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.

Together, in this project we will:

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.

Listen to our Canadian-Ukrainians who share stories about their own families from 17-19th centuries

Support recently displaced Ukrainians with trauma-informed journaling workshops to record their personal journeys

Record and share powerful stories through writing, short videos, and a public community event

Sharing the stories to highlight the legacy of welcome in Wilmot Township including our new Guest House in New Hamburg, a historic house that once hosted refugees from Ukraine 100 years ago

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.

How can you be part of this?
🌻 Share your family’s story
🌻 Attend our community storytelling event in September
🌻 Volunteer to help gather stories
🌻 Donate to support newcomer honoraria and event costs

DONATE NOW

Let’s build bridges across generations, across cultures, and across time.

👉 Interested in collaboraiting or sharing your story?

Contact Inna Biliaieva at wrgr.volunteer@gmail.com

👉 Interested in sponsoring this project?

Contact Olga Strasburger at grassrootsmarketing.media@gmail.com or donate here. A tax receipt will be issued.

Featured Stories

Maria's Journey

Immigrated from Lviv in 1952

"I arrived in Canada with nothing but hope and my grandmother's recipes. Today, my family's restaurant serves traditional Ukrainian dishes to hundreds of families across Toronto. Every pierogi tells a story of resilience and love..."

“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...