TikToker Andrian Makhnachov came to Regina from Ukraine after the war began earlier this year. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

By CKOM News - Libby Giesbrecht

Ukrainian Refugees

Saskatchewan a popular destination for displaced Ukrainians

Nov 20, 2022 | 9:00 AM

Saskatchewan is fulfilling the “Canadian dream” of two Ukrainian brothers — and it’s a dream many other people from Ukraine are desperately trying to live.

Oleksandr Makhnachov said that since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February, Saskatchewan has been very vocal and “has shown a hand of help” that Ukrainian people deeply appreciate.

They’re clamouring to get to Saskatchewan, as evidenced by the scramble for seats on the fourth flight bringing displaced Ukrainians to the province, all of which were claimed in just four days.

According to the provincial government, once the fourth flight touches down next week, 2,700 Ukrainian citizens will have arrived in Saskatchewan since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine.

“One wrong click (and) you can’t get registration, because there are so many people that want to get in,” Makhnachov said.

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The new popularity of Saskatchewan among Ukrainian citizens is tied to things like available support services, temporary housing, good jobs with good pay, cheaper rent than other parts of Canada and the world, and a significant Ukrainian population that has already settled in the province.

“That’s why everybody wants to settle here,” Makhnachov shared.

Makhnachov himself came to Saskatchewan from Toronto just nine months ago. He first immigrated to Canada in 2017 after earning his law degree in England. Because his degree was transferable, he said it wasn’t too difficult for him to settle in Canada.

But it wasn’t so simple for his brother Andrian, who arrived here in May.

He said he found it very hard to first adjust to moving to Saskatchewan.

“When I came to Canada, everything was so strange and I was really depressed,” he shared.

Andrian said he was spending time worrying and complaining with his brothers about how they would settle into a life in Canada, and one of his brothers urged him to take his concerns and turn them into a TikTok video.

Though he was unconvinced at first, Andrian did end up posting a video marvelling about some of the new things he’s discovered in Canada that he had never seen in Ukraine.

The video racked up way more comments and views than Andrian expected, so he started posting videos daily, garnering even more followers and even some brand offers. Now, he said, the video-sharing platform has become a big part of his life.

His videos detailing things like combined washer-dryers in apartments and Boston Pizza’s perogy pizza – “It tastes like some Ukrainian dish” – have piqued further interest in Saskatchewan, as Ukrainian viewers find out he’s living in Regina and want to learn more about the area.

The videos drew from Andrian’s own curiosity and constant surprise at new discoveries he continues to make in Regina.

His videos are especially popular with younger people in Ukraine, teaching them about Canada, Makhnachov said.

Makhnachov was also part of creating a Facebook group, “Canada for Ukrainians,” and has been seeing — and promoting — Saskatchewan becoming more well-known among Ukrainian people.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Lisa Schick