Veteran from N.S. reflects on starting humanitarian group in Ukraine

Kate MacEachern, a retired corporal of the Canadian Armed Forces, was one of the many international volunteers who answered Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call for help in the fight against Russia. Despite suffering a severe head and spinal cord injury during her time in the military, MacEachern was determined to make a difference.

After witnessing the desperate situation in an evacuation centre in Poland, where hundreds of injured and sick Ukrainians were seeking shelter, MacEachern realized that her impact would be greater as a humanitarian than as a soldier. Along with a small group of fellow Canadians and international volunteers, she formed The Canada Way, a non-governmental organization focused on providing aid to those affected by the conflict.

The group greeted Ukrainian evacuees with food, coffee, and warm clothes, while also managing aid shipments from international organizations to ensure resources were distributed effectively. MacEachern’s experiences in Poland led her to connect with a Canadian medic in Kyiv who needed abortion pills for a young patient, showcasing the group’s willingness to take risks to help those in need.

As people from around the world began offering donations, MacEachern and her team traveled across Ukraine, distributing goods to communities that larger organizations struggled to reach. Emma Henning, from the U.K., joined The Canada Way to collect medical supplies and facilitate their delivery to Ukraine.

Despite the risks involved in traveling to a war zone, MacEachern and her team have managed to move approximately $1 million worth of aid into the country over the past 2½ years. With the support of volunteers like Henning, the group continues to make a difference in the lives of those affected by the conflict.

MacEachern’s older sister, Kristen, initially had reservations about her decision to go to Ukraine but has since come to support her. MacEachern plans to return to Ukraine after a brief break in Nova Scotia, acknowledging the risks but also recognizing the resilience of the Ukrainian people.

As the Canadian government advises against travel to the region, MacEachern remains determined to help those in need. Her experiences in Ukraine have opened her eyes to the struggles faced by others and have reinforced her commitment to making a positive impact in the world.