FROM:
THE TORONTO SUN
Sunday, March 21, 1999
Once upon a time, there were seven stranded dwarfs ...
But in a happy ending worthy of Mother Goose, the tiny troupe of Ukrainian circus performers who stole readers' hearts finally flew off into the sunset yesterday evening.
After months of worries and uncertainty, Mississauga businessman Victor Deschenes saved the day with seven plane tickets to Kiev, after hearing the plight of the little people on CFRB radio.
He also provided wedding gowns -- actually, First Communion dresses -- for the troupe's two blushing brides-to-be.
"He's a fantastic person," said Liliana Perun, who, along with husband Oleh, has championed the cause of the deserted dwarfs.
Ivan Chopovsky, 20, Leonid Ovsyannikov, 48, Ivan Chubatko, 32, Lena Ivanytcka, 26, Luda Nikitchenko, 29, Mykhailo Gadiajcky, 55 and Serge Gadiajcky, 35, arrived on Nov. 20, 1997 and worked for the National Circus School of Canada for one year. But when their visas expired, the group's sponsor failed to send them back to the Ukraine.
The Peruns have been helping ever since. "They're our kids," Oleh said of the petite posse, adding it is hard to see them go.
Speaking through Liliana, Gadiajcky said he's excited to see his family. Nikitchenko, whose fiance awaits her in Minsk, looks forward to marital bliss and authentic borscht -- in no particular order.
Although they're thrilled to be going home, Liliana said the troupe feels "it is hard to leave because they met such nice people." And they lived happily ever after. The end.
Illustration: photo by Zoran Bozicevic
THEY'RE JUST PLANE FOLKS ... Seven stranded Ukrainian circus dwarfs, pictured with friend Oleh Perun and his sons Andrew and Alexander flash plane tickets at Pearson Airport. After their visas expired, the troupe found themselves stuck in Canada.
Copyright 1999, The Sun Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.