Prairie Centre for the Study of Ukrainian Heritage
Supporting Ukrainian Culture Through Higher Education
Центр дослідження української спадщини
About PCUH
The Prairie Centre for the Study of Ukrainian Heritage (PCUH) is an academic unit of St. Thomas More College, a liberal arts college federated with the University of Saskatchewan.
Created in 1998, under the leadership of founding director Dr. Bohdan Kordan, the PCUH’s mission is to promote the advanced study of various aspects of Ukrainian heritage, culture and life; to co-ordinate and encourage the preservation of primary source materials relevant to such study; and to share results of its work in a variety of ways. Specific programs and projects aimed at preservation or designed to promote a wider understanding and appreciation of the Ukrainian experience in Canada and abroad are funded by the PCUH.
The PCUH further supports the long and pioneering tradition of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Saskatchewan which began in 1943, by serving as the anchor for this area through undergraduate teaching, graduate supervision, and student activities, while engaging in academic research in this area.
Conceived as a community-university partnership, and supported by endowed funds, PCUH is proud to continue to serve as an important link between the University of Saskatchewan, St. Thomas More College, and the Ukrainian Canadian community.
Looking for the archived PCUH website?
Legacy
In the fall of 1929, a group of enthusiastic students with Ukrainian heritage gathered at the University of Saskatchewan and, under the guidance of history professor Dr. George Simpson, formed one of the early Ukrainian students groups in North America under the name “The Alpha-Omega Society.”
Before long, these students began to realize that they wanted the opportunity to learn aspects of their ancestral heritage in an official university setting.
The University of Saskatchewan is widely considered to be the birthplace of Ukrainian Studies in North America, being the first university to offer a post-secondary Ukrainian language course in 1943.
This led to numerous other firsts, including the founding of the first Department of Slavic Studies in Canada in 1945.
It is on the shoulders of these giants that the PCUH stands, paying homage to their dedication and perseverance, knowing that were it not for these achievements and milestones, there would not be the foundation for our Centre. It is with this legacy in mind that we look to the future, knowing that we have the same dedication, perseverance and deep respect for our heritage that is needed to carry on this work long into the future.
Teaching
St. Thomas More College and PCUH are the home of Ukrainian Studies at USask. Each year, students have the opportunity to learn the Ukrainian language, and study the culture and history of Ukraine, relating that heritage to present-day Saskatchewan and Canada - the home of roughly 1.4 million Ukrainian Canadians.
Research
At the level of research and scholarship, the PCUH provides individual support; disseminates the results of research conducted under its auspices; organizes symposia, conferences and exhibitions; promotes dialogue between various disciplines, perspectives, and communities; and encourages young scholars specializing in the area by providing scholarships at the graduate level.
Community Engagement
PCUH endeavours to engage the wider community with projects focused on the culture, language, and history of Ukraine on the Prairies. Working with its community partners, PCUH is active in providing a source for education and awareness of Ukrainian heritage in our local community.
PCUH News
Loading...
Contact Us
St. Thomas More College
1437 College Drive
Saskatoon, SK
S7N 0W6
For more information, please contact:
Dr. Nadya Foty-Oneschuk,
Interim Director of PCUH
pcuh@stmcollege.ca
