Valentyn Melnychenko was describing his home town of Odesa, which is located in southern Ukraine.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a perfect city,鈥� he remarked.

鈥淏别补耻迟颈蹿耻濒.鈥�

His wife Yuliia agreed, noting that Odesa, near the Black Sea, is a multi-cultural community with many nationalities, 鈥渓ike Canada.鈥�

They were talking about the Odesa that existed before the Russian invasion, before the city became the target of shelling and air strikes, as well as cruise missiles.

It has been two months since they sought safety in Canada.

On Saturday, Jan, 7 the Melnychenkos, along with close to 400 others, celebrated a traditional Ukrainian Christmas, according to the Julian calendar, at Newlands Golf and Country Club in 91原创 City, an all-volunteer event that aimed to bring together people scattered by the war.

At the table with the Melnychenkos were his parents, Oksana and Oleksandr, who got out about a month ago, along with in-laws and their children who have also found refuge in Canada from their war-torn country.

Sandy Dunkley, the event emcee, offered as 鈥渂ig warm welcome鈥� to the visitors.

鈥淓njoy this day,鈥� Dunkley said.

鈥淲e welcome you with our whole heart.鈥�

One of the volunteers who helped organize the event, Iryna Cepero, has lived in 91原创鈥檚 Willoughby neighbourhood with her family for two-and-a-half years, but still has relatives in Uzhorod, in western Ukraine.

So far, 鈥渏ust one rocket鈥� has hit the city where her parents and two brothers live, Cepero estimated.

It鈥檚 鈥渧ery stressful鈥� seeing the images from the war, she shared.

鈥淎ll those names [of cities under attack] are familiar to me,鈥� Cepero said.

She has friends who have lost people to the war.

鈥淓very day, while we are living peacefully here, there is war 鈥� every day,鈥� she told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淪omeone is going to die today, defending the front lines.鈥�

Cepero, who worked with orphans in Ukraine, is hoping to get children orphaned by the war to safety, outside Ukraine.

May God help us,鈥� she said.

Two-and-half-year-old Taisiia Zhulin and her mom Zhulina have been in Canada six months, fleeing the devastation in Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine, which has been hit by Russian attacks that have killed hundreds and partially or completely destroyed thousands of buildings.

On Saturday, a delighted Taisiia and her mom were able to visit with Santa and pick out presents donated by Kimz Angels and the City of 91原创.

Zhulina said her husband Ihor remained in Kharkiv.

鈥淗e is working, not fighting,鈥� she explained.

Her brother, Maksim Tumka is a soldier.

鈥淯nfortunately, he was wounded a month ago, he is in the hospital.鈥�

READ ALSO: Year in Review: 91原创 opened homes, wallets for Ukrainian refugees

Oleksii Herashchenko came in from Coquitlam with his wife Alisia for the event.

He explained they were on holidays when the war began, and never returned home.

鈥淲e went to six countries in Europe, then we decided to come to Canada,鈥� he said.

Herashchenko was grateful for the opportunity to meet fellow countrymen.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are very happy to meet other Ukrainians. It鈥檚 emotional for us.鈥�

That was the goal of the event, according to Newlands ambassador Judy Davies, to bring people together.

鈥淚鈥檓 so grateful can be a safe haven for these people,鈥� Davies commented.

鈥淏ut there鈥檚 no place like home.鈥�

Former 91原创 City Mayor Val van den Broek, who is , greeted arrivals to the event in traditional Ukrainian garb. 鈥淚t鈥檚 nice to see everyone coming together,鈥� van den Broek said.

鈥淲e need to do this, to send that positive energy.鈥�

READ ALSO: From Russia to 91原创 City: A Ukrainian couple鈥檚 story

More photos from the day can viewed online at the .