Evacuation Update The hot, dry weather across BC is a reminder that the wildfire season is not over and Prince George’s role with regard to the Cariboo wildfires is ongoing. While the majority of Cariboo evacuees have left Prince George and returned home, the City is still hosting evacuees who are remaining in Prince George for health reasons, as well as those who are still under an evacuation order. The Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre (pictured), for example, is continuing to serve as the primary evacuation centre for those who require lodging. There are roughly 60 evacuees still on site, including those in tents. Meanwhile, staff and volunteers based at the Emergency Reception Centre at CNC are working one-on-one with evacuees who are unable to return home for health reasons. Hours of Operation The Emergency Reception Centre in the CNC Gymnasium is currently open from 8am – 4pm. As of Saturday, it will be open from 8am – noon. The City is maintaining a web page with updated information about the evacuation effort: www.princegeorge.ca/CaribooEvacuation

In case you missed it previously, here is a message from Mayor Lyn Hall to all the volunteers: Today marks a dozen days since Prince George activated Emergency Social Services in support of people from the Cariboo region who are escaping that region’s wildfires. The number of evacuees registered in Prince George has now passed 9,000. City staff and volunteers have provided countless hours of service and countless smiles. Staff and volunteers have assisted with registration, helped with lodging, served meals, cared for animals, provided directions, and more. By all accounts, the evacuees REALLY appreciate it – and they certainly deserve it. The City’s relationship with the Province requires that we deploy emergency social services on behalf of the province, when these services are provided in a municipality. Many of our staff are working extraordinary hours to provide these required services. But there is no way they could do it alone. Hundreds of volunteers have filled roles in registration, meeting and greeting evacuees, providing lodging, and organizing activities for children. Others are making sure evacuees are being well cared-for while in our community. Volunteers are the lifelines of this operation and, without them, help simply wouldn’t be available to those who need it. On behalf of the City, Council, and our local government colleagues in the Cariboo, I would like to extend a special thank you to Volunteer Prince George for playing a critical role in managing and scheduling the many volunteers who have given of their time and been away from family to help. We are working together to smooth the integration of volunteers into our operations and there have been – and will be – bumps along the way. Please bear with us and know that the City and the evacuees appreciate your patience and dedication to the cause. Please keep in contact with Volunteer PG’s website and Facebook page for updates. You can also follow the City on social media and check in regularly with our web page dedicated to this effort: princegeorge.ca/CaribooEvacuation. Thank you again to all of the volunteers. You make this City great and we are all so proud of you and your dedication. Lyn Hall ... Looking to #volunteer and help with the #Cariboo #BCwildfire #evacuees in #CityofPG? Here's where you can sign up: princegeorge.ca/CaribooEvacuation The Volunteer Prince George Centre is open at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre to recruit, train, schedule, and deploy volunteers to help receive and support evacuees from the Cariboo wildfires. Apply now to become a volunteer. For the time being, the Volunteer PG Centre will operate from 8:00am to 8:00pm, seven days a week. Photo: Some of the friendly faces that greet volunteers when they arrive at CNC: Lisa Burgener and Ruby Jim #VolunteerPG #CelebratePG #BCfires #BCwildfires Photo: Volunteers at the registration centre (clockwise from far left): Judy Schneider, Andy, Darlene Demarzo, and James Christy

Please share - especially with any Cariboo evacuees you may know: There will be another bus leaving Prince George tomorrow for Williams lake. This will be for evacuees who are wanting to return home and it will depart from the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre at noon.

Saturday’s town hall for wildfire evacuees will NOT proceed. It will be a travel day for many evacuees, as buses for those requiring transportation will be departing Prince George on Saturday en route to Williams Lake. Future town halls for evacuees will be scheduled as required. View updates and previous Town Hall meeting recordings at: princegeorge.ca/CaribooEvacuation #BCwildfires #BCwildfire #BCfires #CityofPG #evacuees

The area that is now Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park has a long history of use. Chief Frederick and Mayor Hall presented an update on the pavilion project today following an archaeological excavation on the site. Construction is proceeding after the discovery of human remains and artifacts. The City and the Lheidli T’enneh have committed to determining a final resting place for the remains, which will be held in Exploration Place for the interim. For more information, see this notice posted today: https://goo.gl/rbjqDc

Check to see if your area is on evacuation order or alert.

Volunteers needed to support #evacuee services As we approach the end of week two of the Cariboo #BCWildfires evacuee response services, we are seeing a sharp decline in the availability of trained volunteers. Therefore, the City and Volunteer Prince George are hosting two emergency training sessions this Saturday, July 29. We are hoping to schedule these newly trained volunteers to work a four hour shift on Sunday, July 30. Interested volunteers can contact the Volunteer Prince George Centre to register for training and to be assigned for a shift. If you are interested and available to help with these volunteer training and shifts, please call: Before 4 p.m.: 250-614-7835 After 4 p.m.: 250-614-6544 Thank you so much for your help, Prince George. #ProudlyPG #VolunteerPG #CelebratePG #CityofPG #BCfires Photo: Volunteers Sharon Cairns and Karen Hackle help evacuees with various lodging options

Popular Pools It would appear that Prince George’s pools have been “must see attractions” for evacuees who are in Prince George. In fact, as of yesterday, the Aquatic Centre and the Four Seasons Leisure Pool have together attracted nearly 10,200 visits from evacuees since the emergency began earlier this month. The City has been waiving admission fees for evacuees. View updates at: princegeorge.ca/CaribooEvacuation Photo: Prince George’s pools have attracted more than 10,000 visits from evacuees. Here, Mark and Sabrina Dyck of the Wildwood area near Williams Lake enjoy the Four Seasons Leisure Pool with their children Shaelynn, Ariana, and Anthony. For a full listing of wonderful #CityofPG leisure activities for #evacuees across Prince George, visit: http://princegeorge.ca/CaribooEvacuation #BCwildfire #Cariboo #evacuees #CityofPG

Visit us at Veterans Plaza today from 11:00am to 2:00pm for Foodie Fridays! Follow your nose to the park in front of City Hall.

Please share with evacuees returning home to Williams Lake and looking for transportation from Prince George. Thousands of residents from the Williams Lake area who had been evacuated to Prince George are now able to go home. An evacuation order has been downgraded to an evacuation alert in the following areas: • The City of Williams Lake • Sugarcane • 150 Mile House • Fox Mountain • Esler • Pine Valley • Springhouse Residents of those areas... • ...who need transportation to get home are required to pre-register at the Emergency Reception Centre at the College of New Caledonia today. Buses will be leaving Prince George on Saturday, July 29, and delivering people, their belongings, and their pets to Williams Lake. The Emergency Reception Centre at CNC has more information; it is open from 9:00am to 7:00pm today. • ...who are choosing to stay in Prince George for medical reasons need to visit the Emergency Reception Centre at the College of New Caledonia if they wish to continue receiving financial support for services such as lodging and groceries beyond the expiry of their current vouchers. Hours for the Emergency Reception Centre at CNC: Friday, 9:00am - 7:00pm Saturday and Sunday, 8:00am – 4:00pm Questions? Call 1-800-585-9559 The Emergency Reception Centre is located in the Gymnasium at the College of New Caledonia. The address is 3330 22 Avenue in Prince George. Important information from the Cariboo Regional District for those returning to Williams Lake: http://cariboord.bc.ca/news/394/139/Williams-Lake-and-surrounding-areas-return-to-evacuation-alert View questions and answers, along with resources, for those returning home after evacuation: princegeorge.ca/CaribooEvacuation

Photo: When Woody and Cathy Winkelmann were evacuated, they drove 15 hours to get from Williams Lake to Prince George (a trip that normally takes three hours). Now, as they prepare to go home, they are demonstrating their appreciation to the residents of Prince George everywhere they drive. Learn more: princegeorge.ca/CaribooEvacuation

The City of Williams Lake, Williams Lake Indian Band and Cariboo Regional District announced today that, effective immediately, residents are now allowed to return to the City of Williams Lake, Sugarcane and surrounding areas in the Cariboo Regional District. The areas that have been changed from an evacuation order to an evacuation alert include: • The City of Williams Lake • Sugarcane • 150 Mile House • Fox Mountain • Esler • Pine Valley • Springhouse Due to ongoing wildfire operations, evacuation orders will remain in place for the following areas: • areas north and south of Mountain House Road, including Wildwood • the Spokin Lake area • areas along Soda Creek Road and Frizzi Road • Soda Creek First Nation • areas in the Chilcotin Residents considering a return to the areas no longer under Evacuation Order should visit the Cariboo Regional District’s website for important information: http://www.cariboord.bc.ca/ Highway 97 south of the city is now open from Prince George to Cache Creek. However, motorists are advised to be ready for heavy traffic, limited visibility due to smoke, and livestock on the road. The City has updated its Cariboo Evacuation web page to reflect the changing nature of the situation: www.princegeorge.ca/caribooevacuation You can now also visit the page for important information for evacuees considering a return to Williams Lake and other communities no longer under Evacuation Orders. This page also has important information for evacuees who are choosing to stay in Prince George for the time being.