CANMORE – Friday (Feb. 24) will mark one year since Ukraine was invaded by Russian forces.
The last year has been difficult for Ukrainians around the world, especially those who now find themselves in the Bow Valley. In the valley, more than 100 evacuees have settled after fleeing from Ukraine.
Since mid-2022, a small but dedicated group of volunteers, calling themselves Ukrainian Helpers, have been assisting new members of the valley from Ukraine with many little things. They work closely with Bow Valley Settlement Services. Now, they are hosting a Canmore for Ukraine charity event March 4 at the Canmore Opera House at 6 p.m.
“It is going to be a fundraising reception with lots of local artists being part of our live entertainment,” said Liza Kanishcheva, one of the organizers. “We will also have silent and live auctions, featuring local artists, including recent Ukrainian refugees.”
Organized with Katya Ostashevskaya, the event hopes to raise money for the evacuees in the Bow Valley. Both Kanishcheva and Ostashevskaya are from Ukraine and have deep ties to the country dealing with the invasion.
“Half the proceeds stay in the valley to support Ukrainian evacuees, and half the proceeds go to help directly in Ukraine,” Kanishcheva said. “We are purchasing medical supplies and humanitarian help that will go directly to Ukraine.”
March is a particularly difficult month for the evacuees as it was the first full month of the invasion of their home.
“The biggest struggle for Ukrainian evacuees in the Bow Valley right now is mental,” Kanishcheva said.
Ukrainian evacuees are not considered refugees, so the support they receive from the federal government is limited. As a result, the work of people like Kanishcheva and Ostashevskaya goes a long way in helping.
So far in the Bow Valley, there has been a great deal of support for the evacuees.
“Support from the community is very important now because they don’t get that support from the Canadian government,” Kanishcheva said. “Lots of people have reached out to offer clothing, sports equipment and other household items.”
Winter clothing, winter boots and sports equipment are just a few of the things people from the community have donated. Monetary donations are also accepted and can help pay grocery bills for evacuees.
Canmore Brewing Company is doing what it can to help with that.
“Going and drinking beers at the Canmore Brewing Company will help evacuees,” Kanishcheva said. “Canmore Brewing decided to begin a Charity Tap program in which 50 per cent of the sales from the tap are donated to the charity of the month.”
The past year has not been easy for evacuees and Kanishcheva hopes that the charity event can go some of the way to making their new lives in the Bow Valley a bit easier.
“It has been a year since the beginning of the invasion,” Kanishcheva said. “Mentally, we are exhausted and lots of people have family in Ukraine and it has been really tough.”
Tickets are $80 per person and can be purchased by sending an e-transfer to [email protected] with “Canmore for Ukraine” in the message.
For more information, visit https://allevents.in/canmore/canmore-for-ukraine-charity-event/80003342876613.
