Past Presidents

Bohdan Wynnyckyj was born in Toronto in August of 1964. He received a degree from Ryerson's Urban Planning program in 1988 and is a Registered Professional Planner. Bohdan has worked for over 30 years in municipal, regional and provincial governments. In the 1990's he was president of Canadian Friends of RUKH, and in 2005 began 10 years of work with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) on various projects in Ukraine aimed at building local government capacity and accountability. Bohdan also joined the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Toronto Branch, and he was elected president of the UCC Ontario Provincial Council in 2018.

Lidia Narozniak is a retired prosecutor having served as a Crown, and Assistant Crown Attorney in the Region of Waterloo and City of Hamilton, Ontario. In addition to her extensive prosecutorial experience at all levels of the judicial system, her skills include financial, administrative and human resources management.

An avid advocate of human rights, Lidia was active on numerous committees and advisory bodies in support of victims and their right to justice including the Advisory Committee for the Alliance for Sexual Abuse Programs for the Community Child Abuse Council of Hamilton and the Children Witnessing Wife Assault Working Group. She was actively engaged in developing and implementing educational programming for young lawyers and police officers.

She is Past President and long-standing member of the Ukrainian Youth Association of Canada, Hamilton Branch, as well as Past President of the National Executive, Past President of Ukrainian Canadian Congress Ontario Provincial Council and Chair of its Advisory Council, and past member of the UYA Women's Choir Svitanok. Lidia has been a member of the Shevchenko Foundation board of directors since 2015.

Stefan began his journalism career with CTV National News in Toronto, and subsequently reported for CTV and with the CBC TV in Edmonton. He rose to become executive producer in Windsor and in Charlottetown respectively. In this leadership role, he was responsible for CBC television news and current affairs in Windsor, Essex, Chatham and throughout Prince Edward Island.

Stefan and his family later moved to London, Ontario where he oversaw 11 academic programs as dean of the communication arts at Fanshawe College. He also taught media ethics and journalism at Western University for five years.

He holds a masters degree in education from the University of Toronto as well as undergraduate credentials in communications from Concordia University.

It was this combined specialty that prompted him to volunteer as London area councillor for TVO: Ontario's education network for 12 years.

Most often Stefan has volunteered in the Ukrainian community. Between 2012 and 2015 he was elected president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Ontario Provincial Council. Recently he created Nasha Kasha- a Ukrainian Almanac, and over six years completed 300 episodes broadcast on 19 Canadian radio stations.

In 1969, while still in his teens Stefan co-founded the Ukrainian performance band Rushnychok. Rushnychok would go on to change the look and sound of popular Ukrainian music over the following decade, leaving five albums.

Stefan and his wife Larysa live in London, Ontario. They are the proud parents of Natalie, Mike (Danielle) and Paul (Meghan), and grandson: Jacob.

Yvan Baker is the Member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre and Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group in Canada's Parliament. Long before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Yvan began advocating and he continues to advocate with the Prime Minister, Ministers, and MP colleagues that Canada do everything possible to support the Ukrainian people as they fight to defend themselves and Ukraine's independence against Russia's genocidal war. From 2014-2018, Yvan served as the MPP for Etobicoke Centre. Prior to being elected, Yvan operated his own management consulting practice and taught MBA students at the Schulich School of Business at York University. Prior to that, Yvan was a consultant with The Boston Consulting Group in Toronto and New York.

Yvan holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a BBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University. Yvan is fluent in English, French and Ukrainian.

Born in a hospital in Soltau, Germany on February 13, 1946, not far from the displaced persons camp in Munsterlager, Germany where her parents Maria and Konstantyn Fedorchak first met. A few years later, arriving in Canada through the now famous Pier 6 port in Halifax, Olya made her way with her parents to finally settle in Toronto, Ontario. Olya joined the Ukrainian community immediately by becoming a member of PLAST and attended camp at Grafton well into her teen years. After her studies at York University Olya Sheweli worked for the CBC for 16 years carrying various positions throughout her tenure. Olya sang with the Women's Choir Dibrova in Toronto and during that time she met the love of her life, Victor Sheweli, who was also a known soloist in various Ukrainian Choirs. Not long after, they married and Olya moved to Hamilton, Ontario. Her work was just beginning. While becoming an associate broker for Alec Murray Real Estate company Olya was soon involved with St. Vladimir's Cathedral Parish and the Ukrainian Community in Hamilton. Her first position in Hamilton was in 1979 on the board of directors for the Credit Committee of United Ukrainian Credit Union in Hamilton. Olya has served on the Board of Directors of the Council of Ukrainian Credit Unions of Canada (CUCUC) in 1991 both as director and Vice – President and served as President of CUCUC. In addition, she has served on the Board of Directors of the United Ukrainian Credit Union (UUCU) since 1991 and as its Chair from 2005 until its merger with the Ukrainian Credit Union Limited (UCU) in 2012. A past member of the Board of Directors of UCU Limited, Olya was President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Hamilton Branch in 2004 also a founder of its constitution. Past President of UCC Provincial Council additionally she was President of the Ukrainian Women's Organization of Canada (OYK) and was elected in August 2013 to be the President of the World Council of Ukrainian Cooperatives.

Olya did all this while raising a family of seven and taking care of her mother-in-law who suffered from Alzheimer's disease.

Born, raised, and educated in Toronto, John is a 4th generation Canadian with Ukrainian heritage who is fluent in Ukrainian including reading and writing. A graduate in Physics from the University of Toronto, he pursued graduate work in Business Administration, and Electrical Engineering in Power Systems and Devices. Professional studies at New York University lead to certification as US regulated inspector of mechanical energy components. John is an accredited energy auditor and holds project management qualifications.

John's career started at the Toronto School Board – Facilities developing and implementing an Environmental Information System, followed by Database Administrator for energy projects in Capital Programs. From Enersource-Hydro Mississauga as Settlements and Power Procurement, he was recruited to IESO in Ontario as Engineer – Solutions then Systems in IT&I for operations of the wholesale electricity market. Subsequently, he has consulted in IT business solutions and works in project management.

A member of several Ukrainian Canadian Community organizations, John was a director of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress National, and member of Board of Auditors. He joined the UCC Ontario Council's Artistic & Cultural Committee before 1990, particularly involved in Ukrainian Heritage Day at Ontario Place. In 2002 he was elected to UCC Ont. Council as Vice President and then as President in 2005, a position held until 2010. During these years, he lead UCC Ontario's role in many Election Observer/Monitoring Missions in Ukraine. John continued to report and write about the Community and Ukraine as Associate Editor of New Pathway Ukrainian Weekly (2007-2013).

John Pidkowich currently is a board member of a number of organizations, including some as chairman or president. Recently, he was a board member of UCC Toronto from Vesnivka Choir, and he continues as a long-time member of the Board of Auditors at Ukrainian World Congress.

Orysia Sushko has devoted her life to promoting diversity and human rights. As a former national president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (2004-2007), she worked unwaveringly to preserve Ukrainian culture and heritage in Canada and continues to this day. She also served as president of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women's Organizations (WFUWO). As WFUWO President, Irene served as 2nd VP of the Ukrainian World Congress. Her term in office was a time of expansion of WFUWO's involvement in the women's movement where Irene participated in the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations.

Orysia has a B.A. from McMaster University and served as Equity Coordinator for the Board of Education for the City of Hamilton. She has undertaken countless roles in the Ukrainian community including National President of the Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada, Chair of the Centennial Celebration of Ukrainian Settlement in Hamilton, President of Canadian Friends of RUKH – Hamilton, Editor-in-Chief of PROMIN, Chair of the Hamilton Status of Women Committee, and various roles with the National Council of Women of Canada.

Orysia is the first chair of Hamilton's Holodomor Museum, which is dedicated to preserving the memory of the 1932-1933 Ukrainian famine. She has also actively supported Ukraine's transition to democracy, notably its electoral reform and its fight against human trafficking. Serving as a community activist, she has worked towards the betterment of the Hamilton region, and the improvement of intercultural communication in the area. In 2010 she was awarded the Order of Canada. Orysia also serves in the capacity of citizenship Judge, presiding at citizenship ceremonies and administering the oath of citizenship to new Canadian citizens.

OREST H.T. RUDZIK was born in Toronto in 1936, the son of Ukrainian parents. He earned his Honours B.A. (University College) at the University of Toronto, his M.A. from the University of Chicago (where he was a William Rainey Harper Fellow) and a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto. He taught in the Department of English at University College from 1961 to 1986, during which time he was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Humanities Center of the Johns Hopkins University from 1968 – 1969. He created a Canadian Literature Programme for Atkinson College at York University. After completing his LLB (with honours) at Osgoode Hall Law School, he received his Call to the Bar of the Law Society of Upper Canada in March of 1975. In his law pursuits, he served as Senior Counsel to the Public Guardian and Trustee of the Province of Ontario. He was a speaker at many academic conferences and published both academic and legal papers. He was active in the Ukrainian community becoming the President of the Ontario Ukrainian-Canadian Committee and served as a member of the Ontario Multicultural Committee. Then he served as First National Vice President of the UCC, as it then was and in a variety of positions with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Federation. He spent a sabbatical year from 1993 – 1994 in Kyiv, as Director of Law Training and provided for young Ukrainian professors by way of exchange with Canada, the U.S. and Europe, through the auspices of the Ukrainian Legal Foundation. He monitored that programme for two years. Also, he was engaged in three of the quasi-war criminal cases as launched by the Department of Justice (Canada) against naturalized Ukrainian post-war citizens, against who allegations of fraud and consequent sanctions of deportation were threatened. Later in life he returned to his academic origins by pursuing research into a variety of areas of intellectual history, including that of the assassination of Simeon Petliura and the judicial proceedings consequent upon his murder. He ended a 50 year association with the University when he became a member of the Senior Faculty at the University of Toronto, a member of its Executive Committee and was given the title of Senator. Dr. Rudzick passed away in 2016.

Born March 1, 1936, Nywyci, Western Ukraine. Elementary-Hudson Bay Junction, Northern Saskatchewan. High School- Parkdale Collegiate Institute, Toronto. University of Toronto- B.A.Sc. in Civil Engineering and graduate studies in advanced structural analysis and design.

Profession: In 1962 became registered Professional Engineer of Ont. In 1964 founded engineering firm "Maksymec & assoc. Inc., which later was renamed Planmac Engineering Inc. This firm carried out major engineering projects in Ontario and also in parts of Africa and Asia. I retired from the firm in 2018, but it continues its engineering under new ownership.

Community Life: In the early 60s I joined U.C.C. Toronto Branch, as a volunteer, performing duties of a liaison officer between U.C.C. Toronto and City of Toronto and Government of Ontario. I was elected President of U.C.C. Toronto in 1969. The whole executive held monthly meetings and held additional, special meetings to identify or react to special occasions and needs. Every year the U.C.C. Toronto held Ukrainian Day Celebrations at the Ontario Place with invited representatives from Federal, Ontario and Toronto governments.

In 1971 Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau invited the Supreme Soviet Leader Kosygin to visit Canada and held a banquet for him at the Toronto International Trade Centre. I organized a demonstration before this event, headed by U.C.C. Toronto, with invited Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian communities. The demonstration was interrupted by Toronto Mounted Police who attacked many of our peaceful demonstrators. The whole episode ended in U.C.C. Toronto suing the Toronto Police, which resulted in our victory and financial compensation. In 1977 I decided not to seek reelection but continued serving on the executive as Past President.

In 1989 I was elected as President of U.C.C. of Ontario. Here are some highlights of the events pertaining to the UCC Ontario: Continue yearly- celebrating Ukrainian Day at Ontario Place. 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union and emergence of Free Ukraine. Canada becomes the first country to recognize Ukraine as a Sovereign and Independent Country. Within two days Prime Minister Mulroney sends Etobicoke Lakeshore M.P. Patrick Boyer, with Special Declaration Form, approved by the Canadian House of Commons, to be personally delivered to President Krawchuk, in Ukraine. U.C.C. Ontario invited President Krawchuk to Toronto in 1991 and held a banquet for him at the Royal York Hotel, attended by many invited political and ethnic dignitaries. U.C.C. Ontario invites the second President, Kuchma in 1995 to Toronto and holds a banquet for him at the Royal York hotel, attended by many invited political and ethnic dignitaries. I decided not to seek reelection as President for 1996, but to work with the new executive as Past President.

Mr. Bohdan Onyschuk was the founding President of the UCC Ontario Provincial Council from 1972 to 1976. He has been actively involved in the Ukrainian Canadian community in Canada through many leadership roles since the 1970's. He has served on:

· the Executive of UCC Toronto (1967-1972), · the National Executive of the Ukr Can Professional Business Association, · the National Executive of Ukrainian Youth Association PLAST, · the National Board of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (1972-1990), · as founding member and Vice President of the Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre (1983-1993) that produced the internationally acclaimed film "Harvest of Despair", · as founding member and first President of the Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce (1992-1995), · and most currently as President and then Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (2007-2021).

Mr. Onyschuk is a retired senior partner of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, recognized by Canadian and international legal expert guides as a leading lawyer in Canada. He has been an advisor to three Presidents of Ukraine, and Counsel and Commissioner to the Province of Ontario and policy advisor since 1968 on various matters, and served as the Chair of the Canadian Urban Institute.

In addition to receiving the UCC Leadership Award, and the Shevchenko Medal in 1986 for community leadership, Mr. Onyschuk is the recipient of a number of awards including: the Order of Merit of Ukraine (presented by President Yushchenko in May 2008), the International Council of Shopping Centers Trustees Distinguished Service Award, and the Order of the Eternal Flame in Gold from the International Conference of PLAST Organizations.