In a humanitarian initiative that brings together gratitude, cultural diversity, and community solidarity, the Ukrainian community celebrated the “Merci Borsch” event on Sunday, October 4, 2026, in five cities across the province of Quebec: Montreal, Quebec City, Sherbrooke, Granby, and Saguenay. Now in its fourth consecutive year, the initiative expresses appreciation to Canada and its residents for welcoming and supporting Ukrainians amid the war affecting their country.
The initiative carries a message that goes beyond celebrating traditional food. It seeks to transform gratitude into a human encounter that brings members of the Ukrainian community together with local residents, giving them an opportunity to discover one another’s cultures through cuisine, music, the arts, and handicrafts.
When people are forced to leave their homeland because of war, their losses extend beyond their homes or workplaces. They also lose aspects of their daily lives, memories, social relationships, familiarity, and sense of belonging. Preserving their original culture and connecting with their new society therefore become important elements of the journey toward stability and building a new life.
From this perspective, the “Merci Borsch” event offers a model of intercultural communication that allows Ukrainians to express their identity and gratitude while giving Quebec residents an opportunity to discover the heritage of a community that has become part of the local social fabric.
Sherbrooke Hosts the Event for the First Time
The city of Sherbrooke was a special stop in this year’s celebrations, hosting the initiative for the first time at Parc André-Viger on Sunday, October 4, from noon until 4 p.m., organized by Sherbrooke UA.
The event included the free distribution of Ukrainian borscht soup, along with cultural and artistic activities and handicrafts that allowed visitors to discover aspects of Ukrainian heritage in an open community atmosphere.
Holding the event in Sherbrooke is particularly significant because it gives members of the Ukrainian community an opportunity to express their appreciation to the city’s residents and share their culture with the society in which they live. It also gives local residents the opportunity to discover their neighbours’ customs and traditions through a direct experience that goes beyond theoretical knowledge of different cultures.
Such gatherings play an important role in building social relationships, particularly for newcomers who may face communication and adjustment challenges in a new environment with a different language, customs, and way of life.
A meeting that begins around a dining table or during an artistic performance may develop into an ongoing social relationship that helps reduce isolation, strengthen mutual trust, and give individuals a greater sense of belonging to the community.
The initiative also highlights the important role of community organizations in organizing activities that enable different communities to participate in public life and present their cultures as part of the diversity that characterizes Quebec society.
Montreal and Quebec City… Cultural Diversity Brings People Together
In Montreal, the event took place at Square Viger, where different varieties of borscht soup were served alongside cultural and artistic activities that allowed visitors to discover the diversity of Ukrainian cuisine and its connection to folk traditions.
In Quebec City, the Alliance des Ukrainiens de Québec participated in organizing activities that included green borscht, traditional songs, handicrafts, and embroidery, with the participation of artists from the “Tsvit” group.
These activities reveal the broad scope of cultural heritage. It is not limited to traditional clothing or well-known foods but also includes songs passed down through generations, crafts that reflect a community’s skills, and traditions that preserve bonds among family members and the wider community.
Public events offer opportunities for direct interaction between different cultures, beyond the barriers that language or limited mutual understanding may create. They also help build a more realistic image of communities by allowing people to discover their members’ experiences and personal stories.
The initiative also extended to the cities of Granby and Saguenay, bringing the total to five cities across Quebec and uniting participants around a shared message of gratitude, communication, and mutual appreciation.
Ukrainian Borscht… More Than a Traditional Dish
Borscht holds a prominent place in Ukrainian cuisine. It is usually prepared with beetroots and a variety of vegetables, with recipes and ingredients varying according to regions, families, and local traditions.
Its significance lies not only in its taste or preparation but also in its connection to family and social life. It represents part of the popular memory and traditions passed down from one generation to the next.
In 2022, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscribed the culture of Ukrainian borscht cooking on its List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, amid risks threatening the continuation of this cultural practice.
This recognition highlights the fact that living heritage consists not only of buildings and historical objects but also of the knowledge, skills, and everyday practices that give communities a sense of continuity and identity.
By serving borscht to Quebec residents, Ukrainians share part of their national culture and transform food into a means of fostering encounters and human connection.
Sharing a table allows people to discover their similarities while giving them an opportunity to celebrate their cultural differences as a source of richness and diversity rather than a reason for separation or distance.
Solidarity and Integration… A Shared Responsibility
The “Merci Borsch” event reflects an important aspect of the relationship between newcomer communities and host societies. This relationship is not based solely on providing assistance during times of need but also develops through social and cultural participation and everyday interaction.
Welcoming people who have been forced to leave their countries because of war represents an essential step toward stability. However, building a new life also requires opportunities for communication, learning, employment, friendship, and the development of a sense of security and belonging.
In return, newcomers can contribute to the societies in which they live through their experiences, skills, cultures, and participation in public activities and local initiatives.
Integration does not mean abandoning one’s original identity or forgetting one’s homeland. It means being able to preserve one’s language, heritage, and customs while respecting the host society and participating in its daily life.
This is where the value of cultural initiatives becomes particularly evident. They enable newcomers to introduce their heritage while giving residents an opportunity to get to know them beyond stereotypes or limited information.
Although these events cannot, on their own, address challenges related to housing, employment, language learning, and essential services, they represent an important complementary aspect of social stability. They help build trust, expand human relationships, and strengthen mutual understanding.
A Message of Gratitude That Goes Beyond Food
The organization of “Merci Borsch” for the fourth consecutive year in five cities across Quebec reflects the Ukrainian community’s desire to make gratitude a renewed community tradition that combines the preservation of cultural identity with engagement with local residents.
From Sherbrooke, which hosted the event for the first time, to Montreal, Quebec City, Granby, and Saguenay, the initiative conveys a message affirming that communities become more connected when their members have genuine opportunities to get to know one another, cooperate, and exchange experiences.
The initiative illustrates how simple cultural activities can carry profound human meanings. A traditional dish, a folk song, or a handmade craft can open the door to dialogue, giving people an opportunity to introduce themselves, share their culture, and express their appreciation for others.
“Merci Borsch” is not merely an occasion to serve traditional Ukrainian soup. It is a message of gratitude from the Ukrainian community to Canada and the residents of Quebec, reaffirming that human solidarity grows stronger when it becomes genuine communication, mutual respect, and cultural exchange that contribute to building a society that embraces diversity and gives everyone the opportunity to live with dignity, security, and hope.
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