Larisa Sembaliuk Cheladyn
Director – Kule Folklore Centre – University of Alberta
Kule Chair of Ukrainian Ethnography
Curator – Bohdan Medwidsky Ukrainian Folklore Archives
Alexandra Cybulsky
President, owner
Alexandra Cybulsky, is the President and owner of Cybal Finance and Tax Services Inc.
Alex (Oleksandr) Taraiev
Alex Taraiev is the President of UCPBA Calgary and the Executive Director at UCC-APC. With a strong background in finance, Alex holds multiple certifications, including B.Fin., CIFC, CPCA, and RRC. He is also an Associate at IG Private Wealth Management – Colbourne Group PWM.
Yaroslav Kitynskyy
Yaroslav Kitynskyy currently serves as the Second Vice President on the Executive Board of Dnipro Choir. He is also the Vice President at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Parish in Edmonton and an active volunteer within the Ukrainian community.
Alyssa Stoddard
Alyssa is a member of the Viter Ukrainian Dancers Folk Ensemble and has served in multiple roles on Viter’s Board of Directors. She led Viter’s 2023 community performance Harmonies that included a performance for students for students and welcomes Ukrainian newcomers with donated show tickets. Alyssa is pleased to serve as the Secretary for the Ukrainian Canadian Congress-Alberta Provincial Council. She is passionate in preserving Ukrainian culture and heritage across Alberta.
Dr. Jeff Stepnisky
Dr. Jeff Stepnisky is an associate professor of sociology and Kule Chair of Ukrainian Community and International Development at MacEwan University. He studies sociological theory, selfhood, space and identity, and collective memory. Currently he is conducting research on the collective memory of Ukrainians in downtown Edmonton, commemoration of the Revolution of Dignity at the Maidan Museum in Kyiv, and the history of sociological theory in Ukraine, with Danylo Sudyn from Ukrainian Catholic University.
Maryna Chernyavska
Maryna Chernyavska is a Digital Archivist at the University of Alberta Archives. Prior to this role, she had worked for over a decade at the Kule Centre for Ukrainian and Canadian Folklore at the University of Alberta. Maryna holds a Master of Arts in Folklore and a Master of Library and Information Studies degrees, and is currently working on an interdisciplinary doctoral program focusing on unorthodox archival practices. She serves as a Co-Chair of the UCC National Archives Committee and a Co-Chair of the Working Group on Archives of the International Society for Ethnology and Folklore. Her research and professional practice focus on digital preservation, community archives, folklife archives, traditional knowledge and memory keeping, and diaspora cultures and identities.
Artem Mamadzhanov
He is a recent University of Alberta graduate with a master’s degree in Community Engagement. In his professional life, Artem is currently a full-time champion of innovation at Mitacs working as a Business Development Advisor. Artem also holds a bachelor degree in Management and Business Administration from Kyiv Polytechnic University. In his volunteering life, Artem holds the Treasurer position on board of the Alberta Society for the Advancement of Ukrainian Studies (ASAUS) as well as occasionally engages in other volunteering opportunities in the Ukrainian community and beyond.
Olha Frolova
the owner and founder of a creative workshop and home printing house.
For 8 years in Ukraine, I developed my workshop where I printed my artwork on various items for everyday use and as souvenirs. These included mugs, thermoses, hoodies, t-shirts, stickers, and postcards. This allowed people to carry a piece of my creativity with them every day.
Cody Macoway
Cody is currently a UCC Youth Ambassador for 2024. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta in Political Science and History in addition to a Certificate in International Learning. He has experience as a researcher in politics and policy, working in government relations in Alberta and at a UK-based think tank.
Lee-Anne Kumka
Lee-Anne is the President of the Fort McMurray Ukrainian Cultural Society and the Fort McMurray Avrora Ukrainian Dancers. Over the last eight years she has successfully navigated the organization through Covid, Community Flooding, Community Wildfire and evacuations, and assisting newcomers to settle in Fort McMurray. In her professional life she works as a City Planner for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. She is married and a mother of three girls who all dance with the Fort McMurray Avrora Dancers. Lee-Anne creates opportunities and is steadfastly dedicated to family, community, work and the Ukrainian Community.
Olia Myc
Olia Myc is an elementary school teacher at St. Mathew Catholic School of Edmonton as well as the principal of Ridna Shkola at George’s Catholic Church, Ukrainian Saturday Heritage School.
Olia Myc is the Winner of the International Teacher Competition who received the first place standing and an award “The Best Teacher of the Ukrainian Language Abroad” from the Ministry of Education of Ukraine in 2020. In 2022, Olia Myc was awarded the Hetman Award by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Alberta Provincial Council for her professional achievements and for keeping the Ukrainian Canadian community in Alberta strong, dynamic and vibrant.
Gordon Yaremchuk
Gordon Yaremchuk is a 4th generation Ukrainian-Canadian originally from Myrnam, Alberta. He is a former historical interpreter, researcher, volunteer, and President of the Friends of the Ukrainian Village Society. Gordon is currently serving in his 6th year as Executive Director of the Friends Society.
Corrie Fortner
Vice President, Prairies & Territories & Senior Consultant, Edmonton
Corrie is a dynamic, compassionate, and dedicated fundraiser with innovative ideas and a strong work ethic, with more than 30 years’ experience working with charities and not-for-profits, front line, fundraising and management roles. Corrie has experience working and fundraising for organizations large and small, including Alberta Health Services and United Way. She has successfully provided leadership to teams, board and staff training, campaign planning, capacity building, exceeded goals in annual and capital campaign fundraising, grant writing, donor stewardship, database research, coaching, mentoring, risk management, and extensive program experience.
Yulianna Voloshyna
In 2015, she moved to Canada where she has been working for over 6 years as a producer and host of the Ukrainian Radio Program on 101.7 Connect FM. For over 4 years, she is the Western Marketing Director of NewPathway, as well as a Marketing Director at Alberta Kontakt TV.
Olha Vozna
Olha Vozna founded the Ukrainian Women Business Foundation a year ago. Since its inception, we have conducted more than 70 meetings and grown our community to over 1,100 members. We assist each other in finding job opportunities, integrating into the community, and establishing businesses, and during the tax season, our 50+ volunteers helped low-income individuals file approximately 2,000 tax returns for free through our Free Tax Care Tax Clinic.
Taneen Rudyk
Taneen is a fourth-term Vegreville Town Councillor, with a BA in Political Science and a background working in government, non-profits, and the private sector. As Past-President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, elected to the board since 2017, Taneen understands the importance of effective advocacy and the impact of unifying voices in the local government sector. A tireless volunteer and community champion, is dedicated to improving governance capacity, resolving conflict creatively, and representing her clients and constituents with integrity.
Emily Belke Farrell
Emily Belke Farrell is a highly experienced dance instructor and adjudicator, currently serving as the Co-Dance Director of the Viter Ukrainian Dancers and Folk Ensemble. With over 15 years in dance education, Emily has directed and taught in various capacities, blending her expertise in Ukrainian dance, ballet, acro, gymnastics, tap, musical theatre, and contemporary dance. Her career includes notable roles such as Ukrainian Director at Dance Unlimited, Camp Director and Dance Teacher at Cheremosh School of Dance, and Artistic Director of Westlock Vrozhay Ukrainian Dance Club.
Lyubov Kostetska
She comes fromTernopil Region. She has been painting for 30 years. She has extensive experience in painting walls and massive paintings in Europe, she is fond of painting clothes in the national style. She believes that every artist has her own style. And the pictures she paints are painted with the soul. She likes to paint landscapes, Ukrainian nature and flowers the most.
Deron Bilous
Deron Bilous is a results-driven executive. Deron served three terms in the Alberta
Legislature, both in opposition and government. In addition to being appointed Minister of
Municipal Affairs and Service Alberta – he created the Ministry of Economic Development
and Trade (EDT) to attract international investment, leverage science and innovation, and
support the Alberta business ecosystem.
Nataliia Khmelova
Nataliia Khmelova is a counselor and facilitator of support groups for Ukrainians, coordinating the “MI PORUCH” project. My family and I have lived in Canada since June 2023, when the support group project was launched with UCC-Alberta. I also lead the Ukrainian Association of Logotherapy and Existential Analysis, working with Ukrainians globally.
Dr. Natalia Khanenko-Friesen
Dr. Natalia Khanenko-Friesen is an oral historian and cultural anthropologist. She is the UAlberta Huculak Chair in Ukrainian Culture and Ethnography, Director of the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, and the Co-President of the Ukrainian Oral History Association. She is the founder of the academic journal Engaged Scholar Journal and has authored several books, including Ukrainian Otherlands: Diaspora, Homeland and Folk Imagination in the Twentieth Century and Інший світ, або етнічність в дії: Канадська українськість кінця 20-го століття. Natalia’s work is deeply rooted in community engagement and seeks to amplify the experiences of ordinary people and extraordinary stories.
Bishop David Motiuk
Bishop David Motiuk was born in Vegreville, Alberta. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1988 and to the episcopacy in 2002. Since 2007 he serves as the Ukrainian Catholic Bishop of the Eparchy of Edmonton. He is a member of the Ukrainian Catholic Synod of Bishops and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Andrei Kisil
Andrei Kisil is the current head of Plast Ukrainian youth scouting organization’s branch in Edmonton, Alberta. Elected to this position in the fall of 2023, Andrei is the youngest head of a Plast branch in Canadian history, having been elected at the young age of 23.
Dmytro Gospodinov
Dmytro Gospodinov is the founder and producer of UCAN Radio, a Ukrainian Canadian media platform based in Calgary. With over 15 years of experience in the creative industries, Dmytro has been dedicated to supporting Ukrainian newcomers in Canada through UCAN Radio’s broadcasts, live events, and creative content since 2023.
Olena Goncharova
Olena Goncharova heads the North America newsdesk at the Kyiv Independent, Ukraine’s leading English-language publication. She is also the Vice President of the Edmonton-based Alberta Society for the Advancement of Ukrainian Studies (ASAUS). Olena has a master’s degree in publishing and editing from the Institute of Journalism at Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv.
Tyler Shandro
Tyler is a passionate supporter of the Ukrainian Canadian community, and he was the Minister of Labour and Immigration for the Province of Alberta at the time of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and was involved in Alberta’s response in February 2022 to support Ukraine. He successfully advocated for a monument on the Legislative grounds in Edmonton to commemorate internment operations, was involved in the founding of the Calgary Ukrainian Festival and is now a board member of the Canada Ukraine Foundation.
