Ukrainian Heritage Day

The first official Ukrainian immigrants, Vasyl Eleniak and Ivan Pylypiw, arrived in Canada on September 7, 1891. Soon afterwards, Ukrainian immigrants began arriving in Ontario in larger numbers.

In 2001, the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario proclaimed September 7 each year as Ukrainian Heritage Day. 

Today, Ontario is home to more than 376,440 Ukrainian Canadians, and there are over 1.3 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent across Canada. Ukrainian Heritage Day provides a special opportunity to recognize the role that Ontario has played in successfully welcoming generations of Ukrainians seeking a better life here in Canada while celebrating the contributions of Ukrainian Canadians across many communities and walks of life in our province and our country.