By O. Kondrashov, J. Crego
Image Credit: Google Maps
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has resulted in a devastating humanitarian crisis, displacing millions of Ukrainians from their homes. In response, communities around the world have stepped up to provide aid and refuge to those fleeing the war. The towns of Sooke, Langford and Colwood, located on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, have been at the forefront of these efforts. Through grassroots initiatives, community collaboration, and the tireless work of local heroes, these small towns have made a big impact in supporting Ukrainian refugees as they seek safety and start new lives in Canada.
Ukrainian Safe Haven: Providing a Home for Refugees
One of the most significant ways Sooke is supporting Ukraine is through the Ukrainian Safe Haven, a former resort property that has been converted into a refuge for Ukrainian refugees (Holowaychuk, 2022). The haven was established by Brian and Sharon Holowaychuk, a couple of Ukrainian descent who felt compelled to help after seeing the devastation caused by the war. As Brian explained, “These people are me. They’re exactly like me. Their only crime as far as I’m concerned is that they want to be more like us, they want to be more like a western country, and Putin doesn’t like that” (CHEK News, 2022, para. 3).
With support from the local community, the Holowaychuks have worked tirelessly to renovate the aging property to house up to 100 refugees. The 33-hectare site includes a lodge and cabins nestled in the forests of East Sooke, providing a peaceful and comfortable place for families to heal and adjust to life in Canada. As Sharon noted, “I think there will be a lot of trauma. I think there will be a lot of group therapy going on to really understand how it feels what it’s like to leave everything and flee for your life” (CHEK News, 2022, para. 9). By offering a safe haven, the Holowaychuks and the Sooke community are giving refugees a chance to process their experiences and begin rebuilding.
The haven officially opened its doors in April 2022 and has since welcomed dozens of families, primarily women and children (Leyne, 2022). For many, it is a refuge after harrowing journeys. Sofia Slobodeniuk, a resident at the haven, described leaving her home in Ukraine with her two young children: “It was a terrible time in west Ukraine. Lots of people were coming from other parts of the country. People were running like rats from a sinking ship” (Moreton, 2023, para. 6). After a two-day walk to Slovakia, six months of waiting, and navigating the visa process, Slobodeniuk and her children finally arrived in Canada. “We had a meeting online, and Sarah and Matthew (Levine) opened the door for my family,” she said of her hosts in Sooke (Moreton, 2023, para. 12).
For the children at the haven, who have endured so much upheaval and trauma, having a safe place to just be kids again has been invaluable. In July 2022, a group of volunteers organized a week-long summer camp, giving the children a chance to play, learn and bond with each other. “It’s a big change,” said Buchueiva, who fled Ukraine with her two children. “We do this because of [her],” she said, pointing to her daughter. “She needs a better future” (Strain, 2022, para. 2-3). The camp, facilitated by Active Discovery out of Southern California, aimed to help the kids heal through art, music and recreation. “Everyone deserves a childhood,” said founder Mary Ann Sprague-Denison (Strain, 2022, para. 9).
While the Ukrainian Safe Haven has provided a much-needed temporary home for refugees, the goal is to help them transition to long-term housing and self-sufficiency. This has proven to be one of the most significant challenges, given the high cost of living and housing shortage in the Greater Victoria area. single mother Sofia Slobodeniuk, who works long hours as a hairdresser while caring for her two children, has struggled to find an affordable place to live. “I want to become a permanent resident but I need to work a full day, and daycare can be a huge problem,” she said (Moreton, 2023, para. 18). Despite the obstacles, Slobodeniuk remains hopeful. “I’ve made it through the first year and done whatever it takes to survive, I think I’m ready to face the next year here” (Moreton, 2023, para. 22).
Community Collaboration: Rallying Support for Refugees
The establishment and operation of the Ukrainian Safe Haven has truly been a community effort, with businesses, organizations and residents of Sooke, Langford and Colwood coming together to support the refugees in any way they can. From renovations to donations of food, clothing and funds, the outpouring of generosity has been overwhelming.
One of the first hurdles the Holowaychuks faced was getting the aging resort property up to code and habitable for the refugees. They put out a call for skilled tradespeople to volunteer their services, and the response was immediate. “I need skilled help. I need guys who really know what they’re doing to patch up the buildings we have,” said Brian. “I think we can create quite a community out here” (CHEK News, 2022, para. 13). The Sooke community rallied, with contractors, electricians, plumbers and other tradespeople working around the clock to complete the necessary renovations.
Local businesses and organizations have also stepped up to provide ongoing support to the refugees. The Sooke Rotary Club, in collaboration with inmates from the William Head Institution, built custom picnic tables for the haven, giving families a place to gather and enjoy the outdoors. The inmates also knitted sock monkeys to comfort the children. “It’s not something you would expect from inmates at a penitentiary,” said Rotary president John Topolniski. Materials were donated by local businesses like Home Hardware and Slegg Lumber (Stiebel, 2022, para. 18).
The Sooke Quilters Guild launched the Sunflower Quilt Project, an initiative to sew 100 quilts to welcome Ukrainian families at the haven. More than a dozen quilters from across the region contributed, creating beautiful, cozy quilts that serve as “a warm hug” for those who have lost so much (Lindquist, 2022, para. 8). Other community members donated fabric, money and time to the cause. “It just warms my heart to be able to help,” said quilter Bernadine Libreiro, who made nine quilts herself (Lindquist, 2022, para. 22).
Local grocery stores, farms and restaurants have donated food to keep the refugees nourished, while community members have collected clothing, toys and other essentials. Schools in the Sooke district have welcomed Ukrainian students, providing them with a safe and supportive learning environment as they adjust to life in Canada. The Greater Victoria region as a whole has come together to support the refugees through various initiatives and fundraisers.
Help Ukraine Vancouver Island, a grassroots organization founded by Ukrainian Canadian Karmen McNamara, has been instrumental in assisting refugees across the island with everything from finding host families to accessing social services and language training (Moreton, 2023). The group also runs a weekly food share program to provide groceries to refugee families in need. Notably, many of the volunteers at the food share events are refugees themselves, now giving back to support newer arrivals (Brooke, 2023).
Maxxam Insurance in Sooke launched a fundraiser to support a newly arrived Ukrainian family who left behind their husband and father to seek safety in Canada. The family of three is “starting school and looking for work here,” while dealing with the uncertainty of having to leave loved ones behind (Maxxam Insurance, 2023, para. 2). The fundraiser collected clothing, gift cards and cash donations to help the family get settled.
Local government has also played a role in supporting Ukrainian refugees. The District of Sooke, City of Colwood and City of Langford have all worked to raise awareness and funds for the cause. Langford, in particular, has been a leader in the region’s humanitarian response. “We’re in this for the long haul,” said Langford fire chief Bob Beckett, who has helped lead the city’s relief efforts. “We’re committed to helping the Ukrainian people as long as they need help” (Ferguson, 2023, para. 11).
In September 2023, Beckett and a Langford-based team will make their third trip to Ukraine to deliver backpacks, medical supplies and technology to displaced families and students. They also plan to purchase a school bus in Poland to transport students in Ukraine from schools without bomb shelters to those that have them (Brooke, 2023). The team hopes to raise an additional $50,000 to fund this vital aid. Speaking at a news conference about the mission, Colwood councillor Ian Ward emphasized the importance of the humanitarian work. “Supporting the community and school and the medical hospital is extremely important,” he said (Brooke, 2023, para. 18).
Local Heroes: Responding With Compassion and Generosity
Behind the community-wide efforts to support Ukrainian refugees are everyday heroes who have gone above and beyond to make a difference. From the Holowaychuks, who upended their retirement plans to establish the Ukrainian Safe Haven, to the countless volunteers and donors who have given their time, skills and resources, the response has been a testament to the compassion and generosity of the human spirit.
Among these local heroes is Sooke resident Bill Romaniuk, who started a creative fundraiser called Change for Hope to help newly arrived Ukrainians navigate Canadian currency. Inspired by his grandfather’s story of being scammed when he immigrated from Ukraine in the 1930s, Romaniuk and his siblings designed a booklet that explains Canadian coins and bills in Ukrainian and English. Each booklet contains real currency for the refugees to use – a total of $188.40 that Romaniuk painstakingly collected from local banks. To fund the project, he reached out to local businesses and community members for donations (Stiebel, 2023).
So far, Romaniuk has distributed 110 Change for Hope booklets to refugees at the Ukrainian Safe Haven and through other support organizations. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. “Many people arriving in a new country don’t understand the currency or even recognize what it looks like,” said Victoria Grando of the Ukrainian Canadian Cultural Society of Vancouver Island. “Bill’s come up with such a great idea where people can keep the brochure and use the money in it for groceries or whatever they need” (Stiebel, 2023, para. 15).
Another local hero is Karmen McNamara, the founder of Help Ukraine Vancouver Island. A tireless advocate for the refugees, McNamara has worked around the clock to connect families with resources and support. “She keeps tabs on every family arriving on the Island and identifies what they need,” said Romaniuk (Stiebel, 2023, para. 21). From raising funds by selling perogies to coordinating a weekly food share program, McNamara’s dedication to the cause has been instrumental in helping refugees feel welcomed and supported.
Conclusion: A Beacon of Hope and Humanity
As the war in Ukraine continues to displace millions, the efforts of small Canadian towns like Sooke, Langford and Colwood to welcome and support refugees serve as a beacon of hope and humanity. Through initiatives like the Ukrainian Safe Haven, community fundraisers, and volunteer-led aid missions, these communities have shown that compassion knows no borders.
The outpouring of support has not only provided vital assistance to those fleeing the war but has also forged deep bonds between the refugees and their host communities. For many, Canada has become a second home, a place of safety and opportunity. As Ukrainian Canadian Cultural Society manager Victoria Grando put it, “Anything helps when you come to a new country, and what Bill’s doing is awesome” (Stiebel, 2023, para. 15).
Yet even as the refugees begin to rebuild their lives in Canada, their thoughts remain with their war-torn homeland and the loved ones they left behind. “I miss my family, my friends, my boyfriend, my work, my dreams and the life we had in Ukraine,” said Sofia Slobodeniuk. “Russia took away our home and broke our dream, but will never take away our freedom” (Moreton, 2023, para. 23).
As the communities of Sooke, Langford and Colwood continue to stand with Ukraine, they offer a powerful example of what can be achieved when people come together in a spirit of compassion and solidarity. In the face of unimaginable tragedy, their efforts have provided not only material aid but also a sense of hope and belonging for those who have lost so much. As Ukrainian surgeon Dr. Oleg Atamanyuk said during a visit to Colwood, “Canada is like a second home to Ukrainians who have left their war torn country” (Brooke, 2023, para. 20).
By opening their hearts and homes to the refugees, the people of these small BC towns have shown that even the most local of actions can have a global impact. Their generosity and commitment to helping others serve as a reminder of the best of humanity, even in the darkest of times. As the Ukrainian Safe Haven’s motto states, “These people deserve it more than anybody right now. It would be good for their souls” (CHEK News, 2022, para. 25). Indeed, in providing a safe haven and a chance at a new beginning, the communities of Sooke, Langford and Colwood are nourishing not only the souls of the refugees but also the soul of their own communities, one act of kindness at a time.
References:
Brooke, M. P. (2023, September 25). SD62 welcoming four more Ukrainian students in spring 2024. Island Social Trends. https://islandsocialtrends.ca/sd62-welcoming-four-more-ukrainian-students-in-spring-2024/
CHEK News. (2022, March 16). ‘I need skilled help’: Resort owners in East Sooke pledge aging property to house Ukrainian refugees. CHEK News. https://www.cheknews.ca/i-need-skilled-help-resort-owners-in-east-sooke-pledge-aging-property-to-house-ukrainian-refugees-992363/
Ferguson, H. (2023, March 24). Local Hero Awards 2023: Couple making life safer for Ukrainian refugees in Greater Victoria. Goldstream Gazette. https://www.goldstreamgazette.com/community/local-hero-awards-2023-couple-making-life-safer-for-ukrainian-refugees-in-greater-victoria-650689
Holowaychuk, B. (2022). Ukrainian Safe Haven. https://ukrainiansafehaven.org/
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Lindquist, E. (2022, May 17). Sooke quilters sewing warm welcome for Ukrainian refugees. Victoria News. https://www.vicnews.com/community/sooke-quilters-sewing-warm-welcome-for-ukrainian-refugees-100435
Maxxam Insurance. (2023). Ukrainian family in need | Sooke, BC. Maxxam Insurance. https://www.maxxaminsurance.com/blog/ukraine-family
Moreton, B. (2023, September 11). Ukrainian single mom facing challenges in Sooke. Sooke News Mirror. https://www.sookenewsmirror.com/local-news/ukrainian-single-mom-facing-challenges-in-sooke-3132864
Stiebel, R. (2022, September 26). Collaboration provides comfort for families at Ukrainian Safe Haven. Vancouver Island Free Daily. https://www.vancouverislandfreedaily.com/community/collaboration-provides-comfort-for-families-at-ukrainian-safe-haven-7235366
Stiebel, R. (2023, January 11). Fundraiser navigates currency for Ukrainians. Peninsula News Review. https://www.peninsulanewsreview.com/news/fundraiser-navigates-currency-for-ukrainians-429926
Strain, B. (2022, July 25). Ukrainian children at Sooke refuge enjoy week-long summer camp. CTV News. https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/ukrainian-children-at-sooke-refuge-enjoy-week-long-summer-camp-1.6001943