Ukrainian family makes Petrolia their permanent home

Cathy Dobson/The Independent

Petrolia’s Zelenchuk family do not want to return to Ukraine, even if the war miraculously ended today in their homeland.

They say they want to remain in small-town Ontario, far away from the city of Lviv where they spent most of their lives. Petrolia is a place that feels safe, offers work, friends and a growing sense of belonging.

“We don’t want to uproot the boys again,” says Adrian Zelenchuk, 49, as he sits with his family around their dining room table.

The Zelenchuks fled Lviv – a city of more than one million people in western Ukraine – four months after war broke out in 2022. They had no connections to Canada but mom, Nataliia Zelenchuk, was determined to immigrate.

“It was very scary when war started. Terrifying. It wasn’t easy to know what to do,” she said.  

“And Canada created an opportunity to give my kids a safe life.”

In the early days following Russia’s invasion, the Zelenchuks and their two sons spent most of their time in their basement, living on edge amid air alarms and the sound of bombing.

Their own neighbourhood remained intact but buildings were hit just two kilometres away.  

The neighbourhood where Adrian grew up was attacked and a family he knew was killed.

“You can die at any time in Lviv,” he said.

“I felt there was a long war ahead,” said Nataliia, 45.  “My friends had relatives who died in the first few months. My older brother has been a fighter since 2014 and now my nephew is too.”

Before the war, the Zelenchuks lived what she described as “a very nice life.” They were economically secure enough for her to stay home with Yaroslav (Yarko), now 16, and Darii, now 12.  Adrian managed an auto parts store. They owned their own house and two cars. Yarko played competitive tennis. An older daughter, Myroslava, won a tennis scholarship to attend an American university.

Once the war started, as a family with three children, they were allowed to leave the country. Nataliia began searching for a place to relocate.

“I knew I’d have to go to work so I started looking for a small town where our boys could manage,” she said.

Almost immediately, she found a Facebook page that was started by a group of Lambton volunteers.  “Save Ukraine – Sarnia and Lambton County” promised help in coming to Canada and support upon arrival.

In June 2022, only weeks after submitting paperwork with the help of the Save Ukraine group, Nataliia arrived in Lambton County with her two boys and their dog.  

Adrian tied up loose ends at work and followed four months later.

Initially, the family was hosted by Missy and John Stephens at their home on Brigden Road. With the Stephens’ help, Nataliia was employed as a photographer within seven days of her arrival.  

Soon after Adrian rejoined his family and started working at a pizzeria. 

A few months later, the couple attended a job fair and found work as home support workers with Care Partners.

Neither spoke English well when they came but say their job assisting mostly older people in their homes has helped significantly. 

“We drive from Grand Bend to Port Lambton for work and are meeting the heart and soul of Canada,” said Nataliia. “I really feel like I am family.”

They say they were fortunate to sell their cars in Ukraine and have that money to buy cars here, a prerequisite for living in a rural town and having home care jobs.

Meanwhile, their boys are doing well at school, even liking it more than they did in Lviv.  

“I’ve met a lot of good people at LCCVI,” said Yarko. Teacher Peter Mueller coaches the LCCVI tennis team and has helped Yarko resume competitive play. Last month, Yarko won the boys’ singles title at the Lambton Kent high school tennis championships. 

The entire Mueller family has befriended the Zelenchuks, Nataliia said. “I appreciate that so much.” 

Darko is thriving in Grade 7 at St. Philip Catholic School. The family has moved to their own home near the centre of town.

“I thought this would be too difficult but I realize now the reason we are here is to take care of the next generation,” said Adrian.

The Zelenchuks are among approximately 210,000 Ukraine nationals who came to Canada since February 2022 when the Canadian government enacted the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel, allowing them to flee the war and stay in Canada for up to three years.

An estimated 200 settled in Sarnia-Lambton.

A study by an advocacy group called Pathfinders for Ukraine found that most, like the Zelenchuks, don’t want to return home. 

“I am very sad for this but I understand that if we go back, it won’t be the same,” said Nataliia.  “I call my mom (in Lviv) a lot. I feel, in some ways, that this is the most terrible time in my life, yet I feel the most happy.

“My happiness sometimes makes me feel guilty and my mom understands that.

“When I think about Ukraine, I miss it,” said Adrian.  “If it was only Nataliia and me, we might go back.

“But if I went back, I’d miss Canada.  We’ve created our nest here.”

The family has applied for permanent residency.