If you鈥檙e a newcomer to Estevan, don鈥檛 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.
鈥淓ven if you don鈥檛 know the English language, it鈥檚 important that you go out and discover the place you鈥檙e living in,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou might also find people in the community who are from the same country you鈥檙e from.鈥�
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.
鈥淚 had nothing to lose,鈥� she said about emigrating from the world鈥檚 largest country.
Despite the language barrier she faced upon arrival, she quickly registered for English classes with the help of 小蓝视频east 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鈥檚 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.
鈥淚 have a great relationship with the girls here,鈥� Miller said, referring to the staff at Newcomers.
A few feet away from Miller, Sourabh Sharma nodded in agreement.
鈥淭hey never say no to you,鈥� 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.
鈥淗e told me there were many opportunities here and said I can get help from Newcomers if I needed it,鈥� 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.
鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 confused about what they were here to do,鈥� he said about Newcomers. 鈥淭hey act as a guide.鈥�
Beyond the settlement services, Miller said the other programs Newcomers offered have been very valuable.
鈥淗ockey is big in Russia, but here it鈥檚 religion,鈥� she laughed. 鈥淚鈥檝e never been to a hockey game before so the Bruins game was interesting and fun.鈥�
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.
鈥淐urling would be something I鈥檇 like to do,鈥� Miller said.
Adapting to Canadian culture hasn鈥檛 been difficult for either newcomer, neither has the maintaining of their own culture.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e free to choose what you want to integrate into your life, and you鈥檙e free to practice your own culture,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not hard adjusting to Canadian culture, people accept you for who you are here.鈥�
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鈥檚 managed to find similar ingredients.
Sharma said there鈥檚 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 鈥渢urning point鈥� in his life.
Both newcomers said that they鈥檙e 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鈥檛 make the trip to Estevan, however, can call Newcomers and arrange for at-home services.
