Yuzyk Academy: Ukrainian charter school to open in Calgary this September
Yuzyk Academy, Calgary’s new Ukrainian charter school, will open in September offering bilingual English–Ukrainian K–4 instruction, cultural programming and room for 600 students.
Yuzyk Academy to open in September
Yuzyk Academy, a Ukrainian charter school in Calgary, is scheduled to welcome its first students this September at a downtown campus on 11th Avenue S.W. The school will initially enroll children from kindergarten through Grade 4 and plans to add a grade each year until it reaches Grade 9.
The project, named for Senator Paul Yuzyk in recognition of his advocacy for multiculturalism and Ukrainian language education, arrives after years of community organizing and a recent surge in local demand. Organizers say the timing reflects both long-standing interest and a growth in Ukrainian families arriving in Calgary since 2022.
Curriculum blends English and Ukrainian
Students at the Ukrainian charter school will follow a bilingual program that integrates English-language arts, science and social studies with Ukrainian-language instruction in math, arts and physical education. School leaders describe the approach as immersive yet balanced, aiming to ensure students meet provincial learning outcomes while developing fluency in Ukrainian.
Andrea Taylor, the school’s superintendent, has emphasized that lessons will be structured so children gain competencies in both languages from the start. Officials say teachers will use a mix of language-specific subjects and cross-curricular activities to reinforce vocabulary and cultural understanding.
Cultural programming and community ties
Beyond academics, Yuzyk Academy will make cultural learning central to the school day, offering classes in Ukrainian dance, traditional singing and cooking. Organizers plan to involve older students in city cultural events so pupils can both celebrate their heritage and contribute to Calgary’s wider cultural scene.
The school will also build relationships with local cultural groups and community organizations to provide extracurricular opportunities and support for families who have recently arrived. Administrators say those ties are meant to strengthen social networks and help students maintain cultural continuity.
Enrollment, capacity and growth plans
Registration for the inaugural year has already attracted roughly 100 students, though officials expect that figure to rise during the summer as word spreads at festivals and community gatherings. The downtown facility has capacity for up to 600 students, giving the charter school room to expand as demand grows.
Yuzyk Academy will admit a new grade level each year, with administrators planning to broaden the offer to Grade 9 in the coming years. Staff caution that early registration is advisable, noting they expect applications to increase and that spaces could become limited by next September.
Board leadership and community campaign
The school board is chaired by Tyler Shandro, a Calgary lawyer and former provincial minister with Ukrainian roots who supported the initial petition calling for a dedicated school. The petition, circulated last year, collected several hundred signatures and helped galvanize local support for a charter option when other school authorities were unable to take on the project.
School leaders say the charter model provided a practical route to opening a new program tailored to the community’s needs. The development was described by organizers as the culmination of decades-long interest among Ukrainian-Calgary residents for formalized language and cultural education.
Language preservation for refugee and immigrant families
For many families who fled the war in Ukraine or have recently relocated, the school represents an opportunity to preserve language and family ties across generations. Parents report concerns that younger children who arrived as toddlers or were born here are losing fluency and the ability to communicate with relatives who remain overseas.
One mother who moved to Calgary in late 2022 said the prospect of a bilingual school would help her younger child reconnect with family traditions and reduce the communication gap with relatives abroad. Administrators emphasize that the school aims not only to teach language but to support a sense of belonging and cultural continuity for newcomers.
Yuzyk Academy’s opening marks a notable addition to Calgary’s educational landscape, reflecting both a local Ukrainian community’s persistence and broader conversations about diversity in schools. As enrolment continues and programming develops, educators and families will watch closely to see how the charter school balances provincial curriculum requirements with the cultural and linguistic priorities that prompted its creation.
