ZWOZDESKY HITTING 70 WITH NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN
Gene Zwozdesky, musician, cultural champion, volunteer extraordinaire and former teacher and politician, is celebrating his 70th birthday this week.
“With Christine, my wife of 43 years, we will host family for a private birthday dinner Tuesday,” said Zwozdesky, former Speaker of the Alberta legislature from 2012-2015.
But it was business as usual Monday for a man who is involved as a volunteer with 21 local groups and their projects, while also dedicated to playing and writing music.
Zwozdesky plans to be in Saskatoon Monday when head clergy and faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC) launch the church’s centenary year.
It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows the boundless energy of Zwozdesky to learn he will head an UOCC national committee to oversee events taking place across the country this year celebrating the 100-year milestone.
After all, wasn’t he the very successful executive director and producer of the National Ukrainian Centennial in 1991, when 100 years of Ukrainian settlement in Canada were celebrated?
“In Saskatoon, birthplace of the UOCC, we will also witness the installation and gilding of a large icon at Holy Trinity Cathedral,” said Zwozdesky.
Ukrainian immigrants, he said, brought their religion, both Orthodox and Catholic, when attracted to Canada by the promise of many acres of land for $10 and the escape from oppression that engulfed Ukraine at the end of the 1880s.
“They weren’t allowed to freely use the Ukrainian language nor practise Ukrainian cultural customs and traditions,” said Zwozdesky. “There were many skilled farmers in the small party of families who first came to Canada and settled near StarEdna, north of Vegreville. Today there are more than two million Canadians of Ukrainian ancestry across the country.”
Born in Nipawin, Sask., Zwozdesky came to Alberta at the age of two and lived in several small Alberta towns before coming to Edmonton and graduating with an arts and education degree from the University of Alberta. He went on to work as a teacher, administrator and professional musician before going into politics in 1993.
In his 22-year political career he held many cabinet positions before becoming Speaker and didn’t have much time for music.
Zwozdesky had learned to play accordion, guitar and piano as a child and was the guitar player and singer in an orchestra in Grade 10 while living in Sangudo.
“I formed a folksinging trio in Grade 11 while at Victoria Composite High School and then the Chantels rock band at university,” he said.
“I later became a Shumka dancer and after 25 consecutive years, I retired as Shumka’s musical director to enter politics.”
Today, Zwozdesky is making up for lost time by playing lots of mandolin gigs, singing and composing.
“I am writing a lot of original bluegrass, country and gospel songs and am involved with artists from Texas, Nashville, Georgia and Kansas,” he said.
“When composing, I always remember special people and special compositions, such the official 1998 Canada Day song I wrote with the help of Tommy Banks and George Blondheim.
“And then there is my first professional recording, 21 Songs for Ukrainian Children, which I made at CKUA Radio at the age of 10. I remember it well.”
FEAST IN THE FIELD
The temperature was 31 C one night last week when for dinner I drove into a potato field about the size of Ireland.
The wine glasses on the whitelinen clad long table set for 20 sparkled in the sinking sun as guests arrived along a curved, rolling dirt road off a lonely rural road south of Stony Plain.
“The dinner is our way of thanking sponsors and VIPs who support our Feast on the Field event at Commonwealth Stadium,” said Sherry Schaefer, CapitalCare Foundation’s director.
“We wanted to treat them to another unique experience,” she added.
The Feast this year will be held on Aug. 22 at Commonwealth Stadium and five of Edmonton’s top chefs will prepare a dinner featuring the produce from local producers, farmers and artisans.
“We have sold about 300 tickets to date and our goal is to sell 500 and raise $75,000 in support of seniors in care,” said Schaefer.
Peter Keith of Meuwly’s Artisan Food Market on 124 Street was at the dinner last week and brought with him prosciutto, specialty hams, salami and fresh sausages.
Connie Treble from Andrew Peller Wines enhanced the dinner with Red Rooster Cabernet Merlot, Pinot Gris, Riesling and a limited Rare Bird Rose.
Jan Vermue, in whose potato field we dined, played host with wife Nynke Vermue, while brother-in-law Phil Bakker presented guests with a box of Earth Apples.