BUSINESS NAME Village Voice Fall Edition 2002 ГОЛОС СЕЛА Newsletter INSIDE THIS ISSUE: The Enrichment Project Best Outdoor Site by Dr. Brian Cherwick Society AGM Each year the Ukrainian Cultural Her- itage Village welcomes thousands of Enrichment Project visitors. We are fortunate to have this Dr. Medwidsky valuable resource as a place to step back and relive the ways of the past Harvest of the Past and as a place to teach our children about life in east central Alberta in the 2002 Music Festival early 20th century. It is noteworthy Volunteer Profile that the Village stands as an interna- tional model for open-air historical lives of real people living in those Village Focus museums, and is a highly respected buildings in the early part of the world-class facility - a beacon in the 20th century. Internment Monument ever-developing discipline of museum This is one of the features that Children’s Program and historical-interpretive arts. makes this site one of the most The buildings that unique in all of Old Visions, New Ventures North America. are located at the Friend’s Forum Village have been For visitors, no two trips to the carefully selected Culture Horst Schmidt to Village should be from among the immediately prepare and pre- the same. Each most representative sent Cabinet with a capital day at the Village examples of vari- development plan for the Vil- is like another new ous aspects of pio- lage. neer life. Thou- day in the lives of sands of hours of the people of east Once prepared, this Capital interviews have central Alberta of Development Plan was pre- been conducted the 1920s, with sented to the Ukrainian com- with people who new events to ex- munity in a public forum. In had experiences in perience and new 1981 a Historical Develop- those buildings in stories to hear. ment Proposal was devel- oped that outlined how the order to gather in- Many visitors also Village was to be completed. formation about the Village Townsite—Dark Black indicates do not realize that This plan established the lay- structures, the inte- missing buildings listed on page 6 & 7 the Ukrainian Vil- out that is currently seen at rior and exterior lage is currently the site, and called for over furnishings, how the buildings were only half completed. When the 70 buildings to be located to used, and the lives of the people who Province of Alberta acquired the the site. Presently there are built and used them. Village from private developers in just over 30. Many do not realize that a visit to the 1975, it made a commitment to Village is like stepping into a time ma- continue the enhancement of the ...continued on page 6 chine that actually takes you back to site. After visiting the Village for 1929. The people you encounter are Ukrainian Day in 1980, Premier not just museum workers of the year Peter Lougheed recognized the 2002, but real people from the period importance and scope of this pro- up to 1929. The activities they are en- ject and the level of support from gaged in and the stories they tell you the Ukrainian community. The are based on actual accounts of the Premier asked then-Minister of Page 2 Fall Edition 2002 Welcome to the Best Outdoor Site in Alberta! By Susan Sava entire crop of potatoes in a sepa- drought-like conditions, the This summer the Ukrainian Cul- rate field. The Grekul farmstead summer interpreters managed, tural Heritage Village was the has a beautiful yet again, to plant, recipient of a prestigious nation- flower garden at its weed, water, and al award. Attractions Canada entrance, which nurture all the beau- selected the Village as the “best was historically tiful gardens, and outdoor attraction” in Alberta! tended by Mr. Gre- deserve a special An award like this should re- kul. And, the Slem- bouquet of thanks! mind us that our Village is a ko farmstead has a Senior Historian world class historic site and its little-known onion Radomir Bilash ex- unique program of interpretation patch tucked away plained to the judg- is something the entire Province behind the granary. es the evolution of should be proud of. The burdei, or sod hut, has the the Village and the way garden This summer, the Ukrainian Cul- most time honoured garden. The plants, trees and other vegetation tural Heritage Village was also earliest settlers in East Central were selected for inclusion and the first historic site to be grant- Alberta initially planted their why they were situated in their ed the Communities in Bloom gardens the same way they current locations. We’re sure Award. would have in the old country. that Radomir’s presentation This meant that each type of clinched the judges’ decision. Judges from the Communities in vegetable was thickly scattered Bloom program visited the site So, how did we do with the in its own raised, square bed. In in early August and looked at the Communities in Bloom competi- Galicia and Bukovyna, at the various aspects of our historic tion? At the 2002 provincial turn of the last century, land was garden and farm programs. awards ceremony in Brooks, limited for many farmers – some th Judges also considered the site’s Alberta on September 7 , the families had as little as 8 to 12 overall landscaping and Village was awarded 5 out of 5 acres. maintenance. blooms, with a mark of 88%! While We were the first historic site to What the judges were most Did you know… it’s ever be involved with the Com- impressed with was the much munities in Bloom program, and fact that all of the vegeta- The Village offers historic easier others are now following our tion on the site of the garden tours! This summer, to lead. Iris Olinek, Head of Inter- Ukrainian Village was visitors from across Canada weed pretation Services, traveled to planted especially for the and to Brooks to accept the award on Village according to his- toured our gardens! walk behalf of the Village. The Vil- toric specifications. This among lage is now eligible to compete means that even the trees plants in the 2003 National Program. that visitors see around the site when vegetables are planted in Way to go and good luck with were planted according to the rows, the raised square beds the competition next year! information collected in the were the most efficient way of course of research. Twenty five using the limited land. years ago, this same land was a farmer’s field! By the end of the summer, the Judges also had a look at the burdei garden looks like a historic gardens. As closely as patchwork quilt of different possible, each garden on site is plants. It’s definitely a favourite planted according to the historic among visitors to the site. garden plan of the family whose house is being interpreted. For What makes the winning of this example, the Pylipow garden has award even more remarkable is no potatoes, because the Pylip- the fact that there was very little ow family historically planted an rainfall this year. Despite the Village Voice Page 3 Friends of All Ages Attend Annual General Meeting by Susan Sava up the torch of preserving and On Sunday, March 17, 2002, the protecting Alberta’s Ukrainian- Friends of the Ukrainian Village Canadian history and culture. Society held its Annual General The 2003 AGM will again be Meeting, at the remodeled barn held in the Silska Domiwka. (Silska Domiwka) at the Village Notification of the meeting date Site. will be sent to Friends members Friends members who attended by mail. We encourage all the AGM reviewed the business Friends members, young and of the Society for the past year. old, to attend. The AGM is a Did you know… They were shown a very dynam- great opportunity to learn more ic multimedia presentation about about the Friends Society, and to This year, volunteers from the Village Enrichment Project. meet your fellow friends. Plus, the Friends Society were A highlight of this year’s meet- there’s always a tasty pyrohy ing was the participation of a dinner served! out at the Vegreville significant number of young The 2002-2003 officers are: Pysanka Festival, Friends members, many of whom were former summer spreading the word about staff. It’s encouraging to see Dr. Brian Cherwick – President, the Enrichment Project. that another generation has taken Anna Steblyk – Vice President Directors from the Friends Dale Mandrusiak – Treasurer Society will also be Mae Adamyk – Secretary traveling to various Andrew Antoniuk – Past President communities throughout Directors: East central Alberta this Cheryl King Did you know… winter , to inform the Mary Plawiuk The purpose of the Friends Donna Koziak public which buildings are of the Ukrainian Village Brian Hlus still desperately needed at Society is, with the Fred Pewarchuk the Village. If you know of cooperation of the Dr. Peter Savaryn any community group who Government of Alberta, to Susan Sava would like to help with or expand and enhance the Lifetime Director know more about the Dr. Mary Lobay Ukrainian Village through enrichment project, please fundraising, promotion contact the Friends and the development of Society.. specific programs with an active and increasing membership. Page 4 Fall Edition 2002 Dr. Bohdan Medwidsky Retirement by Dr. Brian Cherwick For over 20 years, Dr. Bohdan Medwidsky has been a tireless worker for the cause of the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. He was a member of the inaugural UCHV Advisory Board, and has served on that Board in the capacity of representa- tive of the academic community for those twenty years.