Petro Stryiskyi still vividly remembers the day, five years ago when he decided to leave his country and his construction business behind for a chance at a better life for his family.

With more than 20 years of experience, he took a job as a tile setter and dreamed of the day his family would join him in Canada.

Then, in September 2021, Petro says the family was finally reunited, and it害羞草研究所檚 all thanks to the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.

Immigrating to Canada as a skilled worker

After graduating from college in 2001, Petro worked for a construction company in Ukraine before starting his own interior renovation company.

Alongside his business partner and five employees, Petro害羞草研究所檚 crew became renowned for their craftsmanship and had a waitlist that reached several months into the future.

害羞草研究所淚t wasn害羞草研究所檛 only tile setting,害羞草研究所� Petro said.

害羞草研究所淲e did everything inside. Taping, painting, tiles, flooring, everything. Construction in Ukraine is very different from Canada. Usually, our customers wanted to find one company that could do everything inside.害羞草研究所�

One day, Petro says, his business partner hopped on a plane to visit a friend in the Okanagan.

害羞草研究所淎fter he returned, he told me that we had a chance to get to Canada. His friend was doing some big project downtown and was looking for some tile setters,害羞草研究所� Petro said.

害羞草研究所淔rom that moment, we both went back to school to start learning English.害羞草研究所�

RNIP helps bring the family together

In 2018, Petro arrived in the Okanagan with a work permit and started working with a local construction company. After 18 months in Canada, Petro knew he wanted to stay and bring his family.

But, with a looming expiration on his work visa and no clear path to extend his stay, he didn害羞草研究所檛 know how.

And then his employer heard about the RNIP program, and Petro had an ember of hope. In September 2021, shortly after he received his permanent residency, his wife, Kateryna Stryiska, and their two kids joined him, and the Okanagan immediately felt like home.

害羞草研究所淚 was born in Crimea and spent all my childhood there, but after the annexation, I couldn害羞草研究所檛 be there anymore,害羞草研究所� said Kateryna. 害羞草研究所淗ere, all the nature, it害羞草研究所檚 so close to Crimea. It reminds me of my childhood back home.害羞草研究所�

Setting roots in the Okanagan

Now living in Lake Country and running his own company STR Okanagan Taping, Petro keeps busy as a contractor and still does regular work for his former employer.

Their son will soon graduate from high school and has applied to university to study business and finance, while their daughter is settling into their new neighbourhood.

害羞草研究所淎t first, our son was a bit confused about what we were going to do here,害羞草研究所� said Petro.

害羞草研究所淣ow he understands the opportunity he has and says he doesn害羞草研究所檛 ever want to go back to Ukraine.害羞草研究所�

Kateryna smiles listening to her husband.

害羞草研究所淏ecause of this program, our family is now in a safe place, together,害羞草研究所� she said.