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Ukrainian family celebrating first Canadian Christmas in region

'I never before thought that Christmas could be gifted. We feel really included in the community,' says Ukrainian refugee who has found a safe haven in area
hromkofamily-12-22-22
Alina Hromko, her son Sebastian, and her daughter Anna-Izabella are celebrating Christmas in Orillia this year after fleeing Ukraine in September.

Ukrainian refugee Alina Hromko and her two young children are spending Christmas in Canada this year after fleeing their war-torn country back in September.

“We could have come earlier but we lost my kids' application and had to apply for a second time,” Hromko explained. “That is the reason we came when we did.”

Hromko, 33, and her children Anna-Izabella, 4, and Sebastian, 6, left everything behind to come to Canada. Hromko’s husband, Volodymyr, stayed in Ukraine to help fight in the war against Russia.

“It’s been difficult,” she said. “Before the war, I had a successful business, and we had our family, but after the war started it became difficult to be there under sirens, missiles, and seeing all the terrible" things.

During the war, Sebastian began to speak less as he saw more tragedy.

“I was afraid that he would lose his skills of communicating and developing,” Hromko said. “So, we decided to go.”

It took Hromko and her children three days to get to Canada via connecting flights. They waited at the Ukrainian border for 26 hours before being able to fly out of their home country. Hromko says they could have chosen to move to Italy or Poland, but Canada made the most sense.

“I cannot speak the Italian language,” she said. “In Poland, there were too many Ukrainian people, and as a mom with two kids I thought it might be hard to make a living there.” 

The Western Ukraine native got in touch with an old English university teacher from Canada who offered her family to stay with him in Orillia.

“I really like Orillia and Orillians,” Hromko said. “My kids are really enjoying school; the students and teachers are very nice.”

Hromko’s children are already speaking English well after only beginning to learn the language three months ago. They have also been able to settle in and get their lives started again with the help of community donations.

“We’ve been given some money, lots of toys and clothing, and even some bedding,” Hromko said. “The Rotary Club of Orillia gave us Christmas decorations for our Christmas tree and the school board gave us the ornaments.”

Hromko says the hospitality in Orillia has been incredible.

“I never before thought that Christmas could be gifted,” she said. “We feel really included in the community.”

In Canada, Christmas is celebrated quite differently than it is in Ukraine, Hromko explains.

“In Ukraine, it’s kind of a religious celebration,” she said. “We go to the church, we have a special Christmas Eve meal, a special dinner with special cuisines.”

From Hromko’s perspective, Christmas in Canada is about sharing.

“It’s about giving love and presents to your relatives and people in need,” she said. “It’s about joy and family time, but it’s different in Ukraine.”

Hromko says she likes Christmas in Canada.

“I studied English and North American traditions in university,” she explained. “I always wondered how it is in real life because just to read or see a movie from that continent is a bit different than being involved personally.”

Hromko’s children are "very excited" about Christmas time and the arrival of Santa Claus.

“They are waiting for Christmas so impatiently,” Hromko said. “They are asking about Santa every day and are looking for presents. They can hardly wait to unwrap the presents that are already under our Christmas tree, it’s been really hard for them.”

This will be the first year that Santa Claus visits the Hromkos which has made the Christmas season extra magical.

“Santa Claus isn’t really a thing in Ukraine,” Hromko explained. “We have Saint Nicholas, and we celebrate and honour the memory of the person on Dec. 19.”

While Christmas has been magical for Hromko watching the excitement of her children, she dearly misses her husband.

“Very often there is no electricity in Ukraine, so they have no mobile service or internet,” she said. “It’s hard, we miss him.”

Hromko isn’t sure if her family will ever celebrate Christmas again in their home country.

“I cannot know what Ukraine after the war will look like,” she said. “Here, I’m busy being mom 24/7 and trying to earn money as a freelance photographer.”

Hromko is a portrait photographer who specializes in newborn photography.

“I can do all kinds of pictures,” she said. “I love photography and meeting people.”

If you’d like to contact Hromko about her photography, she can be reached by email at [email protected].

Hromko thanks Orillia residents and Canadians everywhere for their support of her family and country during this tough time.

“Canadian people are not only supporting with money, but they are teaching Ukrainian people a lot of good things: how to share, how to be kind, and how to be supportive. It’s precious," she said.


Tyler Evans

About the Author: Tyler Evans

Tyler Evans got his start in the news business when he was just 15-years-old and now serves as a video producer and reporter with OrilliaMatters
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