The Toronto Ukrainian Genealogy Group invites you to Hear Anastasia Baczynskyj speak on Identity in the Ukrainian Canadian Diaspora 

Each of the four (plus) waves of Ukrainian immigration to Canada arrived in a context. To understand the identity of the Ukrainian Canadian community as it stands today, Ms. Baczynskyj will explore how waves of immigration occur and why identity is created, nurtured and patrolled by institutions. The historical context of each of the four waves will be surveyed, and concepts such as personal identity, heritage and the search for belonging will be explored.

Key questions:
Does one need permission to identify with a community/culture? What is the difference between identity and heritage? What is a wave versus a generation? Who decides what being “truly Ukrainian” means? Why does acceptance matter/not matter?
 
Ms. Baczynskyj holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Toronto (OISE) in Theory and Policy Studies in Education with a focus on Historiography. Her thesis is entitled “Learning How to Be Ukrainian: Ukrainian Schools and the Formation of Identity in Toronto.” She also holds a certificate in Immigration, Pluralism and Ethnicity Studies from the University of Toronto (Dept. of Sociology) and is a highly active member of the Ukrainian community.