A Hands-On Pierogi Night Workshop

About the Workshop:

Though pierogies aren’t originally Canadian, they are deeply woven into Canada’s cultural fabric—especially across the Prairies—thanks to generations of Polish and Ukrainian immigrants. The first Ukrainian settlers arrived in central Alberta in 1891, with thousands more following before the First World War. They brought with them cherished recipes and food traditions perfectly suited to a climate that closely resembled the one they left behind.

Over time, pierogies have become iconic comfort food in Canada, particularly within Ukrainian and Polish communities. Their versatility is endless—from savoury fillings like cheesy potato, sauerkraut, and meat, to sweet dessert pierogies filled with fruit or sweet cheese.

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the art of pierogi-making from Ukrainian grandmother Verna Van Hauwaert, forming your own dumplings from scratch and sampling them together at the end of class. We’ll prepare three traditional varieties:

• Potato & cheese

• Sauerkraut

• A sweet dessert pierogi

  
  

You’ll leave with Verna’s tried-and-true family recipes and the confidence to recreate this beloved comfort food at home.

Class size is limited—register early. This workshop will not be repeated this season.

About the Instructor

• Verna Zilinski grew up on a farm in the Ukrainian - Polish area of Boyle (160 km north of Edmonton) surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins. Her mother was born in Ukraine, her father in Alberta. When she was an adolescent her family moved to Edmonton which had become the urban hub for many previous Ukrainian farming families. Verna's mother was an excellent cook - and in this regard, Verna is just like her, always known for her cooking. She raised her 6 kids on traditional favourites like perogies and cabbage rolls, and to this day no festive meal is complete without them.