The 2025 National Conference for Ukrainian Educators continued with rich programming on Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18, bringing together hundreds of educators, scholars, and community leaders at 145 Evans Ave., Toronto.
The second and third days of the conference built on the momentum of Friday’s inspiring opening, offering in-depth workshops, keynote addresses, and collaborative discussions aimed at strengthening Ukrainian heritage education in Canada and globally.
The day began with warm welcomes from Taras Bahriy, President of UCC Ontario, and Oleh Nikolenko, Consul General of Ukraine in Toronto. The conference then turned to two powerful keynote addresses:
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Yuliya Kovaliv, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada, spoke on “Ukrainian Education Abroad: Challenges and Opportunities, Distance Education and Innovations.”
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Dr. Oleksandr Romanko, Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto and American University Kyiv, presented “Canada-Ukraine Collaborations in Education: Research Internships, Defense Tech, AI.”
Following the plenary session, educators chose from a wide variety of professional development workshops. Topics ranged from trauma-informed pedagogy and AI integration in the classroom to Holodomor memory education, media literacy, and heritage language retention.
Workshops included:
Morning Workshops – Session 1 (10:15–11:15 AM):
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Olena Matviiuk & Olena Koren (Varash, Ukraine): Integrating poetry and cultural traditions into language education
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Valentina Kuryliw (Toronto): “Historian’s Workshop: Human Rights and the Holodomor”
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Nataliia Demydenko (Toronto): “Psychological Component in the Work of a Teacher”
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Roundtable for Principals, moderated by Ira Perehinets, with panelists: Tetiana Sunak, Oksana Levytska, Luba Slavatynska, Oksana Sokolyk, Nataliia Rozheliuk
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Roma Dzerowicz (Toronto): Holodomor Bus workshop: “Breaking the Sound Barrier”
Midday Workshops – Session 2 (11:30 AM–12:30 PM):
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Nataliia Osherova (Kyiv Oblast): “Artificial Intelligence and Teenagers”
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Iryna Ginsirovska & Lilia Stefanyshyn (Toronto): Ukrainian Language as Inherited – Grades 9–11
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Svitlana Leskiv (St. Marys): Neuro-exercises and games in language learning
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Mariana Burak (Toronto): “State Standard of Ukrainian as a Foreign Language: A1–C2”
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Roma Dzerowicz (continued): Holodomor Bus session
Afternoon Workshops – Sessions 3 & 4 (1:30–3:45 PM):
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Iryna Konstantiuk (Winnipeg): “Children about War: Diary of Memories”
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Dr. Olenka Bilash & Oksana Butkovska (Edmonton): Multimedia and UNSDGs in Teaching
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Nataliya Tyshchuk (Edmonton): “Ukrainian Schooling in Canada: New Realities, New Innovations”
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Iryna Sokol (Zaporizhzhia): “AI in the Educational Process: Ukraine’s Experience”
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Oksana A. Wynnyckyj-Yusypovych (Lviv): “Ukrainian-speaking Teachers and the New Ukrainian School”
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Nadia Prokopchuk (Saskatoon): Immigration and heritage language education
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Nelya Lavrynenko (Chernihiv): Melodious and active Ukrainian lessons
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Iryna Yakymchuk (Shepetivka): “From Idea to Invention: Technical Projects in School”
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Roma Dzerowicz (Holodomor Bus): “Teaching History with Critical Thinking”
The Petro Jacyk International Ukrainian Language Competition awards were presented during lunch, honouring exceptional student achievement and reinforcing the importance of language learning.
The afternoon continued with in-depth panels such as “Children about War,” “Ukrainian Schooling in Canada,” and “Recommendations for Implementing AI in Education.” A group photo captured the unity and pride of the participants.
