Yuliia Kleban remembers waking up to a message from her manager on Feb. 24, 2022, telling her Russia had started invading her country.

A few minutes later, Kleban heard air-raid sirens go off in Lviv, the Ukrainian city where she used to live.

害羞草研究所淚t was a hard day,害羞草研究所� she said in a recent interview. 害羞草研究所淚 started packing an emergency backpack. I started checking whether I can go in a walking distance to some shelter.害羞草研究所�

Kleban is among the more than 150,000 Ukrainians who made their way to Canada under a special program announced after the conflict began.

As the war enters a second year, many of those newcomers are assessing whether they should focus on establishing a life in Canada, hope to return to Ukraine one day, or move to another country entirely.

For Kleban, Canada holds the most appeal right now.

害羞草研究所淔or my future and for my family 害羞草研究所� for my future kids, it is better to be in a safer country,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淏ecause in Ukraine we will always end up having a neighbour to the east that wants Ukrainians not to exist in this world.害羞草研究所�

The 37-year-old said she decided to apply to come to Canada to stay with extended family in Barrie, Ont., when Ottawa announced its special visa program for Ukrainians last March.

She spent about two months in the Czech Republic and four months in the United kingdom waiting for her Canadian visa before arriving in September. Her 40-year-old husband couldn害羞草研究所檛 accompany her because of Ukraine害羞草研究所檚 general mobilization law that bars men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country.

Kleban, who was the director of an IT and business analytics program at the Ukrainian Catholic University, said she moved to Toronto about two months ago to work as project manager for a program that helps Ukrainian newcomers find jobs.

While she feels safe in Canada, she worries about loved ones in Ukraine.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 hosted warmly by the country, by the people here.害羞草研究所� she said, adding she hopes her husband will eventually get an opportunity to join her.

害羞草研究所淓verybody is very supportive and tries to use empathy as much as they can to understand the circumstances for Ukrainians now, the war that is continuing still.害羞草研究所�

Ihor Michalchyshyn, the executive director of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress 害羞草研究所� a non-profit umbrella organization of Ukrainian Canadian organizations 害羞草研究所� said Ukrainian newcomers are trying to figure out what path might work best for them in the future.

害羞草研究所淧eople are looking to understand their options,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淎s people fled a year ago, they thought they would be able to go back in a couple of weeks and then it turned into a couple of months and now it害羞草研究所檚 a year, right? And so I think none of us know.害羞草研究所�

Michalchyshyn said Ukrainians in Canada will be gathering for vigils, marches and demonstrations on Friday evening to mark the first anniversary of the war.

The war has had a huge effect on the Ukrainian Canadian community as many of its members, including those who have been in Canada for decades, still have family in Ukraine, he said.

害羞草研究所淢ost of us have some family connections, direct family connections or have been to Ukraine and understand it, been there, seen it, touched it,害羞草研究所� Michalchyshyn said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 shocking to see 害羞草研究所� the tremendous violence by Russian invading forces on civilians.害羞草研究所�

Almost 1.4 million people, or four per cent of Canada害羞草研究所檚 population, said at least one of their ethnic origins is Ukrainian in the 2016 census.

Ukrainian Canadians have donated more than $50 million to help people in Ukraine, Michalchyshyn said, and have also worked hard to help settle Ukrainian newcomers who have fled the war.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e seeing more and more people who are arriving. They don害羞草研究所檛 know anybody, they don害羞草研究所檛 know anything about Canada,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 very difficult to find child care in Canada for everybody. It害羞草研究所檚 very difficult to find affordable housing for everybody in Canada, so they are facing those same challenges as well.害羞草研究所�

The federal government has offered a temporary visa for Ukrainians fleeing the war and a three-year work permit, along with one-time payment of $3,000 per adult and $1,500 per child and a two-week hotel stay for those who need it.

Immigration Department spokesman Stuart Isherwood said Ottawa is working closely with provinces, territories and municipalities to support Ukrainian newcomers.

Ukrainians arriving under the temporary visa, as well as Ukrainian temporary residents who were in Canada when the war broke out, have access to settlement services typically only available to permanent residents, Isherwood said. Ottawa also launched an online portal for Canadian businesses to offer high-priority goods and services to support Ukrainians and organizations providing aid in Canada, he said.

害羞草研究所淲e will also continue working with settlement organizations and (non-governmental organizations) across the country to support Ukrainians and their family members before, during and after their arrival in Canada,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所�(The Immigration Department) is continuing to assess how our immigration programs can best support Ukrainian nationals now and in the future, including potential new pathways to permanent residence.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所擬aan Alhmidi, The Canadian Press