The community continues to show its support for Ukraine.
L’Unité pastorale du Soleil Levant (Rising Sun Pastoral Unit), which is composed of six local French-language Roman Catholic parishes, in collaboration with the Creating Centre and Arbor Gallery Cultural Center in Vankleek Hill, is organizing an exhibition of varied works of art on the theme Together for Ukraine/Ensemble pour l’Ukraine.
The exhibit will take place from June 3 to 5 on the first and second floor of the historic Higginson House, home to the Arbor Gallery, located at 36 Home Avenue in Vankleek Hill.
Nathalie Ladouceur, one of the organizers of the event, says the idea for Together for Ukraine resulted from a discussion among parish members on how to show support for the Ukrainian situation.
“It started as a small idea,” Ladouceur said.
The organizers have called on calling on artists and art lovers of all types to submit works of art – including writing, painting, and drawing – to transform the walls into a vision of community support. The second floor will be transformed into a massive mural, where artists young and old can exhibit their works of art showing their solidarity with the Ukrainian people. Much of the artwork will be supplied by students at local French-language Catholic schools affiliated with the parishes.
On Saturday, June 4, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a walk-in conference will be held with Luc Chénier of Alexandria and Dmytro Gordiienko of St-Eugène. Chénier is originally from Hawkesbury and lived in Ukraine for 22 years. His family is Ukrainian-Canadian. Gordiienko is from Ukraine but works locally as a mechanic.
Ladouceur said the first Ukrainian family to relocate to Hawkesbury has now arrived in town and will also be attending the Together for Ukraine event in Vankleek Hill.
For Together for Ukraine, the Arbor Gallery building will be open from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday June 3 and Sunday, June 5. The hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 4.
