‘It’s very heartbreaking’: Montreal keeps support for Ukraine alive with Old Port rally

Ukrainian flags and signs of support filled Place Jacques-Cartier in Montreal’s Old Port Saturday afternoon as people came together to show their continued solidarity for family and friends in Ukraine.

It was one of many rallies in cities across the country organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24.

“It’s to show that the community is together and we support Ukraine,” said Adelia Shwec, one of the rally’s organizers.

“It’s devastating, and the Ukrainian community is suffering from a trauma right now because our brothers and sisters in Ukraine are dying as we speak and we want to help them as best as we can.”

IN PHOTOS: Montrealers rally to show support for Ukraine

In an evening address Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for his people to do whatever they can to ensure the country’s survival.

In Montreal, the protesters marched from Place Jacques-Cartier to Notre-Dame Basilica for a prayer.

“For many, it’s a very personal war because our family is there,” said one marcher. “And I think it’s very heartbreaking when your cousin is calling you from a bunker and saying, ‘can I ask, will you stay on the line with me until the air raid is done?’”

Added another: “It’s been more than a month since the war in Ukraine started, and we don’t want to lose the visibility. We don’t want people to forget that the war is ongoing.”

Couple Olena Bilozerova and Igor Kolodii share a kiss while draped in a Ukrainian flag at the rally in Montreal’s Old Port on Saturday, April 2, 2022. (Credit: CityNews/Pamela Pagano)

More than 1.3 million people identify as Ukrainian across Canada. The Ukrainian Canadian Congress has invited all Canadians to join their “Stand With Ukraine” campaign.

“Our family in Ukraine, I even have family there right now,” said Shwec. “And just because we’re from afar doesn’t mean we’re any less connected.”

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Saturday’s rally in Montreal was the eighth in the city organized by the UCC since the war started.

Shwec says that as long as the war is ongoing, her group will keep organizing rallies.

“Hopefully the war ends sooner rather than later, but we will not stop rallying until it’s over.”