The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) of Saskatchewan, together with Veselka, the Prince Albert and District Ukrainian Cultural and Heritage Association, are teaming up to host the annual Nation Builders and Community Recognition Awards in Prince Albert on Saturday, March 7.
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.
UCC committee representative and Veselka member Jan Olesko said it was great that Prince Albert has been asked to host again.
“We’re very honoured to be hosting this prestigious event,” Olesko said. “It will be great for our city and our Veselka Club, but also for the honourees who are coming to receive their awards here and to see how great Prince Albert is, (and) what a beautiful city we are.”
Honourees will be recognized for outstanding service or exceptional community involvement that is beyond the performance of their normal duties or the exercise of the responsibilities of a profession to which they belong.
Their contributions have been judged to have made a lasting impact on the development, goal and ideals of our province, our country and our Ukrainian Canadian community.
Olesko said that it was a great way to recognize volunteers.
“We have so many wonderful volunteers in our city,” she explained.
“We have just great volunteers. We have fun and we do great work building community.”
She said Prince Albert was happy to be selected for this year’s awards.
“The UCC usually hosts it in Regina or Saskatoon mainly, but once in a while they’ll go out and so this year we requested if they would consider us and we were honoured that they did select us to host this,” Olesko explained.
This year, 12 honourees from communities across the province will be recognized at the evening gala on March 7 at the Ches Leach Lounge.
Adding to the celebrations will be local Prince Albert Ukrainian cultural performers sharing their artistic talents through music, dance and poetry.
The awards event is made possible through the generous support of sponsors.
“We’re very lucky to have such great volunteers to put this on,” Olesko said. “It takes a lot of people to put this on and everybody’s been like just pitching in and it’s coming together really beautifully. We’re very proud of everybody that’s going to be honoured from across the province and of course the two people in Prince Albert.”
Prince Albert Northcote MLA Alana Ross, Minister responsible for Parks, Culture, and Sport, will be recognized with the Newsmaker of the Year award. According to the UCC Ross is receiving 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.
Along with Ross, other honourees from Prince Albert include Joseph Olesko for leadership and Vicki LaRose for volunteerism. Prince Albert last hosted the event in 2018.
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, Audrey Hrycak of Canora for volunteerism
“Saskatchewan’s Ukrainian population has been contributing to this province for more than a century; significantly and visibly playing a role in all aspects of its development,” Ukrainian Congress of Saskatchewan executive director Danylo Puderk said in a press release. “They are the nation-builders, cultural practitioners and volunteers recognised as leaders and builders in all areas of our society. They are the men and women who excel professionally while maintaining and sharing a unique and well-respected cultural identity.
“As Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, the awards honour the ongoing efforts at home while reaffirming our unwavering support for all those impacted by Russia’s unjust and brutal war.”
Tickets for the UCC Saskatchewan Nation Builders and Community Recognition Awards are on sale now and available for purchase online.
michael.oleksyn@pahearld.sk.ca
