On November 6, the War Museum hosted an event honoring Ukrainians of Canada who, in different eras, took up arms for freedom – those who fought against Nazism, Fascism, and Japanese militarism during the Second World War, and the volunteers who have defended Ukraine against Rashism.
The first part of the event was a moving ceremony: the family of fallen Canadian volunteer of Ukrainian origin, Hryhorii Tsekhmistrenko, was presented with the Ukrainian Canadian Sacrifice Medal, an award of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Ukrainian War Veterans Association.
Hryhorii Tsekhmistrenko was born in Kyiv and later moved to Canada, where he obtained citizenship. Yet, he never forgot his roots: he was an active participant in the Revolution of Dignity, and during the full-scale Russian invasion, he joined the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Serving as a combat medic, he saved the lives of soldiers and civilians in the hottest combat zones and gave his own life in the battle for Bakhmut on January 15, 2023, shielding his comrades.
Opening the event, Yurii Savchuk, Director General of the War Museum, expressed gratitude to Canada and all international volunteers for their support of Ukraine: “We understand the pain that the families of soldiers go through and the price of our struggle. We are grateful to the democratic nations of the world – especially Canada – for their solidarity and support, which help Ukraine endure.”
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has become a consolidating center for volunteers from various countries. Its representative, Yevhenii Yerin, noted that the memory of warriors such as Hryhorii Tsekhmistrenko is a spiritual pillar for the nation: “We fight, no matter what, for the right to be free – and for those who gave their lives for Ukraine.”
The event was attended by Colonel Erik Andresen, Defense Attaché of the Embassy of Canada in Ukraine, who emphasized in his address: “The courage and conviction of Hryhorii Tsekhmistrenko reflect the shared belief of the Ukrainian and Canadian nations – that sovereignty must be defended, tyranny must be resisted, and peace is worth fighting for.”
Roman Waschuk, former Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine and now Business Ombudsman in Ukraine, spoke about the history of the Ukrainian Canadian Sacrifice Medal. Established in 2022 in Winnipeg as a joint initiative of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Ukrainian War Veterans Association, the medal honors Canadian citizens who were killed or wounded while defending Ukraine. Mr. Waschuk presented the medal to the hero’s mother, Liudmyla Tsekhmistrenko. She expressed her gratitude for preserving the memory of her son: “For families who have lost their loved ones, it is important to know that they are remembered. Their sacrifice was not in vain. This memory helps us go on.”
Since 2024, Hryhorii’s name has been carried by his alma mater – Lyceum № 89 in Kyiv. The school’s director, Valerii Furman, spoke about the establishment of a school museum dedicated to the defender and the holding of memorial lessons. Student Mariia Nahirniak performed the song “Ballad of the Mallows” (music by Volodymyr Ivasiuk, lyrics by Bohdan Hura), while the bandura ensemble “Svitanok” of Kyiv’s Children’s Music School № 27 performed the traditional riflemen’s song “Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow” (composer and lyricist Stepan Charnetskyi). To conclude, Hryhorii’s sister, Alisa, shared warm memories of her brother – his kindness, sense of humor, and strength of spirit.
The second part of the event featured a screening of the documentary film “A Canadian War Story” by the Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre, directed by John Paskievich. The film tells, through personal recollections, the story of the Ukrainian Canadian diaspora’s participation in the Second World War.
The screening was held with the support of the Sectoral State Archive of the Security Service of Ukraine. Its director, Andrii Kohut, emphasized: “We remember the wars – past and present – as one. The memory of those who gave their lives then and now is the foundation of our resilience today.”
Roman Waschuk, a member of the Board of Directors of the Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Centre, also commented on the film, noting the enormous effort behind it and the profound role that World War II played in the destinies of Ukrainians in Canada.
Members of the Ukrainian Canadian diaspora fought in the Pacific, the Atlantic, Southeast Asia, North Africa, and Europe. Ukrainian Canadian soldiers were among those who defended London’s skies from German air raids and those who landed on the beaches of Normandy under the fire of German guns and machine guns.
The names of heroes such as Yosyp Romaniv, Peter Dmytruk, Anna Khraplyva, and many others are forever engraved in the history of both nations.
The memory of Ukrainian Canadians on the frontlines of freedom is a bridge between past and present, between peoples who stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of shared values, dignity, and the future.
