On Sunday October 14, 2007, a symbolic milestone was reached in the establishment of a permanent monument to Taras Shevchenko in Canada's national capital Ottawa.
His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Ihor Ostash on behalf of the Government of Ukraine formally presented soil that had been transferred from Shevchenko’s grave in Kaniv, Ukraine, to Mr. Orest Dubas, Chair of the Ottawa Shevchenko Monument Project Committee. After the presentation, a blessing of the soil was conducted by Reverend Father Cyril Mykytiuk. The ceremony was held on the grounds of the Saint John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine in Ottawa, which will be the site of the monument.
In August 2007, the National Shevchenko Museum Preserve in Kaniv had presented the soil to the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada. The soil will remain in a small ceramic repository at the Shrine until it is embedded at the base of the monument.
The project was initiated in the spring of 2005 with the founding of the Ottawa Shevchenko Monument Project Committee. It was apparent that Ottawa was one of the few national capitals that lacked a memorial that would reflect the contributions and sacrifices of its citizens of Ukrainian heritage and provide a link to the single individual who most embodies the national consciousness of Ukraine.
The first major task was to secure a suitable statue of Shevchenko, and world-famous Canadian sculptor and Officer of the Order of Canada, Mr. Leo Mol (Leonid Molodozhanyn) with his wife Margareth graciously donated not one, but a composition of four statues for the monument. The statues were imported from Germany and arrived safely in Ottawa (December 2006).
The main statue of the composition is three metres in height and depicts Shevchenko as a young man dressed in a long coat. The three smaller statues represent the key themes from Shevchenko's works: the Haydamaky, Kateryna with child, and a Banduryst.
Architectural design for the monument and site planning was established with Special Design Consultant Radoslav Zuk, Professor Emeritus - School of Architecture, McGill University, working with Derek Crain of Derek Crain Architects in Ottawa. It should be noted that Professor Zuk was also the chief architect of Leo Mol’s Shevchenko Monument in Washington, DC.
Persons wishing to contribute to the projectshould make their donations out to the Ottawa Taras Shevchenko Monument and mail them c/o Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko 202 – 952 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R2W 3P4. Arrangements have been made with the Foundation to administer donations and issue tax receipt to all contributors.
Additional information on the project can be obtained from the Infoukes website: http://www.infoukes.com/tarasinottawa or contacting Orest Dubas by phone (1-613-725-0006) or email at: orestdubas@rogers.com.
