On January 12, 2023, the Ukrainian center “Maidan Market” was reopened in Ottawa, which will provide information assistance to Ukrainian newcomers in Canada, who fled the Russian invasion. The Center was established with the support of the “Ottawa Branch of the Congress of Ukraine in Canada” to promote the speedy integration of Ukrainians into Canadian society.
Maidan Market is open twice a week, Monday from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Westgate Shopping Center, 1309 Carling Avenue, Unit 13, Ottawa, ON K1Z 7L3.
Ukrainians have the opportunity to obtain up-to-date information on finding work and applying for driver’s license, housing and language courses, finding a school for children, etc. During the visit to the community center, people can get advice from the Ukrainian-speaking coordinator, who individually helps to find the resources necessary to start life in a new city.
The Maidan market is visited daily by dozens of Ukrainians who have recently arrived in Ottawa and are looking for information and resources. The Center’s volunteers work with every newly arrived Ukrainian: Ukrainian-speaking volunteers meet with Ukrainians, show them the center, identify their basic needs, and help them find the necessary resources.
The center has the main infrastructure: information stands with various instructions, some specialized classrooms, recreation areas, and a children’s corner. Maidan Market also has English-speaking volunteers, who help to communicate with the Canadian community of Ottawa, among which there are many willing to help Ukrainians. (and help Ukrainians practise English).
A few platforms for information and educational activities were organized in Maidan Market, which can be freely used by newly arrived Ukrainians. Among them is a workroom equipped with a laptop and high-speed Internet, where everybody can work in a comfortable atmosphere or just spend time with their favourite book.
In one of the premises of the Maidan market, volunteers have equipped art studios, where Ukrainians will be able to relieve stress through art therapy and come to art classes with children aged 5–13 years.
It is important to note that the Maidan market provides opportunities for volunteering and helping other people. Every week, on the official website of the organization, you can find a volunteer schedule and fill out an application for joining the Maidan Market.
“We are open to this, and now we need Ukrainian and English-speaking volunteers who can join our team. The main tasks are to help the Ukrainians get the necessary help and create a safe space. We are also looking for people from various fields willing to share their professional experience with Ukrainians and help them find opportunities.” – says Svitlana Maksiuta, manager and coordinator of the Maidan market.
The Maidan market has four areas of work aimed at the development of the local Ukrainian community and assistance to newly arrived Ukrainians.
The interesting history of the Maidan market: the Ukrainian center in Ottawa started work in May 2022. During this time, more than 2,000 Ukrainians visited the Maidan Market and received much assistance. For the first time, the center focused on providing humanitarian assistance to newly arrived Ukrainians, namely essential items (footwear, clothing, hygiene items, and canned foods). After six months of work, the volunteers came to the conclusion that the needs of the people during this time had changed, and the center was beginning to reorganize the work style.
Currently, the Maidan Market team continues to work and develop new areas of public works that will help newly arrived Ukrainians to integrate into Canadian society as soon as possible. Follow the center’s news on the official website and on Facebook, where volunteers also regularly post useful resources for newly arrived Ukrainians, and interesting educational and informational events.
After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, millions of Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes. On March 3, 2022, the Government of Canada announced the CUAET program for emergency entry of Ukrainians into the country, temporary financial assistance and access to numerous resettlement and adaptation services.
The Canada-Ukraine Emergency Travel Authorization is the fastest, safest, and most effective way for Ukrainians to come to Canada, simplifying existing visa and tourist requirements. To date, over half a million applications have been approved.
The report was prepared by journalist Mykyta Budnyk, a student of V.I. Vernadsky Taurida National University for the Ukrainian media truthfulreporting.org within the project “Life of Ukrainians in Canada and Germany after the start of a full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine.”
