2026 Hospodar & Hospodynia
Jack & Joyce Howell
As Hospodar and Hospodenia it is our pleasure to welcome you to the 2026 Vegreville Ukrainian Pysanka Festival. We encourage you to take in the many events and cultural experiences that make up this festival each year. The festival committee has put together a tremendous array of artists, entertainers, dance contestants and exhibitors for all to experience.
We would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate the organizers and volunteers whose hard work ensures the festival ’s success.
Your Hospodar and Hospodynia
Jack and Joyce Howell
Jack and Joyce Howell are very familiar with the Pysanka Festival. Joyce has conducted various cultural workshops over the years such as pysanky and embroidery. Their children have danced on the main stage as part of the grandstand performances.
Joyce hails from Dauphin, Manitoba which has a vibrant Ukrainian community. Upon graduation from the Faculty of Home Economics at the University of Manitoba, Joyce found employment as District Home Economist at Peace River, Alberta. It wasn’t long before she was introduced to the Ukrainian community in the Peace Country and became involved in children’s camps and church activities. Years later she has returned to the Peace Country to conduct workshops on cooking and embroidery. After moving to Edmonton, Joyce became and is involved in the UCWLC Ukrainian Museum, bilingual school programs, Ukrainian Women’s League, and Embroiderers Guild. She has taught many adult and children’s classes over the years in cooking, sewing and embroidery. Joyce was involved with Shumka as wardrobe mistress and their School of Dance for quite a few years.
Jack grew up in rural Saskatchewan where there were no Ukrainians, but he’s been learning!
We look forward to meeting many of you as you take in Pysanka Festival 2026. May you have an enriching cultural experience.
1974 Honourable Chief Judge John
& Myrosia Decore
1975 Honourable Justice Peter
& Sonja Greschuk
1976 Dr. Nick & Anne Strilchuk
1977 Dr. Leo & Natalka Faryna
1978 Honourable Justice Vergil
& June Moshansky
1979 Chester & Luba Kuc
1980 Isidor & Anne Goreski
1981 Tom & Rose Shandro
1982 Paul & Patricia Sembaliuk
1983 John & Mary Huzil
1984 Lawrence & Rose Marie Decore
1985 William & Mary Lobay
1986 Julian & Barbara Koziak
1987 Manoly & Natalka Lupul
1988 William & Florence Pidruchney
1989 John & Rose Batiuk
1990 Mike & Georgina Tomyn
1991 Mike & Elsie Kawulych
1992 Mike & Esther Barlott
1993 Val & Olesia Eleniak
1994 Ron & Betty Batiuk
1998 John & Mary Huzil
1999 Peter & Elsie Zagrosh
2000 Bill & Ollie Diachuk
2001 Lawrence & Mary Anne Pshyk
2002 Peter & Olya Savaryn
2003 Orest & Lesia Soltykevych
2004 Dr. Harry & Alexandra Hohol
2005 George & Liz Sebest
2006 Ostap & Natalia Toroshenko
2007 Roman & Elsie Warawa
2008 Victor & Geraldine Nakonechny
2009 Stephen & Olga Orleski
2010 Peter & Mary Karbashewski
2011 Mich Cheladyn
& Larisa Sembaliuk-Cheladyn
2012 John & Cathie Chomiak
2013 Ed & Marie Stelmach
2014 Gordon & Cathie Gordey
2015 Orest & Elsie Choban
2016 Charlie & Debby Gargus
2017 Ed & Irene Cymbaliuk
2018 Gene & Christine Zwozdesky
2019 Greg Syrnick & Lori Chomik
2020 & 2021 (virtual festivals)
2022 Yuri Andryjowycz
& Olesia Luciw-Andryjowcz
2023 Peter & Geraldine Shostak
2024 Ken Kachmar & Carol Hrenyk
2025 Ivan & Larissa Bombak