WATCH: City gives $15K to support Ukrainian humanitarian efforts

Though lawmakers turned down a request to establish a sister city relationship in Ukraine, the city will financially support humanitarian efforts.

Council has decided to provide $15,000 to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal fund from Kelowna’s contingency fund.

“Our citizens continue to illustrate an outpouring of support for Ukraine clearly illustrating we are an extremely caring city,” Mayor Colin Basran said in a statement. “Our donation is a signal of our appreciation for everything that our citizens and senior levels of government are doing to support Ukraine.”

The sister city request was spearheaded by Denys Storozhuk with Kelowna Stands with Ukraine. The group has been instrumental in rallying support in Kelowna, while funding targeted frontline efforts overseas to support the army and territorial defence forces.

He previously told Kelowna10 that establishing the relationship with Rivne would make it easier to channel financial and other support directly to administrators in Ukraine.

However, the request was turned down by lawmakers as it “wasn’t considered the most appropriate way for the City to show its support for the entire country of Ukraine, and the proposal did not align with its Sister City Policy.”

Council also earmarked $5,000 to offset some of the costs incurred by the Dolyna Ukrainian Cultural Society and Kelowna Stands with Ukraine to raise awareness regarding humanitarian relief efforts for Ukraine. Storozhuk welcomed the financial contribution.

“The finances will help our group with the costs for an event to raise awareness and funds for Ukraine,” Storozhuk said in the statement. “We are very grateful for the city’s support.”

Basran said the city will continue to support Ukraine and its people as the war in the country rages on.