On Sunday, July 11, 2021, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation lost a friend, Bohdan Kovaluk, who for decades supported CUF in diverse ways.
Despite all of life’s challenges, Mr. Kovaluk was a great gentleman and highly regarded within the community. He was exceptionally committed to honouring his heritage and family.
Bohdan’s daughter, Melanie Kovaluk, shared his life story:
“Bohdan passed away peacefully with his loving wife at his side on Sunday, July 11, at the age of 92 after suffering from Alzheimer’s for the last ten years.
He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years Maria Matwijas Hasiuk, daughters Melania Kovaluk, Tetiana Kovaluk and son Markian Kovaluk. Grandfather to Kalyna Lewycky, Zachary Lewycky, Luba Chabursky, Greg Chabursky, Eva Kovaluk, Alexia Kovaluk and great grandfather of Maxime Arcand and Emma Arcand. Uncle to nephews and nieces residing in the US, Sweden and Lviv, Ukraine.
Born in Kolomya, Ukraine, on January 22, 1929, the family moved to Lviv, Ukraine. His father, Mykola Kowaluk, ran a family publishing company called Vidavnitstvo Record.
After the war, Bohdan joined his five sisters and his mother in Berchtesgaden, Germany, where he became an active member of the Ukrainian scouting organization Plast. He completed his High School diploma and began his Engineering studies in Luvin, Belgium.
In 1953 Bohdan moved to Montreal where he completed his engineering degree at McGill University and continued working devotedly in the Plast Ukrainian community where he was a leader and example to all.”
Together with his sisters, Bohdan Kovaluk established the Melania Kovaluk Memorial Fund at the Canada-Ukraine Foundation in memory of their mother to provide scholarships to high school graduates from Melania Kovaluk’s home village of Zabolotivtsi to pursue studies at a higher level. Throughout the years, Mr. Kovaluk personally helped manage the Fund, communicated with the CUF and schools in Ukraine, greeted scholarship recipients and much more.
The family asks to donate to the Melania Kovaluk Memorial Fund at the Canada Ukraine Foundation in lieu of flowers. The Foundation thanks the Kovaluk family for continuing Mr. Kovaluk’s legacy.
He was a man of action and great respect, and we are grateful for the gift of his life!
Вічная Пам’ять!
To make donating more accessible, the CUF suggests making donations towards the Melania Kovaluk Memorial Fund in memory of Bohdan Kovaluk online by clicking here or by mailing cheques to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, 620 Spadina Ave., Suite 200 Toronto, Ontario M5S 2H4 Canada. Please indicate in the cheque memo that the donation is for the Melania Kovaluk Memorial Fund.