Editorials - Jan. 16, 2026
(Fifty) Five Years
Canada launched the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program on March 17, 2022, less than a month after the Russian invasion and war began. This special, accelerated temporary residence pathway allowed an unlimited number of Ukrainians and their family members to come to Canada and stay as temporary residents for up to three years, and made them eligible for free open work or study permits. Nearly 300,000 Ukrainians arrived here under the program.
Now, Ukrainian refugees are finding out that, while their temporary residence status may have been accelerated, the path to permanent residence is anything but accelerated. Current estimates suggest that processing times have reached unprecedented lengths - over 50 years under some programs. Some of the Ukrainians here on temporary visas thought that this was so outrageous that it had to be Russian propaganda. Imagine their disappointment when they found out that it was true.
Various programs have different wait times and immigration lawyers are recommending that they should apply to several, but each application can cost thousands of dollars.
These refugees have been through enough uncertainty, fleeing their war-torn homeland for an unknown country that was promising them a new home on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. Surely, we can find the resources to process applications to give them permanent homes and stability in less than a half a century. – DS
Golden Years
Over the weekend, Canadian figure skating pair Lia Pereira (21) and Trennt Michaud (29) upset the odds and won their first national figure skating title, punching their ticket to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The win is a major milestone for the young skaters and a big step forward in their careers. However, that is not the whole story.
Later this year, Canada will send three ice dance teams to Italy to represent the maple leaf: Pereira and Michaud, perennial national favourites Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier and, making her Olympic debut at 42 years old, Deanna Stellato-Dudek (alongside her partner, Maxime Deschamps) will be making history as the oldest female figure skater to compete at the Olympics since 1928. Despite the lingering spectre of Father Time, who comes for us all, Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps were among the frontrunners to represent a nation that always fares well in figure skating competitions on the international stage.
So often in sports the achievements of the impossibly young are heralded. Last fall, for example, when 22-year-old Trey Yesavage became the break-out star of the Toronto Blue Jays’ World Series run, his composure and ability at such a young age was a major talking point. When Tessa Virtue, one of the best to ever do it, called it a career in 2019, she had just turned 30. To see Stellato-Dudek realize her life-long dream of becoming an Olympian at such an advanced age (in terms of international sport) is just as worthy of celebration. And while CBC labelled the team’s free skate at the nationals as “error-riddled”, it’s all eyes on Italy now and Canadians will be watching. – SL
Heroes
The opening of the new Lucknow Kinsmen multipurpose facility is a triumph. By creating a space that functions as a daycare, a clubhouse and the operational home for the hugely popular Music in the Fields festival, the Kinsmen have once again demonstrated community leadership.
Over the past several years, this volunteer service group has raised millions of dollars in support of local projects and causes. That record of generosity now includes something especially meaningful: new daycare spaces for families who have long needed them. Reliable childcare is essential for young families, local employers and the long-term health of any community, and addressing that need strengthens the entire region.
What makes this project particularly noteworthy is its multipurpose design. In rural communities, facilities cannot afford to sit idle. A building that serves only one function is often underused and difficult to sustain. By contrast, a flexible space that supports childcare during the week, service club activities in the evenings and major events at peak times makes the most of limited resources and volunteer energy.
Multipurpose buildings also foster connection. They bring together different generations and groups, from young families to long-time volunteers. They become hubs of activity that help ensure community life remains vibrant and visible. In a time when many rural areas face declining services, adaptability matters more than ever.
The Lucknow Kinsmen have built more than a facility. They have created a model for rural success rooted in practicality, co-operation and foresight. Their work reminds us that when communities invest wisely and think creatively, they can meet real needs while strengthening the social fabric that holds rural life together. This project shows how long-term planning and volunteer dedication can deliver lasting benefits. It is an example worth celebrating and copying. – SBS