This Saturday, as we stand with Ukraine on Vyshyvanka Week we are weaving stories of care, resilience, and deep connection.
In Kamloops, far from the front lines but close in heart, a remarkable collection of rushnyky — traditional Ukrainian embroidered cloths — has come together. These sacred textiles, often used to bless marriages, welcome guests, or say farewell to loved ones, now tell a new story: a community’s love stitched across generations and continents.
Thanks to the generosity of many people from across British Columbia, Zonia and Sasha have gathered rushnyky that carry memory, heritage, and hope. Each one is unique, just like the hands that made them. And just like the people who offered them for this special moment — to show that Kamloops remembers, Kamloops stands, and Kamloops cares.
We had planned to display them proudly outdoors, letting the sun catch their threads — but just as we began, the sky darkened. Rain threatened, and we quickly gathered the sacred cloths, shielding them from the storm. But our celebration didn’t end. It simply moved, with umbrellas and smiles, to our cozy space in Westsyde, where songs, food, embroidery, and stories continued to flow.
And then, another sign of connection arrived.
Helen from Postcards to the Front – Canada wrote with a powerful message:
“We received an outstanding batch of cards from Kamloops… Incredible personal designs, heartwarming messages… This batch is sure to induce tears of joy and gratitude for the love sent to the front lines from Kamloops. I believe this because I feel it.”
Among the many artists and writers, she mentioned Donald’s beautiful wooden flag postcard, Darla’s etched artwork, and a touching note from Michelle — no contact info, just a quiet gift of solidarity from the heart.
We were also deeply moved by a video shared by Tetiana Lisovyn, a Ukrainian history teacher at the Ukrainian Saturday School in Langley, BC and Diaspora FM founder. Her students created a beautiful Rushnyk Yednosti flash mob — handmade embroidered patterns on paper, joined into one symbolic cloth of unity — and sent their warm greetings directly to our Kamloops community.
“Сашо, вітаю! Це від Української суботньої школи в Ленґлі… передаємо його студентам та громаді Камлупса з теплом і вдячністю.”
— Tetiana
Your video brought joy and inspiration, and we are grateful to the families who gave permission to share it with our Kamloops Stand With Ukraine community. It sparked a powerful idea: that across Canada, we can all join together to create rushnyky yednosti — unity rushnyky — as living symbols of connection, care, and resistance.
We hope to make this a tradition — perhaps each year on the Saturday before Mother’s Day or during Vyshyvanka Week — a day when Ukrainian Canadians and friends from around the world can create and share their own embroidered messages on rushnyky of unity.
From hand-stitched rushnyky to paper ones drawn with crayons… from postcards to the front to quiet prayers carried on the wind… Kamloops stands with Ukraine.
And our threads, stitched with love, continue to grow.
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