December 6th was a day filled with the warmth of community, tradition, and unexpected gifts.
It began at our weekly Stand with Ukraine gathering—the space we have held faithfully every week since February 24, 2022, when Russia’s full-scale invasion changed everything. Among those who joined us that day was Jeanne from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Thompson Okanagan (UCC TO), carrying with her not just solidarity, but four heavy boxes.
Later that evening, we gathered for our St. Nicholas Day Cooking Show, continuing the celebration of this beloved Ukrainian tradition when Sviatyi Mykolai brings gifts to children who have been good throughout the year. And in true St. Nicholas spirit, Jeanne’s boxes turned out to be gifts themselves—filled with Ukrainian-Canadian children’s books and folk tale collections, waiting to find new homes in our community.
The Storyteller Behind the Books
These aren’t just any books. They represent decades of passionate work by Danny Evanishen, a Canadian of Ukrainian descent based in Summerland, BC—right here in our beautiful province.
Since the fall of 1991, Danny has been on a mission: collecting stories from and about Ukrainian pioneers before these precious memories disappear forever. As he puts it: “There aren’t many pioneers left, so we have to get the stories while we still can.”
His life’s work has produced a remarkable collection through Ethnic Enterprises, preserving Ukrainian heritage through folk tales retold in English, humorous pioneer stories, and historical accounts that never made it into traditional history books—but are important nevertheless.
Danny’s philosophy resonates deeply: “Let’s preserve the heritage and have some fun!”
The Books Waiting for You
Among the treasures in these boxes are volumes from Danny’s beloved folk tale series, each containing stories retold in a lively, entertaining manner that pleases both young and old, with delightful illustrations that bring the tales to life:
Folk Tale Collections:
- The Worry Imps and Other Ukrainian Folk Tales Retold in English (Volume 5) — Sixteen stories, including old favorites and lesser-known gems, illustrated by Deanna Evanishen
- Boris Threeson and Other Ukrainian Folk Tales Retold in English (Volume 4) — Fifteen enchanting stories with illustrations by Deanna Evanishen
- How April Went to Visit March and Other Ukrainian Folk Tales Retold in English (Volume 3) — Seventeen stories that have delighted readers across generations
- Carrots to Coins and Other Ukrainian Folk Tales Retold in English (Volume 7) — Twenty stories illustrated by Ralph Critchlow
- Feet on the Pillow and Other Ukrainian Folk Tales Retold in English (Volume 8) — Fourteen tales with Ralph Critchlow’s wonderful illustrations
- Yalynka and Other Ukrainian Folk Tales Retold in English (Volume 9) — Twenty stories perfect for holiday reading and beyond
Pioneer Stories and Historical Works:
- Vuiko Yurko Second-Hand Stories — The further adventures of Uncle George, filled with original, funny stories based on reminiscences and anecdotes about the old days
- Kharkiv: A Woman’s Story of Survival — The first-ever English-language translation of Olena Zvychaina’s novel about Katrusia, a young woman caught in the desperate struggle for survival during Stalin’s terror and the Nazi occupation
All books are in English—perfect for children learning to read, for classrooms exploring multiculturalism, or for anyone wanting to connect with Ukrainian-Canadian heritage.
One Box Down, Three to Go
The wonderful news is that one box has already found its destination. One of Mama’s caregivers has four grandchildren, and their school has expressed interest in receiving copies of three different titles to teach children about Ukrainian-Canadian fairy tales and stories. Those young minds will soon be learning about clever peasants outsmarting the proud, about magical transformations, and about the values that Ukrainian families carried across the ocean to build new lives in Canada.
But I still have three boxes remaining.
A Challenge for Kamloops and Area
Here is where you come in.
While my students engage with children’s literature focusing on social development and social change as part of their coursework (they highlight these books in their weekly check-in posts), they don’t need twenty copies of each title. These books need to spread throughout our community, into the hands of children who will treasure them, teachers who will share them, and families who will read them aloud at bedtime.
If you are in Kamloops or the surrounding area and would welcome these free books, please reach out.
Perhaps you are:
- A teacher looking to bring diverse stories into your classroom
- A parent wanting to introduce your children to Ukrainian folk wisdom
- A grandparent building a library for your grandchildren
- A librarian seeking to expand your collection
- A community group celebrating multiculturalism
- A Ukrainian-Canadian family wanting to share your heritage with the next generation
- Simply someone who loves a good story
These books are free. They are here. They are waiting.
A Circle of Gratitude
This story has many authors:
Дякую to Danny Evanishen for over thirty years of dedication to preserving Ukrainian heritage, for traveling the world to collect stories, and for making them accessible in English for new generations of Canadians.
Дякую to UCC Thompson Okanagan—to Andrea, Zonia, Jeanne, and Father Andrzej—for their tireless work supporting our Ukrainian-Canadian community in Kamloops and area and for thinking of creative ways to share our culture.
Дякую to Jeanne specifically for carrying these heavy boxes to our place and entrusting them to our community.
Дякую to everyone who will help these books find homes—you are continuing a chain of cultural preservation that stretches back generations.
How to Claim Your Books
My goal is simple: four empty boxes and countless full hearts.
If you would like books for yourself, your school, your children, your friends, or your organization, please contact me to arrange pickup in Kamloops. Take what you need. Share them widely. Read them aloud. Pass them on when you’re done.
Let’s make sure these Ukrainian-Canadian traditions continue to live and breathe in the Thompson Okanagan region and beyond.
Together, we preserve. Together, we remember. Together, we share.
With respect,
Dr. Sasha Kondrashov Kamloops, BC December 2025
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