Ukrainian groups mark major milestones

Two Ukrainian organizations in Brandon marked major milestones Saturday, celebrating a century of community and cultural activity and 75 years of service to their parish and the wider community.

The Ukrainian Reading Association Hall of Brandon celebrated its 100th anniversary, while the Canadian Ukrainian Men’s Club marked 75 years since its founding in 1950.

The anniversary celebrations included a special church service, speeches, dinner and a concert, with about 150 to 200 people, including volunteers, in attendance.

The hall was established in 1926 by Ukrainian newcomers as a gathering place and a school for children, Reading Association Hall president Nestor Zemliak, who has held the position since 2022, said.

“It was a get-together for the Ukrainian people that came from overseas at that time,” Zemliak said.

The building was constructed in three stages, with additions made over the years. Zemliak, who has been a member since 1974, said the hall has evolved as the community and its needs have changed.

The hall once hosted weekly bingo, but that ended after casinos became established and attendance declined. It also hosted Ukrainian dancers and a winter festival for 12 years before the event moved to another facility.

Today, the hall generates revenue primarily through rentals and catering, which helps fund maintenance and upgrades.

Recent improvements have included new flooring and carpeting, curtains and blinds.

Zemliak said maintaining the 100-year-old facility remains a responsibility, particularly after the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We used to be busy, busy all the time,” he said. “When COVID came, it did us in quite a bit.”

The Canadian Ukrainian Men’s Club was established in 1950 to support the parish and has since contributed to projects ranging from church renovations to community and cultural organizations.

Club president Richard Derewianchuk said members have helped renovate and upgrade the Reading Hall and Ukrainian Catholic Church while supporting organizations including the Taras Shevchenko Foundation, the Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Centre in Winnipeg, the National Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin and Troyanda School of Ukrainian Dance in Brandon.

The club has also provided financial support to Ukrainians affected by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Derewianchuk, who has been a member for about 15 to 20 years and president for roughly three to four years, said the club is seeking younger and new members as its membership declines.

Members have ranged from about 15 years old to people in their 80s, he said.

“We want anybody who’s interested in serving the larger community to help us continue our work,” Derewianchuk said.

For Derewianchuk, the club also provides a way to maintain his Ukrainian heritage. His grandparents immigrated from Ukraine in the early 1900s, with the promise of agricultural land being among the reasons his family came to Canada.

He said Ukrainian traditions continue to be reinforced through religious celebrations, family gatherings, food, singing and dancing, particularly around Easter and Christmas.

Both organizations also see their institutions as a way to preserve Ukrainian culture for newer generations and newcomers to the region.

Brandon-Souris MP Grant Jackson — who presented certificates and letters from the House of Commons to both organizations recognizing their anniversaries — said the milestones demonstrate the importance of cultural institutions at a time when more Ukrainians are arriving in the region.

“I think they’re very important,” Jackson said, adding that the organizations help younger Ukrainians integrate into Canadian society while maintaining connections to their culture.

Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett said the Ukrainian community’s contribution to the city is now deeply embedded in Brandon’s history.

“You can’t talk about the city of Brandon without talking about the Ukrainian contribution because they’ve been here the entire time,” Fawcett said.

He said Ukrainian residents have contributed across the local workforce, from medicine to industry, making the anniversaries an opportunity to recognize their role in building the community.

Derewianchuk said the Men’s Club hopes to continue supporting the parish, maintaining the hall and promoting Ukrainian culture in the years ahead.

Its major fundraiser this year will be the club’s fall supper on Oct. 25.

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