Creative Manitoban Talents of Ukrainian Heritage Ukrainian Arts in Canada
The information here represents a first attempt to identify Manitoba Canadians of Ukrainian heritage who have contributed to the arts. Additions are welcome. Individuals listed are either Manitoba born or have made their contribution in Manitoba. Included are artists, sculptors, writers, performers, singers, and others.
This page is incomplete and in progress. Annotations are not yet complete.
Writers:
Honore Ewach
Maara Haas
Mykyta Mandryka. Community activist, writer, poet.
William Paluk. Author Canadian Cossacks. One of the first Ukrainian Canadian books to appear in English.
Paul Crath. (Ukrainian name is Paul Krat).
Vera Lysenko Yellow Boots. First Ukrainian Canadian novel in English
Paul Grescoe. Author of Flesh Wound and Blood Vessel featuring Dan Rudnicky, the first Ukrainian Canadian detective.
Andrew Suknaski. Wood Mountain Poems.
Playwrights:
Myroslav Irchan. Leftist writer of some reknown bought to Canada by the ULFTA in the 1920s to activize the Ukrainian Canadian community. Published prolifically in Canada.
Semen Kovbel
Olexander Luhovy
Pylyp Ostapchuk
Ted Galay. Tsymbaly (performed at Winnipeg's Manitoba Theatre Centre); Sweet and Sour Pickles, After Baba's Funeral (performed at Winnipeg's Prairie Theatre Exchange).
Performers
Cecil Semchyshyn. Founded Folklorama.
Mimi Kuzyk. Hollywood Actress. Her profile at www.imdb.com
Tamara Gorski. Hollywood actress. Her profile at www.imdb.com
Ed Evanko. Hollywood actor. His profile at www.imdb.com
Joan Karasevich. Hollywood actress. Her profile at www.imdb.com
Juliette
Alex Tichonvych
Todaschuk Sisters, Rosemarie and Charlene. Their website at www.RosemarieTodaschuk.com. Also the Electronic Press Kit and CD Baby with Sound Clips are also available.
Musical
Yevhen Turula
Olexander Koshetz
Walter Klymkiw
Donna Grescoe
Pavlo Macenko
Alexis Kochan
Danny Schur
Chantel Kreviaziuk
Wally Koster
Artists
Roman Kowal
Yakiv Maidanyk
Leo Mol
Bill Lobchuk
Don Proch
William Kurelek
Vera Senchuk (Icons)
Nazar Polataiko (Icons)
Olya Marko
Roman Rozumnyj
Dimitrij Farkavec
Peter Kuch. Cartoonist-satirist.
Country Music
Mickey and Bunny. Ukrainian country music performed in Ukrainian and English.
D-Drifters 5.
Jim Gregorash
Peter Lamb
Etc!!!
Ukrainian Bands
Taran. Ukrainian dance band & traditional folk band in a modern, young style.
Shoom. Ukrainian/Old Time/Modern.
Slava
Sloohai
High Profile. Ukrainian and All-around Dance Band
Ambrose Brothers Band. Ukrainian/Old time/Classic Rock/Country.
Canadian Rhythm Masters. Ukrainian/Old Time/Swing/etc.
Female Beat. Upbeat dance music/Ukrainian.
Kalyna. Ukrainian/Country/Swing/Classic Rock.
Ukrainian Old Timers. Variety/Comedy/Superb Dance band.
Broadcasting
Denis Hlynka. Host and writer of Ukrainian Concert Hall (1982-3). 11 week series of Ukrainian classical music on CBC-FM Manitoba. First (and still the only) radio series focusing exclusively on Ukrainian classical music.
Andria Ratusky, CBC broadcaster
Robert Klymasz, folkorist.
Composers
William Pura
John Melnyk
Jim Hiscott
Danny Schur
Choirs
Ukrainian Male Chorus. Significant Ukrainian Canadian group conducted by Walter Bohonos. Winner of major music trophies
O. Koshetz Choir
Rusalka Dancers
Orlan
Rozmai
Cinema:
John Paskiveich
Roman Kroiter. Saskatchewan born, University of Manitoba graduate (MA), significant NFB director,. Works include Paul Tomkowicz (1950) and Universe. The latter had a significant influence on Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Oddysey. Invented the IMAX
Museums
Robert, Klymasz
Non Ukrainian contributions
Florence Livesay. Significant Manitoba poet not of Ukrainian heritage, but who translated Ukrainian folksongs in English. Songs of Ukraina.
Gabrielle Roy. French Canadian writer who wrote extensively about Ukrainian themes and characters in Rue Deschambeau (Street of Riches), Garden in the Wind, and Where Nests the Water Hen.
Margaret Lawrence, Significant Canadian writer. Used Ukrainian characters in her novel A Jest of God, which was filmed in Hollywood by Paul Newman and starring Joanne Woodward titled Rachel Rachel.
W. H. Valgardson. Significant Manitoba writer of Icelandic descent. Several of his short stories including The Pedlar are on Ukrainian themes.
Watson Kirkconnell. Significant Canadian historian and writer. His epic poem, The Flying Bull and Other Tales, in the style of Chaucer includes at least one Ukrainian Canadian story.
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Over the years the WSO has performed significant Ukrainian classical works including Dankevich's Taras Shevchenko, Lysenko's Overture to Taras Bulba (conducted variously by Yuri Lutsiv, Piero Gamba and Bramwell Tovey, Revutsky's Piano Concerto, Silvestrov's Symphony #2. A. Levkovich's There is no end to my sorrow. Conducted by Andrij Boreyko, Fiala's Violin Concerto performed by Stephen Staryk, and Black Elegy by Stankovich.
Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies
Room 203, 29 Dysart Road
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg MB
R3T 2N2
Canada
Phone: (204) 474-8906
Fax: (204) 474-7624
Email:
ukrcanst@cc.umanitoba.ca 
Website:
umanitoba.ca/centres/ukrainian_canadian