Yuri Shymko: From Bandera youth leader, MPP and MP, to elder statesman or more than 50 years, Canada’s Yuri 1971, Oct. 9, 1971: When running as a national Affairs Seminar, sponsored by the Shymko has led far-right Ukrainian Tory in the Ontario election, Shymko’s cam- ABN.”17 Held in the Ontario Legislature, its Fgroups that idolize Stepan Bandera as paign workers were accused of “‘scurrilous main speaker was Col. Albert Koen, treas- a war hero, despite his fascist ideology, his antisemitic’ attacks” against NDP incumbent urer of the US Council for World Freedom reliance on terror tactics, his military aid to Dr. Morton Shulman.8 Shymko’s supporters (USCWF), the US branch of the World Anti- the Nazis, and his role in eradicating Poles, conducted a “nasty, dirty,” “vicious cam- Communist League (WACL).18 Other speak- Jews and communists. paign of hatred,” said Shulman, that includ- ers included ABN-Canada chair Orest 1967, July 31: As a leader of the Bander- ed stealing hundreds of NDP signs, threat- Steciw, Tory MPs (John Gamble and ite Ukrainian Youth Association (UYA), ening the lives of canvassers, tossing a brick Michael Wilson) and Jay Parker,19 a Black Shymko shared the stage with PM Pearson threw his car window, making “ugly calls” member of USCWF’s board.20 In the 1960- on Parliament Hill to address 1,500 scout to his office, circulating a fake document 70s, Parker helped lead a pro-Vietnam War troop members who stood in formation linking him to the NDP’s radical Waffle group, Young Americans for Freedom. Af- wearing army-like uniforms.1 movement “for an Independent Socialist ter working for Reagan’s administration, he 1969, Oct.18: Shymko spoke at a Parlia- Canada” and “going around telling every- was an advisor to the Christian right’s Amer- ment Hill rally “commemorating the 10th body I’m a communist.” Shymko, who ican Freedom Coalition.21 This front of the anniversary” of Bandera’s murder. This strongly denied this, blamed Shulman for re- “Moonies” Unification Church was created event was organised by Canada’s leading sorting to “filthy muckraking tactics.”9 by S.Korea’s CIA. It worked with the Banderite group, the Canadian League for 1973: Shymko’s book For this was I Born, WACL, Reagan and George Bush Sr., and the Liberation of Ukraine (CLLU), now was published by proBandera Ucrainica Re- helped fund and supply the contras. called the League of Ukrainian Canadians search Institute, then housed with the UYA, 1983, Nov. 16: Shymko had Charlton He- (LUC). “The marchers,” said the Ottawa and CLLU’s weekly paper, at Toronto’s ston at his Toronto fundraising dinner. The Journal, “laid a wreath honoring Bandera’s Ukrainian Cultural Centre. His book was Reagan-loving actor, who later led the Na- memory at the National War Memorial.”2 promoted (1975-81) by Ukrainian Review,10 tional Rifle Assoc. (1998-2003), used Shym- 1970, Oct.21: Shymko created the Can- a global Banderite journal edited by Slava ko’s event to “condemn...the Communist re- adian Freedom Council (CFC). These “Ca- Stetsko. She led the Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of gime’s repression of Solidarity in Poland” nadians of Eastern European origin” fought Nations (ABN) after her husband Yaroslav and the “horrors” of communism in Ukraine.22 to “preserve democracy” by opposing died in 1986. Ukrainian Review was “pub- Heston said he was “pleased” that PM Pierre “Marxist-Leninist propaganda.”3 The CLLU lished in cooperation with” the CLLU, which Trudeau “issued a firm stand of support for had a “leading role” in the CFC’s first prop- distributed it in Canada.11 the NATO alliance.”23 Shymko paid Heston aganda project: “Lenin Without Makeup.”4 1973, Aug. 24-27: Shymko spoke at the US$10,000 “for a speech so pro-nuclear ar- 1971, Jan. 30: Joining a melee at the So- ABN’s global conference, London, UK, cel- mament,” said The National Post, that “Tory viet embassy where windows were broken, ebrating its 30th anniversary. Its keynote cabinet ministers and civic leaders were the “double police line was rushed” and speaker, ABN president Yaroslav Stetsko, squirming with embarrassment.” Shymko “breached” and “fireworks emitting smoke led Bandera’s Organization of Ukrainian Na- “hit the jackpot,” it said, selling $150 tick- were tossed by demonstrators,” he “turned tionalists (OUN-B). Shymko “conveyed ets24 to raise the 2020 equivalent of $250,000. his bull horn at the embassy and yelled ‘And greetings to participants from John Diefen- 1986, Nov. 20-22: During the ABN’s glo- listen, you Russian b———!’” No arrests baker, former Prime Minister of Canada.”12 bal Campaign Freedom Conference (CFC), were made. Later, “the European division 1973-78: Shymko was Sec.-General of the Toronto, Shymko got the Silver Medal for of external affairs ... received Mr. Shymko OUN(B) and its top global front, the World “outstanding work in promoting the ideals 25 and a delegation to hear their request for Congress of Free Ukrainians13 (WCFU) now and goals of ABN.” As part of the CFC he Canadian intercession” against the USSR.5 the World Ukrainian Congress. held an event at the Ontario Legislature for 1971, Mar.31: As a member of the CLLU’s 1978-79: Progressive Conservative MP ABN pres. Slava Stetsko. (Shymko’s daugh- national executive and its former president, 1978, Fall: On Oct. 20, Shymko chaired ter Lisa was a CFC coordinator.) Shymko addressed a joint committee of the a press event at the UN telling it to “dis- 1988-93: Shymko was Ukrainian Con- Senate and House of Commons.6 mantle the Soviet Russian Empire.”14 His gress of Free Ukrainian’s president. He suc- 1971, Jun. 2: Shymko was a member of proclamation was signed by global groups ceeded Univ. of Alberta chancellor Peter the “founding committee” that formed Paul whose founders and leaders included Nazi Savaryn, veteran of the Waffen SS Galicia. Hellyer’s Action Canada Party (ACP). Hel- collaborators: the Estonian World Council, 1999-2004: Canada’s government fund- lyer was the Assoc. Defence Minister under Confederation of Free Byelorussians, Lith- ed programs that sent Shymko as an objec- Liberal PM Louis St. Laurent in 1957, Pear- uanian World Community, World Federation tive observer to monitor several presiden- son’s Defence Minister (1963-67) and Tru- of Free Latvians and the WCFU. On Nov. tial and parliamentary elections in Ukraine. deau’s Transport Minister. (1968-69). After 23, he submitted their demands to the UN 2004, Nov. 25: “Shymko and [former being an Independent MP (1972) and a Pro- General Assembly’s president. Shymko not- Polish leader Lech] Walesa stood side by gressive Conservative MP (1972-76), Hel- ed that his initiative “had the support of all side ... [in] Kyiv’s Independence Square... lyer went public in 2005 with his beliefs in three parties—the NDP, Liberal and Con- addressing one million ... during the Orange aliens and UFOs. Shymko, who was a “Lib- servative.”15 Revolution” demanding “Let Ukraine be 26 eral riding worker” for Hellyer in the 1960s, 1981-87: Progressive Conservative, MPP Ukrainian.” This is virtually identical to the described ACP as “a useful vehicle for eth- 1981, Nov.7-8: Shymko spoke at an ABN- racist, “Ukraine-for-Ukrainians” slogan nic groups ... anxious for Canada to pursue Canada Conference in Toronto.16 used by Bandera’s OUN. Wanting Ukraine a more anti-Communist policy abroad.”7 1983, Jun. 25: Shymko hosted an “Inter- as an “ethnic nation state” “‘purified’ of non- 60 Press for Conversion! Issue # 70 Spring 2021 Kiev, Ukraine Aug. 24, 2006 I 7. Anthony Westell, “Ac- ence, Jan/Feb 1984, p.48. bit.ly/ABN-40th N tion Canada is a mixed 18. Kyle Burke, Revolutionaries for the Right: D Anticommunist Internationalism & Paramili- E bag of motives,” Bran- P don Sun, Jun. 2, 1971, p.4. tary Warfare in the Cold War, 2018, p.121. E bit.ly/Shymko-AC bit.ly/Koen-WACL N 8. Bill Prager, “In an ur- 19. “40th Anniversary of ABN...” p.49, op. cit. D 20. WACL, Jan. 9, 1990. bit.ly/AFC-WACL E ban age, Toronto the N place for a politician to 21. Lee Edwards, “The Founding Father of the C show,” Windsor Star, Oct. Black Conservative Movement,” Dec. 3, E 7, 1971, p.25. 2019. bit.ly/J-Parker D Viktor Yushchenko bit.ly/ShymShul 22. Chris Nowicki, “Yuri Shymko Awarded Soli- A President of Ukraine 9. Dennis Bell, “Shulman darity Medal of Gratitude,” Ukrainian Weekly, Y Sep.2, 2012. bit.ly/Shymko-Heston 2005-2010 claims late campaign,” Yuri Shymko Lisa Shymko Leader-Post, Oct. 9, 23. “Actor helps fill PC coffers,” Ottawa Citi- Empowered by the US/NATO-backed “Orange Revolution” 1971, p.40. bit.ly/ShyShu zen, Nov.17, 1983, p.42. bit.ly/ShymHest of 2004, Yushchenko decreed fascist leaders Stepan Bandera 10. Search of Ukrainian 24. “Heston headlines at fund-raiser,” National and Roman Shukhevych Heroes of Ukraine, led rehabilitation Review for promotions for Post, Nov. 26, 1983, p.7. bit.ly/ShymHest3 25. Iryna Mycak, “Toronto Hosts Campaign of their fascist army, and gave Yuri Shymko a state medal. Shymko’s book bit.ly/ShymkoABN Freedom, Nov.20-22, 1986,” ABN Corre- Ukrainian inhabitants,” said historian Grze- 11. The ABN’s Ukrainian Review and it’s offi- spondence, Jan/Feb 1987, pp.9-12. (Lesia gorz Rossolinski, the OUN-B elevated “eth- cial links to the CLLU bit.ly/ABN_CLLU Shymko is on pp.12,25,39.) bit.ly/abnswc2 nic violence” to one its “central concepts.”27 12. “ABN & EFC Conferences,” ABN Corre- 26.