Fr. Andre Lalach might surprise many practicing Catholics by virtue of his being married—a sacrament allowed to priests of the Byzantine rite church—but perhaps less so by him being just a genuinely nice guy who religiously re-tweets articles from the satirical website The Onion, involves his two school-aged children in his work, and has a deep connection to his faith and culture that goes back even to his college days in Toronto where this small-town boy was country when country wasn't cool. 

Music and love of it is life for Carissa Klopoushak. A Saskatonian and proud member of both Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra and the Ironwood Quartet, she is also the founder and Artistic Director of the Ritornello Chamber Music Festival in Saskatoon and was recently named Artistic Director of Ottawa Chamberfest this past March. Perhaps unsurprisingly for someone so accomplished and active, she’s toured extensively, recorded her own album, shared the stage with the likes of Branford Marsalis and Jon Kimura Parker, and on top of it all is lead singer, violinist and arranger for Ukrainian turbo-folk band Tut i Tam.

After working for more than 15 years in advertising, Ukrainian-Canadian Daria Malin decided to put her knowhow in the world of sales to work serving some of the very people she had as clients in the world of radio. Daria has since become an advertising guru of sorts, having written a book on marketing, she helped start a successful apparel company with a friend, and she's even known to spend her Boxing Day carolling around Saskatoon with a large group of friends. 

Diane Boyko of Saskatoon seems omnipresent in the city's arts, education and community. Putting aside this small-town gal's previous involvement in the Vesna choir and the Yevshan dance ensemble, Diane co-chaired the JUNO Awards organizing committee in 1997 and sat on the committee to host the Canadian Country Music Awards in 2012 and 2017. This Ukrainian-Canadian from Alvena, SK, is also Vice President of the Board of Directors at Musee Ukraina Museum, participates in the Ukrainian Canadian Professional & Business Association, has coordinated the Sundog Arts and Entertainment Faire since 1995, has been a Catholic School Board Trustee since 2003 and so much else. Learn more as we ask her about the power of culture, a growing sense of responsibility and why she takes the awards she's won to heart. 

Professionally speaking, immigration advisor Iryna Matsiuk supports immigrants who are realizing their Canadian dream much the way she already has. By helping connect Canadian companies with skilled workers, she unites her passion for creating connections with people and organizing support for organizations with tangible needs. Born and raised in Ukraine’s Volyn region, Iryna (or Ira to her friends) has become indelibly involved in the life of her adopted Ukrainian community in Canada since immigrating 11 years ago. And when the call for volunteers goes out from local Ukrainian organizations and festivals, chances are this former board member (Vice-President) with Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) Saskatchewan will answer.

Gustav Hultgren seems born for entrepreneurship. A former banker and finance specialist from Sweden, Gustav has consistently found ways to re-invent himself professionally while also seeking out new horizons: he’s lived in the UK, Belgium, Germany, Ukraine, Switzerland and now, most recently, Spain, where his wife runs a property booking service and he a fund that invests in non-performing loans. Through it all, he’s cultivated great working relationships and a love for the finer points of the many cultures he has experienced, including how to make green borshch. Next on his to-do list? Learning to surf.

Social entrepreneur and management consultant Clara Peron founded her own sustainability consultancy Value for Good in Berlin. Her journey has taken her across the globe with the result being the realization of a childhood dream: giving back to a world that she feels has given her so much. 

Passionate yet balanced, but driven to push his limits at every opportunity, Andreas is the kind of person you'd expect to be Head of Creative Services for Google in Russia. Speaking from Moscow, this fitness fanatic and one-time actor talks about finding his sweet spot in the advertising industry and in life. 

From the streets of his youth in the former Soviet Union and Israel to the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, and beyond, co-founder Toly Mezhov of project management firm Future Cities has embarked on a career of reimagining big things and turning the local hospitality industry on its head wherever he goes. 

Paintings Conservator Abbie Vandivere has lived in four countries across two continents and worked closely with some of Europe's most priceless works of art  at the Mauritshuis in the Netherlands , mos famously including Johannes Vermeer's "The Girl with the Pearl Earring". This Amsterdam resident talks about her unique background, the ins and outs of her professional work, and life in her adopted country.