Manitoba Parents for Ukrainian Education (MPUE) brings greetings and congratulations to the 165 English-Ukrainian Bilingual Program (EUBP) graduates. MPUE is the provincial volunteer board of directors that has parent representation from all 11 schools that offer the EUBP in Manitoba, with a mission to promote, expand and enhance the EUBP.

We are so very excited to see many new people coming into the program. The EUBP has been alive and well for over 45 years!
Our Year End and Graduation Family Event included many activities. We had Petrusia Perih with us, a craft area, facepainting, music, student performances, Singing group “DALI”, games and so much more! Our goal was to gather as a community to celebrate the achievements of the school year and most especially spend some time with new friends!

The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the Mitten Float ! It was a special project that has been over a year in the making.

Exclusive presentation of The National Flag of Ukraine on the MPUE’s EUBP Annual Year End Family Celebration & Graduation 2023 at Ralph Brown School. With profound appreciation and gratitude, we announce today people who helped us to bring this idea to life:

Anastasia Sych-yereniuk
Joanne Lewandosky
Videographer Ihor Melnyk Ihor Melnyk
UCC National – Ukrainian Canadian Congress

Flag Presenantion

We enjoyed THE WILLOW BOARD. Verbovaya Doshchechka Performance of students on the MPUE’s EUBP Annual Year End Family Celebration & Graduation 2023 

Graduation Ceremony

The new style of Certificaticats was prepared by Veronika Berkovska.

Sponsors and Funders: 

Rukavytsya Brought to Life!

MPUE is proud to report on our project called “Rukavytsya Brought to Life”!

In 2022, MPUE volunteers prepared a new float for use in Christmas parades. The theme of the float is the folk tale “The Mitten”.The story of the mitten is about diversity and inclusion.  Large or small, there was room for everyone to climb into the Mitten together!

This has been a journey for all the members involved as well as a learning process. Back in August of 2021 this project had only begun to take shape. It started with the realization that our current parade float, “The Snow Queen”, had sustained damage and could not be included in another parade safely. A team of dedicated volunteers was gathered and the journey to the Santa Claus parade of 2022 began!

After our Snow Queen float was dismantled our team began looking for funding. By March of 2022 we had successfully secured four financial grants that enabled us to really begin to put this project together. During the early fall of 2022, after many months of planning, we began to build the
float, 20 custom costumes were designed, murals painted, which required a special hoarding to be set up to provide heat and lighting with generators! The hoarding became an artists studio! This studio made it possible for the artist to paint the mural as the temperatures dipped outside, as well as complete the final additions like lighting and the fence.

Our team spent many countless hours ensuring that every detail was thought out and completed. The week prior to the parade was spent engaging and inviting the English-Ukrainian Bilingual Program students to participate and attend the parade. The day of the parade was filled with anticipation and excitement. To add to the excitement our team did a Facebook live video as we pulled the float out of the hoarding, where it had been stored since just after Thanksgiving. The
day of the parade had English Ukrainian Bilingual Program 35 students and their parent volunteers walk alongside the float that represented 8 EUBP schools.

Our team was downtown a few hours early to ensure our students could be outfitted in their costumes, the banners were displayed, and all the accessories were in place. Special thank you to the staff of Humphry Inn & Suites who allowed us access to their lobby. Walking through the
parade with the students, whom we created this float for, was a truly memorable and inspiring experience! One that will not be forgotten by the students, parents, or our team. Walking downtown with the crowds cheering and waving after planning for this for over a year was an

amazing and satisfying experience. We had set out to create a new float for the English -Ukrainian Bilingual Program (EUBP) students and the Ukrainian community and taking part that day were many Ukrainian newcomer families. These children, who are new to our country, were able to make connections within the Ukrainian community, experience downtown Winnipeg from a special perspective and were able to enjoy one of the many activities that our program holds for the students each year.

MPUE feels that we were able to reach many families through this initiative. By working on this project, we were able to engage with local artists (EA at an EUBP school), to support the small business owner who designed and printed the banners and skirting for the float, the talented individuals who designed the inflatable mitten (former EUBP School Administrator), graphics design by an EUBP Alumna as well as the costume designer (former EUBP Parent) who was able to add Ukrainian embroidery and designs to make the animal costumes as authentic as possible.

Reaching out to the EUBP schools enabled us to make connections with the families enrolled in the program in addition to the families who are new to our country. These connections will be built upon as we continue to use this float in future community events and continue to make connections with the larger community.

The greatest strength that our team would say that has come out of this project is connections. Our team made many connections with the families leading up to the day of the parade and the parade itself which we hope will arise in more families becoming involved in our organization in a meaningful way.

The building of the Parade Float has brought together a great team who were able to shape this idea into a long-term community venture that will bring together families several times a year, not just at the Santa Claus Parade. Our goal is to have a huge impact on the community, and we truly feel that we have been able to achieve that goal. This achievement was felt in the happy participants we had sign up and the love and enthusiasm from the crowd as we walked by. Next steps in this project is to create a third mural that will overlap the winter scene mural. The third mural will be a spring/summer scene. This third mural will allow MPUE to take the float out into community events like graduation celebrations, school community BBQ’s and possibly Folklorama! The first community event will be at the Family Year End Celebration that is scheduled to be held in the spring.

Committee Members:

Barb Thiessen – Project Coordinator

EUBP Alumna, Former EUBP Parent, Board of Adivsors

Tanya Nawolski, EUBP Parent, MPUE Board Member

Wayne Quinn, EUBP Parent

Amanda L, EUBP Parent, MPUE Secretary

Paulette Monita, MPUE President, EUBP Parent, EUBP Alumna

Volunteers:

Mary Jane Wasney, Former EUBP Parent

Loghan Bencharski, EUBP Alumna

Lana Thiessen, EUBP Alumna

Lawrence Kristalovich, Former EUBP Administrator

Contributors:

Iqonic Design

Nick Luchak, EUBP Alumna

Wioletta Los, Educational Assistant EUBP School

Sponsors and Funders: 

The Snow Queen

English-Ukrainian Bilingual students and their families have an opportunity to participate by walking in the parade or riding on the MPUE Snow Queen Float in the annual Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade. The event is televised locally. Did you know our beloved Snow Queen Float was part of a movie shot in Winnipeg?

«Рукавиця »

MPUE з гордістю повідомляє, що наш проект «Рукавиця» втілено в життя!

У 2022 році MPUE волонтери  підготували новий проект для використання на різдвяних парадах. Темою пректу є народна казка «Рукавиця». Історія про рукавицю розповідає про різноманітність та інклюзивність. Велика чи маленька, але місця всім вистачило!

Це була подорож для всіх учасників навчального процесу. Цей проект почав формуватися ще в Серпні 2021 року. Це почалося з усвідомлення того, що наш нинішній парадний проект «Снігова королева» отримав пошкодження і не може бути безпечно включений до іншого параду. Була зібрана команда відданих волонтерів . Так і почалася мандрівка до параду Санта Клауса 2022 року!

Після того, як наш корабель «Снігова королева» демонтували, наша команда почала шукати фінансування. До березня 2022 року ми успішно отримали чотири фінансові гранти, які дозволили нам справді розпочати реалізацію цього проекту. На початку осені 2022 року, після багатьох місяців планування, ми почали будувати float, було розроблено 20 костюмів на замовлення,було встановлено спеціальний навіс для забезпечення тепла та освітлення за допомогою генераторів для створення умов малювання! 

Наша команда витратила багато незліченних годин на те, щоб кожна деталь була продуманою та завершеною. Тиждень перед парадом був присвячений залученню та запрошенню студентів англо-української двомовної програми до участі та відвідування параду. День параду був наповнений очікуванням і хвилюванням. Щоб додати азарту, одразу після Дня подяки, наша команда зняла відео з оновленою платформою в прямому ефірі на Facebook. У параді прийняли участь 35 учнів англійська українсько-двомовна програми та їхні батьки-волонтери, які представляли банер 8 шкіл EUBP.

Наша команда була в центрі міста на кілька годин раніше, щоб переконатися, що наші студенти можуть одягнути свої костюми, розвісити банери та розмістити всі аксесуари. Висловлюємо особливу подяку персоналу Humphry Inn &amp. Парад зі студентами, для яких ми створили цей поплав, став справді незабутнім і надихаючим досвідом! Такий, який не забудуть ні учні, ні батьки, ні наша команда. Захід планувався більше року. Прогулянка центром міста з учнями, для яких готувався проект, серед натовпу, який аплодував і махав нам рукою була дивовижна та незабутня . Участь прийнли багато українських новоприбулих родин. Ці діти, які вперше потрапили в нашу країну, змогли налагодити зв’язки в українській громаді, відчути центр Вінніпега з особливої ​​точки зору та мали змогу насолодитися одним із багатьох заходів, які наша програма щороку проводить для студентів.

MPUE вважає, що ми змогли охопити багато сімей завдяки цій ініціативі. Працюючи над цим проектом, ми змогли залучити місцевих художників (EA у школі EUBP), підтримати власника малого бізнесу, який розробив і надрукував банери та бортик для платформи, талановитих людей, які розробили надувну рукавицю (колишня Адміністратор школи EUBP), графічний дизайн випускниці EUBP, а також дизайнер костюмів (колишній батько EUBP), який зміг додати українську вишивку та малюнки, щоб зробити костюми тварин максимально автентичними. Звернення до шкіл EUBP дозволило нам налагодити зв’язки з сім’ями, які беруть участь у програмі, а також із сім’ями, які приїхали в нашу країну вперше. Ці зв’язки будуть вдосконалюватися оскільки ми продовжуватимемо використовувати цю ідею у майбутніх подіях спільноти.

Найбільший успіх проекту, — це зв’язки. Наша команда налагодила багато зв’язків із сім’ями до дня параду та самого параду, і ми сподіваємося, що це сприятиме більшій кількості сімей, які будуть суттєво залучені до нашої організації.

Будівництво Parade Float зібрало чудову команду, яка змогла втілити ідею, що збиратиме родини кілька разів на рік, а не лише на параді Санта-Клауса. Наша мета — мати величезний вплив на суспільство, і ми справді відчуваємо, що нам вдалося досягти цієї мети. Це досягнення було відчутно в радісних учасниках, яких ми зареєстрували, а також у любові й ентузіазмі натовпу, коли ми проходили повз. Наступним кроком у цьому проекті є створення третього муралу, який перекриватиме мурал зимової сцени. Третій мурал буде весняно-літнім сюжетом, який дозволить MPUE виходити на громадські заходи, випускні свята, шкільні барбекю та, можливо, Фольклораму! Перший захід спільноти відбудеться 24 Червня 2023 року під час сімейного святкування закінчення року.

Committee Members:

Barb Thiessen – Project Coordinator

EUBP Alumna, Former EUBP Parent, Board of Adivsors

Tanya Nawolski, EUBP Parent, MPUE Board Member

Wayne Quinn, EUBP Parent

Amanda L, EUBP Parent, MPUE Secretary

Paulette Monita, MPUE President, EUBP Parent, EUBP Alumna

Volunteers:

Mary Jane Wasney, Former EUBP Parent

Loghan Bencharski, EUBP Alumna

Lana Thiessen, EUBP Alumna

Lawrence Kristalovich, Former EUBP Administrator

Contributors:

Iqonic Design

Nick Luchak, EUBP Alumna

Wioletta Los, Educational Assistant EUBP School

Sponsors and Funders: 

“Снігова Королева”

Студенти Англо-Українські двомовної програми та їхні сім’ї мали можливість взяти участь у щорічному параді Санта-Клауса у Вінніпезі, прогулявшись у параді або покатавшись на поромі Снігової Королеви від MPUE. Подію транслювали на місцевому телебаченні. Чи знаєте ви, що наша улюблена Снігова королева була частиною фільму, знятого у Вінніпезі?

Manitoba Parents for Ukrainian Education (MPUE) welcomes new families from Ukraine at this difficult time.  Ukrainian children are arriving into Manitoba and attending English Ukrainian Bilingual Program (EUBP) and community schools across Manitoba.  MPUE, with support of many community organizations (UCC-Manitoba, UNF Club of Winnipeg, The Osvita Foundation) are excited to lead an initiative called Backpack 4 Hope.

This initiative includes distributing backpacks filled with school supplies, a small toy, stuffies, books and hygiene items.

Backpack 4 Hope is an initiative for youth ages 5-13 that have arrived from Ukraine and entering pre-school or school.  Register to receive a backpack for your newcomer Ukrainian student, by completing the  Registration form.  

MPUE is collecting donations of New Backpacks and the contents to go inside.

These backpacks are carefully assembled, personalized and distributed to children newly arriving from Ukraine.

List of items needed:

• New or near new backpacks
• New school supplies such as:
  • Scissors
  • Pencil Crayons
  • Coil ring notebooks
  • Pencil sharpeners
  • Regular school erasers
• New small toys (eg: hot wheels cars, barbies, lego, action figures, paw patrol, frozen, etc.)
• New hygiene items (eg: Children’s shampoo/Children’s body wash or soap/ deodorant for teens, chapstick / lip gloss, pocket Kleenex, hair accessories, hair brush, toothbrush and toothpaste)

Monetary donations are appreciated and can be sent by e-transfer to mpueinc@mpue.ca.  Please include a message of “Donation to Backpack 4 Hope” and your email address. Any donations over $25 will receive a charitable tax receipt.  Thank you!

Coordinating Team:

Initiative Co-Coordinator – Karen Johnston, MPUE Vice President External

Summer Student, Communications – Mariia Nevoit, EUBP Alumna of Chief Peguis Middle School

Thank you to the volunteers and sponsors for the 2021 EUBP Grad Parade!

Manitoba Parents for Ukrainian Education (MPUE) is proud to offer the 2nd Annual 2021 English Ukrainian Bilingual Program (EUBP) Graduate parade!  It was such a success last year that it was decided to offer this event to the graduates again this year.  Graduating from a unique cultural program is a special occasion and MPUE did not want the occasion to go unnoticed.  As a volunteer organization, the board knew that this project could not be undertaken without the support from volunteers.  The following list of individuals eagerly wanted to make the Grad Parade an unforgettable experience for the Graduates and their families.

New this year is a prize for the best decorated house/yard.  Each decorated home received one entry into the draw.  There were 32 entries for the draw!  The winner of the prize is Nastya Kharynovych of Chief Peguis Middle School.

Coordinating Team:

Grad Parade Co-Coordinator – Lesia Drul, MPUE Member at Large, Chairperson of Oakbank Parent for Ukrainian Education

Grad Parade Co-Coordinator – Barb Thiessen, MPUE Board of Advisors, Smith Jackson and Mackenzie Middle School EUBP Alumna

Summer Student – Tyler Buternowsky, Ralph Brown School EUBP Alumna

Grad Cap Prep Team:

Barb Thiessen

Lesia Drul

Lana Thiessen – Shkola R.F. Morrison and H.C. Avery EUBP Alumna

Ukrainian Translator: 

Valerii Pasko and Liudmyla Zinovieva

Shkola R.F. Morrison and H.C. Avery Middle School Parade Crew (June 14, 2021):  

Lesia Drul, Barb Thiessen, Tyler Byternowsky, Michael Ilyniak – EUBP teacher, Shkola R.F. Morrison, Kristya Matwichyna – EUBP teacher, Shkola R.F. Morrison School, Taras Melnychuk – EUBP Teacher, H.C. Avery School and Oksana Kosteckyj – Vice Principal, Shkola R.F. Morrison School

River East Transcona Parade Crew (June 16, 2021): 

Lesia Drul, Tyler Buternowsky, Paulette Monita – President, MPUE, Nataliya Sovinska, EUBP Teacher, Chief Peguis Middle School and Volodymyr Sovinskyy

Smith-Jackson and Mackenzie Middle School Parade Crew (June 19, 2021): 

Lesia Drul, Barb Thiessen, Rhonna Rodriguez – Teacher, Smith Jackson School, Jennifer Chetyrbok – EUBP Teacher, Smith Jackson and Mackenzie Middle School, Shelley Tucker – Principal, Smith Jackson School, Karen Rauliuk, MPUE Member at Large and Parent Rep for Smith Jackson School, Teagan and Ryder Rodriguez, Smith Jackson EUBP Alumni and Lana Thiessen

Oakbank Parade Crew (June 22, 2021): 

Lesia Drul, Barb Thiessen, Jeff Kozak – EUBP Teacher, Springfield Middle School, Margaret Walker, Parent of EUBP graduate

East Selkirk Parade Crew (June 24, 2021):

Lesia Drul, Barb Thiessen Tyler Buternowsky and Nadia Gorbay – EUBP Teacher, East Selkirk Middle School

Corporate Sponsors:

Jim Gauthier Chevrolet – Donated use of a 2020 Dodge Caravan

SignFX – Donation of colorful decals on the Vehicle

 – Thank you to Clint Remarchuk– MPUE Board member for making these arrangements

Acknowledgements:

Amantine Designs:  Handcrafted the frames for the Grade 8 Graduates.  This local business can be found on Facebook.

Iqonic Design: Valerii Pasko – Printed the lawn signs

Nicholas Luchak: EUBP Alumna – Provided the graphics for the poster and lawn signs

Barn Quilts & More Manitoba:  Handcrafted the best decorated home/yard prize.  This local business can be found on Facebook.

GRAD PARADE PHOTO GALLERY LINKS:

Oakbank and Area Grad Photos | River East Transcona Grad Photos | Dauphin and Area Grad Photos | Seven Oaks Grad Photos | East Selkirk Grad Photos | Winnipeg School Division Grad Photos

The parade visited 81 families from the areas of Dauphin, Valley River, Winnipeg, East Selkirk and Oakbank and area.  The donated Van with decals travelled 1,664 kms.  On behalf of these families, MPUE would like to shout out a huge Thank you to all of the individuals listed above.  Your time and commitment to this province-wide Graduate Recognition Parade is hugely appreciated.

There were several reasons for creating this project such as promotion of the English-Ukrainian Bilingual Program (EUBP) and providing important information in Ukrainian to families where English is not the primary language spoken. We felt that in creating these posters we would be celebrating the language and culture of our students and families and reach out to the entire Ukrainian community. 

It is our hope that we can increase the involvement and comfort with the language and culture for all. Our goal in creating the posters is to create a sense of pride and belonging, feeling that we truly are in this together.

To further support the sense of creating community MPUE will be making the posters available for free download.

Clean Hands Stop Germs

Wear Your Mask

Practice Social Distancing

Those engaged in this project have a deep connection to the EUBP. See below individuals who have contributed to the success of these posters:

Coordinating Team:

Project Co-Coordinator – Barb Thiessen, MPUE Board of Advisors

Graphic Design – Nick Luchak,  EUBP Alumna 

Narrative Development – MPUE board member volunteer

Translator – Liudmyla Zinovieva 

MPUE is grateful to the following organizations, as the posters were completed with funding provided in part by: 

The Wasyl Topolnicky Memorial Foundation 

The Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko

The Osvita Foundation

Thank you to the volunteers and sponsors for the 2020 EUBP Grad Parade!

Manitoba Parents for Ukrainian Education (MPUE) took on a great endeavour in June.  Due to the restrictions from COVID 19 MPUE could not move forward with the usual method of acknowledging the English Ukrainian Bilingual Graduates.  MPUE did not want this special occasion to go unnoticed.  So the idea of a Grad Parade was suggested.  As a volunteer organization, the board knew that this project could not be undertaken without the support from volunteers.  The following list of individuals eagerly wanted to make the Grad Parade an unforgettable experience for the Graduates and their families.

Coordinating Team:

Grad Parade Co-Coordinator – Paulette Monita, President, MPUE and EUBP Alumna

Grad Parade Co-Coordinator – Barb Thiessen, Vice President, MPUE and EUBP Alumna 

MPUE Summer Student – Tyler Buternowsky, Ralph Brown School EUBP Alumna 

Candy Bouquet and Package Prep Team: 

Pat Bugera Krawchuk – Recording Secretary, MPUE

Barb Thiessen 

Paulette Monita  

Tyler Buternowsky

Michael Monita – EUBP Parent

Rebecca Monita – EUBP Student

Lisa Maximiuk – MPUE Board Member 

Sanchira Maximiuk  – EUBP Student

Stu Baron – MPUE board member

Taylor Baron – EUBP Student 

Landon Baron  – EUBP Student

Trinity Baron  – EUBP Student

Linkin Baron – Future EUBP Student

Oakbank Parade Crew (June 16, 2020):  Landon Drul – EUBP Student and Graduate, Lesia Drul, MPUE Board Member – Oakbank Representative, Tyler Buternowsky, Barb Thiessen, Paulette Monita

River East Transcona Parade Crew (June 18, 2020): Nataliya Sovinska – EUBP Teacher, Marianna Cap –  EUBP Teacher, Lisa Maximiuk – MPUE Board Member – River East Representative, Judy Burak – MPUE Board Member – Transcona Representative, Barb Thiessen, Paulette Monita, Tyler Buternowsky and Volodymyr Sovinskyy.

Smith-Jackson and Mackenzie Middle School Parade Crew (June 20, 2020): Rhonna Rodriguez – Teacher, Jennifer Chetyrbok – EUBP Teacher, Irene Yarema-Whitwell – Retired EUBP Teacher, Shelley Tucker – Principal Smith Jackson School, Paulette Monita, Barb Thiessen, Lana Thiessen – EUBP Graduate, Rebecca Monita.

Shkola R.F. Morrison and H.C. Avery Middle School Parade Crew (June 22, 2020):  Owen Debets – EUBP Student, Tyler Buternowsky, Maya Krawchuk – EUBP Student and Graduate, Paulette Monita, Rebecca Monita, Lana Thiessen, Karlie Debets – EUBP Parent, Pat Bugera-Krawchuk, Michael Ilyniak – EUBP teacher, Kristya Matwichyna – EUBP Teacher, Taras Melnychuk – EUBP Teacher, Kelly Melnychuk, Adam Hildebrandt – Principal H.C. Avery School, Michael Monita, Daniel Monita – EUBP Student and Graduate.

East Selkirk Middle School Parade Crew (June 23, 2020): Tyler Buternowsky, Annette Stasiuk – MPUE Board Member East Selkirk Representative, Nadia Gorbay – EUBP Teacher, Paulette Monita, Michael Monita.

Corporate Donors:

Jim Gauthier Chevrolet – Donated use of a 2020 Chevy Blazer

SignFX – Donation of colorful decals on the Vehicle

Thank you to Clint Remarchuk– MPUE Board member for making these arrangements

GRAD PARADE PHOTO GALLERY LINKS:

Oakbank Grad Photos | River East Transcona Grad Photos | Dauphin Grad Photos |

Seven Oaks Grad Photos | East Selkirk Grad Photos

The parade visited about 100 families from the areas of Dauphin, Winnipeg, East Selkirk and Oakbank and area.  On behalf of these families, MPUE would like to shout out a huge Thank you to all of the individuals listed above.  Your time and commitment to this province-wide Graduate Recognition Parade is hugely appreciated.

“Language, Culture, Community – 40 Years of Manitoba’s Ukrainian Bilingual Program”. This project was initiated in celebration of the 40th year of the English-Ukrainian Bilingual Program in Manitoba. The documentary delves into the educational benefits of language learning, the importance of community and creation of global citizens, founders of the EUBP and right to language, multigenerational appeal of the program and Manitoba Parents for Ukrainian Education and the Osvita Foundation’s continued support the EUBP.

In 2014, as recognition and celebration of 200 years since Shevchenko’s birth, MPUE engaged 5 Artists to lead an art project that would span all grade levels throughout the 12 English Ukrainian Bilingual Program (EUBP) schools in Manitoba. Students worked under the guidance of the commissioned artists to collaborate and create a child’s interpretation of Taras Shevchenko’s significant contributions to Ukrainian cultural identity. The children were asked to base their images on the 3 different themes:

• Kindergarten to Grade 2/3 – Taras Shevchenko’s Birthplace
• Grade 3 to 5/6 – An Illustration Based on Taras Shevchenko’s Writings
• Grade 6 to 8/9 – What Taras Shevchenko Stood For

The artist worked with the individual schools, students and teachers and expressed the work in the fabric based medium of their choice. It is our hope that this opportunity for artistic expression by the children has reinforced their understanding of Taras Shevchenko as an important influence on Ukrainian culture.