A Weyburn couple has been honoured both locally and provincially for their work with immigrants and keeping heritage alive and well in Saskatchewan. Stan and Eileen Ganczar were presented the Betty Szuchewycz Award by the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan, an award given to those whose volunteer spirit goes above and beyond to promote multiculturism in Saskatchewan.
Nominated for this award by the Weyburn and District Multicultural Council, Stan and Eileen have made a significant contribution to multiculturalism in Saskatchewan - both individually and as a couple. They have both been involved with the Weyburn and District Multicultural Council since 1980, with Stan serving as president for over 10 years.
Of particular importance to this couple is the preservation of the Ukrainian culture. Both were raised near Dauphin, Manitoba where the Ukrainian culture was strong, particularly in their childhood homes where their parents spoke only in their native tongue - Ukrainian and Polish.
"When we started school, we didn't know a word of English," recalled Eileen.
Stan and Eileen were both founding members of the Verhoy Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, before the group was absorbed by another dance school.
"Thirty-nine years ago, we took our kids to Regina to dance and asked the instructor if she would be willing to teach in Weyburn," Eileen began. "The instructor said if we could get at least eight dancers she would come."
It took a few years to gain speed, according to Eileen, but once it did it really took off, having 52 dancers at one point, from all backgrounds.
Eileen spreads the Ukrainian culture locally by teaching Ukrainian dance and traditional Easter egg decorating at schools, the library and art centre.
The Ganczars want to do more to promote heritage in schools, however, and are working to get a heritage language teacher into local schools for one hour a week for eight weeks.
"It doesn't matter what their heritage is, it's just to teach the kids a little bit about different cultures," said Stan.
The Ganczars are currently seeking anyone who is interested in this position to contact them. They are hoping to start implementing a program of this type in January.
Another recent initiative taken on by the Ganczars was a local tribute to Holodomor at the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Stan had 33 flags made to decorate the church and commemorate the year 1933, when it is thought that as many as 10 million Ukrainians were systematically starved to death by the Soviet regime.
The church held a service during the week of National Holodomor Awareness Week, November 22 to 28, lighting candles and allowing the 40 attendees to take home their candle.
"Next year, we want to proclaim the last week in November Holodomor Awareness Week in Weyburn," said Stan.
The couple is known to get very involved with families who have emigrated to Weyburn from another country, often driving them to appointments and helping them to fill out the necessary government forms to gain Landed Immigrant status.
"It is very hard for them to know where to get these things like passport pictures, medical care, where to get a doctor and how to set up a bank account," said Stan.
Stan said that many people that have emigrated from countries with oppressive governments are very cautious of obtaining government services.
He said that is hard for newly landed immigrants to adapt to a completely new life, which is why the preservation of their heritage is so important to them. Also, they want to share their culture with their new community.
That is why the couple recently initiated a collaborative effort with the Southeast Community Settlement Committee, working with the regional library to provide a welcoming and cultural exchange with members of the immigrant community. They helped to bring together several new immigrants at an event held at the library in April.
Stan is currently serving as treasurer of the Saskatchewan Organization for Heritage Languages. He is the local branch president of the Weyburn & District Ukrainian Canadian Cultural Council and as such, sits on the board of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Saskatchewan Provincial Council. He served on the Multiculturism Council of Saskatchewan board from 1992-95, including one year as secretary. He is a board member with the Ukrainian Credit Union in Regina and on the board of the Saskatchewan Parents of Ukrainian Association.
Eileen is the Multiculturism Council of Saskatchewan's outgoing secretary.
In addition to these multicultural organizations, they both volunteer with a variety of community organizations in Weyburn. They have enriched their community with the strong value they place on celebration of individual cultures and extended their impact to the entire province.
