2nd Ukrainian Canadian premier presented with copy of Kobzar's Children

Last week I had the unexpected pleasure of meeting the Premier of Alberta while on a trip to Edmonton.

Fortunately, I had the presence of mind to throw a few copies of Kobzar's Children in my suitcase before I left "just in case." Did they ever come in handy!


My hostess, Molly Anne Warring (author of Paradise Acres: The Stry-Ker Family Saga, Lost Paradiseand Return to Paradise) arranged the brief meeting and photo op with the Premier and his wife, Marie. (That's Molly next to Mrs. Stelmach and me next to the Premier.)

Premier Ed Stelmach, me (Pawlina), Molly Anne Warring, Mrs. Marie Stelmach

So, like the good but shameless self-promoter that I am, I whipped out a copy of the book and autographed it with my signature purple pen. In return, the Premier gave me a copy of a Ukrainian Christmas CD by the church choir he and his wife sing in (he sings bass and she sings soprano). Unfortunately, unlike when I gave a copy to BC's Premier Campbell last summer, I didn't have the presence of mind to get the book (or the CD) in the photo.

The visit was short but sweet. The Stelmachs are very hospitable and Alberta's Premier is every bit as warm and charming as BC's. What made this visit particularly thrilling is that Premier Stelmach is Alberta's first premier of Ukrainian descent, and he hadn't yet heard of the book. So the honour and pleasure of introducing him to Kobzar's Children: A Century of Untold Ukrainian Stories was all mine!

OK, now, someone better warn the premier of Saskatchewan. If there's a Ukrainian ancestor named Walchuk or Wollinsky or some such lurking in his past, I'll find out eventually! ;-)

(Cross-posted at the Nash Holos blog.)