Supporting EuroMaidan at Niagara Falls

By Walter Derzko

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Next next-in-line rally in solidarity with Ukraine took place in Niagara Falls on Sunday December 29^th 2013, and was organized by the “Toronto Maidan Committee,” which is headed by Markian Shwec, UCC Toronto and composed mainly of energetic students.

The day started with a liturgy at St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Oakville. Later in the evening at 5:00 pm, people started gathering at UNF Hall on Evans Ave. Around 6:00 pm, a busload of people and about 25 cars full of demonstrators left Toronto in a procession to rendezvous at the falls. Demonstrators from Hamilton, St Catherines, Niagara Falls (both the Canadian and USA sides) and Rochester joined the crowd. The “Solidarity with Ukraine” event in Niagara Falls was made possible with help from Father Czolij and Father Nazartchyk. Prior to gathering at the Falls, a moleben was held at 7:30 pm at St.Mary’s Church on Main Street in Niagara Falls. Guests then shifted to the church hall for a delicious snack and coffee. Then on cue, they proceeded to march in single file with flags and signs waving from the church hall down Main Street towards the Canadian Falls. At 9:00 pm the crowd was treated with the highlight that everyone came to witness in person—for the first time, Niagara Falls was illuminated in blue and yellow colours to symbolize support for the protesters on Maidan in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine. Despite the freezing mist from the falls which covered everyone from head to toe, everyone was in good spirits and the crowd proceeded to sing both anthems, various patriotic songs and rounds of Christmas carols. The singing was led by Halyna Cechowska and Father Nazartchyk. For anyone that missed this unique event, see the Youtube video online here EuroMaidan (), Niagara Falls Canada Dec 29 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FBz7GHWXnM