When war forced Viktoria Sotnyk to leave Ukraine in 2022, she arrived in Canada with her daughter, little knowledge of her new country, and fears about her limited English. A journalist back home, Sotnyk found herself unable to communicate confidently in her new surroundings, which made finding work almost impossible. Her turning point came through Indus Community Services, where language classes and a co-op program helped her rebuild her confidence. Today, she works in social services and has found a community of Ukrainians who have banded together in Brampton.
Her story reflects the journey of many Ukrainians who fled the war and settled in the city. With the support of settlement agencies, church groups, and neighbours, families have pieced together new lives — from hotel rooms and borrowed beds to classrooms, workplaces, and local community events. On August 24, they will once again raise the Ukrainian flag at Brampton City Hall, a symbol of resilience and connection to home.
For others, the first hurdle was even more urgent: housing. Diana Meskhiya, seven months pregnant when she arrived in 2022, relied on emergency hotel accommodations before her family secured a lease through a program designed to support Ukrainians without Canadian credit history. Long-time residents like Svitlana Mulyk went further, opening their homes to dozens of newcomers and even providing clothes. “After we welcomed 33 people, I stopped counting,” she said. “We just decided that, since we have the space, we have to help.”
Younger arrivals faced a different challenge: adapting to a new school system. Sixteen-year-old Sofiia Sereda recalled the loneliness of being the only Ukrainian in her Grade 10 class. Teachers helped her catch up, but she struggled through Ontario’s mandatory literacy test without translation support. With time, however, she found her footing, forged friendships, and began to see a future in Canada, dreaming of becoming an artist.
Government measures like the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel provided a lifeline, offering temporary work permits and emergency housing. Still, delays in extending permits and the burden of international tuition fees weigh heavily on families. Maryna Antonova, Sereda’s mother, described the anxiety of waiting for paperwork, which left her daughter without health coverage for a period. She now worries about how to pay for her daughter’s university education.
For many, the war remains a daily presence despite the distance. Phone calls with relatives bring news of worsening conditions, while memories of destroyed towns and displaced friends are constant reminders of what has been lost. Yet, amid the uncertainty, there is also determination. Sereda says she hopes to build her life in Brampton, surrounded by friends and a growing Ukrainian community. “I’ve been lucky enough to find people here who make me feel like I actually belong,” she said.