Elvira Flynn is a strong and courageous woman who has endured much along a journey that has taken her from the front lines of war-torn Ukraine to a new home in Fort Frances.
Now, she is embracing her skills as a pastry chef in her new home, with plans to expand her budding business and share it with the district.
Elvira, 42, her daughter Sofiia, 12, and her mom Marina, 64, fled Ukraine in 2022 because of the war that had started on Feb. 24 of that year. They had enjoyed a good life up until the point when the Russian invasion levelled her hometown of Mariupol.
She had attended university, graduating with a specialty in accounting. Then she worked in a bank for 15 years, eventually being promoted to manager and opening a new branch that she oversaw for two years.
When Elvira’s daughter Sofiia was born, the workplace changed for Elvira, and it became impossible for her to look after her daughter due to the demands of the bank. She knew she had to find employment elsewhere, and being very artistic, started painting pictures.
That led to painting edible art on cookies, which ultimately led her to venture into baking. And that was very successful, and she was happy doing that, and it made an adequate life for her and Sofiia. When I asked Elvira if she had a role model for her love of baking, I was quite surprised when she said, “No, I started baking as a means to survive; I was quite artistic and took that talent to decorating cakes.”
She opened up her own bakery and started selling cakes, cookies, Ukrainian sweet breads and other treats.
Then, tragically, the war changed everything in an instant.
Elvira’s grandfather passed away from natural causes the day the war started. But that was just the beginning—Elvira and her family had been living in a nine-story apartment building. When the bombs started falling, it was clear they would be forced to take shelter. She and her daughter and mother ran to the basement, where they lived with 50 people for over 20 days while the building above them was reduced to rubble by bombs.
There was no water, electricity or food; there wasn’t even snow to melt down to drink. Occasionally, water trucks would bring water. Once they left the basement, Elvira and her family were able to travel by car about 80 kms south to Berdyansk on the Azov Sea on roads destroyed by land mines and other disasters of the war.
They were able to travel by car with others to the country of Georgia, where she was able to contact a friend of a friend in Canada who volunteered for CUAET, a Canadian government program that helped Ukrainian people trying to find a safe place to live.
On June 16, 2022, Elvira and her family arrived safely in Toronto and then settled in Ottawa. They were able to meet the volunteer who had helped to make the arrangements for them. Elvira and her family are very grateful for the help from CUAET. The family lived for two months in another volunteer’s home. Elvira immediately found work in a bakery.
Elvira’s life took on a life-changing moment when she met Andrew Flynn in 2023, two years before he would become General Manager and Editor in Chief of the Fort Frances Times.
Andrew reached out to her on an online dating site (the first time he’d ever met someone that way, he says). He asked her out for dinner, and she said, “Yes.” The couple went out once, and they have never looked back. They were married in March of 2025.
Then came another life-changing event for the Flynns and Sofiia. Andrew received a job offer that he felt he couldn’t turn down in Fort Frances. He did share with Elvira that Fort Frances was a small town and fairly remote, but Elvira had no idea how small.
She shared that when she first read about Fort Frances, she said to herself, “What the hell am I doing?” However, when the couple drove to Fort Frances last September to house hunt, Elvira found the scenery along the 20-hour drive breathtaking.
The Flynns moved into their home on Third Street in October of 2025, making friends easily once they settled here. Shortly after making Fort Frances their home, they were invited to a birthday party at the home of Randy and Sue Ball and Elvira offered to bring the birthday cake.
Well, needless to say, that cake was a big hit and gave her the confidence to restart her baking career in her new home.
Today, Elvira is very busy selling decorated cakes for every occasion, plus dessert cakes, honeycakes (a favourite dessert in Ukraine), ginger cookies and one of her most popular items, sugar cookies.
I asked her if Canadians’ choice of desserts and sweets is different from that of people in Ukraine. She shared, “In Ukraine, ginger cookies are most popular, whereas here sugar cookies are the number one choice; Canadians love buttercream more than Ukraine people do.”
(Andrew shared that Elvira now makes her own version of buttercream, which is 10 times better than traditional buttercream.)
When asked if ingredients differ in Canada from those in Ukraine, Elvira said, “The flour is better in Ukraine, but the butter and milk are better in Canada, so some online shopping is necessary. Plus, I purchase all cake boards and boxes online, as well as freeze-dried fruit and a few other ingredients.”
Elvira’s baking day starts at 7 a.m. six days a week, and her orders are definitely increasing. Last week she sold six cakes and some boxes of cookies.
Elvira is planning to open her own bakery in Fort Frances. She’s hoping to find an ideal location that would allow her to create cakes but also sell bread of all types, including sourdough and Easter bread. Along with creating all her desserts and baking items, Elvira hopes to employ several helpers.
Andrew and Sofiia are Elvira’s biggest supporters, so much so that Andrew says he has gained 20 pounds since first meeting Elvira. He also shared that he’s learned a few swear words in Russia (which is commonly spoken in her hometown of Mariupol) as there are times when she experiences frustration in the kitchen. Now that’s proof that her baking is delicious!
Elvira has taken part in two markets since moving here and sold out of every item at both.
She does cater to people wanting gluten-free recipes plus vegan choices.
When I asked Elvira why people should purchase her baking, she immediately responded: “Because it’s made with the best ingredients, and I put pride and knowledge into every item sold. Baking is my yoga; it relaxes me, and I give it my best shot with every item made.”
Elvira, Andrew and Sofiia are all loving their life here. Sofiia has made many friends and is loving her newfound sport, judo.
“People are so friendly here, the mentality of people is very different from people in Ukraine,” Elvira said. “People here are much friendlier and don’t stay in their little bubble. Christmas and all holidays are celebrated with not only family but friends too.”
When asked if they plan on making Fort Frances their home for a long time, Andrew responded, “I’ve just bought a boat—the furthest away I want to go is Rainy Lake.”
The family live comfortably in their cozy home with their two cats, Oscar and Cleo. I’m thinking they are planning on being around for a while, and along with Elvira’s baking and Andrew’s contribution to the paper, that’s a benefit for our district.
Elvira’s mother, Marina, also lives with them. Fortunately, there’s an apartment in the basement to allow her to have her own space and still connect with her family.
To order or find out more information about Elvira’s baking, she can be contacted at Sofi-Ginger on Facebook or Instagram or by text at 343-552-5186. Elvira’s prices vary depending on the decorating and other choices consumers may want.
