Vegreville
| Vegreville | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Location in Alberta | |||
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| State : |
 Canada
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| Province : | Alberta | ||
| Municipal District: | Minburn County No. 27 | ||
| Coordinates : | 53 ° 30 ′ N , 112 ° 3 ′ W | ||
| Height : | 635 m | ||
| Area : | 13.49 km² | ||
| Residents : | 5519 (status: 2006) | ||
| Population density : | 409.1 inhabitants / km² | ||
| Time zone : | Mountain Time ( UTC − 7 ) | ||
| Postal code : | T9C | ||
Vegreville [ ˈvəgɹəˌvɪl ] is a small town in the Canadian province of Alberta . It is located about 100 km east of Edmonton .
Vegreville was named after the French missionary Valentine Vegreville . The settlement has existed since the late 19th century and was moved to its current location in 1905 when the Canadian Northern Railway was built.
The majority of the residents of Vegreville are descendants of Ukrainian immigrants. Vegreville is home to the world's largest pysanka , 9 m long , an Easter egg decorated in the Ukrainian style . It is made of aluminum and was erected in 1974 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and to commemorate the colonization of this region by Ukrainians. The Pysanka Festival is held every year at the beginning of July .
Vegreville's economy is largely agricultural .
sons and daughters of the town
- David Motiuk (* 1962), Ukrainian Greek Catholic Bishop of Edmonton
- Brent Severyn (born 1966), Canadian ice hockey player
- Beckie Scott (* 1974), Canadian cross-country skier
Web links
- Web site Vegreville (English)
