Displaced Ukrainians begin new life in Saskatchewan
A group of Ukrainians who fled the war at home are waking up to a new life in Saskatchewan, they arrived in Regina Monday night on a humanitarian flight from Poland.
The newly arrived Ukrainians spent Tuesday exploring the University of Regina campus, which is where they will be living for the next two weeks. The Storozhenko family heard about the flight to Regina by chance through social media.
“Very difficult decision,” Serhii Storozhenko said. “We made it at the last moment because it’s not just another country, it’s another part of Earth. So everything we know about Saskatchewan, we know it just the last few days so we don’t know what we can do with this information at this moment, but I know there are a lot of Ukrainians and it’s very good for us, so we will have some help from them.”
Two hundred and thirty people fleeing war in Ukraine arrived in Regina Monday night. Mazar Soroka came by himself and plans to get a job and study.
“I will study here [at the U of R] I guess,” Soroka said.
The humanitarian flight was organized by a group called Open Arms. The passengers are grateful for the help.
The Boeing 787 that brought the group to Regina had a strong anti-war message on the fuselage and a photo that once changed the course of the Vietnam war. One of the children in that photo from 50 years ago is now a Canadian and was onboard the flight to offer encouragement to those now fleeing today’s war.
“So I am so thankful for being a part of this trip to receive all of the Ukraine refugee people to Canada and I am so thankful that Enrique Pineyro had that idea to put my picture on his airplane and bring the people to Canada,” former Vietnamese refugee Phan Thi Kim Phuc said.
The aircraft is owned by Argentinian actor, film director and pilot Enrique Pineyro, who said he is trying to mitigate some of the disastrous consequence of the Russian invasion.
“We try and take them wherever we are accepted with refugees, and hospitality in Canada is legendary,” he said.
This aircraft has now made several flights to destinations worldwide carrying Ukrainians to their new homes. Those behind the operation hope that several more flights can be made to Canada.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
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.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'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).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'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.