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The Ukrainian Canadian Congress Charitable and Educational Trust is proud to announce the third cohort of the Youth Ambassadors program. The selected Youth Ambassadors represent a diverse range of backgrounds, experiences, and talents, reflecting the rich tapestry of Canada’s Ukrainian community.

You can read their short biographies below.

Team member
Maria Aponiuk Sawicz
Toronto, ON
Maria Evheniya Aponiuk Sawicz is a current student at the University of Toronto obtaining a degree in European Affairs and Geography. From a young age, Maria has always had a passion for community participation, especially through performance and art. Today, she is an active member of the Vesnivka Choir, Ukrainian Youth Association- CYM, and the Ukrainian Students' Club at U of T where she serves as secretary. She has also volunteered for many humanitarian efforts and community events in Ontario, working to support the broader community and raise money for Ukraine. As a Youth Ambassador, she hopes to further serve her community and positively impact other Ukrainian students in Canada.
Team member
Tyan Cherepuschak
Calgary, AB
Tyan (Tanas) Cherepuschak is a proud Ukrainian-Canadian from Saskatchewan. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Anthropology and Environmental Studies from the University of Victoria. Tyan has followed his family’s roots and been active in the Ukrainian cultural community across Canada. He has served as Vice-President of the UVic Ukrainian Students’ Society, danced with Veselka Dance (Victoria, BC), worked as a camp counsellor at Green Grove Camp (Wakaw, SK), hosted the annual Baba’s Bonspiel curling bonspiel (Balgonie, SK), and represented his community at the first pan-Canadian Model EU Conference (Ottawa, ON). As a Youth Ambassador, Tyan seeks to continue to strengthen his involvement in Ukrainian-Canadian culture and leadership in his next home city of Calgary, Alberta.
Team member
Mariia Malynovska
Toronto, ON
Originally from Ukraine, Mariia Malynovska holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Social Communication from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and plans to pursue a Master's degree in Global Affairs at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, University of Toronto. Since arriving in Toronto, she has dedicated her work to supporting and engaging the Ukrainian community, helping hundreds of Ukrainians displaced by the war navigate settlement, employment, and community resources as they build new lives in Canada. Alongside her community work, Mariia is a freelance journalist with Kontakt TV, where she conducts interviews and public dialogues with politicians, community leaders, and key stakeholders, while moderating discussions on issues affecting the Ukrainian Canadian community. Passionate about civic engagement and youth leadership, she hopes to use the Youth Ambassadors Program to develop meaningful projects that strengthen community connections, support newcomers, and empower young Ukrainians to make a positive impact in their communities.
Team member
Megan Morant
Winnipeg, MB
Megan Morant is an Assistant Sales Manager from Winnipeg, Manitoba, who is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree. She is an active member of the Ukrainian Canadian community, serving as a catechist at St. Basil's Ukrainian Catholic Church and volunteering in the Emergency Department at St. Boniface Hospital. She is passionate about youth leadership, healthcare advocacy, and strengthening connections amoung young Ukrainian Canadians. As a UCC Youth Ambassador, Megan hopes to inspire young people to engage with their heritage, develop leadership skills, and contribute meaningfully to their communities while helping build a strong future for Ukrainian Canadians.
Team member
Marta Mykhlyk
Mississauga, ON
Marta Mykhlyk is a Political Science student at the University of Toronto with aspirations of pursuing a career in law, particularly in the field of immigration law. She is passionate about advocacy, civic engagement, and supporting newcomers as they navigate opportunities and challenges in Canada.

Marta currently serves as an Office Administrator Assistant with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) Toronto Branch, where she supports the planning and execution of community events, advocacy initiatives, and fundraising activities that amplify Ukrainian voices and strengthen community engagement.

In addition to her professional work, Marta is actively involved in volunteer and non-profit initiatives across Toronto, including efforts supporting humanitarian aid for Ukraine. Through the Youth Ambassadors Program, she hopes to contribute to initiatives that support Ukraine, raise awareness of issues affecting Ukrainians in Canada and abroad, and help build a more connected, informed, and engaged Ukrainian Canadian community.

Team member
Anastasiia Naumova
Ottawa, ON
Anastasiia Naumova is pursuing a Bachelor of Social Sciences with Joint Honours in Public Administration and Political Science at the University of Ottawa. She moved to Canada four years ago following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and has since become an active member of the Ukrainian community in Montreal.

Her community involvement began with organizing school-based awareness initiatives and has grown to include media interviews and the publication of an essay in LeDroit. For the past three years, Anastasiia has also been an active member of Plast, the Ukrainian Scouts Organization.

As a UCC Youth Ambassador, Anastasiia looks forward to further developing her leadership skills while advocating for issues affecting Ukrainian youth in Canada and Ukraine and contributing to meaningful community initiatives.

Team member
Anna Nikoula
Ottawa, ON
Anna Nikoula is a recent graduate of the University of Ottawa, holding a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Sociology. Her research examines the integration of Ukrainian migrants into Canadian society, focusing on how policies and support frameworks can better address the structural, psychological, and relational dimensions of displacement. Alongside her academic work, Anna writes poetry, which explores themes of identity and the ongoing war in Ukraine. As the child of Ukrainian immigrants, she brings these perspectives into her work, which has been featured in literary journals and the anthology Canada Is Our Poem.
Team member
Arnica Palechuk
Vancouver, BC
Arnica Palechuk is a communications professional with a global perspective and a lifelong passion for physical literacy. She holds a Bachelor of Communication and Digital Journalism from Thompson Rivers University, where she studied abroad in England for one year and was nominated for the Lieutenant Governor's Medal upon graduation.

Since graduating, Arnica has built her career across the United Kingdom's renewable energy sector in public relations before transitioning to her current role in the Canadian healthcare sector. Through the UCC Youth Ambassadors Program, she hopes to leverage her expertise in strategic communications and stakeholder engagement to lead meaningful community initiatives. She is particularly passionate about exploring and sharing the historical connections between Ukrainian immigrants and Indigenous Peoples through a communications lens, contributing to dialogue, understanding, and reconciliation.Her community involvement began with organizing school-based awareness initiatives and has grown to include media interviews and the publication of an essay in LeDroit. For the past three years, Anastasiia has also been an active member of Plast, the Ukrainian Scouts Organization.

Team member
Zenon Patten
Montreal, QC
Zenon Patten is pursuing a Bachelor in Commerce at Queen’s University. He is the Fundraising Coordinator for the Queen’s University Ukrainian Students’ Association (QUUSA) and a Logistics Coordinator for the Queen’s Commerce-Law Association (QCLA). Originating from Montreal, Zenon grew up as a Plast scout and continues to be involved as a counselor at youth and adolescent sleepaway camps. Zenon played competitive Soccer and Basketball and is passionate about music creation and piano. Through the UCC Youth Ambassador program, he hopes to build on his involvement in local Ukrainian communities by implementing his knowledge of business to support the greater Ukrainian community of Canada.
Team member
George Poklitar
Montreal, QC
George Poklitar is a Ukrainian-Canadian actor, judoka, and data professional based in Montreal. He balances his studies and on-screen work with a career at the Canadian Space Agency. He is completing a Master of Science in Data Science at Boston University and holds a Bachelor of Management from the Université de Montréal. George represented Team Canada in judo from 2009 to 2022, earning seven national titles and a 4th-dan black belt. His international results include a silver medal at the 2017 Francophone Games in Abidjan and appearances at the Cadet Judo World Championships in Kyiv (2011) and Miami (2013). He has served on various steering committees and remains active in young professional networks across the federal public service. George hopes to draw on his experience in sport, performance, and public service to inspire and connect Ukrainian youth across Canada.
Team member
Kateryna Rudenko
Halifax, NS
Kateryna Rudenko will begin the Interdisciplinary PhD (IDPhD) program at Dalhousie University in September 2026, where her research will focus on Ukrainian environmental humanities through arts-based approaches, ethnography, and history. She holds a Master of Environmental Studies from Dalhousie University, where her thesis explored connections to Ukrainian landscapes across distance, and a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine.

Kateryna is the co-author of a book examining connections to land in Ukrainian folk songs and experiences of war, and has published peer-reviewed research on environmental emotions and youth inclusion in conservation. She is a member of Rozviy, a Ukrainian youth climate organization advocating for a just green recovery in Ukraine, and serves as a Young Professional with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). She has also been actively involved in gardening and ecological initiatives both on campus and within the broader community. Through the UCC Youth Ambassadors Program, Kateryna hopes to continue advancing environmental leadership while fostering stronger connections between community, culture, and the natural world.

Team member
Volodymyr Seheda
Toronto, ON
Volodymyr Seheda is a student in the Rotman Commerce program at the University of Toronto, pursuing studies in Finance and Economics with a minor in Data Science. He is passionate about the intersection of business, finance, and technology, with a particular interest in the fintech sector. Beyond his academic pursuits, Volodymyr is an active member of the Ukrainian community in the Greater Toronto Area. He has volunteered with the St. Volodymyr Centre Food Bank and has been involved with the University of Toronto Ukrainian Students' Club. As Treasurer for the 2025–2026 academic year, he supported budgeting efforts, event planning, and the delivery of student initiatives. Volodymyr also collaborated with Ukrainian students from the Mathematics and Physics departments to establish TopGrade Studio, an online tutoring initiative dedicated to supporting Ukrainian high school students through individualized mathematics and physics instruction, as well as free consultations on navigating the university application process.
Team member
Taisiia Shevchuk
Ottawa, ON
Taisiia Shevchuk is a Political Science graduate, photographer, and marketing specialist from Kyiv, Ukraine, now based in Ottawa. She studied at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, where she was a head of the PR department of the Political Science student association. She spent a year at Sciences Po Paris, where she volunteered with HeForShe and deepened her academic interest in identity and political thought of France. During her academic years, Taisiia worked closely with initiatives fighting Russian propaganda online, including @ukraine_history_, where she was a graphic designer. Since moving to Canada, she has stayed close to her creative roots. Photography has always been her way of connecting with people and making sense of the world around her. As a Youth Ambassador, she will be bringing that lens to a community-based project rooted in the Ukrainian newcomer experience.
Team member
Mariana Sirko
Calgary, AB
Mariana Sirko is a cultural program coordinator and museum specialist with a deep passion for community engagement. With a Master’s degree in Cultural Studies and professional experience at the National Art Museum of Ukraine, she is dedicated to creating meaningful experiences that connect people with art, history, and each other. Mariana currently advocates for Ukraine as a board member and Rally Coordinator with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Calgary Branch. She also coordinates the Ukrainian Film Festival in Calgary and works as a Programming Coordinator with the European Cultural Society of Calgary. She is motivated by the opportunity to bring people together through shared experiences that inspire learning, dialogue, and a sense of belonging.
Team member
Kristina Stadnyk
Toronto, ON
Kristina Stadnyk is a fourth-year student at the University of Toronto, where she is pursuing a major in Political Science with double minors in History and English. Following her undergraduate studies, she plans to attend law school.

A lifelong member of Toronto's Ukrainian community, Kristina graduated from the Ukrainian Saturday School at Josyf Cardinal Slipyj, is a parishioner of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, and has been an active volunteer with PLAST, the Ukrainian Scouting Organization. These experiences have fostered a strong connection to her Ukrainian heritage and a commitment to community service.

Outside of her academic and volunteer pursuits, Kristina enjoys playing the piano, reading, fishing, and painting. Through the UCC Youth Ambassadors Program, she hopes to strengthen youth engagement within the Ukrainian Canadian community and create meaningful opportunities for connection, leadership, and civic participation.

Team member
Mykola Tuka
Toronto, ON
Mykola Tuka is a Ukrainian-born University of Toronto student and volunteer. Since moving to Canada in 2010, Mykola has grown up in the Ukrainian Canadian community. As a youth counsellor and camp coordinator with Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, he worked with children and teens, learning the importance of identity, belonging, and mentorship.

When COVID-19 limited community engagement, Mykola started the Plastova Sich History Project, a bilingual archive preserving stories, photographs, and memories meaningful to Ukrainian scouts worldwide. During this time, he became interested in reducing stigma around mental and emotional health among Ukrainian youth. That interest deepened as Russia’s genocidal war against Ukraine affected youth, especially newcomers navigating trauma, integration, and acculturation gaps.

Mykola also supports Project Sonyashnyk as a Volunteer Coordinator, a non-profit for children of active or fallen members of Ukraine’s Armed Forces and completed his Mental Health First Aid certification. As a UCC Youth Ambassador, Mykola hopes to learn, advocate, and help reduce stigma around mental and emotional health in youth communities

Team member
Tiana Wertelecky
Kingston, ON
Tiana Wertelecky is a Master's student conducting research in Neuromechanics and holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology. Growing up in Canada, her Ukrainian heritage has been a central part of her identity and has inspired her longstanding commitment to the Ukrainian Canadian community.

Her involvement includes many years with Plast, serving as Co-President of the Queen's University Ukrainian Students' Association for two years, and independently organizing Ukrainian film screenings in her local community. Through the UCC Youth Ambassadors Program, Tiana hopes to strengthen her advocacy and public engagement skills while contributing to initiatives that support the Ukrainian Canadian community. In the future, she aspires to combine her leadership experience with her passion for scientific research to advance rehabilitation efforts in Ukraine.