The Ukrainian Business Network is a thriving organization helping emigres with an entrepreneurial bent get established in Canada.
It was founded a short year ago at Ukrainian Fest Lanark County, and celebrated its birthday September 13th with bubbly and cake upstairs in the Carleton Place Canoe Club as a seeming oasis from festival frivolity.
That’s Svitlana Haidaichuk, one of the core leadership of the Ukrainian Business Network. You’ll pardon the analogy, but Svitlana might say opening a business in our country is a piece of cake.
A former economic development officer in Ukraine, Olha Kinash, is among the cadre guiding the Business Network forward.
Some may call this successful Ottawa realtor the founder of the Ukrainian Business Network.
His mentorship is a source of stability for the recent Ukrainian emigres.
Maxim Kuprieiev says the process of mentorship is one with mutual benefits.
Olga iaLOVEnko, President of the Ukrainian Community of Lanark County, says once the new emigres adjust to Canadian regulatory requirements, it seems there’s no holding them back.
Olga knows average Canadians complain about government red tape here, that’s true- but they just have no idea!
In the short year that the Ukrainian Business Network has had boots on the ground, membership has grown to 167 businesses and entrepreneurs.
By Rick Stow