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Mayor hosts Ukrainian newcomers

Help out if you have the space, says Heron
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NEW IN TOWN — St. Albert Mayor Cathy Heron (next to the white dog) has been hosting the family of Andrii Babii from Kherson, Ukraine, at her home since late March 2023. She encouraged other city residents to open their doors as hosts. Andrii Babii is in the upper left in black next to his sons Sasha (green shirt) and Andrii (white watch). Irene Babii and dog Casper are to the right. Also shown here are John Carle (yellow shirt) and other Carle/Heron household members. KEVIN MA/St. Albert Gazette

A family of newcomers from Ukraine has started a new life in St. Albert with a little help from the city’s mayor.

Andrii Babii and his family will move into their new St. Albert home this month after spending about a month with their host, Mayor Cathy Heron. The Babiis are some of the tens of thousands of Ukrainian nationals that have come to Alberta since February 2022 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Many spend weeks or months with host families as they try to find their feet in a new country.

Heron's house was host to 10 people, two dogs, and a cat, when the Gazette visited May 4 to speak with the Babiis.

“It’s a little chaotic in our household!” said Heron, as visiting dog Casper jumped onto the couch next to her.

Coming to Canada

There are currently about 30 families a month from Ukraine seeking hosts in the Edmonton region, said Cherilyn Michaels, the St. Albert resident who founded the Edmonton Hosts Ukrainians group and co-ordinates many of the host placements in the capital region.

“We always need more hosts,” she said, as about half the hosts she works with drop out after one family.

Heron said she and her partner John Carle stepped up as hosts in late March after the Rotary Club of St. Albert put out a call for volunteers. Being dog lovers, they specifically volunteered to host any family with pets.

Heron said they reached out to Michaels who arranged a call with the Babii family on March 18. The Babiis arrived at the airport at 11 p.m. on March 24.

“Their entire life has been reduced to four pieces of luggage,” Heron said — three, technically, as one of their bags got lost.

Andrii Babii said he and his family were from Kherson, which was one of the first cities to fall in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A sailor, he was working on a cargo vessel when he got news of the war.

“It was very scary,” Babii said, as there were tanks and helicopters everywhere.

“It was very scary just to go outside.”

While Babii finished his tour at sea, his wife Irene, kids Andrii and Sasha, dog Casper, and cat Vasia left Kherson to stay with relatives in western Ukraine. Their pets were not allowed in the bomb shelters, so the family had to find other places to hide during air raids.

Babii said he had always thought of moving to Canada or Australia if he had the chance, seeing them as places where his kids could learn English and have a good life. He and his family initially moved to Poland to earn money before they came to Canada.

Heron and Carly said they worked with St. Albert Further Education’s Newcomer Connections program to help the Babiis get bank accounts, social insurance numbers, bus passes, and schooling. City residents also stepped up, donating a garage’s worth of furniture and finding jobs for Andrii and Irene.

“They’re very much established in our community right now,” Heron said of the Babiis.

“They love taking the bus, they love walking everywhere.”

Heron said their biggest challenge so far was finding an affordable rental property for the Babiis, as the city’s income levels made rentals pricey.

Another issue was Carle’s cat allergies. Carle said they almost backed out of hosting because of them, but decided he could handle the sniffles.

“The cat loves me,” Carle said of Vasia the cat.

“I don’t know why.”

Babiis said he and his family are enjoying the wildlife and welcoming attitudes of St. Albert as they prepare to move to their new home in Grandin later this month. He said he and his wife are unsure if they will try to go back to Ukraine.

“Right now, for us, I can say it is more easy than difficult,” he said.

Support needed

Michaels said there will be no shortage of newcomers from Ukraine coming to St. Albert so long as the war there continues.

“Having direct support from local families just makes a world of difference.”

Michaels said St. Albert residents can help Ukrainian newcomers by acting as hosts, mentors, airport greeters, employers, and furniture haulers.

Heron said she and Carle plan to host more Ukrainian families later this year. She encouraged anyone with space in their home to step up and help families fleeing war.

“St. Albertans need to recognize how lucky they are.”

Volunteers can visit the St. Albert Hosts Ukrainians Facebook site for tips on how to help.


Kevin Ma

About the Author: Kevin Ma

Kevin Ma joined the St. Albert Gazette in 2006. He writes about Sturgeon County, education, the environment, agriculture, science and aboriginal affairs. He also contributes features, photographs and video.
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