Item 2008.024.c101-102 - Kapusta, Michael

2 audio cassettes (=3 audio files)

Part 1: Born on November 9, 1918, in Toronto; his parents came from the Halychyna before WWI and settled in Toronto; there was a Ukrainian community and St. Josephate church in that part of Toronto; his father became a butcher, was active in the church; Michael attended daily Ukrainian school classes (from 5pm till 7pm) - teachers: Mr. Yarechkiv (??), Mostovyi (??), Bilyk; frictions and fists fights between Ukrainian political groups; his father was in the Hetmanat movement, his uncle Boyko (??) was in higher ranks of the organization; feeling inferior to Englishmen, Ukrainian culture being recognized; Prosvita; teachers in Ukrainian school; antagonism between churches and organizations induced by priests; Catholic Svystun organizing Orthodox people; UNO; the strong cultural organization “Ukrainian People ???? Court (???)” - Kapusta’s uncle, Mr. Metelskyi (??) gravitated to it; Kapusta got a dental degree in Toronto University, then medical degree in Ottawa; Ukrainian Student Club - Dr. Kucherepa (??) instigated its organization in about 1939, Froliak (??); WWII - sentiments towards Germans; Shandruk (??); staying clear from parents’ persuasions; community’s reaction to the Famine and Konovalets’ assassination; Bishop Ladyka (??); Kapusta graduated in 1943 and went to the army; after the army he lost interest in Ukrainian affairs; Ukrainian Canadian Services Association in London; Stepan ??????.

Part 2: Stepan ??? helping the DPs; Kapusta and forced repatriation of DPs; being Sergeant in the army during the WWII; meeting Mosnyts’kyi (??); Service Corps and DPs camps; Kukharyshyn (??) an active Het’manets’; Soviets kidnapping people from DP camps and other atrocities regarding DPs; Dr. Harper (??) was very sympathetic to the Ukrainian cause; DPs and different camp zones; Dr. Grenko (??) from Winnipeg accompanied Kapusta; Fr. Izhyk (??) in a camp; Panchuk, Froliak, Fr. Kushnir visited DP camps; DPs and antagonism among them (Mel’nykivtsi vs Bandarivtsi); DPs not wanting to return to the USSR - Kapusta helping to prevent forced repatriation, interpreter on the Commission warning him about upcoming raids ; how raids were happening; CUC as a hope for unifying Ukrainians; Kushnir not being flexible enough; Kapusta returned to Canada in 1946, took another course at Ottawa; his wife’s brother is a parish priest in Toronto.

Part 3: Kapusta’s disillusionment in Ukrainian cause; DPs coming to Canada; Kucherepa (??) and CUC; Pavliuk in Toronto; Ukrainian Communists in Canada (e.g., Labor Temple in Toronto); early Ukrainian cooperatives in Toronto and bookstores; Dr. Buriak active in Ukrainian affairs; Ukrainian community figures - priests were the most influential; Ukrainian churches and Communists in Canada; Fr. Semotiuk was eventually disliked by the Catholic community and converted to Orthodoxy in Oshawa; church picnics in Toronto; BUC (??); church hall and activities; Kapusta’s children.