About 50 people braved frigid temperatures to gather outside the Rotary Interpretive Centre at Derek Doubleday Arboretum in 91原创 on Friday, Feb. 24, to mark the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine with a candlelight vigil to show support for the embattled country.

91原创 Township Councillor Michael Pratt, one of the participants, called it 鈥渁 bittersweet moment.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 definitely hoping not to have another vigil a year from now,鈥� Pratt told the 91原创 Advance Times following the vigil, one of several held in B.C. and throughout the rest of Canada.

Those present included 91原创 鈥� Aldergrove Conservative MP Tako van Popta, and Fleetwood 鈥� Port Kells Liberal MP Ken Hardie, who are among the more than 300 prominent Canadians who were banned by the Russian government for their support of Ukraine.

Hardie, who spoke at the vigil, later said he hoped Russian mothers, who are seeing their sons come home in body bags, will 鈥渞ise up and get changes made.鈥�

Hardie noted Canada is sending eight tanks to Ukraine, commenting 鈥渨e can do that because we don鈥檛 have someone on our border threatening to invade.鈥�

READ ALSO: 91原创-Aldergrove MP on list of politicians banned from Russia

Cloverdale-91原创 City MP John Aldag, who has also been banned by the Russians, posted a message of support from Europe, where he has been meeting with members of the Ukrainian Mission to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

鈥淚t is truly heartbreaking to hear their stories of loss and what their country continues to experience,鈥� Aldag said.

In Victoria, Municipal Affairs Minister Anne Kang issued a , noting more than 11,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in B.C. since the war started.

鈥淎s the war continues, it is important that we stay unwavering in our efforts to help those in need,鈥� Kang said.

鈥淭he unfortunate truth is that the end of this conflict is not in sight.鈥�

READ ALSO: Canada sending four more battle tanks, ammo to Ukraine as rallies held across Canada

Since Feb. 24, more than 150,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Canada. More than half a million applications have been approved.

According to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner, 18,955 civilian casualties were confirmed in Ukraine as of Feb. 13 鈥� 7,199 killed and 11,756 injured. The actual figures are believed to be considerably higher.

Over the last year, Canada has pledged more than $5 billion to supporting Ukraine.