Toronto educational institutions to pay tribute to Burstynsky

TORONTO - Toronto's Ukrainian community will pay tribute to Prof. Edward N. Burstynsky, 65, on the occasion of his retirement, after a 34-year teaching career in the department of linguistics at the University of Toronto.

More than 250 guests, friends and family members are expected to attend the banquet at the Great Hall of Hart House, University of Toronto, on October 28. The event is being organized jointly by St. Vladimir Institute and the department of linguistics.

Proceeds from the banquet will go to support the establishment of the $100,000 Edward N. Burstynsky Ontario Graduate Scholarship, which was announced by the department of linguistics at a reception for Prof. Burstynsky in June. St. Vladimir Institute and the department of linguistics have each made a commitment to raise a total of $50,000 toward the scholarship, with the university matching an additional $50,000.

The testimonial banquet provides the institute with an opportunity to formally acknowledge Prof. Burstynsky's decades of dedication and support to the institute, said St. Vladimir President Victor Krisel.

"For years we have wanted to pay tribute to Ed's incredible work and support of St. Vladimir Institute. And for years Ed has resisted our invitation to celebrate his contributions. The ideal opportunity has presented itself, with his retirement and with the establishment of the Burstynsky Scholarship," said Mr. Krisel.

Prof. Peter Reich, chair of the department of linguistics, said the testimonial banquet provides friends and colleagues at the university with an opportunity to recognize Prof. Burstynsky's distinguished contributions to the study of linguistics in Canada.

"There's no doubt that with his retirement Ed leaves behind an academic gap that will take some time to fill. For more than 30 years he has been an incredible inspiration to students and faculty alike. In fact, many of his former graduate students have gone on to post-secondary teaching careers themselves. That's quite a tribute to the joy he brought to his subject," said Prof. Reich.

A native of Toronto, Prof. Burstynsky was awarded a Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in 1967. That same year he was appointed assistant professor to Victoria College and the Center for Linguistic Studies at the University of Toronto. He was appointed acting chair when the Center of Linguistic Studies became a permanent department of the Faculty of Arts and Science.

In the years since Prof. Burstynsky has held virtually every office within the department, including undergraduate secretary, graduate secretary and acting chair of the Curriculum Committee. Since 1993 he has been the associate chair and undergraduate coordinator.

His influence has extended beyond the university community. Prof. Burstynsky is a former member of the Ukrainian Liaison Committee to the Toronto Board of Education, and Chair of the Linguistics Advisory Committee of the Canadian Institute for Ukrainian Studies. He is a former member of the executive committee of St. Vladimir Cathedral in Toronto, and for several years in the 1970s and 1980s was a member of the Board of St. Vladimir Institute.

Tickets to the testimonial banquet are $150 and may be reserved by calling St. Vladimir Institute, (416) 923-3318.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, October 21, 2001, No. 42, Vol. LXIX

| Home Page |