It is blue and yellow day today at Bishop Filevich, the only Ukrainian bilingual school in Saskatchewan. And the school says it is also hat day so students can wear a hat at school for a $1 or more donation towards the school’s fundraising campaign for Ukraine. Students in Grades 5 to 8 have helped create bracelets as part of a fundraising campaign with the youth of the Eparchy.

This is just one the many, many efforts to provide aide to Ukraine from around the world. Yesterday, an Air Canada-operated humanitarian special cargo flight departed Toronto Pearson International airport loaded with humanitarian and medical supplies and hospital beds. This is the 787-9 Dreamliner which will land in Warsaw, Poland.

Air Canada says after the flight arrives in Poland, Project C.U.R.E. will manage the distribution of supplies to hospitals treating Ukrainian civilians injured during the war, expanding the capacity of hospitals in border regions to provide care. More than two million people throughout Ukraine have now fled their homes after the invasion seeking safety in neighbouring countries. Primary care has been identified by aid agencies as one of the most pressing needs.

Jason Berry, Vice President, Cargo at Air Canada, says, “”Our hearts are with the Ukrainian people in need – all of us have seen the crisis they are facing. We know from our aid partners the critical requirement for much needed medical and humanitarian supplies and our global partner Airlink reached out to us to help transport these vital items quickly. Importantly, both Airlink and GlobalMedic have the infrastructure and teams on the ground to ensure that the shipments will get to their destinations right after our flight arrives. We are proud of our employees who have stepped up to help organize the complex logistics, handle and operate this special flight so quickly.”

Rahul Singh, Executive Director at GlobalMedic says, “Essential medicines are needed by patients fleeing the fighting who could not bring their prescription medicines with them and are facing shortages in local pharmacies. Trauma supplies especially dressings are needed to treat victims of this war.”

Partners in the operation include Air Canada, disaster logistics non-profit Airlink, relief organization Project C.U.R.E., and freight forwarder Flexport.