Latest news with #RomanYosyfiv
CTV News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Ukrainian man with cerebral palsy walking from Calgary to Banff to raise money for hospitals
Oleksandr Kyianytsia is draped in a Ukrainian flag as he walks along the Bow River pathway in Calgary on his way to Banff to raise money for hospitals in Ukraine. Oleksandr Kyianytsia, born with cerebral palsy, lives in Montreal but is originally from Ukraine. He's set off on a journey called Gift of Walking with a goal of raising money for Ukrainian hospitals impacted by the war with Russia. He leaves Calgary on July 3 and will pass through Cochrane, Bragg Creek and Canmore on his way to the mountain resort town of Banff. 'It will be very challenging, but I am very happy to do it because it was my dream to go through the Rockies,' said Kyianytsia. 'I began to think, 'How can I help?' and I had this idea to do a walk to help (raise money for) Ukraine to buy medical equipment.' This is Kyianytsia's third walk for Ukrainian hospitals. In 2023, he completed walks from Montreal to Ottawa and Toronto to Niagara Falls, totalling more than 330 kilometres and raising $32,000. This latest journey will take him close to 20 days and 200 kilometres and he'd like to raise $20,000. 'He will change five or six pairs of shoes because he's dragging his foot, and then the shoes get damaged and tear,' said Roman Yosyfiv, Calgary president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. 'So we bought him a couple shoes and then he's going to change them all the time because this is how difficult this is for him.' Before the walk began, the community held a rally at Municipal Plaza, where Mayor Jyoti Gondek signed a pair for Kyianytsia. 'I think this hospital, when he was back in Ukraine, this hospital helped him a little bit, and now he wants to give something back,' said Yosyfiv. 'They're fighting for independence, just to be Ukraine, and Ukraine compared to Russia is a small country, and without our support, I don't know where it's going to end up.' This campaign is supported by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Calgary Branch, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Bow Valley Branch and the Ukrainian Association in Cochrane. Anna Tselukhina is on the organizing committee for Gift of Walking and says more than 30 people have signed up to help Kyianytsia on his journey. 'Officially, I am co-ordinator of volunteers who will be feeding and taking care of (him) during his walk,' she said. 'Maybe walking with him during the different parts. 'It's three different teams that joined together to make this event happen.' Tselukhina says Kyianytsia isn't very good at walking with his cerebral palsy and falls regularly. 'That is what he told us: 'I'm falling down, but I stand up and I keep walking' because he has such a great heart for Ukraine,' she said. 'This is the example of a Ukrainian who doesn't want to give up no matter what's happened, no matter what kind of obstacles he has. I think this is a great example to all of us (and) we should learn from him.' You can learn more about the walk by clicking here.
CTV News
14-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Billboard welcomes Ukrainian President Zelenskyy to Calgary as he attends G7 summit
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress posted a billboard welcoming President Zelenskyy to Calgary. Zelenskyy will meet with members of Calgary's Ukrainian community following the G7 summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with members of Calgary's Ukrainian community following the G7 summit in Kananaskis Country. Zelenskyy will meet with members of the Calgary branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress along with others from across Canada on Tuesday to discuss the latest developments in the war against Russia. He'll be white-hatted and will receive a large ostrich egg that's been painted by a Calgary woman, in addition to a book about Ukrainian pioneers in Canada. A large electronic billboard near the Calgary International Airport is in place welcoming Zelenskky to Alberta -- and reminding other world leaders to keep Ukraine at the top of mind, says Roman Yosyfiv, the president of the Calgary branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. 'We want to say thank you (to Zelenskyy),' said Yosyfiv, 'and we hope he will say 'thank you' too, for all Canada has done and continues to do (for Ukrainian people.' 'The message for Zelenskyy is we stand together with you.' Roman Yosyfiv Roman Yosyfiv is the president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Calgary branch. (CTV Calgary) Yosyfiv added that billboard is not just for Ukrainians, either. "I've been in the presidency of (Calgary branch of) Ukrainian Canadian Congress since November and I talk to a lot of people who aren't Ukrainian," he said. 'Different nationalities – like I talk to people from Belarus, all different nationalities – when we have those rallies, people come over and they show us respect. 'So really this billboard is for everyone – not just for Ukrainians, not just for the president or the leaders – it's for everyone. 'I know the Ukrainian problem is in the ears of everyone and we want to continue to have this attention to Ukraine so the leaders can see this and then they can get together and stand together for Ukraine.' Calgary's Ukrainian community is holding a rally outside city hall Saturday at 1 p.m.
