Xmas 2008

Only half of our family of 6 celebrated Christmas Eve and Christmas day in Winnipeg. Marge's brother Sam joined us for both events but not my brother Bill. Our son Sam who now lives in Toronto where Marusia and Richard also reside (the other half of the family), did make an unexpected trip to Winnipeg on Boxing day on business matters for his uncle Bill. Most of the gifts received and given out by the family were monetary. Marusia surprised her dad with a monetary gift to my endowment fund at the U of M. medical library.

A major event occurred in the Hrushovetz family in September 2007, namely my brother Bill sold the remaining acre of the Michael Hrushovetz 50 acre estate. He had to vacate within a year, i.e by Sepember 2008. As a result during this 12 month period my wife and son Steve spent most of this period assisting my brother in disposing of the numerous items he had accumulated on the farm- you don't get rid of articles, like farm machinery, tools, household furniture etc which have gathered dust and rust over the past 80 odd years in one weekend - What a fascinating history awaits production. I hope to produce this video with Marusia's professional help.

Health and happiness to all bloggers in 2009.

Uncle Bill's Birthday

On August 5th, 2005 my brother, William Michael (Bill) Hrushovetz had his 80th birthday. My wife Margaret and our 3 children Mary Margaret Powrie of Toronto, Semeon Bohdan junior of Calgary and Stephen Michael of Winnipeg marked this event with a donation of a Park Bench to the Public Works Department of the City of Winipeg and a special ceremony which took place on August 5th from 2.00-3.00 p.m. in the Michael Hrushvetz Park located on High Point Drive of Sun Valley Drive in North Kildonan - a suburb of Winnipeg.
Shirley Timm-Rudolph a former city councillor and a long time friend of Bill chaired the ceremony She read letters of congratulation from Mark Lubosch, Mayor Sam Katz, Bonnie Michelson MLA for River East, and Joy Smith, MP for the riding of Kildonan-St. Paul and then presented Bill with the letters as well as the respective pins.

In the abscence of Mark Lubosch the city councillor for the North Kildonan ward, Lillian Thomas, the councillor for the Elmwood ward graciously volunteered to unveil the bench and plaque and thanked the family for their donation to the city. Actually it was the 3 children who thought of the idea and made the donation on behalf of their uncle. Short speeches were made by Bill's only neice Mary Margaret on behalf of herself and her 2 brothers Semeon and Steve, by Bill's brother Semeon, and a long time neighbor Don Tymko. Cecil Hopko then got the children to form a circle around "Mr Bill" and Shirley lead us all in singing Happy Birthday to Bill. When asked to speak Bill's opening remarks were "Everything has already been said, I have nothing to add." After blowing out the candles on the birthday cake, and making the first cut, the family distributed the cake with watermelon, canned drinks and ice cream.

Several groups took pictures with uncle Bill on the bench. The crowd estimated at over 50, all signed the large framed picture of the plaque on the bench, a memento that will Bill long cherish. A "journalistic" report together with a few photos was submitted to the local Herald paper hoping they will publish it in the next issue due around the end of August 2005.

Uncle Bill's 80th birthday

On August 05/2005, my brother William Michael (Bill) Hrushovetz will celebrate his 80th birthday. To mark this event his family, namely myself, my wife Margaret and our 3 children Mary Margaret, Semeon Bohdan and Stephen Michael plan to donate a park bench in Bill's honour. The bench will be placed in Michael Hrushovetz Park located in the east area of the City of Winnipeg.

The plaque on the bench will read as follows:

To celebrate the 80th Birthday of
WILLIAM M. (BILL ) HRUSHOVETZ
August 5th, 2005
From his Family with Love and Gratitude

Check later blogs for details of this event