The Leadership Seminar was held in conjunction with CYM Canada’s XXXIV Triennial Congress on May 2-4, 2025 in Montreal. The seminar was attended by 41 senior youth members and young druzhynnyky from the Winnipeg, Hamilton, Edmonton, Calgary, London, Mississauga, and Montreal branches. The seminar was led by Natalie Tchoryk and Laryssa Luszczki with the help of speakers: Christina Truszyk, UWC President, Paul Grod and Roma Vedmid.

The first part of the seminar included participation in the plenary session of the Trienniall Congress in order to familiarize ourselves with the reporting portion of the Congress.

During the working sessions on Leadership Styles, participants explored various approaches to leadership and examined how different styles can influence the outcomes of diverse situations. In small group settings, they analyzed the leadership traits of prominent world figures and discussed how these styles can have either positive or negative effects, depending on the context. Building on this understanding, they reflected on how to implement effective leadership techniques in both camp environments and weekly meetings.

In the following session, the focus shifted to working with challenging youth. Participants explored how a young person’s experiences can significantly shape their behavior and development, either constructively or destructively. Emphasis was placed on creating engaging, supportive environments by choosing a positive attitude, being present, and actively engaging with yunatstvo. These strategies aim to set leaders up for long-term success in their roles.

Under the guidance of Paul Grod, participants also delved into the topic of disinformation in the media, examining how false narratives are spread and the strategies we can use to counter them. They reviewed real-life examples, sharpening their analytical skills and learning how to promote truth through critical thinking and informed communication.
Throughout the weekend, participants demonstrated strong communication, teamwork, and collaboration skills, completing all tasks with professionalism and enthusiasm.

On Sunday, May 4, the participants and delegates began with a Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Assumption of the Mother of God. After breakfast, the participants of the Leadership Seminar had the opportunity to present their completed projects, which they had chosen at the end of the previous year’s seminar.

The culmination was the presentation of certificates to the graduates who completed all three modules of the Leadership Seminar, namely: Natalia Bruciak and Oriana Stec from the Mississauga Branch and Sofia Harasymovych, Olivia Kiszczuk and Tessa Stecyk from Montreal.

The National Executive expresses its sincere congratulations to all participants of the Leadership Seminar and wishes them the greatest success in their future work within our Union. We would also like to thank all the guest speakers for their participation and dedication of time for our future leaders.

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