Category Archives: canada

canada, news

Mayor Rob Ford compares rival councillors to Soviet Union’s Joseph Stalin [Article]

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Rob Ford’s mouth has landed him in trouble again. This time, the mayor likened five political rivals on council to dictator Joseph Stalin.

Speaking on the John Oakley show, Ford told the AM640 host that certain councillors are “two-steps left of Joe Stalin.”

…

When asked his thoughts on being compared to a man who killed twice as many people as Adolf Hitler, Matlow shook his head and said: “Nah. I’ll leave it.”

Read the rest of the article

Another day in the life of Toronto’s right-wing mayor Rob Ford, who’s gone on similar tirades against the homeless, homosexuals, cyclists and Asians.

What was also disappointing to read were the newspaper’s descriptions of the Soviet Union and Joseph Stalin’s crimes that were rife with errors:

Stalin ruled Russia’s Soviet Union for a quarter of a century. His push for rapid industrialization, state-run agriculture, and political ruthlessness lead to the deaths of millions. Under Stalin, thousands of his political enemies were executed and millions were sent to forced labour camps.

Toronto Star

The USSR is not Russia, but was rather made up of 15 Soviet Republics during its reign of terror:

Historians believe millions of Russians were executed or starved to death under the Russian dictator’s rule.

The Globe and Mail

Millions of non-Russians in the Soviet Union were murdered under Stalin as well. A notable example of course being the 7-10 million Ukrainians during the Holodomor in 1932-33.

The right-leaning media outlets in Toronto like the Toronto Sun and Newstalk 1010 didn’t even bother to provide any background to who Joseph Stalin was, presumably because of their special relationship with the mayor. Sadly, comparing trivial politics to the dictatorship has been occurring more and more recently.

canada, event, uk, usa

Malanka Guide 2011/2012

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Planning on attending Ukrainian New Years Eve a.k.a. Malanka? Here’s an extensive list of events happening around the world:

Malanka- A Ukrainian New Year’s Celebration

Sunday, December 4 at 5:30pm

AUUC Ukrainian Hall in Strathcona, 805 E. Pender St., Vancouver, BC

MALANKA

Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 4:30pm

Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization in Lethbridge, Alberta

Malanka 2012

Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 6:30pm

Crystal Grand Banquet Hall & Conference Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, 2110 Dundas Street East

Ukrainian New Year ( Malanka)

Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 5:30pm

Five Mile Hall, Alberta

NIGHT B4 MALANKA 2012

Friday, January 13, 2012 at 9:00pm

The Rockpile Nightclub, 5555 DUNDAS ST. WEST, Etobicoke, Ontario M9B 6C1

Malanka

Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 6:00pm

St. Luke’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Warners, New York, 3290 Warners Rd

MALANKA 2012

Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 8:30pm

St. George Academy in New York, New York, 215 EAST 6TH STREET

MALANKA @ AaSTORIA

Friday, January 13, 2012 at 7:30pm

AaSTORIA UKRAINIAN RESTAURANT, England

Malanka — Julian New Year

Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 6:00pm

St Demetrius Ukrainian Community Center Banquet Facility in Carteret, New Jersey, 691 Roosevelt Ave.

Coventry Malanka 2012

Friday, January 13, 2012 at 8:00pm

103 Leicester Causeway, Coventry Ukrainian Social Club., England

MELBOURNE MALANKA 2012

Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 5:30pm

Melrose Reception in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Corner of Melrose and Carrick Drive Tullamarine

The Malanka Tour Bus

Friday, January 13, 2012 at 6:00pm

Midlands/Bradford M1, England

2011 Whippany Malanka

Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 7:00pm

Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey in Whippany, New Jersey, 60 North Jefferson Road, USA

Susydka hosts Malanka

Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 6:00pm

Vita Hall in Vita MB

New Britain Malanka

Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 9:00pm

St. George Hall – New Britain, Connecticut

Malanka in the Mountains

Friday, January 13, 2012 at 5:30pm

Jasper Park Lodge in Jasper, Alberta

USC KARPATY Malanka 2012

Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 7:30pm

Crystal Grand Banquet Hall & Conference Centre in Mississauga, Ontario

CYM MALANKA 2012

Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 5:00pm

Ukrainian Youth Unity Complex (Cym) in Edmonton, Alberta, 9615-153 Avenue

Elite Malanka 2012

Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 6:00pm

Oakville, ON – SVCC

Toronto Plast – Пласт Malanka

Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 6:00pm

Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex in Toronto, Ontario

Malanka! (Ukrainian New Years)

Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 6:30pm

Royal Canadian Legion Innisfail 5208 49 Street Innisfail

Ottawa MALANKA 2012

Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 6:00pm

Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral Hall , 1000 Byron Avenue, Ottawa, ON

S.A. Ukraina & DESNA Malanka 2012

Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 5:30pm

Renaissance by the Creek in Toronto, Ontario, 3045 Southcreek Rd.

Boston Ukrainian New Year’s Dinner and Dance – Malanka 2012

Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 8:00pm

The Lantana in Randolph, Massachusetts, 43 Scanlon Drive

Slavic New Year Gala / Malanka

Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 8:00pm

John J Sulllivan’s, 557 Wakelee Ave, Ansonia, Connecticut

МАЛАНКА В КРЕНИЦИ-ЗДРОЮ

Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 8:00pm

Karczma Regionalna, Czarny Potok 26a, Krynica Zdrój, Nowy Sacz, Poland

GEELONG MALANKA 2012 @ THE UKRANIAN HALL

Friday, January 13, 2012 at 7:30pm

THE UKRANIAN HALL, Geelong West, Australia

Plast Winnipeg Malanka – Пластова Маланка

Friday, January 13, 2012 at 6:30pm

Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg, Manitoba, 222 Broadway Avenue

Malanka (ie Ukrainian New Years!!!) (Not on new years…)

Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 5:30pm

Ukrainian Cultural Center , 805 East Pender, Vancouver, BC

Plast Calgary Malanka 2012

Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 5:30pm

Calgary Petroleum Club – 319 5th Ave SW

Malanka- A Ukrainian New Year’s Celebration

Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 5:30pm

Ukrainian Cultural Centre, 805 E. Pender St., Vancouver, British Columbia

CYM/PLAST MALANKA 2012

Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 5:30pm

3270 Beaubien E

Boston Ukrainian New Year’s Dinner and Dance – MALANKA 2012

Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 8:00pm

The Lantana in Randolph, Massachusetts, 43 Scanlon Drive

Suzirya Ukrainian Dance Theatre’s “Spirit of Malanka”

Friday, January 20, 2012 at 5:30pm

Thorncliffe Greenview Community Assoc in Calgary, Alberta

Thornhill Malanka: St. Volodymyr the Great Ukrainian Catholic Church (15 Church Lane) Saturday January 14, $35 – call 905-889-0187

Missing your event? Please leave the details in a comment.

canada, event

Ukrainian choir and dance at Toronto Christmas Market this Sunday

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The annual Christmas Market in Toronto’s Distillery district will feature permormances by Vesnivka Women’s Choir and the Academy of Ukrainian Dance this Sunday:

Inspired by the Old World and influenced by the New, this free annual event captures all of the tradition, heritage and charm of a European Christmas Market, while showcasing hundreds of unique and local handcrafted products. Family friendly entertainment includes musicians, carolers and children’s choirs, holiday themed stage presentations, Rudolph’s Reindeer Zoo and of course … Santa and his roaming elves! There is great shopping, specialty beer and mulled wine gardens, sweets and treats, and all the great restaurants of The Distillery Historic District. Come and experience the fun and magic of Toronto’s first and only Christmas Market!

The market is open from 10am to 9pm, and here are the times of the performances:

12pm & 2pm – Vesnivka Women’s Choir – the Toronto Christmas Market is thrilled to present this Internationally award winning Ukrainian Choir performing a special holiday concert of original Christmas carols commissioned for the choir, some rarely heard folk carols and, of course, some classic Christmas favourites.

4pm & 6pm – Academy of Ukrainian Dance – enjoy a special performance by this Toronto-based Dance Company whose members have been sharing their love of Ukrainian traditions with performances around world for over 25 years.  Presented in association with the Community Folk Arts Council of Toronto

Leave a comment if you are thinking of attending.. see you there!

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