Site Visits

Edmonton's Ukrainian Memories, Murals & Monuments

May 12th, 2025 | 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Join MacEwan sociologist Jeff Stepnisky and Edmonton visual artist Theodora Harasymiw for a bus and walking tour of downtown Edmonton. Taking advantage of MacEwan’s location in ward O’day’min, we explore architecture, art, and historical sites that highlight the Ukrainian contribution to the fabric of downtown Edmonton. This tour brings attention to the beauty of Edmonton, its rich history, and the value of place-based university-community collaboration.

Dr. Jeff Stepnisky

Dr. Jeff Stepnisky is an associate professor of sociology and Kule Chair of Ukrainian Community and International Development. He studies sociological theory, selfhood, space and identity and has conducted research on the relationship between self-understanding and antidepressant medications, identity and space, and collective memory.

Theodora Harasymiw

Theodora Harasymiw is a Visual Artist and Art Educator working in Edmonton, Canada. In addition to working in her studio, she has been working as an Artist in Residence since 1997. For the last 10 years she has been working mainly in the medium of mosaic, but painting is the medium she was originally trained in. “Having the two mediums to work between has been wonderful because they're so vastly different and offer different perspectives on how to create” says Theodora.

Animating Archives Through Arts-Based Research

We invite conference participants to join us for a site visit at the City of Edmonton Archives to witness the artistic expression of 3 artists and one documentarian from the Asian diaspora. Using unique cultural disciplines, each artist will create a place-making narrative using a collaborative arts-based research methodology that utilizes archival materials in the city of Edmonton.

Jia Jia Yong

Jia Jia Yong is a musician and composer based in Edmonton, Alberta. She studied with Keri Zwicker at the Alberta College Conservatory of Music where she completed the Royal Conservatory of Music level 8 in harp. She has been active as a freelance musician since 2006, performing at special events in the Edmonton area. She also performs and collaborates with other musicians and artists, working with local artists such as soprano Dawn Bailey and cellist Christine Hanson. Jia Jia received her Masters of Library and Information Studies from the University of Alberta. For the past ten years, she has worked in archives in Edmonton and area, including the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton Archives, Musée Héritage Museum Archives, and the Franciscans of Canada Archives. In 2023, she joined the City of Edmonton Archives as the community archivist, where she supports the preservation of the documentary heritage of cultural communities and communities of interest.

Jeannine Kroening

Jeannine Naboye Kroening (she/her) is a Filipina-Canadian emerging artist and arts administrator. She holds a Theatre Arts diploma with MacEwan University, and is completing a BA in Drama at the University of Alberta with a minor in Arts and Cultural Management with MacEwan University. For over 15 years, she has dedicated most of her life with a Filipino folk dance organization called the Karilagan Dance Society as a dancer, teacher and choreographer. Karilagan has given her the community to learn about her roots and culture through dance. She has been so fortunate to travel around the world with Karilagan performing and competing in places such as the Philippines, Italy, Spain and Hawaii. As an emerging artist in this industry, she strives to create safe spaces for collaboration for underrepresented voices through performance and storytelling. She hopes to elevate Filipino storytelling and share the culture through folk dance and movement. Recents: Theatre Prospero's Artist Residency and New Works Festival's In-Development Director Mentorship.

Soni Dasmohapatra

Born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Soni Dasmohapatra’s childhood was filled with exploring dance, music, and cultural connections to her ancestral roots in India. She has continued nurturing this interest throughout her life. She is a trained Kathak dancer and Hindustani singer. Soni is currently a doctoral candidate at Royal Roads University in Victoria. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta, a Master of Public Administration from the University of Victoria, and a certificate in Gender Studies and Human Rights from Oxford University. She brings a unique blend of academic prowess and real-world experience, and she’s a strong believer in investing in lifelong learning for growth and reflection. In 2023, Soni joined MacEwan University as an assistant professor in the Arts and Cultural Management department located in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications. Her current research focuses on leadership, organizational change, and embodiment in the performing arts sector. She is interested in documenting racialized people’s narratives, inspired by her own lived experiences in the Canadian arts, culture, and heritage ecosystem.

Jordon Hon

Jordon Hon 韓寶軒 (he/him) is a visual artist and curator born and raised in amiskwaciwâskahikan / Edmonton with Hong Kong Cantonese roots. He uses a camera to document his life and urban spaces while also curating local art experiences to bring people together. Photography is a practice that grounds him, connects him to his community, and gives him a way to explore who he is. Jordon believes in the power of photography to shed light on truths, archive moments in time, and spark radical imagination for social good.