While participation is free, DONATIONS are appreciated to support continued cultural programming at St. Vladimir Institute.
Contact cultural.svi@gmail.com with any questions.
St. Vladimir Institute gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the SUS Foundation.
Thursday, April 22, 2021
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (ET)
Are you interested in learning new ways to reduce waste? Would you like to learn how to grow your own organic produce? Are you curious to know about improving the comfort and energy efficiency of your home?
On Earth Day, join St. Vladimir Institute’s second lecture event of 2021 to hear practical perspectives from passionate speakers on how to improve your own health and well-being while protecting the planet. Panelists will share their experience and expertise in waste management, organic farming and home energy efficiency. Find out how their Ukrainian roots have nurtured their desire to make a positive impact on the environment.
An interactive presentation and panel discussion with:
Moderator:
Halyna Zalucky, Founder and Chief Collaboration Officer, The Roots Collaborative
Panelists:
Katrusia Balan, a Project Lead, Solid Waste Management Services, City of Toronto
Katrusia’s views on this panel are her own and not those of the City of Toronto
Jacob Kachuba, Founder and President, Tignum Design and Engineering Inc.
Zandra Zalucky, Owner, Cultivating Opportunities on Elmgrove Farm
BIOGRAPHIES
Halyna Zalucky is the founder and Chief Collaboration Officer of The Roots Collaborative,a not-for-profit cooperative that works with communities and businesses to promote environmental, social, economic and personal well-being. Halyna has over 15 years of experience in sustainability management, specializing in project coordination, community engagement and partnership development. Halyna is a part-time lecturer at Seneca College teaching Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility within the School of Human Resources and Global Business. She has a degree in international relations (University of Toronto), a masters in migration studies (University of Kent’s Brussels School of International Studies), and a certificate in sustainability management (Ryerson University). Halyna is an active member of the Ukrainian community. From participating in Plast Ukrainian youth organization and volunteering with Help Us Help the Children in her youth to monitoring three elections in Ukraine including the 2019 presidential elections as a long-term observer, Halyna’s Ukrainian upbringing has instilled in her a commitment to serve the Ukrainian and broader community.
Katrusia Balan is a Project Lead with the City of Toronto, currently working in Stakeholder & Community Outreach in Solid Waste Management Services. As a child of the 80s who grew up with the 3Rs mantra, Katrusia is passionate about waste reduction and reuse. With a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Environmental Studies and a Bachelor of Education in teaching Geography and Politics, both from the University of Toronto, Katrusia communicates about waste management to people of all ages and backgrounds. Over the past eight years Katrusia has overseen waste composition audits, coordinated the development of the City of Toronto’s annual waste calendar, delivered presentations to audiences ranging from kindergarten classes to seniors and led a waste diversion pilot project in Toronto Community Housing buildings. She has also led the implementation of the City’s Strategies on Food Waste Reduction and Textile Reduction & Diversion. Katrusia’s dedication to reducing her impacts on the environment has been influenced by resourceful family members and being a member of the Plast Ukrainian youth organization, through which she had the opportunity to spend much time in nature. Katrusia loves exploring the outdoors on two feet or two wheels, thinking of creative ways to reuse or repurpose things and hosting clothing swaps.
Jacob Kachuba is the founder and President of Tignum Design and Engineering Inc. (www.tignum.ca) and is also a former Director of St. Vladimir Institute (2009-2012). Jacob has been in the engineering and design field for over 15 years, working on large- and small-scale projects. He started in the heavy industrial sector, engaged in projects that took him across Canada and around the world. When he returned to Canada to pursue his Masters in Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto, Jacob was introduced to the study of building sciences, and he was hooked. He had found his passion: the holistic design of buildings. He founded Tignum in 2013 and has been designing sustainable and energy efficient homes that go beyond the minimum code requirements. To date he has designed more than 300 commercial and residential projects in the Greater Toronto Area. Jacob is an avid soccer, sailing, snowboarding, and road bike enthusiast. He is planning to build a net-zero property north of Toronto in the Kawartha Lakes region, which will focus on an on-site renewable energy system that will not require a connection to the conventional electrical grid. His next educational endeavour is to become certified in Passive House Design.
Zandra Zalucky has been farming organically for 10 years. While her education is in political science and social work – Zandra earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto and a Masters of Social Work from Wilfrid Laurier University – her professional journey took her from urban centres to rural fields, with community service always at the heart of her work. After an innate urge inspired her to try growing food, in 2011 she began volunteering both with an urban growing business in Toronto and on a farm in Sutton, Ontario. In 2012, after completing a farming internship program on Elmgrove Farm, she fell in love with the work, the land, and the people. Zandra now runs her own market garden business called Cultivating Opportunities, and is part of the Elmgrove Organic Collective, a group of small business owners located on Elmgrove Farm. She is grateful to have the opportunity to be a steward of the land, and to reconnect with her Ukrainian roots via farming.