Буковина

Late afternoon at Saint Michael's Greek Ukrainian Orthodox Church (known locally as "Bukowina") near Lepine, Saskatchewan.

The church was built in 1918 using a distinctive design incorporating a central dome surrounded by four smaller cupolas, a larger cupola over the altar area and a central spire above the front entrance.  I hadn't seen this combination of decorative elements before on a Ukrainian church making this a visual delight.

The spire and onion dome are just visible above the full grown spruce trees bordering the church yard.

Over one hundred years of headstones in the church cemetery.

The main monument situated beside the church.

Overnight there was blowing snow offering a much different scene the following morning...

...almost everything was white.

Note the simplicity of the cross designs in comparison to the detailed architecture of the church.

The same view looks much different than on the previous day.

Information courtesy of Canada's Historic Places.

Photographed in a t-shirt on October 25 and in a parka on October 26, 2019.

Fred & Josie

A memorial bench for Fred & Josie at Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery near Carvel, Alberta. 

Photographed  on February 17, 2021.

"Z"

Zoar Lutheran Church is tucked away into the rolling countryside near Darmody, Saskatchewan.

The front step into the church...

...with seating for about thirty-two people.

The sixty years anniversary plaque.

Nothing fancy here...a simple swing-gate is the entrance to the cemetery. 

You are here.  Take a deep breath.

Photographed on October 20, 2017.

"Y"

Yurashak Pioneer Cemetery is near Hafford, Saskatchewan.

There are only nine marked graves in this tiny cemetery and four of those are "Unknown."

Photographed on January 17, 2021.

"X"

Saint Frances Xavier Roman Catholic Cemetery is near Linaria, Alberta.

Only a few of the headstones... 

...were visible above the snow cover.

Photographed on February 18, 2021.

Big Red Barn

A big red barn near Pakan, Alberta.  This looks like it was a good home for farm animals.

Photographed on February 21, 2021.

"W"

Wimmer Ukrainian Orthodox Church is in central Saskatchewan.

Hand made wrought iron crosses top the central dome and cupolas.

The congregation formed in 1924 and in 1940 the Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church was built near Wimmer.

The cemetery is just across the road.

Photographed on March 18, 2020.

"V"

Saint Volodymyr Ukrainian Catholic Memorial Church.

The church was constructed in 1979 with additional secondary structures built over the next five years.  

The bell inside the tower was purchased at an auction in nearby Rosthern and was christened as "Andrew."

The Trident Cross is a cultural symbol of Ukraine that can be traced back to first century A.D.

The church is part of the larger Saint Volodymyr's Ukrainian Park near Saskatoon.  The park has everything one would expect including picnic and playground areas, a swimming pool, hiking trails and a camp for kids.

Information courtesy of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Saskatoon and Saint Volodymyr Ukrainian Catholic Camp & Park.

Photographed on January 15, 2021.

"U"

This is the Uhrynow Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church and Cemetery.

An opening in the caragana hedge reveals the cemetery on a rise.

The headstones date from the 1910's to the 2010's.

The church is surrounded on three sides by hedge.

A bell tower is tucked into some trees near the front of the church.

Photographed near Krydor, Saskatchewan on November 24, 2020.

Cash Creek School

A one room schoolhouse near Boyle, Alberta.

Lots of snow but mostly the soft fluffy type making it relatively easy to get through.

Someone took the time to make a bench by the school...a place to sit down and think about happy times.

Photographed on February 19, 2021.