SUSK

SUSK/СУСК
Ukrainian Canadian Students' Union

Motto	“Finding Belonging, Creating Leaders”
Location	500-130 Albert St Ottawa, ON K1P 5G4
Established	1953
Members	26 USOs
Affiliations	Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), SUSTA
Website	http://www.susk.ca

The Ukrainian Canadian Students’ Union (Ukrainian: Cоюз Українськoгo Студентства Канади (CУСК), French: Union des Étudiants Ukrainiens Canadiens)—commonly known by its Ukrainian acronym in all three languages, SUSK—is a national student organization composed of Ukrainian Students Organizations (USOs) at post-secondary institutions across Canada.

It was formed in 1953 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. After 2002, SUSK fell inactive for several years until it was revived at the XXII Congress of Ukrainian Canadians held in Winnipeg, in October 2007.^[1][2] SUSK is a national member of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.^[3]

Mandate[]

SUSK’s mandate is to advocate for the concerns of Ukrainian-Canadian students across the country by acting as a national forum for our USOs and associated members. SUSK also provides resources in an effort to inform those on and off campus about Ukrainian and Ukrainian-Canadian history and culture.

Student/Студент[]

"Student" (pronon. stu-dent) or "Студент" is the official publication of the Ukrainian Canadian Students' Union (SUSK). The newspaper has served as a means of communication for Ukrainian Canadian student groups and alumni at universities across Canada for decades.^[4]

SUSK Congress[]

The National SUSK Congress is held annually, in alternating Canadian cities. It attracts student leaders from USOs across the nation, and is an incredible opportunity to develop leadership skills, network with other Ukrainian-Canadian students, and partake in topical seminars.

Year	Location
2022	Edmonton, AB (or virtual)
2021	Virtual
2020	Virtual
2019	Winnipeg, MB
2018	Banff, AB
2017	Ottawa, ON
2016	Saskatoon, SK
2015	Montreal, QC
2014	Toronto, ON
2013	Edmonton, AB
2012	Hamilton, ON
2011	Ottawa, ON
2010	Edmonton, AB
2009	Toronto, ON
2008	Montreal, QC
2007	Winnipeg, MB
2002	Ottawa, ON
2001	Edmonton, AB
2000	Hamilton, ON
1999	Calgary, AB
1998	Hamilton, ON
1997	Calgary, AB
1996	Montreal, QC
1995	Edmonton, AB
1994
1993	Winnipeg, MB
1992
1991	Saskatoon, SK
1990	Mississauga, ON
1989	Ottawa, ON
1988	Gimli, MB
1987	Montreal, QB
1986	Pigeon Lake, AB
1985	Toronto, ON
1984	Vancouver, BC
August 1983	Ottawa, ON
August 1982	Winnipeg, MB
August 1981	Toronto, ON
August 1980	Edmonton, AB
August 1979	Montreal, QC
August 1978	Winnipeg, MB
August 1977	Vancouver, BC
August 1976	Scarborough, ON
August 1975	Edmonton, AB
August 1974	Winnipeg, MB
August 1973	Toronto, ON
September 1972	Ottawa, ON
September 1971	Thunder Bay, ON
September 1970	Winnipeg, MB
August 1969	Vancouver, BC
March 1968	Montreal, QC
December 1966	Toronto, ON
December 1963	Toronto, ON
1962
December 1960	Toronto, ON
February 1960	Montreal, QC
February 1958	Montreal, QC
December 1955	Winnipeg, MB
December 1953	Winnipeg, MB

^{[5] [6] [7]}

Projects[]

Professional Development[]

SUSK holds networking events to connect Ukrainian students and youth with professionals and entrepreneurs.^[8] During 2020-2021, SUSK launched SUSK Connect, an online database connecting Ukrainian Canadian students and community professionals in a broad range of industries. This database gives students the opportunity to explore career paths in their area(s) of interest and build their professional network. At this time, SUSK also began a networking series in conjunction with the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Federation (UCPBF).

Russian Aggression Awareness[]

During the 2013- 2014 Euromaidan protests in Ukraine, SUSK supported the freedom for Ukrainian people along with many of the 1.2 million citizens of Canada that have a Ukrainian heritage.^[9] In 2018, SUSK partnered with the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) in facilitating the Postcards for Prisoners project. For several years, USOs and students who have participated in the project write to Ukrainian political prisoners in order to raise awareness of their unjust incarcerations in Russian prisons and to provide them with moral support. During the month of May 2021, SUSK launched a National Campaign titled "Russian Aggression Awareness Month" to raise awareness about the ongoing Russian invasion in Ukraine. During this time, SUSK hosted four webinars that spotlighted expert speakers on the topics of Russian aggression, Nord Stream 2, the Crimea and Donbas war, and disinformation. SUSK additionally provided students, organizations, and those who are in support of this campaign a template letter addressed to their local Member of Parliament, outlining the urgency of the current status of Russian Aggression in Ukraine to be at the forefront of the Canadian foreign affairs agenda.

Holodomor Awareness[]

In November 2008, SUSK coordinated two projects with USOs across Canada in commemoration of the 1932-1933 Holodomor famine-genocide. The first was a 33-hour fast to help raise awareness on campuses while the second was a display of Holodomor: Genocide by Famine.^[10] SUSK continues its Holodomor awareness and commemoration efforts on an annual basis, and encourages its member USOs to do the same.

Literature and Culture

In March of each year, SUSK holds a Ukrainian Literature Day to commemorate the famous Ukrainian poet, Taras Shevchenko.^[11] SUSK helped organize a book tour across Canada for Andrea Chalupa in the Fall of 2013 for her book Orwell and the Refugees: The Untold Story of Animal Farm.

The Endowment Fund

Turnover is SUSK’s largest challenge as a volunteer organization – by the time our students fully develop their leadership, they are not far from graduating. To combat this, SUSK has introduced full-time staff to support USOs, train new executive members, as well as assist our fundraising to provide institutional memory. However, our resources to sustain this position and our member organizations are short term.

In 2021, the Ukrainian Canadian Students’ Union (SUSK) launched the “Finding Belonging, Creating Leaders” campaign to ensure a strong and unified Ukrainian Canadian student body, and to develop the future leadership of the Ukrainian Canadian community. The endowment will use its annual accruement to support SUSK and its students for years to come.

Equity: Commitment and Action Policy[]

In January 2021, SUSK put its resolution to create an equity policy into action. The Policy Committee has been crafting a policy that outlines the organization's vision to be a pillar for equity, diversity, and inclusion within the Ukrainian Canadian Community. SUSK aims to foster connection and unity with various cultures and organizations that encompass the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada. The policy will apply to all activities, initiatives, and internal workings of SUSK, and will be implemented in the fall of 2021 after the National SUSK Congress. Additionally, a new position that focuses on achieving the goals of the policy, the Inclusion and Diversity Director, will be voted on at Congress.

Other Accomplishments

In November 2013, SUSK was one of the finalists of the "Ukrainian Dragons" Project taking place at the XXIV Triennial Congress of Ukrainian Canadians.^[12] Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk invested $10,000 into the project created by SUSK at the "Ukrainian Dragons" competition.^[13][14] In 2011, SUSK held a contest to win a spot on the Historical Train of Ukrainian Pioneers to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the first Ukrainians immigrating to Canada.^[15]

SUSK is continuously working on a variety of projects with the Ukrainian-Canadian community and the Ukrainian global community. Any new projects or project updates will be listed on its website.

Alumni Successes[]

Vera Watowich[]

Vera Watowich (née Zarowski) was the first President of SUSK from 1953 to 1958. She died on October 21, 2012, in Denver, Colorado.^[16]

Bohdan Bociurkiw[]

Bohdan Bociurkiw was the co-founder of SUSK, alongside Vera Watowich, and was the first Vice-President in 1953. He was one of the founders of and served as the associate director from 1979 to 1982. He died on October 1, 1998 in his Ottawa home.^[17]

Donald Sadoway[]

Donald Sadoway is a Professor of Materials Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and served on the SUSK Executive between 1972 and 1974. In 2012 he was named one of Time Magazine's Top 100 most influence people in the world.^[18][19] Watch SUSK's interview with Donald Sadoway for the Alumni Successes video series.

Bohdan Kupych[]

SUSK alumnus Bohdan Kupych has worked for many years in the technology industry in Ukraine and Russia. Bohdan served on the SUSK Executive from 1975 to 1976.

George Samoil[]

George Samoil was the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Premier of Alberta under the Dave Hancock and Jim Prentice governments. George was on the SUSK Executive from 1980 to 1984, serving as President from 1981 to 1982.

Michael Bociurkiw[]

Michael Bociurkiw is a global affairs analyst, speaker, and journalist. He was SUSK’s President from 1982 to 1984. Watch SUSK's interview with Michael Bociurkiw.

Orest Nowosad[]

Orest Nowosad is Chief at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Orest served on the SUSK Executive from 1984 to 1986.

Marta Dyczok[]

Marta Dyczok is a professor of history and political science at the University of Western Ontario, specializing in international politics and history with a focus on East-Central Europe and Eurasia, specifically Ukraine. She served on the SUSK Executive in 1985. Watch SUSK's interview with Marta Dyczok.

Roman Dubczak[]

Roman Dubczak is Managing Director and Head of Global Investment Banking at CIBC Capital Markets. He served as SUSK’s VP External from 1985 to 1986. Roman is on the Advisory Council of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. Watch SUSK's interview with Roman Dubczak.

Roman Chwyl[]

Roman Chwyl is an accomplished Technology Executive with a deep technical background and experience building products and leading sales teams. He has held various senior leadership positions at Amazon, Google, IBM, and other tech firms. Roman was on the SUSK Executive from 1994 to 1995.

Paul Grod[]

Paul M. Grod is President and CEO of Rodan Energy, a leading energy services company. He was on the SUSK Executive from 1994 to 1997, serving as President from 1994 to 1995. In 2018, Paul was elected as President of the Ukrainian World Congress. Watch SUSK's interview with Paul Grod.

Arthur McDonald[]

SUSK alumnus Arthur McDonald, a SUSK alumnus, won the 2015 Nobel Prize for his work in the area of physics.^[20]

Roman Onufrijchuk[]

SUSK alumnus Roman Onufrijchuk was a Professor at Simon Fraser University for several years, specifically in The Faculty of Communication.^[21] He presented "From Datawakes to Paramortals" at TEDx at SFU in 2012.^[22] Roman died in 2015.

For more on SUSK Alumni, see the Alumni Successes Series on YouTube. For SUSK's historical timeline and other alumni, see the SUSK website.

National Executive[]

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2020-2021^[23]

President: Roman Grod

Vice President National: Devon Goldie

Vice President-Finance: Irina Boyko

Vice President-Eastern Canada: Marc Darmohraj

Vice President-Central Canada: Larisa Hemon

Vice President-Western Canada: Nykola Dovgyy

Internal Relations Director: Danya Pankiw

Secretary: Chase Gargus

External Relations Director: Anastasiya Gorodnicha

Media Director: Maya Pankiw

Student Editor: Alexandra Holyk

Project Director: Kira Dzulynsky

Alumni Director: Raissa Dzulynsky

Immediate Past President: Stephanie Nedoshytko

Notes[]

External links[]

• SUSK Homepage
• Current "Student" / "Студент" Issues
• SUSK Meets with Ukrainian Ambassador
• Ukrainian Canadian Congress
• Archives of early SUSK Congresses
• SUSK Alumni Successes Series