Demonstrations were held in more Canadian cities to show of solidarity with Ukraine on Sunday, which marked the fourth day of Russia’s wide-ranging invasion.
Russia’s ongoing attack has prompted condemnation by many world leaders and triggered a raft of sanctions.
Many Canadians gathered on Saturday as well to show their support for Ukraine. Protests against Russia’s invasion have been held around the world in recent days — including in Russia itself, where police cracked down on protesters.
Thousands of people marched in downtown Toronto on Sunday afternoon to protest the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The event, billed as “Mega March for Ukraine,” was organized by the Toronto branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who represents Toronto’s University—Rosedale riding federally, was among those attending the rally.
During the march, the crowd chanted: “Stand with Ukraine!”
Hundreds of people at a rally in support of Ukraine in Toronto <a href=”https://t.co/gSAu12I1Ls”>pic.twitter.com/gSAu12I1Ls</a>
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In Hamilton, hundreds attended a solidarity rally where people waved Ukrainian flags and held signs calling for the world to “stand with Ukraine” as people driving by showed their support by honking.
Thousands of Ottawa residents gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Sandy Hill on Sunday to stand united with Ukrainians and protest Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Afterwards, they marched through the city’s downtown core.
The colours of the Ukrainian flag were later projected onto the Peace Tower on Sunday evening.
Hundreds gathered in Kitchener-Waterloo on Sunday, as many Ukrainian-Canadians in the area grew increasingly worried about their loved ones caught in the conflict.
Sophia Gryshchenko, whose extended family lives in Kyiv and in western Ukraine, said the last several days have been extremely difficult.
“It’s just scary every day to be like ‘will they answer me the next day?'” she said.
“It’s been hard to focus on school right now and to get everything done. Sometimes it’s just hard to even believe and to process that it’s happening in the 21st century because it shouldn’t be happening.”
In Eastern Canada, a gathering in Charlottetown saw scores of people meet at city hall Sunday morning to take part in a rally to show support for Ukraine.
Some carried signs that read “Stop War” or “Stand With Ukraine.” A group of children waved the Ukrainian national flag and cars honked their horns as they drove by.
“Usually it makes me cry when I see that someone not from Ukraine shows their support,” said Olexsandra Bezruchko, who is from Ukraine and attended the rally.
“My relatives are still there…. They’re scared because they’re seeking shelter right now instead of just having a great, wonderful Sunday.”
In Quebec, there was an outpouring of continued support for Ukraine at a rally in downtown Montreal on Sunday. It was the fourth day in a row that Montrealers had come out to protest in opposition of the invasion.
Demonstrators had previously gathered outside the Russian consulate in Montreal.
“Most people here have family in Ukraine and we need to congregate and stay together in our own community to show support to one another,” said Michael Shwec, the president of the Canadian Ukrainian Congress.
“We’re calling on all governments of the world to support creating a n- fly zone over Ukraine.”
In the Prairies, protesters showed their support for Ukraine at rally in Saskatoon on Sunday.
Demonstrators gathered in Edmonton as well.
In British Columbia, about 150 people in Prince George gathered on the city hall steps on Sunday as part of a rally organized by St. George’s Ukrainian Church.
The people gathered heard from Mayor Lyn Hall, members of local First Nations communities and shared songs and prayers for those in Ukraine.
In northern Canada, demonstrators congregated in downtown Whitehorse, flying Ukrainian flags and holding up signs.
Svitlana Koptyeva, the organizer of the Sunday demonstration, came to Canada from Ukraine10 years ago.
She said these are extremely difficult times as her brother and mother still live in Ukraine.
“I feel scared for them,” she said. “This is something that everybody kind of knew would happen, but never believed it actually would.”
The ongoing demonstrations taking place in Canada echo the sentiments of those opposing the war around the globe.
In Russia, police detained more than 2,000 people at anti-war protests in 48 cities across the country on Sunday, a protest monitoring group said.
PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – RCMP say the body of a second person has been found inside their vehicle after a road washed away amid pouring rain on the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Police say two vehicles went into the Sarita River when Bamfield Road washed out on Saturday as an atmospheric river hammered southern B.C.
The body of the other driver was found Sunday.
More coming.
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The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday’s provincial election.
The party says in a statement that its two newly elected MLAs, Jeremy Valeriote and Rob Botterell, support Furstenau’s leadership as they “navigate the prospect of having the balance of power in the legislature.”
Neither the NDP led by Premier David Eby nor the B.C. Conservatives led by John Rustad secured a majority in the election, with two recounts set to take place from Oct. 26 to 28.
Eby says in a news conference that while the election outcome is uncertain, it’s “very likely” that the NDP would need the support of others to pass legislation.
He says he reached out to Furstenau on election night to congratulate her on the Greens’ showing.
But he says the Green party has told the NDP they are “not ready yet” for a conversation about a minority government deal.
The Conservatives went from taking less than two per cent of the vote in 2020 to being elected or leading in 45 ridings, two short of a majority and only one behind the NDP.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Toronto FC captain Jonathan Osorio is making a difference, 4,175 kilometres away from home.
The 32-year-old Canadian international midfielder, whose parents hail from Colombia, has been working with the Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization, a charity whose goal is to help disadvantaged youth in the South American country.
Osorio has worked behind the scenes, with no fanfare.
Until now, with his benevolence resulting in becoming Toronto FC’s nominee for the Audi Goals Drive Progress Impact Award, which honours an MLS player “who showed outstanding dedication to charitable efforts and serving the community” during the 2024 season.”
Other nominees include Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder Sebastian Berhalter and CF Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois.
The winner will be announced in late November.
The Canadian Colombian Children’s Organization (CCCO) is run entirely by volunteers like Monica Figueredo and Claudia Soler. Founded in 1991, it received charitable status in 2005.
The charity currently has four projects on the go: two in Medellin and one each in Armenia and Barranquilla.
They include a school, a home for young girls whose parents are addicted to drugs, after-school and weekend programs for children in a disadvantaged neighbourhood, and nutrition and education help for underprivileged youth.
The organization heard about Osorio and was put in contact with him via an intermediary, which led to a lunch meeting. Osorio did his due diligence and soon got back to the charity with his decision.
“It was something that I wanted to be a part of right away,” said Osorio, whose lone regret is that he didn’t get involved sooner.
“I’m fortunate now that to help more now that I could have back then,” he added. “The timing actually worked out for everybody. For the last three years I have donated to their cause and we’ve built a couple of (football) fields in different cities over there in the schools.”
His father visited one of the sites in Armenia close to his hometown.
“He said it was amazing, the kids, how grateful they are to be able to play on any pitch, really,” said Osorio. “But to be playing on a new pitch, they’re just so grateful and so humble.
“It really makes it worth it being part of this organization.”
The collaboration has also made Osorio take stock.
“We’re very fortunate here in Canada, I think, for the most part. Kids get to go to school and have a roof over their head and things like that. In Colombia, it’s not really the same case. My father and his family grew up in tough conditions, so giving back is like giving back to my father.”
Osorio’s help has been a godsend to the charity.
“We were so surprised with how willing he was,” said Soler.
The TFC skipper has helped pay for a football field in Armenia as well as an ambitious sports complex under construction in Barranquilla.
“It’s been great for them,” Figueredo said of the pitch in Armenia. “Because when they go to school, now they have a proper place to train.”
Osorio has also sent videos encouraging the kids to stay active — as well as shipping soccer balls and signed jerseys their way.
“They know more about Jonathan than the other players in Colombia,” Figueredo said. “That’s the funny part. Even though he’s far away, they’ve connected with him.”
“They feel that they have a future, that they can do more,” she added. “Seeing that was really, really great.”
The kids also followed Osorio through the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America.
Back home, Osorio has also attended the charity’s annual golf tournament, helping raise funds.
A Toronto native, he has long donated four tickets for every TFC home game to the Hospital for Sick Children.
Vancouver’s Berhalter was nominated for his involvement in the Whitecaps’ partnership with B.C. Children’s Hospital while Montreal’s Sirois was chosen for his work with the Montreal Impact Foundation.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 21, 2024.
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