Narodni domy (plural) were modeled after the chytalni or reading halls of Austrian Galicia, many of which were coordinated by the Prosvita society.
Members of the Supreme Ruthenian Council (Ukrainian: Головна Руська Рада) started establishing these halls in the Austrian-ruled Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria during the "Spring of Nations" period of European history.
[1] Narodni domy in Canada typically were either governed independently or affiliated with various political or religious groups who competed for members and funds.
The main function of the hall's governing board (zariad) is to organize Ukrainian plays, concerts, dances, and other cultural activities.
Small narodni domy were once common throughout the Ukrainian bloc settlements but many of those have since closed, and the remaining ones tend to be in larger urban centres.