Monday Haircuts  at UCSS Toronto

The Ukrainian Canadian Social Services (UCSS) Toronto Centre, a non-profit
charitable organization that has been serving the Ukrainian Canadian ethno-cultural community in the GTA for over 55 years, on March 9 introduced a new program - Monday Haircuts - to its already busy schedule of activities. Every Monday from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m., members of the community can get a stylish haircut from professional hairstylist Renata. The 24-year old native of Ivano-Frankivsk, a historic city situated in Western Ukraine, has only been in Canada for a few weeks but has already decided to get involved with helping out community members by providing her services free of charge. Renata has been working in the hair-stylist industry for several years and for the past 3 years has also been delivering training sessions at the local college where she received her hair-stylist certificate. Renata is deeply passionate about her profession and has travelled throughout Ukraine and neighbouring Belarus to attend numerous hair-styling seminars and to take part in competitions. She describes her specific talent as the ability to create an individual style for each of her clients by designing haircuts that emphasize the client’s unique hair structure and colour. Renata, who currently works at Lora’s Salon on Dundas St. W. in Toronto’s West End, plans to one day open her own business and start a hair-styling school.

 Renata’s Monday Haircuts is one of many service programs offered by UCSS. Other services include a Computer Course for Beginners, physical exercise classes for seniors, health education seminars, and organizing political discussion groups. The UCSS also runs a wide array of regular programs such as communal dining on Wednesdays, income tax [preparation] assistance for seniors and low-income families, plus a telephone help-line and friendly visit reassurance.

To receive a full list of UCSS programs and services, and to get involved in helping out the Ukrainian community in Toronto, especially seniors and people with low income, please call 416-763-4982 or send an e-mail to torpcoord@ucss.info. You can also visit UCSS online at www.tor.ucss.info or on Facebook.

Prepared by Maria Shalatska, a volunteer at the Ukrainian Canadian Social Services, Toronto Centre