Demonstrations were held in more Canadian cities to show solidarity with Ukraine on Sunday, which marked the fourth day of Russia’s widespread invasion.
Russia’s continued attacks have sparked condemnation by many world leaders and prompted a series of sanctions.
Lots of Canadians get together on saturday too to show their support for Ukraine. Protests against the Russian invasion have been held around the world in recent days — including in Russia itself, where police crack down on protesters.
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Thousands of people lined up in the city center Toronto on Sunday afternoon to protest the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The event, dubbed the “Mega March for Ukraine,” was organized by the Toronto branch of the Canadian Ukrainian Congress.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who represents the University of Toronto—Rosedale on a federal ride, was among those who attended the rally.
During the march, the crowd chanted: “Stand with Ukraine!”
Hundreds of people rally in support of Ukraine in Toronto pic.twitter.com/gSAu12I1Ls
In the Hamiltonhundreds of people attended a solidarity rally where people waved Ukrainian flags and held signs calling on the world to “side with Ukraine” as passersby showed their support by honking their horns.
thousand Ottawa Residents gathered outside the Russian Embassy in Sandy Hill on Sunday to unite with Ukraine and protest against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
After that, they marched through the downtown core.
The colors of the Ukrainian flag were then projected onto the Peace Tower on Sunday evening.
Hundreds gathered at Kitchener-Waterloo on Sunday, as many Ukrainian-Canadians in the area grew increasingly worried about their loved ones caught in the conflict.
Sophia Gryshchenko, whose extended family lives in Kyiv and in western Ukraine, said the last few days had been very difficult.
“It’s scary every day to be like ‘will they answer me the next day?'” she said.
“It’s hard to focus on school now and work things out. Sometimes it’s hard to believe and process that it’s happening in the 21st century because it shouldn’t be happening.”
In Eastern Canada, the meeting at Charlottetown saw a lot of people meeting at the town hall Sunday morning to take part in the rally to show support for Ukraine.
Some carried signs reading “Stop the War” or “Stand With Ukraine.” A group of children waved the Ukrainian national flag and cars honked as they passed.
“Usually I cry when I see someone who is not from Ukraine show their support,” said Olexsandra Bezruchko, who is from Ukraine and attended the rally.
“My relatives are still there…. They are scared because they are seeking refuge now rather than just enjoying a beautiful and pleasant Sunday.”
In Quebec, there was an ongoing outpouring of support for Ukraine at a rally in the city center Montreal on Sunday. It was the fourth day in a row that Montrealers had come out to protest against the invasion.
Demonstrators previously gathered outside the Russian consulate in Montreal.
“Most people here have families in Ukraine and we need to come together and live together in our own communities to show support for one another,” said Michael Shwec, president of the Canada Ukraine Congress.
“We call on all governments in the world to support the creation of a fly-n zone over Ukraine.”
In the Prairies, protesters show their support for Ukraine at a rally in Saskatoon on Sunday.
Demonstrators gather at Edmonton as well.
In British Columbia, about 150 people in Prince George gathered on the steps of the town hall on Sunday as part of a rally organized by the Ukrainian Church of St. George.
People gathered to hear from Mayor Lyn Hall, members of the local First Nations community and share songs and prayers for those in Ukraine.
In northern Canada, demonstrators gather in downtown White horseraised the Ukrainian flag and raised the sign.
Svitlana Koptyeva, organizer of Sunday’s demonstrations, came to Canada from Ukraine 10 years ago.
He said these were very difficult times as his brother and mother were still living in Ukraine.
“I feel scared for them,” he said. “This is something that everyone knew was going to happen, but never believed it would actually happen.”
The ongoing demonstrations in Canada echo the sentiments of those against the war around the world.
In Russia, police detained more than 2,000 people at anti-war protests in 48 cities across the country on Sunday, a protest monitoring group said.
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