T he Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival was inaugurated in 1997 as the Ukrainian Canadian community’s response to the City of Toronto’s call for the revival of a 1991 Twinning Agreement between Toronto and Kyiv, the Capital of Ukraine.
The Festival is a not-for-profit corporation that relies on community support, corporate donations and the hard work of over 200 volunteers.
The Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival Organizing Committee’s vision is to offer the largest celebration of Ukrainian spirit in the world – showcasing the best of Ukrainian arts and culture by:
- Providing an all day entertainment experience for the whole family on Bloor Street West;
- Introducing Ukrainian culture to the general Canadian public, thereby encouraging tolerance, understanding and goodwill between all segments of society;
- Creating a Toronto tourist attraction in Bloor West Village similar to the Taste of the Danforth and the Toronto Jazz Festival in the Beaches;
- Developing a strong network of volunteers for the community.
The Festival attracts visitors from across Canada and the U.S.A. The activities and entertainment on the street provide a total family experience for all who attend.
In 2023 over 1 million attendees experienced true Ukrainian hospitality in the Bloor West Village in Toronto.
Since 1997
Volunteers 300
Artists 400
Attendance 1 million
“It is more vital today, than ever, to keep Ukraine visible and the importance of its democratic position on the world stage in the forefront. Since 1997, the Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival has provided over 15 million visitors with the history, culture, and our contribution to the fabric of Canada as a whole and, most importantly, it continues its mission to combat propaganda against Ukraine.
“The Festival allows all family members to experience Ukrainian hospitality, and to create new friendships and strengthen old friendships in a congenial atmosphere.
“Slava Ukraini. Heroiam Slava.”
Click on any photo below to view the gallery.
