Welcome

Bucovinian Canadian Heritage in Manitoba

The St. Elijah Pioneer Museum was developed by community members and surviving descendents of Romanian and Ukrainian immigrants from Bucovina (Bukovina) who settled in Manitoba at the turn of the 20th Century and created a community that later became Lennard. This web site describes and promotes the museum's collection, and the community's history. It also seeks to provide a gathering place for archival materials documenting and interpreting the role of the Bucovinian pioneers in Canadian history.

We invite you to explore, learn more, contribute, plan a visit, donate and shop with us.

Three Main Attractions

The Museum presently has three main attractions. Two restored examples of vernacular peasant architecture in the traditional Carpathian style constructed by the pioneers:

The third attraction is the Bucovinian Pioneer Cemetery established in 1904, with over 150 original and restored headstones, many in the orthodox iconographic style. In addition, a common memorial and a number of cairns and plaques are located around the site.

Learn and Contribute

You will find information, photographs and documents describing each of the museum's three main attractions by clicking on the above links. As well, the site contains more-general information about the history of the region and the pioneers.

We encourage anyone who has archival materials, oral histories, artifacts and even snap shots related to the St. Elijah Pioneer Museum to contribute and share these with a larger community through this web site. Find out more. Because our work is done almost exclusively by volunteers, your support through donations is of utmost importance.

If you enjoy what you see here. Why not plan a visit to the St. Elijah Pioneer Museum and the many other attractions in this beautiful prairie region. We look forward to seeing you.

 

About
the Museum Organization

The St. Elijah Pioneer Museum began in 1979 as St. Elie (1908) Pioneer Church Museum. The organization was headed by a committee of four - Peter Gaber, Pres.; Andrew Onofreichuk and William Gallant, Directors; and Mary Gabor, Secretary. Their first task was to restore the abandoned wooden church built in 1908. The work was completed in 1983 and the church was declared a Provincial Heritage Site.

Three of the original founders of the museum organization are now deceased and another has moved away. A new administration took over the operation of the museum, consisting of Barry Sawchuk, Pres.; Diane Ungarian, Secretary, plus a number of committee members. In 1992, the new committee assumed the task of restoring the former Ion Paulencu Bucovinian style cottage and the pioneer cemetery. These projects were completed in time for the 100th anniversary of the St. Elijah Parish celebration in 2003.

For questions and inquiries about the museum:

For questions and inquiries about the Web site:

This Web site was created by Don Goodes (design, programming and content) and John Goodes (content), with help from Mehdi Bouhalassa (programming and integration) with the support of Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Tourism - Heritage Grants Program.