Gesture of thanks: Ukrainian refugee gives back to Manitoba By: Chris Kitching Posted: 7:00 PM CDT Thursday, Apr. 20, 2023

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/04/2023 (912 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A father-to-be who fled the war in Ukraine for Winnipeg is organizing a street cleanup as a way to give back to Manitobans who’ve welcomed refugees from the eastern European country.

Ivan Partsei, 25, and his pregnant wife Vasylyna Kobuta, 26, have been overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers since they arrived in Manitoba in August.

“We want to say thank you to the Canadian people and the community because they support the Ukrainian people,” said Partsei. “Canadian people do a lot for us and they support us. We want to (do) something small to help.”

Partsei wanted to show his gratitude with more than words. Looking at the state of Winnipeg’s streets during the spring snow melt, he decided on a cleanup to help beautify a neighbourhood.

“Now is the time when people start to clean the roads, and we want to help them do it,” said Partsei, who moved to the city two weeks ago from Riverton. “I think, why not? If we have time, we should do something to give back.

“We want to live in this city and we want to make something better for us and for everyone.”

The date and locations are to be confirmed.

Partsei decided to wait until possibly April 29, after this week’s forecast predicted heavy snow for southern Manitoba.

After coming up with the idea, he created a Facebook group to find out if fellow Ukrainian refugees and others would consider joining him.

More than 160 people had joined the group as of Thursday, with some pledging to take part in the cleanup.

“This makes me feel very happy. I didn’t expect so many people would support my idea,” said Partsei.

“We want to say thank you to the Canadian people and the community because they support the Ukrainian people. Canadian people do a lot for us and they support us. We want to (do) something small to help.”–Ivan Partsei

He and his wife were living in the western city of Kalush and planning a future for their growing family when they decided to leave Ukraine.

Manitoba became their destination after they met a local businessman who invited them to settle here.

“We read that Manitoba is so friendly,” said Partsei.

After landing in Winnipeg, the couple was hosted by Paul and Kahleigh Dubois in the Interlake town of Riverton.

“Coming from what they came from, they were very positive,” said Paul Dubois. “They’re very giving and generous people. (Ivan) just wants to help out. He doesn’t like sitting still.”

The Dubois family and others have helped Partsei and Kobuta secure jobs and find a place to live in Winnipeg, while donating essentials, assisting with other life tasks and helping them to improve their English language skills.

“We really appreciate this help,” said Partsei, who was hired by a lawn care company Thursday.

Kobuta got a job as a cashier at a store.

Being away from family in Ukraine and following the war from afar has been very difficult for the couple.

“It’s very hard for us, but Canadians are helping us not feel alone,” said Partsei. “We miss our family very much.”

He and Kobuta are adjusting to life in a new country, while exploring what Winnipeg has to offer.

“It’s beautiful. People are very polite and kind,” he said.

More than 21,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Manitoba since Russia launched its unprovoked invasion and war in February 2022, provincial government data show.

“It’s very hard for us, but Canadians are helping us not feel alone. We miss our family very much.”–Ivan Partsei

Manitoba has welcomed more refugees per capita than any other province.

About 15 per cent have settled outside of Winnipeg in communities such as Brandon, Steinbach, Winkler, Morden and Dauphin, a government spokeswoman said.

Of the Ukrainians who arrive through a federal emergency travel program, about 14 per cent settle in Manitoba, the spokeswoman said.

Joanne Lewandosky, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Manitoba Provincial Council, said Partsei’s cleanup drive is one of many examples of refugees giving back to the community.

“I think it’s wonderful. It shows that he cares about his new country,” she said. “A lot of (refugees) have shown a lot of volunteering in the community. They’re doing this to show their simple ‘thank you.’

“They’re all very grateful for what we as Manitobans have tried to do for them. Manitobans have opened their hearts, their wallets and their homes for all these brothers and sisters who’ve had to escape the war.”

About 200,000 Ukrainians have arrived in Canada since January 2022, federal government figures show.

Of those, nearly 150,000 arrived through the emergency travel program.

Almost one million applications had been submitted under the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel as of April 8; about two-thirds have been approved.

“They’re coming daily,” Lewandosky said about the Ukrainians settling in Manitoba. “I think they’ll be coming for a while yet.”

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching