Paska with Saffron
AUUC VANCOUVER-Ukrainian Cultural Center
Keeping Ukrainian-Canadian culture alive since 1918
Our Fundraising
Since the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the AUUC Vancouver has worked hard to raise funds for humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people, and keep Ukraine and its distinct culture in the eye of the public. With so much devastation, and so many people displaced by the violence of the war, the need for funds for medical supplies, clean water, food, and fuel has been continuous. With refugees now coming to Canada, we are also looking at ways to support this new community, help ease their trauma, and make connections to their new Canadian community.
In all, the AUUC Vancouver (including our cultural groups and School of Dance) has raised and donated a total exceeding $30,000 to organizations such as Ukrainian Patriot, Medical Mercy Canada, Maple Hope Foundation, and Cobblestone Freeway Foundation. Our support of other organizations through performances at their events have helped raise thousands more to aid the people of Ukraine. We are currently working on sponsoring programmes in the hall for the refugee community.
Below is a list of some of the events and donations made on behalf of our organization. Please continue to check our Social Media sites for updates on our fundraising initiative and ways you can help us contribute to Humanitarian Aid. We will continue, with your help, to support the Ukrainian people in the future as we have in the past.
May 2022
Medical Supply Drive
Spearheaded by the Dovbush Dancers, over $10,000 raised and 25 boxes filled with medical supplies were sent to Ukraine. Money raised was used to purchase more medical supplies.
2022 and 2023
Attendance at Various Rallys for Ukraine
March 15th, 2022
Virtual Performance
virtual performance by Dovbush in ‘Art for Peace’ presented by Opera in Reach, raising over $12,500 for humanitarian aid for Ukraine.
Image credit: Ingred Goncharova (@ingred.photography on Instagram)
Apr, Oct 2022; Apr 2023
Dovbush Dancers Perform at Vancouver Fashion Week
The Dovbush Dancers were invited by Ukrainian-Canadian fashion designer, Tetiana Golota, to perform during her "Love to Ukraine" segment. Dovbush has performed at three of these events, two in April and October of 2022 and one in April of 2023. Event to raise awareness of the ongoing war in Ukraine and share Ukrainian culture to a broader public eye.
November 2022
Heart of the City
Heart of the City is an annual festival occuring in the Strathcona neighbourhood of Vancouver. The festival highlights the various groups apart of the community, including the AUUC who has been participating within this festival for years. From our concert, a few thousand dollars were raised to be donated for Ukraine.
Image credit: Ingred Goncharova (@ingred.photography on Instagram)
2022 - current
Vancouver Folk Orchestra Perform to Raise Awareness
Our Vancouver Folk Orchestra (VFO) have performed at many events targeted toward fundraising and awareness of the war in Ukraine. These include:
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May 12, 2022: for BC Civil Liberties Association. Event discussed impact of Russia's invasion on civil society
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May 28th, 2022: performance at Estonian Church accompanying vocal trio Svoboda; fundraising event
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June 3rd-4th, 2022: Bridge Festival performance and presentation of Ukrainian artifacts to public
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June 4th, 2022: Performance at the Vancouver Day of Music
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June 26th, 2022: VFO performance at Mclean Park, fundraising for Ukraine
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July 10th, 2022: VFO performance at "The Art of Music" in Port Moody; fundraising for Ukraine
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October 20th, 2022: Performance at Floata restaurant; Fundraiser
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November 26th, 2022: "Rocking for Baba" event raising funds for humanitarian aid for Ukraine
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June 2023: VFO debuted an orchestral piece written by Susanna de Montignys entitled "Volodomir's Plea" createde as a result from the war in Ukraine.
January 2023
Warm Clothing Fundraiser
AUUC Vancouvers' Dovbush School of Ukrainian Dance organized a fundraiser to gather warm clothing for Ukraine. Clothes were donated to Ukrainian Patriot and distributed in Ukraine.
Statements Condemning Russia
Since the onset of the war, AUUC Vancouver has stood beside Ukraine and condemn the war on Ukraine by the Russian aggressor. Statements included are from the start of the war, and from the one year mark of the war.
Current and ongoing:
Fundraisers During our Cultural Events
AUUC Vancouver continues to raise money at all our various events.
Pyrohy, Craft, and Bake Sales: We raise money from bake sale items and donations from craft vendors.
Malanka (Ukrainian New Year's): Money from specialty drinks, silent auctions and other events like the toonie toss are donated.
Various concerts: partial sales from tickets have been donated.
2025: Donation to Maple Hope for a medical helicopter
AUUC Vancouver donated over $3,500 to the Maple Hope foundation towards purchasing a Sikorsky 76A medevac helicoper. AUUC Vancouver will continue to donate to humanitarian aid throughout the entirety of the war.
2025
Statement from our President about the recent events.
Like many people who watched what happened at the White House yesterday, we are shocked by the disrespect shown to President Zelensky, a head of state of an independent, democratic country, by the American president and vice president. It is, however, not entirely surprising considering President Trumps statements about the war in the past few weeks. While we all want peace for Ukraine, a wartime president being berated for asking for security and guarantees for his country when being asked to ‘pay’ with his country’s resources, seems unreasonable. If peace in Ukraine is to be achieved, it cannot be peace ‘at any cost’. A peace process needs to include input from the country that has been invaded, and not punish them and reward the aggressor. For a meaningful and lasting peace to be reached, Ukraine needs to be an integral part of the process and have assurances that although they may not achieve everything they want, they can retain their country, their independence, and their right to self determination. If Ukraine can be treated this way by a world power like the United States, none of us can be assured of our rights as independent countries. Perhaps it is time for Ukraine to look to countries other than the USA to help develop a peace plan that can work for everyone, in the long term.
Janice Beck
President, Vancouver Branch
Association of United Ukrainian Canadians.