Thunder Bay wants to be a next step for Ukrainian refugees.

Council voted in favour of a motion presented by Mayor Bill Mauro, looking for Ottawa to identify the city as a location to resettle those who are fleeing the ongoing conflict with Russia.

“We all are aware that sometimes when immigrants come to Thunder Bay, it’s difficult to maintain them and keep them here because they don’t see their culture reflected in the community,” Mauro stated. “(I believe) Thunder Bay is an obvious fit for Ukrainians because the culture is here, the language is here, the food is here and the religion and churches are here.”

According to 2016 census there are more than 14,000 citizens that identify with Ukrainian heritage.

Mauro added, “This is a program that will be managed by the federal government, with the work on the ground happening through the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association (TBMA) . This is simply about positioning our community as a really natural fit for Ukrainian resettlement, if it comes to that.”

TBMA is one of six Resettlement Assistance Program agencies in Ontario which provides on-going assistance to refugees prior to their arrival in Canada.

The agency has welcomed refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Somalia and Eritea.