This quarter, we are privileged to share not only the story of our learner, Daria, but also to follow it with a feature of her husband, Volodymyr. The couple, along with their two kids, arrived in Manitoba in September 2022 from Ukraine.

If you’ve read Daria’s story, you would know that they fled Ukraine when hostilities began. They sought temporary refuge in Lithuania while waiting for their Canadian visa. After six months, they were finally able to travel to Canada, enduring three grueling days to reach Manitoba.

“Our trip started in Lithuania going by car to Latvia (a 239 km, three-hour ride) because in Lithuania they had an airport but no available plane. From Latvia, we flew to Dublin, where we had a very difficult night at the airport. We waited for eight hours for the next plane to Toronto. Thankfully, the Red Cross helped for us to have a night at the hotel, and we had rest and bath,” Daria said.

The couple now looks back on this difficult experience with a smile knowing that it was all worth it. Upon arriving in Benito, Manitoba, a small town in Swan Valley West, they were greeted by a warm and welcoming community that provided them with everything they needed.

Welding a new life in Manitoba

A job offer in Benito set Volodymyr and his family on their path to Manitoba. While he was a teacher and computer program developer back in Ukraine, it was his hobby of welding that landed him the job. Upon arriving in Benito, the company gave him a practical test which he passed with flying colours.

This job, aside from providing him with a livelihood, also gave them a home, safety, and a sense of community. “Neighbors in Benito always say ‘tell us if you need anything.’ It’s home for us. Not a big town, population may be 400 people. But I think I know everybody, and everybody knows me now,” Volodymyr said.

This supportive environment has fueled his determination to further improve his welding expertise. He recently took two welding exams in Winnipeg, one of which he passed. He intends to take the other welding exam again in the near future, and also obtain a Red Seal certification when he has enough welding experience.

In addition to honing his welding skills, Volodymyr recognizes the importance of improving his language skills. Shortly after their arrival, the couple joined English Online and began attending evening drop-in sessions three times a week. Then, several weeks ago, Volodymyr was paired with e-Settlement coach, Ellen Min Chen. “When we matched, I was very worried about, ‘Would I be able to speak?’ ‘Would I be able to understand her?’ he said.

His fears were soon erased when their mentorship sessions started. “Every Saturday, I’m very happy to talk to Ellen, who is a fantastic woman who helps me. She explains to me when there is something I don’t understand. I can practice speaking English with her, get new information about Manitoba, and learn about supports for Ukrainian people,” he said. Recently, when the family visited Winnipeg, Ellen was their guide at The Forks.

Ellen also suggested enrolling in LINC Home Study, which is a formal language training program carried out online. Volodymyr and Daria are now considering LINC, or an in-person language program at Red River College as the next step to further improve their language skills.

Volodymyr’s commitment to both advancing his welding skills and language fluency reflects his determination to thrive in his new home and fully integrate into the Manitoba community.

“I know one rule I can share with you: If you do your job right, life will be good. Every time you need something, you need to work hard. Without hard work, you will never have anything. Whoever doesn’t like to work hard, Canada is not for them.”

Manitoba is my home

A big break, a supportive community, and assistance from newcomer-serving agencies have all contributed to Volodymyr and Daria’s smooth settlement journey. However, it’s evident that their success is also due to their positive attitude and hard work. When asked for advice to fellow newcomers, Volodymyr offers these wise words:

“I know one rule I can share with you: If you do your job right, life will be good. Every time you need something, you need to work hard. Without hard work, you will never have anything. Whoever doesn’t like to work hard, Canada is not for them.”

“Manitoba now is my home. This province opened its doors for me and my family and helped us with everything. You need to like this place. If you don’t like this place, this climate, this people… it will not work. Some might like to live in a big city, but I think this is the best place for me.”

The Kryvenkos’ journey to Manitoba has been marked by resilience, determination, and the unwavering support of their newfound community. From fleeing their home country in search of safety to embracing a new career path and immersing themselves in language and cultural learning, they have overcome challenges along the way. Through hard work and a positive attitude, they have embraced Manitoba as their home, appreciating the warmth of its people and the opportunities it offers. Their story serves as an inspiration to all newcomers, reminding us that with perseverance and an open heart, a new place can become not just a destination, but a true home.

Have you ever encountered a moment when you felt the undeniable power of destiny?

For Daria, it was a series of positive events that led her to believe that her family was meant to be in Manitoba.

Originally, they hadn’t planned on leaving their country, but like many Ukrainian immigrants, they were forced to flee due to the war. They lived just 38 kilometers away from the starting point of the bombings.

Daria’s family of four had to make the difficult decision to leave for their own safety. They stayed in Lithuania for six months while waiting for their Canadian visa, which they obtained through the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program. Finally, in September 2022, they arrived in Canada.

“Everything went so well it was like a fairy tale”

The family chose Manitoba as their destination because it reminded them of home. “Manitoba is very similar to Ukraine. It is a lot of fields, a lot of farmers, it looks like our area in Ukraine,” Daria said.

Daria’s husband, Volodymyr, who is a welder, started looking for a job. After a few weeks, he was contacted by Ag Shield in Benito, Manitoba. Daria said that the company arranged for their Russian-speaking staff, Nikolai, to interview her husband. “They spoke for about an hour and a half about his skills, and in the middle of the conversation he says, ‘yeah, you can move here. If it’s okay with you, we can also find a house for you,’” she recalls.

“We were very surprised. We were just searching for a job, but we found everything. We found a job, we found a house for living, and after this, we found a school for my kids, and I found a job for me right after we arrived,” Daria said.

Feels like home

Right from the start, the community warmly welcomed the Kryvenkos. “Nikolai picked us up from Winnipeg. He and his wife thought about everything. When he picked us up, he had snacks for us and our children. When we got to the house, his wife cooked supper for us. And the house was completely furnished. We had everything!” Daria recalls.

They immediately liked peaceful living in Benito. “You know, it’s a small town but it has everything you need for life. They have a post office, they have a daycare. I know now that it’s very important that the town has a daycare. It has a library, bank, a place for meetings, a recreation centre, we can even get insurance just across the street. But also, it’s nice and it’s quiet. Our children can ride the bike into the street and it’s alright because traffic is slow. I’m proud to live here,” Daria said.

After a few months, Daria was hired at the nearby school to teach 5th to 8th graders. Her job is ideal not only because it’s in her field (she was a teacher at a vocational school back in Ukraine), but also because it’s where her son is enrolled and their baby is in daycare. “We’re all together in one building. We enjoy every day together. We go to school and come home together. Our schedule is so nice, it seems almost impossible” she said.

Even Daria’s son is loving the arrangement. “When my son wants something from me, he just goes out of his class and goes to my class and says ‘mom…’ And I tell him, don’t call me mom at school, I’m Mrs. K here’ (laughs). I ask him not to do this and just wait until we get home. He doesn’t listen to me, but when he comes to my classroom, he now says ‘Mrs. K, can I have you for a minute?”’

“I have been taking classes on this platform since October. I really like it and really I feel that my English has improved a lot. I understand more and can talk more with different people, although I attend only evening classes (as I work). Thanks a lot to the instructors for helping us, this is a really big contribution to our development and adaptation.”

English is very, very important

From the very start, the couple was intent on improving their English. They knew that it is essential, not only for their career growth, but for their daily lives in their new home.

It was a good thing they learned about English Online (EO) from the immigrant centre in Swan River. ”We went there because in the future we want to receive permanent residence and we are working for this. The centre has a face-to-face language program but it won’t work for us because of our schedule. They gave us a flyer and we thought, wow, online is good for us. So we registered. We started attending evening classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays,” Daria said.

Daria continues to be one of EO’s most active learners, even joining the weekly Language Contest on Facebook and Instagram. In fact, she is one of our Language Contest champions for the quarter. “I’m trying to improve my English in different ways. If I will be typing, if I will comment something, if I will participate in something, it will be great for me,” she said.

Aside from her informal classes at English Online, she practices speaking and writing at school. Daria loves talking to her high-energy students daily, even if sometimes the kids speak too fast for her. She also gets support from her co-teachers. “Our homeroom teacher, she’s an amazing woman. She helps me in everything. She helps me with my English and corrects what I say. And now she gave me the job to check paragraphs children wrote. I asked her, ‘Are you sure? Maybe after I check, you should double-check.’ She said, ‘No, you can do it. It’s good for you.’ So I try. When children write their stories, then I read it, I can search for their mistakes, I can search for wrong punctuation, it’s really good practice,” Daria said.

The future looks bright

Reflecting on how their settlement journey started, Daria believes that everything fell into place because of the help of others. “What’s important in our lives is support. At the school, my husband’s work, our community, the immigration centre, and also at English Online, everybody is supporting us. They are helping us make our lives better, easier,” Daria said.

With their hearts full of gratitude, the Kryvenkos continue to thrive in their new home. But they do not simply depend on fate. They work hard in their respective jobs, and continue striving to improve their language and professional skills. They do this not only for themselves, but to make their supportive community proud and contribute meaningfully to its growth.

Daria’s family’s journey to Manitoba exemplifies the power of destiny intertwined with hard work, support, and gratitude.

This quarter, we are highlighting the story of one our Language Contest Champions, Luidmila. It’s a story of resilience and the power of human kindness. But as she describes it, it’s a “sad story with a happy ending.”

This is her modest description of her family’s escape from a war-torn city to their continuing journey of finding their place in Canada.

A sad story with a happy ending

Luidmila, her husband, son, and dog, Bonya, lived a happy life in Ukraine. “I had everything in my country. I had an apartment, a garden with a small cabin, a car, a very good job – I was an instructor of information technology, my husband was the main engineer in his company – and my son (in the first grade) was in a very good school,” she said.

Moving was the furthest from their minds. They didn’t really believe that the war would affect them. But they lived in Sumy, which was only about 40 kilometres from the Russian border. It was one of the first cities to be occupied by the Russian army.

“It was so sudden. I have to hold my tears back when I think about it. For two weeks, my son slept in the hallway because he was scared of the attacks and bombs. It was a terrible time and it ruined our lives,” Luidmila recalls.

When the government opened a corridor for civilians to flee, her family quickly decided to travel to Slovakia, more than a thousand kilometres from Sumy. They drove for five days, stopping just a few times for her husband to sleep and rest.

“When we reached Slovakia, we just understood what had happened. We didn’t have a house and enough money because we just left. We understood that we should work. We started to seek countries that were inviting Ukrainian people, and Canada was the most friendly and most helpful country at that time and until now. So we decided to apply for a visa,” Luidmila said.

The kindness of strangers

They hadn’t decided where exactly in Canada to move to, but as luck would have it, Luidmila got a job in Winnipeg. “Cooking is my hobby. I have an Instagram page where I used to post my food. That’s where I got a message from a man who was seeking a cook. Chef George, who owns the Lebanese restaurant Beaurivage Bistro, decided to give me a job and waited for me for two weeks to arrive in Canada,” she said.

She also found their first accommodations online. She connected with a young lady named Lira who invited them to live in her house for free. So the family of four (including Bonya) was welcomed by Lira when they arrived in Winnipeg on April 24, 2022.

Luidmila’s eyes lit up as she talked about the welcome they received. “She gave us everything! Not just her, but her entire family. They are Portuguese and they remembered how people helped them when they arrived here. They helped us with our documents, drove us, gave their time, and explained everything about Winnipeg. They are my family in Canada,” she said.

Lira also helped them find their own place by posting on the Wolseley group on Facebook. It was where their current landlord responded and offered the third floor of a house, with free rent for three months. He then posted about needing some basic household items for the family, to which the Wolseley community responded generously.

“When we came to this apartment, we had everything we needed for living. It was amazing! The Wolseley community gathered stuff for us, even clothes. We are so thankful because we brought only two suitcases, and one of them was filled with my son’s toys,” Luidmila said.

Their new home was also near the restaurant where she worked, and her son’s school. So on any regular day, Luidmila is able to go to work, pick her son up from school on her break, wait for her husband to come home from work, and then go back to work in the evening.

“Like I told you, I have a sad story with an amazing happy end. We are so happy that we stayed in this very friendly community. All the people we met were just so helpful and friendly,” she said.

A sense of belonging

Once settled in their own home, the family sought a church. Every Sunday, they attend services at St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral. “It’s where I can see Ukrainian people and I can speak the Ukrainian language. I consider this church another Canadian family for me,” Luidmila said.

She also understood that speaking English is necessary in her new home, so she started learning with English Online in May. Aside from the good instruction, Luidmila is happy with the program’s flexible schedule. She is able to study in the mornings before picking up her son at school. “I am enjoying my English classes. The classes are amazing, the atmosphere is friendly, and the teachers are very professional,” she said.

She’s particularly excited about learning idioms: “Oh my gosh, I love your idioms so much. I began to understand people, what they said. I write every idiom and try to repeat them at work. I made a note (shows me her notebook). I put this notebook in front of me near the dishes I cook. I try to repeat and memorize,” she said.

A sunny future in Winnipeg

Asked about her future plans, Luidmila said: “I’m sure that I want to stay in Winnipeg. I don’t think I will be moving to another city. I love Winnipeg very much. Now I am making my application for permanent status.”

“In the future, my dream is to work as a teacher or something with computers, because I was an instructor for information technology. I organized distance learning in my country. I know how to work with different apps and make different websites. Maybe in the future. But now, I love my job. I have a very flexible schedule at work. I don’t want to change anything right now.”

Most of all, Luidmila appreciates that this flexibility allows her to prioritize her son’s needs. “I am a mother first. The most important thing for me is for my son to be happy. That’s my start. I think I should make a big step in the future. But I’m very grateful for what I have now,” she said.

“I think I should make a big step in the future. But I’m very grateful for what I have now.”

From a life upended, to a life filled with a series of fortunate events.

This quote came to mind as I was concluding the interview with Luidmila: “Gratitude is one of the most powerful human emotions. Once expressed, it changes attitude, brightens outlook, and broadens our perspective.” This is exactly what her story exemplifies.

“One kind word can change an entire day.”

This came to mind as I was reading Isabella’s appreciation letters for our instructors Nastashya Wall and Karen Loeb. In this case, it involved many impeccable words conveying heartfelt gratitude that could change anyone’s year! Her letters are the kind you frame so that you can read them again whenever you feel down. Allow me to share a few excerpts with you (some parts edited for brevity):

“I can’t imagine what my life would have been if I had never accessed LINC Home Study… Once I participated in the program and was able to learn English courses at home, it was just like seeing the rainbow after the rainstorm…

“My excellent instructor, Karen Loeb, helps me to overcome all of the challenges by setting up one 30-minute face-to-face meeting with me per week through Skype. She is resourceful, sophisticated, professional, and has great patience with me.

“During the meeting, she assigns and corrects my homework, and she always finds practical and essential sources for me to study… I am thirsty for this knowledge. Every week I prepare my presentation and look forward to meeting her and enjoying her class. I appreciate that she instructed and helped me to practice job interviews, and I have built my confidence in any kind of interview.

“I am so thankful to have Karen as my instructor. I cherish her guidance, encouragement and patience. LINC Home Study E-learning is lighting and empowering my life.”

Here’s more ….

“Nastashya’s reading and writing classes are systematic and well-structured. She is clear and concise as an instructor with great patience during the class. I can obviously see my improvement because of her teaching style.

“Nastashya corrects my homework and sends me a feedback video during which gives her advice and comments: these videos are incredibly engaging. I feel my instructor is sitting by my side whenever I watch the video, and that my homework is getting excellent attention and evaluation. Throughout the video, her constructive feedback greatly encourage me and have inspired me to do more writing without hesitation.

“I am also enjoying reading in English much more which I think that is one of my barriers in life. As we know, online learning’s biggest weakness is the lack of interaction; nevertheless, Nastashya works effectively to overcome this issue seamlessly.”

Can you believe this came from someone who started learning English just last year?

Well, you’ll have to know Isabella. She is the kind of student who focuses on a task not just to finish it, but to create something she and others can be proud of.

Online learning is a life saver

Isabella visited Canada from China in 2015. She first settled in Montreal and then later in Vancouver. In those days, she was able to communicate with the help of a friend (who was studying at McGill University) who translated for her. Then in 2021, Isabella moved to Manitoba to be with her husband. The couple live in a farm in picturesque Beausejour, Manitoba, an hour’s drive away from Winnipeg.

Just like other newcomers, learning the language and Canadian culture were Isabella’s priorities upon moving. “There are many things that are culturally different between China and Canada. For example, in China, when speaking to superiors in the workplace, you have to use a person’s titles. Otherwise you’ll be in trouble or they might tell you to get out (laughs). In Canada, you can call everyone by their first name. Workplaces are more casual here,” she said.

Eager to learn right away, Isabella studied her immigration package thoroughly and assessed the recommended services prior to moving to Manitoba. She chose English Online from that package and immediately took a language test at an assessment centre.

Isabella started learning with English Online in May, 2022. Since then she has been an enthusiastic learner, attending Coffee Chats, the Reading Club, and Writing Workshops where she learns with a group facilitated by an instructor. She also enrolled in LINC Home Study where she receives one-on-one instruction from an ESL teacher. She says combining both methods of learning has been effective for her. “I think online learning is great, sometimes even better than in-person learning because I can interact with my teachers while I’m comfortable in my home,” she said.

She continues, “I’m so happy to share my experience with newcomers because these online classes saved my life. We learn lessons that are so relevant to us newcomers. For example, I am learning many idioms, not only grammar and structure. I realize that Canadians use many idioms when they speak. So now I’m using them when I speak.”

“I definitely recommend learning with English Online to newcomers. I really appreciate this program because first, the content is excellent. We learn about multiculturalism, how to answer job interviews, and so many others. This is so important for newcomers. Second, the teachers are patient and they always provide motivation. At first I was so nervous to speak in class but the teachers always motivate and encourage us. Lastly, the teachers and staff provide good service. I feel that they always give me their full attention,” Isabella said.

“I’m so happy to share my experience with newcomers because these online classes saved my life. We learn lessons that are so relevant to us newcomers. For example, I am learning many idioms, not only grammar and structure. I realize that Canadians use many idioms when they speak. So now I’m using them when I speak.”

Writing as a superpower

Before moving to Canada, Isabella was managing her own consulting firm. She is a Certified Public Accountant. However, she is planning to shift careers in the near future. “Right now, I’m on the fence between becoming an Airbnb manager or a real estate agent,” she said.

Asked for advice for other newcomers, she said “I advise them to take their time. Don’t get a job right away if it’s possible. Learn the language and learn more about Canadian workplace culture. When they have more knowledge and skills, it is possible for them to apply for better jobs later on,” she said.

As we were wrapping up the interview, Isabella’s husband joined her on screen. He had been listening in on our conversation and couldn’t help but bear witness to his wife’s hard work and diligence. It was clear that he is so proud of Isabella’s greatly improved language skills.

“There are some things that she missed telling you. This lady really pushes herself in her studies. She has been working hard in all her classes and with her LINC teachers. She spends so much time and effort studying and we can see the difference. I see a big improvement in her speech and a continued improvement in her comprehension,” he said.

He also shared that Isabella took three weeks to fill out her PR application because she was so thorough; she even wrote detailed and descriptive stories in the application. “I think the stories she wrote there could make the immigration consultants cry. I can safely say that she writes better than I do!” Isabella’s proud husband said.

As he was speaking, I could see that Isabella was beaming with pride because of his validation. With this kind of support, coupled with her strong work ethic, I know she will succeed in anything she sets her mind to. Thank you, Isabella for choosing English Online. We are fortunate to have a learner like you!

Congratulations to our December Language Contest winner, Sara Yousufi!

This soft-spoken lady started learning with English Online (EO) just last year. What makes her win awe-inspiring is that she is totally new to learning. And I don’t mean new to learning online.

Back in her home country, women and girls are not allowed to travel, let alone attend school. So for Sara, learning English is doubly hard. “When you studied your own language, it can help you because you can translate (from your native language to English). But because I don’t know how, I didn’t study reading and writing in my own native language, it is hard for me,” Sara said.

This didn’t stop Sara from participating in the Language Contest. She reviewed the questions and also learned to create an Instagram account just so she could join. “I stay away from social media. Instagram, I make just for this contest. I didn’t have Instagram before,” Sara said.

For all her efforts, our diligent learner is now part of our elite Circle of Champions! Well done, Sara!

Family first

I couldn’t believe it when Sara told me that she didn’t go to school. She hesitates saying some words, but she could speak English clearly. She told me that before moving to Canada, she prepared by watching some TV shows.

“I watched some nice cartoons at home. Cartoons can help anybody improve English, grammar, vocabulary, it really works. At that time, I watched Caillou, the children’s cartoon. I also watched some TV series. I didn’t understand at that time, but they were interesting. I love speaking English! My childhood dream is speaking English,” Sara said.

“I love communicating with someone and learning about them. When I tell people that I didn’t go to school, they don’t believe me. I give credit to my online classes because they help me a lot. They help me with speaking, understanding, and with reading too,” she added.

Sara moved to Winnipeg from Afghanistan in 2007. She joined her husband who had been living in here for several years. Going to school was her dream when she came to Canada, but her dream had to wait. When the couple started having children, studies had to take a backseat. Last year, when her third child finally reached school age, she decided it was time. “I thought maybe I should do something for myself. I decided to take my benchmark test and they gave me two online classes,” Sara said.

“I’m lucky to be part of an online class. When I finish my work and have sent my kids to school, I attend. Absolutely, I love it. Some classes I really enjoy especially Citizenship Classes because there are many questions about Canada, history, cities, and so many things! The Reading Club, and Writing Club, I really enjoy. I love learning new things!”

Learning online is a blessing

“Maybe it’s destiny, but I never realized I’d go for online. Now I’m almost on my second year with EO. I thought I’d go to online classes and then later go to an in-person class. But I couldn’t go to (in person) class because school is far from me. I need to take two buses, and in winter time it’s really difficult. I also couldn’t drive because I’m a beginner. I just got my license this year. Maybe when I’m driving better I can go to an in-person class as well. But I won’t quit my online class because it’s working for me,” Sara said.

“I’m lucky to be part of an online class. When I finish my work and have sent my kids to school, I attend. Absolutely, I love it. Some classes I really enjoy especially Citizenship Classes because there are many questions about Canada, history, cities, and so many things! The Reading Club, and Writing Club, I really enjoy. I love learning new things!” she added.

All her hard work and diligence are paying off. Sara shares: “Now I attend my children’s parents-teacher meeting by myself. Before I was waiting for my husband to be with me all the time. And it’s hard for him too, because he has two jobs. He used to take a day off to go to the doctor’s with me. From the beginning, I tried to do everything by myself but I couldn’t because of the language. But I start, slowly, slowly. I work on it,” she said.

“Sometimes I joke that look, I now speak very well, more than you (referring to her husband). He can read and write well. Before he spoke English very well, but at work he doesn’t speak much. If you don’t speak, you forget, Sara said.

Future plans

The next step for Sara is to continually improve her CLB level so she could apply for citizenship. Beyond getting her citizenship, she said that she might look into getting a job as a teacher’s assistant one day. But she’s just thinking about it, not planning for it at the moment.

“Actually, plans never work for me. When I plan something, always the opposite happens (laughs)! I can plan for tomorrow but not for the future. Because when I decide for the future, it doesn’t work for me. In my opinion, when God plans for you, you go with that. I believe that. You’ll never know what will happen tomorrow,” she said.

So for now she is taking things one step at a time. She is happy to be learning more English, taking care of her kids, and living in Manitoba.

Asked what she liked about living here, she said: “One word. Peaceful. When I said that I had goosebumps. Peaceful, especially for women. Everyone here is not racist. I don’t like that kind of thing where people say my skin colour is this, and you have that. I don’t like to talk about religion, but in my religion, we don’t allow talk like that,” she said.

Sara added, “Winnipeg has peaceful kind of people. You’re not scared about what you want, what you want to do, you have rights. Nobody can take that right from you.”

She has this to say to newcomers to the province: “I know it’s really difficult for newcomers to leave their own country and their family. But everyone should try to be healthy and happy. Keep working hard and never give up!”

Congratulations to our November Language Contest winner, Mariya Ostapchuk!

Despite being one of English Online’s (EO) newest learners, Mariya rose to the challenge and quickly became part of our Circle of Champions. So far, she has won four times in November (including the month-end raffle) and once in December.

This is a testament to her openness to learning. Asked why she joins the contest, she said “For me, it’s interesting. I look for the quiz every week and answer the questions. Maybe my answer is not correct, but for me, it’s a new experience. I like it. I try every moment because for me, language is a problem.”

From Ukraine to Toronto then Winnipeg

Mariya was all smiles when she came on screen for our Skype chat. Sitting beside her is a young girl, her granddaughter, who also seemed excited about the interview. Mariya tells me that she had just moved to a new apartment after the holidays and that she is happy that her granddaughter chose to spend time with her on her school break. They looked so happy in each other’s company that I felt like I was intruding on their bonding time!

Mariya moved to Canada precisely because of this – to spend more time with family and watch her granddaughters grow up. “I wanted to see my granddaughters play. I also want them to learn about our culture. In my culture, family live together and try to help together, communicate, and celebrate all the occasions,” Mariya said.

Prior to moving to Canada, Mariya was living alone in Ukraine. At 16 years old, her son moved to Winnipeg to study and eventually got married and started a family here. In 2017, Mariya moved to Canada and lived in Toronto for five years. Once or twice a year, she would travel to Winnipeg to visit her son. This is how she eventually grew to love Manitoba. Mariya says, “this atmosphere is so nice for me. Home or apartment is cheap. Too many beautiful museums, many parks, big rivers, and fishing. There’s also Borealis, and in all seasons we can find some recreation with family and friends. Just this week, Blaine (EO instructor) was talking about Canadian culture and Inuit art in Manitoba. For me, this is so beautiful.”

With her son’s urging Mariya finally moved to Winnipeg in April, 2022.

“I like that in Manitoba, people come from many different cultures but we try to understand each other. If you don’t speak well in bank, in shopping, in clinic, everyone tries to understand you and help. If you have a problem, you can go to another person and tell them ‘can you help me, I don’t understand this situation’ and they help you. Canada is just so nice. It may be perfect!”

“Canada is perfect”

Another reason for loving Manitoba is that she can now study English for free. Mariya had always wanted to take lessons since language was her main settlement challenge. “When I was in Toronto, I could only communicate to people who were speaking Russian or Ukrainian. I couldn’t study English there for free because I didn’t have a PR Card. I can take a teacher but for me, it’s very expensive. So in my free time, I study alone. I watch shows and programs, I read newspapers and books. For example, if I go to a bank, I read text and I study before I can go and communicate with the banker,” Mariya said.

Upon arriving in Manitoba, she immediately took an English Assessment at WELARC in downtown Winnipeg. There, she was given a list of English classes she could take and she chose English Online. “I think it’s nice here (at EO). It’s so nice because we can study online. Thanks also to the volunteers who study with us. It’s a big job,” she said. Mariya is referring to volunteers who assist EO instructors in online classes as well as those who tutor learners one-on-one through the e-Volunteer program.

The online learning environment is ideal for Mariya especially now that she is healing from back surgery. She attends all the weekly online classes while recuperating. “I always study because for me I want to have a job, a want to have friends, and I want to communicate normally. I need more practice because I never studied English before coming to Canada,” she explains.

“I like that in Manitoba, people come from many different cultures but we try to understand each other. If you don’t speak well in bank, in shopping, in clinic, everyone tries to understand you and help. If you have a problem, you can go to another person and tell them ‘can you help me, I don’t understand this situation’ and they help you. Canada is just so nice. It may be perfect!” Mariya said.

Future plans and loving life

“I want to continue studying English. I want to communicate normally with no problems. I want to find a good job (prior to coming to Canada, Mariya worked in the financial sector. She worked for a major Ukrainian bank for 25 years). I had an operation on my back, so now I have time (to study). But maybe in spring, I will find a job. I also want to find time to volunteer because many volunteers give their time to me, I also want to give my time to other people,” Mariya said.

For now, she is enjoying exploring Manitoba and being a good ambassador of the province to her friends back home. “I encourage them to come to Manitoba because you have many chances here. You can find work, friendly people, and diverse culture. You can visit many festivals, enjoy foreign food, and go to great farmers markets. It’s so beautiful,” she said.

She continues, “I went to a place where I saw money from different countries (the Royal Canadian Mint), there were … (she pauses and speaks in Ukrainian to her granddaughter, and the granddaughter says, ‘magnets’)… beautiful magnets from countries all over the world. It was a beautiful building with a lot of flags!” she said.

Sensing that I smiled when her granddaughter helped her with her English, Mariya adds with a hint of pride, “Yes, she is my teacher! I teach her Ukrainian and she teaches me English!”

With her positive attitude, help from her EO classes, and the support of her wonderful family, Mariya is well on her way to reaching her language, career and life goals.