Tavria 50th Anniversary Reunion Opening Address By Elena Kreuger
Шановні гості, дорогі друзі — Слава Ісусу Христу!
Слава навіки!
Мені сьогодні великий приємність привітати вас на цей 50-літній ювілей ансамблю
«Таврія» і також поділитися з вами кілька слова про сучасні події в Україні. Й про
те, який вплив вони мають на нас тут, у Канаді.
Like many of you here today, there was never a time in my life when I did not identify as Ukrainian. It was the language I spoke at home with my parents, grandparents, extended family, and our church community.
Our faith-based rituals and cultural traditions followed the natural rhythms of the seasons. As a student in Saturday morning Ukrainian School classes, a member of CYMK – Ukrainian Orthodox Youth, a camper at Camp Trident, a member of various choirs and instrumental ensembles, and a dancer with Boyan School of Dance, and later Loza and Tavria — these educational, recreational, and cultural institutions provided opportunities for friendship, leadership, learning, and a deep sense of identity grounded in shared community values.
This was what it meant to be Ukrainian — it was joyful, it was natural, it was me. And, embedded in these activities was a responsibility: to share what we learned, not only within our community, but with the wider world.
Growing up in the 1970s and early 80s, we were taught that Ukraine did not — and could not — have independence as long as it remained under the oppressive rule of the Soviet Union. This oppression echoed centuries of Russian imperialism.
We learned about this formally in Ukrainian school, through stories from our grandparents about the “старий край” and their reasons for immigrating to Canada. We learned it through folk songs, poetry, artwork, and Church hymns that advocated for Ukrainian sovereignty and dignity. We came to understand, through Ukraine’s national anthem «Ще не вмерла Україна», and the poetry of Тарас Шевченко and Леся Українка, a profound love of country and a yearning for freedom. And today, those same sentiments continue in the voices of Ukraine’s modern poets, artists, athletes, and ordinary citizens.
Ukrainians not only want but deserve to live their full potential in a democratic, sovereign nation — free from corruption and foreign oppression.
The full-scale invasion of February 24, 2022, was not the beginning of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Nor did it begin in 2014. Ukraine’s struggle for self-determination spans centuries of resistance against ruthless empires that have sought to expand through colonization, indoctrination, and fear.
Yet, the hope of freedom — inspired by the legacy of the Zaporizhian Cossacks, the voices of Taras Shevchenko and Lesya Ukrainka and others — has never been extinguished.
Just weeks after the 2022 invasion, Tavria held its annual dance festival — under a heavy cloud of moral uncertainty. We asked ourselves: Is it right to dance? To be joyful? To celebrate our children’s accomplishments while our Ukrainian people suffer, flee, and fight for survival?
I’ll never forget the adjudicator’s response: We must dance. In fact, it is our duty to continue the music, the choreography, the language, and the artistry that is Ukrainian dance. If we stop, if we give up our culture, then we hand the enemy another victory in their attempt to erase us.
That word — duty — has stayed with me.
As Ukrainian Canadians — members of the world’s largest Ukrainian diaspora — we have both a privilege and a duty to support and advocate for our counterparts in Ukraine.
Though geographically far from the frontlines, we remain close to the war through our family, friends, and colleagues who endure the daily horror of missile strikes, drone attacks, and the brutal assault on Ukrainian identity — through disinformation, propaganda, and the denial of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
These are not just acts of war — they are genocidal efforts to erase a people and a culture.
Our duty, then, is to respond:
- By holding our political leaders accountable.
- By demanding justice for the crimes committed.
- By speaking out — loudly and consistently — in defense of Ukraine’s right to exist.
Part of this duty also involves honouring the legacy of our parents, grandparents, and community leaders who built vibrant Ukrainian communities here in Canada.
We continue their work when we show hospitality, demonstrate commitment, and engage in cultural and civic life. That is how we build a better nation — both here and abroad.
You — the Ukrainian community in Regina, and especially the Tavria family — have answered this call to duty in incredible ways:
- You have provided financial and material aid to families, soldiers, schools, and hospitals in Ukraine.
- You have supported displaced Ukrainians seeking refuge in Canada by offering housing, jobs, and settlement assistance.
- You have raised awareness, educated yourselves and others, and actively combated disinformation.
- You have engaged in political advocacy — rallying at civic, provincial, and federal levels for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
- And most importantly, you have preserved Ukrainian culture in Canada, strengthening the global Ukrainian voice.
So I urge each of you — whether you are an alumnus of Tavria, a current dancer, a parent, or a supporter — continue learning and continue growing in your Ukrainian identity.
Preserve our language, culture, and values.
Participate in Ukrainian organizations.
Engage in the democratic process.
What we do here, in Canada, matters in Ukraine.
Ukraine will continue to exist — because we exist.
Let us now take a moment to honour the brave men and women defending Ukraine.
We remember those who have fallen, including three young men from our own province of Saskatchewan. We honour the many civilians who have died, been injured, or displaced by Russia’s unrelenting attacks.
And we cannot forget the 20,000 Ukrainian children forcibly transferred to Russian-controlled areas — assigned Russian citizenship, adopted into Russian families, and separated from their parents and homeland.
Please join me in a moment of silent prayer and reflection. (pause for one minute)
Дякую.
Fifty years ago, Mari Nychka instilled in a generation of young people a love for dance, music, heritage, and history — through an artform that is both exhilarating and beautiful, traditional yet evolving.
How fortunate we are that this legacy continues — growing and changing while retaining its core: the essence of what it means to be Ukrainian. As we celebrate this 50th anniversary, raising our glasses with a heartfelt «Будьмо!» and dancing to our favourite polkas, let us allow this joy to fuel our continued commitment — to advocate for, defend, and support Ukraine.
В єдності — наша сила. In unity is our strength.
Слава Україні! Героям Слава!
Україна — понад усе!
