A family of refugees from Ukraine has arrived safely in Prince George, greeted by a crowd of supporters waving Ukrainian flags and holding welcome banners.
Olena Kramarenko landed at YXS Tuesday with her six-year-old daughter, one-year-old son, and her mother Lilia Huzenko.
The Ukrainian family had been waiting in Poland until they were able to make the journey to Canada.
Moments after arrival and greeting the crowd, Olena, with some translation help from Father Andrii Chornenkyi of St. George's Ukrainian Catholic Church, said she was pleased to be in Canada and impressed by the warm welcome her family has received.
“It’s very confusing to think about everything that is happening in Ukraine and to be here,” said Olena, adding that she is trying to focus on the future for her children and not what is happening back in Ukraine.
“You have to think about coming back and being prepared to come back and to focus on that and not on the negative events.”
Olena, who is a lawyer in Ukraine, said she is not certain what she will do in Prince George yet, but she is grateful to have a safe place to be for the time being.
“I am a lawyer in Ukraine and I have not planned for this,” said Olena. “I don’t know how long war will be in Ukraine. I just want a safe place for my children but if this will be a long time then I will go to study here and begin my life again.”
Father Andrii Chornenkyi added that his wife was also a lawyer in Ukraine and noted that “it is not easy because the law is different, so you have to start from scratch.”
Olena said she is happy to be in a safe place and is hopeful it will be a good start for her children, but it’s also a difficult situation for her because her husband is still in Ukraine.
The family will be staying with their host Michelle Gaudet, who is a member of Prince George for Ukraine.
“Right now, I have the privilege of having the space available and I have the time right now to help out and it is the least I could do,” said Gaudet.
“I have hosted for wildfire evacuees in the past and I helped at the College of New Caledonia when there were evacuees there so it was first nature that this was something I could do. I’m very excited we have been in contact for so long and we finally get to meet today so that is pretty exciting,” she added.
“We have started to bring families to Prince George,” said Eva Gillis, chair of the Share Hope Refugee Sponsorship Committee, which is currently focusing efforts on helping people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
“We want everyone in Prince George to know that it is just starting, and it has been for a little while but it’s really coming and to be ready and to open their doors and to open their wallets and help these people.”
Share Hope has been working with Prince George for Ukraine group who has been working with different levels of government and volunteers to coordinate efforts and bring families fleeing the war to Prince George.
“The people of Prince George are warm-hearted and generous and we have seen that year after year,” said Gillis. “I can’t believe how many people have called and been willing to open their homes […] and to give a place to people who are escaping and fleeing.”
The family’s journey was also supported by David Stansbury who is an employee of Air Canada based in Calgary who flew with the family to Prince George.
“There’s a group of people from Calgary that are working for air Canada helping out,” said Stansbury, adding with the support of a church in Ukraine they’ve been providing additional support to help transport refugees to Canada.
“Other members have gone to Europe to pick them up and bring them here, whereas Olena and her family had come on their own but they stayed at our place for a few days and now we are opening up to see how we can help until they can get settled.”
Those interested in supporting Ukrainian refugees in Prince George can connect with Share Hope ([email protected]) or find more information on the Prince George for Ukraine website.
