‘I have no idea how I will pack my whole new life into a suitcase and start a new life again,’ says Romana Svechka, who, along with her husband Vladimir and 14-year-old daughter Leila, has set roots in Parry Sound since fleeing the Ukraine-Russia war<\/p>\n
A Parry Sound family known for its\u00a0involvement in the community is now facing deportation to Russia\u2014leaving them scared and uncertain about the future.<\/p>\n
Romana Svechka, 45, her husband Vladimir, 54, and their 14-year-old daughter Leila have been living in Parry Sound since early 2023.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Romana is originally from Ukraine, and Vlad is Russian. They fled Eastern Europe seeking safety and a better life.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI left before \u2026 but my husband and my daughter left Russia because the war started,\u201d she explained\u00a0to\u00a0BayToday.<\/p>\n
The Rotary Club of Parry Sound Revival has been a key player in the family’s settling in Parry Sound.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen my husband got his visa to Canada, he posted his resume on Facebook,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey connected\u00a0him and said there’s a job available \u2026 he was actually on a plane when they texted him if he would like to have an interview with the company he’s working for now. He got the job basically the next day when he came to Canada.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over time, they established a new life and gave back to Rotary with volunteering, though their work permit ran out, and they were advised to seek a refugee claim. But now they are at risk of being forced back to Russia.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t know what else to do,\u201d she said. \u201cThe only option that seemed possible was refugee status.\u201d<\/p>\n
Their refugee claim was rejected in the middle of last month.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt said we\u2019re ineligible,\u201d she stated. \u201cOur documents were sent to the border, and now we are just waiting to find out when we have to leave.\u201d<\/p>\n
The family has no passports\u2014those were surrendered during the application process\u2014and no home to return to.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe did sell our house in Russia, so we have nowhere to go,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s dangerous because I\u2019m Ukrainian, and it\u2019s a problem for my daughter because she\u2019s half Ukrainian.\u201d<\/p>\n
Romana says they could be ordered to leave Canada at any moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt could be any day,\u201d she said. \u201cThey\u2019ll just call or send a letter saying what day and time we need to be at the border.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite their immigration struggles, the Svechka\u00a0family\u00a0has\u00a0made Parry Sound its\u00a0home. Romana runs a small business offering Ukrainian and European food, and works as a home support worker, and\u00a0Vladimir is\u00a0a\u00a0plumber. Leila recently graduated with honours from Saint Peter the Apostle Catholic School and received a humanitarian award.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are already settled here,\u201d she said. \u201cWe got a nice apartment, we bought furniture, we got a car, we have a full-time job, and we volunteer. My daughter was hoping to go to high school and continue dance and art classes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Romana says she\u2019s afraid of what comes next. \u201cIt\u2019s very scary because we\u00a0don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen tomorrow,\u201d she explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI have no idea how I will pack my whole new life into a suitcase and start a new life again. And who knows where. With Russian passports, we\u2019re not welcome in many places, unfortunately.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rotary has launched a fundraiser to help the family afford legal support.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a family who\u2019s done everything right,\u201d President Rick Cain said in a release. \u201cThey\u2019ve given so much to our community. Now, they need our help.\u201d<\/p>\n
Romana remains hopeful.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hope we can stay and do something good for this country,\u201d she said. \u201cYou live this life only once. You have to live it good in order to get good back from people.\u201d<\/p>\n