Pysanka: to Ukraine with love

Fundraiser in support of Ukraine

By Larysa Rozumna

Long-time Glebe residents Oresta Korbutiak and I along with Laryssa Korbutiak, all first-generation Canadians of Ukrainian descent, came together and raised more than $90,000 to help Ukraine fight for freedom, while celebrating the richness and cultural beauty of our ancestral homeland. We felt compelled to do something to help the besieged victims in Ukraine and to give a little insight into the depth of pride Ukrainians have for their traditions and culture and why they are fighting so valiantly to preserve them.

The theme of the event was pysanka. Pysanka is one of the most interesting forms of Ukrainian decorative art. Its history dates back centuries and is rooted in pagan rituals recognizing the coming of spring, and their creation is undertaken just before Easter. Pysanka comes from the word to write. As such, the traditional folk designs are written in beeswax on a raw egg, not painted. The pysanka is filled with symbolism. The pysanka was believed to protect against evil, to bring good luck, good health and wealth, and to provide a bountiful harvest. Today the pysanka has become a symbol for peace.

Pysanka: To Ukraine with Love was a sold-out event with over 200 attendees and was held at the elegant allsaints event space on April 25. The funds raised are going to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation and UnitewithUkraine (Defenders of Ukraine). The venue, a former Anglican church, made for a stunning backdrop with stained glass windows, high vaulted ceilings and exposed stone walls. The space was kindly donated by Kelly Mounce, an investor in allsaints.

The evening’s program began with Oleh Replansky, who sang a powerful version of Ukraine’s national anthem, followed by a beautiful dance by Ottawa’s Svitanok Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, who welcomed guests with the traditional presentation of bread and salt – symbols of Ukrainian hospitality. Carissa Klopoushak, a violinist with the National Arts Centre Orchestra and artistic director of Ottawa Chamberfest, gave a stunning performance, combining folk music with singing.

An agonizing video entitled Close the Sky showed the assaults by Russian troops in Ukraine and raised goosebumps. The crowd also saw a special video address from Istan Rozumny, brother of one of the organizers and a film director/actor who lives and works in Kyiv. He said, “I’ve had close friends killed. I’ve had close friends have their homes destroyed, their livelihood destroyed. But I’ve been doing what I can to help Ukraine’s cause.”

Rozumny also spoke of visiting the mass graves in Bucha. “It’s a sight that I will never forget. It will stay with me for the rest of my life, seeing bodies of tortured civilians piled up.” He urged the crowd to continue pressuring the Canadian government to supply humanitarian and military aid. “We must stop this war,” said Rozumny, who, in a touching moment, offered reassurance of his safety to his mother from Winnipeg, knowing she would be in the audience.

During the event, Miroslawa Bilaniuk and Oksana Yarosh displayed their talents decorating elaborate pysanky. The guests were awestruck by their intricately designed masterpieces.

Throughout the evening, attendees could bid on dozens of graciously donated silent auction items, including an oil landscape of Ukrainian farmers working in a golden wheat field. It was painted by local Ottawa artist Christopher Griffin and sold for $15,000.

The event concluded with the crowd coming together to sing along to John Lennon’s peace anthem “Imagine,” led by Carissa Klopoushak on guitar.

The guests went home with a “koshyk,” a traditional Ukrainian Easter basket containing a unique handcrafted pysanka and “paska” (special Easter bread) and decorated with pussy willows and periwinkle. This keepsake was a small symbol of the people of Ukraine, the beauty of the Ukrainian culture and the fight to save Ukraine.

If you are interested in helping Ukraine, please consider donating to: UnitewithUkraine: unitewithukraine.com/donate_today or Canada Ukraine Foundation: cufoundation.ca/

Larysa Rozumna is one of the organizers of the fundraiser Pysanka: to Ukraine With Love.