A well-attended ceremony in Outlook over the weekend honoured the memory of Winton “Bud” Hardy, who was killed by a Russian drone in Ukraine in June 2024 while serving as a combat medic — Hardy’s family was presented with the Ukrainian Canadian Sacrifice Medal in thanks for his service.
Pat Tymchatyn, president of the Saskatoon branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, explained that the Ukrainian Canadian Sacrifice Medal was created specifically for volunteers like Bud Hardy.
“It was created a couple of years ago during the Third Triennial Conference to recognize these Canadians who sacrificed themselves — who died in the war in Ukraine, or who were injured in active battle in Ukraine, and so this weekend we presented it to the Hardy family. ... It was an emotional event.
“There are 13 Canadians who have died in Ukraine at this point.”
Elena Zhukova, a newcomer to Canada from Ukraine, designed the medal as part of a collaboration between the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Ukrainian War Veterans Association of Canada (UWVA). It has the Tryzub (shield of arms of Ukraine, a blue shield with a golden trident) and four Maple Leaves, which form a cross. It is engraved with the name of the honouree and the date of their death, and says ‘For Freedom’ in Ukrainian, and ‘For Liberty’ in Latin.
Taras Jackiw, chairperson of the Ukrainian Canadian Sacrifice Medal Committee, was MC on Sunday. About 100 people attended, and other speakers included:
- Justin Turton, President of Branch 262, Royal Canadian Legion
- Ryan Husband, Mayor of Outlook
- Barret Kropf, MLA for Dakota-Arm River
- Blaine McLeod MLA, for Lumsden-Morse and Military Liaison for the Government of Saskatchewan
- Ken Krawetz, Honorary Consul of Ukraine
- Danylo Puderak, Executive Director, UCC – Saskatchewan Provincial Council
- Will Hardy, Bud’s brother
- Diane Hardy, Bud’s mother
“My brother and I, we were both born on the same day, one year apart, so we were very similar, very close in age,” Will Hardy said. “We literally did everything together. ... It’s been exceptionally hard on me.
“I did everything I could to stop him from going.”
Hardy described the initial discussions with Bud, usually over beers, about going to fight for Ukraine’s freedom — Will didn’t take it seriously at first, and he didn’t think Bud really intended to go.
“He told me maybe six months before that he was dead set on going. I didn’t really believe him,” he explained. “As time went on and pieces of equipment started to arrive in our mail, I started to realize that he was actually serious about this. He bought all his own equipment: Helmet, bulletproof vest, all the uniforms, gear, everything.
“Two weeks before his plane, he was like, ‘Yeah, I bought my ticket.’ That’s when it started to sink in for me.”
Hardy recruited the rest of his family to stop Bud. His mother talked him out of burning Bud’s passport as a last resort.
Bud took a plane to Poland, then a train to the Ukrainian border, where he told border security, ‘I’m Winton Hardy, I’m here to volunteer.’ He completed two months of basic training, then several weeks more to be a combat medic.
“Unfortunately, he lost his life on the first mission,” Will said. “But in that mission, he saved three people’s lives, and he was going back for a fourth when the drone hit him. ... The very last picture he sent me, it’s just a crazy picture. He just has this look on his face, he just looks happy. He looks like he found a purpose to his life.
“Right when I found out that he had been killed over there, it’s been my mission to make sure he’s not forgotten. So, it’s just a great feeling knowing that certain levels of government are officially recognizing his service.”