The collection consist of documents related to the Kalyna Country project collected by the Government of Alberta advisor for Kalyna Country Ecomuseum Bill Tracy. It includes materials of the Kalyna Country Ecomuseum Trust Society, Kalyna Country Destination Marketing organization, Shandro museum and Lakusta museum.
The Kalyna Country Ecomuseum Project was initiated in 1990 as a joint undertaking by the then Department of Culture and Multiculturalism and the Candian Institute of Ukrainian studies. Conceptually the Ecomuseum was to preserve and develop the heritage resources - both cultural and natural - of a 15,000 square kilometer portion of East Central Alberta which was primarily settled at the turn of the century by Ukrainian pioneers. In 1992 the residents of the area organized themselves into a non-profit association called the “Kalyna Country Ecomuseum Trust Society”. The Board of Directors of the Society were drawn from across the entire ecomuseum which has been divided into “electoral districts”. The Society had undertaken various research and promotional projects.
Kalyna Country Ecomuseum is a “heritage” and eco-tourism district, “living” outdoor museum in rural East Central Alberta.
Officially, Kalyna Country comprises Sturgeon County, Thorhild County, Smoky Lake County, the County of St. Paul No. 19, the County of Vermilion River, the County of Two Hills No. 21, the County of Minburn No. 27, Beaver County, Lamont County, and Strathcona County and many of the neighbouring urban municipalities, Indian reserves and Metis settlements.
Tracy, Bill and Michelle