Explore Our Highlights for Ukrainian Heritage Day in Ontario! 🇺🇦

Every September 7th, we celebrate the contributions of Ukrainian Canadians who have enriched our province for over 125 years. While this is a day to honour our community, it also comes as Ukraine faces an ongoing invasion. It's a stark reminder of why it's so important to celebrate Ukrainian heritage—to show the world that it is rich with art and culture and unbreakable.

We invite you to continue the celebration with us throughout September. Join us for events and programs highlighting the richness of Ukrainian culture and the strength of its people. At SVI, we strive to connect you with the stories, traditions, and creative spirit that make our community unique.

In this blog post, we'll explore various ways you can get involved in celebrating and supporting Ukrainian culture. From discovering literature and engaging with the arts to connecting with community organizations and finding direct ways to support them, we offer ideas and resources to help you deepen your connection with Ukrainian heritage.

Here are some ways you can support and celebrate Ukrainian culture and Heritage:

Explore Ukrainian Fashion

Discover unique Ukrainian brands that blend tradition with modern style:

Hoyra: a modern embroidery studio in Lviv, creating garments inspired by traditional Ukrainian wear.

Oliz: Blending Ukrainian folk traditions and decorative art with contemporary fashion, this brand crafts distinctive scarves and silk accessories, breathing new life into Ukraine's traditional scarf-making industry.
Lutiki: A conceptual jewelry brand that reimagines Orthodox traditions and familiar cultural elements, creating unique pieces like pumpkin seed earrings and garlic pendants.

Check out an extensive selection of Ukrainian brands at Spend with Ukraine to browse modern Ukrainian fashion and support Ukrainian creators and the Ukrainian economy during these challenging times.

2. Contribute to Organizations that Fundraise for Ukraine

CUF: the Canada-Ukraine Foundation monitors and promotes programs that support humanitarian aid, medical assistance, education, social welfare, and good governance.

Help Us Help: Provides humanitarian aid and educational programs.
Project Sonyashnyk: Supports children affected by the war in Ukraine.
Unite with Ukraine: Delivers essential supplies and equipment to Ukraine.

3. Read Ukrainian Authors

Explore these modern books on Ukrainian art, culture, and fiction/non-fiction by Ukrainian authors:

Visit SVI Library: Our library shelves feature both classic and contemporary works, including rare publications from the early 20th century. Rent these books and more at SVI to dive deep into Ukrainian literature!

4. Watch Ukrainian Films

https://tiff.net/events/temporary-shelter

https://tiff.net/events/u-are-the-universe

Two compelling Ukrainian films are set to screen at TIFF this year! Anastasiia Bortuali's documentary captures the resilience of displaced refugees in Iceland's dramatic landscape, while Pavlo Ostrikov's sci-fi debut follows a Ukrainian space trucker in a future threatened by nuclear waste. Both works, created amid ongoing conflict, poignantly explore themes of displacement, human connection, and perseverance in challenging times.

Limited tickets available! Click on posters to get your tickets today.

Mark your calendars for the Toronto Ukrainian Film Festival (TUFF), coming this April!

This annual non-profit event celebrates contemporary Ukrainian cinema while supporting crucial humanitarian efforts. TUFF showcases a curated selection of acclaimed Ukrainian films, many of which have garnered recognition at prestigious festivals like Cannes, Sundance, and TIFF.