'Fresh start in a peaceful country': Ukrainian family reunites in Sudbury
A Sudbury man, who organized a golf fundraiser to help people in Ukraine last month, continues to help people fleeing the war-torn country.
A family of four arrived in Sudbury on Monday night and said although they miss their homeland, they are overwhelmed by the warm welcome, kindness and peace they have found in Canada.
Sudbury's Sam Yawney (left) is hosting a family from Ukraine escaping the war: the father Oleksandr, mother Tetiana, son Oleh (right), daughter Dasha (middle) and dog Zlata. June 14/22 (Alana Everson/CTV Northern Ontario)
The Dariev family arrived in Canada three weeks ago and had to quarantine in Toronto before catching a bus to the Nickel City.
A 15-year-old, who is the only one that speaks fluent English, is the family spokesperson and shared a heartfelt message.
"People live in peace please and glory to Ukraine," said Oleh Dariev, who emigrated from Ukraine.
The family was reunited in Poland after the mother, son and daughter fled when their hometown was bombed. The father was working in France at the time, as his employment as a welder took him there before the war due to the pandemic.
"We are feeling, I am feeling, in fact, very sad because I had my grandparents all stay in Ukraine," Oleh said.
Sam Yawney, whose grandparents emigrated from Ukraine, has offered to host the family while they await permanent housing in Sudbury over the next month.
"I have been very blessed, you know our businesses have done very well and I think the way I was raised with my parents was to give back and try to help out where I can," Yawney said.
The family dog even made it to Canada and the family said they are grateful for a fresh start in a peaceful country.
"Canada is very, very beautiful because of nature. People are very friendly and there is no border in nationality of people. Like if you are Ukrainian, Korean, it doesn't matter," Oleh said.
Last month, Golf Sudbury – which Yawney co-owns -- hosted a 'Day for Ukraine' golf event that raised $20,000. It was donated to relief efforts in Ukraine and some will help newcomers to Canada.
Yawney said he plans to host other Ukrainian families over the next year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.