Alberta’s Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village reopens one year after fire

Alberta’s Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, east of Edmonton, is reopening to the public, one year after a fire destroyed the site’s visitor centre and thousands of historical artifacts.

“So we’re extremely excited and will be back for sure,” said Orysia Boychuk, past president of the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress.

The April 2025 fire tore through the visitor centre at the heritage site, raising fears that nearby historic buildings could also be lost.

“Our immediate concern was the historic buildings on site,” said Gail Fenton, president of Friends of the Ukrainian Village Society.

The blaze ultimately destroyed the visitor centre, including important artifacts tied to Alberta’s Ukrainian history.

“We’ve lost a part of history that will never ever get back,” said Fenton.

Officials say approximately 27,000 artifacts were lost in the fire.

“This included furniture items that were original to the historic buildings … We did lose original research that was associated with our historic buildings,” said David Makowsky, director of the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village.

Now, one year later, the village is reopening as part of Alberta’s museum and heritage site season launch.

“There are a lot of folks who have anxiously been waiting for the village to open,” said Tanya Fir, Alberta minister of arts, culture and status of women.

The reopening is being welcomed by Ukrainian-Canadian communities across the province, many of whom see the village as an important link to their heritage.

“This official opening is extremely exciting for us, although there’s a lot of work that still needs to be done,” said Boychuk.

That work includes rebuilding the destroyed visitor centre. Makowsky said Alberta’s infrastructure ministry is overseeing reconstruction plans, while a temporary reception area will operate in the meantime.

“We’re grateful to see the alternative Silska Domiwka opening up as the new reception area for this year,” said Boychuk.

“We’re trying our best to get back on track, and like I know it’s going to be a while before things are rebuilt, but it’ll come,” said Fenton.