Since coming to Canada in 2024, Ruslan and Oksana Kostiuk and their children, Kate and Ivan, have quickly made Brantford their home with the help of the community.
The Kostiuk’s, who made the decision to leave their Ukraine because of the dire impact of the country’s ongoing war with Russia, immediately gravitated to sports.
“We lost everything and left with hardly any money and didn’t know anyone in Brantford when we moved here. We started to meet some people, our neighbors [and] they would help us with food and clothing in the beginning…and now we are friends…and I feel that we are part of a bigger family,” Oksana said. “One day, one of our neighbors told me that I should bring my children and visit a local gym, and it was there we met Darryl [Paquette]. For our family, he became very important in helping us feel welcomed. Always asking what we needed and introducing us to other people. My son Ivan started to do boxing with him and then hockey with Rob [Crocock], and Kate started taking some lessons during the summer and became involved with the basketball team at Assumption College.”
Kate Kostiuk, who has been quick to establish herself as a solid basketball player on the court, explained her transition.
“I played basketball in Ukraine and when I moved with my family to Canada, I decided to improve my skills and become a better player. But it was really hard for us, being in a new community and learning a new language and getting familiar with new traditions…that was a tough experience…but Darryl helped my mom to find a coach, Mr. Nigel Romany, who helped train me all summer [and] preparing me for the high school team,” Kate said. “Right now, I am playing for the school team at Assumption College. We are having a good season and I’m really proud of my team. I also play basketball for the rep team for the Brantford CYO. My [current] coaches are Mr. Steve Patrella and Mrs. Jen Nagy…who all have been great and very supportive.”
While the family has continued to find stability with Oksana becoming a teacher and Ruslan finding employment as a mechanic, their son has also adapted well, playing multiple sports. Rob Crocock, who is a local hockey trainer and coach, talked about Ivan’s development.
“Ivan started with Darryl with boxing first and then wanted to see what hockey was like. They came over and he was brand new to hockey. Between Darryl and I, we got him all suited up with gear and got them on the ice. At first, he fumbled, he fell, and he crashed, but he got up every time, and really pushed through even though he couldn’t understand English. We continued to show him how to play, but he also learned by just watching and imitating,” explained Crocock. “Gradually, his English has come a long way in the year so it became easier to coach him. Ivan’s doing really well. Many of the other players always ask him questions about things like living through war…and he’s a source of inspiration…overcoming those challenges of coming to Canada and related to hockey…how far he’s come from barely being able to stand on the ice to actually making elite play this year.”
Darryl Paquette, who has been Ivan’s boxing coach since last year, described how he has progressed in the ring.
“He picks things up very fast and is very coordinated, athletic and has a natural boxing IQ. He enjoys the sport…I have seen from experience that many boxers say they want to compete until they are told they have a bout and things change. Ivan had his first bout as soon as we started to warm up reflecting his competitive nature,” Paquette said.
However, Jen Nagy, who coaches Kate for both the Assumption College and the CYO girls’ teams, is pleased with her dedication to getting better.
“Her adjustment in basketball has been phenomenal and she continues to improve with every single game. Her work ethic is unlike others around her [and] I think it’s just knowing how hard she’s fought to be where she is. I don’t think she’s ever missed a practice and she’s always eager to learn,” Nagy explained. “Kate can definitely run the floor like there’s no tomorrow [and] we’re trying to teach her how to be a little more physical and be a little tougher. And without hesitation, she is out there applying what she has learned. She’s been a great addition to the teams, not only on the court, but making the other players be a little more appreciative for what they have. I’m just thankful that I get to coach her this year and potentially for the next couple years.”
Oksana continues to be grateful for what the community has done for her family and how sports has had a positive effect.
“I think it’s very important for Kate and Ivan to play these sports because they get an opportunity to effectively communicate with many people, learn new skills, and [adjust] to difficult situations. To show how sports have become very important for our family…I remember last year when we didn’t have a lot of money and didn’t have enough for gas. So, we biked to Ivan’s boxing practice. When we got there, they asked why our faces were so red and we explained that we decided to bike. They were shocked because they knew we had to bike [quite a distance]…but we felt that Ivan’s lesson was too important to simply not attend. I wanted to show the children how important it is to be grateful for our opportunities and our health,” explained Oksana.
Nevertheless, Paquette, who has continued to help the family, has developed a close bond with them.
“The entire Kostiuk family are wonderful people. It was a blessing to have this family reach out to me for boxing and having a chance to listen to their story. I can’t imagine how difficult it would be to make a move like that and leave everything behind,” said Paquette. “Sports has opened doors for them and has given everyone involved the ability to establish great relationships. It has been a pleasure to help guide them and connect the family to other coaches and community members. We have a great community in Brantford, and it has been wonderful to see how everyone has pitched in to help, especially Ivan and Kate. Ruslan and Oksana are the kindest people I have met. We are lucky to have this family be part of our community.”
Since coming to Brantford last year, the Kostiuk family continues to be grateful to be part of this community.
“It’s taken about a year, but things are more stable now and we have a more balanced life. It has been a big difference from where we came from. Learning a new language and [adapting to] a new way of living. But the people in this community have helped us and supported us, especially during some difficult times, we are really grateful for our friends and to be here in a safe and wonderful place like Brantford,” concluded Oksana.
