Submitted
On Nov. 6, 2016, at the Saskatoon Radisson Hotel, 11 recipients were honoured and recognized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. One of these recipients was my friend Ann Ewanchuk of North Battleford who received the Community Recognition Award. I am Ann’s friend, Jennie Penzie. I feel very honoured to be able to write about Ann’s 66 years as a member to her UWAC, which was started in December 1950 with the Whitkow Olha Kobylanska Branch. This is a huge job for one person, so I have these ladies to thank for their help in writing: Ruth Hrynewich, Caroll Lyndeman, Erinka and Larissa Jordan and Lindsay Ewanchuk.
Ann was born Aug. 10, 1928, five miles north of the little townsite of Redfield. Her parents are both of Ukrainian origin. Her mother, Erinka Lukowich, was born in Ternopel, Ukraine, on Feb. 4, 1904 to parents Anastazia Bomak and Evan Lukowich.
Her father Mike Spak (Shpak) was born in Sokal, Western Austria, at that time referred to as Ukraine. His parents were Anna Hiibner and Louie Shpak. Anna’s father was German. Mike was born June 16, 1903. When he was one year old, his father Louie died from an over-enlarged heart. Mike never ever saw a picture of his father.
Ann had three brothers: Walter, Johnny and Louie Spak, and one sister, Nellie Andersson.
In 1926, a young farmer and self-taught carpenter, Nichola Ewanchuk, built a hall in Square Hill on Fred Kowerchuk’s parcel of land. This is where all youth and elderly gathered. This is where Ann’s father Mike joined the Ukrainian Youth Group CYMK in 1933. The branch was called Ivan Sirko, under the leadership of Hryhory Tyzuk. In 1943 Ann and her three siblings joined this group.
In 1949, Ann married Uhan Ewanchuk who was also a CYMK member. Years down the line, their children Roman, Evhan, Orest and Erinka joined this Ivan Sirko Branch and participated in many drills, singing, dramas and sports, winning trophies. Year after year, the elderly passed on and many people moved out of our district. Ann became president of the Olha Kabylanska branch at Whitkow. This position she held for 17 years and was the corresponding secretary for 23 years. Her wonderful friend Sylvia Buziak (deceased) was treasurer for 17 years. In 1989, the UWCA held a convention in North Battleford where Ann was elected as provincial president for Saskatchewan for a two-year term. At one of the conventions held at North Battleford, Ann was the M.C. for the day. She made a quilt of white squares on a blue background. Every square had the name of one of the Saskatchewan branches. The quilt was raffled and won by a gentleman from Regina – his name was Orest.
In 1933, Ann’s father-in-law Nichola Ewanchuk built the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The first service was at Easter of 1934 at 4 a.m. with the blessing of Easter food baskets. This is where Uhan and Ann grew up together and got married.
The following is from Ann Ewanchuk’s speech on receiving her award:
I am ever so honoured today to achieve such a highly respectable award. There are no words in the vocabulary to express my feelings.
I was raised by two Ukrainian parents. Mama was a very religious person and very quiet. She was raised in a Ukrainian Church where there were no chairs, only a few for cripples. Through all my life attending our church, I never ever saw my mother sit. My dad was a very patriotic man. He talked a lot and read the Ukrainian Voice and we all listened. There was no TV or radio. We always heard what Savelya Stechysen wrote about “Dowkala Domos.”
At this time I will tell you of an incident that happened when I was about 12 years old. Our church was celebrating the Ascension Day with services followed by a large meal. Mama had a card written of what to bring. First on the list was a tea towel. Everyone brought the same kind of a towel. It was the 100-pound bag from Robin Hood Flour. Other articles were cups, saucers, silverware. Money was scarce; Mama did all she could to save. She boiled a gallon of dried fruit. Just before putting the lid on, she took a spoon and tasted the juice. What a loud scream she gave, and started to cry repeating, “Oh, what did I do, how could I have done this? I didn’t let the children taste it and now I have to throw it out.” My father came to comfort her asking what had happened. Through her sobbing tears, “I put salt instead of sugar and have to throw it out.” The stove had a shelf with two cans from jam, one with salt, one with sugar. This was the end of my Mama’s donation of fruit.”
Ann also writes:
After receiving my wonderful trophy, I was walking off the stage to my table, and a strange man tapped me on my shoulder saying, “Lady, after 66 years as a member and serving your church, make sure you write about yourself and all your volunteer work.”
I guess I am taking his advice.
I have received many certificates, 29 years as member, 46 years, 75 anniversary of Women’s Association, 50 years a member. In 2016 our North Battleford Branch honoured each member with a certificate and a pin with 66 years on it.
I congratulate all the Community Builders for receiving their awards. I thank my daughter Erinka, Rory, son Orest and Chrissy, granddaughters Lindsay Ewanchuk and Larissa Jordan for attending the award ceremony and driving me there. My family so far is four children, three sons, one daughter, 10 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and two great-grea- granddaughters. My husband Uhan passed away Aug. 25, 2006, from a fifth heart attack in his home.
On June 11, 1973, Uhan and I bought his sister Minnie and John Goyan’s Whitkow Hotel. Living there I got involved with a middle-aged single girl who was under the care of North Battleford Health. She lived two blocks from my hotel. I checked up on her every day. Here are my other volunteer jobs. In 1977 I started a Ukrainian school in our hall. I had 31 students including four English mothers. Unfortunately we were forced to fold up on account of an accident.
In 1983 I was director at Wakaw Ukrainian Green Grove Camps for three weeks. I also helped the cooks in the kitchen and helped Cecilia Kachkowski (Ukrainian School teacher) to paint Easter eggs, cross-stitch embroidery, read and write in Ukrainian. I volunteered twice in teaching Easter egg decorating in two schools in North Battleford, helped at the Battlefords Union Hospital filling in envelopes for the foundation project. With my friend Sylvia Buziak (deceased) we sat up to the wee hours of the morning helping compile two history books, one for the Golden Memories of Whitkow and District Schools and the 50th anniversary of Whitkow’s Ukrainian Youth Association CYMK. In 1998 with my friend Nellie Tomanek (deceased) I attended Rabbit Lake municipal meeting, asked for financial support and advice to extend the Gloss Lake cemetery and put up a chain link chain fence. This cemetery is located two miles east of Whitkow. We were fortunate it was done. I participated in a walk-a-thon from Whitkow to Mayfair 16 miles at age 57. In 2013 with my daughter Erinka Jordan we walked in a Bridge City Boogie when I was 83 years old.
On Dec. 23, 2010, I sold the hotel and live in Tower II North Battleford.
Two other recipients from North Battleford were honoured the same day. They were Rev. Fr. Bohdan Demczuk for Cultural Preservation and development, and Natalya Shevchuk in the youth category.
