Altanka Garden:  The Trans Canada Trail traverses the City of Sudbury.  Almost at its mid-point is a unique feature at Hnatyshyn Park (1991) in the heart of Sudbury.  This is the Altanka Garden or resting place, a millennium (2000) project of the Ukrainian community for all Sudbury citizens developed adjacent to the Ukrainian Seniors' Centre.

Traditional gateways, hanging planters, the stained glass pysanka, the conversational swing, the 12 potagers, the fountain pool, the newly constructed out-door oven and the garden house are all focal elements of cultural heritage.

FOCAL ELEMENTS

Gateways:  These gateways have a shingled roof over an intricate wrought iron gate design of which includes stalks of wheat, a periwindle flower, Ukrainian Seniors' logo and leaves as well as elements from other indigenous Ukrainian architectural motifs.  The gates were designed by John Stefura and crafted from 1/2" thick steel plate by Stainless Steel Technology.

Hanging Planters:  The south end of Altanka is rimmed by a graceful semi-circle of hanging planters.  Ceramic pots crafted by Ernie Checkeris and Muriel MacLeod originally contained red verbena blossoms among a profusion of dainty white bacopa.

Pysanka:  A major focal element and popular Ukrainian visible symbol is the beautifully executed pysanka design.   Almost 2 metres by 3 metres in size, outlined by a border of scotch moss, the inlaid pysanka design is defined by an oval egg-shaped stainless steel frame.  The tranditional pattern - wheat for staff of life, grazing stags signifying health and prosperity and a tree of life for renewal, creation and organic unity is emcompassed by a meander signifying eternity.  The pysanka design was constructed of stained glass by Hayden Butler and Mary Lou Fabbro.

The Pich - Outdoor Bake Oven.  The pich, once the "heart" of a home was transported to the Canadian West with the Ukrainian immigrant.  When they had fallen out of functional everyday use by the 1960's they became objects of curiosity, creating oppotunities for reminiscences and nostalgia to be fired up for community celebrations and festivals.  The original Altanka pich was build by Roland Gervais of magnesite brick and embellished with colourful "rozpys" by Natalia Kolomyitchouk.

The Pool and Fountain:  This formal circular 6" diameter is rimmed by a 12" wide slab. This 4" thick dololmite "collar" was cut by Heracles Tsambis from one slab of stone.  Pink Geraniums curround the dolomite edge.  Within this planting border are four dwarf Korean lilac standards and ginko craig hostas.  The pool fountain is graced by two bronze cranes (harbingers of spring in Ukraine) amid growth of pickeral rush, dwarf umbrella palm, pale blue irises and white water lilies.

Conversational Swing:  The unique cedar swing built by Jim Tait affords a couple face-to-face stance as they swring to and fro.  It is topped by the characteristic shingled roof element - a unifying structure of the Altanka and graced by four hanging flower planters.

Teakwood Benches:  Weather resistant teakwood benches manufactured from teakwood grown on plantations in Indonesia are placed to encourage rest - to pause and reflect on the Altanka's dynamic harmony accented by a colourful bird feeder, a copper and brass weathervane and a musical wind chime.

The Ukrainian Altanka 2000 was designed by landscape architect mark Elliott and built by contractor Steve Elliott of Acer Construction.