Leaving my past life behind was one of the hardest choices I've ever made. I lived in the small town of Kerch, Ukraine, with my husband, son, and our cats, running my own sewing shop while my husband worked as a sailor. The Russian invasion forced us to find safety and new beginnings in Canada, but saying goodbye to my home, friends, and my sister was very painful. Selling our apartment and business was just the start of a tough journey. Explaining to my young son why we couldn’t go back home was really hard, especially as we got used to a new place with different laws, culture, and weather. A year into our new life in Calgary, we’re facing these changes together, holding onto hope. I dream of starting a new sewing business here, bringing back a part of the life we loved. We look for understanding and support from the local community as we create our new Canadian chapter while remembering our past.