Listen Live
Listen Live

MLA Bond: “There’s nowhere you can go in the community where people aren’t saying, ‘What can I do?’”

As thousands of wildfire evacuees continue to pour into communities across central and northern BC, thousands more British Columbians are finding ways to help.

Prince George – Valemount MLA Shirley Bond says the offers of aid are the good news in a bad news situation.

“It is just so touching and overwhelming and you just have to take a cruise through Facebook and other areas of social media to see the generosity. Somebody will ask for something and, in just a moment, you know, five and six people are responding. It is heartwarming it is very touching.”

Many of the evacuees are travelling Highways 5 and 16 to make to Prince George.

“We have a comfort station in McBride. We have a website and a Facebook site in Valemount. We have the Terracanna Lodge in between the two offering help. The Legion in Valemount on Saturday night are having a free spaghetti dinner for the evacuees that are staying out there. There’s nowhere you can go in the community where people aren’t saying, ‘What can I do?’”


Despite the severity of the situation, Bond says she is has confidence in the generosity of northern BC.

“We feel extremely concerned for those families. We’re literally praying for rain as we wait, in terms of Williams Lake, and thankfully a bit of a break yesterday so that was good news. But I don’t think many of us can imagine what those families have gone through and will go through in the days ahead.”

In Prince George, about 1,000 of the 5,000 evacuees are children and Bond says she feels for them in particular.

“Certainly, as adults it’s one thing – we’re worried about all the things we have to take care of. Kids just feel unsettled and not only that, they’re trying to find things to do to keep one another busy and company. Again, the community rallied – whether it’s Exploration Place or the art gallery. Yesterday, the Railway Museum had an opportunity for families to go there.”

Anyone wanting to help is asked to donate to the Red Cross campaign. The Volunteer PG centre is also taking applications for those able to offer their time, space or services.

Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].

Shannon Waters
Shannon Waters
Raised in Victoria, educated in Vancouver at UBC and BCIT, Shannon moved to Prince George as a reporter in 2016. She is now the News Director for Vista North.

Continue Reading

cjci Now playing play

cirx Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

June home sales were hot across the BC Northern Real Estate Board

Northern BC home sales were ahead of their 10-year average in June after 476 unit sales were made according to the BC Real Estate Association. That's a year-over-year spike of 11.7% when compared to the same time last year.

Kids Carnival returning to Huble Homestead this weekend

Huble Homestead is inviting families to its Kids Carnival taking place on Sunday.

More members, but not more meetings for Heritage Commission, City Council decides

Prince George City Council voted on a number of recommendations from the City's Heritage Commission at last night's (Monday) meeting.  During a regular council meeting in March, Prince George Heritage Commission Chair Dr. George Davison outlined many of the issues the Commission has been facing, such as a reduced number of meetings, and a reduction in City staff support. 

B.C’s youth watchdog says more work needs to be done, one year after report on systemic failures

One year after a report by British Columbia's Child and Youth Representative on the horrific death of an Indigenous boy in care, the province is still working on an action plan for systemic changes to children and youth social services.

City Council approves budget to replace damaged garbage truck

Prince George City Council has voted to replace a garbage truck in the city. At last night's (Monday) meeting, City Council approved a budget of $750,000 for the purchase.  According to Director of Civic Operations Blake McIntosh, this will replace a garbage truck damaged in a motor vehicle incident in May last year. 
- Advertisement -