Ukrainian refugee ready to build new life in Calgary for her kids
Following months of bureaucracy and hard work, a woman who fled war-torn Ukraine is now looking ahead to her future and the opportunities Canada will give to her children.
Nataliia Vynohradova is one of millions of Ukrainians who've fled from the path of Russian aggression. She had to leave her home and many of her relatives behind in order to get to safety.
"My husband stayed and my parents stayed and my friends and my relatives," she said after getting off a plane that landed at Calgary International Airport on Friday night.
A Calgary woman, Megan Gatzsch, who has been helping refugees reach Canada when the fighting first broke out earlier this year, aided Vynohradova's escape.
"We're fortunate enough to be living in an amazing country, to be relatively comfortable and financially stable, so offering this opportunity seemed like the right thing to do," she said.
However, even with the violence behind them, the family had to deal with a number of struggles, including being separated from each other for months because of paperwork issues.
Despite all that, Vynohradova says she is so grateful for Gatzch's support.
"She has a big heart – the biggest heart. She's helped Ukrainians, (so) she's family.
"I'm so happy to be here."
According to the latest UN data, more than 6.6 million people have fled the country since fighting began in February.
Approximately 67,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Canada so far.
(With files from Kathy Le)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Disability Benefit needs to safeguarded from clawbacks, MPs unanimously agree
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
BREAKING Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during UK trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
Six Canadian children repatriated from detention in Syria, Global Affairs Canada says
The Global Affairs Department says six Canadian children have been repatriated from detention in northeastern Syria.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Quebec to limit sperm donations per donor after 3 men from same family father hundreds of children
Quebec is looking at tightening the regulations around sperm donation in the province following the release of a documentary that revealed three men from the same family fathered hundreds of children.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.