A Ukrainian-Canadian Collaboration Hits All the Right Notes A family piano once filled with the songs in a Saskatoon living room has been transformed into a moving symbol of peace and resilience, thanks to a heartfelt community art project in St. Thomas. “Piano for Peace” is the work of the Elgin County Ukrainian Community (ECUC), a local group supporting Ukrainian fa- milies who have settled in the area since Russia’s 2022 full- scale invasion of Ukraine. The upright piano was donated by ECUC co-founder Patricia Maki, who says it carries the spirit of her homeland. “This piano has been in my family since the 1960s,” says Patricia. “It brought our family together -- siblings, cousins, friends -- singing and playing Ukrainian music. It has the spirit of Ukraine right in it.” Moved by memories, Patricia envisioned giving the piano a new life. “I had a dream,” she recalls. “Music heals. I thought, what if, through both music and art, this piano could become a symbol of peace and a way to express the pain, the resilience, and the hope of Ukrainians?” She reached out to long-time friend and artist, Mary Intven Wallace, who brought experience as a community artist and art therapist. Maxym Nechytailo, her second collaborator, is a Ukrainian-born artist living in Port Stanley, known for his work at the Art Emporium. “Patricia invited me to join,” says Maxym. “I became the designer of the main idea. We didn’t expect so many artists to join in, but people kept coming. It became more than an art piece — it became a movement.”
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Page 12 Hometown St. Thomas • September 2025
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