Vegreville Pysanka Festival's Opening Ceremony

Vegreville Pysanka Festival’s Opening Ceremony

Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent

Every great celebration needs a good introduction. The July 5’s Opening Ceremony at the 46th Annual Vegreville Ukrainian Pysanka Festival did this as it spotlighted Ukrainian’s honors; lives, history, traditions, songs, and dance. President of Vegreville Cultural Association, Myron Kruk was the emcee. A.L. Horton School’s Ukrainian Bilingual Program’s students charmed the audiences as they took on the onset of the ceremony with a well-versed performance of the Canadian and Ukrainian national anthems while they continued on to sing some more songs in Ukrainian and English.

Two Hills Ukrainian Dancer then made a smooth entrance as they won the audience over with their graceful and springy Ukrainian dance performances.

Fr. Daniel Wach from Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church presented the invocation after that.

Then Kruk announced the winners of the Storefront and Spirited Contest which was first place was won by Vegreville ATB Financial and second place was won by Vegreville and District Co-op.

Next to appear on stage were the Vegreville Svitlo Dancers whose talent kept the audience in bright spirits. These two dance groups performed several times during the ceremony. Kruk then read greetings from Fort Saskatchewan/Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk who wasn’t able to attend. “I am proud to say that I am the descendant of one of the first Ukrainian settlers,” Kruk read. “This festival allows us to focus on the comforts of great music, great friends, and great times. In doing so, we strengthen the connection we have to this culture and all cultures in the human race.”

MP for Lakeland, Shannon Stubbs was also unable to attend but her greetings mentioned that the Pysanka Festival showcases the rich Ukrainian culture and Alberta is a province with a rich cultural diversity we can all be proud of.

Reeve for the County of Minburn, Roger Konieczny and Mayor for the Town of Vegreville, Tim MacPhee also brought greetings.

Following this, the light shone on John Kusick as representative for 840 CFCW and Vegreville Ukrainian Cultural Association, Jackie Rae inducted John into the Ukrainian Music Hall of Honor. John began playing music at seven. Around the

age of 16, he played with different bands in Edmonton. John was the first musician, along with his late friend, Henry Shmetura to start a Ukrainian hour on the radio stations-CFRN and then CHFA. He has since played with the bands-Country Gentlemen and HiLites. John’s current band he plays with is the local group, Harmony where he still entertains people at 90 years old.

Harmony then took the ceremony over with their music performances which hit the hearts of the audience as John did what he does best.

This was followed by Larissa Bombak announcing the winners of the Children’s Writing Competition Awards which were presented to children who wrote about Ukrainian Easter, Christmas and Wedding’s bread.

Greetings were given by Kruk Ukrainian Canadian Congress who stated that this festival was one of Alberta’s longest-running festivals.

A representative for Vegreville Cultural Associaton, Elsie Kawulych then introduced the Hospodar and Hospodynia for 2019, Greg Syrnick and Lori Chomik. Greg and Lori reside at Calgary now. Lori was born and raised in Vegreville where she competed, performed, volunteered, and attended many festivals. Since then, she joined professional Ukrainian dance groups. Greg grew up in Saskatchewan and has been involved in Ukrainian choirs, as well as, many other Ukrainian endeavors. Together, Greg and Lori continue to volunteer for many Ukrainian projects locally and for the broader Ukrainian community.