Historical trivia:

The first Ukrainian settlers, Ivan Pylypiw and Wasyl Eleniak arrived in Canada in 1891.

The first Ukrainian communities were established in Edna Star, east of Edmonton.

Ukrainian settlers cultivated approximately 10 million acres of land in western Canada (Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta).

The majority of Ukrainian Canadians settled in the 3 Prairie Provinces.

There have been four major immigrations of Ukrainians to Canada since 1891.

The largest immigration of Ukrainians to Canada occurred between 1891-1914. It is estimated that 100,000 to 170,000 Ukrainians came over during this time.

Approximately 10,000 Ukrainian Canadians participated in World War 1 and 40,000 in World War 11.

A further 5,000 Ukrainians were interned in forced labour camps in Canada as enemy aliens from 1914-1920 during Canada’s First National Internment Operation?

The world’s largest Ukrainian pysanka (Easter egg) is located in Vegreville, Alberta. It was dedicated as a tribute to the one-hundredth anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Political trivia:

The first elected Member of Parliament of Ukrainian origin was Michael Luchkovich of the United Farmers of Alberta, Vegreville, Alberta.

The first federal Cabinet Minister of Ukrainian origin was Honorable Michael Starr, Progressive Conservative, Ontario.

The Hon. John Yaremko, Conservative, was the longest serving provincial cabinet Minister in Ontario.

There have been four Ukrainian Canadian premiers:

1. Roy Romanow, Saskatchewan

2. Gary Filmon, Manitoba

3. Ed Stelmach, Alberta

4. Ernie Eves, Ontario

Paul Yuzyk, a Senator of Ukrainian origin is recognized as the “father of Canadian Multiculturalism.”

John Sopinka, QC was the first Ukrainian Canadian appointed to the Supreme Court of Canada.

Philip Konowal was the first Ukrainian to receive the Victoria Cross, the highest award for valour, in World War I.

RCAF Brigadier General Joseph Romanow was the first Ukrainian Canadian to be promoted to the rank of General in the Canadian Forces.

Peter Dmytruk, member of the RCAF and military hero of World War II who was awarded the French Croix de Guerre, was Ukrainian.

Canada’s 24th Governor General from 1990-95, Ramon John “Ray” Hnatyshyn, was Ukrainian.

Saskatchewan’s 17th Lieutenant Governor and national curling champion Sylvia Fedoruk is Ukrainian.

Former Queen’s Park Speaker Steve Peters, the M.P.P. of Elgin-Middlesex-London, is Ukrainian.

The longest-serving mayor in Edmonton’s history, William Hawrelak, is Ukrainian.

Myron Kowalsky, former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, is Ukrainian.

FAMOUS UKRAINIAN CANADIANS: DID YOU KNOW…?

Scientists:

Dr. Isydore Hlynka, a revolutionary Canadian biochemist and the founding president of the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko, was Ukrainian.

Canada’s first female astronaut, Dr. Roberta Lynn Bondar, a neurologist, is Ukrainian.

Artists:

The statue of Prime Minister John Diefenbaker on Parliament Hill was made by sculptor Leo Mol, a Ukrainian Canadian.

Montreal architect Radoslav Zuk has designed ten Ukrainian churches in Canada, the United States and Ukraine.

The strongman/magician featured in the film The Strongest Man in the World, Mike Swistun, was Ukrainian.

Halya Kuchmij was the first Ukrainian-Canadian to win a "Genie" award. This was for her film The Strongest Man in the World (1980).

William Kurelek, famous Canadian painter and writer, is Ukrainian.

Marsha Skrypuch is a writer of children’s books and is also Ukrainian.

Jaroslav Bohdan Rudnyckyj was a Ukrainian Canadian linguist, lexicographer, and publicist recognized as one of the founding fathers of Canadian Multiculturalism.

Performers:

The Shumka Dancers of Edmonton celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2009.

Dmitri Dovgoselets of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet is Ukrainian.

Denys Drozdyuk, a Ukrainian, was voted Canada’s Favourite Dancer on So You Think You Can Dance Canada in 2010.

Juno award winning singer/songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk is Ukrainian.

Singer LUBA (Kowalcyk) from Montreal, three-time winner of the Canadian music industry Juno Award for Female Vocalist of the Year (1985-1987), is Ukrainian.

Luba and Ireneus Zuk, sister and brother soloists and duo pianists, are Ukrainian.

Steven Staryk, Canadian violin virtuoso, is Ukrainian.

William Vetzal of Oshawa is the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of banduras.

Ivan Doroschuk, the lead singer of the band Men Without Hats, is Ukrainian.

Singer/songwriter Theresa Sokyrka, first runner –up in the second season of Canadian Idol (2004), is Ukrainian.

TV/Actors:

One of the comedians on the Canadian television show Royal Canadian Air Farce, Luba Goy, is Ukrainian.

Alex Trebek, long-time host of Jeopardy and University of Ottawa graduate, is Ukrainian Canadian.

Mimi Kuzyk, who plays alongside Anthony Hopkins and Nicole Kidman in Human Strain, is Ukrainian Canadian.

William Shatner, the Hollywood actor who played the legendary Captain James T Kirk on Star Trek, is Ukrainian Canadian.

Fred Ewanuick, a Canadian actor best known for his role as Hank Yarbo on the show Corner Gas, is Ukrainian.

The late Ken Kostick, host of the Gemini Award-nominated TV show What’s for Dinner on CBC, and Company on Food Network Canada , was Ukrainian.

Margaret Dickenson, international award winning author, recipe developer, and TV host is Ukrainian.

Roman Danylo, a Canadian comedian and actor who currently stars on Comedy Inc. on CTV, is Ukrainian.

Journalists:

The host of CBC’s the firth estate and Gemini Award winning journalist Victor Malarek, is Ukrainian Canadian.

Canadian reporter and current TSN sports anchor Bryan Mudryk is Ukrainian.

Athletes /sports:

Terry Sawchuk, NHL goalie of Ukrainian descent, had 103 shutouts and was unsurpassed until Martin Brodeur broke his record in 2009.

Wilf Homenuik, inducted as an honoured member into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, is Ukrainian.

Ottawa Senators’ owner Eugene Melnyk is Ukrainian.

William Mosienko, who holds the record for the fastest hat trick ever scored, in just 21 seconds (Chicago Blackhawks), is Ukrainian?

Bob Panasik, at 15 years old, was the youngest golfer ever to participate in the Canadian Open Championship (1957). When the young Ukrainian Canadian made the cut to stay for all four rounds he made history as well.

Former NHL captain, Stanley Cup champion and Hamilton native Dave Andreychuk is Ukrainian.

General/ Demographics:

The best selling Ukrainian cookbook in Canada is Ukrainian Traditional Cookery by Savella Stechishin.

Ukrainians are the 9th largest ethnic group in Canada, numbering 1.2 million.

The largest urban centre for Ukrainians in Canada is Edmonton.

The province with the largest Ukrainian population in 2006 is Ontario, with 336,355.

Canada has the second largest Ukrainian population outside of Ukraine

There are nine universities that teach Ukrainian or Ukrainian studies in Canada.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress is the umbrella organization for Ukrainian Canadians.