A Mordenite who has been active in raising funds and other support for Ukraine was part of a select group that had the chance to meet her home country’s leader.
Yevgeniya Tatarenko earned an invite to be part of the Sept. 22 event in Toronto where Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau welcomed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Helen Zelensky.
To say that Tatarenko was happy and honoured is an understatement, as she still can’t believe that a small-town girl like her would ever have such opportunities in life.
“That was mind-blowing to get the invitation from Justin Trudeau … when you are here in Morden, small town, but I’m following my dreams to help Ukraine and make the world a little bit better and a little bit safer,” said Tatarenko.
The opportunity resulted from her being actively involved in fundraising efforts and campaigns such as organizing and sending medical supplies to Ukraine as the country fights off the Russian invasion.
The invitation came though the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Ontario provincial council.
“It was quite a huge surprise for me,” Tatarenko said, noting she at first couldn’t believe it was real, but she then heard from other people who have been active in raising funds and support for Ukraine who were also being invited.
“I was like, wow, I couldn’t sleep for the next four hours because I was out of my mind … what an honour … and I thought this is too good of an opportunity.”
Tatarenko said it was a moment to see the two leaders and so many other significant people in leadership roles standing up in support of Ukraine.
“It was important to see so many people together there … and to realize that I have been able to do something to contribute … it was such an honour,” she said.
“I could never have done any of this without the help and support of so many people,” Tatarenko added. “It took a lot of my time and effort … and there were a lot of tears … but having so many people come together and seeing the donations come in was so special … so many volunteers have been involved in raising the money and making those tactical medical bags.”
“I was getting donations not just from Morden or Winkler or Manitoba, even from other provinces and even other countries,” she added.
Tatarenko also noted it was timely with some countries in the world starting to show waning support to continue to back Ukraine.
“When the whole world is kind of starting to get tired of it, of the war in Ukraine … they close their eyes to what is going on,” she said. “My mom is here. I’ve made her stay here for a few more months because it’s so dangerous to go back … because I know, I hear what is going on there.”
She appreciated the unequivocal support from Prime Minister Trudeau.
“He was really powerful in saying and reminding the world … that we need to help them … that Canada will stand with Ukraine and they will continue to support Ukraine as much as possible.
“Democracy in the world will not win without that support,” Tatarenko added. “It was really refreshing and even rejuvenating for me because it’s really hard … it’s really hard to keep raising money, keep raising support now.
“It reminded everyone that Ukraine is not alone … we are not alone, and we should fight together, and we should support Ukraine as much as possible … we need to continue to work together.”
