The organizers, partners, sponsors and local businesses behind the festival — every year since 2023. Filter by role, or by which festival year they were part of.

Year

Olga IalovenkoFestival Director & Lead Organizer

The steady hand behind festival day.Organizer2023–2026

Anna TkachenkoCo-organizer

Ottawa entrepreneur, originally from Cherkasy.Organizer2026

Maksym StepanenkoCo-organizer · Marketing & Digital Lead

Building the festival's year-round digital platform.Organizer2026

Ukrainian Community of Lanark CountyOrganizer

An institutional partner of UA FEST.Partner

LifeCapital GlobalOrganizing partner

An institutional partner of UA FEST.Partner

MarketingMIXOrganizing partner — site & promotion

An institutional partner of UA FEST.Partner

Alice BoutiqueOrganizing partner

An institutional partner of UA FEST.Partner

Marta StepanenkoSinger

An 11-year-old voice carrying Ukrainian song across Europe and Canada.Performer2024–2026

BCU FinancialBuduchnist Credit Union — Community Sponsor (3rd year)

Backed UA FEST in 2024–2025.Sponsor2024–2025

MEEST Canada50% shipping for the children's-gifts project

Backed UA FEST in 2023–2025.Sponsor2023–2025

Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)Festival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2025.Sponsor2025

Thomas Cavanagh ConstructionFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024–2025.Sponsor2024–2025

Edward JonesFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024–2025.Sponsor2024–2025

Solvis LawFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2025.Sponsor2025

Carleton Place NurseryFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2025.Sponsor2025

Peace of Mind Business SolutionsFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024–2025.Sponsor2024–2025

The Royal Canadian LegionFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2025.Partner2025

Misha Lytvynyuk PhotographyFestival photography

Backed UA FEST in 2025.Media2025

Capital Ukrainian FestivalFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024.Partner2024

Duke Fine FoodsFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024.Sponsor2024

Giant TigerFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024.Sponsor2024

Staples CanadaFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024.Sponsor2024

UA OttawaFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024.Partner2024

Jani-King of Eastern OntarioFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024.Sponsor2024

Carleton Place TourismFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024.Government2024

North HouseFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024.Sponsor2024

The Floral BoutiqueFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024.Sponsor2024

knyga.caFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024.Sponsor2024

Artistic Cake DesignFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024.Sponsor2024

Strawberry Blonde BakeryFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024.Sponsor2024

Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in OttawaHosted festival kitchens

Backed UA FEST in 2024.Partner2024

St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic ShrineFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024.Partner2024

Embassy of Ukraine in CanadaFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024.Government2024

Town of Carleton PlaceHost municipality

Backed UA FEST in 2024.Government2024

Town of Smiths FallsFestival supporter

Backed UA FEST in 2024.Government2024

Sofiia ZaikaSinger

part of the charming and inspiring stage performancePerformer2024

Ottawa Ukrainian Children's Choir (OUCC)Children's choir

Ottawa Ukrainian children's choir, created in 2023Performer2024

The SharmsPiano/guitar/vocal duet

captivating piano, guitar and vocal duet from Mykolaiv, UkrainePerformer2024

Olga KirchanovaMusician (The Sharms)

one of the two talented musicians in the duet The SharmsPerformer2024

Yurii SaidmambietovMusician (The Sharms)

one of the two talented musicians in the duet The SharmsPerformer2024

MandrivnytsiSinging duet

'Wanderers' — duet bringing traditional folk and modern Ukrainian songs to lifePerformer2024

MilaSinger (Mandrivnytsi)

from KharkivPerformer2024

VarvaraSinger (Mandrivnytsi)

from KyivPerformer2024

Svitanok Ukrainian Dance EnsembleFolk dance ensemble

Ukrainian dance ensemble from Ottawa, founded 1991Performer2024

KolizhankyFolk song ensemble

folk ensemble performing rural Ukrainian village songsPerformer2024

Maria BarganSinger

13-year-old singing sensation from OdessaPerformer2024

Tanya NovolskaBandura player & vocalist

first time ever in Carleton Place — sounds of banduraPerformer2024

Vladislav YermilovSinger

Ukrainian singer — pop, pop-rock, chanson, folk; X Factor 2016 participantPerformer2024

Illia LevchenkoDrummer & composer

drummer and composer, also known as funkylev1Performer2024

Lyudmila TereshchenkoSinger

named as a festival singerPerformer2024

Pid KovdroyuMusic band

Ottawa-based music group promoting contemporary Ukrainian music, formed 2023Performer2024

vn_singerSinger

listed among the festival's stage singersPerformer2024

MANUSinger

singing favorite Ukrainian hits on stagePerformer2025

Marko BondarenkoLight show performer

light show finale filled with movement, colour and rhythm after sunsetPerformer2025

Taras YaremiyStand-up comedian

Ukrainian stand-up comic touring Canada in support of the Armed ForcesPerformer2025

Break Dance group (Kanata / Gatineau)Break dance crew

street dance crew originally from CrimeaPerformer2024

Dmytro KrupkaEthnographic collector / exhibitor

guardian of traditions, blind since childhood; exhibits his collection of traditional Ukrainian attireArtist2025

Alexis BesedaOrnament maker

handcrafted ornamental Ukrainian Angels donated for the festivalArtist2024

Tetiana WilliamsSilk-painting & jewelry artist

silk painting studied in Ukraine; electroforming jewelry makerVendor2024

CookiddooUkrainian culinary studio

culinary studio — kids' cooking class, borscht & pampushky; shared Ukrainian culture in PerthVendor2025–2026

Anastasiia StepanenkoCuisine representative (Cookiddoo)

young star representing Ukrainian cuisine with the Cookiddoo Studio; kitchen teamVendor2025–2026

Raisa Hordiychuk (Mama Raisa)Kitchen lead / cuisine expert

most respected Ukrainian cuisine expert in the Ottawa Valley; consultant and 'guardian angel' of the festivalVolunteer2024–2026

Fast CoffeeCoffee vendor

self-service coffee franchise at the festival marketplaceVendor2025

The WOW CampKids' zone team

amazing team who ran the children's zone with energy, laughter and creativityVendor2025

Ulana Handmade Bags (Uliana Sakhno)Handmade-bags vendor & bazaar coordinator

handmade bags vendor; coordinated the bazaar and made a 2m Motanka dollVendor2024

KrokusVendor / partner business

listed among festival partners and vendorsVendor2024

Eurostyle UAVendor / partner business

listed among festival partners and vendorsVendor2024

BNI Art StudioArt studio vendor

art studio listed among festival vendorsVendor2024

DM Auto OttawaVendor / partner

listed among festival partners and vendorsBusiness2024

Cafe Ukraine OttawaCafe vendor

listed among festival sponsors/vendorsVendor2024

Life CapitalEdtech co-creator platform

groundbreaking educational technology created in Ukraine; the festival was created by people from the Life Capital tablePartner2025–2026

mmix.caCo-organizer company

partner company and festival co-organizer; designed the Life Capital websitePartner2025

Coulas Insurance Ltd.Community sponsor

insurance company supporting the community as a Community SponsorPartner2025

CP Rentals & Property ManagementParking provider

provided access to the Old Hawthorne Mill parking lotPartner2025

Tetiana DodonovaFestival photographer

credited festival photographer across many postsMedia2024–2026

Marina Shum (Maryna Shum Photography)Photographer

photographer and content creatorMedia2025

Ira AncherbakContent creator / photographer

content creator (photo/video) for the festivalMedia2024–2025

Iryna KochkinaContent creator

named among the festival's content creatorsMedia2025

Julia ShummContent creator

named among the festival's content creatorsMedia2025

Elizabeth LuhovaContent creator

named among the festival's content creatorsMedia2025

nasolodaContent creator

named among the festival's content creatorsMedia2025

Taisiia MnishenkoVideographer

created the festival gratitude video (drone team)Media2024

Denys SavchenkoVideographer

video from the incomparable Denys SavchenkoMedia2024

Mykhaylo PavlovPhotographer / videographer

part of the photo/video team; thanked for festival promotion videoMedia2024

Ann ChunosovaPhotographer / videographer

part of the festival photo/video teamMedia2024

Denys RamzhaievVideographer

videographer with his own unique styleMedia2024

Darya FedorovaVolunteer Coordinator

volunteer coordinator (Координатор Волонтерів)Volunteer2024

Anna PientsovaFestival chef / F&B coordinator

festival chef coordinating the food & beverage zone and borscht cookingVolunteer2024

Nataliia MoshBorscht coordinator

coordinator of the borscht team (30+ volunteers)Volunteer2024

Kateryna ShumenkovaVarenyky lead

led the varenyky making and festival korovaiVolunteer2024

Marina ZavgorodniayaUzvar lead

led the uzvar preparation — 500+ litresVolunteer2024

Oksana DyshlenkoPyrizhky lead

baked 3000+ pyrizhky with a team of volunteersVolunteer2024

Olga ShyrinskaSweets / desserts

prepared sweet desserts at her own expenseVolunteer2024

Vadym KucheriavyiKulish preparation

his kulish won everyone's heartsVolunteer2024

Maia GeladzeKitchen volunteer

a woman from Georgia supporting Ukraine, worked at the festival tirelesslyVolunteer2024–2025

Oksana MosiichukHead accountant / logistics

festival head accountant and logistics/coordinationVolunteer2024

Ellena PolishchukFestival host / MC

charming festival host (ведуча); also ran the balloon photo zone and stage decorationSpeaker2024

Olya KinashCreative workshops coordinator

coordinated creative workshops and created the 'Famous Ukrainians' exhibitionVolunteer2024

Nata ChabaCreative workshops

co-created the creative workshop atmosphereVolunteer2024

Olga OstafiichukCultural program coordinator

coordinator of the cultural programVolunteer2024

Mike RynzakCultural program team

part of the soul of the cultural programVolunteer2024

Mariia BondarCultural program team

part of the soul of the cultural programVolunteer2024

Mykyta ZakharchenkoChildren's program coordinator

coordinator of the children's program; led the kids' zone activitiesVolunteer2024–2025

Ksenia ZubriyCharity program coordinator

coordinator of the charity programVolunteer2024

Liudmyla PylypenkoAdministrative / registration

did major work in the administrative sector early in preparationVolunteer2024

Svitlana HaidaichukBusiness forum coordinator / organizer

coordinator of the business forum and a festival organizerVolunteer2024

Svitlana MarchukSponsor relations

worked with festival sponsorsVolunteer2024

Tommy LeeLocation prep & auction

helped prepare the location and ran the auctionVolunteer2024

Nataliia StepanenkoKitchen team

kitchen department volunteerVolunteer2025

Shawn PankowMayor of Smiths Falls

Mayor with Ukrainian roots; initiator of 'A Taste of Ukraine' Smiths Falls–Zolochiv sister-city eventSpeaker2024–2026

Toby RandellMayor of Carleton Place

Mayor of Carleton Place who attended the festivalSpeaker2024

Mykola KulebaFounder of Save Ukraine

received the festival's donation check as the Save Ukraine foundation's founderPartner2024

Hon. Dr. Stanley KutcherSenator

Senator present at the concluding donation ceremonySpeaker2024

Linda SeccaspinaCarleton Place councillor / advisor

councillor and advisor to the Mayor of Carleton Place; featured in a festival videoSpeaker2024

Marianna KulavaDiplomat, Embassy of Ukraine in Canada

Embassy diplomat who visited the festival's Ukrainian book kioskSpeaker2024

Jessica HansenCommittee guidance

provided guidance to the festival committeePartner2024

Steph ScollanFestival support

supported the team through preparation and after the festivalPartner2024

Volodymyr KobezskyiMeest Canada representative

highlighted alongside partner Meest CanadaPartner2025

Anna KuprieievaSolvis Law representative

legal partner personally thanked for registering the organizationPartner2024–2025

Mariana GrushkovykThomas Cavanagh contact

thanked for care, speed and coordination at partner Thomas Cavanagh ConstructionPartner2025

Nadiya SakhnoCoulas Insurance representative

representative of Community Sponsor Coulas InsurancePartner2025

Anna VynnykFinancial Advisor (Edward Jones vendor)

Financial Advisor present on location at the Edward Jones vendor boothPartner2025

Kseniia PavlovaBook sponsor (knyga.ca)

made it possible to buy Ukrainian books in Canada as prizes for childrenPartner2024

Taras KinashPriest; kitchen & logistics support

priest thanked for prayers, logistics and opening the church kitchenPartner2024

Save UkraineBeneficiary foundation

partner foundation for child rescue & rehabilitation; received the festival donation checkPartner2024

Kids of UkraineCharity beneficiary

charitable organization helping children and families heal from war traumaNGO2024–2025

Carleton Place Community Enrichment ProgramIn-kind supporter

approved $1500 in-kind support for the festivalPartner2024

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Join the UAFest Family

Are you part of the UAFest story — as a volunteer, performer, business or supporter? Tell us about yourself and we'll be in touch. Every entry is reviewed by the organizers before it appears in the directory.