Meet the Ukrainian TikToker in Sask. showcasing iconic Canadian staples
A 19-year-old Ukrainian who is new to Canada is using TikTok to share his adventures in the country, including his first time trying a number of iconic Canadian foods.
Andrian Makhnachov came to Canada from Ukraine in May to live with his two brothers who were already in Regina, after making the decision with his family to leave the country.
Living in Canada was an adjustment at first, especially with constant updates pouring in from the war with Russia.
“When it’s night here, in Ukraine it’s day,” Makhnachov said. “I was really depressed, stressed and news everyday was worse and worse. I really felt bad.”
Makhnachov said it was his brother who inspired him to start making TikToks about his Canadian experiences, after seeing other Ukrainians in Canada making similar types of videos, but it took some convincing.
“He said, ‘you should make some videos too’ and I said I will not do it,” Makhnachov said. “One day, I was like okay I will post something and I posted this video about shopping in Canada and when I woke up it [had] a lot of comments, a lot of views.”
The views have only continued to go up since then. His TikTok, @makhnachov, has racked up 3.6 million likes as of Aug. 24.
Some of his most popular uploads include trying Canadian food staples. His video of trying a Nanaimo bar has 1.2 million views alone.
“I’m shocked that people are really crazy about this Nanaimo bar,” Makhnachov said. “When I tried it at first I was like, wow it’s too sweet and I don’t really like this, is this chocolate?”
According to Makhnachov, it was comments suggesting to try it frozen that turned his opinion around.
“I really like it more, it’s like not ice cream, but feels not as sweet, but it’s something interesting,” Makhnachov said.
Some of his other first tries documented on his TikTok include: ketchup chips, a Tim Hortons double-double, poutine and one that surprised him: the perogy pizza.
“In Ukraine you don’t have perogy pizza, I was like, I must try it,” Makhnachov said. “It tastes very Ukrainian. It really tastes like perogies, but a pizza.”
Makhnachov’s message to other Ukrainians in Canada is to try and find the positives.
“With time, you really will like it. You will like Canada, you will like the strange-for-us foods, and don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”
Saskatchewan has agreed to welcome a total of five humanitarian flights with displaced Ukrainians by the end of March 2023, meaning many more people will have first-time experiences like the ones Makhanachov is sharing in the months ahead.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Woman, 18, killed by co-worker's vehicle on Highway 1 in Moose Jaw
Moose Jaw police say an 18-year-old woman who was at work has died from injuries she sustained in a collision with a vehicle being driven by her co-worker last Thursday.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
MPs to vote on NDP motion calling on Canada to recognize Palestinian statehood
Members of Parliament will vote Monday on a motion from the federal New Democrats, calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine,' among a range of other calls to action in regards to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.