Tarras Shevchenko

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"A Century has passed since the death of Taras Shevchenko, the great Ukrainian poet, and it is most fitting that a monument in his honor is to be erected on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature As a poet he not only enriched the literature of his people but inspired them with new hope for freedom. What he sought for them he sought no less for the oppressed everywhere in the world."
- John Diefenbaker, Prime Minister of Canada, April 1961
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"I am pleased to add my voice to those honoring the great Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko. We honor him for his rich contribution to the culture not only of Ukraine, which he loved so well and described so eloquently, but of the world. His work is a noble part of our historical heritage."
- President John F. Kennedy, March 25, 1961

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The Taras H. Shevchenko Museum, owned and operated by the Taras H. Shevchenko Museum and Memorial Park Foundation, is a non-profit corporation, founded by the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians, for the purpose of popularizing the life and work of the Bard of Ukraine, and the contribution of Canadians of Ukrainian descent to the social, economic and political life of Canada.

The Museum is located in Toronto and is the second such institution operated by the Foundation. The original Museum, opened to celebrate Canada Day, 1952, was located in a 16 acre park near Oakville, Ontario. It complemented a monument to Taras Shevchenko, the first in the Americas, which was unveiled the previous year, on the 60th anniversary of Ukrainian immigration to this country. The monument and much of the original collection of exhibits were gifts of the people of Ukraine to their kinfolk in Canada.

Unfortunately, the original Museum, including its valuable collections, was destroyed by arson in September 1988. The Park and Monument remain to this day as a reminder of our heritage.

Following the arson, serious attempts were made to rebuild in Oakville, but, faced with rising costs of construction and projected future maintenance, the Foundation decided to open a facility in Toronto, more accessible to the public. Today's Museum, unique in the Western world, is similar in size to the original, but has amassed collections far superior in size, quality and variety, including extensive research materials.

These efforts, and the ongoing cultural work of the Foundation are entirely financed by personal donations from our friends and supporters.

The central focus of the Musem are exhibits dedicated to the art, life and literary legacy of the founder of the modern Ukrainian language. On display are many editions of his Kobzar (poetry), just some of the over 100 in the Museum's collection.

As well, the Museum has artistic copies of Shevchenko's creations in many genres, all of professional museum quality, specially commissioned in Ukraine for this Museum.

Not all the exhibits available are on display at any one time, but are rotated on a regular basis to correspond with various themes from the life and work of the Bard of Ukraine.

Shevchenko has twice been celebrated as a cultural leader of world acclaim by UNESCO.

For future information from the museum: email: shevchenkomuseum@bellnet.ca