THUNDER BAY — Declining membership has forced the closure and sale of a church whose domes have dominated part of the skyline in Westfort for almost 90 years.
St. Volodymyr's Ukrainian Orthodox Church shut down last month and is now owned by the Lakehead Unitarian Fellowship.
Having to say goodbye was painful for people such as Sonia Prodanyk, president of the St. Volodymyr's executive.
"I've been there ever since I was a child...It's difficult because you're going through this grieving period. A place that you've gone to all your life. My parents and grandparents were very involved in the church."
Prodanyk said she'll miss the traditional activities and fundraisers such as perogie sales.
"They were extremely successful, and you miss the people. But unfortunately with the decline in parishioners, it wasn't financially viable."
She said that at one time there were seven Ukrainian churches in Thunder Bay, but only three remain.
Sandra McIvor, president of Lakehead Unitarians, said the small domes and crosses from the rooftop at St. Volodymyr's are being removed for shipment to the headquarters of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in Winnipeg.
She said the Unitarians have been renting space in an office building on Arthur Street since they sold their former church on Algoma Street South, and were glad to get the opportunity to relocate to Westfort.
Some minor renovations are already underway, and McIvor said the building has the potential for use as an event centre.
"It has an amazing commercial kitchen in the basement, which we're hoping the community can make use of."
