Michael & Rebecca in Lviv, Ukraine. May 2022

Michael is a retired NHL hockey player and MBA graduate who currently serves on the Board of Directors of the NHL Alumni Association. He spent 10 years playing in the Russian KHL during which he learned Russian. His heritage is 3/4 Ukrainian. Michael currently is spearheading the financial wellbeing of Help From Canada and successfully achieved CRA Charity status in just 6 weeks.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, Michael felt a monumental blow that the country where he had made is home and career could viciously attack his own people and heritage in Ukraine.  He felt disturbed, angry, and disgusted.  He immediately took action to help Ukraine in any way he could find. 

This passion catapulted him into action on the front lines of the refugee crisis in Europe.  Initially shuttling refugees as they flooded across the border into Poland, later entering Ukraine with donated funds to purchase basic essentials desperately needed at humanitarian centres, and now to this point, starting and operating Help From Canada.

Rebecca is an airline pilot for a major Canadian airline. Her experience in the travel industry combined with her drive and determination has fuelled her success with Help From Canada. She has been coordinating the  refugee  travel from Europe to Canada. Her knowledge of travel is immense having been to over 75 countries. 

On February 24th, when Russia invaded Ukraine, Rebecca was heartbroken and distressed seeing the direct impact the invasion had on her husband Michael. 

After seeing and experiencing the pain and trauma of refugees as they flooded across the border into Poland, Rebecca has worked endlessly on continuing to find the next right move to continue helping the lives destroyed by the Russian invasion. 

Her experience is priceless and her compassion unrivalled.