If you’re a newcomer to Estevan, don’t isolate yourself at home but instead explore the opportunities Estevan has to offer by doing some legwork.
This was the advice given by Oksanna Miller, a young woman who moved to Estevan in early 2014.
“Even if you don’t know the English language, it’s important that you go out and discover the place you’re living in,” she said. “You might also find people in the community who are from the same country you’re from.”
She noted the high number of Ukrainian and Philippine people in the city.
Miller moved to Canada in January to join her husband who had finished his education at Niagara College and was establishing Beeline Taxi in Estevan. Miller is from St. Petersburg, Russia.
“I had nothing to lose,” she said about emigrating from the world’s largest country.
Despite the language barrier she faced upon arrival, she quickly registered for English classes with the help of Southeast Newcomer Services in Estevan. Shortly after, she made connections at the library which resulted in her obtaining a summer job as an assistant for children’s programming. In less than a year since her arrival to Canada, she had created an admirable resume that included work experience and references. In that short amount of time she also developed her English speaking skills.
“I have a great relationship with the girls here,” Miller said, referring to the staff at Newcomers.
A few feet away from Miller, Sourabh Sharma nodded in agreement.
“They never say no to you,” he said, adding nearly every client at Newcomers appears to be on a first name basis with the staff, including himself.
Sharma moved to Toronto from India in 2010. He studied small business and entrepreneurship at George Brown College and moved to Estevan in 2012. The tough job market in Ontario, which brings many people out West, was why he decided to move to Estevan, where his friend lived, who also passed along words of encouragement.
“He told me there were many opportunities here and said I can get help from Newcomers if I needed it,” he said.
That help included printing papers, asking for clarification on what certain documents were asking for specifically, and acquisition of general information about the city he had moved to.
“I wasn’t confused about what they were here to do,” he said about Newcomers. “They act as a guide.”
Beyond the settlement services, Miller said the other programs Newcomers offered have been very valuable.
“Hockey is big in Russia, but here it’s religion,” she laughed. “I’ve never been to a hockey game before so the Bruins game was interesting and fun.”
Newcomers handed out tickets to dozens of newcomers for the Bruins home opener last month. A few weeks prior to the home opener, an introductory golf tutorial was held at the Woodlawn Golf Club. An introduction to curling is something Newcomers is currently exploring.
“Curling would be something I’d like to do,” Miller said.
Adapting to Canadian culture hasn’t been difficult for either newcomer, neither has the maintaining of their own culture.
“You’re free to choose what you want to integrate into your life, and you’re free to practice your own culture,” Miller said. “It’s not hard adjusting to Canadian culture, people accept you for who you are here.”
Miller said the one struggle she has endured is finding replacement ingredients for special meals she used to make at home. With the help of some of her Ukrainian connections, she’s managed to find similar ingredients.
Sharma said there’s a strong Punjabi community in Estevan and Weyburn. It has helped him maintain a sense of home, which he left behind in 2010. He described that moment as a “turning point” in his life.
Both newcomers said that they’re lucky to have the services of SNS so close to them, acknowledging the fact that if they lived further away, obtaining their services would be more difficult.
In an interview with the Mercury on Oct. 15, settlement adviser Melissa Marcucci said Newcomers is going to continue to develop its services in rural areas. Anyone interested in utilizing their services but can’t make the trip to Estevan, however, can call Newcomers and arrange for at-home services.
