The first group of Ukrainians, from the province of Galicia, which was under Austrian rule, arrived in May of 1899 to settle in the south Riding Mountain region. They were seeking a new life wherein they could own land, educate their children and live as free citizens in a democratic country.

After a difficult journey from Germany to Halifax to Winnipeg, raw cold winds and inadequate shelter and food brought on a virulent strain of scarlet fever and measles among the immigrants.

By the time the settlers reached Strathclair, three children died between Portage la Prairie and Minnedosa, they were buried by the track, another three died in Strathclair, four more children were affected and the families realized it was an epidemic.

Fear and despair tore on the hearts of the parents who had come with high hopes of providing opportunities for their families.

More and more children were dying. A heart-rending incident occurred when Mr. And Mrs. Wasyl Swistun lost their baby boy. The mother held the lifeless body in her arms until they reached their destination. The family was determined to bury their little ones near their homestead.

Because of many sick children, families were quarantined at Strathclair, while others left for Patterson Lake where they had made camp to await the completion of the surveying of their homesteads.

A late spring storm struck the group and without adequate food and shelter virtually the entire group took ill. Over the course of two weeks, forty-two children and three women died, and were buried in a shallow mass grave near the camp. The little graves were marked with wooden crosses.

The unfortunate settler who was allotted the homestead upon which this tragedy occurred, could not bear the sight of the numerous tiny wooden crosses and within a few years moved to Saskatchewan. The new owner was not aware of the site and for a time its location became lost. In 1915 the site was fenced off and simple birch cross erected.

The location was more formally marked by a small concrete monument erected in 1941 to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Ukrainian settlement in Canada. In 1990 the site was designated by the R.M. of Rossburn and a large monument was commissioned for the site.

The impressive granite and bronze monument at the same site celebrates the 1991 centennial of Ukrainians in Canada.

The Mass Grave Site is located east of Patterson Lake.