Nash Holos makes debut on shortwave

This Thursday (or Friday, depending on where you are), Nash Holos will make its international shortwave debut on Radio Miami International (WRMI), under the auspices of Taipei-based PCJ Media.

In the Americas, it will air on 9955khz (at the 31 metre band) on Friday, Feb 12, 2010 at 0200UTC (Thursday, Feb. 11 at 6 pm PST). You can also catch the live stream at http://www.wrmi.net/ .

The debut program will be a slightly modified version of the original Vancouver broadcast which aired on January 31st. For the time being, Nash Holos will air on shortwave once a month.

The shortwave world has been notified. Details here.

It's been an interesting experience for me so far! I'm enjoying becoming acquainted with the international radio scene, courtesy Keith and co. at PCJ Media.

Keith Perron is the head honcho at PCJ Media. We worked together briefly in the early days of Nash Holos at CHMB radio until he left for greener pastures in Beijing. About a year ago he revived the world's longest-running shortwave radio program, The Happy Station Show, an extremely entertaining variety show which he now hosts.

He is not Ukrainian himself (his pronunciation kind of gives him away) but has very eclectic musical tastes. He thought that since Nash Holos is delivered in English, it would be a good fit for his budding media network. The broadcast schedule is here.

Stay tuned for more developments as they occur!

Ukraine House in Vancouver during 2010 Olympics

Ukraine House invites one and all to come celebrate the Olympics.

• Listen and dance to music by entertainers from Ukraine and across Canada
• Indulge in homemade Ukrainian dishes such as pyrohy (perogies), holubtsi (cabbage rolls), and kovbassa (garlic sausage) at reasonable prices throughout the day
• Enjoy Ukrainian pyvo (beer), horilka (vodka), and other beverages while watching events on large screen TV
• Participate in an auction of sports memorabilia, including running shoes belonging to Ukrainian Olympic gold medal pole-vaulter Sergei Bubka (Sunday February 21st)
• Meet new friends and mingle with Ukrainian athletes
• Purchase souvenirs and Team Ukraine clothing
• For an elegant evening, take in the Olympic Ball Feb. 20th. See website for details, and/or contact Myrna for tickets.
• On-site parking

Ukraine House will officially open on February 11, 2010 and will be open to the public during the period of February 12-28, with the exception of Sun. Feb 14 - Tue. Feb 16, Tue. Feb 23, and Sat. Feb. 27, as well as the evenings of Sat. Feb. 13 and Sat. Feb 20.

Ukraine House is located at the Ukrainian Catholic Centre 3150 Ash Street (near Cambie and 16th) in Vancouver, BC. General Admission is FREE!

Nash Holos Recipe: Chestnut cookies

This unusual cookie recipe using chestnuts comes straight from Ukraine. It was given to Judy by Sofika Vandrovych from Selo Rozdil.

Decadent and truly delicious!

Sofika's Chestnut Cookies

2 cups flour
1 cup butter
5 boiled eggs, yolks only
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 dozen chestnuts, cooked and peeled

(Tip: You can buy ready-to-use chestnuts if you don’t have time to prepare and peel them yourself. If you cannot find chestnuts for this recipe, substitute pecans.)

Mix all ingredients and put into the fridge for two hours. Remove from fridge, pinch off a piece about the size of a walnut. Add a chestnut in the middle and roll up like a ball.
Continue until all dough is used up. Bake in a 350º degree oven for about 12-15 minutes.

While the cookies are baking, make the cream coating.

4 tablespoons hot milk
2 tablespoons cocoa
3 tablespoons each of icing sugar and butter
chopped chestnuts or crushed pecans

Cream together milk, cocoa, icing sugar and butter. When cookies are cooled, roll each into this mixture, then into chopped chestnuts or crushed pecans.

BTW, don’t waste those egg whites… use them for egg salad sandwiches! (Make sure you add some fresh dill to it, adds great flavour.) Serve the sandwiches with bread and butter pickles, and enjoy one of these wonderful cookies for dessert!

Smachnoho!

Vancouver's Ukrainian community greets Ukraine's Olympic athletes

A group of about 20 members of the local Ukrainian community descended on Vancouver International airport on Thursday Feb. 04 to greet athletes from Ukraine arriving to compete in the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

The entourage was coordinated by Myrna Arychuk of Solaway Travel in Burnaby. More details here.

(Video courtesy the Richmond Review.)

Video - Ukrainian independence 1917-1922

Awesome video showcasing the Army of Ukrainian People's Republic (UNR) of 1917 - 1922. Great tune, too!

Enjoy!

Ukraine House at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics

Ukraine House will be the place to spend your time during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver!

Why's that? Because you can:

• Meet new friends from all around the world
• Mingle with Ukrainian athletes and celebrities
• Catch coverage of Olympic events on large screen TV
• Take in stage performances by entertainers from Ukraine and Canada
• Enjoy Ukrainian food and alcoholic beverages
• Participate in an an auction of sports memorabilia - including the runners worn by pole-vaulter, Sergei Bubka, when he set the world record
• Purchase souvenirs as well as Team Ukraine athletic clothing
• Kick up your heels at the Youth Dance (Zabava)
• Strut your stuff at the Ukrainian Olympic Ball
• Create memories of a lifetime at this world-class fun event

Ukraine House, under the patronage of the Embassy of Ukraine, the Canadian Ukrainian Congress and Canadian Friends of the Ukrainian National Olympic Committee, will be officially opened on February 11, 2010. It will be located at the Ukrainian Catholic Centre, 3150 Ash Street in Vancouver. (Enter from W 16th Ave, 1 block west of Cambie.)
Ukraine House will be open to the public every day during the Olympics (except for three days that are reserved for private functions: Thursday February 11, Sunday February 14 and Monday February 15, 2010). There's plenty of parking and ready access by public transit.

Organizers are looking for volunteers to help staff Ukraine House. No experience required. The workload and time commitment will be much less than for official VANOC events ... and you'll still be in the centre of the fun and excitement of the Olympics!

To sign up as a volunteer, or if you have a room available to billet an out-of-towner helping with the Olympics, please contact Mirko Petriw by email.

Stay tuned for more information about Ukraine House at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics!

Parliament of Canada remembers Ukraine’s famine/genocide of 1932-33

The memory and experiences of survivors of the Holodomor - the Ukrainian famine/genocide in 1932 and 1933 – were commemorated on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 on Parliament Hill in Ottawa in an evening ceremony dedicated to remembering those who both perished and survived the man-made tragedy.

His Excellency Ihor Ostash, Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada and Mark Warawa, Member of Parliament and Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group, co-hosted the Holodomor Commemoration Ceremony on behalf of the Embassy of Ukraine and the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group.

Senator Raynell Andreychuk, Vice-Chair of the Friendship Group and Master of Ceremony for the service, reminded guests that the evening would be centred around heightening awareness of the forgotten Famine/Genocide as well as promoting international recognition of this deliberate attempt to exterminate a nation.

The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, who spoke on behalf of the Government of Canada, reinforced the government`s dedication to “remain committed to remembering the victims and promoting international awareness of this genocide.” The Minister also reminded guests that in 2008, Canada was the first G8 nation to recognize Holodomor as an act of genocide.

Members of the Ukrainian Canadian clergy, Senators, Members of Parliament and representatives from over twenty nations were present to show their support alongside a strong contingent of members from the Ukrainian community who travelled from across Canada and Ukraine to share in the sombre celebration.

Ukrainian Canadian Congress President Mr. Paul Grod was among the speakers along with all parties as Bloc Quebecois MP Bernard Bigras, Liberal MP Bonnie Crombie, NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis, and Conservative MP Mark Warawa each spoke passionately about different aspects of the atrocities that occurred during the Famine/Genocide. This demonstration of non-partisanship is very admirable, and much appreciated.

The themes of education and awareness were prominent during the evening ceremony as MP James Bezan, alongside representatives from the Canadian Friends of Ukraine, Canad Inns, and The League of Ukrainian Canadians, presented educational Holodomor materials; a Limited Edition Commemorative Stamp Collection, a commemorative historical film and a comprehensive collection of educational tools known as an “Exhibit in a Box,” respectively, to Ms. Lynn Brodie, Director General, Information and Document Services of the Library of Parliament so that future generations will never forget.

The evening’s most poignant moment came when Mrs. Halyna Zelem, a Holodomor survivor, who was only six years old at the time, shared her story. She spoke about her family’s struggles during the Famine/Genocide. Many in the audience were moved to tears as she recounted her story of how her father did all he could to provide for his family.

“He was taken away and we never heard from him again. We never learned what happened to him. He was labelled an enemy of the state. The only thing he was guilty of was providing for his family.”

MP Mark Warawa closed the evening with a statement of hope and a clear message to everyone:

“I am pleased the Library of Parliament now holds important Ukrainian educational material that will help Canadians and the world learn about Holodomor. I hope all countries join Canada in recognizing Holodomor as what it truly was—a genocide.

"Vichnaya Pamyat’ — in eternal memory to the Ukrainians who perished in the Holodomor.”

Holodomor bill introduced in British Columbia

BC is joining Quebec on the path to official recognition of the famine genocide in Ukraine of 1932-33 (Holodomor). Bills introducing legislation to do so passed first reading in both provinces yesterday.

News of the Quebec reading were reported yesterday and details of the bill can be found here.

Meanwhile, here in British Columbia, a delegation of 14 people watched as New Democrat MLA for Surrey-Whalley, Bruce Ralston, introduced Bill M207 in the legislature. The delegation included survivors, local community members, and a retired officer of the Ukrainian Armed Forces currently visiting BC.

Many thanks to MLA Bruce Ralston for his relentless support and efforts to have BC officially recognize and commemorate the Holodomor. He has been at it for some time, as this excerpt from Hansard demonstrates.

The legislation proposes that the fourth Saturday in November every year be commemorated as Holodomor Memorial Day in B.C. It also recognizes the survivors of Holodomor who moved to British Columbia and made a positive contribution to the province. (A draft transcript of Bill M207 can be found here.)

As mentioned in an earlier post, the provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario have enacted legislation recognizing the Holodomor and honouring the survivors of this crime against humanity, as has the federal government.

Pictured here are representatives of BC's Ukrainian community present at the reading in support of Mr. Ralston in his efforts to promote Holodomor recognition and awareness, along with other MLAs.

L-R:Valentyna Kaspryk (survivor), Alexandra Ciacka (wife of survivor), Ludmilla Weaver, Robert Herchak, Myroslav Petriw (Secretary-Treasurer UCC-BC), MLA for Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston, Rev. Edward Kwiatkowski, MLA for West Kootenay Katrine Conroy, Roman Brunwald, MLA for Surrey-Green Timbers Sue Hammel, MLA far Vancouver-Kensington Mable Elmore (not pictured - Ihor Stanley Osobik and Maria Pomircha) L-R: Mariika Pilip, Bohdan Fedorko, Ludmilla Weaver, Olga Zakhariw (survivor), Peter Zakhariw, Alexander Teliszewsky (visiting officer of Ukrainian Armed Forces ret.)

Photos courtesy Mirko Petriw.

Many thanks to the politicians in both provinces for introducing and supporting these bills. It is inspiring and encouraging to see them put aside their political rivalries from time to time and do the decent human thing together.

Thanks also to the local Canwest folks out east for reporting the story in Quebec, and to the Montreal Gazette for carrying it. Not surprisingly, our local BC media did not see fit to report on the reading here. Likewise it escaped the notice of the national media that two provinces introduced more or less identical legislation on the same day. I guess they do not consider it newsworthy when events and issues bring people together, as opposed to dividing them ... especially in the arena of partisan politics. Which is fine. Gives us citizen journalists an opportunity to hone our skills.

National Holodomor Awareness Week continues through November 29. You can find a list of commemorative events across the country here or visit the UCC website.

Ukraine Remembers – the World Acknowledges
Україна пам'ятає - Світ визнає

Holodomor bill being introduced in two provinces today

In BC's legislature, the MLA for Surrey-Whalley Bruce Ralston (NDP) is introducing legislation today that would recognize the “Holodomor,” the famine and genocide that killed millions of Ukrainians in 1932-33.

His press release states that the Holodomor occurred during the period of forced collectivization in the Soviet Union, which is true. However, it is still not widely known that by 1932 collectivization was almost complete. So, like drought was cited used at the excuse for genocide before it was debunked, now collectivization has become it is a very handy red herring being used by die-hard deniers to downplay the genocidal nature of the Holodomor.

Nonetheless, this initiative is very welcome, and it is to be hoped that partisan politics do not get in the way of it passing.

The legislation proposes the fourth Saturday in November of each year as Holodomor Memorial Day in British Columbia to memorialize those who perished. The legislation also recognizes the survivors of Holodomor who moved to British Columbia and made a positive contribution to the province.

Meanwhile, in Quebec, Madam Louise Beaudoin, the MNA for Rosemount (PQ) is introducing a similar bill today as well. There, too, it is hoped that partisan politics will take a back seat to human compassion and decency while this bill is passed.

It is a matter of both pride and gratitude to note that Canada's federal government and four provincial governments (Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Alberta and Ontario) have already passed Holodomor memorial bills.

I hope that BC and Quebec will join their ranks today.

Holodomor survivor wants monument in Vancouver

Nash Holos interview: November 23, 2008.

Anatoli Ciacka, President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, British Columbia Provincial Council/Vancouver Branch, recalls how the Holodomor affected him personally, and discusses his efforts to erect a Holodomor monument in Vancouver.

The interview aired a year ago, but is still relevant today. Click here to listen to the audio file.

National Holodomor Awareness Week in Canada

This year, National Holodomor Awareness Week will be observed from November 23 - 29 across Canada.

Throughout this coming week, Canadians will unite in remembrance on the 76th anniversary of the Holodomor, the famine genocide in Ukraine from 1932-33.

Events across the country will commemorate one of history's most heinous crimes against humanity and honour its victims, who number in the millions. Lectures, film nights, discussions with survivors, and commemorative services will raise awareness of this horrific genocide against the Ukrainian people.

In Canada, communities will begin reading the names of Holodomor victims. A comprehensive list was published in 2008 by the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor.

In Toronto, Hamilton and St. Catharines, Ontario, installations of black flags at prominent city locations will pay tribute to the millions of children, women and men who were victims of the Soviet regime's ruthless policy to eliminate a nation.

On November 24, a commemoration ceremony will be held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, sponsored by the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada and the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group.

On Friday, November 27, Holodomor Memorial Day will be marked in schools of the Toronto District School Board, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board.

Saturday, November 28 marks International Holodomor Memorial Day and Holodomor Memorial Day in Canada. On this Memorial Day, all Canadians are asked to honour the memory of the victims with a moment of silence at 9 a.m., and light a candle of remembrance in their homes.

On Sunday, November 29, memorial services will be conducted in churches across the country.

Canadians of all ethnic origins are invited to join the Ukrainian community in remembrance. The Committee for National Holodomor Awareness is coordinating these commemorative events. For more information visit the UCC website.

Ukraine Remembers – The World Acknowledges

Trip down memory lane: 1984

The quality is a little dicey but watching this video took me on a wonderful trip down memory lane.


Ron Cahute had hair, and the MC at this festival was my former co-host on Nash Holos from 1990-96, Bohdan Zajcew!

It was great fun watching this. Three fabulous songs ... enjoy!