Taste of home: Ukrainian community in P.E.I. welcomes new store

Members of P.E.I.'s Ukrainian community will celebrate the opening of a new store this weekend that will feature food, beverages and other treatsfrom their home country.

This is the secondSoika store, with the first store openingearlier this summer in Dartmouth. The shopwas created by a couple from Ukraine who wanted to share a taste of home with their Canadian neighbours.

"A lot of people [waited in] the line for three hours to ... purchase from the store," said Alla Lebedeva, project manager for Soika, located inthe Kirkwood Mews in Charlottetown.

"It's very popular and we still have a lot of customers every day coming to buy our food."

Lebedeva said soikameans"small bird," which in Ukrainian culture symbolizes luck, resourcefulnessand the ability to survive in any conditions.

"He's very small and not really strong, but inside he's strong," she said.

Lebedeva said the store is helping to create jobs in Ukraine, which is meaningful to the people working at Soika whohave family members still livingin the war-torn country.

But the Russian invasion of Ukraine also makes it more difficult to get the goods that will be sold at the store, she said.

"Of course ... in Ukraine for now [there]is not a lot of work,"Lebedeva said."So this is [an opportunity] for them to earn some money, to get some work."

Lebedevaworries about her family in Ukraine every day as the war continues.

Working to openSoika has been a way she can support them, as well asthe Canadians who have welcomed Ukrainians since the war started.

"For me it's very important, yes, but I guess it's very important for all of us who live in Canada," Lebedeva said.

"Because since the war [started], we have a lot of support from Canadians. It's very, very nice, and I guess it's important for everyone."

This new Ukrainian food store in P.E.I. also employs people in Ukraine

24 days ago

Duration 1:40

A new store opening this weekend in Charlottetown features food and beverages from Ukraine. CBC's Nancy Russell spoke with Soika's project manager, Alla Lebedeva, about the venture and how it's employing people in her home country.

Svitlana Hrynova from Dnipro, Ukraine, moved to Canada a year ago, and will be working at Soika.

"She likes this part of her job because it's not easy to find the job in Canada, especially without the language skills," Hrynova told CBC News through a translator.

"So she really appreciates the owner of the business. He helps not just people here. He gives a lot of work to the people who are still living in Ukraine and can't move or leave."

Hrynova said she looks forward to sharing the food from her country with Islanders,"and she's pretty sure that everyone who [tries]it once will buy this again and again."

This is going to make their home a lot happier. Stephen Taweel, Kirkwood Mews owner

Soika will offer food from other European countries, including Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands.

The store also has a dairy section, a meat and fish counter, anda small case filled with caviar.

"I think this is goingmake their home a lot happier," said Stephen Taweel, owner of Kirkwood Mews.

"I mean, you should see them when they come in as a group. They're just so excited and happy to to see this store. They're a good group."

The grand opening of Soika will take place Saturday, Aug. 31 at 10:30 a.m.Lebedeva said there will be live music, an eating contest, and more.