Government of Canada presents Yuzyk Multiculturalism Award to Yaremko

The inaugural Paul Yuzyk Award for Multiculturalism was presented to John Yaremko, it’s first  recipient, as announced by the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, the Honourable Jason Kenney, during the inaugural award ceremony at Roy Thomson Hall on June 12 in Toronto. “During his 25 years of dedication to the Ontario legislature, Mr. Yaremko was a strong advocate for education, human rights and multiculturalism,” said Minister Kenney. “He is also well known for his philanthropic activities, which includes the 2002 creation of the John and Mary A. Yaremko Program in Multiculturalism and Human Rights at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Law.”

The evening’s Master of Ceremonies was Marci Ien, News Anchor for CTV’s Canada AM. Musical performances were given by Leonid Skirko (National Anthem), Cameroon-born singer ERTA and by Yarko Antonovych who played the Ukrainian national instrument, the multi-stringed bandura, during the reception before and after the award presentation.

The Paul Yuzyk Award for Multiculturalism commemorates the late Senator Yuzyk’s pioneering legacy in the areas of multiculturalism, diversity, and pluralism. Senator Yuzyk, who was a member of the Senate of Canada from February 1963 to July 1986, played a key role in the development and implementation of Canada’s multiculturalism policy.

On behalf of the Yuzyk Family, daughter Vera thanked Minister Kenney for making the award a reality and shared some of her thoughts on the meaning of the award. The late Senator Paul Yuzyk experienced discrimination first-hand which he did not forget. Ms. Yuzyk stated that her father “vowed that if someone who was born in Canada could be labelled a “foreigner,” then there was a need to build a better, more inclusive Canada, which later became the title of one of his books.”

Senator Yuzyk took up his cause for reform by two methods. Firstly, by becoming an historian, professor and author of many books and articles written on Ukrainian-Canadians and their contribution to Canadian life. Secondly, by taking up the cause to get “multiculturalism officially recognized as Canada’s cultural identity.” Ms. Yuzyk continued by saying that “This cause was boosted by his appointment to the Senate, in 1963, by Conservative Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, who was of German descent, and was the first Prime Minister of non-British and non-French ancestry.”

Senator Yuzyk launched the concept of Canada as a multicultural nation in his Maiden Speech in the Senate in 1964.  In it, he directly challenged the premise of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism and called for an all-inclusive Canadian identity that recognized this new reality and the contributions of Canadians of all ethnic origins in the nation building process.

Ms. Yuzyk shared what she particularly liked about her father’s inaugural speech to the Senate, in that “he presented a vision of Canada as a multicultural nation and a prediction that multiculturalism would become a model for other countries and would be Canada’s contribution to the world.”

According to a government press release, Mr. Yaremko was presented with  the Paul Yuzyk Multiculturalism Award - Lifetime Achievement, for his strong advocacy for education, human rights, and multiculturalism, as well as his philanthropic activities. John Yaremko is also a Canadian of Ukrainian descent, born in Welland, Ontario. He was Ontario’s first Minister of Citizenship; the Province’s first Solicitor General and served ministerial portfolios in the cabinets of Premiers Frost, Robarts and Davis. Minister Kenney stated that “Mr. Yaremko was one of the first champions of multiculturalism in Canada, in the heart of multicultural Toronto … [and] has been a passionate advocate of human rights, community services and long-term care.”

Minister Kenney continued by saying that “We honour Mr. Yaremko tonight in particular for one of the great contributions to the Canadian mosaic – his visionary efforts to help people find refuge in Canada … Mr. Yaremko helped persuade the Canadian government to offer refuge in Canada to some 40,000 Hungarians (who fled Communist tyranny in 1956).” Minister Kenney went on to say that “we are also richer for being blessed with people, such as Mr. Yaremko, whose life work has been to reinforce our Canadian values of freedom, democracy, human rights and rule of law.  “I commend Mr. Yaremko for personifying the ideals of Senator Yuzyk and contributing to our diverse and vibrant Canadian society,” said Minister Kenney in a press release.

On behalf of Mr. Yaremko who was present, long-time friend William Sametz expressed appreciation and thank you for the award, using the analogy of a two-sided coin and its true value when first received and then more value in the process of giving back to others.

Individuals from communities across Canada can be nominated in one of two categories for the Paul Yuzyk Award for Multiculturalism. The Lifetime Achievement Award honours an individual who has demonstrated life-long dedication to the pursuit of promoting a strong multicultural society in Canada. The Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes an individual or group who has made a significant contribution to Canadian multiculturalism within the last five years. The award includes a $20,000 grant, which will be given to an eligible, registered not-for-profit Canadian organization or association of the recipient’s choice.

Nominations for the 2010 Paul Yuzyk Award for Multiculturalism are currently being accepted until March 2010. For details on the nomination process and eligibility requirements, please visit www.cic.gc.ca/paulvuzvk

Written and compiled by The New Pathway’s John Pidkowich with government press release. Photos by Lesia Panko.