Prince George Free Press, January 02, 2015

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FRIDAYJANUARY2

2014: Our picks for top newsmakers of the year

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WHAT JUST HAPPENED? A look back at 2014

Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

Friday, January 2, 2015

ER W PO

P R IC E

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E IS T R PE EX

WE WILL WILL NOT NOT BE BEAT BEA BEAT! AT

PRINCE GEORGE WILLIAMS L AKE 100 MILE H OUSE 2591A Vance Rd. (250) 563-4447

299 Oliver Str. (250) 398-8522

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

Our favourite photos WHAT JUST HAPPENED? A LOOK AT 2014

Allan WISHART/Free Press Members of the Duchess Park Condors (in black) and Prince George Polars football teams take part in a moment of silence before the P.G. Bowl at Masich Place Stadium. The teams honoured the memory of Tanya Cruse, who died from cancer a week before. Tanya’s son Caleb, #10, plays on the Condors and another son, Brogan, is a former member of the team.

Teresa MALLAM/Free Press Master carver Robert Frederick shows Two Rivers Gallery assistant curator Maeve Hanna the knife and technique he used to carve the Legend of the Salmon on a dug-out canoe made of Cottonwood which is part of the Nekeyoh/Our Home exhibit.

Bill PHILLIPS/Free Press About 75 people showed up at the Cenotaph to attend a vigil for Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who was killed in Ottawa October 22, and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, who was killed in SaintJean-sur-Richelieu October 20.

Teresa MALLAM/Free Press George Blanis with a customer “Ron” at Georgio’s Barber Shop in the Day’s Inn where, as he says on his business card, he’s worked for “49 years and still clipping.”

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Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

Friday, January 2, 2015

Possession nets jail Prince George courtrooms stay busy

presents…

Winner of 11 International Awards

Community Alert WA N T E D

Kevin Lyon BRADBURY 163 cm or 5’4” 76 kg or 168 lbs

Crime Stoppers is asking the public’s assistance in locating the following person who is wanted on a British Columbia wide warrant. As of 1030hrs this 29th day of December 2014, Kevin Lyon BRADBURY (B: 1961-08-12) is wanted on a British Columbia wide warrant for POSSESSION OF STOLEN PROPERTY OVER $5000 x 2, DRIVING WHILE PROHIBITED x 2, & WILFULLY RESIST A PEACE OFFICER. BRADBURY is described as a First Nations male, 163 cm or 5’4” tall and weighs 76 kg or 168 lbs. BRADBURY has brown hair and hazel eyes. BRADBURY 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 1030hrs this 29th day of December 2014, Timothy Lorne BRYCE (B: 1964-07-04) is wanted on a British Columbia wide warrant for ROBBERY, POSSESS WEAPON FOR DANGERTimothy Lorne OUS PURPOSE, & 4 OTHER CHARGES. BRYCE is described as a Caucasian BRYCE male, 188 cm or 6’2” tall and weighs 188 cm or 6’2” 98 kg or 216 lbs. BRYCE has brown 98 kg or 216 lbs hair and brown eyes. BRYCE should be considered violent.

WA N T E D

Sean Creelen NOME 183 cm or 6’0” 73 kg or 161 lbs.

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Crime Stoppers is asking the public’s assistance in locating the following person who is wanted on a British Columbia wide warrant. As of 1030hrs this 29th day of December 2014, Sean Creelen NOME (B: 1988-04-20) is wanted on a British Columbia wide warrant for ASSAULT WITH A WEAPON. NOME is described as a First Nations male, 183 cm or 6’0” tall and weighs 73 kg or 161 lbs. NOME has black hair and brown eyes. NOME should be considered violent.

If you have information regarding these crimes call CRIMESTOPPERS

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

You will remain anonymous. You may be eligible for a cash reward.

Remember... We don’t need your name - just your information

RIVERSIDE COLLISION We take out wrinkles.

In Provincial Court on Dec. 1: Jason G. Mease was found guilty of possession of a controlled substance, sentenced to one day in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $100.

Lance R.E. Park was found guilty of failing to comply with a probation order and assessed a victim surcharge of $100.

Ronald D. Collin was found guilty of theft of property with a value less than $5,000, sentenced to one day in jail, received a conditional sentence of 12 months, was placed on probation for 12 months and was assessed a victim surcharge of $100.

Tracy D. Gibbon was found guilty of escape from lawful custody, sentenced to time served in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $100.

George L. Olsen was found guilty of two counts of failing to comply with a probation order, sentenced to one day in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $100.

Tyrone J. Williams was found guilty of theft of property with a value less than $5,000, sentenced to 90 days in jail, placed on probation for 18 months and assessed a victim surcharge of $100.

In Provincial Court on Dec. 2: Dale C. Currie was found guilty of possession of stolen property with a value greater than $5,000, sentenced to 250 days in jail, placed on probation for 12 months and assessed a victim surcharge of $200. Currie was also found guilty of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, sentenced to 90 days in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $200.

Sylvia M. Jack was found guilty of driving with a suspended licence, fined $750, assessed a victim

surcharge of $112.50 and prohibited from driving for one year.

In Provincial Court on Dec. 3: Travis L. Basil was found guilty of entering premises during a prohibited period, fined $500 and assessed a victim surcharge of $75. Basil was also found guilty of resisting a peace officer, sentenced to one day in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $50. Basil was also found guilty of two counts of failing to comply with a probation order, sentenced to one day in jail, placed on probation for one year and assessed a victim surcharge of $100.

Terence A. Charlie was found guilty of two counts of assault, sentenced to one day in jail, placed on probation for 18 months, assessed a victim surcharge of $100 and prohibited from possessing firearms for five years. Charlie was also found guilty of unauthorized possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon, sentenced to one day in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $100.

David W. Girroir was found guilty of failing to comply with a probation order, sentenced to 15 days in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $100. Girroir was also found guilty of two more counts of failing to comply with a probation order, sentenced to 15 days in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $200.

Anita Gudgeon was found guilty of failing to produce a valid driver’s licence when ordered to do so, fined $750 and assessed a victim surcharge of $112.50.

Sabina H. Haskell was found guilty of theft of property with a value less than $5,000, failing to comply with a probation order and two counts of failing to comply with a condition of an undertaking or recognizance, sentenced to one day in jail, placed on probation for one year and assessed a victim surcharge of $100.

Rosa A. Jael was found guilty of two counts of theft of property with a value less than $5,000, sentenced to three months in jail, placed on probation for three years and assessed a victim surcharge of $200.

Vance S. James was found guilty of resisting a peace officer and failing to comply with a condition of an undertaking, fined $250 and assessed a victim surcharge of $75.

Tara M. Lolly was found guilty of theft of property with a value less than $5,000, received a conditional sentence of 45 days, placed on probation for 12 months and assessed a victim surcharge of $100.

Jeremy L. Lowley was found guilty

of failing to comply with a probation order, sentenced to one day in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $100.

Vincent Martin was found guilty of theft of property with a value less than $5,000, sentenced to four months in jail,placed on probation for three years and assessed a victim surcharge of $200.

Raven D. Parenteau was found guilty of two counts of possession of a controlled substance, placed on probation for 12 months and assessed a victim surcharge of $100.

Joseph M. Prince was found guilty of driving while prohibited, fined $500, assessed a victim surcharge of $75 and prohibited from driving for one year.

Myles H. Alec was found guilty of assault with a weapon, sentenced to 410 days in jail, assessed a victim surcharge of $100 and received a lifetime prohibition on the possession of firearms. Alec was also found guilty of forcible confinement, sentenced to 410 days in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $100. Alec was also found guilty of possession of stolen property with a value less than $5,000, sentenced to 180 days in jail and assessed a victim surcharge of $100. Alec was also found guilty of a second count of possession of stolen property with a value less than $5,000, sentenced to 180 days in jail, assessed a victim surcharge of $100 and ordered to restitution of $539.51.

Russell F. Barnetson was found guilty of failing to comply with a condition of an undertaking or recognizance, placed on probation for six months and assessed a victim Are you new to surcharge of $100.

Sean P.E. Smith was found guilty of Prince George? assault with a weapon, forcible confinement and extortion, sentenced to 798 days in jail, assessed a victim surcharge of $100 and received a lifeHave you delivered a baby time prohibition on the possession of in the last 3 months? firearms.

Or know someone who is pregnant?

Eugene R. Tom was found guilty of carrying a concealed weapon and Call: assessed a victim surcharge of $100.

Leandra Hooker-Armstrong In Provincial Court on Dec. 4: 1-844-299-2466 Jamie D. Carpenter was found welcomewagonpg@hotmail.com guilty of failing to comply with a probation order, sentenced to six days in Welcome Wagon has jail and assessed a victim surcharge information and gifts to of $100. Carpenter was also found guilty of failing to attend court when present on these occasions. ordered to do so and a second count Visits are done by appointment of failing to comply with a probation Northern Region & Surrounding Area order, sentenced to 11 days in jail and Call: 1.844.299.2466 assessed a victim surcharge of $100. www.welcomewagon.ca Katherine R. Kelly was found guilty of failing to produce a valid driver’s licence when ordered to do so, fined $1,000, assessed a victim surcharge of $150 and placed on probation for six months.

Anthony H. Pfrang was found guilty of driving while prohibitWith over 30 years of experience, I can help you preserve your freedom, reputation and livelihood. ed, fined $500, assessed a victim surcharge of For an appointment call 564-4454 $75 and prohibited from driving for one 980 Fourth Avenue, Prince George • aartsenlaw.com year.

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Know Your Rights C. Keith Aartsen

Criminal Defence Lawyer

193 Ongman Road • 250-564-2512

Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

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Top 10 stories of the year 1 CODY LEGEBOKOFF TRIAL

WHAT JUST HAPPENED? A LOOK AT 2014

When the jury found Cody Legebokoff guilty of four counts of first degree murder, he became one of Canada’s youngest serial killers.

Convicted September 16 of murdering Loren Donn Leslie, Jill Stuchenko, Cynthia Maas, and Natash Montgomery (whose body has not been found), Legebokoff was convicted to life in prison on all four counts. The trial, which had originally been expected to take up to eight months, wrapped up in about three-and-a-half months.

In a highly unusual turn of events in a murder trial, the accused took the stand in his own defence. Legebokoff testified that he was present for the murders of Stuchenko, Maas, and Montgomery, but pointed the finger at a mysterious set of men he would only identify as X, Y, and Z. In Leslie’s murder, where police pulled him over likely minutes after the murder, Legebokoff testified that Leslie tried to kill herself, but then later admitted to hitting her.

The jury didn’t buy any of his stories and convicted him of first degree murder on all four counts.

2. SNOW REMOVAL A series of heavy snowstorms over the 2013 Christmas season triggered a political storm that would last throughout 2014. Residents were increasing upset with the lack of snow removal by the city and an early January report from Operations Manager Bill Gaal informed the city that it was the result of a perfect storm of weather. Coun. Brian Skakun, however, wasn’t buying it and published photos of graders sitting idle during a weekend snowstorm. His actions brought about a rebuke from Mayor Shari Green who, eventually, along with Gaal, pointed to contract negotiations with CUPE as part of the problem.

A subsequent independent report found a myriad of problems including equipment that wasn’t properly maintained, a lack of communication between city departments, an inability to secure sufficient private contractors, and a host of other woes. The issue of snow removal was never far from the surface, even throughout the summer, and was a major issue in the November civic election.

3. COUGARS’ SALE It was wished for in the community for years and was rumoured for months. In April it came true.

Rick Brodsky, who brought the WHL Cougars here from Victoria, had finally sold the team. Greg Pocock, the leader of EDGEPRO Sports and Enertainment Ltd., along with Ernest Ouellet, Raymond Fortier and John Pateman.

Current NHL players Dan Hamhuis and Eric Brewer, both former Cougars, are also members of the new ownership group. About 1,200 people showed up at CN Centre in May when the new owners held a party to launch the Cougars’ “New Ice Age.”

Bill PHILLIPS/Free Press Terri McConnachie, who was elected to council November 15, and Michelle Marrelli, who was Lyn Hall’s campaign manager, celebrate on election night.

5. CIVIC ELECTION The municipal election campaign unofficially got started in May when Shari Green announced that she would not be seeking re-election in the fall. It didn’t take long for those seeking the mayor’s job to come forward as Don Zurowski announced in early June and Lyn Hall announced a couple of

Tea & Tone

4. TEACHERS’ STRIKE Although provincial in nature, the BCTF strike was a local story as well.

Armed with a Supreme Court ruling that said the Liberal government was wrong when it stripped certain bargaining rights from teachers’ contracts in 2002, Prince George teachers hit the picket lines in June. They were back on the lines in September when classes were set to resume and after what can only be described as a bitter dispute, the BCTF agreed to a six-year deal in late September.

Whatever the excuse...

Accidents Happen Happen.

weeks later.

Hall emerged as the winner, with 53 per cent of the vote.

In the council race, incumbents Cameron Stolz and Dave Wilbur were turfed out while the community put three newcomers at the table … Jillian Merrick, Terri McConnachie, and Susan Scott.

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Friday, January 2, 2015

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Top 10 stories of the year 6. LAKELAND MILLS

WHAT JUST HAPPENED? A LOOK AT 2014

Even though the fire and explosion at Lakeland Mills that killed two people and injured two dozen more happened in 2012, the fallout from that incident continued through 2014.

Just as it did with the Babine Forest Products explosion and fire in Burns Lake, the Criminal Justice Branch decided in April that it would not be laying charges against the mill. As in the Burns Lake incident, the Criminal Justice Branch pointed the finger at the investigative techniques of WorkSafeBC. This prompted the province to completely revamp WorkSafeBC while dismissing calls from families of the injured and the Opposition to launch a public inquiry into the explosions. An inquest will start in March.

Lakeland decided to rebuild the mill, which began cutting logs again in December.

7. TSILHQOT’IN RULING Carrier Sekani Tribal Chief Terry Teegee described it as a “societal earthquake.” On June 26, the Supreme Court of Canada rendered a ruling that

Why You Need Vitamin C and Lysine for Heart Health and More...

W. Gifford-Jones, MD

V

itamin C is arguably the single most important water soluble antioxidant in the human body. Antioxidants play a key role in protecting cells against free radicals, which can cause damage and play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases.

It’s tragic that researchers are unaware that high doses of vitamin C and lysine cannot only prevent, but reverse atherosclerosis in coronary and other arteries in the body. Vitamin C is needed for the manufacture of collagen, the glue that holds cells together. A lack of vitamin C means poor collagen, resulting in cracks appearing between coronary cells thus setting the stage for fatal blood clot.

Recently, Dr. Sydney Bush, an English researcher, made this monumental discovery. He took photos of the retinal arteries and then gave patients 6,000 milligrams of vitamin C and 5,000 of lysine (lysine adds strength to coronary arteries just like steel rods increase the strength of concrete). A year later he repeated the pictures. To his surprise, he found atherosclerosis fading away.

Millions of North Americans also suffer from osteoarthritis. Without sufficient vitamin C to produce collagen, a major component of cartilage, bone eventually grinds on bone. There would be fewer joint replacements if more vitamin C were available to produce healthy collagen.

Patients often appear surprised when I tell them that vitamin C will help them keep their teeth a lifetime. By age 65 one in five North Americans has lost all their teeth and many of their teeth were normal. Rather, it was the gums that could no longer hold teeth firmly in place in part due to inadequate amounts of vitamin C. This vitamin is needed in large amounts to produce healthy collagen, the glue that holds cells together and keeps gums healthy. Without good mortar bricks fall apart and the same happens when gums lacking collagen lose their grip on teeth.

The essential amino acid lysine is probably best known for its use in those with herpes simplex infections but several other benefits have been ascribed to the molecule, including favourable effects on blood pressure and stroke prevention but also a positive influence on mood and anxiety.

In addition to providing healthy collagen production and a healthy cardiovascular system, vitamin C and lysine supplementation helps support: t *NNVOF TZTUFN IFBMUI t 7JTJPO t 5FFUI BOE HVNT t 8PVOE IFBMJOH t #POFT BOE DBSUJMBHF t 3FDPWFSZ GSPN TIJOHMFT t 3FDPWFSZ GSPN IFSQFT PVUCSFBLT This is why I’ve been taking high doses of vitamin C and lysine for the last 16 years following a heart attack. I believe it saved my life. Medi-C Plus™, containing high doses of vitamin C and lysine, is available in powder and capsules.

Rheumatoid arthritis, the inflammatory type, also requires large doses of vitamin C. Every moment of the day our bodies are using oxygen to keep us alive. But oxidation results in metabolic ash, known as “free radicals”, which are believed to trigger an inflammatory reaction in joints.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps to reduce damaging free-radicals.

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affirmed Tsilhqot’in title over 1,700 square kilometres of land west of Williams Lake. The ruling basically redefined what constitutes First Nations approval of development on traditional territory.

“It goes way beyond a duty to consult,” said UNBC professor Paul Michel. “They must have consent.”

8. TEENS DROWN Tragedy struck a party at Kwitzil Lake, more commonly known as Gravel Pit Lake, when two teens drowned.

Craig Allen Wood and Kendall Gabriella Moore were sleeping in the SUV when it rolled into the lake. Despite attempts by others in attendance, the pair could not be rescued in time.

9. DOWNTOWN FIRE: In early May, several downtown businesses were severely damaged by a late-night fire. Mothers ‘N’ More Maternity, which, along with another adjacent building being used for storage on George Street, were completely destroyed by fire.

The Copper Pig Barbecue House suffered heat, smoke, and water damage and was closed for several months. However, the popular downtown

restaurant was confident, from the time of the fire, that it would re-open, posting on its Facebook page a link to Elton John’s song “I’m still standing.”

Mothers ‘N’ More Maternity, owned by Carri Hunter, had been open for just three weeks. EDI Environmental Dynamics and Simmy’s Bistro, across the street from other businesses, were also damaged.

The Copper Pig has since re-opened.

10. CURBSIDE RECYCLING It didn’t come without a lot of angst and discussion, but in September curbside recycling finally arrived in Prince George.

Often a source of puzzlement to newcomers as to why a city this size didn’t have curbside recycling, the service came to town under the MultiMaterial BC umbrella and is delivered by Emterra Environmental.

The city had first dibs on providing the service but opted out, saying the contract offered by MMBC was too costly.

The Regional Distrist of Fraser-Fort George, which operated drop-box recycling bins in the city also opted out. Eventually, the regional district decided to continue operating drop-box depots outside city limits.

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7

Top five newsmakers CODY LEGEBOKOFF No one likes it, but we’re not about to sugarcoat it.

Cody Legebokoff was, without a doubt, the top newsmaker in Prince George in 2014. The amount of ink that was devoted to his firstdegree murder trial by newspapers across the country would easily put him at the head of the list.

But what really put him at the top of the list was when he had the audacity to take the stand in his own defence and spin a fantastical tale about Natasha Montgomery, Jill Stuchenko, and Cynthia Maas being murdered by mystery men he would only name as X, Y, and Z. Similarly, his ever-changing story about how Leslie Donn Leslie was murdered was equally unbelievable.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED? A LOOK AT 2014 other than the fact Marshall is one of the most philanthropic businesspeople in the city.

When we posted the story on our website, that single story increased the web traffic on our site almost tenfold. It was posted in October and the story continues to rank among our most read stories and is the most commented-on story on our website.

While not much has been said about Marshall in the traditional media, his story is well-read online.

CHARIOT SKI KITS

SHARI GREEN One might expect the mayor to be in the news throughout the year. Shari Green, however, made all kinds of news in 2014. The year was ushered in with the great snow removal debacle in full swing. Green was resolute in defending city staff, even though Coun. Brian Skakun posted photos online of city graders sitting idle during a weekend snowstorm.

That brought a public rebuke from Green, even though it was later discovered that Operations Manager Bill Gaal had ordered work stoppage.

The snow removal debate also saw Green send an e-mail to a city resident suggesting that some of the snow removal woes could be blamed on contract negotiations with CUPE. In May, Green was making news on a different political front as she announced she would not seek re-election and many of those who supported Green for mayor, took over the executive of the Cariboo-Prince George Conservative riding association. In November she announced what most had known for almost a year, that she was seeking the Conservative party nomination, which was subsequently won by Todd Doherty.

1659 Nicholson St

250-563-4828

GREG POCOCK Greg Pocock, the leader of EDGEPRO Sports and Entertainment Ltd., along with Ernest Ouellet, Raymond Fortier and John Pateman and current NHL players Dan Hamhuis and Eric Brewer, both former Cougars, become the new owners of the Prince George Cougars.

SCOTT MCWALTER An online sensation.

Fed up with the negativity of some online sites, Scott McWalter decided to create a Facebook page dedicated to all the good things about Prince George.

Thus, Hell Yeah Prince George was created.

“HYPG is the perfect outlet to share your community experiences and PAY-IT-FORWARD stories,” reads the site’s rules. “This is a group dedicated to the residents of Prince George who enjoy living, working and playing in this incredible Northern BC community of ours. It is about showing off the scenery, events, restaurants, attractions and, most importantly, the people that make Prince George great.”

The site has definitely caught on as it now boasts more than 20,000 members.

BRENT MARSHALL In early October we reported that Brent Marshall and the Northland Auto Group had parted ways and that Marshall had been charged with using “deceptive practices” by the Motor Vehicle Sales Authority of British Columbia.

That, in itself, likely wasn’t all that newsworthy,

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Prince George Free Press

Friday, January 2, 2015

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Datebook www.pgfreepress.com Friday Meat draw, Fridays, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Royal Canadian Legion, 1116 Sixth Ave. Crown Market, Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 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: 250-614-0684.

Dance, Fridays, 8 p.m.-midnight, Royal Canadian Legion, 1116 Sixth Ave.

Saturday

Nechako Public Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 5100 North Nechako Rd. A Butler’s Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 1156 Fourth Ave. Meat draw, Saturdays, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Royal Canadian Legion, 1116 Sixth Ave. Crown Market, Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 3955 Hart Highway.

Dance, Saturdays, 8 p.m.-midnight, Royal Canadian Legion, 1116 Sixth Ave.

Sunday

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. Meat draw, Sundays, 3-5 p.m., Royal Canadian Legion, 1116 Sixth Ave. Crown Market, Sundays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 3955 Hart Highway.

Monday

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

Royal Purple Ladies, meet second and fourth Monday of every month, 7:30 p.m., Studio 2880.

Tai Chi, Mondays, 1:30 p.m., Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, 3701 Rainbow Dr. Northern Twister Square Dance Club meets Mondays, 7 p.m., Knox United Church basement. Information: Gys 250563-4828 or Reta 250-962-2740.

A U T O B O D Y LT D .

Community Builder

Tuesday

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

Information: 9164.toastmastersclubs.org.

Bridge, Tuesdays, 1 p.m., Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, 3701 Rainbow Dr. ACBL duplicate bridge, Tuesdays, 7 p.m., 425 Brunswick St. Information: 250-561-1685.

Spruce Capital Toastmasters meet Tuesdays, 7:25 p.m., 102-1566 7th Ave. Information: Tom 250-562-3402.

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

Information: Kathy 250-563-5170.

Wednesday

Bingo, Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m., Spruce Capital Senior Recreation Centre, 3701 Rainbow Dr. TOPS meeting, Wednesdays, 6:15 p.m., Kordyban Lodge dining room.

Information: Jessie 250-613-5933.

Whist, Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Activity Centre, 425 Brunswick St. Hart Toastmasters, Wednesdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Hart Pioneer Centre.

Information: harttoastmasters.ca 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.

CNC Retirees meet last Wednesday of the month, 9 a.m., D’Lanos. Information: Lois 250-563-6928.

DEAR READERS,

In order for our carriers to be safe while delivering the Free Press, we ask that you please rid your walkways, driveways and stairs of snow and ice to avoid unnecessary slips and falls.

“A special thank you to those residents who have already provided a safe route to their mailbox for our carriers!”

Circulation Manager

Thursday

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

Plaza 400 Toastmaster Club meets Thursday, noon, Aleza room, fourth floor, Plaza 400 building, 1011 4th Ave. Information: 6252.toastmastersclubs.org/ or 250-564-5191.

Tai Chi, Thursday, 7-9 p.m., Knox United Church, 1448 Fifth Ave. Information: 250-964-3849.

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

Central Interior Darts Club, meets Thursday, 6:30 p.m., P.G. Legion, 1116 Sixth Ave. Bridge, Thursdays, 1-3 p.m., Spruce Capital Seniors’ Centre, 3701 Rainbow Dr. Information: 250-563-6450.

Prince George Grassroots Cribbage Club registration, 6:30 p.m. play 6:45 p.m., Thursdays, 3701 Rainbow Dr. Information: Gerda 250-564-8561.

ACBL duplicate bridge,

School District 57 vice-chairperson Brenda Hooker, right, accepts a cheque for $10,000 from Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum North-central B.C. chair Jerome LaMarre on Monday morning at CNC. The cheque for a bursary fund at the Career and Technical Centre, a joint project of the school district and CNC. Also on hand were CNC dean of traces and technology Frank Rossi, left, CIM treasurer Trent Bilodeau, CTC co-ordinator Doug Borden and Navann LaMarre.

Proud to recognize those who give in our community.

Thank You Prince George For Voting Us A U T O B O D Y LT D .

Best 2065 - 1st Ave. • 250-563-0883 Auto Body Shop! www.csninc.ca Tuesdays, 7 p.m., 425 Brunswick St. Information: 250-561-1685.

Little Artists, Thursdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m., South Fort George Family Resource Centre, 1200 La Salle. 250-6140684.

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 Metis Elders Craft group, Thursday, 10 a.m.-noon, Prince George Metis Elders Society office, 117 – 1600 Third Ave. (Prince George Native Friendship Centre).

Wednesday evening Tops (take off pounds sensibly), Spruceland Baptist Church, 1901 Ogilvie St. Information: Leona 250-962-8802.

P.G. COPD Support Group meets Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m., AIMHI gymnasium, 950 Kerry St. Information: www. pgcopdsupportgroup.ca.

Prince George Stroke Survivors Group meets Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Elder Citizens Recreation

Association, 1692 10th Ave. Information: Julia 250-563-3819, Roland 250-562-1747.

La Leche League breast feeding support group meets the second Thursday of every month 7 p.m., 176 Aitken Cres.

Information: Tammy 250-612-0085.

Al-Anon New Hope AFG meets Fridays, 1:152:30 p.m., First Baptist Church, 483 Gillett St. Information: 250-5613244.

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

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

Al-Anon Hart Courage AFG meets Wednesdays, 7-8:30 p.m., Knox United Church, 1448 Fifth Ave. Information: 250-5613244.

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.

Prince George ATV

Club meets third Tuesday of month, 7 p.m. Carmel Restaurant meeting room. Information: George 250-964-7907.

Royal Purple meets second and fourth Mondays, 7:30 p.m.

Information: Dianne 250-596-0125 or Jeanette 250-563-9362.

Prince George Quilters Guild meets fourth Tuesday of the month, Connaught Youth Centre, 1491 17th Ave. Registration 6:30 p.m., meeting 7 p.m. Information: Barb Friesen 250-564-6288 or e-mail iquiltbarb@gmail. com.

Prince George Genealogical Society meets the third Tuesday of the month, St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 1500 Edmonton St. PGRH retirees breakfast, first Tuesday of the month, Prince George Golf and Curling Club. Information: 250563-2885.

Best Auto Body Shop

“GIVE A LITTLE… GAIN A LOT!” BC Cancer Agency for the North Volunteer Program offers patient and centre support. For more info visit www.bccancer.bc.ca mark.barnes@bccancer.bc.ca Mark 250-645-7300 ext 687508 Canadian Blood Services Looking for in clinic volunteers to care for donors in the hospitality area. Specifically to fill shifts on Wed afternoons or Thurs mornings at least 1 shift per month. Email: amy.erickson@blood.ca Call Amy 250-613-3065 Hart Pioneer Centre Volunteer opportunities: catering, cashier, meals on wheels delivery and more. Activities include: carpet bowling, floor curling, Tai chi, Line dancing, cards, crafts, foot clinics, lunches, etc. Located at: 6986 Hart Hwy. hartpioneer@shaw.ca Call 250-962-6712 For information on volunteering with more than 100 non-profit organizations in Prince George, contact Volunteer Prince George

250-564-0224 www.volunteerpg.com

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

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

Romance under the moon Driving my and other stories about finding love ... or not resolutions At this time of year Santa’s mailbox in the North Pole will be almost empty of letters from little children all over the world.

Canada Post may have been tardy with some late mail (I know, no way) but hopefully by now, Santa Claus has met all those seasonal requests and is now taking orders for new toys, new siblings and new computer games for 2015.

Well, not to take away from the jolly old man in red but this northern reporter gets some pretty interesting mail of her own and writers ask for nothing more than a good laugh from me. LOL. People in Prince George tell the most interesting and hilarious stories. You’ve heard the expression, “Everyone’s a comedian”? – well many of them truly are.

So I thought why not, with the writers’ permission, share their letters with readers –

and also fill a few gaping editorial holes, the result of a busy Yuletide season and special holiday schedules.

Certainly they are worthy.

This one is from local freelance photographer, Vince Ramcharran who travels all over the world taking stills and videos of interesting people and events. But even successful professional shutterbugs can have some awkward personal moments: “Your beautiful [Free Press] Red Skies at Night (manmade lights) photo took me back to a Friday evening in 1972 in Vancouver’s Stanley Park, with my girl friend.

I was dating Inger from Denmark, who worked at the Danish Tea Room on Robson Street. She was beautiful, had a Volvo car and I still have some photos of us, taken by her girlfriend. The first time I met her at a club by Nelson and Granville Streets on the dance floor, the sparks

TEA WITH TERESA

TERESAMALLAM

were flying as if we were made for each other.

After a few dates, we went for a leisurely stroll in Stanley Park and, wanting to impress her romantically, I saw the moon through the trees. Just like the time I asked a woman when her baby was due and she said she was having difficulty losing weight, I said to Inger: ‘What a beautiful moon out tonight.’

After a short pause, she said, ‘Vince, that is the street light through the trees.’

After a few more meetings to ease the goodbye, she married a German guy. I thought Danes were more forgiving.

A true story.”

If you have a true story you would like to share, write me at arts@pgfree press.com and there may be a recycled Christmas card in it for you.

And according to the 2015 Chinese Zodiac calendar, this is Year of the Sheep so if you want to follow Vince’s lead and tell us about a disastrous first date, how you met your spouse or ex, the path found to true love (all three may involve the same person) please send them along and we will publish the best ones in our Valentine’s Day edition.

For that, we will spring for a dinner at a local restaurant, gourmet chocolates and a bouquet of flowers.

In the meantime, Happy New Year everyone and I hope you have a rewarding, love and adventure-filled 2015.

Less tumult in 2015 and other crazy predictions for Prince George There is no doubt 2014 was tumultuous resulted in many people securing employyear in Prince George. ment, some just for a couple of months, From snow removal, to the Cody Legebut others for a number of years. Where bokoff trial, to the Conservative nominawill they end up after the Games are over? tion, to the municipal election, it was good Will they be able to find work here in year for we scribes who need fodder for Prince George? the blank pages we are continually preAs mentioned above, I predict that it sented with. will be a calmer year at City Hall. Like his I predict that this year, 2015, will be a predecessor, Mayor Lyn Hall does want busy one in Prince George, but less tumul- to enact a lot changes. However, unlike tuous than last year. It will be his predecessor, he seems to the city’s 100th birthday and in want change to come from the about six weeks’ time, the 2015 bottom up, rather than the top Canada Winter Games will get down. underway.

There was plenty of chatI predict that the Games ter on the Internet and in the will have a few glitches, there media about whether city always are some at events of manager Beth James’s job is in this magnitude, but overall jeopardy under her new politithey will be a success. If you cal masters. wonder what that noise is atop I predict that she will still the Games office every mornbe on the job here in Prince ing these days, it’s Stu BallantWRITER’S BLOCK George when we scribes write yne leading the crew in a Pray BILLPHILLIPS our 2016 predictions.

4 Snow dance. (There is snow Initiatives Prince George, in the forecast for next week). however, is a different story.

If you’re wondering what that noise atop I predict that Initiatives Prince George City Hall these days, it’s assistant director will have a completely different focus and/ of operations Gina Layte Liston and city or structure by year’s end. During the council doing a Pray 4 No Snow dance … election campaign Hall talked a lot about at least downtown and on major routes. engaging with business stakeholders such One of the big questions with the as IPG, the Chamber of Commerce, the Games, though, is who will be left here Downtown Business Improvement Area, after the dust settles. The Games has etc., which all sounds good. But in his in-

augural address last month, Hall said one of the items on the agenda for a council retreat later this month will be business development and the role council plays in that.

For those of us who like to read between the lines that means taking a look at IPG, the city’s economic development arm, and whether it should be at arm’s length from council, as it was originally set up to be, or brought under the city hall umbrella.

I also predict that there will be a federal election in 2015. Wow, went out on a limb on that one.

I also predict it will be held in the spring, rather than the fall, which is went it is supposed to be held. I predict that Nathan Cullen and Bob Zimmer will retain their seats in Skeena-Bulkley Valley and Prince George-Peace River, respectively.

Right now, it’s likely that Todd Doherty will win in Cariboo-Prince George, but there are some variables at play here so it’s a tough call. Firstly, if the Liberals or the NDP can field a credible candidate, the riding may in play. In addition, working against the Conservatives is the highlycontentious candidate race.

The well-publicized shenanigans that went on will likely sour some voters who may otherwise have voted Conservative.

As for former Mayor Shari Green, I predict that she will get appointed to some provincial board in 2015.

I’m going to start my first column of 2015 with a couple of New Year’s resolutions related to my driving habits.

Now, like the majority of people, I think I’m an above-average driver, but I started paying a little more attention to some little things I found myself doing, and decided some of them needed to be worked on.

I resolve to do a better job of keeping both hands on the steering wheel, and not to cross my my wrists when I’m turning. Keeping both hands on the wheel is always a good idea, but I found I was spending too much time letting go of the wheel with one hand, especially when I was making a turn. I also found myself crossing my wrists when I made a turn, and somewhere in the deep recesses ALLAN’S AMBLINGS ALLANWISHART of my memory I recall my driving instructor saying that was a no-no.

I resolve not to bob my head when I check over my left shoulder for my blind spot. Strange, but true. I found that for some reason I was ducking my head when I turned it to the left when I was about to, say, make a lane change.

I’ve decided to try to keep my head movements consistent, regardless of which side I’m checking.

My final resolution is possibly going to be the hardest one for me, because it doesn’t actually relate to my own habits. I resolve to be more tolerant of other people’s mistakes while driving, and not get upset because someone turned into the wrong lane or changed lanes without signalling.

• Of course, I still reserve the right to call someone a Blacktop Blockhead when they’re driving at about 5:30 p.m. these days without their lights on.

• I made a resolution a few years ago to take better care of my weight, and even though it wasn’t at New Year’s, I’ve stuck to it.

It’s harder at Christmas because there’s usually a lot more food around, but after a few years of having smaller snacks instead of big meals, I find I can’t eat anywhere near as much as I used to, which is a good thing.

There is also no way I’m going to try to match Eric Wood, a centre on the Buffalo Bills NFL team. He and his family weighed themselves before and after Thanksgiving dinner this year.

Wood gained more than eight pounds.

• To everyone in Prince George, best wishes for a happy and prosperous 2015.

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Friday, January 2, 2015

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

Happy New Year

H

appy New Year.

From all of us here at the Prince George Free Press, we wish you a happy New Year.

Hopefully, by now, the celebrations from Wednesday evening have worn off and now it’s time to get back to normal.

This year, 2015, will be anything but normal for the City of Prince George. The city will be celebrating its centennial this year, and the 2015 Canada Winter Games are just a few weeks away.

It will truly be a special year in Prince George. Let’s all work towards making it the best year ever ... so far.

Price disparities in U.S.

A

re there legitimate reasons the price of so many identical items varies greatly between Canada and the United States?

If a laptop computer in Canada costs $200 more than its identical counterpart in the U.S., can retailers offer an explanation that will make sense to consumers?

More importantly, can retailers convince the federal government there is logic behind price disparities? They had better be able to as the Conservative government has taken steps to find out if the price gap equates to gouging.

This week, Industry Minister James Moore announced details of legislation that will give the Commissioner of Competition the power to convince companies to lower the price on items sold in Canada.

Many reasons have been cited for the often significant difference in the prices — taxes, the exchange rate and the wages paid in each country.

However, as the Conservatives noted in their 2014 budget, independent studies verified Canadians were paying between 10 and 25 per cent more than Americans for most products in 2011.

That fact remained after higher Canadian sales taxes and exchange-rate adjustments were calculated.

A few years ago, when the Canadian dollar reached par with the U.S. greenback (and even rose higher in value), booksellers announced a change in pricing.

Books that were historically much more expensive in Canada had their prices changed to match the cover price on the titles sold south of the border.

If the Conservative government finds that Canadians are paying more for a product that is cheaper in the U.S. simply because companies can get away with it, perhaps electronics and other goods will see similar price-tag changes.

It would be one more reason to continue to shop local — from coast to coast to coast.

- Kamloops This Week

New Year’s resolve There goes another year. It flew past with amazing speed. our shortcomings even as small as they are and strive to be a So much speed that there are things on my to do list which better person. have remained there for a long time and they still don’t get The hazard is that as much as we approach what we wish done. to change about ourselves, the world we live in just keeps As well as the fun of leaving the old year and embarking going in the same old way every day. It makes even the on the journey of the brand new year, it is also a smallest change difficult and we tend to be overly time for a little thought. A relaxed mental review optimistic that we can accomplish the desired of how the year just finished reveals that some change. things did get done and other good intentions are Behaviour psychologists all seem to agree way back in the dust of the old year. that change is possible, but usually very diffiFor most of us it has been a good year. There cult. It is our little routines and habits that help are some who experienced tragedy and setbacks us through the days. Many of those are good but even those memories will fade as time goes and help us deal with stress and crisis in our by. lives. Others are not so good. Everyone has to Many of us take the start of a new year to make sort that out for themselves. ourselves better this year than we were in past One piece of advice that helped me was years. Our experience is one more year deeper to keep it as simple as you can. Pick the one and we are one more year stronger. objective which you wish to achieve and focus ONSIDE Inevitably, that leads us into the temptation of on that. One change is a struggle but trying too VICBOWMAN making resolutions to be a better person in the many changes in your life at once is usually a coming year. That is the trap of the New Year’s resolution. formula for total failure.

Most of us have something we would like to change about Trying to give up a deeply ingrained habit which may ourselves and what better time to start than when one is have also built up a physical or mental dependency is tough. standing on the threshold of the year to come. It may be It took me the better part of a decade to rid myself of my a bad habit one wishes to rid themselves of, or a desire for tobacco dependency. The quits and failures were numerous. better health and many other worthwhile ideas. That is the The advice which helped me get there was to keep on trying positive side of making New Year’s resolutions. They are and forget dwelling on the failure. If you slip off the track, easy to conceive but can be difficult to achieve. pick yourself up, climb back up to the trail and carry on.

For those still stuck with the habit of smoking, many will Eventually it stuck. resolve to abandon the wicked weed forever. Others who see There is lots of help out there from friends, books and proand feel the pounds slowly accumulate on their bodies will fessionals which may help. They are all worth a try because resolve to eat better, get more exercise and become physichanging ourselves is one difficult task. cally fit. It could be dozens of different things you would Enjoy the New Year and look forward to this time a year like to change. Good for you, it does us all good to admit from now with the satisfaction you did it.

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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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Stop cutting Shirley Bond reflects on 2014 Editor: I teach in the College and Career Prep (adult basic education) program at the College of New Caledonia, and it’s a job I thoroughly enjoy. Every semester, I witness the profoundly positive effects of adult upgrading – students who are finishing, continuing, or updating their high school education.

For many of my students, adult basic education (ABE) provides them with the key to a better chance at life: increased literacy, a high school diploma, a job that pays a living wage, or entrance to higher education/skilled training. In short, ABE gives people the opportunity to become fully participating citizens, engaged and invested in their communities.

In recent months, the B.C. government has stated that post-secondary institutions must improve student access to skills training and higher education, in order to meet BC’s need for more skilled and educated workers.

Therefore, I was shocked when this same government recently announced their intention to cut a large chunk from ABE funding.

Schools like CNC will be expected to make up the difference. How? The government wants ABE students to suddenly start paying tuition fees – as high as $1600 per semester! Some of the savings would be put into grants, but these are difficult for students to access and qualify for. Ironically, providing the funding directly to institutions would be more cost-efficient.

By reducing ABE funding, the BC government will also be reducing access to education for its most vulnerable citizens. The government’s own research has shown time and time again that it is primarily Aboriginal people, women, and low-income learners who access ABE programs and benefit most greatly from them.

I urge the BC government to rethink this damaging, shortsighted decision. Please reverse your plans to cut funding from these vital programs!

I also encourage everyone reading this to please contact your local MLA and express your support for adult basic education in BC. The funding is a small investment that pays enormous, long term economic and social dividends for our communities.

Melinda Worfolk Prince George

Shirley Bond Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Our government has a plan – a plan to keep our economy growing and our province strong. Over the past year we’ve made progress implementing that plan – and achieving some of its goals.

We have already seen significant growth in several sectors, from natural resource development to tourism, small business and skills training. We aren’t stopping there; growth is projected to continue and, as a province we need to be ready with a skilled workforce in place, to build and operate future projects.

B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint is a comprehensive plan to adapt B.C.’s education and training system to align with labour market needs, at the right time and in the right place. With nearly one million jobs expected by 2022 through retirements and new job creation, it’s clear we must move quickly to make sure British Columbians are first in line for these opportunities.

There’s also tremendous growth in the small business sector. That’s why in October, B.C., in partnership with the federal government, announced the launch of the Canada Job Grant. The Canada Job Grant is designed to be flexible enough to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, in all industries and regions. The Canada

Job Grant will result in training that leads to guaranteed jobs for British Columbians.

British Columbia has an unprecedented opportunity to create jobs and economic growth through the development of a liquefied natural gas export industry. LNG will create jobs all over the province – thousands of new long-term professions for British Columbians.

The registry and tool at LNGBuyBC.ca was launched in November so companies large and small can be ready to profile their goods and services to proponents and their contractors when the first Final Investment Decision is reached.

In September, we released the BC Jobs Plan Three-Year Progress Update with a renewed focus on strategic priorities to grow the economy and create long-term, well-paying jobs that strengthen families and communities. The Jobs Plan strengthens B.C.’s unique competitive advantages and sets targets to attract new investment and economic growth, which support job creation across eight sectors.

As you can see, 2014 has been a productive year, but our work is not finished.

As we move into 2015, we have lots of work ahead of us. I’m confident that as a province we are on the right track for a prosperous year ahead for families in British Columbia.

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/ connect

Assuming what all the facts are Paul Strickland Special to the Free Press Unexamined assumptions can lead us astray.

An assumption is a hypothesis without full proof, or a belief based on first impressions not subsequently investigated.

Journalists are cautioned to always check a fact by reference to at least one proven, reliable source, and ideally, if there is time before deadline, two, three or more. They are also warned never to assume anything in a story. In addition, they are told to get both sides of a story.

In law, too, assumptions and hearsay are ruled out of order. What is required are facts and evidence proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

However, in the wider society, many people will believe an untested assumption because it contains enough familiar background details to make it seem plausible. A wrong assumption, because of its plausibility, can have worse effects on reputations or government planning than an outright lie constructed out of whole cloth because the lie is often so outrageous as to not seem plausible.

Some people will run with the first assumption that seems to make sense or fits in with the conventional wisdom that’s in the

air at any particular moment.

Take, for example, the phrase “dependency ratio.” The seemingly scientific mathematical term refers to the result from dividing the number of people between the traditional working ages of 15 to 64 by the number of people 65 and over, considered to be completely idle. All sorts of alarms are sounded about the fact that the number of people over 65 is growing, with supposedly dire consequences for the future of Medicare and pensions.

The “dependency ratio” term is based on the assumption that all people over 65 are sick and require financial support from working people under 65. This is manifestly untrue because many can rely on RRSPs, annuities and self-employment income well into their senior years. And the late former Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Grant MacEwan, continued to research, write and publish history books and give lectures in Alberta history to Canadian Club chapters across that province well into his midnineties.

The seemingly statistically sound term “dependency ratio” flies under the radar in the minds of most people, who don’t subject the assumptions behind it to logical analysis. It becomes part of their consciousness in discussing issues of, say, health-care planning, the restructuring of the pension system, and social benefits for

seniors generally. Then it can happen that a prominent doctor says in an interview on a national network that he will refuse all but palliative care after the age of 75 in order to avoid burdening the system, and encourages everyone else reaching that age to do the same. In other words, they should die off for the good of the system. It sounds like something out of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World (1931).

Too many people proceed on the basis that if something could be true, then on the balance of probabilities it is true, and quick, even hasty action must be taken. In their minds these people top an assumption with a half-truth and add a fear and a piece of gossip onto that until they have built up a really frightening edifice of untruth without ever having consciously intended to lie.

One result is that mob frenzy, often inspired by anonymous accusations, sweeps over the social media landscape every few weeks like a tidal wave. Summary firings, forced resignations and ruined careers and reputations are left in its wake before even the first stage of judicial proceedings has begun. Background, context and fine points of evidence are lost.

It used to be said that in America defendants are tried in the media well before they have a chance to make their case in court. It was said that, by contrast, Canada’s system of publication bans on most evidence before

the start of a trial and the empanelling of a jury, along with bans on television cameras in courtrooms, helped ensure a fairer process and prevented trials from being turned into circuses.

Now it seems that Facebook and other social media are taking the place of courtrooms and jury deliberations, and one is sometimes reminded of the lynch mobs of the Old West.

Unexamined assumptions help fray our social fabric in other ways. For example, men are increasingly being driven out of the teaching profession below the level of Grade 10 because of hurtful assumptions about how much they can be trusted with younger children. In a recent survey of 223 male elementary teachers in Ontario, almost 13 per cent reported they had been wrongly accused of inappropriate contact with pupils, according to an article by Carolyn Abraham (“The Endangered Male Teacher”) in the Oct. 18, 2010 Globe and Mail.

“I live life on the edge every day I step in the classroom,” one teacher in the survey says. “All it takes is one parent or fellow teacher to perceive that the line between nurturing and pedophilia is blurry, and I’m a dead duck!”

Concerned citizens have to ask where their society is going with the steadily increasing instances of electronic mobocracy and the rush to judgment generally.

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Prince George Free Press

Friday, January 2, 2015

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TERESA MALLAM | 250.564.0005 | arts@pgfreepress.com | www.pgfreepress.com

People who moved us ARMAND DENICOLA Second World War veterans Armand Denicola and his lifetime friend John Kuharchuk, both in their 90s, sat together during Remembrance Day ceremonies at the local cenotaph on Nov. 11.

The day had special meaning for both of them. On Nov. 29, MLA Shirley Bond officially awarded them on behalf of the government of France, the country’s highest honour, the Legion d’Honneur medal, in recognition of their role in the liberation of France. The men were members of the Canadian Scottish regiment and they took part in the Juno Beach landing in June of 1944 during the Battle of Normandy.

The special ceremony honouring them took place at the Royal Canadian Legion local branch. Denicola told the remarkable story of his wartime experiences to the Free Press prior to Remembrance Day ceremonies.

Although he received the prestigious medal “70 years after the fact,” Denicola said he was still proud to wear it on his uniform – but saddened because he believed the honour truly belonged to all his fellow soldiers who fought (many of them died) alongside him with the Allies on the beaches of France. The award is not given out posthumously, he noted.

CHRIS HADFIELD

WHAT JUST HAPPENED? A LOOK AT 2014 their space hero. The same evening Hadfield was keynote speaker for the Dr. Bob Ewert Memorial Dinner and Dance.

HUANG FEI He dips his brush and paints with precision.

Huang Fei was in Prince George sharing Chinese history through his unique style of teaching qing-hua (blue flowers) cobalt painting technique. In November the artist was at Carlson Pottery studio on Hart Highway working on new pieces that have been fired in the kiln and are ready for painting. All around him were tools of the trade, handmade brushes from China, his ink and his inspiration. Huang Fei shares a studio in Jingezhen, China with his wife Kaie, also a ceramic artist.

Although he’s very successful and sough after for his Chinese blue-on-white painted porcelain and landscape painting, the artist says his work means more to him than just a way to make a living – it is his pride and passion.

His visit to our city was arranged for by local artisan Leanna Carlson, the Prince George Potters’ Guild and Red Deer College. Even though he could produce a higher volume of pieces for customers, Huang Fei, a self-confessed perfectionist, says he prefers to work on his pieces one at a time until completion, rather than working on several pieces a once. During his stay he travelled, visiting Victoria and Vancouver as well as making a trip to Powder King to see the snow and mountains.

AIDEN YIP

World famous Canadian astronaut, author, musician, inspirational speaker Chris Hadfield attended a book signing for his An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth at The Exploration Place on April 5.

He had a busy schedule meeting with students from the School Ambassadors Program, members of the public and the media. People waited in line inside and outside the building for a chance to shake hands with the man who played his guitar and sang in outer space.

Hadfield took time out to talk to several youngsters about their aspirations and he admired the drawings (of him) made by school children. Spencer Jamieson was among the many children who came out to see

Aiden Yip, 13, was chosen in September to represent Canada at the World Dance Championships. The Prince George dancer, a Grade 8 student at PGSS, was to perform in the jazz, modern and ballet teams. The Dance Team is based in Vancouver and Aiden and his mother, Shendah, were scheduled to travel there each work for dance rehearsals.

The entire team travelled to Poland in December to perform. Yip is a dancer with Judy Russell Enchainement Dance Centre. He auditioned in May along with dozens of other Canadian hopefuls. He was elated, he said, to have been chosen and very excited at the prospect of seeing Europe for the first time.

“I got an e-mail telling me I was chosen,” said Yip. “They announced it early. I felt like it was a dream because I thought about it for a long time after the audition, just imagining what it would be like if I got in – and I doubted myself – so when I got the e-mail, it was unreal.”

Aiden has been dancing since he was three. He says he knows that he wants dancing to be in his future.

“I want to have a dancing career. I don’t know where... and I know that I want to open my own dance studio.”

There are many challenges to being a dancer, particularly a male dancer in a world where there are far more female dancers than male, but Aiden says he enjoys dancing with all its challenges (right now he’s learning to do ballet lifts) and he looks forward to performing on the international stage.

KYLA MORGAN Kyla Morgan, 20, saw her art work on public display for the first time at the opening of her art show at Artspace in August.

Morgan sees her talent and sales of her work as a way to help secure her future, first by helping finance her way through nursing school, then by allowing her to do some serious globe trotting.

Born and raised in Prince George, Morgan has no formal training in art but she has natural instincts when it comes to being creative.

She works mainly in acrylic paints because they are fast drying compared to oils and she is still exploring other mediums. Her first exhibition “daunting” she admitted but it also helped her overcome any fears she had about showing her art to other people. For the opening, Morgan brought along a support group, musical members of her family who were up on stage performing as visitors talked with the artist about her work.

“I think writing and travel and art are all about exploring the world, getting out there and not avoiding things are sometimes scary. For me, it was this art show and that meant not backing down from challenges, taking things you care about and then putting them out there for the world to see and judge.”

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13

People who moved us WHAT JUST HAPPENED? A LOOK AT 2014

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Fred Turner spoke with the Free Press in May just before he and Randy Bachman kept their play date at CN Centre.

“It’s funny but back in 2010 (the year they joined forces on a new album) we decided to just run three years,” he said. “At the end of the three years, Randy came to me and said to me: ‘You know, I’m having more fun now than I’ve ever had. What do you think?’ And I said, ‘I am too.’ So he said, ‘Should we just keep going?’’

The two top talents decided yes. And on June 2, Bachman and Turner, the undisputed “heart and soul” of Bachman Turner Overdrive played Prince George.

It had probably been two decades since they last played here, said Turner.

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Rain turned into hail moments before the official unveiling of the Spirit of the Games mural at the Prince George airport on Oct. 1 but the 2015 Canada Winter Games mural’s designer and creator, Greg Gislason, kept the mood light as he introduced his work.

“It’s snowing on my parade,” he joked. “But that’s okay, this is Prince George. Gislason said he moved here from Vancouver and has made this city his home.

“I love this town,” he said to around of cheers.

With his work still under wraps, Gislason said it took him four months to create, five months with the mock up. He thanked several people involved in the artistic process including members of the PG and District Community Arts Council.

“I did this whole thing from the heart, not for the money,” he said of the mural which expresses many different facets of Canadian life. “Everything I learned (about Canada) from the Sixth Grade – it’s all in there.”

According to an Oct. 1 government press release, Gislason worked with Lheidli T’enneh representatives, Prince George historians and local experts for the project. Gislason said at the unveiling that when he found out he was chosen as the artist to do the mural, it came as “quite a surprise” because he knew there was strong competition from other talented artists.

John Gibson, CEO, Prince George Airport Authority, called it a “fabulous art piece” and a “significant project” that has taken a lot of people behind the scenes to bring it together.

“This is going to be the first thing they see when they arrive in Prince George for the Canada Winter Games,” said Mayor Shari Green.

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Roy Spooner was named Prince George Citizen of the Year for 2014.

He received the award in October at the Prince George Community Foundation’s Citizen of the Year gala event.

“I was very surprised and honoured to be chosen,” Spooner told the Free Press.

Besides his role as circulation manager for the Free Press, Spooner has spent many years working with local organizations that include Rotary Club, Royal Canadian Legion, Barkerville Heritage Trust and Chamber of Commerce.

He’s served on many local boards, often as chair and he continues to play an active role in the community in many capacities.

Known as an “ideas guy,” Spooner says that is a bit of a misnomer.

GREG GISALSON

Drama club members from the Elder Citizens Recreation Association (ECRA) put on quite a show Nov. 7, 8 and 9.

They came back full force to trump their past shows with the creation of new characters, new skits, more comedy and more crazy, colourful costumes. The talented seniors performed a number of songs and comedy routines in LOL-2 which stands for Laugh Out Loud-2. Their club has approximately 20 actors, singers and musicians and many of them were featured in the show which highlighted their individual talents. During dress rehearsals in October, Marlene Wenschlag guided the actors through their lines and multiple roles. New skits for LOL-2 included Fishing Trip, The Frustrated Pharmacist, The Shop Lifter and Oliver (taken from the nursery rhyme) in which Jack Temblay plays a gardener, Ann Miller takes on the role of Her Royal Majesty, Diane Myers plays a princess and Syl Meise plays the gentleman caller.

The ECRA drama club puts on variety shows to raise money to support its activi1659 Nicholson St 250-563-4828 ties.

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Ruth Keiss, 76, feared she would lose much of cherished independence as she waited one year for cataract surgery.

“In April, I went to the optometrist because I was having some difficulty seeing, especially at night. An eye exam showed I have ‘fully ripe’ cataracts and I was just two letters away from losing my driver’s license (if you fail to read a certain number of letters on the chart, you can be deemed unfit to drive.)

Keiss no longer drove at night, by choice.”

The senior made adjustments to her busy life – she uses a computer, reads books and does volunteer work in the community – to accommodate her failing eyesight. But not having a surgery date and fearing her eyesight would get even worse, Keiss decided to lobby for changes on behalf of herself and the long list of other people awaiting the eye surgery in Prince George.

“My optometrist tells me cataracts grow ‘very slowly’ but I still worry about my eyesight getting worse while I wait for surgery. I live alone. I like and do have an active, independent life. I don’t want that to change.”

Keiss was told she could have her surgery performed at UHNBC which has three qualified cataract surgeons – but she would be on a patient wait list for at least a year. Instead she chose to find another opthamologist in Abbotsford where the surgical wait times are often shorter, and Keiss’ successful surgery was performed before Christmas. Her story sparked interest from readers who were also awaiting cataract surgery and who wrote or phoned to talk about their frustrations.

For their part, Northern Health addressed the concerns saying they were looking closely at the surgery scheduling issue in the operating room.

Another patient in our series who also faced a one year wait time for cataract surgery actually did wait over a year, however his surgery was done before Christmas at UHNBC and he reports that he’s doing well.

“I haven’t been to Prince George ...I’m going to say it was [in the] mid 90s...so I’m really looking forward to seeing what’s happened...” The iconic rocker promised that fans could count on hearing their hits as well as new material. To hear Turner tell it now ...you ain’t seen nothing yet. And they were right. Their June 2 concert brought an all ages audience to their feet, screaming, whistling and wildly applauding the delivery of hit after hit. Bachman Turner put on a great show and proved why they are still, decades later, two of the biggest names in the music industry and living legends of rock.

Q ual

RUTH KEISS

“People say I’m an ideas guy but really I’m a listener. Despite the fact I have lots to say at (board and committee) meetings, if I really listen to what’s being said and then take all the bits of information I hear, I am able to put it all together, like the pieces of a puzzle. I organize it all and come up with a plan. It’s not that I have the best ideas but I have good listening and organizing skills.”

Spooner say one of the best ways he’s learned to get things done and serve the community is to hear what other people are saying.

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A rather eventful year GO FLY A KITE Brightly coloured and decorated kites in the shape of dragons, snakes, butterflies, birds and other animals, could be seen from a long way away.

On Sept. 28, CNC’s international students hosted their own Kite Flying Day at Rainbow Park in recognition of China’s traditional Kite Festival. The weather was perfect, sunny and warm with nice breezes to lift the kits into the air and keep them there. Kite flying is both an art and a skill, and it is definitely not as easy as it looks. Some of the kites were hand made at craft classes offered for children and families at Two Rivers Gallery and other kites were brought in by students from Weifang, China, well known as the capital city of kites.

Karen Zhaoyan recalled learning how to make and fly kites as a young girl growing up in China.

She hopes to pass on the tradition to her daughter, Emma, 4.

“Twenty years ago when I was in elementary school in Bejing, the capital of China, we made our own kites at school,” said Zhaoyan. “We have a kite festival in China and every spring and autumn the square is crowded with people getting out to fly their kites. It takes a lot of practise and a lot of

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strength to hold it and three or four people just to carry one of the bigger kites – that’s too big for me.”

Mother and daughter chose a smaller, beautifully painted butterfly kite to put into the air at the local park. Organizers hope Kite Flying Day will become an annual event attended by more and more people.

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The Prince George Symphony Orchestra presented its annual Classics in the Park Sept. 7 at Fort George Park.

The free outdoor concert marked the beginning of the PGSO’s 2014-15 season, with music director Kevin Zakresky leading British Columbia’s Northern orchestra.

For the season’s launch, Zakresky and the orchestra presented an allhits program of well known classical selections as well as the premiere of

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She brought her singing talent, her musicianship and her famous smile – and the songs that made her famous – to CN Centre Oct. 25.

Mostly though, Sarah McLachlan cast a bright light with the northern leg of her Canadian Shine On Tour.

The stage was moody and magical with exotic hanging lanterns make to look like planets in the galaxy, an ideal setting for a singer whose songs are often a little dark and not always (she admits) happy, upbeat songs about love. Still her music warmed the hearts of 2,100 fans in the audience with songs that included Sarah standards: Angel, Sweet Surrender and I Will Remember You as well as tracks off her new album, Shine On.

There she was on stage having fun with her band, inviting people with “green tickets” to come and sit next to her on her sofa in her “living-room” talk and take a few selfies. McLachlan’s piano playing spots, her sensational vocals and her guitar skills got showcased along the way. But all that talent – the artist is unquestionably one of the best and most enduring singers on the Canadian music scene, is only part of the charm and allure of Sarah McLachlan.

an exciting new work by young B.C. composer Ryan Noakes.

Youngsters were invited to the stage to try their hand at conducting and there were several guest appearances who added their vocals to the popular event. Classics in the Park also celebrated a new partnership between two Prince George home teams: the PGSO and the Prince George Cougars and to mark the special occasion – and to the delight of the audience – all the musicians were wearing Cougars jerseys.

CIVIC CENTRE HITS 20 The Prince George Civic Centre celebrated its 20 year milestone at the facility on Tuesday. Most people know the downtown building as the home of special events like the Festival of Trees, Studio Fair, Evening of Pink or Taste of India and as a venue for Health and Forestry Expos, awards ceremonies, bridal shows and seniors’ teas. In February the Civic Centre hosted a 20th birthday party complete with local dignitaries, invited guests and speakers who traced the centre’s history as a wellused and enjoyed facility.

Then Mayor Shari Green described the centre as “a very special place” providing great use for events in both summer and winter, a place that will become “the hub of it all” during the 2015 Canada Winter Games. “[The athletes] will have breakfast here every morning, some of them will have lunch here and this will be the place where the medal ceremonies will take place,” she said. Don Basserman, chair for the Civic Centre Building committee, took the podium to remind guests how far the centre has come since its early years when it was one of six things on his shopping list which included a new arena, art gallery, field house and – his own plug, he said – a performing arts centre.

HOLI On March 22 at the Day’s Inn, the North B.C. Hindu Society celebrated its annual Happy Holi or Festival of Colours.

The event included music, dancing, entertainment, traditional Indian buffet and of course washable, coloured powder which participants like Mina Bhandari put on each other’s faces and hands. Sunita Pun performed a Nepali folk dance and Bhanduri performed beautiful dances for the crowd. Inspirational speakers such as Baljit Sethi, executive director of Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society, spoke of their experiences with the festival.

Sethi gave a heart warming talk on how she used to celebrate Holi as a child growing up in her native India.

The Hindu holiday which is now recognized and celebrated around the world began as a welcome and ushering in of spring time and the new growth (and opportunity) that occurs with the passing of winter. Wherever it is celebrated, there is always lots of colours, food and it is a time for visiting friends and relatives.

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An eventful year

Friday, January 2, 2015

Check it out!

WHAT JUST HAPPENED? A LOOK AT 2014 GEORGE THOROGOOD Now THAT was a rock concert.

Time – 40 years of albums and concerts – has done nothing but make this “born to be bad” blues rocker even better.

George Thorogood looked good, sounded good and played his guitar at CN Centre April 30 as if he was born with one in his hands. Dressed in all black, he joked around with the crowd, flashed lots of smiles and gave them what they wanted to hear, great rock music, great lyrics. He even dedicated Get a Haircut to “sophisticated” rock fans in the audience.

That kind of natural ease and showmanship only comes at this time in a solid music career that spans decades and includes thousands of live performances.

He opened with Born to Be Bad and had 2,600 fans in delirious frenzy in less than five minutes.

He told the audience it had been “nine long years” since he and his band last played Prince George. “Too long,” he added, amid cheers from the crowd. Later on he promised to keep coming back here to play concerts until the day he died.

George Thorogood and The Destroyers left us all in a tizzy with their 40 Years Strong concert.

What a rock party. This one will be hard to top.

THE PLAY’S THE THING Two very versatile and talented actors made their debut with Theatre North West in Billy Bishop Goes to War. The play which opened Sept. 25 at Parkhill Centre was a remarkable production with David Leyshon as Canadian First World War flying ace Billy Bishop and Victor Dolhai as narrator and piano player. The innovative set and special sound effects made you feel like you were there in the cockpit, watching for enemy aircraft in the skies and counting enemy German fighter planes as they fell to the ground.

Leyshon and Dolhai deftly handled their roles as the only two actors in the stage play by John Gray in collaboration with Eric Peterson. Audiences learned a lot about Billy Bishop the man as well as the hero through the superb acting skills of Leyshon who used his voices (the actor takes on the role of several characters) mannerisms and body language to bring his character alive.

Dolhai is a skilful singer and musician who heightened the humour in some scenes and added to the narrative in others. Bravo to the cast and crew of Theatre North West who made Billy Bishop Goes to War not only entertaining but educational.

BIG BLUE BALL The third annual Rotary Big Blue Ball Nov. 1 shone the spotlight on men’s health and prostate cancer programs.

Just as election campaigns were kicking into gear, a noteworthy Canadian politician Lloyd Axworthy was invited to speak at the event. His topic centered on the responsibility to protect in the international community and his visit was soon after the attacks on Ottawa where a soldier standing guard at the cenotaph, Nathan Cirillo, was shot and killed, shocking the entire country and bringing about heightened security concerns.

Axworthy, a former Liberal Party member, was minister of foreign affairs, he headed up the UN Security Council and

was behind major efforts to ban anti-personnel land mines.

He is only one of a few Canadians nominate for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Rotary’s Big Blue Ball raises awareness and fund for men’s health issues and supports local community projects such as Rotary Hospice House, Rotary Soccer Fields and they founded Prince George’s first prostate cancer support group.

TOY RUN Bike riders rallied for the 33rd Salvation Army Toy Run on Sept. 28.

Over 465 brightly shining bikes with gleaming chrome, many with giant plush toys in their passenger’s seat, sparkled in the midday sun at the CN Centre parking lot. Before their annual ride to collect toys, bike enthusiasts gathered and greeted each other.

Harley Davidson Club members were reunited with riders who come every year from across B.C. and other parts of Canada. One longtime rider is Neil Mundreon, member of Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club (Kelowna) – the largest motorcycle club in the world – who also belongs to the Harley Owners Group in Prince George.

“One thing that has changed is that now there are a lot of ladies driving bikes – and that’s really good to see,” he said.

For 2014, the emphasis was on collecting more toys suitable for older children, particularly boys. Stuffed toys for the younger ones are always welcomed by the Salvation Army who distributes all the toys at Christmas time to families in need, but there’s a shortage of things like youth games, fishing rods, radios, etc., said Muldreon placing a gift set of carpenter tools into the 12-and-over-bin.

CHEF’S CHALLENGE Celebrity chef and commentator Bob Blumer was an invited guest to the B.C. Northern Exhibition’s first ever Amateur Chef ’s Challenge in August.

Kate Ames, then a sales representative for the Free Press made her way to the final round winning a $200 prize and most importantly for her, high praise for her culinary skills from the host chef. Heidi Johns took home the bragging rights after using her mystery basket ingredients (which included spot prawns and red bell peppers) to make delicious mouth-watering appetizers, entrees and desserts.

The Northern Taste Market stage was divided into two kitchens with Team Kate on one side and Team Heidi on the other. Racing against the clock, the teams and their sous chefs worked quickly to create culinary masterpieces in front of a live audience. Afterwards their courses got the taste test from four local judges and guest “Billy Barker.”

“It may look easy, but it’s anything but,” Blumer told the audience. In addition to studio lights and pressure cookertype atmosphere, competitors are cooking on hot burners – all adding to the heat.

Blumer kept the humour and food tips coming as co-emcee Norm Coyne filled in running commentary as Blumer looked into the contents of saucepans and made his own observations, taking plated dishes over to a close-up camera so the audience could see the final presentation.

“It was a great experience,” said Ames.

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READING, WRITING, MATH, STUDY SKILLS & HOMEWORK HELP

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Prince George Free Press

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YOUR HOROSCOPE Week of Jan. 4 to 10, 2014

THE LUCKIEST SIGNS THIS WEEK: SCORPIO, SAGITTARIUS, AND CAPRICORN

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Boxing Day sales continue, and if you work with the public, this exceptional consumer traffic brings you many benefits, including better pay.

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The full moon inspires you to say some beautiful things. Your beloved cherishes everything you say. There is lots of fun to be had with the family and your children make you smile.

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Lottery tickets are often received as gifts. If this is the case with you, you should check them; you may win the means to invite your family on a sunny beach vacation.

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You’re ready to set your New Year’s resolutions into action. You feel a great need to be active. You unearth an amazing bargain, especially if it’s a luxury item you’re looking for.

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At the beginning of this New Year, you decide to undertake some major projects. You demonstrate initiative, both professionally and personally.

Copyright © 2014, Penny Press

ACROSS 1. Narrow gash 5. Toe the line 9. Piglet’s mother 12. Thin strip 13. Skin opening 14. Night before a holiday 15. Cake decorator 16. Roofing material 18. Short reminder 19. ____ in the bag!

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48. ____ out (barely manages) 50. Soak

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You keep busy because as far as you’re concerned, the celebrations aren’t over yet.

LIBRA - SEPT. 22 - OCT. 21

The holiday season has transformed you into someone who is happy to focus on others; just make sure your family doesn’t take advantage of your good will.

SCORPIO - OCT. 22 - NOV. 21

You’re given the opportunity to follow your inspiration in developing future projects. The full moon appears to illuminate the path you need to follow to find happiness.

SAGITTARIUS - NOV. 22 - DEC. 21

Your presence is required at various events.

A romantic getaway may start badly, but harmony is restored before the end of the week.

CAPRICORN - DEC. 22 - JAN. 21

PUZZLE NO. 482

HOW TO PLAY : Fill in the grid so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.

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You’re the best person to resolve family disputes. It’s easy for you to see the compromises than can help your loved ones find a more harmonious way to relate.

AQUARIUS - JAN. 22 - FEB. 21

The return to work is quite a shock (in a good way). Your talents and the quality of your products are the foundation of this success.

The full moon broadens your client base.

PISCES - FEB. 22 - MAR. 21

You’re still in a partying mood when you go back to the office, and you find it hard to settle back in to the routine. But you do remember that sometimes, it’s important to have fun while working.

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Career Opportunities

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We are seeking candidates for the following position(s) within our organization: YOUTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT My Way Life Skills Coach Closing: January 5, 2015 or until the position has been filled.

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).

To apply, submit a resume, cover letter and three (3) references detailing which position you are applying for, to: 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 postings, no telephone inquiries please. We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

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Education/Trade Schools

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Prince George - SPORTS - Free Press

www.pgfreepress.com

Friday, January 2, 2015

21

Top sport stories/moments Hartley Miller makes his picks for 2014 “We do not remember days; we remember moments.” ~Cesare Pavese, The Burning Brand First, and foremost, I wish you and yours a very healthy happy safe new year. I hope you enjoyed the festive holiday season. This is the time that we sit back, reflect and ask, where did the last year go? I am not sure if it is a sign of age, but as I get older, it appears each year goes much faster.

2014 had its share of memorable Prince George sports moments. Here are just a few of them that caught my attention:

TOP STORY

Games Plaza were greeted by hundreds and hundreds of enthusiastic supporters who captured the Spirit feeling a sense of pride, gratification and honor. The much anticipated Games are now just six weeks away.

RUNNER-UP One week following the death of their teammate Nathan Warren, the Westwood Pub men’s soccer team beat Rolling Mix Concrete 2-1 to capture the North Cariboo Senior Soccer League Open Division championship. Warren died of a heart attack Sept 7th at age 26.

EXCELLENT

Hands down or shall I say ACHIEVEMENTS hand it over. The Prince George Cougars ownership change.

To Russia with Love The WHL Board of Governors Megan Heinicke competed unanimously approved the in the women’s biathlon at the sale of the Cougars from Rick Sochi Olympics and helped HART BEAT Brodsky to EDGEPRO Sports Canada to an eighth place finHARTLEYMILLER ish out of 17 in the women’s 4k and Entertainment Ltd., which is led by local businessman Greg by 6k relay. Earlier, Heinicke Pocock. His partners are NHL defensemen was 51st out of 82 in the 15k individual and Dan Hamhuis and Eric Brewer plus busi59th out of 84 in the 7.5k sprint. nessmen Ernest Ouellet, Raymond Fortier, National Gold and John Pateman. The price of the sale has Inner City fighter Kenny Lally won a been speculated at $7 million. sixth national boxing title in Mississauga, Ontario.

RUNNER-UP Alyx Treasure earned gold in the women’s The PG Golf and Curling Club was the high jump at the Canadian Track and Field site for the highly successful 2014 Scotties Championships in Moncton, New BrunsBC Women’s Curling Championship that wick. featured a dramatic final.

Sarah Beaudry racked up three indiNanaimo student Kesa Van Osch skipped vidual gold and Caledonia Nordic Ski Club her Victoria rink to the title by stealing the teammate Emily Dickson captured two winning point in the 10th end for a 5-4 individual gold at the National Biathlon victory over four-time defending champion Championships in Charlo, New Brunswick.

Kelly Scott of Kelowna. Alison MacInnes of Dickson also won gold at the Canadian Abbotsford earned bronze, Patti Knezevic Cross-Country Ski Championships in Corof Prince George finished fourth and Tracey nerbrook, Newfoundland.

Jones of P.G. placed fifth in the 10-team Perfection field. Knezevic then travelled as the fifth The Westwood Pub Devils won the player for the Van Osch team to the Nation- Treasure Cove Provincial Senior C Lacrosse al Scotties Women’s Curling Championship Championship. The Devils outscored the in Montreal. B.C finished tied for 5th with Port Moody Express 10-6 in the final before a 6-5 record. Knezevic competed in five of more than 300 fans at Kin 1. The Devils the 11 games due to the flu bug that sideline finished 24-0 on the season after going 5-0 some of the curlers. They were 4-1 with her in the five team tournament. in the line-up.

Looking to improve Naturally, not all results lived up to expecEMOTIONAL MOMENT tations, including the high profile teams: The PG Cougars failed to make the playThe 100-day countdown to the 2015 offs again but had a 50-goal scorer in Todd Canada Winter Games. November 4th wasn’t just any spectacle, it was a mammoth Fiddler.

The PG Spruce Kings and Cariboo Coucelebration where many Prince George gars lost in the first round of the playoffs. residents captured the moment. 37 torch The UNBC Timberwolves did not make bearers (myself included) took to the downtown streets and upon arrival to the Canada the Canada West playoffs after finishing

Free Press File Photo Patti Knezevic skipped her rink to a fourth place finish at the 2014 Scotties B.C. Women’s Curling championship in January and was then picked up by the the eventual winners, the Kesa Van Osch rink, to play at the nationals.

5-17 in men’s basketball, 6-16 in women’s basketball, 3-9 in men’s soccer and 1-9-2 in women’s soccer.

Another year Ups, downs, highs and lows. It’s all part of sports, a reflection of life. Yes, it is fun to go down memory lane. 2015 has arrived as we await many more thrills and spills. Enjoy the ride!

FROM THE QUOTE RACK: More than 100 people gathered in Times

Cover the North!

Carrier delivered to over 28,000 homes and businesses in Prince George

Square for the eighth annual Good Riddance Day where attendees used a shredder and mallet to get rid of bad memories. Wonder how many showed up with New York Giants and Jets stuff?

Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the Goat. He also writes for hqprincegeorge. com Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to hmiller@thegoatrocks.ca Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller

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Prince George - SPORTS - Free Press

Friday, January 2, 2015

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The best in sports COUGARS SALE There’s a New Ice Age coming to Prince George, and the Cougars are leading the way.

On May 13, the new owners of the WHL team held an open media conference at CN Centre in front of about 1,200 people. Team president Greg Pocock took the stage to a standing ovation, and said people shouldn’t expect this sort of conference all the time.

“It’s pretty overwhelming for people who aren’t used to publicity and usually try to avoid it.”

He went through the process of EDGEPRo Sports and Entertainment Ltd. purchasing the Cougars, starting with a contact made last September by a representative of then-owner Rick Brodsky.

“On Oct. 1, I had my first get-together with Rick Brodsky. On Oct. 2, I talked to Ray Fortier. We had talked years ago about purchasing the team.

“Now was our chance.”

Former Cougar and current Vancouver Canuck Dan Hamhuis came on board in November.

“He wanted to make sure this was a genuine opportunity,” Pocock said. “Once he was in, he was over-the-top enthusiastic.”

Pocock had commissioned a business evaluation of the team, and the report came back in December with a glowing recommendation of the purchase. At the end of December, they held a “shareholders” meeting in Vancouver.

“That was when Dan commented we should bring Eric (Brewer) in. I held hours of conversation with Eric over time, and his commitment to being part of this was incredible.”

The new owners weren’t the only people on stage at the conference, as Pocock, in what he called “probably the second-worst kept secret about today”, introduced Andy Beesley as the club’s vicepresident and business manager.

“We need to start something new here again,” Beesley said. “We think it’s appropriate that we’re here today, in CN Centre, on the surface under the ice.

WHAT JUST HAPPENED? A LOOK AT 2014 Bradley Wilcox of Ontario, also went the distance, and again Lally won a unanimous decision.

“I didn’t lose a round in any of the fights on any of the scorecards,” he said.

REMEMBERING NATHAN WARREN For the Westwood Pub players, Sept. 14 was a day unlike any other.

The two-time defending champions in the Open division of the North Cariboo Senior Soccer League were playing for their third straight title against Rolling Mix Concrete. But this game was different.

Nathan Warren wasn’t there.

Warren, the captain and manager of the team, died of a heart attack on Sept. 7, the same day Westwood secured its spot in the final with a 3-0 win over Grewal Group. Sam Batarseh remembered that day.

“Nathan was supposed to be playing in the semifinal with us, but we heard he was in the hospital.

After we won, we posted it on Facebook so he would know we were in the final.

“Then I got a call from a buddy of his that he had died.”

The team decided to honour Warren the best way they knew how.

“We wanted to win and to have fun, because that was what Nathan would have wanted.”

The pre-game rituals for Westwood on Sunday were much the same as normal, but there were some differences. All the players were wearing special T-shirts for the warmup honouring Warren, and they signed several of the shirts to give to his family and the league as mementoes.

As the two teams observed a moment of silence before the game, the crowd fell silent as well.

And then the game was on.

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LALLY BACK ON TOP

Kenny Lally’s first fight at the Canadian Elite Boxing Championships was almost his last.

“I fought a guy from Quebec,” Lally said Nov.3, back home in Prince George, “and in the first minute of the first round, there was a head butt and I was cut.”

Lally is quick to say the butt by Marc-Andre Suite 12 - 556 North Nechako Road, Prince George, BC Gauthier in their bout on Oct. 29 was unintentionPh: 250-561-2229 • Fax: 250-563-1941 al, and also came as somewhat of a surprise to him.

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At the end of the Located in the Victoria Medical Building round, he came back to Suite 312, 1669 Victoria St. his corner.

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freaked out about the cut than I was. They managed to stop the bleeding and I went back out.”

Partway through the second round, the referee brought Lally to the ringside doctor.

“He had me close one of my eyes and tell him how many fingers I could see. I must have gotten the answer right, because he let me keep fighting.”

And keep fighting Lally did, dumping Gauther in the second round on the way to a unanimous decision.

Lally’s bout was the only one in the first round form the 56 kg division, as the other three fighters all drew byes into later rounds.

In his second fight, against Rodolfo Velasquez of Ontario on Oct. 30, Lally knew what to expect.

His final bout, against

Going into the final group-stage game, coach Brad Stewart and the U16 boys Prince George Timberwolves knew where they stood.

“We knew it was win or nothing,” Stewart said of the game against Royal City Westminster United at the provincial soccer championships in Richmond on the July 5 weekend. “And the boys stepped up.”

A 2-1 win put Prince George into the provincial championship game against Kelowna, where this time the 2-1 score was against them.

Prince George got the first two goals of the game, then saw Royal City score late to make it 2-1 and provide a few nervous moments.

“It was pretty intense out there,” Stewart said. “It was a really good game.”

Against Kelowna in the final, he said, “we ran out of gas.”

Kelowna opened the scoring in the championship game, but the Timberwolves tied it before halftime. Kelowna got the lone goal of the second half for the win.

THE ULTIMATE Before Sean Bernard left Prince George, headed to Italy for the World Ultimate Club Championships in August, he figured his team would be in the top four in its division.

He underestimated FIGJAM, based out of Calgary, a bit. They finished second in the Masters division out of 24 teams.

“It was pretty amazing,” Bernard says of the experience. “The first day, they had to cancel the matches because of the rain, but after that it was five incredible days of weather, and we came out ready to play.”

The round-robin games were played to 15 points, and FIGJAM went 4-1 in their pool, losing only to Australia 15-12.

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Prince George - SPORTS - Free Press

Friday, January 2, 2015

23

The best in sports BEAUDRY BRONZE When Prince George biathlete Sarah Beaudry took to the biathlon course March 2, she didn’t figure on winning a world bronze medal.

“I came here hoping for good results,” Beaudry said the following day from Presque Isle, Maine, the site of this week’s Junior-Youth World Championships. “Getting a medal wasn’t a goal.”

Beaudry did have a fifthplace finish in the Individual race at last year’s championships in Austria, but she says circumstances are different this time.

“I was a Youth last year, so I was in my last year in that group. This year, I moved up to Junior.”

On Sunday, Beaudry started in 29th position in the Junior Women’s 10k Pursuit, mirroring her position after Saturday’s Sprint event. Despite starting 2 minutes and 37 seconds behind the leader, she climbed the standings with the best isolated race time, picking up 29 seconds on Kazakhstan’s Galina Vishnevskaya, who had won silver in the Sprint event.

“It was definitely a surprise to make that big a move in the standings,” she said. “My race on Saturday wasn’t as good as I had hoped, so I wanted to make up for it.”

While she felt her skiing was good both days, her shooting was a problem on Saturday. She wasn’t alone, though.

“It was a lot harder to shoot than I’ve been used to in races. The wind was really gusty and it kept changing directions.”

Beaudry missed just one of her 20 shots in Sunday’s event, which enabled her rapid move up the standings. One of those she passed was teammate Julia Ransom of Kelowna, who had been 16th after the Sprint, but wound up fourth on Sunday.

“I think I finished about seven seconds ahead of Julia. It was kind of neat, because we were so close on the course, it was almost like training back home.”

A lot of that training in Canmore, Alta. had dealt with skiing technique, which Beaudry said paid off in her races.

“We looked at the course quite a bit when we got here, and I knew what technique to use on each section.”

Beaudry was not the only Prince George biathlete representing Canada at the championships. Emily Dickson, skiing in the Youth category, finished 16th in the Sprint on Friday, but slipped a bit on Saturday, finishing 20th in the Pursuit.

Dickson finished 30th in the Youth Individual race on Tuesday.

TREASURE SILVER The weather in Lubbock, Texas on the weekend was hot, but Alyx Treasure warmed up to it.

The former member of the Prince George Track and Field Club, now a junior at Kansas State, took second place in the high jump at the Big 12 Conference Outdoor Championships on May 18.

“The weather was very hot, too hot for me,” Treasure said. “The weather in Kansas had been warming up, but I wasn’t quite ready for the heat.”

Treasure finished second to Shanay Briscoe of Texas, the same result as in the Big 12 Indoor Championships in March. This time, Treasure wasn’t happy with her placing.

“I was pretty disappointed because of my plac-

WHAT JUST HAPPENED? A LOOK AT 2014 chair meant things were different.

“If for some reason a person has a mobility challenge,” he said, “your world shrinks. There are fewer places you can go.”

And while he said society has made a lot of headway in making the “built environment” more accessible, that didn’t hold true for the outside world.

“Mother Nature isn’t always very accommodating.”

However, thanks to a lot of hard work and some generous sponsors, people with mobility challenges now have a new way to enjoy the outdoors. The Great West Life Mobility Nature Trail is specially designed to allow for easy access. Scott Dedels of Great West Life said he was impressed by how quickly things came together.

“I had the opportunity to be here in August, and it’s exciting to see the finished trial now.

“This is a way to bring nature to a larger audience, but it still preserves the ecosystem.”

To get to the new trail, take Highway 97 south to Buckhorn Road and turn left. About seven kilometres in, the road takes a large bend, where you turn left onto Scott Road. Follow Scott Road to the end (past the sign saying the public road ends) and look for the Dougherty Creek sign on the right.

R U N • S K I • S W I M • A P PA R E L

Children & Adult Ski Packages Available! ing,” she said. “It was far from my best day, and I had to fight for every bar I made.

“In the beginning, it felt like I left my legs at the hotel that morning, but with every bar I worked on fixing my approach with my coach and my jumps started to improve.”

At her previous meet, a home meet at Manhattan, Treasure had jumped 1.85m, the second time this season she had made that height. On the weekend, she, Briscoe and K-State teammate Rachel Proteau all cleared 1.81 and missed at 1.84.

The final placings came down to total misses at previous heights.

LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP In early November of 2013, the University of Northern B.C. and the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club announced the creation of a new legacy scholarship fund.

The aim was to raise $150,000 to endow a scholarship at UNBC for an athlete involved in a Nordic sport. The goal was February 2015, when the Canada Winter Games are in Prince George.

In early October, the groups announced they had met their fundraising goal, and were in a position to help more than one student.

A $50,000 donation by Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline, which was matched by the UNBC Matching Student Award Investment Program, pushed the UNBC Otway Nordic Legacy Scholarship Fund past its goal.

Catherine Pennington of Northern Gateway said the decision was an easy one, and came about through her connection to the club.

“My family are members of the club, and we would ski out here every Sunday. We’d come into the lodge afterwards, and I would look at the growth chart. It seemed to me Northern Gateway could help UNBC and the club.”

Pennington talked to Northern Gateway president Janet Holder, and the donation was quickly agreed on.

UNBC president Daniel Weeks said the scholarship offered by the legacy fund is rare.

“There are very few full scholarships offered at UNBC,” he said. “The scholarship has an estimated value of $5,000, so we’re now playing at the highest

level offered at most Canadian universities.”

The first scholarships will be awarded for the 2015-16 school year at UNBC.

DOUGHERTY CREEK Pat Harris’ world got a little bigger in September.

Harris, the resource centre manager for Spinal Cord Injury BC, told a crowd at the opening of the new trail at Dougherty Creek that being in a wheel-

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WHAT JUST HAPPENED? The top 10 sports stories of 2014 Our picks Pages 22-23 Hartley Miller’s picks Page 21

Boxer Kenny Lally won his sixth Canadian title in 2014.