Ukrainian Families Celebrate Their Centennial in East-Central Alberta - August 13, 2006

Edmonton [Alberta, Canada]... Under bright sunny skies at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, Mr. Edward Stelmach, MLA for Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville, unveiled the newest plaques for the Centenary Monument on Sunday, August 13, 2006, as descendants of pioneer families celebrated their centenary in east central Alberta.

Now in its fourth year, the Centenary Pioneer Recognition Program recognizes the pioneer families who immigrated to east central Alberta between the years 1891 and 1914. This annual program invites any descendants of pioneer families who settled in east central Alberta 100 years ago and earlier to apply. Certificates recognizing each family are presented at the annual Ukrainian Day celebrations, held at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village every year in August.

As a lasting tribute to the pioneer settlers in east central Alberta, a monument was erected in 2005 at the Ukraiman Cultural Heritage Village as an extension of the Centenary Pioneer Recognition Program. One year after certificates are issued, applicants are invited again to the Ukrainian Day celebrations, this time to witness the formal unveiling of their ancestors' names on plaques on the Centenary Monument. In many cases, names on the monument represent at least four generations of Albertans who settled in east central Alberta.

The goal of the program is to recognize all [Ukrainian] families and individuals who arrived and settled in east central Alberta between the years 1891 and 1914. As such, this program will run annually until 2014. As of this year, the program will be coordinated as part of the
Alberta-Ukraine Genealogical Project.

For more information about this program, please contact David at (780) 431-2324. Those calling outside of Edmonton [but within Alberta] may call toll-free 310-0000 then (780) 431-2324, or write to

Centenary Pioneer Recognition Program
Old St. Stephen's College
8820 - 112 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2P