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On Sunday, October 25, 2009 UCC President Paul Grod presented the Shevchenko Medal to Rt. Rev. John Tataryn in Toronto. The presentation was made at the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of St. Demetrius Ukrainian Catholic Church which was attended by church and civic leaders from communities in Canada, the United States, and Ukraine.
"Reverend John Tataryn is a man of vision, a man of action and great compassion", said Paul Grod. "The Ukrainian Canadian community is the proud and grateful beneficiary of his dedicated work."
Rt. Rev. John Tataryn and UCC National President, Paul Grod
The Shevchenko Medal was awarded in recognition of Rt. Rev. Tataryn's remarkable accomplishments in the development of the Ukrainian Canadian community over the past 50 years. A native of Sydney, Nova Scotia, Father John built and nurtured a new parish community in Toronto, which now numbers over 1,000 families; established a school with a Ukrainian language program, spearheaded the building of a Seniors Residence, which is home for 260 residents, and the building of the Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre, a state-of -the-art long-term care facilility, which provides care for 120 residents.
He has initiated and fostered numerous church, cultural and community organizations, including the Yavir Dance Company. He has also organized humanitarian and social assistance to communities in need in South America and Ukraine.
Among those attending the Golden Jubilee celebratrions were Bishop Josef Milyan, Auxiliary Bishop of Kyiv, Ukraine, Bishop Emeritus Cornelius Pasichny of the Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada, Bishop Emeritus Basil Losten of the Eparchy of Stamford, USA and Archbishop Yurij Kalischuk, Archbishop of Toronto and Eastern Eparchy, Ukrainian Orthodox Church, together with numerous political and civic leaders.
The Shevchenko Medal is the highest form of recognition that can be granted by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. It recognizes individuals of Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian descent, as well as institutions and organizations, for their outstanding national contribution towards the development of the Ukrainian Canadian community.
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