Kule Institute for Advanced Study

We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Peter Kule, Canadian philanthropist, friend to the University of Alberta, and along with his wife Doris, who passed away in March 2020, the founding donors of the Kule Institute for Advanced Study (KIAS).

Peter’s philanthropy and his commitment to academic research has touched lives here in Edmonton, across Canada, and around the world. The legacy created by Peter and Doris’s philanthropic contributions continues to impact research, learning, and community engagement at the University of Alberta and beyond.

In a previous leadership role, I had the good fortune to meet Peter and Doris briefly, and I was struck by their warmth and joyfulness. I have also heard many wonderful stories from former KIAS Director Geoffrey Rockwell, former Dean of Arts Lesley Cormack, and many others. Peter has had such a tremendous impact on our campus community and will be missed by all of the students, staff, and faculty who have benefitted from his kindness and generosity.

Geoffrey Rockwell, in reminiscing about Peter and Doris, recalls spending time with them in their home alongside Oliver Rossier (former KIAS Coordinator) and Lesley Cormack. They would visit regularly to update Peter and Doris on activities at KIAS, and, they would bring posters and abstracts from grants to show them. One particular memory stands out when he recalls his visits with Peter.

“I remember times when Oliver and I would also take Peter and Doris to Uncle Ed’s Ukrainian Restaurant for lunch. Peter would advise me on what to try. Often we would have KitKat chocolates for dessert, discretely smuggled in by Doris, while the waitresses smiled on. During lunches and the driving back and forth, Peter would share stories about his work with Alberta Premiers, University of Alberta Presidents, Ukrainian community leaders and business leaders. Somehow, Peter always paid, no matter how hard we tried to get to the cashier first. I suspect he had arranged things before on the phone.”

While Peter and Doris are no longer with us, we are inspired by them every day when walking into the KIAS office in Old Arts. Their portrait hangs in the lobby and is the first thing visitors see when entering the building.

The generous support of Peter and Doris was inspired by their experience of the history and culture of Ukraine and the global struggle of humanity for peace, justice, and wellbeing. Their gifts have supported researchers across the University of Alberta as they work to “create a greater understanding of the most important issues of the day,” and we are proud to serve as custodians of that important legacy.

Michael O’Driscoll
Director, Kule Institute for Advanced Study
Professor, English and Film Studies

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has led to a loss of lives and destruction on a colossal scale and has created Europe’s greatest refugee crisis since World War II. Among the many millions of individuals displaced by the invasion are scholars and students.

The University of Alberta's Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS), Kule Institute for Advanced Study, Kule Folklore Centre, Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies, Department of History, Classics and Religion, and the Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies have come together to provide additional research funding to disrupted Ukrainian scholars and students via the DUSS UAlberta Initiative. Thus far, DUSS UAlberta has reallocated $529,000, and its partners call upon the government of Alberta, as well as the corporate and broader community to raise an additional $500,000 to help support the increasing needs of Ukraine’s displaced scholars and students.

Click here to learn more to find out about current opportunities:

https://www.ualberta.ca/canadian-institute-of-ukrainian-studies/stand-with-ukraine/index.html

Want to donate to support this important initiative? You can do so easily online here:

https://ualberta.alumniq.com/giving/to/cius?_gl=1*91k6gy*_ga*NTE2Nzc5NTkwLjE1NjgxMzExMTk.*_ga_21TWH2P5G7*MTY2MjQ5MDYzNS41My4xLjE2NjI0OTExNDMuMC4wLjA.

The University of Alberta continues to support Ukrainian scholars and students affected by Russia's war against Ukraine. Find out more about fellowships and other research opportunities offered here:
https://www.ualberta.ca/canadian-institute-of-ukrainian-studies/stand-with-ukraine/index.html

The 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗨𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 & 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 (DUSS UAlberta) is made possible through the partnership of CIUS, the Kule Institute for Advanced Study, the Kule Folklore Centre at the U of A, the U of A's Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies, the University of Alberta - History, Classics, and Religion department, and the Wirth Institute for Austrian and Central European Studies.

U-ART — the Ukraine-Archives Rescue Team — is a Canadian Emergency Response Initiative coordinated at the University of Alberta by CIUS, Kule Folklore Centre at the U of A, and the Kule Institute for Advanced Study, along with other national partners. U-ART provides free, secure, and private data backup for archival institutions, research institutions, and individual scholars in all disciplines who are now under threat.

Read more at https://www.ualberta.ca/canadian-institute-of-ukrainian-studies/publications-and-e-resources/ukraine-archives-rescue-team.htm

Image quote from https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/news/Pages/2022/Statement-by-Librarian-Archivist-Canada-on-situation-in-Ukraine.aspx

Join us on May 4 from 4:30 - 6:00pm MDT to learn more about 2 research collaboration projects between
Alberta Teachers, University of Alberta Faculty of Education, & KIAS.

Register at: https://bit.ly/3v1a3KP

When: May 4, 4:30 - 6:00pm MDT
Location: Online Via Zoom
Cost: Free

Ukrainian Humanitarian Relief Concert

The University of Alberta Department of Music and the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies present a Fundraising Concert in Support of Ukraine.

All proceeds will be going to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation

Saturday, March 12, 2022, 6:00 p.m.
Convocation Hall, Old Arts Building, University of Alberta, University of Alberta - Faculty of Arts

Register at:

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