Sharing Our Stories with the Community & Beyond

Христос воскрес! As we finally welcome the arrival of spring in Toronto, April has been a month of vibrant community connections, academic exploration, and cross-cultural collaboration at the Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Ontario Branch. Here's a look at how we've been engaging with our community and the world beyond our walls.

Research in Focus: Diasporan Fashion and Soviet Ukraine

Over the past few months, we had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Olha Korniienko, Visiting Research Fellow from the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, as she conducted research for her forthcoming book on Ukrainian Soviet fashion. As part of her Canada-wide study, Dr. Korniienko explored the unique role of the diaspora in Ukrainian fashion during the Soviet era, with our Contemporary Diasporan Collection serving as a key resource. Her work at UMCO also included in-depth interviews with several of our volunteers, members, and curators — giving voice to our community’s lived experiences and memories.

On Sunday, April 6, we co-hosted a seminar, Behind the Iron Curtain: Making Fashion in Soviet Ukraine, 1945–1991, with St.Volodymyr Institute and Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre. The event drew more than 50 attendees as Dr. Korniienko presented rare archival footage from Ukrainian fashion houses, vintage fashion photography, and historic publications that brought the complex and surprising world of Soviet Ukrainian fashion to life.

We were proud to support Dr. Korniienko’s research while also learning about this pivotal period in Ukraine through the unique lens of fashion history.

Building Bridges: Estonia–Ukraine Museum Exchange 🇪🇪 🇺🇦

On April 9, we welcomed representatives from the VABAMU Museum of Occupations and Freedoms (Estonia) and VEMU Canadian Estonian Museum in Toronto. Our discussion with VABAMU’s CEO and VEMU’s Chief Archivist, along with their staff, led to a thoughtful exchange on the successes and challenges facing heritage institutions today.

This meeting marked the beginning of a promising relationship between our museums, driven by shared values and histories. We are grateful to our Estonian colleagues and the broader Estonian community for their continued support of Ukraine and look forward to future collaborations.

Community Connections in Oakville

UMCO President Laurisa Hrycyna and Director Tanya Mykytiuk represented our Museum at the St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church Easter Bazaar on Sunday, April 12 in Oakville. The event was a meaningful opportunity to engage with members of the Greater Toronto Area’s Ukrainian community. Many attendees were eager to learn about our current exhibition and our 80-year history, and generously shared personal stories about their families, heirlooms, and cultural heritage.

The SJUCC Easter Bazaar is an annual celebration of Ukrainian culture and a cherished space for community connection, especially vital during times of uncertainty. While there, Laurisa was interviewed by the Globe and Mail, which spent the day capturing the voices of our community — in particular, reflections on the ongoing war in Ukraine and the importance of cultural spaces for those rebuilding their lives in Canada.

We’re hopeful that our new friends will soon visit us in downtown Toronto to explore our exhibition and join our growing community of cultural preservationists.

Community and Student Groups

Our staff and curators hosted two group visits at the Museum in April! Twenty newcomers from Polycultural Immigrant and Community Services explored our exhibition and shared meaningful conversations about heritage, migration, and cultural identity. We later hosted eight university students from the Petro Jacyk Program for the Study of Ukraine at the Centre for European and Eurasian Studies (CEES), as part of their exploration of Ukrainian culture and diaspora history.

We love exchanging stories with students, newcomers, and community organizations alike! To arrange a group tour, school field trip, or educational visit, please contact us to learn more about how we can create a visit tailored to you. Our current exhibition runs until June 27, 2025.

Thank you for being part of our mission. 🙏
Whether you attend an event, share a story, or bring a friend to visit our Museum, your involvement helps us keep Ukrainian culture alive and thriving in Canada.

A Heartbreaking Loss in Alberta

As we celebrate our community connections this month, we also reflect on a devastating event within the Ukrainian-Canadian cultural landscape. Earlier in April, a wildfire caused significant damage to the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village near Edmonton, Alberta. The fire destroyed their visitor centre, along with irreplaceable artifacts and historical records that documented generations of Ukrainian settlement and cultural life in the region. Read more…

This heartbreaking loss reminds us all in the cultural preservation community just how fragile our heritage can be — and how vital our work is in protecting it for future generations. We extend our deepest solidarity to our colleagues in Alberta as they begin the long path toward recovery. If you would like to support their restoration efforts, donations can be made through the Friends of the Ukrainian Village Society.

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

UPCOMING EVENTS

• May 15 Vyshyvanka Day

• May 15 Workshop: Basket Weaving with Paper Workshop

• May 17 Closed for Victoria Day weekend

• May 18 International Museum Day 🌎

• May 22 Workshop: Introduction to Ukrainian Goddess Embroidery

• June 1 Workshop: Motanka

• June 12 Lecture: Baba Yaga’s Palette: The Secrets of her Three Sacred Colours

• June 18 UMCO Annual Meeting

MEMBERSHIP NEWS
📅 Save the date for our Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. If you haven’t already renewed your membership, or would like to become a member, click here to join our community of supporters of Ukrainian culture, history and identity in Canada!

The Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Ontario Branch is a member of the Canadian Museums Association and the Ontario Museum Association.