Press & Publicity

2023 and later

 Our 75th Anniversary

In our lives, it is profoundly important to cultivate gratitude — to thank God, our parents, family, loved ones, and all those around us. But it is especially essential to remember and honour our ancestors and mentors. For our community, expressing gratitude to all those who laid the foundation for our Parish, built our Church, and fostered its spiritual, cultural, and social development is of great significance. 

Ukrainian Orthodox congregation celebrates 75th anniversary

The Ukrainian Orthodox church in Ottawa has celebrated its 75th anniversary as a congregation. As part of the 2024 anniversary year, the church embarked on an ambitious fundraising goal of $200,000. The church held multiple fundraisers throughout the year, according to Parish Priest Father Taras Kinash. In total, the church raised over $160,000, allowing it to repair the roof. “It started a year ago with pysanka bingo,” Kinash told the Kitchissippi Times. Pysanka are the traditional painted easter eggs, which the church combined with a bingo night and dinner to kick off the year. There was also a borscht cooking competition that featured dozens of borscht variations from regions across Ukraine.

For Ottawa’s Ukrainian newcomers, this Christmas is about being together

For many Ukrainians in Ottawa, this Christmas season is less about the day it is celebrated on and more about being together and celebrating Ukrainian traditions. The effects of the ongoing war have led to uprooted lives, separated families and lost loved ones. Having a sense of togetherness away from home, made possible through venues such as Café Ukraine, Maidan Market and the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, is vital for Ukrainian newcomers fleeing war to feel a sense of belonging this holiday season. 

Some Ukrainian newcomers change Christmas traditions to reject Russia

"This is a Christmas of loss, of tears, of suffering, of splitting the families," Kinash said, adding his father and brother are still in war zones. "This Christmas is unique as it never was before. And I hope it will never be again." Some Ukrainian newcomers, like himself, will still celebrate Christmas on Saturday at the cathedral for tradition's sake, he said. There will be food-tasting competitions featuring kutia, a sweet wheat berry pudding, and uzvar, a traditional Ukrainian beverage made from dried fruits and berries.

A bittersweet first 'Canadian Christmas' for Ukrainian newcomers

It was the first time that more than half of the people assembled inside the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral had celebrated the occasion on Dec. 25. On Jan. 7, an additional party was held to share the joy of the holidays with people who are lonely and those who are struggling.

Now the church has more than 100 churchgoers on some days, thanks to newcomers like himself, Kinash said. Among the new arrivals are people who came to Canada “with broken hearts, destinies, souls and split families,” he said.

Preserving culture: Pysanka Workshops bring new life to Ottawa’s Ukrainians

Canada is home to the largest Ukrainian diaspora in the world, one which strives to preserve its cultural and national identity. This happens through the efforts of Ukrainian and Canadian volunteers. Workshops for Ukrainian Easter egg painting at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Ottawa show how ordinary people are changing the community for the better – they have organized “Pysanka” (meaning egg-painting) workshops to support Ukrainian culture during the Russian invasion.

Local groups remain committed to helping Ukrainians in Ottawa one year after invasion

In the time since Russia invaded Ukraine one year ago, Father Taras Kinash of the local Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox church said the way it helps Ukrainians in need has evolved. “As time has gone on, their needs and goals have changed,” Kinash said. “That’s why we’re more focused on helping them look for jobs and offering generous psychological and mental health support,” he said. “So we don’t focus on donations and charity as much anymore.”

Unity and culinary tradition bring joy to holiday season in Kitchissippi

Many Kitchissippi residents are overcoming an especially grim Christmas season by forging communities, sharing traditional meals and raising money to support those in need. Local churches and community organizations are banding together with shelters and food banks to meet increasing demands for their services during the holidays. Meanwhile, people across the globe are rallying their efforts and funds to support those living through the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

2022 and earlier

An echo of home: Ukrainian Orthodox Church helps newcomers settle

The local Ukrainian Orthodox Church had been supporting their country and community since the war broke out Feb. 24. 

The downstairs hall was turned into a command center where items were collected for Ukrainian newcomers, and for shipment to Ukraine. Markets, bake sales, and craft fairs were held almost weekly with proceeds going toward war efforts.

Deachman: Job fair looks to match Ukrainian newcomers with local employers

Beyond its specific utility to support newcomers, the fair also served as a reminder that the plight of Ukrainians hadn’t been forgotten in the months since Russia’s attack. 200 Ukrainians gathered at the job fair held at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church on Byron Avenue last Wednesday afternoon, each displaced by Russia’s invasion of their country and in need of work, and met with 15 area employers, many facing a pandemic-led labour shortage, to see if the skills of the former matched the needs of the latter.

Ukrainian-Canadian history documented one church at a time

For nearly three decades, Sterling Demchinsky has spent his vacations, weekends, and other time off criss-crossing the country in search of Ukrainian churches to photograph.

“What I realized is that there was a real, genuine need to preserve all of these churches in the collective memory of our country because they speak to the history of Ukrainian people in Canada,” explained the retired civil servant.

Royal tour: Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla visit Ottawa

During their one-day visit to Ottawa in May, the royals shined light on important locally-led initiatives. Charles and Camilla had the opportunity to meet over 100 local Ukrainians, many of whom are helping family members and friends back in their homeland, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February. 

Visit by Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall as part of the Royal Tour to mark the celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

On 18 May 2022, the Ukrainian community in Ottawa was honoured with the visit of Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales* and The Duchess of Cornwall. This visit was part of their three-day royal tour to Canada to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and to show their support for war-ravaged Ukraine. They had specifically requested to meet with a Ukrainian community during this royal tour. This visit attracted international media to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Ottawa, reflecting the significant impact the war on Ukraine has had on Ukrainian communities in Ottawa, Canada and worldwide.

  • Link - /royal-visit

Ukraine: Voices from Ottawa — Pysanky workshops "give some hope for peace"

In the 29 March 2022 edition of the Ottawa Citizen newspaper, there was an interview with our church member, Tamara Rudenko-Charalambij, who organized 15 pysanka workshops in our church hall, organized and sold many pysanka making kits, and rekindled the interest in the art of pysanka writing in our community and in Ottawa. All the proceeds from the pysanka workshops and the pysanka-making kits will be used to support humanitarian relief in Ukraine.

Ukraine: Voices from Ottawa — "Even if, God forbid, the worst happens, Ukrainians will always be"

In the 26 March 2022 edition of the Ottawa Citizen, there was an interview with our church choir conductor, Larissa Mason, a talented second generation Canadian-Ukrainian, who eloquently expressed her treasured connection to Ukraine through tradition, culture and music.

Donations overflowing for Ukraine humanitarian aid at Ottawa collection centre

Organizers of a donation drive for the people of Ukraine were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support this weekend as people lined up around the block to send much-needed humanitarian aid to the embattled country.

“We are so grateful,” said Olenka Reshitnyk-Bastian, who helped organize the drive at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral on Byron Avenue. “Ottawa is making it happen for the people of Ukraine.”

Ottawa church hosts perogy pinchers to fuel aid for Ukraine

An army of volunteers responded to an urgent appeal from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church for the fundraiser to aid the Canada-Ukraine Foundation and refugees of the war. Organizer Angie Reshitnyk says Ottawa’s Ukrainian Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic churches have been making and selling perogies for decades to raise money. But this year, with funds slated to help Ukraine, she says the demand for orders “is unprecedented.”

Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral Hall acts as command centre for local fundraising, volunteer efforts

The Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral Hall, located at 1000 Byron Ave., has become a command centre for locals looking to help in any way possible. On March 5, the hall began to collect items and, within hours, was filled to the rafters. 

Ottawa-Ukrainian community still holds historic ties to the church

“We can have Ukrainian chants, but it’s about the faith. If you don’t have the faith but just come for the cultural experience, you’re missing the major part. On the other hand, if you come for the faith and dismiss the cultural part—the Ukrainian experience—you are also missing a big part,” says Okhrimtchouk.

Ukrainian Profile

Ukrainian Profile is a magazine format program that showcases the Ukrainian and local community events. The show features news, entertainment, tourism and interviews with prominent community members and dignitaries. Proudly sharing the richness of Ukranian culture, traditions and history, including music and dance with local talent, the show provides a bridge among viewers in the Ukranian Canadian community and the greater Ottawa community.