It started with one sleeve …

In February 1944, a small group of Canadian women gathered at St.Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Toronto with the idea of creating a museum to preserve their Ukrainian heritage.

With one embroidered sleeve remnant and $14.50 raised at a friend’s birthday celebration, the Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Ontario Branch was born.

The Museum was originally established as a committee of the Eastern Executive of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada, part of a network of Ukrainian museums that promoted Ukrainian cultural life across Canada. At a time when culture and language were being oppressed in Soviet Ukraine, the Museum’s bold mission to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret objects that illustrated Ukrainian heritage and its contributions to Canada brought awareness of Ukrainian culture and history to Canadians in Toronto and the surrounding area.  

In 1973, the Museum became known as the Eastern Branch Museum; in 1983, it was incorporated under its own charter as the Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Ontario Branch.

In 1979, the Museum moved to larger facilities within St. Volodymyr Institute, where it is located today.

Over the years, the modest collection of artifacts amassed by founders Jean Wachna, Dorothea Hutzulak-Mandziuk and Kalyna Sakaliuk has grown exponentially. The daughters, granddaughters and others who followed have become stewards of thousands of artifacts brought from the “old country” by various waves of immigration, as well as items from the vibrant Ukrainian-Canadian community.

As our collections grew, so did our dedicated community of members and volunteers. Since the 1980s, Museum volunteers have produced at least one major thematic exhibit annually, complemented by special programming for school groups and others. Some of our exhibits have travelled to community festivals, conferences, and symposia, and they continue to attract visitors of diverse heritage from across North America, Ukraine, and beyond. 

As we look to the future, we imagine a thriving Museum deeply rooted in its mission to preserve and celebrate Ukrainian heritage; a Museum that will evolve to embrace technological advancements, innovative exhibition designs, and educational programs to engage future generations in the rich tapestry of Ukrainian culture.

To continue this remarkable journey and write the next chapters of its story, the Ukrainian Museum of Canada - Ontario Branch relies on the generous support of donors like you. Your contributions will ensure that visitors can continue to explore, learn, and be inspired by the enduring legacy of Ukrainian heritage. Please join us in preserving the past and shaping the future. Let's continue the story together.

We take great pride in our 80-year legacy, having earned the trust of our community as stewards of Ukrainian heritage, safeguarding it through artifacts and traditions.

Today, the significance of preserving Ukrainian culture resonates with us more deeply than ever before.