Finding Community and Hope
When Oleksandr and his family arrived in Edmonton, fleeing the war in Ukraine, they carried the weight of uncertainty and fear. But walking through the doors of their local Edmonton Public Library (EPL) branch became a meaningful step toward finding comfort in their new home. “… I found the bridge to community, belonging, and hope.”
Before leaving Ukraine, Oleksandr’s son had already connected with the library. During the early days of the war, he attended online English lessons run by EPL. These sessions were a much-needed distraction, and although Oleksandr never imagined they would one day leave home, EPL was already becoming part of their journey.
“Don’t hesitate, just step through the doors.”
When they arrived in Canada Oleksandr and his family attended their local EPL branch’s Vocabulary Club to build their English skills. The warm welcome from staff, he says, made a big difference.
“It was the first foreign country where we actually moved to live… we were still frustrated when we first came to Canada, but Edmonton Public Library and its staff helped us a lot to settle in here. How to find a job, how to customize your resume, and how to find useful resources for newcomers. And they were amazing for us, giving this opportunity for newcomers to get materials for life.”
For Oleksandr, learning English was more than an academic goal. It was essential to settling in Canada, and he knew others felt the same way.
The Vocabulary Club focused on practical topics, like daily routines, banking, employment, and hobbies, and their weekly gatherings gave Oleksandr and his group the tools they needed. But he also saw an opportunity to provide more for others new to the country. “English was my challenge here. To not only teach, but to promote through the newcomers,” he said. “I realized that participants needed more practice, so I decided to give them more space.”
With support from his wife and the EPL team, Oleksandr started hosting informal speaking clubs to complement the official Vocabulary Club. The additional meetups created a welcoming and encouraging space for newcomers to build language skills and confidence together.
“Don’t hesitate, just step through the doors.”
Through the war and relocating his family, Oleksandr found resources, programs, and community–all with a library card. He hopes that others have the same fortune while settling in their new homes in Edmonton.
“Being a newcomer, you don’t have extra money for spending on learning or looking for a job, and Edmonton Public Library just gave us this for free. It changed our lives, and it changed them significantly, and I believe it can do the same for many others.”