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
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.
Here's why Harvey Weinstein's New York rape conviction was tossed and what happens next
Here's what you need to know about why movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction was thrown out and what happens next.
Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole dies at 90: CBC
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.
Humanist group threatening to sue Vancouver over council prayers
The B.C. Humanist Association has threatened legal action against the City of Vancouver for allowing prayers at council, following a similar warning issued earlier this month to a smaller community on Vancouver Island.
LHSC performs a Canadian first in robot-assisted direct lateral spine surgery
Spine surgery may never be the same for people with chronic back pain and other physical ailments.