While watching daily heartbreaking images of Ukrainians fleeing their country, Frank and Sheila Ryan decided they had to do something to help.
The Ryans, whose daughter Jeanette spent two years working in the Donbas region in southeast Ukraine, are offering 100 acres of their property near the Malahat summit as a temporary haven for refugees from the war.
The property was intended to be developed as an RV campground, but the Ryans are prepared to put that idea on hold, saying the land can be put to better use for up to 100-plus families needing a safe place to live.
“We have been watching the desperate plight of so many conflict-displaced people and want to be able to help them in a meaningful way,” Sheila said.
The couple sent a letter last week to Premier John Horgan outlining their offer of temporary use of the land and suggesting the province install infrastructure to provide services.
The Ryans said that in the three years prior to the pandemic, they invested several hundred thousand dollars in bringing the terraced property up to standards set by the Cowichan Valley Regional District for an RV park.
“There is plenty of water and electricity to the property line, so the province could easily bring in the remaining infrastructure needed to accommodate so many families with very little work. We really hope they respond to our offer,” Frank Ryan said Wednesday.
B.C.’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs said in a statement that it is “co-ordinating a cross- government response to the conflict in Ukraine, and finalizing details on an action plan that includes a co-ordinated response to offers of help.”
It did not directly address the Ryans’ proposal, but said: “The solidarity and compassion of British Columbians help drive our shared efforts to support Ukraine and its people seeking refuge from Russia’s unprovoked attack.”
Ryan does not have an estimate for infrastructure costs, but said a ballpark might be $2 million. While he’s not in a position to put the money in himself right now, he said he would be willing to discuss paying back money spent by the province on infrastructure.
The property could accommodate temporary modular homes or large RVs, a community centre and a building to serve as a school, he said. “There’s quite a bit of space up there.”
He suggested the province and Ukrainian organizations could work together on the project.
Ryan estimates the property could be used for about three years to help newcomers get established in Canada, serving as a community for Ukrainians that’s about a 20-minute drive from services in Mill Bay and Langford. It is a quiet place with spectacular views, a waterfall and bald eagles.
Devon Sereda-Goldie, president of the Victoria branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, has spoken to Ryan and said she was excited to hear about his idea.
“So much is still up in the air right now so we really don’t have a solid idea of when people will begin to arrive, so I directed him to the province.”
The land, which is not yet zoned for campground use, could likely accommodate more than 130 sites, Ryan said.
The Ryans are familiar with accommodation services having previously owned the historic Abbeymoore Manor, a bed and breakfast in Victoria. These days, they live on a neighbouring lot to the Malahat property, also 100 acres.
In East Sooke, Brian and Sharon Holowaychuk are fixing up the now-closed Grouse Nest resort in hopes of housing Ukrainian refugees as well.
Ukrainian organizations on Vancouver Island have set up a centralized website at Ukrainehelpvi.ca.
Anyone interested in offering help can also go to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress website at ucc.ca.
