By O.Kondrashov, J. Crego
Image Credit: O. Kondrashov
The russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sparked a global outcry and mobilization of support for the Ukrainian people. Communities around the world have found ways large and small to show solidarity and provide tangible aid. The remote port city of Prince Rupert in British Columbia, Canada has been no exception. Despite its distance from the war, Prince Rupert residents have actively organized to assist displaced Ukrainians seeking refuge. Their efforts demonstrate the power of grassroots goodwill to transcend geography.
Early Action by Dedicated Couple
Soon after the invasion began, Prince Rupert couple Iryna Levkovytska and Anatolii Levkovtskyi felt compelled to take direct action (Millar, 2022a). As immigrants from Ukraine themselves, they had deep personal ties motivating them. Iryna, a nurse at the local hospital, made the difficult decision to take leave and fly to Poland to help evacuate her sister and young nieces and nephew to safety in March (Millar, 2022b). Anatolii prepared to follow in support a couple weeks later, willing even to “drive refugees across the border” or “clear up bomb sites and rubble” (Millar, 2022a, para. 31). Friends and hospital colleagues generously donated to their self-organized aid fundraiser as they courageously headed into uncertainty (Millar, 2022c).
Grassroots Group Mobilization
Meanwhile in Prince Rupert, residents inspired by the couple’s bravery formed a local group to provide housing and community assistance for Ukrainians displaced by the war. The Rupert Refugee Support Group (RRSG) brought together dedicated volunteers who had helped resettle a Syrian refugee family in 2015-2016 (Millar, 2022d). Right after Russia’s invasion the RRSG put out a community call for help with accommodation, employment, fundraising, and networking with Ukrainians needing refuge. They began coordinating plans for the arrivals they expected to welcome. The group held a public meeting March 23 to consolidate efforts among citizens, organizations, and existing Ukrainian-Canadian groups in the small city (Millar, 2022d).
Creative Fundraising
In May, the RRSG partnered with the Lester Centre of the Arts, the city’s primary performing arts venue and cultural hub, to hold an impressive benefit concert for Ukrainian refugees. Dozens of musical acts and performers donated their talent for the “pay-what-you-can” event. Attendance exceeded the 700 seat capacity, and they raised over $17,000, a resounding success (Huband, 2022). In October RRSG hosted a full Ukrainian dinner cooked by recently arrived residents, followed by a dessert auction and musical entertainment—securing $25,000 in one spirited evening to sponsor more refugees (Rupert Society for Refugee Support, 2022). The group has also assisted dozens of Ukrainian newcomers with practical supports like housing, food, winter clothing donations, and resumé help.
Photography Exhibit
The revived Prince Rupert Ukrainian Society took shape in 2022 to provide cultural community for Ukrainians and promote education on their heritage. In December they partnered with the Ice House Gallery (Prince Rupert’s contemporary art exhibition space) and a photographer in Western Ukraine to showcase the beauty of the Ukrainian land and architecture before the destruction of war (Budden, 2022; Barker, 2022). Proceeds from sales supported resettlement efforts. The society also fundraised selling cultural t-shirts and traditional embroidered shirts online. Their Remembrance Day wreath honoring fallen Ukrainian and Canadian soldiers was a solemn act of solidarity.
Touching Holiday Gift
A local quilting guild handmade over 30 Christmas stockings and personalized gifts for Prince Rupert’s newly arrived Ukrainians in December 2022. It was a gesture of holiday welcoming that acknowledged the difficulty of first Christmas away from home (Bailey, 2022). The quilters delivered their creations during a December social gathering of the Ukrainian community.
Settling Families
By early 2023 over 35 Ukrainian adults and children had been resettled in Prince Rupert through the RRSG’s improbable persistence and boundless community goodwill (Rupert Society for Refugee Support, 2023). Each arrival was greeted at the airport and assisted with housing, often staying first in the homes of RRSG volunteers. Group members have worked intensively securing affordable long term rentals, necessary furnishings, clothing, and food. They offer transportation including winter tire changes and driving lessons in the snow. Help navigating complex government paperwork, disability applications when needed, banking, and technology access enables self-sufficiency. Crucially the RRSG also networks Ukrainian job seekers with employers in the small industrial port city—at fish plants, the grain terminal, port authority, hospitals and more.
Community Champions
Key leaders have emerged from the grassroots refugee aid mobilization. Ray and Pam Pedersen opened their home repeatedly as a landing spot for newly arrived families (Rupert Society for Refugee Support, 2022). Ray brought people together as emcee for fundraising events while Pam cooked meals. John Farrell lent management expertise from years of experience in refugee sponsorship programs internationally. Susan de la Nues patiently explains medical coverage, drives newcomers to appointments, and secures winter kids’ clothing donations. Bonnie Rudderham sewed quilts and cooked meals for fundraisers. Mercedes de la Nuez helped with complex immigration paperwork and government forms necessary to access healthcare and services. All volunteers have given money, time, housing, furnishings, job connections, and friendship.
Welcoming New Arrivals
The Prince Rupert Refugee Support group shared stories on Facebook as they welcomed Ukrainian individuals and families to the city. Petro, Yana, and their three children David, Christina, and Daniel first went to Poland when the war began, hoping to eventually return home. With help from Ray Pedersen, Mercedes de la Nuez, and others through the refugee group they were able to relocate to Prince Rupert (Prince Rupert Refugee Support, 2022).
Juliia and her young daughter left their home in Ukraine amid constant air raid sirens and bombing. Thanks to connections through the support group, they were provided free flights and a warm welcome in Prince Rupert from volunteers like Susan de la Nues. Juliia expressed deep gratitude for the incredible kindness shown as their team helped with practical and documents needs and more (Prince Rupert Refugee Support, 2022).
Paintings by displaced child artists from a Ukrainian art school were auctioned off locally to raise additional resettlement funds. Appreciation went to the teachers and principal who sent this cultural bridge (Prince Rupert Refugee Support, 2022).
The refugee support volunteers shared the wrenching journey of a mother named Alina who fled fierce fighting in Chernihiv with her daughter to Poland before being connected with the group’s assistance to build a new life in Canada. Settling took immense courage but also deep community goodwill (Prince Rupert Refugee Support, 2022).
Lasting Solidarity:
The story of Prince Rupert’s aid to Ukrainian refugees demonstrates the power of small communities to make an outsized impact through grassroots goodwill and persistence. Inspired by the selfless efforts of one couple with deep Ukrainian ties, ordinary citizens banded together to form the Rupert Refugee Support Group. Through creative community events, fundraising nights, job connections, and endless practical supports, they provided over 35 displaced Ukrainians safe haven to rebuild their lives an ocean away from war’s destruction. The volunteers exemplified the boundless generosity that emerges when global conflicts hit close to home. Their incredible welcome brought new life and culture to enrich this remote corner of the world.
References
Bailey, K. (2022, December 22). Prince Rupert quilters stitch community together with stockings for Ukrainian newcomers. The Northern View. https://www.thenorthernview.com/news/prince-rupert-quilters-stitch-community-together-with-stockings-for-ukrainian-newcomers-5997730
Barker, T. (2022, November 8). New Ukrainian society provides cultural support to war refugees. Prince Rupert Northern View. https://www.thenorthernview.com/news/new-ukrainian-society-provides-cultural-support-to-war-refugees-5996439/
Budden, M. (2022, November 29). ‘In Ukraine’ photography exhibit in Prince Rupert shows beauty pre-invasion. CFNR Radio. https://www.cfnrfm.ca/2022/11/29/in-ukraine-photography-exhibit-in-prince-rupert-shows-beauty-pre-invasion/
Huband, E. (2022, May 16). Benefit concert in Prince Rupert to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees. CFTK-TV. https://www.cftktv.com/benefit-concert-in-prince-rupert-to-raise-funds-for-ukrainian-refugees-1.5906091?cache=yes%3FclipId%3D68597%3FautoPlay%3Dtrue
Millar, K. (2022a, March 8). Prince Rupert couple flying to Ukraine to save family amid Russian invasion. Castlegar News. https://www.castlegarnews.com/news/prince-rupert-couple-flying-to-ukraine-to-save-family-amid-russian-invasion-4748312/
Millar, K. (2022b, March 11). Prince Rupert nurse stands in line for hours at packed Ukrainian Embassy. Prince Rupert Northern View. https://www.thenorthernview.com/news/prince-rupert-nurse-stands-in-line-for-hours-at-packed-ukrainian-embassy-5990224
Millar, K. (2022c, March 9). To Ukraine with heart – funding campaign for Prince Rupert couple headed to warzone. Quesnel Cariboo Observer. https://www.quesnelobserver.com/news/to-ukraine-with-heart-funding-campaign-for-prince-rupert-couple-headed-to-warzone-5806990
Millar, K. (2022d, March 19). Prince Rupert Refugee Support group formed to support displaced Ukrainians. Terrace Standard. https://www.terracestandard.com/news/prince-rupert-refugee-support-group-formed-to-support-displaced-ukrainians-6063805/
Rupert Society for Refugee Support. Facebook.
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