How this Ukrainian refugee fled war and found hope in a Quebec circus

Daryna Dzyba arrived in Montreal three years ago following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She chose to immigrate to Canada, hoping she could thrive here as an immigrant. 

However, she found it more difficult to adapt than she'd expected. 

Studying in Quebec was expensive, despite finding work in a sandwich factory and in retail. Balancing work with her French-language courses five days a week was also a challenge. 

She started to feel less hopeful about her immigration journey as she struggled to make ends meet.

"I was scared that we were not going to have the money to live," she said.

She never imagined joining a circus would be exactly what she needed. But not just any circus — her troupe, La Troupe d'Ailleurs, is made up of people like her: newcomers who came to Quebec in search of belonging.

The group met through a circus program that brought together immigrants who worked for two months to put on a final performance in front of hundreds of people.

"We absolutely loved the experience, so when the program ended, we didn't want it to end. So this is when we created La Troupe d'Ailleurs," Jenny Filo, a troupe member specializing in aerial disciplines, said.

Established last year, the troupe now performs at festivals and practises in parks and skating rinks. The performances make references to the immigrant experience in Quebec. 

"It's not only about the immigrants, but also this connection between immigrants and the people who've been living here a long time," Dzyba said.

She said this opportunity came at a time when she was lost and unsure of what to do with her new life in Quebec.

"It's the moment when everything changed," she said. "I started to find myself again."

Through circus arts, the troupe says they are able to express their cultural identities with costumes and makeup, all while integrating into Quebec society. 

Lysandre Murphy-Gauthier, a Quebecer trained in circus arts who acts as a mentor for the new troupe, says she was surprised to see how the circus became a helpful tool to integrate newcomers into Quebec.