From Ukraine to St. Marys: A new life, a new voice

Alona Vasylieva and her husband, Sergii Orekhiys, visited over lunch to share their story of life in Ukraine and their new beginning in St. Marys.

By Gary West

There have been many compelling stories about residents and business owners who fled the war-ravaged country of Ukraine following the unprovoked Russian invasion.

Across Perth County, cities, towns, villages and rural farm communities opened their doors to those escaping the conflict, welcoming them to Ontario and to Canada as they began rebuilding their lives.

Among those newcomers are Alona Vasylieva, her husband, Sergii Orekhiys, and their seven-year-old son, Alex, who arrived in St. Marys on Oct. 21, 2022.

With the help of longtime St. Marys residents June and Murray Grant, the family found temporary housing in a basement apartment in the Grants’ home while they settled into their new community. With June Grant’s Ukrainian background, the arrangement carried special meaning for both families.

Many readers will recognize Vasylieva’s name. She is the same Vasylieva who now writes Ukrainian Corner columns for the St. Marys Independent.

During a recent visit over lunch, Vasylieva shared her personal journey – one she says her younger self would never have imagined.

“If you had told me years ago that I would be writing articles in Canada, I would have laughed,” she said.

Growing up in a small town in Ukraine, Vasylieva admits her early career strategy was simple: choose a path that avoided math at all costs. Journalism became a quiet tribute to her mother, who once dreamed of becoming a journalist herself but was steered in another direction after a difficult English exam.

Although Vasylieva did not initially see herself as particularly creative, she chose journalism at university to honour her mother’s dream, never imagining where it would lead.

For many years, her office was “in the sky,” working as an airline flight attendant. But when war broke out in Ukraine, she and Orekhiys knew they had to make a difficult decision for their family’s future.

Starting over in Canada meant drawing on every skill she had ever learned.

“It’s amazing how our brains remember things we thought we’d forgotten,” she said. “When we began again here, it all came back.”

Writing for the Independent was never a grand ambition. At first, she wasn’t even sure her work would appear in the next edition. Instead, she began sharing honest reflections on Canada through the eyes of a Ukrainian newcomer.

By comparing her former home with her new one, she hopes readers gain a deeper understanding of both cultures.

People often ask whether she feels pressure to write. She describes it instead as a “sweet responsibility.”

Some days, she says, the page remains blank. Other days, the words seem to flow straight from her heart.

Vasylieva balances writing about serious memories from Ukraine with lighter pieces meant to bring a smile – something she does easily herself.

Her story is one of resilience, gratitude and community – and a reminder of the compassion shown by St. Marys residents who opened their homes and hearts during a time of great need.