‘It’s still unbelievable’: Ukrainians, Alberta volunteers mark 1 year of war | 24CA News

“It’s definitely still unbelievable,” Yuliya Gorbach stated on Thursday in Calgary. “We’re going to be living in full-scale war, absolutely unjustified, for a whole year.”

Gorbach is the chairperson of the Calgary Ukrainian Welcome Committee.

Like many teams serving to Ukrainians escaping the Russian invasion, the committee is as busy — if no more so — because it was one yr in the past.

Russia launched its invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.

“Now, we’re doing a lot of work who run from that Russian aggression — to Canada, to Calgary and need to settle here,” Gorbach stated.

Milana Broko Benko did simply that. Eight months in the past, she fled Ukraine together with her husband and toddler son, and located an residence and jobs — and daycare — in Calgary.

Broko Benko teaches English as a second language — and plenty of fellow Ukrainians are her college students.

“It’s amazing. I don’t only teach, I can help them,” she stated. “They all need English because they can’t find jobs without English … but also we can give them some advice. Some issues they have, we can help them.”

Broko Benko stated it was a troublesome choice to go away the remainder of her household in Ukraine, particularly with a brand new child.

“Here, we are by ourselves,” she stated.

“It wasn’t an easy transition for us but we know we have to continue to build our life here. Now the situation is horrible in Ukraine. They don’t have electricity or heat.”

5:06One yr into Russia’s struggle towards Ukraine

Knowing what it’s like there, she always worries about her mother and father.

“You never know if you will be bombed.”

Broko Benko can’t consider it’s been a yr since Russia invaded.

“When it all started, that’s what we were told by the government, it would last a week or a month … It’s not stopping. It’s getting worse and now it’s a year.”

Despite feeling safer now, Broko Benko stated witnessing struggle has modified her perspective.

“We don’t plan. We had huge plans…. There are so many horrible things happening around the world, now we cannot plan anything.

“We live this month (and) we’ll see what will happen next.”

The Alberta authorities introduced Thursday that it’s offering a $12,000 increase to the Red Deer Public Library to assist Ukrainian newcomers be taught English.

The province stated the library’s Adult Literacy Program has seen a bounce in demand over the previous yr.

5:00More settlement assist wanted for Ukrainian newcomers: Alberta group

Since March 2022, Catholic Social Services has helped 2,500 Ukrainians arriving in central Alberta, principally Edmonton and Red Deer.

The group is busier now than it was when the struggle started. Now, it fields about 60 calls a day for assist.

“It’s really challenging to accommodate all requests,” stated Margaroyta Marion, director of immigration and settlement with CSS.

“We have a Ukrainian response team at Catholic Social Services that consists of three staff members who receive calls and try to accommodate as many requests as possible. So we just try to manage as much as we can.”

CSS launched one other marketing campaign Thursday, asking Albertans for donations with the aim of elevating $100,000.

“The need for help is outpacing the funds available,” stated CEO Troy Davies.

“Watching a world battle unfold could make many people really feel powerless. But this can be a actual and concrete manner which you could assist right here in your individual neighborhood.

“We can’t do the work that we need to do and that people need done unless the money comes in. It’s as straightforward as that.

“For those that are arriving into Alberta and into Edmonton, we want to make their journey easier and we want that resettlement process to go smooth. These are folks that have fled war. They’ve crossed oceans to get here to a place of safety. And it’s really difficult to adapt to your new land and to begin to flourish if your critical needs — food, clothing, housing — can’t be met.”

If folks can’t afford to make a monetary donation, volunteering or donating furnishings are different methods to assist. Albertans are additionally requested to contemplate internet hosting.

“We rely heavily on Canadian hosts for temporary accommodation,” Marion stated. “Again, Refugee Relief Fund helps us to cover costs for emergency stays at some of Edmonton’s hotels, with which we have discounted rates. We really rely on the Ukrainian community as well for help and support.”

David Bryenton grew to become a really energetic supporter of Ukraine within the first few days after the struggle began. He seen household and pals of Ukrainians coming into his retailer, Battle Rattle Tactical, to choose up provides to ship abroad.

It wasn’t lengthy earlier than he was taking journeys over there himself — with provides and donations.

“We have sponsored 11 missions over to Ukraine up to this point and all have been relatively successful.”

Bryenton stated he’s been capable of result in $1.5 million in support to Ukraine. He stresses that’s not simply from him, however donated by the neighborhood.

During his final journey, they paid for repairs on a car used to evacuate folks from the entrance strains.

“It’s really a combination of medical supplies that we have gathered from the Edmonton Ukrainian community, to military protective gear, to headlamps for civilians that have no power.

“Each time is different,” he stated. “Unfortunately on occasional basis, you find out that some of these guys have paid the ultimate price, that they’re no longer there or, in the last case, we found out that five of the friends have actually been captured by Russia.

“I fear for their well-being immensely.”

2:09More properties wanted to host Ukrainian households in Edmonton

He not too long ago opened his dwelling to a younger Ukrainian couple he met by means of a newcomers Facebook group.

“The last minute there was a young couple that did not have a place to stay that, you know, had literally dollars in their pocket and a backpack and their bag,” Bryenton stated.

“They arrived two nights ago. Yesterday, we got them a job, we got them their social insurance number, just trying to help them acclimate into the Canadian way.”

Artur Babych and Karyna Dyshkant say they don’t know the place they’d be in the event that they hadn’t met Bryenton.

“We leave our country and we go, we went to Poland. We lived in Poland almost one year,” Dyshkant stated.

“We have a great chance to come here to start new our lives.”

Edward Cooney has been backwards and forwards to Ukraine a number of occasions within the final yr. When he noticed the struggle start, the Edmonton grandfather was moved to behave. He gathered all the cash he might and booked a flight.

“These people needed our help,” he advised Global News on Feb. 15. “My kids are growing up they’re all doing OK. I did my part for my children I think and it’s just time to help, so I literally just did what I had to do to get over there.”

Cooney ended up working in Hell’s Kitchen, a volunteer-run service that prepares sizzling meals for front-line troops.

“I was there the first time in April and worked with these guys directly with the military, armed forces, international forces…. I went back in September doing the same thing: delivering food, packaging, cleaning toilets, whatever they needed me to do.

“It’s basically cleanup and making sure the civilians (and) the (troops) get fed at the front lines and keeping them warm,” Cooney stated.

“As of last week, we’re still feeding about 12,000 to 13,000 a week,” he stated. “That’s mostly civilians and military personnel.”

The operation is positioned simply 30 kilometres from the Russian border. Cooney stated the noise of struggle is jarring.

“You’re always scared, you just learn to keep it together somehow and just keep moving. People beside you are in just as much danger as you are.”

For him, it’s definitely worth the threat.

“To be a part of it is overwhelming. I can’t say enough about these young soldiers.”

1:41Alberta man being known as a hero after volunteering in Ukraine