The Canada Way

12/02/2026

Morning my friends.

Apologies for slow engagement. Things have been rolling along here but quite a bit slower in the winter.

I'd like to share a message from the Ukrainian Canadian consulate this morning.

President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy:

We are shocked by the news of the shooting at a school in Tumbler Ridge, Canada. When children are killed, no one should remain indifferent. Such tragedies should never happen anywhere, in any country in the world.

We hope that all those who were injured will recover quickly. On behalf of all Ukrainians, I express our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones, to all Canadians, and to Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Thank you President Zelensky.

Our collective hearts go out to all affected by this tragedy.

01/07/2025

Today is Canada Day.
A day where we are all so proud to be Canadian.

Instead of awakening to a sense of pride and a day to celebrate, Paul Hughes awoke to news no parent wants to hear.

Mac, our Mac Pauls son, All of our son with H.U.G.S. Helping Ukraine - Grassroots Support was hit in a directed Russ*an strike.

He is alive but he is quite injured. The extent we won't know for a while. It will take time to properly assess him due to the extent of immediate injuries that need attention.
He was evacuated by his incredible soldier mates from position to hospital. Without their intervention, it is certain that Mac would not be alive this morning.

Paul is now by his side at the hospital and is getting a proper assessment of the situation.

I'll update when I can .
Please please keep the HUGS family in your thoughts today. Our young hero is down but he certainly is not out.

Slava Ukraine!
Fight Mac! We are all beside you in spirit 🇨🇦❤️🇺🇦🇨🇦

07/05/2025

It is with a sad and battered heart that I pass on some information today.

My last trip in was a little rough. I have yet to go into it but eventually I will.
The logistics game has changed significantly in Ukraine and at times I was sort of up against the wall with it.

I'm explaining this because
an organization called Prevail came to my logistical rescue. They were the unsung heroes of how I was able to move the amount of aid that I did.
This effort was led by Chris a fellow I met through one of our mutual humanitarian friends.
Chris's knowledge and ability to decipher all I needed to do and know was incredible.
In turn, we were able to help him out a bit with kits and supplies. In another turn, we started discussions about starting to instruct again.
That would have been on a future trip. I was so looking forward to working with him.

Prevail is the epitome of true humanitarianism.
Chris embodied every good virtue and value possible.
There are very few left out there that are true blue amazing and pure intentioned.
Even fewer that I trust.
Chris was one of them.

On what turned out to be my worst night in Ukraine, Chris sat on the phone with me for 45 minutes. Originally it was supposed to be about paperwork but he ended up sort of helping to talk me off an anxiety ledge.
His ability to just be a good person without judgement was astounding.

Chris aka Swampy aka "silly " that had the patience to help us and so many others was a friend, a comrade, a partner, a father and a hero amongst men.

Chris passed away last night in Ukraine doing what he loved and was so passionate about.
I got called early this morning.

Last night I had re added signal because he was trying to get ahold of me... I chatted to him briefly before I went to bed.
I assumed that today would be business as usual and we would hammer out some more logistics.

But today is anything but usual.
Hug your friends, your family and anyone you can.
Hold value in your lives.
We never ever know when our last moments will be.

May his partner Courtney, his child and his family and friends all find solace in his sacrifice and in his desire to help others to the very end.
Our hearts go out to you all.

The void and legacy Chris has left will continue on.
❤️🇬🇧🇨🇦❤️

Rest in Valhalla my friend.
Until we all meet on the other side.

13/04/2025

Today I wanted to write an Easter message to our Ukranian friends and friends who have become family.

Instead, I am writing this message with a fractured heart.

Once again Ru**ia has exploited a religious holiday knowing that people would be gathering for Easter Mass today.

Currently 34 people have perished (as of 55 minutes ago) and 117 are injured in a ballistic missile attack in Sumy region.

This is just another disgusting display of aggression and targeted warfare against civilians.

My heart and strength goes out to everyone today and every single day.

Keep standing Ukraine.
You will prevail

Slava Ukraine!
❤️🇺🇦🇨🇦🇬🇧❤️

01/04/2025

Switching gears for a moment.

I'd like to wish this fella a very happy 24th birthday...
Ahem, cough cough 😆...
Im bad in math so we won't multiply it....

Thank you for doing all the things, going all of the places and mostly for being relentlessly you for Ukraine, Canada and for everyone in between.

Stephen Viscount

21/03/2025

13/03/2025

We stand as one entity, one world for Ukraine.

Together we are stronger.

13/03/2025

The pictures do not do Phoenix shelter justice.
Power hasnt been connected yet so pictures were a little difficult.
I'll be updating with better shots and videos in the upcoming days.

On my way out of country I made the detour to visit Jay Rivera and his beautiful partner to see the progress on the shelter.

For any of our OG followers you will recognize Jays name from Hope shelter in Prz Poland. We have worked with Jay since almost day one way back in March/April 2022.

For 3 years, Jay and so many tireless volunteers like Mike Mangones have been giving of themselves to create a barrier free shelter for Ukranian IDP.
It started with Hope and has now progressed to Phoenix.

In the true spirit of Ukranian resiliency, this shelter will rise like a Phoenix.

After two years of running an incredible shelter and facing daily struggles to always make it work, Jay made the leap into Ukraine.

It was a decision based off what's best for our Ukranian people.
None of what "we" do is about us. We are just the boat and our people are the captains.

❤️🇨🇦🇺🇲🇺🇦❤️

There is a lot of hype and misinformation around why people stay in Ukraine when their city/villages are being hit and why they stay in very unsafe situations.
The truth is, some people cannot leave Ukraine.

Could you pack up and leave if Canada/States or anywhere else went into a war state overnight?
Think about the finances, the fear, the barriers that would prevent you from leaving.
It's an impossible choice for so many.

Phoenix will provide a safe option.

This building and it's grounds are something out of a fairytale.
Sure it has superficial scars and a lions share of work to be finished but aren't we all a work in progress?

This building was originally built 150 years ago by an Austrian man to be purposed into an orphanage.
It has since been a jailing facility, a school and so many other things.

Now, it's purpose will be shelter and recovery.
It will rise again against a landscape of renewal.
Like all of us who have faced trauma, the superficial scars will be healed by all hands who help this conversion and make Phoenix a reality.

I'll be posting much more information about Project Phoenix in the upcoming days.
This is a passion project, a recovery mission and honestly something we keep near and dear to our hearts.

There is opportunity for volunteer carpenters, electricians, even landscapers to make this project a reality.

Please reach out if you have been considering a journey to Ukraine or if you have been trying to find your passion or heart mission outside of the traditional box.
Phoenix is here to stay just like so many of us that continue on our Ukranian journey.

❤️🇺🇦🇺🇲🇨🇦🇬🇧🇦🇺❤️

09/03/2025

See ya later day with our Aussie Brad ❤️🇦🇺❤️🇺🇦🇨🇦❤️🇬🇧❤️🇺🇲❤️

09/03/2025

More sorting ❤️