Since leaving Ukraine in August 2022, Mila Shykota has constructed a brand new life in Winnipeg.
Her daughter is in class. She and her companion purchased a home. She even traveled to Kyiv final 12 months to go to household and produce her beloved cat dwelling to Canada.
“I can say I’ve built-in into Canadian life, however in fact I miss my homeland and I fear about it,” she stated.
“I’m studying information feeds day-after-day, and I’m holding in contact with my mother and with my family members.”
Shykota is among the 298,128 Ukrainians who got here to Canada via the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency journey (CUAET), a federal program launched in March 2022 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Roughly 30,000 Ukrainians made their solution to Manitoba, in keeping with Joanne Lewandosky, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress’s Manitoba chapter.
“Persons are nonetheless coming right here frequently,” she stated. “Simply final week we had a name from Tennessee … and we get common calls from Europe, individuals who now possibly in Poland or in Italy.”
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Lewandosky says the UCC additionally sees individuals who initially settled in different provinces selecting to maneuver to Manitoba resulting from the price of dwelling and the province’s giant Ukrainian inhabitants.
The Manitoba authorities had supplied helps to Ukrainian refugees, together with youngster care and reimbursement for immigration medical exams. With these applications now not in place, Lewandosky says the UCC’s aim is to fill the “gaps” which are left.
“We nonetheless have a assist heart right here. Persons are nonetheless bringing issues and individuals are taking them,” she stated.
The group can also be offering English courses in Gimli, Brandon, Winkler, and Winnipeg, due to provincial funding. 9 hundred college students will start courses within the fall.
“That’s undoubtedly filling a niche that’s very outstanding proper now within the province of Manitoba,” Lewandosky stated.
Shykota has secured everlasting residency, however for another Ukrainians in Canada beneath the CUAET, the longer term isn’t as sure. Those that arrived on or earlier than March 31, 2024, are capable of apply for work or examine permits via non permanent immigration measures, however those that arrived after should achieve this via Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada’s common course of. The federal authorities introduced cuts to immigration targets final 12 months.
“I do know many who had gone again from Canada to Europe and even to Ukraine,” Shykota stated.
As she strikes ahead with life in Winnipeg, Shykota stated day-after-day the battle continues is “psychological strain” for Ukrainians, one which claims victims every day.
“Ukraine is a really courageous nation. Our individuals are actually heroes, however we want assist, we want help, as a result of it’s not the battle only for Ukraine, it’s only for the entire world, and you may help us,” she stated.
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