TORONTO- A new major exhibition featuring recent images from the war in Ukraine will be launched in Toronto’s City Hall on May 7th, 2022 and will be available for viewing by the public until May 13th.
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its third month the unspeakable horrors imposed on the Ukrainian people by the invading Russian army continue to mount. Entire towns and cities have been destroyed by Russian bombardment and the refugees fleeing it are forced to evade Russian attacks. The democratic world has been shocked by Russian mass murder, systematic sexual violence and the targeting of civilian infrastructure over the past months.
The photographs featured in the “European Unity Day in Toronto: United for Ukraine” exhibit hosted by the City of Toronto, feature the everyday experiences of Ukrainians who are scrambling to survive the barbaric invasion of their nation and the many who have not escaped its savagery.
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The 30 “United for Ukraine” images have been captured through the lenses of leading Ukrainian photo journalists since the February 24th Russian invasion. The Exhibition also features photos from the first Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014 which were taken by acclaimed Los Angeles Times journalist, Sergei Loiko, and demonstrate that Russia’s war against Ukraine now spans 8 years.
The exhibition has been organized by the Central and Eastern European Council in Canada and the Estonian Central Council in Canada in partnership with the International Festival of Contemporary Photography Odesa Photo Days, the Estonian Museum Canada/VEMU (Toronto), Cotton Factory (Hamilton), OKAPI Gallery (Estonia) and the Canadian Association of Russian Journalists.
“This exhibition represents a broad partnership with the Central and Eastern European communities in Canada and civil society groups that have generously provided the prints of these images,” said Kairi Taul-Hemingway, President of the Estonian Central Council.
“We cannot look away from the atrocities being committed by the Russian invaders against innocent Ukrainians as Putin seeks to wipe out Ukraine’s freedom, democracy, culture and language,” Marcus Kolga, President of the Central and Eastern European Council in Canada said, “our own democracy and the freedom of our allies are at stake and are being defended by all Ukrainians today.”
The CEEC represents the interests of 4.5 million Canadians of Central and Eastern European heritage. The millions of Canadians whose families fled Russian Soviet era and Nazi terror after WWII, are grateful for the freedom, democracy and opportunities that Canada has provided and are proud of their contributions to helping build the Canada we know today.
Public Launch:
Toronto City Hall Rotunda, Saturday, May 7, 2pm.
