'We are brave': Ukrainian refugees in Saskatoon celebrate their heritage
Nataliia Sopotyk wears her vyshyvanka proudly, showing off the intricate details in each stitch.
The embroidered shirt was handmade by her mother Svitlana, who says they take her about a year to complete, working on them in her spare time.
The Sopotyks are now in Saskatoon staying with distant cousins after escaping the Russian invasion two weeks ago.
They’re celebrating World Vyshyvanka Day by wearing the embroidered blouses they brought with them. The day has heightened meaning with everyone left behind in their home including their father and husband who is a doctor.
“It’s a symbol of Ukraine and that’s why we should wear this blouse or vyshyvanka as a symbol that we are brave and we can win this war,” Sopotyk told CTV News.
The commemoration day started in 2006 in their home city of Chernivtsi — Saskatoon’s sister city. The goal is to showcase this Ukrainian symbol to the world.
Oksana Kupetska, an artist in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil, says the vyshyvanka is the genetic code of the country. The symbols she makes, such as flowers or plants, have specific meanings.
“The plant elements symbolize purity and development of life,” Oksana Kupetska told CTV News.
There are different symbols for each letter of the alphabet and shapes and symbols for each day and month, Kupetska said.
Seeing people in Saskatoon and Canada wearing their vyshyvanka is heartwarming to see, Sopatyk says.
“It’s good because people who don’t live in Ukraine, they live in Canada and they support our holiday, our vyshyvanka day. It's nice,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
RCMP uncovers alleged plot by 2 Montreal men to illegally sell drones, equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Government agrees to US$138.7M settlement over FBI's botching of Larry Nassar assault allegations
The U.S. Justice Department announced a US$138.7 million settlement Tuesday with more than 100 people who accused the FBI of grossly mishandling allegations of sexual assault against Larry Nassar in 2015 and 2016, a critical time gap that allowed the sports doctor to continue to prey on victims before his arrest.
Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Thieves use stolen forklift to rip cash machine out of U.K. bank
Police in the U.K. are searching for a group of suspects seen on video using a forklift to steal a cash machine from a bank.
'There was a lot of black smoke': Crane operator sounds alarm while trapped during highrise fire in Halifax
A tower crane operator alerted emergency crews after noticing a fire on a construction site in Halifax Tuesday morning.