More than a month after Russia fired its first missiles at Ukraine on February 24, 40-year-old Olha Rudenko and her two children began to calm down in their new life in Canada after fleeing the western city of Lutsk.
While Rudenko and her sons Lukian, nine, and Stanislav, 16, spent a month in Poland organizing a trip to Ottawa, her sister Natalia Stepaniuk returned to Ottawa to prepare for her family’s arrival.
“It must be acknowledged that these are not regular immigrants,” Stepanyuk, 36, told Global News. “These are people who come from the military zone, who are traumatized.
Read more: Ukrainian Zelensky pledges to push for peace despite Russian attacks
The Rudenko family arrived in the last weekend of March after a stranger from Montreal bought them plane tickets. Stepaniuk, who moved to Canada ten years ago, met with the stranger in a Facebook group dedicated to helping Ukrainians during the war.
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“I am happy that my sister is safe in Ottawa with her children,” Stepaniuk said. “I also feel very sad that they had to come under these circumstances. There is a lot of pain and a lot of anxiety. “
Now that the family is reunited, the first priority will be to set up a school for Lukian and Stanislav while Rudenko tries to find work.
“I don’t want my sister to feed us and I want to work,” she said.
“I feel more comfortable here,” she added.
5:03 Vancouver Resort Owners Renovate Outdated Property to Host Ukrainian Refugees Vancouver Island Resort Owners Renovate Aging Property to Host Ukrainian Refugees – March 19, 2022
While Rudenko and her children begin their new trip to Canada, her husband remains in Ukraine to join the civilian task force.
“He said it would be easier if we were safe,” she told Global News through tears. “I made this trip for my children. It’s so painful. “
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On Vancouver Island, Brian and Sharon Holwaychuki are also preparing to help Ukrainians coming to Canada by turning their 15,000-square-foot resort property into a refugee home.
Called the Ukrainian safe haven, the couple completed the repairs with the help of volunteers to accept refugees who are due to arrive in April.
“My personal goal is 100 people,” Brian said. “We have booked 19 people who will come in about two to three weeks.”
Read more: Ontario announces support for Ukrainian refugees coming to the province
Brian hopes that Ukraine’s safe haven can be a place of rest and security for refugees, who he says can stay as long as they need to.
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So far, the local community has shown great support for the project, with volunteers and supporters coming to help or donate, Brian said. Stuart Johnston, a Victoria-based lawyer, decided he wanted to help by registering the project as a non-profit organization for free.
“This is an extremely important cause, and I’m really impressed with what they’re doing to help,” Johnston said. “I wanted to help.”
The Holowaychuks family bought the East Sooke resort, known as Grouse Nest, last year. It is located on a 33-hectare property, surrounded by trees, wildlife and overlooking the ocean.
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“We are in a position, in a place, at a time when we can help make a little difference. And I thought, you know, it’s time to stand up and be counted, “Brian said.
1:55 The couple sponsors a Ukrainian refugee family to move to Belleville, Ont. The couple sponsored a Ukrainian refugee family to move to Belleville, Ont.
On Saturday, the Canadian government announced $ 100 million in additional humanitarian support in response to the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and neighboring countries.
In a statement Saturday, Canada provided $ 245 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Of this, $ 145 million has been distributed to UN organizations, the Red Cross Movement and non-governmental organizations.
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser told reporters on Saturday that Canada has already approved more than 30,000 applications under the Canada-Ukraine permit for an emergency travel program.
In Belleville, Ont., Residents Mark and Trish Hall do not know exactly when the Kupinyak family will arrive, but the couple is preparing for the day.
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Read more: As the West opens its doors to Ukraine, millions more refugees are suffering around the world
Natalia and Yuri Kupinyak have three children aged 14, 6 and 10 months.
“They are currently living on the outskirts of Poland. They are staying on a farm, it has one bedroom. It’s not like we would ever know, “said Trish Hall, noting that the couple is linked to the Kupiniak family through a website designed to connect refugees with their hosts.
The halls, along with others in the community, came together to rent a full apartment for the family for next year.
Local business also helps the family. Mama Duck’s diaper service will provide free diapers for their 10-month-old baby, and Yuri Kupinyak will have a job waiting for him when he arrives.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help the Cupcakes once they settle in Belleville, while other donations will be released in the Albert College car park, where a trailer will be placed to accept donations from the community.
3:10 International donors promise 9.1 billion euros to support Ukrainian refugees International donors promise 9.1 billion euros to support Ukrainian refugees
Ukrainians arriving in Canada will be entitled to two weeks of temporary hotel accommodation and up to six weeks of income support, the Liberals said.
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Transport Minister Omar Algabra said his department is working with Canadian airlines to organize charter flights, but details have not been finalized. Many of the affected Ukrainians are scattered over a wide area and some are not yet ready to leave.
“No one should be forced to leave their homes, and we are committed to helping Ukrainians who have had to leave their country because of this illegal war,” Algabra said.
“As Canadians, we will do what we do best. We will stand up for the Ukrainians and greet them warmly as they adjust to the new life here in their new country.
With files from Alain St. Amur from Global News, John Lawless and The Canadian Press
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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