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By Katie Neustaeter

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Slava Ukraini, Oh Canada!

Mar 3, 2025 | 12:11 PM

I CAN’T, AND WON’T, STOP THINKING ABOUT UKRAINE.

When an unprovoked Putin led Russia to invade a peaceful, independent nation in order to violently expand his own interests (on brand), it left devastated Ukrainians fleeing for their lives. They were forced to leave their loved ones behind, many of whom have already died as either innocent bystanders or courageously in defence of their freedoms. And many more will die still.

I grew up with a Ukrainian friend and her mom taught us to make the prettiest Easter eggs you’ve ever seen. I loved learning about their traditional dress and trying on the costumes. They were a kind, hard working, welcoming and very interesting family.

Canadians are a lot like Ukrainians in a variety of ways — national pride in identity, common values and even geographically, in terms of proximity to neighbours who are currently concerning world powers.

And many Canadians are Ukrainian.

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I uniquely appreciate the equivalencies of our countries at this moment in history, and I hope you do, too.

If the analogy was a deal between two scrupulous dictators seeking mutual support while playing a sociopathic game of World Monopoly — the lives and liberties of others be damned — it might sound like, “Ukraine for Canada?”

In British Columbia, we have received many displaced Ukrainian people fleeing their homeland as a result of this terrible violation of human rights.

Beautiful, determined, resilient, proud, devastated people who have to try to make sense of what has happened to their lives while continuing to live.

I’ve been uniquely close to this because of my work in the nonprofit sector. We co-funded/created/ran a partnership program named United for Ukraine.

As fleeing Ukrainians arrived to the open arms of British Columbia, we did our best to help facilitate their welcome — trying to lessen their trauma with a warm, safe, embrace.

For as many arrivals as possible, there was someone to receive them when they stepped off the plane — children exiting without their parents, parents without their children, spouses without partners, pregnant moms without dad, many having suffered unspeakable harms and none with any certainty about their future.

Then we collaboratively tried to ease their integration into local communities, including Kamloops.

United for Ukraine helped to find displaced Ukrainians housing, connect them to other affected compatriots, and locate Canadian family and friends. It guided them through the learning curve of new language, culture, school systems, job and transportation seeking, and much more.

This program also helped BC ensure that this horrifying war results in as few people living vulnerably in our cities as possible.

And do you know what I kept thinking as we walked beside these folks for the last three years, learning their stories, hearing how very normal their lives were not long ago, and sharing a tiny piece of their experience while trying to help?

They’re exactly, and disturbingly, like you and me.

So when I say, “Slava Ukraini!” I hope you also hear, “Oh Canada, we stand on guard for thee.”

——

Katie Neustaeter is a Kamloops city councillor and the director of communications for United Way British Columbia. This column is a personal opinion piece.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.