Indigenous Manitoba man risks his life to bring humanitarian aid to Ukraine
Indigenous Manitoba man risks his life to bring humanitarian aid to Ukraine
Kim Sigurdson is not unfamiliar with suffering, having seen it with his own people in remote parts of Canada. It's one of the reasons the Métis philanthropist from Manitoba felt compelled to offer his support to the people of Ukraine.
“They came here with nothing and they're struggling. Us indigenous people are struggling. We have very, very little,” Sigurdson told CTV National News.
Earlier this month, Sigurdson flew to Poland on his own dime and boarded a bus to visit Lviv, Kyiv and Irpin in Ukraine.
He worked with Yaroslav Yurtsaba from a large security organization, and they were in Lviv when the city was struck by Russian missiles.
“There was a major hit on Lviv. Kim was there exactly at that time. So, right now the only threat is ballistic missiles,” Yurtsaba told CTV National News.
The suffering Sigurdson saw in Ukraine, however, was unlike anything he'd seen before.
"There were some places where there were body parts and the smell of death lingered in the air," he said.
Yurtsaba says that the supplies that are in shortage but also high in demand are hygienic items, sleeping bags and food. And seeing lengthy food lines, and limited shelter options, Sigurdson's main priority has been to offer immediate supplies and financial aid he brought from Canada.
He worked to get some food, medicine and products to get to these people “who are out there having such a difficult time."
"We're raising some funds right now for food, medicine and first aid kits," he said.
With plans to come back in July after his two-week stint in May, he aims to bring steel ship and railroad containers that can be turned into temporary housing.
“They need a place to go and they need it now,” Sigurdson said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada outperformed most G10 countries during first two years of pandemic response: study
Canada handled key aspects of the COVID-19 response better in the first two years of the pandemic than most G10 countries, according to a new study by researchers from the University of Toronto, Unity Health Toronto and St. Michael's hospital.

G7 leaders confer with Zelenskyy, prep new aid for Ukraine
Leading economic powers conferred by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday as they underscored their commitment to Ukraine for the long haul with plans to pursue a price cap on Russian oil, raise tariffs on Russian goods and impose other new sanctions.
Avalanche dethrone Lightning to win Stanley Cup for 3rd time
After years of playoff disappointments, the Colorado Avalanche are back atop hockey's mountain with a 2-1 Game 6 win against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions Tampa Bay Lightning.
NASA launches first rocket from Australian space centre
NASA has successfully launched a rocket from Australia's remote Northern Territory, making history as the agency's first commercial spaceport launch outside the United States.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs receives lifetime honour at BET Awards
With a speech about his own inspirational dream for the Black community, Sean 'Diddy' Combs channelled the spirit of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. while accepting the BET Awards' highest honour Sunday night.
Canada pledges funds as G7 develops response to famine fallout from Russian invasion
Canada pledged $50 million to prevent Ukrainian grain from going to waste on Sunday as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau committed to work with G7 nations on further measures to halt the famine caused by the Russian invasion of the embattled country.
Connecting Indigenous inmates to their culture: Grand Chief performs at Manitoba prison
Behind prison walls, National Indigenous People's Day was celebrated this month, with inmates at a Manitoba federal prison granted access to music, drumming and sharing circles — positive steps forward to reconnect Indigenous inmates with their culture and rehabilitate a group that is incarcerated at a disproportionate rate.
Hundreds of thousands celebrate return of Toronto Pride parade to downtown streets
Hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets of downtown Toronto on Sunday as the city's Pride parade returned for the first time in two years.
Halifax scientists have a plan to capture carbon from the atmosphere using mining materials
A Dalhousie University team of scientists — in a joint venture with a company called Planetary Technologies — is now in the next phase of their research to use the power of the ocean to one day reduce the world’s carbon levels.
W5 HIGHLIGHTS
W5 INVESTIGATES | Viral Facebook post sparks criminal investigation into pediatric dentist
W5 investigates disturbing allegations against a pediatric dentist in Nova Scotia whose treatment of children over five decades is now an alleged crime.

Did politics muzzle a doctor who spoke out about the Ontario government's COVID-19 response?
CTV W5's latest investigation: For a year, Dr. Brooks Fallis ran the Critical Care unit at a Brampton Hospital. He openly criticized Premier Ford’s COVID-19 response and was warned by his bosses there could be consequences.

Exclusive: Doctors tell W5 why they spoke out during the pandemic
For the past two years, a number of doctors across Canada have advocated for their patients and questioned the role of politics in the handling of COVID-19. To explore the issues, W5 convened a group of seven physicians from across the country.

W5 Investigates | Canadian doctors decide whether Indigenous women are fit to be mothers
W5 investigates Canadian doctors performing the irreversible procedure of forced sterilizations on Indigenous women.
Prescription drug side-effects: How they're vastly under-reported and one man's tragic, cautionary tale
An Ontario man shares his horrifying story of murder as W5 investigates the widespread under-reporting of serious side-effects from prescription drugs.
A rare look at Canada's growing demand for medical assistance in dying
CTV W5 investigates the growing demand for medically-assisted death, and reveals stories of those determined to die with dignity.
Owen Brady's cancer diagnosis didn't stop him from playing high-level hockey
For CTV W5, TSN's Rick Westhead speaks with Owen Brady, a promising Ontario hockey prospect who has had to rebuild his career one skill at a time after being diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in his left leg.
Dramatic increase in children and youth seeking gender treatments has some experts alarmed
CTV's W5 investigates the increase in youth seeking gender treatments and procedures, and whether there are enough safeguards in place for those wishing to transition.