in Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Southgate, West Grey
January 27, 2025
BY SUZANNE VON TOERNE — Grey County Cares (GCC), a Grey Highlands-based organization serving Ukrainians and other newcomers from strife-torn areas, offers a heartfelt “thank you” to individuals and groups in Grey County and beyond who have helped make 2024 a success for the 31 Ukrainian newcomers it has served this past year.
The Ukrainian adults among them — mostly women — have faced challenges. Each was allowed into Canada on a special three year visa (extended for three more years,) but it doesn’t entitle a person to study here. To study, she needs a study permit, but Canada has clamped down on these permits. Her visa doesn’t guarantee she can stay permanently. If she was considered a refugee, she would be granted permanent residency after three years. Because she isn’t classed as a refugee, she can apply for permanent residency on humanitarian and compassionate grounds for herself and her family — a complex process with no guarantee of acceptance.
Ukrainian newcomers exhibit fear amid hope — they study, work and build new lives here, not knowing how permanent it will be, but their own resilience, and support from GCC and the broader community, give them hope amid fear.
A GCC highlight in 2024 was the arrival of a family of three — grandmother, mother and a young boy. They had been barely gotten along financially and hadn’t been able to improve their English language skills. GCC enrolled the main breadwinner (the mother) in a full time English course at Georgian College and found daycare for the boy. The grandmother, who works part-time cleaning hotel rooms, will return to Ukraine soon to take care of her ill mother. The little boy’s mother has an excellent education, and will soon be able to live financially independent of GCC. Her son enters kindergarten in September.
The Canadian Government had issued study permits to Ukrainian newcomers, but has cancelled free courses in English as a Second Language (ESL) – so GCC sent several newcomers to college to study English intensively. Four women took a seven-week English course and two women took 14 weeks of training there. GCC also provides online group and private English lessons.
One young woman started university education: GCC covered her living expenses. A young woman and young man are finishing one-year professional college education, in business and lab technology respectively: GCC pays their tuition and rent. One woman has successfully opened her own business in Grey Highlands.
GCC’s Ukrainian friends are hardworking and determined to achieve high grades while their husbands fight on the front lines in Ukraine. Their minimum wage jobs don’t cover their living costs. Many families have one breadwinner and a couple of children and teens. Some applications for permanent residency are underway, and GCC found lawyers for them at a discount. Mounds of paperwork for the applications are handled by GCC volunteers.
GCC supplies its friends with a tax accountant too. Most of the eight newcomer families receive child support now. Three adults work full-time: many others work part-time, and will take full-time employment if they can get it.
The life of these newcomers isn’t all about struggle. The children attend school — much more fun than Ukrainian schools, they say. Of the 13 children GCC helps, four take part in organized soccer, one studies piano (thanks to a generous Priceville woman who donated a piano) and one boy is learning to play the guitar.
The eight families adopted six cats: pet ownership gives children a feeling of being at home here. They’ve been in between countries for too long already.
In 2024 a baby boy, the first Ukrainian-Canadian child of GCC’s group, was born. Baby supplies were donated from all sides, and a generous woman organized a baby shower, a celebration Ukrainians aren’t familiar with.
Between changing jobs and going to college and university, most families had to move at least once. A crew of volunteers helps them to relocate. Donated furniture and household supplies help Ukrainian newcomers stretch their funds. GCC volunteer drivers transport newcomers who don’t have access to public or private transportation. GCC is currently looking for someone to give a 20-year-old young newcomer in Barrie some driving practice to augment his driving school lessons.
Canada has much to offer to those who are willing to adapt. Women’s rights are an unfamiliar concept for our Ukrainian women. They love their new independence. Most of them can’t imagine moving back to Ukraine.
Summing it up, 2024 was a successful year. Everybody integrated well, with help from our communities. Many found Canadian friends. They got past obstacles and are proud to be in a safe haven.
As GCC’s Chair Lynn Silverton puts it, “We’ve seen strong families grow stronger and embrace their new country. And those who have helped them have benefitted too.” Lynn tells of a Grey Highlands weekender family whose young daughter acted as her family’s agent in choosing Christmas presents for Ukrainian children. “Their daughter is a better, more compassionate Canadian because of it,” says Lynn.
If anybody can help Grey County Cares financially, they can contact Lynn Silverton at (519) 270-8247 or lynn@bmts.com). Offers to volunteer or to donate items should be directed to me (Susanne von Toerne) at (519) 270-9086, or susekanada@gmail.com).
Thank you Canada – thank you, citizens of Grey County. Your generosity and friendship offered to Ukrainian newcomers is an example for the world to follow.
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