Around Edmonton is a series of posts featuring things to see and do in my hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
I’ve lived in the Edmonton area my whole life, and it’s pretty easy for me to overlook the influences other cultures have had on the city. In Edmonton, and other areas of western Canada there’s a lot of Ukrainian influence. In fact Ukrainians make up 10% of Alberta’s population. The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village is an open museum that depicts what life was like over 100 years for Ukrainian settlers who came to Alberta. I’d wanted to visit the museum since I was a kid, and I finally went with a friend last August. Here are a few pictures I took from my day at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village.
Grain Elevator at The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village.
Inside a Grain Elevator. Back in the day kids were often hired to work with the equipment inside the grain elevator. Their daily wage was about 16 cents – enough for a couple chocolate bars.
Many Ukrainian settlers made a temporary home from sod called a Burdei. This one was only big enough for a couple people.
The Hillard Hotel.
Inside a general store.
A Greek Orthodox Church.
Inside the Greek Orthodox Church.
A barn.
A perfect summer day at The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village.
The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from the May Long weekend (the weekend right before May 25) to the first Monday in September. Admission is $9 for adult, $4 for youth and free for kids under 6 years old. To get to the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village head east out of Edmonton on the Yellowhead Trail/Highway 16 until you see the signs for the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village. The museum is about a 25 minute drive outside of the city.
im from the “perogie belt” in Manitoba …. pretty much everyone (except for me) is Ukrainian
Funny enough everyone I know is Ukrainian, or at least that’s how it seems. Still when it comes to perogies I can’t complain.
Interesting! I wonder what brought the Ukrainians all the way to Edmonton…
From what I understand Edmonton was a popular region because the topography in the area was similar to that of the Ukraine. Thanks for the comment.
I want to see the Burdei in real life!!
I’m sure you’ll get to. Thanks for the comment.
I’ve never been to Edmonton, but have some very good friends there. I used to perform improv comedy at a theatre in Atlanta called Dad’s Garage, and our cast was very tight with the cast from Rapid FIre Theatre in Edmonton. Have you ever been there? They are some seriously hysterical performers, and their former leader is now the Artistic Director at Dad’s Garage. Small world…
Small world indeed. I love the theatre scene in Edmonton, but it’s been a while since I’ve seen a Rapid Fire Theatre show. I actually did see a show from Dad’s Garage when they were at the Edmonton Fringe Festival last year. Really funny stuff. Thanks for the comment… and the reminder to see more improv.