February 2021 | Volume 62 | Issue 3

COVER: UKRAINIAN STUDENTS’ CLUB AT RYERSON A letter from the “Student” editor

Dear Student, Our “Student” Editor, Alexandra Holyk. Is it just me, or did everyone experience serious nostalgia when watching your Snapchat memories these last two months? January and February are usually our busiest months, and it’s not because we go back to school after winter break. Once * Ukrainian Christmas and koli- ada season are over, the fancy shoes, dresses and drinks come out every weekend in January for all the different Malankas. I’ve spent the last four years getting ready with my friends for * “real” Malankas — the coming- of-age milestone once you’re too old to attend the family Malanka with your parents. Whether it was CYM or PLAST, the ener- gy, good friends and good fun were always the best part of any * Ukrainian event. as well as internationally — LUX February usually marks zaba- and Zirka, both based in Toron- A special thank you to our con- va season ahead of Great Lent. to. Find out how the pandemic tributors featured in this issue: Every weekend there’s anoth- has impacted them and what er event hosted at the Taras they’ve done since their last live Roman Grod Anastasia “Staz” Priadka Shevchenko Cultural Centre performances. on Horner Avenue — so every Somewhere in the middle of Anastasiya Gorodnicha Aleksa Gobosz weekend there’s another reason the issue, our alumni will expe- to get dressed up and party with rience some nostalgia of their River Hoffos Ukrainian Students’ Club at your friends. I haven’t gotten own — we look back on past Ryerson University dressed up since Feb. 29, 2020, Student issues that highlighted Raya Dzulynsky and I’ve been sitting in my py- zabavas of the times back then. jamas every day since March. In the meantime, we must Please, let there be an opportu- continue to stay strong and cope nity in 2021 to get dressed up. with the ongoing pandemic and This issue tackles that nostal- restrictions. Since and gic feeling we’ve all felt over the Peel region are still in a stay-at- past year and specifically during home order at the time of publi- these last two months. Our con- cation, I recommend turning on tributors are recounting their some Ukrainian music, lay out fondest memories of attending the shot glasses, dress up in what Malankas, zabavas and any other should’ve been your Malanka get Ukrainian event that featured a up and enjoy your own zabava live performance (which is basi- from the comfort and safety of cally every Ukrainian event). your own home. Pretend you’re We’ll also hear from some of in those pre-Zoom zabava times. our favourite bands in the GTA – Alexandra Holyk

2 A message from SUSK’s president

Our President, Roman Grod. has accomplished a lot, and I am highly optimistic about our future and the difference that SUSK will be able to make. I look forward in seeing more participation through our var- ious advocacy campaigns and events that we have planned throughout 2021. When looking forward it is * always good to look back and reflect on the past. We hope that you enjoy this issue as we look back to some Zabava’s pre- COVID-19. We are only as strong as our USOs and we hope to continue * to see them thrive even in this virtual environment.

All the best! Всього найкращого! * – Roman Grod

Вітаю! ever virtual koliada. Our talent- prosperity of our community. Welcome to SUSK’s first issue ed executive continues to create Thank you to all our members of 2021. SUSK was sure to hit the more virtual content and bring and executives that continue to ground running this year when together clubs and leaders from be successful and forward-think- we brought together clubs from all over the country to ensure ing even during these difficult Check us out on YouTube: across the country for our first we are working together for the times. In the last 67 years, SUSK youtube.com/user/SUSKNational

Table of Contents

Looking back on a pre-Zoom zabava...... 4 Follow the music: The heart of the zabava...... 6 A blast from the past zabavas...... 7 How the pandemic afected our bands: LUX...... 8 A conversation with Zirka...... 9 Where are you?...... 10

3 Looking back on a pre-Zoom zabava A collection of Malankas, zabavas, stories and memories from Ukrainian events before the pandemic

By Roman Grod ber organizations from across the country has seen a signifi- Zabavas now seem like an cant national increase in all our event of the past. Many look back local events. With the increased and don’t even remember the last usage and acceptance of virtual zabava they attended. It is diffi- events, the issue of being 5,000 cult to believe that the last zabava km away seems irrelevant. SUSK hosted was back in 2019, Do I miss zabavas? Of course during our annual congress in I do. Will SUSK host more na- Winnipeg. It is good that SUSK’s tional zabavas in the future? Of unofficial motto is to make every course we will. For the time be- moment count, and back at the ing, SUSK and all our members, Ukrainian National Federation supporters, and friends need to building in Winnipeg, with Bud- adapt and make the most of the mo playing for us all night, we current virtual situation. So that By Anastasia “Staz” Priadka sic of the live band, feet throbbing were sure to do that! one day, we can go back to com- from dancing and spinning on the Although COVID has seen us plaining about how we have to The Latin New Year begins in dance floor, and cheeks aching shift away from the in-person get on a plane and fly halfway January and with it, many events from all the smiling and laughter. events such as zabavas and con- across the country, all for some take place in the Ukrainian-Ca- Most zabavas are surprising gresses, SUSK and all our mem- awesome SUSK zabava. nadian culture. Most notably is and exciting since moments are Ukrainian New Year’s, known experienced with individuals as Malanka, which is celebrated you’ve just met, or with those in many different forms on the you’ve reconnected with after eve of Jan. 13. a while. Regardless, it’s nice to Some choose to drink cham- say hello and catch up with a fa- pagne at home as the clock miliar face or make connections strikes twelve. Others host gath- with new faces. No matter how erings of family and friends — in much time has passed, conversa- the case of 2021, this was likely tions are just as easily continued done virtually. at the next zabava. In the past, most would have Also, cheers only get better attended a zabava where they can each year, so hang in there until dance the night away with many the next zabava — there’s bound more friends that would fit under to be many great stories from the roof of a common dwelling. living through the pandemic! The atmosphere of any zabava Until then, Budmo and keep leaves ears ringing from the mu- those dancing shoes nearby!

4 By Anastasiya Gorodnicha a delicious dinner, and unlim- culture!). He taught me how to Then we decided it was a good ited drinks. I was amongst new polka, and at one point we had idea to walk around the grounds You really can’t say you’ve expe- friends, ready for a good time. the dance floor to ourselves. The of the Banff Centre, some of us rienced being Ukrainian if you ha- I don’t know what it is about band was amazing and the music more drunk than others. ven’t been to a Ukrainian zabava SUSK Congress, but it’s so easy was flowing from one ear to the I don’t remember what we at least once. Even though I have to become close with people other — it was magical. We were were doing exactly, but I remem- only started to go to Ukrainian you met just a few hours ago. dancing so fast and so energeti- ber a fellow Ukrainian events during my undergraduate There are people from that cally. We ended up dancing for Students’ Club (OUSC) member degree, I have been to quite a few congress that I still speak to a good 30 minutes until it was ended up with a ripped suit, and zabavas and Malankas since then, often to this day. I have to say, time to go back to our hotel. I’m pretty sure someone from and there is one that particularly SUSK Congress is probably the the Alberta USO had a swollen was lots of fun. epitome of friendships and con- SUSK Congress is ankle. Luckily I had my first aid It was SUSK Congress 2018, nections, especially at a Satur- probably the epitome of and helped him to the best of my in beautiful Banff, Alta. It was day night zabava. abilities. I remember the secu- my first SUSK Congress, and The reason for this night to friendships...especially at a rity guard was running after us this was only a few months af- be so memorable for me, was Saturday night zabava and we were hiding in the trees ter I truly discovered my true that I’ve always wanted to dance and behind buildings...It was a Ukrainian heritage. It was also a polka, but had no idea how. That is when the funniest part night to remember. I’m so hap- my first ever zabava! My friend was kind enough of the night happened. All of py I left my comfort zone to not It started off with the elec- to ask me to dance (which has the delegates were in the master only go to SUSK Congress, but tion of the new SUSK Board also been a dream of mine, but room and we were all singing also learn a new dance and make 2018-19, then we were served it doesn’t happen in Western Ukrainian songs and koliadky. new friends and memories.

By Raya Dzulynsky

What do zabavas mean to me? They are a time to get to- gether with many of the people I grew up with in Toronto’s Ukrainian community. Zabavas are also a place to get to know more Ukraini- ans such as at SUSK zabavas. Every year, I attend PLAST Malanka and sit at the table with the same people, other than this year of course. We go to different universities, live in different cities, and lead separate lives, but we all make sure to come back for a great Ukrainian New Year’s zabava, the best night of the year. A collection of Malanka photos featuring Dzulynsky and her friends from 2017-20..

5 Follow the music: The heart of the zabava By River Hofos

A zabava is so much more than a party; it is a time to make new friends and fond memories, a time to dance and sing and a time to celebrate our culture and grow as a community. For me, this means dressing up in an embroidered vyshyvanka and dress pants that are never quite stretchy enough before indulg- ing in a few too many pyrohy. It won’t be long before my feet find their way to the dance floor where I will take the hand of a friend, a baba, or even a complete stranger and lead them through a polka, two-step, jive, or waltz. After many songs worthy of partner dancing and a few casual trips outside to cool off, I often A band of Ukrainians from Alberta playing and singing together pre-COVID-19. Hofos is pictured in the centre. find myself exchanging my dress shoes for a pair of Ukrainian Kolomeyka, I will instead tell a ting, dancing, singing and play- a small group of strangers-be- dance boots in preparation for the story about the one aspect of a ing all sorts of instruments. I come-friends down the street most exciting dance of the night, zabava that I have not yet dis- recognized a few of the revelers from the festival grounds to the the Kolomeyka. This particular cussed, the music. to be members of the bands that world’s largest pysanka, where time of the night is possibly one had been performing all night. we played, sang, and celebrated of the most iconic celebrations The dance may have The rest were strangers to me, in the spirit of Ukrainian music. of ukrainian culture and dance. ended, but the zabava but in my experience strangers I could happily share story after often turn out to be new friends, was defnitely not over I encourage you to seek story about the Kolomeyka and so I joined the singers and danc- out the source and meet all of its potentially dangerous, ers. I was quickly lost in the pas- impressive, or even funny mo- While a hearty meal of pyro- sion of the music. Before I knew the musicians. They are... ments. But, I am confident that hy and kovbasa may play an im- it I had the strap of a bukhalo, the heart of the zabava if you’ve ever attended a proper portant role in fueling a zabava, a traditional Ukrainian drum zabava you will understand the there would be no dance with- that often has an attached cym- beauty of a Kolomeyka. If, on the out music. bal and tambourine, across my Since that night, I have played other hand, you have never wit- This musical story takes shoulder. I had been swept up a bukhalo in time with a nessed a Kolomeyka, I assure you place long after the Kolomey- into the current of the music. and accordion across western that it is certainly worth experi- ka has ended and last call has I cannot tell you how long I and back to my home in encing first-hand. been called, at the Vegreville beat that drum, but eventually Alberta, spreading the spirit of Pysanka Festival. After reclaim- the party grew smaller as peo- Ukrainian song and dance with If you’ve ever attended a ing my discarded dress shoes, I ple wandered off to find a place the help of many inspired voices. proper zabava, you will wandered off into the dark and to sleep until only a handful So, if you ever hear the passion- understand the beauty found myself drawn toward the of members remained. At this ate song of Ukrainian minstrels sound of lively music originat- point, I heard one of the remain- echoing in the night, I encour- of a Kolomeyka ing from the campground. The ing musicians suggest: “Let’s age you to seek out the source dance may have ended, but the walk to the Egg.” Hence, as the and meet the musicians. They With full confidence that zabava was definitely not over. sun began to rise, the sound of are, in many ways, the heart of every reader now has plans At the heart of the music, I a few singing voices, a violin, an the zabava and you never know to participate in a post-Zoom found a group of people chat- accordion and a drum propelled where their music will take you.

6 A blast from the past zabavas

October 1969 February-April 1976

S T U D E N T...IN THE 60s AND 70s... For more archival content, go to susk.ca/student/archives

October 1969

October 1977

October 1969

7 How the pandemic affected our bands: LUX

LUX; from left to right: Orest Benko, Roman Kus, Michael Wankewycz, Aleksa Gobosz, Victor Fik, Nazar Kostiv.

By Aleksa Gobosz, As restrictions grew tight- Benko, lead guitarist and singer Without either, our lead drum- lead singer of LUX er, our ability to have weekly began writing poetry! His most mer boy Michael Wankewycz practices “ceased to exist,” said recent work: said he feels that the “morale is Last year, on Feb. 16, Lux accordionist Nazar Kostiv. Due “Boo. Lockdowns. Suck. Ruin. very low.” Posting event pic- performed at their first offi- to COVID-19, no zabavas were Zabava. Season.” tures and even requesting input cial event — Chas’ “Around the allowed to take place, which in He should probably stick with from our friends on what songs World zabava.” turn meant the excitement to singing and playing the guitar. we should learn keeps us moti- After countless hours of prac- practice at home was and con- However, he’s not wrong about vated to consistently improve. ticing and learning new songs, tinues to be at an all time low. lockdowns ruining zabava sea- We try our best to send vid- we were ready to be another up Strong restrictions and winter sons. Zabavas allowed students eos and Snapchats into our and coming Zabava band. Al- weather means no more park- to take some time off school and band group chats to share our ready having five events planned ing lot meet-ups for practices, work, meet up with friends, sing improvements and even poten- for the rest of the year, we had the as well as a Malanka-less Jan- “One Way Ticket” by Eruption tial songs we can learn. Sharing motivation, excitement and de- uary. Who knows when the at the top of their lungs and just voice recordings and videos of sire to practice. Once COVID-19 next Zabava will be? How about boost their social batteries. our past performances also helps came around, this all changed. Malanka or Ivana Kupala? We never thought that a year us remember that a life without At first it was easy to meet up Roman Kus, the lead sax- without a zabava or Malanka COVID-19 does exist and that in someone’s backyard and have ophonist and pianist in our was even possible! It’s difficult life shall one day return! socially distanced practices with band, said, “No zabavas make to look forward to practicing Performing traditional songs, the rest of the band knowing Aleksa very angry,” and I’m and learning new songs through dancing polka and screaming that we were all in each other’s sure the rest of us are all in the video calls and socially distanced our hearts out on the dance “bubble.” Lucky enough, we same boat. Our lack of motiva- parking lot meetups knowing floor are only a few of the things only have six members in the tion to practice alone at home that our next event may not we miss. But most importantly, band, meaning the 10-person even led our members to pick- happen for another year. as bass player Victor Fik put it, gathering laws at the time were ing up some new hobbies aside A big part of being in a band “We miss moving our hips and easy to follow. from their instruments. Orest is the crowd and performances. making hips move.”

8 A conversation with Zirka

By Alexandra Holyk other organizers to include in their respective events. Zirka, a Toronto-based “We were trying to stay in Ukrainian band that has per- touch with a lot of our fans and formed at weddings, festivals and they really appreciated it,” Morris zabavas for decades, found new said. “It was a really lonely time to ways of connecting with its audi- be in lockdown — no zabavas, no ence amidst the pandemic. weddings, no parties — so it was Through virtual events and one way of reaching out.” live-streamed performances, Following the virtual festivals, band members Morris Hucal, which included Canada’s Nation- Karen Aniol, Kateryna Hucal, al Ukrainian Festival in Dauphin, John Hucal, Yurko Mychaluk Man. and the Bloor West Village and Bill Hawryschuk deliver a Toronto Ukrainian Festival, Zir- positive energy to their fans in ka was able to perform in-person Zirka; from left to right: Morris Hucal, John Hucal, Karen Aniol, Kateryna Hucal, Bill Hawryschuk, Yurko Mychaluk. the comfort of their own homes. once again, in a much different Zirka’s last in-person perfor- environment than they were pre- mance took place on Feb. 29, viously used to. by the Kubasonics from St. John’s, “[The new album] was some- 2020. “We never thought that In August, when the restric- N.L. and Sloohai from Winnipeg. thing that was never planned would be the last time we were tions were partially lifted in On- Mychaluk emphasized the band for,” he said, adding that in gonna get together — all six of tario, Zirka had the opportunity took careful precautions to ensure preparation for the Capital us — to perform because every- to play at a wedding in Hamil- members’ and the audience’s safety. Ukrainian Festival, the band was thing after that got shut down,” ton, Ont. for the first time since “We have to [contact trace], ev- able to record eight songs. said Morris. February 2020. eryone’s wearing a mask, on stage, Since the eight songs weren’t we had plexiglass in front of our enough for a new album, the band microphone set-ups,” Mychaluk had to go back to the studio to re- “If there’s one thing for certain, Zirka loves said. “We followed all the protocol.” cord five more songs in between connecting with our friends and our fans and “As much as people were ten- restriction periods. Though the we’re always gonna fnd opportunities to do that” tative to come out...to an event in physical CD is expected to be re- the time of a pandemic and social leased this summer, the band de- distancing, we still were able to cided to release songs from the Since the start of the pandem- “This was the time when we connect with fans which is really album on all streaming platforms ic, the band has been looking for were limited to 50 people in- amazing,” Aniol added, referring in three stages — one at the end ways to perform again safely. Its doors and all of the measures to the small crowd of “die-hard” of October, another in December first pandemic performance was were in place with the social Zirka fans that were able to at- and the final and most recent stage a virtual zabava for the Capital distancing [and] the masking,” tend the zabava in-person. released mid-February 2021. Ukrainian Festival in Ottawa. Aniol said, adding that social However, not long after that, “We were trying to put a little “We have been the house band distancing at Ukrainian gather- the provincial government in- funny spin on it because as the since [the festival’s] inception,” said ing in particular “would be very creased restrictions due to the stages open up, it’s different lev- Aniol. Morris added that although challenging to adhere to.” growing number of positive els of protocols,” Mychaluk said. the festival wouldn’t be in-person, “What didn’t change was the COVID-19 cases in Ontario. Be- Looking ahead, Zirka’s band the organizers still hoped Zirka love that was in the room, the fore the province went into lock- members aren’t sure when they’ll would play a virtual zabava. band’s energy, the excitement of down, Zirka was able to record be able to play in-person once While adhering to the public the guests and the happiness of and release a handful of new songs again but they plan on maintaining health guidelines at the time, the the bride and groom at the end as part of a three-stage album se- a positive energy for their audience band managed to record a couple of it all,” she said. ries called, “Live in Isolation.” through virtual performances. of songs in Loud Mouse Studios On Sept. 12, Zirka played a live Morris mentioned that if “I think if there’s one thing for in Toronto as well as film videos show at The Rockpile club in To- there’s one positive thing that certain, Zirka loves connecting to include in the festival’s virtual ronto for a limited audience. The came out of the COVID-19 pan- with our friends and our fans and zabava. Following the event, the performance was streamed live on demic for Zirka, it’s that it al- we’re always gonna find oppor- videos were shared online with Facebook alongside performances lowed for a new recording. tunities to do that,” said Aniol.

9 WHERE A

10 RE YOU?

CREDIT: Ukrainian Students’ Club at Ryerson, February 2020

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