New Lives, Same People
New Lives, Same People was a photography exhibition exploring the ways in which Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has divided the lives of Ukrainians into two halves – before and after February 24, 2022. New Lives, Same People: Ukrainians in Wartime ran for two days at the Beaumont Studios in May 2023 and featured photographs of Ukraine and Ukrainians before and during the war, and specifically highlights the ways in which Russia’s war has profoundly transformed the lives of the Ukrainian people.
Among the stories presented in photographs were those of regular Ukrainians who bravely stepped away from their pre-war lives to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including jeweller Evgeniya Emerald, TV and radio presenter Mykhailo Shamanov, The Village Ukraine Editor-in-Chief Andriy Bashtovy, and Oleksandr Bartle, manager of PepsiCo Ukraine and chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine. It also shared the story of vascular surgeon Dmytro Androschuk, who has been teaching military tactical medicine and evacuating and rescuing the wounded on the frontlines since 2014.
New Lives, Same People: Ukrainians in Wartime premiered in Halle, Germany, in partnership with Leuchtturm Helfer e.V. It was presented in Vancouver by the Ukrainian Canadian Advocacy Group and was funded by the United Way of British Columbia’s United for Ukraine Local Love.
War in Living Colour
“War in Living Colour” was a one-day pop-up exhibition of illustrations by Pictoric and the first public event organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Advocacy Group. War in Living Colour raised $8000 for the Rehabilitation Program for the Kids of Fallen Heroes; the program officially launched one week after the event and helped 25 children who’d been orphaned by the war.
Says Olga Prodan: “We are overwhelmed with gratitude to all those who attended in person and to all who could only attend virtually yet still purchased tickets for the entire family. Your presence meant only one thing: that you are not tired, that you are not too tired to fight, to act, to speak the truth, you make a difference, and you’ve made your choice, to help make history. You are strength! We extend a massive thank-you to the gallery in the heart of Vancouver, to the the Kent Gallery in Gastown (https://thekentvan.com/), and to its big-hearted owner. Your space was stunning and perfect. We are proud to say that we accomplished our initial goals, and we did it all together!"
Surrey Fusion Festival
UCAG represented Ukraine at the 2022 Fusion Festival in Surrey.
UCAG coordinate the Ukrainian Culture Pavilion and proudly represented Ukraine through traditional clothes, displays of Ukrainian culture, and food. It was a major project to undertake. The Ukrainian pavilion was one of forty pavilions representing an array of countries in the multicultural festival, and won first place.
Says Olga Prodan: “We did our best to represent the depth of Ukrainian culture, focusing on telling visitors the story of Ukrainian traditional clothing as well as that of the infamous motanka doll: one of the oldest symbols of Ukrainian heritage, which also acts as a personal amulet. Inviting people to learn about Ukrainian culture is not too big of a feat given its century-old traditions and artifacts. But as with any project, behind the scenes, there are so many who are involved.
We thank our partners: Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral , Ukrainian BlueYellow Art, and United Way British Columbia.”
Holodomor Memorial Day 2022
November 26, 2022 marked 90 years since the beginning of the Holodomor, the man-made famine and mass starvation policy that the Soviet state enacted against Ukrainians that ultimately claimed the lives of 10 million people. On November 26, 2022, UCAG invited all communities to join us at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Centre to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor and to view a number of special exhibits: "Taste of Holodomor", collages of Ukrainian Bread, and "Modern russian war crimes against Ukrainians".
Says Olga Prodan: “History is repeating itself. The russian authorities are once again perpetrating genocide against the Ukrainian people, using tactics that are all too familiar. They are destroying Ukrainian crops and farming machinery, stealing grains, trapping imports, and mining fields, all while selling the world their cover-ups, pretending that nothing is going on. Ukrainians will not stay silent. We remember the victims of all regimes, be it Soviet or russian. Every tortured man, woman, and child who left this world because of hunger. This year, as Ukraine once again fights russian colonialism, we are taking a look at the Holodomor, not only through a historical lens, but a contemporary one as well. We light a candle for all of the lives lost.”
This event was jointly organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Advocacy Group, Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church, St.Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Centre, and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress with support from the Holodomor and Holocaust Museum of Ukraine.
Special Guests included the Honorable Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum, who announced that the Holodomor statue "Bitter Memories of Childhood" will be erected in Vancouver in 2023, as well as th Minister of Advanced Education of BC Anne Kang and MLA Melanie Mark, with whom we spoke about adding information about the Holodomor to the Social Studies curriculum in BC schools.
Black Ribbon Day
Black Ribbon Day is an international day of remembrance for the victims of totalitarian regimes, including Stalinist, communist, Nazi, and fascist. It’s a day when the communities of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Ukraine gather to remember the millions of people who were forced to leave their homes; robbed, arrested, and executed. In 2022, Black Ribbon Day was dedicated to Ukraine and Ukrainians who are facing an unjust war in the 21st century. Ukrainian Canadian Advocacy Group was invited to speak to the crowd and speak on behalf of Ukrainians who are living under russian occupation now.
Says Olga Prodan: “We appreciate our partners from friendly countries for their support and the opportunity to speak about this important issue.”