Bozhena Hrycyna
BIO
Bozena graduated in 2006 from York University with a degree in Education and History. While a student, Bozena was one of the founding members of the York University Ukrainian Students’ Union and over the years served as President, Secretary and Vice- President. During this time, Bozena helped organize annual Holodomor commemorations and Ukrainian displays at York’s Multicultural Fair.
In 2008-2009, Bozena taught English classes for students at the Holy Spirit Seminary in Lviv, Ukraine in 2008-2009, where she was also was the editor and translator for online Catholic news. In 2008-2010, Bozena translated documents and texts for exhibits and databases with the Centre for Urban History of East Central Europe in Lviv. Bozena has also been a teacher at the local level at Tsiopy Palijiw Ukrainian School in Toronto, where she taught History and Geography in UkFainian, and developed and taught a history course entitled “Ukrainians in Canada” for Grade 8 students.
attended the camp four times as a counselor and workshop leader.
Bozena has been a life-long member of the Ukrainian scouting organization “Plast’, volunteering her time as a leader and counselor for dozens of youth in Canada, the United States and Ukraine. She has worked at Plast summer camps for several years and continues to work with the Plast National Executive as a “green advisor”, to improve environmental practices in Plast in Canada at the national and local level5. Her work with Plast also includes illustrating for the childrens’ journal “Hotuys” and the creation of an interactive children’s garden at the camp facilities in Grafton, ON. Bozena was an election observer in Ukraine in 2010 with the CANADEM mission and in 2004 with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
Bozena is the co-creator of the “Kosa Kolektiv” (“The Braid Collective”) initiative, based in Toronto, ON. The group aims to revitalize folklore, with a special emphasis on Ukrainian and
Eastern European art and culture in an urban context, thus “fostering a sense of community belonging based on common goals of joyful expression and artistic appreciation.” Since 2010, Kosa Kolektiv has organized dozens of song and dance workshops, art exhibits and community discussions all around the greater Toronto area, and also has a large international following on social networks and blogs.
The Pysanka Project that Bozena has co-founded in collaboration with Kosa Kolektiv is an ongoing effort to raise funds for the building of a home for orphans run by the Sisters of St. Joseph Obruchnyk, in Potelech, Lviv Oblast. The funds are raised entirely through the sales of Ukrainian Easter eggs created by Bozena and other art creations by Kosa Kolektiv members.
Bozena was the recipient of the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association of Hamilton Scholarship in 2006 and also received the Buduchnist Scholarship in 2004. She was awarded the York University Continuing Excellence Scholarship in 2003.
