Lidia M. Wasylyn
For NP-UN, Edmonton
Edmonton’s Ukrainian community joined the more than 40 rallies, marches and vigils that took place in communities across Canada on February 24, 2023. Over 2000 people braved extremely cold temperatures to show their solidarity with the brave Ukrainian Nation at a rally at the Alberta Legislature.
As noted by UCC National CEO, Ihor Michalchyshyn, “This [was] the largest national coordinated action in solidarity with Ukraine in Canada’s history. It’s very important that we show the Ukrainian people that Canada will stand with Ukraine until victory.”
The Edmonton rally was jointly organized by the Edmonton Branches of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the Ukrainian National Youth Federation, the Alberta Provincial Council of the UCC and the Consulate of Ukraine. Edmonton newcomers, Inna Ivchenko and Kateryna Didukh emceed this event. In their opening statements they summarized the unimaginable, life changing events endured by the Ukrainian Nation in the last year. Inna Ivchenko noted “we Ukrainians are stronger than we thought and our enemy is even more terrible than we thought. It has been twelve months of full-scale war, 52 weeks of incredible resistance and for 365 days we have been making history. Through blood, sweat and tears, we are proving to the whole world that we are a mature nation, united, courageous, with a strong will to resist and be victorious.
Kateryna Didukh speaking in English stated: “Millions of Ukrainians made a choice, not a white flag but the blue and yellow flag—the colours that have become synonymous with bravery, not surrendering to the aggressor but resisting and fighting for freedom. It has been 365 days of Ukrainians making history, yet we must remember it has also been nine years of the russia Ukraine war. Here, we may be far away from our home country, but this war is always on our minds. The front line and the occupied cities may be thousands of miles away, but we feel the losses in our hearts everyday. But amidst the pain, grief, and heartbreak we have also found strength and unity as a nation more than every before.”
Very Reverend, Archpriest Cornell Zubritsky on behalf of Metropolitan Ilarion of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada delivered a powerful prayer in Ukrainian asking our Lord to protect the Ukrainian Nation. The prayer entreated the Lord to grant his God-loving people peace and tranquility. He referenced the biblical words “he who lives by the sword shall die by the sword. That we do not rely on our weapons but put our hope on Your strength. Give our Ukraine a deep and unbreakable peace, protecting it from war and against enemies and providing all good things for the benefit of the soul and body.”
Bishop David Motiuk, Eparch of Edmonton of the Ukrainian Catholic Church presented a very special Ukrainian icon, stating, “This Icon of the Mother of God was a gift from the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Association that honours the men and women who, in particular, served Canada during the second World War. It has a special significance for us today. It is painted, the work of an acclaimed iconographer Oleksander Klymenko of Kyiv and the icon only arrived this day. This Heroes of their Day icon is painted on boards that are taken from Ukraine today from the ammunition boxes that are protecting Ukraine in its freedom and its liberty and in its desire for peace.
This icon, is presented to the Ukrainian Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox cathedrals throughout Canada and will make its way through all of our parishes and through all of our schools. I am honoured to invite Archbishop Richard [Smith] of the Archdiocese of Edmonton to stand with me and to bless you and all people with this icon, placing ourselves under the protection of the Mother of God.” And with that, both Bishop David and Archbishop Richard raised the icon high above their heads and together blessed the crowd before them.
Consul General Oleksandr Danyleiko delivered an impassioned message. He said:
“365. This is impossible to believe 365 days ago, a beautiful country, a peaceful country was calmly asleep not waiting for such a treacherous attack and in the early morning the horror began. The horror began for a country, for peaceful people who wanted to live in their country, develop it, speak their own language, sing their songs when one hateful dictator decided that this country should not exist, that this nation should not be, that this language should not be heard. It is impossible to believe when this is recalled. I remember this moment when the first new came out that bombing had started of Ukrainian cities. I could not believe that in the 21st century this could happen. We started calling our children in Kyiv and we uttered these scary words, ‘children wake up, war has started.’ I could not believe that this could happen, but it did happen.
Danyleiko continued: “They gave us 3 days, and they wanted to break us in 3 days and proclaim their power in Kyiv. Now 365 days and we still stand. We still stand strong, more strong, more united and determined to win this war, to defeat our enemy and to liberate our land. And we’ll do it for sure because we are Ukrainians.
We are strong and we have support because all democratic free world supports Ukraine. And we thank you, all of you, Canadians and other nations who came here tonight, who supported us for this whole year, who donate, who gave money, even just some warm words to us, to Ukrainians and we feel it and we are really grateful for that. All your work, all your donations, all your dollars, all your support counts. And it will bring our victory closer to us and it will save lives of your defenders and our people. Thank you very much for all you have done, but we still need support. Russians are still shelling us, Russians are still killing our people, we still need support, more and more support, so please continue supporting us Ukrainians and we will win and this victory will be ours, our victory for all free people. Thank you very much.”
Speaking on behalf of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress-Alberta Provincial Council, was president Orysia Boychuk. She acknowledged and thanked all present, including other ethnic groups for their expression of support. She especially noted the contributions of the Polish community and the country of Poland that has accepted and received millions of Ukrainians. She stated 22,600 Ukrainians have arrived in Alberta. The aggression continues and the Ukrainian community needs continued support. Without support of the community, it would be impossible to support Ukraine or provide support to displaced Ukrainians who have arrived in Alberta. Boychuk asked the community to continue advocating for Ukraine with the federal government continued military supplies, so the war can be won and that the next time we gather it will be to celebrate victory day for Ukraine.
In a symbolic and visual presentation, the organizers created the outline of the map of Ukraine with little red lantern lights. All present were invited to add their lit candles to the map as a symbol of their solidarity with Ukraine. The emcees explained that any donations received at this event would be directed to the “verified and trusted charity Come Back Alive (Повернись Живим).”
Remarks from Federal Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance Randy Boissonnault were delivered by Anya Bondar, who stated the Federal government acknowledges the almost decade-long fighting in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and that the pain and suffering endured by the Ukrainians over the past year has been immense. It is heartbreaking to see a peaceful nation torn apart by Russia and violence, completely unprovoked. Canadians have always stood for freedom, democracy and the rule of law and we do not remain indifferent to the plight of our Ukrainian brother’s and sisters. As a nation, Canada has responded to Putin’s heinous actions with measures designed to support Ukraine and hold Russia accountable for its unjustified invasion. As Canadians we demonstrate our strength, people power and unity. The comments enumerated the various direct humanitarian and military support Canada has provided to Ukraine as well as noting the Canadian military currently deployed to the United Kingdom and Poland to train the Ukrainian military with Operation Unifier. In addition, Canada has welcomed more than 160,000 Ukrainians under the CUET program and approved more than 550,000 applications.
Speaking on behalf of the Provincial government was Jackie Armstong-Homeniuk, MLA for Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville. In a joint statement prepared with Premier Smith, she stated, “The Province of Alberta was one of the first to welcome displaced Ukrainians and offered them much needed safety and security. She said the Alberta government will welcome any displaced Ukrainians that need a safe place to stay. Alberta and Albertans have and will continue to support displaced Ukrainian evacuees during this senseless war.”
On behalf of the opposition NDP, very brief and heartfelt words of support were delivered by Sarah Hoffman, MLA for Edmonton Glenora and Opposition Deputy Leader. She was accompanied by Rakhi Pancholi, MLA for Edmonton Whitemud and Lorne Dach, MLA for Edmonton McClung.
Representing City of Edmonton Ward Tastawiyiniwak, and Mayor Amarjeet Sohi was Councillor Karen Principe. She joined other elected officials in expressing her sympathy and solidarity with the Ukrainian people. She also noted the City of Edmonton has one of the largest municipal populations of Ukrainians in Canada and that our city is happy to be welcoming place for all the Ukrainian newcomers.
Yaroslav Broda President of the Edmonton Branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress addressed the gathering. He stated, “Exactly one year ago we stood here in the same bitter cold and in solidarity with Ukraine as they fight for their existence. Since then, we have witnessed unspeakable horrors, sexual violence against women and children, executions of civilians, deportations and countless other crimes against humanity. All of these are clearly and openly acts of genocide. A year ago, we called on the Government of Canada to increase sanctions and send lethal aid to help Ukraine defend itself. Canada along with NATO allies and western partners have made good on their promises of delivering vital military aid. However, sanctions have been slow and incremental. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress calls on the Government of Canada to begin seizing assets and implement a full embargo of Russian goods and punish Canadian companies that skirt sanctions by selling through proxy countries in Central Asia and the Middle East. We cannot turn a blind eye to companies that continue to pour billions of tax dollars into the Russian war machine. Canada must do more to punish supporters of Russian genocide in Ukraine. This last year has been more difficult than any before. We must continue to push our elected officials, raise funds and volunteer. We must continue to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine because the only way to end the humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine once and for all is a complete military victory. Any negotiated peace that compromises Ukraine’s sovereignty or territorial integrity, including Crimea, will only subject Ukrainians to further genocide and Russian aggression. Once again, thank you all for coming, thank you to the organizers, as well as all the elected officials and representatives as well as representatives from other ethnic communities here in Edmonton. Slava Ukraini!”
The event concluded with the signing of the Ukrainian National Anthem.
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