“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 Saskatchewan 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 gathered in the ballroom of the Hotel Saskatchewan Radisson Plaza…”
The UCC-SPC (Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Saskatchewan Provincial Council) made this announcement and included it on their website honouring Saskatchewan Nation-Builders:
“Pavlo Romanovich Yavorsky, b. Dec. 25, 1914 (Swan Plain, SK), d. Dec. 13, 1998 (Montréal, QC)
Pavlo Romanovich Yavorsky’s lasting legacy may be summed up as his unflagging commitment to building the Ukrainian spirit across Canada. Pavlo was the sixth of twelve children in the Yavorsky family, leaving home as a teenager to complete his education and to develop his creative talents primarily in the multi-faceted Ukrainian culture.
At the tender age of seventeen, Pavlo started work as an organizer for the Ukrainian Canadian Youth Association (CYMK), organizing the first CYMK branch in Norquay, Saskatchewan in 1932. By the end of 1937, under Pavlo’s leadership, fifty-three branches of CYMK were organized from British Columbia to Quebec, with the clear aim to safeguard Ukrainian language, culture, traditions and the faith of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, plus fostering a vision of self-reliance, initiative and self-respect. This was no small feat considering that the organizers had no steady source of income during the difficult times of the Great Depression. He was an enthusiastic organizer of youth conferences and served as a role model for countless young Ukrainians striving to develop careers in the business and professional world of Canada.
In 1937, after seeing the film, ‘Natalka Poltavka’ Pavlo Yavorsky began to work with Vasile Avramenko in his film production, ‘Cossacks in Exile’. His position expanded to include media liaison, public relations, dance instructor, script writer and performer in multiple roles. During the 1930s, Pavlo also served as a dance instructor with Vasile Avramenko and toured with him across Canada. In 1943, Pavlo served as a film consultant for the National Film Board’s production of ‘Ukrainian Dance’. He served in the Canadian Army during the Second World War, following which he worked for Canadian Customs until his retirement. Throughout the decades until his death in 1998, Pavlo Yavorsky was a regular correspondent in Ukrainian publications on varied subjects including multiculturalism, politics, current events, arts and literature plus other topics of historical significance.
During his lifetime, Pavlo served as Secretary and then President, Ukrainian Self-Reliance League (CYC), Eastern Executive; Member, Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada; and, President, Ukrainian Self-Reliance Association, Montreal Branch. His life is documented in the book, ‘Show Them What You Can Do’ ~ Building the Ukrainian Spirit Across Canada: An Illustrated Biography of Pavlo Romanovich Yavorsky.
In recognition of his distinguished service and accomplishments, we are most pleased to posthumously recognize and honour Pavlo Romanovich Yavorsky as a Nation Builder.”
NATION-BUILDER WEBSITE:
http://ucc.sk.ca/oldsite/programs/nbuilders/2008/index.html#NB03