Thank You for Making Our Centennial Gala an Unforgettable Evening!
Rodyna - Director Andriy Dmytrovych
On Saturday, November 7, 2026, parishioners, friends, sponsors, and special guests gathered at the St. Volodymyr Event Centre in Oakville to celebrate the historic Centennial of our parish, which today worships at St. Volodymyr Cathedral in Toronto and All Saints of Ukraine Chapel in Oakville. The Centennial Gala Celebration was a momentous occasion that brought diverse generations under one roof to look back on the pioneers who built the parish and ahead to those who will carry its Orthodox faith, Ukrainian language, and traditions into a second century.
We offer our heartfelt thanks to our guests, sponsors, donors, devoted parishioners, and everyone who holds our parish close to their heart for sharing in this momentous occasion, and we extend our deepest gratitude to the many volunteers who poured their time, energy, and passion into bringing this unforgettable evening to life.
Master of Ceremonies Peter Bayrachny masterfully guided us through a wonderful night of celebration and shared memories, recognizing the extraordinary individuals and organizations that have contributed so much to our Cathedral community over the past decades.
Metropolitan Ilarion graced the occasion with a formal letter of congratulation. We were also deeply blessed to welcome our Cathedral clergy in person — including Bishop Andriy, Fr. Jaroslaw Buciora, Fr. Vasyl Kobrii, and Fr. Dcn. Kostyantyn Yastreb — who were joined in celebration by several of the parish’s past clergy, as well as visiting clergy from across the province.
MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos, Mayor Jeff Knoll - Town of Oakville, Councillor Natalia Lishchyna
Our distinguished guest speakers shared moving tributes to this milestone:
Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto, Oleh Nikolenko, delivered an official congratulatory message on behalf of the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha.
MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos, a long-time friend of the St. Volodymyr Cultural Centre, brought greetings.
Mayor of Oakville Jeff Knoll, a champion of our community who has done so much to help Ukrainian families settle in Oakville, joined us for his first official gala in his mayoral role, celebrating his ongoing commitment to our community.
We were equally honoured to receive special messages of congratulations from Governor General Denise Arbour, Prime Minister Mark Carney, Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Foreign Affairs Anita Anand, MP Daniel Martin, and MP Sima Acan, with MP Dr. Natalia Lishchyna celebrating alongside us in person.
This milestone evening was made possible through the spectacular generosity of our sponsors:
Platinum: The Temerty Foundation
Gold: The Adamec family and the Ochrym family
Silver: The St Volodymyr Foundation, the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada – Kniahynia Olha Branch, John and Nina Holuk, Drs. Bohdan and Nina Kryshtalskyj, Dr. Lelia Sulyma, Alex and Raya Juchymenko
Bronze: BCU Foundation, Mitchell, Bardyn and Zalucky LLP, Turner and Porter, Fellowship of Sts. Cyril and Methodios, Ukrainian Credit Union (UCU), Dr. George and Mrs. Oksana Anna Rewa
Friends of the Cathedral: Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Demetrius, Walter and Slavka Chewchuk, Iwan and Natalia Jemetz, Annie and Nick Mishchenko, Rosalia Sametz in honour of William Sametz
Barvinok Ukrainian Dance School
A profound highlight of the gala was a special presentation by the Ochrym family honouring the legacy of George Ochrym. A lifelong parishioner, George directed the construction of our Cultural Centre and spearheaded the vision for the Oakville Seniors Residence. Following his passing in 2025, George bequeathed $100,000 to support the ongoing growth of the Cathedral and the Cultural Centre in Oakville. His grandchildren Teodor, Marko, and Roksana presented this transformative gift to Parish President Slavko Adamec.
The evening’s atmosphere was perfectly set by bandurist Ron Demeda, who provided an elegant musical backdrop during the cocktail reception. Guests were treated to a masterful cultural program over dinner, featuring the powerful and inspiring harmonies of the Cathedral’s own ensemble, Rodyna, under the direction of Andriy Dmytrovych; a brilliant and passionate performance by concert pianist Olga Popova; and the dazzling, high-energy traditional folk choreography of the Ukrainian Dance School Barvinok. Alongside the spectacular performances, a Silent Auction featuring generous donations from local artists, individuals, and businesses raised vital funds to support the Cathedral’s mission and family programming. The evening’s celebrations concluded in true Ukrainian tradition with a vibrant zabava, featuring live music by the widely-popular band Zirka.
Our deepest gratitude goes to the Centennial Planning Committee — Lada Vedlin, Victoriia Popichko, Franko Diakowsky, Slavko Adamec, and John Holuk — for their tireless efforts and commitment to orchestrating this monumental milestone. Finally, a resounding thank you to our dedicated volunteers whose hard work, passion, and care ensured our Centennial Gala Celebration was a memorable and resounding success.
Celebrating the Past — Building our Future
