Shortly before the Dmytryshyn family were able to celebrate their first Thanksgiving in Canada, they were joined by the last member of their family.
Vasyl and Tetiana Dmytryshyn and their children, Oleh and Vitaly, 22 and 18, Zlata, four, and Vladislav, age two, were able to leave Warsaw, Poland, in August, after they had to flee for their safety from Ukraine.
After a two-week quarantine in Regina, they settled into their home in Weyburn, with their journey the result of the work of the Sunflower Network, and local contact Darcy McCormick, who was able to make arrangements for the family to be housed and supplied with things they would need in their new community.
Tetiana’s mother, Mariia Romanyshyn, who is 72, was not able to fly out with her family when they left, but then word came late in September they were able to get her on a flight out of Warsaw.
“We were able to purchase a last minute flight for Mariia Romatryshyn that flew her from Warsaw, Poland, into London, Calgary and finally into Saskatoon, arriving late Tuesday evening (Oct. 4),” said McCormick. “Barber Motors donated one of their 15-passenger vans to us so we could all travel to Saskatoon on Tuesday night and pick up Mariia. We now have the entire family in their new home in Weyburn.”
In a text from Tetiana, she said, “We are very happy that my mother is finally with us. Finally our family is united.”
“It was a very difficult journey for her, but despite all the obstacles, she is happy to be in such a beautiful country of Canada.”
