Construction work that requires determination and resilience, so it’s important to ensure that workers in the industry show those traits, too.

L&A Stucco, a Winnipeg-based provider of exterior stucco and renovation services, naturally looks for those qualities in their employees. They’ve hired numerous immigrants from Ukraine, in particular, people that have not only filled important roles in their company in recent years, but have brought those exact characteristics with them as they’ve fled a country in turmoil for a more stable life.

Volodomyr Reshetov is one of those employees. He’s now worked at L&A Stucco for five years and has been in Winnipeg since 2017, though he brings 24 years of construction experience from Ukraine.

“In Ukraine, the hard work is the same, but it doesn’t offer the same stability as it does here,” said Reshetov. “That’s why my wife and I moved here–to find stability. And when we got to Canada, my focus was on working hard to help build that better life for my family.”

Mission accomplished, thus far, as his hard work has helped him progress within the company.

“When Volodomyr came to L&A, he started as a stucco plasterer and EIFS installer,” noted Cavy Braun, President of L&A Stucco. “Through training and his desire to progress, we promoted him to supervisor. So now he leads up to 10 guys on a site. He’s ambitious, and he does extra work to keep moving forward.”

There are other stories like Reshetov’s too. Nikita Volkov, also from Ukraine, only immigrated to Canada in March 2024 and joined L&A Stucco in early 2025. He’s already made his way into a role as a leader on the siding team, despite having no formal construction experience upon coming to Canada (other than what he learned from doing his own work as a homeowner in Ukraine).

That’s what happens when the work environment is welcoming.

“My experience at L&A Stucco has been great,” said Volkov. “There is good management, I have a good supervisor, and the whole team is friendly. Everybody wants to help you succeed.”

No matter how inviting a workplace is, though, employees still have to choose to put in the effort. Braun has been left impressed by many of the Canadian newcomers he’s hired.

“Even as labourers, they’re intentional in how they go about their work,” he noted. “They take pride in what they do. They work so that they can better their lives.”

Essential to creating that inviting atmosphere where employees take pride in their work is making sure everyone understands each other. That isn’t always easy when you’re welcoming Canadian newcomers into your organization who don’t have English as a first language.

“If there are communication barriers, we put in extra effort so that those individuals can feel welcomed,” stated Braun. “That goes from things as small as using Google Translate to putting workers with strong Ukrainian and English skills in leadership positions so that they have authority over other workers from Ukraine whose English isn’t as strong.”

Reshetov has been a big part of that, and leading other Ukrainian newcomers has been beneficial to him in more than one way.

“Being able to help others learn and understand what’s needed on a job site has helped build my own confidence,” he said. “I feel valued and respected by the company. But having other Ukrainian newcomers helps me feel at home too. When I started, I was the only worker from Ukraine in the company. But now I have others who can relate to my experiences.”

That’s exactly how Braun wants all of his employees to feel at work.

“We need to extend the opportunities we have to the people around us,” said Braun. “Everybody wants to be part of something. If we can offer someone a fulfilling place to work, that’s a good thing to do.”

Stucco, it’s just a front. L&A Stucco knows they aren’t just giving houses nice new facades—they’re plastering lives with dignity, and it looks good on everyone.