Maritimers step up to help Ukrainian refugees displaced by war
A Saint John woman has launched a Facebook page aimed at helping to coordinate efforts in Atlantic Canada to assist displaced Ukranians.
Carol Ailles started the online group called Atlantic Canada Hosts for Ukrainian Refugees in late March after she decided she needed to do something to help those who have had to flee their homes.
“We wanted to provide information,” says Ailles. “We have hosts that have opened their homes so that people can come and get started, the people are offering accommodation, they’re offering food, supplies, whatever they can do.”
The page has now grown to nearly 3,000 people. The goal is to be a hub to ask questions and find important information. Ailles says the purpose of the page can be boiled down to a single sentence.
“To get as many people out of danger, to a safe place,” she says.
“Everything is so confusing, they have to fill out all these papers, which are supposed to take two weeks, right now it’s at least taking a month and people are still not through the process … so our agenda is to get them out, and here.”
Ailles has opened her own home to Ukrainian refugees. She’s made two rooms in her house available, but they have not yet been occupied.
“I started out saying a mother with two children, but a single woman contacted me and so she is getting the single room – she is still waiting for her documents,” she says.
Ailles says the group is looking for corporate sponsors, gift certificates, and donations to arrange individual flights. They are also in need of cell phones and SIM cards, clean socks and underwear, and more.
While there are efforts underway to help refugees get to the Maritimes, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality is now working to help those who are abroad, specifically its sister city in Poland, by raising money for refugees who are in Walbrzych.
“The city of Walbrzych has welcomed close to 4,000 Ukrainian refugees so far, 2,200 of them have registered officially with city hall,” says Tom Urbaniak, chair of the Twin City Steering Committee.
Urbaniak says they wanted to show solidarity with their sister city, so CBRM is helping to coordinate donations.
“So, folks can make donations to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality,” he says.
“Those are promptly transferred to a special fund that the city has set up to assist the refugees and to buy basic supplies – that’s how the money is being used."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation is the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.
Judge raises threat of jail in hush money trial as he holds Trump in contempt, fines him US$9,000
Donald Trump was held in contempt of court Tuesday and fined US$9,000 for repeatedly violating a gag order that barred him from making public statements about witnesses, jurors and some others connected to his New York hush money case. And if he does it again, the judge warned, he could be jailed.
Court upholds Milwaukee police officer's firing for posting racist memes after Sterling Brown arrest
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a former Milwaukee police officer was properly fired for posting racist memes related to the arrest of an NBA player that triggered a public outcry.
Video captures deadly wrong-way police chase on Highway 401 in Ontario
A new video has surfaced showing a vehicle being pursued by police in the wrong direction on Highway 401 moments prior to a fatal crash that killed four people, including an infant and their grandparents.
New cancer treatment approved, but not everyone thinks it's what's best for patients
A new cancer treatment recently approved in Canada promises to cut treatment time down to just minutes, but experts have differing opinions on whether it's what's best for patients.