Starting from scratch: How Ukrainian newcomers are adjusting to life in Calgary

Realizing she needed a safe sanctuary for her mother and son after escaping from the Ukrainian war, Olha Zharko chose Calgary.

Olha and her family escaped to the Czech Republic at first, trying to figure out their next steps. 

"I learned the information that Canada started this program for Ukrainians who are fleeing from the war and we decided to submit the application," Olha said. "It was just in case because we didn't know how the war could escalate."

The Zharko family didn't have to wait for long before it was time to make another change — they received their Canadian visas and started considering their options in early 2022.

'My husband is still in Ukraine'

They finalized their plans to relocate to Canada after the Czech Republic announced it wouldn't extend temporary protection for Ukrainians with long-term visas from other countries. 

"We arrived [in Calgary] in the end of March with my son, Boris, and my mom, Alena," Olha said. "My husband is still in Ukraine."

Olha's husband had to stay in Kyiv due to martial law that requires men aged 18 to 60 to stay and help the Ukrainian army if required.

While Olha's husband has not been asked to join the army yet, she's not sure what the future is going to look like.

"I don't know now when my husband could come here or [if] we can come to Ukraine," she said. "But of course, we want to be together."

The Zharkos initially lived with a local family who agreed to host them when they first landed in Calgary and have now rented a suite in their home. 

While Olha is thankful for the support and the opportunity to begin a new life, she can't help but worry about her husband and other family members back in Ukraine.

She believes the current situation is a little easier for her son because he's "more flexible" and "adaptable" compared to his parents, who are struggling to cope with the distance.

However, he's already told Olha that he wants to be closer to his father and head back to Ukraine.

'He needs a childhood as it should be'

"I don't know when war ends," Olha said. "He needs a childhood as it should be. He should dream about something like a new bike or, I don't know, [a] trip to Disneyland, but not about when war ends and that our home will not get bombed."

Kelly Ernst, the chief program officer at the Centre for Newcomers in Calgary, said more than 200,000 Ukrainian refugees have already landed in Canada.

According to his estimates, around 20,000 refugees have moved to Calgary and more are expected to arrive in the near future.

Ernst believes two of the biggest barriers they face are finding accommodation and landing a spot in English-speaking classes.

While some newcomers are comfortable communicating in English, others tend to struggle and are "really motivated" to hone their language skills to land a good job.

"We know there's a wait-list of over 4,000 people to get into government-funded language lessons, so it is a real burning need [at the moment]," Ernst said. He added there are other options, such as volunteer-led courses or paying for private lessons.

The Centre for Newcomers is working on organizing more classes to meet the needs of Ukrainian refugees.

'They want to be self-sufficient'

How do Ukrainian newcomers manage their expenses without a job, though?

According to Ernst, several government grants are available for those who need financial support. However, he knows this isn't what most Ukrainian newcomers are looking for.

"I think it's really important to understand that the newcomers that we see are, you know, 99 per cent of them, they want to be self-sufficient and they want to be able to set up their lives on their own," he said. 

"They don't want to rely on government handouts and supports. They want to do that on their own. So finding employment is super important to them."

Olha got lucky. She chose Calgary as her new home because her previous employer in the Ukraine had offices in Calgary and she knew she had a chance at landing a good gig. 

While she wasn't hired immediately, she managed to receive an offer from the same company a few months after she moved to Canada.

"It is a big relief because I know that I have work and the life will be more stable, more predictable," she said. "I could plan something more than [what] we have now."

For Marina Yankula, a Ukrainian newcomer who moved to Calgary in April, finding a job has been difficult.

"I have to start everything from scratch," Yankula said. "I'm a little bit sad about it because … I had a high position in Ukraine in the biggest online school."

She also has a degree from a business school but said her experience and skills haven't helped so far and she has struggled to land a single interview.

'I had a very good life in Ukraine'

Yankula's sister, who worked as the head nurse at a dental clinic in Dnipro, Ukraine, hasn't had much luck either and has been working odd jobs while attending English classes five days a week.

The two sisters decided to leave Ukraine after witnessing a "powerful explosion" close to their home last year.

"I had a very good life in Ukraine, to be honest, and I have never thought about coming to another country. But last year, of course, changed the minds of all Ukrainians," Yankula said.

The Yankulas decided to relocate to Calgary after they were told the city is similar to their hometown. They were also drawn to nature and the lower cost of living in Alberta.

They stayed at a hotel for a couple of weeks after landing in Calgary, thanks to support from the newcomers centre. 

While it was difficult to find the right accommodation option in the beginning — and they had to shuffle between different rental options because of a lack of credit history and steady employment — they've now managed to find a place to live.

Yankula is overwhelmed and grateful for the support she has received so far. 

'I see how Ukrainians live here'

She said the centre has made her feel at ease, almost like she's at home.

"They are with you every moment you need it, and it's a really good feeling inside.… I told my mom few days ago that I [am] feeling [like] myself here," she said.

Yankula now has plans to stay put in Calgary with her sister. She's inspired by other Ukrainians who have rebuilt their lives and hopes to follow in their footsteps.

"I see how Ukrainians live here. I see … how they build their life here and I'm sure that I will be with them," she said. "I will make here our wonderful life and I will be [a] real Canadian and with Ukrainian soul."