2nd Canadian premier presented with 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 and Lost 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

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 Christmas CD by the church choir he and his wife sing in (he bass and she soprano). Unfortunately, I didn't have the presence of mind to get the book (or the CD) in the photo, unlike when I gave a copy to BC's Premier Campbell last summer.

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 makes this visit particularly thrilling is that Premier Stelmach is Canada's 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 it was all mine!

OK, now, someone better warn the premier of Saskatchewan. If there's an ancestor named Walchuk or Wollinsky or some such lurking in his past, you can bet I'll find it. ;-)

(Cross-posted at the Nash Holos blog.)