Langford family opens home to Ukrainian refugees
Halyna Marenko and her four-year-old son, Mark, arrived at Victoria airport at around midnight on Monday. They didn’t know a soul in Canada, but were soon whisked to the Langford, B.C., home of Alla Pavlikhin.
Pavlikhin and her husband volunteered to open their home to the two strangers for as long as they need a place to stay.
“We are so happy to be a part of this helping process,” said Pavlikhin as she drank tea in her backyard with Halyna, and Mark played with toys.
The Langford resident said she was compelled to do something to help after watching the horrors unfolding in Ukraine. “Because I cannot sit and watch news and do nothing,” she said. “I need to do something.”
The Marenkos are amongst the first Ukrainian refugees arriving here under Canada's new emergency travel visas that allow Ukrainian refugees to stay in Canada for three years and allow them to work here.
But the mother and son’s journey to Vancouver Island didn’t come without a price. They left behind Mark's dad, Oleksia, who's back in Ukraine to fight the Russians. He remained in Dnipro, their home city, which has been under Russian attacks.
Pavlikhin, also Ukrainian, may be on the other side of the world from the violence destroying her homeland, but most all of her family is there and two relatives were recently killed by Russian bombs.
“It’s hard to even imagine that I will never see those people and my mom is there -- my mom is in Kyiv,” she said.
Pavlikhin says helping these desperate strangers gives her comfort.
“It doesn’t feel that I have a stranger in my home,” she said a few hours after meeting her new house guests. “It feels that I have friends that are visiting.”
Her new friends say they're grateful to Canada -- and the warm welcome they’ve received — and hope Mark’s father can join them here soon, as they try to build a new, safer life.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Asking rent prices up 9.3% across Canada, Ontario sees only decline: report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Magnitude 4.2 earthquake reported off Vancouver Island's west coast
A 4.2-magnitude earthquake was recorded west of Vancouver Island early Friday morning.
Mexico's president accuses press and volunteer searchers for missing people of 'necrophilia'
The administration of Mexico's president has accused the press and volunteer searchers who look for the bodies of missing people of 'necrophilia,' comments that drew criticism this week.
WATCH Expecting an interest rate cut in June? Don't bet on it after new jobs data
Canada's labour market rebounded in April, adding more than 90,000 jobs, a staggering number of new positions after four consecutive months of little change.
Out-of-control wildfire burning near Fort McMurray
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the wildfire burning 28 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city was 25 hectares in size.
Prince William says wife Kate is 'doing well'
Prince William said on Friday his wife Kate was 'doing well' in a rare public comment about the Princess of Wales as she undergoes preventative chemotherapy for cancer.
'Irate male' assaulted Newfoundland officers with block of cheese, police say
Police in Newfoundland say patrol officers were assaulted Thursday by a "very irate male" wielding a block of cheese.