Candlelight Vigil – 2 years of defending Ukraine
Belleville Market SquareSolemn event – no food, no fundraising. Gather and hold space for those grieving losses of all kinds. Show your support with your presence. Some candles will be available, but bringing your own is encouraged. Feb 24th will mark 2 years since russia’s full-scale invasion into its sovereign neighbour country Ukraine. Despite the initial global outcry against this heinous act, and despite international aid packages, russia’s unconscionable attempts to destroy and conquer a free and independent country continue. Other conflicts globally have erupted since, and it’s easy to forget that Ukrainians continue to send their children, brothers, sisters, fathers, to defend their right to a free and democratic country, to not be attacked on their own homeland, have their schools and hospitals reduced to rubble by a violent neighbour. Energy and spirits are at an all-time low, as the Ukrainian people mark 2 years of this battle for freedom, dignity, and sovereignty. Resources are scarce in all ways – financial resources, equipment resources, but most grievously – people resources. Deaths and captures at russian hands have gutted the trained military resources. Regular people like you and me, with no military training, are being thrown to the front lines with barely a few weeks of preparation and little to no protective gear. Now more than ever, it is up to us abroad to do everything we can to protect and preserve a world where your neighbor cannot simply decide to kill and conquer you. Join us to show your support for freedom, sovereignty, and democracy and to remember those who have died protecting these rights in Ukraine.