Bogdan Ficak – (1945-2015) should – certainly be mentioned among the figures who over the years have been -associated with the Ukrainian community in Biały Bór in Central Pomerania. In -the memory of the people with whom he came into contact, he remained a -straightforward, yet cheerful and kind person. He was extremely hard-working -and talented. By his own admission, he was always interested in working with -and for people. This is why he was recognised in many parts of the country, not -only as an educator and teacher, but above all because of his frequent trips -with artistic groups that he himself led or in which he performed.
Bogdan Ficak -came into the world in a unique place and time. He was born into the family of -Wasyl and Stefania Ficak on 22 April 1945 in the village of Huta Poręby -(currently in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Brzozowski district), near Jawornik -Ruski and also Pawłokoma. In spring 1945, the Polish-Ukrainian conflict -escalated in the area. Displacement of the Ukrainian population to the Soviet -Union continued until 1946, which the Ficak family managed to avoid. However, -they did not escape deportation in 1947 as part of the Operation Vistula to the -north of Poland, to the village of Stary Cieszyn near Pasłęk.
Bogdan Ficak -began his secondary education in Pasłęk. Soon afterwards, however, he moved to -Pedagogical Secondary School No. 2 in Bartoszyce with Ukrainian as the language -of instruction, some 90 km away from Pasłęk. After graduating from high school, -he began studying music at the Teacher Training College in Ostróda. At the same -time, he became a member of the stage group Mriya in Olsztyn, performing at the -First Festival of Ukrainian Stage in Sanok (22-23 July 1967). Between 1967 and -1972, Bogdan Ficak studied Ukrainian philology at the University of Warsaw.
From 1972 to -1990, Bogdan Ficak performed in the representative choir Zhuravli of the -Ukrainian Social and Cultural Society. Together with the ensemble, he -participated in all major artistic events organised by the UTSK in Poland, as -well as in the first foreign tours, which began to take place in the late -1980s.
From 1972 to -2006, he was employed at Taras Shevchenko Primary School in Biały Bór. He -worked there as a teacher, mainly of Ukrainian language, music and physical -education, as well as geography. At the same time, he was the head of the -boarding school. He led the Prolisky children’s vocal and instrumental ensemble -at the school. He co-authored the curriculum of the Ukrainian language for -grades 3-8. He also reviewed textbooks for teaching Ukrainian language for -grade 6 (by Jarosław Hryckowian) and grade 6 (by Bazyli Nazaruk).
Furthermore, -Ficak was active in the Ukrainian community of Biały Bór and, more broadly, in -the organisational field of the UTSK. Among other things, he led the female -choir Cheremshyna, which was later transformed into the mixed choir Verkhovyna. -He was a delegate to UTSK congresses on many occasions.
His activity -and teaching as well as artistic achievements have been recognised both in the -form of state awards (Gold Cross of Merit) and ministerial awards -(Distinguished Cultural Service), commendation diplomas, etc.
During the -communist years, he was subjected to operational activities of the Security -Service. In the mid-1980s, he was surveilled by communist secret police in an -operational verification case code-named "Szwed" in connection with -suspicions of receiving contact with an "Organisation of Ukrainian -Nationalists cadre worker" living in Sweden.
He struggled -with illness in the final years of his life. He died on 9 February 2015 in -Biały Bór.
Jarosław Syrnyk
Sources:
AIPN Sz 00124/855, Request to initiate a case of operational -verification under the codename. "Szwed", [1985], mkf; AIPN BU MSW II -7058; AIPN BU MSW II 6981, k. 86; AIPN BU MSW II 6981, k. 79
-S. Łaszyn, L. Łojko The Ukrainian -minority in the municipality of Biały Bór bialybor.com.pl
-"Наше слово" №12, -22 III 2015.
-М. Вербовий, 60-ліття школи в Білому Борі, "Наше слово", №24, 16 VI 2019.
-I. K., БогданФіцак, "Українськи календар", Варшава 1981.