LAC LA BICHE - Lac La Biche County councillors began their March 1 public council meeting with a moment of silence directed towards the ongoing invasion of Ukrainian territories by Russian forces.
On Feb. 24, Russian troops — on the orders of Russian leader Vladimir Putin — entered Ukrainian territory by force.
"I'd like us to pause for a moment of silence, maybe a minute, and pause for their safety and well-being," said Coun. Darlene Beniuk, requesting the action be taken as an "emergent" item on the council's agenda.
Council members rose from their council seats during the moment of silence before reconvening their regular meeting.
The Lac La Biche region has a large population of Ukrainian and Eastern European families, many settling in the Lakeland region more than a century ago.
Ukraine was on of the 15 Soviet republics that were part of the Soviet Union until 1991 when the USSR collapsed.
