Chornobyl 25th Commemoration in Montreal
April 27, 2011


UCC Montreal – The Montreal Ukrainian community joined the communitiesworldwide in marking the 25th anniversary of the Chornobyl Nuclear Disaster on Tuesday, April 26th. A Commemorative Service was held together with representatives of the Ukrainian Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox churches,followed by a solemn remembrance program held at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Parish in Rosemount. Every year the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Montréal branch marks Ukraine’s tragic nuclear disaster. Participating in the service were Rev. Oleh Korecky, Rev. Roman Lahola, Rev. Ihor Oshchipko and Nazar Yuriv from the Ukrainian Catholic churches in Montreal And Rev. Ihor Kutash, Rev. Wolodymyr Kouchnir from the Ukrainian Orthodox churches. Rev. Korecky read the sermon recalling the impact the Chornobyl disaster had on the population and its long term effects on Ukraine and its people today. The church choir was led by choir conductor Marika Czolij.The program consisted of the trio singers Vera Turko-Kulycka, Oksana Kotskovych, Roman Kostyk ; poetry readings by Sonia Kulyckya and Pani Irena Pawliw; and a performance by bass baritone on the bandura Wolodymyr Mota. UCC cultural chairperson and coordinator of the event Bohdanna Klecor Hawryluk in her concluding remarks mentioned Evhen Czolij, president of World Congress of Ukrainians and former president of UCC Montreal spoke at United Nations in New York on a session on the 25th anniversary of Chornobyl and that Pavlo Grod, president of UCC National sent a press release to all media in Canadaconcerning this year’s commemoration events. President of UCC Montreal branch is Zorianna Hrycenko-Luhova. An article about the Chornobyl disaster appeared in the Aril 26th issue of Montréal's The Gazette and coverage was given on CBC radio by host Loreen Pendera, conducting an interview with Olena Kulishova who was in Kyiv when the explosion took place, currently living in Montreal. Simon Kouklewsky producer of Ukrainian Time community radio provided special coverage of the event. Symbolically, at the end of the program, individual white carnations were placed in a small procession in front of the church alter, in remembrance of the many children affected by Chornobyl’s radiation with its consequences felt 25 years later.

Requiem / Panachyda for the victims of Chornobyl - Roman Hurko
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gHMmcCwo3Y&feature=related