Rotarian and Director Ruth Mathieson, Co-Chair of the International Service Committee introduced today's speaker, Rotarian Peter Chabursky, Chair of Intercountry Committee Canada Ukraine, a non-profit organization focused on building bridges of peace, service and friendship between Canada and Ukraine. Originally Ruth connected with Peter through an initiative to help the Ukrainians survive a freezing winter without heat or electricity. A critical need for generators was identified, ensuring food could be prepared and water heated during the winter months as well as keeping institutions running. Various capacities of generators come at a cost of $667 to $2,500 Canadian dollars. Peter is a perfect ambassador of this project as he is fluent in 4 languages, English, French, Ukranian and Russian. He earned a BA (Hon) in Public Administration, followed by a degree in International Business Development and Organizational Behaviour.
The Rotary Club of Belleville donated money towards procuring generators to be used in hospitals, schools and apartment buildings and Peter Chabursky met with Ruth Mathieson to thank the Club for their generosity and present them with a banner from his Rotary Club of West Ottawa. Overall, more than 50 generators and power equipment were delivered across regions like Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk and Volyn. This was one of the committee's core humanitarian projects as well as children and refugee aid, supporting war orphans, internally displaced families and children with specialized medical needs through home renovations, supplies and community care programs. Further assistance was provided for animals affected by ongoing conflict by supporting animal and community shelters.
Peter thanked the Rotary Club for their contribution. By working together, light, warmth and hope has been brought to communities living in areas without electricity, where even in the harsh conditions of darkness and cold, everyday life continues. Peter also pointed out the incredible efforts of Rotary Clubs in Ukraine, whose volunteers ensured efficient logistics and fully transparent, fast distribution of the generators. The project is ongoing. Unfortunately, as the number of damaged energy facilities continues to grow, so does the need for support. The committee remains committed to continuing this important work.
Rotarian Andrew Kole thanked Peter for sharing the efforts of this important work and to help us gain an understanding of tangible ways that we can support this work. It is very important and is making a difference in a meaningful way. Andrew was born and raised in Ukraine and seeing the work being done and the magnitude of continuing with this work hits home for him. Andrew presented Peter with a book on the history of the Rotary Club of Belleville.