Calgary business offers ‘Canadian orientation’ for Ukrainian refugees with esthetics experience

Ana Arocha, a Lucia Esthetics facial esthetician working on a client. (CityNews Photo)

Posted Jul 5, 2022 9:24 am.

Last Updated Jul 5, 2022 9:54 am.

Ukrainian refugees arriving in Canada have a considerable amount to learn.

How do you get documents in order? How do you learn a new language? How do you find employment?

These are all questions Lucia Teodorescu had to find answers to over a decade ago when she immigrated to Canada from Romania.

Now, as an established small-business owner in Calgary, she wants to give back to Ukrainian women who have been arriving in Canada over the past several months.

“This is not hard for me because I’ve been in their position. It takes me back 15 years ago when I came to this country,” Teodorescu said. “I started exactly the same.”

Teodorescu expanded her 17 Avenue SW business — Lucia Esthetics — to include a “Canadian orientation” for women who were trained estheticians in Ukraine — it’s called Lucia Esthetics: Untold.

Teodorescu helps Ukrainian refugees find employment while teaching them Canadian industry norms. They are taught what to say to clients, how to market themselves, as well as learn how to use Canadian equipment.

“I am very lucky to have them here, as I am happy to learn from their European experience,” Teodorescu said.

The women who run Lucia Esthetics: Untold are all immigrants. They experienced what it is like coming to Canada without knowing what their futures hold. Now, they are taking the opportunity to pay it forward, sharing their wisdom with those now arriving in Canada.

“Canadian people, they were really welcoming, really nice. So I think it’s time for me to kind of give back,” Teodorescu said.

Two of the current trainees, Kristina Hleba and Nadiia Matskova, worked as professional estheticians in Ukraine before being forced to come to Canada as war hit their home country.

“In Canada, Lucia (taught) me new options. Wax, brow, illumination, and another,” Hleba said. “Now I have certification.”

Matskova taught permanent makeup application in both Ukraine and Italy before coming to Calgary.

Both women came to Canada without a plan or job in place.

Once Hleba arrived in Calgary, she decided to get to work. She searched salons in her area and found Lucia Esthetics.

“I found the number and sent a message saying ‘I am from Ukraine, I need a job, I am makeup artist’ and Lucia responded,” Hleba said. “The next day, I went for an interview and then I started work in the salon.”

A large part of adjusting to life in Calgary is learning to speak English. Prior to coming to Canada, Hleba took two months of English classes, however, that was years ago. After two months in the city, her English is coming along well and she is appreciative of the city she now calls home.

“I like Canadian people because everyone is very good and very supportive. Everyone helps me, the people are beautiful, and I like the location. It’s a beautiful city,” Hleba said.

Lanna Goldmann came to Canada from Ukraine years ago and knows the struggle immigrants who are industry professionals can face. The diplomas she had were not valid in Canada, so she created her own small business. Now, she’s helping others who are going through a similar process.

“People who are new arrivals, they don’t have Canadian experience, so that will be much more difficult to compete on the job market that we have today.”

Goldmann adds Ukrainians arriving in Canada are desperate for jobs, and want to be part of the workforce. She says supporting new Canadians now will result in a stronger community and economy in the future, adding the Untold program is “the best bridge to connect people that are already masters in what they are doing, but lack Canadian experience.”

Ana Arocha is also involved in the Untold program. Immigrating to Canada from Venezuela when she was 17 year old, she took on the role of helping new Canadians.

“If the new girls need help for something, I help with no question about it,” Arocha said, adding the multicultural studio has provided countless learning opportunities.

Arocha says she feels the esthetics industry in Canada has plenty of opportunities to grow.

The women who run the Untold program are also looking at expanding, so new Canadians can learn everything they need to know in one place.

Alyona Latsinnik, in partnership with Teodorescu, is putting together a one-stop-shop when it comes to resources and tips those arriving in Canada will need.

“It is so crucial to know that people can have access to these programs. To know that these women are not left alone just because their documents say this and this and that,” Latsinnik said.

Latsinnik adds there are a few misconceptions for Ukrainians looking for a job in Canada. While it’s common to add your age and a picture of yourself on a resume in Ukraine, in Canada, it’s against the law to hire someone based on their age.

All of the women at Lucia Esthetics say there is a dire need for more people and businesses to help Ukrainian newcomers, whether it be through housing, donations, or providing a job.

Any new Canadian who is looking for more information can contact Lucia Esthetics by email at luciaesthetics@yahoo.ca or by phone at 403-401-3177.

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