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www.LamontLeader.com Vol. 17, No. 40, Wednesday, August 31, 2022 BY JANA SEMENIUK The 2022 Babas and Borshch festival finished with an estimated recordbreaking attendance and a host of new displays and activities. Organizer Hazel Anaka said it’s hard to gauge attendance numbers without ticket stubs to count. “Well, that's always a tough one to answer because, of course, there is no paid admission,” she said. “The estimates, the number that I've been hearing based on what's been happening inside and out on the two days was that about 3,500 people attended, and that would be a record.” Anaka said the festival has been happening in Lamont for the past 10 years, although one year was cancelled and the following year was virtual due to the COVID pandemic. She added that this year held a special theme of celebrating the 130th anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Canada. She also said that this year there were more historical displays at the festival than ever before, along with an
Babas and Borshch Festival sees estimated record numbers art exhibit and historical artifacts in the recreation centre lobby. “The feedback that I've been hearing is that people loved it. I was told on more than one occasion that over the course of the weekend, several people were moved to tears at one point or another,” she said. While many of the artifacts came from the Basilian Fathers Museum in Mundare, an entire recreation of a one room pioneer house, complete with spinning wheel and a bed, was on display courtesy of the Vegreville Cultural Association. “(The people from Vegreville) with the Pioneer room told me there were people crying there,” said Anaka. “I know, one man was talking to the lieutenant governor, I didn't hear what he said, but he was (also) crying.
Obviously, (the festival) it’s emotional (for people).” Meanwhile, Anaka said that Lamont’s Babas and Borshch Festival has different things to offer in comparison to Vegreville’s Pysanka festival, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary next year. One difference being the Babas and Borshch Festival ambassador, Baba Magda. “When I first pitched this idea to (Lamont) County back in the day, you think to yourself, okay, but there's a Pysanka festival down the road. How are we going to be different?” she said. “So then it came to me, well, why don't we have a festival ambassador?” Baba Magda has been connecting with people via short videos on the festival’s facebook page to help communicate the many things the festival has to
offer. In the meantime, Anaka said other different aspects include games for festival goers such as Ukrainian bingo, Ukrainian word find puzzles, and the borshch cook off, in addition to their support of Ukrainian artists and Ukrainian authors. More Festival Pages 8/9
Lamont Mayor Kirk Perrin greets Alberta's Lieutenant Governor the Honourable Salma Lakhani, AOE, B.Sc., LLD (hon) and her husband His Honour, Dr. Zaheer Lakhani CM MBChB FRCPC FACP FACC FRCP (London).
Alberta’s Lieutenant Governor attends Babas and Borshch BY JOHN MATHER After a pandemic hiatus, the Babas and Borshch Festival was back in Lamont with a two-day festival celebrating everything Ukrainian, Aug. 27 and 28. From workshops on Ukrainian settler life and Ukrainian culture to a variety of demonstrations from wheat weaving to Ukrainian dancing, the festival offered interesting things for all ages. This year the festival organizers joined with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Provincial Council to jointly celebrate Ukrainian Day and the 130th anniversary of Ukrainian Settlement in Canada. To honour the occasion the organizers were able to welcome Alberta’s Lieutenant Governor her Honour, the Honourable Salma Lakhani, AOE, B.Sc., LLD (hon)p, and his Honour, Dr. Zaheer Lakhani CM MBChB FRCPC FACP FACC FRCP (London). “Thank you for inviting us to this festival,” said the Lieutenant Governor. “We’re so delighted to be here today. I’m so excited to be in Lamont to cele-
Alberta Lieutenant Governor the Honourable Salma Lakhani, AOE, B.Sc., LLD (hon), Babas and Borshch Festival organizer Hazel Anaka, and Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Provincial Council member Lydia Migus enter the arena during the Aug. 27 Babas and Borshch Festival. brate Ukrainian Day, the Babas and Borshch Festival and to recognize the 130th anniversary of Ukrainian Settlement here in our province of Alberta. “Today we are celebrating the many gifts that those settlers brought with them many years ago,” she added. “They were tough, welcoming and generous, and warm and innovative.
“Their spirit has spread across our province.” She mentioned Albertans had donned blue and yellow ribbons in solidarity with Ukraine as the country fights for its survival in Eastern Europe. “Understandably our celebrations here are tinged with some pain as we think of those whose lives have been
turned upside down by the war in Ukraine. Those who have lost their homes. “I am really proud of the Ukrainian community in Alberta, which has come together to help those who have suffered.” She said she was proud to be at the airport to welcome the first plane of refugees that landed from Poland, chartered by former Premier Ed Stelmach, and Thomas Lukcaszuk. “I know the plane went back with boxes and boxes of supplies to help with Ukrainian relief efforts.” “As her Majesty the Queen’s representative in Alberta, I offer my heartfelt thanks to the amazing team of community leaders and volunteers who have presented this annual celebration.” Following her speech the Lieutenant Governor presented commemorative pins to the descendant families of original settlers in the Star-Edna area. The Lieutenant Governor then toured the arena and hall with the demonstrations and displays, speaking with as many people as she could in her limited time at the festival.