As winter descends on war-torn Ukraine, the Calgary fundraiser hopes to bring warmth

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Images of bomb-laden Russian drones dropping on Ukrainian power plants have lent added urgency to a Calgary fundraiser for people who use war, its organizers say.

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The Nov. 5 concert highlighting Ukrainian culture at St. David’s United Church was planned long before the war in Ukraine entered its current phase, in which swarms of drones attacked homes, power plants and infrastructure. water in an apparent attempt to make life unbearable. the approaching winter.

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But that reality makes the fundraising effort to buy plane tickets for those fleeing the fighting and winter clothing for Ukrainians who remain there even more timely, said Bruce Callow, who is co-chairing the event with Oksana Dawid of Calgarian.

“It’s going to be a hard, cold winter for a lot of people in Ukraine,” said Callow, a native of the Charleswood Heights area who now lives in Costa Rica.

“We have an excellent partner organization that will help with the purchase and distribution of winter clothing, and the additional winter clothing will be vitally important to people struggling to maintain basic services under continued Russian attacks.”

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Ukrainian officials said Tuesday that Russian missile and drone strikes this month destroyed nearly a third of the country’s heat and power generating plants, triggering widespread blackouts that are expected to worsen in coming months.

Earlier this year, Callow spent time in Poland helping Ukrainian refugees who had fled the country during the initial phase of the war.

The momentum of that work has continued, with Callow and his colleagues devoting their energies to raising funds to buy airline tickets, which have helped bring 26 Ukrainian visa holders to Canada since the war began last February.

Anyone who wishes to donate towards the purchase of airline tickets can send an email to [email protected]

The concert on November 5, which begins at 7 pm, will feature a variety of Ukrainian folk music artists, Ukrainian churches and choirs, as well as a performance by rock artist Callow.

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“Each of these artists would be perfect for a full concert on their own. The singer who closed the concert, Ihor Bohdan, is a big star in Ukraine and a renowned international performer,” said Callow.

The Calgary community’s support for Ukraine and its people seeking refuge, exemplified by the upcoming fundraiser, is encouraging, said Olexandr Vasetsky, who came to Canada 15 years ago from a part of southeastern Ukraine that is now in the front line of combat. .

“It’s wonderful: Canada has been one of Ukraine’s biggest supporters,” Calgarian Vasetsky said, adding that his home country’s need is deepening.

“It is going to be a hard winter for the Ukrainians. Imagine being without heat for months at a time.”

Tickets for the Ukraine benefit concert at St. David’s United Church, 3303 Capitol Hill Crescent NW, are priced at $21.51 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.

[email protected]

Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn