Vladyslav Nychyk plans to begin his health-care career in North Battlefor, the community he grow up in after immigrating from Ukraine. (submitted/ Saskatchewan Polytechnic)
LOCAL TALENT

‘There’s a higher meaning’: Immigrant nurse and lifeguard aims to give back to the Battlefords

Jun 23, 2025 | 12:27 PM

When Vladyslav Nychyk arrived in North Battleford from Ukraine at age 11, he didn’t speak the language or fully understand the culture.

Ten years later, he’s a licensed nurse, an award-winning graduate from Saskatchewan Polytechnic — and he’s determined to give back to the community that helped shape him.

“I think growing up, I’m used to being like looking up to people and kind of looking who I want to become…and now I am at the point where people look up to me,” he said.

“I have the power to change this community for the better.”

Nychyk, 21, recently completed his Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Sask Polytech and the University of Regina. He was honoured with the Dean’s Award, which recognizes both academic excellence and leadership. He graduated with an 84.75 per cent average and received the Circle of Scholars scholarship from the University of Regina.

But Nychyk said his success wasn’t just in the classroom — it was also about rebuilding community.

During the pandemic, the Student Nursing Association at Sask Polytech nearly disappeared. Nychyk joined when it had only three members and helped build it back up to about 30.

“We spent a lot of time building back up the society,” he said, crediting efforts like organizing donation drives, leading student activities, and boosting campus outreach to reconnect students.

“As the time went on, we got more members… we were able to step back and get the younger generation to pick up from where we left off.”

He said passing on leadership and watching the next cohort grow felt like watching a close family member thrive.

“It’s kind of like watching your dog or watching someone close… grow up and become something bigger.”

(submitted/ Saskatchewan Polytechnic)

Outside school, Nychyk has worked for years as a lifeguard and team leader at The Battlefords Co-Op Aquatic Centre — an experience he believes inspired his passion for health care.

“When I first had to jump in the water and save someone… it opened up my eyes that like, wow, you know this is important,” he said.

“There’s a higher meaning to this than just myself.”

As a team leader, Nychyk also mentors younger staff, some of whom turn to him for life advice.

“Usually talk about… what they want to do for school or what should they do when it comes to school,” he said.

“That’s been probably one of the biggest points where I’ve seen myself being the role model.”

Nychyk said being a male nurse and an immigrant also meant overcoming certain assumptions.

“Especially men in nursing care, there’s not a lot of us and kind of just overcome the different stereotypes and to achieve what I have achieved… it puts an ease to myself as a person that I can move on past anything and be the best version of myself.”

He hopes to use that experience to support others, especially newcomers, facing language or cultural barriers.

“I think that’s kind of where I really want to help the most, is being able to help those people bridge their different cultures and then being there to help and hear them.”

Vladyslav Nychyk receives the Circle of Scholars scholarship from the University of Regina. (submitted/ Vladyslav Nychyk)

Having passed the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination), Nychyk now plans to begin work at Battlefords Union Hospital, while continuing to stay connected to the aquatic centre where he’s worked for the past seven years.

“I can’t wait to help and care for people in our hospital here in North Battleford,” he said.

His message for other immigrant youth is simple:

“Everyone can do it. Perseverance and believing in yourself is definitely a virtue that is worth having.”

Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com

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