On Monday evening, 230 displaced Ukrainians boarded a plane at Regina Airport and entered their new life in Canada.
The plane, which flew directly from Warsaw, Poland, was transporting displaced people from their homes during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“It’s a very proud day,” said Deputy Terry Dennis, the legislative secretary responsible for Saskatchewan-Ukraine relations at the airport.
“It’s been a long time coming, we’ve had one or two [flights] redirected and has finally come to fruition “.
The huge Boeing 787 was flown by the owner of the plane, founder of the NGO Solidaire, the philanthropist and Argentine pilot Enrique Pineyro.
Over the next few days, all newcomers will be earmarked for housing, language training and, eventually, employment services.
The Ukrainian Ukrainian Congress in Saskatchewan has been working for the past few months on the logistics of providing services to newcomers.
Congresswoman Elena Krueger told CBC Radio’s The Morning Edition that 100 of the people on the plane were children.
“I tried to put myself in the shoes of their parents and those mothers on the plane and thinking about what they must feel,” Krueger said.
“Anticipation and maybe even a little trepidation, what will it be like to live in this new country? But also, I’m sure, a sense of relief to be in a safe place.”
At the moment, all the people on the flight are staying in dormitories at Regina University. Once their basic needs are covered, newcomers are expected to be placed in towns and cities in the province.
Krueger noted that it is estimated that more than 13% of Saskatchewan’s population is of Ukrainian descent.
Anti-war icon on board
Phan Thị Kim Phuc, 59, the girl in the famous napalm photo from the 1972 Vietnam War, escorted Ukrainians displaced to Regina from Warsaw.
He carried with her a message of peace.
South Vietnamese forces are following terrified children, including 9-year-old Kim Phuc, in the center as they run along Route 1 near Trang Bang after a napalm airstrike on suspicious Viet Cong hideouts on June 8, 1972. .A South Vietnamese plane crashed accidentally. his napalm on fire over South Vietnamese troops and civilians, and the terrified girl had ripped off her burning clothes as she fled. (Nick Ut / The Associated Press)
The anti-war icon and Canadian citizen traveled from Toronto to join the flight. His image covered the side of the plane, along with the words “No War.”
“Fifty years ago, I was a victim of the war. And I survived and I’m very grateful for all the people who found a way to help this girl. And here I am. And I’m very grateful to be a part of it. This trip to receive all Ukrainian refugees in Canada, ”Kim Phuc said.
Kim Phuc said he met a nine-year-old Ukrainian girl aboard the flight.
“It’s so special to me because I got burned when I was a nine-year-old girl. And then look at her right now. It’s so special to me. I gave her my picture and told her what happened to that one. little girl. And now it’s me. “
Kim Phuc said he believes Canada will be a welcoming and friendly home for Ukrainians with whom he traveled.
New future
Regina’s Canadian cooperative in Ukraine, which was opened in 1937 by Ukrainian immigrants, is already preparing to hire some of the newcomers.
“This store has always had strong ties to the Ukrainian community. That’s why it’s here,” said general manager Carin Rodgers.
“I was quite ecstatic and very happy to know that he will finally get here and that people will finally get there.”
Rodgers said the store currently has several locations open in its sausage-making and meat-cutting department.
Meanwhile, the Regina Open Door Society said it plans to help newcomers like any other newcomer it works with, offering language training and employment services.
While society said it was important to give financial support to groups like the Ukrainian Congress, a spokesman said it was even more important for people to approach the same newcomers.
“If you have a new neighbor who is from Ukraine or if your children have a new classmate, meet him and listen to his stories,” spokeswoman Victoria Flores said.
“Make sure they feel like this is their new home. We welcome neighbors.”