Since 2023, DON'YA Ukraine's Kitchen has been sharing authentic Ukrainian food — and the stories behind it — from the heart of Edmonton, Alberta.

What began as a community response to the 2022 invasion of Ukraine started as a small donation centre supporting Ukrainian newcomers. People were arriving with just one suitcase — and we were there to help with the essentials. We supported approximately 20,000 newcomers from 2022 to 2024. Soon, those who once received help returned to volunteer, cook, and share their traditions. Their spirit became the heart of DON'YA.

By 2023, with the support of local partners — including First Nation Chef Matthew Potts, who opened the doors of his kitchen to our team — we launched our first pop-up. Canadians quickly fell in love with our handmade varenyky (perogies), holubtsi, and borshch, each dish crafted by newcomers rebuilding their lives in Canada.

Today, DON'YA has grown into a vibrant network of cafés, a retail brand, and a manufacturing kitchen employing over 25 Ukrainian newcomers. Our products can be found in grocery stores across Alberta, and our catering brings people together at tables from Edmonton to Calgary.

In 2025, our story reached a national stage — we appeared on CBC's Dragon's Den Season 20 and received significant media attention throughout the year, with our story of resilience and community resonating across Canada.

Beyond the food, we are a movement — uniting communities, creating jobs, and preserving Ukrainian culture one plate at a time.