Pavlo
Romanovich Yavorsky, Saskatchewan-born Ukrainian ballet master,
CYMK founder and lifelong champion of Ukrainian heritage and culture — and
subject of the biography, ‘Show Them What You Can Do’ ~ Building the Ukrainian
Spirit Across Canada: An Illustrated Biography of Pavlo Romanovich Yavorsky’ — was
named a 2008 Nation Builder by The Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Saskatchewan
Provincial Council at an awards ceremony and banquet in Regina on
Sunday, November 2, 2008.
The posthumous award was presented to Pavlo’s wife, Leontina Yavorska,
who thanked the Council before an audience of more than 200 dignitaries and
guests, saying, “Pavlo would have been overjoyed to think that he’d garnered such
a great honour and recognition. Thank you so much.”
FROM THE UCC-SPC:
“In 1991, Ukrainian Canadians marked 100 years of Ukrainian
settlement in Canada. At that time, the National Ukrainian Canadian
Congress recognized 100 Ukrainian Canadians who had made an
outstanding contribution to the development of Canada. The Saskatchewan Provincial Council of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress resolved to
similarly honour Ukrainians in this province. In 1995, the Nation Builders
Awards were initiated. They have been bestowed annually since then.
Honourees are those who have, without reward or gain, made meritorious
contributions which have had a significant impact, left a legacy
and/or been an exemplary role model to the Ukrainian community,
Saskatchewan and/or Canada.
In 2005, as part of UCC-SPC’s Saskatchewan Centenary celebration,
this prestigious recognition program was enhanced by the establishment
of a second award: the Community Recognition Award — which joins
the Nation Builders Award as an annual presentation — bestowed upon
persons who have made meritorious contributions to the Ukrainian community and/or Saskatchewan-Canada in one or more of these areas:
Leadership; Cultural Preservation & Development; Creativity & Innovation;
Volunteerism; Youth Achievement.”
