Dobr. Karen Wasylenko
wasylenko.revp@shaw.ca  

The Ukrainian Orthodox Heritage Church in Canora is well known to the community and to many of our faithful across Canada. The Heritage Church attracts visitors each year to this small rural community of Canora, from across Saskatchewan and many parts of Canada. Each spring and summer, bus tours bring visitors to this historic church. Many of the visitors learn something from the tour guides about the history of this landmark, and take home with them a lesson on the Orthodox faith.

Adjacent to the Heritage Church was the church manse, which some years ago was sold. Over the past number of years, this former church manse had run into ruins, with debris scattered in the yard, becoming an “eye sore” for many of the parishioners, community folk and visitors.

Despite many requests from individuals for the town of Canora to demolish this house and clean up the area, individuals from the parish of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity remained persistent, in wanting the adjacent lots cleaned up. The Town of Canora’s budget ran dry of funding for such demolition, until approximately one year ago.

An individual from the Ukrainian Orthodox of the Holy Trinity parish, who can be described as a long standing and a dedicated member of the congregation, and a member of Canora’s Ukrainian Women’s Association, Maria Markovych branch, could no longer stand the sight of the adjacent lots and wanted to do something about this situation. She approached the Town of Canora and paid the costs for the old house to be demolished. This demonstrates the remarkable generosity of one kind and humble soul; it also demonstrates how one individual can change things in a positive way for the betterment of all! This lady (who wished to remain anonymous) presented the congregation with a wonderful gift of a life time, and this story is not over.

The church executive for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity approached the town council and requested the council to release the vacant lots back to the congregation (for the sum of $1.00), with the promise of no taxation in the future. The church executive in turn, proposed the development of a park – the Park of Hope. The town council accepted the church executive’s proposal, and a committee was struck to proceed with plans for the development of the Park of Hope. Dried up and overgrown trees were trimmed or cut down, and the caragana bushes were cut down to allow for new growth. Taras Korol and Steve Kobelka volunteered many hours following the demolition, picking large stones, debris, broken glass, and hauling it away from the site.

Plans for the park include erection of a cairn, some cement walkways with park benches, along with trees, shrubbery and flowers. The park plans, already drawn up, have been approved by the committee and the church executive. The developed park will allow for parishioners and visitors a place to visit to stop and contemplate, or say a prayer. The park will allow visitors to enjoy a peaceful moment in a beautiful environment.

There are many different kinds of parks, which can include sports events, picnics, barbeques, play grounds. However this Park of Hope is being planned to be unique to all other kinds of parks, with the focus including a taste of spirituality and calm.

To date, some individual donations have been received for the development of this park. Preliminary budget plans are being prepared. We encourage individuals from other parishes in Canada to consider a donation to this project. Some of the readers of Visnyk may once have been members of this Heritage Church, or perhaps had been married here in our Heritage Church.

If you would like to make a donation, please send your donation to :

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity
Box 1389
Canora SK S0A 0L0

Please indicate that your donation is for the Park of Hope. Income Tax receipts will be issued.

We extend a sincere thank you for those donations already received. May Gold Bless you!