The strength and vitality of Yorkton is in no small part influenced by the early Ukrainian pioneers who settled in the area. Armed with no more than strength and determination to find a better life in this new land, these early pioneers contributed greatly to the development and well-being of the Yorkton area.

One of these pioneers was Peter Yaholnitsky. An orphan, unfamiliar with the English language, and armed only with his strength and determination, Peter took up a homestead in the Rhein district in the late 1800s. He was accompanied by his brother Fred, who took up a homestead in the same area.

He married 15-year-old Antonia Kowalyshn, who had come from her native Austria at the tender age of 12 to live with relatives. Antonia was no stranger to the trials of pioneer life, and she and Peter started life together on the homestead in a small one roomed log cabin.

With the exception of a bed and stove, all the furniture of their tiny home was made by Peter. The abundance of wild game assured them of food.

The young couple set about clearing the land of heavy bush, with Antonia leading the one ox and Peter guiding the plough. They managed to clear a few acres and put in a crop. In the those early years the crops suffered from frost and times were very hard for the young couple, but each year they were able to clear more land.

To augment the family income, each fall Peter would walk from his homestead to Brandon to work, leaving Antonia to tend to the affairs of the homestead. In spite of fear and loneliness, Antonia looked after the animals and her young family.

Later Peter and his brother purchased a threshing machine and successfully custom threshed in the area.

As the family grew, Peter and Antonia realized that if their children were to be educated, they would have to move nearer to an education centre. They sold their land and purchased property in Yorkton on Betts Avenue where they built the building known as the Yaholnitsky block.

Determined that their children were going to have a chance at a better life, Mr. and Mrs. Yahonitsky instilled into their children the necessity of hard work and education. By this time their children were attending school and collegiate, and each worked at whatever job was available.

To keep the children in school, Mrs. Yaholnitsky took in washing and other work outside the home. Mr. Yaholnitsky operated a billiard and pool hall on Betts Avenue.

There were 12 children in the family. Daughter Julia (Bahrey) was a teacher and one her pupils was Sylvia Fedorak, who became Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan.

Dr. Mike and Dr. Richard were medical doctors in Yorkton, while Dr. Sam practiced medicine in Calgary. Dr. Steve was a dental surgeon in Yorkton for over 40 years. Emil will be remembered as the owner of Wings Lunch.

Jean and Vickie worked in their brother's office as office manager and dental assistant. Ann (Dumka) was a seamstress in the upholstery department of Chrysler Motors in Detroit. Nestor was killed in action in 1944. Della (Winjack) lived in St. Catharines, Ont. and Orest worked in the CPR shops in Calgary after serving in the forces during the war.

Peter, along with other Ukrainian families, founded the Greek Orthodox Church, which was located on Wellington and Duncan. Both Mr. and Mrs. Yaholnitsky took an active role in the affairs of the church, serving on the various church boards and organizations.

Peter and Antonia, though lacking material wealth, instilled in their family the rewards of hard work, education and contributing to their community. Yorkton has reaped the benefit of the early pioneer families, such as the Peter Yaholnitsky family.