Narodni dim

A narodni dim is a community hall, with a related organization, in the Ukrainian Canadian community. Nardoni dim literally means "people's home" or "national hall".

Narodni domy (plural) were modeled after the chytalni or reading halls of Austrian Galicia, many of which were coordinated by the Prosvita society.

Narodni domy in Canada typically were either independent or affiliated with various political or religious groups who competed for members and funds. In Alberta in the early 20th century 45% of the halls were independent, 35% were communist, and the rest were Ukrainian Catholic-controlled. Independent halls were often linked to either the "Russo-Greek Orthodox" church or the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. Socialist halls were organized by the Ukrainian Labour-Farmer Temple Association, and became known as "labour temples".

The main function of the hall's governing board (zariad) is to organize plays, concerts, dances, and other cultural activities. They have differed from other community halls in Canada by offering Ukrainian-language music and plays and because of their political and religious associations.

Examples

Small narodni domy were once common throughout the Ukrainian bloc settlements but many of those have been closed, and the remaining ones are in larger centres.

• Ukrainian Cultural Centre of Toronto
• Ukrainian Labour Temple, Winnipeg

References

• Makuch, Andrij, "Narodni Domy in East Central Alberta" in Continuity and Change: The Cultural Life of Alberta's First Ukrainians, ed. Manoly R. Lupul (Edmonton: Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies and the Alberta Historic Sites Service, 1988), pp 202-210