Toronto unveils ‘Free Ukraine Square’ in front of Russian Consulate

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This article was published 19/03/2022 (915 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The area in front of the Russian Consulate is now named “Free Ukraine Square.”

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress joined Mayor John Tory on Sunday to reveal blue and yellow plaques in front of the consulate to commemorate the honorary renaming, which comes more than three weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine.

The square is located at 60 St. Clair Avenue East, between Yonge Street and Avoca Avenue in the space in front of the Russian Consulate. The consulate has been the target of regular anti-war protests.

Members of the Ukrainian community also gathered to watch the unveiling, of what Tory describes as “a symbol of Toronto’s solidarity with Ukraine and Canadian-Ukrainians.”

“[We want to] Send the message about free Ukraine. Free Ukraine means back to … where people are not faced with this atrocious invasion. Where people have the kinds of freedoms we value in this country and that they value as Ukrainians,” Tory said at the unveiling.

“We hope that every single person, every single day that walks into that Russian Consulate is reminded of what they are doing, at the atrocity of what is going on with this illegal murderous invasion,” he said.

Petro Schturyn, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Toronto branch, spoke about what this display means to the Ukrainian community, in and outside of Toronto.

“Why is this gesture of having a sign of free Ukraine important? It is critical. It is vital. I have a friend in Kyiv that says ‘We see all of it. We see the reports. We see that Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian Canadians, Canadians, Americans, and Europeans are standing with us,’” he said.

Coun. Josh Matlow was behind the idea, and announced the name change earlier in March.

Erin LeBlanc is a reporter for the Star’s radio room based in Toronto. Reach Erin via email: eleblanc@thestar.ca