City hall event show of solidarity for Ukraine

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This article was published 16/05/2022 (1254 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dozens of Ukrainian families gathered at Brandon City Hall for a ceremony on Sunday afternoon to witness the Ukrainian flag hoisted high while sharing messages of hope amid the ongoing war overseas.

Kelly Saunders, a political science professor at Brandon University, was master of ceremonies for the event, which marked Ukraine’s National Day of Action.

Saunders said it meant everything to see the large gathering show a sign of solidarity to people affected from the unjust violence and uncertainty of the war with Russia.

“It means everything to people that have family and friends back in Ukraine and really to anybody that is touched by what they see happening,” Saunders said.

Saunders, who comes from a Ukrainian background, explained Brandon University is going to be waiving the differential fee for Ukrainian students, which requires international students to pay higher tuition.

She said the university is currently exploring funding opportunities for students from Ukraine to receive bursaries or scholarships going forward.

Vasyl Marchuk, president of Tryzub, the Brandon-based Canadian Ukrainian Association, said the Westman Ukrainian community is doing everything it can to collect money and continue raising donations for people stuck in Ukraine or staying in nearby Poland.

He said seeing the flag raised for the next four days at city hall means more than what the symbolism used to.

“Before, a flag was just a flag, but now, I am proud to be a Ukrainian. I feel reborn,” Marchuk said.

“It’s hard to explain, I feel proud of the people of Ukraine, and I feel proud of our Ukrainian president and people from Canada who have Ukrainian roots who helped build up Manitoba.”

He commended the City of Brandon, which is currently at work trying to welcome as many refugee families as they can from the conflict.

Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest said the afternoon felt very heartwarming to witness after acknowledging the crowd and offered the flag-raising as a small part to the bigger national picture of recognizing May 15 as a day of action.

“Brandon and Westman are widely known for being big-spirited, big-hearted people, and when things like this arise, people are prepared to take time out and get involved,” Chrest said.

“This has certainly been one of the most profound events in the world in recent memory, and it’s amazing to see people rallying worldwide.”

The event marked the third time the Ukrainian community gathered together at city hall, after an informal first occasion at the beginning of the war, and a secondary meeting that started at Brandon University.

Chrest said a number of people from the Brandon Ukrainian community will be presenting city council with updates on how the city can further help the humanitarian effort.

He said it is possible the city could be seeing as many as 25 Ukrainian families welcomed in the next few weeks — in this case, mothers and children as many Ukrainian men have been forced to join the war effort.

Olga Boika, a Brandon schoolteacher who previously spoke to the Brandon Sun, hasn’t forgotten the day the war first started in her home country, fearing for the safety of her relatives.

She said the war has made the community around her stronger and it’s been remarkable to see how many people have stood up in support for their cause.

“We feel the power of people,” Boika said.

“We feel their support and it was so nice to see them today.”

She said her parents, who live in a small village 37 kilometres north of Chernihiv, are currently safe, as Russian soldiers have concentrated efforts on the east and southern parts of the country.

“Soldiers around Chernihiv, they are still ready every minute,” she said.

“Nobody knows what will be next.”

Despite the uncertainty, Boika has been able to call her parents on a daily basis, and her family has found ways to stay occupied and take care of their farm to the best of their ability. It is their home.

“They are busy planting gardens with little piglets, and I say ‘are you ready to come visit us to stay for a few months?’ They say ‘who will take care of our stuff?’” she said.

After a month under heavier fire, Boika’s brother has been able to reconnect with their parents, and he and his girlfriend have been able to ensure their safety for the time being. She said that first month was horrific hearing accounts of people trying to leave the city that was almost surrounded at the time.

Boika said she is delighted to see the effort the community has made to welcome refugee families to southwestern Manitoba. Recently, her parents were able to welcome her brother and his girlfriend with fresh perogies ready to eat, and firing up a warm sauna on their visit. As the war continues, they will continue to go about their lives until they cannot.

“It was happiness for them,” she said.

» jbernacki@brandonsun.com

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