Interview with Patrick Pocha
by Terra Laflamme
May 23, 2025
T: Hello Mr. Pocha (pronounced Po-ch-a). Thank you for doing this interview with me. Pat, Patrick? What do you prefer to be called?
P: It’s actually Patrice, but it’s Patrick, Pat. Everyone calls me Pat.
T: Alright, Pat it is! How old are you, Pat?
P: I’m 83.
T: Tell me about yourself.
P: I’ve been a hairdresser for 55 yrs on Aug 15th.
T: What’s your favourite hair thing to do?
P: Colour, cuz it can really change a person.
T: Do you still cut hair?
P: Very few, I have only 8 clients left.
T: You’re still cutting hair for 8 people. That’s amazing!
T: What brought you into The Salvation Army?
P: I came to the Food Bank in 2023, and I don’t like getting something for nothing, so I started volunteering. I got involved with the front desk, taking names and asking if they have the proper ID. They would then go on to be interviewed (the intake) and when they came out, I brought them around and showed what (food) they could have.
T: You were the first face guests would see coming in the door. You would check them in, and then show them the Food Bank process and get their hamper for them. Did you know you put in over 120 hours since you started volunteering?
P: No, I didn’t keep track, thanks to Mike (a fellow volunteer) who helped me to sign in. I’m not volunteering right now. I have another surgery coming up in June.I am ready to come back today, but the doctors s, ay not yet.
T: Well, you’re missed up there for sure. You were also here to get food for yourself. Why were you in need of Food Bank?
P: I lost a lot of clients during Covid, some moved away to be closer to family.
T: It was a hard time for hairdressers.
P: Yeah. I have 2 friends that work at the Church, and they told me to come to The Salvation Army. I can’t recall who they told me to ask for, but I (came in and) went to the (front) desk and got put in a line and got who I got. It turned out to be Kathleen.
T: What was your initial experience like?
P: I was scared because I’ve never been in with a group that many that needed, and I asked myself if I was here because of greed or need. I couldn’t make up my mind. I lived this long without, and I could keep going, but really I couldn’t. When my friend pushed me, she said I need to go. I am glad I listened to her.
T: How has it helped?
P: I don’t have to wish somebody would come in for a haircut, or for something to eat. It serves my needs.
T: How do you find the people here?
P: I love them, that’s what I miss the most.
T: Did you find a community here?
P: Yes. The clients (guests) are big ones because I am in the same boat. Some people understand, and some people don’t. I figure, well, you’re obviously here for a need too.
T: Do you access any other FB in town?
P: No I don’t
T: Why do you choose The Salvation Army Food Bank?
P: Because of my friends at The Salvation Army. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have come at all.
T: What do you like best about The Salvation Army?
P: The volunteers- they all make you feel welcome. I try to make the other clients welcome and wanted. There’s only one lady I don’t get along with. She thought we were dirty or something, “I don’t want to be in line with all those people” and I said, “I am one of those people”, and Paul said, “I am too”.
T: The Food Bank’s face has changed. It’s not “those people” anymore —it’s “us.” Are you connected with any other services in town?
P: I am the president of the Multicultural Heritage society right now, Hopefully, that will change. We are trying to find somebody younger. I will stay on for at least a year past president if I live that long (laughing).
T: Tell me about a time when you saw or were a part of something that was extraordinary?
P: I founded the Afterhours for the homeless and street-involved people. We were open Tues to Sun night from 11pm to 6am and we would walk down the street and we would wake them, tell then to come for soup and sandwich. The cops would come in and want to arrest people and I said “No, I don’t care what you do on the street, but you can’t do that here”. One of them said, “How did you know I was a police officer”, and I said, “Your shoes are too shiny!”
T: That is amazing work! Is there anything else that you’ve done that you are proud of?
P: I was one of the 5 people who founded AIDS Prince George, which is now Positive Living North. The mayor was John Backhouse. It would have been 1990.
T: That’s a long time ago!
P: Well, it’s only 30 years. He took money out of his own pocket and paid a year’s rent for us for the AIDS Society. I had to stick up for a lot of people, some who got it through blood transfusions, and they were categorized as gay. They just lacked education. I can’t think of his name, but he came down and gave us ideas on how to work, maybe it was Dr Peters or something, anyways, somebody from Vancouver who founded the AIDS society there, he has since passed away. And the thing that hurt the most was we were out of money after putting in so many hours of volunteering, for nothing. And then we got Murray Kraus to come and help us. He became the president, and he knew where to get money, how to apply for loans and grants. Then, later, it became Positive Living North. I am glad that it is still running, but I don’t like how they don’t even know who we are.
T: History is important, isn’t it? Maybe you could go down there and share your story. I think they would be happy to hear from you!
T: Do you have a message for our followers?
P (about volunteering): If I can do it at my age, imagine what you can do!