Support for the Ukranian Pysanka Festival in Vegreville

This year’s event was the 42nd festival, a fact which highlights the importance of the Ukrainian tradition in the area. The first Ukrainian immigrants arrived in Canada in the 19th Century, and they settled predominantly in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Currently, there are more than 300,000 Canadians of Ukrainian descent living in Alberta, according to Statistics Canada.

As mentioned, the Ukrainian Pyanska Festival receives funding through the ‘Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program’. This program was established in order to help Canadians celebrate their communities, both past and present. It provides funding to festivals and other event and projects which encourage artists to become more involved in their communities.

Vegreville, Alberta, is home to the world’s largest pyanska, a Ukrainian Easter egg that is decorated with traditional designs from folklore. Constructed in 1974, the pyanska statue commemorates the centennial of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

This event coincides with Canada History Week, which runs from July 1st to July 7th every year. This week is an opportunity for people all across Canada to learn about and celebrate people and events that shaped the country, both on a local and a national level.

The Ukrainian Pyanska Festival this year included presentations of music, dance and folk songs, along with craft demonstrations, storytelling and exhibitions.

For more information about the event, including quotes and opinions from the likes of the Honorable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, follow this link:

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?mthd=advSrch&crtr.page=1&crtr.dpt1D=6662&nid=994769

Information about applying to the ‘Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program’ can be found here:

http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1267799042836