New to Calgary??

Calgary is a great place to live, but if you are a newcomer there are so many opportunities - it is sometimes mind boggling. Calgary's Ukrainian Community is actually a fabulous place to get involved, get connected, make friends and seek the welcoming atmosphere of people whose origins are similar to yours. 

While Ukrainian Calgary, the website, is a great brief introduction, there are a great variety of groups whose information is far too complete and detailed to provide here.  One such very important link, is the Canadian Relocation System, the Online Guide for people Relocating or Moving to Canada.  This resource can help with a variety of needs, but also facilitates contact with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) which represents the Ukrainian Canadian community before the people and Government of Canada.  The UCC site hosts a calendar of events, links with Ukraine, and tries to both identify and address the needs of the Ukrainian community in Canada.
For more complete information, please follow the links below.

www.relocatecanada.com/calgary/cultural.html

or www.ucc.ca

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/

The Ancient Slavonic Question - “kamo griadeshi, Ukraino?"

For a lot of Ukrainian Calgarians there has always been a desire to know what the politial situation is in Ukraine after the enthusiasm and expectations of Independence some 20 years ago.  The Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association of Calgary regularly has guest speakers at their monthly meetings, and this week Oleh Havrylyshyn is speaking.  "Quo Vadis Ucraina? (Kamo Griadeshi, Ukraino?)"  will be discussed this Thursday, May 31, 2012 at the Danish Canadian Club, Valhalla Ballroom    at  727 - 11th Avenue SW  Calgary. 

what positive results has Ukraine achieved economically, politically, historically?
why has it fallen behind other post-communist countries, especially in Central Europe?
what harm has oligarch dominance done, and can Ukraine overcome this ?
what are the key reforms /changes needed to correct its wayward path?
for the future, in answer to the ancient Slavonic question, “kamo griadeshi, Ukraino?" -- is the path towards the EU, a new Russian sphere, or a third unknown scenario?

Dr. Oleh Havrylyshyn has had a long and distinguished academic career as a Professor of Economics in leading universities in Canada, the U.S. and Europe, and has been a consultant to various governments, the World Bank, and other international agencies.

You can contact UCPBA of  Calgary at www.ucpbacalgary.ca