Ukrainian newcomers find hope and help at Saskatoon reception

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Through grief-stricken tears and voice, 74-year-old Sergiy Schwetz expressed hope to find purpose and joy in Saskatchewan.

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Shvets, a professional ballet dancer, was among dozens of temporarily displaced Ukrainians who arrived at a Saskatchewan Government Settlement reception held at Saskatoon’s TravelLodge Hotel on Friday. , arrived in Saskatoon by plane from Warsaw, Poland.

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The reception was billed as a “one-stop-shop” for settlement services for new arrivals fleeing their war-torn homeland. I could fill out an application for housing or start the process of finding a job, school or bank.

Through an interpreter, Shuvec, a Kyiv native, said he had traveled to many countries in his life as a dancer, but never imagined that he would be forced to leave Ukraine. has become impossible to live in this country, he said.

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“I was very impressed with the welcome here,” he said. “But I never expected to come so far from Ukraine. Given the choice, I would stay at home.”

The recent Russian bombing of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure has cut off heat and electricity for millions of people. Shvet said his friends and relatives in the country are melting snow to make water. A missile landed not far from his house, destroying windows and doors.

“Here in Canada, I feel there is another hope,” he said. “I want to share my knowledge and teach children Ukrainian folk dances.”

Saskatchewan Minister of Immigration and Vocational Training Jeremy Harrison said the acceptance of the settlement was unprecedented in Canada. All government departments and agencies involved in the settlement were represented, he said.

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Harrison said the Saskatchewan government has sponsored four fights for displaced Ukrainians and is planning a fifth in the coming weeks. The flights were donated free of charge by our partners in this effort.

“This has been an amazing success,” Harrison said in a telephone interview. I would like to thank the

He added that the effort was justified given the gratitude the state owes to the many Ukrainians who have settled here.

Michelle Fortin, coordinator of the YMCA’s Gateway Program in Prince Albert, attended the event to promote the northern city as a destination for Ukrainians displaced from Ukraine.

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“Quite a few merchants came to the table,” she said. She “let them know there are trade jobs in the PA area.”

Siblings Volodymyr Darda, 34, and Hanna Darda, 29, fled their hometown of Kriviri, Ukraine, to Poland.

“Words cannot describe how I feel here,” Volodymyr said through an interpreter. “We are very happy.”

Hannah said the situation in Krivie Rif has deteriorated in recent days, with missiles destroying critical infrastructure.

“It was really hard,” she said through an interpreter.

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