UKRAINIAN

History	UCWLC	About us	Children	Mission	Eparchy
Events	Pastor	Executive	Ukrainian	links	Schedule

The Ukrainian-Canadian Cultural Society of Nanaimo was formed and registered under the Society's Act in 1986. The Society's goals and objectives are educational, cultural and arts for the children, youth and adults. Nanaimo's Vesna Ukrainian Dance Ensemble is also under the umbrella of the Society.

The Society has undertaken many projects over the years. It has offered Ukrainian language classes, embroidery, bread making, Easter egg decorating lessons and demonstrations in schools and malls in Nanaimo. It has set up Ukrainian arts, crafts and costume displays in different venues and at social gatherings. Christmas and Easter bazaars have been held annually at St. Michael's Hall with great success.

The Ukrainian-Canadian Cultural Society of Nanaimo sponsors a scholarship in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District every year. The Society and Vesna Dance Ensemble have been regularly hosting the Annual Vancouver Island Concert involving performers from Victoria, Courtney, Campbell River and Nanaimo.

Currently, we have approximately 26 members in our organization and are always striving to bring new members in. We celebrate with dinners, picnics and fun events for the children and the youth, as well as the adults.

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VESNA Ukrainian DANCE ENSEMBLE

The Vesna Ukrainian Dance Ensemble originated in Nanaimo in 1984 by Leona Osowetski. Its first instructor was Darrie Kolonsky with a total of 11 dancers.

Into the second year Corinna Burns, Dawn Wellburne and myself worked hard to keep the group together until I asked Jeanne Rudy if she would take over as instructor and choreographer. She did! As of then, Vesna has been progressively excelling in all aspects of dance, costumes, choreography, etc. Thanks to Jeanne for all the hard work and years of her expertise and dedication to bring Vesna to where it is today!

Vesna has traveled and performed in many venues and places over the years 1992 PNE Ukrainian Showcase, Port Alberni Folkfest, Courtney Malanka, Vancouver Island Concert, BC Ukrainian Dance Festival and Vegreville competitions.

All Vesna's costumes are hand embroidered, annually adding new costumes representing different regions of Ukraine.

Vesna Ukrainian Dance Ensemble is always striving to become better by sending dancers to workshops, having special instructors brought in to assist, and working to have assistant instructors trained to assist.

Currently, Vesna has approximately 28 dancers and ~1eanne has also developed 3 instructors under her direction.

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Early 1980 the Sharanowski family commenced with a social function to bring together and create communication with Ukrainians on Vancouver Island. The idea was to keep our traditions and culture alive celebrating together with food, dance, song and friendship. This created a lot of interest, and many people participated.

In 1984 Leona Osowetski took a step further. With involvement of others, she organized other cultural and dance groups on Vancouver Island: in Victoria, Port Alberni, Nanaimo, Courtney and Campbell River. That organization now known and formally registered as VANCOUVER ISLAND UKRAINIAN SOCIAL ORGANIZATION.

Our goals and objectives are to maintain and promote Ukrainian culture, arts, dance and traditions through communication. By assisting each other, wherever is necessary and needed, we keep our organization alive and growing. We try to maintain communication amongst Ukrainians and others who are interested in our traditions and culture. On the Island we have our Annual Celebration with a CONCERT involving all the groups on the Island to participate. After all we have our traditional meal with perogys that everyone enjoys.