The Ukrainian National Home Association Fonds

 

The Ukainian National Home Choir, Winnipeg, MB, 1929 (With conductor, Yevhen Turula, shown seated second row, centre). The Ukrainian National Home of Winnipeg Photograph Collection, PC 331. U of M Archives & Special Collections.

Ukrainian School. Ridna Shkola. Ukrainian National Home, Winnipeg, MB, 1916 (Yuriy Genyk is the teacher shown standing in the top row, centre). The Ukrainian National Home of Winnipeg Photograph Collection, PC 331. U of M Archives & Special Collections.

The Ukrainian National Home Association (‘Ukrains’kyi  Narodnyi  Dim’) was founded in Winnipeg in 1913, after discussions that had begun as early as 1905. The Association in Winnipeg was the foundation for the movement which established a network of Ukrainian National Home Associations throughout Western Canada.  The Ukrainian National Home Association was a secular organization designed to support the cultural and educational needs of Ukrainian Canadians, regardless of their religious or political views or affiliations.  The building, located at the corner of McGregor Street and Burrows Avenue, eventually housed an auditorium for dramatic and musical presentations and concerts, meeting rooms, a library, a banquet hall,  a Ukrainian school (ridna shkola), and lodgings.  In later years, the Association funded and housed Ukrainian language courses sponsored by the Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies at the University of Manitoba, during the tenure of Dr. Natalia Aponiuk as Director of the Centre and a long-time member of the board of directors of the Association. In the spring of 2011, the membership of the Ukrainian National Home, at the suggestion of the chair, Dr. Natalia Aponiuk,  voted to  to donate their archives and library holdings to the University. 

In May of that year, the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections acquired the Ukrainian National Home fonds, consisting of the organization’s textual records, photographs, rare books and artefacts.  In addition, the Elizabeth Dafoe Library’s Slavic Collection was gifted the remainder of the library, which chronicled nearly one hundred years of Ukrainian Canadian history.  One other important decision was made during the spring meeting, the association created an archival fund and a scholarship at the University of Manitoba. The Ukrainian National Home fonds, are available to view at the U of M Archives & Special Collections. 

The 23rd Annual J.B. Rudnyckyj Distinguished Lecture with Vitaly Portnikov

 Dr. Roman Yereniuk presents a gift to the 2016 J.B. Rudnyckyj guest speaker, Vitaly Portnikov

at a luncheon held at St. Andrew's College, U of M, on Monday, March 21, 2016.

 Poster for the 23rd J.B. Rudnyckyj Distinguished Lecture, with Vitaly Portnikov.

 (Poster created by Solomiya Shavala)

The 23rd Annual J.B. Rudnyckyj Distinguished Lecture took place on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, in the University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections. The guest lecturer for the event was, Vitaly
Pornikov.  His lecture titled, The Emergence of a Contemporary Ukrainian Civil Society.  Mr. Portnikov discussed the emergence of a civil society in Ukraine following the Orange and Euromaidan Revolutions that took place in 2004 and 2014 respectively, -- and in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine’s eastern oblasts of Donetsk and Luhansk. Special thanks goes to Dr. Myroslav Shkandrij (Department of German & Slavic Studies) for providing the simultaneous translation (from Ukrainian into English) of Mr. Portnikov's talk during the event.

Vitaly Pornikov is a journalist, author, political commentator and leading opinion maker from Kyiv, Ukraine, -- Portnikov has a large following in social media. His articles have appeared in publications around the world and is a frequent guest on TV shows.  He hosts a popular weekly radio program dealing with current affairs.  In addition, he has won numerous awards for his fearless commentary on events in Ukraine, Russia and Eastern Europe.

The well-received lecture had around 150 members of the university and external communities in attendance. The talk was sponsored by the U of M Archives & Special Collections, the Slavic Collection (Elizabeth Dafoe Library), and the Department of German and Slavic Studies. Following the lecture, Vitaly Portnikov continued to answer questions at the reception that followed his talk, and signed copies of two of his book, Bohorodytsia v synahozi (Mother of God in the Synagogue) and Tiurma dlia anholiv (Prison for Angels).

Istorychnyi Atlas Ukrainy = Historical Atlas of Ukraine

Istorychnyi Atlas Ukrainy = Historical Atlas of Ukraine

 

Cover of Istorychnyi Atlas Ukrainy (2015)

Page 208 of Istorychnyi Atlas Ukrainy showing the areas under control

of the Ukrainian Central Rada  in 1917 during the 'peaceful period'.

Researched and compiled by Ukrainian historian and cartographer, Iurii Loza,  the 320 page  Istorychnyi Atlas Ukrainy = Historical Atlas of Ukraine covers the ancient settlements of Ukrainian lands to the modern independent Ukrainian state. Special attention is paid to the various periods of Ukrainian history, and their respective territorial boundaries (e.g. Kyivan Rus; the Kingdom of Galicia-Volyn [Halyts'ko-Volyns'ke kniazivstvo]; the Ukrainian Kozak State; independent Ukraine [1918-1921]; Soviet Ukraine; and 21st century independent Ukraine). This new atlas builds upon Loza's earlier work which was published in 2010, and covers more recent events such as the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia, and the ongoing conflict in the eastern Ukrainian Donetsk and Luhask oblasts.

The atlas is well illustrated with hundreds of  coloured maps covering important periods and eventsin Ukrainian history. A copy of the atlas is available in the Slavic Collection's Reference area, under the call number, Slav Ref  G 2151 S1 M37 2016