Edmontonians fill charter plane with supplies for Ukraine
A local effort to collect needed medical and emergency response supplies for Ukraine has filled a charter plane.
Approximately 10,000 kilograms of donated medical supplies, non-lethal protective gear, and other equipment were gathered as part of the Fill A Plane for Ukraine campaign.
Volunteers with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Provincial Council (UCC-APC) and Firefighter Aid Ukraine helped sort and prepare the donated supplies. The UCC-APC says the maximum quota for the plane had been reached in less than nine hours after starting the project Thursday evening.
"It's a very extensive amount of product that has come through," said Orysia Boychuk, UCC-APC president, at a media availability late Sunday evening. "We are very grateful and thankful to all the donors."
Premier Jason Kenney helped to prepare and seal a few packages of supplies Sunday that included firefighting gear, tactical vests, and military-style backpacks.
"All Albertans are devastated to see the images of this brutal assault on humanity being led by Vladimir Putin and his forces in Ukraine against an innocent civilian population," Kenney said.
"That thick connection between Alberta and Ukraine means so much to all of us," he added.
Oleksandr Danyleiko, Consul General of Ukraine in Edmonton, said the generosity of Albertans was helping not only supply Ukrainian civilians and forces but feeding their spirit to continue fighting against Russian aggression.
"It's a terrible war," Danyleiko said. "What you can see here, this is great and just very critical and timely support from you Canadians, Ukrainian Canadians, from Alberta.
"It will save lives of our soldiers. It will save lives of our women and children," he added. "Together we will win."
The plane is expected to lift off from the Edmonton International Airport early this week and land in Europe where the donated gear will be sent to Ukrainian forces.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From essential goods to common stocking stuffers, Trudeau offering Canadians temporary tax relief
Canadians will soon receive a temporary tax break on several items, along with a one-time $250 rebate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
'It didn't sound good': Mother shares what her sons went through with walking pneumonia
A mother shares with CTVNews.ca her family's health scare as medical experts say cases of the disease and other respiratory illnesses have surged, filling up emergency departments nationwide.
BREAKING Matt Gaetz drops bid for Trump attorney general in face of U.S. Senate opposition
Hardline Republican Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration as U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's attorney general, in the face of opposition from the Senate Republicans whose support he would have needed to win the job.
Mother charged after infant dies in midtown Toronto: police
The mother of an infant who died after being found at an apartment building in midtown Toronto on Wednesday has been charged with failing to provide the necessaries of life.
Here's a list of items that will be GST/HST-free over the holidays
Canadians won’t have to pay GST on a selection of items this holiday season, the prime minister vowed on Thursday.
Manitoba RCMP issue Canada-wide warrant for Ontario semi-driver charged in deadly crash
Manitoba RCMP have issued a Canada-wide arrest warrant for the semi-driver involved in a crash that killed an eight-year-old girl and her mother.
2 arrested during Greenpeace protest outside Stornoway residence in Ottawa
Two people have been arrested following a protest outside Stornoway, the official residence of Canada's leader of the Opposition.
Arrest warrant issued for suspect charged in Toronto airport gold heist
Peel police say a bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of one of the suspects charged in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
'This is cold': P.E.I. mother upset over decision to remove late daughter's photos from school memorial wall
A high school on Prince Edward Island is removing pictures of its late students from a memorial wall – a decision that has upset one mother whose daughter attended the school.