Elenore Sturko knew from the tone of the man害羞草研究所檚 voice that his statement regarding her heritage wasn害羞草研究所檛 one of admiration.

害羞草研究所淪turko 害羞草研究所� that害羞草研究所檚 a Ukrainian name,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淚 knew they were trying to cause trouble with me,害羞草研究所� Sturko said Monday, as she explained a tweet she made the night before (Feb. 27) regarding a protester who 害羞草研究所渟tarted trying to shame me for my heritage.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所� Elenore Sturko (@elenoresturko)

The protester went on to call her a Nazi, and ask her 害羞草研究所渨hat kind of Ukrainian are you 害羞草研究所� a good one or a bad one?害羞草研究所� 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, 害羞草研究所渃alling me out basically about my Ukrainian heritage.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淎s much as we害羞草研究所� want to be professional, sometimes, stuff like that, it does plant a seed of sadness within you,害羞草研究所� Sturko said.

害羞草研究所淚 was upset by that.害羞草研究所�

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

READ MORE:

As upsetting as it was, Sturko, who is a South Surrey resident, said it didn害羞草研究所檛 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.

害羞草研究所淭o see how much love and respect there is for people who belong to my ethnic heritage is just incredibly important,害羞草研究所� Sturko said, referring to the outpouring of support that continues for Ukraine and its people during the ongoing invasion.

害羞草研究所淥ne out of hundreds of thousands of people said something that was very insulting, but there害羞草研究所檚 millions and millions of people right now showing their love and support and admiration for those in the Ukraine dealing with this terrible situation.

害羞草研究所淚 was at the protest, it was ugly, but there害羞草研究所檚 so much more beauty in what we害羞草研究所檙e seeing being demonstrated.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 an opportunity for us all to reflect on things that unite us.害羞草研究所�

Sturko is a second-generation Canadian. Her grandparents came to Canada from Ukraine more than a century ago 害羞草研究所� in 1908 and 1918 害羞草研究所� to escape 害羞草研究所渢errible害羞草研究所� conditions, including oppression and starvation.

While her grandparents quickly assimilated into Western culture 害羞草研究所� and didn害羞草研究所檛 speak much about the painful side of their history in the years that followed 害羞草研究所� 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害羞草研究所檛 know any family in Ukraine now, seeing the conflict and the war 害羞草研究所渋n an odd way害羞草研究所� has reconnected me with my cultural heritage.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淓ven seeing the resolve now of Ukrainian people fighting and battling for their country, it inspires me, I want to know more.

害羞草研究所淜nowing this is the home of my grandparents, it has a special significance for me, but I don害羞草研究所檛 think you need to have Ukrainian heritage害羞草研究所� to see the human side of war.害羞草研究所�