Funding Ends for UCC Saskatchewan Settlement Services for Displaced Ukrainians

Effective Thursday 01 May 2025, the Government of Saskatchewan has ended funding for displaced Ukrainian settlement services being provided by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Saskatchewan.

The Government’s decision to defund these services was communicated following the release of this year’s Saskatchewan Budget.

Elena Krueger, President of UCC Saskatchewan, “Although the number of arrivals to Saskatchewan has declined over the past year, this decision was a surprise. UCC Saskatchewan has been delivering necessary settlement services to individuals and families who have sought refuge in our province since the russian full-scale invasion in February 2022. In recent months, staff have seen the arrival of new family members and friends of the first refuge seekers coming to our offices in Regina and Saskatoon. Since February 2022, over 8,000 displaced Ukrainians have arrived in Saskatchewan. UCC Saskatchewan is grateful to the Government of Saskatchewan for its support for displaced Ukrainians over the past three years. It is, however, disappointing that, at a time when russia continues to bomb Ukraine on a daily basis and Ukrainian men, women and children are being killed, the funding for needed settlement supports for those who have fled the war is being cut. These funding cuts create additional barriers for those newcomers seeking to gain their permanent residency status, the important next step to becoming full citizens of Canada.”

5 full-time and 1 part-time UCC Saskatchewan settlement staff members in Regina and Saskatoon have been laid off effective Wednesday 30 April 2025.

UCC Saskatchewan sincerely thanks the following staff who are leaving us. They have made important contributions to the lives of the thousands of displaced Ukrainians who have arrived in Saskatchewan via charter flights or independently and to settle in the communities across our province. Thank you to: Settlement & Community Service Coordinators Olena Atamanchuk, Oleg Garbuz in Saskatoon and Alla Kuranda in Regina; also Settlement & Community Outreach Manager Mykola Zakharchuk, Employment Services Manager Iryna Matsiuk and Client Services Assistant Oleh Bufan in Saskatoon.

Displaced Ukrainians requiring settlement services should visit any of these Provincial Settlement agencies.

Displaced Ukrainians in Saskatchewan requiring assistance with their employment may continue to contact UCC Saskatchewan at 1-888-652-5850 or email employment@ucc.sk.ca.

Government of Saskatchewan Continues Funding of UCC Saskatchewan Employment Services for Displaced Ukrainians

Finding meaningful employment is vital for displaced Ukrainians looking to rebuild their lives far from home. Finding pathways to successful participation in our province’s labour market is at the heart of a new funding agreement signed between the Ministry of Immigration & Career Training (ICT) and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Saskatchewan.

The partnership with UCC Saskatchewan aligns with the Saskatchewan Provincial Labour Market Strategy and will help newcomers connect with in-demand occupations that are key to the provincial labour market. UCC Saskatchewan will pathway individuals to other support within ICT, including the Credential Recognition Services branch, so they can work in skilled occupations.

“While UCC Saskatchewan’s settlement services for displaced Ukrainians are ending, our three employment coordinators will continue to provide valuable employment services such as resume and interview assistance, developing career action plans, facilitating job-matching with individual employers and creating connections to help with credential recognition,” explained Executive Director Danylo Puderak. “These important services will help those displaced Ukrainian clients who are currently on income support programs to find employment and become more financially independent. It will also help those who currently have survival jobs to move to more career-oriented employment. Saskatchewan has a growing labour-shortage. By connecting newcomers to employment opportunities we can contribute to newcomer retention, help build our province’s economy while providing much-needed refuge to those who have fled the russian war in Ukraine.”

Displaced Ukrainians in Saskatchewan requiring assistance with their employment may contact the Ukrainian Canadian Congress of Saskatchewan at 1-888-652-5850 or email employment@ucc.sk.ca to speak with an Employment Coordinator.