Prince Albert residents among those recognized by UCC Saskatchewan

Ross recognized as Newsmaker of the Year by UCC Saskatchewan

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) of Saskatchewan and Veselka recognized 12 honourees during their 2025 Nation Builders and Community Recognition Awards at the Ches Leach Lounge on Saturday.

Among the dozen honourees were three from Prince Albert: MLA Alana Ross (Newsmaker of the Year), Vickie LaRose (community recognition award for volunteerism), and Joe Olesko (community recognition award for leadership).

Ross wasn’t expecting to be named Newsmaker of the Year.

“I was shocked actually … and really humbled because I hear what the other recipients of this awards have done and the accomplished,” Ross said. “They’ve done such amazing things, not only for our province, but for the Ukrainian community and for our country.”

According to the UCC, Ross received the award because she was instrumental in bringing forward legislation to enact the From Many Peoples, Strength Act in November 2025 ensuring that the month of September each year will be recognized as Ukrainian Heritage Month in Saskatchewan. The Act is expected to receive Royal Assent and come into effect before the end of the spring sitting of the Legislative Assembly.

Ross said that introducing the Act was very important. She said that the decision was made because it was a great thing to do for groups asking for recognition.

“We’ve always proclaimed within government if various groups asked, and we’ve had a number of groups coming forward more and more all the time, so we made the decision to automatically approve,” Ross said.

“When you look at the contributions, unless we’re one of the original people, we’ve all come here and we’ve all contributed so much to the province of Saskatchewan. It’s a cultural recognition.”

Ross said that while she was the one being recognized, it was the government and team who were responsible.

“We worked really hard on this act and I’m just the one blessed to be here this evening,” Ross said.

“What an honour. It’s an honour to be here on behalf of the government for this important act and it’s a real honour for me to meet the other recipients and hear the contributions that they have made.”

UCC Saskatchewan’s annual recognitions program was established in 1995 to honour individuals who have made meritorious contributions to the Ukrainian community, Saskatchewan and Canada.

LaRose was honoured to be recognized for her volunteerism.

“I know there’s a whole lot of people out there that (volunteer) as well and I wish they could all be recognized,” LaRose said. “It’s an honour.”

LaRose said she works for Ukrainian people because she is 100 per cent Ukrainian.

“I’m second generation born. I’m doing genealogy and I’m tracing my family tree. I did spend seven weeks in the Ukraine and I supported two families there,” she explained. “It’s to promote our culture. If you can be of assistance, why not.”

LaRose is heavily involved in researching her family history.

“I’m tracing family history for my children and give them some sort of roots,” she said. “I enjoy the culture very much, working with these people. They’re all hardworking people. (I’m) just offering my services.”

She said she enjoys taking part in Perogy and Cabbage Roll making bees to give back. She also enjoys making bread with Veselka at the Prince Albert Exhibition each year.

“I usually make the dough and you know how rewarding it is to look out the bake shop’s window and see 30 people lined up waiting to buy your bread,” she said. “It’s hot coming out of the oven and you’re buying it, so it’s rewarding.”

She is also a volunteer at Ronald McDonald House each Friday, which she said puts structure in her week, and also volunteers at other events in the community.

“It’s just rewarding and it’s nice to be involved, nice to mix with people and be part of the community,” LaRose said.

“You don’t do it for recognition. I do it because I so enjoy it.”

LaRose has also been recognized for her work as a Foster Mother and was inducted in the Prince Albert Women’s Hall of Fame.

LaRose said it was great to be recognized with all of the other people.

“It’s some wonderful people,” she said. “Great people.”

Joe Olesko, who has been a longtime volunteer and church leader at St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church and leader of the SaskTel Pioneers, said he was surprised to be recognized for leadership.

“It’s unexpected,” he explained. “When you like doing what you’re doing, you don’t expect to get rewards.

“I keep thinking of John F Kennedy and when he said that statement about it’s not what your country can do for you, it’s what you can do for your country. Then you do a play of words and it’s community. It’s been fun. The whole thing’s been fun.”

Olesko said that he would not have been recognized for his leadership without great people to work with.

“The leadership aspect is mostly to direct people,” he explained. “If you’ve got fantastic people that you’re directing, you don’t need much for direction, just organization. I guess that’s leadership for you in a nutshell.”

Olesko said that as far as he was concerned he has been involved with St. George’s forever. He also was in charge of SaskTel Pioneers volunteers at the Art Hauser Centre for 30 years.

“It’s the people that you’re working with,” he said. “Leadership becomes very easily. It just takes somebody to pick reins and lead on.”

Even though he wasn’t looking for recognition, Olesko said that being honoured by the UCC was a big deal.

However, he emphasized that he had a lot of help.

“The award is what you accomplish with your groups,” he said.

“If they aren’t helping you or assisting you or working with you, you don’t get anywhere. So far all my life people have been phenomenal.”

He added that finding phenomenal people make it easy to be a leader.

“They’re always hidden someplace,” he said. “All you have to do is find out where they’re hiding and then all of a sudden, bang, everything comes together like it’s never been before.”

He said that he would not change a thing about his life.

“It’s been phenomenal right through,” he said. “Sure, there’s rough spots and stuff like that, but the majority of the time it’s fantastic and phenomenal.”

The 2025 Nation Builders honourees were Dr. Alan Anderson of Saskatoon and Dr. Jen Budney of Saskatoon and Angela Wojcichowsky of Saskatoon.

Other honourees from Saskatchewan include Harry Spilchuk of Saskatoon for cultural preservation and development, Andrew Smychuk for leadership and cultural preservation and development, Christine Schweiger of Moose Jaw for Leadership and Volunteerism, Anita Slobodzian of Saskatoon for volunteerism, Sonia Sokyrka of Saskatoon for volunteerism, and Audrey Hrycak of Canora for volunteerism

The event was emceed by Veselka Choir leader Wasyl Rybalka and his wife Sally Rybalka.

Former Veselka President and current Vice President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Saskatchewan Charlene Tebbutt brought greetings from the Congress and handed out the awards.

Cultural performances were done by the Veselka Choir, the Junior Prince Albert Barveenok Ukrainian Dancers and a Ukrainian breakdance by Kyle Szeszorak.

Prince Albert Carlton MLA Kevin Kasun brought greetings on behalf of the province and Mayor Bill Powalinsky brought greetings on behalf of the City of Prince Albert.

To honour those lost from Saskatchewan in the Russian Invasion of Ukraine Prince Albert poet Darcy Blahut read a poem.

Father Harry Salahub of St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church said Grace before dinner and the event closed with a prayer by Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz of the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

michael.oleksyn@paherald.sk.ca