Alberta Family Histories Society has been asked to share the following information about the upcoming meetings of the Ukraine Genealogy Group Edmonton and Area Society:
- “Databases and Digital Content at EPL for Genealogy” workshop, in-person only event. Saturday, February 15, 10 am – 11:30 am, at the Blind Enthusiasm Group Computer Lab on the second floor, at the Edmonton Public Library (EPL), Stanley A. Milner (Downtown) with a capacity of 18. This also includes a tour of the North of 52 Collection. Digital Content/Genealogy & History https://www.epl.ca/resources/genealogy/ and https://www.epl.ca/genealogy/ A portion of this workshop will be for discussions and independent search time. We will also be sharing tips and tricks for research. If this runs past the time booked in the lab then we can move into the public area of the library or go to a cafe. Please email Elaine directly if you are interested in attending this workshop, at kalyna@outlook.com
- “Ukrainian Settlement in Canada: The Role of Bukovynian Ukrainians”. On Wed., March 26, 2025, starting at 7 pm, our guest speaker is Dr. Taras Lupul, who is currently a co-researcher, Scholars at Risks Programme (Ukraine), College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Department of History, Classics and Religion, Faculty of Arts, University of Alberta as well as a visiting researcher in CIUS. This lecture will discuss different aspects of the history of Bukovynian-Ukrainian immigration to Canada, including the emigration process, arrival and settlement in Canada, and community development. Dr. Lupul will focus on emigration from the states of Austria-Hungary prior to World War I and from Romania in the interwar period of 1920-39. The role of Ukrainians from Bukovyna in the development of Orthodox churches in Canada will also be examined, including the founding of parishes such as the Holy Trinity Bukowinian Orthodox Cathedral in Ottawa and the Saint Sophie Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Montreal. The Zoom meeting link will be sent out at the end of February, with the March 2025 UGG Edmonton newsletter.
- On Wed., April 16, 2025, starting at 7 pm, our guest speaker is Jars Balan. His presentation on “Ukrainian Settlement in Western Canada” looks at the evolution of Ukrainian communities in the Canadian Prairies beginning in the late 19th century. Seen as ideal immigrants to take on the challenges of transforming the Parkland region of the Canadian Prairies into productive farmland, thousands of Ukrainians came to Canada under the Canadian Government’s Prairie Settlement initiative. Mr. Balan will discuss the process of attracting Ukrainians to Canada, their long journey by trains and ocean vessels to homesteading lands on the prairies, and the difficulties they had to overcome in making their home in Canada. Many Albertans claim Ukrainian heritage, and have a contributed a rich, cultural element to the development of western Canada. Jars Balan is the Director of the Peter and Doris Kule Ukrainian Canadian Studies Centre at the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS), University of Alberta. The Zoom meeting link will be sent out at the end of March, with the April 2025 UGG Edmonton newsletter.
This year we will be having monthly events, either a Zoom session or an in-person workshop with July to August off for a summer break as I will be having a Ukrainian Canadian genealogy table at various festivals and events. Anyone who is interested in assisting me with the display tables, please let me know. I love the company.
Dr. Maryna Paliienko is not able to give our group a presentation this Feb/March due to her busy work schedule and the war is making it difficult for them. We can pray for her and her students that this war ends soon. Hopefully, we might be able to book her at a later date.
The complete February newsletter can be viewed here.
