Plane carrying displaced Ukrainians to arrive in Edmonton Monday
A plane arranged by former Alberta politicians carrying displaced people from Ukraine is expected to arrive in Edmonton on Monday.
The Polish Airlines LOT Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight was arranged by former MLA Thomas Lukaszuk and former premier Ed Stelmach.
The plane is expected to bring at around 100 displaced Ukrainians destined for Alberta and Saskatchewan, according to Lukaszuk. He added that Canadian and Polish officials in Warsaw are still working to identify eligible passengers for the flight, so the number could increase.
“The challenge lies in that many Ukrainians are not passport holders, they simply didn’t do a lot of travelling so when they left Ukraine they didn’t have valid documents,” said Lukaszuk. “Then they needed a Canadian visa issued, then they needed a host family and then we needed to find Ukrainians who are interested in coming to Canada.
“Most of them prefer to be close to Ukraine, hoping that the conflict ends soon and they can resume their normal lives.”
They will be met at the Edmonton International Airport by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Polish Canadian Historical Society, the Consul General of Ukraine, Oleksandr Danyleiko, the Consul General of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Mańkowski and the sponsor families they will be staying with.
The Red Cross and RCMP victim services unit will also be at the EIA in case anyone needs those services, added Lukaszuk.
The plane will depart from Poland around 1 p.m. local time on Monday, and, as it is a chartered plane, the displaced Ukrainians will be the only passengers.
“It will be a very comfortable, but not a relaxing flight,” said Lukaszuk. “This takes me back to 1982 when I walked off of a plane as a refugee in Canada in an airport in Sydney, N.S., and I can tell you, as thrilling as it is to be out of a conflict zone and to be in Canada, there is a sea of emotions that they will be going through… It’s very difficult to cope with.”
The plane is expected to arrive in Edmonton at 6:50 p.m. MT on Monday and will return to Poland with humanitarian aid supplies for Ukraine on Tuesday.
According to Lukaszuk, Canadians donated over $20 million in supplies and cash to this cause.
“There’s extremely expensive diagnostic equipment, there’s surgical implements, medicine, some firefighter search and rescue equipment,” said Lukaszuk.
More donations will be headed to Poland by boat and then sent over to Ukraine.
After speaking to the mayor of Warsaw, Lukaszuk said there may be another donation drive to look for specific items that the Ukrainian people need.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Alison MacKinnon
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Canadian couple among tourists on sinking sailing boat tour abroad
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their “extremely dangerous” experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.