BRAMA, Oct 29, 2005, 9:00 am ET
Press release
Borys Wrzesnewskyj Committed to Supporting the Ukraine List, the Calling Gard of University of Ottawa’s Chair of Ukrainian Studies
L-R: Etobicoke Centre Liberal MP Borys Wrzesnewsky, Professor Dominique Arel (Chairholder, Chair of Ukrainian Studies, University of Ottawa), and Professor Francoise Houle (Dean, Faculty of Social Studies, University of Ottawa).
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October 25, 2005 – Mr. Borys Wrzesnewskyj, MP in the Toronto riding of Etobicoke Centre presented
a cheque in the amount of $70,000 to the Chair of Ukrainian Studies of the University of Ottawa
on behalf of his family’s charitable foundation the Dopomoha Ukraini Foundation to fund the Chair’s
electronic newsletter, The Ukraine List (UKL), the calling card of the Chair.
During the Orange Revolution, UKL experienced phenomenal growth reaching thousands of scholars,
diplomats, international journalists, businesspeople, non-governmental organisations (NGOs),
and community members, in over forty countries. The initial contribution of the Foundation will
support UKL, its network of research assistants and translators, as well as a project of web archives.
This will enable UKL, and therefore the Chair, to strengthen its visibility internationally. The
Foundation is also underwriting an initiative aimed at developing a Centre for Contemporary
Archives on Ukraine.
The Chair of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Ottawa is the first research unit focused on the
study of political, economic and social issues in contemporary Ukraine. The Chair considers itself a
national institution, reaching out to communities across Canada.
The Ukraine List (UKL) is an academic/current affairs newsletter aimed at and sent to a select audience
of scholars, journalists, government analysts and decision-makers, and businessmen, NGO practitioners,
community activists and people interested in Ukraine matters. Nearly half of UKL subscribers
joined the List since the historic November 21, 2004, second round vote.
The generous donation was accepted on behalf of the University of Ottawa by Dr. François Houle,
Dean for the Faculty of Social Sciences, and Chairholder Dr. Dominique Arel. In his opening remarks
during the presentation, Mr. Wrzesnewskyj stressed that:
“Last year was historic in many ways for Ukrainian Canadians. Thousands of Canadians of Ukrainian
origin reaffirmed their ties to the homeland of their ancestors by taking time away from their own
families during Christmas and traveling to Ukraine to help ensure democracy prevailed during the
Orange Revolution. This was one more example of the special relationship and bond that exists
between Canada and Ukraine. There are many institutions in Canada that also played an important
role in these events and The Chair of Ukrainian Studies of the University of Ottawa is certainly one
such institution. The Chair’s research and dissemination of critical findings related to governance and
public policy in contemporary Ukraine is extremely important and its academic/current affairs electronic
newsletter The Ukraine List benefits thousands of scholars, journalists, government analysts
and decision-makers, business persons, NGOs, and community activists in deepening their knowledge
of Ukraine.”
Both Dr. Houle and Dr. Arel thanked Mr. Wrzesnewskyj on behalf of the University of Ottawa and
noted that the donation represents a critically important gesture for the development of the Chair of
Ukrainian Studies into a national program devoted to the study of contemporary Ukraine. “The
University made a commitment in making possible the appointment of a Chairholder. We are
delighted that Mr. Wrzesnewskyj and the Dopomoha Ukraini Foundation recognize the importance
of the Chair in funding one of its most ambitious programs,” said Dean Houle. “Mr. Wrzesnewskyj
played a phenomenal role during the Orange Revolution and understands that maintaining a high
level of Canadian engagement in Ukraine as a sine qua non for the success of Orange reforms requires
up-to-the minute access to analytical information about Ukraine, which The Ukraine List provides
for a global select audience. His support is hugely significant for the growth of The Chair of
Ukrainian Studies,” added Dr. Arel.
The mission of The Ukraine List is to present a selection of the most pertinent English-language
news items, provide an English translation of important articles published in the Ukrainian, Russian,
and non-English language European media, offer a forum to academics and other experts for analysis,
commentaries, and other original contributions on Ukraine, and post relevant announcements on
academic gatherings, scholarly competitions, new publications, job offers and the like, pertaining to
the burgeoning field of Ukrainian studies.
UKL’s strength lies in the quality of its selected items. It aims at presenting various viewpoints, an
effort enhanced by its translation service, and regular analysis of ongoing issues. UKL has established
itself as the List of reference for an understanding of the complexity of contemporary Ukraine.
Mr. Wrzesnewskyj has dedicated much of his life to working with community groups and humanitarian
causes both here and abroad. As an activist in Ukraine, Mr. Wrzesnewskyj funded, organized and
supported civil rights groups and democratic reform on the ground in Ukraine prior to glasnost and
the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Throughout the recent crisis in Ukraine, Borys Wrzesnewskyj worked tirelessly to reach all-party
consensus in Canada’s Parliament to support the struggle for democracy in Ukraine. Last year,
Mr.Wrzesnewskyj spearheaded a unanimously accepted House of Commons motion on October 26,
an emergency debate on November 24, and another unanimously accepted motion on November 25.
He was instrumental in securing the Government of Canada’s commitment to send 500 election
observers to Ukraine for the December 2004 Presidential election.
Today, the Wrzesnewskyj family continues to work in Ukraine, funding and organizing both relief
efforts for orphans, and post-secondary scholarship funds for promising students in need.
For more information about UKL or the Chair of Ukrainian Studies, please call the Chair of
Ukrainian Studies at 613 562-5800, ext. 3692 or send an email at ukrain(a)uottawa.ca.
The Chair of Ukrainian Studies
75 Laurier Ave.
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5
Canada
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