Once upon a time in the vibrant city of Winnipeg, a tight-knit Ukrainian Canadian community thrived amidst a multicultural tapestry. This community was known for its rich cultural heritage, but there was something missing - the lack of a platform to express themselves in their native Ukrainian language.
U Multicultural believes in the power of language to connect communities. Thanks to that the Ukrainian Canadian community finally had a space to share their stories, history, and experience in Ukrainian.
“Community Hour” and “Ukrainian view” are the first and only platforms in Canada that produce high-quality segments in Ukrainian language and also English. It became the voice of the Ukrainian Canadian community, their source of connection, empathy, and understanding.
The Ukrainian speaking journalist Yuliia Kovalenko poured her heart and soul into creating compelling content that highlighted the experiences and challenges faced by newcomer and refugee Ukrainians in Canada. They shared stories of resilience, cultural preservation, and the importance of community support.
The impact of these programs was profound. The Ukrainian newcomers found solace in knowing that they were not alone in their struggles, as their community station provided a platform for their voices to be heard.
Through the Ukrainian View and Community Hour programs, U Multicultural shed light on the trials faced by Ukrainian newcomers. They shared stories of families adapting to a new life, language barriers being overcome, and the resilience of individuals who dared to dream big. The programs served as a source of inspiration and encouragement, fostering a sense of unity within the community.
The impact extended beyond the Ukrainian Canadian community itself. The wider Canadian audience, regardless of their cultural backgrounds, gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for the challenges faced by newcomers and refugees. The programs promoted empathy, breaking down barriers and fostering a sense of inclusivity within society.
Ukrainian Canadians in Winnipeg felt a renewed sense of pride in their heritage and a strengthened connection to their roots. They found comfort in knowing that their struggles were acknowledged and that their contributions to Canadian society were valued.
The Ukrainian View and Community Hour programs were not just segments on a screen or voices on the airwaves. They represented a lifeline for the Ukrainian Canadian community, a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of representation and inclusion.
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About LJI
LJI Impact is the section of commediaportal.ca where the journalists and their organizations participating in CACTUS' Local Journalism Initiative can share their greatest successes.
Through the written stories, photos and videos you see in the LJI Impact section, you'll be able to read first hand accounts about how the presence of a community journalist is making a difference in communities across Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative and the Community Media Portal.
The Community Media Portal is a gateway to the audio-visual media created by community media centres across Canada. These include traditional community TV and radio stations, as well as online and new media production centres.
Community media are not-for-profit production hubs owned and operated by the communities they serve, established both to provide local content and reflection for their communities, as well as media training and access for ordinary citizens to the latest tools of media production, whether traditional TV and radio, social and online media, virtual reality, augmented reality or video games.
The Community Media Portal has been funded by the Local Journalism Initiative (the LJI) of the Department of Canadian Heritage, and administered by the Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations (CACTUS) in association with the Fédération des télévisions communautaires autonomes du Québec (the Fédération). Under the LJI, over 100 journalists have been placed in underserved communities and asked to produce civic content that underpins Canadian democratic life.
