'We're not alone': Winnipeg rally in support of Ukraine draws thousands to Manitoba legislature
CBC
Thousands of people gathered around the Manitoba legislature on Sunday to raise their voices in support of Ukrainians at home and abroad, calling for peace and an end to the Russian invasion.
People wore blue and yellow face paint, Ukrainian flags and traditional Ukrainian garb to show their support for family and friends affected by the violence either directly or indirectly. About 180,000 Manitobans are of Ukrainian descent.
Andrii Shcherbukha immigrated to Manitoba from Ukraine 10 years ago and has participated in a number of rallies since Russia invaded 12 days ago.
The violence in Ukraine hits home for him.
Shcherbukha's mother just crossed the Ukrainian border into Poland, and he hopes to eventually get her to Canada.
"We are far away and every [time] I'm calling my mother, she doesn't answer within the three rings, three seconds, my heart just stops," he said.
"We believe it's really important that that's everybody's not frightened or forgetting this very important issue. The issue that I believe that is important to anyone, regardless of whether you have Ukrainian heritage or not."
Valerii Pasko's parents, who are in their early 70s, are staying in Ukraine's capital Kyiv, despite his urges to flee.
Although he's worried about them, Pasko says it gives his family hope to see the solidarity shown across the world.
"It's very important for Ukrainians in Ukraine to know that all over the world, Ukrainians support them," he said.
But Pasko's not just showing symbolic support for his home country.
"The whole nation outside the borders of Ukraine somehow is involved. Every single person is doing something, right? Whether they're donating or gathering donations or helping their family and supporting their friends. Everybody is doing something," he said.
Shcherbukha, clad in blue and yellow, also sat at a booth collecting donations and supplies .
"It's really hard to be not with them right now and of course we try to do anything we can," he said.
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