May 2024
Meridian Place in downtown Barrie, Ontario, was a busy place on Sunday, 19 May, for Barrie’s second annual Ukrainian Vyshyvanka Day Festival. Hosted by the Ukrainian Community in Barrie, Vyshyvanka Day is an annual holiday celebrated internationally, where Ukrainians celebrate their heritage and the symbol of the iconic Ukrainian embroidered shirt (vyshyvanka).
With the glistening waters of Kempenfelt Bay as a backdrop, Meridian Place was filled with people experiencing dance, music and song, along with exhibits, food vendors, arts and crafts, and the Vyshyvanka, an iconic, embroidered Ukrainian symbol of heritage, history and resilience.
Ukrainian-Canadians were joined by Ukrainians living in Canada temporarily to escape the two year-old war and Canadian supporters to celebrate everything Ukrainian.
With the Ukraine-Russia war well into its third year, with no end in sight at this time, overt displays of Ukrainian culture, heritage and pride have become more and more important. Public displays of support from Ukrainian-Canadians and Canadian allies can serve as a great moral boost for those on the front lines as Ukraine fights for its very survival.
Sources: https://www.barrie.ca/community-recreation-environment/community-events/ukrainian-vyshyvanka-festival-day, https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/vyshyvanka-day-festival-celebrates-ukrainian-heritage-8768958.
