When the full-scale russian invasion broke out in Ukraine in February 2022, many Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes and seek refuge in other countries. Among them was a 23-year-old Yuliia Siemak from Mykolaiv, who found herself in Ottawa, Canada. Despite the challenges she faced adapting to a new country, she never forgot about the plight of her fellow Ukrainians back home. With determination and a compassionate heart, she set out to help Ukrainian women in Ottawa start anew and find the strength to move forward. In this article, we’ll explore her story and how she’s making a difference in the lives of others.
On the morning of February 24, 2022, my mother woke me up and told me that Russia had launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine. I can still remember her shocked face and my overwhelming pain. We were hoping to the last that the russians would withdraw their troops from our borders. I realized that everything we feared had come true.
For the first two weeks after the invasion, I lived in Mykolaiv with my family. It was the worst time in my life. I tried to help my family survive morally and physically. Together with the residents of the city, I was involved in raising funds and medical supplies. It was sad, tearful and painful to realize that our people were going to war. We could not stop crying when they destroyed kindergartens and killed children.
Yulia Siemak in her native Mykolaiv, August 2021. Personal archive
Yuliia Siemak celebrates her birthday a month before the large-scale Russian invasion. January 2022. Personal archive
It was hard for me to make the decision to leave Ukraine. I thought about how I could leave my family and my life. But already on March 14, 2022, because of the escalating situation, I decided to leave for Turkey. For the first month and a half, I tried to just live on. It was difficult for me to be in a city with many russians. I resented it. After a while, I decided to move to Canada, where my boyfriend was waiting for me.
On April 23, 2022, I arrived in the Canadian province of Quebec. For the first four months, I tried to adapt to the new French-speaking environment, but I realized that it was quite difficult to make a living in this province without a proper level of French. I tried to communicate daily with my family and friends who remained in Ukraine.
A few months later, in mid-August 2022, I moved to the province of Ontario, the capital of Canada, Ottawa. It was a positive decision because I finally had the opportunity to communicate in English and find a proper job. Also, there are many Ukrainians living in Ottawa, and I was glad to have the opportunity to meet new people. Now I live close to the Ukrainian Church and “Café Ukraine”, which actively help Ukrainians find new friends and integrate into society.
From the very beginning of the invasion, I tried to help Ukrainians: I participated in information warfare and volunteered in various projects. After moving to Canada, I felt like I wanted to do more. I started looking for organizations that could help the Ukrainian army and refugees. It was important for me to become part of an organization that helps newly arrived Ukrainians in Canada. After a while, I learned about the Ukrainian hub “Maidan Market” in Ottawa, where volunteers help Ukrainians adapt to their new life in Canada. I was happy to speak our language, to be among our people, and to see Canadians helping newly arrived refugees and making donations. At Maidan Market and the women’s nonprofit organization iSisters Technology Mentoring, I started working as a Ukrainian-English-speaking instructor for the Ukrainian Women’s Adaptation Course in Canada. This project helps women start a new career, understand the culture of the workplace, and make new useful contacts.
As a Ukrainian woman, I can tell you that you feel vulnerable to many factors in a new country. You don’t know how to live in a new environment and what to expect from others. I talked to Ukrainian women and realized that we are all united by our unpreparedness for so many challenges.
Firstly, not all women speak English at a sufficient level to live a comfortable life. Secondly, many women came with their children, which is a financial challenge: they need to pay for housing, kindergarten, and household expenses. It is difficult.
Because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the economy of many countries has suffered losses, and Canada is no exception. Many newly arrived Ukrainians are finding it harder to live and build their lives due to inflation and rising prices. Canadians are actively helping Ukrainians, but for the most part, everyone is responsible for their own lives. It’s also a new country, with much larger cities and territories, and public transportation is difficult, so you have to adapt to all this.
Unfortunately, some Ukrainians decide to leave Canada. First of all, it is difficult to find good affordable housing, the prices for which are simply outrageous.
Secondly, many Ukrainians are homesick. People realize that their own country is the best! Even if the standard of living is lower, and even because of the war, you realize that this is your home. The last thing I think of is the language barrier. And many people start learning the language in Canada and face difficulties, which are imposed by a harsher climate, and economic situation… And you lose motivation.
In Canada, there are opportunities to maintain cultural ties with the homeland. We have a Ukrainian community, and various organizations such as the Ukrainian Church, Café Ukraine, and Maidan Market, where Ukrainians regularly gather together. This format helps the community keep in touch with each other and their native culture. Ukrainians also help each other, tell each other where to find discounts in stores, start making new acquaintances and create their own communities.
I believe that it is possible to have tentative plans, desires and dreams for the future. I plan to start writing again and make more friends in the industry. Words and people are what I’m most interested in right now. Also, to continue to adapt to my new life in Canada, I want to learn more about this country.
I dream of returning to Ukraine every morning when I wake up. I already have plans for the future. Likewise, I will return to Ukraine, but not because the war will end. I want it to happen tomorrow, so that the war stops tormenting us and the country begins (and even continues) to rebuild peacefully. I want to be home again, but I have already started building a new life. Even with all the problems with adaptation, I realize that Canada is the second largest country by the number of Ukrainians in the world, and it makes sense why people stay here. It so happened that my life will continue in this country.
Canada has already become my second home. We have only one homeland – Ukraine. But I travelled a lot and got new experiences. And no country other than Canada can become a second home, because this is where the people who are important to me are.
I would like to give some advice to Ukrainians who have already moved or are planning to move to Canada. First, do not be afraid of anything, because fear does not help anyone. Even if you don’t want to ask for help, there will always be people here who can help you.
Second, remember who you are and where you come from. Even if you have moved, you are still Ukrainian. Even if you do not consider yourself a patriot and do not want to shed blood for Ukraine, you are still Ukrainian. Remember your origins, and do not forget your homeland: Your heart and soul should remain there. I know that I am a patriot of Ukraine, but I want people to try to see the positive in the fact that you can live in another country but still have a soul in your native land. Every country has its own problems.
I love Canadians who support Ukraine morally, financially and emotionally. I want to thank them for being there for us, for really helping us with humanitarian aid and kind words.
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.”
