Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of our members and friends!

Merry Christmas!

From everyone at Ukrainian Credit Union Limited, we hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas this year!

UCC National Leadership Award

Recently the Ukrainian Canadian Congress presented the Ukrainian Credit Union with the UCC National Leadership Award at the XXIV Triennial Congress of Ukrainian Canadians, the UCC decided to honour the Ukrainian Credit Union for its leadership role in supporting the ongoing development of the Ukrainian Canadian community including the arts, Ukrainian culture, community events and including numerous community development initiatives which have enriched the lives of others and made a difference in our community. 

UCU supports Ukraine Paediatric Fellowship

UCU Director Walter Kish meets with Nancy Horvath of the SickKids Foundation
to present our donation

This year,  SickKids Foundation launched the Ukraine Paediatric Fellowship Program with  partners, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Children of Chornobyl Canadian Fund (CCCF). The Fellowship Program is headed up by Dr. Jim Rukta—SickKids Neurosurgeon.

Today, Ukrainian Credit Union Limited made a donation in support of the Ukrainian Paediatric Fellowship Program. Sick Kids along with UCC and CCCF hope to raise $1 million to support this important program. If you want to help out, here is an added incentive: Dr. Myroslava Romach and Dr. Ed Sellers have pledged to match each dollar given up to $100,000. So please consider making your donation now.

Різдвяна Містерія - Nativity Story

Svitlo’s production of the Christmas Mystery will be held at the Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst Street (Bathurst / Adelaide) on Sat Dec 21 – (3pm) and Sun Dec 22 (2pm).  

What a great venue to take some time away from our day to day activities and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. This production takes you through a journey on the key events around the birth of Jesus Christ. It is performed in the Ukrainian language, with both liturgical music and traditional Christmas carols. Come and celebrate with your community - Jesus the reason for the season!  

For more information please call 416.294.7853.

Yalynka Contest!

People everywhere are decorating their houses and workplaces for the holidays with traditional Christmas trees - Yalynkas - and other decorations. We thought it would be fun to see who has the nicest tree of them all! The winner with the most likes on their photo by January 6th will win a $100 Yevshan Gift Card!

To see all of the Christmas Trees and vote for your favourite, please go to our Facebook album titled "Yalynka 2013 Contest". 

You can vote up till January 6th!

Holiday Hours 2013

Christmas Eve - Tuesday, December 24, 2013 - Closed at 2:00 pm

Christmas Day - Wednesday, December 25, 2013 - Closed

Boxing Day - Thursday, December 26, 2013 - Closed

New Year’s Eve - Tuesday, December 31, 2013 - Closed at 2:00 pm

New Year’s Day - Wednesday, January 1, 2014 - Closed

Ukrainian Christmas Eve - Monday, January 6, 2014 - Closed at 2:00 pm

Ukrainian Christmas - Tuesday, January 7, 2014 - Closed

  

 

Вівторок, 24 грудня 2013 - Зачинено о другій годині

Середа, 25 грудня 2013 - Зачинено

Четвер, 26 грудня 2013 - Зачинено

Вівторок, 31 грудня 2013 - Зачинено о другій годині

Новий Ріk - Середа, 1 січня 2014 – Зачинено

Святий Вечір - Понеділок, 6 січня 2014 - Зачинено о другій годині

Різдво Xристове - Вівторок, 7 січня 2014 - Зачинено

EuroMaidan at Yonge and Dundas Square in Toronto

Hundreds of Toronto's Ukrainian-Canadians and their supporters came out to Yonge and Dundas Square on Sunday afternoon to voice support for the demonstrators on the Maidan in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine. Our estimate is about 2,000 people, but estimates vary and we are not experts so don't sue us!

Lots of people young and old came out. Many politicians including Tim Hudak and Chrystia Freeland came out to say a few words of support. Community leaders such as Pavlo Grod (President of Ukrainian Canadian Congress) and various priests and bishops also said a few words. Even St. Nicholas came out to tell Ukraine's president Viktor Yanukovych to stop being a nasty lad and call off his riot police.

Since it was a bit hard to hear the speakers across the entire square, people broke up into several mini-demonstrations, some singing Ukrainian songs, others playing with a ginormous blue and yellow parachute and still more chanting various slogans.

All of this was video taped and photographed so that the people demonstrating in Ukraine can see that they are being supported in Toronto.

During the event representatives of Ukrainian Canadian Congress asked for donations so that they could pay for rooms around the Maidan in Kyiv where protestors could sleep in shifts and also for warm clothes for the protestors. Money is being sent over every few days in order to get it to the protestors as quickly as possible.

You can see a lot more photos on our Facebook page in the album titled EuroMaidan on Yonge and Dundas.

EuroMaidan at Yonge & Dundas Square

A poem from a member

One of the members in our Hamilton branch writes a poem for Christmas every year. Here is this year's effort.

Christmas Raffle!

Ukrainian Credit Union Limited is holding a charity Christmas Raffle this year at our Hamilton Branch!
You can buy raffle tickets by:

Email: ynesvit@ukrainiancu.com
Subject line: UKRAINIAN CREDIT UNION RAFFLE

Don't wait too long the raffle will be drawn December 23rd!

For full raffle details CLICK HERE

Koliada Project

DECEMBER 14, 2013

Koliada Project and Yara Arts Group in collaboration with the Ukrainian Culture Festival present Yara’s theatre show “Midwinter Night: Sacred and Profane Rituals,” the concerts se “Koliada and Music from the Carpathians” and a related exhibition in the Toronto area.

On Saturday, December 14 at 7:30 PM Yara will present “Koliada and Music from the Carpathians” this event will feature Koliadnyky in a musical concert. The Koliadnyky will be joined by bandurist Julian Kytasty, violinist Mark Marczyk and vocalists from the Kosa Kolektiv. The concert will be accompanied by images by Volodymry Klyuzko. Koliada and Music from the Carpathians” will be performed at Ukrainian National Federation 145 Evans Ave. in Toronto. Tickets: are $25/ $20 seniors, students & children are by donation.

The Koliada events in Toronto are made possible by funds from the Shevchenko Foundation, the Ukrainian Credit Union and the Olzhych Foundation. Media sponsor Kontakt. Yara Arts Group’s participation is made possible by the Coca-Cola Company and the friends of Yara Arts Group.

DECEMBER 15, 2013 and DECEMBER 22, 2013

Koliada Project and Yara Arts Group in collaboration with the Ukrainian Culture Festival present Yara’s theatre show “Midwinter Night: Sacred and Profane Rituals,” the concerts se “Koliada and Music from the Carpathians” and a related exhibition in the Toronto area.

On Sunday December 15 the Hutsuls will at attend the 10:00 mass at St. Elias Church Brampton and perform an outdoor ritual. They will also be at the 11:00 mass St Mary’s Church Mississauga on Sunday December 22. You can meet the artists during tea afterwards – donations.

The Koliada events in Toronto are made possible by funds from the Shevchenko Foundation, the Ukrainian Credit Union and the Olzhych Foundation. Media sponsor Kontakt. Yara Arts Group’s participation is made possible by the Coca-Cola Company and the friends of Yara Arts Group.

DECEMBER 17, 2013

Koliada Project and Yara Arts Group in collaboration with the Ukrainian Culture Festival present Yara’s theatre show “Midwinter Night: Sacred and Profane Rituals,” the concerts se “Koliada and Music from the Carpathians” and a related exhibition in the Toronto area.

On Tuesday December 17, 6 to 9 PM there will be the opening of “Carpathian Photo Patterns,” an exhibit of photographic art inspired by the Hutsul Koliada by Volodymyr Klyuzko and Alexander Khantaev at the Bezpala-Brown Gallery 17 Church Street (@Front) in Toronto (416) 907-6875 www.bezpalabrown.com. The opening will feature a special concert by the Koliadnyky and a holiday cocktail - $15.

The Koliada events in Toronto are made possible by funds from the Shevchenko Foundation, the Ukrainian Credit Union and the Olzhych Foundation. Media sponsor Kontakt. Yara Arts Group’s participation is made possible by the Coca-Cola Company and the friends of Yara Arts Group.

DECEMBER 27 and DECEMBER 28 and DECEMBER 29, 2013

Koliada Project and Yara Arts Group in collaboration with the Ukrainian Culture Festival present Yara’s theatre show “Midwinter Night: Sacred and Profane Rituals,” the concerts se “Koliada and Music from the Carpathians” and a related exhibition in the Toronto area.

“Midwinter Night: Sacred and Profane Rituals” is created and directed by Virlana Tkacz. The set and lights are designed by Watoku Ueno, a recipient of the NEA/TCG Design Fellowship. Costumes are by Keiko Obremski. Projections are by Mikhail Shraga and Volodymyr Klyuzko, who were nominated for a New York Innovative Theatre Award for their work with Yara. Featured Yara artists in the production include: bandurist Julian Kytasty, vocalists Marika, Alina and Teryn Kuzma and actress Romana Soutus. The Goat Songs are performed by the explosive Lemon Bucket Orkestra with Mark Marczyk, Alexandra Baczynskyj, Tamar Ilana and Stephanie Woloshyn, who also perform with Yara in the Nativity section. Performances of “Midwinter Night: Sacred” and Profane Rituals are December 27-29 at the Harbourfront Center with a special premiere on Friday at 8 PM. There are also performances on Saturday at 3 PM and 8 PM and Sunday at 3 PM at Enwave Theatre at the Harbourfront Center, 235 Queen Quay West, Toronto. Tickets for the gala opening on December 27 are $150, as a special campaign “Show Your Heart: Your gala ticket supports 10 student discounts.” Tickets for Saturday & Sunday are $35, students $25, children $15. (416) 973-4000.

The Koliada events in Toronto are made possible by funds from the Shevchenko Foundation, the Ukrainian Credit Union and the Olzhych Foundation. Media sponsor Kontakt. Yara Arts Group’s participation is made possible by the Coca-Cola Company and the friends of Yara Arts Group.

George Clooney speaks about Maidan

If you want to support EuroMaidan financially, you can do so at any branch at Ukrainian Credit Union Limited. Ask to deposit money to Pomich Ukraini's account 192681-201.

Support EuroMaidan!

If you want to support EuroMaidan financially, you can do so at any branch at Ukrainian Credit Union Limited. Ask to deposit money to Pomich Ukraini's account 192681-201.

Update

We are now also accepting donations in support of the EuroMaidan through the Canada-Ukraine Foundation - EuroMaidan account #622324-205. 

Donations can also be mailed in. They should be sent to our corporate address attention Roman Litwinchuk, Ukrainian Credit Union Limited, 145 Evans Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M8Z 5X8, cheque should be made payable to Canada-Ukraine Foundation - Euromaidan account #622324-205. Donations can be made online through the following link: www.cufoundation.ca

Click on the read more link to see the text of the press release from Ukrainian Canadian Congress calling on donations in support of Maidan (a Ukrainian version follows).

EuroMaidan CN Tower

Paris, Warsaw, even Rochester have already lit up their landmarks in blue and yellow. If you'd like to see the CN take on similar colours, send a request by email. We have provided the email address and a sample of an email that you might want to cut and paste or use as a guide to write your own unique email.

SAMPLE:

EMAIL ADDRESS:   lightingrequest@cntower.ca

SUBJECT LINE: URGENT REQUEST - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8TH 2013

To whom it may concern,

    Please help Toronto's Ukrainian community display their support for over one million Ukrainians currently standing at EuroMaidan in Kyiv, Ukraine. Numerous political figures on the municipal, provincial and federal levels are continuing to support the signing of an association agreement regarding Ukraine's entry into the European Union. Ukrainians all over the world are standing in solidarity during this tumultuous time, hoping that Ukraine's Viktor Yanykovych resumes discussions with the European Union. This motion would secure Ukrainian peoples' infinite dedication to human rights, justice and the rule of law.

    A peaceful demonstration in support of Kyiv's EuroMaidan will be held at 2:00 p.m. on December 8th at the Ukrainian Consulate General in Toronto, and we are hoping to continue the presence of blue and yellow throughout the city into the evening.
Thank you for your consideration,

(YOUR NAME HERE)

UPDATE!!!!

Since the CN Tower management is declining at the moment to carry out the above request, we ask you to add the following things: Remind them that many European cities including Paris and Warsaw have already lit up their landmarks in support of EuroMaidan, that Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburgh have done the same and that Kyiv is Toronto's sister city so it would be a shame if Toronto ended up being one of the few cities who failed to show support.

Win a pair of Tickets to see Unforgotten Shadows!

Ukrainian Credit Union Limited is holding a contest for someone to win 1 of 5 pairs of tickets to Unforgotten Shadows!

Just like our Facebook page and the contest picture on the timeline you’ll be automatically entered!

CLICK HERE to entre now!

Thank you Letter from CUIAS Immigrant Services

Today we received a very nice thank you letter from the Executive Director of CUIAS Immigrant Services. One of the programs that CUIAS offers is for immigrant youth. The program is designed to help the youth integrate into Canadian society and to alleviate the alienation young people sometimes feel in a new country. Ukrainian Credit Union Limited is proud to support the work of this organization. Below is an abridged version of the letter:

Dear Mr. Pidzamecky, 

On behalf of the directors, staff and clients of the Canadian Ukrainian Immigrant Aid Society I would like to sincerely thank you for the generous donation that we have received from Ukrainian Credit Union Limited in the amount of $1,000 for newcomer youth activities. 

This donation will enable us to facilitate a social youth networking event during Christmas holidays and expand our activities beyond the limitations of the funding we were able to secure from the government. Our experience working with immigrants demonstrates that isolation and loneliness are one of the most significant issues faced by newcomer youth, despite the fact that most of them maintain long distance friendships with their peers back home via electronic social networking sites. When they arrive in Canada, they lose the support networks and “face-to-face” relationships they enjoyed with their peers, which makes integration in Canada more challenging. Although they are accessing information more freely on the Internet, they are still finding it difficult to adapt because of cultural differences and language barriers. 

The youth program at the Canadian Ukrainian Immigrant Aid Society focuses on creating a welcoming environment for newcomer youth, enabling them to overcome isolation, develop positive relationships, build support networks and get plugged in and engaged in the community.  Your support of our youth activities is invaluable and once again we thank you for your contribution. 

Thank you. 

Best regards, 

Ludmila Kolesnichenko,Executive Directo

CUIAS Immigrant Services

2383 Bloor St. West, 2nd FloorToronto, ON M6S 1P6

Tel: 416-767-4595Fax: 416-767-2658

E-mail: lkolesnichenko@cuias.org

CUIAS is holding a youth social event on December 27 at the UNF Hall (145 Evans Ave) from 6 to 11pm. If you are a young immigrant to Canada and want to know more, please contact Pani Ludmila, her contact info is listed above.

Open letter from SUSK to Ukrainian Students

Extraordinary Lives of Ordinary Women

Sistema Toronto makes the semi-finals

Last month we told you about Sistema Toronto (you can read the original article here). Well with the help of all their voting fans, this project has made it into the semi-finals. If you want to help them make it to the next step, come on and vote.You can vote at this link: https://www.facebook.com/sistematoronto/app_86018144944

Come support EuroMaidan

Lopatism!

No, it's not the newest political movement on the horizon, its the newest art show by renowned Toronto artist Pavlo Lopata! Details are on the poster.

RRSP Season is Here!

Zahrava Theatre Ticket Giveaway!

Visit our Facebook page and like the Zahrava contest image before December 2nd for a chance to win a pair of tickets! Click HERE to visit our Facebook page.

Unforgotten Shadows: A film to see

This film is a Hollywood-esque, bi budget (by Ukrainian standards) feature film out of Ukraine, Looks pretty spooky, like a cross between a Scream and some of the darker slasher films out there. Anyway, rather than write a bunch about it, we are going to post some graphics that tell you a bit of what you need to know. Click on the images to get a larger view.

Pre Christmas Retreat at St. Demetrius Church

St. Demetrius Church at 135 La Rose Ave in Toronto has asked us to share information about their pre-Christmas retreat with you.

In the Embrace of Christ

УКРАЇНОМОВНІ ПЕРЕДРІЗДВЯНІ РЕКОЛЕКЦІЇ З МОЛІНННЯМИ ПРИ ІКОНІ З МОЩАМИ БЛ. ЄПИСКОПА ВАСИЛЯ ВЕЛИЧКОВСЬКОГО

Pre-Christmas retreat in Ukrainian  with prayers before the Icon (embedded with his relics) of Blessed Bishop Vasyl Velychkovsky.

Прийдіте поклонімось, 

народженому предвічно 

від Отця Божому Слову, 

що тіло прийняв від діви Марії…

(Стихири на вечірні гл. 2)

Come, let us bow down to the Word of God,
One who was born from eternity from the Father
and who took on flesh from the Virgin Mary...
(Verses from the Vesper Service)

Реколекції голосить: ієромонах Михайло Іваняк, редемпторист

(Префект Студентату, Львівська Провінція ЧНІ, Львів, Україна)

 

The retreat will be lead by the hieromonk Mykhaylo Ivanyak, Redemptorist
(Prefect of Students of the Lviv Redemptorist Province, Ukraine)

Розклад богослужень та реколеційних наук /
SCHEDULE FOR SERVICES AND MISSION THEMES

Networking evening update

Stin Hrycajkiw (right) of Ukrainian Credit Union gives advice to a student

We just got an update from Dr. George Foty, one of the key organizers of the Networking event held last Thursday. turns out that a good number of students who showed up might already be benefiting from potential jobs. Dr. George's words are below:

"Thanks again for your support. As a result of your commitment in helping our youth, the evening was not only engaging, but constructive. Hey it was fun too.

Although not the primary objective of the event, the evening has already resulted in one firm full time position, interviews in progress for 2 more, one summer job offer and 2-3 part time offers, interviews in progress....

Regards.

George Foty"

That's an amazing result, we congratulate everyone who participated and look forward to meeting new people who will participate next time!

For more about the event click here.

For pictures visit the Networking Evening album on our Facebook page.

Hallowing the memory of victims of the Holodomor

UCCLA Media Release: Ottawa (22 November 2013) – For Immediate Release  

In 1953, Raphael Lemkin, the “father” of the United Nations Convention on Genocide, described the 1932-1933 famine in Soviet Ukraine as a “classic example of Soviet genocide.”  

In 2006, Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada , affirmed that the Great Famine of 1932-1933 was an act of genocide. In May 2008 Canada’s parliament did likewise, establishing a national Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) Memorial Day. This year Saturday, 23 November 2013, marks the 80th anniversary of this man-made catastrophe.  

As Canadians of Ukrainian heritage, we call upon our fellow citizens of all faiths and nationalities to join us in hallowing the memory of the many millions of victims murdered by the Stalinist regime during the Holodomor, one of the greatest acts of genocide to befoul 20th century European history.  

- 30 –

For more information, please contact UCCLA at media@uccla.ca 

www.uccla.ca

www.facebook.com/TheUCCLA

www.twitter.com/uccla

For information about UCU's food drive in commemoration of the Holodomor, please see this blog post.

Networking evening a success

Students and recent graduates gather in the hallway at St. Vladimir Institute
before the networking event got under way

On Thursday November 22, SUSK the Ukrainian Student organization and UCPBA-Toronto co-hosted a very successful networking event at St. Vladimir Institute in downtown Toronto. The event was a way to bring students and recent graduates together with people who have many years of experience in various fields. The students had an opportunity to pick whom they wanted to speak with and then had three 20-minute "speed date" session where they could ask all about their desired field of employment, make connections and learn something from other people's experience.

Michael Zienchuk, Manager of UCU's Wealth Strategies Group
chats with a pair of students

The event was the brain child of Dr. George Foty. Earlier in the year he put together a group of individuals and representatives of various organizations and tasked them with creating an infrastructure to provide networking opportunities for Ukrainian-Canadian youth in Toronto and surrounding areas. The group has worked together over the past few months to make this very successful event happen. Ukrainian Credit Union Limited was proud to be a sponsor of this event along with St. Vladimir Institute which very generously provided the space to hold the event.

The theatre at St. Vladimir Institute was packed with people and abuzz with conversations as students scrambled to ask as many questions as possible during the official round table portion. Each student could select up to 3 individuals to speak with and then had 20 minutes with each person they selected. Afterwards everyone stuck around to mingle and share more stories.

The turnout was fantastic in the words of the organizers. Some 75 people showed up of which more than fifty were students looking to make some important business connections and learn how to network.

The key message delivered both by the key note speaker George Horhota as well as many of the networkers was: "Don't be passive. Meet people. Network, network, network. Join clubs. Be active in your community. Don't be afraid to ask those with experience for advice. Give yourself a leg up on the thousands of other people who want the same job as you by being in touch with many people, who knows, one of them might be able to help you out.

If you missed last night's event, don't worry, there will be more. We are planning to hold two events a year. One in the spring and one in the fall. So keep an eye out on our website and facebook page for further news.

For more pictures please visit our Facebook page.

USOM Fall Exhibit at KUMF

My Baba's Kitchen

Have you ever wondered how your grandparents met? 

When Stephanie Turenko sat down with her grandmother to hear her life story, that was the one part she couldn't stop thinking about. Her grandparents arrived in Canada, both displaced persons, and fell in love under extraordinary circumstances. 

Stephanie decided to make a short animated film about their story. The film will take place in both the past and present as a conversation between a grandmother and her curious granddaughter. 

The film addresses the idea of how culture really connects us, whether it be finding a soul-mate or accepting your grandparents. 

Stephanie's grandmother is 85 and she want her desperately to see this film about a small, truly beautiful moment in her life.

Stephanie needs your help to make this all happen! Support her in creating this film about family history and connections we make through culture, music and food. 

She's using RocketHub, which is a crowdfunding website - it is not an investment or charity. It is an exchange: funds from you FOR rewards from her. You give and get something in return :)

You can learn more about this project here: http://www.rockethub.com/projects/11001

Zahrava Theatre turns 60

Zahrava Theatre is celebrating their 60th anniversary. Come celebrate with them.

New Year's Eve and Malanka Parties

It is time for the month-long New Year's Eve and Malanka party to start. Already we have information about quite a few parties. The first few are on December 31 and there will be parties all the way through to at least January 25th. How many Malankas do you have the stamina to attend? There are a few posters below, the rest will be in this album on Facebook: New Year's Eve and Malanka.We'll update the album as we get new posters from folks.

Jewellery Sale at KUMF