Maria Trofmchuk (left) reads a letter from MP Randy Hoback during a service of prayer and remembrance for Ukraine in Prince Albert. (Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Craddock

SLAVA UKRAINI

Ukrainian community in P.A. gathers to mark two years since start of war

Feb 25, 2024 | 10:30 AM

As the flags of their home and adopted countries sat on a stage lined with candles, those who left a warzone came together to mark a grim and solemn anniversary.

Saturday, Feb. 24 marked two years since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. Thousands were pushed out of their homes and their native lands and travelled thousands of kilometres to escape the conflict.

Despite the uncertainty of family and friends in Ukraine, those who came to Canada and Prince Albert gathered together for an evening of prayer and remembrance inside the Parish Hall of St George’s Ukrainian Church.

The evening started with the signing of the Ukrainian national anthem, Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy i slava, i volia. Many in attendance could be seen wiping away tears as they sang their country’s anthem knowing war was still happening.

Father Andrei Kachur provided a prayer and blessing for Ukraine before a poem was read that was written by a Ukrainian hero: writer and painter Taras Shevchenko.

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The first poem read at the service is titled, The Dream, which was written in 1847 while he was imprisoned in Siberia. He wrote about his homeland and how he dreamed of seeing its beauty again.

The other Svechenko poem shared Saturday night was The Princess, which begins by describing an evening star, his only friend who provided him comfort while he was away from his homeland.

A few songs were also performed by members of the Veselka Choir which carried a weight of emotions for them and everyone in the building who was signing along.

(Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

Sonya Jahn who has worked tirelessly to bring Ukrainians fleeing the war to Prince Albert spoke about what the last two years have been like. While she is excited to have brought over 140 families to the area, she admitted that if it were not for the war, they would still be home in Ukraine.

Nonetheless, she acknowledged all the newcomers in attendance and said it was a joy to have them in Prince Albert.

Sonya Jahn (Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

The service concluded with a signing of O Canada to show gratitude to the country that has welcomed Ukrainians escaping the present and past conflicts.

One of the hundreds of Ukrainians who now live in Prince Albert is Maria Trofmchuk who served as the emcee for the night.

She and her daughter left Kyiv in October 2022, leaving her parents behind.

Speaking after the service, Trofmchuk acknowledged it has been both good and bad being in P.A. as she is grateful to be safe but also worried for her family back home.

“I feel broken because the war is continuing, it’s not stopped. From another side, I’m very grateful that I’m still alive and that my daughter is still alive,” she said.

“Every day, it’s not ok in Ukraine because bombs are flying every day, and you never know ‘will I be alive in the morning or not?’’ It’s still dangerous. We have had two years of full-scale war, but the situation is not good.”

According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), nearly 31,000 Ukrainian civilian casualties have been reported since the start of the war. More than 200,000 Ukrainians have already fled to Canada, with thousands more holding visas set to expire soon.

(Derek Craddock/paNOW Staff)

Jahn said she is working on bringing more families to Prince Albert but there’s no exact timeline for when they will arrive.

Despite the hardships in her home country, Trofmchuk said that she and other Ukrainians in the city are doing what they can to live their life to the fullest here.

“Because we only have one life and we need to enjoy it and I am happy that I can continue my life and find happiness, try to find some dreams for the future. All Ukrainians, they try to continue their lives and (whether) it hurts or not, they try to continue because they have no choice.”

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derek.craddock@pattisonmedia.com