230 displaced Ukrainians arrive in Regina on charter flight from Poland
A plane carrying 230 Ukrainians fleeing the war in their home country, including 100 children, has landed in Regina.
It is the first charter flight to bring the displaced citizens to Saskatchewan.
“We hope this is the first of many, many flights to come,” pilot Enrique Pineyro, who donated the flight said.
The direct flight from Warsaw, Poland arrived around 7:30 p.m. local time after nine hours in the air. Humanitarian organizations Open Arms and Solidaire helped coordinate the flight.
Upwards of 700 bags, some dogs and cats, and a chinchilla were also on board, according to Regina Airport Authority CEO James Bogusz.
He called it a “massive operation” likely only seen once every 10 years.
However, Pineyro said the composition of passengers is what makes this humanitarian flight different than others.
“It’s very rare to see. It’s women, it’s children and it’s old people and they’ve left behind their sons, their husbands, their fathers,” Pineyro said.
The passengers were expected to clear customs within three to four hours before being chartered to the University of Regina where they will stay until they find permanent accommodations.
Some will stay in the city, but others are expected to find homes in smaller communities across the province, according to the government.
Terry Dennis, MLA and legislative secretary of Saskatchewan-Ukraine Relations, said the hope is many will find housing through host families, church group sponsorships and, in some cases, Saskatchewan Housing Authority vacancies.
The provincial government has created a settlement reception centre to help set up bank accounts and issue health cards to the Ukrainian citizens.
Regina’s mayor, Sandra Masters, said the city is doing its part in offering support, including information on job opportunities, along with public transit and leisure passes.
She said she wants the Ukrainian citizens to know they are welcome in the city and the province.
“People have an incredible spirit of generosity and sometimes that’s not necessarily financial, but of their time and of their caring and sharing their lives and opening up their lives to make them feel welcome and to enjoy the experience while they’re here,” Masters said.
Saskatchewan has committed more than $300,000 toward the resettlement effort.
With this flight, more than 1,000 displaced Ukrainians have come to Saskatchewan since the conflict began. Government officials expect that number to grow.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Trump's lawyers grill ex-tabloid publisher as 1st week of hush money trial testimony nears a close
After prosecutors' lead witness painted a tawdry portrait of “catch-and-kill” tabloid schemes, defence lawyers in Donald Trump's criminal trial on Friday sought to dig into an account of the former publisher of the National Enquirer and his efforts to protect Trump from negative stories during the 2016 election.