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Vladimir Kaye KisilevskyCanadian civil servant, writer, professor
Date of Birth: 04.08.1896
Country:  Canada |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Immigration to Canada
- Government Service
- Academic Career
- "Canadians of Recent European Origin" (1945)
- "Early Ukrainian Settlements in Canada" (1964)
- Taras Shevchenko Medal (1963)
Early Life and Education
Born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Wasyl Veryha graduated from high school in 1914 and joined the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen during World War I. He subsequently served in the Ukrainian army from 1918 to 1920.
Veryha studied at the Technological University in Vienna, where he developed an interest in Ukrainian history. He earned a doctorate with a dissertation on "The Ukrainian Nobility in the 17th Century."
Immigration to Canada
In 1925, Veryha emigrated to Canada. He worked as an editor for the Ukrainian weekly "Western News" (1928-1930) and the newspaper "Ukraina" in Chicago (1930-1931).
From 1931 to 1940, Veryha headed the Ukrainian Press Bureau in London. Concurrently, he pursued his studies at the University of London and obtained a doctorate in 1936 on "Ukrainian National Revival in Austria, 1772-1848."
Government Service
During World War II, Veryha worked in the Ministry of Information, preparing radio broadcasts for Canada. In 1940, he returned to Ottawa and joined the Canadian government service.
He held various positions, including those in the National War Services Department, the Department of the Secretary of State, and the Department of Citizenship and Immigration. He retired in 1962 to focus fully on his research and writing.
Academic Career
From 1948, Veryha taught history and Slavic studies at the University of Ottawa. He became a professor in 1950 and headed the Department of Slavic Studies from 1960.
Veryha authored over 1000 publications, ranging from scholarly articles to public writings. His works were published in the United Kingdom, France, the United States, and Canada. Notable publications include:
"Canadians of Recent European Origin" (1945)
"Ukraine, Russia and other Slavic Countries in English Literature" (1961)
"Early Ukrainian Settlements in Canada" (1964)
"Dictionary of Ukrainian Canadian Biography" (1975)Awards and Recognition
Veryha received numerous awards for his contributions to Canadian society and scholarship, including:
Order of Canada (1974) for "pioneering work in the field of multiculturalism"
