Canadian Soul Ukrainian Spirit — Dave Logan's Mission

This is a story about a man who grew up in the quiet of Canadian lakes, but couldn’t remain indifferent to the loud tragedy in another part of the world – Ukraine.

Dave Logan, The Face of Grassroots.

Before the story

We recorded this interview on a July morning in the park. Over coffee, we talked about different things – including the love of biking along trails. And the next morning, I was already pedalling hard near my home, as if I’d returned to childhood. It was an unexpectedly pleasant surprise from Dave, who picked up on my wish to ride a bike – and made it real.

Now the story

Dave is an example of how life path, upbringing, experience and an inner sense of justice lead to volunteering. His story is a weave of family heritage, professional path, and a genuine desire to help.

Dave Logan

Family roots

Dave’s family story is worthy of a novel. A Japanese great-grandmother, an Irish-American great-grandfather, and a sea captain. Their daughter married Dave’s grandfather, and they lived in China. Their son, Dave’s father, later left China and became a British citizen.

On the eve of WWII, he immigrated to Canada. At eighteen, Dave’s father voluntarily joined the Canadian army - drove trucks, tanks, and artillery. Dave still keeps the air letters his father sent from various corners of war-torn Europe.

His mother was born in Cambridge, in Galt. She earned a higher education, rare in the 1950s, and worked in the national office of the United Church of Canada. She travelled around the world, working with women’s groups during apartheid in South Africa.

In 1971, the family moved to Cambridge, where Dave spent his childhood among lakes, marshes, canoes, skating rinks, and nature. A small rural school, a big family, playing hockey, kayaking in summer, mountain biking, and birdwatching shaped his character and values that still stay with him.

Dave's father

Youth, education, profession, and family

After school, Dave travelled a lot – Europe, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, Western Canada, living in hostels and youth centers.

He earned a master’s degree in social work, worked with street-involved youth and in shelters, and later with adults at a university, supporting students and faculty with mental health challenges. His professional journey combined empathy with practical tools of support.

Now, Dave is thinking about returning to work with children.

In parallel, his personal life evolved – Dave became a father. His daughter plays hockey, and he watches with pride. Shared dinners, baseball games, barbecues, calm bike rides or paddleboarding are now part of their family routine.

War in Ukraine: a personal response

The news of February 24, 2022, about Russia’s full-scale invasion of democratic, sovereign Ukraine shocked and outraged Dave deeply.

“Troops, weapons, tanks from Belarus and Russia, explosions, brutal killings of peaceful Ukrainian civilians in a European country – it all felt unreal. How could this happen in the modern world?” Dave exclaims.

The initial shock and horror from the news turned into thoughts of how to support the country that didn’t fall, didn’t surrender, but stood up against Putin’s Russia. That same day, a Ukrainian symbol of resilience and dignity – the blue-and-yellow national flag – printed on a simple sheet of paper, appeared in his window, on his car.

“The only thing I could do at that moment was to raise the Ukrainian flag,” Dave repeats. Since that day, the flag became part of his life. And still – every day – the flag is with him. At home, in the car, but most importantly – in his heart.

“I wanted to immediately join the ranks of the Ukrainian military, drive vehicles or be a field medic. But honestly – I’m probably not a soldier. So I decided to do everything I can for Ukrainians who escaped the war, here in Canada,” says Dave.

Grassroots: the beginning, first steps, and today

Volunteering started with Facebook. Dave was just scrolling through his feed when he saw a post about a volunteer initiative supporting Ukrainian families arriving in Canada. The name caught his attention – "Grassroots". Then he found out one of the founders, Lisa, lived on his street. That’s how he first met Lisa, then Stephanie, who became the engine behind many efforts.

At early Zoom meetings, Dave met dozens of other volunteers. The meetings were emotional, inspiring, and filled with ideas and initiatives.

“I just wanted to join as quickly and in any way I could. I helped with parking at events, cleaning up, setting up chairs, meeting Ukrainians at airports and driving them to temporary housing,” Dave shares. He continues, “Today, there are no specific duties. I help with whatever’s urgent. I do everything needed – yesterday I cleaned a house, today I’m offering mental health support. It’s quite the mix.”

One of Dave’s most special moments was when little Noman was born – the child of a Ukrainian couple he had helped. Another touching memory was when little girl Ava gave Dave a high five after receiving a plastic giraffe on wheels to ride. These and similar moments are the emotional engine behind his volunteer work.

Later, Dave joined the Ukrainian women’s support group, helped with donation drives, bought materials for art therapy, and helped organize a safe space for women to connect, create, and emotionally heal through art.

He doesn’t wait for instructions – he watches social media, sees a post, hears a request, and acts.

Instead of a conclusion

Dave’s story shows that support isn’t always about grand gestures. Sometimes it’s a flag in the window, a well-cooked BBQ at a picnic, a canvas and paints, a fixed floor, painted walls, the ability to listen, a smile on a child’s face on a bike, or a home for newcomers.

The memory of his father, his immigration, his defence of peace and humanity – all formed Dave’s view on good, war, duty, and inspired his life choices. He knows how important it is when someone reaches out a hand in a new country.

Dave became a volunteer – a protector of Ukrainians in Canada. Because it’s right. Because that’s what good people do.

Author: Olena Gadomska.