Man killed in Elmwood stabbing had recently come from Ukraine, hoped for 'new start in Canada': co-worker

A man who died after being stabbed in Winnipeg's Elmwood neighbourhood Wednesday morning was about to spend his first Christmas in Canada with his family after recently coming here from Ukraine, a co-worker says.

Ivan Rubanik, 46, was identified by police on Thursday as the victim of an assault near the intersection of Watt Street and Talbot Avenue around 8 a.m.Wednesday.

He was found badly injured andtaken to hospital in unstable condition, police said, but waslater pronounced dead.

A 19-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the stabbing and remains in custody,police said Thursday. They have not indicated what charges he may face.

Jasen Dillon, who worked with Rubanik, said the 46-year-old never missed a day of work. Rubanik worked atWestward Industries, which makes electric fleet utility vehicles, asan electrician and hadbeen in Winnipeg for less than a year.

It was Rubanik's wife who told his co-workers about the man's death, said Dillon.

"His wife didn't know how to contact us [at Westward] and just showed up this morning to tell us what had happened this was before the policehad released his name," he told CBC on Thursday.

"We saw the yellow [police] tape just up the street from our work and knew something had happened, but we didn't know it was Ivan, unfortunately."

Rubanik also had two children, said Dillon.

"This was their first Christmas in Canada, and this is not how their first Christmas should be,"he said.

He and his co-workers, along with Westward Industries,have started collecting money forRubanik's family through the online fundraising website GoFundMe.

"He was always smiling. He was happy, he enjoyed the work, he was happy to be here. He was looking forward to a new start in Canada," said Dillon.

The Winnipeg Police Service's homicide unit is continuing to investigate Rubanik's death.

They're asking anyone with video surveillance or other information that might help investigators to call the homicide unit at 204-986-6508 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477 (TIPS), or to submit a secure tip online.