Grand Mananers welcome 2 Ukrainian households to island

Grand Mananers rolled out the pink carpet and rang the church bell on the hill in North Head to welcome two households from Ukraine to their island “secure harbour.”

The Marinins — Lena, Sacha and three-year-old Kostya — from Mariupol, and the Shutiaks — Sergei, Ludmila and two-year-old Vlodimir — from a medium-sized city exterior Kyiv, arrived within the village final week.

Islanders had been working for a couple of months to co-ordinate their arrival, mentioned Judy Stone, one of many individuals main the hassle.

A crowd greeted the Marinins on the island airport. Some have introduced meals to them. Many have been practising tips on how to say “hiya” in Ukrainian.

“We thought with empty rooms in the home there wasn’t any purpose why we should not assist,” mentioned Murray Inexperienced, who, alongside along with his spouse, Krista, is internet hosting the Shutiak household.

The Shutiaks received in contact, mentioned Inexperienced, after his spouse crammed out some kinds on-line.

They took a aircraft to Halifax and a bus to Saint John, the place Inexperienced picked them up on the station. 

It was a tearful greeting, he mentioned.

“I suppose they had been questioning if anybody was going to point out up.”

After a rush to catch the final ferry, they arrived on Grand Manan at about 11:30 at evening.

When he took them on a tour across the island in daylight they’d tears of their eyes, mentioned Inexperienced.

“They mentioned they’d come to paradise. I used to be actually, actually, actually glad.”

Inexperienced is a semi-retired truck driver, who has additionally labored as a fish hatchery technician and a lobster fisherman, and has six grown youngsters. 

He met his spouse in Saint John and persuaded her to maneuver to the island about six years in the past.

To date issues are going nicely with their new roommates, he mentioned.

“We cooked them an enormous meal the subsequent day after they arrived right here as a result of we figured they’d be starved half to dying. He received up and began washing dishes earlier than the meal was even completed.

“They made selfmade perogies the subsequent evening. They had been scrumptious.”

“We’re having enjoyable.”

“I feel it is a good expertise,” he mentioned and he inspired different Maritimers to do it.

The Shutiaks are anxious to seek out work, mentioned Inexperienced. He would not assume they’re going to have bother on that entrance.

Sergei, 28, has expertise in building and understands numerous English, mentioned Inexperienced.

Housing may be extra of a problem, he mentioned. 

“I will allow them to keep for so long as they want,” he mentioned.

As soon as they’re prepared, they’re going to search for a spot to lease.

The Shutiaks arrived with one suitcase and one backpack, mentioned Stone. 

“Now I feel they’re drowning in diapers,” she mentioned.

“We’ll need to arrange a particular depot in our shed for the donations which might be simply pouring in. It is great.”

Job prospects obtainable

Funds have been raised that Islanders wish to put of their financial institution accounts, mentioned Stone — the Anglican parish put up $20,000 to assist the newcomers get settled — however the Ukrainians appear reluctant to simply accept cash.

Sacha Marinin, a marine engineer, might have already discovered a job, working for Coastal Transport — the corporate that operates the 2 ferries between the island and Blacks Harbour. 

Stone wasn’t positive of his job standing, however mentioned Sacha has been on one or each of the Grand Manan ferries practically on daily basis since final Monday. 

“It appears to be like fairly promising,” she mentioned.

It is a full-time job to maintain the ferries in working order, famous Inexperienced.

Lena is a nurse, who labored with one other Grand Manan newcomer from Ukraine, Tetiana Psaras, again in Mariupol.

She has “in depth expertise in intensive care models,” mentioned Psaras, who’s married to a Grand Mananer and has lived on the island for a number of years.

She hopes to finally have the ability to practise in New Brunswick, Psaras mentioned.

For now, Lena remains to be in isolation as a result of she solely had one vaccine shot, that means she will be able to’t go away the property the place she’s staying till Sunday, mentioned Stone, nevertheless it’s a property with 85 acres to roam round on.

The Marinins had two houses to select from after they got here to the island, mentioned Stone.

A pair from Vancouver provided their home and a few year-round residents provided a walk-out condo within the basement of their home, with two bedrooms, a front room and a shared kitchen.

At first, it was simply going to be Lena and her little boy coming.

“She selected to be in a home with individuals,” mentioned Stone, “which we thought was a smart choice.”

“It was a bonus that Sacha was capable of come.”

He’d been at sea since January and, for a time, did not know what had occurred to his spouse and youngster due to energy and communication outages. 

Lena and Kostya spent many of the assault sheltered within the Mariupol Orchestra, mentioned Psaras. 

Hoping they’re going to keep

It was on the couple’s fifth anniversary that they reunited in Warsaw, mentioned Stone.

After the horrible time they’ve skilled, Grand Manan has loads of peace and quiet, famous Inexperienced, however Stone expects there shall be a little bit of tradition shock for the newcomers.

To date, she mentioned, “they’re doing nicely.”

She hopes they’ll decide on the island and it really works for them, however mentioned there are not any expectations or obligations.

“It is wherever they wish to begin their lives and dwell their lives.”

Ukrainians fleeing the battle have been granted visas to dwell and work in Canada for 3 years. Afterwards they’ll apply for everlasting residency.

Extra Ukrainians could also be headed for Grand Manan within the close to future, mentioned Stone. A mom and son are anticipated to return and work at one of many island’s comfort shops, she mentioned.

Stone would not be shocked in the event that they find yourself staying. She herself got here to the island from Toronto 24 years in the past for a day of tenting and simply saved coming again.