Local couple’s donation marks start for new U of A centre for advanced study

U of A Creative Services

PART OF OUR HERITAGE President Samarasekera enjoys a laugh over dinner with philanthropists Peter and Doris Kule.

The University of Alberta's Faculty of Arts is thrilled to open the new Kule Institute, made possible by the generous $4-million donation from local philanthropists Peter and Doris Kule.

The Institute is designed to become a leading centre for advanced studies, and put the U of A in company with schools such as Princeton and the University of Toronto, which already have institutes of this type.

Peter Kule was born in Stratyn, a province of Ukraine and moved to Canada as a young adult. In 1943, he met and married Doris Radesh, who shared in his cultural heritage.

Many Ukrainians have overcome political oppression, famine, and many other struggles. This truth was evident in the Kules, who overcame unfavourable odds as immigrants in the early 20th century, achieving a great deal of success in Alberta through endeavours such as real estate investment.

The Kules have long supported education at all age levels, and are involved in the Ukrainian community and the Faculty of Arts.

For several years now, there has been a Kule Folklore Centre at the University, and a position entitled the Kule Chair of Ukrainian ethnography, both of which strive to enrich the Ukrainian cultural studies at the U of A.

However, one popular misconception about the new Kule Institute is that it’s a “Ukrainian Centre.” Instead, the new Kule Institute will be for advanced studies of global issues, including topics such as cultural identity, social security, and famine prevention and treatment, explained Colleen Skidmore, the Faculty of Arts interim dean.

“[The Institute] is a comparative research institute and an innovative intellectual environment [...] an advanced society of intellectual perpetuity, in the high humanitarian ideals of the Kules' ideals,” Skidmore said.

The Insitute will reflect the Kules' Ukrainian heritage in several ways, such as research topics, but the main goal is the advancement of education. Ideally, Skidomore explained, it will incorporate all faculties of the University and tap a variety of different areas of study to create a collaborative environment. Because of its goal to incorporate a variety of different faculties, the location of the institute is paramount.

“The Kule Institute will likely be located in a section of the old Arts building," Skidomore said. "Because of [the Institute's] interest in incorporating a variety of different areas of study into its programs, it is important that the building be near the centre of campus.”