durhamregion.com This Week | Thursday, March 3, 2022 | 4 Oshawa resident Kateryna Rohowska said she messages her parents and sister in Ukraine several times a day. Rohowska is originally from Odessa and moved to Canada in 2009. She is deeply worried about her family there and the people of Ukraine after Russia invaded the country. "It's such a critical situation, and I'm very depressed about everything that's happening there," said Rohowska. "It scares me because almost all cities are involved in this war. It's a scary situation." As the head of the Durham Region branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Rohowska organized a Feb. 24 rally to support Ukraine. About 50 people met at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Orthodox Church on Bloor Street East carrying flags and signs like 'Hands off Ukraine' and 'I stand with Ukraine'. They joined together to sing both the Ukrainian and Canadian national anthems. Rohowska estimates there are roughly 200 Ukrainian people living in Oshawa and a much greater population -- perhaps 2,000 people -- who are of Ukrainian heritage. "We encourage all Canadians, not just those of Ukrainian descent to tell our parliament to continue Canada's efforts to aid Ukraine in every way possible including sanctions limiting Russia's access to Canadian markets -- such as the oil we import from Russia -- and lethal military aid," she said. Rohowska added that she agreed with the move by Canada and other countries to remove Russia from the SWIFT banking system, which connects thousands for financial institutions around the world. Beyond that? "Pray for us, please." Peter Stoett is the dean of the Faculty of Social Science and Humanities at Ontario Tech University and he has been working in international relations and international law for about 30 years. On Feb. 24, he said the invasion of Ukraine is going to have global ramifications. "It's without question catastrophic. It's a serious challenge to international law and it could very well lead to a humanitarian crisis. We're not there yet, but I think it's heading in that direction. "It's going to be very disruptive in terms of the global economy on top of COVID and other things that are already doing that." Stoett said the bigger question is if the war will conflate into a broader military conflict. "I think it's unlikely the World War Three scenario will play out, thankfully, but it's difficult to say. The way that (Russian President Vladimir Putin) in particular has personalized this, it's his effort to make history -- I think -- and leave a legacy of trying to reunite the Soviet Union," he said. "This is quite worrisome because this is often when events like this do take on broader proportions." If NATO, which operates by consensus, participates in the war then Canada will have to as well as a member, he added. Stoett said many Canadians of Ukrainian background will be very concerned, but so will Canadians of Russian background. "Russia is going to be very destabilized, I think, by this action. The Russian economy is already destabilized and the sanctions will make it worse." Right now, Stoett said Canada has an obligation to speak up and condemn Russia's actions. "There's only so much Canada can do, but we have to make sure the sanctions that have been imposed are actually carried. They have to be real and have an impact. Although this won't be solved by that, it's clear. They wouldn't have gone ahead with this invasion if sanctions were a deterrent." Local leaders joined Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier Doug Ford in expressing support for Ukraine. On Feb. 24, Durham Regional Chairman John Henry expressed his heartbreak for the innocent victims who are impacted by the "shocking events" in Ukraine. "Ukrainian Canadians are an integral part of what makes this country, and Durham Region, a better place to call home," said Henry. "I stand in sorrow with Durham Region's Ukrainian community and with the people of Ukraine. Oshawa council also issued a statement of support on Feb. 25. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the residents of Ukraine whose lives have been catastrophically changed," said Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter. "The Ukrainian-Canadian community has a strong presence in Oshawa and many of our friends, neighbours and coworkers could be directly impacted by Russia's aggressive actions. During this dark time, let's check on those who could be struggling and offer our support." Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster also issued a statement of support for Ukraine and called for peace. Several Canadian charities are accepting monetary donations to provide humanitarian aid in Ukraine. 'PRAY FOR US PLEASE': DURHAM UKRAINIANS RALLY IN THE WAKE OF RUSSIAN INVASION OF UKRAINE REKA SZEKELY rszekely@ durhamregion.com NEWS On Feb. 24, roughly 50 members of the Durham Ukrainian-Canadian community rallied to support Ukraine in the wake of the country's invasion by Russia. The group met at St. John the Baptist Church on Bloor Street East in Oshawa. Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Durham Region photo It's the time of year when school boards across Ontario submit funding requests to the province for new schools and other capital projects. In Durham, school boards are focusing their requests on three high-growth areas -- north Oshawa, west Whitby and the Seaton community in Pickering. In rural north Pickering, the Seaton community is planned to eventually have 70,000 residents, while the West Whitby Planning Area is set to accommodate 26,000 people and the Kedron Planning Area in north Oshawa will be home to 23,500. Here's what Durham's school boards are asking for as part of the 2022-23 capital priorities program. DURHAM DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD A new high school in north Oshawa is priority No. 1. This project is needed to take the pressure off Maxwell Heights Secondary School, which is over capacity. This is the sixth time the DDSB has requested funding for the project, and trustees have been outspoken about the need for it. On Feb. 22, trustees voted to send a letter to the Ministry of Education to ask why this project has been repeatedly turned down for funding. The DDSB's other requests for this round include a classroom and child-care addition at Clara Hughes P.S. in Oshawa and three new elementary schools -- one in Seaton, one in west Whitby and one in north Oshawa. DURHAM CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD A four-room addition is being requested for St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic School in north Oshawa, to help deal with growth. St. Kateri opened in 2015 with capacity for 421 students -- that dropped to 372 in 2017 when some classrooms were converted to child care. The school currently has nine portables. The DCDSB is also requesting funding for two new elementary schools, one in west Whitby and one in the Kedron development area of north Oshawa. The board was originally planning for the north Oshawa school to have space for 412 students, but has now bumped that up to 622. THE NEW SCHOOLS DURHAM BOARDS ARE ASKING FOR JILLIAN FOLLERT jfoller t@durhamregion.com The DDSB has proposed building a new two-storey public elementary school at 270 Williamson Dr. in Ajax. Ron Pietroniro/Metroland file photo