Fundraiser to bring Ukrainian family to Montreal

Community members are gathering to raise funds to help bring a Ukrainian family to Montreal to be reunited with their relatives.

Olga Demborynska immigrated to Canada with her husband Oleg and children in 2019

They were hoping to go back to see their family this summer but the war in Ukraine turned their world upside down.

The Demborynka’s family is separated in Poland and Ukraine – their wish – is to have their families back together again here in Montreal.

“It’s a night to raise funds for this family cause we need to pay a lot of tickets seven tickets for this summer in August high season not easy,” said Bernar Hebert, event organizer and producer/ director, ICI Television.

“You can see everyone donating wanting to know about Ukraine about our culture about our traditions it’s very heartwarming,” said singer-songwriter and pianist Vitalia Khmil.

The fundraiser featured Ukrainian Montreal artists and performances by DJ buy me flowers, singer-songwriter Vitalia Khmil, painter Oksana Shishmarova and Montreal native singer-songwriter Éléonor Lagacé.

“Performances are something that brings joy to people we entertain people that’s what we do and if we can entertain people for a cause than that’s the least we can do,” said Khmil.

“It’s a story of survival for Ukrainians its quite sad also that people are making the mobe like they are now here and then they have to take on all the others that are suffering as well,” said Hebert.

“Humans need other humans and tonight’s and going to be the proof that,” said singer-songwriter and guitarist Éléonor Lagacé.

“Awful things are happening now in Ukraine and every day a lot of Ukrainian suffer from war,” painter Oksana Shishmarova.

“It’s definitely been harder for all of us just watching the news, it’s really heartbreaking to see everything that’s going on the least we can do again is just provide some kind of support to other people,” said Khmil.