout the years, taught Ukrainian classes in rural and urban communities as well as credited courses at the Victoria Composite High School.

D. MEMBERSHIPS

  • Alberta Teachers' Association (ATA)
  • Modern Language Council of the Alberta Teachers' Association
  • Member of the Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada since 1941. Served on the local, provincial and national levels
  • Honorary Life Member of St. John's Cathedral
  • One of the Founding Members of the Canadian Association of Teachers of Ukrainian
  • A Founding Member of the Ukrainian Kindergarten classes in Edmonton (First meeting in August, 1972)
  • Ukrainian Language Association (ATA) in Edmonton – secretary till May 1975
  • Council of Ukrainian Schools – secretary for twelve years
  • Edmonton Multicultural Society (EMS)
  • Canadian Ethnic Studies Association
  • Saskatchewan Multicultural Council
  • Saskatchewan Organization for Heritage Languages
  • Pacific Northwest Council on Foreign Languages
  • Central & East European Studies Society of Alberta (CEESSA) - on the Board for five years
  • Alberta Ethnic Language Teachers' Association (now the Northern Alberta Heritage Language Association (NAHLA) - Charter member, President for the first two years, then secretary and now on Board of Directors.

E. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENTS

  1. Since retirement, 1976, all work has been voluntary and dedicated to assisting various non-profit organizations. Secretary for the national executive of the Ukrainian Self-Reliance League of Canada since retiring.
  2. Served in a number of positions on the local, provincial and national levels in the Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada mostly as an educational representative or secretary for the past 45 years.
  3. Participated in various Multicultural Conferences in Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Toronto; language tour to New York; the International Symposium in Montreal in 1985; and many others connected with the language issue or cultural retention.
  4. Prepared or assisted in preparing press reports, radio talks and television programs on topics of cultural importance.
  5. Travelled to various parts of the province (Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Evansburg, Bonnyville, Smoky Lake, Calgary, and Barrhead to mention only a few) in answer to requests by directors from the Parks & Recreational Department arranging workshops, displays, demonstrations, etc. on cultural themes. Had displays and workshops at:
    • Strathcona Place for Senior Citizens
    • Multicultural Heritage Centre at Stony Plain
    • Provincial Museum in Edmonton Commonwealth Games presentations at Edson (Yellowhead School Division 26/1/77); Robertson-Wesley Church 16/3/77; and others.
  6. Initiated an overseas project which gave the Edmonton Canadian Ukrainian Youth Choir a chance to participate in the International Music Festival in Vienna as Canadian representatives. The project was most successful and rewarding in providing excellent public relations. A similar tour is being planned for 1991.
  7. Arranged for an exchange of a Hindi language class with a Ukrainian class. Report filed with Alberta Culture. The experiment was most interesting. Shortly after, a German language class was hosted by a Japanese class.
  8. Served on Planning Committees of many conferences among them the CCMIE (Canadian Council for Multicultural & Intercultural Education) held in 1987 in Edmonton. Co-ordinated the conference "Heritage Languages in a Multicultural Society - Present and Future" held on October 3-4/86 at the Chateau Lacombe, Edmonton.
  9. Representative from the Northern Alberta Heritage Language Association to the Alberta Cultural Heritage Council since 1985. Served as secretary to the 56 members of the Edmonton & District Regional Council and as a member of the Educational Committee helped to prepare recommendations to the Minister of Culture and Multiculturalism. The Institute was initiated with the help of the Northern Alberta Heritage Language Association and the Alberta Cultural Heritage Council.

F. PUBLICATIONS

  1. While teaching, was staff adviser to school publications at both McCauley Junior High and Victoria Composite High School.
  2. Prepared booklets and pamphlet materials on cultural topics for use in high schools and community organizations - most recent was a cultural project at the Victoria Composite High School in Jan./83.
  3. Researched, translated and prepared lessons and numerous slides for the very first six years of Ukrainian weaving initiated at the Banff School of Fine Arts in 1976.
  4. Prepared papers on languages and delivered them at conferences:
    (a) "Heritage Language Programs in Alberta" appears in the book ROOTS AND REALITIES AMONG EASTERN AND CENTRAL EUROPEANS edited by Dr. Martin L. Kovacs, 1983 (Pp. 267-286).
    (b) "Status of Heritage Languages in Canada” was prepared for a conference in Toronto.
    (c) "Heritage Languages" delivered at a panel in a conference in Edmonton sponsored by the Canadian Council for Multicultural and Intercultural Education (CCMIE).
  5. Involved in editing and typing:
    (a) Commonwealth Games. Using a Typing 30 class, prepared
    (from rough materials) a Teachers' Reference Manual and a Student Workbook for use in Alberta schools. Also traveled to various schools and organizations showing slides.
    (b) the publications of "Pioneers in Alberta" as well as the reference book "Ukrainian Canadiana."
    (c) the 1981 Revised Edition of the Kindergarten Guide for the Ukrainian Bilingual Program, Edmonton Public Schools.
    (d) supplementary books by S. Wasylyshyn and A. Danelovich for beginners in learning Ukrainian.
  6. Constantly translate, edit and type in English and Ukrainian at the local, provincial and national levels such publications as directories, programs, scripts for plays, annual reports, and newsletters connected with cultural activities.
  7. Contribute articles on multiculturalism, especially languages, and on the different organizations to ethnic papers and magazines.

G. HONORS AND AWARDS
1964 Edmonton Women Teachers' Club scholarship.
1975 Honored member marking the International Women's Year.
1976 One of five finalists in 'Mother of the Year" award sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.
1978 Certificate of appreciation for volunteer service in the Commonwealth Games.
1979 Trophy for "Motivation” in a Leadership Course at Banff, Alberta 1980 Alberta Achievement Award for community services from the province presented by Premier Lougheed.
1980 Honorary life-member of St. John's Cathedral.
1983 Honorary life-member of the Ukrainian Self-Reliance League of Canada.
1983 Certificate of Merit for services in the Universiade Games 1985 Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding contribution to the advancement of Ukrainian language and culture in Alberta schools presented by the Alberta Parents of Ukrainian Education.
1985 Life-member in the SUS Foundation for contributions.
1986 Recipient of the Shevchenko Medal given by the National organization of the Ukrainian Canadian Committee for community services rendered throughout the years.
1986 Multicultural Education Council Award presented in Lethbridge by the Alberta Teachers' Association.
1987 Heritage Language Development -- Outstanding Alberta Achievement Award presented October 17/87 in Calgary by Hon. Greg Stevens.
1987 Certificate of Appreciation presented by the Canadian Council for Multicultural and Intercultural Education (CCMIE) in recognition of valuable contributions to multicultural education in Canada.
1988 an award for outstanding services and contribution to the preservation of heritage languages presented by the Northern Alberta Heritage Language Association on June 4/88 on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of NAHLA.

Fiona Pelech passed away on March 13, 2002

Cultural Immersion Camp Selo
Corporate body · 1974-1985

In 1974, the Ukrainian Cultural Immersion Camp “Selo” concept was developed by Roman Onufrijchuk, Walter Dlugosh, and Vasyl’ Balan of the National Executive of the Canadian Ukrainian Youth Association (CYMK). The summer camps were organized as a cultural immersion experience and designed to appeal primarily — though not exclusively — to young Ukrainian-Canadians between the ages of 15-20.
For three weeks every year from 1974 to 1985, during the month of August, young people from across the country gathered in a natural rural setting, removed from the distractions of everyday life, where they were immersed in a learning experience, which sought to provide meaning and understanding to Ukrainian Canadian identity.

Ukrainian National Hall
Corporate body

In 1906 a “Prosvita” society reading room (читальня Товариства “Просвіта”) was founded in Edmonton that later developed into the Ukrainian National Hall (Український народний дім, UNH) organization. After erecting a UNH building in 1917, Ukrainians of Alberta at their national meetings put in place documents regulating the organization activities aimed at growing cultural and national development of the Ukrainian community of Alberta. Ukrainian National Hall in Edmonton has always worked together with the Ukrainian Catholic Unity and often operated under the double name, Ukrainian National Hall/Ukrainian Catholic Unity. Although UNH was considered an independent organization with a separate Statute, at the same time it was deemed a “grassroots unity” of the Ukrainian Catholic Brotherhood. UNH had a library and hosted many Ukrainian organizations including dance groups, educational schools, choir, orchestra, etc.

On March 9, 1969, the Ukrainian National Hall, serving the community for over fifty years, burned down. At the beginning of the 1970s Ukrainian community continued discussing whether Ukrainian organization would be interested to rebuilt the UNH through joint efforts. It is unclear when UNH ceased to exist.

Yanda, Doris Elizabeth
Person · 1905-2005

Doris E. Yanda, community leader and author, was born on March 16,1905 in Gimli, Manitoba to Anthony and Anna Konashevich, Ukrainian pioneers who arrived in Canada in 1900. The family moved to southwestern Saskatchewan and Doris completed her secondary education in Saskatoon where she attended the P.Mohyla Institute. Throughout her life and career, she continued her education at the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Alberta.

She began to write at an early age and wrote poems, articles and stories under the names of Dorothy Yanda, Elizabeth Young and Daria Mohylianka. She was editor of the Women’s Page in the newspapers, Ukrainian Voice and Ukrainian Farmer. She was also on the editorial committee of the Ukrainian Voice.

In 1923, she was one of the organizers of the Ukrainian Ladies Society of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and she held various executive positions including vice-president and president. n June, 1926 she married DmytroYanda, a lawyer. In 1926 she was one of the founders of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada (UWAC) and held various executive positions at the local, provincial and national levels for many years. In 1933 and 1934 she was National Vice-President and Provincial President of Alberta and in 1935 and 1936, she was National President of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada. She convened the Ukrainian National Handicraft Exhibit in 1935. In 1952, Mrs. Yanda was honoured with an honorary life membership in the UWAC. She was also active in the National Council of Women and the Women’s Council of Canada.

She was a member of the Canadian Authors’ Association since 1934. She has published numerous articles including books of poetry, in Ukrainian and in English. She has published twelve books on various literary subjects under several pen names.

During the Second World War, she was very active in voluntary war work in Edmonton. She was involved in numerous organizations such as Red Cross, War Savings Stamps, Regional Advisory Committee of the Wartime Price Control Board and others.

In 1948 she was involved with the British Columbia Flood Relief Fund and she also wrote on this disaster for the popular press.

She was also active in the Local Council of Women in Edmonton. Through her work she facilitated the immigration of many Ukrainian Displaced Persons and Refugees to Canada. In 1949 she visited over twenty Displaced Persons Camps in Germany with her husband for three months and they made speaking tours on their return to Canada. She was also involved in voluntary work to assist the newly arrived Ukrainian Displaced Persons.

She was widowed in 1969 and then married John McMullan. She is recognized as a master weaver and taught weaving in Edmonton and organized courses at the Banff Centre - School of Fine Arts from 1976 to 1987.

During her life, she received many awards and distinctions from various national organizations and from the Ukrainian community including the Taras Shevchenko Medal.

Corporate body · 1955 - now

After WWII, when displaced people found their new homes in the West, a necessity to change the structure of the Shevchenko Scientific Society appeared. On March 30, 1947, Naukove Tovarystvo im. Shevchenka (NTSh) was restored in Munich through efforts of full and ordinary members then residing in Austria and West Germany. With the permission of the General office, three new NTSH divisions emerged, namely, the American division in New York, 1948, the Canadian division in Toronto, 1949, and then the Australian division in Sidney, 1950. The European division was founded after the relocation of the NTSH General office to Sarcelles in France in 1952.
Edmonton branch of the NTSH Canadian division emerged on December 3, 1955, with the initiative of Ivan Nimchuk to keep NTSH members of Western Canada connected. In 1961 at a general meeting of the NTSH Canadian Division, Edmonton Branch, a new executive was elected: Dr Basil Laba, honorary president; Volodymyr Mackiv, president; Bohdan Bociurkiv, vice-president; Olexander Maslianyk, secretary; Vasyl Kunda, treasurer; Orest Starchuk, member of the executive.