"At this moment there are approximately 14 families in Charlotte County that have come through the CUAET Program," says Joan Majchrowski, Executive Director of the Charlotte County Multicultural Association, who has been helping to new residents to the region find their bearings as they adjust to life in a foreign land. "This program allows them to have an open work permit so that they can work across Canada. Some of the families that came here to Southwest New Brunswick either have family connections to the area or a job or language qualification that allows them to work right away." 

The Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET) is one of the many special measures the Government of Canada has introduced to support the people of Ukraine. It offers Ukrainians and their family members free, extended temporary status and allows them to work, study and stay in Canada until it is safe for them to return home.

"We should clarify that the Ukrainian families we've welcomes so far are not refugees under the government definition of refugee," says Majchrowski. "They want to become a part of the community and in many cases have started a job right away. Currently, a couple families have settled in Grand Manan, a couple in St. Stephen and a couple in St. George. Whether they stay in these communities will be up to them and the employment opportunities they find."

The Charlotte County Multicultural Association has hosted orientation days and provided care packages to help ease the families into life in Southwest New Brunswick.