“When I was in Ukraine, seeing people gathered together gave me hope. Today, I want to do the same thing,” says Ivan Minich, originally from Odessa and who arrived in Quebec last October. Along with dozens of others, he traveled to downtown Montreal on Friday evening to mark a year of war in Ukraine.
Blue and yellow colors predominate in Philips Square, in the heart of Montreal, on Friday evening. Ukrainian flags flap in the wind, carried by the crowd gathered despite the biting cold. Many people have experienced war. Others, like Ludovic Dong, are there in support.
Elsewhere in the province, notably in Granby and Quebec, similar gatherings are held. A pan-Canadian action that marks a year since the Russian invasion and is an opportunity for Canadians to show their solidarity with Ukraine.
The invasion of Russia in Ukraine must not be forgotten, repeat dignitaries gathered on a small stage in Montreal Friday evening. “Slava Ukaini! (“Glory to Ukraine!”), chanted the crowd in response to the dignitaries’ statements.
The glow of dozens of candles echoes those of the skyscrapers while the national anthems, Canadian then Ukrainian, resound. The faces are serious, determined. A little later, only the sound of the wind of the flags resounds during a minute of silence.
PHOTO DOMINICK GRAVEL, THE PRESS
Organized by the Congress of Ukrainian Canadians, the cross-Canada action marks one year since the Russian invasion and is an opportunity for Canadians to “show their solidarity” with Ukraine.
“I’m really happy to see so many people, so many Ukrainians, wonderful people,” observes Tymofii Boiko, who also arrived from Ukraine last October. But at the same time, I’m sad, because not everyone chose to come and become a refugee. »
Mobilized for Ukraine
The candlelight vigil was organized by the Congress of Ukrainian Canadians. Speeches are made in a mixture of Ukrainian, French and English.
“We must continue to put pressure on the world to support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” said Rachel Bendayan, MP for Outremont and representative of Justin Trudeau’s government, to applause. fed. “Canada and Ukraine will win this war together! »
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.
“We are wholeheartedly with you, we are all Ukrainians,” also said Céline Haytayan, MP for Laval-des-Rapides for the Coalition Avenir Québec. “Quebec has opened its doors to many Ukrainians, young and old,” she added before being interrupted by many “thank you!” launched into the crowd.
Quebec has welcomed 11,000 Ukrainians since the start of the conflict, Prime Minister François Legault said Thursday.
At Québec solidaire, co-spokesperson Manon Massé, present for the occasion, remarked: “Tonight, we mark a dark anniversary, we mark a great mourning. My heart is heavy with pain and anger. Hearts full of tears for the dozens of lives snuffed out, and how many more torn apart by the horrors of war, for the children who grow up in fear, for the Ukrainian people who bravely resist. »
At his side, the solidarity deputy Vincent Marissal read a motion unanimously adopted by the National Assembly on Thursday in support of Ukraine. A minute of silence was also observed by Quebec politicians for the occasion.
“Tonight I want us to be inspired by the many gestures of solidarity and mutual aid that we have witnessed since the beginning of the conflict,” said the Liberal MP for Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Desiree McGraw.
The evening ended, in intense cold, with Ukrainian songs at the microphone, partly taken up by the crowd.