Ukrainian books are becoming increasingly available across Canada.

Today, Ottawa welcomed a new location for Ukrainian literature – the "Lesia Ukrainka Ukrainian Library in Ottawa", established at the Lesia Ukrainka Ukrainian School of Ottawa.

This long-awaited event is a significant milestone for the Ukrainian community and all enthusiasts of Ukrainian literature. Now, Ukrainians of all ages – from children to adults – will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in contemporary Ukrainian literary masterpieces and explore the richness of our language and cultural heritage.

The project was made possible through the initiative of the School's leadership, Yulia Kubin, the library coordinator Tamara Pastukh, and the support of partners: Ukrainian Credit Union Limited (Taras Pidzamecky, Christina Levus), BCU Foundation (Mary Medyk Garbutt), and volunteers who helped gather books. Even the students of the School donated their favorite books to the library so that their peers could enjoy Ukrainian fairy tales or captivating stories.

The Embassy of Ukraine in Canada also contributed to expanding the library's collection. At the end of last year, the Embassy, together with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Ottawa Branch, implemented a joint project to procure and supply the future library with printed books in Ukrainian.

Ambassador of Ukraine Yuliya Kovaliv encouraged everyone to cherish books and read as much as possible in Ukrainian.

“The Ukrainian library in Ottawa is not just a place for reading, but a symbol of our culture and heritage. It’s a place where we – Ukrainians in Canada – can gather, learn the language, and share knowledge about the history and traditions of the Ukrainian people. The library will be my friend, my little window into Ukraine when I am so far from home,” said Olesya Tkhir, a student at the School.

We sincerely thank everyone who contributed to the creation of the library and supported this project.

The newly opened library will operate in the Ukrainian Credit Union building in Ottawa. For more details on how to borrow books, visit: https://t.ly/XYTk0