On February 24, 2017, students and lecturers of Lviv Polytechnic National University, as well as Lviv community, had a unique opportunity to meet Ihor Ihnatowycz, a well-known Canadian businessman, philanthropist, public figure of Ukrainian origin, who became producer of «Bitter Harvest», first English-speaking feature film about Holodomor (artificially created famine) in Ukraine of 1932–1933.
Ihor Ihnatowycz was invited to come to Lviv by International Institute of Education, Culture and Diaspora Relations of Lviv Polytechnic. It took more than six months to prepare this visit with the support of Serhiy Kasyanchuk, Head of Ukrainian World Congress Office in Ukraine. Mr Ihnatowycz’s visit to Lviv included talking to students, meeting Lviv Mayor and Head of Lviv regional administration, giving numerous interviews and making public appearances on TV, as well as taking part in the «Bitter Harvest» premiere.
The meeting in Lviv Polytechnic continued a range of events organized by IIEC, which were aimed at focusing young people on choosing their own model of personal development and serving Ukraine through meeting and communicating with outstanding personalities.
Yuriy Bobalo, Rector of Lviv Polytechnic National University, greeted Mr Ihnatowycz on behalf of a huge academic community. He said that Mr Ihnatowycz’s way to success is important and instructive for young people, who only begin their professional life.
Iryna Klyuchkovska, Director of IIEC, said that Ihor Ihnatowycz is a self-made man. At the same time, he managed to develop a socially responsible business. Ihor Ihnatowycz’s investments play an important social role both in Canada, his country of residence, and in Ukraine, his Motherland. Director of IIEC also stressed that the example of Ihor Ihnatowycz is very important for our youth, who listened to the guest speaker with great interest.
Oksana Vynnytska, Head of the International Educational Coordinating Council and honorary consul of Canada in Ukraine, said that she, as well as the Ihnatowyczs, belongs to the generation of Ukrainian refugees descendants, «Our grandmothers, grandfathers, young mothers and fathers left their lands, went through refugee camps, immigration selection commission, escaping from military action and the regime of violence. On arriving in Canada, they founded communities, parishes, schools, drama societies, gave birth to children». She also said that the characteristic feature of the refugees’ descendants is striving for telling the truth about the events which made their relatives escape from military action and the regimes of violence.
In his speech, Ihor Ihnatowycz said about his personal experience of setting up a successful business, about the role of his parents and emphasized how supportive his wife has been. He said that apart from knowledge, you also need a strong character. And if you have an idea and want to reach something, it will not happen overnight, «You need to work for a long time. It will be hard, for sure. However, you always need to ‘push forward’».
It is very important that Mr Ihnatowycz claimed that he believes in Ukraine, in its young generation. He would like them to realize themselves to their fullest for the sake of Ukraine, «Yes, Ukraine is experiencing turbulent times, war, but it also has great resources. They include mineral resources, agriculture, great knowledge, which many other countries do not possess».
Of course, a lot of attention was paid to «Bitter Harvest». Its premier took place in Lviv this week. According to Mr Ihnatowycz, the film was aimed at telling the world about Holodomor. If this objective is fulfilled, he will consider the film a success, in spite of it becoming profitable or not.
The meeting ended in Mr Ihnatowycz’s lively communication with students and their watching fragments of the film.
