From War to Healing: The Power of Art

This is a story about the power of Art — how it restores after loss, brings back strength, and warms the soul in the reality of forced immigration faced by Ukrainian women because of russia’s war. It’s about Healing Art, a space created by Grassroots, where creativity works quietly and deeply, helping Ukrainian women come back to life through the colours of their paintings, the warm wax of Easter pysankas, the soft clay shaped into jewellery, and many other creative workshops.

“I didn’t want to slide out of bed those mornings. The grey monotony outside my window seemed to fully support that decision. That cold December greyness held its breath, waiting for me to choose — to live or to simply go through the motions.” - That’s the first thing I remembered when I sat down to write about the Grassroots Response Healing Art project.

My name is Olena. I’m a Ukrainian woman who arrived in Canada during a warm, colourful autumn. The air was still soft with sunlight — but the first touch of evening cold was already bringing winter closer, and with it — emptiness inside me.

If it weren’t for the war Russia started against Ukraine, I would never have ended up in Canada. And this text would never have existed.

If not for the war, I would be living in Ukraine, visiting my parents, cooking lunches together just because, or something special for the holidays. I’d be choosing Christmas gifts for my family and friends, running through crowded stores, wrapping presents in colourful paper and leaving them under the tree.

There would be my mom’s strawberry and apricot jam on the table, fresh vegetables from her garden. I would be baking an apple pie in my own kitchen, staying up late with old friends, talking about everything.

I’d be chatting with my best friend in a cozy Kyiv café, or just lazily spending weekends at home, in my pyjamas. I’d still be travelling — to the sea in Odesa, to the forests of the Carpathians, stopping for coffee and hot dogs at my favourite gas station, watching endless fields of wheat and sunflowers disappear in the rear-view mirror.

I’d be driving my daughter to school on frosty mornings, standing tired in Kyiv traffic, dreaming of getting home after a long day.

I would be doing everything ordinary families do in peaceful countries.

But the war took away those simple things — things that have now become priceless. The war tore families and friends apart with unimaginable distances, leaving us all suspended in uncertainty on both sides of the ocean.

When I came to Canada, I had lost my old life and had to build a new one. I was safe — no sirens, no rockets, no drones. I didn’t need to run to a shelter. Life in Canada promised a return to normality. But something inside me was broken.

That morning — like so many others — I scrolled through the news from Ukraine. Another night of missile and drone attacks. Some cities were left without heat or electricity. Some people didn’t wake up. Some lost the person they loved most — and with that, their will to live.

So that December morning before Christmas felt grey and hollow, against the backdrop of colourful lights and cheerful decorations in people’s homes.

I envied their joy — because mine was left behind. It was the contrast of two parallel worlds in one life — my life, and the lives of so many Ukrainians. I wasn’t buying gifts or baking pies. I hadn’t seen my mom’s jam for a long time. My day promised nothing but routine.

Then, a phone call from an unknown number. Spam, I thought. But a warm voice said, “Hi Olena! You applied for a volunteer writer position at Grassroots. We had many applicants, so that role is filled… but! — We’d love to invite you to Healing Art.”

That voice belonged to Inna Biliaieva — the organizer who spoke about the project with such warmth and enthusiasm that something lit up inside me again. She didn’t let that spark fade — the forms and registration links appeared in my inbox within minutes.

That day, the greyness was lost. I reached for Life.

Soon, I found myself surrounded by Ukrainian women — the soft murmur of our language, warm tea in my hands, eyes scanning shelves full of art supplies: paints, yarn, clay, paper. I picked up a crochet hook and started a small doily. I stayed quiet. I listened. I thawed.

I became part of Healing Art. The Healing Art Project is an initiative of Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis (Grassroots), a volunteer organization that, since the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has tirelessly helped Ukrainians find housing, clothing, household items, financial support, healthcare, and much more.

The Healing Art Project is supported by Canadian friends and sponsors. It brings Ukrainian women together to heal, express themselves, and rediscover their inner strength through art.

“Come next time — even if you just want to sit in silence,” Inna said as she walked each of us to the door. “We can be silent together.”

And I did come again. And again. And again — and I was no longer silent.

I began to speak - through colours in my drawings, through melted wax in Easter pysankas, through clay in handmade jewellery. And eventually, through my own writing and photos, taken during Grassroots events and projects.

We, Ukrainian women, found our voices in Canada through Healing Art. We found rest and calm in this place of strength. We discovered creativity we didn’t know we had, guided by talented workshop instructors.

In this space, creativity shows up in every form. Over the past few months, we’ve hosted several very different — yet equally warm and welcoming — workshops.

Our Painting: Abstraction & Acrylic evening turned everyone into an artist. Some painted bold strokes, others explored soft lines or simple experiments. By the end, the room felt like a small gallery of personal stories.

We also made soft, cozy fabric pumpkins — each one a little quirky and completely charming. It was an evening of busy hands and hearts slowly letting go of tension.

During our Sugar-free Chocolate Workshop, some people made homemade chocolates for the first time, while others immediately said, “These are going into the kids’ lunchboxes!” It was fun, delicious, and surprisingly connecting.

And of course, we decorated holiday ornaments in the traditional Petrykivka style — a piece of Ukrainian heritage shared in a Canadian space.

Here, sadness and depression can’t take over — because Art stands against them. They don’t survive here.

“I never imagined Healing Art would become such a meaningful part of my life. It’s so much more than art — it’s friendship, support, and the simple joy of being together. I’ll never forget my first meeting — a cozy room, warm smiles, soft music, and the scent of paint. By the end of the evening, it already felt like home,” says Maria.

Nastia adds, “Each meeting is a breath of warmth and inspiration. The atmosphere is special — sincerity, support, and a sense of home that we’ve all been missing. I’m deeply grateful to everyone who makes this possible.”

Svitlanka says: “Here we can open up, share, and create. Huge thanks to our Canadian friends and sponsors. For us, Ukrainian women, it means so much. You make us happier.”

Through this project, we’ve learned to recognize new strength within ourselves — strength we might never have noticed before. Our path of adaptation continues, but we now have a solid foundation to build new lives, to rebuild ourselves, and to give strength to our children.

That foundation is Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis. That foundation is also every Grassroots volunteer — Al Meagher, Carol Meagher, Carol Ann Weaver, Lydia Serbanescu, Karen Medsger, Dave Logan, Devon Klaas, Maryanne Grobe, Mason Dietrich, Pat Folkerts, Cathy Van de Vegte, Nataly Kuchka, Shannon Martin, Jeanette Linton, Svitlana Kuchinka, Oksana Tereshenko, Mariia Kravets, Viktoriia Makarova, and so many others.

We want to express our special gratitude for a warm and welcoming place where everyone feels safe and happy at St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church! There are not enough words to express our appreciation for your energy, time, kindness, friendship, understanding, dedication, and care in both big and small things.

Thank you for all the drives to the stores for Healing Art supplies, for the evenings we spent together, for the art we created side by side, for the sweets and the strong, comforting tea.

Thank you for the open doors of your homes, for every food hamper, for every ride to the food bank or the doctor, for clothes and furniture that help Ukrainian families live with dignity.For English lessons, for music nights, for bike rides and picnics.

We, Ukrainians, will never forget your kindness. You didn’t just offer help — you offered hope. Because of you, our days are once again filled with warmth, meaning, and colour. You’ve shown us that art can heal, that community can hold, and that far from home — we are not alone.

We are endlessly grateful for your presence in our lives. You didn’t let us fall — and you still hold our hands, helping us build a new life here, in Canada.

Olena Gadomska.

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🎨 The Healing Art Project will continue its activities in 2026, and we’re now looking for new artists who are interested in offering 1–2 free art workshops!

If you’d like to share your creativity and connect with our amazing community, we’d love to have you join us. Please, just email: wrgr.volunteer@gmail.com💙