☀️Summer Students at the Museum

As summer approaches, we are excited to introduce the 2024 summer students at the Ukrainian Museum of Canada - Ontario Branch:

Sofiia Andrushchak is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in History and English Literature at the University of Toronto. She is also the host of What We Need to Know About Ukraine – a podcast about Ukrainian history, literature and culture, and a Youth Ambassador with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. Originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, Sofiia feels a sense of "home away from home" at our Museum and is grateful for the opportunity to speak Ukrainian with our staff and volunteers.

Benjamin Shaul is an emerging museum professional who is completing his MA in Museum Studies at the University of Toronto. Ben's past experience at the Toronto Railway Museum and the Royal Ontario Museum are an asset to our Museum, especially in collections management and artifact care. This experience also gives Ben the opportunity to explore his Ukrainian heritage and learn about his ancestors who came from the Ternopil region.

Sofiia and Ben have jumped right into Museum life by creating a display about Ivana Kupala, are helping curate the Museum's upcoming 80th anniversary exhibition and digitizing collections.

Students and interns have been an important resource at the Museum since 2005! Each year, we hire students with funding from the Young Canada Works in Heritage Organizations program through the Department of Canadian Heritage, and since 2016, with funding from the Canada Summer Jobs program through Employment and Social Development Canada.

These initiatives provide post-secondary students with invaluable hands-on experience within a museum environment, involving them in tasks ranging from collections management and visitor experiences, to exhibition planning and administrative duties. Students and interns are exposed to the operational aspects of a museum and are immersed in Ukrainian culture through practical involvement and engaging projects.

We look forward to welcoming new students each summer – their passion and energy enlighten us and bring fresh perspectives to our Museum!

The Ukrainian Museum of Canada – Ontario Branch held it’s Annual Meeting on June 12, 2024. With 50 members in attendance, both in-person and online, we celebrated our accomplishments of the past year, welcomed a new Board of Directors for 2024-2026, reviewed new ONCA-compliant by-laws and presented our Strategic Plan for 2024-2029. For a copy of our Annual Report, please contact museum@umcontario.com, or visit us in-person at 620 Spadina Avenue.

Welcome to our 2024-2026 Board of Directors: Marta Bozdek, Daria Diakowsky, Darcia Hasey, Laurisa Hrycyna, Dr. Sandra Hyduk, Olga Klymenko, Lila Lapczak, Tanya Mykytiuk, Olenka Wasley, Marianna Zaparyniuk.

Special thanks to outgoing Directors Lesia Korobaylo, Ihor Prociuk and Wes Shipowick for their many years of leadership on our Board and for their invaluable contributions to our Museum!

80 years young! 🎂