Ukranian store in Halifax at risk of closing if new location is not found | 24CA News

Since Russia first invaded Ukraine in February 2022, tens of millions of Ukrainians have needed to flee their dwelling nation. Canada has welcomed hundreds and it’s estimated that greater than 2,000 Ukrainians have settled in Nova Scotia.

Veteran Rick Langille skilled the results of warfare first-hand whereas serving for the Canadian Army in Bosnia in 1995 and 1996, and that have led him to discovered the Ukrainian Store in Halifax.

“Because of that history I felt compelled that I needed to do something to help people that are escaping the war and coming to Nova Scotia,” he stated.

The Ukrainian Store opened its doorways in April and runs totally off donations. New Ukrainians can come to the shop and store for what they want — all totally free.

But now there’s a danger they’ll have to shut.

“The owners of this space have advised us that they have a tenant — a paying tenant — that will be coming effective the first of April so we’ve been asked to vacate by the end of March,” stated Langille.

1:54Twin sisters who fled Ukraine grateful for assist in Halifax

Since opening, the area has been donated to the trigger, permitting them to function rent-free, one thing Langille says they’re very grateful for. They’re now hoping to discover a new location to maintain issues going.

“I know there’s many (Ukrainians) that are slated to arrive in March and April and so that need is going to not only continue but it’s going to increase,” stated Langille.

Their present area is 4,000 sq. toes and so they’re hoping to seek out one thing related that’s on a bus route so it’s simply accessible, and has a storefront that may be pushed as much as to permit for big gadgets to be simply loaded and unloaded.

“If someone can help us with a new location of space, please help us,” pleaded Alla Subbotina, considered one of lots of of Ukrainians who’ve benefited from the shop.

She arrived in Canada in September 2022 together with her husband and two sons. They had been capable of finding an condo however had nothing to place in it.

“I took mattresses, sofa, table, kitchen stuff,” she stated.

“It’s very good because I have nothing, I was very surprised.”

Subbotina now volunteers on the retailer and says she had by no means anticipated something prefer it when she first arrived and he or she’s so grateful for the generosity of Canadians.

3:02Ukrainian refugees settling into life in Nova Scotia

Gala Chorna, who arrived in Canada alone in November, started volunteering across the identical time as Subbotina and says whereas she didn’t want any furnishings as she was fortunate sufficient to discover a furnished condo, the shop gave her one thing else: a neighborhood.

“Us volunteers, it’s my family because I’m alone in Canada.”

“Alla, many people say your sisters? Yes, it’s my new sister in my new country. It’s my family, it’s my new friends, I’m not feeling alone in Canada with these people.”

Chorna stated she is hoping they received’t have to shut as a result of it might be an actual loss for the various Ukrainians who might be arriving in Nova Scotia within the coming months.

“In the future, these people will need help, our store,” she stated.

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