'My wife and daughter are in safety': Dozens of Ukrainian refugees welcomed in Saskatoon
Dozens of Ukrainian refugees received a warm welcome from the Saskatoon Ukrainian community during rally at River Landing on Sunday.
Organizers said many have left behind their husbands, fathers and sons who are fighting on the frontlines of the war in their country.
Victor Filipov was able to make it out of the country with his wife Ulia and his two-year-old daughter.
“I feel that my wife and daughter are in safety,” Filipov said. “We’re very happy to be in Canada because we are making our new life.”
The three fled Mariupol for the nearby country of Georgia before arriving in Canada on April 28.
“When we leave Maripol, a lot of houses demolished, no school, hospitals, no energy, water, heating. All this destruction by Russian soldiers,” he said.
The Stand With Ukraine Rally drew in roughly 200 people, who showed their solidarity with the country facing Russian aggression.
One of those in attendance was Max Palichuk, who left Ukraine in 2008 but still has many family and friends back home.
“It’s pretty tough to wake up every morning and see if they’re online, if they answer your texts, whatsoever so it’s very important to me that we bring as much attention to Ukraine as possible,” he said.
The demonstration was one of many put on across the country by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
“We’re looking for the government to send heavy armaments to Ukraine and for NATO to stand up to Russia,” said Ukrainian Canadian Congress Saskatoon branch Vice President Pat Tymchatyn.
While many people at the rally have family and friends back in Ukraine, Tymchatyn sees the rally as a chance to bring people together and celebrate Ukrainian Culture.
“The more we’re together, the more we feel community support,” she said.
Several people who attended the rally wore a traditional Ukrainian shirt called a Vyshyvanka. Ukrainians will be celebrating Vyshyvanka Day on Thursday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.