Ukrainians in Canada: Learning, Employment and Life

Canada is a democratic state, which, with its loyal attitude towards the settlers, received the epithet "country of emigrants". It is difficult to find a nationality whose representatives did not live here. One of the largest diasporas in Canada for many years remains Ukrainian. How did our countrymen get to this country? What attracts them? How do modern Ukrainians live in Canada?

Country of Ukrainian happiness

Moving to foreign lands of immigrants from Western Ukraine, namely they constitute the main part of migrants, forced extreme need. Scarce allotments did not provide an opportunity to feed their families. The first discoverers of the Canadian expanses with boundless fields and hayfields were six families from Galicia. Thus began the economic wave of emigration 120 years ago.

The reasons for the political nature encouraged Western Ukrainians to leave their native land, who did not want to obey the Poles, and in the postwar years - to the communist regime. The visa to Canada for Ukrainians became for many a saving ticket from repressions and Stalin's camps.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, during the difficult times of the emergence of a new state, mass resettlement to Canada was aimed at finding better prospects for the arrangement of life and the future for children.

Suitable climatic conditions, opportunities for development, study and work, and, most importantly, a loyal state policy towards settlers and assistance in resettlement are the main reasons that the mass move from Ukraine to Canada continues to this day.

Modern Diaspora

The Canadian provinces of Alberto, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are called the second Ukraine. Here the main number of its former residents is concentrated, which has increased by 138 thousand people only in the last 15 years.

The most popular destination for the citizens of Ukraine is Canada. Working visa for Ukrainians is issued to about 800 citizens annually. Approximately the same number receive it for training. In addition, the country freely gives tourist and guest visas for those who wish to visit their relatives. In connection with a large flow of visitors, tourists and students from Ukraine, Canada abolished visas for Ukrainians. This decision has already been taken by the government unanimously, until some of its technical aspects remain to be settled.

Everyone who arrives officially for permanent residence in Ukraine is registered as a permanent resident and has access to social benefits, medical insurance and employment.

Employment in Canada for Ukrainians

The main factor of prosperous living in any country is prestigious work. Diaspora in every way helps newly arrived with the arrangement, including with the search for work, but still those who know in advance where they are expected are reliably settled. You can go to work in Canada after obtaining a work visa or by invitation in the framework of the federal program. In any case, the employer should call the competitor. A visa is granted for work in a certain company at a particular post.

Ukrainians in Canada are the easiest to get tired of in such areas of activity as:

• Public catering - managers, managers, cooks;
• Medicine - qualified nurses, nurses, family doctors, dentists, psychologists, social workers;
• Providing qualified services - electricians, welders, carpenters, plumbers, crane operators.

According to federal programs of individual districts, the list of popular specialties is wider.

Staffing advantages

Without problems, those who are fluent in English or French receive a work visa to Canada. Age criteria are from 18 to 49, the optimal age is 21-35 years. Ukrainian diplomas for re-certification do not require. The only exception is the medical industry. Training in Canada for Ukrainians who are related to medicine is mandatory. They pass the practice, re-attestation, study at a local university. Local education is a priority for getting a good position.

How to study in this country

Canadian higher education is quoted all over the world. To receive it in this country became popular among Ukrainian youth. Study in Canada for Ukrainians is not a cheap pleasure, but the government has met foreign students. During their studies, each of them has the right to find any job without having to issue a separate permit for this. Those who enjoy this right (and there are many of them) not only have the means for permanent living and food, but also compensate themselves for part of the costs of training. In addition, after obtaining a diploma, the full right to work in Canada is given, and the graduate has time to 3 years in search of a suitable job.

You can enroll in a local university or college right after the end of the Ukrainian secondary school, successfully passing the language exam, but the more successful is the option of pre-university training. The fact is that training in Canada and in Ukraine is very vivid. The requirements for students are not so complicated as they are incomprehensible to foreigners. The period of the preparatory program is necessary for adaptation in an unfamiliar environment.

Ukrainian Culture in Canada

How many Ukrainians in Canada? To date, the figure is 1.2 million people, or 3% of the total population of the country. This is not counting citizens with temporary student or guest visas. Naturally, such a large diaspora can not but preserve its identity. Ukrainians support their culture, traditions, customs, language and pass it on to succeeding generations. Grandchildren and great-grandsons of the first settlers, regardless of occupation, are brought up in love for the homeland of their ancestors. On the territory of the "Ukrainian" provinces there are a number of museums devoted to the history of their native country. The museum-village "Ukrainian Heritage" deserves a special word. This exposition in the open air in the form of a real Ukrainian village vividly tells about the life and culture of the country. On certain days there are organized master classes on various folk crafts.

In Canada, many talented writers and poets who did not receive recognition at home lived and created their works: Olena Teliga, Oleg Olzhich, Miroslav Irchan and others.

Now the tour of many Ukrainian stage artists is organized by invitation and with the assistance of the public of the diaspora - so emigrants try to keep abreast of the cultural life of their native country.

Ukrainians and Canadians

Ethnic groups, emigrant societies of different nationalities exist in all countries. One of the factors that define Canada as a state for successful and safe living is a very friendly policy towards settlers, regardless of nationalities. In addition, there are no privileges in the country on financial, social grounds, or race. Due to the fact that a worker, teacher and manager in a large firm can earn almost the same depending on their contribution and work experience, there is practically no difference in social status. There is no division in religion, ethnicity, color of skin.

What is difficult for Ukrainians in Canada to get used to is to exacting compliance with the rules. The Slavic mentality prevents to adapt to such customs. Otherwise, Canadians are very sociable and friendly, although all meetings and visits are planned in advance, and the schedule is violated exclusively in case of force majeure.

Emigrant pensioners

Ukrainians in Canada who have reached retirement age often share their nostalgic memories of their native land, try to come to visit relatives or invite them to their homes. About return to the historical native land of speech does not go.

The matter is that pensioners in Canada are respectable people, called here signors. They are looking forward to the moment when they can start a free life. Social assistance for retirement in Canada does not depend on the position and level of wages. The difference can only be in personal savings. A pensioner spends his time on traveling, pursuing his hobbies, communicating with friends. The level of social payments allows you to keep a house, change a car and household appliances, pay service personnel.

The retirement age in Canada is 65 years, regardless of gender. The emigrant has the right to pension provision, if he lives in the country for at least 10 years (which many migrants from Ukraine aspire to).

All without problems?

It is fair to say that the life of an emigrant, even in such a loyal power as Canada, is not a complete paradise. The country needs working hands more. Moreover, it is necessary to get used to a strange mentality and customs for quite a long time - it's very different from the usual overseas life.

According to statistics, about 30% of young, efficient and promising citizens do not want to go to Canada for permanent residence, join compatriots and worry about the fate of their homeland, working for the Canadian budget and earning Canadian benefits.