Displaced Ukrainian family puts down roots
In just one day, on Feb. 24, 2022, the dream Roman Pokynchereda had of living with his family in a house he built in Vinnytsia, Ukraine, was shattered.
They huddled with their neighbours in air-raid shelters for five days before Roman and his wife Maryna decided to pack up a few clothes and leave the city.
They eventually made their way to Bulgaria, where Ukrainian is more commonly spoken, and they stayed for three months.
They had a small apartment and enough money but they wanted something better for their kids.
Half a world away in Prince George, Pat and Brenda Bell attended a church bake sale whose proceeds were going to help Ukrainians who wanted to leave their country. The Bells inquired about sponsoring a Ukrainian family and met Andriy Kuts, who knew the Pokyncheredas, and he gave them their email address.
“That’s why we are here,” said Maryna. “Our family was first - we have a big group from our city here now.”
The Bells gave them a place to live and the Prince George For Ukraine support group stepped up with clothing and personal items.
“We came to Canada with five people and one suitcase,” said Roman.
Roman and Maryna bought a house last spring in the Pinewood subdivision. Their house is close to the Ukrainian St. George’s Catholic Church where many of the 235 Ukrainians from 84 families displaced by the war now living in Prince George meet on Thursday evenings.
The weekly gatherings are especially helpful for Ukrainian seniors like Roman’s mother Lidiia, where they share a common language and their culture.
Lidiia spent the summer with the Pokyncheredas and went back to Ukraine on Sept. 27 and the Pokyncheredas are hopeful she will be back to live with them soon.
“Her heart was there and she decided to return to understand exactly where she would be better,” said Maryna. “She is doing well now... but we think that she will soon return to Canada for good.”
Roman, 39, was hired shortly after he arrived in Canada as a finishing carpenter for IQ Builders, while 33-year-old Maryna works as an accountant’s assistant for the Bell’s company, Family Fast Foods Ltd.
“It’s not easy for me to find English work and it’s a dream to have that job,” sad Maryna.
Maryna’s 82-year-old grandmother and her aunt now live in the house in Vinnytsia, and Maryna says it’s unlikely they will go back to it, even if the war ends.
They like Prince George and their kids --Masha, 14, Yeva,12, and eight-year-old Pasha -- have made a new group of friends. Pasha told his mom he only wants to go back for a summer vacation, not to stay.
“We do not want to return, only with our minds, because we know that there is no future for us and our children, but our hearts will forever remain in the country where we were born,” said Maryna.