(Supplied/Sonya Jahn)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Helping Hand

P.A. woman receives award for work helping Ukrainian newcomers

Nov 21, 2022 | 5:00 PM

A Prince Albert woman is being recognized for the work she’s done to help Ukrainian newcomers.

Sonya Jahn received a Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal over the weekend for the countless hours she’s spent helping the more than 100 Ukrainians who moved to the city over the past several months.

She joked to paNOW this volunteer work feels like a full-time job, however, it’s something she’s proud to do every day.

“They’re so vulnerable and dependent on someone being kind to them and giving a helping hand,” she said.

Krystina Tulchynska is one of the newcomers helped by Jahn.

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She arrived in the community back in May and, with help from Jahn, has been able to build a new life in a new country.

“She helps with everything,” Tulchynska said. “From food and clothes, help with a place to live, a place to work, and trying to find new government programs.”

Krystina Tulchynska with Sonya Jahn. (submitted photo/Krystina Tulchynska)

Arguably, the biggest project Jahn completed for these newcomers is connecting all of them with each other to ensure no one feels alone.

“She made this community, she made it all by herself,” Tulchynska added.

Jahn noted she was truly honoured by the medal, however, seeing these people happy after everything they’ve been through means more to her.

“My reward is to set these people up for success so that they can be happy, so they can build a new life here in Prince Albert,” she said.

Jahn is also Ukrainian which gave her even more motivation to help out. Her mom moved to Prince Albert from Ukraine with her siblings and parents back in 1931 when she was just three years old.

“This could have easily been my own family that’s going through the current state in Ukraine had my grandfather not been brave and come over to Canada,” Jahn said.

Read about other recipients of the Queen’s medal here.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow