Prince George for Ukraine is hosting a special celebration and meet and greet event for Ukrainians displaced by war.
The event is a chance for residents to meet many of the 220 Ukrainians who have arrived in Prince George since the war began.
The family-friendly event is free and takes place at the Railway and Forestry Museum on 850 River Road from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday.
There will be free food, games, and a chance to visit with displaced Ukrainians, host families, and others who have supported Ukrainians so far.
“There has been strong community interest (to have the event) and quite frankly Prince George has a very well-deserved reputation as an example of how to do it well,” said Prince George for Ukraine volunteer Charles Scott.
“Nationally, we are known as being a place that’s very welcoming to Ukrainians and also are very effective at connecting them with the things they need.”
Since the war began in February 2022, Canada has approved 880,000 Ukrainian applicants wanting to come to this country and 260,000 have arrived. That leaves another 550,000 whose applications have been approved but have not yet come to Canada.
The first Ukrainian war refugees arrived in Prince George in April 2022 and Scott said the 80 families now in the city have needed time to adjust to their new surroundings and sort out their lives while they consider whether their stay in Canada will be temporary or permanent.
“There’s certainly some of them who plan to go back to Ukraine when the war is over to help rebuild it and there are others who are thinking, ‘My kids are going to spend their entire working life putting the rubble back together,’ and they’re not sure they want that.”
Sponsored by Save-On-Foods, Sunday’s event will give them a chance to swap stories and meet some of the people who have helped them get established in Prince George.
“Enough time has gone by and there’s a solid core of people not still trying to figure out how to get up in the morning and get out, which is very common when all of a sudden your life has been turned upside-down,” said Scott. “This is a conversation you can have because your life in not in crisis.”
