A Night of Culture and Collaboration at the SVI 'Razom – Together' Engagement Event
On May 1, 2023, SVI hosted the ‘Razom – Together’ community engagement session, bringing together students and professionals dedicated to culture, education, and innovation. This event took place at 620 Spadina Avenue and online, aimed at providing updates and to further gather community input for the transformation of SVI into a vibrant community hub in Toronto.
The evening featured a presentation by Project Director, Adam Shipowick, who outlined the potential of the hub as a centre for Ukrainian and Canadian cultural engagement, educational excellence, and innovation initiatives. Adam exhibited a refreshed mandate for the organization and aspirational precedent visuals of the amenity spaces, that helped the audience imagine the possibilities. The audience was enthusiastic to see where things are headed.
Following the presentation, participants enjoyed interactive activities and live music by Kirill Savransky known for his unique blend of electronic and traditional music. In-house chef Marc Bennet catered the event, providing refreshments and snacks that everyone enjoyed.The cultural programming continued with film screenings, including "Bohyni" directed by Sasha Theodora and excerpts from Naomi Uman's "Time Machine." Sasha Theodora also transformed the library into a cinema space and the lobby into a themed event area, enhancing the evening's ambiance.
A highlight was the opening of the "13 Stories of War'' photo exhibit, featuring powerful visual essays from six Ukrainian photographers, providing attendees with a personal and profound insight into the conflict in Ukraine. This exhibit is tied to the launch of Ukrainian Warchive's first book, also titled "13 Stories of War," published to mark the second year of the full-scale Russian invasion.
We are also grateful to the Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Ontario Branch, for opening their doors to our participants and allowing them to view the current tapestry exhibit "Repurposed" by Myroslava Boikiv. Special thanks to Peter Dudka and his team from Dream Arts Video Production for ensuring the livestream ran smoothly.
Throughout the night, our volunteers played a crucial role in the smooth running of the event, assisting with setup, ongoing support, and takedown. Their hard work and dedication were invaluable.
We extend our thanks to all participants for their feedback, the rich discussions, and the enthusiasm throughout the evening. Your insights are invaluable as we continue to shape the future of our community hub.
RAZOM–TOGETHER, we will build a Ukrainian Canadian Centre for the Future
For those interested in learning more or wishing to provide further input, please visit the development webpage, participate in our survey, or join us for more in-depth discussions. We are excited to continue this journey with you.
Oksana Hawrylak
Communication Designer
Development Project Associate
