By Kendall Robertson

Evacuees Find Reason To Smile Despite Wildfires

Aug 17, 2018 | 11:41 AM

PRINCE GEORGE- It was a birthday party unlike any other Wednesday, dozens of evacuees from the Yekooche First Nation coming together to celebrate the 90th birthday of elder, William Joseph. Members say it’s not every day that someone reaches a milestone like that in their small community. “We are honouring him because not very many people are that old these days,” said Andrea Tom. It was an opportunity for evacuees from the Yekooche First Nation staying at the North Star Inn to come together and take their minds off of what they left behind. “We’re stressing out because of what we have in our smokehouse, our livestock, our houses might be going because we’re way out in the boonies near the Shovel Lake fire… this is helping me a lot.”

Members of the Nadleh Whut’en First Nation also joined in on the celebration. “There is a lot of anxiety going on, it’s really hard for people to be away from their territories,” said Tanya Stump, “us banding together is just a way to try to keep positive and celebrating 90 years is huge.”

The number of evacuees registered in Prince George has grown to 1300 as of this afternoon.