Orysia Lysyk has been a long-serving member of the Ukrainian community with a large portion of her time devoted to helping plan, organize, and run events promoting Ukrainian culture. Mrs. Lysyk has been involved in the "Kobzari Bandura Ensemble" of St. Catharines, the Ukrainian Opera Chorus of Toronto, the Oshawa Branch of the Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada (past President), and was docent for the Hamilton Art Gallery "Spirit of Ukraine" exhibit. She has also been a member of the Sisterhood of St. John Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Oshawa.

With an educational background that includes a Bachelor of Arts in Politics, a Bachelor of Education and a diploma in Public Administration, as well as work as a paralegal in Hamilton, Mrs. Lysyk helped to teach Ukrainian culture and history to many children over the years, including at the Ukrainian School in Grimsby and with the Durham Board of Education. She also served as Director of the Ivan Franko Ukrainian School in Oshawa for 17 years.