Elenore Sturko knew from the tone of the man香蕉视频直播檚 voice that his statement regarding her heritage wasn香蕉视频直播檛 one of admiration.

香蕉视频直播淪turko 香蕉视频直播� that香蕉视频直播檚 a Ukrainian name,香蕉视频直播� he said.

On duty near the Pacific Highway border at the time, in her role as a sergeant with the Surrey RCMP, Sturko automatically deferred to de-escalation tactics, telling the man she was born in Canada, rather than letting him bait her into a confrontation.

香蕉视频直播淚 knew they were trying to cause trouble with me,香蕉视频直播� Sturko said Monday, as she explained a tweet she made the night before (Feb. 27) regarding a protester who 香蕉视频直播渟tarted trying to shame me for my heritage.香蕉视频直播�

2 weeks ago on duty by the border a protester saw my last name is Ukrainian and started to try to shame me for my heritage. I was proud of who I am 2 weeks ago - witnessing the courage of the Ukrainian people, I am even more fiercely proud of my heritage today.

香蕉视频直播� Elenore Sturko (@elenoresturko)

The protester went on to call her a Nazi, and ask her 香蕉视频直播渨hat kind of Ukrainian are you 香蕉视频直播� a good one or a bad one?香蕉视频直播� before disappearing to fetch a giant poster depicting a firing-squad image from the Holocaust. The man then stood some 20 feet away and yelled at her for an hour in Polish, 香蕉视频直播渃alling me out basically about my Ukrainian heritage.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淎s much as we香蕉视频直播� want to be professional, sometimes, stuff like that, it does plant a seed of sadness within you,香蕉视频直播� Sturko said.

香蕉视频直播淚 was upset by that.香蕉视频直播�

The incident happened on Feb. 19, as the ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine was increasing in intensity.

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As upsetting as it was, Sturko, who is a South Surrey resident, said it didn香蕉视频直播檛 have the effect that the protester was clearly aiming for, that of diminishing her pride in her roots, and shaming her. In fact, it did quite the opposite.

香蕉视频直播淭o see how much love and respect there is for people who belong to my ethnic heritage is just incredibly important,香蕉视频直播� Sturko said, referring to the outpouring of support that continues for Ukraine and its people during the ongoing invasion.

香蕉视频直播淥ne out of hundreds of thousands of people said something that was very insulting, but there香蕉视频直播檚 millions and millions of people right now showing their love and support and admiration for those in the Ukraine dealing with this terrible situation.

香蕉视频直播淚 was at the protest, it was ugly, but there香蕉视频直播檚 so much more beauty in what we香蕉视频直播檙e seeing being demonstrated.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 an opportunity for us all to reflect on things that unite us.香蕉视频直播�

Sturko is a second-generation Canadian. Her grandparents came to Canada from Ukraine more than a century ago 香蕉视频直播� in 1908 and 1918 香蕉视频直播� to escape 香蕉视频直播渢errible香蕉视频直播� conditions, including oppression and starvation.

While her grandparents quickly assimilated into Western culture 香蕉视频直播� and didn香蕉视频直播檛 speak much about the painful side of their history in the years that followed 香蕉视频直播� her family did hold onto various traditions over the years, at Christmas and other occasions. Making Ukrainian Easter eggs and perogies are among the activities Sturko does with her own kids.

She said while she doesn香蕉视频直播檛 know any family in Ukraine now, seeing the conflict and the war 香蕉视频直播渋n an odd way香蕉视频直播� has reconnected me with my cultural heritage.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淓ven seeing the resolve now of Ukrainian people fighting and battling for their country, it inspires me, I want to know more.

香蕉视频直播淜nowing this is the home of my grandparents, it has a special significance for me, but I don香蕉视频直播檛 think you need to have Ukrainian heritage香蕉视频直播� to see the human side of war.香蕉视频直播�