Prince George, B.C. – The isolation and lack of respite support for families living with autism in northern B.C. is the inspiration behind a new camp program being offered by the Canucks Autism Network (CAN).

Marketing and communications officer Lindsay Petrie says it will benefit 20 families from the North (from Prince George, Prince Rupert, Fort St. John, Terrace and surrounding communities) who have been identified as most in-need of respite care.

She says they will be flown to Vancouver Friday, August 7, returning home the following Monday. Kids with autism and their siblings will be taken to a CAN overnight camp in Port Moody for the weekend while parents receive respite in Vancouver.

CAN CEO Katy Harandi says the camp is part of CAN’s ongoing efforts to provide support to northern B.C.

“At CAN, we strive to build networks and increase accessibility and our hope is that the camp will act as a catalyst to bring families together and make them aware of the support that is available to them.”

The camp has been made possible thanks to charter flights donated by Pacific Coastal Airlines, the West Coast Fishing Club’s Fishing for Kids Tournament and by Pacific Gateway Hotel.