Today, a significant event took place at Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University – the grand opening of the Shuliakevych-Snihurowych Family Foundation. The event, which brought together the university community, community representatives, libraries, and patrons from Canada, was organised by the Stakeholder Engagement Department.
The central event was a teleconference with Canada: patrons Yarema and Bohdan Shuliakevych joined the meeting online. In their speeches, they emphasised that the donated books are not only a valuable collection, but also a memory of their family roots, which they sought to return to their homeland. Mr Yarema and Mr Bohdan emphasised that it is a great honour for their family to see a private collection become part of the educational process in Ukraine and to serve the development of the younger generation.
The event became a symbol of the noble family’s return to their native land and the restoration of their intellectual heritage. The family of patrons transferred 1860 books from overseas – 90 parcels of memory and spiritual connection with Ukraine. The university rector, Professor Valentyna Yakubiv, expressed sincere gratitude to Mr Yarem and Bohdan Shulyakevych, and presented them with the honorary distinction “Patron of the Year”.
During the celebrations, the Shuliakevych family tree was also presented and consecrated – a symbol of the inextricable bond of generations. With the support of Father Josaphat Boyko, it will now adorn the university’s walls as a sign of memory, inheritance, and family unity. The event’s special atmosphere was created by the folk music ensemble “Brevis” of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Philharmonic named after Ira Malanyuk.
An important part of the meeting was the handover of books from the collection to representatives of libraries and communities of the region. The discussion was attended by Dean Ihor Hurak, Director of the Regional Library Lyudmila Babiy, Deputy Mayor Svyatoslav Nykorovych, Head of the Pasichnya Community Andriy Hunda, and Director of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Branch of the Association of Cities of Ukraine Yuriy Stefanchuk.
The opening of the fund once again confirmed that a common history, the memory of one’s roots, and love for one’s native land are capable of erasing borders and distances, uniting Ukrainians around the world through education, culture, and the future of Ukraine.
