Hope for a Better Tomorrow — One Conversation at a Time

As Canadians, we typically don’t spend our days worrying about our physical safety or having access to basic necessities.
We can comfortably book a doctor’s appointment, go grocery shopping, or send our children and grandchildren to school without wondering if the school is still standing. But for civilians in Ukraine, the days have been unpredictable and frightening since the full-scale Russian invasion of their country began in 2022.
Over the last few years, Canada has opened its arms to Ukrainians to provide sanctuary from the conflict. More than 200,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in our country in search of safety and stability, and while Canada has made efforts to situate them here, many of these newcomers still struggle to find their footing in their new home.
Over a year ago, ARTA member and retired teacher Myrna Eichhorn, along with another retired colleague, started hosting free drop-in meetings called “Conversation and Cookies” for Ukrainian newcomers to help them make connections in Canada. Conversation and Cookies also offers English classes, but keeps them low-commitment for attendees. The emphasis is on giving Ukrainian newcomers a place to experience a sense of community, something that often goes missing during their ordeal. “Our mission has been to provide information, encouragement, and hope for a better tomorrow as they struggle through today,” Myrna says.

Myrna describes how many newcomers are overwhelmed with tasks when they first arrive in Canada. “You must learn to speak and read English, fill out many documents, navigate in unknown surroundings, and find an apartment and a job without Canadian references.” Finding employment can be frustrating for Ukrainian professionals who discover their education and career experience are not always recognized by Canadian industry organizations or certifying bodies. Ukrainian newcomers can also struggle to find housing, see a doctor, get their driver’s licence, or even to make new friends.
Conversation and Cookies offers Ukrainian newcomers a safe shared space to help alleviate personal feelings of isolation. Often, attendees don’t wish to talk about everything they left behind in Ukraine. Many of them have lost family members and lifelong friends, beloved family pets, and homes and businesses integral to their former lives. “I don’t ask for everyone’s story,” says Myrna. Instead, attendees offer each other solace in laughter and fun-filled events, providing a safe and welcoming environment to recover in.
The process of adapting to a new country is difficult, and while many recent Ukrainian arrivals to Canada experience feelings of relief and acceptance, the homesickness and cultural differences can be overwhelming for some refugees. For Galena, a 68-year-old Ukrainian woman who made the journey to Calgary to escape the war, the newfound stability and physical safety was offset by her personal struggle with feelings of displacement. She found it challenging to learn English and had difficulty trying to adjust to the unfamiliar aspects of Canadian society.

Galena ultimately decided to return to Ukraine after spending a year in Calgary. Later, she wrote to Myrna about her situation back home. “I have been in Ukraine for ten days. In my city, only sirens are often heard,” Galena wrote. She told Myrna there was a seven-day wait time to see a doctor at her clinic, and more than fifty per cent of the energy systems in Ukraine were destroyed. Looking back to her time in Canada, she said learning English was not such a hard challenge after all, but she was glad to be at home.
“No matter what, war is going on,” Galena wrote, “but we will tolerate everything. We will survive.”
Galena’s story is just one of many that Myrna has shared from the Conversation and Cookies meetings. Each story is unique, but they share common themes of loss and rebuilding. And, even though some newcomers decide to return to Ukraine, the relationships they build and the kindness they receive in Canada stay with them.
Canadians can continue to support and provide community for Ukrainians by joining advocacy organizations or participating in fundraising and sponsorship activities. Generous and caring people like Myrna and her colleague have shown that small gestures can go a long way. In times of turmoil, it’s not necessarily about big donations or letter-writing campaigns — sometimes all you need to do is show up and share a cookie with a stranger.

Jennelle Lew
Communications Coordinator
Jennelle Lew worked as one of ARTA's summer students from May to August 2024. She has since returned to Mount Royal University where she is pursuing a degree in broadcasting.