Showing posts with label Ukrainian Literacy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ukrainian Literacy. Show all posts

Wednesday, 3 April 2013

Rising Opportunity for Ukrainian Publishing House

Ukrainian Calgary is home to many fascinating people including authors, painters, pedagogs of every sort who rub shoulders at local social events, with little fanfare or attention.  Some of these have been pioneers in the Ukrainian publishing craft.  One of these is Lesia Savedchuk, who, while in Winnipeg, wrote a series of Ukrainian children's books that were the staple in my home for a long time!  With her success, and others including Nina Mudryk-Mrits in South America - and Halyna Koszarycz of Edmonton, and painter illustrator Larisa Sembaliuk Cheladyn, and teacher-writer Lena Gulytsan - well the list goes on.  These pioneers helped to promote an approach to Ukrainian childhood, special Ukrainian children's literature here in the diaspora.  In Ukraine, of course things have been different.

Every year for the past 50, a growing group of publishers of children's literature (literature for children) have gathered at an international trade fair to promote their wares, and gain access to international readership.  This year's event at the Bologna Children's Book Fair, a very special entry from the Ukrainian pubishing world participated - for the first time.  What a positive sign that «Грані-Т» and «Видавництво Старого Лева» were there as the first ever representatives of the entire Ukrainian language readership.  From March 25th to 28th, 2013 publishers, writers, illustrators, translators and purchasers from 1200 companies, and 75 different linguistic groups came to promote their work on an international stage. 

Chief Editorial staff members Marian Savka, and Olena Movchan were clear to describe their company as a personal initiative with personal investment.  The company is open for business on the world's market, publishing authentic product, interesting literature for children of the world, not only for Ukraine, and not only for the Ukrainian cultural and linguistic diaspora.  What a breath of fresh air - and a sign of great successes to come!  As the two say - If you want it done well, you have to do it yourself!

Purchase from the featured company at http://www.grani-t.com.ua/books.

Lesia's books can be purchased at http://www.kootaooma.com/catalogue/easy-to-read-books/ or http://mpue.ca/Dzvin/website/products_page3.htm


Wednesday, 24 October 2012

Changing Times for Ukrainian Book Store

Peasants, farmers, and labourers, - actually a mistaken perception of the early Ukrainian immigrants to Canada.  The truth is, however that they were far more skilled and adventurous than any of us imagine.  Many of them read everything they could get their hands on (or were read to) before they voyaged to Canada, and upon arrival, consulted with every source of information possible. They eventually created very many "reading-rooms" (called "prosvita" communities) and "national halls" (narodni domi) too sprinkled all over the rural communities.  Early in Alberta's history they developed "learning communities" that worked together with a "can-do" entrepreneurial spirit about them that was unstoppable. And they all had a connection with Edmonton's Ukrainian Book Store for important purchases like Ukrainian newspapers, books, calendars, training materials, embroidery thread, prayer books, fabric, music, recordings, just about anything needed to be informed and "stay Ukrainian" on the Canadian prairies. 

 
But change has been constant for Alberta's rural and urban areas.  Previously essential patterns of life have evolved and through it all the Ukrainian Book Store has been a magnet that attracts people who love the Ukrainian language, culture and values.  It has always been a place to reconnect with community! 
 
Meeting places change too. A casual walk through the business community is now a drive through, the book age is slowly being overtaken by the digital age.  Now it is digital books, blogs, social media and online shopping....And that is why today's Edmonton Journal article about the Ukrainian Book Store closing their business in the upcoming future has made me so sad. 
 
Congratulations and thank you Ukrainian Book Store for a century of Ukrainian connections here on the Canadian prairies - you helped build the community I love.  Farewell, Ukrainian Book Store - my heart is heavy ...thanks for the memories!

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/edmonton/Edmonton+Ukrainian+Bookstore+close+December/7435924/story.html
  

 
 

 

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