Raya (Raissa) Shadursky has been involved in the Ukrainian Canadian community for over 40 years, holding leadership positions at local, provincial and national levels throughout her career. As the first female president of both the Ukrainian Canadian Professional Association of Toronto and the Ukrainian Canadian Professional Federation, she singlehandedly crashed the Ukrainian glass ceiling. When Ms. Shadursky served as the Toronto Culture Festival's first Executive Director, her organizational ability to bring people together was recognized by being inducted into the Festival and Events Ontario Hall of Fame and bestowed with the Volunteer Medal from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Currently holding several board positions with Ivan Franko Homes, Ms. Shadursky has been able to provide new and supportive programming for seniors, their families and staff. In her current executive position with the Ukrainian Jewish Encounter, she has helped build and create a new organization that brings more depth into Ukrainian history.