Victoria Park Central Ave entrance as people gather for the march. Credit: CJ Goater / XFM News.
“Sláva Ukrayíni! Heróyam sláva!” / “Слава Україні! Героям слава!”
The Mother’s March for Ukraine, held on Saturday afternoon at Victoria Park in London, began with a Ukrainian national salute which translates to “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!”
The event was organized by the London branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) to show support for Ukrainian mothers this Mother’s Day in the middle of the Russian invasion of their country.
Ola Nowosad of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress speaking at the march in Victoria Park. Credit: Mike Lacasse / XFM News.
Ola Nowosad, a retired teacher and one of the organizers, was partially inspired to organize the event by her mother’s experiences during WWII 80 years ago.
“She was taken by the Germans at age 14 during the war, so this is one of the reasons I’m so interested in this,” says Ola. “She never saw her mother again. This war is really hard for her to witness because she never thought the same kind of misery could rain down again on people as war brings.”
Her mother now lives in London, but Ola still has two aunts and cousins in Ukraine, and other cousins, young mothers themselves, who are now refugees in Poland.
Mothers March for Ukraine at Victoria Park is starting soon. #LdnOnt pic.twitter.com/Au4dxCyImF
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A little over 50 people gathered and marched, carrying signs and chanting, to show their support for the Ukrainian people including Steve.
Steve at the Mothers’ March for Ukraine in Victoria Park on Saturday. Credit: Mike Lacasse / XFM News.
“We’re getting together again and try to show people that we’re standing up for freedom. Ukraine is facing a tremendous crisis right now,” says Steve. “A crisis that could end up being a tyranny and we’re totally against that. We want peace. Everybody wants freedom. Just like we have here in Canada. Please, take notice and protect your freedom.”
Steve has been involved in marches and get togethers in the past to support the Ukrainian cause and help fundraise.
Marchers walked from the Central entrance of Victoria Park, south down Richmond St, around Dufferin Ave then back towards the entrance via Clarence St.
On the way there, people started to sing “Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow”, a patriotic marching song written in 1914 that became synonymous with Ukrainian defiance when it was outlawed in the U.S.S.R. It also recently inspired the Pink Floyd song “Hey, Hey, Rise Up!”
At the head of the march, along with organizers Ola Nowosad and Daria Hryckiw, is Deputy Mayor Josh Morgan.
Ola Nowosad (UCC), Deputy Mayor Josh Morgan, Daria Hryckiw (President Ukrainian Canadian Congress, London). Credit: CJ Goater / XFM News.
“It continues to remind me of the strength of our local Ukrainian community,” says Morgan. “This is such a wonderful, caring community whose given back to the London community in so many ways and now they are the ones in need. It breaks my heart to have to be in a situation where we walk beside families and friends whose loved ones are in a conflict zone in an unjust war right now.”
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