Since launching the reception centre for recently arrived Ukrainian on April 19, over 340 Ukrainians have gone through Manitoba’s reception centre for refugees to date, 20% of them children. As the crisis in Ukraine continues, it is expected that more Ukrainians will arrive in Manitoba through the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program and will need help accessing services and aids.
Located at the Best Western Plus Winnipeg Airport Hotel, the reception centre is a safe welcoming place for Ukrainians where they can get information about services available through this centralized hub. Volunteers from community organizations, including the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Manitoba Provincial Council (UCC-MPC), are on-site to provide language services and to act as a gateway to the Ukrainian community in Manitoba.
Arriving at the Centre
Upon arrival, an intake assessment will be done to ensure those who require immediate health support, such as crisis counseling, prescription drug refills or referral to a physician, occur in a timely manner. For the Ukrainians who have support from family or friends already living in Manitoba, they are also welcome to visit the reception centre for health care and settlement services. Recognizing that longer-term settlement support may not be required immediately, people can drop by the reception centre at a later date as needed.
To ensure that those arriving in Manitoba are aware of the reception centre and supports available, the URTF has developed a quick reference guide in coordination with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that is being distributed to Ukrainians upon their arrival to Canada. Additionally, the UCC-MPC has a welcome area (reception desk) at the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport and is directing new arrivals to the reception centre.
Services available at the reception centre include:
• Intake services to determine individual and family needs
• Temporary accommodations and meals for Ukrainians who have no connection to individuals in Manitoba
• Registration, orientation and referral services through Manitoba Start (information and referral to settlement supports that link people to language training, the workforce and longer-term settlement needs)
• Additional resources such as free home furnishings, backpacks for kids, and activity kits for children
• Orientation packages from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Manitoba Provincial Council (UCC-MPC)
• Access to coordinated health-care services through the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and Manitoba Health (Ukrainians traveling to Manitoba under the federal CUAET are eligible for health care coverage upon arrival in Manitoba – see below for how to get a health card)
• Registration with Service Canada for a social insurance number.
For more information about Manitoba’s response to the Ukraine crisis visit www.Manitoba4Ukraine.ca.
