*The full report can be found here, and any additional hard copies can be requested from UCC-APC.
On June 24, 2020, UCC-APC received a letter from the Ukrainian Canadian Archives and Museum of Alberta providing a status update which stated that the collections were at risk of going to auction. At a UCC-APC Board meeting, it was agreed that a committee should be formed to review the potential of saving UCAMA’s collections. Following the consultation of numerous community organizations, enough interest and financial support would mitigate the risk of UCC-APC involvement. The Committee’s first meeting was held on July 7, 2020.
The main committee was formed under the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Alberta Provincial Council by organizations and individuals interested in saving the UCAMA collections. An extensive list of community organization stakeholders came together under the UCC-APC to form the working committee:
- Alberta Society for the Advancement of Ukrainian Studies,
- Basilian Fathers Museum,
- Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies,
- Friends of the Ukrainian Folklore Centre,
- Kule Folklore Centre,
- Shevchenko Scientific Society Edmonton Branch,
- Ukrainian Women’s Organization of Canada – Museum,
- Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada,
- UCC Edmonton Branch,
- Ukrainian Benevolent Society of Edmonton,
- Ukrainian Catholic Brotherhood of Canada Alberta Branch,
- Ukrainian Pioneers Association of Alberta,
- Ukrainian Museum of Canada Alberta Branch,
- Ukrainian Museum of Canada Calgary Branch,
- Ukrainian Commemorative Society of Alberta,
- Ukrainian National Federation.
Many individual community members joined the committee and were very interested in preserving the collection.
We believe that the “Save UCAMA’s Archives and Collections Project” was very successful. It showed that our community is united in preserving the common history and paving the path forward for the new generations despite the differences. We know that the collections will be available to the general public and will remain in Alberta. UCC-APC wishes to express sincere gratitude to UCAMA to preserve Ukrainian collections and archives and the museums that took it upon themselves to continue preserving these artifacts when UCAMA was no longer able to do so.
Thank you to the Basilian Father’s Museum for taking 95% of the UCAMA’s collection. A sincere thank you to the Kule Folklore Center for taking the archives and the 4 museums in Alberta to take the remaining items: Ukrainian Women’s Organization – Museum, Ukrainian Museum of Canada – Alberta, Ukrainian Museum of Canada – Calgary and Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League Association Museum.
It has been a tremendous project to undertake in such a short period of time. With the right people behind the project, we raised funds and completed the project in a timely and accountable manner.
Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Provincial Councils extends its gratitude to the following committee members and volunteers:
- Lydia Migus- Chairperson, Logistics Committee
- Karen Lemiski – Basilian Fathers Museum in Mundare
- Elaine Harasymiw – ES – Ukrainian Museum of Canada – Alberta Branch
- Zennovia Haydey – Ukrainian Museum of Canada – Calgary
- Joyce Chrunik-Rudiak – Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League of Canada Museum
- Tamara Vorotilenko – UWO
- Maryna Chernyavska – Kule Folklore Centre
- Oleksandr Pankiev – Alberta Society for Advancement of Ukrainian Studies
- Jason Galinowski – Friends of the Ukrainian Folklore Centre
- Alla Nedashkivska – Shevchenko Scientific Society, Edmonton
- Serhii Cipko – Ukrainian Commemorative Society of Alberta & Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies
- Jars Balan – Ukrainian Pioneers Association of Alberta
- Mykola Vorotilenko – Ukrainian National Federation – Edmonton Branch
- Mark Kopinec – Ukrainian Catholic Brotherhood of Canada Alberta Branch
- Khrystia Kohut – UCAMA
- Paul Teterenko – UCAMA
- Nestor Makuch- UCAMA
- Oleksandr Makar – UCAMA
- Irka Jendzjowsky – UCC Archiving Project
- Barbara Koziak – Community Supporter
- Ustia Stefanchuk – Community Supporter
- Andrew Hladyshevsky – Community Supporter
We want to say a special thank you to all of the individuals and organizations who donated their hard-earned money and entrusted UCC Alberta to lead and complete this project on time. We are also eternally grateful to the Committee-members who attended every meeting and helped raise this extraordinary amount of money in such a short period of time, less than 3 months.
The story of UCAMA will serve as an example to the community for many reasons. We anticipate that despite the events, we will all learn from our experiences and we will be stronger by moving our organizational leadership of every level towards a path of financial and board accountability.
*The full report can be found here, and any additional hard copies can be requested from UCC-APC.
