2023 MC'S

2023 Master of CEREMONIES

Angelina Taran - Angelina Taran is a TV and radio presenter from Ukraine. She calls herself a dancing host, because if you weren't shy or afraid to dance at her events, you'd be blown away. For half a year in Canada, she held more than 10 different events: from closed evenings to huge festivals and concerts in various Canadian cities: Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto. Angelina also works as a correspondent for the Ukrainian TV program "Contact" and is an official correspondent of the Ukrainian Congress in the city of Calgary.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anhelina-taran-022740237/

Justine Teplycky - Justine Teplycky is a communications professional, former political staffer, and award-winning journalist. Prior to joining the private sector, she worked with the Ford government as Director of Communications to two Ministers. As a reporter for over a decade, Justine received four Edward R. Murrow Awards for her unique coverage of the Toronto International Film Festival, the Invictus Games, and the Blue Jays’ ALDS win in 2015.

Vincent Rees - Vincent Rees has been engaged in the Ukrainian community his entire life. He performed with the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers for many years before becoming a teacher, choreographer and director and taught all around the world. After completing an undergrad in Ukrainian Language and Literature and a Masters in Ukrainian Folklore, he was perfectly suited to begin sharing his passion with others and started leading groups tours to Ukraine. Word caught on and Cobblestone Freeway Tours was born - taking people to connect with their homeland of Ukraine but also throughout Eastern Europe. Vincent is happy to be here with you at this inspiring world class Ukrainian festival because sharing Ukrainian culture with the world... is more important than ever!

Anastasia Baczynskyj - Anastasia Baczynskyj has a long record of service to the Ukrainian Canadian community. Holding a Master’s Degree from the University of Toronto (OISE), her thesis focused on the transference of heritage in the Ukrainian Canadian context. Anastasia’s dedication to the community’s future has led her to create successful educational and cultural programs in various organizations across the country. As one of the original members of the Lemon Bucket Orkestra, and daughter of comedian Ihor Baczynskyj, she is in demand not only as a lecturer and educator, but as a performer as well. For over 15 years, she has entertained domestic and international audiences with her talents and her wry sense of Ukrainian humour.

Adrianna Medyk - Adrianna Medyk is a first-time MC at the Bloor West Village Toronto Ukrainian Festival, and she couldn’t be more excited! She is a member of the Ukrainian Youth Association, taking part in organizing many local and national events, as well as camps for children and teens. Adrianna has also danced for the Barvinok Ukrainian Dance School in Mississauga for over 20 years, performing on stages across Canada and Europe. For the past four years, she has also been a part of Barvinok’s Executive Committee, serving as the school’s Costume Director. Adrianna graduated with her Bachelor of Education and Masters of Professional Education from Western University, and is now an elementary school teacher in Mississauga.

Oksana Hrycyna - Oksana Hrycyna is a French high school teacher with the York Catholic District School Board and Executive Director of Project Soniashnyk. After earning her Honours BA and Bachelor of Education at York University Oksana moved to Ukraine and taught English Literature at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv. In 2008, she began working with children at Help Us Help Camps in Ukraine. With the mass invasion of Ukraine, Oksana took the courageous step in co-founding Project Soniashnyk- a designated fund of BCU Foundation that provides PTSD and Trauma Rehabilitation Summer and Winter Camps as well as ongoing mental health support to children of Active and Fallen Members of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. This past year Oksana has fearlessly returned 3 times to Ukraine to run wilderness leadership and wellness camps for an ever growing number of children directly affected by the war on Ukraine.

Borys Sirskyj - Borys Sirskyj was born in Thunder Bay. Borys moved to Ottawa in 1979 when he became Executive Assistant to Senator Paul Yuzyk. In 1986, he joined the Solicitor General’s Department where he has been till his retirement in 2017. Borys has been active in the Ukrainian community for over 35 years in Plast – Ukrainian Youth Association, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, History teacher -Kursy Ukrayinoznavstva (Ukrainian High School Courses), Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Commission, etc. He has also MC’d many community events, including the Toronto Ukrainian Festival (for 20 years); the Ukrainian Festival in Vegreville, Alta; and the CNUF in Dauphin, Man.

Zenon Chwaluk - Zenon Chwaluk is an experienced MC having performed with the Kalyna Dance Ensemble a long time ago and MC’ing at the Kyiv Pavilion during the Toronto International Caravan festivities. In more recent times he has MC’ed at the Ukraine Pavilion during Carrassauga, at the St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church Yarmarok, at the Mississauga Ukrainian Festival as well as at the Toronto Ukrainian Festival.