Edna-Star, Alberta
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The Edna-Star is a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada. Located in Lamont County, 65 km north-west of Edmonton, it is the largest and oldest of the Ukrainian Canadian block settlements.
[edit] History
It was founded by a group of Ukrainian settlers led by Iwan Pylypow in 1892 (although he didn't arrive until the next year). Most of the settlers were from Pylypow's home village of Nebyliv, Ukraine and the area was sometimes called the Nebyliv colony in their honour, although later settlers were from other areas of Austrian-controlled Ukraine.
Within the boundaries of the settlement block, up to 80% of the population is of Ukrainian origin.
As well many of the non-Ukrainian immigrants to the area, also came from the Austrian crownlands of Galicia and Bukovina where the Ukrainians originated. These included Poles, Romanians, Germans, and Jews.
In fact Pylypow chose the area because of the existing Galician German settlement nearby at Josephburg. Ukrainians in Galicia were used to working with their German neighbours in the "Old Country" and many could speak some German. For new settlers, having a place to earn cash wages until their farm became productive was also extremely important, and the Germans were the logical place to turn.
Another prime concern of the settlers was timber. They typically chose heavily-wooded areas, much to the consternation of Anglo-Canadian authorities. The Ukrainians were willing to sacrifice time and effort to clear the land, and would even take lands of poor soil quality in order to secure treed land. This was because there was a severe wood shortage in Austrian Ukraine, and peasants became reliant on the pan (landlord) for the precious commodity. In Canada the settlers vowed never to suffer this fate again.
Today the area is part of the Kalyna Country ecomuseum, which preserves and showcases Ukrainian Canadian culture. It is also home to the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village which contains pioneer buildings from all across the area.
[edit] Principal present-day towns
| Census divisions | 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 |
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| Cities | Airdrie - Brooks - Calgary - Camrose - Cold Lake - Edmonton - Fort Saskatchewan - Grande Prairie - Leduc - Lethbridge - Lloydminster - Medicine Hat - Red Deer - Spruce Grove - St. Albert - Wetaskiwin |
| Communities | Counties and Municipal Districts of Alberta - Towns of Alberta - Villages of Alberta - Hamlets of Alberta - Indian Reserves in Alberta - Métis in Alberta |
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