HISTORIC YEAR FOR SASKATCHEWAN UKRAINIANS
Celebrating 125 years of Ukrainian-Canadian history
125 The milestone
This year is the 125th anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Canada. David Prokopchuk’s ancestors were among those given 160 acres of land when they arrived in the Yorkton area at the end of the 1800s. Families like his quickly kicked off Saskatchewan’s thriving Ukrainian community.
2016 The acknowledgment
Premier Brad Wall recognized 2016 as the Year of the Saskatchewan Ukrainian. “Ukrainian culture and traditions are deeply embedded in the Saskatchewan mosaic,” Wall said. With more than 13 per cent of residents able to trace their lineage back to Ukraine, there are a lot of reasons to celebrate.
30 The welcome
This year’s Ukrainian Day in the Park will also feature a citizenship ceremony, a first for the event. Thirty people of various nationalities will take their oaths on stage and leave the park as brand new Canadians. “We are very excited to be able to welcome new people to Canada,” Prokopchuk said.
8 The food
It’s not a Ukrainian party without perogies, and this year’s event will feature more vendors and food stalls — eight — than ever. Cabbage rolls, kebabs and poutine are a few items on the menu, but with an option for anyone it’s easy to grab a bite before sitting back and enjoying a traditional dance or Ukrainian rock show.
25 The departure
Aug. 24, just a few days before the Ukrainian Day in the Park celebration, marked the 25th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from Russia. “It’s very much in the hearts of Ukrainian people,” says Prokopchuk. “That dedication in the community just makes you proud to be a part of it.”