“The biggest contributor to people coming now is definitely word of mouth”
So says Dick Mynen, a Share Hope volunteer, looking back on the last year of helping Ukrainian refugees settle in Prince George and northern BC.
Prince George’s first Ukrainians fleeing the war arrived at the airport on April 29th, 2022, and the first family of four on May 3rd – a year later, there are over 250 who have found a home in northern BC, 211 of which are in PG.
Nearly half of the newcomers to Prince George are children.
“We continue to see interest in people coming,” Mynen told My PG Now, adding word of mouth is the primary reason more Ukrainians are coming to town.
“People are recommending [us] to others who are still in Ukraine or have left Ukraine and are waiting for a place to come to. People are reaching out to us because they have heard about Prince George from someone who is already here,” he explained.
According to Mynen, 34 people arrived in December, 5 in January, 30 in February, 24 in March, and 21 in April.
61 more people are in communication with Share Hope to come to Prince George, some in the early stages of talks and some with tickets in their hand ready to arrive.
When previously asked about Share Hope’s top needs, Mynen has said there is always a battle between the top four for number one priority – money, jobs, housing and daycare.
Right now, housing is on top.
“The sheer number of people who come – we do have a continuous need for housing,” he said, especially when it comes to bigger families, 5-8 people.
Housing often comes in the form of host families volunteering to take new arrivals for the first few weeks while they get a bearing on Prince George – Mynen said this model is preferred by most newcomer families.
Miracle Theatre, a major fundraiser, has just wrapped up.
Part of the money raised will help Share Hope keep up with the waves of new arrivals from Ukraine, with the rest going to set up an endowment to help future refugees.
The final fundraised total has not been announced yet, but will undoubtedly be a big boost for the organization.
“We know it was a great success, ticket sales were high, and exposure for what is happening in out community has been very good,” Mynen said.
“We have achieved many, if not all of the goals we set out to, and whatever financial results come in would be icing on the cake at this point.”
Another major fundraiser is right around the corner, “Prince George Live for Ukraine” will be held on May 12th.
For more information on that, click here.
For more information on share hope, or to donate, click here.