CARLYLE - Local community leaders attended an informal meeting Aug. 11 to discuss the possibility of additional Ukrainian families moving to the area.
Those in attendance included volunteers from the Carlyle District Lions Club, Carlyle branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Knights of Columbus. The mayors from the communities of Carlyle and Manor also participated, as did several Town of Carlyle and RM of Moose Mountain councillors.
Judy Valentine represented Sask. Housing, with Carlyle Food Bank chairperson Theresa Luedtke and realtor Tyler Matthewson also in attendance.
Kisbey resident Svitlana Makar, who moved from the Ukraine herself 12 years ago, was present, as was Carlyle’s first Ukrainian arrival, Serhii Boiko. Boiko, wife Yuliia, and their three children moved to Carlyle last week. They are going to be employed by the Pig Improvement Company (PIC) Atlas hog barn facility located 12 kilometres southeast of Carlyle.
Also attending the meeting were four employees of PIC. Abdoul Teuw is the assistant project manager of the Carlyle Atlas facility and Angela Morrow is the office co-ordinator. Joe and Marney Jobin are employed at the PIC Apex facility at Mound City, S.D. Joe is the production general manager and Marney is technician program manager.
In early July, PIC manned an information booth at the University of Regina with both Joe Jobin and Morrow in attendance. They were entering another job fair in Regina on Aug. 18 and are hopeful additional Ukrainians can be attracted to the area.
The informal round-table discussion focused on openness, togetherness and co-operation in attracting additional immigrants to Carlyle and district. Joe Jobin was impressed with the community attendance, which was by invitation only.
“PIC is excited to be part of such a generous community. In the short time we have been here, it is obvious that we made the right choice to build here. We are confident that any newcomers will feel welcome in Carlyle and surrounding area.”
As they move to the area, the Observer will continue to provide regular updates on the Ukrainian arrivals. A story on the Boiko family will appear in an upcoming edition of the Observer.
