Stittsville retirement home supporting local Ukrainian refugees
Ukrainian refugee Oksana Makarenka watches closely as her 16-year-old daughter sings a Ukrainian song for the residents at Hazeldean Gardens Retirement Residence.
"Very happy, because it’s our new home for me and my daughters," Makarenka said.
Lidiia Neofita also arrived from Ukraine a few months ago. Both work at the retirement home and are staying with a host family in Ottawa, but soon they will be moving into their own apartment with next to nothing.
To help, Hazeldean Gardens organized a community barbecue and are selling house plants. They are also providing items to furnish their new homes.
"We’ve offered to provide the furniture from our model suites, of course, they’ll be needing other things," said Murray Jackson, co-owner of Hazeldean Gardens.
While both women have found some comfort here with new friends and the Stittsville community, the safety of their loved ones and of their home country are still top of mind.
Lidiia Neofita’s son and husband are still in Ukraine fighting on the front lines. Makarenka’s husband is also there.
“It’s hard in my country… very afraid for my husband, my parents, my cousins and friends in Ukraine,” said Makarenka.
Jackson says they’ll be accepting in-person donations and will match the cash donations received by Friday, Oct. 14.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
LIVE @ 1:15 PT B.C. premier to give announcement related to public drug use
B.C.'s premier is scheduled to give an update Friday about public drug use in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
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.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.