Ukrainian Canadian Archives/Museum acquires a new home in Edmonton

EDMONTON - The Ukrainian Canadian Archives and Museum of Alberta (UCAMA) announced that on March 5, the acquisition of the Lodge Hotel and the Brighton Block on Jasper Avenue was finalized as a new home for the museum.

The Lodge Hotel, formerly the Pendennis Hotel, was first opened in 1904. The Lodge Hotel's sister, the Brighton Block, began construction seven years later in 1911-1912, and is one of Edmonton's most illustrious pre-World War I commercial buildings.

Although neglected for many years, in 2001 these venerable structures had their facades restored thanks in part to the financial support of the city of Edmonton and the Jasper East Village Main Street Project. Both the Lodge Hotel and the Brighton Block have been designated by the City of Edmonton as Municipal Historic Resources. Both are also under consideration for designation as Provincial Historic Resources by the Province.

Khrystyna Kohut, president of the UCAMA board of directors, exclaimed, "I couldn't be more pleased with the prominent location of these buildings for our new home. I very much look forward to contributing to the revitalization of the Jasper East Block."

Founded by Hryhory and Stefania Yopyk, the UCAMA first opened its doors to the public in 1974 in a former bakery at 9543-110 Avenue. Since then its museum, along with its archival and library holdings have far outstripped the capacity of its original home. For the past two years UCAMA has been undergoing a major planning exercise to locate a new home of sufficient size to not only properly house its existing collections but to allow for future growth.

The UCAMA is actively seeking partners in the development of the new museum. Discussions have been under way for nearly two years with the Alberta Eparchial Museum of the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League of Canada; the Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Alberta Branch; and the Ukrainian Folklore Center at the University of Alberta.

Jointly, the Ukrainian museums and archives in Edmonton have excellent and valuable collections, with tremendous potential for developing a higher profile not only in the Ukrainian community but for all Albertans. Support is also being sought from municipal, provincial and federal levels of government.

A major fund-raising campaign will be launched shortly for the renovation of the buildings to properly support the requirements of a museum.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, April 6, 2003, No. 14, Vol. LXXI

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