While many consider Ukrainian egg painting to be a tradition associated with Easter, Jean Richardson is bringing the hobby she loves to students throughout the calendar year.
Jean is of Ukrainian heritage and is now passing on her passion for the art of egg painting to a new generation.
Each year, she visits dozens of Calgary-area schools work with second and third grade students.
“Grade twos learn about cities, grade threes learn about four different countries to learn the different cultural diversities that exist and that's part of the curriculum,” explains Jean. “Then they just invite me to come into the schools and do the eggs.
“First of all, they wanted us to just demonstrate them. I won't demonstrate. The kids have got to do an egg.”
Shirley Froehlich and Jean were coworkers at Canadian Blood Services. Following their retirements, Shirley began volunteering with Jean during the school visits. Shirley says Jean is amazing with the children.
“Jean's just a great person,” said Shirley. “It's an honour to work with her.”
“She's so good with the kids and she's passionate about what she does.”
A few years ago, Jean's brother, who lives in Vancouver, asked her to decorate some eggs with NHL team logos on them for a silent auction to raise funds for the Vancouver Children's Hospital.
Jean attempted to get permission from the individual teams but didn't get any response. She then escalated her request to the NHL itself.
“I phoned New York directly and after that we were just sailing,” laughs Jean. “They were sending us e-mails and pictures and letters all the time.”
The NHL eggs are a hit with the students. Jean has the kids decorate one side of their egg with a traditional Ukrainian design and the other half with a design of their choosing. A lot of the children create NHL logos.
Shirley says it gives her great pleasure to be part of what Jean is doing.
“It's just fun to see the happiness in the kids when they get to do the eggs with Jean.”
For keeping her love, the tradition of Ukrainian egg decorating, alive, Jean Richardson is this week’s Inspiring Albertan.
With files from CTV's Darrel Janz
