Project Sunflower appeals to city residents to host Ukrainian families

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman on July 26, 2022.

Herald photo by Alejandra pulido-guzman Project Sunflower has welcomed multiple families to Lethbridge and it is thankful to its residents for welcoming them to their homes.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDApulido@lethbridgeherald.comL

Project Sunflower has launched their Ukrainian Family Settlement Program and they are asking members of the community interested in hosting families to reach out.

To date, Project Sunflower has placed over 70 Ukrainian arrivals in Lethbridge and around southern Alberta, have over 50 outstanding applications, and have been in communication with over 260 families.

“Families are settling into our Lethbridge community quite well, we are working to assist folks that need to get into English as a second language programs, as well as finding places for them to stay and working towards finding employment,” said Devon Hargreaves, media liaison for Project Sunflower.

He explained Ukrainian families arriving to Lethbridge have not been granted refugee status, as they arrive in Canada under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) and are granted work visas.

Hargreaves said that as far as finding work for the new arrivals, they have had quite a few employers reach out to let them know of positions they have that can accommodate them.

“One big barrier that we do face of course, is the English language skills, but I encourage everyone who has jobs that could hire Ukrainians arriving in Canada to visit us on our websites and just advise of what it is you’re able to offer,” said Hargreaves.

He said Project Sunflower is very thankful to the city of Lethbridge and its residents for opening their hearts and their doors to Ukrainians.

Hargreaves added that he is a huge fan of recently-passed legislation providing free public transit to refugees, but due to their status Ukrainians arriving in the city do not qualify.

“I reached out to counsellor Schmidt-Rempel and I’m very happy with her quick response and quickly getting an amendment moved to get that clarified. Counsellor Crowson reached out on Twitter today to advise that including Ukrainians was the intent of the initial legislation,” said Hargreaves.

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