Geraldine and Peter Shostak Scholarship in Ukrainian Studies
Peter and Geradline Shostak are natives of Bonnyville, Alberta. After completing their studies at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, they both began teaching careers.
In 1969, a teaching position at the University of Victoria was offered to Peter, while the Saanich School District offered a position to Geraldine. After ten years at the University of Victoria, Peter made the decision to leave teaching and become a full-time visual artist. In support of his new vocational choice, Geraldine also gave up her teaching position to manage Peter's career.
The Shostaks have played key leadership roles in the life of Victoria's Ukrainian community. As founding President of the Ukrainian Canadian Cultural Society of Vancouver Island, Peter played a pivotal role in acquiring a building to house the Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Victoria. Geraldine devoted many years of volunteering as the Ukrainian Language teacher and as a choir director of the Cultural Centre. Peter's leadership and effort resulted in the establishment of a Ukrainian endowed scholarship at Lester B. Pearson College. Over the ensuing years, the Shostak family served host family and mentors for many students from Ukraine. Nationally, Peter was a Board member of the Canadian Foundation for Ukrainian Studies.
Peter and Geraldine have received local and national recognition for their volunteer work. In 2013, Peter was presented with the Shevchenko Medal, the highest form of recognition that can be granted by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. The Medal recognizes outstanding achievement in community development, culture and the arts, education and sport and is measured by the recipient's level of excellence and initiative, their outstanding body of work, peer recognition and the impact both within and outside the Ukrainian Canadian Community.