FILE PHOTO - A rally in support of Ukraine in Vernon

(BEN BULMER / iNFOnews.ca)

Ukrainian families have begun arriving in Thompson Okanagan, with four families settling in Kamloops.

In February, Russia invaded Ukraine, causing more than four million people to flee the country in what has become Europe's largest refugee crisis since the Second World War. Canada has implemented a Ukrainian refugee program, allowing refugees to live and work in the country for up to three years.

France Lamontagne, executive director of Kamloops Immigrant Services, said the service has helped 19 Ukrainians, four families, in the city so far. Most of the families are women with children and they expect to see five or six more refugees to begin arriving every week in the weeks to come.

Most of the refugees have been able to find accommodations with their ties in the city as there are more than 8,500 Ukrainians in Kamloops, she said.

“We already have many people in the community who have offered short-term housing so if we needed more space there’s plenty of offers over there. What we’re looking for now is long-term housing,” she said. Kamloops has a rental vacancy rate of 1%, according to data from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

READ MORE: Vernon, Shuswap hotels offering employment and accommodation to Ukrainian refugees

By the time they need long-term housing, there’s a hope they’ll be ready to work, Lamontagne said.

“Of course, there is a crisis and it’s hard, it’s more work but that's what we do. We work with many other organizations and there’s collaboration,” she said.

The Ukrainian teenagers who have arrived want to start making friends and meeting people already. “They’re just kids. They want to be kids and we’re going to help them make those connections for sure,” Lamontagne said.

There are free activities for the teens through the immigration service and options are also available through the city’s ARCH program, as well as Soccer Quest is offering spots to Ukrainians for free, she said. 

Ukrainian families have also begin arriving in Kelowna. A barbeque was held yesterday April 16 to welcome the refugees and thank volunteers of Kelowna Stands With Ukraine, a volunteer Facebook group that is helping the refugees find housing and services. 

Fairfield by Marriott hotels in Vernon and Salmon Arm are also offering jobs and temporary accommodations for refugees. 

READ MORE: Escaping from ‘hell to heaven,’ Ukrainian refugee recounts survival and arrival to Kelowna

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