A school that teaches the Ukrainian language and culture is one of the ways that Ukrainians in Lloydminster are building hope for the future.
Some 25 kids come each Saturday during the regular school year for a few hours of learning at Holy Rosary. The kids all attend school in Lloydminster during the week but put in an extra effort to learn about the land their parents left behind.
Organizers are thankful for the community support and the help of the Lloydminster Catholic School Division.
“They allowed us to use the space from the beginning,” says school principal, Nataliya Shcherban, who has lived in Lloydminster for nearly 20 years, and is a former math teacher.
The school operated on a volunteer basis since it opened on Feb. 10, 2024. This January, it became affiliated with the School of Ukrainian Studies in Edmonton.
“We went as a branch from Edmonton. This allowed us to start paying our teachers’ salaries and involve sponsors. We plan to purchase textbooks, do a small library, and take our kids for a field trip at the end of the year.”
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress in Edmonton is also coming forward with support for the school, says Shcherban.
“We started with more kids when it was for free. Now we have a fee. But not every family could afford.”
Next year the fee will be $500 for the school year.
“It’s sad that with that money not all the kids are able to go. So, we hope if we get more sponsors that non-working families can go for free.”
Anyone who wants to learn about Ukraine can come to the school. The first group of kids were those who were born in Canada, but since the war started, the second group of kids have come from Ukraine and need to learn English.
“We have even a few adults asking to learn Ukraine. When I was a kid, my Baba moved from Ukraine. I remember when I was a kid, I knew a few Ukrainian words but now its totally gone.”
“My kids are now adults. When they came here, they were in elementary school. Now they know about this project they wish that they would have had this program back then. In that time for most of us it was just Ukrainian Church. I remember we gathered in the basement after church for various activities.”
Those humble roots live on today in the Lloydminster Ukrainian School which is making a haven for kids to learn about their heritage and those who have come from Eastern Ukraine to escape the Russian invasion.
The school has four events in Ukrainian heritage which they will celebrate and then take its field trip to the Ukrainian Village outside Edmonton.
Organizers of the school will welcome donations of school supplies and sponsors as they seek to support the children.
