refugee

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Sean Fraser speaks during a news conference Wednesday, April 6, 2022 in Ottawa. The federal government says it will make it easier for temporary residents in Canada from Turkey and Syria to extend their stay in the country after a powerful earthquake struck their countries last month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Canada to accept more Syrian, Turkish residents after earthquake

Feds to prioritize processing temporary visas for those impacted by natural disaster

 

Bill Nighy arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

Did you see the blue ribbons worn by many at the Oscars? Here’s what they mean

#WithRefugees ribbons Sunday sent a message supporting the right to seek safety

 

Viacheslav Samsonenko, a Ukrainian newcomer who fled his home country in May, poses in Saanichiton, B.C., on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Ukrainians welcomed in workplace, but still finding jobs below their qualifications

Employers often fail to recognize education and work experience from outside of Canada

 

Victoriya Latli and Denys Popov arrived in Revelstoke in the summer of 2022. (Zachary Delaney/Revelstoke Review)

‘I remember everything’: Ukrainians in Revelstoke reflect on a year of war in Ukraine

It’s been one year today since Russia invaded Ukraine

Victoriya Latli and Denys Popov arrived in Revelstoke in the summer of 2022. (Zachary Delaney/Revelstoke Review)
Yuliia Kleban, from Ukraine, poses for a photograph near her work in Toronto on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Kleban along with other Ukrainian refugees are living in Canada as the first anniversary of the Russian war nears. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Ukrainian newcomers assess options in Canada year after war at home

More than 150,000 Ukrainians made their way to Canada under a special program since conflict began

Yuliia Kleban, from Ukraine, poses for a photograph near her work in Toronto on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Kleban along with other Ukrainian refugees are living in Canada as the first anniversary of the Russian war nears. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Ukrainian peewee hockey player Zahar Kovalenko carries his bag as head coach Evgheniy Pysarenko walks behind as they arrive, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City. The Ukraine team will compete at the Quebec international peewee tournament. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

Hockey team of preteen Ukrainian refugees arrives in Quebec City for tournament

Their coach described the team’s presence at noted peewee tourney as ‘almost a miracle’

Ukrainian peewee hockey player Zahar Kovalenko carries his bag as head coach Evgheniy Pysarenko walks behind as they arrive, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City. The Ukraine team will compete at the Quebec international peewee tournament. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot
Grace Mukadzambo is a Courtenay resident who was to be deported to her native Zimbabwe, but the deportation order has been cancelled. Paul Bozenich photo

B.C. resident facing deportation gets 11th-hour reprieve while packing her bags

Community members, elected officials rally behind plight of Grace Mukadzambo

Grace Mukadzambo is a Courtenay resident who was to be deported to her native Zimbabwe, but the deportation order has been cancelled. Paul Bozenich photo
The Ashrafi family is welcomed by Kathy Moore and Tim Peacock at the Vancouver airport. Photo: Submitted

Welcome to Trail! Family arrives safely before Christmas

Special thanks to the many volunteers and local businesses that have helped the Ashrafis settle in

The Ashrafi family is welcomed by Kathy Moore and Tim Peacock at the Vancouver airport. Photo: Submitted
Vitali Hrechka poses for a photo with his wife Evelina, daughter Emiliia, and mother Hanna, after the St. Nicholas Day celebration at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Toronto on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. The family recently arrived in Canada after leaving their home in Ukraine’s Transkarpathia region. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Ukrainians who fled war set to mark first Christmas in Canada, far from loved ones

Many newcomers are women and children, separated from male members of their family

Vitali Hrechka poses for a photo with his wife Evelina, daughter Emiliia, and mother Hanna, after the St. Nicholas Day celebration at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Toronto on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. The family recently arrived in Canada after leaving their home in Ukraine’s Transkarpathia region. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Taliban security personnel carry a damaged bus after a roadside bomb blast in Mazar-e Sharif, the capital city of Balkh province, in northern Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. A Taliban official says that a roadside bomb went off near a government bus in northern Afghanistan, killing several people. (AP Photo)

Refugee group says Ottawa will help bring 600 LGBTQ Afghans to Canada

Immigration department would not confirm the move, citing security risks

Taliban security personnel carry a damaged bus after a roadside bomb blast in Mazar-e Sharif, the capital city of Balkh province, in northern Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. A Taliban official says that a roadside bomb went off near a government bus in northern Afghanistan, killing several people. (AP Photo)
Maluf Ashragi travelled 180 km from Kabul to Bamyan province in Afghanistan to learn to ski. (Submitted photo)

Afghan-Harzara skier can’t wait to hit West Kootenay slopes

West Kootenay Friends of Refugees looks forward to getting Maluf Ashragi back on his skis

  • Dec 8, 2022
Maluf Ashragi travelled 180 km from Kabul to Bamyan province in Afghanistan to learn to ski. (Submitted photo)
Inna Fomina, who came to Canada to take refuge from the war in Ukraine, stands with her son Adrian Derevianko, 10-month-old, outside their home in Ottawa, on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

Ukrainian refugees embrace peace and quiet in Canada as war rages on

Inna Fomina’s story one of horror and displacement, but also one of hope and resilience

Inna Fomina, who came to Canada to take refuge from the war in Ukraine, stands with her son Adrian Derevianko, 10-month-old, outside their home in Ottawa, on Monday, Oct. 31, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
FILE - Venezuelan migrants walk across the Rio Bravo towards the United States border to surrender to the border patrol, from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Oct. 13, 2022. President Joe Biden last week invoked a Trump-era rule known as Title 42, which Biden’s own Justice Department is fighting in court, to deny Venezuelans fleeing their crisis-torn country the chance to request asylum at the border. The rule, first invoked by Trump in 2020, uses emergency public health authority to allow the United States to keep migrants from seeking asylum at the border, based on the need to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Christian Chavez, File)

Biden turning to Trump-era rule to expel Venezuelan migrants

President denying Venezuelans the chance to request asylum ahead of midterm elections

FILE - Venezuelan migrants walk across the Rio Bravo towards the United States border to surrender to the border patrol, from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, Oct. 13, 2022. President Joe Biden last week invoked a Trump-era rule known as Title 42, which Biden’s own Justice Department is fighting in court, to deny Venezuelans fleeing their crisis-torn country the chance to request asylum at the border. The rule, first invoked by Trump in 2020, uses emergency public health authority to allow the United States to keep migrants from seeking asylum at the border, based on the need to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. (AP Photo/Christian Chavez, File)
Ghazaleh Nozamani talking about the current protests in her home country of Iran at her house in Yarrow on Oct. 3, 2022. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)

B.C. woman from Iran once tortured by the Revolutionary Guard ponders her country’s future

‘They are killing innocent women or hitting them in the middle of the street because of a piece of fabric’

Ghazaleh Nozamani talking about the current protests in her home country of Iran at her house in Yarrow on Oct. 3, 2022. (Paul Henderson/ Chilliwack Progress)
Family members reunited in Newfoundland in October as about 177 new Ukrainian refugees landed in the Canadian province. (The Canadian Press/screenshot)

VIDEO: Ukrainians fleeing Russian attacks arrive in Newfoundland

About 177 refugees were welcomed by the province

Family members reunited in Newfoundland in October as about 177 new Ukrainian refugees landed in the Canadian province. (The Canadian Press/screenshot)
Admission to the Sunday concert in Trail United Church is by donation. Tax receipts will be issued and all funds go directly to WKFoR to help settle the family of four. Photo: Unsplash

Special fundraising concert in Trail on Sunday

All proceeds to benefit an Afghan family of four soon to arrive in the West Kootenay

Admission to the Sunday concert in Trail United Church is by donation. Tax receipts will be issued and all funds go directly to WKFoR to help settle the family of four. Photo: Unsplash
On October 2 at 2 p.m., there will be a fundraising concert at the Trail United Church with admission by donation. Photo: Times file

Operation Afghan Safety reaches the Kootenays

WKFOR will be raising funds to support this family for a year

  • Sep 13, 2022
On October 2 at 2 p.m., there will be a fundraising concert at the Trail United Church with admission by donation. Photo: Times file
Ukrainian families fleeing to Canada from their home country can be open to being preyed upon if they aren’t working through known, legitimate agencies. (Photo by Angelique Houlihan)

Ukrainians coming to B.C. face rising human trafficking risks

Connecting with Canadian hosts online can leave refugee families open to exploitation

  • Aug 22, 2022
Ukrainian families fleeing to Canada from their home country can be open to being preyed upon if they aren’t working through known, legitimate agencies. (Photo by Angelique Houlihan)
The Sergyeyev family poses in Istanbul, Turkey (Emre Senay’s hometown) in happier times during a visit in September 2021. Photo: Submitted

Ukrainian family reunites in the Kootenays

Kalesnikoff Lumber provides job for Ukrainian refugee

The Sergyeyev family poses in Istanbul, Turkey (Emre Senay’s hometown) in happier times during a visit in September 2021. Photo: Submitted
Valerii Didenko is seen with Paul Fussell and Cathy Jansen’s dog, named Lucy. (Black Press Media)

Ukrainian couple, daughter land in B.C. with hopes of building a ‘big, happy family’

The Didenkos hope to rent a unit nearby as their 5-year-old daughter enters kindergarten

Valerii Didenko is seen with Paul Fussell and Cathy Jansen’s dog, named Lucy. (Black Press Media)