Young Ukrainians enjoy a fun day in Edmonton’s Snow Valley, away from war – Edmonton

From golfing to climbing the aerial park tower to mining Whitemud Creek, about 70 newcomers to Edmonton enjoyed a busy day in Snow Valley.

« I really like this place, I’m so happy, » said Anna Maslii, who recently fled war-torn Ukraine with her mother.

Last May, the Canadian Society of Ukrainians from the Former Yugoslavia created a program to bring newly arrived young Ukrainians to enjoy fun events and activities.

“The idea of ​​this program is to let children be children. It was not their fault or anything that they had to flee, they had to leave their country,” said Irena Struk, a volunteer with the Canadian Society of Ukrainians from the Former Yugoslavia.

Frappée said that as a former refugee, she knows what many of these teenagers go through.

Imagine how difficult it is without knowing the language, without knowing the culture, without knowing the people. You’re here all alone, you don’t know anyone,” Struk said.

Struk said some lost loved ones in the war, others were sent to Canada alone.

Despite the difficulties in Ukraine, Struk said these events were significant.

“They need to hang out with friends and be normal kids and have their childhood,” Struk said.

“They have gone six months without being a child, they arrive in a foreign country, it just means to us that we can help them, maybe just have a better day,” Tim Dey, marketing & communications manager said of Snow Valley.

« I love this country, this is my new adventure, » Maslii said.