Montreal Ukrainian Festival Executive 2009
Christine Kozak Mastrofrancesco - President
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Born and raised in Lachine Quebec and now a resident of St Leonard, Christine has a degree from McGill University in Business Administration. Presently employed with Service Canada at the Montreal Regional call center, she honours and preserves her Ukrainian heritage through pysanka making (Ukrainian Easter egg, playing the bandura (traditional 56-string instrument), as a former member of the Trembita orchestra and in various other Ukrainian cultural organizations. Christine has been involved with the Montreal Ukrainian Festival as an active member since 2000. |
Maria Makivchuk - VP Sponsorship
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Maria Makivchuk holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, both in international economic relations, from the Kyiv National University in Ukraine and is currently pursuing an MBA at McGill University (concentration in strategy and international business). She has four years’ work experience as an export operations coordinator at a textile agency in Montreal, handling diverse international clients and suppliers. The nature of her work is dealing with logistical coordination and production issues on a daily basis. For her summer 2008 internship, Maria joined the Public-Private Partnerships Quebec (PPPQ) as part of the new superhospital project for the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), where she created workshop guidelines for the procurement process. In fall 2008, she will embark on an exciting journey to the other side of the planet to continue her MBA through an exchange program with the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore. Her career goal is to lead supply chain management for international business. In addition to being a passionate alpine skier and outdoors enthusiast, Maria enjoys participating in community life by being a member of the organizing committee of the annual Ukrainian Festival in Montreal. |
Jan Krejcar - VP Entertainment
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Jan Krejcar has been involved in the Ukrainian community
since coming to Montréal in 2003 both as a musician and
performer, and as an organizer. Together with his wife he is
a founding member of the Ukrainian folk group
Carpathia that has performed and recorded in Canada
and Europe.
Currently Jan is the music director and organist at St. John’s United Church in Pointe Claire, Québec, runs a performance and teaching studio with his wife, Marina, and is active as a pianist, teacher, and arranger. He is also currently working on a Doctorate degree in music at McGill University in Montréal. This is the second time Jan is filling the position of VP Entertainment within the St. Volodymyr organization (the first being in 2007). |
Roman Hawryluk - VP Finance
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Roman Hawryluk, a Concordia University graduate in geography, works as a geographic analyst for a digital mapping company. He has also pursued studies in transportation management at McGill, is the Quebec representative of the CN Historical Society and travels extensively. Since 2000 he has been a member of the executive board of the Prosvita parish in Lachine. As a student he worked as a volunteer for the Art and Faith Millennium of Christianity photo exhibit. This is his second year with the Ukrainian Festival. |
Gregory Kowryha - VP Logistics
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After graduating from Concordia University, Gregory worked for the Government of Canada for 34 years until his recent retirement. He is the president of TYC-Montreal, church organization at St. Sophie's Ukrainian Cathedral. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Caisse Populaire Ukrainienne Desjardins and the Ukrainian Villa and Ukrainian Residence. He has been a volunteer with the Montreal Festival for several years and is now the V.P. Logistics. |
Danylo (Don) Ivanski - VP Development
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A native Montrealer, Danylo is a graduate of Bishop’s University in Lennoxville, Quebec, having earned multiple degrees in Biology, Computer Science, and Finance. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Science and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). After graduating, Danylo returned to Montreal and since then, has held various managerial positions in investment banking and software development firms. Having been active in the Ukrainian Community most of his life, 1992 marked the year that he stepped up his activities, assuming the VP position of the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association (UCPBA), becoming a parish committee member, serving as co-president of this festival in 2008 and finally being made the VP Development. Danylo has also been heavily involved with politics at the federal and especially at the provincial levels. At the international level, he served four consecutive terms as an international election observer in Ukraine — his first tour being during the Orange Revolution in November 2004, three tours for Ukrainian Canadian Congress and one tour for CANADEM, where some of his responsibilities included the training of other observers. Currently, he works in the field of investment banking and business development while working towards his Ph. D. in Philosophy. |
Peter Rawski - VP of Public Relations
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Peter brings a wealth of experience from the
past 15 years of community involvement in South Western Ontario
and Toronto. He has especially been dedicated to the Ukrainian
community in London, Ontario where he has resided for the past
18 years. As part of his personal mission, he has brought
together Ukrainian communities via festivals, fundraisers and
zabavas. His passion for the culture eminates through the
success of these events.
Peter held the VP position on the executive board at the London Ukrainian Centre for the past 2 years. Having left his position due to his move to Montreal, Peter still holds close ties with the community. He has also volunteered for many Ukrainian organizations and held executive positions in the Toronto area. He has contributed his time on the executive board for the Toronto Ukrainian Bloor Street Festival as well as worked closely with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. Peter has been building upon his background in project management and public relations through his involvement in the Ukrainian communities across Canada. Five years ago Mr. Rawski took the lead and founded an event and promotions organization — PR Promotions. Peter provides a high degree of creativity, quality and dedication, that exceeds expectations in his deliverables. It is with great pleasure that we welcome Peter to be part of our executive team for many years to come. Bienvenue à Montréal! |
Marina Krejcarova-Cernichovska - Secretary
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Born and raised in Trans-Carpathian
Ukraine, Marina is a singer and teacher who was awarded the title
of National Artist of Ukraine when she was twelve, performing with
her family's folk group. She received a degree in classical voice
in a Conservatoire in the Czech Republic, and another from the
Université du Québec à Montréal in the class of Collette Boky and
Lucille Evans. She was a member of the Atelier d'Opera where she
performed several solo roles.
Currently Marina is pursuing her singing privately and at the same time is active as a music teacher at the Centre de Musique FortePiano in Westmount, QC. She is also a member of the folk music group Carpathia and performs often with her husband, Jan Krejcar, with whom she has performed throughout Europe, North America, the Middle East, and in the Caribbean. |
Christine Mota - Advisor
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A graduate of Concordia University, Christine was recently appointed Director of Media Relations and official spokesperson for Concordia, where she has worked since 1993. Prior to that, she had a 15-year career in the Montreal broadcast industry, working at various radio and TV stations as a newscaster, producer and talk-show host. She has been active in the Ukrainian community for many years and has been involved with the Montreal Ukrainian Festival since 2002. |
Alex Gyba - Art Director
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Established in the field of advertising and visual design, Alex brings to the Montreal Ukrainian Festival more than 25 years of experience with his colourful illustrations that adorn the events posters and brochures. An honors graduate from Académie des Arts (affiliated with the Louvre in Paris, France) and holding various degrees in marketing and visual arts, he strives to produce the right ambiance with each and every creative concept. Alex has been active in the Ukrainian community since childhood, singing with various choirs and performing in Ukrainian dance troops. His contributions to the Montreal Ukrainian Festival began in 2002 with his creation of the festival logo. |