Ukrainian refugees surprise shoppers with a flash-mob performance

Ukrainians living in Ont. surprise shoppers Ukrainian refugees surprised shoppers at Northgate Shopping Centre in North Bay singing ‘Shchedrik’ or ‘Carol of the Bells’ on Saturday.

A group of Ukrainians now living in northern Ontario surprised shoppers at the Northgate Shopping Centre in North Bay on Saturday.

Ukrainian Flash Mob Jan. 6 A group of Ukrainians now living in northern Ontario surprised shoppers at the Northgate Shopping Centre in North Bay on Saturday. (Supplied/Andrii Bieliaiev)

The Ukrainians organized a flash mob rendition of ‘Shchedrik’ or ‘Carol of the Bells’ in their own language as well as in English, to honour the Feast of Baptism. The song is traditionally sung from Christmas until the feast, which is celebrated on Jan. 6.

They performed in the food court as on-lookers filmed and cheered afterward.

Approximately 20 Ukrainian families moved to North Bay since Russia invaded their country 682 days ago.

The war has displaced more than five million people in the region and forced six million others to become refugees around the world.

– With files from CTV News Northern Ontario videojournalist Eric Taschner