Four squadrons of freshly-painted, hand-built aircraft alighted in the Wall Mart parking lot on May 20. No, your family didnSA国际影视传媒檛 miss a poorly-promoted DIY airshow - these rustic model Cessnas were on a quiet mission to support one family from among the more than 6.5 million Ukrainians displaced by PutinSA国际影视传媒檚 ongoing war of aggression.
John Tee, a Newfoundland expat and former Yellowknife construction worker (2000-2010), ferried his wooden planes 1,000 km North in his own improvised aircraft carrier, a 2016 Grand Caravan, from his acreage near Marie Reine, Alta.
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 certain things that move you,SA国际影视传媒� he told Yellowknifer, in between greeting customers in the market for a lawn ornament at $20 a pop. SA国际影视传媒淪eeing those Ukrainian people with their homes destroyed (I seen it on the news like everyone else - I Googles everything) how can they rebuild?SA国际影视传媒�
Earlier this spring, Tee sold 50 of the blue and yellow ornaments back in Alberta, raising $1,000 for one of the two Ukrainian families to relocate around Northern Sunrise County. His Yellowknife sortie this past long weekend aimed to raise money for the second Ukrainian family to find refuge in his part of the country.
Yellowknife resident Meda Shannahan picked out one of TeeSA国际影视传媒檚 planes to perch on her balcony. The wind spins the propeller non-stop, to the delight of dog walkers and other passers by below, she said. The knowledge that her purchase contributed to a Ukrainian refugee family makes it all the more special, she added.
SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 the person John is,SA国际影视传媒� said Shannahan, TeeSA国际影视传媒檚 friend since his time in Yellowknife building Stanton Suites Hotel (then known as Nova Court) and other uptown apartment buildings. SA国际影视传媒淗eSA国际影视传媒檚 always on board to help anybody out. It wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 that long ago that he had a disaster himself.SA国际影视传媒�
Tee and his wife, Dorothy, lost their home to a fire early in the pandemic.
SA国际影视传媒淚t was only a couple of years ago that we had nothing,SA国际影视传媒� Tee said, adding his community immediately rallied in support. SA国际影视传媒淭hat was overwhelming.SA国际影视传媒�
Sale of the planes in Yellowknife raised $340 for the TeeSA国际影视传媒檚 new Ukrainian neighbours. Tee said heSA国际影视传媒檚 confident he can sell 33 more planes around Peace River to reach his fundraising goal.
He said he plans to return to Yellowknife for another fundraiser before long.
