Jazz quartet held in Montreal raises funds for Ukraine
CBC
The Ukrainian National Federation staged a fundraising concert to support relief efforts in Ukraine on Sunday afternoon, which was made possible with the support of Bogdan Gumenyuk, a Ukrainian jazz musician and composer now living in Montreal.
The saxophonist learned to play Jazz music as a teenager growing up in the country, and first came to Montreal as a PhD music student at McGill University.
"The last couple of days were probably the worst days of my life," he said. "I wish no one feels that way."
He's gone between living in Montreal and Ukraine more than once. After graduating, he returned to the country to continue his music career and manage his music label. He moved back to Montreal in 2019, and said he now feels it's his responsibility to give back.
"You feel that people want better, and you feel that people are ready to fight for it," he said. "Not only talk about it, but really fight for it. That's what the whole world can see right now."
The Jazz quartet was held at federation's hall on Fairmount Avenue in the Mile-End, and featured Gumenyuk alongside three other Canadian musicians. A few dozen people showed up to watch the performance and donate.
The quartet was mainly inspired by the 2014 Ukrainian revolution and traditional folk songs, Gumenyuk said. What followed afterwards was an open discussion about Ukrainian culture and music.
The federation is currently working with Ukrainian government ministries to make sure the funds raised go to those who need it the most.
"Eleven days ago they were at school, work and restaurants, and going to the theatre," said Kathy Smolynec, president of the Ukrainian National Federation of Montreal.
"Imagine what it's like to suddenly lose your home, your clothing, everything you've ever known, to have your life turned upside down."
Lindsay Reoch attended the quartet with her children, and said she wants them to know how important it is to contribute in whatever way possible when people need help during times of war.
"This affects all of us, and I try to instill those values in the kids even though they're young, to know they're participating and not sitting by."
The holiday season has arrived in Thunder Bay, and that means reduced hours, or closures, for businesses, city offices, and other amenities.
As Toronto’s food scene continues to grow, some in the industry say the pool of professional chefs hasn’t kept up with demand.
Police have charged a truck driver from the Hamilton area in a hit-and-run crash that killed a tow truck operator who had been stopped while helping a driver on the side of Highway 401 outside Woodstock, Ont.
Power has been restored to most of Haines Junction after a problem earlier on Monday at the local generating station.
A 56-year-old man will return to court on Tuesday for a charge of second-degree murder, laid in a case London police have called an act of femicide.
The chairman of the committee leading Newfoundland and Labrador's independent review of the Churchill Falls memorandum of understanding with Quebec is backing the impartiality of his three-man team.
The province has taken a major step toward restarting its onshore natural gas industry.
Allan Legere, serving a life sentence at a maximum security prison in Alberta, has been denied a request for full parole.
Winnipeg’s Granite Curling Club has asked a judge to decide whether the City of Winnipeg can ignore a provincial decision about residential housing slated to rise next to the club.
A Saskatoon woman says she watched her neighbour's police standoff play out in real time on social media.
One person is dead from carbon monoxide poisoning, following an incident Friday at a building in Regina.
A wind storm that caused the cancellation of all daytime ferries between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland stranded passengers on both sides of the Salish Sea, adding challenges for travelers in an already hectic holiday travel week.
Maritime Electric has officially filed plans with the Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission for the rotating power outages it says may be necessary this winter to prevent a provincewide blackout.