CANORA - As part of Canora in Bloom, the Ukrainian Heritage Museum held an open house on July 20.
Dorothy Korol, one of a group of local volunteers who look after the museum, said the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been on the minds of many, including visitors to the museum.
“Ukraine celebrated 30 years of independence last year, and it will be 31 years coming up on August 24,” shared Korol. “Our volunteers are always busy researching items in the museum to help answer questions from visitors.”
Items on display include: Ukrainian church artifacts, pioneer tools and equipment, Ukrainian heritage artifacts such as murals and embroidery, historic and modern dress, books and maps.
According to information provided by the museum, Ukrainians on the prairies celebrated 100 years of settlement in Canada in 1991. Canora is rich in Ukrainian culture as a result of the Block Settlement of Crooked Lakes in 1897 when two-thirds of the RM of Sliding Hills was settled by families that came aboard the SS Arcadia, the SS Armenia and SS Hispania. Settlers continued to arrive on other ships in 1898 and 1899.
In 1991, as part of the celebration to commemorate the 100 years of settlement, the Canora Branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress rented space in the Canora Mall to display monthly themes of Ukrainian culture, continued the information. Centennial celebrations in 1992 featured many outstanding Ukrainians: Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn, Lieutenant Governor Sylvia Fedoruk, Justice John Sopinka, His Beatitude Metropolitan Wasyly, Archbishop John Stinka, Bishop B. Filevich, Apos. Exarch M. Hrynchyshyn, as well as many local dignitaries.
The local donation of artifacts and other materials necessitated the acquisition of space for a museum. In 1995, a large room at the former Senior Elementary School became the museum. A search for a more suitable location continued. On August 19, 1995, the Lazurko and Popowich families made an offer of the former “Modern Meat Market” building on Main Street. A Certificate of Incorporation was acquired on April 28, 1999. Renovations were completed before the official opening on June 11, 1999, concluded the museum information.
