In Loving Memory

Brad's Legacy

Brad Smoliak was a chef, mentor, and dear friend of DON'YA Ukraine's Kitchen. He lived for over 50 years with a congenital heart condition — kept alive in his final years by a Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute. In his honour, DON'YA supports the Mazankowski's VAD Program, supporting their goal of reaching $1 million in Brad's name.

Event: A Toast to Brad → Learn More →

Brad & DON'YA Ukraine's Kitchen

Brad was an incredible chef, but even more than that, he was an incredible mentor, friend, and human being. He taught our team from the beginning, and we are so grateful for the friendship, knowledge, laughter, and love he brought into our kitchen.

So many things in our kitchen that we use every single day to cook and create came from Brad. It brings us so much joy knowing that pieces of him are still here with us, and that we get to carry those pieces forward.

In the early days, Brad spent every Wednesday with the girls. They would tell us, "Wednesdays are the funniest days, because Brad makes us laugh," and they would look forward to them every week.

Brad even formed a special friendship with one of our cooks who spoke absolutely no English, because Brad didn't need English to communicate his love, joy, humour, and friendship. He had a way of making people feel understood and loved without needing words. It was truly special to see.

Brad's heart will forever be a part of DON'YA. Him and his soulmate, Leanne, came with us to Jasper to help launch our new brand, hosted cooking classes and fundraisers, shared his culinary expertise, and believed in what we were building from the very beginning. DON'YA carries a big piece of Brad, and we will carry that piece with us always.

In Brad's honour, we are committed to continuing to celebrate Heart Month with fundraisers supporting his VAD Program at the Mazankowski. And we call it "Brad's Month," because we want to help him reach that $1 million goal he was working toward.

We are some of the luckiest people on earth to have been touched by Brad Smoliak's gift of culinary excellence and expertise, his friendship, kindness, humour, generosity, and so much more.

Eternal memory, our friend.
Until we meet again.

A Toast to Brad: Ukrainian Lunch

DON'YA is hosting a Ukrainian lunch in memory of Brad — perogies and his favourite cabbage rolls, made with love. 100% of proceeds go to Brad's Journey, the VAD Program Fund at the Mazankowski.

Cabbage Rolls for Brad

Totally different than the little holubtsi stuffed with rice and bacon that I grew up on. These are much bigger... Simmered on the stove top, in a sauce of onions, carrots, tomatoes and spices, they are absolutely delicious, we have them at least once a month.

— Brad S., 2024 Tomato Top 100

Date & Time Tuesday, August 18
11am until we run out

Location Little DON'YA
10405 Jasper Ave

How to Join Us

🍽️ Join Us In Person

No pre-orders needed — just come hungry. Line up starts at 11am, until we run out.

🏢 Feeding a Team of 10+?

We only allow pre-orders for teams of 10 or more. Pick up between 11am–12pm at Little DON'YA. Purchase below.

Pre-Order Now

💛 Make a Direct Donation

Can't make it to the lunch, or just want to give more? Donate directly to Brad's Journey any time.

Donate Now

Brad's Story

Brad was born with a congenital heart defect, Transposition of the Great Vessels, and had his first surgery at 11 days old at the University of Alberta Hospital. At five years old, he had the Mustard procedure at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children. Not only did he live, he thrived and didn't have any serious issues until his mid-thirties.

Brad was 34 years old when he experienced his first major cardiac issue. He went into the hospital where they worked some cardiac magic, and he was prescribed a new cocktail of drugs. Brad was well for a long time after and continued to work just as hard and passionately as ever. But the past 10 years saw him in the hospital a little more often. Through his amazing tenacity, and great work at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, Brad bounced back each time.

By 2019, Brad was living with a heart that had been overhauled 47 years earlier. It was tired and in late-stage failure. He needed a transplant but was told he couldn't get one — over the years his body had adapted to his less-than-perfect heart, and a healthy new one would be like putting a Ferrari engine into a 1966 Skoda.

This is where his story gets really cool. Through the genius of the doctors and medical team at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, on January 18, 2019, Brad was fit with a Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) — a mechanical pump that helps a weakened heart keep working.

Since his surgery in 2019, Brad went back to the hospital countless times, and the medical team there kept giving him more time. He had more energy than he'd had in years. As Brad put it, you don't know how sick you are until you feel better.

It is because of the skilled team at the Mazankowski that Brad had those extra years. The VAD program at the Mazankowski is the largest in the country. VADs aren't just for people with congenital heart defects — they're primarily for people who've had a significant cardiac event and can't be helped by other options like pacemakers or valve replacements. Many of us know someone who has had, or will have, a cardiac event. Some don't make it. With a VAD, many more will.

Brad's family is eternally grateful for the community, friends, and care that surrounded him. To honour that, please consider donating to the University Hospital Foundation — your gift goes directly toward the VAD Program at the Maz.

About the Program

Your donation supports the VAD Program at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute — the largest VAD program in the country. Gifts to the University Hospital Foundation make a real difference in the lives of patients, every day.