5 things to know today: WestJet is proactively canceling flights

WestJet is proactively canceling flights across Canada before the storm, two Ukrainian teenagers find safety with an Ottawa couple and a refugee charity says it is partnering with the federal government to resettle LGBTQ2S+ Afghans. Here’s what you need to know to start your day.

1. Flight cancellations: WestJet is proactively canceling flights at airports in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec as storm systems pounded the regions, compounding a cascade of disruptions that sent travelers scrambling .

2. “We feel safe”: Best friends Viktoriia Tipukhoval, 17, and Artur Halanishyn, 18, from Ukraine, are the only members of their respective families who managed to start a life in Canada – and it’s largely thanks to a couple Ontario who volunteered to open their doors.

3. Path to Safety: Rainbow Railroad, a charity that helps LGBTQ2S+ refugees find safe homes, says it is partnering with the Canadian government to resettle about 600 Afghans.

4. January 6 Report: In its final report, the US House of Representatives committee from January 6 says that former US President Donald Trump has criminally engaged in a “multi-part conspiracy” to reverse the legal results of the 2020 presidential election.

5. PM’s Getaway: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is traveling to Jamaica after Christmas for a week-long vacation with his immediate family.

One more thing…

Preparing for the future: Canada’s top doctor, Theresa Tam, talks about preparing for the next battle against COVID-19 and future outbreaks.

Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam stands for a portrait after a press conference at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Kawai