A Chemainus couple with ties to a Ukrainian family from four years ago is doing its part to return the favour of hospitality.

Catherine Murphy and Steve Chadwick, parishioners at St. MichaelB次元官网网址檚 Ukrainian Catholic Church in Nanaimo, are in the process of assisting friends from the Lviv suburb of Vynnyky to stay with them during the war in Ukraine.

TheyB次元官网网址檙e currently remodeling their house in Chemainus to accommodate Oksana Pryshlyak and her children Danyla Badun, 9, and Zlatasvita Badun, 2 1/2. OksanaB次元官网网址檚 husband Roman Badun is staying behind at the family home during the hostilities.

B次元官网网址淚 reached out to Roman that perhaps Oksana and the kids could apply for a visitor visa and stay with us for a while,B次元官网网址� explained Chadwick.

The family was only too happy to accept and the three will be in Chemainus soon.

Murphy and Chadwick immediately went to work to make sure everything was in order. Oksana speaks no English and Murphy doesnB次元官网网址檛 know any Ukrainian so itB次元官网网址檚 been a bit of a task to communicate.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had to help her with the visa applications,B次元官网网址� said Murphy. B次元官网网址淲ith the nine-hour time difference itB次元官网网址檚 been a bit of a challenge, too, but weB次元官网网址檝e done it.B次元官网网址�

ThereB次元官网网址檚 been an added connection to the unfolding crisis in Ukraine for Chadwick.

B次元官网网址淢y motherB次元官网网址檚 family was originally from Ukraine,B次元官网网址� he indicated.

The connection to this family goes back to 2018, the same year Murphy and Chadwick eventually moved to Chemainus from Salt Spring Island.

Chadwick flew to western Ukraine to attend a seminar hosted by the psychology department at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv. He brought a Ukrainian expat friend with him to act as interpreter. Although they did their research ahead of time, they discovered none of their credit cards or bank cards worked in Ukraine.

The interpreter contacted Roman Badun, an old school friend, and his wife Oksana and they kindly opened their home to the two travelers.

Chadwick returned to the seminar again in 2019, traveling with his wife Murphy and son Tyrone. The two families met again and continued a friendship through Facebook.

Earlier this year, amid reports of a Russian military buildup on the Ukrainian border, Chadwick and Murphy invited Oksana and her children to visit them in Canada.

B次元官网网址淲e could see it coming,B次元官网网址� Murphy conceded, taking into account previous Russian actions in Crimea. B次元官网网址淲e were offering to do for them what they did for Steve back then.B次元官网网址�

Before Oksana could get the travel documents ready, Russian forces invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Oksana, Danylo and Zlatasvita then joined a long caravan of Ukrainians fleeing to Poland, with Roman staying home to fulfill his duty.

It turned out to be a harrowing journey for the family.

B次元官网网址淭hey had to travel by car to the Polish border,B次元官网网址� noted Murphy. B次元官网网址淚t took four days.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 normally only a few hours to the border.

After arriving in Poland, Oksana and the children were offered shelter at the home of a private citizen while Murphy and Oksana became proficient users of Google Translate to work together on visa applications and other travel requirements.

Chadwick started preparing the house for the extra inhabitants, converting the dining room to an extra bedroom and adding a bathroom. The visa application has been conditionally approved and the family should be flying into Canada in a couple of weeks.

B次元官网网址淭he first thing theyB次元官网网址檒l do is rest for the first week, maybe two weeks,B次元官网网址� said Chadwick.

B次元官网网址淭he Canadian government is giving them a lot of the benefits they would give to refugees,B次元官网网址� pointed out Murphy. B次元官网网址淭he overwhelming number of Ukrainians coming here fully intend to return home.B次元官网网址�

The Government of Canada has created a new program specific to Ukrainian nationals seeking refuge in Canada by providing extended visitor visas and work permits. Settlement services locally are being provided by the Cowichan Intercultural Society.

B次元官网网址淚t makes it easier to focus our efforts,B次元官网网址� said Murphy.

Young Danylo will be attending Chemainus Elementary School for the rest of the school year when he gets here.

B次元官网网址淗er son is very eager to learn English as well,B次元官网网址� noted Chadwick.

The whole process has been quite an experience but also rewarding, as Murphy and Chadwick prepare to open their home.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the right thing to do,B次元官网网址� stressed Chadwick.

don.bodger@chemainusvalleycourier.ca
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