A local brewery recently hosted musicians, vendors, and a sea of donators for a Ukraine fundraiser.

Okotoks musician Klym Bolechowsky organized the April 15 event, assembling the collection of musicians and exhibitors, and approaching Hub Town Brewing to host.

The idea stemmed not only from seeing the events unfolding from afar and wanting to take action but also from several Ukraine connections in his own life, with Ukrainian heritage through his grandmother and his wife having been born there.

It was initially planned as an outdoor event, but the weather took a turn which meant it had to be changed to indoors just one day ahead of schedule.

Despite that, Bolechowsky is thrilled with the result.

“It worked really well inside. The cool thing is, we had two floors of live music. We had the solo acts on the main floor, and then we had the bands up on the second floor, so there was always music going on. It was a great atmosphere.”

All in all, they raised $6,404.40 for the Canadian Red Cross’ Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal, the Ukrainian Humanitarian Aid Committee, and the Dobro Fund.

Bolechowsky didn't doubt for a second that the community would rise to the occasion.

“I just want to thank the community and businesses in town who have been so generous, the everyday people who donated… I’m really glad to be part of such a generous community.”

He released a thank you letter with a list of contributors:

“Wes Hall, Rock Around Sound and Stage, The Handsome Devils, Haggis, The Jack Butler Society, James Buchholz, Dannan Pearcy, Jesse Taylor, Steve Anderson & Dana, Michael Carson, The Kinsmen Club of Okotoks, Infinite CPA, John Barlow and St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox in Calgary. Thanks to all who helped make this run so smoothly, too many to mention here!”

Hub Town’s co-owner Lisa Watts shared the sentiment.

“It was, in my opinion, a wild success. People were so happy to be there, they were so happy to donate, they were happy to have their favourite bands back out again, they were happy to dance, it was just such a great experience.”

A significant portion of the total funds raised was from the monthly sales of Hub Town’s 1882 Okotoks Golden Ale.