Vegreville Pysanka (Easter Egg)

This is not just another roadside attraction. The Vegreville Pysanka is the world’s largest Easter egg. It was unveiled in 1973 as part of the centennial celebrations of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The design celebrates Vegreville’s rich Ukrainian heritage and the peace and security that the RCMP brought to the area. “Pysanka” comes from the Ukrainian verb “pysaty,” which means “to write.” This reflects how the designs are written onto the egg. The Vegreville Pysanka was created somewhat differently. It was a collaboration between a local artist of Ukrainian descent and a computer scientist at the University of Utah. The Pysanka contains 524 star patterns, 2,208 equilateral triangles and 177 internal struts. It is both an artistic masterpiece and an engineering marvel. It’s the focal point of Pysanka Park, which also features a 9-hole mini golf course and a pond where you can rent a paddle boat ($5) and take a leisurely cruise.