Lifelong Lamont County resident Lorriane Pullishy-Aas is dedicated to sharing not only her family's journey settling in the county, but all of the original Ukrainian settlers.
On September 7, 1881, Iwan Pylypow arrived in what is now known as Lamont County from Nebyliv, Ukraine. He then returned to Ukraine to spread the news of good opportunities in Canada and was arrested.
"He was arrested for promoting immigration to Canada, because Canada was soliciting for new pioneers to come and work the land," said Lorriane Pullishy-Aas.
Iwan was incarcerated in Ukraine for three months. Once he was free, he gathered the Pullishy family, the Feniak family and the Melnyk family and they all made the trip to the Lamont County area.
Once these families arrived in the area on May 7, 1893, they each registered with the government to have a piece of land and began building a church as their first collective priority.
"They are all our neighbours, and they are all very precious to us. Although we have different names, we are still like family."
These families are still residing and expanding in Lamont, and now some county roads are set to undergo a name change to honour these settlers, thanks to Lorriane Pullishy-Aas presenting to county council.
"It means everything to me. My church and my people mean everything to me."
The roads set to be changed are:
- Township Road 564 (from Range Road 831 to 192) renamed to Myhailo Pullishy Road
- Range Road 192 (from Township Road 564 to 562) renamed to Wasyl Feniak Road
- Township Road 562 (from Range Road 831 to 192) renamed to Iwan Pylypow Road
At this time, Pullishy-Aas is fully responsible for all the costs related to signs and is not sure of final figures until signs are actually put in place.
"We were so glorious to God and to council that they allowed us to have these signs."
Aside from Lorraine's work to keep those settlers' memories alive, her cousin Paul Pangburn has taken in multiple refugee families from Ukraine and is planning to welcome even more in the coming weeks.
"The first wave is getting settled; now he is taking another set in. He intends to do it until he can't do it anymore."
Currently, Pullishy-Aas has been working alongside Pangburn to help get refugee families settled and find them meaningful employment.