ASSINIBOIA - Another Ukrainian refugee family is expected to arrive in Assiniboia by the first week of November.
The “Southland Ukrainian Relocation Committee” was established with the support of the Southland Co-op, Assiniboia Rotary Club, Lutheran Church and other caring individuals. The goal of this organization is to assist families trying to relocate in rural Saskatchewan.
The organization has helped bring a Ukrainian refugee family to Assiniboia earlier this year, and this will be the second family sponsored to live in Assiniboia.
“This time it is a family of five, so that is the mom, the dad, and three children ages ten, eight and three,” said Marc Topola, chair of the committee.
The committee had a second video interview with the family on Monday, and Topola noted that they all “seemed anxious but enthusiastic about coming to Assiniboia."
"Plans are well underway for them to get out of the Ukraine, and to get to Canada,” added Topola. The family feels relatively safe where they are in the Ukraine for the time being but safety concerns are changing on a day to day basis in the country.
To help support this second Ukraine refugee family, the committee has already secured housing from the Assiniboia Housing Authority.
They are looking for all kinds of furnishings and other supplies for the family. Financial contributions are more than welcome and always needed.
“The first time we put out a call to the community to help sponsor a refugee family, it was a tremendous success. We have received great response from the residents of the community and the entire region,” said Topola.
Members of the first Ukrainian refugee family have settled extremely well in our community.
Natalia, the mother of the family, expressed her appreciation and gratitude in the “You Know You Grew Up In Assiniboia” Facebook page.
“As mother, I’m very happy that my children Yuliia and Nazarii got a chance to safely continue their education and work,” reads the post. “Our benefactors are people with great and kind heart, very welcoming, understanding and responsible.”
Interested businesses, individuals or other organizations that want to assist with the sponsorship of the Ukrainian refugee family can contact Marc Topola at [email protected], or Leanne Pituley at [email protected].
