❄️ January Updates

January updates

Happy New Year! As we settle into a chilly end of January, we’re pleased to share a few updates from UMCO and look forward to another vibrant year of Ukrainian culture and history in Toronto.

2026 Calendar

Ukrainian Credit Union Limited (UCU) has generously featured the Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Ontario Branch in its 2026 annual calendar! This year’s edition showcases a different Ukrainian artifact from our collection each month, spanning the 1700s to contemporary works. Together, these pieces reflect the remarkable breadth of Ukrainian artistry and the important stories behind each piece.

A long-standing supporter of the community, UCU recognizes the importance of preserving and celebrating Ukrainian culture in Ontario. Their continued support helps ensure that our shared heritage remains visible, valued, and accessible for future generations.

These calendars are in high demand! While they are not for sale in our boutique, copies may be requested at a UCU branch near you, while quantities last.

Holiday Giving Campaign Update

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, our 2025 Holiday Giving Campaign reached 98.5% of our $25,000 goal! We are deeply grateful to all our supporters for their contributions! Дякуємо!!! 🙏

Like all museums, UMCO relies on donor support to care for our collections, offer educational programs, and keep our doors open. Every gift ensures that Ukrainian culture, history, and stories continue to be shared in Canada.

If you missed the campaign and would still like to give, please visit umcontario.com/donors to support the Museum.

Spotlight on Ukrainian museums

Nash Holos Ukrainian Roots Radio recently interviewed Iryna Mycak about the 2025 Shevchenko Foundation Annual Report, which spotlights Ukrainian museums in Canada.

Iryna spoke about how Ukrainian museums are important pillars in our community that not only preserve culture and artifacts but serve as living legacies that connect us to our heritage:

We have this general impression of museums featuring history, featuring the past… but they are living legacies. They play a critical role in preserving our cultural heritage…but they’re also powerful storytellers. Artifacts have human stories… that bring us closer to our heritage… that make us care, drive change… and entice us to dig deeper.

To listen to the full interview, click here: Nash Holos January 6, 2025
To read the TSF 2025 Annual Report, click here: TSF 2025 Annual Report

MEMBERSHIP

January is the best time to join or renew your UMCO membership! Memberships keep our Museum thriving and enable us to offer exciting programs. Enjoy perks like reciprocal admission to select museums in Ontario and discounts from community partners! More details…

We look forward to welcoming you at the Museum in 2026, as we celebrate Ukrainian culture, share stories, and continue to stand with Ukraine on its path to victory. Together, we will keep exploring the past and embracing the future, building connections and inspiring hope for the year ahead. 💙💛

CURRENT EXHIBITION

Kosiv Bazaar.
A living archive of the Carpathians

September 5, 2025 – March 2026

There is a place in the west of Ukraine, in the Carpathian Mountains, where magic happens. Known as the Kosiv Bazaar, it is here that the imagination is sparked, creativity flows and the world meets.

Kosiv Bazaar • A Living Archive of the Carpathians is an exhibition drawn from the collection of Leonard Krawchuk, inspired by the unique phenomenon of the Hutsul bazaar in Kosiv. A place where – for centuries – craft, community, and the beauty of everyday life have intersected. The Kosiv Bazaar is more than just a market – it is living memory, cultural force, and a space of gathering. We invite you to experience an exhibition where trade becomes culture, and the bazaar becomes a living metaphor for community.

This exhibition is generously sponsored by:

UPCOMING EVENTS

EXHIBITION OPENING
Unissued Diplomas
Sunday January 25 • 4:00pm
VEMU Estonian Museum Canada
310 Bloor Street W., Toronto

Unissued Diplomas is a worldwide exhibition that honours the memory of 40 Ukrainian students who will never graduate because their lives were taken by the Russian full-scale invasion that started on February 24, 2022. UMCO is proud to partner with VEMU Estonian Museum Canada to bring these stories to the Toronto community. The exhibition will be on view until May 15, 2026. More details…

WORKSHOP
Hutsul-Style Motanka Doll with Lucy Ireland
Saturday February 21 • noon to 5:00pm
620 Spadina Avenue, Toronto

Back by popular demand! Spend an afternoon at the Museum with Lucy Ireland, making your own Hutsul-style Motanka doll, inspired by the Kosiv Bazaar exhibition. Ages $12+, space is limited. Details and registration here.

The Ukrainian Museum of Canada, Ontario Branch is a member of the
Canadian Museums Association and the Ontario Museum Association,
and is located inside St.Volodymyr Institute.