Ukrainian National Federation, 1933. Credit: Olga Rohatyn

Organizational growth went hand in hand with the demographic changes that occurred in the 1920s. As the towns in and around the Sudbury region developed, Ukrainians began to establish socially and politically exclusive ethnic communal spaces. Not surprisingly, the construction of the Coniston and Sudbury Branches of the Ukrainian Labour Farmer Temple Association in 1924 and 1925 and St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in 1928 led to a deepening of the divisions that plagued the region’s Ukrainian community. The building of the Ukrainian National Federation hall in 1934 and St. Volodymyr’s Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in 1940 also contributed to the tensions between Ukrainians.

Devout members and builders of St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, Baba and her parents spent a significant amount of their time in this space, worshiping, celebrating, and socializing. This experience serves as a starting point for understanding the organizational growth of the community. In addition to focusing on the Catholic segment of the community, this web of stories explores the gendered experiences of Orthodox, progressive, and nationalist Ukrainians and thus the ideological, religious, and political differences that divided the community.

These audio clips coincide with the stories told in Chapter Two in According to Baba: A Collaborative History of Sudbury's Ukrainian Community.

Baba explains the central role that St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church played in her family’s life.

Mary Brydges (nee Ladyk) recounts the value that her mother placed on learning the Ukrainian language at the Ukrainian Labour Farmer Temple Association hall.

Ramona Bendick (nee Shyluk) explains the role that the Ukrainian National Federation and St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church played in her life.

Oryst Sawchuk discusses his memories of Ukrainian language school at the Ukrainian Labour Farmer Temple Association hall.

Vera Babuik (nee Havrachysky) speaks about her memories of St. Volodymyr’s Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church.

Nellie Kozak (nee Tataryn) recounts the fundraising parties that were held at her family’s home for St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Anne Matschke (nee Kuchmey) remembers a conflict among some of the members of the women’s league at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Doris Sturby (nee Zaparynuik) discusses her work at St. Volodymyr’s Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church.

Helen Pihursky (nee Ciotka) shares her views on the volunteering she did for the women’s league at St. Volodymyr’s Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church.

Eugenia Maizuk (nee Kureluik) describes her mother’s role at St. Michael's Ukrainian Catholic Church.

John Stefura describes the activities that he participated in at the Ukrainian National Federation hall.

Oryst Sawchuk discusses some of the activities that went on at the Ukrainian Labour Farmer Temple Association hall.

Ramona Bendick (nee Shyluk) describes the role that the Ukrainian National Federation played in the Ukrainian community.

Doris Sturby (nee Zaparynuik) discusses her parent’s role in the founding of St. Volodymyr’s Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church.

Vera Babuik (nee Havrachysky) speaks about women’s efforts to raise money for St. Volodymyr’s Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church.