UCAMA’s goal is to rehabilitate and where practical restore portions of the Lodge Hotel and the Brighton Block in order to create a facility which will house exhibition galleries; an archive and library resource area; collection storage areas; educational, meeting and special programming areas and more.... all open to the community at large. To this end, essential maintenance has commenced. This involves the preparation of the interior of the Lodge Hotel for eventual demolition, structural upgrading and subsequent construction. As part of this process, David Murray Architect is conducting an ongoing assessment and recording of the structural and decorative history of the building. This has already revealed the opulence of the original dining room, hidden stairwells, forgotten skylights, and the façade of the original hotel. An unexpected discovery providing a glimpse into the lives of hotel guests has been found in the attic. This includes turn-of-the-century clothing, a 19th-century ledger, numerous bottles and other artifacts. When completed, the new museum will preserve and interpret the heritage of not only the Ukrainian community, but of all Albertans. With over 50,000 annual visitors ultimately expected, the project will have a positive economic impact on the rejuvenation of the historic Downtown East area. Cultural tourism is seen as a link between heritage and economic stimulation. In addition, museums reinforce a sense of place, fundamental to identity and community building, which translates into quality of life and the development of a city’s urban fabric. UCAMA will develop its new interpretative focus on the Ukrainian contribution to the City of Edmonton, thereby strengthening Edmonton’s identity.