What’s Inside 2013 People of the North
Mayor Shari Green ................................................ 2 MLAs Pat Bell & Shirley Bond .................................. 4 Initiatives Prince George .......................................... 6 UNBC makes linkages with Japan ............................ 7 Where things are looking up ..................................... 9 Realtor Harry Backlin says city will boom ... 10-11 CNC offers unique FASD course ............................ 14 NDIT works on developing the North ...................... 15 Where something’s always brewing .................. 16 Knowing no boundaries ......................................... 17 Baseball brings a challenge ................................... 20 Library gets ready for Games .................................. 21 Prince George is a green community ....................... 24 UNBC keeps its eye on energy ............................... 25 Canfor looks to China ............................................. 26 YMCA moves across the North ............................... 27 No breaks in Arcand’s work .................................... 30 #takeonPG ............................................................. 31 Where resources are tops ....................................... 33 Holick sees improvement for Cougars ............... 34-35 Sights set on 2015 ............................................... 36 Seniors more active than ever ................................ 37 TNW set the stage for stability ............................... 38 Steve Sintich and his unique style ...................... 40 CN Centre is the centre of entertainment ................ 41 Hilliard Clare and his Northern family ................ 42 CN keeps rolling along ........................................... 42 Passing the test for 2015......................................44
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City efforts starting to pay off Hard work has its rewards, and Mayor Shari Green said it will be a year that residents will see much of the hard work invested in initiatives like the core services review begin to pay off. “I think 2013 for me is certainly a year of the community seeing the fruits of some of the hard work we did in council in the last year in terms of getting our fiscal health in a much better aligned position for a sustainable future,” Green said. “There will DELYNDA PILON be some newsroom@pgfreepress.com increases in fees and utility bills and things like that, but we are on the right path for a stable fiscal future for core infrastructure. In 2012 we told our story about roads, sewer and water. That will continue in 2013, but also for 2013 we are in the very beginning of a plan for the storm water utility. That is the last infrastructure piece we need to make sure has sustainable funding as well.” Traditionally, she said, payment for that utility was taken from the general tax levy. “We need to make sure it’s a user pay system.” This means residents who own lots covered in grass, a permeable surface, don’t contribute as much to storm water. A commercial lot with a large parking lot uses the storm water utility much more. “It’s a big piece of work and it will take some time. It’s quite complex, and we need to make sure it’s a fair and equitable system,” she said. Finding ways to ensure municipal infrastructure is sustainable has become a concern for many
areas across the province and nationally. One component of that is working towards more flexible rules when it comes to spending the federal gas tax refund, which is overseen by the Union of B.C. Municipalities. “We do receive funding from the federal government, but our big ask is let us decide what our local priorities are. I don’t need a rapid transit system down my major thoroughfare. I’m limited in some of funds that are available to me,” Green said. “UBCM is the keeper of rules when it comes to how we spend our gas tax money.” A unique situation exists in B.C. in that a decision was made the tax money needs to be spent on green and environmental initiatives. “That’s great but when you are in the north and you’re pressed and you can’t use the funds paid into the gas tax by your own community, it’s very frustrating. I think the conversation needs to be had again. It is municipal and regional district leaders across the province that wanted to see that done, so we have to do this ourselves at the provincial level and the community level. I think the feds would be quite happy to abide by our wishes. More municipalities are saying to the federal government, help us with our agreement with you. We have to be able to adapt to changing local conditions. The north is unique from the south,” she said. When it comes to the core review, she said council will soon be looking at some of the reports staff was asked to provide. “We’ll get rolling out some additional work
around different pieces of work and opportunities council has asked staff to explore deeper,” she said. “Pine Valley comes to mind, for example, and the opportunities around that property. It’s complex because we do have a contract with an operator in place,” she said. “It’s not a fait accompli. There’s many layers to it. It will not be a decision made overnight.” One event she is very excited about, Green said, is the opening of the new RCMP building. “It will add a lot to the downtown landscape. It’s really a beautiful building. It will add a lot to attracting and retaining police officers in our community.” With the Canada Winter Games at the two year out point, Green said the host society is ramping up its efforts, concentrating on the volunteer component right now. “It’s less than two years out. Planning volunteers is the next big piece of work, getting people skilled in some of the sports and in some of the venues,” she said. “Bringing their expertise of coordination to the table is another big piece of work.” She added the city is approaching the one year anniversary of the Lakeland Mill tragedy. “I’m hopeful we’re going to hear a positive announcement from them soon,” Green said. “People would be pleased to see and hear that, and it would be amazing to have some new construction there.” turn to PAGE 3
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OUTLOOK 2013 | Prince George Free Press from PAGE 2
Residents will hear much more about the mayor’s task force on crime in the upcoming year as well, as Green chooses people who she hopes will sit on the committee and add their expertise to finding solutions. In April, council will have a chance to affirm those choices. The committee will include experts in a variety of aspects of the issue, from mental health to reintegration into the community. She added Prince George will be battling its reputation as the crime capital of Canada for years to come. “This is something we will continue to battle and dispel the myth of for years to come. There is no quick fix. It’s not about more boots on the ground. A multifaceted approach needs to happen. There are many parts to it,” she said. “We hope to hear soon about a grant from the national crime prevention centre. We could receive up to $1.5 mil per year for the next five years. If we achieve all of the dollars in our application, that would be an amazing amount of resources we could muster to be very focused on early childhood programs and youth intervention strategies. We really do need to break the cycle of people who get lured into a life of crime and drugs, and all the negative things that create the chaos in communities across the north. Mental health addiction, childhood abuse, and poverty education is key. Many people are doing a lot of good things, and a really coordinated approach needs to happen.” The task force, she said, will create an inventory of some of these things. Green said she discussed the crime statistics in the north with ministry staff while she was in Ottawa. “I met with ministry staff around public safety,” she said. “We are 14th in the nation (according to the crime severity index). Six of the top 14 on the list are in B.C. My message to Ottawa is, ‘Are you looking at British Columbia? Are you talking to provinces about a preventional strategy around policing?’ When you think of the Highway of Tears and the Human Rights Watch report, whether you agree with it or not the fact is there are regional problems that land in Prince George.,” she said. “That is the reason the crime piece is getting the attention it is. We need to be on top of it, We need people to be assured we’re not just blindly waving a flag while looking at all great things.” She added it’s time for Prince George to show it can provide everything from healthy education and health care to diverse amenities. “I think Prince George has really come of age from the community it was 30 years ago. people who live here worked very hard to build a beautiful city. Sometimes we forget how good we have it.”
Prince George Mayor Shari Green
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MLAs look to the future The province sits on the verge of a new level of success, and because Prince George is the service centre of the north, the city will benefit from the abundance of development in the region as it continues to act as a supply and service centre for natural resource expansion. “I’m very excited about the potential opportunity for northern B.C.,� Attorney General and Justice Minister Shirley Bond said. “LNG (liquefied natural gas) will have spin-off impacts for Prince George and northern DELYNDA PILON newsroom@pgfreepress.com communities.� Premier Christy Clark announced in her throne speech that a portion of the money the province earns through LNG developments will be invested in a fund, much like Alberta’s Heritage Fund, that will be used to improve several facets of life for residents of the province. On top of that, there will be about 75,000 full-time jobs created if the development expected takes place in the LNG industry. Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training, added LNG development goes hand-in-hand with growth in other industries. Though the province has historically been at the mercy of a boom then bust economy, dependent on success in a single sector, this time there is a diversification of industries. “Forestry is back in a significant way,� he said. “This has a meaningful impact on the community.� Mining, Bell said, now has a meaningful impact on the economy. “There are a huge number of mines currently open or under construction,� he said. Prince George companies are sending crews of contractors to construct the mines. Others benefit directly, through jobs once a mine opens, and many local companies, for example Finning, do a significant amount of service for these mines, Bell said. Oil and gas is another sector many don’t consider when they think about the city’s economy. “People think about the Peace, not Prince George,� he said. “But if you
go into any number of fabricating shops today, they are doing a significant amount of work for the industry. There is going to be more and more of that type of work in the community.� Bond pointed out B.C. is now a competitor in global resource development. She said the time to act to cement the province’s position is now, particularly with LNG. “It is essential. We need to move quickly,� she said. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to develop, in a sustainable and environmentally responsible way.� As the province experiences all this development, from new mines to LNG and forestry, Bond says there needs to be a greater focus on skills training, on a continued investment and development of programs closer to home. This training includes the trades as well as programs that will result in specialists who choose to live and offer their services in the north. She pointed out the community now has the Northern Medical Program, and the university now offers a physiotherapy program, and said she would like to see more specialized programs offered closer to home, for example speech pathology. “There needs to be that focus on expanded skills training opportunities. It’s something I’ve been very passionate about,� she said. “I wanted my children to stay and study in Prince George if that’s what they chose to do. Undoubtedly we have to continue to be aggressive on the skills training agenda.� That aggressiveness and passion, she added, needs to be present in northern leaders, whether it is in pursuit of greater educational opportunities for residents, the ability to get treatment, even for complex medical issues, closer to home or capturing investment. “We have to recognize how important it is to move aggressively and capture these opportunities, or they will be lost. We need to continue to be a province with the kind of economic environment that encourages investment.� “We are now in the position where we have jobs looking for people, instead of people looking for jobs.�
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Taking the initiative Prince George sits at the crossroads of two major northern rivers, and because se ocaof its location became a natural centre for transport and trade. That premium location plays a part today in its growing success as a supply centre for the region. b “One of the key roles that Prince George plays is as a supply and service hub O for all the business activities happening through the north,” Heather Oland, CEO y of Initiatives Prince George, said. “As the largest city in the area, we have a very e extensive supply chain that then serves tthe iing g needs of the resource industries happening DELYNDA PILON through the north.” newsroom@pgfreepress.com Oland said there is an expected $70 billion planned in investment in resource and resource related projects over the next 10 years. es “Prince George is the main supply and service hub,” Oland said. “What it does e is it enables our businesses to diversify their service and product line, capitalize on new customers, and supply those significant projects.” Benefits from the growing economy are already being felt, Oland said. “Employment in Prince George grew 3.12 per cent in 2012,” she said. “If you re ew break down employment growth by sectors, forestry mining, and oil and gas grew by 80 per cent.” Growth has been experienced by many sectors. Oland said professional, y technical and scientific sectors have grown, showing the city’s economy is fully diverse. allly This means the historical boom and bust cycle the province’s economy typically circuits will be avoided. “We can see evidence of that in terms of the global economic downturn in go, 2008/2009. If you can imagine that kind of economic circumstance 20 years ago, yy,,” it would have had a very different and much more devastating effect on the city,” she said. oyAlthough many people and businesses faced challenging times, the unemployment rate never rose into the double digits. “We surpassed and survived that global circumstance very well, and that is ass a direct result of the diversity and resiliency and of our economy,” Oland said.
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UNBC makes links to Japan For the first time at the University of Northern BC, a high-definition video link is connecting the University to classrooms in Japan. This fall, students from the acclaimed Gakushuin Women’s College in Tokyo started attending classes with UNBC students via video-conference. It is the first time that UNBC is delivering courses through an international videoconference link and builds on a longstanding relationship between UNBC and Gakushuin. To date, more than 600 Gakushuin students have attended UNBC, making it UNBC’s largest single international partner. In a ceremony at Premier Christy Clark’s Friends of BC reception in Tokyo, UNBC President Dr. George Iwama and Dr. Yasuharu Ishizawa, president of Gakushuin Women’s College signed an MOU announcing the program. “This video link will allow the extension of our teaching in real time to students in Tokyo,” explains Dr. Iwama. “In return we expect to benefit from their teaching of Japanese language and culture to us.” Gakushuin Women’s College has a long tradition as part of the Gakushuin University, which was founded in 1877 from the Emperor Komei, with the ambition to educate the youth of the Japanese aristocracy and imperial family. Since 1847, Gakushuin University has educated the children of the nobility in Japan, including the present Emperor and Crown Prince. The first cohort is part of a one-year pilot program and is expected to begin September
2012 with approximately 15-20 students from Gakushuin Women’s College sharing a virtual classroom with 25 students from UNBC. Gakushuin students will earn UNBC undergraduate course credits towards their own degree. They must have passed English proficiency requirements to take the course. “Developing this ability opens up possibilities for serving remote communities in British Columbia and beyond,” notes President Iwama. “Our experience and expertise in delivering courses via video conference to our regional campuses like Terrace and through the Northern Medical Program has enabled this project to proceed efficiently. I’m very excited about the farreaching potential of this project.” Manager of English Language Studies at UNBC, Paul Pan, has been working on this project for the past two years and also sees its potential for expansion. “Depending on the success of this pilot program, we’re hoping to extend this course delivery system to other institutions in Japan and Asia.” At the same event, UNBC signed a MOU with the Japan Travel Business World Tokyo Corporation—Japan’s largest company which specializes in exchange programs and businessexpansion opportunities throughout Asia. JTB helped orchestrate the video conference project with Gakushuin Women’s College. The MOU states that UNBC and JTB will continue to work together as partners in international education opportunities.
Keeping pace with global initiatives for a clean, healthier environment.
UNBC President Dr. George Iwama (foreground) and Dr. Yasuharu Ishizawa, president of Gakushuin Women’s College “high five” from two different continents via video conferencing technology.
Working Hard to Ensure a Strong Economic Future for Northern BC.
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OUTLOOK 2013 | People of the North
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Where things are up in the air The Prince George Airport is seeing more passengers, and those passengers are seeing more of what Prince George is all about. “We’re tied to the ALLAN WISHART commuallanw@pgfreepress.com nity tighter now,� says Prince George Airport Authority president and CEO John Gibson. “There are opportunities for local artists to show their works out here.� One of the new features is a partnership with the Prince George Arts Council which sees various works of art appear on a rotational basis in the gallery at the main terminal. “We also worked with the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society on the Diversity Project,� which features photographs of Prince George people in a hanging display in the arrivals area. There is also an area where works from local photographers are displayed. “We’re also working with Tourism PG,� Gibson says, “on a refreshed information centre. It’s really more like a smaller visitor centre, now, in terms of the information available.� The holding area for departing passengers has also gotten a new look. “One of the people out here came to us and said children in the holding area didn’t have anything to do, and suggested putting some books in that area.
ary y “So we now have started a children’s library o.�� in that area to give children something to do.� sed d Passenger numbers at the airport increased again in 2012, reaching the highest numberr recorded. “It’s been a bit of a clawback from 2009 ears ars ar figures,� Gibson says. “It’s taken us three years ut to build back to the numbers we had then, b but ers s things are looking positive for higher numbers in the future.� And while the number of people going ted te d through the Prince George Airport is expected he e to increase, so is the amount of cargo and tthe size of the planes carrying it. hille “Our big cargo project was stalled for a whi while because we found there were deficiencies in the pumping system at the new fuel farm.� Gibson says. “We’ve got things worked out, and as the weather improves, we will be making the changes we need to. “We should be commissioned by June.� He says the fuel farm project is big for the airport because it will allow carriers to store larger amounts of fuel on the site. “When they can buy larger amounts of fuel, it brings their prices down, and that makes our airport more attractive to them.� While people may think of big cargo as being big equipment and the like, Gibson says the airport is also working on increasing smaller shipments. “We’re working with Initiatives Prince George
d northern th f d d t groups, such h as the th and food-products cattlemen, to overcome hurdles to export sales of their food products. Things are looking good for those hurdles to be overcome.� With construction on Boundary Road expected to be completed later this year, Gibson says there is new interest in businesses at the airport. “We’ve received notice of interest in building a cargo facility at the airport, which could be completed this year.� And while one of the highlights of 2012 was the landing of the Antonov 124, the world’s third-largest cargo plane, Gibson anticipates 2014 will be the year when the Prince George Airport goes big. “The Antonov showed the biggest planes could land here with the new runway. “Next year we’ll be open for business for the big planes.�
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Did you know?
The Prince George Montessori Education Society offers education programs for ages ranging from pre-school to high school. The Montessori Child Care Centre and Early Learning Centre offer affordable fees and à exible class times. Prince George’s Montessori elementary school and high school programs are public choice programs offered at no cost to parents. There are no monthly fees to attend a Montessori school in Prince George. Prince George Montessori teachers follow the B.C. curriculum established by the Ministry of Education taught within the context of the Montessori philosophy. For more information about Montessori’s unique, hands-on approach to learning, please visit www.pgmontessori.ca or contact Shelley Bond at 250-562-6560.
The Àrst duty of an education is to stir up life but leave it free to develop. - Maria Montessori
FACILITATING BUSINESS GROWTH W Initiatives Prince George offers a range of services to assist in the continued growth and success of new and established local businesses: • Regularly updated directory of Prince George supply and service ďŹ rms • Workshops and forums that provide tools and facilitate connections to assist in business expansion • Support to employers participating in external labour recruitment events • Labour recruitment and retention tools, including a careers portal on the IPG website • Detailed and current information about the economic climate to assist businesses with decision making For more information contact: Initiatives Prince George Economic Development Corporation Tel: 250.564.0282 www.initiativespg.com
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OUTLOOK 2013 | People of the North
Realtor says city set to boom Longtime realtor Harry Backlin predicts that the next five years for Prince George will be “the best ever” in terms of its economic growth and prosperity. However he has one proviso – the city must be prepared to welcome out-of-town investors with open arms. TERESA MALLAM He said the arts@pgfreepress.com city and its economic advisors must “actively and aggressively” pursue business opportunities that come their way in residential, commercial and industrial sectors. For some time, Backlin said he’s been trying to convince the City to adopt a Tax Incentive Bylaw, proven successful in many other B.C. communities, that would help attract investors to Prince George. So far, the idea has not won over city council, he said. “Are they rolling out the red carpet or the red tape?” he asks. “We have to let everyone know that we in Prince George are open for business – and it has to come from the Mayor and city council that this is a great place to come and live. Initiatives Prince George (IPG), the arm of the city set up to promote economic growth of our city, has to actively engage itself in bringing in new business.” Backlin, a realtor here for 37 years, knows of what he speaks. He had a big hand in bringing into Prince George big-box stores like Costco, Superstore and Wal-Mart, major hotels such as the Sandman
and businesses such as White Spot and Tim what is going on in the resource sector all around Horton’s. There’s nothing like success to measure us in Prince Rupert, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson success, he says. Some of his latest projects and Tumbler Ridge and other places. What we’ve show the faith out-of-town investors have in been seeing is new local, national and internaPrince George. tional markets especially in this last year. I think “I’m involved with getting a new motor hotel the next five years will be the best ever, not which is coming in on Highway 16. Why would because of what is happening in Prince George, someone want to come here unless they saw but because of what is happening all around us. opportunities because these businesses are hard We’re in the centre of it all.” to finance? There’s no guaranteed income. So Backlin came to Prince George from Vancouver that’s a tremendous indicator for us.” in 1975 to build homes. Residential housing market is also on the “When I arrived, there were snowflakes as big upswing and investment in this as pie plates were falling from the sky and I said city is growing substantially, that I’d stay here two years. says Backlin. (He laughs.) Well, if there is a Are they rolling out better place on earth, let me “Investors from China have especially been attracted to the red carpet or the know where.” P.G. because their current The realtor says that families red tape? financial focus is on resources moving into this northern city such as mining in Tumbler Ridge where hundreds have lots to like. of jobs have been created. Then there’s coal, “Their children can become doctors or engiforestry, oil and natural gas – and we are located neers here. There is a full-fledged university, new right in the middle of it.” cancer center, lots of new construction – never in Previously investment has mostly been concen- 37 years have I seen such activity. That’s what we trated in the Lower Mainland, he said. However, have to do to make it attractive, open the doors in past months as the price of gold has soared, and give people an opportunity to show what many investors have turned their interest to Prince we’ve got so that they can have a happy, healthy George because of its close link to attractive lifestyle here.” economic opportunities in the area and potentially Backlin says that he has 17 projects in the higher rate of return for their investment dollars. works, some he’s keeping close to his chest, What are we looking at for the rest of 2013 and others that the community should know about. 2014? “I’m involved in projects that are going to make “There will be lots more jobs for us because of Prince George an absolutely explosive city,” Backlin said proudly. “They are still on the drawing board but people need to be made aware of them.” Five major industrial projects are planned for around the airport area and Backlin is working with two interEngines Differentials national companies and three national Transmissions Drivelines companies, he said. He’s looking at plans that will see Suspensions Front Axles hundreds of jobs created. Major chains have put faith in the AND MUCH MUCH MORE Prince George economy, he said. “Why would Target renovate the old Dealer for: Zellers store and set up retail space there if they didn’t believe there were & retail opportunities here? Why are all these investors coming to P.G.? They Pin the Permanent see business investment opportuniSolution to Lug Wear ties. Investors are looking for a return on their investment where they can get a 10 per cent return, not just one or two per cent they may get in the Vancouver market.” Exciting things are happening on the industrial front, he said. The Prince George Global Logistics Park will be open for business this summer. This land development project and another one located by CNC are good 9136 Milwaukee Way, Prince George signs of growth in the industrial sector, he said. Bringing industry into town will create high numbers of
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OUTLOOK 2013 | Prince George Free Press
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Teresa MA LLA M/Outlook
Prince George realtor Harry Backlin says the city is ready to boom, but it needs the help of outside investors.
Downtown looking great from PAGE 10
employment. As for the downtown core, Backlin said that area too will enjoy its share of growth. “They’ve been talking about downtown rejuvenation for 37 years,” he said. However now it is happening. “Downtown lots are now going for about $1 million an acre. Ten years ago, the price was $400,000 an acre. The new downtown building project, a hotel and condominium complex will also draw new businesses and new people, he said. “Prince George has never seen so many young professionals coming into town. Lawyers, dentists, teachers. They come here to where there are affordable homes, educational opportunities and a good lifestyle. Sixty-two per cent of the population of Prince George is now under age 65. so that makes it a young population – and they have lots of money to spend.”
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OUTLOOK 2013 | People of the North
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Presentation of Bursary to a G raduate of the Class of the Pri 1st Graduatin nce George Roc g ky Mountain R angers
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At Commonwealth, we are bullish about the north. While many financial services firms have chosen to be headquartered outside the north, we proudly embrace the northern lifestyle. Like most northerners, we believe in the threeC’s: Character, Commitment & Community. To be successful you have to demonstrate a passion for all three. At Commonwealth, we are proud to support a number of worthwhile northern causes. In fact, in relative terms, we are one of the largest corporate donors in Prince George. As we celebrate our 18th anniversary, we can reflect on our short history with pride. Perhaps even more importantly, we can look to the future with even greater hope and optimism. Thanks Prince George, you’re the greatest! D.R. McLaren, President
Proudly Supporting: • • • • • • • • •
• PGSS Senior Volleyball Commonwealth Financial Hockey Club • Healthier U Awards • Festival of Trees PG Community Foundation • World Baseball Tournament Junior Achievement of BC • College of New Caledonia Children’s Variety Club • Spirit of the North Healthcare Alzheimer Society of BC Foundation PG Rotary Auction • PG Youth Soccer Association Canuck Place • Ringette Canadian Legion Poppy Fund • JCI Prince George Mardi Gras Snow Daze
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OUTLOOK 2013 | People of the North
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CNC course on FASD unique Many people probably still think of the Burns Lake Campus of the College of New Caledonia as being a satellite campus of the Prince George one. They would be right – but they would be missing an important part of the Lakes District Campus. For ALLAN WISHART allanw@pgfreepress.com almost a decade, CNC Burns Lake has been providing courses dealing with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and not just to students on campus. “We have students from all over in the online courses,” says Tracey Eyles, program planner for family programs at the school. “We have them from other programs here in Burns Lake, from the nursing programs in Prince George and Quesnel, from Fort St. James.” Lynn Synotte, in charge of marketing and recruitment, says they’re looking to expand the reach of the online courses. “We’re trying to market it a little more, especially in places like Manitoba and Ontario.” Even without that push, they have had students from some rather far-flung locations, including Alberta, New Jersey, the Northwest Territories and Hawaii. “Our course,” Eyles says, “is the only one in Canada being offered online.” While some of the people taking the course are already working in areas such as homelessness or the Aboriginal court system, FASD training
co-ordinator Anne Guarasci says the composition of the classes can vary. “I have 20 students in one of my classes right now, and only one of them is working in the field. Most of them are students. Some of them find it handy to get able to go online and pick up a course which will give them a second- or -thirdyear credit at their other school; others are encouraged to take the FASD training because of the field they’re training for.” Eyles says the online program works well for almost anyone. Anne Gaurasci, left, and Tracey Eyles look over one of the online “There is no physical class courses on FASD offered by the CNC campus in Burns Lake. or set class times for the courses, so you can work The program at Burns Lake is recognized as through the material at your own pace and when being top-notch. In 2004, Guarasi says, they you’ve got time.” designed and delivered a national train-the-trainer That makes it easy for students from regions program for the federal government. as far away as Hawaii and New Jersey to take a “We developed a curriculum to deliver to master course originating in Burns Lake. trainers, who then delivered that material to There are eight instructors for the program, community trainers, who worked through it with and not all of them work out of the Burns Lake frontline workers. campus. “In one year, more than 8,000 service providers “That’s another advantage to being online,” participated in the workshops.” Synotte says. “All of them were teaching here Synotte says CNC is not just looking for new at one time, but some have moved on to other markets for the FASD program, but also looking at areas. They can still teach the FASD course, other programs to see what else could be offered though.” online, from Burns Lake to the world.
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OUTLOOK 2013 | Prince George Free Press
Developing the North Northern Development Initiatives Trust (NDIT) is a non-profit organization that provides funding for projects that stimulate economic growth and job creation in central and northern B.C. The online publication from NDIT offers an ‘at a glance’ column that gives people a chance to quickly check out the funding and projects NDIT has been involved with. Since it was legisDELYNDA PILON lated into existence, it has committed newsroom@pgfreepress.com $111 million to 1,051 projects, created 5,154 jobs, and teamed up with 1,853 partners, attracting more than $1 billion in new funding to the area. An $11,000,000 loan from NDIT was instrumental in providing funding to expand the Prince George airport, creating the third-longest commercial runway in the country at 11,500 feet. Both the wide-bodied 767 and the 747 that trans-Pacific cargo and logistics carriers operate can now utilize it. According to the NDIT website at www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca, the expansion increases the city’s marketability to Asia. It is also likely to be a favourable asset for CN’s Intermodal facility. Boundary Road, which is set to be complete in October of this year, connects two major highways, 97 and 16, via the airport, further enhancing the logistic capabilities of the city. With several partners, including Initiatives Prince George, NDIT funded a study looking at container opportunities, one that helped provide necessary information to CN regarding the growing importance of containerized transportation. The intermodal facility at CN was Northern developed and expanded. Joel McKay, director of communiDevelopment has cations for NDIT, provided an update committed a $25,725 on projects the organization has recently approved. grant toward the “PacificSport Northern BC with project which its partners, including Northern includes new trail Development Initiative Trust, has collaborated to create a new athlete construction, signs, training and development centre at and wooden bridges” the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre at the University of Northern British Columbia,” he said in an e-mail. “The new sport and development centre includes the development of a strength and conditioning room with equipment in a safe environment for athletes. It also includes a state-of-the-art multi-use learning centre with advanced IT capabilities to serve the community and the region.” Creating the room means renovating about 1,200 square feet in the lower level of the centre. Installing IT capabilities in the learning centre will enable it to service communities through northern B.C. NDIT is also helping the cycling club with a trail expansion. The organization provided a $30,000 grant towards the project. “The Prince George Cycling Club is working on a trail expansion at its Pidherny Recreation Site, which is a 650 hectare area with 25 existing mountain biking trails. The Cycling Club has developed a plan to include a greater number of beginner and intermediate trails to provide a greater experience and more access to the site for local riders. “The completion of the new trails appealing to younger and more inexperienced riders will provide a safer, more enjoyable learning experience prior to riders venturing onto more difficult trails. “The trails are intended to be completed in the spring and summer of 2013, with the 800m beginner trail being completed prior to May 15 so it can be utilized for the Sprockids Learn to Ride Program through the cycling club. “Northern Development has committed a $25,725 grant toward the project, which includes new trail construction, trail head signs, maps, markets, technical features and wooden bridges.” McKay added it is the passion of the project proponents that make the projects happen.
Prince George Showcase Tours Interviewing for a job in Prince George? Thinking about relocating? Our tours can give you, or your job recruit candidates, a guided one-on-one showcase experience of our wonderful city, its neighborhoods, and school districts. We’ll describe what it’s like to live in PG while customizing the two-hour tour especially for you.
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OUTLOOK 2013 | People of the North
Something’s always brewing Ben English is optimistic about what the rest of 2013 has in store for Pacific Western Brewing. “2013 is ramping up to be as good or better than last year,” says English, PWB manager of business developALISTAIR MCINNIS ment for sports@pgfreepress.com northern B.C. Non-alcoholic products introduced in the winter – root beer and gingerale – will be part of the focus this year. “Our products have just taken off. We’re making real solid products right now,” English says. Known as the country’s long-running B.C.owned brewery, Pacific Western Brewery has seen a lot of growth since it was established in Prince George in 1957. The products haven’t only been consumed in Canada. In 1991, PWB became the first Canadian brewer to export to mainland China. In 1996, the same could be said about Russia. The first brewery to introduce a variety of products in Canada, its accomplishments are noted on its website (www.pwbrewing.net). Notable achievements include introducing the first canned beer in the province (1965), the first brewery operated beer store in the province (1983), the first dry beer in Canada (1988), the first lager and lime beer (1996) and the first certified organic lager beer in Canada (1997). In 2005, PWB became the first Canadian gold medal winner at the Brewery Industry International Awards.
With PWB brewed in Prince George, the company has always had a strong connection to the city. It’s supported many events over the years. “We always try to help the community as much as we can, give back because the people who support us here are pretty solid,” English says. An example of a PWB-sponsored event was the recent Volbeat concert held March 25 at CN Centre. The brewery has also been A lis ta ir M cINNIS/ Outlo o k 2 0 1 3 a proud supporter of Pacific Western Brewing’s Ben English. other concerts and events throughout the city. Pacific Western Brewing products from its limited quantities, limited time,” English says. Cariboo line were sold at the 2011 World Baseball English says summers are a busy season for Challenge and 2012 Baseball Canada Senior sales. This isn’t news to anybody selling cold Championship. beverages. In 2012, PWB introduced its Cariboo India Ale “We’re always ramping up for summer. We’re and Scandal Organic line and pops. The company praying to the sun gods. We’re hoping for a hot, plans to welcome new Sugar Loaf products this dry summer.” Pacific Western Brewing also has a main office in year. Burnaby. The company’s CEO, Kazuko Komatsu, “It’s going to be part of an ongoing seasonal arrived in 1991 and became the first Asian Canadian release, so we’re hoping every quarter to have a to take a leadership role in the brewery industry. new one out, and it’s just going to be seasonal,
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OUTLOOK 2013 | Prince George Free Press
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Knowing no boundaries The Boundary Road project is scheduled to be complete by October of this year, linking Highway 16 and Highway 97 via the airport, and according to Jim Litson, the engineer with the city who has been managing the construction portion of the project for the last three years, the project DELYNDA PILON looks to be finished on time. newsroom@pgfreepress.com Boundary Road is a Building Canada fund project between four partners: the City of Prince George, the provincial government, the federal government and private investment. The federal and provincial government contributed $7.5 million each and the city and private investors put in $6.5 million each. Construction began in 2010, and now all the deep underground utilities are complete. “So this year they have road sub-base, asphalt paving, curb and gutter and the water mains to finish. Last year they finished Boeing Road and the roundabout intersection,” Litson said. He added the two highway intersections are complete. “It will be a designated dangerous goods route,” he said, “so we can get the dangerous goods off the Old Cariboo Highway.” Boundary Road is being constructed to Ministry of Transportation specifications, and is being built for heavy truck traffic. If you look at it from the roundabout south to Highway 97, there will be three intersections, however there won’t be any stop signs on Boundary. Rather the stop signs will be on the approaches. All of the $28 million in funding for the construction of the project was spent locally. “All that money is spent here. Everything is bought local. Even the pipe supplier is a local distributor. The paving company, contractor and engineers are all local,” Litson said. Heather Oland, CEO of Initiatives Prince George, explained Boundary Road was constructed to service the future light industrial land base for the city.
“The city undertook on a long range planning exercise meant to identify the city’s light industrial land holdings over the next 20 to 25 years,” she said. “They identified the lands east of the airport as those lands, and so Boundary Road connects Highway 97 to 16 through the future light industrial land base. It acts as a servicing road to future light industrial lands.” She added it also acts as a dangerous goods route. “It is part of the city’s route for both dangerous goods and a bypass for people coming from the south who want to go east, or from the east who want to go south. It improves the overall connectivity and transportation route in the city,” she said.
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OUTLOOK 2013 | People of the North
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CANADIAN HOME BUILDERS’ ASSOCIATION — NORT H ERN B.C., BOARD OF DI RECTORS 2012–2013—
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OUTLOOK 2013 | Prince George Free Press
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Canadian Home Builders’ Association Northern B.C., an Association of Professionals Since 1943, the Canadian Home Builders’ Association has been “the voice of Canada’s residential construction industry”—one of the most vital and enterprising industries in Canada. Representing more than 8,000 member firms across Canada, CHBA members come from every area of Canada’s housing industry new home builders, renovators, land developers, trade contractors, product and material manufacturers, building product suppliers, lending institutions, insurance providers, service professionals and others. The Canadian Home Builders’ Association is built on a vision and commitment - a vision of a strong and positive role for the housing industry, and a commitment to support the business success of our members and their ability to provide affordability, quality and choice for consumers.
Our activities are focused on three key areas: Achieving a stable business environment for our members. The CHBA is committed to a fair and competitive marketplace, where all members have the opportunity to operate their business profitably. Promoting and protecting the interests of consumers. The CHBA believes that all Canadians have the right to decent, safe and appropriate housing. We also believe that all Canadians have the right to a reasonable opportunity to own a home. Supporting the professionalism of our members. Skills, experience and integrity are the cornerstones of professionalism. CHBA provides members with opportunities to learn, grow and take pride in what they do. We believe that the CHBA logo is the sign of Canada’s home building professionals.
What We Do For Members The Canadian Home Builders’ Association exists to serve the interests of our industry and to help our members succeed and prosper. In a constantly evolving business environment, the CHBA is the industry’s agent for positive change. We keep a constant eye on the regulatory environment and the marketplace. We develop clear, practical positions on issues that matter to the industry and our consumers. We make sure that our voice is heard, loud and clear, and that we reach and influence decision-makers at all levels of government. Here are some of the issues we are working on, on behalf of our members:
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OUTLOOK 2013 | People of the North
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Baseball brings a challenge The best in international amateur baseball is returning to Citizen Field this summer. With the bar set and two tournaments to build off, organizers of the third edition of the World Baseball Challenge in Prince George are hopeful it’ll be the best one yet. Each ALISTAIR MCINNIS tournament sports@pgfreepress.com has been different from the one previous so far. There will be changes this year, one major move being another shift in tournament dates. “What we’re doing is we’re learning from experience on hosting this,” World Baseball Challenge co-chair Jim Swanson says. “First year we did it, we said here’s the dates and it probably cost us some teams.” Prince George’s first two tournaments were held in July. This year, they’re targeting August. Although dates aren’t set in stone, organizers are planning to hold the 10-day event in midAugust. The tournament would begin shortly after the B.C. Minor Baseball Association Peewee AAA Provincial Championship, hosted by the Prince George Knights from Aug. 8 to 11 (rain date on Aug. 12) at Volunteer Park. Not interested in expanding, Swanson is looking at running another six-team tournament. Team Canada is a guarantee, while the Bahamas is a safe bet to be back. Organizers are looking at bringing in Cuba, Japan, Chinese Taipei and a U.S. representative to round out the field.
e “We’re definitely on target to have d a stronger field than we’ve ever had before,” Swanson says. d Countries that haven’t participated in Prince George in the past, but s have been discussed as possibilities e for future WBC tournaments include Netherlands, Mexico and Italy. as A greater international presence ha has n raised the profile of the tournament.. In ma as 2011 Canada, Cuba and the Bahamas were joined by three Asian teams: nd Toshiba-Japan, the Beijing Tigers and petti tiChinese Taipei. Cuba won the competie tion with a 10-5 victory over Chinese Taipei. Canada and the Bahamas also ura al competed in Prince George’s inaugural he ttournaourna WBC in 2009. The event included the ment-winning U.S. collegiate national team, Germany, Team BC and the host Prince George Westcana Electric Axemen. Organizers aimed for more national teams in 2009, but the likes of Cuba, the Beijing Tigers and Croatia backed out. Swanson says being more flexible in their schedule has helped them land stronger nations. “Some of these teams work together when it comes to international events on making sure that they’re there.” Scheduling conflicts played a leading role in the Americans’ decision to back out of the 2011 tournament. Hopeful that 2013 will be the best
tto ourna our rname name ment ntt y ye et Sw et, et Swan anso son on kn know ows ow s ha h havi aving ving C vi Cub ub u ban ans tournament yet, Swanson knows having Cubans and dA meriicans iin n tthe he same fi eld ld wo uld ld rai ise th the Americans field would raise profile. “We’re going to have a U.S. team. I’m not concerned about that,” Swanson says. On the scheduling end, organizers are looking into holding the tournament over only one weekend instead of two. If fewer games are held on Saturday and Sunday, the WBC won’t lose as many baseball fans to weekend camping trips. “That’s our way of life up here. That’s great,” Swanson says. “So having a schedule that caters more to weekday type games and especially those feature games at night is a good one.”
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Le Cercle des Canadiens Français de Prince George Prince George’s French Canadian Association 1752 rue Fir, Prince George, C.-B. V2L 1E7
Tel: (250) 561-2565 • Fax: (250) 561-7319 • cercle@netbistro.com • www.ccfpg.ca Heures d’ouverture: lundi au vendredi 9h à 16h30, soirée / fin de semaine par réservation. Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 9am to 4:30pm, evening or weekend available upon request.
OUTLOOK 2013 | Prince George Free Press
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Library getting ready for Games City public library, How do your resources grow? With flowers fine and mags online, And e-books all in a row. The Prince George Public Library is growing – inside and outside. “The Knowledge Garden went to tender earlier this year,� says chief librarian Allan Wilson, “and we hope to be planting in the spring.� As well, ALLAN WISHART one of the allanw@pgfreepress.com more recent additions to the library has been a huge success. “We had about 5,500 visitors to SkyLab in its first month, and it’s still quite well used.� The new area on the second floor (and above) is now the primary Internet-service area, and will retain that function for the next couple of years, including during the 2015 Canada Winter Games. “We are already preparing for the Games,� Wilson says. “We’re planning to close part of the library to the public and go mobile, taking resources out to the Games locations. The library will be used as the athlete’s media centre, as well as a site for media to use to send stories and photos from.� Between now and 2015, though, there will be changes coming to the library and the programs it offers. Some of those new programs have already started, says communication co-ordinator Andrea Palmer. “We have a new children’s librarian, and she
saw a lack of programs for kids ages 6 to 12. So she looked for programs that would appeal to them.� One of the first of those programs was Library Lego Club, and to say it was a success would be an understatement. “We had about 125 children and parents out for the first day,� Palmer says. “Since then it’s eased off a bit, but we still usually have 70 to 80 kids. “We see a success like that, and we realize those are folks we weren’t serving before.� Fre e Pre s s file p h o to Wilson says the library Edriane Alcheta, left, ponders his next play in a game of Connect is also widening its partnerships with other 4 against Brian Clyne during a Gamers Day at the Prince George community groups. Public Library. “We took over the Wilson says the library is also looking forward Raise A Reader program to hosting another Beyond Hope conference for this year and had a good year. All the money we librarians in the outlying areas of the province. raised went back to community groups, none of it This year, he says, they’ve gone beyond Hope came to the library.� themselves for one of the guest speakers. Palmer says she was pleasantly surprised by “Sandra Singh, the chief librarian at the how many different groups there were in Prince Vancouver Public Library, will be coming here for George which qualified for the funding. the conference in June. We’ll also have another “We found 15 different literacy programs and guest who has to remain a mystery at this point.� initiatives, both small and big.�
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OUTLOOK 2013 | People of the North
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OUTLOOK 2013 | Prince George Free Press
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OUTLOOK 2013 | Prince George Free Press
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OUTLOOK 2013 | People of the North
Others are green with envy City residents spoke clearly during the MyPG consultation process, with one priority being a green city with green practices. The City of Prince George is moving towards a more environmentally city on multiple fronts, from testing an electric car with an eye towards a future fleet to utilizing biomass to create the downtown energy system and heat civic facilities. A partnership between the city, the regional district, Northern DELYNDA PILON Health and newsroom@pgfreepress.com the university allows all four organizations to try out the Nissan Leaf, a 100 per cent electric car being shared, three months each, between the four partners. The $44,000 car, along with four charging stations, one at City Hall, one at the city yard, one at the regional district office and one at the university, was purchased through the Community Works fund, administered by the Union of B.C. Municipalities. With a range of 160k during optimal summer weather, and a projected 120k in winter, there are no emissions from the car, which generally requires 60 per cent less in maintenance than a traditional vehicle. “In our view it is a wonderful success,� Scott Bone, manager of supply and fleet services for the city, said. “We’ve heard really good feedback from our partners. It’s working very well. In the wintertime there is some drain on the battery, but not as much as expected. It is certainly a vehicle for community driving, not for travelling from Vancouver to Prince George, but we are certain we want to continue.�
In conjunction with testing out an electric car, last summer the city implemented a program so the best and closest routes are chosen. A number of city vehicles were outfitted with GPS systems to help monitor them, with an eye to lowering gas consumption. “We are running the pilot project now, and will be completing it by the end of March,� Bone said. The focus on fuel consumption by route management means the $1.3 million fuel budget will be reduced, likely with a target of five per cent over 2012. Currently there are about 400 vehicles in the city’s fleet, which produced 2,063 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in 2009. In 2012, five city cars were converted to propane. “The savings on that alone was $3,800 per year on that pilot,� Bone said. “Propane burns cleaner. We will test through the rest of year and see what we can do to implement more of the city fleet. In the past, propane was difficult to operate. We found with the new technology there is no problem whatsoever. We want to test them a little longer, but at this time we’re getting good results.� The city also promotes walking, running and cycling in the city through its active transportation program. Heather Andreychuk with the city said the active transportation plan marries with the Official Community plan as well as MyPG, and the existing trail network plan. Whenever there is an opportunity to provide a bike lane on an asphalt surface, they do it. They also clear winter sidewalks to allow accessibility.
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Andreychuk said though there are a multitude of things the city would like to do, it is limited by budget. Examples of recent work include a portion of sidewalk completed along O’Grady in College Heights west, another between Bernard and Southridge on the school side of the road, and they are looking at putting a sidewalk in along Gladstone Crescent. They’d also like to install one near Handen Road, which joins the elementary school to the high school. Much of what the city is doing to save energy is explained on their web page. A breakdown of how indoor water is used may be surprising to some considering 14 per cent comes out of the faucet while 10 per cent is lost to leaks. The city also offers a volunteer water metering program. Rod Croome with the city explained how they are conserving energy with solar water heating at the aquatic centre. They have also put dimmers on 875 streetlights so they dim at appropriate times, saving 365 kw every year. Most of the old light fixtures at city facilities have be exchanged for LED and induction lights. Occupancy sensors have been installed in appropriate places. “All the projects are leveraged with rebates currently available through Hydro. There is also a program replacing boilers with high-efficiency boilers. There are rebates for that, and we are always looking for opportunities to leverage more. It enables us to do more with less. Plus we use all local suppliers and contractors,� Coome said. “Whenever we do a project we have to justify it with dollars spent and the expected amount of power saved.�
OUTLOOK 2013 | Prince George Free Press
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ABORIGINAL BUSINESS & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CENTRE
Are you thinking about starting your own business? WE CAN HELP! Inside the bioenergy plant at UNBC Photo courtesy of UNBC
Eye on energy I recently had an opportunity to tour the UNBC Bio Energy plant with tour guide and energy technician Amanda Drew. It was a short walk up the hill to the rear of the campus and upon opening the door, I was greeted with a smell reminding me of sawdust piles of bygone days. Drew went on to explain how these bins were regularly stocked RITA WEIBE with particulate wood waste from outlook 2013 local mills. I reminded her that I was not completely familiar with terminology of the bio-energy industry, and that layman’s terminology would be best to help me better understand. Here, I also came to have a greater understanding of another term, “carbon offset”, which was also a term I pretended to know about. That is, until it was actually explained to me in layman’s terms. My new, basic understanding is about corporations having to pay a fee to emit unclean air into the environment. It is a fee that is adjusted accordingly if the corporation is in compliance with “clean air” philosophy and regulations. As we went further into the bioenergy plant, I was amazed at how the unmanned computer technology seemed to have direct connections to the huge boilers and incinerators. I was reminded that the correct terminology for this so-called incinerator is actually an oxidizer. A small heatproof window gave a good view of the internal happenings of this 1,200 degree chamber. Inside this oxidizer, hot vault was the gas from the wood being burned, and looked a bit like molten lava burning in a large shaft. This is where the heat generated for the water in the boiler was being heated, and was responsible for being piped into and heating the campus. Depending on the season and temperature outside, traditional natural gas helps to compensate, and keep an even temperature. Alongside the actual bioenergy plant was a smaller, simpler version of the plant, powered by wood pellets. It was being used to heat the forestry nursery with future plans to expand. Wood pellets are also considered to be bioenergy, with the difference being that the gases have been extracted. Pellet bioenergy remains a wood product, and does not go through the gasification process as does bioenergy. Amanda Drew, tour guide and energy technician, urges interested parties to give her a call for specific details about bioenergy, carbon offsets, wood pellets and the ash being generated from the above processes. Questions or tour arrangements can be made by calling Drew at the UNBC facilities office at 250-960-5790.
Starting a business? We will help you to develop your idea into a business plan. We can assist you with your market research, help with financial forecasting and help you to access start-up money. Own a business? We can help you too! Whether it is accessing expansion dollars, learning about setting up your books or general aftercare, we’re here to help. Everyone Welcome!
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Aboriginal Business & Community Development Centre is here to meet the individualized approach needed to assist Aboriginal entrepreneurs with developing their business ideas. We have assisted over 1,600 clients since inception. • Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program: A small grant to help with start-up costs or to leverage additional financing. • Financial Literacy Program: matched savings, assets, budgeting, consumerism, banking and credit.
OUTLOOK 2013 | People of the North
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Canfor looks to China The forest industry was struggling in the 1990s, facing the fallout of an economic slump in the United States as well as difficulties with the small print in agreements on softwood lumber a decade ago, but now it is vibrant, revitalized thanks in great part to the trade now enjoyed with China, says a senior Canfor executive. The economic value of that that trade has increased from about $60 million per year a decade ago DELYNDA PILON to over $1 newsroom@pgfreepress.com billion. Wayne Guthrie, senior vice-president, sales and marketing for Canfor, said establishing a reliable trade partnership with China was difficult at first but is stable now. “We believe firmly this market isn’t going away,” Guthrie said. “It’s not going away. China is here to stay.” Guthrie said that B.C. exported lumber for about 160 years, and for 155 of those years the province relied on one market, the U.S., which set the prices on lumber. “We put all the eggs in one basket,” he said. Breaking into the market in China took a lot of collaboration. Guthrie said Canfor competes fiercely with its colleagues, but when the province worked to open a market in China, they worked with other like companies. “We literally went in arm in arm,” he said. “The key gain is to build a new market for B.C.”
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At the time China had no building codes and didn’t use sized lumber. They introduced the metric two-by-four, which is becoming a staple in the Chinese marketplace. Canfor created the Canfor Wood College, allowing working professionals to upgrade their skills building wood-framed structures. In 2008 the Canada Wood Group, an industry marketing association, took the college over. Helping promote wood building, the Chinese central government issued a report stating it supports wood building as a way to mitigate climate change. “There is a slow but sure movement from concrete and steel to wood,” Guthrie said. “In the 1990s and 2000s we were too beholden to the U.S. market. Chinese demand took off in volume about the same time as the U.S. market was devastated. China was a saviour at that time.” He said there are signs that the U.S. market is now improving. It’s been 25 years since the devastation of Hurricane Hugo, when entire plantations were destroyed, and the southern pine that covered the land is now mature and ready for production, alleviating some of the lumber shortage in the U.S.. Servicing the needs of the U.S. market will leave Canada with some U.S. business combined with a desire to maintain Chinese influence. To illustrate his point, Guthrie quoted Wayne Gretzky: “A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.”
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He said China has the second-biggest economy in the world and it has a tremendous amount of infrastructure that needs to be built. Lumber is being used more and more for that infrastructure. About half of the 450 million metres cubed needed will have to be imported. B.C.’s abilities match China’s needs, Guthrie said. First he pointed out the cost of getting lumber to, for example, Chicago and the cost of getting it to Shanghai. The province is equipped with a great infrastructure, whether it’s harvesting or gathering wood. Plus the province now has Prince Rupert, a deepwater port that’s ice free. The port is also closer to China than any other north, saving about three days travelling time on shipments. When trade initiated, a lot of what China was buying in lumber was used to construct forms for concrete. That is still a significant part of the market, however more and more is being purchased for building purposes. He added as the middle class in China grows so will the market on value-added wood products, like furniture. Guthrie said they intend to continue to grow this market. “We are stealing Russia’s market share in the sale of fibre,” Guthrie said, because B.C. can offer a product that is legally harvested and sustainable. “They are looking at B.C. as a great place to market with in the long run,” he said.
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OUTLOOK 2013 | Prince George Free Press
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YMCA moves across the North They’ve established themselves in Prince George, and now they’re reaching out to a wider service area. That’s reflected in a change of name, as the Prince George YMCA recently became the YMCA of Northern BC. “It’s been in the works for quite some time,” says CEO Mark Miller. “We had ventured into the rural areas, and a couple ALLAN WISHART of years ago allanw@pgfreepress.com it became part of our strategic plan to partner with other communities.” The decision to rename meant other changes as well, including rewriting some of the bylaws to reflect the group’s new purpose. Miller says the decision was made after a lot of thought. “We wanted to be sure we were stable in Prince George, both financially and in out programs, so we could use that as a model for other communities.” According to the new bylaws, those communities could be anywhere from 100 Mile House north to the Yukon border and from the Alberta border to the Pacific. “We’re open to opportunities in any of these communities,” Miller says. “We have a partnership in place with a YMCA in the Nass Valley already, one of the oldest Y’s in Canada. Not too many people are aware of them.” The local move is not unique to Prince George, as YMCAs across the country are moving to a more regional approach. “There are fewer YMCAs now, but they serve more communities,” Miller says. “I think we’re at 51 Ys, but we serve more than 1,000 communities. “This is the way it’s working now, and it’s working
well.” He sees the regional format working well in northern B.C. as well. “We’re working with other communities on identifying their needs and providing the services we can. We find many smaller communities are strong on grassroots organization, but need help in other areas. “That’s where we come in. We’re a national organization, with programs largely run by volunteers, so we can work with these smaller communities to get programs in place.” There have already been some feelers put out by communities outside Prince Fre e Pre s s File Ph o to George. “Vanderhoof is looking at its needs and Children in the YMCA Child Care program listen carefully as Ben Woodley of the Spruce Kings reads to them. opportunities,” Miller says. “They see the community growing in the near future with “We’ve aligned the programming so that if there’s resource development, and they know they will need an adult program going on, there’s also something for the right services to attract families to the community. youth at the same time, so the family can come and all “They also know they can’t go it alone, so they’re take part in their own events.” looking to us for assistance.” The YMCA of Northern BC now has more than 4,400 Before going regional, the YMCA made sure its base members, and Miller says about 30 per cent of them get in Prince George was solid. some kind of subsidy to help with their fees. “We’ve made some significant changes over the last “We’re proud of that,” he says, “making sure everyyear,” Miller says. “We’ve invested almost $1 million one has a chance to participate in our activities.” in the facility on Massey Drive. We’ve also introduced Moving from the Prince George YMCA to the YMCA a new membership structure, which is designed to of Northern BC was a timely move on another front, be more family-friendly. Now, any adult membership Miller says. comes with two free children’s memberships.” “2014 will be our 50th year in Prince George. I’m The Y has also changed some of its programming to excited to see what the next 50 years mean for the Y reflect the new family-friendly feel. across the region.”
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OUTLOOK 2013 | Prince George Free Press
New businesses abound
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Target is set to open its doors this spring, posted on the city’s website, most of the busiplaces doing business, four commercial rental, there’s a mall under development on Ferry ness licences taken out so far this year are for five commercial office and five commercial Avenue, and new restaurants are popping up contractors or home-based businesses. services. Two coffee shops, a daycare centre, a in the bowl, along with some spiffy new shops The site lists over 60 new business licence bank and three car sales/service places. bursting with clothes. applications in January and almost 40 in Many categories on the site list one or two Resource development has brought prosFebruary. new businesses while perity to The preponderance of those I wanted to become others have a list. the north, new business licences went to In a recent interview, DELYNDA PILON master of my own Linda newsroom@pgfreepress.com with mines home-based business owners Self, the general under vary- like Katherine Sinclair, who manager of the Downtown fate and keep ing stages of construction, forestry companies opened Garden Gate Esthetics Business Improvement working … moving forward and the oil and gas industry Studio out of her home on Association, pointed out Katherine Sinclair that though many of the positively impacting many local businesses. Larch Street. “There are pretty positive indicators coming “It’s near Connaught on new businesses are adding out of there right now. There is some employLarch in the bowl,” she said. “We do facials, to the flavour of downtown, the existing ones ment generation going on there and some good manicures, pedicures and massages.” remain popular. news stories. We saw the city was showing Sinclair said she worked as a flag person From Books and Co. to Nancy O’s to Zoe’s good signs and city hall is over the last years, but she or a specialty store catering to brides or the excited to have new appliButler’s Market, a fairly new business featuring There are some pretty wanted to branch out and cations of this sort,” says become her own boss. several spaces decorated by the vendor, creatpositive indicators Kevin Shury, principal of “I wanted to become ing a high-end flea market. coming out of there Platform Properties. This master of my own fate and She also mentioned Butterfly Threads, a is the company which keep working,” she said. clothing boutique, and the Copper Pig, a right now. There is purchased the eight and a Sinclair joins 36 other restaurant with the distinction of being the some employment half acres on Ferry Avenue home business owners who newest business downtown at the time. generation … the new mall they are develdecided to make their ambiAll of the businesses and the owners’ keen oping will sit on. tions a reality in 2013. interest in opening their doors in the city is Kevin Shury The mall will be upwards Twelve contractors took another indicator of how Prince George acts of 100,000 square feet, depending on tenant out business licences in the first two months as the hub of the north, not only for outlying demand, and is sort of an extension of the of the year while one motel opened. Three new industrial developments looking for everything River Point mall next door. medical/dental offices opened and two salvage from service to labour, but also for those seekAs exciting as the larger retail developments or wreckage yards. ing entertainment, shopping or a great meal. are for avid shoppers, according to information There are four more commercial/retail It keeps getting busier.
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OUTLOOK 2013 | People of the North
No breaks in Arcand’s work MaryAnne Arcand says she’s always surprised by people. “I was in the store one day,” says the executive director of the Central Interior Logging Association, “and this fellow came up and said, ‘You’re that logging lady, aren’t you?’ “I said I was, and he said, ‘I want to shake your hand. It’s great to know there’s someone out there sticking up for us’.” ALLAN WISHART The feeling, she says, is mutual. allanw@pgfreepress.com “I can’t help but love these guys. They don’t get enough credit for the work they do and the hours they put in.” There used to be a time in the spring where things would slow down a bit for Arcand and many others in the forest industry. It was called break-up, but break-up isn’t what it used to be. “There’s such a shortage of loggers and drivers,” Arcand says. “There’s always work out there.” That has meant one change that she finds hard to believe herself. “We’re having to schedule holidays for the drivers. A few years ago, there was always some slow time. Not anymore.” Arcand hasn’t been in forestry her whole life, as some people might expect when they hear her speak on many aspects of the industry. She says she hasn’t always been in forestry since she came to Prince George just over 10 years ago. “I’ve been in Prince George since 2002, but I didn’t actually move here until 2005. Before that I was doing contract work with the government, mostly with Aboriginal youth justice.” Through that, she got hooked up with Northern Health, working on diabetes prevention, especially among First Nations. “George Bowering was with Northern Health then,” she says, “and he asked me to start up a Road Health program, which became Road Safety, and led to me working with the association.” When Roy Nagel retired as CEO, “they asked me if I would take over. Roy had mentored me a lot, so I figured I could handle it.” When the move was made, Arcand says, it was a historic moment. “As far as we know, I was the first head of a logging association in Canada. We’re
starting to see more women in top positions in the resource industries, and we support each other.” Since then, the budget of the CILA has increased “about 800 per cent, it seems. “We’re much more into the business end of things than we were before.” The main focus of the CILA, however, hasn’t changed. “What do these guys need? Fuel costs are their biggest cost, so we look for ways to help them with that.” One of those ways is the Carbon Offset Aggregation Cooperative, which sees members reduce fuel consumption, then pool and sell the greenhouse gas credits they get. Another solution which is just getting off the ground – or more precisely, into it – is a new forestry carbon program. “There’s a need for reforestation in the Mary Anne Arcand province,” Arcand says. “The government has contracted us to develop a program which will see polluters plant trees in B.C. to get carbon credits. “Those trees will be harvested later, and there are other opportunities created, like biomass.” She says it’s also looking like a great way for small businesses and First Nations groups to get into the industry. “You don’t need a lot of big equipment to get started in reforestation. Five guys and a pickup will do it to start.” Of course, just because reforestation companies don’t need big equipment doesn’t mean there isn’t big stuff in the woods and other resource industries. A lot of that equipment will be in Prince George for the Canada North Resources Expo on May 31 and June 1.
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OUTLOOK 2013 | Prince George Free Press
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WELCOMES
RV’ERS TO PRINCE GEORGE
File photo
Nicole Krizmanich of Huble Homestead demonstrates candle-dipping techniques to an attentive crowd at a Take on PG event earlier this year, an event hosted by Tourism Prince George.
#takeonPG
How will you take on PG? What’s your favourite thing to do in Prince George? We’re sure you can name more than one. We can, too — in fact, we’ve come up with 365 activities that range from relaxing massages to extreme caving expeditions at takeonPG.com! Some are free, some are for foodies, and all are uniquely found in the Prince George area. Each month, you’ll find a solid lineup under “Featured Take”. This is where we hand-pick activities that you can do each season, whether it’s winter, spring, summer or fall. Right now, we challenge you to practice your crossovers, sway to live music, and stack up some winter magic! These great activities aren’t all that we’re proud of around here. If you ask someone from Prince George what there is to love about our city, you’ll often hear, “it’s the people”. We agree; that’s why we’re going out into the community so you can learn from those who know it best—our locals. Throughout the year, residents will step up and share their stories in our “Local’s Take”. You’ll soon know where to find the best hot chocolate, the fastest tobogganing hills and the steepest hiking trails, all based on real experiences from real people. They’re here to inspire you to take full advantage of everything Prince George has to offer, no matter your lifestyle or budget. If you want to explore on your own, browse the categories we’ve laid out under “Your Take”. Choose something exciting, relaxing, tasty, sporty, outdoors or with the family. We’ve found the best of our local arts, culture and shopping, too! If you need more details, come see us at the Visitor Information Centre on First Avenue or call 1-800-668-7646. Have some ideas of your own? We want to see you in action! Get out and try new things, then show us any time on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. We’ll be looking out for #takeonPG and waiting to see all of your creative photos and stories. Follow us on Twitter @tourismpg for a daily featured activity and more information. Lastly, join us every month as we “take on” special challenges together: meet people and make a connection to the community. We hope you’re as ready as we are to #takeonPG.
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Where resources are tops Prince George has long been a centre for forestry, and though it is no longer the single focus of the area, it remains a vibrant industry, thanks in great part to a marketing plan to China that helped the province find a new place to sell its lumber. Competing lumber companies from the province literally went into China “arm-in-arm” in an effort to open their market to B.C. wood, realizing it was time to export to more than just the United States, Wayne Guthrie, senior viceDELYNDA PILON president, newsroom@pgfreepress.com sales and marketing, Canfor, said at the forestry conference held in February at the Civic Centre. The approach was multi-pronged, he said, and the results have been phenomenal. Many factors merged to cement the success of the venture, from the Chinese Central Government publicly supporting the use of wood to fight climate change to the Canfor Wood College, which is now run by the Canada Wood Group, an industry marketing association, teaching working professionals to upgrade their skills building wood-framed structures. “Over the last decade trade increased from $60 million per year to over $1 billion,” Guthrie said. The approach taken helped create an appreciation, and therefor a demand, for the Canadian 2-by-4 in China. The market is growing along with the middle-class, meaning value-added wood products will likely be in more demand as the years pass. “We believe firmly this market isn’t going away,”
Guthrie said. “It’s not going away. China is here to stay.” The emerging market in China, a U.S. market that is slowly rebounding, and a new target market in India may well lead to a far greater need for lumber, MLA Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training said in an interview in late September. “If we think about the future of the forest industry, China has clearly demonstrated it is here to stay. It is 30 per cent of our total sales, though it is levelling off a bit. In Japan, we’re seeing a recovery and we are now targeting India. So, diversification of the market for forestry is the key to sustainability.” Mines in varying stages of the process, from finding the ore to actually being able to extract and market it, are appearing across the north. Mining projects are abundant, Heather Oland, CEO of Initiatives Prince George said, from Mt. Milligan, a copper and gold mining project located about 155 km northwest of the city which infused $42 million into the Prince George economy last year, to New Gold’s Blackwater Exploration project, located about 160 km southwest of Vanderhoof, and which also had a significant impact on the local economy. Bell said city residents will see a lot of jobs continue to open in heavy duty construction as mining projects in Tumbler Ridge, Mt. Milligan and Endako continue. In fact Endako, Bell said, recently opened 160 new positions. All northern projects add to the prosperity of locals, Bell said. He pointed out the city is a service centre for these outlying areas, and many local companies are benefiting directly.
“We will see unemployment drop and incomes raise as people move into higher paying positions.” Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), however, may prove to be to B.C. what oil is to Alberta. Bell said a new provincial prosperity fund is in the works, a $100 billion rainy day fund amalgamating over the next 30 years, similar to one instituted in Alberta. “We have announced our intent to move forward on the B.C. prosperity fund,” Bell said. He explained it is an endowment fund created by incremental royalties from LNG plants, similar to the Heritage Fund in Alberta, created to support the priorities of citizens across B.C. When Premier Christy Clark visited Prince George, presiding over the opening of the Kordyban Lodge and later enjoying a Liberal fundraising dinner, she spoke highly of the potential of the LNG industry. She said B.C. has long been part of the natural gas industry, however freezing it and shipping it to Asia means the product can be sold for five times as it can in North America. “We need to make sure we take advantage of that now,” she said, pointing out it is a global competition. “We have a chance this year to corner that market.” “The city isn’t the logging town it once was,” Oland said. “Although forestry remains vital, the growth in these other sectors, which came hand-in-hand with billions in investment, brought about diversification. It helped transform the city’s social profile as well, with the addition of a world-class university and continued growth in the transportation sector, leading to a focus on greater international trade opportunities.”
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Holick sees improvement Mark Holick sees potential in the Prince George Cougars, calling them an up-and-coming Western Hockey League team. “Once they have a little bit of success and taste some success, I think that things can maybe get a little better here as far as results are concerned.” Holick, hired as the team’s head coach in January, knows he has his work cut out for him. When the 44-year-old Saskatoon product took over his role, he joined an organization that had missed the playoffs in ALISTAIR MCINNIS five of the sports@pgfreepress.com previous nine seasons. They appeared to be on their way to missing the postseason for the sixth time in 10 years, out of a playoff position with only a couple of games remaining at the Outlook press deadline on March 15. With previous rebuilding efforts failing to materialize as hoped, WHL fans may be skeptical the head coach can help turn the young team into a contender. Holick is experienced and carries a coaching resume with no shortage of wins. But the same could be said of previous head coach Dean Clark, dismissed in January after compiling an overall record of 83 wins, 163 losses, five overtime setbacks and 11 shootout defeats (83-163-5-11) in three and a half seasons with the Cats. Clark carried a 382-253-61 WHL coaching record with Calgary (1996-2001), the Brandon
Wheat Kings (2001-2003) and Kamloops Blazers (2003-2007). Holick carries a WHL mark of 120-75-0-21 from three seasons coaching the Kootenay Ice from 2007 to 2010. He was named WHL Coach of the Year in 2009-10. Holick has guided players at a higher level. His most recent stint before coming to Prince George was with the American Hockey League’s Syracuse Crunch from 2010 to 2012. He guided the Crunch to a 37-29-5-5 record in the 2011-12 campaign. “It’s a different animal. It’s a pro game,” Holick says. “It’s for men only and that’s their livelihood and they treat it that way as athletes. I really enjoyed my time there.” While working with the Crunch, Holick built connections with NHL organizations. He communicated with the likes of Anaheim Ducks vice president/GM Bob Murray, head coach Randy Carlyle and assistants Mike Foligno and Dave Farrish. Carlyle has since relocated to Toronto, where he’s been head coach of the Maple Leafs for the last year. As a member of the Ducks scouting staff, Holick stays in regular contact with the organization. Before the move to coaching in the WHL, Holick guided the BCHL’s Surrey Eagles. After a season as the team’s assistant, he moved into the head coaching role, which he held until the end of the 2000-01 season. Under Holick, the Eagles captured the 1998 Royal Bank Cup national junior A hockey championship. They were runners-up the previous year.
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“We just had a really, really good group of kids, just worked and competed and they set a goal and they accomplished it, so it was a lot of fun,” Holick says. Staying with junior A, Holick spent time in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He was on the staff of the St. Albert Saints before they relocated to Spruce Grove. He says that landing in the Western Hockey League was his goal. Holick says joining the Cranbrook-based Ice was a no brainer. At the time he was hired, they’d already had a record of success since 1998, including five 40-plus win seasons. The 2001-02 campaign ended with the Ice capturing the ultimate prize of the Canadian Hockey League’s Mastercard Memorial Cup national title. Kootenay made another trip to the national tournament the season after Holick’s tenure ended, having won the 2011 WHL championship trophy. In Cranbrook, Holick worked under Ice general manager Jeff Chynoweth, son of the late Ed Chynoweth. Ed was the team’s former president and governor when Holick joined the organization. Jeff moved into the president role after his father’s death in 2008. “I was very, very fortunate,” Holick says of working in Kootenay. “That was my first (WHL) job, very fortunate. And we had some success. We had a team to build and unfortunately for me, I left a year early. We win the next year. But it was again, a great group of kids.” turn to PAGE 35
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from PAGE 34
Holick’s passion for hockey dates back to his childhood. Although born in Saskatoon, his family relocated to Penticton after his Grade 9 school year. He ended up back in Saskatoon as a forward on the WHL’s Blades, and suited up for the organization for two full seasons from 1984 to 1986. Holick was a late selection of the Maple Leafs (11th round, 216th overall) in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft. What followed was one of his fondest memories, attending tryouts at the old Maple Leaf Gardens. “That to me, that’s a pretty special memory. I grew up a Leafs fan.” Although he never cracked an NHL team for regular duty, Holick played some semiprofessional hockey before turning his attention to coaching. Reflecting on his years in the WHL, Holick says it was a much different league. Teams didn’t run video sessions and coaching wasn’t as advanced. Holick notes that they didn’t even have a weight room. Fre e Pre s s File Ph o to “The league is totally different. Big Prince George Cougars forward Zach Pochiro breaks in towards Kamloops Blazers goalie Cole buildings, big crowds, big budgets, more Cheveldave during a Western Hockey League game at CN Centre. teams,” Holick says. “Every kid seems to have some sort of agent nowadays.” While Holick was with the Blades, they were owned by the late consistent contender. It requires consistently working at it. Nathan Brodsky, father of current Blades owner Jack and Cougars “If we can instil that attitude in our group and think about our team owner Rick. Holick had stayed in contact with the Cougars organizafirst before individuals and if if our players can get into that program tions over the years. and continue to keep that in their heads, we’re going to be fine. All While the Brodsky tenure operating the Cougars hasn’t been full of we want to do is make sure that we’re the hardest-working team on success, Holick believes they can turn the corner and become a the ice and if we do that, we will win more than we lose.”
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Sights set on 2015 Sarah Beaudry wants to return home for the 2015 Canada Winter Games. She just isn’t sure if her schedule will allow it. The same reason why the 19-year-old biathlete from Prince George would be a favourite for gold is why she may not be able to attend the event. International travel comes with the territory of being ALISTAIR MCINNIS an elite sports@pgfreepress.com nationallevel athlete. Beaudry remains hopeful she can participate in the Games. But if she has an opportunity to represent Canada in another country, she’ll take that chance instead. “I would go to World Juniors before I would go to the Canada Games because it’s a higher-level competition,” she says. Beaudry is a two-time participant at the Biathlon Youth World Championships. In the last event, in Obertilliach, Austria in January, she posted her best finish. Beaudry missed only two of 20 shots, four rounds, in recording a time of 34 minutes and 37.4 seconds (34:37.4) to finish fifth in the youth women’s 10 km individual event. If she enters the 2015 Games, Beaudry would be a returning participant at the top of the age scale. As a 16-year-old at the 2011 national winter event in Halifax, she captured gold in the 7.5 km sprint, the only Prince George participant to finish first in an individual event. She also took home bronze in the 12.5 km individual race.
Prince George product Sarah Beaudry competes at the Biathlon Youth World Championships in Obertilliach, Austria in January. File photo
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“But I think it will be a totally different experience having (the Games) at home,” Beaudry says. Beaudry has fond memories from the Games two years ago. She said although the biathlon venue was out of the city, her team spent their nights in Halifax. “I was really glad we got to stay in Halifax because we could go to the athletes area and the other athletes would just be really part of the experience, and go at night to the medal ceremonies,” she says. “If we didn’t have anything to do, we could just go to the arena and see whatever was happening, like watch some speed skating one afternoon or watch the hockey game another afternoon and that was pretty neat.” With the Games still just under two years away, who represents the city remains to be seen. Canada Winter Games CEO Stu Ballantyne is hopeful there will be a large contingent of northern B.C. participants. He said the northern sport strategy was developed to give young athletes from the north equal opportunity based on population to make the provincial team. Events like the snowboard cross at Tabor Mountain allow them to build points. “The more we can do to publicize these athletes or to give them facilities to train at, like the new biathlon range at Otway, like the new snowboard cross course at Tabor, all of these things, the modified alpine course at Purden,” he says. “The more they can train, the more chances they have to make the team. We’ll be selfish a bit in this. Kids from the north making Team BC and competing in the Canada Games means more people from the north will come and watch, so we want to make sure that Team BC is representative of northern British Columbia and the athletes that are here and that we have a chance to attract parents, relatives, friends, family, to come and watch their relatives. The Games are great as they are, but they’re even more entertaining when you know the people competing.” Last year, Beaudry moved to Canmore, Alta. to start training full-time at Canmore Nordic Centre, the base for Canada’s national biathlon team. She was slated to compete in a couple of events this month, the North American and Canadian Biathlon Championships from March 15 to 20, and the Haywood Ski Nationals from March 23 to 30. Beaudry plans to check out the new biathlon range at Otway on a trip back to Prince George. “But I really hope nothing is conflicting (in 2015) because I really want to go and it’s really going to be a fun time.”
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Seniors more active than ever Prince George seniors have a golden opportunity to meet people, share their life stories and air their concerns. There are seniors’ centres all over the city that offer special events, regular social gatherings and recreation activities. More and more local businesses and events have discount rates for seniors as “young” as 55. TERESA MALLAM It is a good time to be a senior citiarts@pgfreepress.com zen, says Sharon Hurd, chair of the Prince George Council of Seniors (PGCOS). “Seniors are very involved now in their own lives, they ask questions about what concerns them,” she said. “Health, housing, elderly abuse, old age pensions and finances – we get calls on all kinds of issues.” The seniors’ organization has just moved to its new location at 721 Victoria St. It has a new name and a new sign, Seniors Resource Centre, to better reflect what PGCOS does. There are over 400 members giving input on seniors, including representatives from the local seniors’ centres, retired teachers and other groups. The new sign went up March 12. Plans for a grand opening celebration are still in the works, says manager Lola-Dawn Fennell. However, staff and volunteers are excited about completing the necessary work and putting in place new activities. “There are still a few small things to do inside our new space,” she said. “We’re still waiting for our new kitchen and we have some painting left to do, plus the mural needs to be done on the inside Conference Room wall. But we are open for business and busy.” One of their more “fun” projects involves their Action Team, which is inviting members of the community to bring in their pennies and other coins to the Seniors Resource Centre to feed Elderbeary, the piggy-bank bear. Hurd and past president Bob D’Auray have agreed to dye their hair blue at the grand opening if enough pennies are donated by then. Their goal is to raise at least $200. Now Hurd is herself a senior citizen, she’s able to see the progress made – on many different levels – by seniors over the years, she says.
Sharon Hurd “The City asked us recently what we want to see done for our 100th celebration and I said, ‘A revolution by seniors.’ I said that tongue-in-cheek but really, seniors are taking more power for themselves now. It’s not like it was when I was growing up and seniors let other people talk for them.” Hurd and D’Auray have taken talking for seniors to the next level with their CFIS 93.1 show Senior Moments which runs every Tuesday at 1 p.m. “On our show we address issues of the moment as well as topics of special interest to seniors. We provide a call-in opportunity for listeners to respond to what they hear and they can also suggest topics. Recently we had on a guest who talked about what life was like in a wheelchair. Then we had a guest who talked about how our youth are being exploited on the streets – now that’s something many seniors might not hear about otherwise.” For more information phone the PGCOS’ Seniors Resource Centre 250-564-5888 or visit their new office at 721 Victoria Street.
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OUTLOOK 2013 | People of the North
Set the stage for stability People come from all over the region to see live theatre performed in Prince George, and Theatre North West (TNW) expects that is a good sign of things to come in the future. The city’s only professional theatre TERESA MALLAM company is now in its second decade arts@pgfreepress.com of bringing a wide variety of plays – many by Canadian playwrights – and talented actors from across Canada to the local stage. The TNW production team, which includes artistic producer Samantha MacDonald, ensures that audiences get a taste of both traditional and new plays from established and new writers. Funding for the near future is also looking bright, says TNW marketing officer Jeremy Stewart. “Sponsorships are at an all-time high, supporting our belief that businesses operating in Prince George aren’t shy about supporting the development of every aspect of our community,” he said. “In terms of the contribution made by cultural funders such as firstly, the City of Prince George, and also the Province of British Columbia (through Gaming) and B.C. Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and Canadian Heritage, the 2012 -13 season has been a year of relative stability for TNW.” It’s stability like this that provides the foundation for TNW’s ongoing efforts to provide access to professional theatre in British Columbia’s vast north, he said. That’s good news for any non-profit arts group that has TNW carpenter Peter Vogelaar and struggled to make ends meet, production assistant Haylee Tucker he says. And even when things don’t go as planned – ‘the best- hard at work on the set for Henry and Alice: Into the Wild by Michele Riml. laid plans of mice and men oft go astray’ – TNW has the Set design by Karyn McCallum. support of its audience. MacDonald shares a story from an earlier production this season, Joyful Noise, when actor William Vickers got the flu and a performance had to be cancelled. “This unfortunate situation led to one of the highlights of the season,” she said. “We decided to offer the sold-out house a snippet of the show – I had actors perform the final concert scene which includes several segments of Messiah. Afterwards, the cast and production team agreed to stay for an impromptu question and answer session. That Q and A was one of those magical happenings that reminds me why I love what we do,” she said. “We had around 60 people stay, including 30 high-school students who had travelled from Smithers, four and 1/2 hours away to see the show that night. We are truly fortunate in Prince George to have the best audience anywhere. Of the 200 people who were turned away that night, just 14 asked for refunds and 180 rebooked, including all of the Smithers students.” Good audiences deserve rewards, notes Stewart. “Nothing less will do than to reward them with a treat like Henry and Alice: Into the Wild by Michel Rimi (sequel to Sexy Laundry which TNW produced in 2009) ... the run of this hilarious play will also mark the unveiling of the top-secret line-up of plays for next season.” Not one to rest on its laurels, TNW looks forward to a brand new season of plays beginning this fall. “So amid the sawdust and smell of paint in the air in Theatre North West’s auditorium, there’s a special feeling – a sense of gratitude for the friends and supporters who brought us here, of pride in hard work, and of readiness for great things still to come,” says Stewart.
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Steve Sintich’s unorthodox style The flip of a coin was literally the deciding factor on exactly where Steve Sintich would grow up. Sintich said his dad immigrated from Croatia in the 1930s, preparing a home for his wife who followed him in 1938. “He and Mr. Burkley were looking for property,” he said. They found two homesteads, each with a house and a barn. DELYNDA PILON “They newsroom@pgfreepress.com flipped a quarter to see which would get which,” he said. “Their prime concern was to find a place to live.” Like many of the area’s settlers, his father began clearing the property by hand. “Back then it was a full-blown farm – pigs, chickens, cows, horses, cats and dogs.” The area has changed a lot. Traffic zooms by on Highway 97 South. A gas station, formerly Southway Esso, established by Sintich, remains busy. There’s a liquor store, a pizza joint and a hairdresser’s shop. A service road leads to the Sintich Trailer Park, with row upon row of homes neatly spaced. Depending on which way you head down Sintich Road, you will either meet up with country homes interspersed with fields of grass and patches of forest, or the city’s industrial area. A lot has changed over the decades since his birth in 1939. But one thing hasn’t, and that is Sintich’s definition of a developer compared to his definition of an investor. Like his father before him, Sintich said he is an investor. “I am not a developer, I’m an investor. A developer will develop, then sell out and go. Investment takes time.” When it comes to standing up for what he believes is right, time means little to Sintich. When his family’s land on Highway 97 South was lumped in with Agriculture Land Reserve,
something he blames on the “phantom planner”, and became basically untouchable as anything but farm land, Sintich protested by requesting it be rezoned. That was in 1973. In February of 2013 he appeared before the property assessment board, had them confirm the value of the land and listened as an appraiser said the best use of the land would be industrial-type. He intends to take that information to another level, still working to get the acreage rezoned. Sintich calls himself unorthodox in nature, willing to stand up and be among those looking for a solution when an issue arises. That activism may be what lead him into politics. He attended several area schools growing up, many that bloomed and faded during the years - Connaught on Queensway, the Airport School, Baron Byng and finally Prince George Senior Secondary School. “I graduated in 1958 and as a young fella worked at various jobs in the community,” he said. He was married in 1963, built the trailer park in 1964 and really began his political career when he joined the Chamber of Commerce in 1967. “Politically, that’s where I earned my stripes,” he said. “Then in 1967 I was elected to the School District board.” In 1981 he was elected as an alderman for the city under Mayor Elmer Mercier. A 1990 run for mayor was unsuccessful and two runs for council following that failed. Meanwhile, in 1973, just after Highway 97 cut a diagonal swipe through some of Sintich’s property, and it was rezoned, he began fighting the zoning. “1976 is when I built the store,” he said, ”and in ‘78 I built the service station. My wife and I operated it for two years, from 1980 to 1982, and then I was in trouble with the Ministry of Environment.” Trouble, tied to his self-claimed unorthodox behaviour and his refusal to back away from a
fight, led to several battles with authority over the years. When he tried to open a fruit stand near his store, the regional district stepped in. “In 1992 I went into semi-retirement. I had some health problems. In 1993 I wanted to build the fruit stand out there. When I talked about that ‘phantom planner’, he was the problem. They wanted that corner for a major intersection.” In the early 80s he was in trouble with the Ministry of Environment because legislation surrounding sewage was changed, leaving him with issues regarding his trailer park. “The regulations almost put me out of business,” Sintich said. “The ideology of B.C. is not supportive of entrepreneurs.” However, Sintich remains an unapologetic entrepreneur. “I am an entrepreneur and I will do anything to be on top. Our ambition is not exposed, but we don’t isolate ourselves from people.” Even in retirement, after years spent on the road travelling from the Yukon to Florida with his wife in their R.V., exploring North America, the entrepreneurial spirit runs through his veins. His latest venture began when a buddy needed a dock for his lake house. One thing led to another and now building boat docks is the business Sintich is involved in. Though health issues have caused him to withdraw a bit from the front lines, he remains in the business. As for the city, Sintich said Prince George has always been a progressive place to live. “I’ve been here 73 years. Prince George has never really changed. It’s always been progressive one way or another. The players change but the city doesn’t,” he said. “They say when things get tough, the tough get going, and the people in Prince George are tough. If they want something, nothing is going to stop them from getting it.”
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The centre for entertainment If it is a major show or a big name, chances are the event is being held at CN Centre. The 5,967 seat multi-purpose arena has seen many stars and luminaries perform there over the years both on ice and on stage and the future looks bright for attracting even more top talent. “The CN Centre continues to stretch the limits of entertainment excellence in northern B.C.,” says Glen Mikkelsen, entertainment and marketing supervisor. This year, renowned comedian Jerry Seinfeld (May 2) and songstress superstar Carrie Underwood (May 21) are just two of the outstanding acts appearing at the CN Centre. “We have been fortunate with the quality of entertainment coming through Prince George. Our staff continues to work hard to ensure the acts and their crews have a very positive experience in Prince George,” said Mikkelsen. They look forward, he said, to hosting the Canada North Resources Expo in and around the CN Centre. “It has been three years since we held a similar industry show and it is a positive sign for our region and our community that a show of this size is returning.” This year, for the sixth year in a row, the CN Centre was nominated for Facility of the Year at the Canadian Music Industry Awards (under 8,000 seats). The nomination is a testament to the solid reputation the CN Centre has built within the national and international touring community,
The John Mellencamp show last year at CN Centre. says Mikkelsen. “We are very grateful to the support people are showing the shows. If people did not buy tickets and support the acts coming to the CN Centre, we would not be able to attract high-level entertainment. It is because people enjoy coming to
the CN Centre that the shows are a success.” For information on upcoming shows and events, check out and Like the CN Centre’s Facebook page. It has up-to-date information on the people and the entertainment coming to Prince George.
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OUTLOOK 2013 | People of the North
Hilliard Clare - the Northern family When Hilliard Clare first began working at the Northern Hardware, 45 gallon drums of linseed oil, kerosene and turpentine would be delivered to the store. Filling glass bottles, bought for about a nickel each, with the oils before they were labelled and put out on the shelf for resale was one of the tasks he DELYNDA PILON performed newsroom@pgfreepress.com during his early years at the store. Relics of those old days decorate the small office space around him. Photos coat the walls, some in colour, others in black and white. An Underwood typewriter sits on a desk. “Back then all the paperwork was done on that,” he says. That was 65 years ago, and though he has been the Northern’s bookkeeper for much of that time, it’s not many people who can say they work at the same place as they did more than six decades ago. “One day the accountant asked me to work in the same office as him. I hesitated, but here I am 65 years later, doing the same job,” he said. “I started working at Northern Hardware and didn’t have a desire to work elsewhere. The Moffats have always been very good to me, have always treated me like a member of the family.” Clare’s father was a railroad man, transferring into the city in 1930, moving the family into an area near the yard known as the Cache, a place where only CN employees and their families could live.
It was supposed to be his final move, but after that he was transferred to Prince Rupert, Kamloops and New Westminister, then finally back to Prince George, where his family made a home. Clare was 18 months old when he first arrived in the city. “I saw the advantages of Prince George at an early age,” Clare joked. Clare went to school at King George V and Baron Byng then graduated from the newly built Prince George Senior Secondary school. “The first principal was Ray Williston,” he said. Clare married in 1960. “It only lasted for 30 years,” he said, with typical self-deprecating humour. The couple raised four children, three boys and a girl. “All of them are here. My son, Sheldon, works at the college. My daughter works in Emergency at the hospital. She spent about 18 years in Vancouver, then came home to Prince George. Kevin is a helicopter engineer, and Brian is a carpenter.” Besides a long-running career at the Northern, Clare has always been deeply interested in the community. When he was in the junior Chamber of Commerce the group was responsible for sending bear skins to England for the Grenadier Guards, an elite regiment of the British army. The Grenadier Guards are among the five regiments of foot soldiers who serve the queen and are famous for their bearskin hats. Clare also served as an alderman for 10 years
for the city when Gavin Dezell was mayor, and he has some thoughts on the actions of the current council. “I think they spend a lot of money on consultations and trips to China they could have spent fixing infrastructure so we wouldn’t have so many potholes,” he said. He’s seen a lot of changes downtown over the years, he said. He used to walk to school or work on wooden sidewalks. “We went to school on dirt roads, then we graduated to pavement and now we have potholes,” he said. He’s seen downtown change through booms and busts, he’s seen it at its best and at its worst. Right now, he said, what he believes the downtown needs is more accommodations for people and more concrete investment. “And there’s no food store. Well, there’s one at Parkwood Mall, not too far away, but it seems a long way if you’re a pedestrian,” he said. “I think it will gradually improve.” As for himself, Clare isn’t thinking about retirement. He said he’s not much of a television person and he likes having something to do with his time. After all, though he gets to the office at 7:30, the 83-year-old doesn’t stay all day. He heads home by 2 or 3 p.m. For fun he likes to play a bit of golf in the summer, though he said he’s not very good at it. He also has three grandchildren to spend time with.
OUTLOOK 2013 | Prince George Free Press
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CN keeps rolling along In the long run, morphing from a Crown corporation to a private company improved customer service and the bottom line for CN Rail. Mike Cory, the company’s senior vice-president western region, spoke at the B.C. Natural Resources Forum about the history of the company and where it is today thanks to a lot of hard work and innovation during the Natural Resources Forum in January, as the keynote speaker. “It’s a mature company in a mature industry,” he said. “It has seen a lot of change in the last 30 years.” DELYNDA PILON Beginning as a crown corporation, it newsroom@pgfreepress.com was not driven by business decisions nor cost incentives. That changed when it was privatized, beginning with a lot of job cuts. “There was a lot of changes. We didn’t understand what our core business was,” he said. In the late 90’s the recession ended and CN decided to be the most efficient railway in North America. “We were positioned as truly the only North American railroad to reach all three coasts,” he said. However it became apparent the company wanted more, adding customer satisfaction to its list of desires as well as joint ventures, making them a supply-chain enabler for customers. The company continues to keep those goals in sight Now the rail traverses eight provinces and 16 states, reaching the eastern and western coast as well as the Gulf of Mexico. “The length of haul is second to none,” Cory said. He said about $10 billion has been invested in the railroad since privatization, allowing it to upgrade some old railroads while acquiring new ones, improving efficiency. They acquired Wisconsin Central to provide a link to the prairies, giving the rail company seamless access transporting goods. Later they acquired BC Rail. In 2006 they secured the running rights through Duluth as well as the
railroad, allowing access to the Great Lakes, as well as shipping to the coal terminal in northern Ohio. In 2007 they re-acquired the Mackenzie North railroad. In 2008, they acquired a railroad from Edmonton to Fort McMurray, allowing access to the oil fields. In 2009, they acquired a rail linking Quebec with Gaspe. In 2010 they became the only Class 1 railroad with a route in Chicago. Other rails, themselves included before the acquirement, pay tolls and can be held up for periods of time before traversing the area. “That was a key requirement for our customers’ import and export needs,” Cory said. Mike Cory The company has enjoyed a double digit growth in container traffic. The result of all the decisions is an efficient railroad that provides excellent customer service. “We spend millions to enhance our network. We support growth and are reliable for our key customers.” In-house precision engineering has helped develop systems to fix problems in-house before they occur, leading the way in safety consciousness with the philosophy that even one injury is one too many. “CN is a major player in Canadian trade and prosperity,” Cory said. “At the beginning of this journey we created the backstop for future success.”
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INDUSTRIAL MINING CIVIL POWER
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OUTLOOK 2013 | People of the North
Passing the test for 2015
Prince Prin Pr ince ce Geo G George eorg rge e sp spor sports orts ts vven venues enue uess wi ue willll b be e in fful full ulll us use e g the 2015 Canada Winter Games. during It’ It’s up tto th the G Games tteam tto ensure competitions run smoothly during the three-week multi-sport event. With a priority on organization, staff and volunteers have started running CWG test events to prepare. By holding particular activities in the same venues they’ll be held in during the Games, test events offer ALISTAIR MCINNIS organizers sports@pgfreepress.com the chance to see how compatible the athletes and sports are with the facilities. They can test the set-up and work out any kinks that may arise. The test events will also go beyond the competition. “We probably won’t test every single event because we have 19 sports, but probably around a dozen events that’ll happen that will have some form of activity, official activity for us,” Canada Winter Games CEO Stu Ballantyne says. “Sometimes we’re testing odd things, like food services or timing and scoring systems or interaction. It’s not always about the actual sport and field of play.” The first official CWG test event was the Wheelchair Basketball Canada Junior West Regional Championships from March 22 to 24 at Duchess Park Secondary. Another test event comes next month with the Artistic Gymnastics BC Championships scheduled for April 5 to 7 at the Northern Sport Centre. Before the wheelchair basketball competition, unofficial test events had already been held. They included cross-country skiing and biathlon at the Otway Nordic Centre, and snowboard cross at Tabor Mountain.
With venues vven enue uess st stil illl un unde derg rgoi oing ng u upg pgra rade dess to mee m eett With still undergoing upgrades meet Canada Games standards,, more test events will t k place l i t Th fi d ttestt take nextt winter. The bi biggestt confirmed event is the 2014 Canadian Age Class Short Track Championships, scheduled for March 14 to 16, 2014 at the new Kin 1 arena. The $16.5-million Kin Centre Enhancement Project is the largest CWG-related facility upgrade and the national meet offers the first opportunity for the venue to be competition-tested for short-track speed skating. The 2015 Canada Winter Games is receiving slightly more than $19 million in government funding for facility upgrades. The next largest project after the Kin Centre is the remodelling of the Civic Plaza. Other sports projects include upgrades to the Otway Nordic Centre with a new biathlon range, and trail modifications at Tabor Mountain and Purden Ski Village, where snowboarding and alpine skiing events will unfold. “Once the upgrades at Tabor and Purden are finished, we’re going to want to host an alpine ski event, a snowboard event, freestyle skiing events to make sure that those facilities are up to Canada Games standard, and hopefully exceeding them and to make sure that we have thought about everything from the venue perspective from a Games perspective,” Ballantyne said. “It’s OK to host an event at Otway, but part of of the testing we have to do is transportation plan, spectator plans because we will have that greater amount of spectators at Games time than we’ve ever had there.” Ballantyne noted that they expect to treat the 2014 Scotties BC women’s curling provincial championships as a CWG test event. The competition is scheduled for next January at the Prince
Geor Ge orge ge G Gol olff an and d Cu Curl rlin ing g Cl Club ub,, th the e sa same me vven enue ue George Golf Curling Club, venue g draws during g the Games. that’ll hold curling O i l need d contingency ti l iin Organizers also plans place should their schedule change as a result of natural causes or emergencies. Mother Nature will play a significant role. “There’s a massive amount of stuff that can challenge any event so our job is to sort of preidentify what those challenges could be, and then analyze them over the years,” Ballantyne says. “Last year we did a full tracking, what we call Games time tracking and following weather patterns, and in particular snowfall, all of these things so that we have data that we can rely on.” Test events offer volunteers the opportunity to advance their skills, and athletes get the chance to try it out. Organizers know a strong Prince George presence would contribute to the Games’ success, and hope northern athletes take advantage of the test events and facility upgrades. “The ability to have kids from northern British Columbia not have to make the big drive every weekend, to be able to train and compete in their own backyard, gives them a bit of an advantage,” Ballantyne says. “If they’re lucky enough to make Team BC, then they have a bit of a homefield advantage because they would know the venue so we want to be able to do that as best we can.” The 2015 Canada Winter Games are scheduled for Feb. 13 to March 1, 2015. Prince George and the region is expected to play host to 2,350 athletes, 950 coaches and officials, up to 4,500 volunteers, hundreds of media and medical professionals and thousands of visitors. The event will be the largest sports and cultural event ever held in Prince George and northern B.C., expected to generate an economic impact of between $70 and $90 million.