Ukrainian refugees reportedly beginning to arrive in Canada

Reports say some Ukrainian refugees have already set foot on Canadian soil, with hundreds and hundreds more expected over the next few weeks.

Refugees are to be placed in Saskatchewan in major cities like Saskatoon and Regina as living accommodations continue to be arranged. It’s unknown how many have arrived in the province or the country as of yet.

Iryna Matsiuk is with the Ukraine crisis response committee with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and says they are working endlessly to make sure everything is taken care of for people leaving their homeland in the wake of Russia’s attack.

“We are preparing for hundreds, if not more, in Saskatchewan,” Matsiuk said. “We are preparing host families that are willing to take people in for some time to stay for free.”

The provincial government has said it will accept as many Ukrainian immigrants as it possibly can.

Matsiuk says there’s the factor of finding those who are old enough for some employment opportunities while making sure children can have an opportunity at getting into a classroom.

Throw a language barrier into the mix and you can understand how difficult it will be to accomplish, but it’s certainly not impossible.

“We are also working with the community members in terms of volunteers and translators because people won’t be able to speak English enough,” Matsiuk said.

“There will be language training available (for) English language training (for those) that need to improve their language or even start from scratch.”

If there’s any consolation for refugees coming into the province, it’s that Saskatchewan is known for having plenty of Ukrainian ties.

Matsiuk says Saskatchewan may just be the No. 1 destination for Ukrainian refugees.

“I think this is the best place in Canada honestly to be in terms of how the community is welcoming,” she said. “(There’s) a lot of Ukrainian-speaking people (and) a lot of people with Ukrainian heritage who are so generous and who donate their time.

“I think as an immigrant myself who came here 10 years ago, after the initial shock, they will be hopefully confident and pleasantly surprised by the welcomes that they will see in the province here.”

There isn’t a timetable in place yet for how long some of the refugees will stay in Canada.