A blog about the Ukrainian Roots Radio show Nash Holos (which means "our voice" in Ukrainian), music, media, and Ukrainian culture and community in Canada, Ukraine and elsewhere
On March 10th, 2012 a well known Ukrainian community and political activist, Mykola Plawiuk, passed away in Burlington, Ontario. He was 87.
Mykola was born in Rusiv, Ukraine on June 5, 1925, son of Vasil and Maria. Mykola met Jaroslava in Germany in 1945. They were married in 1948 and immigrated to Canada in 1949. They lived and worked in both Canada and the United States.
Prior to the proclamation of an independent Ukrainian state in 1991, Mr. Plawiuk held a number of
prominent positions in many Ukrainian diaspora community and political institutions from 1956-1992.
Podcasts and music lineups for the last three shows are all updated now and can be foumd at the Nash Holos website on the Playlist page, and interviews on the Interviews page.
For podcast downloads make sure to subscribe to the RSS feed.
Officially launched in March 2009 by the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association (UCCLA) with a postcard campaign, Ukrainian Literature Day is being marked this year by the Ukrainian Canadian students’ organization SUSK and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC).
March 9 is the birth date of Taras Shevchenko, a persecuted yet still prolific Ukrainian poet and artist who is widely regarded as Ukraine’s literary father. He is also renowned and revered for his impact on the development of the Ukrainian language, Ukrainian culture and the strengthening of the Ukrainian identity.
So it is fitting that this date was chosen as Ukrainian Literature Day across Canada.
To some such a greeting on Jan. 6 may seem late and backwards, but Ukrainians will "get" it.
After all, on the Julian calendar this is Christmas Eve, and many Ukrainian Canadians are just beginning their second round of Christmas celebrations... after celebrating it on the Gregorian calendar with the rest of the non-Ukrainian and non-Eastern Orthodox/Christian world.
That is certainly the case for me. My DH (a.k.a. Dear Husband) and I celebrated Christmas with my extended family in Winnipeg last month ... parents, siblings, in-laws, nephews, nieces, and beautiful, charming, delightful, brand-new great-niece. And a good friend or two.
Now I'm ready for Christmas, Round 2, with west-coast cousins, and cousin-by-marriage Sandy Kosolowsky.
Sandy owns and operates Sandy's Ukrainian Kitchen here in Nanaimo and puts on a Ukrainian Christmas dinner in
The week of November 21-27 is the fourth annual National Holodomor Awareness Week, which was first launched by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
The goal is to annually unite the Ukrainian community and all Canadians in remembering the victims and raising awareness of this genocide the 1932-33 Ukrainian famine genocide known as Holodomor (translation: death by hunger).
This year, International Holodomor Memorial Day will be observed on
Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued this statement today:
“On Saturday, November 26, I join Canadians in remembering and honouring the millions of men, women and children who suffered horribly and perished during the Ukrainian famine-genocide of 1932-1933. Moreover, I encourage all Canadians to participate in the many Holodomor commemoration ceremonies taking place this weekend across the country to learn about this terrible episode in human history.
“The Ukrainian famine, under the oppressive Soviet communist regime of Josef Stalin, remains one of the most atrocious crimes against humanity ever perpetrated. It also reminds us of
Jason Kenney, Canada's Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, calls on Canadians to submit nominations for the 4th annual Paul Yuzyk Award for Multiculturalism.
The award pays tribute to people in Canada who have contributed to multiculturalism and the integration of new Canadians. It commemorates the legacy of the late Senator Paul Yuzyk, who worked to establish multiculturalism as a fundamental characteristic of Canadian identity.
Here's the public service announcement in both official languages. (Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be in Ukrainian. It's still not an official language here in Canada. LOL)
While a single winner of the award is chosen each year, their selection is from one of two categories: Outstanding Achievement or Lifetime Achievement.
Coming up this weekend on the PCJ Radio network, and on the podcast for last Sunday's Vancouver broadcast:
On Ukrainian Food Flair, Sylvia's recipe for chocolate honey cake.
On Ukraine News Outlook, Keith Perron reports on ongoing gas talks with Russia, corn exports, ban on stray dog killing.
On Kultural Capsule: Vasyl Pawlowsky profiles Petro Jacyk and his legacy.
An interview with Doreen Pendgracs, author of her recently released book, Before You Say Yes: A Guide to the Pleasures and Pitfalls of Volunteer Boards.
And as usual, a Ukrainian proverb, other items of interest, and great Ukrainian music.
Vancouver podcast available now on the Playlist page at the Nash Holos website.
Audio archives are updated with Sunday's Vancouver broadcast on the Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio website.
Here's what's on:
Ukrainian Food Flair: This is Natalia’s farewell broadcast and she leaves us with three very unusual soup recipes from the 1929 cookbook of Olha Senatovych: chocolate, wine & beer soups.
Kultural Capsule: Vasyl Pawlowsky on Ukrainian Language Day which falls on November 9th.
Ukraine News Outlook: Exclusive interview with President Yanukhovych (courtesy EuroNews) on the cancellation of a meeting in Brussels to discuss Ukraine’s integration into the European Union.
Proverb of the Week
Upcoming events in Vancouver's Ukrainian community
Great Ukrainian music by Pryvit, Zubrivka, Berkut, Paris to Kyiv, VV, Sofia Fedyna, Sashko, Ukrainian Old Timers, Prairie Crocus … and the new theme song for Euro 2012 – Let’s Play by Ruslana.
The international edition of this show will air on the PCJ Radio partner stations this weekend, and on CHLY 101.7FM in Nanaimo on Wednesday Nov 16 at 2 pm.
Mir Huculak in a playful pose with cultural artifacts
at the Ukraine Pavilion during Fusion Fest 2011 in
Surrey. The giant pysanka egg he's holding is the
creation of Marcia Moroz, a Richmond artist.
Photo credit: Marcia Moroz.
Mir Huculak is a very well-known personality in the BC Ukrainian community to which he has devoted himself for decades.
Less well-known perhaps are the details and scope of his work and accomplishments over the years, in particular the past 3 or 4 years as Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Vancouver.
In my 20+ years here on the west coast of Canada, I have noticed that at any festival where there is Ukrainian presence, it’s impossible to not bump into Mir!
However, quite frankly I had no idea really what exactly it is that a Consul (or for that matter a Consolate) does.
At one festival this past summer I had the good fortune to chat with Mir for a few minutes. He graciously agreed to come on the show to tell Nash Holos listeners a bit about his role as Honorary Consul of Ukraine in British Columbia, what function a consulate serves and some of projects he is currently working on at the consulate.
Our interview aired on Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio in Vancouver on AM1320 on October 23, 2011, and on the PCJ Radio Network the following weekend. You can hear the full interview here.
The consulate of Ukraine for British Columbia is located at #807-938 Howe Street, Vancouver. If you’d like to meet with Mir, you can book an appointment by phone at (604) 331-2505 or by email.
Unusual yet still traditional recipes, the latest news, interesting people and great Ukrainian music as usual on the past two editions of Nash Holos. Here's what's on:
In Toronto today, Prime Minister Stephen Harper accepted the Shevchenko Medal Award, for his and the Canadian Government’s many contributions to the Ukrainian-Canadian community and the people of Ukraine.
The Shevchenko Medal Award is the highest form of recognition given out by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. It recognizes individuals for their outstanding national contribution towards the development of the Ukrainian Canadian community.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper recives Taras Shevchenko medal
from Ukrainian Canadian Congress president Paul Grod.
"I am honoured to receive this prestigious award that recognizes the significant efforts our Government has made to address the needs and interests of our vibrant Ukrainian-Canadian community and to strengthen our ties with Ukraine," said Prime Minister Harper. "Our Government will continue to acknowledge and embrace the contributions of Ukrainians, their struggles for independence and their contributions to Canadian society."
While we''re certainly accustomed to beets in soup, pickled, or roasted with other root vegetables, they're also excellent in salads.
In addition to their wonderful taste, beets have outstanding health benefits as well including (among other things) high amounts of beta carotene, vitamin C and iron. Perhaps this is why they're the pagan symbol for love and beauty!
Sylvia Molnar shared this recipe with Nash Holos listeners recently, and a Twitter follower was skeptical about the combination for a salad. However, Sylvia assured me that she makes it often and that it's always a hit with her guests.
I'm going to try it for Thanksgiving dinner (I'm cooking for 12... yikes!) and will let you know how it goes over with mine.
Canned beets can be used in this recipe, but fresh beets have a rich, sweet earthiness that just can't be preserved.
Beets can be prepared easily enough. Choose beets in simiar size. Wash them well, wrap in foil and roast at 400ºF for about an hour or until tender when pierced with a thin bladed knife. The skins will slip off easily once they’re cooked… peeling them raw is a bit of a pain, and can be quite messy.
Here's what you'll need for Ukrainian Beet & Mushroom Salad:
One of the performers traveling across Canada this month with The Talents of Ukraine 2011 show tour is contemporary violinist Innesa Tymochko. Now a New Yorker, Innesa originally hails from Lviv, Ukraine where she studied music and launched a musical career that had her performing on stages throughout Europe.
In a recent interview on Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio, she revealed that she was a child prodigy at age 6. While she studied classical violin, she was also enthralled by the beauty and power of traditional Ukrainian folk music. In fact she was so drawn to it that she developed her own "fusion" style of contemporary Ukrainian folk music.
With charming candour, she admits to an abiding love of Ukrainian folk music, the stage, and pleasing audiences with her music. This woman's joy of performing shines through the minute she first pulls the bow across the strings. She'll then take you on a musical journey that is guaranteed to pluck the heartstrings of any Ukrainian folk music lover.
This will be Innesa's first trip to Canada and she is very excited to be part of this tour. It starts out in Vancouver on Tuesday, October 11 at the VancouverCenter for the Performing Arts. After that it's on to Vernon for a Wednesday evening performance, then to other points east, wrapping up in Montréal on October 25.
If you haven't bought your tickets yet, don't wait a minute longer! This will be a show you don't want to miss.
Along with Innesa, you'll be delighted with the performances of two outstanding singers from Ukraine as well as the spectacular Donbas Song and Dance Company of Ukraine. Tickets for the performances in Western Canada can be purchased from Ticketmaster, and elsewhere from the venues where the show is being held. Details at the Boen Arts website and in earlier posts (here and here).
Innesa has her own website which is www.innesa.com and you can read more about her and order her CDs there.
Meanwhile, I found a few YouTube videos of Innesa performing. They’ll give you an idea of her onstage charisma. But there’s nothing like the real thing! So I hope you'll join me in seeing her perform live on stage in Vancouver... or at a venue close to you.
This is Vivaldi's Storm, which opened the show we chatted on:
This is her performing Podolianka at her own wedding.
...and someone else's wedding (where she puts me in mind of the late Al Czerny):
For those earlybirds amongst us, here she is doing a medley of Ukrainian Christmas tunes:
Is it too much to ask of Canada's highest officials to give more than lip service in support of democratic reform in Ukraine? And in particular, the shameful treatment of a Ukrainian politician?
An absolute joy to listen to, and talk with! If you missed the interview with Theresa Sokyrka on Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio a couple of weeks ago, or would like to hear it again, you can catch it on the Interviews page at the Nash Holos website.
We chatted about her music career, her Ukrainian roots, her experience on Canadian Idol, and other things.
Many thanks to Theresa for the interview. I was unfortunately unable to take in her live performance in Parksville (minor surgery the day before) and hope to get a chance to chat with her in person next time she's on the Island.
In the meantime, enjoy these videos I found of her on YouTube:
My friend Stepan Pasicznuk (a.k.a. "Ludwig") employed his classic Brit wit in this song he wrote about the pathetic state of Ukraine's parliament.
These clowns want all the perks of a civil society without putting out any effort to be civil themselves, much less act with any decorum or dignity in their role as representatives of their country and constituents.
They deserve much more contempt than this gentle satire but it's nonetheless quite amusing and cutting enough.
It sure went by in a flash, tho. Trips to the mainland and lots of house guests so got just a wee bit behind on website updates and here on the Nash Holos blog.
If you're still with me, thank you for your patience and your loyalty! Just because you're so wonderful, I'd like to send you a token of my appreciation so please leave a comment and let me know how to reach you. Or snail mail me at the address here.
The last three shows are all archived now on the Playlist page and also in iTunes. Playlists are back as well. Here's what's on:
