Starting today, the "Ukrainian Bookshelf," a part of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska's initiative, is available at the Ottawa Public Library.

The Ottawa Public Library collection has been enriched with over 120 books in Ukrainian and English. It includes works by contemporary Ukrainian authors, classic Ukrainian literature, and several children's books.

During the opening, remarks were delivered by Yuliya Kovaliv, Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada, Sonia Bebbington, CEO of the Ottawa Public Library, and Ihor Michalchyshyn of UCC National - Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

A touching moment of the event was a reading by Ukrainian children, Nazar and Anastasia, of an excerpt from the book "The War that Changed Rondo." This book tells the story of the best place on Earth – the city of Rondo – and about a war that has no heart, understands no language, but touches everyone and leaves scars on all. Written by Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv, the book offers a magical story filled with hope and optimism.

We extend our gratitude to everyone involved in bringing this wonderful project to Ottawa – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Book Institute, Kyiv School of Economics, and Ottawa Public Library.

Special thanks to MEEST Canada for their support and for delivering Ukrainian books to Canada.

We hope that evenings in Ukrainian families in Ottawa will now truly become more Ukrainian.