Photo courtesy We Stand With Ukraine Facebook page

By Jeff Henson

Independence Day of Ukraine

“We Stand With Ukraine” rally planned for Wednesday night in Grande Prairie

Aug 22, 2022 | 11:30 AM

Grande Prairie City hall will play host to a special rally on Wednesday night to show support for the residents of Ukraine and local families of Ukrainian background.

“We Stand For Ukraine” begins at 6:00 p.m. on August 24, with the public encouraged to attend and show their support.

Co-organizer Kelly George says the event is to raise awareness.

“It is not a political event, it is not a social justice event… it is simply to raise awareness and to let people know that this is happening.”

“Grande Prairie was partially built by Ukrainian immigrants that came here to homestead in the 1920’s and 30’s.”

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George says many of those families are now housing family members that escaped the country shortly after the start of the Russian invasion.

The August 24 event has an added significance, being also Independence Day in Ukraine.

“Normally this is a day that would be celebrated just like we celebrate Canada Day. It would be an exciting day, it would be a holiday, it would be a celebration. Unfortunately this year, August 24 also marks the six-month anniversary of Russia invading the sovereign country of Ukraine,” she notes.

Mayor Jackie Clayton will raise the Ukraine flag during the rally, which George says is a very symbolic and much-appreciated gesture.

The event will also include speeches from a number of individuals including local politicians, event organizers, and members of the local Ukrainian community.

It will end with a small, silent parade around the downtown core.