When Ukrainians began to immigrate to Alberta en masse in the late 19th century, a need arose for communication channels that could unite the diaspora and provide quality, relevant information. The Ukrainian-language press became one such channel. These publications were not only a source of news but also a true symbol of the resilience and self-organization of Ukrainians abroad. In this article on edmonton-future, we’ll cover the first Ukrainian newspaper in Edmonton and other important Ukrainian-language publications in Canada that had a significant impact on the city’s community.
Historical Context
The first Ukrainians, Ivan Pylypow and Wasyl Eleniak, arrived in Alberta on September 7, 1891. Since then, Ukrainian-Canadian Heritage Day has been celebrated annually on this date. A year after their arrival, they returned to Ukraine, gathered their families, and then immigrated together to a settlement near Edmonton.
Most Ukrainians were farmers and settled in the rural areas of Alberta, but they all wanted to maintain a connection to their native culture and language. Under these circumstances, the need for printed publications emerged.
The Ukrainski Visti Newspaper
In 1928, the newspaper Ukrainski Visti (Ukrainian News) began publishing in Edmonton. It was initially published by S. Fodchuk and later by Tomo Tomashewsky. Ukrainski Visti covered a variety of topics, including politics and economics. The first editors of the newspaper were Volodymyr Kysilewsky, Mykhailo Pohorecky, and M. Koziak.
In 1929, the newspaper was acquired by the Edmonton Eparchy of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, and in January 1932, it received its current name. Before that, it was called Zakhidni Visti (Western News). After the acquisition, the paper continued to publish articles on political, cultural, and historical topics but also added various church news and reports on current events in Alberta.
There was a great deal of news about what was happening in Ukraine. For example, the February 1990 issue featured a story about a student from a Ternopil university who was expelled for “undesirable” public activities. The newspaper also published information on how to travel to Ukrainian cities. Additionally, there were articles about places where one could meet other Ukrainians, including for romantic purposes.
For many years after World War II, the editor-in-chief was M. Sopuliak. Later, the newspaper switched to a bilingual English-Ukrainian format and became a monthly publication.
Other Ukrainian-Canadian Newspapers of the Time
For a long time, Ukrainski Visti was the only newspaper for Ukrainians in Edmonton, but a Ukrainian press was also developing in other cities. For instance, the well-known newspaper Kanadiiskyi Farmer (Canadian Farmer) was printed in Winnipeg. It was published weekly from 1903 to 1981. The paper was funded by the Liberal Party of Canada and maintained a pro-Liberal stance. Kanadiiskyi Farmer was also a staunch opponent of communism and advocated for Ukraine’s secession from the Soviet Union. The paper was popular in Edmonton and other cities across Alberta.
Another Ukrainian-language newspaper popular in Edmonton was Ukrainskyi Holos (Ukrainian Voice). This paper was published by a company of liberally-minded Ukrainians. It was committed to the principles of public education, economic independence, and the ideas of Ukrainian nationalism. It was one of the first Canadian newspapers to call itself “Ukrainian” rather than “Ruthenian.” Ukrainskyi Holos was a driving force behind the creation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. In 1981, Kanadiiskyi Farmer and Ukrainskyi Holos merged. The newspaper continued to be published until 2018 and remained a significant political force for many years.