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Edward Danylo Evanko was born in Winnipeg to Danylo Evanko and Justyna Dmytryk, who had emigrated from Western Ukraine. He was baptized and received First Communion at Blessed Virgin Mary Church. He helped found an altar boy’s association there and sang in the mixed and men’s voice choirs. He was a member of the Winnipeg Boy’s Choir and won trophies at the Manitoba Musical Festival. An honour student at his high school, he was President of the school, Valedictorian, editor of the year book, and represented Winnipeg Schools at a conference in Ottawa.
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A Father's Life
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His mother died when he was twelve and his father remarried a very devout woman, Doris Tataryn. To his own sisters, Jennie and Anne, were now added her daughters, Gladys and Florence. He is very proud of his eleven nieces and nephews, one of whom, Kenneth, died far too young.
He completed a BA at the U of M, appeared at Rainbow Stage, and on CBC TV and Radio. Studies at the Bristol Old Vic in England were followed with engagements with the Stratford Festival, the English Opera, the Welsh National Opera, and the BBC Singers. His Broadway debut gained him a Theatre World Award, to which were added a New Jersey Drama Critics Award and a Los Angeles Ovation Award nomination. He has recorded Broadway albums for Capitol, RCA, an album for Decca, and three for Destiny Records. He has appeared at all the major Ukrainian Festivals in Canada and the USA, and has promoted Ukrainian music by singing on many occasions at the Ukrainian Institute and at Lincoln Centre in NYC.
He completed his academic and spiritual formation at the Pontificio Collegio Beda in Rome, at St. Josaphat Seminary and Catholic University in Washington DC, and at Holy Spirit Seminary and St. Paul University in Ottawa. He received his Master of Theology degree in the spring of 2005, and served in the Archeparchy of Winnipeg.in the District of Rossburn/Russell for 2 ½ years prior to coming to the Eparchy of New Westminster to serve as pastor the Church of the Holy Dormition of the Mother of God in Richmond BC. Particular influences in his life have been Fr. Stefan Semchuk, his first pastor, Fr. Bohdan Lukie, and Fr. Walter Klimchuk. To his spiritual directors for their guidance and example, Fr. Jim Brand, Fr. Wasyl Kharyk, and Fr. Ray Lukie, and rectors, Msgr. Roderick Strange and Fr. Ken Nowakowski, (now Bishop Ken) and to Bishop David Motiuk, and Archbishop Michael Bzdel, and Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak he will be eternally grateful.