As Russia’s war against Ukraine continues into its fifth year, Peterborough’s Chloë Black is making it clear through her continued selfless actions that she’s in it for the long haul.
Since April 2022, two months after Russia invaded the country, Chloë has made five humanitarian trips to Ukraine and is now there once again, volunteering with a local animal shelter in Kharkiv as well as in Kyiv where she’s helping children impacted by the war as a volunteer with Ukrainian Patriot, a non-profit organization committed to making Ukraine “a safer and freer place to live.”
Such aid costs money and, to that end, “Blues for Ukraine” will be held Thursday, June 11 at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre in downtown Peterborough as a fundraiser for Ukrainian Patriot.
The event will see Chloë back home to narrate a slide show presentation as well as to share some of what she has seen and experienced during her time in the war-ravaged country. In addition, a concert featuring top Canadian blues musicians, organized by her dad, drummer Al Black, will also take place.
Featured performers will include Tony D of Ottawa-based MonkeyJunk, Fathead founder and multi-instrumentalist Al Lerman, Fathead bassist Bob “Omar” Tunnoch, and Gary Peeples, who performed with Al Black for years as part of two-time Juno award-nominated Jackson Delta alongside Rick Fines. Tickets to the 7 p.m. event cost $39 at www.markethall.org.
“I am completely humbled and grateful for everything my dad and his friends are doing,” notes Chloë via email from Vinnytsia, Ukraine. “The funds raised will help with animal welfare and with mental health programs for children who have lived close to the frontline, or are internally displaced from occupied territories.”
This is the second such event Black has organized in support of his daughter’s humanitarian work.
In late April 2023, the first Blues for Ukraine fundraiser was held in Showplace Performance Centre’s Cogeco Studio and featured music by Dennis O’Toole and Dave Mowat with The Steady Band, and Nicholas Campbell and The Two Metre Cheaters. In addition, a video presentation done by Chloë was screened.
“I didn’t know how well she would do with all this but she put on a great presentation,” recalls Black of his daughter, adding that Ukrainian Patriot is “hurting” as the war drags on.
“This war has gone on way too long. Everyone is way out of energy. Getting people involved is losing momentum. People are getting weary. Chloë is really looking forward to sending them some money. Having people there helping is great, but with money you can do things that are completely necessary.”
“I didn’t really have to ask them,” Black notes of the musicians who are performing on June 11. “Tony D told me if there’s ever a fundraising event for Chloë’s group, to count him in. They were all sort of waiting on the sidelines. I didn’t have to convince anyone. I just called them up and said ‘We’re doing this event on June 11. Are you available?’ and they all jumped on it.”
“Chloë knows all of them personally. Gary is like her uncle, and Tony D is one of her best friends. This all came together so easily and so quickly.”
Due to return to Peterborough on May 6, Chloë will have stories of her experiences volunteering with Animal Rescue Kharkiv, her engagement of kids impacted by the war, and her assisting frontline defenders and civilians. As a former competitive cyclist inducted into the Peterborough Sports Hall of Fame for excellence in her sport, she’ll also be organizing a cycling workshop in Kyiv before coming home.
“I’ve found the last two trips very difficult,” writes Chloë in her email. “The Russians are hitting Kyiv and Kharkiv very hard, as well as many other larger cities. We have more power now but it has been a difficult winter, not only because of the constant attacks but also with the intense cold and unpredictable power outages.”
“Last summer and this winter, the attacks have been incredibly close. They are random, and they are absolutely directed at civilians and those supporting them. I plan to share images of how close these attacks have been to where I’ve been.”
As a father who lives daily with worry about his daughter’s wellbeing, these are not words that Black wants to hear.
“I can’t say that I’m used to it, but I’m getting a little more comfortable with it perhaps,” says Black.
“When she first told me she was going to do this, I pushed back on her for about five minutes. I’ve had many discussions-slash-arguments with my daughter. After about five minutes, I knew I was not going to change her mind and that my only option was to support her in every way I could.”
“When she was doing her cycling, she went to Colombia. There was a war going on there; a revolution. It wasn’t until years later she said ‘I didn’t know it was so serious there.’ She was going all over the place. Cuba, New Zealand, Europe. She’s used to living out of a suitcase. She’s a really good traveller. She is totally self-contained with all the technology at her fingertips. She sent me information about who she was volunteering with and it was the best situation she could be in.”
Still, despite his admiration for a daughter who is “independent, determined and has a real strong moral compass,” Black still worries.
“She’s not the kind of person to sit around and watch something bad happen,” assesses Black, adding “If she can get in there, even a little bit, she will.”
As an animal lover, Chloë’s first trip overseas in April 2022 was to Arad, Romania in eastern Europe where she helped a volunteer group build a shelter capable of housing 800 animals displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. She later travelled to Ukraine where, as a volunteer with Ukrainian Patriot, she helped deliver humanitarian aid packages to frontline soldiers and civilians living with the constant threat of shelling.
“She originally went there to help rescue animals, and then she eventually became a driver,” Black says. “She’d drive supplies to civilians and soldiers near the front lines and, on her way back, she’d bring animals and people looking to get away.”
“Kids who have lost their parents or are in the cities, they bring them out of the cities, away from where all the bombing is happening, to a sort of summer camp situation to give them a break from the violence that’s going on.”
“They give them an opportunity to hang out with other kids and leave that behind them. They’re not living in a bomb shelter. There are animals there. There’s art and music and dance.”
For her part, Chloë has two messages in advance of returning from her sixth trip to Ukraine.
“It is absolutely critical for global security that Russia de-occupy Ukraine, and that Ukraine be supported as its people recover and rebuild. When I say we have a lot to learn from Ukraine, I mean of course militarily, but also how to live in a complicated democracy but still unify, regardless of religion, background, language, location, and so on.”
“Ukrainians are incredibly tired, but no less determined. I feel their disappointment but, like them, I am determined to not allow the passage of time, nor the brutality of Russia, to alter my commitment.”
If you’re guessing such views make Black incredibly proud of his daughter, you’ve guessed right.
“I told all my kids ‘All I want is for you to be happy. I don’t have a lot of money. I can’t help you with that. I just want you to be happy. No matter what you do, I’ll support you.’ I know she’s happy. That makes me happy.”
“I can’t clip her wings. She’s got to do what she’s got to do, but I can help her with this (Blues for Ukraine). She was so happy when I told I’ve got Market Hall and I’ve got the guys together. It’s not something she can do on her own, especially from over there. That’s all I can do for her. I hope she makes a little bit of money for her group.”
For more information about Ukrainian Patriot, and to make a donation toward its continuing efforts in relief of Ukraine, visit ukrainianpatriot.org.
