National Archives Committee – Who we are?
In November 2019, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress passed a motion to establish the National Archives Committee. The aim of this committee is to raise awareness, in the Ukrainian Canadian community across Canada, about the importance of preserving the community’s documentary heritage created by individuals, organizations, and institutions over the last one hundred plus years and those that are being created today. The committee was asked to work with, and encourage organizations to preserve their institutional documentary heritage and act as a coordinating body in providing information on preservation and archival standards, education, and funding opportunities for archives. An additional goal will be to explore a way to share information about existing Ukrainian Canadian archives and where they reside.
The co-chairs of this committee are Maryna Chernyavska and Andriy Sawchuk. To date other members are Bohdan Figol, Andrew Paranczuk and Irene Jendzjowsky. Myron Momryk – advisor.
About the National Archives Committee Members:
Maryna Chernyavska is the archivist at the Kule Folklore Centre, University of Alberta and a database administrator for the Archives Society of Alberta’s provincial database Alberta On Record. Maryna has a Master of Arts degree in Ukrainian Folklore and a Master of Library and Information Studies. She is an active member of the Ukrainian community in Edmonton, and of the international archival community.
Andriy Sawchuk works as an archivist at Library and Archives Canada in the nation’s capital – Ottawa. He comes from St. Catharines, Ontario and has been involved in the Ukrainian Canadian community all of his life. His educational background includes art history, archaeology, and museum studies.
Bohdan Figol worked in the computer industry for over 40 years including General Electric, Honeywell and Lava Computer MFG Inc. He has a BA and MLS from the University of Toronto and has taught and developed IT courses in Community Colleges for 15 years. Bohdan is an active member of the Ukrainian Canadian community in Toronto.
Andrew Paranczuk works in the FinTech space, currently in Big Data, as a Software Engineer/Manager. Andrew has a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Toronto and is working towards an MBA, slated to graduate in 2021. Andrew is an active member of the Ukrainian Canadian community in Toronto.”
Iryna Jendzjowsky has been working in the heritage field for over 30 years and for the last 18 years, before she retired, she worked at the Provincial Archives of Alberta. She has a Masters degree in Ukrainian and a Masters in Library and Information Studies. Iryna is an active member of the Ukrainian Canadian community in Edmonton.
Myron Momryk is an archivist and author. He was raised in Oshawa, Ontario, and graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1972 with an M.A. in Canadian History. He is a retired Archivist from Library and Archives Canada, where he worked in the Multicultural Archives Program for twenty-five years. He was responsible for acquiring and organizing archival material from East European groups, particularly the Ukrainian Canadian community. Myron continues to research and write about Ukrainian Canadian history.
In the near future, the Committee will be sending out a brief survey to organizations that are members of UCC to get a sense of the range, complexity, and variety of the documentary heritage that exists in Canada, where it resides and the needs of the community in preserving the documentary heritage. Stay tuned and look for additional information in the UCC newsletters. In the meantime, if you have any questions please feel free to contact the committee through the following email address: archives@ucc.ca
