We have been asked to share the following information from the Ukraine Genealogy Group – Edmonton & Area:
The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village at 50 Years: Preserving Ukrainian History and Culture in Alberta and Canada, Wed., June 18, 7 pm start MST, with David Makowsky. This presentation was originally planned to celebrate 50 years (1975 – 2025) of the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village (UCHV) being provincially owned and operated. From the first phase of the open-air museum’s development during the 1980s, it will reflect on efforts to build and enrich the museum in terms of missing buildings and consider the role the UCHV plays in helping explain the foundation of Alberta’s Ukrainian community to audiences from all over the world. The presentation will also provide a brief update following the devastating wildfire that swept through the site on April 18, 2025.
Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village (UCHV) https://ukrainianvillage.ca/
David Makowsky is the Director of the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village (UCHV), an open-air museum that provides an interactive exploration of early Alberta settlement history by delivering true-to-life experiences and educational programs based on the Ukrainian experience. As a branch director with Alberta Arts, Culture and Status of Women, David is also administratively responsible for nine provincial historic sites where visitors can learn about Alberta’s past. From 2011-2016, David served as Head, External Relations and Communications at the UCHV, and worked extensively with local, national and international media. Prior to that, David worked with the Alberta-Ukraine Genealogical Project to support family and community history research in Alberta and Western Ukraine.
Zoom link to register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/8eI1diR-SL2akCVM8e9PTA Zoom session only and open to the general public
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UFest Edmonton Ukrainian Festival is at Borden Park, Saturday, May 31, (11 am to 11 pm). Paid parking will be limited, especially on Saturday. We encourage you to use public transportation, bikes or ride sharing where possible. There are two LRT stations close to Borden Park
- LRT Stadium station: Take ETS Bus Route 101 or walk 20 minutes to get to Borden Park.
- LRT Coliseum station: Walk 20 minutes to Borden Park. There is no ETS Bus Service from Coliseum to Borden Park.
Paid parking for visitors is available at:
- Concordia University: $4
- EXPO Centre: $16.50.
https://www.facebook.com/ufestyeg and https://ufest.ca/
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Humanitarian Aid:
Fire at Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village: Historical buildings spared, but damage remains significant. On Friday, April 18, a wildfire east of Edmonton damaged several buildings at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. Fortunately, none of the historical structures were affected. However, among the impacted facilities was the Visitor Centre — a key part of the Village’s operations and community life. (Note that the archives and many artifacts were destroyed.)
Orysia Boychuk, President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Alberta Provincial Council, visited the site and shared her heartfelt thoughts:
“We are very concerned about the damage that has been done. We’ve worked so hard to preserve this history — the details, the artifacts. The idea that it could all disappear in a matter of minutes or hours is very frightening. We extend our deep gratitude to the firefighters and emergency crews who responded quickly and courageously to contain the blaze and prevent further devastation. This moment reminds us how vulnerable our cultural heritage can be — and how important it is to protect and support it.”
Alberta’s Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village visitor buildings lost to grass fire, CityNews Calgary, https://calgary.citynews.ca/2025/04/19/ukrainian-cultural-village-edmonton-grass-fire-control/
‘Profound loss’: Many show support after fire ravages Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, CityNews Calgary, https://calgary.citynews.ca/2025/04/20/alberta-ukrainian-cultural-historic-village-fire-support/
Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Alberta Provincial Council, please consider donating to the UCC APC, to help with the restorations at: https://www.uccab.ca/donate/
Friends of the Ukrainian Village Society is also a registered charity, https://fouvs.shop/, Their main email address is info@fouvs.ca, and their interim telephone number is 825-419-3855. Their Facebook page is at https://www.facebook.com/friendsukrainianvillage/
