(Montreal) A candlelight vigil to mark Ukraine’s 365 days of resistance will be held in Montreal on Friday evening at Dorchester Square.
Organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), the cross-Canada action marks one year since the Russian invasion and is an opportunity for Canadians to “show their solidarity” with Ukraine.
“Over the past year, the heroic armed forces of Ukraine and the people of Ukraine have united to defend freedom in Europe against Russia’s genocidal onslaught. The courage and determination of the Ukrainian people inspire the world,” Alexandra Chyczij, UCC national president, said on the organization’s Facebook page.
Participants are encouraged to bring candles and flags to the event, which begins at 6:30 p.m.
The blue and yellow flag of Ukraine was erected for the day on the central tower of the Parliament Building in Quebec City as a sign of solidarity.
“A year later, the Ukrainian people still move me with their resilience. It’s powerful to see an entire country standing up, unwavering in the face of oppression. My thoughts and those of Quebecers are with the Ukrainian people and the entire Ukrainian community in Quebec, ”said Premier François Legault on his Twitter account on Friday morning.
In a statement released on Thursday, the G7 leaders condemned “Russia’s illegal, unjustifiable and unprovoked war, its contempt for the Charter of the United Nations and its indifference to the repercussions this war is having around the world”.
“On the other hand, we salute the heroism of the Ukrainian people in their courageous resistance. We pledge to intensify our diplomatic, financial and military support for Ukraine, to increase the cost to Russia and those who support its war effort, and to continue to fight against the negative effects of war on the rest of the world,” read Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s website.
Other gatherings will take place across the province, notably in Quebec City and Granby, as well as in the rest of Canada.
This article was produced with the financial support of the Meta Fellowships and The Canadian Press for News.