Yegor is, without a doubt, one of the most confident, well-spoken and knowledgeable young persons I have met in quite some time.
Well beyond his 11 years of age.
Or has he pointed out, he will be 12 in a matter of days. In the photo he is seen with fellow Ukrainian student Demi and Patricia Maki who provides newcomer support in St. Thomas and Elgin county.
I met him about a month ago and we have spent some time since then engaged in conversation.
He speaks his mind, turns philosophical in a heartbeat and is not afraid to defend his point of view.
No doubt, that is why you can’t help but take a shine to the kid.
He’s in Grade 6 at John Wise Public School and favours basketball, soccer and swimming.
But the road to that classroom at John Wise Public School has been fraught with danger.
He and his mother had to leave their homeland in Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
His father and grandparents remain behind.
Without any prompting, he recalls last summer when he and some friends were playing outdoors and the air strikes started.
“And I running home, don’t just run, I was rushing home . . . because it was scary.”
His recounting of the terrible toll inflicted on his homeland by Russia is riveting.
He would have been 10 at the time and no child should ever have to experience that terror.
His journey to Canada was via Poland and the Czech Republic and then to St. Thomas.
Again unprompted he confides, “I want to go home, without war.”
Below is my conversation from last Monday (May 22) in the myFM studio with this remarkable youngster.
Put aside 20 minutes this weekend to listen to Yegor’s story.
Take time to reflect on it and then give a listen to Demi’s story.
He is a 17-year-old student in Grade 11 at St. Joseph’s High School although he is due to graduate in June from his high school in Kyiv.
He landed in Montreal in September via Poland and France.
From there he and his mother have found a new, albeit temporary home in St. Thomas.
You see, his career path will lead him into the engineering field.
For a very specific reason.
“There is quite a bit of destruction in Ukraine. I remember when the Russians blew up a bridge near my village.
“Bakhmut and Mariupol are completely destroyed. And someone has to rebuild that.”
He plans to be one of those civil engineers.
My conversation with Demi is below.
The stories Yegor and Demi tell afford residents here a front-row seat to witness 15 months of total devastation and displacement.
Both will be in attendance at March with Ukraine, a benefit to be hosted at the CASO station from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. tomorrow (May 28).
Both have a message for the residents of St. Thomas and Elgin.
“The war is not over,” reminds Demi. “It is not the time to forget. We are very pleased that Canadian people support us.”
Yegor meantime proclaims, “Glory to Ukraine. Never give up.”
Written by Ian McCallum
