How British Columbians can help Ukraine
With hundreds of thousands of British Columbians having ties to Ukraine, many are looking for ways to help Ukrainians as the crisis prompted by Russia’s invasion intensifies.
Members of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress B.C. were handing out pamphlets at the Vancouver Art Gallery on Sunday, the day after a massive rally that attracted nearly 5,000 people, according to the organization.
"We are spreading awareness about the verified fund collectors," said Yulia Shokalyuk, a member of the Vancouver branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress has launched a nationwide humanitarian aid appeal, with all proceeds going to help Ukrainian citizens stranded in their home country, refugees and the Ukrainian army.
"People can choose to their liking, whether they want to help the army, or if they want to help aid the medical portion of it, or displaced children and women," said Shokalyuk.
While many advocates are encouraging people to donate, they are asking people to be careful of the charities they choose.
"We've already started to see some charities pop up that are less than honourable," said Eugene Lupynis, board member for the Ukrainian Community Society of Ivan Franko.
"There are charities out there where the money will either A, not get to Ukraine, or only a small portion of the funds will get to the people who need it in Ukraine," added Lupynis.
Lupynis estimates there are over 200,000 Ukrainian citizens living in British Columbia, who are worrying about their friends and family in Europe everyday.
He is advising members of his community that 100 per cent of the funds donated to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Canadian Red Cross will get to Ukraine.
Dozens of B.C. bars and liquor stores have been selling their supplies of Russian liquor products and donating 100 per cent of the proceeds to the Canadian Red Cross Ukrainian humanitarian aid fund.
"The response from the industry has been overwhelming, my inbox has been filled with a few dozen places," said Jeff Guignard, executive director of the Alliance of Beverage Licensees (ABLE BC).
"A number of bars and liquor stores have just pulled the products entirely. We're not going to be restocking any of those products," added Guignard.
The federal government announced on Friday that it will also match Canadians' donations to the Red Cross in aid of Ukraine, up to a maximum of $10 million.
Canadian Actor Ryan Reynolds and his wife Blake Lively also committed to match up to $1 million of donations to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Appeal denied for Edmonton soldier accused of trying to kill her 3 children
An Edmonton woman found guilty of trying to kill her three children has been denied an appeal.