The BWV Toronto Ukrainian Festival was established 28 years ago to promote Ukrainian culture in North America. The idea and founding of the festival is credited to Ukrainian Canadian Jurij R. Klufas. Inspired by his visit to the Ukrainian National Festival in Dauphin, Manitoba, Klufas recognized the need for a similar event in Toronto. He envisioned the festival as a significant platform to highlight Ukrainian culture and the history of the Ukrainian diaspora in Canada.
5 Facts that make the Toronto Ukrainian Festival so special
- The first Festival was a one-day, 2 hour event in the parking lot at Bloor and Jane. Initially attendance was only expected to be around 200 hundred people, to everyones surprise, well over 1000 people attended. Over 27 years, the festival has grown to a three-day event that attracts over a million visitors and is a huge economic driver for the City of Toronto.
- Prime Ministers, representatives of political parties, public activists, celebrities and major sponsors come to the Festival opening ceremonies to cut the ribbon and declare the Festival open.
- As a not for profit organization, the festival is built on the tireless work of volunteers and the important support of sponsors.
- Ruslana, Taras Chubai, Kozak System, Oleg Skrypka, Mandry, TIK, Ot Vinta, Bez Obmezhen, Lisapetny Batalyon, Jerry Heil, and many other famous performers from Ukraine performed on the Festival stage throughout the years.
- The BWV Toronto Ukrainian Festival goals are to showcase rich Ukrainian culture, traditions, history, cuisine and the role of the Ukrainian diaspora in the development of Canada as a country. We welcome all to the BWV Toronto Ukrainian Festival to become Ukrainian for the day.