From Ukraine to union leadership: Ihor finds a home on the coast

I was booted out of my home by the war. That’s not how I imagined my story would begin, or how I imagined I’d end up in Canada.

Before coming here, I spent 16 years working on container ships. When it was time to start over with my family, I had options. I received job offers from multiple marine employers across Canada, but BC Ferries was always at the top of my list. I wanted work that would let me be close to my family, help them settle, and be present while we built a new life.

What I found here was something different from deep-sea shipping. The work is different, the pace is different, and the cargo is different too.

I always joke that passengers are cargo that talks. People can have bad days. They can be frustrated, upset, or angry about things that are completely outside our control. But I’ve found that when I take the time to really talk to them, most situations change quickly. When I can calm someone down, comfort them, help them feel heard and respected, and then see them walk away smiling or shaking my hand. It gives me real joy. That’s something I look forward to every day.

But if I’m being honest, one of the biggest reasons I keep coming back is the crew. We had a perfect crew in Tsawwassen, and we have a wonderful crew up north. When you live and work together for two weeks at a time, those relationships matter. People become more than coworkers. They become friends. Sometimes they feel like family.

And when things go wrong, that bond matters even more. Last January we had a young passenger go overboard. It was freezing, and she spent around 40 minutes in the water before we got to her. That day, our crew had to think beyond the training manual. Emergency situations never go by the book. We acted creatively, we worked together. I was standing on the side of the vessel, using a boat hook to keep her away from the spinning propeller while the crew got the rescue boat ready, and we managed to save her. I’ve heard she’s doing well. That’s something I’ll always be proud of.

My journey here hasn’t just been about work. It’s been about building a life. My family is safe here. My kids are happy here. And recently, we completed our immigration process and became permanent residents of Canada.

I’m deeply grateful for being welcomed and given that opportunity. I’m grateful to the people who believed in me when I was struggling, including SOC Vice President Andrew Conley, who pushed me to take my shop steward course and get involved in the union. He saw something in me before I saw it myself.

And there were captains who stood by me when I needed support most. I’m here. I’m successful at my work. I’m successful in my immigration journey. My family is safe.

A lot of that happened because people gave me a chance when I needed one. I’ll never forget that.

Ihor Ushenko, first vice-president Local 15.