Call Number: Mss 206, Pc 185, Tc 109 (A.04-99)

Title: William (Bill) Wsiaki fonds.

Dates: 1939-2000.

Extent: 43.5 cm of textual records. -- 112 VHS tapes. -- 29 Mini DVC. -- 13 audiotapes.

Biographical sketch: Bill Wsiaki was born in Wynyard, Saskatchewan in 1955. In 1973, he began his employment with the University of Manitoba Libraries. Currently, he is the Library Supervisor at the Father Harold Drake Library, St. Paul’s College. In addition to being employed at the University of Manitoba, from 1979 to 1989, he contributed news reports, human interest stories, and features and photos to numerous Canadian magazines and newspapers. In 1984, he was one of the official photographers for the Manitoba Papal visit of Pope John Paul II.
In 1989, he began WPW Video Productions. From 1989 to 2001, he produced
television documentaries and educational video series. During this period, he
received 4 international and 3 national awards for video production. Two of his
documentaries were reviewed in the American national audio and video
publication called Videomaker. Some of his works are archived at the National
Archives in Ottawa and at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. Topics of his video
productions include Catholic religious issues, Ukrainian history and culture, and aboriginal marriage preparation. From 1995 to 1989, he was the Winnipeg producer for KONTAKT, the Ukrainian culture and news program produced in Toronto. He has recently contributed a large collection of raw and finished video footage and master tapes to the University of Manitoba Archives. The material includes interviews, dramatizations, and scenes pertaining to the various productions. Also included are archival videos and photos purchased (with copyright clearance) for his work.

Custodial history: The material was donated to the University of Manitoba
Archives & Special Collections by Bill Wsiaki in 2004.

Scope and content: The fonds consists of records of award winning documentary film producer William (Bill) Wsiaki. It consists of research material and video-recordings pertaining to Ukrainian Canadians and Ukrainian history. It also includes videos used for the development of a television documentary on St. Benedict's Monastery, and videos shot in northern Saskatchewan for a marriage preparation series for aboriginal people in Canada.

Restrictions: There are no restrictions on access to this material.

Accruals: Further accruals to the fonds are not expected.

Finding aid: A printed finding aid is available in the Archives reading room and an electronic finding aid is available at the link below:

Mss 206, Pc 185, Tc 109 (A.04-99)