Ukrainian cultural village museum east of Edmonton to stay closed this year after devastating fire

The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village is not opening at all this summer after a fire destroyed buildings and irreplaceable artifacts back in April.

An outdoor living history museum east of Edmonton will not reopen this year after an April fire destroyed several of its structures.

A spokesperson for the Alberta government’s ministry of arts, culture and the status of women said Monday in a media release the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village will stay closed this year after a wildfire that started April 18 destroyed several buildings that made up its visitor centre and several historical artifacts.

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The centre, located 42 kilometres east of the Edmonton city limit on Highway 16, has been closed since the fire. It had been due to open for the season on May 19.

Summer events scheduled for the centre have also been cancelled, the province said.

David Makowsky, the village’s director, said work is underway to restore the village.

“This has been a profound loss for our team and the community, and we are committed to reopening as soon as possible,” Makowsky said in the release.

The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village Society was founded in 1971. The province acquired it in 1975.

The village commemorates the history of Ukrainians who settled in east-central Alberta in the early 1900s. It is made up of more than 40 historic buildings that have been relocated from rural communities and restored.