George Kovalev, the head of Hatters Help Ukraine, says the local group is in the final stages of bringing a family from the war torn country to Medicine Hat.--News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
The first family of Ukrainians bound for Medicine Hat from the bombarded city of Mariupol could arrive before May long weekend, according to a local group arranging travel and support for the refugees.
Hatters Help Ukraine was formed by local Ukrainian immigrant George Kovalev, who said Wednesday efforts are ramping up to prioritize travel for families whose situation is most dire.
The plan is to arrange initial resources to help them become self-sufficient permanent residents, then bring others.
“We can’t save them all, but we’re trying to save a bunch,” said Kovalev, a native of Mariupol, which has seen some of the worst fighting in the war with Russia.
“For people in Mariupol there is nothing to go back to – their homes, their jobs, their banks – have all been decimated.”
“They know that Canada isn’t a wonderland, but they know they can work hard and have a good life here,” said Kovalev, who arrived in Canada in 2004.
The power engineer has lived in the Hat since 2014, but has been fielding calls from those leaving his hometown for more than a month.
He said he has been overwhelmed by an urge to help, and feels many Hatters who watch the news probably feel the same.
One such Hatter was Chris Christie, the former executive director of the Community Foundation of Southeast Alberta, who is putting her fundraising and co-ordination skills to the effort.
The group hopes to raise $50,000 in tax-deductible cash donations and connect with employers, landlords and other charity groups to help.
“There are a lot of challenges, but these are human beings, and everyone who we have talked to has asked what they can do to help,” said Christie. “It could take six months for families to get established. But there are enough Hatters to wrap their arms around this to give them support.”
The initial family would be that of parents Serhii and Hanna, who have two sons, aged two and eight. They fled Mariupol by jumping in a car which had arrived to evacuate their neighbours, said Kovalev.
After the driver discovered that home bombed and his relatives were dead, he offered the family of four two empty seats on the trip westward.
The family’s father remained to comply with a draft order, but the mother and children are now in a camp in Poland.
Three other families include fathers who either left before conscription orders took effect, are medically exempt, or left via Russian controlled territory.
Adults’ professions are listed as dock worker, mechanic, mechanical engineer, a teacher, physiotherapist, lawyer and an optometrist. Six children in the four families are aged from two to eight.
One wants to learn how to ride a bike, according to profiles now listed on the Community Foundation of Southeast Alberta website.
Hatters Help Ukraine aims to raise $50,000 through the Community Foundation of Southeast Alberta, to cover plane tickets, general costs and education to help adults re-certify work credentials.
The group is also asking for gift cards for grocery and clothing stores and pharmacies to help households get established, and for speakers of Ukrainian or Russian to lend translation skills.
Currently, the federal government is providing entry and immediate work visas, but other financial support and help is being left to charitable groups and the faith community.
Some programs are available to secure free flights, but Christie says they can’t wait on application approvals considering the need.
The local group now says it will hasten arrivals and place families in their own apartments, rather than seek host families to pair with.
They will begin language training, receive emotional counselling, if needed, through partnerships, and be matched with local families to help acclimatize them to life in Western Canada.
Partnerships are needed with local employers, landlords and anyone who speaks Ukrainian or Russian to provide translation.
Landlords who donate three months rent can obtain a tax receipt, and the group will pay security and damage deposits and will help families become self-sufficient.
Potential translators are asked to contact Saamis Immigration.
Lightly used household goods and other specific items are being accepted, but not clothing. They suggest other charitable operations in the city are better equipped to handle such donations.
More information can be found on the HattersHelpUkraine Facebook page, and cash donations can be made at the Community Foundation offices on Sixth Avenue.
