Voices Across Time: From Past Journeys to Present Resilience
For generations, people from Ukraine have come to Canada, seeking safety and new beginnings. Today, that story continues as thousands of Ukrainians arrive, displaced by war. In Waterloo Region, we have the chance to preserve these stories — and the stories of those who welcomed them over a century ago.
The project that was embodied in the book:
Voices Across Time is a community storytelling and connection project led by Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis. Funded (in part) by the Shevchenko Foundation.
Voices Across Time Book
As you hold this book and see the image of the Waterloo oak tree on the cover, may it invite you into the stories that follow — stories of migration and memory, of community and courage, of history and hope that stretches across time and continents.
👉 Interested in purchasing the book?
The Voices Across Time book is now available as a gift with any donation. Simply contribute what you can and email info@grassrootsresponse.ca to secure your copy, available in printed or digital versions. A tax receipt will be issued.
Featured Stories from the Book
Leesa: "A Memory that Warms, and Roots that Hold"
Leesa’s family history unfolds between Europe and Canada, across two world wars, the Great Depression, and postwar migrations. Her story is a journey through generations: from a great-grandmother who taught her how to decorate pysanky, and a grandfather from Ivano-Frankivsk who endured forced labour in Germany.
“𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐞".
John’s ancestor, a prosperous farmer from Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, had to leave his homeland in 1889 due to the unrest of the time. The Mennonite community supported his family in emigrating...READ MORE
Why Storytelling Matters?
Sharing stories fosters belonging, strengthens identity, and builds resilience. For newcomers, it helps process the trauma of displacement. For Ukrainian Canadians, it reconnects families with their roots. And for our broader community, it reminds us of our shared history of welcome and hospitality.
Let’s build bridges across generations, across cultures, and across time.