P.E.I.'s Ukrainian community marks sombre anniversary

More than 100 people gathered outside Charlottetown city hall on Sunday to mark the third anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

The Ukrainian flag was raised after speeches and a moment of silence. The group then marched down Queen Street in a demonstration of solidarity. 

"We urge everyone to stand with Ukraine and to remember that the war is not over," said Tetiana Rymska, who participated in the march. 

"We want to do everything we can to support our people. Even though we're in Canada, which seems so far away, our hearts remain with Ukraine always." 

The anniversary comes amid mounting tensions between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump. 

Rymska said Sunday's march was painful, but important. 

"It makes us all feel that we are not alone in this battle, that there are people that support us here," Rymska said. 

"But through the entire walk I feel that I will be just remembering all of the horrible stuff that [has] been done and [keeps] happening in my country." 

Continuing support

Roxanne Laughlin has participated in demonstrations of support for Ukraine in Charlottetown since February 2022. 

"Unfortunately, this is the fourth time I've been here marking this," Laughlin said. 

Being of Ukrainian heritage, Laughlin said the war in Ukraine is something she has thought about "probably every day" since the war began.

"I know that it's tiring to hear this in the news, to hear about the war and to see the images and to hear the stories, but I really, really hope that Canadians don't entirely forget about this," Laughlin said. 

"It's something that we said 'never again' to 80-some years ago, and some of the very same things are happening now to people just like us." 

Laughlin said coming out to show support and continuing to have conversations about the war is one way to keep it in people's minds. 

Zoriana Stelmashchuk is another regular participant at Ukrainian marches in P.E.I. She has lived in Canada for over nine years has seen the Ukrainian community grow. 

"We are more numerous now and we can express our identity and just … keep our cultural traditions," she said. 

Participating in the march made her proud, but also sad and emotional, she said. 

"I always have just a feeling of pride of being Ukrainian," Stelmashchuk said. 

"It makes me think about all the history we had, all the heroic moments in our history. It all flashes through my mind."