YORKTON - A Boeing 787 humanitarian flight from Warsaw carrying 230 Ukrainians arrived at the Regina airport Monday evening.
Living as we do here in generally safe and secure Canada it is impossible to imagine what thoughts those 230 people would have had as they disembarked the airplane, although it had to have been a very emotional time.
On one hand they were among the fortunate ones to be safely away from the bombs and bullets of an invading Russian army.
But they also had to leave others, friends, neighbours, family still in Ukraine in the midst of a war that Ukraine is having to fight because of the dreams of greater power by Vladimir Putin.
Stepping onto Canadian soil has to be a moment of recognition of a chance for a new life too, but again tempered by the memory of the life you have left behind in Ukraine.
These are emotions that others have had to have felt through the decades arriving in Canada hoping for a new and better life escaping war and discrimination and poverty in other nations, and as this flight arrived just after Canada Day it is a chance for us all to recognize in spite of Canada’s flaws we have largely welcomed those in need – albeit sadly not always.
The flight co-ordinated by Open Arms and Solidaire, humanitarian organizations working to support Ukrainian people, brings the number of displaced Ukrainians arriving in Saskatchewan to more than 1,000 since the invasion began.
The plan is for the passengers to receive temporary accommodations in Regina and have access to key supports and information related to living in Saskatchewan.
Where in Saskatchewan the 230 finally settle is unknown, but it is to be hoped whichever community they land in will welcome them with open arms.
They are arriving as strangers in a land they are likely to know little about, like so many settlers of this country through the decades growing the Canada we know today – the Canada we celebrated Friday.
In the years ahead the arrivals Monday will become part of the varied cultural mix which makes Canada what it is – a place where most try hard to be tolerant and accepting – relishing in the diversity of people from around the world who all now call themselves Canadian.
And part of being Canadian is remembering to try to be good members of the broader world community, and so on the return flight Saskatchewan will send items including non-perishable food, sleeping bags, and medical supplies back to war-torn Ukraine.
Certainly there is a sadness associated with Monday’s arrival, but it also shows the best of Canada and its people – including 230 soon to be new Canadians.
