A CAUSE WORTHY OF SUPPORT
June 01, 2009
As the Member of Parliament for Edmonton East, Peter Goldring has been encouraged by the contribution the Ukrainian Canadian Archives and Museum of Alberta (UCAMA) is making to the revitalization of the city’s Downtown East. Through a unique concept that integrates existing heritage buildings into its design, the museum project will preserve and enhance an important city landmark that is a part of our cultural history.The present UCAMA building does not provide the proper environment to house the extensive ethnographic, archival and library collections of the UCAMA. Without such an environment, there is risk of damage to many unique artefacts that are an important part of Canadian cultural history.
The new facility, in the former Lodge Hotel, will draw people to the area to experience the educational and cultural offerings of the museum, with an accompanying economic boost to the area. Canadian Architect chose the project as one of six recipients of its 2006 Awards for Excellence for architectural design, for its incorporation of a combination of design elements, including site, structure, materials, geographical and social context and environmental features.
The Province of Alberta and the City of Edmonton have each contributed $3 million to the project. Private sector fundraising is ongoing, but more money is needed. Mr. Goldring has written to the federal Heritage Minister, asking that the federal government show its support.
He told the Minister that because of the importance of Ukrainian immigrants and their descendents to the settlement and growth of Western Canada, UCAMA is an important institution not just for Alberta but for the whole country.
For Peter Goldring providing help for such an important institution as the Ukrainian Canadian Archives and Museum of Alberta is the right thing to do. What do you think?