URDC: 2025 Year in Review Newsletter
2026-02-04
The Ukrainian Resource and Development Centre (URDC) at MacEwan University is pleased to announce the release of its 2025 Year in Review Newsletter, highlighting a year of impactful research, innovative teaching, cultural exchange and deep community engagement.
The newsletter offers a comprehensive look at URDC’s work across key areas, including Ukraine-focused research projects, student and faculty initiatives, international collaborations, artistic residencies, and public programming. It also reflects URDC’s ongoing commitment to fostering meaningful connections between MacEwan University, Ukraine, and the Ukrainian-Canadian community, while advancing dialogue on resilience, memory, culture and global citizenship.
Readers will find features on major research initiatives, educational programs such as the Canada-Ukraine Model United Nations and the International Sociological Field School, cultural programming including the Gene Zwozdesky Artist in Residence, and community events that brought together students, scholars, artists and community members throughout the year.
The 2025 Year in Review Newsletter can be found on the URDC website under Resources → Newsletters and Updates. We invite the public to explore the publication and learn more about URDC’s work and partnerships over the past year.
Link: https://www.macewan.ca/academics/centres-institutes/ukrainian-resource-and-development-centre/resources/

2026 Bohdan Bociurkiw Memorial Lecture
2026-02-20 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Edmonton)
In honour of 100 years since the birth of Ukrainian historian and political scientist Bohdan Bociurkiw
“A priest in Soviet Western Ukraine between Catholicism and Orthodoxy: Rev. Mykhailo Datsyshyn (1914–93)”
Presented by Natalia Shlikhta
Friday 20 February 2026
7 p.m.
St. John’s Cultural Centre, 10611 110 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB
2026 Bohdan Bociurkiw Memorial Lecture
In honour of 100 years since the birth of Ukrainian historian and political scientist
Bohdan Bociurkiw
Bociurkiw Poster
“A priest in Soviet Western Ukraine between Catholicism and Orthodoxy: Rev. Mykhailo Datsyshyn (1914–93)”
Presented by Natalia Shlikhta
Friday 20 February 2026
7 p.m.
St. John’s Cultural Centre, 10611 110 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB
The Bohdan Bociurkiw Memorial Lecture was established in November 2001 to honour the memory of Professor Bohdan R. Bociurkiw, an eminent political scientist and internationally renowned specialist in human rights, Soviet religious policy, and Ukrainian church history.
This academic year we honour 100 years since the birth of Bohdan Bociurkiw (1925–98), and 50 years since the founding of CIUS, recognizing his significant contributions to Ukrainian studies and to our institute.
“A priest in Soviet Western Ukraine between Catholicism and Orthodoxy: Rev. Mykhailo Datsyshyn (1914–93)”
Based on its imperialist and anti-religious policies, the Stalinist leadership took aim at the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC) in Galicia shortly after this territory was incorporated into the USSR on the eve of World War II. The decision to forcibly “reunite” the “Uniate Church,” as it was derogatorily called in Soviet-era documents, to the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) was driven by geopolitical considerations, Soviet nationality policies, and social engineering.
The 2026 Bohdan Bociurkiw Memorial Lecture will tell the story of the “reunited” UGCC ecclesiastical community through the life of Rev. Mykhailo Datsyshyn (1914–93), from the town of Stryi in Lviv oblast. Like many other Greek Catholic priests, he officially “reunited” with the ROC and served in its parishes in Lviv oblast for nearly fifty years. During this time, Soviet officials suspected him of being a “covert Uniate”; and indeed, he also maintained connections with the hierarchy and clergy of the Ukrainian Church “in the catacombs.” However, this did not prevent accusations of “apostasy” from his parishioners and fellow priests after the UGCC was revived in the early 1990s. Today, the UGCC considers Rev. Datsyshyn a “martyr” who dedicated his life to preserving the Ukrainian Greek Catholic community and its traditions during the Soviet regime.
Register here:
https://www.ualberta.ca/en/canadian-institute-of-ukrainian-studies/news-and-events/annual-lectures/bociurkiw-memorial-lecture/2026-bohdan-bociurkiw-memorial-lecture.html

screening of 'Horizons of Belonging' in Vegreville, AB
2026-02-22 15:00 - 17:00 | Vegreville Alliance Church, 4606 55 Ave, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada
screening of documentary film ‘Horizons of Belonging’ followed by Q & A with co-directors & executive producer

Prayer for Ukraine
2026-02-24 17:30 - 18:30
A non-denominational, community Prayer for Ukraine on the 4th anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.

2026 Annual Shevchenko Lecture
2026-03-06 18:30 - 20:30 | Tory Lecture Hall, LB-001 11207 Saskatchewan Dr NW, Edmonton, AB
The Russo-Ukrainian War through a Historian’s Eyes
With Serhii Plokhy
Friday 6 March 2026
6:30 p.m. MST
Location Change: The Annual Shevchenko Lecture will now take place in:
Engineering Teaching & Learning Complex (ETLC E1-001)(Ground Floor)
9120 116 St NW, Edmonton, AB
University of Alberta, Edmonton
𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤 | 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥
The Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies is proud to announce the 60th Annual Shevchenko Lecture, to be held on Friday 6 March 2026 at the University of Alberta. Serving since 1966 as a forum for important intellectual discussions concerning Ukrainian history, nation building, language, literature, culture, and identity, the Annual Shevchenko Lecture has presented eminent speakers such as Myrna Kostash, James Mace, Chrystia Freeland, James Sherr, and Alexander Vindman.
2026 marks 60 years since the first Shevchenko Lecture in Edmonton, initiated by the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association, and 49 years since it has been sponsored by CIUS. As the institute’s oldest and most distinguished invited lecture, it attests to our commitment to build and disseminate knowledge about Ukraine and Ukrainians in the world.
This year, we welcome the well-known historian and author Serhii Plokhy from Harvard University, who will deliver the 60th Shevchenko Lecture.
“The Russo-Ukrainian War through a Historian’s Eyes”
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine constitutes the largest war in Europe since 1945. It is also the first war to employ drones on a massive scale, both in the air and at sea, and the first major conflict that is widely characterized as hybrid warfare—combining conventional military operations, cyberattacks, and the active use of disinformation. The latter is a key element of the Kremlin’s war propaganda, aimed not least at its own population as well as Ukraine and the outside world. How important have misuse and abuse of history been in the perpetration and justification of this war, and what are the actual historical causes of the conflict? Why did Putin start the war―and why has it unfolded in previously unimaginable ways? Ukrainians have valiantly resisted a superior military; meanwhile, the West has been vacillating as Russia colludes with allies in the international arena. The lecture will provide answers to these and related questions by tracing the origins of the Russo-Ukrainian war and explaining the reasons for the return of armed conflict in Europe, the very same part of the world where the Cold War had ended thirty years earlier.
Register here: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/canadian-institute-of-ukrainian-studies/news-and-events/annual-lectures/shevchenko-lecture/2026-shevchenko-lecture.html

Ukrainian Ceramics from Trypillia to the Present
2026-03-21 11:00 - 2026-03-22 16:00, 2026-03-22 12:00 - 2026-03-23 16:00 | Ukrainian National Federation of Canada, 10629 98 St NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T5H 2N6, Canada
Ukrainian Women’s Organization of Canada in Edmonton, Ukrainian National Federation, Edmonton branch and Ukrainian National Youth Federation, Edmonton branch present an exhibit ” Ukrainian ceramics from Trypillya to the Present”, which takes place on March 21 & 22, 2026 at UNF Hall.
On Saturday, March 21, from 12 PM- 4 PM we will have:
– Pysanka workshop ($15)
– Decorating gingerbread cookies ($10)
– Making a pearl necklace ($20)
– Making small clay ornaments ($20)
For all workshops registration is preferable due to limited seats. Payments required by March 20 by e-transfer at: uwoedmonton@yahoo.ca or cash at the door.
On Sunday you will be able to watch a concert put on by the various young talents of the city.
On Saturday and Sunday you can buy the most delicious babky and pasky for Easter, enjoy Ukrainian sweets from Sviatochna Kav`iarnia and take the pictures at the photo zone.
Don’t hesitate to share this news with your family and friends.

March 21: Kalush Orchestra in Edmonton
2026-03-21 18:30 - 22:00 | Ukrainian Youth Unity Complex, 9615 153 ave, Edmonton, Alberta, T5E 6B1, Canada
🔥 Edmonton, get ready! March 21 — Kalush Orchestra live in your city 🇺🇦 Special guest: Simbochka Eurovision 2022 winners return to Edmonton with a new show — powerful live energy, a unique mix of hip-hop, folk, and modern sound. Hear the biggest hits: Stefania, Dodomu, and more. 📍 Ukrainian Youth Unity Complex 9615 153 Ave NW, Edmonton 🕡 Doors: 6:30 PM | 🎤 Show: 7:00 PM 🎟 Tickets on Eventbrite and at the door (if available) 👶 Free entry for kids up to 5 years old with parents/guardians Don’t miss it

Unbreakable: Shaun Pinner Live
2026-04-24 19:00 - 22:00 | Ukrainian Youth Unity Complex (Domivka) Address: 9615 153 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, Ukrainian Youth Unity Complex (Domivka) Address: 9615 153 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB
Join us for an extraordinary evening with Shaun Pinner, a former British soldier who chose to stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with Ukraine. Serving as a Ukrainian marine since 2018, Shaun fought bravely in Mariupol before being captured and sentenced to death by Donetsk People Republic court. After six months in captivity, he was freed in a prisoner exchange. Later, Shaun received the Order of Courage from President Volodymyr Zelensky for his selfless defense of Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Proceeds will benefit Friends of Ukraine Defence Forces Fund supporting those who continue to defend freedom. This event is best suited for ages 16+ due to subject matter.
Shaun’s story is one of resilience, sacrifice, and unbreakable spirit. He has since authored a book titled Live. Fight. Survive, a gripping account of his experiences, and has spoken to NATO forces and communities worldwide about the realities of war and survival.
At this event, Shaun will share his journey — from the battlefield to imprisonment, torture, and eventual release — offering a rare, firsthand perspective on courage in the face of impossible odds.
✨ Highlights of the evening:
Keynote by Shaun Pinner
Q&A session with the audience
Wine & cheese reception
🎟️ Buy your tickets now and be part of an unforgettable night of truth, resilience, and solidarity.

Kappella Kyrie Slavic Chamber Choir of Edmonton presents Among Women
2026-05-08 19:30 - 21:00 | Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of St. Josaphat, 10825-97 Street, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Kappella Kyrie Slavic Chamber Choir of Edmonton presents Among Women, a choral concert celebrating women in music. The program will highlight women as composers, poets, and inspirations, and feature works by Ukrainian female composers, contemporary Canadian and American composers, alongside Beethoven and even Billy Joel.
Stefania Turkewich is regarded as Ukraine’s first female composer. Kappella Kyrie will perform three movements from what is most likely her first composition, a Divine Liturgy, written in 1919. The concert will also include works by Victoria Vita Poleva, Ola Gjeilo, Peter Togni and Arvo Pärt.
Kappella Kyrie will be joined by Elegance Strings, a string quartet, whose members were forced to flee Ukraine due to Russia’s full-scale invasion.
This Mother’s Day weekend concert will honour and celebrate women through sacred and secular music that is both reflective and uplifting.

Ukraine Open Golf Tournament
2026-06-06 09:00 - 15:00
Ukraine Athletic Sports Club is excited to announce our upcoming golf tournament on Saturday, June 6th, 2026, at the Edmonton Garrison Memorial Golf Club. The event will feature a 9am shotgun start, 18 holes with cart, and steak lunch provided after the round.
This tournament is a fundraiser to support the Ukraine Athletic Sports Club and help us continue hosting sports events in Edmonton—such as Ukrainian boxing, soccer match viewings, ball hockey tournaments, badminton events, and more.
Registration can be completed using the provided google forms link. Please note that we are currently accepting foursomes only, and the team captain must submit payment for all four players for the registration to be considered complete.
If you’re interested in tournament sponsorship opportunities (such as sponsoring a hole), please contact us directly at ukraineathletic@gmail.com.
