The Oral History of Ukrainian Canada (OHUC) is an oral history project that seeks to interview people who have contributed to the development and well being of Ukrainian Canada, Canada in general, and internationally.

The purpose of the project is to collect audio-visual interviews with persons who were, or are, active in the development and well being of a Ukrainian Canada. This includes persons born in Canada, as well as immigrants who came to Canada as children or adults from Europe, the USA and other countries.

The interviews focus on the person’s life story: childhood, education, professional life and family, their motivation, their worldviews, beliefs and ideas. Interviewees are also asked about their participation in the organizations and life of the Ukrainian Canadian community, community work and involvement, their contribution to the development of Ukrainian Canada and to Canadian society and the world at large.

Beginning by interviewing the more senior members of the community first, the OHUC project has the following objectives: to seek information on how individuals adapted to Canadian society, became interested in Ukrainian-related issues, what accomplishments they achieved within organizations across all structures of Ukrainian and Canadian society, and what principles guided them in life. The interviews are recorded in Ukrainian, English or French, in accordance with the preference of the interviewee.

Stories and profiles of those who contributed to a Ukrainian Canada ensure that present and future generations are connected to their cultural heritage, they promote lifelong Ukrainian Canadian learning, and they foster a meaningful continuity and strengthening of contemporary Canadian and Ukrainian life. These interviews are valuable resources for students, teachers, researchers, scholars and future generations and are part of UCRDC’s oral history collection – a unique body of archival documentation, which preserves the heritage of Ukrainian Canadians.

Project Director: Prof. Jurij Darewych, UCRDC President

Project Manager and Interviewer: Sophia Isajiw

Head of Archives: Iroida Wynnyckyj

Video Editors: Ruslan Bokiy, Valeriy Gorchynskyy

Website Developer: Valeriy Gorchynskyy

UCRDC Board OHUC Committee:

Prof. Jurij Darewych, Iroida Wynnyckyj, Nadia Luciw,
Nadia Skop

2016 Summer students:

Ruslan Bokiy, Anastasia Leshchychyn, Kassandra Luciuk,

Adriana Szczurko

2016-2017 Interviewer and project assistant:

Zoriana Kilyk

SOME REFLECTIONS FROM THE INTERVIEWEES:

"I think what you’re doing is a marvelous job because I think that a lot of history has been lost, a lot. And it’s been lost because nobody tried to save it."

Rev. Fr. John Tataryn

“Thank you to the UCRDC for doing this, I think this oral history series is a very worthwhile topic and I appreciate being a part of it. It’s an honour to be interviewed for this oral history project.”

Irene Bell

“I think this is a very worthwhile project.”

Myroslava Oleksiuk

“I think that just your attitude towards this entire very lengthy interview, has been amazing. I really want to congratulate you, hats off to you for being able to commit to a project like this. You know, I’ve done a lot of interviews in my life and it’s interesting how I felt very comfortable which enabled me to speak in an honest way. And it made me relax and able to remember things, so thank you.”

Fr. Peter Galadza

“I am involved in UCRDC as a Board Member. I hope I’m still contributing in a practical way to this very productive and useful community project.”

Oleh Romanyschyn

“I look forward to seeing the list of people who were interviewed and checking some of them out!”

Stephan Bandera