The Ukrainian flag flying outside Vernon City Hall (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

By Liam Verster

One Year Since Invasion

Hundreds of displaced Ukrainians now living in North Okanagan, many planning to stay: society

Feb 24, 2023 | 12:00 PM

It’s been one year since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, and a few hundred of the people who have fled the war have settled down locally.

Amelia Sirianni, executive director of the Vernon and District Immigrant and Community Services Society (VDICSS ), told Vernon Matters hundreds of refugees from Ukraine have come to Vernon and the North Okanagan over the past year.

“We at immigrant services help support newcomers to our region with many, many services and we have seen, of the Ukrainians accessing our services, I would say close to 300,” Sirianni said.

“That ranges from getting language support, navigating how to find housing, setting up health care, [getting] children in school, employment programs. We’re seeing tons and tons of Ukrainians working in our community, which is wonderful, and also building community connections and participating in fun, local activities.”

She added the 300 figure is a rough estimate, saying many other Ukrainians could have settled here without accessing any supports from VDICSS.

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Vernon has a strong Ukrainian heritage and cultural foundation, which Sirianni said has allowed for the newcomers to settle more easily.

“It’s huge, we have a chapter of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, there’s a Thompson-Okanagan branch here, and they do a lot of support for Ukrainians,” Sirianni noted.

“There’s a Ukrainian Orthodox Church that does tons of work supporting Ukrainians. The Slavic United Network is also a huge community organization that helps support Ukrainians, and then there’s tons of families and individuals that are connected to Ukraine, whether through heritage or friends and family or other means, that have really reached out and wanted to support and connect with the new Ukrainians here.”

The executive director added the community has been very welcoming to the Ukrainian immigrants over this past year.

Sirianni said a lot of the people who have accessed the services offered through VDICSS are settling down roots for the long term.

“That’s something we get asked as an agency all the time is ‘how can I get permanent residency and make Canada my permanent home and make Vernon a place that I put down roots with my family,” Sirianni told Vernon Matters.

“Dozens of people ask that on a weekly basis and we’re seeing a lot of people setting down roots, getting jobs in their field that they love, that they’re excited about, and really making this place home, kids that are settling in really well with school and are excited to be here participating in different activities. It’s been really beautiful to see as a community member.”

The majority of the Ukrainians who have migrated to the area have come as family units, but there have also been some single people, couples and elderly individuals.

Sirianni said they expect to see more people come to the area as the conflict continues to press on.

“The federal government, under the Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada that provides a lot of funding to help support services for Ukrainians, has extended all their support for another year in anticipation of, unfortunately, war continuing or things not being stable and safe in Ukraine. They are anticipating many more Ukrainians so we are as well.”

She has not heard of anyone wanting to return to Ukraine, either while the war continues, or once it has been resolved, but noted she and the VDICSS are prepared to help people wishing to return to their home country if they choose.

The local newcomers are among the estimated 11,000 Ukrainian immigrants who have fled the invasion and settled in British Columbia over the past year.

A vigil will be held outside Vernon City Hall at 5 p.m. today (Feb. 24) to mark the one year anniversary of the start of the invasion, and Sirianni said she, others from VDICSS, and likely many of the newcomers, will be in attendance for the event.

READ MORE: One year later: Vernon vigil marks anniversary of Russian invasion of Ukraine