Evacuated doctor running clinic in CNC

Dr. Jolien Steyl is one of the many doctors helping evacuees at Prince George’s CNC campus. What makes her different from the others at the college is that she herself was evacuated from Williams Lake.

The Steyl’s – Jolien, her husband, and two children – abruptly left Williams Lake on a Friday morning two weeks ago.

“Our neighbour was still there (when we were leaving). We were helping her clear lighter fuel and clearing the yard making sure grass and everything was short to try and protect the properties. When she left at 7 she took a photo and the fire was right next to her house,” she recalls, “I think it’s a miracle that our houses didn’t burn down.”

The family arrived in Prince George the following day and are currently living out of their trailer in a campground west of the city.

Sheyl didn’t skip a beat. She began volunteering Sunday afternoon and had her own clinic by Monday. Treating patients going through a situation similar to her own has helped Dr. Steyl connect with those at CNC.

“I had a good cry with some of the people in my offices; everyone is very stressed, we’ll all worried about our houses. So it definitely made a difference being from the same background.”

Despite the whole situation, Steyl refuses to feel bad for herself or even take a day off.

“If I can help someone and especially once I started seeing my own patients it’s like seeing family and knowing that they are safe. People needed me. I had no choice, it wasn’t even a question.”

Steyl is returning to Williams Lake on Thursday. If the city is still under an evacuation order, she says the family will park the trailer in Quesnel and she’ll commute.

No matter what the future holds, she is thankful for Prince George’s hospitality.

‘This has been amazing just for me as an evacuee and for my family. My kids can do stuff, it’s just being eye-opening. I think Prince George will always be in our hearts and known as the evacuee town of Canada.”