Every year I grow poppies in my garden in Kamloops. I grow them to remember all who fought for Ukraine, and the Canadians who fell there too. This week, as I prepare for Remembrance Day, I am sharing something I hope you will carry with you on November 11.
Where Poppies Bloom: Canadians Who Gave Their Lives for Ukraine is a free Remembrance book. It tells the stories of nineteen Canadians who died protecting Ukraine: where they came from, what they cared about, and how we can remember them. Their names belong in our Remembrance, beside every Canadian who served so that others could live in peace.
The book also says thank you: to the members of the Canadian Armed Forces who trained Ukrainian soldiers through Operation UNIFIER, to those who were wounded, to the families who carry the loss, and to every Canadian who stands with Ukraine in Ukraine, cooking, caring and volunteering.
The book is available now in English and in Ukrainian. The French edition, Là où fleurissent les coquelicots, is being reviewed and will follow soon.
Reading of the Names · Читання імен
At every Remembrance gathering this year, at a cenotaph, a Legion, a church, a school or a community hall, please also remember the Canadians who gave their lives for Ukraine. This two-page sheet, in English and Ukrainian, has the nineteen names and a few words for the person leading, so they can be read after the two minutes of silence.
На кожному зібранні пам’яті цього року, біля пам’ятника, у Леґіоні, церкві, школі чи громадській залі, згадайте, будь ласка, і канадців, які віддали життя за Україну. На цьому аркуші англійською та українською – дев’ятнадцять імен і кілька слів для ведучого, щоб прочитати їх після хвилини мовчання.
How you can help remember
- Share this post with everyone who cares, so that more people know their names.
- Read one story aloud at your school, church, community hall or Legion on November 11.
- Print the book and leave a copy where others can read it.
- Families who wish to add a memory, a photo or a correction for the second edition are warmly invited to write to me.
Українською
«Де цвітуть маки: Канадці, які віддали життя за Україну» – безкоштовна книжка пам’яті про дев’ятнадцять канадців, які загинули, захищаючи Україну. Читайте, друкуйте, діліться, і назвімо їхні імена 11 листопада. Вічна пам’ять.
Carry it forward
I support the creation of Love, Care, Share funds at every university, for students who care, and of Stand with Ukraine awards: the Friends of Ukraine Award at Thompson Rivers University (tru.ca/ukraine), TRU Love, Care, Share, and the University of Manitoba Love Care Share fund. I encourage students to start Stand with Ukraine clubs and Love, Care, Share clubs on their campuses.
This book was prepared with substantial and appreciated AI support. I read and proofread it myself, and any errors are mine to correct.
Vichna pam’iat (eternal memory). Canada remembers. Ukraine remembers.
Love. Care. Share.
Sasha
Leave a Reply