A mother and daughter from Ukraine thought they had secured a place to live in Canada to escape the war in their home country. But they ended up being scammed out of $2,000 and stranded at the airport in Toronto.
Alena Neklyudova and her nine-year-old daughter, Sasha Volkova, left their family behind, including Neklyudova’s husband and a 19-year-old son, who have been conscripted to fight for Ukraine during the Russian invasion.
While still in Ukraine, they shuttled from place to place to avoid the war, taking shelter from bombs in a friend’s apartment building or in random basements.
“I still have nightmares from it,” Sasha told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.
They travelled through Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria before ending up in Turkey — all in one night — before catching a flight to Toronto in March.
Neklyudova said she pre-paid $2,000 to arrange for a place to stay in Montreal before she and her daughter flew to Canada. The package deal included a pickup in Toronto, transportation to Montreal and temporary housing.
But when they landed at Pearson International Airport on March 17, no one was there to greet them, and it became clear that whoever took her money was not going to show up.
With nowhere to go, Neklyudova made a frantic post on the Facebook page Canada-Hosts Ukrainians, asking for help.
Neklyudova had reached out for help on the Facebook group Canada-Host Ukrainians after she had nowhere to go when she and her daughter landed in Toronto on March 17. (Canada-Host Ukrainians Facebook group)
Dozens of people responded to her message, including “Sergey” in Cambridge, Ont. CBC News has agreed to grant him confidentiality because of concerns about security and safety.
Sergey discovered Neklyudova’s post while scanning various Facebook groups to learn how he could help the refugee effort in Ukraine.
“This was literally an SOS call, like ‘Save Our Selves’ because they really didn’t have anywhere to go,” he said.
Sergey speaks Russian and also has relatives in Ukraine who have been affected by the war. He said after a quick introduction and exchange of information, he went to the airport the next day to pick up the pair.
“When she came here, both of them, they looked disoriented,” he said.
“Like, ‘Where are we? What are we doing here? Should we maybe go back?'” Sergey said, translating for Neklyudova.
Sasha plays with a house cat. She says she is looking forward to starting classes at a new school in Cambridge but admits she’s a little nervous. (Carmen Groleau/CBC)
‘They actually started smiling’
Neklyudova and her daughter have been staying with Sergey and his family of six for almost two weeks. He has helped her get settled, whether it’s driving them to appointments or enrolling Sasha in school.
Sasha said she’s excited to go back to school but admits she’s a little nervous. Neklyudova is also eager to find work and improve her English.
“I am very happy,” Neklyudova said since connecting with Sergey and his family.
“They actually started smiling after being here and connecting with some people in the community and even with our neighbours,” Sergey added.
Neklyudova said she’s thankful with how supportive the community has been since they arrived in Cambridge and hopes she can reunite with her family once things settle in Ukraine.
“I didn’t have hope at all a week ago, but now I do,” she said.
As for the $2,000, there’s little hope of seeing that again.
EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.
Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.
Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.
Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.
Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.
RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.
Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.
“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.
But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.
“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.
While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.
Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.
The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.
It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.
Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.
The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.
Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”
However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.
McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”
About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.
McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.
He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.
The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
