Phantom Light vodka is available at stores across Saskatchewan. (Facebook/ Phantom Light Distillery)

By Nigel Maxwell

Support for Ukraine

Prince Albert area distillery raising money for Ukraine

Mar 8, 2022 | 5:00 PM

As the Russian invasion into Ukraine continues, and the need for humanitarian aid increases, a Prince Albert area distillery is trying to do its part to lend assistance.

Until the end of April, $2 from each bottle sold of Phantom Light vodka, will go to the Ukranian Canadian congress.

“We hope we sell a boat load of vodka to help the people of Ukraine,” Co-owner Cory Thoms told paNOW.

Commenting how everyone at the distillery has some sort of Ukranian heritage, Thoms explained his own family came over to Canada in 1898. Prior to that they’d been living in an eastern territory of Ukraine, which was taken over nearly 10 years later by Russia.

“When they left, they dropped everything. And I have no idea who my family is that’s there but being Ukranian heritage, and seeing what’s going on, it breaks your heart,” Thoms said.

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Thoms recalled a moment 10 years ago when he approached his grandmother and asked her about the family’s history. To which she sternly told him when the family left Ukraine, they never looked back. The family has not talked about it since.

“It was such a bad place to come from in the late 1800s and there was such Russian domination there that they just got so scared and left that life and never looked back,” Thoms said.

Phantom Light Distillery has been running for about 10 months, but within that time have successfully been able to get their product on store shelves across the province, including both large and small retail outlets.

“We’re not flushed with cash but we are totally willing to make the sacrifice to give back in any way we can and we are going to make it happen,” Thoms said.

Drew Martin, another member of the ownership group,.explained how on a daily basis everyone in Canada is sitting back and watching the devastation unfold through their phones, television sets and tablets.

“None of us are grabbing a gun and going over to Ukraine but we are all thinking how can we help these people suffering and other than money I don’t know how we can,” he said.

Both Thoms and Martin are encouraging other businesses with Ukranian blood in their ownership group, to also think outside the box and help in any way they can.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell