Ottawa, March 11, 2003             The current and past membership of the Canadian Ethnocultural Council (CEC) join together in sorrow at the announcement of the death of Dr. Dmytro Cipywnyk past-president and member of the CEC for ten years.  "Dr. Cipywnyk was a prominent community leader and medical doctor who cared immensely about Canada and its diverse cultures and people.  He worked hard for the betterment of our society," said Art Hagopian, President of the CEC. 

Dr. Cipywnyk  was the son of Ukrainian pioneers who went on to complete an exemplary medical profession and continued to work for the community by also serving as president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress amongst other responsibilities.  He was the recipient of many distinguished awards, including the Order of Canada. 

"Dr. Cipywnyk  was a compassionate and gentle man.  To work with him was a great pleasure and honour.  He was a conciliator and had the rare capacity to bring people of different interests together on common ground to support the vision of a united and multicultural Canada," said Anna Chiappa, Executive Director of the CEC.

"On behalf of the Canadian Ethnocultural Council I express my deepest condolences to Mrs. Maura Cipywnyk, his family and friends," concluded Art Hagopian.

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For more information contact tel (613) 230 - 3867, fax (613) 230-8051. cec@web.ca

The Canadian Ethnocultural Council is a coalition of 30 national ethnocultural organizations which in turn represent over 2,000 local chapters across Canada and whose mandate is to work towards the elimination of racism and the understanding of the multicultural reality of Canada.