Kalyna Country facts for kids

Kalyna Country is a special area in East Central Alberta, Canada. It's like a huge outdoor museum that celebrates history and nature. This area is named after the kalyna plant, which is a highbush cranberry. In Ukrainian, "kalyna" is pronounced "Ka-lyn-na." There's an old Ukrainian saying that goes, "Without Kalyna, there is no Ukraina," showing how important this plant is to their culture.

Exploring Kalyna Country

Kalyna Country calls itself the "World's Largest Ecomuseum." It covers a massive area of 20,000 square kilometers. That's more than three times the size of Prince Edward Island! This huge area is located east and north of Edmonton in Alberta. It includes most of the places where the first Ukrainian settlers in Canada made their homes. This was known as the Edna-Star colony.

Many people think of Kalyna Country as being like "Cajun Country" in the United States, but for Ukrainian Canadians. It's a place where Ukrainian culture is very strong. At one time, this area was the biggest settlement of Ukrainians outside of Eastern Europe anywhere in the world.

Where is Kalyna Country?

Kalyna Country officially includes several counties in Alberta. These are Sturgeon, Thorhild, Smoky Lake, St. Paul No. 19, Vermilion River, Two Hills No. 21, Minburn No. 27, Beaver, Lamont, and Strathcona counties. It also includes many nearby towns, Indigenous reserves, and Métis settlements.

The kalyna berries were an important food source for early pioneers, fur traders, and Indigenous people. Kalyna Country is a fun place to visit all year round. It has a rich culture and diverse landscapes. Here, two types of forests, the Aspen Parkland and the Boreal Forest, meet. The beautiful North Saskatchewan River Valley cuts through the area. All of this is surrounded by thousands of acres of excellent farmland.

Top Attractions to Visit

Kalyna Country offers many exciting places to explore. Here are some of the main attractions:

• Elk Island National Park: This park is famous for its important work in protecting bison. You can often see these large animals roaming freely.
• North America's Church Capital: Lamont County has nearly 40 churches that are considered historic sites. This is amazing for such a small area! You can even take tours to see these beautiful old churches.
• Alberta's Oldest Pool Hall: In the Village of Vilna, you can visit Alberta's oldest remaining pool hall. It still has its original pool and billiards tables. It also has a barber shop and serves food.
• Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village: This is a living history museum. It shows what life was like in East-Central Alberta between 1892 and 1930. You can see old buildings and people dressed in historical clothing.
• Vegreville Ukrainian Pysanka Festival: Every year, Vegreville hosts a huge Ukrainian cultural festival. It's named after the town's giant model of a Ukrainian Easter egg, called a pysanka.
• Great White North Pumpkin Fair and Weigh-Off: This event happens on the first Saturday of October in Smoky Lake. It's part of a big competition to find the largest pumpkin in North America each year.
• Fort Victoria: This was once a fur-trading post and a missionary center. It is home to the oldest building in Alberta.
• Métis Crossing: This place celebrates Métis culture in Alberta. It also has Alberta's first zip-line attraction! It's located just 2 kilometers from Fort Victoria.

Giants of the Prairies

The Kalyna Country area is also well-known for its "Giants of the Prairies." These are a series of huge roadside attractions. Many of them are inspired by Ukrainian culture. They make for great photo opportunities!

• World's Largest Mushrooms: You can find these giant mushrooms in Vilna, Alberta.
• World's Largest 'Pumpkin Patch': Visit the huge pumpkin display in Smoky Lake, Alberta.
• World's Largest Perogy: See the giant Ukrainian dumpling in Glendon, Alberta.
• World's Largest Kubasa: This huge Ukrainian garlic sausage is located in Mundare.
• World's Largest Pysanka: The famous giant Ukrainian Easter egg is in Vegreville.
• World's Largest UFO Landing Pad: St. Paul, Alberta, has a unique landing pad for alien visitors!
• World's Largest Duck: You can see this big duck in Andrew, Alberta.

Museum Connections

Kalyna Country is connected with several important museum organizations. These include the Canadian Museums Association (CMA), the Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN), and the Virtual Museum of Canada. These connections help share the history and culture of Kalyna Country with more people.

See Also

• Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village
• Open-air museum
• List of Canadian place names of Ukrainian origin