Reality of war very real for Timmins, Ont., family whose daughter is fighting for Ukraine

Snow doesn't damper Timmins Remembrance Day event Despite some early wintry weather, crowds gathered at cenotaphs in South Porcupine and Timmins in honour of Remembrance Day.

Dozens of people gathered at the cenotaphs in South Porcupine and Timmins on Monday for Remembrance Day ceremonies in honour of those who’ve fought in major wars and those who’ve picked up where they’ve left off.

Among those at the ceremony were the parents of a woman who is volunteering on the front lines with the Ukrainian army.

Colleen Ludgate and Paul Cousineau of Timmins said their daughter, Brittney Shki-Giizis, has taken a temporary sabbatical from the Canadian military to help Ukraine.

She’s been there since March.

“It's very hard," Ludgate said.

"You know, every morning she says, 'OK, you know, I have to go to war today,' and we just wait until she finally says, 'OK, I made it back safe today' and we can sleep tonight. But we're very proud."

Ludgate said her daughter fell in love with Eastern European culture when she was in Poland about a year ago to help Ukrainians train on the tanks Canada provided for their war effort.

"She felt it was really necessary for her to go out and do her duty," Ludgate said, "so that when she comes back, she can tell her troops that I understand what you're going through, not just tell them, get out there and sacrifice your life."

Ludgate said Shki-Giizis is a 31-year-old gunner in the Ukrainian Army, helping on the front line. Her daughter could be there for up to five years.

"It makes it really, really real when you think about all the others who have served and what they went through, what their families went through and you can understand and it really strikes you right in the heart."