'A really interesting experience': Hundreds of new Canadians attend their first hockey game in Winnipeg
Hundreds of newcomers got to witness a favourite Canadian pastime on Saturday.
Svitlana Korchadova arrived from Ukraine with her family in July to escape the Russian conflict.
The transition to Canadian culture has not always been an easy one for her.
"Sometimes it is really hard," said Korchadova. "It was really hard, but we take so many help."
On Saturday, Korchadova and her 6-year-old son took part in a Canadian milestone -- going to their first hockey game.
The mom and son attended the Manitoba Moose game thanks to their scouts group called Plast.
The Ukrainian-focused youth organization brought around 120 people to the game, about half of them recent Ukrainian immigrants.
"So we wanted to give them a real Canadian experience, a family experience, so the scouts and their families can come together and experience their first hockey game," explained Monica Sim, a youth coordinator with Plast Winnipeg.
In preparation for the game and to build excitement, the new Canadians were told about the rules of the game and were taught chants like "go moose go."
"We have signs going on. A lot of us are dressed in our scout uniforms to show comradery. We are really looking forward to cheering on the moose together," said Sim.
The Plast group was just a few of the recent immigrants who attended the game.
The Manitoba Moose said more than 1,000 newcomers attended Saturday's match-up, an initiative they hope builds community and creates passionate new fans.
"We are really excited to welcome them and introduce them to the sport," said Raquel Payne, a marketing manager with the team. 'We really hope this is something they can use throughout the rest of the time here, whether it's making connections with other newcomers or fans."
A memory that will stick with them for a long time to come.
"It's a really interesting experience. We haven't ever been to a game like this live," said Korchadova.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Made-in-Newfoundland vodka claims top prize at worldwide competition
A Newfoundland-made vodka has been named one of the world’s best by judges at this year’s World Vodka Awards.