Dozens of families in Edmonton are opening their doors and hearts to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. Marni Panas and her son Alex was among them.
“When the invasion started in Ukrainebeing Ukrainian-Canadian ourselves, that’s very personal to us, and we thought, ‘How can we help people who are 6,000 kilometers away?’, Panas said.
Soon after, she contacted Ukraine’s Canadian Social Service and apply to be a presenter for families seeking refuge.
Non-profit organization urges Canada to fulfill its commitments to provide financial support for Ukrainian refugees
Their guests arrived just in time for Easter, six days before.
“They said, ‘We have two people who just landed at Edmonton airport who need homes tomorrow. We will bring them in at noon,” explains Panas.
“Our lives have completely changed in 12 hours. We scrambled to find beds, bedding and supplies. Then they came into our house and it was like we were never strangers.”
Volodymyr Bril and his mother Iryna left their home, Ternopil, in western Ukraine almost a month ago.
“We were under a lot of stress and we saw missiles flying, and these planes were always in the air,” Bril said.
Getting here was not easy for the British, who first fled to Poland, then Paris, then Montreal.
They chose Edmonton because of the strong Ukrainian community. Their first impressions?
“It’s clean here. Many kind people. It’s a big city. The climate is completely different, but it’s fine. We feel that it is safe here.”
READ MORE: Ukrainian family starts new life in Edmonton
Initially, the idea of sharing a house with people they had never met caused tension in the Panas family, but just six days later the Brils had become a family.
“You follow your heart – we know this is the right thing to do. We need to do something. We have a home to provide, we have security to provide, we have food to provide,” said Panas.
“What they are doing is something special. Thank you, thank you all,” Bril added.
Meanwhile, Bril is hoping to find a job. Anyone who has the opportunity is required email him.
“I’m applying for different jobs, it could be sales, it could be IT sales, it could be customer service,” he said, adding that he speaks multiple languages.
For how long will the British stay? The battle will decide that. Currently, their home in Ternopil has not been attacked by Russia, but the British say that could change.
READ MORE: Edmonton family helps Ukrainian relatives escape to Canada
But they will always have the key to the Panas house.
“They are welcome to stay here as long as they need a home,” said Panas.
More host families are needed in Edmonton. To participate, contact the Canadian Social Service of Ukraine at ucss@shaw.ca
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