2014 Ukie Stampede Stomp

Calgary is the home of the world's largest and best known Rodeo - the Calgary Stampede! And just over a century ago a huge number of new immigrants to Canada from the mountains, foothills and steppes of Ukraine joined the Stampede fans - even participating wholeheartedly in the horse-play, lasso competitions, and horse riding hijinks! It was, of course a time when Calgary's first Ukrainian church community was taking their prayerful steps in setting root here, and just before Canada's First Internment Operations. But those are a lot of other stories about Ukrainians in Calgary!

A little connection you may not know though - there is increasing evidence supporting the hypothesis that horses were domesticated during the copper age, in the Eurasian Steppes centered in Dereivka, Ukraine between 3380-4570 BC! Dereivka is located in the Dnipro valley in Kirovohrads'ka oblast Ukraine. The herding and breeding of horses, beginning with the domestication of the horse, transformed Ukraine's steppe culture, and every subsequent society that adopted horse culture.  Horses increased mobility, and had an impact on transportation, trade, hunting and warfare. While the glorious age of Ukrainian Cossack State resonates in the memory, jump forward many centuries to the timely establishment of the Calgary Stampede! It must have been extremely enticing for new Canadians from Ukraine to join with their new countrymen in celebrating the horse culture on Canada's new frontier. The wild open spaces, the tradition, the colourful stories of Ukrainian cowboys - the kozaky - and everyone was a cowboy!

Lots of reasons to join in the Calgary Stampede Fun - and it is never too early for a Pre-Stampede Stomp! Getting your cowboy boots on?

St. Stephen's Cultural Centre is again the great venue for a Barbeque Steak and Perogie Supper on Saturday, June 21, 2014! Make sure to get your tickets soon! Yee! Ha!

Alberta's Ukrainian Summer Camp Season 2012



life.nationalpost.com

Summer camp as a Ukie kid in Alberta was always an interesting experience.  The excitement of going to camp with your friends really overshadowed the fact that the whole summer was summer vacation!  Packing involved leaving all the trappings of "living in a house" and meant roughing it a bit.  Have to admit that the "biffy" days are over for kids these days, but there is still a lot to be gained from the outdoor summer camp experience.

For one thing, there are never enough hours to tell the stories of summer camp. Once you start telling camp stories, you might just as well .....well, maybe it is time for your children to experience the Ukie camp thing in Alberta - here are a few to choose from. 


youth.edmontoneparchy.com

The Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy has their Annual Eparchial Children's Summer Camp again this year at Camp Oselia on Lake Wabamum.  This year's children's camp will take place from Sunday July 15 to Saturday July 28 and is programmed for children ages 7-14.  A safe, positive program based on Christian living, creative lessons about faith, complete with lake activities, canoeing, swimming, archery, camp fires, scavenger hunts, crafts and fun activities awaits.  The program is based on the teachings of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, but children do not need to be Ukrainian Catholic to attend.  Please make your interest in the program known at oselia.camp@gmail.com  or call 780-426-4176.     The cost of the program is $350 which includes accomodation, meal, and a t shirt.. 

Camp Oselia also hosts a Teen camp from July 30th to August 3rd, for teens ages 13-18.  Contact Namisha at 780-554-8543 or oselia.camp@gmail.com
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uocc.ca

Alberta’s beautiful Pigeon Lake, offers a quintessential overnight camp experience in a Ukrainian Orthodox setting from July 8-21, 2012 . Children 8-14 will enjoy a wide variety of cultural, sporting, religious and recreational activities, throughout this fun-filled, 2-week summer adventure!
Camp Bar-V-Nok is the perfect way to get the most out of summer and make lifelong memories from lake-side activities, off-site excursions, and unforgettable “vatra” (bonfire) and “zabava” (dance) nights. Campers will spend their days and evenings participating in:
Traditional Ukrainian arts and crafts workshops Ukrainian dance classes Swimming and canoeing Folk singing and music classes Religion lessons and services Guest presentations (various themes) Theme nights, talent shows, friendly competitions, beach activities, zabavas, vatra nights, and much more!
Camp Bar-V-Nok’s programming focuses on elements of the Ukrainian language, culture, traditions, and the Orthodox faith, in a Christian environment. Indoor and outdoor recreational activities allow children from across Alberta to interact and learn about one another’s communities.
All staff live on-site at Camp Bar-V-Nok, including the chaplain, director, co-director, counsellors and volunteers.
CAMP FEES: Camp fees include room and board, all camp activities, supplies and a camp t-shirt. Members* 1 child: $375 2 + children: $350/child Non-members: 1 child: $425 2 + children: $400/child    programs@stjohnsinstitute.com   or www.stjohnsinstitute.com  (780) 439-2320 or 1-800-439-2320.

Kiev's-K-Hi Ukrainian Orthodox Youth Camp

Summer camp offers a wonderful opportunity for boys and girls to enjoy happy character building summer days in the great outdoors near lakes and the woods. Boys and girls will receive Ukrainian Orthodox Christian religious instruction, conversational Ukrainian and a fundamental knowledge of the Ukrainian culture. They will have the opportunity to swim, dance, do crafts, participate in sports and enjoy the fun of hikes, campfires, cookouts and singsongs. All this will be accomplished in an atmosphere of friendship, trust, kindness and fun.

Camp starts July 8 for 6 - 8 yr olds       July 15 for 8 - 10. $160       July 22 for 9 - 12. $160

July 29 for 9 - 12. $160       Aug 5 for 12- 15. $190       Aug 12 for 15 - 17. $190      

All sessions run Sunday to Sunday          For more info please contact:

Linda Boser 780-826-4935       Camp Phone 780-635-2384

2012 Ukie Stampede Stomp

Hey Calgarians!  It's almost time to get your cowboy boots on again for the Calgary Stampede!!

Remember to put the 2012 Ukie Stampede Stomp on your calendar!  On Saturday, July 7th, 2012 from 6-12 PM the Knights of Columbus is holding a Fundraiser BBQ Steak Dinner and Dance at St. Stephen's Cultural Centre (4903-45 St. SW). 




You can call Terry for tickets ($40/p) at 403-540-0411.  Supper is at 7pm and the Dance at 9 pm.  Yahoo!!

A Century of Faith 1912-2012 Ukrainian Catholic Church Celebrates

The Calgary Ukrainian community, whether newer immgrants, or those of pioneer stock have a wonderful way to celebrate our common heritage this weekend.  In the early years of our Calgary Ukrianian Community, there was a unified community, striving for identity, support and blessings on their work in the new homeland, Canada.  So, if you read the blog from yesterday about the Bridgeland Churches, you will hear how the original Ukrainian church in Calgary was built by joint efforts of all faithful - up in the Tuxedo area.  The church structure still stands, and celebrates it 100th birthday too this year.  More important though is the visit of an important guest to Calgary - this weekend.

The Ukrainian Catholic Church of Calgary is celebrating a Century of Faith on the June 2-3, 2012 weekend with a special Patriarchal Visit.  There will be a Pontifical Liturgy celebrated by His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Ukraine, and a Banquet and Reception- surely a worthy celebration of the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first Ukrainian Bishop to Canada - Bishop Budka.  His arrival to Canada was greeted with the building of many churches, and Calgary's Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (at 704-6th Street NE) will celebrate their 100th year of Faith and Prayer.  For more information contact www.abvmcalgary.com or call 403-230-7013.

Ukrainian Churches in Bridgeland

Did you know in the early years of Calgary's growth, there was a huge influx of people to Calgary from the Ukrainian immigration group - the railway made it possible for people to come here for the important jobs involved in creating our National Park - Banff.  Logging, construction, and other physical jobs were opportunities for people who didn't have the language, yet needed employment.  So, many people moved to the Calgary area, and settled on the homesteads in the area.  Their "downtown"  was Bridgeland, but their first church was built way up the hill in Tuxedo.  Read a great blog about the two Ukrainian churches in Bridgeland that contains a lot of valuable historical information - stuff that not too many people take the time to know. 

http://churchesinbridgeland.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/hello-world/

Roots of Calgary's Ukrainian Spiritual Community 1912-2012

There is an interesting story about Calgary's Ukrainian community and its spirituality.  Complicated, at best.  But very resilient.  I was just listening to an audio clip from CBC's Calgary Eyeopener, and heard Danielle Suchet interviewing Calgary's resident historian Harry Sanders about the Century Old Church in Calgary on 1st Avenue NE.  So way back in 1912, there was an active, growing Ukrainian community in Calgary, with dreams and aspirations that became a reality. With the arrival of the first Ukrainian heirarch - Bishop Budka of the Ukraine's Greek Catholic Church to Canada (to Winnipeg), the spiritual community felt confident in building their own local parish church.  With the combined efforts of all the then recent immigrants, a new structure was built in 1912 and sanctified for this purpose.  Turns out this first Ukrainian prairie church structure was built to last, and it certainly has.  It was originally built to serve the Ukrainian Catholic Community of the time, and in anticipation of a population boom, built in Tuxedo - way up the hill at 23 Avenue and 1St. NE.  With the First World War, and the Internment camps, Ukrainians (those holding Austrian papers) were considered enemy aliens, and essentially removed from activity in the Ukrainian community.  Over time, the changing political and social climate in Calgary, the community decided to move the building to its current location on 1st Avenue NE just east of Edmonton Trail.   Well, if the walls of that church could speak, they would tell an interesting story about Calgary, the hopes and dreams of the earliest Ukrainians to this lovely city of Calgary, and the changing social, economic, political and spiritual landscape over the years.  I hope you have a listen!  Enjoy!

http://www.cbc.ca/eyeopener/episode/2011/08/11/hidden-calgary---a-century-old-church-in-bridgeland/