Edmonton restaurant becomes first Canadian winner of international award, launches protein pierogi

Don'ya Ukraine's Kitchen founder Jorgia Lindquist poses after winning the JCI Creative Young Entrepreneur award. (June 17, 2026) (Galen McDougall/CTV News Edmonton)

An Edmonton restaurant has become the first Canadian winner of an international award in more than 20 years.

Jorgia Lindquist, the co-founder of Don’ya Ukraine’s Kitchen, is the winner of this year’s Junior Chamber International (JCI) Creative Young Entrepreneur award.

In celebration, the restaurant is launching its brand new product: What could be Canada’s first-ever protein pierogi.

The award sees entries from entrepreneurs across North and South America.

Lindquist is also the president of JCI Edmonton, the local branch of the non-profit organization.

“I’ve only been in JCI for around a year, and when I first joined, they said, ‘You have this incredible business, we really think you should pitch it at nationals this year,’” she told reporters on Wednesday.

Nationals turned into the Conference of Americas, where a panel of judges tried the food while Lindquist pitched the restaurant’s story. That turned into broad recognition for her restaurant’s Ukrainian heritage and food.

It’s the first time a Canadian company has ever won.

“I think I won because of my team. I think I have a really great team at Don’ya that makes really incredible food … They have just incredible ideas and culture, and it’s an incredible honour to keep that culture alive.”

Lindquist says the new pierogi contains 13 grams of protein per serving while maintaining authenticity.

“It’s the perfect gym dinner and the perfect girl dinner, and we’re really excited. That’s the product that’s really allowing us to move into other provinces and other countries, so we have a lot of plans to export,” she said.

The product will be sold in Sobeys locations starting in August.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Galen McDougall