Langford mayor, former fire chief return from aid mission to Ukraine
The mayor of Langford, B.C., and the city's retired fire chief are back in Canada after making a journey to Ukraine to provide humanitarian aid to people suffering amid the ongoing Russian invasion.
Mayor Stew Young and former fire chief Bob Beckett were part of an aid mission with charitable groups GlobalMedic and GlobalFire near the city of Lutsk in northwestern Ukraine.
The volunteers brought food aid to the region and hired displaced Ukrainians to prepare and distribute meals to those in need. They also laid the groundwork to provide much-needed firefighting gear to the region, including pallets of equipment that are now on the way overseas, according to the City of Langford.
The city says the volunteers met with municipal leaders, emergency responders and school officials to gain firsthand knowledge of the region's needs as the charities plan to expand their Ukrainian aid work.
"Participating in this humanitarian aid mission has been one of the most impactful experiences of my life," Young said in a statement Monday.
"It has demonstrated to me that not only are our humanitarian efforts critical, but everything needs to be done to resolve this conflict and provide for everlasting peace."
Langford says it has signed sister-city agreements with four municipalities in the Lutsk region.
"The agreements will help tie Langford with the Lutsk region for years to come – through the war, through rebuilding and regional recovery," the city said.
"Every place we visited, everyone we spoke to, reinforced for me that throughout the world we all want the same for our families and communities. A roof over everyone’s head, food on the table, a future for our children and to live in peace," said Beckett. "With stocks diminishing and winter looming, and despite their future looking bleak, the peoples' resolve to defend their families, their country and sovereignty has not waivered."
The Langford-GlobalMedic Ukraine Humanitarian Project is funded entirely through donations, according to the city.
Anyone wishing to help support the ongoing efforts in the region can donate here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.