Myron Momryk (left) and

Dr. Robert Klymasz

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kule Folklore Centre Welcomes

Dr. Robert Klymasz and Myron Momryk

 

On Monday November 08, 2010 the Kule Folklore Centre welcomed Dr. Robert Klymasz, a premier Ukrainian Canadian Folklorist; and Myron Momryk, who recently retired from his position as Archivist at the Library and Archives of Canada(LAC); to speak on their fields of expertise in the Bohdan Medwidsky Ukrainian Folklore Archives, at the University of Alberta.

 

Mr. Momryk, whose position with LAC incorporated the former National Archives of Canada, spoke to the packed room about his critical role in obtaining and organizing many of LAC's major Ukrainian collections. These archival resources have played in the development of the writing of Ukrainian-Canadian's history since the 1970s and Mr. Momryk was a key figure in helping that multicultural archives survive and thrive.

 

Dr. Robert Klymasz, who has taught Folklore at several North American Universities and traversed the Canadian prairies recording folksongs and gathering other materials concerning the early pioneer Ukrainian immigration to Canada, spoke after Mr. Momryk and discussed the crucial aspects of Ukrainian Canadian Folklore today. During Dr. Klymasz's illustrious career he constructed a portrait of rural Ukrainian-Canadian folk culture across the prairies and this information is preserved in archives across the West, as a valuable resource for contemporary Folklorists.

 

Students in the Ukrainian Folklore program at the University of Alberta also had an opportunity to meet with Dr. Klymasz and Mr. Momryk to ask them questions regarding their fields that may benefit future careers as Folklorists and Archivists.