Newfoundland and Labrador welcomed the first Ukrainian refugees to Canada Monday night.
The flight was arranged through the province’s help desk in Poland, and is believed to be the first such airlift to North America since the war began in February.
Premier Andrew Furey welcomed the newcomers on the plane shortly after it landed around 7 o’clock.
About 20 minutes later the first of 166 passengers began emerging from Customs, seeming none the worse for wear, despite an estimated 25 hours in the air.
Stanislav, or Stan for short, couldn’t thank the province and Canada enough. But the 28-year-old engineer, who’s off to a job with the Rambler mine in Baie Verte, says he owes it all to his father, an officer in the Ukraine army.
Nine-year-old Natalie and her mother were being greeted by the premier when the young girl spotted her big sister, rushing to her in tears for a long hug.
The elder MUN student was lost for words in English, allowing her little sister to translate with the understatement of the evening, saying “It’s ok.”
Wait for it. pic.twitter.com/qToMl6lwKo
— Brian Callahan (@briancallahan67) May 9, 2022
Canadian Red Cross on hand with care packages for Ukrainian families; colouring books, crayons and toys for children. @VOCMNEWS pic.twitter.com/8mSfgy28zy
— Brian Callahan (@briancallahan67) May 9, 2022
