Ukrainian Canadian Foundation

Victor Malarek Investigative Journalist Recipient of 2007 Syrnick Journalism Award

TORONTO, MAY 8, 2007 – Victor Malarek, Senior Reporter at CTV’s W-FIVE, was named recipient of the John Syrnick Award for Journalism, sponsored by the Ukrainian-Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko.

According to Shevchenko Foundation president Andrew Hladyshevsky Q.C., “Victor Malarek was chosen for his continual dedication to substantive research and reporting on issues of importance and relevance to the Ukrainian Canadian community.”

The selection committee (chaired by Dr. Christine Turkewych) included pre-eminent Canadian academics and community leaders from the Ukrainian-Canadian community, representing all regions of Canada and a readership of over one million people.

The award is named in honour of John Syrnick, who served as editor of Ukrainian Voice from 1947 to 1970. Under Syrnick’s editorial stewardship, Ukrainian Voice became a leading voice for hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian Canadians who sought to define and promote the interests of their community within a strong and united multicultural Canada.

With a keen eye for hard-hitting investigative journalism, Malarek has worked for The Globe and Mail, CBC television’s fifth estate and currently for CTV. He has received a Michener Award for investigative reporting a record four times, most recently in 2001 for his exhaustive study of the Toronto Police Union. He received a Gemini Award in 1997 as Canada’s Top Broadcast Journalist.

Malarek is also the renowned author of five books of non-fiction. His most recent book, The Natashas: The New Global Sex Trade (Viking), was published to critical acclaim in 2003. In 2006, he was instrumental in CTV’s production of a documentary W-FIVE: Forgotten Children which highlighted the plight of orphans in Ukraine.

Malarek was presented with the Syrnick award at a reception on Monday, May 14, at the Faculty Club, University of Toronto. Invited guests included Ontario dignitaries, leaders of the Ukrainian-Canadian community and the media.

What?: John Syrnick Award for Journalism, sponsored by the Ukrainian-Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko.
Who?: Recipient: Victor Malarek; Recognized: CTV’s W-FIVE
When?: Monday, May 14, 2007, 6:30pm–8:30pm
Where?: The Faculty Club, Main Lounge; University of Toronto; 41 Willcocks Street; Toronto, Ontario M5S 1C7