A family camp for Ukrainian Refugees in Thorhild

Bonnie Ragan, the owner of Koinonia Retreat (Greek meaning for fellowship), owns a camp with many cabins just a few miles out of Thorhild.  Ragan teamed up with the founder and director of Refugee Bridge out of Edmonton, a non-profit Christian organization that sponsors and supports refugee/displaced families worldwide fleeing dire situations. Regan, from a community mainly Ukrainian, wanted to do her part and help Ukraine Refugees in any way possible. Since Refugee Bridge already had sufficient housing and host families for each Refugee family, Ragan and Refugee Bridge thought up the idea of a Family Camp where refugees could connect and create fellowship with other displaced families.

This idea created the Family Camp, which ran from July 29^th to August 3^rd. The event brought many Thorhild community members together. Chris Mudryck shared a large donation from the Ukrainian Catholic Church, which provided a lot of food for all at the camp. Thorhild Co-op gave the group a discount and helped with support for a fundraising barbeque. A local farmer donated beef roasts and hamburger, which allowed local cooks Shirley Vice and Taliah Hyde to create delicious meals for everyone.

Ragan said, “Ukrainian campers shared what they missed most from their native land and what they looked forward to most in their new home, Canada. All the displaced left their homes because of the Russian invasion and war. In talking to the displaced, we learned that they had left their native land for various reasons. Some left because their homes were bombed. Others left because they wanted to provide safety and stability for their children, and others left because the economy was destroyed. They feared a food shortage would happen in Ukraine this winter. Most left Ukraine, hoping their displacement would be short-term. However, as the war continues, many are questioning whether they will ever return home again. One thing they all had in common was a longing that the fighting would stop and that Ukraine would regain peace.”

Guests shed laughs and tears as they shared their experiences, debriefed, and connected with other families. Many activities, games and story times were provided for children and included a multigenerational soccer match. Local Ukrainian dance instructor Jesse Balan had many guests, locals and refugees engaging in the dance activity. Captivating stories were told by comedian and storyteller Barry Sawanka who delivered intriguing sounds that wove into his stories and kept young and old interested. Thorhild County Waste Management covered all the costs for the campers to enjoy a fun day of swimming. Thorhild Living Gospel provided a Sunday morning service and an evening sing-along time that showcased musical talent from Thorhild’s 99-year-old saxophone player, Steve Kolach, and newly arrived 12-year-old Misho Shulko, a skilled accordion player. A former resident from Thorhild, Pat Senych, brought in and presented resources to refugees that would allow them to learn English quickly. Hope Mission Staff Luis Argandona, an immigrant from Peru, and Sophia Bihun, an immigrant from Ukraine, came out to share their stories and encourage campers with tips on how to best adapt to Canada and resettle successfully. One grandmother said, “I haven’t smiled or laughed for months like I have this week.” Tetyana, a fellow camper, stated, “I feel gratitude towards all of you who served us, unconditionally, with love and care.”

Ragan said, “Koinonia Retreat, Refugee Bridge and Hope Mission would like to thank the many people that made the meaningful camp experience possible!