聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 An Invermay resident represented Saskatchewan by receiving an award during the first Ukrainian Triennial Congress in Saskatchewan.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Ken Krawetz, the former Canora-Pelly 小蓝视频, was awarded the Taras Shevchenko Medal in public service for 2016, and was presented his medal during the XXV Triennial Congress of Ukrainian Canadians, which was held for the first time in Regina from September 29 to October 2.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Krawetz said he was proud to represent Saskatchewan in the awards, as he was the only Saskatchewan-born recipient this year.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 was surrounded by people from Ontario, so it was a big deal for a Saskatchewan resident to receive the award,鈥� he said.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Taras Shevchenko Medal is the highest form of recognition granted by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and recognizes individuals of all backgrounds for outstanding national contributions to the development of the Ukrainian Canadian community.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Krawetz was born in Invermay and has lived there for his entire life. He worked as an educator and school administrator, a business owner, and as a part-time farmer before he was elected as the 小蓝视频 for the Canora-Pelly constituency in 1995.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 He served as the 小蓝视频 for 21 years, and two years into his service helped found the Saskatchewan Party. He served as Minister of Education as well as Minister of Finance after the provincial election in 2007.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Krawetz also served as Deputy Premier and passed Bill 40, also known as the Ukrainian Famine and Genocide (Holodomor) Memorial Day Act, which made Saskatchewan not only the first province in Canada, but the first area in North America to commemorate the Holodomor genocide. With Krawetz鈥檚 assistance, a statue was placed near the Legislative Building in Regina to recognize the tragedy against Ukrainian people. He also worked to develop relationships between Canada and Ukraine.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Krawetz has received many other awards including the Canada 125 Award, the Queen鈥檚 Golden Jubilee Medal, the Centennial Medal, the Award of Excellence from the Ukrainian Self-Reliance League of Canada, the Queen鈥檚 Diamond Jubilee Medal and the UCC Saskatchewan Provincial Council鈥檚 Nation Builders Award. The president of Ukraine even presented the Order of Kniaz (King) Yaroslav the Wise to Krawetz in 2009, which is the highest honour in the country of Ukraine.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Krawetz is now retired and lives on a farm with his wife Gail, who writes a weekly column for the Canora Courier. He enjoys travelling and spending time with their family, including their son Bryce, his wife Olivia, their daughters Willow and Scarlett, and his daughter Lindsay and her husband Barney.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Other recipients alongside Krawetz were: Tanya Dzulynsky, Irene Jendzjowsky and Myroslava Pidhirna, education; Olya Odynsky-Grod, Daria Vera Luciw, Paul Migus, Markian Shwec, Yuri Shymko and Halya Lyps鈥檏a Wilson, community development; and Nestor Olynyk, Mary Howika-Pidkowich and Orysia Paszczak Tracz, culture and arts.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The XXV Triennial Congress of Ukrainian Canadians was held in Regina by UCC National and UCC Saskatchewan to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Ukrainian immigration to Canada. The theme of the congress was 鈥淓ngage 鈥� Inspire 鈥� Empower,鈥� and was celebrated with a gala showcase of Ukrainian dancers at the Conexus Art Centre.
