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Chair of UCU Limited and President of UWVA Attends Community Events In France

Sep 12, 2017 | Community, Featured

Andre Sochaniwsky, Chair of Board of Directors of UCU Limited, President of UWVAC.

In August of 2017, I had the honour of representing the Ukrainian Credit Union Limited and the Ukrainian War Veterans Association of Canada at the official opening of the Battle of Hill 70 Memorial and Konowal Walk in France. During this trip, I also had the opportunity to visit the Vimy Ridge Memorial, lay a wreath at the grave of Symon Petlura in Paris and celebrate Ukraine’s Independence with the Ukrainian French community in Paris.

My first event included attending the official opening of the Hill 70 Memorial which took place on the 22nd of August in the town of City of Loos-en-Gohelle, 1 hour north-east of Paris. The opening was organized by the Hill 70 Foundation, in close cooperation with the Canadian Army, and the Town of Loos-en-Gohelle, with support from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and Professor Lubomyr Luciuk. The Ukrainian Credit Union Limited and the Ukrainian War Veterans Association of Canada were one of the earliest financial sponsors of this very important and long overdue memorial to honour a significant Canadian military milestone, and the awarding of the Victoria Cross to Filip Konowal. Cpl Konowal was the first and only Ukrainian Canadian recipient of the highest decoration for military valour in the former British Empire.

The Battle of Hill 70 is a historically significant battle for Canada as it was the first battle that Canada’s military forces (the Canadian Corps with its 4 divisions) fought together as a single formation under Canadian command. Prior to that, the Canadian Corps fought victoriously in other World War I battles, such as Vimy Ridge, but not under Canadian command. The Canadians were victorious in this battle and bravely fought back 21 counter-attacks from the Germans. Approximately 9,000 Canadians were killed, wounded or taken prisoner at Hill 70. The German losses were even more enormous with 25,000+ killed or wounded and 1,369 taken prisoner. These brave Canadian soldiers cemented the professional reputation of the Canadian Army and helped forge the reputation of Canada as a nation that does not shy away from its obligations.

Six Victoria Crosses, the highest military decoration for valour awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, were awarded to members of the Canadian Corps for their actions during this battle, including one for Corporal Filip Konowal VC. He is the first and only Ukrainian Canadian to be awarded this medal.

Lieutenant-General Paul Wynnyk CMM, MSM, CD, Commander of the Canadian Army, a Ukrainian Canadian and himself a descendant of a Hill 70 soldier spoke at the ceremony. The opening was also attended by representatives from the French government and military, Canadian military members, the Ukraine Defence Attaché to France, families of veterans of the First World War, Ukrainian Canadian community leaders such as Paul Grod (President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress) and Ukrainian community leaders from Belgium, France and the United Kingdom.

After the commemoration, there was a celebration hosted by the Town of in Loos-en-Gohelle, followed by an evening dinner, organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress that was attended by the Canadian contingent of veterans’ families, Canadian military members and Ukrainian Canadian community representatives. I was honoured to sit with the Vena Family, grand daughter, great grand daughter and great great grandson of Filip Konowal, from Gatineau Quebec.

I also had an opportunity to speak with the Commander of the Canadian Army and offered him my gratitude for the exemplary work that the Canadian Forces are conducting in Ukraine, as they help train and professionalize the Ukrainian military under Operation UNIFIER and other recent military exercises such as Exercise Sea Breeze which just was completed in the Black Sea.

Not too far from the Hill 70 Memorial, lies the Vimy Ridge Memorial. Carved on the walls of the monument are the names of some 11,285 Canadians who died in France and whose final resting place was then unknown. More than 7,000 of these fallen heroes are buried in 30 war cemeteries within 20 km of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial. Many of the names inscribed on the Vimy monument are distinctly Ukrainian such as Kostenko, Kuchar and Kucheruk. Though the exact number is not known, it is estimated that thousands of Canadians of Ukrainian descent fought for Canada in World War I.

Upon my return to Paris, I attended a brief ceremony with representatives from the Ukrainian French community to lay a wreath at the grave of Symon Petlura. Symon Petlura was Supreme Commander of the Ukrainian Army and President of the Ukrainian National Republic who led Ukraine’s struggle for independence following the Russian Revolution of 1917. On 25 May 1926, while walking on rue Racine, near Boulevard Saint-Michel, in Paris, he was murdered by a Soviet agent. He is buried in Montparnasse Cemetery.

On 24 August 2017, I attended the Ukrainian Independence Day celebration at the Cathedral of Saint Volodymyr the Great. I was impressed by the dedication of the local community in supporting Ukrainian culture and Ukraine. In addition to children’s posters honouring Ukraine’s independence, there were posters of the Heavenly Hundred on display in the church. It was an extremely busy trip. I was proud to represent the Ukrainian Credit Union Limited and the Ukrainian War Veterans Association of Canada during these important events, build ties between Ukrainians in France and in Canada, and help to further position the Ukrainian Canadian community as an important player on the world stage.

Author Bio: Andre Sochaniwsky is the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Ukrainian Credit Union Limited and President of the Ukrainian War Veterans Association of Canada. From 1984 to 1997, he served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as an Air Combat Systems Officer.

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