Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection National Historic Site of Canada

The Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection was designated a national historic site of Canada because:

• it is an example of the mature and culminating expression of Ukrainian identity of the Dauphin Block Settlement of Ukrainians, a lasting and sophisticated symbol of their roots; and
• its evocative, multi-domed architecture and its stunning interior are based on models in Kiev, Ukraine, and on centuries of Byzantine-derived iconography, both adapted for a New World context.

The heritage value of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Resurrection National Historic Site of Canada lies in its expression of Ukrainian-Canadian identity as illustrated by the forms, design and decoration of the church derived from its congregation’s adherence to Byzantine Catholic iconographic traditions. The church was built from 1936 to 1939 by the community of Dauphin Block Ukrainians who had begun to settle in the area in 1896. It followed plans prepared by Reverend Philip Ruh, the priest of the Ukrainian congregation at nearby Cook’s Creek. In attempting to be economical in the costs of its construction, Ruh experimented with concrete in order to achieve interesting textures and decorative effects as well as the strength and durability required by the Canadian climate. In 1957-1958, the interior of the church was decorated by Theodore Baran, a Ukrainian ecclesiastical artist who had immigrated to Canada.