Edmonton rallies in support of Ukraine on second anniversary of Russian invasion
As the war in Ukraine reached the start of a third year, Edmontonians were invited to reflect on the conflict and the devastation it has caused.
Saturday was the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine, which has killed tens of thousands of Ukrainians.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Violet King Henry Plaza Saturday to reflect on the war and call for renewed support for Ukraine.
"We want to keep this in front of the world's minds so that the support for Ukraine continues," said Yaroslav Broda, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Edmonton Branch.
"Because if we don't support now, if support waivers now, Ukraine will be stuck in a frozen conflict. That's exactly what Russia wants."
Orysia Boychuk, President Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Alberta Provincial Council said Edmonton's rally was part of global demonstrations marking the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
"Two years, I never thought this would take two years," Boychuk said. "We're all very overwhelmed and devastated that today we are commemorating this day.
"And we need the support of everybody in the world and everybody here in Alberta."
Saturday, the Alberta Council for Ukrainian Arts launched a photography exhibit aimed at connecting people with the conflict thousands of kilometres away.
Moments from the Battleground – the Photographs of Maxim Dondyuk offers viewers a glimpse of the war from the streets and countrysides of Ukraine.
From soldiers and displaced residents to cities and towns in ruin, the exhibit highlights the impact the fighting has had on the people and places of Ukraine, as well as the community's resistance.
"It's a mixture of sadness and tragedy," said local photographer Paul Swanson, who worked closely with Dondyuk to curate the show.
The show is designed to be a call to action, and Swanson hopes the images help viewers connect personally with the ongoing crisis in Ukraine.
''Numbers are one thing, but to be able to tie it in with something that you can sort of visually chew through and understand is a great next step," he said.
The exhibit is available online and in person at the Alberta Council for Ukrainian Arts gallery.
For Ukrainians who fled the war, the images remain fresh in their minds.
Natalia Vynohdradova moved to Edmonton last year. She vividly remembers the first days of the invasion.
"Just panic," she said. "We don't know what we should do, where we should [go].
"Kids start crying, my son asks me, "Mom, we all die?'"
Vynohdradova said the war's anniversary will be hard for people who have lost loved ones, and it's a reminder that fighting is not over.
"Remind [the] whole world that war in Ukraine still there, and still people are going to die," she added.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Canada's GDP rises amid expert fears of rate-hike recession
Canada's GDP rose 0.2 per cent in February, driven by a rebound in transportation and warehousing, which saw the largest recorded month-to-month rise in over a year at 1.4 per cent.
'Fatalities' reported following wrong-way collision on Highway 401, SIU called in: police
Ontario's Special Investigations Unit has been called in following a deadly wrong-way collision on Highway 401 in Whitby on Monday night, say police.
NEW Is there a cost to convenience? Canada approves new cancer immunotherapy treatment
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Canada's new dental program offering hope of free care to millions but many dentists aren't signed up
A new Canadian dental care program is offering the hope of free care to millions, but while 1.7 million people have signed up for the plan, only about 5,000 dentists have done the same.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
Winner of US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who has cancer
One of the winners of a historic US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot last month is an immigrant from Laos who has had cancer for eight years and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.
King Charles III returns to public duties with a trip to a cancer charity
King Charles III returned to public duties on Tuesday, visiting a cancer treatment charity and beginning his carefully managed comeback after the monarch's own cancer diagnosis sidelined him for three months.
NDP says Ottawa's new grocery task force isn't living up to government promises
The federal government says the task force it created to monitor and investigate grocery retailers' practices has not conducted any probes and doesn't have a mandate to take enforcement action.