More than 300 Ukrainian refugees landed in Nova Scotia on Thursday evening.
After going through customs and immigration, the 319 people were greeted by a welcoming crowd with sunflowers and small Canadian flags, Ukrainian flags, Nova Scotia flags, tartans and chocolate bars. Leanne Arnott of Liverpool, NS, welcomes a family. She was wearing a sunflower hat and a green dress so that oncoming people could spot her quickly.
“I think the enormity of the day hit me in the car so far. I’ve been talking to [other hosts] from 4:30 this morning making sure all my groups arrived at the airport, ”he said.
“I must say that the city of Liverpool, Queens County, has come together as a community to support Ukrainian families.”
The plane, which left Warsaw, Poland in the early hours of the day, was a little late. It was the third federally chartered flight carrying those fleeing the war to Canada.
The other two flights carried more than 600 Ukrainian refugees to Winnipeg and Montreal in May.
TARGET | Support for Ukrainian refugees at Halifax Airport
People gather at Halifax airport to greet Ukrainian refugees
A crowd gathered at Halifax Stanfield International Airport on Thursday evening to greet 300 Ukrainian refugees. Colleen Jones spoke with some of the people who will help them settle down.
Lyubov Zhyznomirska, President of the Ukrainian Ukrainian Congress, went to the airport early to meet people.
“We need to remember that more than 14 million people are displaced and we welcome 300 of them and offer them a safe haven as new Scots,” he said.
“I’m excited to meet people we’ve been preparing to meet … We’ll finally know their needs. We’ll finally know how we can help and how we can connect with the community.”
Nova Scotia tartan and chocolate bars for newcomers. (Dave Laughlin / CBC)
Zhyznomirska said about 200 people on the plane are scheduled to stay in Nova Scotia and the rest will go to New Brunswick or Newfoundland.
Jennifer L’Esperance, senior executive director of immigration and population growth at the Nova Scotia Department of Labor Skills and Immigration, told Maritime Noon that people of all ages will go on the plane.
“There will be babies and people a little older who need a little bit of physical assistance,” L’Esperance said. “And of course they also bring their pets. So let’s wait for some dogs, cats and maybe even a fish on the fly.”
Lyubov Zhyznomirska, President of the Ukrainian Ukrainian Congress, at Halifax Stanfield International Airport on Thursday. (Dave Laughlin / CBC)
Carol Ailles from Saint John, NB, will meet the plane.
“I’m actually going to the bus coming to Halifax and picking up my guests. I have a guest coming in,” Ailles, one of the administrators of the Facebook group hosting Atlantic Canada for Ukrainians, told CBC’s Maritime Noon . Wednesday.
He said there is room for two more guests, if necessary.
“I still don’t have the numbers fixed for sure. A lot of things are last minute,” Ailles said.
‘It’s a great day’
Esperance said many people have volunteered to help. He said some refugees already have accommodation arrangements, but others will find out once they arrive. Some will stay in a hotel for 14 nights, he said, and the COVID-19 protocols will be followed.
Esperance said that employers have presented job opportunities for newcomers and that some schools are ready to welcome Ukrainian students in September. Mental health services will also be available for those suffering from the trauma of war.
“It’s a great day. It’s exciting …. [Nova Scotians] We have a long history of welcoming people to our province and living up to the opportunity and making sure that newcomers to our communities can succeed, ”he said.
Only Ukrainians who have obtained a visa through the new Canada-Ukraine Emergency Travel Authorization (CUAET) were able to book a place.
According to Federal Immigration Minister Sean Fraser, 115,000 Ukrainian refugees have been approved to come to Canada and 32,000 are already in Canada.
In an interview last week, he said the group landing in Halifax will have access to housing supports. He said people who want to help can do so through Operation Ukrainian Safe Haven, a team that helps newcomers with housing, work and basic necessities.
Nova Scotia Prime Minister Tim Houston at Halifax Stanfield International Airport on Thursday. (Dave Laughlin / CBC)
Fraser said he did not expect all Ukrainian refugees landing in Nova Scotia to stay in the province.
“But we have to be prepared for an influx of people who might have landed elsewhere and decide to come here after the events,” he said.
View of the crowd at the airport. (Dave Laughlin / CBC)