Compassion shines
I applaud the wonderful and generous people of Prince George and Kamloops for doing all that they can to help the evacuees who were directed by government to proceed to their communities. The heartwarming stories of new friendships, kindness, generosity and compassion cannot help but bring tears to eyes and make hearts almost burst with pride. There can no longer be any doubt about the noble and heroic character of folks living in central and northern B.C. communities, but I think some very serious questions remain to be answered, because "thankfully it wasn't worse" does not just apply to the areas affected by fire.
First, and foremost, why in the world was an evacuation order given for people at risk to flee to communities that are themselves at very high risk? Why did government direct people northward from one danger area to another, instead of to the south, which was hours closer and had far more capacity and capability to handle the influx of displaced persons?
If Williams Lake had been a coastal community at risk of a destructive tsunami, would government simply have moved it farther up the coast and considered that "out of danger?" Thankfully we have been spared the horror of advancing fire, but had we been, a very bad situation would have very quickly become much, much worse.
Second, I cannot help but wonder why has it been so ghostly quiet from Vancouver and the Lower Mainland through all this? Where were all the offers of housing and support? Where are the thousands of volunteers standing by to help folks to clean up and rebuild? Have they forgotten that we are their neighbors, though perhaps a fair distance away?
Maclean's magazine can slam us all that they want but when the going got tough, the tough got going. I am so proud to call Prince George my home and to be lucky enough to call people whom I suspect to be angels, my friends. Bravo to all the communities in northern B.C. who graciously opened their hearts and homes, and all the incredibly brave and wonderful warriors who are fighting to keep us all safe.
Will Lewis, Prince George
