Ukrainian newcomers forge a new life in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.
For Natalia Bereziuk, starting a new life with her two children in Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., embodied her fight to "not give up" as she and her family fled Ukraine following Russia's invasion in February 2022.
"You need to be optimistic, and you need to plan well ahead. You need to have a plan A, plan B, and C in case something goes wrong. And the main advice is, don't take anything for granted," Bereziuk said in an interview with CBC.
Bereziuk, who is from Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, is one of 92 Ukrainians who have decided to make Fort Saskatchewan home after the war began.
She enjoys the comfort of being part of a close-knit suburban community.
To honour that sense of community, the local group Hosting Ukrainians in Fort Saskatchewan (HUFS) held a vigil on Saturday to commemorate the second anniversary of the invasion.
Dozens of people gathered at Pioneer House Club 50, a local recreation centre in the city 35 kilometres northeast of Edmonton..
More than 200,000 Ukrainians forced to escape their home country have made their way to Canada since the war began.
HUFS was formed in March 2022 and has provided over $50,000 in financial aid to newcomers in the past 21 months.
In addition, the group has helped newcomers overcome logistical challenges by helping them with documentation, providing English language classes, organizing donation drives and hosting community gatherings.
The group also served as the bridge between newcomers and families who opened their doors to host people seeking shelter.
The community group Hosting Ukrainians in Fort Saskatchewan has assisted 92 people who fled Russia's invasion of Ukraine. (Kim Ergang Photography)
Carol Slukynski, one of the founders of HUFS, said Saturday's vigil was important to recognize the fatigue that people may feel as the invasion continues.
"Many community members are feeling homesick and feeling the concern and worry about what the future looks like," Slukynski said.
"My hopes of continuing to voice concerns specifically on that topic is that we stand in solidarity, we show compassion, offer a helping hand to anybody that is fleeing wars, and to just be a good neighbour to people that are arriving."
A new home, but an uncertain future
The federal government has issued nearly one million emergency visas for Ukrainians fleeing the war since March 2022, though only about 200,000 people had used the visas by last November.
Applications for the visas closed last July, but those who have one can still use it until March 31.
Available to an unlimited number of Ukrainians, the visas allow them to work and study in Canada for three years while they figure out their next steps.
Those who have come to Canada using the emergency visa aren't given refugee status in Canada and instead are considered temporary residents.
Ukrainians in Canada on valid work, study or temporary resident permits under the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel program were eligible for a one-time payment — $3,000 for every adult and $1,500 for every child 17 years and under.
With the financial support ending, that has left people like Bereziuk with growing anxiety over what the future will bring.
"It's hard to think that, like, in a year, I will need to grab two of my kids and go back to the place destroyed by war," Bereziuk said.
"It's not only for me, for thousands of people ... We just don't know what's going to happen. The rules of the game are changing so fast, and dramatically. It's really hard to adjust."
Despite this uncertainty, Bereziuk is sure of the warmth that she and other Ukrainians have received in Fort Saskatchewan.
"People just smile at you, or they can hug you and cheer you up. And this spirit ... this friendliness, it's just something that we all need."
