Ukrainian Centre Sudbury

06/12/2026

John Baby (John Babij)
Let’s bring his story back to life!
This is the gravestone of John Baby (Іван Бабій). His name was also spelled as John Babij.
John was crushed by a ladle in the Victoria Mine smelter and died on December 10, 1910.
He is buried in the Catholic Cemetery on Bay St. in Whitefish.
He was 33 years old and probably came from Galicia (Галичина), Ukraine to find a better life.
Did he have any family here? Who buried him? Are there any family members of his in the Sudbury area? All of these questions are unknown at this time.
Help us fill in his history if you might be related to him or think you might know anything about John Babij.
The Ukrainian Centre is looking at fundraising to restore his gravestone and honour him after 125 years of his passing. John was part of the early Ukrainian immigration to the Sudbury area, and he must not be forgotten.
If you have any information, please call Taras Martyn at the Ukrainian Centre and leave a message. (705) 688-0314 or come into the Centre during opening hours.
“Here rests John Babij
Died December 10, 1910
Crushed by a ladle
Victoria Mine smelter
Eternal Memory!”

06/10/2026

06/05/2026

Ukrainian Borsch

Ukrainian Borsch, a traditional sour soup,
has a rich history deeply rooted in Ukrainian culture. The dish& #39;s origins trace back to
ancient farming practices and local ingredients, with the earliest versions made from
wild plants and cultivated vegetables. Over time, the use of beets (Beetroot) became
the defining ingredient, giving the soup its iconic ruby-red color.
By the Middle Ages, Ukrainian households were already preparing beet-based
soups with cabbage, onions, carrots, and garlic, reflecting the abundance of the
fertile Ukrainian soil.
The same name, however, is also used for a wide selection of sour-tasting soups
without beetroots, such as sorrel-based green Borsch, rye-based white Borsch, and
cabbage Borsch. Depending on the recipe, Borsch may include meat or fish or be
purely vegetarian; it may be served either hot or cold, and it may range from a
hearty one-pot meal to a clear broth or a smooth drink. There are multiple examples
of the soup in Ukrainian cuisine. Virtually every ‘oblast’ (region) has its own version.
Differences between particular varieties refer to the type of stock used (meat, bone,
or both), the type of meat (beef, pork, poultry, etc.), the choice of vegetables and the
method of cutting and cooking them.
Borsch has always been more than sustenance; it carries deep symbolic meanings
and is often prepared for festive and ritual occasions.
During Christmas Eve supper (Sviata Vecheria), families serve Lenten Borsch, made
without meat but enriched with beans, mushrooms, and dried fruits. Weddings often
feature large pots of Borsch, symbolizing abundance and warmth. In times of
hardship, Borsch remained a meal that could be stretched to feed many,
demonstrating resilience and resourcefulness.
In some parts of Ukraine, the third day of a wedding celebration is called “до
невістки на Борщ” which translates to "visit daughter-in-law to eat Borsch". In 2022,
UNESCO added "Culture of Ukrainian Borsch cooking" to the List of Intangible
Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
The dish embodies an old Ukrainian saying: “without Borsch, there is no meal.”

06/04/2026

Join us Wednesday July 1st - 11:30am to 2pm

06/04/2026

Join us Canada Day 11:30am to 2pm
Eat-in or take-out

05/29/2026

Olena Pchilka
Olha Petrivna (29 June 1849 – 4 October 1930), better known by her pen name Olena Pchilka (Олена Пчілка – meaning “little bee”), was a Ukrainian publisher, writer, ethnographer, interpreter, and civil activist. She was the mother of Lesya Ukrainka who also became an important contributor to Ukrainian literature and culture.
Pchilka received a basic education at home and completed her studies at the ‘Exemplary Boarding School of Noble Maidens’ (Kyiv) in 1866. During her time at the school Pchilka published her first story, which was written in German. She married Petro Kosach in 1868 and soon moved to Novohrad-Volynskyi, where he worked. Her daughter Lesya Ukrainka was born there.
Dismayed by the lack of Ukrainian reading material for her children, Pchilka began her career by translating children's stories, as well as poetry into Ukrainian. She also recorded folk songs, folk customs, and rites, and collected traditional embroidery in Volhynia, later publishing her research in the book “Ukrainian Folk Ornament” in Kyiv in 1876. As a result, she became known as the first expert in this type of folk art in Ukraine.
In 1906, Pchilka became the editor of the newspaper Ridnyi Krai (Native Land), which was published in Poltava until the introduction of a ban on Ukrainian press in 1914. In 1908, she also started publishing a children's monthly called “Moloda Ukraina” (Young Ukraine).
A long-term object of surveillance by the Russian police, she was reportedly critical of the Bolsheviks after their capture of power over Ukraine. In 1920, she was arrested after being accused of counter-revolutionary activities including the public demonstration of the blue-and-yellow flag but was freed after the intervention of one of her acquaintances.
Recognized as one of the most well-known Ukrainian female poets, Olena Pchilka died in Kyiv, aged 81.

05/22/2026

Celebrating Vyshyvanka Day at Ukrainian Centre.
День Вишиванки в Українському центрі.

05/22/2026

We would like to thank Ukrainian Credit Union for supporting our organization. Their generous donation helped us to make our Altanka garden beautiful . We welcome community to enjoy our wonderful garden during summer events at the Centre.
Висловлюємо щиру подяку Українській Кредитовій Спілці за щедру грошову допомогу на придбання квітів для нашої Альтанки. Завдяки вам мешканці та гості Українського Центру будуть насолоджуватися красою квітів у Альтанці.

05/21/2026

Wear your Ukrainian embroidery and join us at the Centre for a walk to celebrate Vyshyvanka Day (4 to 6)