The Ukrainian World Congress is saddened and expresses sincere condolences on the sudden passing of Yaroslaw Czolij – a well-known Ukrainian community activist in Canada and father of Ukrainian World Congress President Eugene Czolij.
The death of Yaroslaw Czolij is an unbearable loss for both his family and the Ukrainian community: departed is a true son of the Ukrainian nation, whose life was dedicated to the rebirth and development of an independent Ukrainian state and strengthening Ukrainian community life in Canada.
Yaroslaw Czolij was born in 1932 in the village of Cherche, Rohatyn region. However, with the invasion of Soviet forces he emigrated to Canada with his parents. Upon earning a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from McGill University in Montreal, Yaroslaw Czolij worked for many years as an engineer, first in the aviation industry designing and building aircraft, and later on the above-ground metro.
For over 40 years, Yaroslaw Czolij held leadership roles in the Caisse populaire Desjardins Ukrainienne de Montréal, including the positions of President, Secretary and General Manager. He was also Vice President of the Council of Ukrainian Credit Unions of Canada and actively participated in the development of the credit union movement in Ukraine.
Yaroslaw Czolij was a long-term Vice President of the League of Ukrainian Canadians and President of the Montreal branch. He was also a member of various committees of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, organized humanitarian assistance for Ukraine and served as a technical advisor on the construction of Ukrainian churches and institutions in Montreal.
For his many years of community involvement, Yaroslaw Czolij was awarded the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Shevchenko Medal.
The Ukrainian World Congress joins his wife Marika, his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, in prayer for the soul of the late Yaroslaw Czolij.
MAY HIS MEMORY REMAIN ETERNAL!
