On Wednesday night, the Ukrainian Orthodox church in Kelowna held an open house for newly arrived Ukrainians to welcome them to the neighbourhood and connect them with services for things like housing, work, and education.
Many Ukrainians who were compelled to leave their country of origin start their new chapter in Canada with little knowledge of the resources that are available to them.
At the occasion, representatives from twelve different local organisations provided information on how to set up with a variety of necessities for newcomers.
Tetiana Miminoshvili, a settlement worker with Kelowna Community Resources, stated that “they need someone who can help them, who can listen to them, and who can hear them,” and that is sort of what her mission is.
“My goal is to at least provide folks a route to follow or a phone number they can call without worrying if they don’t know English.
There is a person that can assist you on the other end.
Finding employment and learning the local language can be among the most challenging challenges for newcomers in any nation, but occasions like these are reducing the pressure on immigrants like Stanislov Chorba, who has only been in Canada for a week.
“I worked in construction in Ukraine for the previous two years, and when I spoke with WorkBC, they indicated they could help me find a job and advance my career.
Chorba, who relocated to the Okanagan in late October, declared, “I feel much less stressed now.
The head of Kelowna Stands with Ukraine claims that the number of Ukrainians visiting the Okanagan has increased recently.
We badly need hosts, according to Denys Storozhuk. “They understand that it would be a very difficult winter in Ukraine without heat, without electricity, and so on.”
“We need to make room for 10 families that are arriving in the next few weeks.
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Since the Russian war in Ukraine started, many Okanagan residents have stepped up by opening their homes and contributing clothing, food, and money, but according to Storozhuk, the community’s support has dwindled. He believes that now is the perfect time to lend a hand in any way.
Every drop counts, that’s our guiding philosophy, so we need to band together, Storozhuk said.
A few dollars or an hour of your time that you can provide to work with us could help save lives in Ukraine.
Connecting Ukrainian refugees in Kelowna, British Columbia, to community resources
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