Let It Be: The Healing Art Project’s Final Evening

The Healing Art Project held a heartwarming Evening of Joy and Gratitude at the Courtland Mill Community Centre.

The Healing Art Project is an initiative of Grassroots Response, supported by Canadian friends and sponsors, and organized for the Ukrainian women’s community to promote healing, self-expression, and rediscovery of inner strength through art.

As part of this 6-month project, women who were forced to leave Ukraine because of the war and others who wished to join received a safe space for weekly meetings, where they shared stories and emotions, found understanding and relief from daily stress, healed and expressed themselves through various art sessions and workshops.

So, the Evening of Joy and Gratitude became a warm evening of heartfelt appreciation for all those who care about Ukraine and continue to support it — Stephanie Goertz, Dave Logan, Carol Ann Weaver, Lirondel Cheyne-Hazineh, Izabela Lizon, Ellen Ringler, Karen Medsger, Pamela Rojas, Viktoriia Makarova, Stephen Preece, and many others.

All of them are more than just partners, mentors or volunteers of the Healing Art Project. They are people who chose to stand by Ukrainians during one of the most vulnerable moments in our history. People who don’t ask “Why,” but rather “How can I help?” Those who bring not just things, but warmth, attention to detail, and respect for both pain and joy. They are friends who not only help but deeply care, act without unnecessary words, and sincerely want Canada to feel like a safe haven for Ukrainians.

That evening, we recalled the first sparks of friendship and the beginning of the Healing Art Project, which grew despite all the “it won’t work” voices thanks to the encouragement and support of our mentors.

It was an evening of heartfelt conversations, where we shared personal stories and spoke words of gratitude for the invaluable support of our Canadian friends during those uncertain times and our first steps in a new country.

It was an evening of music and singing, "Let It Be" and "I Will Go to the Distant Mountains," where each, as they could, but all sincerely, were accompanied by Stephen Preece, pianist. You should’ve heard it!

We thank everyone who helped build this space of kindness, gratitude, inspiration, and an almost familial closeness — those who cooked, showed up, helped, created this atmosphere, and simply stood beside us. We carry this in our hearts and look forward to new evenings together!

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💛 And this is not the end! The Healing Art group will open its doors again for Ukrainian women in September, in the welcoming space of St. Michael’s Church.

Thank you for your support!

Article by Olena Gadomska.