SUSK
 | |
| Motto | “Finding Belonging, Creating Leaders” |
|---|---|
| Location | 500-130 Albert St Ottawa, ON K1P 5G4 |
| Established | 1953 |
| Members | 26 USOs |
| Affiliations | Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), SUSTA |
| Website | http://www.susk.ca |
The Ukrainian Canadian Students’ Union (Ukrainian: Cоюз Українськoгo Студентства Канади (CУСК), French: Union des Étudiants Ukrainiens Canadiens)—commonly known by its Ukrainian acronym in all three languages, SUSK—is a national student organization composed of Ukrainian Students Organizations (USOs) at post-secondary institutions across Canada.
It was formed in 1953 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. After 2002, SUSK fell inactive for several years until it was revived at the XXII Congress of Ukrainian Canadians held in Winnipeg, in October 2007.[1][2] SUSK is a national member of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.[3]
Mandate[edit]
SUSK’s mandate is to advocate for the concerns of Ukrainian-Canadian students across the country by acting as a national forum for our USOs and associated members. SUSK also provides resources in an effort to inform those on and off campus about Ukrainian and Ukrainian-Canadian history and culture.
Student/Студент[edit]
"Student" (pronon. stu-dent) or "Студент" is the official publication of the Ukrainian Canadian Students' Union (SUSK). The newspaper has served as a means of communication for Ukrainian Canadian student groups and alumni at universities across Canada for decades.[4]
SUSK Congress[edit]
The National SUSK Congress is held annually, in alternating Canadian cities. It attracts student leaders from USOs across the nation, and is an incredible opportunity to develop leadership skills, network with other Ukrainian-Canadian students, and partake in topical seminars.
Projects[edit]
Professional Development[edit]
SUSK holds networking events to connect Ukrainian students and youth with professionals and entrepreneurs.[8] During 2020-2021, SUSK launched SUSK Connect, an online database connecting Ukrainian Canadian students and community professionals in a broad range of industries. This database gives students the opportunity to explore career paths in their area(s) of interest and build their professional network. At this time, SUSK also began a networking series in conjunction with the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Federation (UCPBF).
Russian Aggression Awareness[edit]
During the 2013- 2014 Euromaidan protests in Ukraine, SUSK supported the freedom for Ukrainian people along with many of the 1.2 million citizens of Canada that have a Ukrainian heritage.[9] In 2018, SUSK partnered with the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) in facilitating the Postcards for Prisoners project. For several years, USOs and students who have participated in the project write to Ukrainian political prisoners in order to raise awareness of their unjust incarcerations in Russian prisons and to provide them with moral support. During the month of May 2021, SUSK launched a National Campaign titled "Russian Aggression Awareness Month" to raise awareness about the ongoing Russian invasion in Ukraine. During this time, SUSK hosted four webinars that spotlighted expert speakers on the topics of Russian aggression, Nord Stream 2, the Crimea and Donbas war, and disinformation. SUSK additionally provided students, organizations, and those who are in support of this campaign a template letter addressed to their local Member of Parliament, outlining the urgency of the current status of Russian Aggression in Ukraine to be at the forefront of the Canadian foreign affairs agenda.
Holodomor Awareness[edit]
In November 2008, SUSK coordinated two projects with USOs across Canada in commemoration of the 1932-1933 Holodomor famine-genocide. The first was a 33-hour fast to help raise awareness on campuses while the second was a display of Holodomor: Genocide by Famine.[10] SUSK continues its Holodomor awareness and commemoration efforts on an annual basis, and encourages its member USOs to do the same.
Literature and Culture
In March of each year, SUSK holds a Ukrainian Literature Day to commemorate the famous Ukrainian poet, Taras Shevchenko.[11] SUSK helped organize a book tour across Canada for Andrea Chalupa in the Fall of 2013 for her book Orwell and the Refugees: The Untold Story of Animal Farm.
The Endowment Fund
Turnover is SUSK’s largest challenge as a volunteer organization – by the time our students fully develop their leadership, they are not far from graduating. To combat this, SUSK has introduced full-time staff to support USOs, train new executive members, as well as assist our fundraising to provide institutional memory. However, our resources to sustain this position and our member organizations are short term.
In 2021, the Ukrainian Canadian Students’ Union (SUSK) launched the “Finding Belonging, Creating Leaders” campaign to ensure a strong and unified Ukrainian Canadian student body, and to develop the future leadership of the Ukrainian Canadian community. The endowment will use its annual accruement to support SUSK and its students for years to come.
Equity: Commitment and Action Policy[edit]
In January 2021, SUSK put its resolution to create an equity policy into action. The Policy Committee has been crafting a policy that outlines the organization's vision to be a pillar for equity, diversity, and inclusion within the Ukrainian Canadian Community. SUSK aims to foster connection and unity with various cultures and organizations that encompass the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada. The policy will apply to all activities, initiatives, and internal workings of SUSK, and will be implemented in the fall of 2021 after the National SUSK Congress. Additionally, a new position that focuses on achieving the goals of the policy, the Inclusion and Diversity Director, will be voted on at Congress.
Other Accomplishments
In November 2013, SUSK was one of the finalists of the "Ukrainian Dragons" Project taking place at the XXIV Triennial Congress of Ukrainian Canadians.[12] Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk invested $10,000 into the project created by SUSK at the "Ukrainian Dragons" competition.[13][14] In 2011, SUSK held a contest to win a spot on the Historical Train of Ukrainian Pioneers to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the first Ukrainians immigrating to Canada.[15]
SUSK is continuously working on a variety of projects with the Ukrainian-Canadian community and the Ukrainian global community. Any new projects or project updates will be listed on its website.
Alumni Successes[edit]
Vera Watowich[edit]
Vera Watowich (née Zarowski) was the first President of SUSK from 1953 to 1958. She died on October 21, 2012, in Denver, Colorado.[16]
Bohdan Bociurkiw[edit]
Bohdan Bociurkiw was the co-founder of SUSK, alongside Vera Watowich, and was the first Vice-President in 1953. He was one of the founders of CIUS and served as the associate director from 1979 to 1982. He died on October 1, 1998 in his Ottawa home.[17]
Donald Sadoway[edit]
Donald Sadoway is a Professor of Materials Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and served on the SUSK Executive between 1972 and 1974. In 2012 he was named one of Time Magazine's Top 100 most influence people in the world.[18][19] Watch SUSK's interview with Donald Sadoway for the Alumni Successes video series.
Bohdan Kupych[edit]
SUSK alumnus Bohdan Kupych has worked for many years in the technology industry in Ukraine and Russia. Bohdan served on the SUSK Executive from 1975 to 1976.
George Samoil[edit]
George Samoil was the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Premier of Alberta under the Dave Hancock and Jim Prentice governments. George was on the SUSK Executive from 1980 to 1984, serving as President from 1981 to 1982.
Michael Bociurkiw[edit]
Michael Bociurkiw is a global affairs analyst, speaker, and journalist. He was SUSK’s President from 1982 to 1984. Watch SUSK's interview with Michael Bociurkiw.
Orest Nowosad[edit]
Orest Nowosad is Chief at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Orest served on the SUSK Executive from 1984 to 1986.
Marta Dyczok[edit]
Marta Dyczok is a professor of history and political science at the University of Western Ontario, specializing in international politics and history with a focus on East-Central Europe and Eurasia, specifically Ukraine. She served on the SUSK Executive in 1985. Watch SUSK's interview with Marta Dyczok.
Roman Dubczak[edit]
Roman Dubczak is Managing Director and Head of Global Investment Banking at CIBC Capital Markets. He served as SUSK’s VP External from 1985 to 1986. Roman is on the Advisory Council of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. Watch SUSK's interview with Roman Dubczak.
Roman Chwyl[edit]
Roman Chwyl is an accomplished Technology Executive with a deep technical background and experience building products and leading sales teams. He has held various senior leadership positions at Amazon, Google, IBM, and other tech firms. Roman was on the SUSK Executive from 1994 to 1995.
Paul Grod[edit]
Paul M. Grod is President and CEO of Rodan Energy, a leading energy services company. He was on the SUSK Executive from 1994 to 1997, serving as President from 1994 to 1995. In 2018, Paul was elected as President of the Ukrainian World Congress. Watch SUSK's interview with Paul Grod.
Arthur McDonald[edit]
SUSK alumnus Arthur McDonald, a SUSK alumnus, won the 2015 Nobel Prize for his work in the area of physics.[20]
Roman Onufrijchuk[edit]
SUSK alumnus Roman Onufrijchuk was a Professor at Simon Fraser University for several years, specifically in The Faculty of Communication.[21] He presented "From Datawakes to Paramortals" at TEDx at SFU in 2012.[22] Roman died in 2015.
For more on SUSK Alumni, see the Alumni Successes Series on YouTube. For SUSK's historical timeline and other alumni, see the SUSK website.
National Executive[edit]
 | This article or section appears to be slanted towards recent events. (April 2021) |
2020-2021[23]
President: Roman Grod
Vice President National: Devon Goldie
Vice President-Finance: Irina Boyko
Vice President-Eastern Canada: Marc Darmohraj
Vice President-Central Canada: Larisa Hemon
Vice President-Western Canada: Nykola Dovgyy
Internal Relations Director: Danya Pankiw
Secretary: Chase Gargus
External Relations Director: Anastasiya Gorodnicha
Media Director: Maya Pankiw
Student Editor: Alexandra Holyk
Project Director: Kira Dzulynsky
Alumni Director: Raissa Dzulynsky
Immediate Past President: Stephanie Nedoshytko
Notes[edit]
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "About".
- ^ "Membership - the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) official website". 19 February 2020.
- ^ "Ukrainian Canadian Students' Union : Free Texts : Free Download, Borrow and Streaming : Internet Archive".
- ^ http://data2.archives.ca/pdf/pdf001/p000000655.pdf
- ^ "Ukrainian Canadian Students' Union focuses on revitalizing activity (06/02/96)".
- ^ "History".
- ^ "3-2014-Page-8-1".
- ^ "Local Ukrainian-Canadians holding their breath for reform". 2014-02-25.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-04-20. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "SUSK Holds Ukrainian Literature Day on March 9th, 2012". 2012-03-06.
- ^ "The "Ukrainian Dragons" Project | Ukrainian Winnipeg".
- ^ "Sens owner Melnyk urges Canadian action on Ukraine".
- ^ "How Much do You Know About "Animal Farm"?". 2013-09-28.
- ^ "SUSK's Travel across Canada...like a Ukrainian Immigrant! Contest". 2011-05-31.
- ^ "44-2012-Page-14-2".
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-05-15. Retrieved 2015-10-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "The Gates-backed Canadian building a better battery".
- ^ Kluger, Jeffrey (2012-04-18). "Donald Sadoway - the World's 100 Most Influential People: 2012 - TIME". Time.
- ^ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/canadian-shares-nobel-prize-for-physics-over-work-on-neutrinos/article26677185/[dead link]
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-03-22. Retrieved 2017-09-11.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: From Datawakes to Paramortals: Roman Onufrijchuk at TEDxSFU. YouTube.
- ^ http://susk.ca/about/executive/.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)