Ukrainians gather to celebrate in Kelowna

For many Ukrainian refugees in and around the Okanagan, this was a rare time to come together to celebrate Ukrainian Orthodox Christmas.

The event Saturday afternoon was put on by the local Kelowna Stands with Ukraine group for hundreds who have moved to the Okanagan since the war broke out almost one year ago.

They gathered at Centre culturel francophone de l'Okanagan.

For many, this is their first Christmas away from their families.

“It’s definitely a different Christmas than what we had before,” organizer Denys Storozhuk told Kelowna10.

He explained that he wants to continue to build a strong and close community for all those who have arrived in the last year.

“We plan to build a sense of family for Ukrainians that arrived last year during the war. And many of them left their families, husbands, or fathers behind in the Ukraine and many fight on the frontlines,” he said. “We just want to make sure they feel welcomed and warm in Kelowna. Christmas is a family holiday, so we try to build a big family here.”

Guests in attendance also listened online to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s speech. It focused on the impact the war has had and he encouraged Ukrainians everywhere to not ‘wait for a miracle, because we can create it ourselves.’

At Kelowna’s celebration, the event featured traditional food, entertainment, and presents for every child in attendance. Quilts from The Pincushion Quilt Guild were handed out to Ukrainian families.

Christmas in Ukraine starts on Jan. 6 and lasts until the Feast of Epiphany on Jan. 19.