The Canada-Ukraine Foundation is proud to announce our new campaign, Every Child Deserves A Future, running from May 6th through June 23rd, dedicated to providing comprehensive support to Ukrainian children impacted by Russia’s violent war and forced abductions, including psychological care and specialized rescue efforts. Each of these children has been torn from their families, their communities, and everything they know—subjected to systematic attempts to erase their Ukrainian identity, language, and culture.
We have witnessed remarkable success through our vital partnership with Save Ukraine. Together, through your generosity and the support of the Temerty Foundation, we have funded rescue missions of 12 children from Russian captivity. We have watched as their eyes regain hope upon returning to the embrace of loved ones. Additionally, hundreds more children have received comprehensive rehabilitation services, helping them begin the long journey of healing from profound trauma. Yet thousands remain in captivity, waiting for someone to remember them—waiting for someone like you to help bring them home.
Every child deserves safety.
Every child deserves love.
Every child deserves a future.
Together, we can make this fundamental right a reality for Ukraine’s most vulnerable children. The forced deportation of children is recognized as an act of genocide under international law. Your support of this campaign is not only humanitarian aid—it is a powerful statement that the world condemns Russia’s actions.
Your contribution to Every Child Deserves A Future will directly fund rescue operations conducted by specialized teams, psychological rehabilitation programs for traumatized children, reintegration support to help rebuild their lives, and other essential programs for Ukrainian children. When a child returns to Ukraine, it is not merely a homecoming—it is the reclamation of their identity, their heritage, and their rightful future.
The abduction of children represents one of the gravest violations of human rights. By supporting this campaign between May 6th and June 23rd, you stand on the right side of history, taking concrete action against an injustice that must not be allowed to continue in silence.
Will you help write a story of homecoming, healing, and hope for a child waiting to return to Ukraine?
Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) – founded in 1995, CUF has a strong track record of providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in the areas of healthcare, education and civil society. CUF collaborates with aid providers in Ukraine, Canada, and beyond to maximize impact and cost-effectiveness of your support.
In the depths of this past winter, we asked you to stand with those fighting battles beyond the frontlines in Ukraine. Today, with hearts overflowing with gratitude, we share the extraordinary results of your compassion: together, we have raised an astounding $2.5 million for the mental health and rehabilitation of Ukraine’s brave defenders.
This remarkable achievement stands as a testament to the enduring bond between Canada and Ukraine—a connection woven not just through history and heritage but through shared values of courage, resilience, and the unwavering belief that even in humanity’s darkest hours, we must stand together. Your response to our call was nothing short of astonishing. We extend our profound gratitude to the Myhal Family Foundation, whose incredible matching pledge of $1 million became the cornerstone of this campaign’s success. Their commitment to doubling every donation ignited a wave of generosity that will ripple through countless lives.
We are deeply grateful to the Zita and Mark Bernstein Family Foundation, the Edmonton Community Foundation, Mrs. Kyle MacDonald and Mr. John Franklin, and an Anonymous supporter for their significant contributions to the campaign. To every Canadian who chose to stand with Ukrainian people, no matter your donation amount—we offer our heartfelt thanks.
We are pleased to announce the winners of our raffle for “Shake Hands with the Devil”: Patricia from Winnipeg has won the English copy, and Marie-Mai from Gatineau has won the French edition of General Romeo Dallaire’s powerful memoir. Like Dallaire himself, this book stands as a powerful reminder that bearing witness to suffering is the first step toward healing, both for individuals and nations.
Stay tuned as we share with you updates on projects which provide essential mental health support and essential support to Ukrainians who need it the most.
CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been established jointly by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) to formalize a coordinated approach in providing humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine to address any further aggression by Russia. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian relief in the areas of assistance to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security.
Many in the Western democracies, in Canada and in the United States in particular, believe that the invasion of Ukraine is none of our business. It’s a regional fight. We should stay out of it. After all, the combatants are far away, too far to touch us.
Isolationism has always been a strong part of the U.S. political tradition. Read about the America First movement before the Second World War: It’s no coincidence that Donald Trump employed the slogan in his runs for the presidency. Vice-President J.D. Vance’s chilling statement that he “could care less about what happens to Ukraine” is part of that “hear no evil, see no evil” tradition. Remember how Trump and Vance humiliated Volodymyr Zelenskyy on live television. Vladimir Putin was reportedly thrilled. It’s no wonder that Ukraine and its friends no longer rely on the United States to do the right thing.
The danger is to forget history’s lessons. To ignore what is going on “over there” can blind us to how those seemingly distant battles will one day infect the world we live in. To ignore what is happening in Ukraine is tantamount to giving Putin the green light. It sends the message that we will not try to stop you. Do what you want, wherever you want, but just don’t bother us and we’ll leave you alone, never believing that the bully we appease may soon turn on us. History has shown that totalitarian beasts have big appetites. One successful invasion can lead to another, and another, toppling free, independent states like dominoes, while destroying countless innocent lives.
In the 1930s much of the West ignored Japanese imperial ambitions, despite knowledge of horrific war crimes taking places in places such as Nanking. Many isolationists in the United States thought this was not their battle. That changed, of course, on December 7, 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, shooting bullets made with American scrap metal. In September 1938, Neville Chamberlain, the great British appeaser, thought he had created “peace in our time” by allowing Hitler to annex the region of Czechoslovakia called the Sudetenland. The Nazi rallying cry, “Today Germany, tomorrow the world,” was well known to most every clear-eyed observer. The intentions of the Nazis could not have been stated more clearly.
Chamberlain was convinced that with the Munich Agreement, which he waved triumphantly on his return to Britain, Hitler’s territorial ambitions had been satisfied. He said Hitler could be trusted. Less than a year later, the Nazis swallowed up the rest of Czechoslovakia. Imagine what the world would have looked like if he said to Hitler: No more!
“The European history of the 20th Century shows us that societies can break, democracies and fall, ethics can collapse and ordinary men can find themselves standing over death pits with guns in their hands,” historian Timothy Snyder states bluntly in his must-read book, On Tyranny. Snyder points to Russia’s current desire to reorder the world to its own amoral designs. After all, it’s not that long ago that the U.S.S.R put half of Europe behind a fence and made sure the right leaders were put in place to prevent rebellion. Putin has said that one of the great tragedies of the 20th century was the breakup of the Soviet empire.
What a thing to be nostalgic for.
“The Russian oligarchy established after the 1990 election continues to function and promotes a foreign policy designed to destroy democracy elsewhere,” Snyder notes. In a sense, the Russia of today has embraced the methods of Stalin and Hitler: the jailing and killing of anyone who publicly disagrees with the state. Worse still, the desire to force its will on innocent countries using extreme violence. Both tyrants created death squads to terrorize civilian populations. “After Putin returned to the presidency in 2012, Russian introduced terror management into his foreign policy,” Snyder writes. “In its invasion of Ukraine in 2014 Russia transformed units of its regular army into a terrorist force, removing insignia from uniforms and denying all responsibility for the dreadful suffering inflicted.”
Just look at what happened to the once-beautiful Ukrainian city of Mariupol. A Human Rights Watch investigation found a city pulverized into dust, including hospitals, schools and necessary electricity and water infrastructure. “The Russian assault on Mariupol in 2022 left thousands of civilians dead and injured including many in apparently unlawful attacks,” the report says. “Russian forces’ devastation of Mariupol continued efforts to erase Ukrainian culture …”
The horror was not limited to a single city. In Our Enemies Will Vanish, Ukrainian writer and Wall Street Journal correspondent Yaroslav Trofimov describes what happened in Bucha. Before it was attacked by the Russians in 2022, it was a comfortable town nicknamed “little Switzerland.” Russia put an end to that. After Ukrainian soldiers pushed the Russians out, they found a scene from hell. Men with their arms tied behind their backs, executed with bullets to the back of the head. Visible signs of torture with the eyes of victims gouged out. “Dozens of bodies lay rotting under the rain on Yablunska Street at the entrance to Bucha and in surrounding areas. One man had been shot as he tried to ferry some food, a bag of potatoes and an empty bottle of Coke still lying at his feet,” Trofimov reports. “An elderly woman sprawled next to her bicycle down the road. A tiger-patterned jacked covered the head of a man who had gone to walk his dog.”
Hitler and Stalin showed the world what they were capable of, yet many covered their eyes — it was all fake news, it was propaganda. Today Russia is making it clear what it can, and will, do. Think about what is happening in Ukraine as a contagion, with Ukraine valiantly trying its best to hold back Russian aggression from the rest of the world.
Ukrainians are fighting not just for their own land but for all countries that cherish freedom. As the violence escalates daily, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation is working tirelessly on the ground to minimize the devastating impact on civilians. Our teams are delivering critical humanitarian aid—medical supplies, food, shelter materials, and trauma support—to the most vulnerable communities ravaged by Russian attacks. Every day, we witness both heartbreaking destruction and remarkable resilience. The humanitarian crisis grows more dire with each passing week, with millions displaced and essential infrastructure deliberately targeted. We cannot stand idle while these atrocities continue. To defend Ukraine is to defend democracy itself. Please donate today to the CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal and help us provide lifesaving assistance to those who need it most. Your contribution, no matter the size, makes a profound difference in this crucial fight for freedom and human dignity.
CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been established jointly by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) to formalize a coordinated approach in providing humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine to address any further aggression by Russia. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian relief in the areas of assistance to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security.
Charles Lewis is a veteran reporter and editor for such papers as the Ottawa Citizen and National Post. He flies a Ukrainian flag at his Toronto home in honour of his Ukrainian grandfather Joseph, who fled the Russians in the 1920s. Lewis is now retired and writes mainly for the Catholic press
An exciting opportunity awaits this June! The inaugural Canadian Shield Tournament is coming to Toronto’s BMO Field, bringing world-class international soccer to Canada as we prepare to host the World Cup in 2026.
This tournament represents a unique opportunity to show our support for Team Canada and Team Ukraine as they compete on Canadian soil. In these challenging times, the Ukrainian community in Canada has steadfastly supported Ukraine—now we can cheer on our national teams in person!
Single-day tickets are available!
TOURNAMENT DETAILS
June 7: Canada vs. Ukraine (3:30 PM) | New Zealand vs. Côte d’Ivoire (7:00 PM)
June 10: New Zealand vs. Ukraine (5:00 PM) | Canada vs. Côte d’Ivoire (8:30 PM)
Support Team Ukraine as they continue to show resilience despite Russian aggression at home!
Cheer for Team Canada as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup on home soil!
“The Ukrainian community in Canada has always supported our national team worldwide, and now it is our turn to visit them. Canada is a strong partner of Ukraine, and we are pleased to accept this invitation.” – Andriy Shevchenko, President of the Ukrainian Association of Football.
Don’t miss this opportunity to stand in solidarity as we welcome Team Ukraine and cheer for Team Canada in this exciting new international tournament!
Don’t miss this year’s Toronto Ukrainian Film Festival (TUFF), an annual film festival showcasing the talents of contemporary Ukrainian artists and filmmakers happening at the Royal theatre April 24-27!
During the festival, TUFF will partner with Toronto’s St. Volodymyr Institute (SVI) to present incredible guest speakers and ancillary programming.
All proceeds from TUFF 2025 go to Second Front Ukraine Foundation and the humanitarian work of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation.
Supported by CUF’s Aid for Artists program, Ride the Line is a 2024 feature documentary directed by Ihor Volochii, a 34-year-old avid cyclist and sports and adventure filmmaker based in Toronto.
Stay for the post-screening Q&A discussion with the film’s Ihor Volochii & Sebastian Schwesig!
In the darkest times, while being in the worst shape of their life, two desperate friends decide to cycle 1,500 km along the entire front line in Ukraine, through liberated villages and towns, with a charitable purpose.
A daring and deeply human Road movie, Ride the Line tells the impressive stories of the people they meet on their way and, finally, the terrible consequences of the war, which turned into an experience that will undoubtedly be etched in their memory for a lifetime.
Ride the Line is a free screening, with a Pay-What-You-Can option in support of CUF’s Aid for Artists Fund.
We want to see how many Toronto cyclists we can get to bike to the theatre for the screening. Let us know if you’ll be cycling to the screening and we’ll prepare a photo-op before the film to share the support of the Toronto cycling community.
Bike Racks in the Area: typical bike rings along College, subject to availability.
Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) – founded in 1995, CUF has a strong track record of providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in the areas of healthcare, education and civil society. CUF collaborates with aid providers in Ukraine, Canada, and beyond to maximize impact and cost-effectiveness of your support.
Aid for Artists – A program of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation provides an outlet for the community at large to support the arts and artists of Ukraine who keep our homeland forward-facing, courageous and united. Preserving and advancing Ukrainian culture is now more critical than ever. The Aid for Artists program funds artists, arts workers, arts organizations, arts institutions and artist advocates to improve the preservation, promotion and development of Ukrainian arts in Ukraine.
The Toronto Ukrainian Film Festival (TUFF) is a non-profit film festival celebrating contemporary Ukrainian cinema on the world stage. Showcasing acclaimed and emerging films from Cannes, Sundance, and TIFF, it fosters Ukrainian-Canadian collaborations and new opportunities for filmmakers. Founded in 2023 by Roman Lysiak, TUFF highlights stories of bravery, love, compassion, and resistance through the power of film.
As we gather with loved ones to celebrate Easter this year, our hearts remain with the people of Ukraine who continue to endure unimaginable hardship. The recent Russian attacks have brought renewed suffering to countless families, making this season of hope and renewal, all the more poignant.
Easter reminds us that even in our darkest hours, light and hope can prevail. While we find joy in our own celebrations with family and friends, we hold space in our hearts for those who are separated from their loved ones or who face danger daily.
The resilience of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire us. Their courage in the face of adversity embodies the very spirit of rebirth and perseverance that Easter represents.
At this meaningful time, we invite you to donate to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. Your generosity will provide crucial humanitarian aid to those affected by the ongoing war—bringing comfort, support, and perhaps a moment of peace during these challenging times. Whether through prayer, community support, or financial contribution, your compassion makes a difference. Together, we can ensure that the light of hope continues to shine for Ukraine.
From our family to yours, we wish you a blessed Easter filled with moments of joy, reflection, and renewed purpose.
Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) – founded in 1995, CUF has a strong track record of providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in the areas of healthcare, education and civil society. CUF collaborates with aid providers in Ukraine, Canada, and beyond to maximize impact and cost-effectiveness of your support.
The Canada-Ukraine Foundation is profoundly honored and thrilled to be part of the Tryzub Awards Gala, taking place on May 8th, 2025. This momentous celebration represents a milestone for our community as we come together to recognize over 130 years of Ukrainian-Canadian contributions that have enriched our nation. We are especially moved to participate in this prestigious event during such a critical time, as Russia’s violent war in Ukraine continues to escalate by the day, bringing unprecedented challenges to the innocent Ukrainian people. The Gala’s dedication to supporting humanitarian efforts aligns perfectly with our ongoing mission to deliver critical aid to those affected by this devastating conflict.
We feel privileged to stand alongside the newly formed Tryzub Gala Foundation, the Ukrainian World Congress, Unite With Ukraine, and the Myhal Family Foundation, whose remarkable generosity and steadfast partnership have been instrumental to our work for many years. Their commitment to unifying our community across Canada while celebrating those who have achieved success in their chosen fields and supported Ukrainian causes exemplifies the very best of our collective spirit. Last year’s event raised an impressive $500,000, demonstrating the powerful impact of our united community.
The opportunity to participate in this celebration represents much more than an event to us—it’s a testament to the resilience and solidarity of the Ukrainian-Canadian diaspora during extraordinarily challenging times. We urge you to join us by purchasing your tickets now for this extraordinary celebration—your attendance will not only honour remarkable achievements within our community but also directly contribute to vital humanitarian efforts when Ukraine needs our support more than ever. Together, we can continue to make a profound difference in the lives of those affected by the war, celebrating our heritage while working toward a better future.
We’re thrilled to invite you to an extraordinary event where Canadian and Ukrainian cinema unite in celebration of storytelling that matters. CanFilmDay, presented by REEL CANADA, is returning this April for the world’s biggest celebration of Canadian cinema! With over 1,700 screenings happening across Canada and around the world, this is your chance to stand up for Canada by sitting down to watch a great Canadian film, because our stories matter. On Wednesday, April 16th, as part of CanFilmDay, the Canada-Ukraine Foundation proudly offers an exclusive online screening of the powerful Ukrainian-Canadian documentary “Doors of War” by Taras Lesiuk and Annick Sheedy McLellan of Gambade Films.
This impactful film follows Ukrainian artist Ruslan Kurt’s journey as he transforms doors destroyed by Russia during its war in Ukraine into a profound art exhibition and brings it to Canada. Shot on location in both Ukraine and Canada, “Doors of War” offers a moving glimpse into the lives of those forced to flee their homes and highlights the challenges of maintaining global attention and support during prolonged conflict.
Why does this matter? In a world where our attention is constantly pulled in different directions, film remains one of our most powerful tools for connection and understanding. The theme of this year’s CanFilmDay, “Something to Believe In,” couldn’t be more fitting. Canadian cinema gives us strength, inspires us, and reflects the creativity and diversity of our communities. Similarly, Ukrainian art and film represent the soul of a nation—its strength, identity, and resilience in the face of war.
The Aid for Artists fund, established by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation in March 2022, continues its essential work by supporting Ukrainian artists who, despite Russian aggression, keep their homeland courageous, united, and forward-facing. When you join us for this screening, you become part of a global movement recognizing that our stories—whether Canadian or Ukrainian—deserve to be told, shared, and celebrated.
Register before April 15th to secure your spot for this exclusive online screening of Doors of War on April 16th. Be one of the thousands across Canada and around the world who will stand up for meaningful cinema by sitting down to experience a Canadian film that bridges cultures and illuminates shared human experiences.
Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the power of art to transcend borders and conflict. Register now and join a community that believes in the transformative power of film!
Stand with Ukraine – support Canadian!
Background
Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) – founded in 1995, CUF has a strong track record of providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in the areas of healthcare, education and civil society. CUF collaborates with aid providers in Ukraine, Canada, and beyond to maximize impact and cost-effectiveness of your support.
Today marks the final day of our CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal’s “Even the Brave Struggle” campaign. The clock is ticking. As midnight approaches, we urgently need your support to reach our goal and maximize the Myhal Family Foundation’s generous matching pledge of up to $1 million.
Behind every statistic is a face, a name, a life forever altered. Due to Russian aggression, Inna, who once walked through the world as a journalist and educator, now carries the weight of her service as a combat medic in places like Bakhmut and Soledar—places where humanity is tested beyond measure. With a gunshot wound to her neck and the invisible scars of trauma, she fights a different battle now.
And Alla, whose spirit remained unbroken through eight months and eleven days of Russian captivity, returned only to face the war that continues within. These are not just stories—they are lives hanging in the balance, waiting for the healing that your compassion can provide.
“War is not hell. War is living hell,” General Romeo Dallaire’s words echo with devastating truth.
Having witnessed the Ukrainian frontlines firsthand, he saw a nation where buildings crumble, but spirits stand tall. Yet this resilience exacts a terrible price. In the silence between explosions, the battle for the mind rages on. With 60-80% of those who witness battlefield deaths developing acute trauma, and just one mental health professional for every 400-500 service members, thousands face their darkest moments alone.
Canada has always been a beacon of hope in Ukraine’s darkest hour. Today, that beacon must shine brighter than ever. Your gift isn’t just money—it’s a lifeline thrown across an ocean. Each dollar until midnight will be instantly doubled, transforming your act of compassion into twice the impact, twice the healing, twice the hope. As a special thank you, all donations made by tonight will automatically enter you into our draw to win one of two exclusive signed copies of Dallaire’s “Shake Hands with the Devil” – one copy in English and one in French. Like Dallaire, we must not turn away from difficult truths.
By standing with Ukraine, we honor the brave who struggle and affirm that hope can persist even in humanity’s darkest hours.
This extraordinary opportunity to have your donation matched will end in just a few hours. Whether you can give $25, $100, or $1,000, your contribution matters immensely. Please don’t wait—donate now to ensure Ukrainians don’t face their internal battles alone.
CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been established jointly by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) to formalize a coordinated approach in providing humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine to address any further aggression by Russia. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian relief in the areas of assistance to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security.
Behind every physical wound inflicted by Russia’s brutal and unprovoked invasion lies an equally challenging mental health battle. As Ukraine continues to defend its freedom against relentless Russian aggression, wounded veterans face not just the physical challenges of recovery, but profound psychological hurdles resulting from the trauma of fighting against a violent occupying force. The comprehensive rehabilitation programs provided by CITIZEN Charity Foundation, a valued partner of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, address these intertwined needs through their innovative approach to healing both body and mind.
The CITIZEN Charity Foundation was recently honored with the prestigious “VARTI” award from Nova Poshta, recognizing their exceptional work supporting service members wounded while defending their homeland from Russia’s continued attacks. With CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal’s support of their “Rehabilitation of Cyborg Veterans” project, CITIZEN’s integrated rehabilitation model has shown remarkable impact in just three months, serving 77 individuals including 68 wounded veterans and 9 family members. Their comprehensive care encompasses hundreds of physical rehabilitation sessions, physiotherapy procedures, therapeutic massages, and critically important sessions with military psychologists who understand the unique mental health challenges faced by those who have endured the horrors of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Medical experts have issued concerning projections that by 2025, nearly half of Ukraine’s population may face mental health challenges related to Russia’s ongoing war of aggression. This makes CITIZEN’s holistic rehabilitation model even more crucial, as it provides vital psychological support alongside physical therapy, addressing the complete spectrum of recovery needs that wounded defenders face. The program recognizes that healing the invisible wounds inflicted by Russian violence is often as important as treating physical injuries.
The inspiring story of Volodymyr Malykhin exemplifies the program’s transformative impact. After losing his own limb in combat against Russian forces, Volodymyr found purpose in his recovery journey and now serves as a rehabilitation specialist within the program. He offers both professional expertise and powerful peer support that resonates deeply with newly wounded defenders. For those beginning their difficult path to recovery from injuries sustained while defending against the Russian invasion, seeing Volodymyr’s successful rehabilitation provides tangible hope that an active, fulfilling life remains possible despite life-altering injuries.
Time is running out to maximize your impact through the generous matching grant opportunity. The Myhal Family Foundation is matching all donations up to $1 million, but this opportunity ends in just 5 days on April 6th. Your contribution now will have double the impact in expanding critical mental health and rehabilitation services across Ukraine when they are needed most.
As an added bonus, all donors will be automatically entered into a draw to win one of two signed copies of General Roméo Dallaire’s powerful and moving book “Shake Hands with the Devil.” As Russia intensifies its assault, more Ukrainian defenders require the complex, long-term rehabilitation support for both body and mind that programs like CITIZEN’s provide so effectively with CUF’s continued support.
CUF-UCC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal has been established jointly by the Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) to formalize a coordinated approach in providing humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to those in need in Ukraine to address any further aggression by Russia. The main efforts of cooperation are to provide humanitarian relief in the areas of assistance to displaced persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security.
