Over the last 7 months, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress has pushed for sanctions against Russia and helped establish a VISA program to allow Ukrainian Nationals to come to Canada for the next 3 years. UCC has worked with Government to establish federal funding for the Displaced Ukrainians and continues to push for increased assistance for Nationals and for increased sanctions against Russia. In turn, Russia has sanctioned all UCC Executive, including Olesia. Olesia proudly accepted her sanction from Russia.
Olesia is UCC’s representative to Canada Ukraine Foundation (CUF) and in turn, Olesia is an active member of the CUF/UCC Humanitarian Relief Committee (UHRC) which is responsible for the distribution of the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal Fund (UHAF). Over 45 million dollars have been raised for Humanitarian Aid.
Since the war broke, Olesia together with the small team under the Chairmanship of Victor Hetmanczuk, has disbursed more than 22 million dollars of Humanitarian aid which includes assistance to Displaced Persons, medical care, emergency shelter and food security. The team has established a partnership to provide surgery for the wounded, medications, medical equipment from x-rays to wound vacs, first aid kits, firefighting gear, food boxes, meals, buckwheat for harvest, shelter, transport, children camps in Europe and Canada, mental health supports, Ukrainian children’s books for Polish libraries, hygiene kits, and now are starting to provide winter necessities such as blankets, thermal clothing, heating supplies, generators, mobile shelters in Ukraine, etc.
Olesia led UCC APC as the war broke out in Crimea and the Donbas area 2014 which included media informatics, rallies & demonstrations, working with the provincial government and more. Olesia worked along side UCC Calgary and Edmonton to ensure briefing notes were developed and media was well informed. Under her leadership, approximately $300,000 was raised for medical needs in Ukraine within the first 2 months of the war breaking out in Donbas in 2014.
As a National Executive Director of the Ukrainian Canadian Women League, Olesia organized and lead an Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Program for Ukraine’s Military Veteran Hospitals in the fall of 2021 for just under 300 Ukrainian Healthcare providers, just prior to the war starting in Ukraine, under the auspices of the Guardian Angels Committee. Olesia is also currently one of three liaisons for Ukrainian Displaced persons in Edmonton and surrounding area, whose responsibility is to link new displaced persons with Mentors who in the first few weeks of arrival.
As a Board Director of ACUA (Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts) Olesia has worked with artists Larysa Matchak and previously with the Karpenko’s to establish an Art for Aid program in 2014 and once again in the spring of 2022, which currently continues. Over $20,000 has been raised for the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal Fund, this year alone, and over $25,000 in 2014-2015 for the front lines.
