One leading Canadian real estate company is stepping up to provide assistance to refugees from Ukraine.
Western Canada’s Mainstreet Equity Corp. (Mainstreet) announced yesterday that they would provide housing assistance to refugees who have fled the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The offer was made this week by Bob Dhillon, Founder, President and CEO of Mainstreet, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Mainstreet, who specializes in quality, affordable mid-market apartment buildings, said it will work alongside community agencies that specialize in refugee resettlement work to ensure they assist as many people as possible.
The company also said it would send a shipment of unworn winter coats in both adult and children's sizes, as well as supplies contributed through a company-wide donation drive held over this past weekend.
"Just tell me what to do and I'm there for you," Dhillon commented in a press release. "For anyone forced to flee home, the only thing that matters is finding a safe, new home. We know this better than anyone because so many of our teammates and our families have lived this experience.”
The real estate leader is an immigrant to Canada himself.
"As an immigrant who has prospered in Canada, and Western Canada in particular, both the Mainstreet team and I feel compelled to give back to our communities. Ukrainian-Canadians have contributed so much to Canada -- again, Western Canada in particular -- and we have a duty to honour that contribution by helping Ukrainians in this time of distress,” said Dhillon.
"We firmly believe this sort of assistance ultimately helps both the Ukrainian people in need as well as the people of Canada by enriching our cultural fabric and contributing to our economy over time. Immigration in all forms is absolutely essential to building the economy of Canada and keeping us globally competitive."
Details on the arrival of refugees are still being worked out, but most are expected to come to Canada through the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel announced by the Canadian Government on March 3, 2022. The company says it’s presently coordinating with Refugee assistance and Ukrainian community organizations to provide this assistance.
Hopefully, other real estate companies across the country will follow their lead.
