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Peter John Wowk and Family Fund

11.22.2024

Amount:  $ 1,000,000
Donor:  Roman Bohdan Wowk

Designation:  The Peter John Wowk and Family Fund aims to strengthen the Ukrainian people to defend a free and democratic Ukraine.  The Fund will support wounded warriors and civilians who sustained injuries due to Russia’s war on Ukraine and its civilian population.  The support will include medical treatment, rehabilitation and social integration of wounded soldiers after surgery for skeletal implants and specifically for prosthesis surgery.

After the conclusion of the war, the Fund will support the rebuilding of infrastructure and housing aimed at allowing Ukraine to revitalize and re-populate her war-torn lands.

If Ukraine is defeated by Russia and loses its independence, the Fund will support freedom fighters and organizations within Ukraine and those in the Ukrainian Diaspora who are committed to establishing a free and independent Ukraine.

Together with the support for the two main designations noted, the true designation of the Fund which is its goal and highest priority – that Ukraine and its heroic people establish Ukraine into a beacon of democracy where Truth, Justice, Human Rights and equal opportunities where basic rights are protected, including the right to medical care, the right to own a home, have shelter, the right to own a car and to have mobility.

Background:  Peter (Petro) and Roman Wowk were born in Toronto, Canada to emigres parents, Mychaylo and Tekla (Kadelak) Wowk who survived Polish, Nazi and Soviet occupations of Ukraine but as a result of the tumultuous events of World War II escaped the second Soviet occupation of Ukraine and landed on the shores of freedom, in Canada.  Peter’s parents instilled in Peter a love of God and Ukraine, both of which he cherished and around which he lived his life.

Peter loved life and had many hobbies and interests. He loved attending air shows, and as a youth, he dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot and of flying his favourite jet fighter, the F-15 Eagle. He was accepted into the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario; however, knowing his son’s ambitions of flying jet fighters, his father encouraged him to take a ‘safer’ program at the University of Toronto.

“Petro was a gifted student, particularly in mathematics and physics and he generously tutored any fellow classmate who asked.  His kindness and generosity towards friends and colleagues with his knowledge and time continued throughout his life”, remembered Oksana Prociuk, a longtime friend who attended Bloor Collegiate Institute in Toronto with Petro.  Petro went on to finish high school with first-class honours and to complete a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) Degree at the University of Toronto.

“Peter was a successful civil engineer specializing in highway design and utilities relocation. He was a dedicated Plast leader, a lover of the outdoors, an authority on jets and other flying machines, and a tech wiz who generously supplied organizations and parishes (and friends) with refurbished laptops. He taught me everything I know about computers”, recalled Sonia Holiad, a friend from Peter’s University of Toronto days.  “He became a loyal, caring fixture through the ups and downs of life.”

But Petro was not just an A student, he was an active member of the Ukrainian Canadian community.  He completed his ‘matura’ graduation at the UNO West Ukrainian Saturday School.  It was here that he began to put his parents’ love of Ukraine into context.  Over the years, Petro became a veritable fountain of knowledge on the history of Ukraine and could challenge anyone who dared to question her honour.  As such, Petro felt deeply the circumstances of his nation’s struggles, the continued aggression of her eternal enemy and the need to step forward and provide aid to Ukraine.

In his childhood, Petro was enrolled in the weekly activities of the Ukrainian Youth Association Plast.  It was his love of the outdoors, camping and scouting all in a Ukrainian-themed atmosphere that resulted in Petro’s life-long work with the children and youth of Plast, as a scout leader and counsellor.  This dedication to Plast and its ideals came largely from his mentor, senior Plast member Andrij Charak, a close family member.

“Petro was not only an active member of Plast, but he lived his life according to the principles and ideals of membership.  As such, he was a fraternal, active community leader and patriot.  Having spent his childhood and youth in Plast, later as a full-fledged member, Petro was a counsellor, member of the National Executive of Plast Canada and the organizer of many youth wilderness camps to both Algonquin Park and to his favourite location, the French River”, recalled his oldest friend and President of Plast Canada, Roman Mushka.

And Peter’s strong tenor voice did not go unheard.  As a young adult, Peter added his musical talent to the Ukrainian Youth Association (SUM) Men’s Choir Prometheus.  It was with the Prometheus Choir that Peter extensively toured Canada and the United States bringing folk songs but more importantly songs of struggle and resistance of the Ukrainian people to emigree communities who longed for a free and independent Ukraine at a time when their homeland was under the authoritarian occupation of the Soviet Union.  Peter loved to sing the songs of the Cossacks and the freedom fighters, Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA ) both on and off the stage.

Bohdan Sklierenko, a longtime friend and fellow soccer enthusiast recalled, “Petro was a good man, a loyal friend and a true Ukrainian patriot.  Although we grew up on different sides of the Atlantic Ocean, we were brought together by our Ukrainian heritage and our love for Ukraine and its incredibly rich culture.  I first met Petro at a Prometheus choir rehearsal at the home of SUM on Christie St. in Toronto.  Petro was a dedicated member of the choir and went on to become the youngest president in the choir’s history.”

Peter began his professional engineering career on July 14, 1981, which spanned 42 years and ended abruptly just two weeks shy of his retirement age of 65 years.  Peter’s expertise lay in the design of highways, bridges and rail and he worked hard to ensure perfection in each one of his assignments.  He was very devoted and loyal to the two companies that he worked for and was dedicated to the job and his staff, often seen not only as a mentor but also as a father figure.  A loving and caring man, Peter had a big heart which he continually demonstrated with his generosity.  He loved to help people, and this was genuinely Peter, with each and every person he met.

Peter was a deeply religious man.  He volunteered at his parish, supporting Ukrainian refugees by procuring, refurbishing and donating computers and laptops for their use.  His parents had instilled in him Christian values which he lived every day of his life.  Peter felt deeply the connection with Ukraine and her people when he attended Church and for Peter, to do so was a part of being.

Therefore, in memory of his brother Peter, Roman Wowk created this Fund to support the ideals and values Peter held most dear, Ukraine and her people.

If you would like to contribute to the Peter John Wowk and Family Fund, please press the DONATE button to the above and,