From Kyiv to Blainville: Former journalist makes a brand new life in Quebec

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As Russia massed troops, weapons and navy gear alongside Ukraine’s jap border in November 2021, Ukrainian tv journalist Mariia Savchuk interviewed specialists for story after story during which she tried to elucidate how the scenario may evolve.

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“Half the specialists had been saying they didn’t suppose there could be battle — and the opposite half was saying the danger was actually excessive and that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin needed this battle,” she recalled the opposite day, a few weeks in need of the six-month anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Monitoring the scenario as she researched and reported her tales for the Kyiv-based 24/7 channel the place she was a producer within the worldwide information division in control of a crew of 4, “I noticed the scenario was changing into much more severe,” recalled Savchuk, who’s 45.

“Psychologically, you attempt to push away the ideas, to keep away from dwelling continuously in concern of attainable tragedy.”

However at a sure level, she may now not push away these ideas.

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By January of this 12 months, mates from Italy had been calling typically and urging her to go away Ukraine and are available stick with them. It was a troublesome month: There was the worrying troop buildup — and she or he was additionally at knowledgeable crossroads. After 10 years in full-time journalism and work at three tv stations, “I felt I had accomplished all that I may within the Ukrainian media setting,” she mentioned.

“I used to be not progressing in my occupation. How may I evolve and what might be greatest for my profession?”

Savchuk determined to go away her job — and, quickly after, to go away Ukraine. Inside two days, she’d purchased a airplane ticket, had a COVID-19 booster shot, mentioned goodbye to her mates, most of whom have additionally since left, and tried unsuccessfully to persuade her mom to accompany her. On Feb. 21, three days earlier than Russia invaded Ukraine, she locked the door to her Kyiv house behind her and, with solely a suitcase and a backpack, headed for Italy.

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“I left, fairly conscious that I used to be leaving my life behind — my hopes, my plans,” she mentioned. “I knew I used to be leaving my nation for an extended interval.”

However she couldn’t stick with mates indefinitely — and she or he wanted to work. Canada beckoned. Via social media, she discovered of a brand new federal authorities program offering a three-year work allow for Ukrainians, the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency journey.

Savchuk travelled to Bucharest for iris scanning and fingerprints — the biometrics wanted as a part of her visa software — then returned to Sicily to await the letter from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada that will enable her to enter Canada. In the meantime, she despatched out resumé after resumé.

Regardless of her {qualifications}, she was making use of for entry-level positions. “I wanted cash to assist myself, to lease an house and purchase meals,” she mentioned.

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She posted a message on a Fb group known as Canada-Host Ukrainians/Hébergeons les Ukrainiens to say that she was searching for work and a spot to remain quickly.

Caroline Guerru, senior director of human sources and communications for the Blainville-based Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group, stumbled on the Fb group one April night whereas scrolling on-line. She noticed Savchuk’s put up, checked out her LinkedIn profile — and was impressed.

The Kyiv native has a masters in economics and speaks English, French and Italian along with Ukrainian and Russian. Early in her profession, she labored as an interpreter with an company that helped overseas {couples} with adoptions in Ukraine and, earlier than getting into journalism full-time in 2012, she’d freelanced as a translator, copywriter and social advertising and marketing supervisor, amongst different issues.

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Duchesnay had donated treatment and prescription nutritional vitamins meant to assist 22,000 pregnant ladies and new moms in Ukraine — and recognized two positions that would doubtlessly be stuffed by new arrivals from Ukraine or elsewhere.

Guerru reached out to Savchuk by the Fb group and so they had two video calls. After the primary, Savchuk felt she had not carried out nicely. “I used to be feeling greater than a refugee than knowledgeable searching for a job,” she recalled.

“If you dwell with that uncertainty, you don’t know methods to describe your self.”

Nonetheless, Guerru provided her an administrative job. Savchuk preferred that the corporate needed to assist Ukraine. “I used to be reassured and mentioned ‘Why not begin my life once more right here in Montreal in a brand new skilled area?’ ”

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After a two-week wait, the letter arrived from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and she or he arrived in Montreal on Might 19. A number household within the borough of St-Laurent, who’d reached out by the Fb group, picked her up on the airport. She and Guerru met in particular person the following day; It was “super-emotional,” Guerru mentioned.

On June 6, Savchuk began work as an workplace clerk at Duchesnay and “quickly, her expertise confirmed by,” Guerru mentioned. Quickly she was named senior communications adviser.

Since arriving, Savchuk has met “lots of caring, useful pleasant folks” and that has helped her to really feel extra assured. Her host household is “actually pleasant, useful and caring,” and work colleagues have welcomed her warmly. She has began to search for an house and hopes to maneuver in September.

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She speaks to her mom at house in Ukraine daily by the Viber app and subscribes to tv information suppliers in Ukraine and the official web site of the Kyiv administration.

Can she envision returning to Ukraine?

“In January, I may by no means have recognized I’d be beginning a life in Canada,” Savchuk mentioned. “For the second, my expertise right here has been actually constructive and I’ve the safety of being in a protected place — however I don’t dare to make long-term plans.”

sschwartz@postmedia.com