Historical Train of Ukrainian Pioneers

Прес-служба Посольства України в Канаді

Press Office of the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada

Division de la Presse d’Ambassade d’Ukraine au Canada

April 14, 2011

№22

Historical Train of Ukrainian Pioneers

120 years ago they arrived in Canada with the dream of freedom and a better life.

These primarily poor, peasant farmers were just what the young Dominion of Canada needed to open up the vast, under populated lands of the west. They were industrious, they knew how to farm and they were used to hardship. They sold their land, their homes, and everything but their essential belongings to raise the fare for the voyage to Canada. With tears in their eyes, they kissed their relatives and friends goodbye and cast a last, nostalgic glance at their villages in their beloved Ukraine.

Today it is difficult to envision the hard times faced by the early Ukrainian settlers in Canada. After disembarking in Halifax or Quebec, the immigrants would wait at the immigration building until they could continue their voyage westward by Pioneer Trains. After completing this long journey, it would take a few years of hard work before they would be physically comfortable in the New World. In the meantime, they had no material possessions beyond a quarter section of rough land and the few belongings they had brought with them from Ukraine. They had no comforts except the companionship of their neighbours. And they had only their dreams to give them the strength to carry on.

In 120 years, the Ukrainians in Canada make up one of the strongest communities in this country. They continue to contribute in the development of the Canadian state today, as they did in the last century. There are more than 1.2 million persons of Ukrainian descent living in Canada giving this country the world’s third-largest Ukrainian population behind Ukraine itself and Russia.

To celebrate the 120^th anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Canada the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada is launching the project of the Historical Train of Ukrainian Pioneers.

This Project will:

–         include participants who will trace the same path that Ukrainian pioneers took at the end of the 19^th and early 20^th centuries

–         start in Halifax and finish in the Canadian Prairies, just as the pioneers travelled;

–         present the Ukrainian culture in selected Canadian cities;

–         culturally unite the Ukrainian communities in different Canadian provinces;

–         attract media and public attention and focus on how the Ukrainian community contributed in the development of Canada;

–         celebrate the 120^th anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Canada.

The Project is planned to be launched on Wednesday, June 23, 2011 at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21in Halifax. The following day, participants will board the train with the following itinerary: Halifax – Montreal – Ottawa – Toronto – Winnipeg – Saskatoon – Edmonton.

Intended participants on the Train:

–         federal and provincial/territorial politicians;

–         leaders of the Ukrainian community in Canada;

–         Canadian and Ukrainian media;

–         representatives of the Embassy of Ukraine in Canada;

–         Ukrainian and Canadian artists, performers, musicians etc.

The participants will be given the option to travel any segment of the itinerary, i.e. from Halifax to Ottawa or from Toronto to Winnipeg etc.

The passengers of the Train are encouraged to wear authentic Ukrainian costumes and take the things the first Ukrainian pioneers took on their journey to the New World, i.e. Shevchenko’s Kobzar, Ukrainian icons, grains etc.

The passengers on this train will have stopovers from between 1 and 3 days in each of the selected cities. They will be able to take part in the planned cultural events, organized in cooperation with the local Ukrainian communities.

The Golden Sponsor of the event is VIA Rail. The sponsors are Borden Ladner Gervais, Canada Inns and others.

Follow the project on the Facebook under the title “Canadian Train of Ukrainian Pioneers”. Ask your questions about the Train of Ukrainian Pioneers at train@ukremb.ca

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Media Contact:

Olena Zakharova, Press secretary

Embassy of Ukraine in Canada

Tel.: (+1-613) 230-2961 ext. 105

press@ukremb.ca; http://www.ukremb.ca

NB:

To view this document on the Embassy website, please click on the following link: __________________________________________________________________

Historical Train of the Ukrainian Pioneers

Celebrating the 120^th anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Canada

Itinerary

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Halifax, Museum “Pier 21”

Opening ceremony

Friday, June 24, 2011

12:15 – Train departs from Halifax to Montreal. Trip Duration: 21 hours 50 min.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

09:05 – Train arrives in Montreal.

Events in Montreal

Sunday, June 26, 2011

10:10 – Train departs from Montreal to Ottawa. Trip Duration: 2 hours 6 min.

12:16 – Train arrives in Ottawa.

Events in Ottawa

Monday, June 27, 2011

Events in Ottawa

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

08:41 – Train departs from Ottawa to Toronto. Trip Duration: 4 hours 24 min.

13:05 – Train arrives in Toronto.

Events in Toronto

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Events in Toronto

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Events in Toronto

22:00 Train departs from Toronto to Winnipeg. Trip Duration: 1 day 11 hours.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Trip to Winnipeg

Saturday, July 2, 2011

08:00 – Train arrives in Winnipeg

Events in Winnipeg

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Events in Winnipeg

Monday, July 4, 2011

12:00 – Train departs from Winnipeg to Saskatoon. Trip Duration: 11 hours 22 min.

22:22 – Train arrives in Saskatoon

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Events in Saskatoon

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Events in Saskatoon

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Events in Saskatoon

22:47 – Train departs from Saskatoon to Edmonton. Trip Duration: 7 hours 50 min.

Friday, July 8, 2011

06:37 – Train arrives in Edmonton.

Events in Edmonton (Ukrainian Heritage Village)

Closing ceremony