This past weekend in Morden, the Ukrainian community came together for a vibrant, two-day fundraiser that was held Friday, August 23rd and Saturday the 24th from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The event was driven by over 60 volunteers, and was aimed to support Ukraine, the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Morden, and other local initiatives, while also acting as a celebration of Ukrainian culture.
With the church’s parish growing dramatically over the past ten years according to former President of the Church Council of the Ukrainian Catholic Church – Kate Tykhonva, the time has come to “move on and to start planning something bigger.” The fundraiser, as a result not only served as a platform to support the church, but also commemorated Ukraine’s 33rd Independance Day, which takes place at the same time on August 24th.
Though the day marks Ukraine’s Declaration of Independance from the Soviet Union in 1991, in recent years it has taken on a second life. According to a recent poll from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology: in 2013, only 12% of Ukrainians considered the holiday as one of the most important, or favorite celebrations. However, by 2024, that figure has surged to 64%, reflecting a profound shift in national sentiment, and making it one of the top three most celebrated holidays in Ukraine, ranking behind only the two major religious holidays.
According to Tykhonva, “We know now for what our ancestors were fighting for... And now our friends and families back in Ukraine are fighting for the same thing.”
Aside from raising money, the fundraiser also provided an opportunity for the local community as well as travelers to engage with Ukrainian culture directly. Tykhonva spoke on the positive reaction from attendees, “We hear a lot from people from non-Ukranian backgrounds... they [are] shocked to learn about our clothing, our ornaments and paintings from our exhibition area, and about the food. They fully like it and enjoy [it]. So, for us it’s a really good way to introduce people.”
Overall, the fundraiser found a way to blend community support and cultural celebration in a way that caught people’s attention and was still able to provide a meaningful tribute to Ukraine’s ongoing journey of independence.
Click below to hear the full interview between Robyn Wiebe and Kate Tykhonva.
