NORTH BATTLEFORD — All levels of government in the Battlefords and area are showing support for Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion of the country.
North Battleford city council passed a resolution unanimously Monday to raise the Ukraine flag at City Hall.
Mayor David Gillan said the “people of Ukraine are going through an unimaginable situation that none of us have ever seen in our lifetime and hopefully will never see in our lifetime.”
He was supportive of raising the Ukrainian flag “to show our solidarity and our support,” and also noted there is a large Ukrainian community in the city.
Councillor Greg Lightfoot moved the motion to raise the flag. “I do sincerely feel for the Ukrainian public and people, and hope this could be resolved very quickly.”
Councillor Kelli Hawtin supported the motion as a way to “stand with the people of Ukraine as well as to stand with our citizens, who many are newcomers from Ukraine, have family that is being directly affected by this tragedy that is happening right now. I never thought in my lifetime that I would live see something like this and I certainly hope a resolution comes quickly and my heart goes out to all of those individuals who are directly affected — their family, their friends, their loved ones. Praying for a quick result.”
City Hall has confirmed the flag raising will happen Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. The indication at council Monday was that they wanted to reach out to the Ukrainian community and have them involved in the ceremony.
In addition to placing the flag at City Hall, Mayor Gillan indicated they also want to co-ordinate something at the flagstands located at the entrance of the city from Battleford.
Already, there are plans by the local Ukrainian community to place a flag near that location. A member of the Battlefords Ukrainian Canadian Council, Ev Kardynal, has been sewing a Ukrainian flag to “#standwithukraine” and the plan is place it on the Holodomor monument as a show of support. The Holodomor monument is located adjacent to the flagstand area.
Other representatives of the Battlefords at the provincial and federal level have also shown their support for Ukraine. Battlefords MLA Jeremy Cockrill posted on Facebook his approval of a rally on the weekend put on by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in Saskatoon.
“Thank you to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Saskatoon Branch for putting together today’s rally at Saskatoon City Hall. It was moving to hear the Ukrainian and Canadian national anthems sung by the crowd at the end of the event. Moments like that bring to life Saskatchewan’s motto, From Many Peoples Strength.”
Battlefords-Lloydminster MP Rosemarie Falk has voiced her support for Ukraine on Facebook, posting the following:
“Conservatives stand with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.
“Putin’s unprovoked aggression and invasion of Ukraine is unacceptable and must be met with severe consequences.
“For Canadians in Ukraine, consular assistance is available through Global Affairs Canada, contact them at:
• telephone at +1 613 996 8885
• email at sos@international.gc.ca
• SMS at +1 613 686 3658”
For resources, the Battlefords Ukrainian Canadian Council has posts on their Facebook page with information as well as links to organizations that can assist those in Ukraine.
