A New Monument on the Legislative Building Grounds

Manitoba Pageant, September 1961, Volume 7, Number 1

This article was published originally in Manitoba Pageant by the Manitoba Historical Society on the above date. We make this online version available as a free, public service. As an historical document, the article may contain language and views that are no longer in common use and may be culturally sensitive in nature.

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Canadians are becoming increasingly conscious of the contributions ethnic groups are making to the development of Canada. The co-operative efforts of all these peoples, with origins preponderantly in Europe, have built up a better country in all fields - economic, political, social and cultural.

One of these prominent segments of the Canadian population is the Ukrainian Canadians, numbering over half a million in Canada. Of these, over 100,000 live in Manitoba, where every eighth person is of Ukrainian descent. Winnipeg, with a concentration of nearly 50,000, is regarded as their "capital". Here are located the headquarters of the Ukrainian Canadian Committee, which co-ordinates the common activities of nearly thirty Dominion-wide organizations, the metropolitan archbishops of the two Byzantine-rite Ukrainian churches and several publishing firms with leading newspapers.

This year the Ukrainian Canadians are celebrating the seventieth anniversary of their settlement in this country. It was early in September, 1891, that the first two Ukrainian settlers arrived in Winnipeg. [1] Wasyl Eleniak and Ivan Pillipiw initiated the flow of Ukrainians into Canada.

The Ukrainian Canadians commemorated this anniversary by erecting a monument in honour of their greatest poet, Taras Shevchenko, as this coincided with the centenary of the poet's death. Under the auspices of the Ukrainian Canadian Committee, over $150,000 was raised throughout Canada for this purpose. Since this was $30,000 in excess of the costs of the monument, the remaining sum was transferred to the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation to promote cultural projects. The bronze statue was sculptored in New York by Andrew Daragan, who was assisted by Roman Kowal of Winnipeg.

Almost every Ukrainian knows some of the inspiring poetry of Shevchenko, which has been translated into the leading languages of the world, including English. The inscription below the statue describes Taras Shevchenko (1814 - 1861) as the "National Poet of Ukraine, Champion of Justice and Freedom For All." And underneath these words is found the quotation "He revived and inspired a nation down-trodden by oppression - and fearless appeal to right and truth speaks as eloquently in our time as it did in his." This man of lowly birth, who used his rare talents of poetry and painting to fight Russian tsarist tyranny for the rights and dignity of the common man and for freedom of his and other subjugated nations and who suffered a martyr's fate in exile, is to-day the most revered man among Ukrainians throughout the world.

Preceded by a long and colourful parade, the unveiling of the monument on the Legislative Building grounds of Manitoba took place on July 9, in the presence of a very large mass of people from all parts of Canada and the United States, numbering over 40,000. Witnessing and participating in the ceremony were the highest dignitaries of the federal and provincial governments, the metropolis, the university, the Ukrainian churches and organizations and representatives of several ethnic groups in Canada and the United States.

The unveiling ceremony was opened by Monsignor Dr. W. Kushnir, President of the Ukrainian Canadian Committee. Premier Dufferin Roblin brought greetings from the Government of Manitoba and after quoting a stanza of Shevchenko's poetry in good Ukrainian made the announcement that Ukrainian would be introduced as an elective subject, beginning in Grade IX, in the High Schools of the province. The act of unveiling the Shevchenko monument was performed by the Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable John G. Diefenbaker, who stated that Shevchenko belonged not only to the Ukrainians but to all of humanity. At this time, the band from Chicago, the large Ukrainian choir and the people rendered Shevchenko's solemn "Last Testament". Then followed brief addresses by Metropolitan Ilarion Ohienko, head of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church, and Metropolitan Maxime Hermaniuk, head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, who also spoke in French.

The Shevchenko Centenary Celebrations lasted two days, during which time Portage and Main were decorated with Canadian and Ukrainian flags. On Saturday morning, July 8, a large parade of Ukrainian veterans and youth organizations marched to the Cenotaph, where a ceremony was performed and a wreath laid in remembrance of the great poet. That evening a youth festival, paying tribute to Shevchenko, was held before an audience of 10,000 at the Winnipeg Arena. The programme included a children's choir of 350 voices, youth and scout drills, mass Ukrainian folk dances, a mixed choir of 200 singers and an address by the Honourable Michael Starr, Minister of Labour, Ottawa, who was introduced by Michael Luchkowich, first Ukrainian federal Member of Parliament.

The residence of A. G. B. Bannatyne was used by the first Legislature from 1870 to 1873. The old Provincial Law Courts Building on Kennedy Street was used in 1883. The Law Courts and Gaol at the corner of Main St. and William Ave. were used by the Legislature from 1874 to 1882. The first Legislative Building as such, stood on the north east corner of the present Legislative grounds facing Kennedy St. and was used from 1884 until 1919.

Unveiling of Shevchenko monument by Prime Minister Diefenbaker.
Source: Johns Photo Studio.

On Sunday, July 9, following the unveiling ceremony, a commemorative concert was held at the Winnipeg Auditorium, packed with 5,000 people. Shevchenko's poetry was rendered in song and music by a large mixed choir conducted by Prof. Y. Barnych of Cleveland and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra directed by Prof. Lev Turkewych of Toronto; M. Skala-Starytsky of Paris, France, sang tenor vocal selections. The Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba, the Honourable Errick F. Willis, delivered the message from the Crown.

That evening, a banquet at the Marlborough Hotel, with 1100 people in attendance, concluded the Shevchenko celebrations. In his speech Prime Minister J. G. Diefenbaker dwelt upon the achievements of the Ukrainian Canadians during the past seventy years, emphasizing their progress in every walk of life, their love of liberty and their love of cultural things, all of which is being woven richly into the Canadian pattern of life. Special Shevchenko medallions were awarded to the following persons who have made significant contributions to the realization of the monument or to the popularization of the poet's works and cause: Premier Dufferin Roblin, former Premier D. L. Campbell, Dr. W. Kirkconnell, President of Acadia University and Prof. G. W. Simpson, retired head of the History Department, University of Saskatchewan, Monsignor Dr. W. Kushnir, Reverend Dr. S. W. Sawchuk, W. Kossar and T. Kobzey, founding members of the Ukrainian Canadian Committee.

And so today, in front of the Legislative Building of Manitoba, stands a new monument of a new friend on the Canadian scene, Taras Shevchenko, a symbol of the lasting contribution of the Ukrainians to the many-sided development of Canada.

Notes

1. See Paul Yuzyk. "The First Ukrainians in Manitoba" in Papers read before the Historical and Scientific Society of Manitoba, Series 3, No. 8, 1953.