Torontonians open homes to Ukrainian refugees needing shelter

Article content material

A whole lot of households throughout Canada are opening up their properties to new arrivals from war-battered Ukraine, as 1000’s of individuals search refuge and probably new lives right here.

Article content material

Olena Dnistrianska, from Kyiv, and Toronto actual property agent Alexandra Botyuk had been strangers lower than per week in the past.

“We didn’t know one another till about three days earlier than she arrived,” Botyuk mentioned as she took a break from driving Dnistrianska and her son Oleksii, 14, across the metropolis.

“A variety of Ukrainians are stepping in and taking individuals in simply to reside with them for at the very least a while. Or to attempt to discover some form of lodging.”

The 2 are staying in Botyuk’s condominium till they will stabilize and discover one thing extra everlasting.

Simply two months in the past, Dnistrianska and her household had been visiting Ontario to see their son learning at London’s Fanshawe School.

By no means did she think about fleeing for her life — again to Toronto — to reside with a stranger.

Article content material

“Proper now I’m fairly disconcerted,” Dnistrianska mentioned. “It’s arduous to place your self collectively to see the steps that we’ve got to take. To determine issues out.”

Her husband stays in Kyiv.

They impart a number of occasions a day.

“He can all the time hear the artillery. It’s like residing on edge on a regular basis,” she mentioned.

Dnistrianska labored as an actual property agent in Kyiv.

Her husband – now volunteering – has a profitable firm with 50 staff that made indicators for companies.

Its property are being retooled to assist with the conflict effort.

“They’re standing sturdy and they’re defending town,” Dnistrianska mentioned.

Botyuk and Dnistrianska solely met Wednesday, after being related three days earlier.

“They got here they usually had two baggage with them. That’s it,” Botyuk mentioned.

Article content material

“It’s a shock to them as a result of two months in the past they had been right here visiting. Who might have thought that they must flee Ukraine?”

Ukrainians in Toronto have been stepping up in giant numbers to assist the early arrivals, in keeping with Botyuk who’s now in a rising community of help for these fleeing the Russian invasion.

She has taken her new friends previous the CN Tower, browsed by a grocery retailer, and on Saturday is taking them to satisfy different Ukrainians in an analogous state of affairs.

However in her new environment, troubling scenes of devastation in her nation hang-out Dnistrianska, whose foremost intention is to someday return house.

“I actually suppose I’ll return,” she mentioned. “My youngsters, perhaps they’ll settle right here.”

slaurie@postmedia.com