Iryna Braun shares her journey from western Ukraine to Portage la Prairie, where she has built a new life rooted in community, culture and connection. Now president of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Braun reflects on her early life in Ivano-Frankivsk, her path to Canada, and how the church has become a vital hub for Ukrainian newcomers and families. She also speaks about the women in her family who shaped her values of service and community involvement, and why preserving language and culture matters for the next generation.