Kutawa S.D. No. 477

A summer visit to Kutawa School.

The Heritage Schoolyard sign reads:

"A program dedicated to the preservation of country schoolyards for their wildlife and historic values"

Leaving the grounds of old schools, churches and cemeteries for wildlife habitat is admirable.  

There is a small lean-to addition at the back of the building.  

Chalkboards cover most of the south and west walls...

...with a bank of windows facing east.

My favourite shot...kid's drawings on the bulletin board.  Each picture has the name of the budding artist too.

Kutawa School was open from 1921 to 1963.

Six months earlier it looked like this:  "K"

Photographed near Punnichy, Saskatchewan on July 26, 2021.

Alberta Wheat Pool

The grain elevator in Big Valley, Alberta.

Looks like new.

Comes with a snow plow too.

Photographed on September 17, 2021.

Teo Lake S.D. 1358

An elegant sign at the former site of Teo Lake School.  Curlicues and prairie seem to be a perfect match. 

Photographed near Driver, Saskatchewan on November 6, 2021.

Антоній Фарашук

На згадку про Антоній Фарашук.

In memory of Antoniy Farashuk.

Lots of snow but it wasn't really all that cold...or at least it didn't seem to be.  I always enjoy drifting through a country cemetery.

Vichnaya Pamyat!

Memory eternal!

Photograhed at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery of Saints Peter and Paul near Thorsby, Alberta on February 17, 2021.

Alsask S.D. No. 2761

This imposing two storey brick school was in operation from 1914-1976...a long run for a country school.

Photographed in Alsask, Saskatchewan on November 5, 2021.

Blue and Yellow

The Ukrainian flag...alive and well on the Canadian prairies.

Photographed near Veregin, Saskatchewan on July 28, 2021.

Long Creek S.D. No. 883

This sign stands just across the intersection from the former site of Long Creek School and the settlement of New Warren.

The school was open for over fifty years...no mean feat.

A brief history of New Warren.

Photographed near Avonlea, Saskatchewan on November 4, 2020.

Saint Paraskeva at Downing

Let's go for a walk through the grounds of Saint Paraskeva Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery.

Saint Paraskeva as it appears from the main road.

A canopy of clouds above...

...and a trail into the grounds.

Just south of the church is the bell tower.

Imagine the bell sounding through the countryside on Sunday mornings...different times.

East of the church is the cemetery.

An outdoor table for rituals.

The best of views from the cemetery.

A central dome with a cupola on both the front and back of the church.

Country church...big sky.

This was the last stop of the day on a late afternoon in early fall...then it was back to Vegreville for a supper date with my sister.

Photographed at Downing, Alberta on September 18, 2021.

Gros Ventre-Tothill

The remains of the Congregational Church at Gros Ventre-Tothill, Alberta.  One of my favourites.

Stopped here after putting up the Christmas tree in Saint Margaret's Church today.  By this time last year the church was already snowed-in for the winter.  This year...so far, so good.  Hope the good weather holds out a bit longer (as I'm sure we all do).

Photographed on November 12, 2021.

Linacre S.D. No. 1381

This pioneer schoolhouse was originally known as Peace Valley School.

The name was later changed to Linacre School.

When the school closed the building was used as a granary for a time.

White with green trim was a perennial favourite colour scheme for one room schools.

A warm fall day in the country...nice day for a road trip.

Photographed near Linacre, Saskatchewan on Novemebr 5, 2021.