On May 2-4, 2025, the XXXIV CYM Canada National Congress was held in Montreal. The Triennial Congress was hosted by the CYM Montreal Branch and was attended by 63 delegates and 25 guests, representing the national governing bodies and nine CYM branches, namely: Winnipeg, Hamilton, Edmonton, Etobicoke, Calgary, Mississauga, St. Catharines, Toronto, Montreal, and two CYM Youth Chapters, Guelph and London.

The Triennial Congress began with a prayer and a minute of silence in memory of members of CYM in Canada who had passed away during the last three years as well as those who died defending Ukraine. In her remarks, the President of CYM, Tamara Tataryn, welcomed the delegates, representatives of the new youth chapters and participants of the Leadership Seminar, and wished everyone a productive meeting.

The first item on the agenda was “Approval of the reconstituted CYM Guelph and London Youth Chapters by the decision of the National Executive”, which was greeted by all delegates with loud applause.

The Congress Presidium was composed of: Mykhaylo Kozlowskyy (Edmonton) – Chair, Markian McColl (Winnipeg) – Vice Chair, Anna Maria Zagirsky (Calgary) and Lesia Hrycyshyn (Etobicoke) – Secretaries.

The first plenary part of the Congress included the election of the Congress Commissions and reports from CYM’s national governing bodies. President Tamara Tataryn reported on the work of the National Executive, informing delegates and participants of the Leadership Seminar about the multifaceted activities of our Association over the past year. She was followed by a presentation of the audited financial report, Charitable Trust financial report, and the Michael Galandiuk and Windsor Branch Trust Funds, by the Executive Director, Harry Nesmasznyj. Hania Ostapiuk read the report of the Grievances Committee, and Marko Diaczun the report of the Audit Committee.

The first plenary session concluded with the adoption of all the reports and work of the outgoing governing bodies.

After dinner, the first joint program session on Aid to Ukraine was held, where the work and projects of the CYM World Executive were presented, followed by reports from all branches on their completed and outstanding projects in connection with the global initiative 100 Good Deeds to Victory.

At the end of the first day, the delegates and participants of the Leadership Seminar had the opportunity to relax and have fun at a social gathering with live music and singing throughout the evening.

Saturday, the second day of the Congress, began with parallel working sessions: The Educational session led by Tanya Choly and Natalia Schturyn discussed the following topics: “CYM’s educational ideal – Hryhory Vashchenko – what are our fundamentals?”; Tips for young educators to work with youth; Discussion on leadership and educational seminars and exchanges of thoughts on successes and challenges. The Financial session, chaired by Harry Nesmasznyj, addressed the following issues: new branch dues, budgets for the National Executive, Veselka campground and camps, and further assistance and participation of newcomer children in summer camps, as well as a brief review of the rules governing the UYA Charitable Trust. At the Organizational Session, Ihor Michalchyshyn, Chief Executive Officer of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, made a presentation on “Attracting and best practices for managing and retaining volunteers”, followed by Tamara Tataryn who presented the newly created “Resources Page” – a webpage of organizational and educational materials for CYM Canada members.

Two more program sessions took place in the afternoon. The first was on the topic “How we can better develop and grow CYM – Successes and challenges on the path to membership” from the perspective of attracting newly arrived Ukrainian children to our community in the aftermath of the war, presented by our newest members, and “The role of the Ukrainian World Congress – From victory to rebuilding Ukraine” presented by UWC President Paul Grod.

Sunday, May 4, began with Holy Liturgy at the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption in Montreal where the CYM delegates were warmly greeted and wished continued success in glorifying God and the good of CYM in Canada and Ukraine on the occasion of its 100th anniversary by its pastor, Father Ihor Oshchipko, and CYM’s national chaplain, Father Andriy Figol.

The Sunday program of the Triennial Congress continued with the last joint session dedicated to “100 years of CYM and beyond…. “ – How do we ensure the relevance of the Association for the future and what should be our role in the broader Ukrainian community? This panel discussion featured Eugene Czolij – Honorary Consul and former President of the World and National Executives of CYM Canada, Khristine Bihun – Vice President of CYM USA, Markian Shvec – Past President of CYM Montreal Branch and Ukrainian Canadian Congress Toronto Branch and the CYM Canada President, Tamara Tataryn.

The last part of the program of the XXXIV CYM National Congress was marked by the adoption of resolutions and recognition of the participants who completed all three modules of the Leadership Seminars, members nominated for II & III stupeni and Honorary membership as well as the election of the new national governing bodies for the next three-year term:

ІІ Vykhovnyk – Christina Hanycz (Montreal), Nykola Perewernycky (Calgary), Laryssa Stech (Mississauga), Adelia Spytkowsky (Hamilton), Ariadna Dlugosh, Markian McColl and Nicholas Barret (Winnipeg)

ІІ Suspilnyk – Daria Hanycz (Montreal), Ulana Soletsky, Orest Drapala (Edmonton)

ІІІ Vykhovnyk – Kateryna Kij (Montreal)

ІІІ Kulturnyk – Lida Wasylyn (Edmonton)

ІІІ Suspilnyk – Ariana Holowka, Marijka Surzycia (Montreal), Orysia Boychuk (Edmonton), Danylo Mousienko (Calgary)

Honorary membership – Irene Jendzjowsky (Edmonton), Helen Holowka (Montreal)

The following were elected to the National Executive:

Danylo Mousienko (Calgary) – President

Natalia Schturyn (Etobicoke) – Vice-President

Marko Diaczun (Etobicoke) – Treasurer

Lida Jendziowsky (Toronto) – Secretary

Larysa Luszczki (Montreal) –  Educational Council Director

Vitaly Kshetsky (Edmonton) – Organizational Director

Andrew Demusz (Mississauga) – Aid to Ukraine Director

Khystyna Zagirsky (Calgary) – Communications Director

Bohdanka Hontar (Mississauga) – Camps Director

Tamara Tataryn (Toronto) – Past President

The following were elected to the National Audit Committee:

Paul Cremona (Etobicoke) – chair

Taras Bablak (Mississauga) – member

Ksenia Fedyna (Edmonton) – member

Larysa Shnurivska (Mississauga) – alternate member

Elected to the National Grievances Committee:

Ariadna Dlugosz (Winnipeg) – chair

Hania Ostapiuk (Hamilton) – member

Markian Charko (Mississauga) – member

Christina Hanycz (Montreal) – alternate member

The opening remarks of the newly elected President, Danylo Mousienko from Calgary can be read here: Zyizd

The National Executive would like to thank all those who contributed to the success of the XXXIV CYM Triennial Congress, Leadership Seminar, and the gala banquet on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of CYM, particularly the local CYM Montreal Branch, led by its President, Jaroslav Holowko, and members of the Organizing Committee, led by Ivan Illyushchenko.

 

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