History of the UNF in Montreal

August 19th, 1933

– the founding of the Ukrainian National Association in Quebec. On that day, the organization gained its first  twelve members. These initators decided to meet every Sunday, prepare reports and recruit new members until they had enough members to hold a general meeting and elect a board.

October 15th, 1933

The first general meeting was held. Every Ukrainian could join the UNO, regardless of their religious rite or regional origin, as long as they were willing to help the Ukrainian liberation cause under the call of ‘the nation above all else’.

Despite the prevailing economic depression and general unemployment, the members generously supported the new initiative. They donated their meagre earnings to support the organizations local activities, to support liberation-political causes, and financially support the unemployed members of the community.

1939-1951

This period began with a great spiritual uplift: the Carpathian Ukraine was declared free. It was hoped that the spark of freedom would spread to all Ukrainian lands. But it did not happen, and in September of 1939, the Second World War broke out. The general meeting on 28 December, 1939 was held under the slogan of supporting Canada’s war effort. There was little international support for the Ukrainian independence cause.

      

In 1944

The Provincial Executive carried out an important and useful action to establish credit cooperatives. And so, the Ukrainian National Credit Union was founded at the UNO branch in Montreal.

In the same year, the question of purchasing a building for the UNO arose. A fundraising campaign was launched. The members responded very enthusiastically. Not only did they make monetary donations, but they also gave their labour to help reduce the costs.

Soon after began the immigration of so-called DPs (Displaced-Peoples) to Canada. The route of arrival for the new immigrants was through Montreal. The new immigrants began to make use of the UNO’s hospitable community centre, which became a place of meeting, advice and assistance.

October 30th, 1956

A new community centre for UNO was purchased at the corner of Fairmont and Hutchinson.

Today

The UNF in Quebec continues to actively support community members and various creative organisations. Dance groups, Ukrainian theatre and theatre classes,
a literary studio and book club, a library, art workshops, Ukrainian film screenings and concerts, an emotional support programme for newly arrived Ukrainians, a summer day camp for children, a Ukrainian festival and much more.

We work to make Ukrainians feel closer to the culture, traditions and values of their native land and people.

1933 Olga Basarab Ukrainian Women’s Organisation of Canada

The Olha Besarab Ukrainian Women’s Organisation of Canada was formed in 1933 from the Olha Besarab Women’s Circle at the Ukrainian Rifle Association. Since its inception, the OUC has been actively involved in the activities of the Ukrainian National Guard and the UNO. In the inter-war period and during the Second World war, amateur theatre performances were organised almost every week, with members of the OUC taking on the role of both as amateur actors and cultural organisers. During these performances, raffles were held in the intermissions to win items donated by members, such as embroidery, rugs or cakes. The proceeds were used to help children, widows, or political prisoners, to generate press, etc.

1948

Held in 1948, the World Women’s Congress resulted in the creation of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organisations.

With the arrival of new wave of immigrants, membership increased, and with it the social work of all UNO sister organisations gained a wider scope. However the UWOC’s amateur theatre groups gradually declined with the development of electronics and television. Academic lectures, literary presentations, choir auditions, and concerts continued to flourish.