How Ottawa’s Maidan Market is helping to connect Ukrainian newcomers to what matters most

Since the invasion of Russian forces into Ukraine earlier this year, every day people from Ukraine are arriving in Canada, often with very little but the clothes on their backs. 

Olenka Bastian, a Ukrainian-Canadian, watched the growing numbers of Ukrainians fleeing to Canada for safety and knew she needed to do something to help.  In an effort to support people arriving in her local Ottawa community, Olenka started the Maidan Market – a home for non-perishable food, clothing and resources, a place to help connect Ukrainian newcomers to their new community and each other. 

An integral function of the Maidan Market Olenka envisioned would be to provide a safe and free digital lifeline for newcomers to access vital information and services, and to stay connected to their family and friends back home.  For this, Olenka approached Rogers for help in bringing this dream to life.  

We’re proud to be able to support Olenka and the Maidan Market by providing computers and enabling connectivity for those visiting the market to help keep them connected to the people and things that matter most.    

“As Canadians and a proud Canadian company, the events in Ukraine have moved many, many people, including our team members. We’re very happy and proud to be able to offer this support to the Maidan Market and to the Ukrainian people who use it.”
– Ted Woodhead – President, Eastern Ontario Region, Rogers 

Through the Maidan Market, Olenka has achieved her goal of providing a sense of home, safety and connectivity for Ukrainian newcomers to her community.  

I love the Maiden Market because it’s a physical space. I love it because… it does everything it was supposed to. And it connects the right people. It connects Ukrainians with Canadians. It connects Ukrainians with Ukrainians. And it’s perfect.”
– Olenka Bastian, founder of the Maidan Market 

Canadians can continue to support relief efforts in Ukraine by texting the word ROGERS to 20222 (EN) or 30333 (FR) to make a $5 donation, or by donating any amount by visiting www.redcross.ca/UkraineCrisis/Rogers. 100% of the donations will go to the Canadian Red Cross’ relief efforts in Ukraine.   Earlier this year, Rogers donated $100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross’s Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal. 

Click here to learn more about Rogers’ support for Ukraine.