Ranging from scratch_ How Ukrainian newcomers are adjusting to life in Calgary
Calgary continues to be a preferred vacation spot for Ukrainians fleeing the conflict, however challenges abound
Realizing she wanted a protected sanctuary for her mom and son after escaping from the Ukrainian conflict, Olha Zharko selected Calgary.
Olha and her household escaped to the Czech Republic at first, making an attempt to determine their subsequent steps.
“I discovered the knowledge that Canada began this program for Ukrainians who’re fleeing from the conflict and we determined to submit the applying,” Olha mentioned. “It was simply in case as a result of we did not understand how the conflict may escalate.”
The Zharko household did not have to attend for lengthy earlier than it was time to make one other change — they acquired their Canadian visas and began contemplating their choices in early 2022.
‘My husband remains to be in Ukraine’
They finalized their plans to relocate to Canada after the Czech Republic introduced it would not lengthen short-term safety for Ukrainians with long-term visas from different international locations.
“We arrived [in Calgary] ultimately of March with my son, Boris, and my mother, Alena,” Olha mentioned. “My husband remains to be in Ukraine.”
Olha’s husband needed to keep in Kyiv because of martial legislation that requires males aged 18 to 60 to remain and assist the Ukrainian military if required.
Whereas Olha’s husband has not been requested to affix the military but, she’s unsure what the longer term goes to appear to be.
“I do not know now when my husband may come right here or [if] we are able to come to Ukraine,” she mentioned. “However in fact, we wish to be collectively.”
Olha Zharko arrived in Calgary together with her son and mom in March after greater than a yr of uncertainty. (David Mercer/CBC)
The Zharkos initially lived with a neighborhood household who agreed to host them once they first landed in Calgary and have now rented a collection of their residence.
Whereas Olha is grateful for the assist and the chance to start a brand new life, she will’t assist however fear about her husband and different members of the family again in Ukraine.
She believes the present scenario is somewhat simpler for her son as a result of he is “extra versatile” and “adaptable” in comparison with his mother and father, who’re struggling to deal with the space.
Nonetheless, he is already advised Olha that he needs to be nearer to his father and head again to Ukraine.
‘He wants a childhood appropriately’
“I do not know when conflict ends,” Olha mentioned. “He wants a childhood appropriately. He ought to dream about one thing like a brand new bike or, I do not know, [a] journey to Disneyland, however not about when conflict ends and that our residence won’t get bombed.”
Kelly Ernst, the chief program officer on the Centre for Newcomers in Calgary, mentioned greater than 200,000 Ukrainian refugees have already landed in Canada.
In keeping with his estimates, round 20,000 refugees have moved to Calgary and extra are anticipated to reach within the close to future.
Ernst believes two of the largest limitations they face are discovering lodging and touchdown a spot in English-speaking courses.
Whereas some newcomers are comfy speaking in English, others are inclined to battle and are “actually motivated” to hone their language abilities to land a superb job.
“We all know there is a wait-list of over 4,000 individuals to get into government-funded language classes, so it’s a actual burning want [at the moment],” Ernst mentioned. He added there are different choices, comparable to volunteer-led programs or paying for personal classes.
The Centre for Newcomers is engaged on organizing extra courses to satisfy the wants of Ukrainian refugees.
‘They wish to be self-sufficient’
How do Ukrainian newcomers handle their bills and not using a job, although?
In keeping with Ernst, a number of authorities grants can be found for many who want monetary assist. Nonetheless, he is aware of this is not what most Ukrainian newcomers are in search of.
“I feel it is actually essential to grasp that the newcomers that we see are, you understand, 99 per cent of them, they wish to be self-sufficient they usually need to have the ability to arrange their lives on their very own,” he mentioned.
“They do not wish to depend on authorities handouts and helps. They wish to do this on their very own. So discovering employment is tremendous essential to them.”
Olha acquired fortunate. She selected Calgary as her new residence as a result of her earlier employer within the Ukraine had places of work in Calgary and she or he knew she had an opportunity at touchdown a superb gig.
Whereas she wasn’t employed instantly, she managed to obtain a proposal from the identical firm a couple of months after she moved to Canada.
“It’s a massive reduction as a result of I do know that I’ve work and the life will likely be extra steady, extra predictable,” she mentioned. “I may plan one thing greater than [what] we’ve now.”
Olha Zharko says her son, Boris, needs to be reunited along with his father quickly. He is nonetheless stationed in Ukraine due to martial legislation. (David Mercer/CBC)
For Marina Yankula, a Ukrainian newcomer who moved to Calgary in April, discovering a job has been tough.
“I’ve to begin every thing from scratch,” Yankula mentioned. “I am somewhat bit unhappy about it as a result of … I had a excessive place in Ukraine within the greatest on-line faculty.”
She additionally has a level from a enterprise faculty however mentioned her expertise and abilities have not helped to date and she or he has struggled to land a single interview.
‘I had an excellent life in Ukraine’
Yankula’s sister, who labored as the top nurse at a dental clinic in Dnipro, Ukraine, hasn’t had a lot luck both and has been working odd jobs whereas attending English courses 5 days per week.
The 2 sisters determined to depart Ukraine after witnessing a “highly effective explosion” near their residence final yr.
“I had an excellent life in Ukraine, to be sincere, and I’ve by no means thought of coming to a different nation. However final yr, in fact, modified the minds of all Ukrainians,” Yankula mentioned.
Marina Yankula, a Ukrainian newcomer who moved to Calgary in April, remains to be struggling to discover a job. (David Mercer/CBC)
The Yankulas determined to relocate to Calgary after they had been advised town is much like their hometown. They had been additionally drawn to nature and the decrease price of residing in Alberta.
They stayed at a lodge for a few weeks after touchdown in Calgary, due to assist from the newcomers centre.
Whereas it was tough to seek out the appropriate lodging choice at first — they usually needed to shuffle between totally different rental choices due to an absence of credit score historical past and regular employment — they’ve now managed to discover a place to stay.
Yankula is overwhelmed and grateful for the assist she has acquired to date.
‘I see how Ukrainians stay right here’
She mentioned the centre has made her really feel relaxed, nearly like she’s at residence.
“They’re with you each second you want it, and it is a actually good feeling inside.… I advised my mother few days in the past that I [am] feeling [like] myself right here,” she mentioned.
Yankula now has plans to remain put in Calgary together with her sister. She’s impressed by different Ukrainians who’ve rebuilt their lives and hopes to observe of their footsteps.
“I see how Ukrainians stay right here. I see … how they construct their life right here and I am positive that I will likely be with them,” she mentioned. “I’ll make right here our great life and I will likely be [a] actual Canadian and with Ukrainian soul.”