Laredo
9th December 2004, 05:14
[From Halifax Herald - 4 Dec 04]
TIM KROCHAK / Staff
Vitaly Bondarenko looks off as his son Vasily, 6, is helped aboard the family sailboat by his wife Marina at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron in Halifax. The Russian couple and their two children were hoping to stay in Canada but immigration officials have said they must leave by Dec. 14.
Vitaly Bondarenko sailed the world for 14 years in at least four different boats. He's ready to stop here, but Canadian immigration officials say he and his family must leave.
On July 28, Mr. Bondarenko, wife Marina and sons Ivan, 11, and Vasily, 6, arrived in Shelburne from Bermuda aboard the Viajero. They cleared customs and immigration, receiving crew-status visas, and proceeded to Halifax.
Since then the family has been docked at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, living on the boat.
"We had a dream to stay in Canada," he said. "We knew this wasn't the right way, but we thought we'd be able to stay when we saw people were looking for immigrants, for official engineers and other things."
In Russia, Mr. Bondarenko was a professor and scientist. He has a PhD in mechanical engineering with a specialty in vibration noise analysis. His wife was an English teacher in Russia.
But at various times they've also worked as teachers, labourers and even dressmakers.
"If we were absolutely without money, I took any job to survive," he said. "But in all those years, no one had to support us."
On Nov. 4, he contacted immigration officials about staying. He was told he would have to leave the country, and his visa was closed and passport taken.
If he didn't leave Canada by Dec. 14, he was told, the family would be deported to Russia.
Mr. Bondarenko said he understands that he must leave but is worried that sailing at this time of year will be dangerous.
Considering his sailing experience, for him to be anxious speaks volumes.
He and his wife left Russia in 1991 and sailed to the United States in a homemade 7.8-metre steel boat with no engine and no navigational tools, "not even a sextant," he said.
After several years of work in the Maryland area and after the birth of Ivan, the family set sail for Australia, where Vasily was born.
They crossed the Pacific in a boat Mr. Bondarenko bought from a scrapyard for $500. He said people sometimes have a hard time imagining that.
"I have the bill of sale," he said. "We keep it for memories because no one believes how you can cross the Pacific on a boat you bought for $500."
The family lived in other countries and had another child, a daughter. She was born with a heart condition and Down syndrome, so the family put her up for adoption in the belief that was best for her. She now lives in Florida.
While in Halifax, Mr. Bondarenko has tried looking for work at universities as a lecturer but has had little luck. He is frustrated with the process.
"I can give profit to Canada," he said.
"I can work here, my wife can work here. We don't need anything from Canada except permission to stay here."
Lee Cohen, a lawyer specializing in immigration and human rights, said that instead of being forced out to sea, the Bondarenkos need help and understanding from Immigration Canada.
"He doesn't really have a home in Russia to which he could return," he said of Mr. Bondarenko.
"His home is really his boat."
Mr. Cohen said Mr. Bondarenko is just the kind of immigrant the provincial and federal governments want.
"He's a professional, he's very well-spoken, he's very bright, very likable and very employable," Mr. Cohen said.
He said the family's predicament could be solved easily.
"We're talking five months and then he's able to go back to sea," he said. "He has the financial ability to support himself and his family."
But Immigration Canada is not on board with Mr. Cohen's views.
"If an individual is under a removal order, they are expected to leave Canada by a specified date," said Bryan Amadore, spokesman for the Canada Border Services Agency.
He isn't concerned with the possibility of the Viajero encountering rough weather as it sails to Bermuda.
"It's not Citizenship and Immigration Canada or the Canada Border Services Agency that determines the method that they leave Canada," he said.
Mr. Amadore said that because a removal order has been issued, there is no way for Immigration Canada to help the Bondarenkos remain in Halifax.
He wouldn't comment on whether Mr. Bondarenko fits the profile of the kind of immigrant the province is seeking.
What's next for the Bondarenkos?
The family planned to leave well in advance of the government deadline, setting sail for Bermuda this morning in hopes of avoiding bad weather.
Mr. Bondarenko said he is worried about a storm expected on the East Coast next week.
But he still wants to settle in Canada somehow, someday.
"We travelled 14 years and I met a lot of people, a lot of nationalities," he said. "Like all nationalities, some people are good and some bad, but I never met a bad Canadian."
TIM KROCHAK / Staff
Vitaly Bondarenko looks off as his son Vasily, 6, is helped aboard the family sailboat by his wife Marina at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron in Halifax. The Russian couple and their two children were hoping to stay in Canada but immigration officials have said they must leave by Dec. 14.
Vitaly Bondarenko sailed the world for 14 years in at least four different boats. He's ready to stop here, but Canadian immigration officials say he and his family must leave.
On July 28, Mr. Bondarenko, wife Marina and sons Ivan, 11, and Vasily, 6, arrived in Shelburne from Bermuda aboard the Viajero. They cleared customs and immigration, receiving crew-status visas, and proceeded to Halifax.
Since then the family has been docked at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron, living on the boat.
"We had a dream to stay in Canada," he said. "We knew this wasn't the right way, but we thought we'd be able to stay when we saw people were looking for immigrants, for official engineers and other things."
In Russia, Mr. Bondarenko was a professor and scientist. He has a PhD in mechanical engineering with a specialty in vibration noise analysis. His wife was an English teacher in Russia.
But at various times they've also worked as teachers, labourers and even dressmakers.
"If we were absolutely without money, I took any job to survive," he said. "But in all those years, no one had to support us."
On Nov. 4, he contacted immigration officials about staying. He was told he would have to leave the country, and his visa was closed and passport taken.
If he didn't leave Canada by Dec. 14, he was told, the family would be deported to Russia.
Mr. Bondarenko said he understands that he must leave but is worried that sailing at this time of year will be dangerous.
Considering his sailing experience, for him to be anxious speaks volumes.
He and his wife left Russia in 1991 and sailed to the United States in a homemade 7.8-metre steel boat with no engine and no navigational tools, "not even a sextant," he said.
After several years of work in the Maryland area and after the birth of Ivan, the family set sail for Australia, where Vasily was born.
They crossed the Pacific in a boat Mr. Bondarenko bought from a scrapyard for $500. He said people sometimes have a hard time imagining that.
"I have the bill of sale," he said. "We keep it for memories because no one believes how you can cross the Pacific on a boat you bought for $500."
The family lived in other countries and had another child, a daughter. She was born with a heart condition and Down syndrome, so the family put her up for adoption in the belief that was best for her. She now lives in Florida.
While in Halifax, Mr. Bondarenko has tried looking for work at universities as a lecturer but has had little luck. He is frustrated with the process.
"I can give profit to Canada," he said.
"I can work here, my wife can work here. We don't need anything from Canada except permission to stay here."
Lee Cohen, a lawyer specializing in immigration and human rights, said that instead of being forced out to sea, the Bondarenkos need help and understanding from Immigration Canada.
"He doesn't really have a home in Russia to which he could return," he said of Mr. Bondarenko.
"His home is really his boat."
Mr. Cohen said Mr. Bondarenko is just the kind of immigrant the provincial and federal governments want.
"He's a professional, he's very well-spoken, he's very bright, very likable and very employable," Mr. Cohen said.
He said the family's predicament could be solved easily.
"We're talking five months and then he's able to go back to sea," he said. "He has the financial ability to support himself and his family."
But Immigration Canada is not on board with Mr. Cohen's views.
"If an individual is under a removal order, they are expected to leave Canada by a specified date," said Bryan Amadore, spokesman for the Canada Border Services Agency.
He isn't concerned with the possibility of the Viajero encountering rough weather as it sails to Bermuda.
"It's not Citizenship and Immigration Canada or the Canada Border Services Agency that determines the method that they leave Canada," he said.
Mr. Amadore said that because a removal order has been issued, there is no way for Immigration Canada to help the Bondarenkos remain in Halifax.
He wouldn't comment on whether Mr. Bondarenko fits the profile of the kind of immigrant the province is seeking.
What's next for the Bondarenkos?
The family planned to leave well in advance of the government deadline, setting sail for Bermuda this morning in hopes of avoiding bad weather.
Mr. Bondarenko said he is worried about a storm expected on the East Coast next week.
But he still wants to settle in Canada somehow, someday.
"We travelled 14 years and I met a lot of people, a lot of nationalities," he said. "Like all nationalities, some people are good and some bad, but I never met a bad Canadian."