(Inspiration for Toronto Dollar's "Jennifer Dollar")

August 26, 1989 – April 2, 1996
Jennifer died defending her Nanny

For more information you can view a retelling in tale or in factualized form.

If you wish to print-off a copy of the poster for redistribution, you can view the PDF.

Disclaimer: This story retells a disturbing real-life occurence. It is not meant for younger or more sensitive readers. If you are going to read and discuss it as a family, we strongly suggest parents properly prepare the discussion and paraphrase the material as necessary. we offer the retelling both to honour Jennifer and her grandfather for their efforts to bring about a better world.

She was awarded the Star of Courage by the Governor General, although she never lived to receive it. She was only six years old. Jennifer Kateryna Koval's'kyj, S.C.,(posthumous). Some may remember the news reports of the time and how, on April 2, 1996, this very special, beautiful child gave her life in her efforts to save her Nanny who was being attacked by a madman. As the police later stated, she had options other than to fly to the rescue.

Stars, it seems to me, are created by intersections of light. When children draw stars, they make small clusters of lines criss-crossing at one point. Jennifer's star is manifested by several beams of energy -- heart energy. First, there is Jennifer’s grandfather, Dr. Maryan Koval’s’kyj, whose deep love is at the centre of the star. In the core of his being he carries an unspeakable story of violence, a wound which will remain for the rest of his life. There is a plaque in St. James Cathedral in Jennifer’s memory. There is also a park overlooking the lake, west from Cherry Street on Polson, the Jennifer Kateryna Koval's'kyj Park. These and other acts of memorialization come out of the great and enduring love of a grandfather for his beloved first grandchild.

It was Dr. Koval's'kyj's request for a commemorative Toronto Dollar bill that magnetized a disparate team of individuals who gathered to add their beams of energy to Jennifer’s star-- first, there is the Toronto Dollar board that agreed to the issuing of a commemorative bill; then Steve Yeates, who came to us via Margaret Atwood and Graham Gibson and who donated his design of the bill; Jorge Carvalho, the open-hearted manager of the St. Lawrence market who agreed to the ad; Cy Williams and Lisa Shankly of Social Hues, who donated the Jennifer ad; and the community organizations working directly with children, single mothers and families in need. By following the light from Jennifer’s Star of Courage, we are being lead into a new way to support children in need, children in hostels and shelters.

Dr. Koval's'kyj, a poet with a PhD in law, is a Ukrainian Canadian, who has been a Canadian since 1989. The following are Dr. Koval's'kyj's poignant and authentic words in his handwriting:

"Jennifer Kateryna Koval's'kyj is my maternal granddaughter who at the age of six and half years has died on April 2, 1996.

She attempted to save the life of an elderly woman and stopped the man's crime who stabbed his victim.

Unfortunately she found herself also in the situation of victim of her attempt.

Insane man instead to be calmed, with hate and fury turned on Jennifer and attacked her holding a big kitchen knife.

As stated by the police, Jennifer had several options to save her own life, but for her the most important was to save the life of elderly woman who still asked the help.

The police found Jennifer at the place of her living on the floor with big kitchen knife embedded in her chest.

The knife was so long that she was nailed by it to the floor.

During the postmortem examination were found eighty nine wounds on Jennifer's body including eight deep wounds in her heart.

Many peoples and the society are still very moved by Jennifer's death including governments of different levels and organizations.

The City of Toronto in 1998 granted in the Toronto's port area full Jennifer's name to one of the park located there.

This year will be the fifth anniversary of Jennifer's heroic death.

She is Torontonian and we are the Torontonians.

As her grandfather and Torontonian too, I am asking you respectable fellows, please issue the Toronto Dollars with Jennifer and her park."

Jennifer’s voice is that of a child crying in the wilderness. One thing I hear her saying is "Come, look at money in a different way. Forget the global casino for a moment and look to the place where the heart still beats. Look at the streets."

Jennifer is an angel. Where one angel appears, an army of angels follows.