B.C. wildfire evacuees ‘relieved’ to find places to stay

Two Vancouver long-term care facilities are now housing older West Kelowna residents who were forced to leave because of the wildfires. Kate Walker hears from evacuees now staying in Vancouver and in Hope.

By Kate Walker

Posted August 21, 2023 11:50 pm.

Last Updated August 22, 2023 4:20 pm.

Two long-term care facilities are now housing B.C. seniors who were forced to leave because of the wildfires — some evacuees say they’re relieved to have a place to stay.

Brian Jones is from the Boothroyd First Nation – and has been forced to leave his home in the central interior because of wildfires. He’s one of the thousands of British Columbian evacuees – waiting to find out what will happen to their community, some of them being seniors.

“They said I had five minutes and next thing I know I had to leave a bunch of stuff at home I couldn’t take with me,” said Jones.

Long-term care residents that were staying at the Vineyards Residence assisted living and long-term care home in Kelowna have been temporarily relocated to two long-term care homes here in Vancouver. Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health, and Interior Health teamed up to relocate 53 residents. 19 are staying at Villa Cathay and another 34 at the George Pearson Centre.

“I think it’s very distressing for someone to be evacuated from their home community. When you add the added complications of someone with pretty complex healthcare needs, like those that live in long-term care, it can be more disorienting and difficult,” said Vancouver Coastal Health Vice President Bob Chapman

“The residents were evacuated, and the decision was made to move them to the lower mainland. The airport in Kelowna was not running, so these residents came by transport vehicles, vehicles that are wheelchair accessible. A number of vehicles came down in a few waves, bringing residents over a few hour period.”

A spokesperson for Fraser Health says 13 additional staff members are now on-site at the Villa Cathay care home to support evacuees.

The front of Villa Cathay, where some evacuees from West Kelowna and the Boothroyd First Nation are staying.

Two Vancouver long-term care facilities are now housing older West Kelowna residents who were forced to leave because of the wildfires — some evacuees say they’re relieved to have a place to stay. (Kate Walker, CityNews Image)

In the Fraser Valley, another 46 evacuees – around 40 adults and 6 children are now staying at Camp Hope, which is usually used for group retreats.

“Most of them didn’t come with very much at all. So, we are providing bedding, some emergency toothbrush and towels, soap and shampoos and things like that,” said Camp Hope Director Bill Gerber.

Meanwhile, some evacuees are feeling uneasy and unsure of what they’ll be going home to when the time comes.

“I don’t know what’s happening, but I know the community is still standing. But the first few days it’s been really hard not knowing what’s happening and where we were going,” said Boothroyd First Nation evacuee Terri McCarty.

And although it is prime tourism season in the Okanagan, B.C. officials say they are restricting non-essential travellers from using local accommodations like hotels and RV parks in Kelowna, Kamloops, Oliver, Osoyoos, Penticton, and Vernon.

“We need hotels and motels available for people and families that have been forced to evacuate and for our frontline responders as well,” said B.C.’s Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Bowinn Ma.