Dmitro, Anna Orleski and Family

Dmitro was born on August 19,1891, the son of farmers Wasyl and Yarene Orleski. After completing high school where he excelled in math, history and singing he remained on the family farm until 1914 when he was drafted into the Austrian Germany Army (at the time Western Ukraine was under Austrian Control). Initially at the breakout of World War I he saw action on the Russian-Austrian front and then transferred to the Italian front where he was taken prisoner and remained in a P.O.W. camp in Albania until war end.

After the war ended Dmitro returned home to his wife Anna where they were blessed with two children; daughter Pansy and son John.

Prospects for a good life were bleak and news from Canada was very encouraging. So they decided to emigrate, sailing to Pier 21 in Halifax and continuing west by train, arriving in Vegreville Alberta on September 18, 1924 under the sponsorship of brother-in-law Wasyl Mandryk who was required to provide lodging at $45.00/month wage for one year. In 1925 the family moved to a farm near Two Hills, Alberta which they rented for two years.

In 1926 Steve was born. Dmitro purchased a ¼ section of land (NW 5-55-13-W4M) near Kaleland. With the help of family and friends a two room log house and log chicken coop were built. The roof was thatched with straw.

In 1929 son Michail and in 1933 daughter Mollie was born. Even though the family worked hard clearing the land and running the family farm the decision to immigrate to Canada was never regretted. Dmitro died in 1979 at age 89; his wife Anna died 7 years earlier. Their last 20 years of life in Canada were enjoyed traveling and doing menial tasks on the family farm where they lived in separate homes with son Steve who took over the farm.