Sault business stands in solidarity with Ukrainian employee

A Sault Ste. Marie business has gone public with its support of Ukraine by adding the flag of the war-stricken country to its signage. 

Blue Flame Gas has added the image of the Ukrainian flag to its digital signage, which is highly visible at its location in the 300 block of Trunk Road. 

Owner Ray Clement says he put up the digital image of the flag - which scrolls the phrase ‘be strong and free’ - as a nod to his employee, Alex, and his wife who are originally from Ukraine. 

“Alex has relatives there - his brother, his niece and his nephew,” Clement said. 

Alex, who has been working at Blue Flame Gas for four years as a gas fitter since relocating from Calgary, didn’t want to be interviewed. 

“He’s a good employee, very good employee. Dedicated, hard worker,” said Clement. “In our field, we have a hard time finding gas fitters and refrigeration mechanics and so on. It’s very difficult.”

Clement says Ukrainians have contributed to Canada’s cultural fabric, having worked plots of farmland throughout western Canada and migrating to places like Sudbury, Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie to work.   

“They helped build this country, no doubt about it - and they’re good people,” said Clement. “Hard workers, good people.”