Prince George Free Press, April 04, 2014

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FRIDAYAPRIL4

FOOD: Can we feed the need in Prince George?

www.pgfreepress.com | newsline: 250.564.0005

EGGS ARE DONE

Beth Pawluk in traditional Ukrainian dress with her handpainted Ukrainian Easter eggs (Pysanka) at her home recently. Every year the artisan creates new patterns and colours on her decorated eggs and then sells them at crafts fairs or the Easter Bazaar at St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church. This year the bazaar is on Saturday, April 12 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and includes sales of perogies, cabbage rolls, Easter bread and sausage as well as a raffle draw.

Teresa MALLAM/ Free Press

CNC tackles deficit Allan Wishart allanw@pgfreepress.com The board of governors of the College of New Caledonia are looking at a way to reduce their projected budget deficit for the 2014-15 school year by 20 per cent – without dropping programs.

A proposal was brought forward at the March 28 board meeting to close the CNC Day Care. Executive director of external relations Randall Heidt made one thing clear in his report to the board.

“There are no plans to close the ECE (Early Childhood Education) program at CNC. If the daycare is closed at the April 25 meeting, we believe impact to the ECE students will be minimal.”

He says the day care was originally established to support CNC students with children, making it easier and more affordable for them to attend classes.

“There are currently 15 children in the daycare: seven belong to CNC students, three belong to employees, and five are from the community.”

With the space not being utilized for what it was designed for, and budget demands continuing to rise, the proposal is one the board will look at when it approves its final budget on April 25.

Heidt says the budget problems just keep coming.

“I think it’s important that people understand that CNC has had to cut $9.67 million from its budget since 2008,” he reported to the board, “which has become so difficult that many of the current choices may be undesirable but are necessary to submit a balanced budget to the government.”

The projected deficit in the 2014-15 budget is $1.2 million, and closing the day care is projected to save $240,000 overall.

“We have already prepared plans for using that space,” Heidt says. “We’re running out

of space in other areas of the campus. so we would move some classrooms and faculty offices to that space.

“That would allow us to keep things in more central locations, which allows us to save money on power and heating, because we don’t have as many buildings which need to be kept operating all the time.”

Heidt says CNC currently offers two other ECE programs, neither of which are a close match to the one in Prince George.

“We have an Aboriginal ECE program which is offered online. That one has students from across B.C. and even outside the province. We also have a daycare at the regional campus in Burns Lake, but it is run on a costrecovery basis, and also gets additional funding for its links to the FASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) programs we run there.”

The Prince George campus day care is subsidized by about $50,000 a year, he says, and each student at the school is assessed a $2.50 day care fee as part of their fees.

$ Phone 250-563-6444 Toll Free 1-800-219-6327 910 Third Avenue, Prince George, BC Email polarrefrig@telus.net polarrefrig.ca

Coleman coming to talk LNG in P.G. Rich Coleman, Minister of Natural Gas Development, will be in Prince George next week to talk about liquefied natural gas.

He will give a presentation, entitled Building a Strong Liquefied Natural Gas Industry in British Columbia, as the keynote talk at a Prince George Chamber of Commerce Speaker Series luncheon.

The purpose of the event is to inform Chamber members and the local business community on the B.C. government’s plan to build a strong liquefied natural gas industry in British Columbia. Coleman will provide an update on the status of the various proposed projects, his recent outreach efforts, and the opportunities for local businesses to get involved.

The luncheon will be held at the Twisted Cork on Friday, April 11. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Tickets are available at the Chamber office and on its website www.pgchamber.bc.ca

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Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

Friday, April 4, 2014

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Join us for our “New Logo” Launch at Center Court Pine Centre Mall - April 4th from 12 pm - 1 pm “Why I Volunteer” by Nicole Lodge My name is Nicole Lodge. I am from Fort St. James B.C. Over the last three years I have resided in Prince George while attending university. Volunteering has always been an important aspect in my life. Prince George offers a vast number of programs and organizations to volunteer with! I got started by talking to a representative at the Volunteer Prince George table advertising for volunteers. I found it difficult to just choose a couple places to volunteer at. I wanted to choose them all! I finally chose two programs that I could help out with while working towards achieving my Bachelors of Social Work degree.

The first one was the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization where I volunteer with a youth girl on a weekly basis. We play games and talk about the issues she is facing as well as bake. She loves to bake!

Secondly, I chose the CNIB where I volunteer as a vision mate. In this position I assist a young woman with vision loss to be more independent. These positions both call for empathy and respect. They allow me to work within this community to help others out to the best of my abilities. Over the course of my placements each relationship has grown immensely. I have many great volunteer memories. I love to see the youth women smiling and enjoying the time with me as much as I do with them. One moment where I could not help but smile was when the young BBBS girl told me that the only reason she comes to school is to see me. She always has letters and drawings for me stating how important I am to her. I cannot explain in words the amount of joy and happiness I get from each of these relationships. I want to share with others that are considering a volunteer position… there is no better feeling then knowing because of your work you are helping change or improve the life of another! Volunteering has hands down changed my life!

For more 2014 “Why I Volunteer!” stories, check out our website www.volunteerpg.com

Celebrate with us - National Volunteer Week - April 6-12, 2014 Volunteer Prince George Member Agencies 2015 Canada Winter Games Aboriginal Business & Community Development Adoptive Families of BC AiMHi – PG Community Living Airport Ambassadors Alzheimer Society of BC Arthritis Society, The Autism Society BC North Auxiliary to University Hospital of NBC AWAC – Advocating for Women & Children BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North BC Northern Exhibition BC SPCA – BC North Cariboo Branch Beaverly West Leisure Society Big Brothers Big Sisters Blackburn Community Association Canadian Blood Services Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation Canadian Cancer Society Canadian Diabetes Association Canadian Home Builders NBC Canadian Mental Health Association Canadian Red Cross Can-Do Committee Carefree Society Carney Hill Neighbourhood Centre Hadih House CFIS 93.1 Community Radio Child Development Centre Children First CNIB College Heights Community Association Community Arts Council Community Policing

CPSABC/Sportability Crescents Community Association Crisis Centre for NBC Elder Citizen’s Recreation Association Enhance PG Exploration Place; Fraser-Fort George Museum Fraser Basin Council Friends of the Library Future Cents Girl Guides of Canada Handy Circle Resource Society Hart Community Assn Hart Pioneer Centre Heart & Stroke Foundation of BC Heritage Commission Huble Homestead Giscome Portage Heritage Society Immigrant & Multicultural Services Iris House Jubilee Lodge Junior Achievement BC Kidney Foundation Le Cercle des Canadiens Francais Learning Difficulties Centre of BC Literacy Now MADD Canada MS Society PG Chapter Multicultural Heritage Society NBC Centre for Skating NBC HEROS Nechako Community Theatrics Society Ness Lake Bible Camp Northern BC Children & Families Hearing Society

Northern BC Friends of Children Northern Bear Awareness Northern HIV & Health Education Society Northern John Howard Society Ovarian Cancer Canada Parent Support Services PARTY - PG Safe Attitudes & Action Society Patient Voices Network PG Brain Injured Group PG Chamber of Commerce PG Community Foundation PG Cougars Hockey Club PG Council of Seniors - Seniors Resource Centre PG Crimestoppers PG Crisis Pregnancy Centre PG Downtown Business Improvement Assn PG Freemason Cancer Car PG Hospice Society PG Lupus Chapter PG Metis Elders Society PG Metis Housing Society PG Native Friendship Centre PG New Hope Society PG Parkinson’s Support Group PG Power Mobility Society PG Public Library PG Search & Rescue PG Stroke Recovery Branch PG Symphony PG Therapeutic Riding Assoc PG Youth Custody Centre - Chaplaincy/Volunteer Department PG Youth Soccer

Thank You to ALL of our Volunteers!

Phoenix Transition House Positive Living North Project Friendship Society R.E.A.P.S. Railway & Forestry Museum Rated PG Rollerderby Society RCMP Victim Services Rotary Clubs of PG Salvation Army Community Ministries Self-Management BC Senior Activity Centre, PG & Dist Shepherd’s Corner South Fort George Community Assn Southbowl Community Association Special Olympics Prince George Spruce Capital Seniors Spruce City Minor Boys Softball St John Ambulance St Patrick’s House St Vincent de Paul Surpassing Our Survival (SOS) Theatre North West TOPS – Take Off Pounds Sensibly Tourism PG Two Rivers Gallery UNBC Alumni Association University Hospital NBC Spiritual Health Dept Vantage Vision & Reading Vanway Community Assn Variety-The Children’s Charity Welcome Wagon West Bowl Community Association World Vision

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ALR: Are we saving farmland or destroying it?

BILL PHILLIPS | 250.564.0005 | newsroom@pgfreepress.com | www.pgfreepress.com

Can we feed the need?

Teresa Mallam arts@pgfreepress.com Not all homeless people go hungry and not all hungry people are homeless.

Some local groups such as Community Partners Addressing Homelessness (CPAH) and student events like Homelessless Action Week at UNBC show that people without means – or meals – in Prince George are not forgotten.

Breakfast for Learning launched a social media campaign in March to focus on child hunger and numbers that suggest one in six Canadian children face hunger.

Locally, they support school nutrition programs in two Prince George schools.

Individuals in our community also make it their life’s work to bring their own knowledge about food and nutrition “to the table.”

That is how artist, activist, environmentalist and farmer Jovanka Djordjevich spends much of her time.

Rich or poor, when it comes to putting food on the table or serving lunch at a shelter, our healthy choices are important, she says.

It is about quality, not quantity.

This is especially true for consumers on low or fixed budgets, she says. As an advocate for healthy eating and volunteer with Prince George’s Good Food Box, a program that provides fresh produce from local farmers, Djordjevich says education is key.

That’s why she’s involved in community events which have food knowledge components: Community Garden planting and harvests, local Chef ’s Challenge (using local meats and fresh produce), Wine Festival and

The face of poverty is changing and the number of mouths to feed is growing.

The Free Press will be examining this topic in the coming weeks from the perspective of the users, providers and observers. Is our present system of providing food for our most vulnerable population in Prince George working? If not, what can we do to improve it?

Farmers’ Market.

Healthy eating is a universal issue, not just a local one, she says.

“It is the people who can afford good food and who make the decisions that direct the world and they are being poor role models and ‘cheaping out’ on food, that is leading to the collapse of our whole food system.”

Djordjevich said that she asked some northern medical students a few years ago during a talk about local food opportunities, “are farmers partners in health?” She was astonished, she said, that the majority of them “had no idea that our food system Teresa MALLAM/Free Press is the foundation UNBC students Michael Packham, Courtenay Hudebine, Chris Moreau and Trevor Pachurko are part of of a healthy body, a group who spent three nights sleeping outside recently to raise awareness about homelessness and or that our poor hunger in the community. food system is a determinant of poor health.” facilitate poor eating habits. When food “Take a look at what gets advertised. It None of them thought of farmers as safety regulations make the potluck a highisn’t the simple carrot or apple, it is highly partners in health, she said. That is just one risk activity but buying something baked in processed, over-packaged foods that we of the problems. the east with tons of chemicals and preserdon’t need in our diets, along with all the “A doctor should send a sick person to vatives, transported for days and sold at a supplements. There just isn’t enough money their local farmer, not the drug store. Our high cost in the big box store are the permis- in selling potatoes, even though wholesalers, food system is crumbling because farmers’ sible option, our food system is crumbling retailers and shippers make a whole lot more kids see the poor wages that farmers make because of regulation rather than education.” than the farmer does on that potato.”

– probably a tenth of that of a doctor. Yet we There are so many reasons why there is Bottom line, Djordjevich says, is that we can’t exist for long without food.” less good food in our daily lives, Djordjevich can learn a lot on our own about what conSome high-profile events miss the mark says. stitutes good food but we need leadership when it comes to eating healthy, she said.

“Places that feed the homeless are no and role modelling from the health sector “Fundraising for health care often inlonger allowed to encourage people dropand government. cludes drive-thru breakfasts and hot dogs ping off their homemade pies (made with “We all need good healthy food and I and movie days on spring afternoons when love) due to health regulations but at the think the majority [of people] do not know people should be out getting their Vitamin same time people are picking out of garbage what that is and more importantly, the D from the sun instead of a bottle, this role cans to sustain themselves. Our food system decision makers do not know what that is. I modeling says it is OK to do this. When has become wrapped in red tape and hyperdon’t think it is a wealth question, it is a lack health regulations say that the wiener is a liability scares.” of education and experience by the policy low-risk item to serve but whoa, hold the Advertising can be another culprit when it makers and probably a very strong lobby salad or the fresh baked muffin because comes to “feeding” us misinformation about from the big corporations who make money these are riskier foods, these encourage and healthy food, she says. on this so-called food.”

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Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

Friday, April 4, 2014

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Courts kept busy presents…

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Community Alert WA N T E D C Crime Stoppers is asking the public’s aassistance in locating the following pperson who is wanted on a British Columbia wide warrant. As of 0900hrs C tthis 2nd day of April 2014, Quentin M Mackenzie NOOSKI (B: 1982-06222) is wanted on a British Columbia w wide warrant for BREACH OF Quentin UNDERTAKING. NOOSKI is described Mackenzie as a First Nations male, 173 cm or NOOSKI 173 cm or 5’8” 5’8” tall and weighs 125 kg or 275 125 kg or 275 lbs. lbs. NOOSKI has black hair and brown eyes. NOOSKI should be considered violent

WA N T E D Crime Stoppers is asking the public’s assistance in locating the following person who is wanted on a British Columbia wide warrant. As of 0900hrs this 2nd day of April 2014, Perry Andrew CHARLIE (B: 1992-0828) is wanted on a British Columbia wide warrant for POSSESSION OF A Perry Andrew CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE. CHARLIE CHARLIE is described as a First Nations male, 173 cm or 5’8” 173 cm or 5’8” tall and weighs 80kg 80 kg or 177 lbs. or 177 lbs. CHARLIE has black hair and brown eyes. CHARLIE should be considered violent.

WA N T E D Crime Stoppers is asking the public’s assistance in locating the following person who is wanted on a British Columbia wide warrant. As of 0900hrs tthis 2nd day of April 2014, Alisha Chelsi BURGER (B: 1994-08-25) is wanted on a British Columbia wide w warrant for THEFT UNDER $5000 and w Alisha Chelsi BREACH OF UNDERTAKING. BURGER BURGER 183 cm or 6’0” is described as a First Nations female, 70 kg or 155 lbs 183 cm or 6’0” tall and weighs 70 kg or 155 lbs. BURGER has brown hair and brown eyes.

If you have information regarding these crimes call CRIMESTOPPERS

1-800-222-8477 www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca

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RIVERSIDE COLLISION We take out wrinkles.

In Provincial Court on Jan. 9: George L. Olsen was found guilty of uttering threats, placed on probation for 18 months, fined $10, assessed a victim surcharge of $3 and prohibited from possessing firearms for three years. Olsen was also found guilty of failing to comply with a condition of an undertaking, sentenced to one day in jail, fined $10 and assessed a victim surcharge of $3.

Wendy T. Angus was found guilty of theft of property with a value less than $5,000, sentenced to seven days in jail and placed on probation for 12 months. Angus was also found guilty of failing to comply with a condition of an undertaking, sentenced to six days in jail, placed on probation for 12 months and assessed a victim surcharge of $100.

In Provincial Court on Jan. 10: Francisco R. Gonzales Castro was found guilty of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, sentenced to 60 days in jail to be served on an intermittent basis and placed on probation until the expiration of the jail sentence.

Brian M. Visona was found guilty of driving while prohibited, sentenced to 14 days in jail to be served on an intermittent basis, placed on probation until the expiration of the jail sentence and prohibited from driving for three years. Visona was also found guilty of a second count of driving while prohibited, sentenced to 14 days in jail to be served on

Austin’s Art

Teresa MALLAM/Free Press Austin Laurie, 9, explains his technique to the audience Sunday during the official opening of a student art exhibit att the Prince George Public Library. Besides having their work on display, Wendy Framst’s art students were asked to give an artist’s talk about their work. The exhibit will be up for another week.

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an intermittent basis, placed on probation until the expiration of the jail sentence, fined $500, assessed a victim surcharge of $75 and prohibited from driving for three years.

Damion K. Sharp was found guilty of failing to comply with a condition of an undertaking or recognizance and sentenced to one day in jail.

Sharp was also found guilty of a second count of failing to comply with a condition of an undertaking or recognizance and assessed a victim surcharge of $50.

Saie J. Yellowbird was found guilty of two counts of failing to comply with a probation order, sentenced to five

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Park Aven days in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $100. Yellowbird was also found guilty of failing to comply with a condition of an undertaking or recognizance and a third count of failing to comply with a probation order, sentenced to 10 days in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $100.

Christopher R. Blaney was found guilty of intimidation of the justice system, sentenced to 360 days in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $50. Blaney was also found guilty of a second count of intimidation of the justice system, sentenced to 650 days in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $50. Blaney was also found guilty of resisting a peace officer, sentenced to 30 days in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $100.

Michael B. Meck was found guilty of assault, sentenced to 30 days in jail, placed on probation for one year, assessed a victim surcharge of $100 and prohibited from possessing firearms for five years. Meck was also found guilty of failing to comply with a condition of an undertaking or recognizance, sentenced to 15 days in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $100. Meck was also found guilty of possession of a controlled substance and failing to comply with a condition of an undertaking, sentenced to one day in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $100.

Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

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UNBC board approves budget Job losses, tuition hike needed to get into balance

Council OKs changes to off-street parking rates It’s official, off-street parking rates won’t be quite as high as originally planned.

After getting some serious flak from the public about substantial increases to off street parking rates approved last year. Councillors Lyn Hall, Frank Everitt, and Murry Krause brought the issue back to the table last month

and council, in a split-vote after a heated debate, approved increases of 25 per cent this year and 10 per cent in each of the next two years.

On Monday, fourth and final reading, was given to the bylaw setting the new rates, despite a plea from the Downtown Business Improvement Association

Come to the Masquerade

to hold off.

“If the proposed parking rates ‘roll-back’ bylaw is voted through, the city will find itself in a funding shortfall,” wrote DBIA executive director Carla Johnston.

“At this point, we can only assume that these shortfalls will be passed on to downtown property owners through the (downtown parking) levy.”

She said, in the DBIA’s opinion, the actual cost of running parking facilities was not discussed to the extent that it should have been.

POTHOLE PLANS

Bill PHILLIPS/Free Press New Prince George Chamber of Commerce director Dan Ryan was decked out in style for the Masquerade-themed president’s gala Saturday.

Whatever the excuse...

Accidents Happen Happen.

It’s spring and, in Prince George, that means potholes.

The city has budgeted just over $1 million for pothole repairs this year and with the freeze/ thaw cycle this year, crews are bracing for holes to arrive.

“This year the city expects to see significant potholes develop on Chief Lake Road, Lansdowne Road, North Nechako Road, Malaspina, Simon Fraser, Old Cariboo Highway, and Giscome Road,” wrote director of operations Bill Gaal in a report to council.

Last year was a slow year for pothole repairs, with 15,280 of the nasty critters fixed.

That is down from most of the previous years: 21,987 fixed in 2012; 21,349 fixed in 2010; and 26,029 fixed in 2009. The anomaly over the past five years was 2011 when 12,847 potholes were repaired.

Crews have been repairing potholes since mid-January and will continue until late fall.

we’re doing,” Dale said. “It’s not unlike what other universities are facing.”

The budget also contains a two per cent tuition hike. Tuition for a full-time undergraduate student will now be $4,912 per year, an increase of about $96 per year.

Enrolment at the university has been “flat” over the past few years and Dale said more student enrolment would certainly help the budget.

Stating their case to government for more funding is also part of the strategy.

The university is also developing a plan to deal with savings rising from short-term staff vacancies, allowing the allocation of savings to projects that will help student recruitment and retention initiatives, fund capital equipment replacement, or other projects anticipated to either reduce operating costs or increase revenue.

About two-thirds of the operating budget for the university is provided by the province. Slightly more than 27 per cent comes from tuition fees.

Wages and benefits account for about three-quarters of the university’s expenditures.

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“It does involve the elimination of 10 positions, most of which are already vacant,” said interim president Mark Dale on Tuesday after the board

of governors approved a $68 million budget for the institution.

The budget is about $400,000 less than last year, largely due to reduced government grants and static enrolment. For example, UNBC’s provincial government grant for 2013/14 was reduced by about $126,000; it is estimated that for 2014/15, the reduction will be $473,000.

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Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

Friday, April 4, 2014

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Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

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Friday, April 4, 2014

7

Agricultural Land Reserve Is it being modernized or is it being destroyed?

Bill Phillips editor@pgfreepress.com Just as the changes to the Agricultural Land Commission will split the province into two zones, there are two zones of debate over the plan.

“It’s something that should have been done in the ALC originally,” said William m Norton, a former vice-chair of the Agricultural Land Commission and Prince George rancher.

At the other end of the spectrum: “Upon the day it is passed, I believe that Bill 24 will increase uncertainty in the marketplace and undermine the stability of the agricultural land base that has been forged over the past 40 years,” writess UNBC professor David Connell in a letter err to the editor (See Page 13). “The consequences of eroding the province’s ability to protect its agricultural land base will bee irreversible.”

Under the new plan there will be two ALC administered zones. In Zone 1, (the Island, South Coast and Okanagan) where land is in greater demand and there are development and population pressures, ALC decisions will continue to be made on the basis of the original principle of preserving agricultural land. In Zone 2, (the Interior, Kootenays, and the North) where growing seasons are shorter and there are lower value crops, ALC decisions will now, in addition to the original principle, include the consideration of non-farm uses.

“It’s about finding improvements, not about finding cost savings,” said Forests Minister Steve Thomson last week, announcing the changes for Agriculture Minister Pat Pimm.

He stressed several times the new structure “won’t changes the independence of the commission. The focus is about sustaining the farm sector.”

The ministry backgrounder states the new regulations will “allow new, limited, value-added farming activities, such as food processing, on farmland.”

Thomson said it is about allowing “home-based” businesses on farms, however when asked what constitutes a home-based business or what kinds of non-farm activities would be allowed, he said those are yet to be determined.

Acceptable uses will be determined through regulation in consultation with the ALC, the agricultural sector and Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

The ALC’s existing model of six regions and six regional panels will be formalized, with regional panels making decisions for their specific regions.

In addition, local governments will be required to engage the ALC earlier in land-use planning processes, such as Official Community Plans.

Free Press briefing

Norton says the previous legislation governing the ALC was too limiting.

“It gives (the ALC) an array of tools that they can use to make common sense decisions,” Norton said.

The changes, however, are being

soundly criticized by the New Democrats.

The Agricultural Land Commission and Agricultural Land Reserve were both created in the early 1970s when the NDP were first in power under Dave Barrett.

“Breaking apart the Agricultural Land

Reserve is breaking trust with British Columbians, who overwhelmingly support the protection of farmland for today and for the future,” said NDP agriculture critic Nicholas Simons. “The ALR was created to protect farmland in all of British Columbia, not just in some regions of British Columbia.

“The way to support farmers is with program support like extension officers, farm insurance and other farmer friendly policies, not by opening up farmland to industrial activities, residential development and other non-farm uses.”

He said the changes will give “unaccountable B.C. Liberal appointees” the power to allow industrial and residential development on 90 per cent of ALR land.

NDP leadership candidate Mike Farnworth said less protection for farmland will leave the province in a “precarious” situation.

“People across the province are embracing locally grown food, and B.C. is uniquely positioned to meet that need,” he said. “But instead of capitalizing on the asset we have in protected farmland, the BC Liberals are determined to destroy it.”

YOUR CITY MATTERS April 4, 2014

provisions of Section 26(3) of the Community Charter that the City of Prince George intends to lease 1412 2nd Avenue, Prince George, BC legally described as Part of Lots 10 to 12, Block 19, District Lot 343, Cariboo District Plan 1268 to Lawrence Prasad dba 2nd Thoughts Buy & Sell for a term of 1 year at a rent of $10,200.00 per year, plus applicable taxes, with one option to renew for a second term of 1 year at the then fair market rent.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING Regular Council Meeting Monday, April 14, 2014 – Council Chambers – 6:00 p.m.

Ian Wells, Director, Planning and Development

COUNCIL, COUNCIL COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS, AND BOARDS MEETINGS Committee of the Whole Monday, April 7, 2014 – 2nd Floor Conference Room – 6:00 p.m.

Advisory Committee on Development Design Wednesday, April 9, 2014 – 2nd Floor Conference Room – 12:00 p.m.

Council has appointed city manager Beth James as the city’s representative on the 2015 Canada Winter Games Host Society.

Advisory Committee on Enhancing Prince George (Enhance PG) Thursday, April 13, 2014 – 2nd Floor Conference Room – 12:00 p.m

LANE IN WINNIPEG

PUBLIC NOTICE

Former fire chief John Lane, who resigned last fall, has been hired as the fire chief in Winnipeg.

Real Estate Services NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to the

PROCLAMATIONS - April is proclaimed “Daffodil Month” - April is proclaimed “Autism Awareness Month” - April 2, 2014 is proclaimed “World Autism Awareness Day” - April 6 to April 12, 2014 is proclaimed “National Volunteer Week”

MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY The staff at Memorial Park Cemetery is currently performing Spring Clean-up duties, in preparation for Easter, Mother’s Day, and the summer season. In order to maintain

the beauty of our cemetery, staff is removing faded, seasonal and weather-worn flowers, and any non-compliant items from the cemetery.

Residents wishing additional information can contact Cemetery Administration at 250-562-4661.

INVITATION TO BID Request for Proposal: T14-10 Asphaltic Concrete Rehabilitation and Related Works Closing Date: April 14, 2014 For information concerning City of Prince George bidding opportunities visit BC Bid at www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca

JOB POSTINGS 14/030 – Asphalt Raker (Summer Seasonal) Closing Date: April 4, 2014 14/031 -- Arborist 1 (Full Time) Closing Date: April 4, 2014 14/037 – Event Coordinator (Term, Part-Time) Closing Date: April 9, 2014 For more information on Job Postings please visit www.princegeorge.ca

SECOND LOOK AT SUITES Hot on the heels of taking a second look at the off-street parking rates, Coun. Frank Everitt has served a notice of motion to review council’s decision last year to require rental properties to have business licences.

“Implementation of the business licence fees has created inconsistencies between the different classes of residential properties,” Everitt said in his notice of motion.

1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC V2L 3V9 Tel. (250) 561-7600 • Fax (250) 612-5605 www.princegeorge.ca • ServiceCentre@city.pg.bc.ca

8

Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

Friday, April 4, 2014

www.pgfreepress.com

Last spike centennial Jeff Elder Special to Free Press

? ?

Are you new to Prince George?

Have you delivered a baby in the last 3 months?

Or know someone who is pregnant?

Call: Leandra Hooker-Armstrong

1-866-856-8442

welcomewagonpg@hotmail.com

Welcome Wagon has information and gifts to present on these occasions.

Visits are done by appointment Northern Region & Surrounding Area Call: 1.866.856.8442 www.welcomewagon.ca

“Lucy” Lucy is a 6 month old Jack Russel Terrier/Cocker Spaniel. She is very high energy and will need a very active guardian. Lucy wants to always be with people. If you are looking for a dog that will be able to keep you active she is the girl for you.

The last spike on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was driven 100 years ago just east of Fort Fraser on April 7, 1914.

A plaque near the site notes the importance of the railway in opening up central British Columbia and the financial problems that plagued the company, forcing it to amalgamate with Canadian National Railways in 1923.

Stretching 4,800 kilometres from Winnipeg to Prince Rupert, the Grand Trunk Pacific was Canada’s second transcontinental railway. The Canadian Pacific Railway was our first transcontinental railway, completed on Nov. 7, 1885, with the last spike driven at Craigellachie, B.C., near Revelstoke.

The weekly Fort George Herald newspaper of Saturday April 11, 1914 had Mon. Apr. 6 as the date of the last spike on the GTP. Several books give different locations and dates for the event. However, a 1974 letter from R.A. Harlow, a GTP surveyor who was at the last spike ceremony at Fort Fraser, confirmed April 7, 1914 as the correct date.

The event was described on the Herald’s front page.

“About twenty railway officials from Winnipeg arrived on the scene early in the day by special train, and although no public announcement had been made and no invitations issued there were over 1500 persons present at the history-making ceremony. The track-laying gangs had previ-

Photo courtesy of The Exploration Place Driving the last spike on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway on April 7, 1914.

ously arranged to have a mile of grade left open for a speed contest between the gangs of east and west. Both teams started off together but it was soon evident that the men from the east had more order and system in their work and were easy winners with 14 minutes to spare. A large flag pole was erected at the centre post where a large crowd gathered, and the official photographer and moving picture man got into position.

“When they came together there was a scene of great enthusiasm and the Union Jack was hoisted to the top of the pole. The last spikes, about nine on each rail, were driven by the several officials attending. In an interview before the ceremony Vice President Donaldson said that during the past week the GTP had shipped to Prince George alone no less than seven tons of settlers’ effects. This statement will give some idea to the rank and file of the rapidity with which settlers are pouring into the country.”

It would be several months before regular train travel was available for passengers

If Lucy sounds like your type of dog, contact the BC SPCA at 250-562-5511 or visit us at: 4011 Lansdowne Road • northcariboo@spca.bc.ca

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Construction seems to have picked up somewhat in Prince George, according to the value of building permits issued.

In February, 15 building permits were issued with an estimated value of $10.4 million. In February last year, 24 permits were issued with a value of $4.6 million and in February of 2012, 23 permits were issued with a value of $2.1 million.

To the end of February this year, 26 permits were issued in the city with a value of $13.3 million, down from the 44 issued in the first two months of last year that were, however, only

worth $8.3 million.

The February 2014 building permits include four new single-family dwellings worth $1 million and two new multi-family units worth $739,000.

Significant building permits issued include: improvements to the Finning mechanic shop worth $1.5 million; canopy revision and re-cladding for Finning International worth $306,000; the University Hospital of Northern B.C. Learning and Development Centre worth $5.9 million; and the washroom block for the Learning Centre worth $595,800.

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wanting to travel from Fort George to Prince Rupert and points west due to washouts, settling of the track and maintenance required on the railway.

With the GTP completed, Harlow noted that “Canada had a coast-to-coast railway through the lowest mountain pass with the lowest gradient and flattest curves on the North American continent.”

A special two-week train trip is being offered April 1- 15 by Rail Travel Tours to mark the 100th anniversary of the last spike on the Grand Trunk Pacific, running from Toronto to Prince Rupert and back. The Railway and Forestry Museum on River Road will have an exhibit opening in late April on the anniversary of the arrival of rail in Fort George.

The museum has a piece of the last rail laid on April 7, 1914 that will be on display (the rail was cut into quarter-inch slices that were polished, engraved and given as souvenirs to GTP officials).

Jeff Elder is a member of the Prince George Heritage Commission.

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Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

Friday, April 4, 2014

COLLEGE HEIGHTS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Sawmills and dust

Now corporations were asking the union to join them in finding a solution to explosions in B.C. Matters was asked to join the CEO Task Force. The Canfor commissioned former Vancouver Sun business reporter Gordon first thing to do was to clean the sawdust out of all the Hamilton to report on how the forest industry responded to the tragic mills and then, with the immediate hazard removed, find sawmill explosions that occurred in Burns Lake and Prince George in 2012. out under what conditions sawdust becomes explosive, Hamilton was granted access to two Canfor sawmills and interviewed conduct a risk assessment at each mill and devise more company representatives spanning roles from the sawmill floor to the CEO. effective ways of dealing with dust. Finally the task force The articles detail the many measures the industry is taking to control wood dust, how the process unfolded in the aftermath of the incidents, and the wanted to establish a way of auditing dust mitigation science behind the response. This is the second of a three-part series. measures to make sure the issue doesn’t return.

The task force used an already-established industry Gordon Hamilton safety group, called MAG, the Manufacturers Advisory Special to the Free Press Group, to take on the combustible dust issue. Former Canfor chief forester Ken Higginbotham was brought out On the morning of April 24, 2012, Canfor president of retirement to head it in its new role.

Don Kayne awoke in Vancouver to a world that had The CEOs’ decision to own the issue meant that it was changed overnight. taken seriously at every level, Higginbotham said.

The violent explosion the night before at a competitor’s Quite separately, WorkSafeBC was also requiring sawmill in Prince George, Lakeland Mills, was the second companies to undertake a risk assessment of all mills and mill explosion within three months. Something – possibly to develop a wood dust control program. Further, the B.C. sawdust from dry, beetle-killed timber – had turned two Safety Authority, responsible for the safe installation and sawmills into deadly workplaces. operation of electrical and gas systems in sawmills, issued The Lakeland Mills explosion killed two and injured an order requiring mills to establish processes around dust 22. It was by appearances nearly identical to an explosion build-up. three months earlier at Babine Forest Products at Burns The directives from the regulators on sawdust manageLake, that had killed two and injured 20. Although there ment were the first indications to industry that wood dust was no proven cause, sawdust was the one element both was viewed as a key factor. mills blasts had in common.

Canfor safety manager Ross Lennox explained how As chief executive officer of one of the largest forest Canfor responded to both the MAG and the directive companies in North America, from the regulators.

Kayne was one of the few people “We brought together in British Columbia who had a team of people from the power and the ability to across Canfor, it involved do something about the risks people from across all of to workers and mills posed by our operations. sawdust.

“We also involved So when Hank Ketcham, technical experts and chairman of rival West Fraser engineers who have been Timber, called later that morntrained and qualified ing about the explosion and its Dust that eludes the extraction system at working in the insurance implications to the province’s Canfor’s Prince George Sawmill is cleaned industry to participate forest industry, the two men up by staff like Thomas Seright, who is using as part of that process. decided that they needed to act. a broom to prevent dust build-up on pipes Over the course of about and level surfaces.

They couldn’t wait, their a week and a half, these employees couldn’t wait, for an inquiry to determine what teams went out to all of Canfor’s facilities and undertook had happened, said Kayne. that risk assessment.”

“There was understandably a lot of concern. That was The same process was underway at the 55 mills owned huge, for the first while, to ensure employees felt confident by MAG’s 12 corporate members. They opened their that they were safe coming to work,” Kayne said of that sawmills to each other so that collectively, safety managers first day. could see what works and what doesn’t when it comes to If the two largest companies didn’t take the lead in sawdust control. That level of co-operation was unprecshowing that the industry was safe, who would? edented in an industry where the difference between “We have to put something in place to make sure profit and loss is measured in how milling technologies that this never happens again,” Kayne recalled Ketcham are applied. Mills do not share their secrets easily. saying in that first conversation. “We need to do someThe CEOs’ involvement changed that and safety people thing immediately, not in a week or two or three, we need began touring each other’s mills. The union and the comsomething set up right away,” panies also worked closely together. The CEOs knew that Kayne and Ketcham called their fellow CEOs, chief no two mills are alike, and if the sawdust issue were to be executives from major lumber companies like Tolko, corrected, MAG needed to catalogue best practices and Interfor, Dunkley, Western Forest Products and Conifex. share them with everybody.

They set up a meeting at a nearby hotel.

Matters also contacted all the sawmill locals.

By the end of the day, the CEOs had decided to put “If anyone had any discomfort at all about sawdust, their rivalries aside and to take the unprecedented step they were to stop work and start cleaning up,” he said. of forming what became known as the CEO Task Force.

Kayne took that same message to employees at the Their mandate was to develop a strategy for dealing with company’s B.C. mills. dust in sawmills. If the sawdust issue were to be resolved, At that point, May 2012, dust was still a theory; Matters the new direction needed to be set from the top. was not yet convinced himself. Issues around past pracFrom that first meeting, the task force grew to include tices surfaced almost immediately: It turned out practices 12 of the province’s largest forest companies, representing like getting out an air hose and blowing out the dust, 55 sawmills and 70 to 75 per cent of B.C.’s total lumber simply put more fine particles into the air. production.

“Information was beginning to trickle out and we The executives knew that they could not manage what realized cleaning up these mills is a bit of a specialty,” they did not understand. The task force wanted buy-in Matters said. “This was evolving, almost day-to-day after from workers as well as managers, which meant bringing in the Steelworkers Union.

Forest companies and the union were often at odds over workplace issues. This time, however, the union Associates Land Surveying Ltd. and the CEOs had a common objective: ensuring that x Building Layouts sawmills were safe work places. x Certificates of Location “Our workers needed assurances that whatever the hell x Consolidations happened there won’t happen again,” said Bob Matters, x Site Plans x Rights of Way head of the Steelworkers Wood Council, recalling the x Topographic Surveys days after the explosion. The Steelworkers have a national x Leases x Land Act Surveys reputation for taking a tough stand on safety. The union x Boundary Marking fought a 12-year battle to amend the Criminal Code to x Subdivisions 1633 1st Avenue Prince George BC include corporate negligence after the 1992 Westray coal Ph: 250-561-2229 z Fax: 250-563-1941 mine explosion in Nova Scotia that killed 26 workers.

Special Report:

9

Lakeland.”

The CEO Task Force also needed accurate science on what conditions create explosive dust before they could develop mitigation strategies and audit procedures. Cleaning up was a start, but until the issue was understood, there could be no guarantee there would not be a repeat.

In Nov. 2012, MAG’s efforts were recognized by the B.C. Safety Authority.

It received the province’s highest safety honour, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for its work on managing combustible dust. Further, the attitude to sawdust on the mill floor has changed as well.

“Before, when I would walk through a mill, (managers) used to talk about quality,” said Kayne.

“But now they know when I walk through a mill that I look up. I look at the rafters, I look at the beams.

“The awareness has changed.”

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10

Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

Friday, April 4, 2014

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11

BILL PHILLIPS | 250.564.0005 | editor@pgfreepress.com | www.pgfreepress.com

Try to read this

The Mountain Diaries

in a femtosecond?

Teresa MALLAM/Free Press Crystalynn Tarr stands at the Groop Gallery on Third Avenue with artworks from her new exhibition, The Mountain Diaries, which opened last week and runs until the end of April. For more information, visit the gallery’s website at www.groopgallery.com.

Farmland getting plowed under I’m a second-generation B.C. newspaperman. But I’m a thirdHere in Prince George, the land had to be removed from the generation B.C. farmer.

ALR to facilitate the airport logistics park. The list goes on.

My family has ranched the same piece of land for about 100 The argument that the ALR restricts development simply years now. We’ve been there a long time. My grandfather used doesn’t wash. It hampers rampant development that was dedynamite and horse teams to clear land that is now a productive signed without forethought to preserving some of what is great hayfield. about this province. That’s a good thing.

My father was a big supporter of the Agricultural Does it need some tweaking? Absolutely.

Land Reserve (ALR) when it was instituted 40 The government was singing a convincing tune years ago and, like a lot of people who understand when it announced changes to the ALR last week. It its function, wants it maintained. talked about how ranchers and farmers often have There have been plenty of complaints about the to take jobs off the farm to make ends meet. That ALR over the past 40 years. Those complaints usuwas also the case 40 years ago when the ALR was ally come from developers who want to develop brought in. something on farmland other than farms and poliBut let’s be clear. The changes brought in last week ticians who also want to push that development. are all about making it easier for development to Is that always bad? Not always. But the rhetoric occur on farmland. While the government says prewe hear about the ALR is that it is, or has, curbed serving farmland is still paramount, it’s clear this is development in this province. about opening farmland up for more development.

I disagree. Look to the Lower Mainland where And, as they say, the devil is in the details.

WRITER’S BLOCK the condos and strip malls continue their relentless Forest Minister Steve Thomson, in announcing BILLPHILLIPS march across fertile farmland, or the Okanagan the changes, talked a lot about how it allows ranchwhere our prized B.C. wineries are being replaced. The small ers to operate small businesses that are non-farm related, on valley where I grew up and where the Phillips farm remains, is their property. When I asked what constitutes a small business a classic example. There are fewer people living in the Elk Valley the response was that hasn’t been determined yet. When I asked now than there were 40 years ago when the ALR was created. whether allowing a third party to do business on farm property However, there is considerably less farmland available. (i.e. allowing a developer to build condos) the answer was the There are rows and rows of condos sitting on what was once same … that hasn’t been determined yet. farmland. The kicker is that the area is now a tourist destination What is clear is that the changes announced last week to the because of the ski hill and most of those condos sit empty for six ALR are more about opening up farmland to development, not months of the year. preserving it.

Professional Theatre

How can it be April already?

I’m pretty sure it was just last week that I was working Operation Red Nose on New Year’s Eve, and now you’re telling me March is over?

OK, I get it. Somebody’s pulling an April Fool’s joke on me by trying to tell me it’s April 4, when I know it’s actually only March 35.

After all, if it isn’t April yet, it can’t be time for April Fool’s Day, right?

Wait a minute, you mean it really is April? This isn’t a joke?

It has to be a joke, though. I mean, the Toronto Raptors in the playoffs and the Vancouver Canucks out of them? That can’t be right.

Speaking of time (and how’s that for a nice little segue?), there is a unit of time scientists refer to as a “femtosecond”. A femtosecond is a millionth of a billionth of a second. A femtosecond has the same relation to a second as a second does to 32 million years.

So what good is a unit of time that small? Well, several people have come up with practical, everyday occasions where a femtosecond is a useful period of time.

For instance, a femtosecond is the period of time: • between when the light turns ALLAN’S AMBLINGS green and the driver behind you ALLANWISHART leans on their horn; • between when a parking spot opens up at Pine Centre Mall at Christmas and when that same parking spot is filled again; or • between staring at a crossword puzzle clue in complete bewilderment and seeing it in complete and glorious comprehension.

There is one unit of time which is even shorter than a femtosecond, however, even if science has not yet given it an official name. That is the period of time between the house or car door locking and the realization your keys are still on the other side of the door.

I also noticed again this week another incredibly short period of time. It’s the time some drivers save by weaving in and out of traffic.

On one day, while I was driving on Ospika Boulevard, I had two different drivers come racing up behind me, discover (to their shock) that I was actually obeying the speed limit, pull out (usually without signalling) into the other lane, race by me, get back into my lane (again without signalling) . . . and then turn one block up the road.

So that extra second or so they gained by racing by me was worth it when they were only going to turn off the road that soon? I don’t think so.

I’m waiting for the day when one of these drivers is engaged in this maneuver and finds a police vehicle taking an interest in the speed he is driving at.

I think he’ll end up losing more than the second he gained with his speeding.

at the Parkhill Centre

Tickets available at Books & Company 250.614.0039

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12

www.pgfreepress.com

Friday, April 4, 2014

I’ve never cancelled a newspaper subscription because of bad cartoons or editorials. If that were the case, I wouldn’t have any newspapers or magazines to read.

- Richard M. Nixon

BILL PHILLIPS | 250.564.0005 | editor@pgfreepress.com | www.pgfreepress.com

Just fooling around

D

id you get suckered in by any good April Fool’s Day pranks this year?

No, Paul McCartney is not coming to Prince George.

Along with the pranks Tuesday morning, there were many changes to your everyday life that weren’t all that funny. Here are some of those changes:: Hydro rates will began their 28 per-cent climb starting with a nine per cent jump April 1. It’s the first of annual increases over the next three years.

Ferry fares will increase again by four per cent.

Not a huge daily issue for us in the North, but an increase to many in this province nonetheless. The April Fool’s Day hike was on top of a 3.5 per cent hike in January.

On top of that, coastal communities from Prince Rupert down are up in arms over changes to the less-profitable, but vital to the communities they serve, routes away from the Lower Mainland. Opposition to the service cuts to those communities resulted in Highways Minister Todd Stone reversing the dictate of his former boss, Gordon Campbell, and every premier back to, and including W.A.C. Bennett … that the ferry system is part of the provinces highway system.

Then, to accommodate that huge demographic of British Columbians poised to retire … they cut ferry discounts for seniors in half.

The LiveSmart program for businesses also ended April 1. The Prince George Chamber of Commerce ran the program in Prince George that successfully helped businesses become energy efficient. FortisBC and BC Hydro have started funding a similar program for homeowners.

And these are on top of some of the other goodies. Medical Services Plan premiums went up in January, for the fifth year in a row. And they will go up again next year. The Liberals have managed to double MSP premiums during their tenure.

ICBC rates are expected to increase between 3.4 and 6.4 per cent by the end of the year.

We have stories in this edition of the Free Press about both UNBC and CNC struggling to balance their books. Enrolment is always a factor, but so is decreased funding from the province.

April Fools Day has come and gone. It would just be nice if it didn’t feel like we’re being played for fools all year long.

Be first to add to the story or read what your neighbour thinks. Be a part of your community paper.

Comment online.

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The heart of our future During the lead-up to the civic elections in November, was visionary, and many of the facilities included in the plan many questions will be posed to candidates. have since been built and built at a much higher cost. That Voters will want to know their views on many things rang- was an opportunity fumbled and lost so we should not be ing from potholes to the prospect of a performing arts centoo quick to shoot ourselves in the foot again. tre. The wise candidates will have answers designed to alienThe city funds and maintains many civic facilities. The ate the fewest number of voters. Therefore, their answers will majority of residents appreciate the value of having hockey be as vague and non-committal as they can get away with. arenas, indoor swimming pools, soccer and ball fields, parks That is just standard political practice. and a host of other facilities which bring us toPotholes, patching and paving has a gether as a community. A performing arts centre high profile in our city. As a city in a harsh may well be the next best addition to civic life we northern climate and high volumes of heavy can invest in. industrial traffic, our roads and highways take We are an improvised community in terms a severe beating every winter. We are blessed of social venues. A great deal of applause and with winters which allow moisture to penadmiration must be given to groups such as Judy etrate, freeze, thaw, get soggy, and freeze again Russell dancers who give us the Nutcracker ballet and on and on. These freeze/thaw cycles are every year, the Prince George Symphony who as effective as a big crew with jackhammers. manage to bring wonderfully diverse and profesThe more cycles we have, the more rapidly our sional performances, and all the other groups pavement deteriorates. That is a simple fact of from blues bands to little theatre. They overcome northern life. the almost impossible task of delivering a great ONSIDE Prince George pothole protesters are VICBOWMAN performance in the barn of Vanier Hall. Vanier, numerous enough to form their own politiwith the acoustical qualities of a large cardboard cal movement. PPP is certainly a name which would get box and the technical capacity of a home workshop, is useful noticed. It would be interesting to have a civic group propos- for high school assemblies and little else. ing candidates motivated by the PPP. They would likely end Since the dawn of man, there has been something special up being a one-term wonder as little would change. Their and bonding about coming together to participate in live philosophy that potholes in the city must be banned forever events. It is a powerful experience which cannot be repliranks right up there with climate change deniers. cated anywhere on our 200 channel television. People being The ongoing discussion of building a real performing with other people, experiencing the same emotions, laugharts centre will also arise. It will be protested by those who ing together or crying together, is the core of a cohesive and protest every step forward as too expensive for the poor and dynamic community. often ignored taxpayer to fund.

Let it be a civic election issue and see if those who wish It is unfortunate that the citizens of the city decided we to sit on council have a position. The future is not built with didn’t need a Discovery Place about three decades ago when bricks and mortar but in the hearts of those who live in the federal and provincial funding was bountifully available. It community.

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This Prince George Free Press is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent within 45 days to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org * Based on Stats Canada average of 2.2 person per household. ** CCAB Audit March 2013.

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Friday, April 4, 2014

13

Whenever you have an efficient government, you have a dictatorship - Harry S. Truman

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Farmland won’t be protected Editor: An open letter to Premier Christy Clark I am writing to express my deep concerns about the proposed amendments (Bill 24) to the Agricultural Land Commission Act and the negative impacts these changes will have on the provincial agricultural land base, our farmers, and the future of our province.

The very purpose of land use planning in the public domain is to envision a desirable future that reflects the public interest, understand what decisions about land resources need to be made today to achieve that vision, and translate these decisions into policies that protect the land base and allocate its uses.

The ultimate outcome of land use planning processes is to minimize uncertainty and maximize stability for the benefit of both public and private interests.

In this context, the strength of farmland preservation policy resides in clear statements that protecting the agricultural land base and promoting farming as its highest and best use are long-term public priorities. These statements must be embedded in provincial policy, integrated across jurisdictions, and implemented free of undue political interference. In contrast, the proposed changes presented in Bill 24 undermine the basic principles of land use planning by increasing uncertainty for all concerned while undermining the public interest in preserving B.C.’s agricultural land base.

My concerns centre on several critical areas. The focus on providing flexibility for farmers to have non-farm uses of their land is misguided; it serves no purpose other than to promote

private interests at the expense of the finite agricultural land base in the province.

The restructuring of the ALC panels to reflect local priorities serves only to undermine the very purpose of having a provincial statement of public interest to preserve farmland.

The broadening considerations for non-farm uses and land exclusions will weaken the mandate of farmland preservation.

The political appointment of regional panel members and CEO will erode the independence of the ALC and its ability to fulfil its mandate free from political interests.

In sum, upon the day it is passed, I believe that Bill 24 will increase uncertainty in the marketplace and undermine the stability of the agricultural land base that has been forged over the past 40 years. The consequences of eroding the province’s ability to protect its agricultural land base will be irreversible.

My views on agricultural land use planning are informed by a rich and varied background and qualifications. I am an Associate Professor in the School of Environmental Planning at the University of Northern British Columbia with a background in business development, economic development, and community development. I am a Registered Professional Planner with undergraduate degrees in Economics and Commerce, a Master’s degree in Business Administration, and a doctoral degree in sustainable rural communities.

My work experience includes international management consulting, small business consulting, and

working in the non-profit sector for at-risk youth programs and healthy communities. By drawing upon all of these experiences and areas of knowledge I have come to see protecting farmland as a foundation for a more sustainable society.

From this perspective I see that British Columbia has been a leader in enacting policy to protect its farmland and improving prospects for a more sustainable society. Now I am concerned that the proposed changes to the ALC Act will lead British Columbia toward problems not only for its farmers and agricultural land base but for the future of all of its residents.

David J. Connell, MBA PhD RPP Prince George

Government, industry, unions work to combat sawmill dust Government, the forest industry, organized labour and WorkSafeBC have issued the following statement following their March 28 meeting in Vancouver focused on combustible dust and sawmill safety: “We had a frank and open discussion on sustainable compliance at this meeting and the result is an aggressive co-ordinated plan to accomplish a number of specific outcomes in the next 90 days. That plan includes a number of key components: • The Council of Forest Industries will contemplate their ability to stipulate membership conditions related to compliance with the combustible dust strategy.

• A team of technical experts will be established by industry and supported by WorkSafeBC to help all mills on compliance with the Workers Compensation Act and the occupational health and safety regulation.

• The Manufacturers’ Advisory Group, made up of a dozen companies which ac-

count for about 75 per cent of B.C.’s lumber production, has developed a Dust Mitigation and Control Audit protocol and is offering it to mills of every size throughout B.C. The group will use its expertise and resources to ensure that best practices regarding sawmill dust risk reduction are shared with any company needing help within the province.

• At organized labour’s request, this audit tool will be reviewed by all parties to evaluate it as an enforceable standard. WorkSafeBC has agreed to lead that discussion.

• Sawmill employers, organized labour, and WorkSafeBC will launch an awareness campaign on workers’ rights in refusing unsafe work. A toolbox kit on the issue will be provided by WorkSafeBC to employers, health and safety committees, and health and safety representatives in all sawmills.

• WorkSafeBC will double the size of the designated inspection team to 20 and launch

further sawmill inspections during Phase 4 of their Sawmill Inspection Initiative. The focus of this phase will be on companies which were found to be out of compliance, particularly in Phase 3, but all sawmills will be included.

• WorkSafeBC will write to the 61 sawmills with combustible dust compliance issues during Phase 3 to set expectations for the next round of inspections. Where there is repeat non-compliance, WorkSafeBC Officers will consider penalties.

• WorkSafeBC is currently reviewing its Occupational Health and Safety Policy with a focus, at this stage, on high-risk violations and the consequences for non-compliance. The elements that can lead to a dust explosion will be included.

• All parties agreed to continue the dialogue from the meeting on April 1, 2014, when WorkSafeBC hosts a joint meeting with industry and labour at the COFI convention in Kelowna.

All of us agree that the overarching concern here is every worker has the right to a safe workplace and to come home safe at the end of their shift.”

Shirley Bond, Minister, Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Labour Steve Thomson, Minister, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Ted Seraphim, President and CEO, West Fraser Timber; Chair, COFI Rick Jeffery, President and CEO, Coast Forest Products Association Jim Hackett, President, Interior Lumber Manufacturers’ Association Bob Matters, Chair, United Steelworkers Wood Council Diana Miles, Chief Operating Officer, WorkSafeBC Don Kayne, President and CEO, Canfor Ken Higginbotham, Project Manager, Sawmill Dust Initiative Manufacturers’ Advisory Group

Living between a rock and a hard place Editor: I’ve considered writing on this subject for some time and with the current governments (provincial/federal/local) undermining the state of our resources in accordance with their ideas of necessity I feel I may as well spew forth some opinion.

Right across British Columbia, for example, we are due for a change in our ability to provide for our mobilized lifestyles, that most of us fear to accept, as the inevitable consequence of living in and for mobility.

The system we had for the last 300 years was exploiting the surface of the land through easily acquired resources such as timber, hydro-electric power, farmed-gathered foodstuffs, minerals, shallow drilling, etc. As I write, wheels are in motion to change the very nature of the provincial/federal/local laws which were placed in effect over the prior 100 years in an effort to protect our environment from the dangers of overexploitation This mobile lifestyle is a consequence of hundreds of years,

if not thousands, of trying to dominate the fear of our natural environment. It is a hard thing to purposely consider when the term ‘fear’ is used but that is exactly what drives the human expansion endeavors.

The term I first encountered was “expansionist-politic”, used years ago to name the driving force behind non-sedentary and sedentary cultures. As humankind became more aware of its environs it also became more accepting and thus more manipulative, as well, and the end result is where we currently stand on a global basis. This is exactly the same theme which allows every species to interact but the exception is in choice for humans have a greater cognition and so greater is the ability to choose what and how to interact with its environs.

Unfortunately for a host of other species human choices have historically and systematically favored humans rather than seeking balanced mobility. All of this can be understood by the belief systems humans have allowed to further our particular aims of domination. The facts from conflict, pollution, weather

patterns, and such are growing by leaps and bounds on a daily basis as inevitable boundaries and limitations appear. These represent the ‘rock’ in the title of this article and the ‘hard place’ is our refusal to accept that our industries of mobility are the cause. It seems we’ve become complacent in this false belief that we, are the pinnacle of creation and deserve some sort of “punitive reward” for being thus.

The governments at all level represent the consensus of thinking by the members of all societies in what we are willing to accept by design.

Even those of us who question the motifs set forth and the motives behind them are still a part of this whether we admit it, like it, or not. So I’ll end this brief opinion by asking the question which is on the lips of many humans at this point in time......”what will you do to ensure that your children’s children have a life?”

Dennis Ouellette Prince George

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Friday, April 4, 2014

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MAY DAY: Annual parade in downtown Prince George cancelled

TERESA MALLAM | 250.564.0005 | arts@pgfreepress.com | www.pgfreepress.com BUSINESS FAIR Spring Home Business Fair at the Hart Pioneer Center, 6986 Hart Highway. Saturday, April 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shake those winter blues away and join in on the fourth annual Spring Business Fair with over 35 home-based businesses. Free Tim Hortons Coffee and other snacks. Lots of prizes to be won.

FASHION SHOW The third annual Girl Friends Who Care Fashion Show, a fundraiser for the Prince George Rotary Hospice House is on May 3 at the Ramada Hotel. Tickets are $50 and go on sale at Butterfly Threads on April 10.

The event features dessert only buffet, entertainment, women’s trade show with lots to try, buy and see.

Spring fashion show features fashions from Butterfly Threads.

WALK OF SORROW Join in on the annual Walk of Sorrows, Way to Freedom on Good Friday, April 18 starting from the steps of City Hall at 12:30 p.m. and winding through the downtown streets following in Our Lord’s footsteps, finishing up at the Courthouse.

This beautiful and moving procession is always the perfect and meaningful start to the Easter weekend.

GOSPEL SONGS The Gospel Singers present Elvis’ Gospel Favourites at the Elder Citizens Recreation Centre, 1692 Tenth Ave. on Saturday, April 26 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 27 at 2 p.m.

Featuring pipers from the Prince George Pipe Band, also Dan Watt on guitar.

Admission: Adults $10, children five to 12 $5, tickets available at the office and the door. Headsets for the hard of hearing available at the door.

Growing up with Down Siblings learn from brother born with Down Syndrome Teresa Mallam arts@pgfreepress.com As a family, they were a “baker’s dozen.”

Thirteen children growing up with loving, hardworking parents on a farm in St. Catherines, Prince Edward Island.

Celeste Veld of Prince George was 13 years old when her brother Parnell was born Oct. 15, 1954.

“There were no prenatal ultrasounds and blood tests like there are now, to identify Down Syndrome,” said Veld. “My mom just knew from the start that he was different from the rest of us.”

However, he was never treated that way.

Veld’s brother Parnell is now 60 years old and lives in a group home. For most of his life, though, he lived at home, raised along with the rest of his siblings.

“The life expectancy of a person with DS, at that time (in the 1950s) was, I think, not beyond 21. So Parnell has done a good job of blowing that statistic out of the water.”

Shortly after he was born, Veld said her parents realized Parnell might need more special care than their other children, and took him to a pediatrician for advice.”

What they heard was “shocking,” says Veld.

“The pediatrician said, ‘He’s no good, he will never be any good. Put him away somewhere and forget about him.’”

Veld said her parents were horrified: “This is our precious son, a child of God. He will not be put away or treated any different than any of our other 12 children.”

So they took Parnell home and the entire family rallied around their brother, said Veld.

“We all took it upon ourselves to teach and help Parnell all we could [given] his limited ability for academics and such ... but that was of no concern considering all he was teaching us – such as love, patience, forgiveness and tolerance.

“Things we taught him like good manners, good hygiene and helpfulness, he grasped these very well.”

Parnell was involved in everything the family was doing, said Veld.

“We never left him out of anything. I think if he had been put in a home, back then, he could have been over-medicated and gotten lonely in there – and maybe even died of a broken heart.”

Indeed, his family has always been there for him.

Even now, the group home where Parnell lives is overseen by his brother Richard and sister-in-law Linda who make sure he and other residents have love, support and good quality care.

It was his father who made it all possible.

“My father was a visionary, one of the great think-

Teresa MALLAM/Free Press Celeste Veld with a portrait of her brother Parnell, 60, who has Down Syndrome and who “brings joy” to their whole family and everyone he meets.

ers of the community [Souris] in which we lived,” said Veld.

“He foresaw the day when he and Mom would not be able to totally care for Parnell themselves and they knew we would be busy with raising our own families.

So Dad began organizing fundraisers to build a group home for not only Parnell but others like him.”

After years of sharing his vision and raising funds, the group home became a reality. Parnell spends most of his time there, although he still enjoys going home for visits to the family farm.

Everyone who meets Parnell finds him uplifting and cheerful with a sense of humour and a “prankster” personality.

“He likes to play tricks on people and he’s always blurting out funny things and making us laugh.”

He is more aware and knowing that some people think, said Veld.

“When he saw me in a wheelchair for the first time he was shocked. [Veld was diagnosed with MS and was then in a wheelchair. She’s now walking – another story, she says.]

“He came over and held my hand and said to me, “Cess (he can’t pronounce Celeste), you sick. Lord have mercy.’ This was pretty profound because back in 1997, he couldn’t put more than one or two words together.”

When Veld’s husband Scotty passed away in 2009, Parnell was at the viewing and someone tried to tell him Scotty was just sleeping. “’No, daddy’s dead, not sleeping,’” Veld recalls her brother saying. “He knew a lot more than some people gave him credit for.”

She and Parnell were always close, said Veld, and when she and Scotty were dating, he often went too.

“If we were going to the beach, to church or just for a drive, Parnell was always along for the ride. Parnell never forgot this.”

Her brother is a perfectionist who always makes sure he’s dressed well and everything around him is in order, said Veld. He loves good food and he enjoys all life’s experiences to the fullest – but he has no knowledge about things like money matters.

“He works hard. Every day, he gets up and goes to work in the woodworking shop for people with disabilities. He refinishes furniture and he just loves doing that.

Last year the family believed they might lose Parnell, who had pneumonia and Veld said she put her thoughts on paper about their life together. She realized how much he’s enriched other people’s lives.

“Whenever I think of the amount of joy he brings to everybody around him, it makes me smile. When he was in hospital, the nurses all wanted to look after him because he brings such a light into their lives, he has this glow about him.

“And when I think that a doctor wanted to have him put away – and 60 years later he’s still here and giving all this joy to the world. I hate to think what his fate might have been if my parents did not take him home so we could all love and care for him.”

Veld is awed at what he’s accomplished in his life.

“Parnell may have had many mental and physical limitations, nor formal education, no college degrees but he surely was a teacher. He taught us all how to live, how to laugh and how to love.”

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Friday, April 4, 2014

15

Tammy Rae (formerly from Razor’s Edge)

would like to invite her current and new clients to come and see her at “Rock your Hair Studio”

1661 Spruce Street (beside Sylvan Learning Centre)

250-563-0043

Yovanka Adanic would like to invite her existing clientele and new clientele, to her new salon “Rock your Hair Studio”

1661 Spruce Street

Teresa MALLAM/Free Press

(beside Sylvan Learning Centre)

Artist/illustrator/instructor Wendy Framst (third from right) with her students whose art work is on display this week at the Prince George Public Library, Keith Gordon Room.

Art gets Fresh Looks Teresa Mallam arts@pgfreepress.com Fresh Looks, the name of an exhibit showcasing student art, officially opened Sunday in the Keith Gordon Room of the Prince George Public Library.

The exhibit runs until April 5.

Students of varying ages, all working with artist/illustrator Wendy Framst, were on hand to talk about their art pieces, their use of colour and the techniques they used. The group exhibit includes works mostly done in acrylics and water colours, and Framst says a theme and common colour palette connects their works.

“Most of the artists are young and none of them are public speakers but I am so proud that they agreed to talk at the opening about their art,” she said.

The works were done during instructional classes this year and Framst says she is just as inspired by her students as they are by her.

It shows in the works on display.

“They used the same colour palette that I did in my water colours,” she said, “so that’s why there is a similarity in some of them – and we were all working on the same techniques.”

Framst said creating her art is a passion that borders on obsession. Her family members often find their table covered with her and her students’ art projects,

she told the audience.

“Painting and inspiring others to paint rejuvenates me [and] provides a personal therapy,” she said in her artist’s statement. “As part of this departure from my every day experience, I leave my family and friends each year, in order to take intensive workshops progressively farther and farther afield.”

After feeling inspired by her growing young children to begin painting seriously (they are featured in some of her earlier paintings), in 2000 she began giving art lessons to others.

“At first I began by teaching privately and by teaching a lesson each year in my children’s classes at school. This progressed to other classes with the school and eventually other schools.

Although I have been teaching many classes in many venues, I am looking forward to yet another new experience where I will be teaching two one-day workshops in Dawson Creek in April.”

Framst’s “retirement” plans include becoming a travelling workshop instructor, so the Dawson Creek workshop is a “good step in the right direction,” she says. As part of her own learning experiences, she has studied with contemporary water colourists Elizabeth Kincaid, Birgit O’ Connor, Tom Lynch, Paul Jackson and Soon Y Warren.

Framst’s formal education includes two university degrees: a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of

Social Work, and she now works as a contract specialist. But it is travel, life and having children that have perhaps given her the richest education, she says.

When she is not a teacher, she is a student.

“I choose art instructors that use intense contrast in value and saturated hues. The other exciting thing about the workshops I take is that I have been choosing locations farther and farther afield such as France and Italy.

My plan is to continue to take workshops until I can no longer hold a brush.”

Her next workshop is with Paul Jackson in Baltimore.

While she inspires the use of colour and creativity in her students, her students have a way of furthering her own artistic ambitions, she says.

“I am fortunate that some students and parents found me that share my love of painting and playing with materials. My students inspire me to continue combining my love of teaching with my love of painting.”

There are three adults in the class, two probation officers, one a stained glass artist, and they all say Framst’s art classes have allowed them to leave the cares of their day jobs behind them and get the creative juices flowing.

The Fresh Looks student art exhibit (along with some pieces

by Wendy Framst) is on display at the PG Public Library’s Keith Gordon Room until April 5 during regular library hours.

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COMMUNITY FORUM: RENEWING OUR WOODS Keeping our forests public and sustainable

Come out and discuss: 1. Forest tenure that works for all British Columbians 2. Bringing our forests back to health and sustainability

Speakers: Anthony Britneff, RPF; Vicky Husband, environmentalist; Leonard Thomas, Nak’azdli First Nation; Keith Atkinson, RPF; Arnold Bercov, PPWC; Frank Everitt, USW; Megan Scott, BCGEU; Scott Doherty, Unifor; Peter Ewart, SUFTN

Prince George 10-4pm, Saturday April 12 #1-310A, CNC Sponsors: Stand Up for the North, PPWC, USW 1-424, FACNC, BCGEU, North Labour Law, Unifor, North Central Labour Council

For further info: 250-562-0015 pgfreepress.com voices there’s more online »

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Friday, April 4, 2014

Datebook www.pgfreepress.com Friday Crown Market, FridaySunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 3955 Hart Highway.

Read-to-me Storytime, Fridays, 10-10:45 a.m., South Fort George Family Resource Centre, 1200 La Salle.

Information: 250-6140684.

Al-Anon New Hope AFG meets Fridays, 7:30-8:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 483 Gillett St. Information: 250-561-3244.

Saturday Prince George’s 100-foot Diet, April 5, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Artspace. Information: Dave 250-963-8578, Krista 250-564-2116.

Craft and bake sale, April 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Hart Pioneer Centre.

Spring book sale, April 12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., downtown library.

Information: Margaret 250-561-2310.

Easter sale, April 12, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Information: Rose Marie 250-564-3577.

Nechako Public Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 5100 North Nechako Rd.

“GIVE A LITTLE… GAIN A LOT!” 2015 Games “WIN-WIN” PROMO for VOLUNTEERS! Support the work of Volunteer Prince George by signing up to volunteer for the 2015 Canada Winter Games during National Volunteer Week.

2015 Games will donate $2.15 per “new” volunteer sign-up from 8:30am Monday April 7 to 4:30 pm to Friday April 11, 2014 to Volunteer Prince George for their continued work in the community.

Go to www.canadagames2015.ca for details.

For information on volunteering with more than 100 non-profit organizations in Prince George, contact Volunteer Prince George

250-564-0224 www.volunteerpg.com

A Butler’s Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 1156 Fourth Ave. Bible talks, Sundays, 4 p.m., Columbus Community Centre, 7201 Domano Blvd.

Sunday Pancake breakfast, April 6, 9-11 a.m., Hart Pioneer Centre.

Fun Dog Obedience Match, April 6, Pawsitive Steps, 1839 First Ave. Registration 3:30 p.m..

Nechako Public Market, Sundays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 5100 North Nechako Rd. A Butler’s Market, Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 1156 Fourth Ave.

Monday Canasta, April 7, 7 p.m., Hart Pioneer Centre.

Tai Chi, Mondays, 1:30 p.m., Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, 3701 Rainbow Dr.

Cariboo Toastmasters meet Mondays, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Ramada Hotel, 444 George St. Information: caribootoastmasters.com or Laura (250) 961-3477.

Al-Anon Hart Serenity AFG meets Mondays, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Knox United Church, 1448 Fifth Ave. Information: 250-561-3244.

Northern Twister Square Dance Club meets Mondays, 7 p.m., Knox United Church basement. Information:

Gys 250- 563-4828 or Reta 250-962-2740.

Tuesday

A U T O B O D Y LT D .

Community Builder

Bridge, Tuesdays, 1 p.m., Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, 3701 Rainbow Dr.

Center City Toastmasters meet Tuesday, noon, City Hall Annex.

Information: 9164.toastmastersclubs.org.

Al-Anon PG Beginners AFG meets Tuesdays, 7-7:45 p.m., Knox United Church, 1448 Fifth Ave. Information: 250-5613244.

Buddhist meditation class, Tuesdays, 7:158:45 p.m., 320 Vancouver St. Information: 250-962-6876 or www. kmcvancouver.org.

Spruce Capital Toastmasters meet Tuesdays, 7:25 p.m., 102-1566 7th Ave. Information: Tom 250562-3402.

Sweet Adelines women’s four-part chorus meets Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m., Studio 2880.

New members welcome.

Information: Kathy 250563-5170.

Wednesday Bingo, Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m., Spruce Capital Senior Recreation Centre, 3701 Rainbow Dr. Whist, Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Senior Activity Centre, 425 Brunswick

Prince George dentist Dr. Arnold Steinbart, centre, receives the Honoured Member Award from President Dr. Peter Stevenson-Moore, left, and Registrar & CEO Mr. Jerome Marburg at the College of Dental Surgeons of B.C.’s annual awards in Vancouver.

Proud to recognize those who give in our community.

A U T O B O D Y LT D .

2065 - 1st Ave. • 250-563-0883 www.csninc.ca St. Al-Anon Hart Courage AFG meets Wednesdays, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Knox United Church, 1448 Fifth Ave. Information: 250-5613244.

Hart Toastmasters, Wednesdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Hart Pioneer Centre. Information: harttoastmasters.ca CNC Retirees meet fourth Wednesday, 9 a.m., D’Lanos.

Information: Lois 250563-6928.

Army Cadet Rangers free youth program, meets Wednesdays, 6:309:30 p.m., Connaught Youth Centre.

Information: Sondra 250-963-9462 or Andrew 250-981-8270.

Thursday Bingo, April 10, 12:30 p.m., Hart Pioneer Centre.

Potluck, April 10, 5 p.m., Hart Pioneer Centre.

Whist, April 10, 7 p.m., Hart Pioneer Centre.

Little Artists, Thursdays, 10:30-

11:30 a.m., South Fort George Family Resource Centre, 1200 La Salle.

Information: 250-6140684.

Prince George Grassroots Cribbage Club registration, 6:30 p.m. play 6:45 p.m., Thursdays, 3701 Rainbow Dr. Information: Gerda 250564-8561.

Tai chi, Thursdays, 7-9 p.m., Knox United Church, 1448 Fifth Ave. Information: Lister 250964-3849 or listerchen@ shaw.ca.

DayBreakers Toastmasters meets Thursday, 7-8 a.m., UHNBC Conference Room 1. Information: Heather 250-649-9591.

Al-Anon Mustard Seed AFG meets Thursdays, 7:30-8:30 p.m., St. Michael’s Anglican Church, 1505 Fifth Ave. Information: 250-561-3244.

BC Civil Liberties Union meets second Thursday of the month, 6 p.m., 1575 Fifth Ave. Plaza 400 Toastmaster Club meets Thursday, noon, Aleza room,

Thank You Prince George For Voting Us Best Auto Body Shop! fourth floor, Plaza 400 building, 1011 4th Ave. Information: 6252. toastmastersclubs.org/ or 250-564-5191.

Prince George Toastmasters meet Thursdays, 7:15 p.m., AiMHi, 950 Kerry St. Information: pgtoastmasters.com, Joyce 250-964-0961.

Old Time Fiddlers jam, Thursday, 7-10 p.m. Elder Citizens Rec Centre, 1692 10th Ave. ECRA Forever Young Chorus meet Thursdays, 12:45 p.m., ECRA, 1692 10th Ave.

Support Groups Tuesday night Tops (take off pounds sensibly) 6:15-7:15 p.m. weigh in, 7:308:30 meeting. Everyone welcome. Information: Marvene 250-962-8001 or 250-612-2031.

Prince George Healing Rooms - Are you hurting? Do you have health issues?

Confidential prayers Wednesday noon-

Best Auto Body Shop

2 p.m, All Nations Church, 1395 Fifth Ave. Information: 250-6179653.

Heartbeat, a group for mutual support of those who have lost a loved one through suicide, meets monthly at CMHA office.

Information: Sandy 250961-9330.

Thursday Tops (take off pounds sensibly) 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Knox United Church,1448 Fifth Ave. Information: 250-5646336 (days), 250-9644851 (evenings).

Rainbows grief and loss program for ages 5-15, registering for the fall session. No charge.

Information: Catherine 250-563-2551.

Tea Time for the Soul.

Would you like someone to listen to you? Come, listen, and share while enjoying a cup of tea.

Mondays from 3 to 5 p.m. at Forest Expo House, 1506 Ferry Ave. No cost. Information, Jesse or Catherine at 250-563-2551.

The Community Datebook provides free community event listings every Friday. Submissions are accepted in written form only – dropped off, mailed or emailed – No Phone Calls please. Datebook runs as space allows, there is no guarantee of publication. Mail to 1773 South Lyon St., Prince George BC V2N 1T3. E-mail datebook@pgfreepress.com

Prince George - COMMUNITY - Free Press

www.pgfreepress.com

Curry plays CN Centre

Friday, April 4, 2014

ASSMAN’S FUNERAL CHAPEL A FULL CHOICE FUNERAL CENTRE

www.assmansfuneralchapel.com 1908 Queensway St. 250-564-4431

Teresa Mallam arts@pgfreepress.com Blues-rock musician Matthew Curry is upbeat and friendly Wednesday as he talks with the Free Press about his soaring career and his Canadian tour with the Steve Miller Band.

The 18-(going on 19)-year-old American singer-songwriter from just south of Chicago is happy with his early recognition and awards from the music industry.

His first CD, If I Don’t Got You, ranked high in the International Blues Competition and his song, Blinded By The Darkness, won in Best Blues Song category in the International Song writing Competition.

His second CD, Electric Religion has won critical acclaim in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia.

Curry has played with Tommy Castro, Bernard Allison, Bryan Lee and Ronnie Baker Brooks and in 2013 was inducted into the prestigious Brotherhood of the Guitar.

His plans are to just “keep on, keeping on� making music, going on tour and writing new songs. He brushes off references to how young he is – and he corrects reports that he’s still 17. “Actually, I’m 18 now, going on 19.�

The artist’s sights are set solidly on his music career. “I know this is what I want to do,� said

Who needs FOODSAFE? In Home • Food Handlers Volunteers • Care Givers

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Classes Run 8:30–5:00pm

Group Rates Available

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Photo submitted Guitar sensation Matthew Curry plays CN Centre, opening for Steve Miller Band, April 9.

Curry. He and his dynamic band members – drummer Tim Kramp, bassist Tim Brickner and keyboardist Mike Nellas – are in high gear. “Our music is mostly blues rock. We definitely have our feet in the blues and there is a jazz and funk influence but we pull from everything we can in our music and now we have added some Americana too.�

The band’s schedule for the next several months is set. “After the Canadian tour, we’ll by flying to Australia, opening for [blues jazz artist] Robben Ford and then it’s back to the U.S. for a short run, then a week

or two off before going on tour with Peter Frampton. We’ll be hitting the studio any time we have a chance and I’m always working on my songwriting.�

They just came off touring several U.S. cities. “Everything happened pretty fast. I was never too much of a school person. My Mom forced me to finish high school – and for that, I’m really thankful,� said Curry, “because now I have my diploma and I started travelling and touring right out of high school.�

Curry’s vocals, even though he’s obviously gifted with natural talent, are often described by

album reviewers as “mature.� “I took some lessons two years ago to learn proper vocal breathing techniques, and all that.�

Songwriting? “I started messing around with songwriting when I was six or seven.�

Curry says that he’s looking forward to his band Matthew Curry opening for Steve Miller Band April 9 at CN Centre. He hopes fans come out to enjoy their music.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are on sale at all Ticketmaster outlets or charge by phone at 1-855-985-5000.

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18

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Friday, April 4, 2014

“We have plans to build a safer, better pipeline. We also have plans to operate it that way.”

Janet Holder, Leader of Northern Gateway

I’m Janet Holder, leader of Northern Gateway.

Of the 209 conditions set by the Joint Review Panel, over 60 deal specifically with land safety and related environmental safeguards.

impact as possible on British Columbia’s terrain and neighbouring communities.

In fact, 70% of the route utilizes previously disturbed lands, including old forestry roads, cut blocks and other disturbances.

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS We are working on those conditions with the same diligence that we are applying to the tough conditions mandated by the Province.

In many cases, these conditions reflect the world class voluntary land safety measures that Northern Gateway proposed during the Review process.

A BETTER, SAFER PIPELINE Our land safety measures primarily focus on spill prevention. With new standards in pipeline design and integrity, construction, monitoring and project management, we want to build a better, safer pipeline.

A RESPECTFUL ROUTE After a decade of planning, we have mapped out a pipeline route that will have as little

A WATCHFUL EYE We are equally committed to setting new standards when it comes to Emergency Preparedness and Response. In fact, JRP Conditions #174 and #175 require us to file separate emergency response plans for every 10-km section of pipe. That’s over 110 separate plans that include details covering specific habitat to protect. Our plans also include realistic training programs and exercises, staffing of all pump stations, 24/7 monitoring, advanced leak detection systems and more remotely-controlled isolation valves.

We’re doing all this hard work because we are committed to developing the most sound, sensible and sensitive approach to designing, constructing and operating the Project.

Janet Holder, Leader of Northern Gateway

Learn more at gatewayfacts.ca

Working in partnership with B.C. and Alberta First Nations and Métis Communities, and leading energy companies in Canada

Prince George - COMMUNITY - Free Press

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Friday, April 4, 2014

19

May Day parade cancelled Teresa Mallam arts@pgfreepress.com Not everyone loves a parade.

The Elks May Day Parade is cancelled for this year, say organizers.

In a statement from Prince George Elks Lodge No.122, president Nancie Krushelnicki said Tuesday that while several organizations have been active participants over the years, the lack of recent support or representation by City representatives, tourism and downtown businesses has led to a decline in volunteer spirit needed to keep the parade afloat.

“There have been fewer floats in recent years,” she said. “Last year we didn’t even have a city representative – we provide the car and the sign. All they have to do is sit there. I’m sure it’s due to cutbacks or something but we send out invitations with a general letter every year letting people know about the parade, when it is, how to book a float and so on and we get no response.”

Youth groups like Boy Scouts and Big Brothers and

non-profit groups take part every year, she said. First Nations groups take part and so do special interest organizations.

“We do get support from our ‘regular’ groups and that’s been terrific. But we’re seeing a general decline in interest from the other groups. We had no response from our city representatives and none of the downtown businesses or schools showed any interest in taking part in the parade.

(Last year one of the local high schools took part, she said.) That makes volunteers very disheartened and they lose interest too.”

Even if there is lastminute interest shown, the parade is on hold at least for this year, says Krushelnicki.

“There isn’t time to pull it together for this year. There’s is a lot of background work such as getting various permits that goes into this.

We hope to be able to bring the parade back in 2015 as Prince George celebrates its 100th anniversary and there is more civic pride.”

Over the years, Krushelnicki said many individuals and groups have shown their continued support and enthusiasm for the parade

Free Press file photo The streets of downtown Prince George will be less colourful next month, with the annual Elks May Day Parade being cancelled.

and for that, she is grateful.

“Thank you to the many groups, organizations, participants and volunteers who have helped us put on this event over the past 85

years.”

The Elks May Day Parade has in past years been a very popular and colourful event in the downtown with a vibrant wash of purple,

dancers, drummers, bands, clowns and candy. The event is historically one of the hallmarks of spring.

“We [Elks Club members] will miss being there. We

always have our clowns and the kids really enjoy it. And the [Prince George] pipe band is always there but we hope next year people will get on board for the parade.”

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THE HOME DEPOT LITTLE BUILDERS’ WORKSHOPS! SAT. & SUN 11am - 3pm Kids 12 years & under build and take home a bird feeder!

COLOURING CONTEST Watch the Prince George Free Press for a colouring page and enter at Central Builders’ to WIN awesome Bike Packages from Koops Bike Shop!

Check www.chbahomeshow.ca for details.

20

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Friday, April 4, 2014

250.564.0005

INDEX IN BRIEF FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS CHILDREN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE GUIDE - PERSONAL BUSINESS SERVICES PETS / LIVESTOCK ITEMS FOR SALE / WANTED REAL ESTATE RENTALS TRANSPORTATION MARINE LEGALS

AGREEMENT

It is agreed by any Display or ClassiÄed Advertiser requesting space that the liability of the paper in the event of failure to publish an advertisement shall be limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for that portion of the advertising space occupied by the incorrect item only, and that there shall be no liability in any event beyond the amount paid for such advertisement. The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement.

Announcements

Employment

Employment

Employment

Employment

Employment

Obituaries

Business Opportunities

Education/Trade Schools

Education/Trade Schools

Forestry

Help Wanted

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INTERIOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATOR SCHOOL. NO Simulators. In-the-seat training. Real world tasks.

Weekly start dates. Job board!

Funding options.

SignUp online! iheschool.com 1-866-399-3853

APARTMENT/CONDO MANAGER TRAINING

WANTED: FORESTRY Technician for sawmill complex in Alberta. Experienced in planning and harvesting operations. Full time permanent.

E-mail resume: njb_ins@telusplanet.net.

Steady/PT to vacuum, wipe & wash cars. Apply to Hands on Car Wash, 1956 3rd Ave

Career Opportunities

Career Opportunities

BC Cancer Foundation 1215 Lethbridge Street Prince George, BC V2N 7E9

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Please include your name and mailing address for the tax receipt, the name of the person you’re remembering and the name and address of person to notify.

Caretakers/ Residential Managers

250.645.7300 ext. 687469

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Copyright and/or properties subsist in all advertisements and in all other material appearing in this edition of bcclassiÄed.com. Permission to reproduce wholly or in part and in any form whatsoever, particularly by a photographic or offset process in a publication must be obtained in writing from the publisher. Any unauthorized reproduction will be subject to recourse in law.

“Advertise across Northern BC in the 32 best-read community newspapers!�

Prince George

Free Press Press “My son didn’t know how to study.

Sylvan tutoring changed that.�

1645 Spruce St. Prince George

250-562-7311 www.educate.com Call today and ask about our in-centre or live, online tutoring programs.

Drivers/Courier/ Trucking

HIGHWAY OWNER OPERATORS $3500 SIGNING BONUS

bcclassiÄed.com cannot be

responsible for errors after the Ärst day of publication of any advertisement. Notice of errors on the Ärst day should immediately be called to the attention of the ClassiÄed Department to be corrected for the following edition.

RES MANAGER VICTORIA1 F/T + 1 P/T. 55 unit building.

OfďŹ ce on-site. Rent discount.

Car required. Experience an asset. Start late May/June.

Fax: (250)920-5437.

Used Prince George .com BUY & SELL FREE!™

Information ADVERTISE in the LARGEST OUTDOOR PUBLICATION IN BC The 2014-2016 BC Hunting Regulations Synopsis The most effective way to reach an incredible number of BC Sportsmen & women.

Two year edition- terriďŹ c presence for your business.

Please call Annemarie 1.800.661.6335 email: ďŹ sh@blackpress.ca ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Do you think you may have a problem with Alcohol? Alcohol Anonymous, Box 1257, Prince George, BC V2L 4V5 Call 250-564-7550

Travel

Timeshare CANCEL YOUR timeshare.

NO risk program stop mortgage & maintenance payments today. 100% money back guarantee. Free consultation. Call us now. We can help! Call 1-888-356-5248.

Employment Business Opportunities

EXPANDING INTO PRINCE GEORGE! Includes Training Call Dave for Franchise Presentation. 1.855.301.2233 www.bc.abuyerschoice.com

Van Kam’s Group of Companies requires Highway linehaul Owner Operators based in our Prince George terminal for runs throughout BC and Alberta.

Applicants must have winter and mountain, driving experience/training.

We offer above average rates and an excellent employee beneďŹ ts package.

To join our team of professional drivers, email a resume, current driver’s abstract & details of your truck to: careers@vankam.com Call: 604-968-5488 Fax: 604-587-9889 Only those of interest will be contacted.

Van-Kam is committed to Employment Equity and Environmental Responsibility.

Home Care/Support

• CertiďŹ ed Home Study Course • Jobs Registered Across Canada • Gov. CertiďŹ ed www.RMTI.ca / 604.681.5456 or 1.800.665.8339

Prince George Association for Community Living

CAREGIVER OPPORTUNITIES We are currently recruiting six male and female employees with full time or part time availability and 12 relief staff to create a positive home life, support people when participating in community events and assist with planning and delivery of skill building opportunities. You will also assist people with daily living skills which may include personal care.

Requirements Regular employees must complete Community and School Support (CASS) Courses 140, 145, 130, & 150 within two years. Related experience and ability to organize activities, establish rapport with clients, observe and recognize changes, and work as a member of a multidisciplinary team.

Valid B.C. Class 5 Driver’s License and Driving Abstract; work may require the use of a personal vehicle. Basic computer skills and physical ability to carry out the duties are also required. Paid orientation/training; excellent benemts and Municipal Pension Plan provided.

With over 400 dedicated employees, AiMHi is an accredited organization providing advocacy, support and service to people who have special needs.

950 Kerry Street Prince George, BC V2M 5A3 Phone: 250-564-6408 Fax: 250-564-6801 Email: reception@aimhi.ca

Tease Hair is looking for full or part time stylists. Please apply with resume to 7582 Hart Highway. 250-962-0212

GENERAL MANAGER / SALES MANAGER POSITION IN SOUTHERN CARIBOO / INTERIOR OF BC

Looking for a change?

Enjoy people?

Change scare you? It shouldn’t.

Just make sure you join the right team.

South Cariboo Dealership looking to add a team leader to it’s dealership. Proud community sponsor and a full disclosure dealership. If the idea of change, sales, fun and trucks sounds appealing, you must be our new leader. If you are experienced as a Sales manager or General manager in a dealership environment, if you are an honest, integral, fun and hard working Manager – please consider sending us your resume and/or credentials. It may just surprise you, be much easier and way more fun than you imagined.

Remuneration, benefits and moving expenses based on experience.

Email: evelynbouchard@hotmail.com

MOUNT POLLEY MINING CORPORATION POSITION: Mine Maintenance Supervisor JOB DESCRIPTION The Mine Maintenance Supervisor will report to the Mine Maintence General Foreman.

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Responsible for all aspects of maintenance including, but not limited to the following: supervising the maintenance crew to ensure the safe, efficient and environmentally responsible maintenance and repair of heavy equipment; safety meetings and follow up; writing requisitions and work orders; and ensuring equipment availability.

Must be willing to work shift work in all weather conditions and overtime as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PREFERENCES The ideal candidate will possess an interprovincial trade qualification with an advanced knowledge of mining-related equipment, hydraulics, maintenance procedures and practices. They will have proven competencies in time management as well as planning and organisational skills. Working knowledge of computers and computer programs will be highly regarded.

Candidates must demonstrate leadership and problem solving skills; effective verbal and written communications skills are required for this position. The ability to work independently and maintain positive relationships with all levels of Company employees is essential.

A valid driver’s license is required.

An attractive salary package, including relocation, will be negotiated with the successful candidate.

QUALIFED APPLICANTS ARE INVITED TO SEND THEIR RESUME & COVER LETTER TO: Mount Polley Mining Corporation Human Resources Department humanresources@mountpolley.com / fax #250.790.2613 Mount Polley Mine is not a fly-in camp. Employees are expected to find their own accommodations. Daily transportation to/from the mine site is available.

Candidates must be eligible to work in Canada.

We thank all applicants for their interest in Mount Polley Mining Corporation, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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Prince George - CLASSIFIEDS - Free Press

Services

Services

Employment

Employment

Employment

Help Wanted

Hotel, Restaurant, Food Services

Trades, Technical

Financial Services

Legal Services

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REFRIGERATION HVAC MECHANIC Lots of service experience.

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APPLY PERSONALLY TO FRANK WALSH - 250.372.5115 Fax: 1.250.372-5711 OR CHECK US OUT AT: www.jwalshandsons.com

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

CLEANING SUPERVISOR req’d. Sal: $18.00/hr. F/t, Pmt. 1+ yrs. exp. Duties: Supervise and co-ordinate the activities of cleaners.

Inspect and ensure of established safety and cleanliness standards are met. Hire, train and schedule staff.

Estimate and optimize budget. Lang: English. Contact: Harpreet from Northstar Janitorial Services in 193 Aitken Cr, Prince George, BC, V2L 4N3, BC. Apply at lehal1986@hotmail.ca Sales Person Wanted The Logomap & Guide Co. is looking for a hard working sales person in advertising and products. Must be neat and well mannered, experience an asset, a reliable vehicle. Wage and or Commission.

Apply with resume to ron.craig@shaw.ca THAI Cleaning requires full Thai speaking workers. Call 250-563-8533 The Prince George Sylvan Learning Centre is looking for certified teachers proficient in teaching reading, writing and math. Please drop off, fax or e-mail resume to: 1645 Spruce Street, Prince George, BC V2L 2R3; Fax: (250)562-7312; E-mail: slcprincegeorge@telus.net.

LOOKING for a lasting career with opportunities for growth and advancement? Due to rapid expansion in Northern BC, A&W is currently seeking Store Managers. If you have a proven track record in management and are energetic, hard-working, and enjoy a fast-paced work environment, a career with A&W may be for you. We offer an excellent compensation and incentive package. Locations: Vanderhoof, Burns Lake, Smithers & Terrace. For more information, or to apply, send resume by email to will@christys.ca

Janitorial Housekeeper & Hotel Houseman

Jani-King wants candidates who: • Have a desire to help others • Are service-oriented • Can work flexible schedules • Are bondable • Can handle a fast pace jordan.roy.bc@janiking.ca

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Trades, Technical Fabricators, Millwrights, Welders and Industrial Painters Timber West Mill Construction is currently hiring Fabricators, Millwrights, Welders and Industrial Painters.

Resumes accepted by fax (250) 964-0222 or e-mail info@timberwestmc.com

• WE ARE LOOKING FOR THE BEST. • WE ARE READY TO HIRE 2 FULL TIME TRADES PEOPLE. Willing to pay premium wages, top benefits in industry.

For the right person Substantial signing bonus.

PLUMBER With gas ticket, sheet metal furnace install experience.

CNC MAZAK MACHINISTS. Live, work & play in sunny Shuswap. ISO Certified, Excellent Safety record, Spotless shop. New machines & Brand new building on the way 50K-80K+ /yr + OT and bonuses.

Multiple positions available for the RIGHT people. 4+ Axis experience an asset. Apply by: mattm@accessprecision.com Fax: 250-832-8950

PCL ENERGY. Now hiring Journeyperson Pipefitters ($40+/hr) and Scaffolders ($38+/hr) for an industrial project in Vanscoy, SK. LOA of $145/day worked and bonuses! We offer competitive wages and benefits. Send resume to: pclenergyjobs@pcl.com.

Framing

DRIVER WANTED For local, in-town deliveries.

MUST know City.

Part-time work available.

Contact (250) 552-4114

by April 11, 2014

LICENSED PLUMBER/ GAS FITTER

Residential Care Workers wanted for 27yr Autistic Male.

Requirements: Foodsafe, Level One First Aid, Class 5 Drivers License, Physically Fit Will train eligible candidates $18/hr , 8 hr shifts.

Contact: caring8888society@gmail.com

Req. at Canuck Mechanical in Prince George. Must have exp. doing service work & be proficient with trouble shooting heating systems & plumbing problems.

Top wages & benefits Email resume to: canuckm@telus.net

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Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Alterations/ Dressmaking FOUR SISTERS SEWING 250-564-4985

Billy Barker Casino Hotel CAREER OPPORTUNITY “HEAD CHEF” position is a Full-Time Management job for a hands-on managing Chef to handle all aspects in the Kitchen at the Billy Barker Casino Hotel in Quesnel, BC. Must lead the kitchen team, possess excellent communication skills, leadership, and time management skills.

Chef experience of no less than 5 years with a history of loyalty to one employer.

Experience in hiring, training, supervision of up to 15 kitchen personnel, discipline and terminating exercises. Ordering supplies, scheduling of kitchen help.

Must hold a valid WHMIS and FOODSAFE, and First Aid Level 1 certificate.

Salary range is $40,000. to $48,000. per year, depending on experience.

Apply via email to glizotte@billybarkercasino.com with detailed resume complete with references.

“CHEF” up to 3 “Chef” positions are available to commence by late April, 2014. The Billy Barker Casino Hotel in Quesnel, BC is looking for experienced and energetic people in our new kitchen, for preparing and presenting of all food items. Some supervision is required, and will work closely with the Head Chef.

Ensure kitchen sanitation is maintained, all safety and security precautions are met and health standards are observed. Salary range is $27,000. to $33,000. per year, depending on experience.

Apply via email to glizotte@billybarkercasino.com with a detailed resume complete with references.

Trades, Technical

21

Trades, Technical

MOUNT POLLEY MINING CORPORATION POSITION: Millwright JOB DESCRIPTION The Millwright will report to the Mill Maintenance Supervisor.

Duties will include general preventative maintenance and repairs in a concentrator setting. Must be willing to work shift work in all weather conditions and overtime as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PREFERENCES The ideal candidate will be a journeyman millwright with a BC or Interprovincial trade qualification and a valid drivers license.

Previous experience in a mining environment will be considered an asset.

Shifts and wages as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

QUALIFED APPLICANTS ARE INVITED TO SEND THEIR RESUME & COVER LETTER TO: Mount Polley Mining Corporation Human Resources Depart. humanresources@mountpolley.com / fax #250.790.2613 Mount Polley Mine is not a fly-in camp. Employees are expected to find their own accommodations. Daily transportation to/from the mine site is available.

Candidates must be eligible to work in Canada.

We thank all applicants for their interest in Mount Polley Mining Corporation, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

MOUNT POLLEY MINING CORPORATION

Services

Home Care/Support

Friday, April 4, 2014

POSITION: Journeyman Electrian EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Plywood Shift Supervisor Canoe Forest Products Ltd., located near Salmon Arm BC has an immediate fulltime opening within the Plywood Department for a Shift Supervisor.

Reporting directly to the Plywood Manager, the successful candidate will be responsible for the supervision of all aspects of the plywood manufacturing business. The position offers a challenging opportunity to an experienced, self-motivated, technically sound individual who can work with minimal supervision.

Other prerequisites include above average interpersonal and communication skills.

A thorough understanding of Quality & Statistical Process Control systems would be desirable.

Preference will be given to those applicants who hold post-secondary education in Woods Product Manufacturing or Business Administration. Three to five years of related supervisory experience would also be an asset.

Canoe Forest Products Ltd. offers a competitive salary and benefits package based on experience and qualifications.

If you possess the skills and qualifications for this position, please submit your resume with cover letter, in confidence, by Monday, April 7, 2014 to: Human Resources Department Canoe Forest Products Ltd. Box 70, Canoe BC V0E 1K0 E: hr@canoefp.com F: 866‐514‐8773 www.canoefp.com Canoe Forest Products thanks all applicants for their interest; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

JOB DESCRIPTION The Electrician will report to the Maintenance Foreman.

Responsibilities will include constructing, maintaining, altering, repairing and testing all electric or electronic systems and components that are integral to the operation’s mining activities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PREFERENCES The candidate for this position will have a minimum of two years mining experience. A valid Journeymans Electrical Certification and valid drivers license.

Shifts and wages as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

QUALIFED APPLICANTS ARE INVITED TO SEND THEIR RESUME & COVER LETTER TO: Mount Polley Mining Corporation Human Resources Depart. humanresources@mountpolley.com / fax #250.790.2613 Mount Polley Mine is not a fly-in camp. Employees are expected to find their own accommodations. Daily transportation to/from the mine site is available.

Candidates must be eligible to work in Canada.

We thank all applicants for their interest in Mount Polley Mining Corporation, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

MOUNT POLLEY MINING CORPORATION POSITION: Heavy Duty Mechanic JOB DESCRIPTION The HEAVY DUTY MECHANIC will report to the Mine Maintence Supervisor.

Duties will include preventive maintenance and repairs to surface heavy equipment (eg. loaders, excavators, rock trucks, bulldozers).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PREFERENCES The ideal candidates must be a journeyman Heavy Duty Mechanic with a BC or Interprovincial trade qualification and a valid drivers license.

Previous experience in a mining environment will be considered an asset.

Shifts and wages as per the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

QUALIFED APPLICANTS ARE INVITED TO SEND THEIR RESUME & COVER LETTER TO:

Be a part of your community paper. Comment online.

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Mount Polley Mining Corporation Human Resources Department humanresources@mountpolley.com / fax #250.790.2613 Mount Polley Mine is not a fly-in camp. Employees are expected to find their own accommodations. Daily transportation to/from the mine site is available.

Candidates must be eligible to work in Canada.

We thank all applicants for their interest in Mount Polley Mining Corporation, however only those selected for an interview will be contacted

Prince George - CLASSIFIEDS - Free Press

Merchandise for Sale

Rentals

Household Services

Misc. for Sale

A mature lady interested in doing light housekeeping in your home. If interested call Sandra at (250)981-3752 Available to do housecleaning.

Experienced, honest, reliable, has references. Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly.

250-561-1245 ask for Sonia

STEEL BUILDINGS, metal buildings 60% off! 20x28, 30x40, 40x62, 45x90, 50x120, 60x150, 80x100 sell for balance owed! Call 1-800-4572206; www.crownsteelbuildings.ca.

Landscaping Fall YARD CLEAN-UP Garbage Removal & Gutter Cleaning (250)961-3612 or (250)964-4758 res PAL’S MAINTENANCE

Painting & Decorating Paint Special 3 Rooms $589 incl. prem qlty paint, your color choices, 2 coats, filled nail holes. Ceiling & trim extra.

Free Est. HB Tech Painting 250-649-6285

Merchandise for Sale

Free Items Free double rabbit cage. Call 250-962-9856

Misc. for Sale HOT TUB (SPA) COVERS. Best price. Best quality. All shapes & colours available.

1-866-652-6837 www.thecoverguy.com/ newspaper?

RESTLESS LEG Syndrome and leg cramps? Fast relief in one hour. Sleep at night. Proven for over 32 years. www.allcalm.com Mon-Fri 8-4 EST 1-800-765-8660.

SAWMILLS FROM only $4,897. Make money and save money with your own bandmill.

Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. Free info & DVD: 1-800-566-6899 Ext:400OT. www.norwoodsawmills.com/400ot

www.pgfreepress.com

Misc. Wanted Coin Collector Looking to Buy Collections, Estates, Gold & Silver Coins + 778-281-0030 FIREARMS. ALL types wanted, estates, collections, single items, military. We handle all paperwork and transportation.

Licensed Dealer. 1-866-9600045. www.dollars4guns.com Will buy unwanted gold & silver, coins, quality watches, Rolex. Will meet or beat any reasonable competitors rate, local buyer. 250-612-1828, Prince George.

Real Estate Other Areas 20 ACRES $0 Down, Only $119/mo. Owner Financing, NO CREDIT CHECKS! Near El Paso, Texas. Beautiful Mountain Views! Money Back Guarantee Call 1-866-8825263 Ext. 81 www.sunsetranches.net

Rentals Apt/Condo for Rent 2 bdrm $675 Bachelor $480 or $540 Includes heat & h/w 1601 Queensway St. 250-596-4275 250-612-7199 HARDWOOD MANOR 1575 Queensway Bachelor, 1 & 2 bdrm Suites Heat/hot water included Adult Oriented/Students welcome Incentives for long-term students

Call (250)561-1446

Rentals

Transportation

Legal

Legal

Apt/Condo for Rent

Suites, Lower

Boats

Tenders

Tenders

JUBILEE Apt’s

Fully furnished 1 bdrm bsmt suite for 1 person - no pets.

New appl, wireless cable, & all utilities included in rent.

Available immed Close to CNC, UNBC & Pine Centre.

250-564-9443 or 250-301-9350

1 bdrm, small 2 bdrm Adult orientated, close to downtown & bus route. N/S, N/P. Parking.

Call: (250) 562-7172

SUMMIT APTS

2666 Upland Street 1 & 2 bedroom apts. Rent includes: hydro, heat, hot water, appliances, drapes and parking. Quiet, no pets

250-564-3162

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.com

Services

www.pgfreepress.com

• 1 & 2 bedroom apartments available • Close to hospital & downtown • Rent includes heat, hot water • Elevator to undercover parking • Fridge, stove, quality carpets, drapes • Laundry on each floor • No pets

To Rent Call:

250-561-1447

Majestic Management (1981) Ltd. CE • OFFI ERCIAL M • COM IL A • RET Space available for rent For all your rental needs Call 562-8343 or 562-RENT

INVITATION TO TENDER

Be a part of your community paper.

Comment online.

Commercial/ Industrial

Midtowne

TERRACE KITIMAT AIRPORT SOCIETY BRISTOL ROAD UPGRADE CONSTRUCTION TENDER 2014-1439-1 Sealed tenders marked “Bristol Road Upgrade Construction Contract 2013-1439-1” will be received no later than 3:00 pm local time on Monday May 5, 2014 by the Terrace Kitimat Airport Society at the office of McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd. Suite #1 – 5008 Pohle Avenue, Terrace, BC V8G 4S8.

www.

Friday, April 4, 2014

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This tender is for the construction of storm water, sanitary sewer, water main, shallow utilities and road construction on Bristol Road.

The owner reserves the right to reject any or all of the Tenders and the lowest tender will not necessarily be accepted.

.

there’s more online »

Transportation

Scrap Car Removal

FREE SCRAP CAR REMOVAL

PRIVATE SALE

Email: prfleet@telus.net

• Car • Truck • SUV • ATV • RV • Boat

MEMBER OF

Run your advertisement

within 15 km

P&R 250-963-3435

AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLER’S

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC.

“DO’IN IT RIGHT”

Wrecker/Used Parts USED TIRES Cars & Trucks $25 & up

Most Sizes Available 15270 Hwy 97 South 250.963.3435

$

50

FIND the staff you need... Now!

Our People make a difference in the community The Prince George Native Friendship Centre, a visionary non-profit society, has been serving the needs of the entire community for the past 43 years.

We are seeking candidates for the following position within our organization YOUTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES: Friendship Home Coordinator Closing date: April 14, 2014

To be included in the Free Press Careers & Opportunities Pages Call 250-564-0005

A hard copy listing the roles, responsibilities and qualifications of the position are available from the Prince George Native Friendship Centre’s web site at www.pgnfc.com (click on Join Our Team / Careers).

Deadlines for

To apply, submit a resume, cover letter and three (3) references detailing which position you are applying for, to:

Friday issue: 1:00 p.m. Tuesday

FAMILY WELLNESS PROGRAMS: Little Friends Day Care ECE Assistant Closing date: April 16, 2014

Prince George Native Friendship Centre 1600 Third Avenue Prince George, BC V2L 3G6 Fax: (250) 563-0924 E-mail: employment@pgnfc.com Applications will be accepted until dates noted on posting, no telephone inquiries please. We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

A recommended pre-tender meeting will be held on April 29, 2014 at the Terrace Kitimat Airport Administration Building at 10:00 a.m.

Tender documents may be obtained at no cost in PDF on or after April 10, 2014 from McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd., Suite #1 – 5008 Pohle Avenue, Terrace, BC V8G 4S8, or by hard copy for a non-refundable deposit of $150.00 made payable to McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd. Project Engineer contact: Joel Barkman, P.Eng. Phone: (250) 631-4071 or jbarkman@mcelhanney.com

month

For just $50 + HST you receive a 1x1.5” boxed classified ad including a picture of your vehicle along with text describing it’s features.

Call us today!

250-564-0005 or Email: classifieds@pgfreepress.com

CAREERS & OPPORTUNITIES PRINCE GEORGE NATIVE FRIENDSHIP CENTRE

Tender Documents may be viewed at the TerraceKitimat Airport Administration Office or at McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd. Suite #1 – 5008 Pohle Avenue, Terrace, B.C on or after April 10, 2014.

Used Prince George .com BUY & SELL FREE!™

250.564.0005 www.pgfreepress.com

Outside Advertising Sales Representative Prince George Free Press

Description We are seeking a team player with a professional attitude to work and learn in a fast paced, business environment.

Quali¿cations The ideal candidate must be motivated and take the initiative to sell multiple media products, including on-line advertising and special products, work with existing customers and develop new customers. Strong interpersonal skills and a strong knowledge of sales and marketing are required. Above average communication skills, valid driver’s licence and a reliable vehicle are necessary.

If a rewarding challenge resonates with you, contact us today.

Please submit your resume and cover letter to: Ron Drillen, General Manager Prince George Free Press 1773 South Lyon Street Prince George, B.C., V2N 1T3, Canada Tel: (250) 564-0005 Ext.115 Fax: (250) 562-0025 Email: publisher@pgfreepress.com AberdeenPublishing.com 778-754-5722

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Prince George Free Press

DrivewayCanada.ca |

Friday, April 4, 2014

23

Welcome to the driver’s seat

If you have ever questioned that Kia knows how to make good quality cars just look at these new products.

Zack Spencer

Visit the 2014 Kia photo gallery at DrivewayCanada.ca

Kia taking on the small cars from the big guys

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA – Kia rounds out its attack on the country’s best-selling cars with the launch of the final two models to the Forte lineup.

Last year Kia introduced their all-new Forte sedan to compete with such top sellers as the Honda Civic, Mazda3, Toyota Corolla and Hyundai Elantra. This week, the 5-door hatchback version called Forte5 and the coupe, called Forte Koup begin arriving in dealerships.

The launch of these two vehicles took us from Huntington Beach, California, through the mountains and desert to Borrego Springs and then back through the mountains to San Diego.

The terrain varies from massive California highways to very twisty mountain passes and vast desert valleys. Stunning scenery and a recommended drive for any sightseer or driving enthusiast.

Looks The Forte5 is the more practical of the two new Kias with a hatchback design that sets it apart from the competition. Many competitors don’t offer a hatch so this is sure to be noticed by people who need extra storage and passenger room. Sold with a new base 2.0L engine or an optional 1.6L turbo engine, there are varied looks depending on which trim is chosen. The non-turbo Forte5 gets a front grille similar to the sedan with a smaller lower intake and a larger grille opening. The Forte5 SX turbo gets the same grille as the Koup, with the opposite

front treatment, a bigger lower opening and a injection engine with a solid 201hp and 195 lb.smaller, more aggressive grille. The great news ft. of torque that comes on at a very low 1750 is that all Forte5 and Koup models come with RPM. The turbo also gets a stiffer suspension, alloy wheels; 16-inches on the Forte5 and 18bigger wheels, sharper steering feel and shorter inch alloys on the turbo version. The Koup has gear ratios from first to third gear. This makes 17-inch base alloys or 18-inches on the turbo. the car livelier and handles better but it also Inside makes the car a bit twitchy on the highway I drove the top Turbo version of the Forte5 and when driving straight. the base, non-turbo version of the The base 2.0L would be my choice.

Koup. Both have an amazing level 173hp is loads for a car of this of interior refinement. If you have size and the smaller wheels and ever questioned that Kia knows less aggressive suspension might how to make good quality cars, be a better day-to-day driver. Eijust look at these new products. ther way, Kia has kicked things up The switches and dials look and a notch and both are fun to drive feel first rate and the layout is and never feel underpowered. logical and easy to use.

Verdict Koup can actually fit adults up Kia has been The Forte5 starts at $19,495 and to six feet. The dash has either a growing steadily since tops out at $28,395 for a turbo conventional radio layout with with navigation. The Koup comes a smaller screen but when the it entered Canada backup camera is added on either fifteen years ago and with a few extra standard features model, the screen jumps to 6-inchand it runs from $20,895-$28,695. with new products es and becomes a touchscreen Some might think that the higher device. If the buyer wants the like the Forte5 and end models are getting expensive navigation system, then the top but they have features such as Koup, there is no turbo model with luxury package reason to believe the dimming rearview mirrors, power is needed. outside mirrors and heated rear trend will end.

The front seats sit high off the seats that are not generally availfloor for good outward visibility. able in this class.

Zack Spencer What continues to amaze me is Kia has been growing steadily the level of equipment Kia offers since it entered Canada 15 years from standard Bluetooth and satellite radio to ago, and with new products like the Forte5 and optional heated and cooled seats, heated rear Koup, there’s no reason to believe the trend seats, heated steering wheel, power folding will end. outside mirrors and more. True luxury touches. zack.spencer@drivewaybc.ca Drive The Lowdown Kia has put some punch into both the base and Power: 1.8L 4-cylinder with 132hp or 140hp turbo versions of the Forte5 and Koup. The base Fill-up: 8.6L/5.8L/100km engine is a large 2.0L direct injection engine (city/highway Forte5 auto) with 173hp. In comparison, the top selling Civic has 143hp. The turbo model gets a 1.6L direct Sticker price: $19,495-$28,395

‘‘

’’

Question of the week: As spring approaches, new drivers will be as common as the blossoms on the trees. Should a course of professional driver training be mandatory for all new drivers?

?

Please explain why you have made that decision. Go to DrivewayCanada.ca QUESTION to submit your answer and you could OF THE WEEK! win a $100 Safeway gift card.

Safety Tip: Auto crime incidents continue to plummet across the province but there’s still more we can do to deter thieves and protect our vehicles. Use an anti-theft device, park in secure, well-lit areas, remove all valuables and always lock your doors.

Confessions of a Curber...

Meet Walt. He lives with his wife and two teenagers in a quiet neighbourhood. Walt goes to work every morning, provides for his family and chats with his neighbours.

Walt has a secret. He’s no Walter White from“Breaking Bad.” But, his love for quick cash and high profits drive him to a sideline that makes us all a little less safe and costs some their savings. Walt is a curber.

Walt has no shame!

This week he sells a stolen car.

Buying used? We’re looking out for you.

Find out how at WatchoutforWalt.com

We can help drive your customers to your door step!

Call your sales rep today!

250-564-0005

Your best resource for community news

24

Friday, April 4, 2014

Prince George Free Press

driveway

www.pgfreepress.com

Dart GT could be edgier but delivers value The Dodge Dart has held its own in a sporty compact segment where competition is fierce.

Perhaps it is because of its value, the various engine choices or that it has some pretty cool features (like available under-the-frontseat-cushion storage) and a fresh style – inside and out – the Dart seems to be a hit.

Two years in, Chrysler has loaded it up with an engine full of gusto, unique styling cues and added a couple of letters on the back and now we have the Dodge Dart GT. What sets it apart from its siblings are a stretcheddown grille and LED headlights. You’ll find the rear clad with the ‘Racetrack’ LED lights that run the full length of the trunk.

Then there’s a set of 18-inch wheels come standard on this vehicle along with a 2.4L, MultiAir, 4-cylinder Tigershark engine, matched with a 6-speed manual transmis-

sion, that brings to the pavement 184 horsepower and 171 lb-ft of torque.

Of all the characteristics I like about this trim of Dart, I think its transmission is the weakest link. In previous reviews of other Dart models – like the 1.4L, Turbocharged version with 160 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque – the gear throws are, in my opinion, too long to really give it that edge and sporty vibe that it needs to compete with vehicles like the VW GTI, Honda Civic Si or even the Ford Focus ST. The gear throws are long and the clutch has little weight to it, taking away the performance aspect of the GT that it should have.

On the flip side, the light clutch works favourably in the urban environment.

This setup makes being stuck in traffic bearable.

Getting back to the gearbox, I really wanted to like the Dart more. I really did.

So I concocted scenarios in my mind to figure out a

way to not be so sad about its lack of panache.

I think I found one.

Buyers of the GT will like what they get for the value.

After all, it has a starting MSRP of $21,995. That’s thousands less than the aforementioned competitors.

And some buyers of vehicles who want that extra kick don’t necessarily need all the sports sedan-like characteristics.

They want power but in a comfortable and afford-

able package.

Furthermore, they enjoy added touches like a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel, GT specific sport leather seats, a Parkview rear backup camera and more.

The interior has a pleasant look to it and it’s very agreeable to drive.

On the highway, special attention from designers and engineers were paid to make sure you drive in a quiet cabin.

Minimal road noise entered the GT’s cabin, allowing my passengers and I to enjoy the musical stylings of various bands being listened to on the

Alpine premium stereo system with nine speakers (an additional $1,295 for this sun and sound package.) The sun portion of the package adds a power express open/close sunroof to the mix.

After I switched into this mindset, I found I was able to alleviate my frustrations of what the GT didn’t have, but what it did have.

Additionally, a feature that I love about the Dart – and all other Dodge/Jeep/ Chrysler products – is the Uconnect media interface.

The GT comes standard with the 8.4-inch touchscreen and is a dream to work with. Large icons, easy prompts and a nofuss approach to pairing your handheld device to the Bluetooth system all

’’

Alexandra Straub

come standard.

Whether taking the GT for a drive in the city or on the open road, it does have some solid legs to stand on.

Visit www.dodge.ca for more information alexandra.straub@drivewaybc.ca Twitter.com/cargirlsgarage

Rugged beauty is more than skin deep

Confessions of a Curber

Noodling on the web one morning I found out that I was selling vehicles illegally. If I was in the business of selling, I need to be licensed as a dealer.

Oh well. Everything’s been working out just fine for me. I skated through those recent bad deals.

My previous sales were a distant memory – I was eager to start selling more. So, I decided to up my game a bit. I got a low-end truck and a car from an auction and another car from a new parking lot friend.

I put ads for all three vehicles on Craigslist.

Of course my ads said they were all real gems.

You’d think people might see through my ads.

“Need to sell fast, so price is flexible. Call with best offer.”

And my cell number was the same for all three. Would anybody notice?

The first two cheaper vehicles sold quickly.

The last one took a bit longer to sell. Of course, it was the one I was most eager to sell. Why, you ask?

Well, not that I passed the information along, but the auction provided vehicle history reports for the first two. I had no information on the last.

So, I bought ICBC and CarProof vehicle history reports. I wanted to educate myself. To my surprise, there was a statement in both reports that the vehicle was possibly “stolen*.”

I knew I had to sell it fast.

I mean, I’d paid for it and I knew my new “friend” wouldn’t take it back.

Four days later, I got a call from a young

‘‘

Whether taking the GT for a drive in the city or on the open road, it does have some solid legs to stand on.

‘‘

I remember as a kid, wearing my Sunday best and then going out and playing in the mud!

With this Jeep, you push a button, hike up the truck, and go have some fun.

“Apart from being stolen, it was pretty nice!”

’’

Ian Harwood woman. She asked if the car would fit a family of four. “Definitely!” I practically screamed.

I was a wreck during this sale. I just needed to get rid of this car – fast. I told the nice lady the details of the car. Apart from being stolen, it was pretty nice!

I told her I was in a hurry to visit my mum in the hospital. She was in a hurry too – her three-year-old was anxious, pulling at her pant legs. She seemed to not want to be there as much as me.

Finally, she agreed to buy the car. Phew! I was saved.

Whatever happens next, I don’t care. It’s her problem not mine.

I quickly changed my phone number (again).

Weeks later, I saw her on the news – with kid still at pant legs – talking to a reporter.

Apparently, the car was towed away by the police.

And yes, she was trying to find me.

Had I covered my tracks? I agonized.

*How can a stolen vehicle be sold?

Curbers often break the law by bridging a title. Instead of registering a vehicle in their name within 10 days after a purchase, as required, they leave it in the name of the previous owner. This keeps their name out of the chain of title and from being caught with a stolen vehicle or one that would not be able to be registered or insured for another reason.

Buying used? We’re looking out for you.

Find out how at WatchoutforWalt.com

The all-new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a luxury sport ute that attracts a lot of attention.

The body styling went through some major changes this year and is very different to the previous version that had more chiseled and square edges.

This vehicle is refined and more rounded. If it wasn’t for the traditional Jeep grille you would think this was a Volvo or an Audi.

The first thing you notice is the new LED lighting that wraps around the HID headlamps, it gives it a very sophisticated and contemporary look.

Jeep did not sacrifice its off road capabilities. Options are; Quadra-Trac 1 that features full time on demand four-wheel drive with single speed transfer case and equal torque split (50 front/50 rear) with brake control. Quadra-Trac 11, with a 2 speed transfer case with low range and variable torque distribution that delivers up to a 100 percent front or rear. Quadra-Lift air suspension that lifts four corners of the vehicle to provide the best in class ground clearance of 272 mm that will allow you to negotiate just about any terrain you encounter.

The Summit model has a gorgeous interior, all the bells and whistles.

Premium Nappa leather seats with heated/vented 12 way power front seats.

The steering wheel is heated and wrapped in leather with sections of wood.

The instrument panel, doors, and centre console are also leather stitched. The Power lift gate that can be controlled via the remote to make life easier loading and unloading cargo. Be careful at night, with the lift gate open it’s hard to see the bottom of the gate and if you’re not careful you will be wearing the lock mechanism as a tattoo on your forehead, don’t ask how I know.

With this model, you get the navigation screen complete with a backup camera. There is also an optional rear seat DVD system.

There is an optional stability control with anti-roll, hill start assist, trailer sway control. Front air bags with reactive head rest restraints, and side curtain airbags. Forward collision warning system detects whether you are approaching another vehicle too rapidly and alerts you to take action.

Parkview/ Park-sense Park assist systems that help see what perhaps you would not see when backing up.

Four engine choices here. The first is a 3.0L Ecodiesel V6 that an amazing 420 lb-ft of torque and 240 horsepower. My tester was equipped with the fuel frugal diesel – 9.8 /7.0 L/100 km (city/highway).

The second is a 3.6 L Pentastar VVT

V6 that has been on the Ward’s 10 best engine list for three years. It delivers 290 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. There is a 5.7L VVT V8 with 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque and delivers a surprisingly 9.9L/100 km on the highway.

The last engine choice is the 6.4L HEMI V8 which is available on the SRT model. It delivers 470 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque, all these engines come with an 8 speed automatic transmission. Basic warranty coverage is for three years or 60,000 km I remember as a kid, wearing my Sunday best and then going out and playing in the mud! With this Jeep, you push a button, hike up the truck, and go have some fun!

I was very surprised that it was able to perform off-road given that it has undergone some dramatic changes to the body and the ride comfort, but like all Jeeps it is built to take a punishment.

Sticker price: Price as tested $54,395 Laredo $39,995 Limited $47,895 Overland $55,895 Summit $60,895 SRT $63,495 ian.harwood@drivewaybc.ca

www.pgfreepress.com

Prince George - SPORTS - Free Press

Friday, April 4, 2014

25

JUST SAYING...........

Entering The Hall

# Is your garden hose still on? Chances are it will leak inside

your home this spring. # Do your water shut offs work ? Do you know where they are? # Have you had your hot water tank checked? Old tanks can

leak causing insurance claims.

Duncan Desharnais

778-349-3862

duncsplumbingheating@gmail.com Serving Prince George & Area

Allan WISHART/Free Press Pat Harris, left, chats with his wife, Nancy, and Bill Russell at the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday at the Hart Community Centre. Harris was inducted as a coach for his work with wheelchair basketball in the community and the province.

www.CustomStitchPG.com 1.800.616.1338

TOLL FREE

Special NHL awards Ten days remain in the NHL defenceman and an understandregular season, and most playoff ing of how to win at the most positions have been established, important time of the year. albeit the races for the wild card Team with the most to prove: spots in both conferences will St Louis. The Blues did not accontinue to garner attention quire goalie Ryan Miller to place down the stretch. second. St. Louis has the record, Of note, there isn’t a lot of the stats, the personnel and the drama in the race coaching to capture for the major the Stanley Cup, but individual awards. do they have the intesScoring leader tinal fortitude to win Sidney Crosby is four rounds against a “shoo-in� for the gruelling competition?

Hart (MVP), Alex I doubt it. For what Ovechkin will it is worth, the Blues capture the Rocket could not beat the Richard goal scorVancouver Canucks in ing title, Tuukka three regular season Rask is a lock for meetings.

HART BEAT the Vezina (Top Team under the HARTLEYMILLER Goalie), Patrick radar: Philadelphia.

Roy has a comThe Flyers were heavily manding lead for the Adams criticized for firing coach Peter (Top Coach), and Nathan Laviolette just three games (all MacKinnon appears set to earn losses) into the season. They the Calder (Rookie of the Year). promoted Craig Berube from The Norris (Top Defenceman) is assistant and, after a transition debatable, although it’s hard to period, Philly has soared. With argue against Duncan Keith. By the Flyers on the verge of a the way, Ovechkin is poised for playoff spot, Berube has reaped another 50-goal season but his respect for doing a credible job league worst -36 highlights his while on the hot seat. defensive deficiencies.

Team with the biggest enigma Now here are 10 (team) obser- (goalie): Pittsburgh. The Penvations for which awards will not guins are obviously loaded with be granted: skill, but their talent won’t matTeam to beat: Boston. The ter unless Marc Andre Fleury Bruins top the league in goal shows the form that helped differential and have the fewest the team win the Cup in 2009. weaknesses. They also have an Fleury’s last two playoffs were ace goalie that can bail the team horrendous. This season his save out on rare off nights. percentage and GAA numbers Team to avoid: Los Angeare not in the top 10. I am not les. The Kings will likely meet sure there is another player that Anaheim or San Jose in the will be more scrutinized once first round. L.A. reminds me of the post-season begins.

Boston. The Kings may not have Team that needs shootout lesas much firepower as the Bruins, sons: New Jersey. The Devils are but they are well rounded with likely not going to the playoffs a top-notch goalie, a standout and they can look squarely at

their hideous shootout record (0-11).

Team stuck in no man’s land: Winnipeg. Once again, the Jets aren’t good enough to make the playoffs but not bad enough to secure one of the top five draft picks unless they win the lottery.

With a roster filled with average players, the Jets are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Team not equipped to deal with pressure: Toronto. The Leafs had a near lock on a post-season spot, and then they unravelled during a recent eight-game losing skid. Toronto is last in the entire league in shots against per game.

Team that underachieved the most: Edmonton. The Oilers continue to be in disarray. Coach Dallas Eakins could not connect with his players and the goaltending carousel became laughable.

Teams like Buffalo, Florida and Calgary did not have the talent to compete for a playoff spot, an excuse Edmonton is not able to use.

Team with the brightest future: Vancouver. OkK, I accomplished my goal of grabbing your attention and finishing with a chuckle. There are just five games left for the Canucks and many of their fans would agree the end cannot come soon enough.

It’s difficult to describe in one word what the 2013-14 Canucks season will be most remembered most. The leading candidate appears to be Dysfunctional.

Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio station 94X. He also writes for hqprincegeorge. com. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com.

Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller

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Prince George - SPORTS - Free Press

Friday, April 4, 2014

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Judo takes floor for test event on weekend Allan Wishart allanw@pgfreepress.com They’ll be coming from across B.C to the Northern Sport Centre this weekend to take to the mats.

Judoka from clubs as far away as Smithers, Kamloops and Campbell River will be attending a competition on the weekend, which will also serve as a test event for the 2015 Canada Winter Games.

“There will a kids competition on Friday evening,” says Aline Strasdin of the Prince George Judo Club. “Then on Saturday we will have the Canada Games test event, which will also serve as part of the selection process for the provincial team.”

All three local clubs – Prince

George, Nechako and Hart – will be at the tournament, which, Strasdin figures, will probably be bigger than the Canada Winter Games.

“At the Games, you have 13 teams, with 10 people on each team, so that’s only 130 judoka.”

The Canada Winter Games restrictions for judo are for those born between 1996 and 1999.

“This tournament will be more to allow the coaches to identify athletes who could make the provincial team. The first real points event for qualifying isn’t until the nationals.”

While the athletes competing on the weekend will be trying to catch the eye of the provincial coaches, the venue itself will be trying to catch the eye of Canada Winter Games officials.

“It’s definitely a test of the venue,” Strasdin says. “It’s a test of the field of play we will have for the Games. We’ll also be looking at our scorekeepers and timekeepers, to make sure they are qualified for the Games.

There will be officials here from Judo Canada as well as from the Canada Winter Games.”

The kids event on Friday night, which is basically just for youngsters from the northern part of the province, runs from 5 to 8 p.m.

The competition on Saturday starts at 9:30 a.m. and runs most of the day, to be followed by a training camp. On Sunday, Strasdin says they are looking at having team matches starting at 9:30 a.m., followed by another training camp.

Bill Masich takes over as track club coach There’s still a lot of snow on the track at Masich Place Stadium, but Bill Masich is already settling in as the new head coach of the Prince George Track and Field Club.

“Track and field is in my blood,” says Masich, son of the club’s founder, Tom Masich, in a press release. “With my children now becoming more active in the club, playing a larger role just makes sense.

“The club has a very strong volunteer coaching staff, and I look forward to working with them to grow the club’s Track Rascals program while helping our competitive athletes reach their goal.”

The club is continuing to practice at the Northern Sport Centre.

Allan WISHART/Free Press Lisa Russell, left, and brother Ryan come to grips at a Prince George Judo Club practice Tuesday. The two will be competing at this weekend’s tournament at the Northern Sport Centre.

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UNBC soccer looking forward season with Kwantlen University, McKenzie Ricard from Penticton, and Anna Greenbaum from Colorado.

The team may look familiar but the Canwest conference won’t, since the addition of TRU, UBC-Okanagan and Grant MacEwan (Edmonton) means the league will split into two divisions.

Allan Wishart allanw@pgfreepress.com

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of people. “We had little manpower when we started the courts, but as we went along, the people started to figure out how to do it quicker, and we got more people to help as well. “For the Games, we’re looking at possibly getting courts that have a zipper, rather than need tape. It should be easier to lay down.�

The floor wasn’t the only surface being looked at during the test event.

Davison, who took part in the tournament, said she was looking at the walls as well. “In our report on the test event, it will be indicated the draping was good. I noticed quite a difference when I was playing. “The one thing I did see was a glare from some of the windows, so we may have to raise the draping to cut down on that.�

She also said she hadn’t heard any comments from players being distracted by people using the walking

track.

That may not be a problem, because I have heard the track may be closed during the Games anyways.�

She was also happy realizing that many of the details the organizing committee was looking at this weekend won’t be problems for the Games. “A lot of the things we planned for on this one will be handled by the Games. That will be nice. “All we have to worry about is the venue, the scheduling, the tournament itself.�

The biggest problem Davison saw on the weekend was a lack of officials. “I would have liked to see more linespeople out on the weekend. We figure we’re going to need about 50 officials, including umpires, service judges and linespeople, for each part of the Games. “We’re going to host smaller events starting in the fall to get more people trained.�

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Allen DOUGLAS/Kamloops This Week Tianna Pius of UNBC, left, and Olivia Rasmussen of Thompson Rivers University vie for a ball during an exhibition match in Kamloops on the weekend.

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They may have been the first games the UNBC Timberwolves womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soccer team played in 2014, but coach Andy Cameron says the exhibition games in Kamloops on the weekend were not really a start to the new year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was more a wrap-up to the previous season,â&#x20AC;? Cameron said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It gave us a chance to measure how the players developed over the winter.â&#x20AC;?

The Timberwolves lost 4-1 and 3-0 to Thompson Rivers University, but Cameron wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t concerned with the final results. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There were some easily correctable mistakes that cost us some goals, but there were a lot of positives that came out of the weekend as well.â&#x20AC;?

Cameron has a problem a lot of coaches would like, since the weekend games could also have been a preview of the upcoming season â&#x20AC;&#x201C; with some bonuses still to come. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All 23 of the players on this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team are eligible to return next year, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve added four commitments, including Madison Emmond, who is a product of the Prince George Youth Soccer Association.â&#x20AC;?

28

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Stringing the players along Don Abercrombie makes sure racquets are in repair Allan Wishart allanw@pgfreepress.com Just because many of the badminton players at the Northern Sport Centre on the weekend were raising a racquet, Don Abercrombie didn’t want any racket he made to interfere with them.

Abercrombie was back in a corner of the Northern Sport Centre at UNBC, weaving his magic with players’ racquets at the North Central Junior, Open and Masters Tournament. The equipment he had with him held a badminton racquet firmly in place while Abercrombie gave it a new fitting of strings.

“I like to be back here,” he said, hardly pausing from his work, “because the machine does make a bit of noise at time, and I don’t want to distract the players.”

As he runs the nylon from holes at the top of the racquet to holes at the bottom, he occasionally does a quick count to make sure the strings are straight. He doesn’t have to count very often, though.

“I’ve been doing this for about 25

years now. I figure I’ve strung about 40,000 racquets.”

He stops for a moment to remove a knot from the nylon.

“I can adjust how taut the strings are for a player, that’s the biggest change I can make. A tauter racquet gives you better control, but you have to know how to strike the bird right.”

He says he gets a number of racquets that need restringing from players who are moving up in ability.

“Their coaches will figure they’re ready to move to a tighter racquet, but if you’re not catching the bird on the sweet spot, in the middle of the strings, it’s easy to break a string.”

He also has a pretty good idea of what local players will be looking for in their strings.

“I’ve done enough racquets for the players here that I pretty well know how tight a string they can play with.”

He finishes stringing the nylon in one direction on the racquet, and starts weaving it through in the other direction.

“Each racquet takes me about an hour. I could get a machine that would do it faster, but I still like to do it myself.”

Tournament passes Games test Allan Wishart allanw@pgfreepress.com

Allan WISHART/Free Press Don Abercrombie works on a badminton racquet at the Northern Sport Centre on Saturday.

Abercrombie was repairing racquets for players in the North Central Tournament held on the weekend.

The North Central Junior, Open and Masters Badminton Tournament may not have aced its Canada Winter Games test, but it definitely passed with flying colours.

“Everybody was very happy with everything,” sport chair Lisa Davison said after the weekend competition at the Northern Sport Centre. “There were small details that need to be looked at, but nothing major.”

One of the points which will be looked at is, basically, where to put everyone.

“The number of people we have will be much greater,” Davison said.

“We only had about 50 on the weekend, but for the Games, we’ll have about 130, and they’ll be there every day.”

The layout of the courts, which had to be specially installed on Friday before competition began, will be similar when the Games are here in February, but Davison said there will be some things that have to change.

“We had six courts this weekend, and we’ll have eight for the Games.

We also need to make sure there’s enough room for the umpire’s chair on each court, since we were only using it on one court on the weekend.”

Laying out the courts also took more time than she had hoped it would, but that was more a question

CONTINUED ON PAGE 27