Humans helping humans: Sunflower festival continues to support Ukraine
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Luke Edwards
With a blue cloudless sky over top a sea of 40,000 blooming yellow sunflowers, the scene at London Born Wines’ event space last month resembled the flag of the country attendees were supporting.
The fifth annual Niagara Sunflower Festival for Ukraine Relief took place last month in Beamsville. Begun by Joe Hube and Bill Emslie following the latest Russian invasion of the eastern European country back in 2022, it has since raised more than $110,000 to support relief efforts in Ukraine.
“We’re humans trying to help humans,” said Hube as visitors took part in a sunflower painting course as others toured the field or visited with some of the roughly 15 vendors in attendance.
Though he has no Ukrainian heritage, Hube said the scenes of the Russian invasion nearly five years ago moved him. He and his neighbour Emslie came up with the festival idea, and have continued it each year since.
Having London Born Wines come on board has been a help, Hube said. So too has the support from Larry and Ben Dyck at Campden Grain. The local farm family has planted, maintained and harvested the sunflower crop each year, a huge help for the organizers, Hube said.
During the opening weekend of the two-week festival, Nancy Haines and Sherri Hipwell made the trek out from St. Catharines, coming for the music, some food, and a few sunflowers to take home.
“It’s a beautiful way to raise money,” said Hipwell.
Haines agreed, saying sunflowers can brighten anyone’s day.
“They just make you happy, don’t they?” she said.
Meanwhile, Emma Young came down from Hamilton with her mom Van. As they snipped a few flowers to take home with them, young Emma discovered just how much the flowers can grow.
“They’re really big and pretty,” she said.
All told, Hube said they’ve organized 16 events to support Ukraine. And while it’s somewhat disheartening knowing the war rages on, Hube said it’s amazing that people in Niagara continue to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. And though their focus remains on Ukraine, Hube acknowledged the many other regions of the world struck by war, poverty and famine. In fact, one of the booths at the festival was for a group collecting to support the people of Cuba.
“I look around and I’m happy,” Hube said, appreciating the support they’ve received.
Having the experience of several years running the event ensures they can send the proceeds to groups where they’re confident the money will be dispersed in the best way to help the people of Ukraine.
Fortunately Mother Nature cooperated - something that hasn’t been a given this year. The flowers withstood the storms in the days and weeks leading up to the festival, and the plants began blooming just as the festival was set to get underway.
Hube said it’s always a crapshoot, and a bit of a nailbiting time as the festival approaches each year.
The sunflower is the national flower of Ukraine
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