about us
Welcome to ALIEA, the Alberta Local and International Education Association. We are dedicated to promoting education, cultural exchange, and supporting the deaf and hard of hearing community!
Our Beginnings
Our journey began in 1998 when Ihor Kobel from Lviv visited the Alberta School for the Deaf in Edmonton, establishing initial contact. This connection sparked the idea of future collaborations.
In 2000, we organized the first Canada-Ukraine sign language summer camp in Crimea, Ukraine, bringing together 61 deaf students, teachers, and parents. This milestone event marked the start of successful partnerships, with Starkey-Canada Hearing Co. donating and fitting 88 hearing aids for deaf children.
Inspired by our achievements, we registered the Canada Ukraine Alliance for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons (CUADHHP) in 2001 to facilitate future cooperation.
Over the years (from 2001 to 2019), we organized sign language camps in Ukraine, fostering relationships and knowledge sharing. These camps have benefitted over 1,500 participants. Since then, we have evolved into ALIEA, expanding our mission and reach.
Expanding Our Horizons
In 2017, Alberta International partially funded a project to assist the Ukrainian Society of the Deaf members displaced by the 2014 Russian invasion of Crimea and Donbas (Eastern Ukraine). This support included a visit by a MacEwan University student to Ukraine, engaging with the deaf community, and participating in a conference on Post-traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD).
Recognizing the need to broaden our horizons further, in 2019, CUADHHP underwent a transformation and became the Alberta Local and International Education Association (ALIEA). This expansion allowed us to offer research funds for students, develop film scripts, and produce educational documentaries centered on Alberta.
As part of this endeavor, ALIEA funded graduate student Kalyna Somchynsky to research the life of Dr. Ehor William Gauk, Alberta’s first pediatric neurologist, and his remarkable involvement in providing assistance to children affected by the Chornobyl nuclear disaster. Kalyna’s research has played a crucial role in uncovering the inspiring story of Dr. Gauk and has contributed to the creation of the educational film “Mentoring Eternal Optimism,” which premiered in 2022. The film, attended by the Lieutenant Governor General, was made available online as a free educational resource.
Current Projects
In response to the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the subsequent refugee crisis, ALIEA has been committed to supporting individuals seeking shelter in Canada, including deaf and hard of hearing individuals. We provide a point of contact and assistance to help them settle into their new lives.
Looking ahead, ALIEA continues to contribute to Alberta’s cultural and educational landscape. Currently, we are working on an educational film about Myrna Kostash, an acclaimed Alberta author. We aim to make the film accessible to over 32,000 recent Ukrainian immigrants in Alberta by adding Ukrainian language subtitles. Our dedication to fostering connections, empowering the deaf and hard of hearing community, and promoting education remains unwavering.
