‘A new home’: Ukrainians in Lethbridge prepare for first Orthodox Christmas in Canada
It's the first time Alla Panchenko and Veronica Mykoliachuk will be celebrating Orthodox Christmas in Canada.
The two, along with their families, are now living in Lethbridge after fleeing Ukraine last summer.
“It's our first Christmas in Canada,” Mykoliachuk said. “We left our relatives, our parents, our brothers, (and) sisters. Every day we know bad news from Ukraine, horrible news and we understand that we are lucky.”
With the Christmas tree set up as a reminder of the joyous holiday, the pair say the journey hasn't been easy.
PRESERVING HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
After leaving everything in Ukraine and arriving in Lethbridge, both families have had to start over.
But the one thing that hasn't changed is their Christmas traditions.
“We prepare many foods, many dishes,” Mykoliachuk said. “We have fancy Christmas table, with many, many dishes, up to 12 at a time.”
Mykoliachuk, who fled with husband and children, arrived in Lethbridge in June, while Panchenko, her husband and kids came to Lethbridge in August.
Both families received help from the Lethbridge Rotary Club. The club was able to raise about $50,000 to help support Ukrainians arriving in the city.
“Our job is to provide that support after they meet with Lethbridge Family Services because they get kind of the basics with AHS (Alberta Health Services) and some of the things are coordinated by them,” said Todd Brown, director of community services with the Lethbridge Rotary Club.
So far, about 200 Ukrainians have arrived in Lethbridge, with the club helping 18 families.
NEW YEARS PARTY
Brown says as a way to build relationships with other Ukrainians in the community, the club hosted a New Year’s party – just one of many events the club has put on for those new to the city.
“When we settle them here it feels like, sometimes it's a lot of work and sometimes it's a lot of coordinating, but when you're in the middle of it, it's emotional because you really feel like you're helping people,” Brown said.
Both Panchenko and Mykoliachuk say the help they received from the community has been unbelievable and they hope to return the favour in the near future.
“I’ve never met such wonderful, amazing, incredible people who just want to share and to make, for us, a new home,” Mykoliachuk said.
More than 18,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Alberta since the start of the war in late February 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Walking pneumonia is surging in Canada. Is it peaking now?
CTVNews.ca spoke with various medical experts to find out the latest situation with the typically mild walking pneumonia in their area and whether parents should be worried.
'Her shoe got sucked into the escalator': Toronto family warns of potential risk of wearing Crocs
A Toronto family is speaking out after their 10-year-old daughter's Crocs got stuck in an escalator, ripping the entire toe area of the clog off.
Prime Minister Trudeau attends Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Toronto with family
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is a Swiftie. His office confirmed to CTV News Toronto that he and members of his family are attending the penultimate show of Taylor Swift's 'The Eras Tour' in Toronto on Friday evening.
Minister calls GST holiday, $250 cheques for 18 million Canadians 'a targeted approach'
Women and Gender Equality and Youth Minister Marci Ien is calling the federal government's proposed GST holiday and $250 rebate cheques a 'targeted approach' to address affordability concerns.
NEW Thinking about taking an 'adult gap year'? Here's what experts say you should know
Canadian employees are developing an appetite for an 'adult gap year': a meaningful break later in life to refocus, refresh and indulge in something outside their daily routine, according to experts.
Canada's tax relief plan: Who gets a cheque?
The Canadian government has unveiled its plans for a sweeping GST/HST pause on select items during the holiday period. The day after the announcement, questions remain on how the whole thing will work.
Doctor at the heart of Turkiye's newborn baby deaths case says he was a 'trusted' physician
The Turkish doctor at the center of an alleged fraud scheme that led to the deaths of 10 babies told an Istanbul court Saturday that he was a 'trusted' physician.
The Thriftmas Special: The benefits of second-hand holiday shopping
The holidays may be a time for family, joy and togetherness, but they can also be hard on the wallet.
The Philippine vice president publicly threatens to have the president assassinated
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte said Saturday she has contracted an assassin to kill the president, his wife and the House of Representatives speaker if she herself is killed, in a brazen public threat that she warned was not a joke.