It has nearly been two years since the war in Ukraine began, since then a group of volunteers have been working in Prince George daily to help displaced refugees settle in BC’s Northern Capital and the surrounding area.
Dick Mynen, a Share Hope volunteer, says they have helped 294 Ukrainians re-establish themselves in the northern region.
While some have moved on from Prince George for work or family reasons, Mynen said 220 have remained.
“We have seen 37 people leave Prince George after being here a month or more,” he explained in an interview with My PG Now – mentioning seven of them have gone back to Ukraine.
“None have left because they don’t like Prince George, [usually] for better employment – that we are aware of anyways.”
This was slightly surprising to Mynen, he said Share Hope expected to see “a lot more people” leave for warmer climates after a heavy winter last year.
“People have basically stayed. It is a good endorsement of how they have succeeded in our community,” he said.
Ukrainians are still arriving in Prince George to settle, either straight from Ukraine or migrating from elsewhere in the country – Mynen said where most people arrive from seems to shift month-by-month.
“We still see people coming,” he said, though not as rapidly as when the war first started. “Three different parties have arrived in November, we have got someone arriving on Monday, a family arriving on Boxing Day, a family right after the new year, another in mid-January, and a number of families trying to get tickets and book flights as we speak.”
Share Hope is always looking for volunteers, donations, and other forms of support from the community. Part of what they are looking at now is celebrating many people’s first Canadian Christmas, including 35 children.
He said volunteering could come in the form of simply showing a new family around town during the holiday season and being a positive contact.
Another large need Share Hope is facing is employment opportunities.
Mynen is asking any potential employers to reach out to the organization.
You can find out more about Share Hope and PG For Ukraine here.
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