Ukrainian Scientific Organizations in Toronto
Over 25 percent of all Ukrainians in Canada are concentrated in Ontario. So, it should come as no surprise that Toronto—home to some of the country's most excellent universities and colleges—has become an important centre for the study of Ukraine in Canada. Since the middle of the 20th century, several prestigious scholarly organisations and societies devoted to the field of Ukrainian studies have emerged.
In Toronto, the most notable organisation for the study of Ukraine is St. Vladimir Institute. Founded in 1961, SVI is a self-described community hub that offers housing for Ukrainian students studying at post-secondary institutions; art performances, seminars, lectures; and other cultural programs related to Ukraine and its diaspora. SVI is also home to the Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre, which preserves materials documenting the history and culture of Ukrainians at home and abroad.
It is also essential to mention the Petro Jacyk Education Foundation. Since 1986, the foundation has sought to develop rigorous programs of study on Ukraine in educational institutions throughout Canada, the US, and abroad. One of the fruits of this labour can be found at the University of Toronto: the Petro Jacyk Program for the Study of Ukraine.
There is also the Canadian Foundation for Ukrainian Studies, which funds research, programs, and publications throughout Canada.
The Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press (CIUS) is likewise headquartered in Toronto. They publish new and original scholarship on Ukraine in addition to English translations of older works.
In 1980, the University of Toronto became home to Canada's first endowed Chair of Ukrainian Studies. As well as helping to develop undergraduate and graduate programs of study on Ukraine, the Ukrainian Chair works to organise and promote conferences, scholarships, and fellowships related to the study of Ukraine.
Let’s not forget the Shevchenko Scientific Society of Canada, which functions as the Canadian arm of a Lviv based organisation that was founded in 1873 to advance scholarship on Ukraine’s history, language, and culture. The Society helps to organise and fund various publications, conferences, seminars, and research.
Last but not least, there is a strong program for Ukrainian Studies at the University of Toronto. Courses include topics on Ukrainian literature, language, and history, spanning both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
