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Ukrainian Canadian Archives & Museum of Alberta facts for kids
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| Established | 1972 |
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| Location | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Type | Historical |
The Ukrainian Canadian Archives & Museum Of Alberta (UCAMA) is a special place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is a museum and archive that celebrates the history and culture of Ukrainians in Canada. An archive is a place where important historical documents and records are kept.
In 2003, the museum bought the old Lodge Hotel and the Brighton Block. These buildings are located at 9670 Jasper Avenue. The museum's goal was to create a bigger and better space. This new space would have galleries for exhibits, a library, and areas for storing their collections. It would also have rooms for learning, meetings, and special events. The museum wants to help people explore Ukrainian heritage. They also aim to grow their collection and share it with more people.
Contents
History of the Museum
Why the Museum Started
Ukrainians are one of the largest groups of people living in the Canadian Prairie Provinces. Because of this important history, a group of eleven Ukrainian community members in Edmonton decided to act. In 1972, they wanted to create a place to save their history and culture. Hryhory and Stefania Yopyk led this effort. The museum officially opened its doors on October 27, 1974.
New Home for the Museum
In 2003, the museum bought the Lodge Hotel and the Brighton Block. These buildings are on Jasper Avenue. The city, province, and federal government gave the museum C$9.2 million. This money was for a big renovation project. The total cost was expected to be C$13 million. This location was special because many Ukrainian businesses were once there.
Construction on the new museum began in 2012. Over time, the cost of the renovation grew to C$22 million. To help pay for this, the museum planned to sell the Brighton Block. This would help fund the development of the museum in the former Hotel building. Ken Cantor and Primavera Development Group agreed to buy the property. This sale depended on the city allowing changes to the building. The Brighton Block is a protected historic building.
Museum Collection
How the Collection Began
Mr. Yopyk started gathering items for the museum's collection in the mid-1960s. He began by contacting the local Ukrainian newspaper. He published an article asking other Ukrainians to donate books, personal items, and printed materials. People responded, and the collection started to grow.
Expanding the Archives
Mr. Yopyk would travel around Alberta on weekends. He met with people who wanted to donate items for his archives. He also carried a camera with him. He loved taking photographs of churches in rural Alberta. At first, Mr. Yopyk kept all the collected items at his home. But as the archives grew, he quickly ran out of space. That is when he had the idea to create a whole museum. It grew from something he simply enjoyed doing.