Montreal hotel housing Ukrainian refugees

A Montreal hotel is stepping up and helping house and feed Ukrainian refugees fleeing their war-torn country.

Hôtel Terrasse Royal in Côte-des-Neiges, owned by Ukrainian Montrealer Igor Ezril, says they needed to help in the best way they knew how.

“It’s not easy for these people because they don’t speak the language, new life, new country, it’s not easy,” said Ezril.

When sending donations to Ukraine became a logistical nightmare, the family decided to keep everything at the hotel to provide new arrivals with what they needed.

“A lot of people send a lot of stuff. A lot of containers stay in Warsaw, Poland. In Ukraine, it was very complicated and I decided not to send it and decided to give it to the people who are coming right now,” he added.

The Ezril family have accommodated 15 Ukrainian families so far and says they aren’t stopping any time soon.

“It started at the end of February with the invasion started I told my dad we have to do something and he said of course,” said general manager of Hôtel Terrasse Royale Sandra Ezril. “Our first thought was when they’re going to come here to Montreal we’re going to help them with accommodations so lodging, the hotel and apartments.

“The last family left last weekend because all the families we were able to find them permanent apartments where they can stay so that’s the purpose so that they’re at the hotel for two weeks, two-three weeks so we can find them something that’s permanent,” said Sandra Ezril.

A section of the hotel has been transformed into a donations centre where families can grab items they need, and obtain helpful information all while having a warm place to stay.

“It’s not just a place where there’s goods, it’s also a place where they could get information, where to do their medical card, where to find a job, where’s the best place to go do this, so that’s the whole purpose of the centre,” she said.

“It’s also a place of resources for information, and it also becomes a place of also connection, where maybe they could meet other people, make friends and kind of establish themselves in the long run in Montreal.

“Some of them come from cities that were extremely bombed so they have horror stories of how it looks like and living there like Mariupol and Kharkiv, so that’s the kind of stories they were telling me about the bombings,” said Sandra.

The centre within the hotel was recently registered as a not-for-profit organization.

“They’re surprised to see everything we’re doing for them, all the free stuff, they don’t expect the help to be so big and generous,” said Halyna Yakaut, a nurse and volunteer at the centre.

“All our hearts are with Ukraine and we hope this all our hearts are with Ukraine and we hope this horror story will be over soon,” added Yakaut.

Volunteers say kitchenware, non-perishable food for babies and hygiene products are the most needed.

Donations can be brought to 5225 Chemain de la Côte-des-Neiges from Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.