Konstantin Rolyk, a musician who used to perform on cruise ships, is now working on a construction site in Winnipeg to support his family.
Rolyk, who immigrated to Canada with his wife and two children from Ukraine last year, has never worked in this type of position before. He views this job as an opportunity to start anew.
As the only breadwinner in his family, Rolyk is grateful for the job with S&J Construction as it allows him and his family to survive in their new country.
The labor shortage in Winnipeg, especially in trades, has caused Fillipo Rizutto, Rolyk’s foreman, to struggle with completing projects on time.
Typically, a regular crew should have 20 workers, but in recent years Rizutto has been working with only half that number. Rizutto currently has 12 Ukrainians working with his team, who have helped him meet his deadlines and keep the site running smoothly.
John Garcea, who co-owns S&J Construction with his father, says that the labor shortage in recent years has led to lost revenue.
However, Garcea believes that the 50 recently arrived Ukrainians his company has hired will change that.
He feels sad that these workers had to come to Canada because of the war but is glad to be able to employ them and help them start anew.
Kathy Landygo runs an employment agency out of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress office in Winnipeg, where she matches recently arrived Ukrainians with employers.
She has placed hundreds of Ukrainians in jobs that Manitoba businesses have been struggling to fill for years. Landygo, whose grandfather came to Canada from Ukraine during the Holodomor genocide, is driven by her personal connection to help Ukrainian immigrants.
The Ukrainian Canadian Congress office has also transformed its basement into a donation center for newly arrived Ukrainian families.
Liliia Yakovenko, who volunteers at the center, was able to find a job through the Ukrainian Canadian Congress after arriving from Ukraine with her husband and seven children.
Yakovenko says that having a job means more than just a simple job to her – it signifies stability and safety.
Daria Zozulia, who manages Sausage Makers Delicatessen Meat Market, has hired 10 recently arrived Ukrainians to work for her.
With the recent influx of Ukrainians coming to the butcher shop, Zozulia has been able to fully staff her shop for the first time in a decade.
Iryna Kopei, who used to be a teacher in Ukraine, recently started working at the butcher shop and views it as a place where she belongs and has found a friend in her boss, Daria.
In just a few months, many Ukrainians have gone from fleeing war to having a future again in Canada. They are grateful for the opportunities and are eager to help Canadians along the way.
»Ukrainians running from Russian invasion ease Canada’s labour shortage«
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