When Olha Zolotkova arrived in Winnipeg just months after Russia’s mass invasion of Ukraine in 2022, she didn’t speak English.
Now, she’s building her own business.
“I’m so excited.… A little bit worried about it, you know, but I’m happy because now we have freedom, we have chance [to] start something new,” Zolotkova said in her new Exchange District showroom.
But this wasn’t always part of her plan.
Over the years, Zolotkova worked as a teacher, principal and textbook editor in Ukraine. She started thinking about starting her own business when she came to Canada, but figured it would be a daycare.
While on summer break from her job as an educational assistant at a Winnipeg school, she decided to launch By Zola, an online store and by-appointment clothing boutique specializing in plus-size clothing for women.
It’s something she saw a need for when shopping in Winnipeg.
“When I tried to [find] clothes for me, it was [a] challenge,” she said.
They left Ukraine because of war. Now they’re building businesses
Zolotkova, who also still works as an educational assistant, hopes there’s a market for the clothing lines she’s bringing in.
“It’s something new for me, and I like both things — education and create something,” she said.
“We’ll see, and I hope … it will be successful.”
Nearly 30,000 Ukrainians arrived in Manitoba through the province’s reception and welcoming centre since February 2022, according to a provincial spokesperson. More than 27,600 health cards were issued.
Neither the province or organizations CBC checked with are tracking how many people have started businesses here. But Zolotkova isn’t the only one that has.
Mila Shykota, who arrived in Winnipeg following the start of the war, created the Ukrainian Guide to Winnipeg.
It’s an online directory of some businesses recently started by Ukrainian newcomers as well as others that sell Ukrainian items or food.
Vitaliy Lebezun, vice-president of Warkentin Business Solutions — which offers accounting and business consulting services — said he’s fielded questions from Ukrainians who have arrived in Manitoba around topics such as starting a business and self-employment requirements.
He expects that to continue as people become more settled.
“There’s a lot of people who came and they had their own businesses, and that’s why they want to start here again,” said Lebezun, who is originally from Ukraine but moved to Manitoba more than 20 years ago.
“And there’s a lot of people who maybe did not have businesses but always wanted to, and they’re going to start.”
His company now has four people on staff who have arrived from Ukraine since the war started, he said.
It’s been “amazing” to help those who have ended up in Manitoba over the last three years, he said.
“I always tell them, I wish I had that help when I came, because I would have been maybe successful even sooner.”
Yuliia Okhrimenko made the move to Winnipeg with her son in May 2022. Her husband, Serhii, arrived more than a year later.
The couple are now just about to celebrate the first anniversary of KoloShop, their Ukrainian gift shop, located inside House of Local at 680 Watt St.
The shop sells all kinds of things, from candles to toys to decorations. Most of it is made by people who left Ukraine because of the war, they said.
“I just remember that time, it was hard. The main goal is we want to help these people,” said Yuliia.
“If it can help for 50 people, that’s good. That’s great. We will help them to sell their products, and they will earn some money.”
Yuliia and Serhii had a flower shop in Ukraine. But for them, KoloShop isn’t just another business — it’s about community.
“Our people [are] pretty strong, but all of them need to be feeling the support,” said Serhii. “We try to combine together — like, you’re not alone. We are all together.”
In addition to running the store, Yuliia and Serhii both have other jobs. Yuliia said their family is feeling settled in Winnipeg, and she hopes to stay.
“I already have home here, but I still remember my home there.… If I ever think about Ukraine I start crying, because it’s like you’re between two countries,” she said.
“You recognize you’re here and you are building a new life here, but still missing your previous life.”
For Zolotkova, there’s no easy answer to questions around whether she hopes to stay in Canada or return to Ukraine.
She chose Winnipeg in part so that her daughter could study at the University of Manitoba. Her husband and parents are now in the city too.
“Maybe one day … when war finish, we visit Ukraine,” she said.
“I don’t know — it’s so difficult question for right now, because … situation in Ukraine worse and worse each day, and I don’t know what happen next.”
For now, growing her business is part of making Manitoba home, she said.
