Not a Ukrainian. Barely a Ukrainian-Canadian. Rather, a Canadian with many questions.
David Chernushenko knew little of his roots in Ukraine until he received a remarkable document from his Aunt Raya in 2021. She had used her pandemic confinement to complete a family memoir and was sharing the results. It took mere minutes of reading for him to be hooked. When he was done, he was convinced this extraordinary story should be shared.
Then Russian forces launched a full-scale war on Ukraine. David was surprised by how viscerally it affected him. Though Ukraine was the native land of his father and aunt’s family, he had never visited and didn’t speak the language. Like many people, he was upset by Russia’s crimes, but why was he so upset?
To understand demanded a deep dive; not just into his Ukrainian origins but his life’s journey across six momentous decades—as globe-trotting child, journalist, environmental activist, filmmaker, novelist, and politician.
What emerged was a remarkable personal story, a family story, and a universal one. He is not the only one with family that came from afar, at great risk, to start a new life.
In this genre-bending book David offers Raya’s story in her own words, sprinkled with his historical commentary, and the tale of his extraordinary life, peppered with social and political writing that is insightful, humorous, and furious in equal measure.
Join David at Wintergreen to learn more about his story and to engage in rich discussions with other participants eager to hear his tale. This “Lunch, Launch, and Learn” event includes a Wintergreen lunch as well as a signed copy of Standing with Underdogs.
Agenda
12:00 Welcome
12:30 Lunch
1:30 Reading
2:00 Discussion
When is the right time to write a memoir? Is there just one kind? Can you combine two in one book?
Can our lives be influenced by our family's story, even if nobody ever told it to us? What is an immigrant story?
2:45 Signing & wrap up
About the Author
DAVID CHERNUSHENKO is a writer, educator, speaker, film producer, and explorer of “living lightly” in our personal and professional lives. He was twice elected to Ottawa City Council (2010-2018), where he chaired the Environment and Climate Protection Committee and played a major role in promoting a renewable energy transition, active transportation, complete streets, public health, and supportive housing. He served as a member of Canada’s National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy, the International Olympic Committee’s Sport and Environment Commission, and as deputy leader of the Green Party of Canada. He has written three books on sustainable management practices and has produced three films: Be the change; Powerful: Energy for Everyone; and Bike City, Great City. His first novel, Burning Souls, was published in 2018.
COST & REGISTRATION
$45 + HST includes a gourmet lunch, reading and discussion, and a signed copy of Standing with Underdogs.
If registering for more than one person, please enter the number of tickets as the “Quantity” and you will be charged accordingly.
HST is included in the checkout price.