Prince George is sending out the message that it is ready, willing, and able to take in Ukrainian refugees.
Community leaders said exactly that in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“We have a history, in Prince George, of supporting refugees, including most recently Syrian families, many of whom have chosen to make our city their permanent home,” read the letter signed by Mayor Lyn Hall, Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dolleen Logan, Regional District of Fraser-Fort George chair Art Kaehn, Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty, Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer, Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond, and Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris.
“Those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine will find our community to be a welcoming, affordable, culturally familiar place with many opportunities to build a new life … Many in our community and region stand ready to assist those in need. On our own, we can expect to help dozens of individuals and families. However, working together and with the promotion of our community to those coming to Canada, we are perfectly positioned to welcome a much larger group.”
The Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society of Prince George, along with a group entitled PG4Ukraine, have added their voices to the call to bring refugees to the city. More than 50 people attended a meeting of the new group last week.
“During the Syrian crisis, we welcomed many families either through government or private sponsorship, and volunteers from the community provided many support to enable them to settle in well,” said Ravi Saxena, executive director of IMSS in a letter to Trudeau. “The people of Prince George are ready and willing to do this again for the Ukrainian community.”