Calgary’s Ukrainian community commemorates second anniversary of Russian invasion
A sea of blue and yellow lined both sides of MacLeod Trail by Calgary City Hall late Saturday afternoon.
Six hundred members of Calgary’s Ukrainian community were commemorating the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine.
They also honoured the memory of the thousands of people who have been killed in the conflict.
Narhiza Musaieva arrived in Calgary two summers ago and said Saturday was a hard day.
“It brought a lot of very tough memories of all the people that we lost, my friends, some of my family. It’s not a celebration or a holiday.
It just reminds us the war is ongoing and that Russia is not slowing down. This is a grieving moment for me personally and for our community,” she added.
“Although Ukraine has been under Russian aggression for 10 years this has been probably one of the hardest anniversaries that anyone here has had to witness,” says Stephania Romaniuk, vice president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Calgary Branch.
“What Ukrainians have had to go through is unbearable, no nation should ever have to go through this much less a prolonged, protracted war. In every Ukrainians heart we want this war to be over,” says Romaniuk.
Today was also a chance to thank Calgarians for their support of all the newcomers who have come here since the war began, Romaniuk added, and a way to send a message on the second anniversary of the invasion.
“I think (what's) most important to remember is there are two options. We can stop Russian aggression in Ukraine, or we can wait until it spreads throughout Eastern Europe even further, and that’s going to have even more serious consequences for Canada and our NATO allies,” says Romaniuk.
On Saturday Canada pledged roughly $3 billion in funding including $320 million in new military spending.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE UPDATES Critical infrastructure 'successfully protected': Jasper park officials
Jasper National Park officials in an update said all critical infrastructure in the townsite has been 'successfully protected, including the hospital, emergency services building, both elementary and junior/senior schools, activity centre and wastewater treatment plant.'
Canadian Olympic Committee removes women's soccer team's head coach over drone scandal
The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman over a drone scandal, according to a press release from the organization.
Yukon woman narrowly escapes bear attack, credits hair clip
A woman in Yukon believes her hair clip helped save her during a bear attack.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
'I was just shocked': Jasper lodge owner on seeing property destroyed by wildfire
On Wednesday night, the owner of Maligne Lodge in Jasper, Alta., was shocked to receive a photo of her business engulfed in flames.
Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond likely has Indigenous DNA: report
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.
U.S. authorities have arrested 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel
Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of another infamous cartel leader, were arrested by U.S. authorities in Texas on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Harris pushes Netanyahu to ease suffering in Gaza: 'I will not be silent'
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.
'She led it the whole way': 18-year-old B.C. woman leads hikers to safety in Jasper National Park
As fire threatened people in Jasper National Park, Colleen Knull sprung into action.