North Battleford city council shown at Monday's online meeting. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Standing in Solidarity

City plans to raise Ukrainian flag as sign of support

Mar 1, 2022 | 10:09 AM

The City of North Battleford will raise the Ukrainian flag in a ceremony outside city hall to show its support with the people of Ukraine during the ongoing conflict.

Coun. Kent Lindgren brought forward the proposal at city council’s meeting Monday evening.

Mayor David Gillan strongly supported the idea.

“I’m very happy that we are considering raising the Ukrainian flag in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, who are going through an unimaginable situation that none of us have ever seen in our lifetime, and hope we will never see in our lifetime,” he said.

Gillan noted it’s also important for the city to recognize as an inclusive municipality that it has a very large Ukrainian community here.

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Coun. Greg Lightfoot also supported the proposal to show the city’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people, “as their plight continues with the unlawful invasion of the Russian army right now.”

He said the Russian leadership’s actions are both appalling and a cause for widespread disdain.

“I do sincerely feel for the Ukrainian people, and I hope this can be resolved very quickly,” Lightfoot said. “I do think we should certainly show our support for the Ukraine by raising the flag.”

Coun. Kelli Hawtin said she also wants to stand with the people of Ukraine, as well as local citizens who are newcomers from Ukraine.

“My heart goes out to all of those individuals who are directly affected – their family, their friends, their loved ones,” she said.

Gillan said representatives from the local Ukrainian society will be invited to participate in the ceremony to install the Ukrainian flag outside city hall in the coming days.

The date and time of the event will be announced when it is confirmed.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow