Something “new” is happening at UCC-SPC about something “old”

Karen Pidskalny, SUHS Project Coordinator

There is wonderful news at the UCC-SPC and I am excited to share it with you. My name is Karen Pidskalny and I am the Project Coordinator for the Saskatchewan Ukrainian Historical Society. SUHS is the something new and the old is all the wonderful history that is waiting to be collected and shared with all of you.

First, I will tell you a little about myself. My involvement in the Ukrainian community goes back as far as I can remember. I am a graduate from the U of S with a B.A. in Ukrainian and a Certificate in Heritage Languages. I was a participant through the U of S on an exchange program with the University of Chernivtsi in 1985. While in university, I was involved in the Ukrainian Students club at both the local and national levels. I have taught Ridna Shkola and worked at St. Volodymyr Eparchial and Green Grove camps. Currently, I am the Parish Catechist at the Dormition of the Blessed Mother of God in Saskatoon.

In 1988, I was one of two Summer Camp Program Coordinators at UCC-SPC. It is great to be back and working on this project. The history of Ukrainians coming to Canada and settling in Saskatchewan has always been an interest of mine. There are many of you that share this same passion and now we have somewhere to share it.

This is the beginning of a new era in collecting and preserving Ukrainian history in Saskatchewan. The immigration of Ukrainians to Canada has shaped our country and especially our province. With our Centennial only a year away, SUHS is a wonderful way to honour our ancestors and their contributions to what Saskatchewan has become today.

SUHS offers all of us who are interested in our Ukrainian history here in Saskatchewan the chance to come together as members. You will have the opportunity to provide input, express your views and share your ideas about SUHS. You can contact me at the office, and there will be time at our conference to also discuss the future of SUHS.

As the Project Coordinator, I am interested in collecting history books about your community, your church and family history books. They will be put into our library. Donated books for our library would be much appreciated.

I am thrilled to announce the first conference that SUHS will host: “In Baba’s Trunk” will be held in the basement of a church with a small-community feel on Saturday, May 8th. Our conference will be the same weekend as Vesna Festival. A night of dinner and dancing would be the perfect way to end what will be a great day. More information about “In Baba’s Trunk” will be available by the end of March.

I have chosen an old trunk (skrynia) as a symbol of SUHS. When our ancestors immigrated to Canada they took what little of their precious possessions they could and packed them in a trunk. That trunk transported more than just their belongings and lives from Ukraine. That trunk also brought their dreams, hopes and desire for a better life in Canada. That trunk then became where their lives in Canada were kept. That trunk held the rare photographs, important papers, precious letters and treasured family keepsakes. That trunk became memories, history, and an heirloom.

I have a trunk exactly like that. It belonged to my great-grandparents. My Baba got the trunk from her mother when she got married. It was passed down to my mother after Baba died. Mom gave me the trunk when I got married. Inside my trunk is my family history. Many of us have a trunk like that. To me that trunk represents the preservation of Ukrainian history in Saskatchewan.

I look forward to hearing your stories, sharing our interest and keeping our ancestors’ sacrifices of a better life in Canada from being forgotten.

Latest conference details (PDF) | Conference registration form (PDF) added April 16, 2004