Ukrainian newcomers to Winnipeg feeling hopeful ahead of country’s Independence Day

Two-and-a-half years into the war in Ukraine, some in Winnipeg’s Ukrainian community are feeling a renewed sense of hope ahead of the country’s Independence Day.

Oleh Klochak and his family were living a normal life in Bucha, Ukraine, until Russia launched its full-scale invasion of the country on Feb. 24, 2022.

“We never planned to leave Ukraine, we never planned to be abroad, but 22nd of February 2022, changed everything in our minds,” Klochak said.

After about a year, Oleh and his family decided to leave Ukraine and make their way to Canada through the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET) program.

On April 6, 2023, Klochak, his wife and their nine-year-old daughter Nadiia arrived in Winnipeg.

“Our journey is full of growth, of results, of contributions and very much planning our future (here),” Klochak said.

Klochak is an internationally educated teacher and landed an educational assistant position at Winnipeg’s Ralph Brown School. He says the transition from life back home in Ukraine to Canada has been fairly smooth.

“I received Manitoba Teaching Certificate,” he said. “This is a great opportunity to apply for a substitute teacher and eventually a permanent teacher position in the future.”

Over the last couple of weeks, Ukraine has made advancements in Russia’s Kursk region.

“President Zelenskyy has talked about creating a buffer zone, or a negotiation lever when talking to Russia to show that the Ukrainian army is strong and is able to push back and isn’t only, sort of, defensive,” said Ihor Michalchyshyn, the executive director of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

But ahead of Ukraine’s 33rd Independence Day, on Aug. 24, a big chunk of Ukraine’s eastern and southern areas of the country remain under Russian occupation.

“Russia continues to fire on Ukrainian civilians, regardless of the Ukrainian military gains in Kursk or other regions,” Michalchyshyn added.

Nick Krawetz, a volunteer supporting Ukrainian refugees in Manitoba, says every subsequent Independence Day becomes more important than the previous ones.

“Nobody can imagine what Ukraine has gone through over the last two-and-a-half years, in fact the last 10 years as the war started in 2014,” Krawetz said. “This is why it is so important that we continue to raise awareness, stand with Ukraine, and continue to push for supports because Ukraine is proving right now that if they are given the arms and supplies and allowed to do what they see best to defend itself, they can make progress.”