Around 100 people were in attendance at city hall in North Battleford where the Ukranian flag was raised in a show of solidarity. (Josh Ryan/nbattlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Solemn support

Crowd on hand for City’s Ukranian flag raising

Mar 2, 2022 | 12:34 PM

The City of North Battleford and its residents continued to show solidarity for the people of Ukraine on Wednesday.

A small ceremony took place at city hall, where the Ukrainian flag was raised. Around 100 people attended the gathering, including several residents of Ukrainian heritage and members of the Battlefords Ukrainian Canadian Council (BUCC).

Tetiana Polishchuk, who works for the city, is from Kyiv and has had many sleepless nights since Russia’s invasion began on Feb. 24. Russian forces have attempted to push through the country in multiple directions, being met with what has been described as “stiff resistance” from the Ukrainian forces.

“We do not sleep till probably 3:00 am every night, watching what’s going on there,” she said. “Every day we are waiting for the sunrise.”

New cabinet

Cockrill and Harrison take on new responsibilities as Premier appoints cabinet

40m ago

Warm weather continues

Warmer-than-normal weather continues through the weekend

1h ago

Battlefords AAA Sharks

Dureau commits to Merrimack College in NCAA DI

19h ago

Polishchuk said she was pleased to see people attending the flag raising. She added that she’s glad to see several countries showing support through sanctions, though she noted that people don’t realize the severity of the situation, calling it a genocide of both Ukrainian and Russian people.

“[Putin] sends 18- to 20-year-old kids to die in Ukraine as well,” she said. “Most of them are realizing they don’t want to go.”

“Hopefully those sanctions help, but hope isn’t [enough].”

Canada, the United States and many European countries have targeted Russia with economic sanctions since the conflict and the UN has condemned the attack. Several sports organizations have also banned Russia from competing in international events.

Mayor David Gillan opened the ceremony with a few words. During media availability afterwards, he said it’s important for everyone in the free world to stand up against this type of illegal invasion and occupation.

“It’s unacceptable behavior and the world is standing up with sanctions, but people are dying and history repeats itself,” he said. “Appeasing dictators doesn’t work.”

The United States has banned Russian aircraft from US Airspace, however, members of NATO have not imposed a “no-fly zone” over Ukraine, which has been called for by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

North Battleford’s show of solidarity will continue this weekend, with a march planned for noon on Saturday, starting at city hall. Gillan noted that Canada has the second largest number of Ukrainian descendants and ex-patriates in the world and that the Battlefords has a particularly large Ukrainian community.

“Walking together as brothers and sisters is important,” he said. “What the people in Ukraine are facing is life and death. It’s the least we can do.”

—

cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW