Ukrainian mom and daughter loving life in Canada

Olga Afanasieva and her eight-year-old daughter Milana arrived in South Surrey in September, part of the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel program.

After just six months in the Lower Mainland, Milana is thriving, Olga has found a job and they’ve recently purchased a vehicle.

Milana is learning English easily, has a best friend she has playdates and sleepovers with and is enrolled in hip hop classes.

“My daughter, she loves this place,” Olga said. “She loves hip hop.”

Ukrainians fleeing the year-long war in their country continue to arrive in Vancouver by air at the rate of 20 people a day, about a month before the federal program created to ease their entry into Canada is set to expire.