A Message from Oseredok Executive Director Yulia Zmerzla
Dear Friends and Members of the Oseredok Community,
As the magic of Christmas draws near, bringing warmth and joy to our hearts, I want to take this moment to express our immense gratitude. On behalf of the Oseredok Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers, thank you for your incredible dedication and support. May this joyful season fill your hearts with peace, love, and happiness.
I hope that you will consider supporting us with a financial gift as the year closes, as we rely so much on the generous support of our friends and members. At the end of this letter, you will see an easy-to-use ‘donate’ button.
Last year has been both remarkable and challenging for Oseredok. While we celebrated achievements, we also faced unforeseen but essential expenses. We urgently replaced the boilers, upgraded our computers and telecom systems, and reinforced the foundation of our heritage building over 100 years old. Despite these financial challenges, we remained committed to offering diverse and engaging programming, ensuring Oseredok continues to serve as a vibrant hub for our community.
As many of you know, the cultural sector in Canada has faced reduced financial support, which significantly impacted Oseredok last year. However, we have tackled these challenges proactively through organizational restructuring and enhanced fundraising efforts.
Our core mission of executing meaningful projects that reflect our commitment to preserving Ukrainian culture and heritage has remained our key focus, and with your support, we can continue this focus.
I’m pleased to share that our efforts this past year have brought positive results. We are on track to bridging the funding gap and remain committed to closing this fiscal year with a sustainable, balanced budget.
And we have made remarkable progress with several exciting projects that wouldn’t be possible without your unwavering support:
- New Signage. Oseredok now proudly displays a new exterior sign, making our Centre more visible and inviting for community members and Manitobans eager to explore Ukrainian culture and heritage.
- Recreational Area. In partnership with the City of Winnipeg, a new recreational area was developed in front of Oseredok building, enhancing the area’s appeal.
- Pysanky Project. This ambitious initiative, involving digitization, cataloging, and physical displays, is nearing completion. This spring, we’re thrilled to unveil the “Biggest Ukrainian Easter Eggs Exhibition,” showcasing over 4,000 Pysanky on a single wall.
- Museum High-Density Storage. We’ve launched this significant project to optimize storage space, enabling us to accept more donations for our unique collections. Basement Renovation. With this project 70% complete, we aim to open the Language and Creative Arts School in spring 2025.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to celebrate Oseredok’s 80th Anniversary this upcoming spring with you —our cherished community members. Stay tuned for updates about this special event.
This milestone anniversary serves as a powerful reminder of what we’ve accomplished together. Your unwavering support and dedication have been the cornerstone of Oseredok’s journey, ensuring that Ukrainian culture and traditions continue to thrive for generations to come. Through your commitment, Oseredok remains a place where our rich heritage is preserved and celebrated.
As we reflect on the past year and look forward to new opportunities, I kindly ask you to please donate to Oseredok. Your generosity ensures we can continue our mission to preserve and promote Ukrainian culture and heritage.
Wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas filled with joy, health, and peace. Thank you for being with Oseredok!
Sincerely,
Yulia Zmerzla
Executive Director
Thank you to our generous donors:
