Russell Scott (left) and Danylo Puderak at the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in Saskatoon on July 12, 2023. (Libby Giesbrecht/650 CKOM)

By Libby Giesbrecht, CKOM News Staff

War-displaced Ukrainians still settling in Saskatchewan

Jul 17, 2023 | 8:49 AM

While the war in Ukraine may have faded a little bit from public view, Ukrainians are still setting up new lives in Saskatchewan as the war passes another grim milestone.

Danylo Puderak, executive director of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) of Saskatchewan, said displaced Ukrainians are still coming into the Saskatoon office every day.

“Certainly it’s not the same level as it was just a couple of months ago,” said Puderak, who noted Ukrainians new to Canada are still in need.

“We’re trying to … meet those immediate needs.”

July 10 marked 500 days of war in Ukraine.

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The needs include connecting newly arrived families with the settlement sector and services they require to help them with basic needs like obtaining social insurance numbers, health care and opening bank accounts in Saskatchewan.

Finding a safe place to live and work are also major considerations for people working to set up their new lives. Not only are people from Ukraine arriving and looking to provide for their immediate families, they have other financial considerations.

“They’re also sending money back to help their families in Ukraine,” Puderak explained.

He said the reality is that the war in Ukraine is not over and is, indeed, far from resolution.

“It isn’t the leading story anymore but the reality of it is that it’s still in the news every single day,” Puderak said.

As Ukraine makes more progress pushing back Russian forces, Puderak said more atrocities of war are coming to light that have been carried out in occupied territories. These new, horrifying discoveries are affecting families, he said — and have happened in places families have fled.

It also means a longer time for people seeking refuge to spend in Canada, should they wish to still return to Ukraine once the country is safe again.

Puderak said it leaves people who are displaced wondering about what their lives will look like for the next while.

He added that should more bombings hit cities again — like Russia’s elevated attacks that set in a year ago — numbers of displaced people could increase again.

Puderak noted there have been successes since war first broke out, though.

He said the 500 days of war have brought significant learning and knowledge about people’s needs to the province of Saskatchewan.

“We’re better prepared now,” Puderak shared.

He also offered the reminder that Ukrainians are not the only war-torn, displaced people in the world, but this issue remains close to people’s hearts because they represent the people who are our neighbours.

“How many people do you grow up with that (have) a baba?” Puderak said with a smile. “It’s dear to us. We can really feel that.”

Puderak said the most significant form of support needed for Ukrainians at this time is donations of furniture, as families settle in new homes and wish to furnish them.
The Saskatoon UCC has a furniture depot accepting donations.