Can you tell us something about your personal experiences in Plast?

My experiences with Plast are tightly intertwined with the life of Montreal's Plast Branch, of which I am a member since 1949 and in which I have been a member in all sectors. In "novatstvo" (6-11 year olds), I belonged to the group ("rij") "Synychky" (titmouse) - whereby our group was a fellow-founder of the troupe ("hnizdo") "Ptashata". After entering "yunatstvo" (11-18 year olds), my group ("hurtok") "Vyvirky" (squirrels) became the fellow-founder of Montreal's girls troupe ("kurin'") of Princess Romanova. From there, I was a counsellor and troupe leader for the younger scouts, as well as a counsellor and troupe leader for the older scouts. I was also head of the Counsellor's Sector and President of the Plast Branch in Montreal. I planned and lead summer camps for both "novatstvo" and "yunatstvo". In the summer of 1987 I took an active role in planning a Canadian International Plast Jubilee for younger scouts and was the adjoining director of the camp. This camp took place at "Baturyn", in the Eastern Townships, near Montreal.

What episodes from your life in Plast do you remember the most?

Very fondly I remember summer camps and jamborees ("zustrichi"), and most of all my first such Plast jamboree which took place in Winnipeg (Canada) in 1954. From Montreal, there were five girls (among other Plast members) who went. We travelled by train and the trip took 54 hours. We did not sleep a wink - as we enjoyed playing games, singing and talking to "older" scouts from other branches in Canada who were taking the train trip with us. At that time, Winnipeg was the centre for Ukrainians in Canada and it created a wonderful atmosphere for us with its cultural and religious Ukrainian monuments. At the "Oseredok" (Ukrainian Cultural Centre in Winnipeg), we met Mrs. Koshyts, the wife of the celebrated conductor of Kyiv's Choir Capella. We visited villages founded by Ukrainian pioneers and other villages where the only residents were Ukrainians. At that jamboree I saw for the first time so many "plastuny" in one place at the same time. There I realised that I belong to a wonderful organisation, to which belong idealistic people who are ready to sacrifice time and energy to work at bettering the fate of their nation.

The International Canadian Plast Jubilee in 1987, one can say, was the culminating period of my work in Plast. I had the extreme pleasure to be part of the Jubilee's direction whereby with me were my two sons, Andry and Yury, as well as my daughter-in-law, Motria. That which was dear to me, was now continued by my children. The Plast notion of fraternity did not grow old!

Do you have a personal satisfaction from your work in Plast that you can share with us?

The greatest satisfaction that I have is that the Plast Montreal Branch is today lead by Plast members from my children's generation - from the President, to the head of the Parents Committee, to camp directors and counsellors. This is a sign, that Plast in Canada has a future.