A gathering at the Alberta legislature grounds Tuesday night recognized the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “Tonight, we are recognizing the four-year anniversary of the genocidal war and invasion of Ukraine,” said Canadian Ukrainian Congress Alberta Provincial Council president Lydia Migus. “It’s heartbreaking that we’re still here … We’re commemorating those that have been lost, to draw attention that the war is still going on. There is still no peace.” Many of those in attendance are from Ukraine and have fled to Edmonton because of the war. Migus said Canada has welcomed more than 300,000 Ukrainians since the invasion, with Alberta taking in 65,000. “Alberta was the cradle of Ukrainian settlement 130-some odd years ago, so it’s second nature for them to be here,” she said. Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, who is also the parliamentary secretary for Settlement Services and Ukrainian Evacuees, spoke at the event. “Like many of you, I am Ukrainian-Canadian, and this cause is deeply personal to me,” she said in a speech. “I only wish we weren’t gathering under these circumstances, because it means this senseless war has continued for yet another year … I don’t think any of us could have anticipated that the same horrors would still be going on today.” The Russo-Ukrainian war began in 2014 following Russia’s occupation of Crimea, annexing it from Ukraine. In 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The war has resulted in hundreds and thousands of deaths. “Ukrainians are going nowhere,” said Edmonton-Glenora MLA Sarah Hoffman. “Ukrainians are standing strong and they are fighting back for their sovereignty, for their right to exist … because Ukraine refuses to be erased.” With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Galen McDougall
