![Students at Victoria School, circa 1910: Left to right Frank Whitford, Fred Kuzemsky, unidentified, Wasyl Kotyk, Wayne Kozub or Esepenko, teacher Mr. Rowbottom, Demetrius Ponich, Metro Starchuk, David Thompson, Elena Brucenorsky, Wasyl Brucenorsky [in doorway] and two unidentified at far right (Photo: Rev. D.M. Ponich Collection, Alberta Culture and Tourism).](https://albertashistoricplaces.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/vs371.jpg)
The agenda for the day’s events are listed below. An area map illustrating the location of Victoria Settlement Provincial Historic Site can be found below or at the site’s website: http://www.history.alberta.ca/victoria/location/location.aspx
Gathering at Victoria Settlement
Saturday, August 6, 2016
9:00-9:30 Set up of tents, tables, registration, displays from participants.
9:30-10:00 Registration – meet and greet.
10:00-10:30 Ross Stromberg: Program Coordinator, Alberta Culture and Tourism.
10:30-10:45 Elaine Breadon Peiche: Victoria Home Guard Society.
10:45-11:45 Peter Melnycky: Historian, researcher, author of
‘A Veritable Canaan – Alberta’s Victoria Settlement.’
11:45-12:30 Linda Collier: President of Historical Society of Alberta; historian and
great-granddaughter of Rev. George McDougall.
12:30-1:00 Enjoy your picnic lunch and mingle!
1:00-1:45 Graham Dalziel: Member of Smoky Lake Heritage Board; owner of
historic Riverlot #3 – with a suitcase full of found treasures!
1:45-2:30 Donna Shanks and John Althouse: Donna is President of Edmonton
branch of the Alberta Genealogical Society. John is a member of E.A.G.S
and Editor of Clandigger.
3:00-3:30 Steven Bentley: Historian and genealogist with some ‘Whitford’ stories.
3:30-4:00 Group photo and closing.
4:00 Carpool to cemetery for those who wish to explore it.
5:00 Victoria Settlement Historic Site closes.
BONUS: There will be THREE genealogical consultants on site to help with family histories! Steven Bentley plus Bill and Sandy Macdonald.
Please bring your picnic lunch! AND, your family history, stories, research to share.
Everyone is responsible for their own entrance fee to V.S. ($5.00 per person).
Check the Victoria Settlement website and Plan Your Visit:
http://history.alberta.ca/victoria/planyourvisit/visit.aspx
If you plan to join us, a quick email to victoriasettlementgathering@gmail.com would help us with our planning.
WE CAN’T WAIT TO MEET ALL OF YOU!
RETROactive 
Looks like a very interesting day
Indeed – all are welcome!
Hi Peter, I’m looking for information, photos on my great grandfather, Rev D.M. Ponich , he is in the photo above. I do have a copy of his memoirs about his arrival in Victoria, but would really like to know if there are more photos.
Thank you! Katya Ponich
Hi Katya,
You can contact Peter by email and I’m sure he can help you out:
peter.melnykcky@gov.ab.ca
Thanks!
Hi Katya,
Thanks for visiting the blog and for your message. We are all working from home at present. Once we are back in our offices I will be able to check our files for additional information on your grandfather which might be of interest to you. In the mean time there is one photograph you can view online at the Glenbow Museum in Calgary which includes Rev. Ponich: File number: NA-1649-2 Title: Methodist church women’s misssions society, Kolokeeka, Alberta. Date: 1916.
Cheers,
Peter
Hi Peter,
Thank you for getting back to me, and passing along the info! I’ve actually just come across quite a few new photos from the settlement that I’ve never seen.
If you want to email me at kponich@gmail.com, I can share them.
Thank you!
Reblogged this on petermelnycky.
Good Evening Peter Melnycky . . .
I think the above picture with unidentified children is my Grandfather and the other three was his siblings. Please contact Peter as I think you could really help me with this one. Please and Thank You