Prince George Citizen February 20, 2020

A skier catches some air while being pulled by a horse on Sunday morning at the Prince George Rodeo Grounds for the second annual Skijoring PG event.

Skijoring drawS crowd

Christine hinZMAnn Citizen staff

"Hey, do you wanna go see people going over ski jumps as they're being pulled by horses?" Kirstyn Wallace asked Brock Perri the other day.

"And when you ask other people that question you might get a 'meh' but when she asked me I was like 'well yeah, of course I wanna go see people being dragged around a track behind a horse.'"

So that's how Wallace and Perri ended up being among about 100 spectators watching a unique event held on a snowy Sunday in Prince George.

During Skijoring PG 2020 teams of three including horse, rider and a person

on skis or a snowboard towed behind them, signed up for 68 runs at the rodeo grounds beside CN Centre.

First up was the big track event that saw horse and rider take the towed participant over three jumps in a timed event.

Next up was the sprints where it was just a straight track and fastest time won and then the finale was the long jump where the towed person released the rope once they hit the ramp and flew through the air to see who could go the farthest.

There are time penalties if a jump is missed or the pylon placed on a hay bale is not knocked down, just to add to the

challenge. There are marshals in the field to determine everyone follows the rules.

Organizer Sheri Graham said she was really happy to be riding the horse during the competition as she dragged her 'voluntold' husband Jason behind her.

"I told him he just better hang on," Graham laughed.

It all started with an idea a couple of years ago when Graham heard that a skijoring event took place in Calgary and she told everyone who would listen that it could done right here in Prince George. So they held the event last year during a bitterly cold day and then again this year with the event starting in a snow storm.

"It makes me like winter," Graham said.

jail term ordered for sex assault

MArk nieLsen

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A now 36-year-old man was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison for sexually assaulting a teenage girl.

Stephen Francis Erickson was issued the term for an incident over the night of Jan. 31, 2019, when he had been invited to a friend's home in a Prince George apartment building while the friend's teenage daughter had also convinced one of her friends to come over.

A night of drinking followed and, at one point, Erickson and the two girls walked to a nearby liquor store, where they were refused service on suspicion Erickson was buying for minors.

The victim later told police that as they were walking, Erickson flirted with her, grabbed her waist and tried to kiss her while she warded off his advances by saying she was too young and not interested.

When they returned, they ordered some coolers and cider from a delivery service and drank them in the girls' room where they also ended up sleeping.

At one point, the girl got up to go to the bathroom.

Upon returning, found Erickson on top of her friend, who was 15 years old at the time.

Erickson told the girl to leave or he would kill her, the court was told. It ended when the father, who had been sleeping in another room, got up to check on the girls.

He pulled Erickson off the victim and told him to leave.

Police were called and Erickson was found in back of the building having a smoke.

— See SWAB on page 4

P rince G eor G ecitizen

Citizen Photo by James Doyle

Wet'suWet'en gain experience

Postmedia

For Troy Young, the greatest benefit of training dozens of Wet’suwet’en workers as heavy equipment operators for the Coastal GasLink pipeline will be felt in a decade as those workers are spread out across the province.

Young, a Wet’suwet’en member and general manager of Kyah Resources Inc., is one of several primary contractors completing clearing and road-building work for the 670 km underground gas pipeline being built to service the LNG Canada plant under construction in Kitimat.

Kyah Resources is a joint venture between Young’s private company and the Witset First Nation — one of the five Wet’suwet’en bands that have signed access and benefits agreements with Coastal GasLink. The only Wet’suwet’en band not to sign is the Hagwilget, in the northernmost part of the nation’s 22,000 square kilometre territory.

“This is a great opportunity for people who have skills, but don’t have a huge amount of time on the machines, to gain that time and become employable pretty

much anywhere in B.C.,” said Young, 49, speaking from Houston.

“If you don’t have the resumé that says you have three years running Cats and you go for a job as a Cat operator people look and say they don’t want to train you. Here we have an opportunity to train up to 100 people who are going to be able to work anywhere. If you want to be an equipment operator getting time in the seat is the most important thing that can happen.”

Young also sees the advantage First Nations machine operators will have on work sites where they are skilled and not general workers.

“It’s a big equalizer to show that you have skills to operate stuff.”

Young is among Wet’suwet’en members starting to speak out as anti-pipeline protests spread across Canada in support of a group of Wet’suwet’en hereditary house chiefs who are opposed to the routing of the pipeline across Wet’suwet’en traditional territory. They say they, and not the elected band councils, are in charge of the traditional lands, which are not in reserves.

There are currently six work camps along the route, including Camp 9A, where Young’s workers are staying and which is at the centre of the current controversy. In late December, workers staying at the camp were asked to leave by a group of Wet’suwet’en hereditary leaders and they complied. Coastal GasLink then got a Supreme Court of B.C. injunction demanding the workers have access to the campsite and that any blockades be removed.

A deep cold set in and both sides were

A Wet’suwet’en member operates machinery loading logs from a right-of-way clearing on behalf of Coastal GasLink in the fall of 2019. The machine is being operated 15 km west of work camp 9A on the Shea Creek Forest Service Road.

at a stalemate. Workers were allowed back to the camp for a day to make sure the cold would not damage property.

Last week, after weeks of standoff the RCMP moved in, demolishing the blockades and arresting protesting Wet’suwet’en members.

Young said Camp 9A can house 120 workers. He expects his workers to take around three years to complete the proj-

ect, essentially cutting a between 30- to 50-metre wide swath through the forest, at which point they will meet up with Haisla Nation work crews cutting east from Kitimat.

“Once the pipeline is in the ground, there is still maintenance work that needs to take place. We will have trained people here so it makes sense we will do the work,” he said.

SWAb Linked To viCTim

— from page 1

A visibly drunken Erickson initially denied the act, saying he had spent most of his time at a neighbour’s across the hallway after he and the friend had been practicing MMA moves and had gone too far.

But when told clothing and documents in his name, as well as a man’s underwear, were found in the apartment and the girl’s room, Erickson told police he didn’t remember having sex with the girl but if he did, it wasn’t forced.

DNA from a swab later taken from Erickson’s penis was found to match that of the girl’s.

In subsequent interviews with the author of a pre-sentence report, Erickson

made some troubling comments, the court was told. He focused on himself, complaining that his life was ruined and questioned the victim’s honesty.

In a subsequent interview with a psychiatrist, he seemed to be more reflective but when given a chance to speak on Thursday, Erickson put blame on the victim saying she was “very flirty.” However, following a break, Erickson said he takes responsibility and vowed to remain sober for the rest of his life.

The sentence came in the form of a joint submission from Crown and defence counsels after Erickson pleaded guilty to the offence. Less credit for time served following his arrest, Erickson had 1,060 days left to serve.

Photo courtesy of Troy Young

Union blocks trUcks from local refinery

A long-running labour dispute between Federated Co-operatives Ltd. and unionized employees at its Regina oil refinery was taken to the steps of the Tidewater Midstream facility in Prince George.

That's where members of Unifor were Friday, preventing trucks that service Coop gas bars in this region from accessing the refinery to pick up more fuel. The line has been up since Feb. 13.

"We're letting all of the other trucks in," Unifor western regional director Gavin McGarrigle said.

"Co-op trucks, we're asking them to take their business elsewhere... We're prepared to go around the clock and last as long as needed."

Federated Co-operatives locked out about 760 workers Dec. 5 when the union issued strike notice. Pensions are the main sticking point in the contract fight.

Last Wednesday, the Saskatchewan government appointed veteran arbitrator Vince Ready, special mediator, to try to resolve the impasse.

Also on Wednesday, a judge found Uni-

for guilty for the second time of violating a court injunction that said members could not prevent traffic from moving in and out of the plant.

Justice Neil Robertson fined the union $250,000 on top of a $100,000 penalty last month.

McGarrigle said Unifor took up the tactic because the employer is using scab labour to keep the refinery running. Scab labour is prohibited in British Columbia but not in Saskatchewan.

The picketers have not had to turn away any truckers so far.

"Normally there are about 10 Co-op trucks a day that come through here but it's been as high as 30 (since the lockout began) but since we've been up here, they have not sent anyone here," McGarrigle said.

McGarrigle encouraged Co-op members to boycott the chain's gas bars and grocery stores and to contact their board members and express support for the locked out employees.

Ready is to recommend terms for an agreement if the two sides can't reach a deal with his help within 20 days.

- with files from The Canadian Press

Citizen staff

Recall petition illegal, chief says

Arthur WilliAms Citizen staff

The former chief of the Yekooche First Nation says a recall petition which removed him in January is illegal.

Mathew Joseph was elected chief for a four-year term in January 2018, but on Jan. 31 he was presented a letter by members of the Yekooche council saying there was a successful recall petition against him. A by-election has been scheduled for Feb. 24 to fill the vacant position.

"I've been illegally removed. Two councillors and the financial director have orchestrated a recall petition. There is no basis for a by-election, I am still the chief of the Yekooche," Joseph said during a press conference outside the Yekooche finance office in Prince George on Friday morning. "The (chief) electoral officer and RCMP have been informed of this process."

Under Section 15 of the Yekooche First Nation Election Code, for a recall petition to succeed it must be signed by 40 per cent of the eligible voting members in the First Nation.

"The petition that prompted my recall has just nine signatures of community members," Joseph said.

The First Nation has about 230 total members, including children, he said.

Joseph was joined by current councillor Allan Joseph, former councillor Melissa Joseph and several community members.

Melissa Joseph said she was also subject to a recall petition, but wasn't reelected in January during mid-term elections.

Mathew Joseph said he believes the recall petition started after he and the other councillors voted to have a forensic audit conducted of the First Nation's financial records, after the band manager discovered financial irregularities in the books.

A group of community members called for the band manager to be fired, but he and the other members of council supported the band manager and refused to dismiss them, he said.

However, Yekooche Councillors Partner Schielke and Miranda Joseph said it was Mathew Joseph who was engaged in

financial irregularities.

"The person who filed for the petition is my niece," Schielke said. "(Mathew Joseph) been using the band Visa as a personal (credit) card. It's supposed to be used for band business... and emergencies. It's not supposed to be used to buy groceries or be buying lumber (for personal use)."

Schielke provided The Citizen with an image showing the letter presented Mathew Joseph removing him from office.

"This recall petition was verified by Yekooche First Nation Electoral Officer,

Susan Barfoot, on January 29, 2020 and a by-election will be called in accordance with Section 11 of the YFN Election Code," the letter said. "In accordance with Section 15.4 of the YFN Election Code, you no longer hold a valid position on Council, and are no longer permitted to represent yourself as the Chief of Yekooche First Nation."

Barfoot told him 64 signatures would be needed to reach the 40 per cent threshold of eligible voting members, Schielke said, and the recall petition had 68 valid signatures.

The eight names on the letter presented to Joseph were simply witnesses who verified the letter had been delivered, Schielke added.

"Signing the petition is supposed to be anonymous," he said.

Joseph has asked to see the list of signatures, but the electoral officer can't provide those names to protect the petition signers from potential intimidation, Schielke said.

The remaining councillors have been trying to conduct the by-election process and council business as openly and transparently as possible, he added, and Yekooche members are welcome to attend council meetings.

"There is nothing for us to be hiding," he said.

Councillor Miranda Joseph said if Mathew Joseph questions the validity of the recall petition, he should challenge it in court.

"We have followed the process," she said. "The electoral officer checked the signatures and said we reached the 40 per cent."

Citizen photo by James Doyle

from left, councillor allan Joseph, councillor Melissa Joseph and chief Matthew Joseph address news media friday in front of the yekooche first nation's finance office in Prince George.

Rally d R aws small g R oup

Christine hinZMAnn Citizen staff

About 60 people attended a Saturday morning rally in front of the Prince George RCMP detachment Saturday held in support of a group of Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs and others who have have been blocking construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline.

The local people were joined by out-oftowners like Seth Macdonald who came from Dunster because he said being a Facebook warrior wasn't doing anything. "I think this is an issue all Canadians have to take to heart and it's not just an Indigenous issue, this is a human rights issue and a trespass issue."

Macdonald said he believes the pipeline protest is not an accurate description of what's going on between the Wet'suwet'en and the RCMP.

"The first issue is sovereignty," Macdonald said. "The first issue is going against our own Canadian law as handed down in 1997's Supreme Court decision that did recognize the Wet'suwet'en had title of their land and authority on their territory and when we send goon squads in to remove them from their homes what are we saying to the world?"

Event organizer Meg Lebron said she sees the big picture.

"I am a white settler who is really committed to seeing reconciliation and

City set to unveil new pool design

The design for the new Four Seasons Leisure Pool will be unveiled during two public information sessions Thursday. They will be held at The Civic Centre, room 201, from noon to 2 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m.

Representatives from HDR Architects, the City of Prince George, and the construction management firm Chandos will be on hand to talk to residents and answer questions.

As for the design, drawings and threedimensional images allowing viewers to “look around” inside the new facility will be presented.

Budgeted at $35 million, it will replace the aging Four Seasons Leisure Pool, and will be located at 7th Avenue and Quebec Street in downtown Prince George.

Construction on the new pool is scheduled to begin later this year and the existing Four Seasons Pool will remain open until the work is finished.

decolonization in my lifetime," Labron, a UNBC social work student, said.

"I think that's really important because of what our country has put people through. We have to start doing things in a better way. It's really exhausting to hear leaders like Justin Trudeau and John Horgan say they're committed to reconciliation and they care about having a nation to nation relationship, ensuring all people are treated with respect and then they stand by while RCMP drag people off their traditional territory. It's hard to watch and I just want to see us find a better way to work together to find an actual solution."

When Labron heard the reports about

the conflict between the RCMP and the Wet'suwet'en people she said she felt inspired to take action and set the call to put the Prince George rally in motion, she said.

"So I figured if I set a time and made a Facebook page, people would show up and they did," Labron said.

Marion Erickson of the Beaver clan attended the rally in support of the Wet'suwet'en.

"I have an ancestral responsibility to take care of the land," Erickson said. "I found it important to come here today with my children to support the Wet'suwet'en in taking Coastal Gaslink off their unceded territory."

Citizen staff

LaCk of CounSeL drawS reBuke

Mark NIELSEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Prince George provincial court judge took federal Crown counsel to task last Tuesday for failing to have a lawyer appear at a hearing for a woman seeking to change her pleas on two drug-related charges.

Judge Michael Brecknell said the Public Prosecution Service of Canada has yet to name the new holder of the contract to provide the service in Prince George and other communities in northern B.C. despite the old one with now-defunct Kaun Law Corp. having ended in late 2019.

He said the PPSC is a branch of the federal government and, "in effect, a huge law firm that goes from coast to coast." For such a large agency to fail to send a representative to appear before the court for an important application is "frankly unacceptable," Brecknell said.

The comments were made in relation to Jenna Louise Tardif, who is seeking to reverse guilty pleas she had entered on two counts of possessing a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

No federal Crown counsel appeared for a hearing on the matter on Monday.

Federal Crown was also absent on Tuesday when Brecknell issued a decision to put Tardif's matter over to a later date.

Tardif was among two people arrested on Sept. 6, 2017, after undercover RCMP got hold of a cellphone number and used it to arrange for a purchase of illegal drugs.

Tardif was the passenger in what turned out to be a stolen pickup truck and a search uncovered quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroinfentanyl were found in and around the vehicle.

In March 2019, the truck's driver, Cameron Gregory Boyes, was sentenced to three years probation after he pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing for the purpose of trafficking.

Tardif had also pleaded guilty to the counts but in February 2019 she applied to have her decision reversed. Brecknell said a date for a hearing on the matter was set in November 2019 and a notice sent to PPSC.

Brecknell said he will be forwarding a transcript of his comments to the B.C. Provincial Court Chief Judge's office and to the PPSC seeking answers.

Snow Burn

A racer speeds down the snow track while competing on Saturday afternoon in the 2020 Sled Drags at NITRO

ports Park.

Judge backs RCMP actions

Mark NIELSEN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A provincial court judge has dismissed a man's claim his Charter rights were violated in the aftermath of plowing into the back of an RCMP vehicle and then trying to flee when driving while impaired.

In a decision issued Thursday, judge Cassandra Malfair found police actions were reasonable and necessary in dealing with Alfred Prudnikov on the night of Sept. 21, 2018.

Prudnikov faces four counts, including impaired driving causing bodily harm, from the incident on Frenkel Road in Beaverley, west of the city.

According to Malfair's summary of the circumstances, three RCMP were in the area trying to locate a priority offender with outstanding warrants.

"The situation was high risk and tense as the offender had a firearms charge and had said, when contacted by police, he would shoot police," Malfair said.

At about 11:30 p.m., two of the officers had parked their vehicles on either side of Frenkel Road and had rolled down their windows to talk to each other. Fully marked and with reflective tape and with their interior and exterior lights on, the vehicles could be easily seen and there was room enough between them for another to pass in between, Malfair said.

While in his SUV talking on his phone,

one of the officers looked in his rear view mirror and noticed headlights off in the distance. He thought little of it and went back to his task at hand, but a moment later, he heard his partner yell "whoa!" and felt an impact from behind.

Because he had just got back into his vehicle and was dealing with dispatch, he had not yet put on his seatbelt.

"He was slammed into the steering wheel from the impact, his phone went flying and his truck was pushed forward," Malfair said and added the SUV was hit with enough force to push it three or four feet forward.

The officer who was in the struck vehicle looked back to find a small car quickly backing away from him while the engine was revving. The other officer saw Prudnikov pull a U-turn and accelerate away. In response, the officer drove into the front quarter panel of Prudnikov's car and knocked it into the ditch.

Officers initially worried he was the suspect they were looking for and that there would be a confrontation. Backup was called in and both of them drew their guns as they approached the car, from which smoke was billowing.

As Prudnikov was ordered to show his hands, one of the officers could see he was not who they were looking for, but did notice an odour of liquor from the vehicle and believed they had reasonable

We

WestJet will be a flying larger, faster airplane between between Prince George and Calgary starting this spring. Effective April 26, the airline will be using the Q400.

grounds to arrest him for driving while impaired.

At issue was the time the arresting officer took between reading his Charter rights upon being arrested and issuing a demand that Prudnikov provide a breath sample. Defence counsel argued there was a 16-minute lapse between the steps based on entries in the officer's notebook.

But Malfair found the final entry came after the demand was given and that the lapse was much shorter. Malfair also noted the process of the initial arrest was slowed in part by Prudnikov's lack of identification and a long, drawn out and difficult-to-understand conversation with the accused.

Malfair also found the lapse reasonable given the situation.

"It is understandable that there would be some delays as they shifted from a high-risk takedown to reacting to a surprise impaired investigation and accident scene," Malfair said. "The steps taken by the officers were necessary in relation to the investigation."

Prudnikov was later found to have blood-alcohol levels of .130 and .140, well above the legal limit of .08. Malfair's decision was in relation to a voir dire, or trial within a trial, on whether Prudnikov's Charter rights were violated. The main trial continues in May.

At 78 seats, it holds 44 more than the Saab it is currently deploying, the company said.

The Q400 is also quicker and will reduce the flight time from the current one hour and 53 minutes to one hour and 27 minutes.

Citizen photo by James Doyle

Motors-

Citizen staff

man apologizes for kidnapping role

Mark NIELSEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A man read out an apology last Tuesday prior to being sentenced for his role in a drug-related kidnapping and beating.

Reading from a prepared statement he hopes to provide to the victim at some point, Walter Charles Wilson, 29, said his actions have made him feel sick to his stomach and hate himself.

"I know you may never forget what happened to you but I hope that by me taking responsibility here today, it might allow you to heal," Wilson said.

Wilson appeared to have taken a relatively minor role in the incident that began when the victim bought drugs and was advanced credit and cash on what turned out be a bounced cheque that left Angel Lee Candice Willard out about $1,800.

Enraged, Willard came up with a plan to hold the victim for ransom and try to extort the money out of his parents. On

Dec. 12, 2017, his mother received a call from a stranger on her son's cellphone in which she was told he would be killed if she did not pay up.

Police were contacted and all of the members of the RCMP's serious crimes units were deployed. Among other measures, they arranged through the mother to exchange the money for the victim the next day.

Along with the badly-beaten victim, Willard and co-accused Blair Tyler Alec showed up at a local convenience store where the exchange was to take place and were arrested soon after. The victim, meanwhile, was taken to hospital covered in bruises and abrasions and suffering from a collapsed lung and a stab wound to his leg.

According to the victim's statements to police and testimony at a preliminary inquiry, he had been taken to three homes in the city's Bowl area where he was confined and beaten with fists and feet as well as being hit with a hammer.

Blood discovered at the locations supported his story.

Wilson, who the court was told had been couch surfing at one of the homes, admitted to knowing about the plan and to participating in the beatings.

On Tuesday, he was sentenced to time served and 18 months probation after receiving credit of three years for time in custody prior to sentencing. The term came in the form of a joint submission from Crown and defence counsels after Wilson pleaded guilty to one count each of kidnapping and assault causing bodily harm. Whether Crown would have been able to prove its case at trial had been put in doubt by the victim's reluctance to

testify. He was able to give only one day of testimony at a preliminary inquiry on the matter before breaking down and rendered unable to speak.

Wilson, who has a lengthy record for violent offences, plans to return to his home in the Hazeltons and continue to work on addressing his addictions issues, regarded as the reason for his behaviour.

In October, Alec was sentenced to time served and three years probation and in June 2019, Julien Nassem Lazarre was sentenced to time served plus 65 days and 18 months probation, for their involvement in the attacks.

Willard is scheduled for sentencing in early March.

Jobless rate rises

The city's unemployment rate stood at 7.7 per cent in January, according to Statistics Canada labour market survey numbers. It represents an increase from 6.7 per cent one year ago and appears to be largely a function of more people seeking work.

The number of people holding down jobs last month was 45,700, just 100 fewer than the same point last year, which those looking for work added up to 3,800, a 900-person increase.

Retired economics instructor Al Idiens said such rises can sometimes be due to greater optimism in the job market but has his doubts this time, given the recent

closure of Lowe's at Pine Centre Mall. The month-over-month, the unemployment rate is up from 6.7 per cent in December. However, Statistics Canada strongly urges against a month-by-month comparison. Labour market survey numbers are based on a three-month-rolling average and derived from a phone-based survey of about 100,000 people across Canada each month and do not separate part-time from full-time employment. Accuracy of the January 2020 unemployment rate is plus-or-minus 1.2 percentage points , 68 per cent of the time. That for January 2019 is plus-or-minus 0.6 per cent and for December 2020, it is plus-or-minus 1.1 per cent.

Citizen staff

Volunteers needed for homeless count

Citizen staff

Prince George will be one of 26 communities taking part in the second province-wide homeless count.

The counts will be conducted by volunteers during a 24-hour period between March and April, although a specific date hasn't been set for Prince George. The first provincial homeless count was done in 2018 and recorded 7,655 people experiencing homelessness throughout the province.

"Homelessness in B.C. continues to be a struggle for people, and the barriers that they face vary in different communities," Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction Shane Simpson said in a press release.

"Our second provincial homeless count

is a way that, together, we can get a clearer understanding of what homelessness looks like in order to better support some of the most vulnerable people in B.C."

Member organizations of the Homelessness Services Association of B.C. (HSABC) and BC Housing are partnering and volunteers are needed to help conduct the count.

"This is a great opportunity for you to get involved with organizations working to help those in need in your community," HSABC executive director Stephen D'Souza said in a press release.

"It is the work of these local organizations that ensures the counts are a success."

For information on how to take part, go to http://hsa-bc.ca/bc-homeless-count

first nations industry event set for march

Citizen staff

The First Nations Major Projects Coalition is hosting its third annual Industry Engagement Event in Prince George next month.

The two-day event is focused on providing the member First Nations with the support to build relationships with industry that leads to business opportunities and economic growth, according to a press release issued by the group. The event happens March 2-3 at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel in Prince George.

"Delegates at the third annual Industry Engagement Event will also learn more about the tools the coalition has created to help support our First Nations members when they are considering participation in a major project in their territories," coalition executive director Niilo Edwards said in a press release.

"We have new tools to help members assess the effects of projects on the social

and economic cornerstones of communities, assessment of projects on indigenous culture, how to ensure meaningful integration of indigenous knowledge into major project assessments, assessments on impacts to indigenous health, and assessment of projects on indigenous land use."

One of the planned highlights of the event include a keynote address by National Bank Financial managing director Steven Fleckenstein. Hewill speak to "the changing financial landscape of Indigenous participation in major projects," and how First Nations can access capital to purchase a stake in projects.

The opening conference panel will address Indigenous ownership of electricity infrastructure.

For more information, go online to www.fnmpc.ca

medical equipment making a difference

Citizen staff

Apiece of medical equipment purchased with money raised at the Festival of Trees is being put to good use, according to the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation.

The SpyGlass DS System allows surgeons to get a direct view of pancreatic and bile ducts to evaluate suspected benign and malignant conditions and for the treatment of difficult stones and strictures.

This unit is less invasive, does not require sedation and enables highresolution imaging to target biopsies and remove gall stones and foreign bodies,

such as migrated stents.

“We are already seeing some incredible results,” said Dr. Gilbert Wankling. “Especially on cases where it has been hard to see or deal with in the past.”

Patient Trudy Comadina is a believer. A portion of a gallstone that had lodged itself in her liver many years ago and was visible through equipment used in the past was blasted away. After many years of pain, she felt instant relief, Comadina said.

The system is the third of its kind in the province. The other two are located at St. Pauls and Vancouver General hospitals in the Lower Mainland.

OPINION

How to arrest protesters

The government, elected officials and bureaucrats alike, in a democracy has many jobs but one duty – to uphold the law. If the people in government are unwilling to fulfill their duty, they should ask themselves why anyone should obey the new laws they pass while in power.

The law in this democracy allows for peaceful protest. Freedom of assembly is enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Like all freedoms, there are limits.

Citizens are free to assemble in public places to protest, grieve, celebrate, communicate. Once that assembly involves the occupation of government offices and the blocking of roads and railways, it infringes upon the rights of others to move freely and it breaks the law.

More often than not, the police in this country arrive, inform the citizens that their assembly is now in violation of the law and ask them to leave. Although ignorance of the law is not a legal defence (meaning the police have the legal authority to show up and immediately make arrests), police officers inform the gathered citizens of the unlawfulness of their actions because arrests are the last resort.

Whether it’s domestic disputes or disturbing the peace, the longstanding practice of Canadian police forces is to give

Letters

Step up, ChiefS

I think the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs should take responsibility for what is happening with the pipeline protests. It’s not even about the pipeline any more. They need to put a stop to these protests before someone gets hurt. Watching people holding our Canadian flag upside down and trying to stop people from going to work and not letting buses and ambulances get through is totally disrespectful and is hurting innocent people. I am sure this is not what you intended.

I live close to a railway track. I would rather the fuel be in a pipeline than a rail car. Chiefs are leaders so lead us out of this mess in peace.

Helen Robertson, Prince George

citizens the opportunity to back down.

If those citizens are still unwilling to legalize their behaviour, they are arrested.

Many of the current protests across Canada - like the one held in Prince George last Saturday - are legal. Many are not and those protests should be handled accordingly.

Some of the most passionate protesters are on social media, comparing their causes to Martin Luther King and Gandhi. Aside from the vanity of equating oneself to King or Gandhi (the equivalent of picking up a guitar and proclaiming to be like Bob Dylan), these protesters clearly don’t know much about either man or the protest movements they led. Gandhi and King knew their acts of civil disobedience were in violation of the law and would lead to their arrest. They welcomed it. The black men and women who occupied whites-only lunch counters in the South (the customers were still allowed to eat and the staff were still allowed to cook and serve) were specifically chosen for their calm patience. They would not get upset when people yelled at them, threw things at them or physically assaulted them. When police officers arrived, the protesters told them they would not leave until they were arrested but would not resist arrest or confinement in any way.

Instead, it appears so many of the protesters resist arrest (passive resistance is still resistance), call the arresting officers horrible names and claim that any physi-

thankS, Gerry

Thank you to Gerry Chidiac for his column. I should also like to register my support for the Wet’suwet’en and thank them for taking a strong stand against Coastal Gaslink pushing their pipeline through their territory without permission. It is time our governments, both federal and provincial, took notice of peoples’ concerns regarding Indigenous rights as well as environmental concerns.

The provincial government signed UNDRIP but this obviously means nothing to them if they are determined to run the province on LNG, obtained from fracking, regardless of the concerns of Indigenous people whose land the pipeline would run through.

The Green caucus voted against the LNG project and Adam Olsen, interim leader, visited the Wet’suwet’en and the hereditary chiefs but there are not

cal restraint used on them is an act of violence. King and his supporters knew the difference between a night stick smashed over your head and an officer firmly leading you to the back of a squad car.

Most of the current online rants on both sides are horrible, not only because they are intentionally ignorant of the issues and the history but also because they promote more conflict. Political parties, social (anti-social?) activists and environmental groups are the worst, with their email blasts and Facebook posts to their supporters, stoking the outrage and then pleading for money to keep up the good fight. When the battle ends, the cash stops flowing in so these hucksters just want to keep the conflict going.

Beware also the hypocrites. How can someone rip up teachers contracts while in government, forcing teachers to wage a 15-year legal battle to get their rights back and then, without any sense of shame, demand the premier use the rule of law to deal with protesters blocking entrance to the Legislature? And how can someone insist governments respect legal decisions recognizing the authority of First Nations and then shamelessly argue that the government and the courts have no authority when the ruling doesn’t go their way?

"I submit that an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust, and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its

enough Green MLAs to shake the government from its stance. The Liberal opposition supports the LNG project anyway.

The federal government promised to meet the climate goals yet bought the TransMountain pipeline and is now desperate to push it through, in spite of the enormous and escalating economic costs, let alone the huge environmental costs. This pipeline would vastly increase the crude oil exports across the ocean.

Let’s hope they don’t approve the Teck mine, which would really make a mockery of any attempt to meet our climate goals.

Protests are taking place across our country in support of the Wet’suwet’en.

Thank you to all the Indigenous people who are standing up for their rights and in so doing are exposing the governments’ lack of integrity. Many of us stand with them and wish we had the courage to stand up to power. This is our demo-

injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for law,” King wrote in Letter from Birmingham Jail.

Note the language - “willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment” and “expressing the highest respect for law.” King had faith in two concepts that were, at the time, in opposition. He believed in the righteousness of his cause (and his ability to convince others of his righteousness through dialogue) and he also believed in justice and the law, even when it put him in a cage. Whether you support the current protests or any other acts of civil disobedience or not, everyone who believes in democracy can agree on two things – the right to lawfully protest and the sanctity of the law. If the protest is unlawful and if the protesters are unwilling to back down once the police show up, the protesters should be respectfully and safely arrested without delay. The protesters being arrested should be likewise respectful of the arresting officers and the courts doing their jobs enforcing the law. If the police, the protesters or counter-protesters are violent or incite violence, they should be legally held responsible.

The police, the courts and the law itself are imperfect instruments to build a just and democratic society but they are the best tools we have. While they have failed us at specific times, they have also been tremendously successful over the course of our common history.

- Editor-in-chief Neil Godbout

cratic right and should be honoured as such. Peaceful protest is essential and the Wet’suwet’en have ensured their protests are peaceful.

Linda Rempel’s column reviewing Theatre North West’s production, Isitwendam: (An Understanding), also echoed my sentiments after seeing this excellent production. Meegwun Fairbrother was outstanding and this play was so timely in helping us to understand our history. Isitwendam spoke to my heart in a way that just words could not have done. The artistic production was so beautiful and the message so powerful. This play certainly deepened my understanding of Indigenous history and the effect of colonization. I came away wishing that everyone in Prince George could see this. Don’t miss your chance to see this powerful production. It is on at Theatre NorthWest until Feb. 23

Hilary Crowley, Summit Lake

PRINCE GEORGE

hard conversations need patience

Understanding how to engage with those who disagree is a skill that takes practice and patience. I had plenty of practice during the federal election, but when it comes to helping people understand the sovereignty of Indigenous peoples, it’s a completely different experience. The conversation has an added layer of racial discrimination, fear about the future of our economy and unfamiliarity with Indigenous governance systems. I’m no expert, and I won’t pretend to be, but it’s important to interact respectfully with those who disagree.

I have learned to exercise patience through practice, having been continuously bombarded with the opinions of those who believe the Wet’suwet’en people should be arrested. What is there to do but write about it? I am very aware that writing a piece about the Wet’suwet’en may only bring more opposition to the comment section, but I am prepared to handle the emotional labour - the Wet’suwet’en people have endured much worse. I am compelled, using my platform and privilege, to do my best at sharing my understanding and opening respectful dialogues.

TC Energy was required to consult with all stakeholders along the path of the

SENSIBLE SOLUTIONS

MACKENZIE KERR

Coastal GasLink pipeline and in 2013, they and the province signed benefit agreements with band councils along its path. This is where it gets complicated: elected band councils are not the traditional form of Indigenous governance, but a form imposed unilaterally by the federal government through the Indian Act. Further, elected band councils’ jurisdictions end at the borders of their reserve’s land and do not extend to all of the unceeded, ancestral territories of the nation, where the pipeline crosses. Currently, there are 20 elected band councils that support the Coastal GasLink project on their territory and five Hereditary Chiefs that oppose. This is far more complicated than comparing numbers. The Supreme Court of Canada case, Delgamuukw v. British Columbia, affirmed unextinguished Aboriginal title and entitlement to govern, by Aboriginal laws, over their territories to 35 Gitxan and 13 Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs. By considering Indigenous peoples’

constitutional right to self-government, the jurisdictional issues imposed by the Indian Act, and traditional Indigenous laws based in respect, it’s easier to understand how the hereditary chiefs can disagree with the band councils’ decisions. The issue is complicated and legal scholars have debated how to reconcile the rulings of Delgamuukw and current Canadian law for over 20 years. Those that disagree with the Wet’suwet’en and their supporters are using many different angles: some attempt to discredit the land protectors on Wet’suwet’en territory by stating not all of the supporters are Indigenous; some are using the age-old line of “I hope they walked there if they are protesting a pipeline”; and others conflate hereditary chiefs to a form of unaccountable monarchy. None of these opinions recognize just how complicated this issue is. I do not share these comments to discredit, but to understand why people are saying these things in the first place. Why do people support this pipeline? The basis of why anyone wants development is security for their family, a value shared between Indigenous and nonIndigenous, alike. The goal of independence and stability is why communities like the Haisla, Gitxsan, and other

The eco all around us

Why eco?

The noun and prefix are adapted from the Ancient Greek word ‘oikos’ symbolizing the linked concepts of family, the family home and family property. In today’s context, they represent society, the management and economics of our society and the environment in which we live. We find the prefix in such diverse words as ecology, economy, ecoterrorist, econometric, ecofeminism, ecotourism, ecosystems and many others. The list is long and getting longer as views of our practices are better understood resulting in newly coined words which may, eventually, be assimilated into our language. One of the more recent additions has been the concept of ecosocialism, a specific approach to conducting our economy and the resulting environmental impacts. It subscribes to the notion that our environmental crises are primarily

caused by corporations having monetary profit as their highest goal. The word ecocapitalism is a variation which refers to the value society places on natural resources. While that value may be monetary, it may also be non-monetary.

I believe the general public must gain a better understanding of environmental issues which impact our quality of life locally, regionally and globally. We rely on elected and hired help to make decisions for us, more and more often with little input from the public they serve. Whether a democracy or a dictatorship, we reached this often-suggested point of no return with little meaningful participation by the people.

This column will tackle the current, past as well as projected views of our local, regional as well as global habitats and habits, examining how they impact society, economics and environment.

In addition to my interest in the broad topic of how we interact with our environment as well as with other humans with whom we share this planet, I bring several associated experiences with me.

In 1992, I was one of seven founding directors of the McGregor Model Forest whose land base was Tree Farm License 30, held by Northwood. It was one of twelve funded by Canada to examine and test scientific and technological principals of sustainable forest management.

I continue to sit on a forest management public advisory group, representative of diverse interests, providing input into sustainable forest management planning of various past and current licensees operating in the Prince George

When Will the right protest?

Having all but sounded the clarion call, “to your tents, O Israel!” last week, I can hardly join the chorus shouting down the protests across our land with any integrity. Truth be told, I am somewhat cheered by the fact that there are still things Canadians can get mad enough about to create blockades, display placards and sing chants. Or to put it another way, I may not see how a pipeline is worth all this furor, but I envy the energy being channelled by my political opposites.

This country is fundamentally broken and has been for many decades, thanks to our sad Constitution and the wicked elite that enforce it. If the revolution ever comes, despite my deep loyalist leanings, I may very well join it, just so at the final armistice, I can personally see to it that banal document from 1982 is torched while all the world watches. That is what

nations show their support. I understand that view and I wish there were more options for financial independence other than investing in oil and gas projects. How do you talk about these issues when the Wet’suwet’en defending the future of their families are seen as an attack on ours? It’s not easy, but it is necessary. Especially for those of us benefiting from white privilege, it is important for us to educate others about what is happening. These conversations can get heated because of their subtext. Try telling someone that is disrupted by the protests that “you should be more compassionate and look more deeply into a complicated issue” and you are likely to be laughed, or even yelled, at. The best strategy I have found is to try and understand that both sides are concerned about the futures of their families and the health of their communities. This is the common ground where we all must start. This issue is not straightforward and these tensions are rooted in legitimate and similar fears from both sides. We all must practice patience and empathy. We must not allow these conversations to descend into racism or personal attacks; otherwise, there is no chance we will ever live in harmony and continue forward with reconciliation.

Timber Supply Area. I was the member representing environmental matters on the City of Prince George Healthy Community Committee in the mid 1990s. The movement originated in Canada in the late 1980s to build capacity through the empowerment of individuals, organizations and communities. The concept looked at a holistic approach to health.

I am the chair of PACHA - Peoples Action Committee for Healthy Air - an advocacy and watchdog organization concerned about air pollution in the Prince George airshed with over 20 years of experience. PACHA has a seat on the PG Air Improvement Roundtable Board which has both industrial and government representatives cooperating in programs designed to improve local air quality.

My next column will address sustainability related to controllable human activities on our environment.

RIGHT OF CENTRE

NATHAN GIEDE

I’m envious of in our agitating fellow citizens - they have not lost the political and theological virtue of hope. We traditionalists, conservatives, rightwingers, fiscal hawks, hardware store or Timmies partaking Canadians have a lot to answer for on this count. Our government fails to listen, and we shrug - “what can you do?” Somehow, we’re surprised at our ever decreasing liberties, the rising cost of living, the anti-human agenda on full display from city crosswalks to the Supreme Court. Are we goldfish, swimming in circles, forgetting our oligarchs tresspasses in a moment?

Whatsmore, we on the right are often the loudest when it comes to decrying any kind of change to the system that might loosen the shackles forged by the current consensus. Verily I say to ye, ideological clarity is a thousand times more valuable than any kind of ranked or open write-in ballot. But as all our parties blend into one morass, all becoming rentseeking, unethical, vapid clones that only flinch when caught. New methods must be found to enforce accountability. If enough people finally accept the fact that we are being screwed and they are laughing all the way to extremely craven banks, then the tide can turn. Canada is not known for revolutionary fervor, yet we cannot go on as vassals in hierarchical order from city hall to provincial capitals to Ottawa to Washington or the UN. We need a serious country, capable of building ships and staffing hospitals, or

simply letting the little guy run his own household without the state constantly harassing him. But that will require a decentralization of power, the breaking up of new money trusts and the reinstating of some very old notions about individual responsibility, community and the role of civil society. It will also require accepting that services here will not be what they are in the big metropolises. Make no mistake - the right must do more for positive change in this country. As we see our progressive brothers and sisters make their voices heard, it begs the question what are we doing for our pet projects - if unborn children are sacred, if we have a right to own firearms, if religion has a place in civil discourse that cannot be silenced, if the family must be promoted - what are we willing to blockade, placard, and chant to ensure our leaders heed our warnings?

Get believers, make money

Afew years ago I was talking to a clergyman who was struggling with declining church attendance. We had a discussion about the reasons for that and I was telling him that there was not much difference between a church and a business. To overcome his skepticism of my argument I put it to him this way.

Both business and churches have followers. In business, we call them customers and, in a church, you call them parishioners. If you want to increase your profits in business, you need to focus on your current customers, by giving them more service and creating value so they buy more, your prospective customers or leads whose attention you need to capture and past customers who have left your business. Churches are no different. They have their parishioners whose participation they want to encourage, new people who they want to evangelize and the fallen away whose issues need to be addressed as they are welcomed back. There is a percentage of all types of customers who come in contact with our businesses who engage with us through our advertising, website or sales teams and then don’t buy for whatever reason. If we can increase the conversion rate of

BUSINESS COACH DAVE FULLER

with these people, we can increase profitability. There is not much difference with a church. There are people who come in contact with a church through weddings, funerals, websites and outreach but never become members.By improving our conversion rates and our ability to communicate effectively with these people, we can end up with more members.

We can increase profits by focusing on our average sale. We can do this by encouraging customers to increase the number of items that they purchase or encouraging our clients to buy more expensive items. In churches, we might look at this two ways. Encouraging people to donate more to our collections for outreach projects or encouraging them to bring more family members or to have larger families as some religions do to grow the flock, so to speak.

Focusing on margins is another way that businesses can improve their bottom line. A one per cent change in your

margin on $1 million dollars in sales is $10,000 in your pocket. This can be very significant to business owners, many of whom are struggling with their profitability. While churches could focus on margins if they needed to improve their cash flow, to increase their influence and change hearts and souls, they should be focusing on the marginalized. Two things happen when churches focus on the marginalized. First, they are doing what is the mission of most religions, which is to help the physically or spiritually impoverished. Secondly, church communities with outreach programs helping those in need, capture the imagination of youth who want to make a difference in the world and are usually put off by churches who often seem set in their ways.

The last area that businesses need to focus on to increase profits is by looking at expenses. Unfortunately, most businesses, when they are struggling, look to this area first instead of figuring out how to increase sales by tweaking marketing or using their resources to increase business. Often, the spiral of cutting costs repeatedly ends up with poor customer services followed by dissatisfied customers and lower sales that precipitate another round of cost-cutting measures.

Emphasizing what unit E s us

Groundbreaking American anthropologist Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

In many ways, this is a call to action for all of us, regardless of our political or economic standpoint. We have the power to change the world. It’s simply a matter of holding firm to basic human principles, like integrity and respect.

Human rights issues do not just happen. In analyzing genocide, the ultimate crime against humanity, Prof. Gregory Stanton of George Mason University noted ten stages, the ninth being “Extermination” and the tenth being “Denial." Before these can happen, however, subtler violations of human rights must take place. It is much easier to prevent genocide if we stand for the rights of others at these earlier stages.

The first stage of genocide is simply “Classification.” This means seeing ourselves in groups of “us” and “them.”

LESSONS IN LEARNING

GERRY CHIDIAC

This is surprisingly easy to rectify, as the following story will illustrate.

I grew up in Toronto and became a Blue Jays fan even before their first game in 1977. As a teen, I went to as many games as I could and cheered every success, despite the team’s abysmal performance in those early years. I also learned to despise the New York Yankees whose fans came into our humble stadium in droves whenever they were in town.

New York State was a relatively short drive from Toronto and their team was phenomenal. My adolescent brain fumed as their boisterous cheers contrasted our quiet spectating and I dreamed of the day the tables would turn.

By the early 1980s, the Blue Jays were competitive. I’ll never forget the night

in 1983 when a friend gave me a seat several rows behind home plate for a double-header with the detested Yankees. Toronto won both games, the first in extra innings and the second 13 to 6. I was pumped!

On the way home, in a traffic jam on the Gardiner Expressway, I saw many cars with New York license plates lined up and stuck my head out the window telling them where they all could go. The friends in my car looked at me and said, “Dude, cool it. They’re just baseball fans, the same as you.” At that moment, I realized the ridiculousness of my behaviour. I’d gotten caught up in the emotion of the crowd and the game, and I’d forgotten my principles. Yes, we were all baseball fans and we had just shared a great night of our sport played at its highest level.

“Us vs Them” simply disappeared into the night air. All it took was a few words from some very good people.

Stage two of genocide is “Symbolization," using names, clothing, symbols, and words to distinguish one group

math kEEps financEs in ordEr

A poster on the wall of my university math lab said: “Thinking about dropping math? Well you can also drop these careers…” and then listed dozens of high-paying jobs where a good working knowledge of math is considered nonnegotiable. Taking that idea a logical step further, and not a huge one, whether it be running a country or a piggy bank, here’s a list of the things that will foul up our lives without a functioning working knowledge of money management: Everything.

Courtesy of our friends at RBC Economics, some red-lit data suggests Canada’s circus has lots of future employee fodder. Consumer insolvencies rose an eye-catching 9.5 per cent in 2019, the largest annual increase since the 200809 recession. That’s 44.6 insolvencies per

IT’S ONLY MONEY MARK RYAN

10,000 working age Canadians, up from 41.4 in 2018 but still short of the 55.8 rate seen in 2009. Last year’s increase reflected a rise in the number of “proposals” - offers to pay creditors a percentage of what is owed and/or extend the repayment schedule, a remedy available to individuals with up to $250,000 in unsecured debt. (Apparently bankers can be clowns too, seriously?)

Fortunately, the data from the Canadian Bankers Association shows just 0.23 per cent of mortgages were more than 90

It seems that religious organizations also get in this cycle of focusing on money instead of figuring out how to invigorate their organization so that it can make a difference for people. There is no shortage of money for churches! The money is just in people’s pockets and until church leaders realize that they need to show people that they care about them more than the money, the money will stay where it is.

Because it has rewards that are out of this world, religions need to have a place in society and must be able to reach those people who are despondent, anxious, depressed and struggling with their spirituality by putting the focus on things that are more important in life. Rules applying to successful businesses, despite what some clergy may feel, play an integral part in the success of religion. Without jobs or the money it provides for donations or charity, religious groups would never be able to fulfill their mandate. I never bumped into that clergyman again and sometimes I wonder if he was able to revitalize his church and save more souls, but I have bumped into business people who have used these concepts and managed to get their businesses from barely surviving to thriving.

from another. Again, this is very easily defeated. When we hear sexist or racist language, for example, we can simply ask that it not be used, and in the vast majority of cases, that is where symbolization will end. Further stages of genocide, such as Discrimination, Dehumanization, Organization, Polarization, Preparation, and Persecution require more effort to stop, but this is where we embrace our role as committed citizens in a democratic society, knowing that the sooner we re-establish a commitment to our common humanity the easier it will be to protect human rights.

We really are in the world together. We may have different opinions, alliances, ideals, languages, skin colours, gender preferences, etc. The truth is that these are simply characteristics which add variety to life. What is essential is common to all of us. We are all just people. There is no “us” there is no “them”, and as we embrace this truth we become one with all committed citizens who are changing the world.

days in arrears as of August 2019, matching the lowest rate since 1990. Those having trouble making debt payments are prioritizing their mortgages over credit cards and auto loans.

The surprising (or worrying) feature of the recent rise in insolvencies is that it comes amid a robust job market. Canada’s unemployment rate averaged 5.7 per cent in 2019, the lowest since 1974. Employment rose by 2.1 per cent last year - the fastest increase in twelve years - and average hourly wages grew at a healthy 3.4 per cent pace. Only Alberta’s insolvencies (the third-largest in the country) seems to reflect deteriorating job markets. That a modest 125 basis point increase in the policy rate caused all this kerfuffle says a lot about Canadian households. Canada’s aggregate debt ser-

vice ratio — principal and interest payments as a share of household disposable income — hit a record-high 15.0 per cent in Q3/19, having climbed steadily from 14.0 per cent in Q3/17 when the Bank of Canada began raising interest rates. The last time household debt servicing costs were this high was in the second half of 2007 when the Bank of Canada’s overnight rate hit 4.50 per cent (a 200 basis point increase from two years earlier). But the sharp household deterioration in 2009 was also driven by rising unemployment and a global economic downturn, not a made-in Canada recession emanating from stressed households.

Granted, finance can be complex, but common sense needn’t be. Avoiding debt is always prudent.

CyClist

swan signs pro deal

Ted Clarke Citizen staff

The bright lights and big-city sights are beckoning Callie Swan.

Fresh from signing her first pro cycling contract, the 21-year-old from Prince George will jump from one desert environment to another, half a world away, when she hits the streets of the United Arab Emirates capital to race in next week's Dubai Women's Tour.

Swan just inked a deal with Macogep Tornatech Girodins de Bordeaux, an allwomen cycling team from Quebec whose director, Gerald Penarroya, helped develop Olympians Clara Hughes and Tara Whitten.

Swan is based in Victoria, where she studies sports management at Camosun College, but for the past three months has been living and training in Tucson, Ariz. The warm and dry Arizona climate has been a welcome respite for Swan, much more conducive to extended training rides than the soggy winter conditions she's grown accustomed to in Victoria since moving there from Prince George three-and-a-half years ago.

"(Signing with the pro team) is superexciting, it's definitely what I've wanted and have been working towards for the past few years. Just the races I get to go to now, it's going to be awesome. I'll be racing with the top women in the sport doing races in Dubai, Spain, France, so it's going to be an awesome experience."

The first race in Dubai is on Monday on a 99-kilometre course. Three of the courses are flat, but there are significant climbs and descents in the 90 km Wapi Hatta Hill Park course on Wednesday that passes by the city's dam. The total distance over four days is 392 km.

"My big goal is to be selected for world championships for the team. That's what I'm working towards and to represent Canada this year would be awesome. If you do win nationals overall in the road race you get an automatic selection for world championships."

Swan will be in Montreal for the team introduction March 23-26, then will prepare for the Joe Martin Stage Race in Arkansas, April 2-5, and the Tour de Gila in New Mexico, April 29-May 2, before she heads to Spain for UCI races in May. Other big events on the calendar are the national championships in Quebec City in June and BC Super Week, a series of 10 races in the Lower Mainland in July.

Swan started her racing career as a short track speed skater with the Prince George Blizzard Club in Prince George. She was a short track competitor in the 2015 Canada Winter Games in her hometown, finishing as high as 11th in the 1,500m event.

FASt BReAK

t-wolves to faCe dinos

Citizen staff

The UNBC Timberwolves advanced to a single-game elimination quarterfinal matchup Thursday (5 p.m. PT) in Calgary against the top-ranked Dinos with a gutsy 93-85 double overtime win against Lethbridge last Friday.

Emily Holmes delivered when her team needed her most. The five-foot-three dynamo came up with two clutch free throws with 15 seconds on the clock to force a second overtime period and with the game hanging in the balance, the fifth-year point guard hit two three-point shots to send the T-wolves on their way to the second round of the U Sports Canada West women's basketball playoffs.

"It was very exciting, a bit stressful, but with the outcome and everything I couldn't be more proud of my team for fighting for that win and not giving up at any point. It's an amazing feeling and it was an amazing game to be a part of."

A text message Holmes received just before the game from a friend provided

prophetic inspiration to the graduating senior.

"It said, 'Shoot the ball like it's your last game until it is or it isn't,'" Holmes said. "I didn't have a whole lot of shooting opportunities before that and I did in overtime and I shot like it was my last game until it wasn't.

Down to just six healthy players, the T-wolves extended their winning streak to nine games and they continue to baffle Canada West opponents with their ability to stay aggressive in the passing lanes and underneath the nets without taking fouls. They were disciplined defence because they had to be while the Pronghorns piled up their own personal fouls, putting the T-wolves into bonus shooting situations, which made a difference. The T-wolves shot 26-for-33 from the foul line while Lethbridge was good on six of just eight attempts.

Maria Mongomo and Madison Landry, who finished first and third respectively in the Canada West scoring race, deliv-

ered the goods once again for UNBC. Landry racked up 30 points, 22 after the first half, and had 11 rebounds. Mongomo collected 22 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and five steals.

"I told the girls after the game there's just one huge feeling of pride, what they did," said T-wolves head coach Sergey Shchepotkin. "We were two times down almost 15 points and just went through it, it was a great game.

"It wasn't Emily's best game, like everyone. I cannot say that Maria played all game very good, or Maddy (Landry) played all game very good. But I'm happy in that critical moment all the leaders stood up for the team and they did a great job."

The Dinos had a first-round bye. The T-wolves-Dinos winner moves on to a semifinal Friday, also in Calgary, against the Fraser Valley-Alberta winner.

In Saskatoon, Thursday's other quarterfinal matchups are Victoria-Saskatchewan and Winnipeg-UBC.

Citizen photo by James Doyle

College Heights Cougars player Mirena Dasilva moves the ball down court against the North Peace Grizzlies on Friday at Duchess Park gymnasium during the final of the 2020 North Central Zone Junior Girls Basketball Championships.

Age of Anxiety cAsts shAdow

KirK Lapointe Glacier Media

We all love stability in our economy.

At a personal level: predictable prices for food and shelter, incomes we can count on, taxes that don’t gyrate. Even at a level we cannot personally influence, we want it, too: allies who have our backs, trade patterns and supply chains that keep on keeping on, foreign leaders who seem hinged. Face it, though: we are in an Age of Anxiety.

It is difficult to recall how so many economic concerns and disruptions have reached into so many quarters in recent weeks to test our resilience and our leaders’ qualities to manage them. Europe is split, with the Brexit dust nowhere near settling. Latin America is mired in a highcorruption, low-growth scenario.

America has been made irrational for what feels like an eternity by its current president. China, entangled with the United States, is very simply angry

and doling out punishment for our role in apprehending the CFO of Huawei, Meng Wanzhou, and subjecting her to a protracted extradition hearing. The dithering of the Canadian decision concerning the implementation of Huawei’s 5G technology is a related irritant.

The coronavirus, COVID-19, is incapacitating large elements of the crucial chain that furnishes many of our essentials and conveniences. The panic about it is hobbling businesses and depriving millions of work worldwide as Xi Jinping’s first existential crisis.

The impact on well-being locally and globally is disproportionate to the threat to our health, but the pernicious virus has thrown a log on a fire we thought we had doused: a 2020 recession or economic stumble. So many scrutinized the bond market, its yield curves in particular, and concluded last year that a recession was inevitable. But the markets, consumers and businesses kept chugging along to perpetuate stability against the odds.

Well, the bullet may not be dodged, after all.

While China’s economy will rebound, the virus will shave what our finance minister says will be a “significant” slice from our entwined economy this year.

As if these conditions were not enough, closer to home you cannot look past the sudden focus on the division within the Wet’suwet’en leadership, and on the fierce effort of climate change activism to align with hereditary chiefs opposed to the Coastal GasLink pipeline to wreak havoc and instability. Trains, planes and automobiles – well, helicopters if not planes – and goods, services and officials were diverted from their routines of serving this economic stability. Like COVID-19, there is a viral unpredictability about its path or its duration.

In an age of social media oversharing, the aggressive economic intervention last week of blockades was a surprise attack. If anyone in authority knew it was coming, no one let on, so we should suspect there is a parallel, ingenious method to fly below the radar that imperils at will and will not soon relent in the era of

climate concern. Debates erupted among scholars about who holds the hierarchy among band chiefs – the elected or the hereditary – and what will constitute credible rule of law in an evolved environment of free, prior and informed consent and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on ancestral lands. Do any of us have a clear answer to that question?

Last week’s show of force in the face of power was a wake-up call in one respect, a layering of anxiety in another. It is going to require more formal, uncomfortable recognition – not just scolding about the overstepping of the protests – but both John Horgan and Justin Trudeau are authors of their own misfortune here. They established expectations of nation-to-nation negotiation, prodded of course by the courts, and did not brace wider society for the implications of what they promised. Now they will need to step up, at least to address the reasonable voices in this chorus, given that there is within that chorus a radical mission to stop everything and oppose anything in the service of breeding our anxiety.

Money worries affect faMilies

Mario CanseCo Glacier Media

As British Columbia observed its second Family Day on the same date as other Canadian provinces, Research Co. looked at the way parents in B.C. are feeling about the present and the future. While economic indicators point to a province that is on solid footing, there are certain aspects of daily life that continue to complicate matters for families.

A majority of residents of British Columbia who have a child up to age 18 living at home acknowledge having experienced stress “frequently” or “occasionally” due to four different concerns. Tension at work is at the top of the list (58 per cent), followed closely by financial stress (57 per cent), family-related anxiety (53 per cent) and housing-related preoccupations (51 per cent).

There are some subtle gender differences. Dads in British Columbia are more likely to say that they are stressed by their job (63 per cent) and their family (56 per cent) than moms. It is important to note that anywhere from 15 per cent to 23 per cent of parents in the province claim to never experience any tension related to money, work, family or housing. Across the province, almost three in five moms and dads (58 per cent) say it is “very easy” or “moderately easy” for them and their family to make ends meet.

This leaves two in five parents (40 per cent) who are having a “moderately difficult” or “very difficult” time with their current state of affairs.

Parents in southern B.C. appear to be having a better time facing life, with just 28 per cent saying that it is difficult to make ends meet. The proportion is significantly higher in Metro Vancouver (39 per cent), the Fraser Valley (40 per cent) and Vancouver Island (45 per cent). However, the area that seems to be having major struggles is northern B.C. (60 per cent).

When it comes to families and money, certain aspects of family life are harder than others, and the location of parents plays a role in just how serious the situation can be.

Almost two in five parents in the province (39 per cent) say paying for transportation is currently “moderately difficult” or “very difficult,” but the proportion rises to 47 per cent in southern B.C. Paying for child care is hard for 42 per cent of families, but in northern B.C. the number climbs to 59 per cent. Dealing with day-to-day expenses is a challenge for 44 per cent of parents, including 56 per cent in the Fraser Valley. These localized struggles are making it particularly complicated for families in the province to plan for the future. Almost three in five parents (58 per cent) say saving money in a bank account is difficult for them and their families.

The fear of a future where their children are forced to move outside of their current municipality is real for a sizable proportion of parents in British Columbia. Across the province, 66 per cent of parents believe it is “very likely” or “moderately likely” that their child (or any one of their children) will have to move away due to the high cost of living.

The proportion of parents who expect their children to move away for financial reasons is highest in northern B.C. (73 per cent), followed by southern B.C. (69 per cent), Vancouver Island (68 per cent) and Metro Vancouver (66 per cent). Parents in the Fraser Valley (48 per cent) are more confident that their kids will find a way to continue with their lives close to home.

Parents in British Columbia have different worries in mind. The cost of child care continues to be a concern, and the provincial government has vowed to increase spending on this file, even if it falls short of the overwhelmingly well-received $10-a-day proposal that has been championed by early childhood educators for years.

seniors

Dreams came true in P.G. for Stobbe

Elsie (Vogt) Stobbe was born in Borden, Sask. in 1927. One of eight children, she was raised on a wheat farm where families worked hard and they worked together. There was always lots of work to go around but regardless, her parents made sure the children were sent to school and that they received a good education. Elsie completed Grade 9 in Borden and then went to a boarding school in Rosthern, Sask. to finish her education.

It was because of the Great Depression that the family eventually packed up and moved to Chilliwack in search of a better life. Her father went into dairy farming and Elsie got a job working as a nurse’s aide in the tuberculosis sanatorium in Sardis.

The hospital eventually closed in 1969 along with claims that modern drugs and early detection brought tuberculosis under control.

It was while she worked at the sanatarium that she met maintenance worker Helmut Stobbe who would soon become her husband. They got married in 1949 and started a wonderful life together.

Elsie took her nurses training at St. Paul’s hospital in Vancouver. She worked in her profession until the children started to arrive and then she became a stay-at-home mom.

They moved to Prince George in 1961 because, like her parents before her, the young couple were in search of a better

SENIORS’ SCENE

KATHY NADALIN

life. There were very few job opportunities in Chilliwack and Prince George was booming. They wanted to be a part of a growing city and the excitement that went with it.

She admits that she was in for a bit of a surprise when they arrived here. The first thing she noticed was the wooden boardwalk that went from the Northern Hardware all the way to the old Hudson’s Bay store. It was hard at first but the job opportunities were here and that was all that mattered.

Helmut worked as a welder and, as time went by, they purchased the Travelodge Motel on Dominion Street. Elsie worked the switchboard and did the books while Helmut managed the employees. There were 365 Travelodge Motels in operation when Elsie and Helmut won the annual award for having the cleanest housekeeping Travelodge that year.

They operated the motel for the next 12 years and are proud to say that they had the same employees for all those years. In 1977, they sold the motel, retired and became worldwide travelers for one full year. Elsie said, “My favorite

place was Hawaii. We traveled to Japan, Southeast Asia, India, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean Islands just to name a few.

“During that time my husband volunteered and assisted in building a retreat centre for missionaries in Indonesia and a church near Nairobi, Kenya. They were both amazing experiences. We did not

speak their language but it did not matter.

“We had three children; Lalonie (Bruce) Ballantyne, Jacquie (John) Clarke and Andrew who in turn gave us four grandchildren, four great grandchildren and three great great-grandchildren.

“Sadly, Helmet passed away in December of 2004 as a result of a trucking accident near McBride. During his life Helmet was a cowboy, a welder, a motel owner, a log home builder, a trucker (he contracted for Gordon Warner at Northwood) and above all he was always a missionary. He helped build a log building for a bible camp near Victorville, Calif. and a waterfront lodge at the Ness Lake Bible Camp.

“After he passed away my family encouraged me to sell our home in the country and move into River Bend. I love it here. I made many new friends and the staff are wonderful.”

At the age of 92, Elsie is very feisty and remains active and involved.

She models for her daughter Jacquie as needed at her store Butterfly Threads, participates in Tai Chi classes, chair exercises, daily walks and other activities at River Bend. She remains active in the Westwood Church on Ospika and the newly formed chapel at River Bend. She loves to read and is proud to say that she has good eyesight and does not need glasses.

Getting around town in the winter months can present a few more barriers than during the summer months for older residents who may have mobility issues.

Those who can apply to be part of the project include seniors 65 years and older and:

* have fallen or have been at risk of falling with the last 12 months;

* are capable of entering and exiting a vehicle without assistance;

* are capable of walking with the use of a cane or walking (you are not in a wheelchair or require assistance to enter and exit buildings.)

trying to do is bring that level of risk down. When they are at such a level of risk they can end up with broken bones and as you age you don't heal as quickly or as fully as you once did."

The Prince George Council of Seniors is inviting those 65 and older, who are living independently in the city bowl and who find themselves at risk of falling to apply for a winter transportation pilot project. The project will subsidize the cost of a taxi ride within the bowl area that will see seniors continue to enjoy their regular activities.

* have difficulty accessing safely their regular mode of transportation during winter months due to ice and snow on sidewalks;

*are not eligible for Handy Dart services;

* do not currently own an insured vehicle;

The project started in January and there are nine people participating, Candace Miners, project director, said.

Mobility is key to healthy, active aging and improving quality of life, she added.

"And this project is all about mitigating the risk," Miners said.

To register for the project, local seniors are invited to with visit the Prince George Council of Seniors Resource Centre at 721 Victoria St. or call 250564-5888 Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ProjEct

* permanent address is within the city bowl;

"And there is room for more people to participate in the project," Miners said. "At any time you're at risk for a fall - anybody can fall at any time but when there's a lot of snow and ice that level of risk goes up substantially. So what we're

Elsie Stobbe

Citizen staff

Birds and Bees worth the Buzz

Christine hinZMAnn Citizen staff

It's hard to believe the actors who took to the stage during the opening night of Miracle Theatre's production of The Birds and The Bees by Canadian playwright Mark Crawford came together just for the performance seen here in Prince George.

They look like a traveling troupe who have known each other forever. They know the play and all its nuances like they know their own faces and each brings their own sass, humour and panache to their performances.

The actors are incredible to watch. Their timing, the ebb and flow, the give and take, the dance that takes place between all the characters during this

fast-paced farcical yet poignant comedy can leave the audience with their jaws dropping one second and laughing out loud while elbowing their neighbour as the audience shares the inside joke.

The banter between mother and daughter, played by Frances Flanagan and Dana Fradkin, feels like the real conflicted deal.

Flanagan plays Gail, a distressed beekeeper whose hives are inexplicably declining. She had her heart broken in the messiest of ways two decades before. She's still feeling the effects and it's written all over her face. Early in the play, the pain overshadows every interaction, every reaction, everything Gail does in the most intricate way and then slowly but surely things soften, alter, evolve.

Flanagan is the planet with the irresistible gravitational pull, and all the other actors whirl around her as they take a spin together. Luckily, the audience gets pulled in, too.

Flanagan is a consummate talent, a driving force that sets the pace and just keeps running and with unflinching honesty she brings her flawed and damaged character through a vortex of change that is real and raw and so very human. We can all learn a lesson from her and we do. You just have to watch her.

And if you come away from the first half of the play wondering where you've seen Flanagan before, it's because she's in every Hallmark movie you love. She has continually played the crucial supporting role of the character everyone loves, everyone wants to be around and you come away from each movie thinking that if you could just hang out with her, you know you'd be besties for life. Love in Paradise, The Story of Us, A Dash of Love, Bottled With Love, to name a few - that's where you've seen Flanagan before.

Fradkin plays Sarah, Gail's daughter, whose life just took an unfortunate turn and 20 years after leaving home, she's back and it's uncomfortable. Fradkin plays her character beautifully. Sarah is a little lost, a bit reactive and when things move into crisis mode her character clunkily learns the lesson that speaks to her self-esteem stealing situation. Quickly adapting to her new reality, Sarah takes on her new life as one would hope and as an audience member you just know she's going to be OK.

And now for the boys.

Daniel Bristol plays Ben, a Masters student who comes to study Gail's bees, their declining numbers and the reasons behind it. Ben is a fresh-faced, rather naive young man whose priority is health and knowledge and when his very human feelings come to the forefront, things don't go as planned. Bristol is a big-eyed young man whose casting call was spot on. He certainly brings everything he has to the role, enthusiastically snotty-nosed, exposing himself literally and figuratively during his shining performance.

Wally MacKinnon, kudos to you, sir. You strutting around like the cock of the walk was a charming, engaging delight to watch. You turned Earl from a brash, overconfident man to someone real and lovable and relatable.

Miracle Theatre sees producer Anne Laughlin and director Ted Price come together once again to provide professional entertainment that is ultimately a fundraiser for charity.

Proceeds from the production of The Birds and the Bees at ArtSpace, above Books & Co., 1685 Third Ave. until March 8, goes to the Children of Prince George Fund, which is under the trusteeship of the Prince George Community Foundation. The new endowment fund provides a sustainable revenue stream that is donated to local charities. The fund was established last year with more than $84,000 in the coffers and that amount will continue to grow as The Birds and the Bees is supported by the community. Tickets are available at Books & Co. or call 250-563-6637.

Ministry puts Clearwater's future on hold

Derrick PeNNer Postmedia

The small town of Clearwater has sight of a future for forestry, though the community is still just eight months removed from losing a major employer, Canfor Corp.’s sawmill at Vavenby, some 27 kilometres down the highway, according to Mayor Merlin Blackwell.

That closure left Clearwater and the surrounding region reeling with the loss of 172 jobs that aren’t coming back.

But getting started on that future vision depends on provincial approval of a transfer of Canfor’s timber rights to rival Interfor Corp., which bought its tenures to shore up its own sawmill at Adams Lake.

“This is killing us,” Blackwell said, of the waiting for Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Doug Donaldson to make a decision.

“This is the biggest problem we have right now.”

Approval would mean a restart to logging, which would be a measure of relief for contractors who “have been running on vapours” since Canfor’s closure, and help companies, Simpcw First Nation and community groups get the ball rolling on future planning.

It is a future that will involve an investor purchasing Canfor’s sawmill site for industrial redevelopment, a strategy to pursue opportunities to use wood waste as biofuel and potentially value-added wood manufacturing.

“It’s still going to be 75-cents-on-thedollar, at best of the industry that existed a year ago,” Blackwell said. But it’s something, it’s a start.”

Clearwater has been working on its vision, in part, through a working group convened by the District of Clearwater, which at its last meeting Jan. 25, heard from Quesnel Mayor Bob Simpson about his city’s initiatives to make a transition with its forestry sector.

“(They’ve) blazed the trail before us and come out the other side, or are coming out the other side,” Blackwell said.

B.C.’s forest industry hit a crisis this past summer, with shrinking timber supplies, a poor market and high stumpage costs contributing to some 6,000 short-term layoffs and more than 500 permanent job losses to five permanent mill closures.

The government is supportive of transition efforts being devised by communities such as Clearwater and Quesnel, said Ravi Kahlon, MLA for Delta North and Parliamentary Secretary to Donaldson, though he didn’t have insight on when the minister will have a decision on that tenure transfer.

“We know it’s going to take community by community solutions,” Kahlon said.

The province’s first priority in the crisis has been to offer direct support

to displaced workers at mills that have permanently closed with assistance for early retirement, support for retraining for those who want to move into other jobs, Kahlon said.

“Our No. 1 goal was to stabilize these communities and ensure that people, if they can, if they are close to retirement, can retire and stay in the community,” Kahlon said.

“Now, our next phase of our work is to ensure that we can support these communities in their transition.”

For some, that means focusing on tourism, others want support for better broadband internet connectivity as an attraction for a new-technology business base, Kahlon said.

And the province is on board for much of what Quesnel is working on, Kahlon said.

“I think that their vision is aligned with our vision,” Kahlon said.

“We know that we are going to go toward high value (wood products) from the high volume model that we’ve had.”

“And (Quesnel Mayor Bob) Simpson saw the writing on the wall a long time ago and started preparing his community,” Kahlon added.

Inviting Quesnel to apply for a community forest license is one support that the province is offering the town for its efforts, along with helping fund a Forest Innovation Centre, for which Simpson is appreciative.

“We’ve lost (Tolko Industries Ltd.’s Quest sawmill), but we still have huge manufacturing capacity here,” Simpson said.

“So we can ask the question of how do you evolve that to deal with what we can get off a blown out land base.”

“We think we’ve got the pieces here that allow us to see what reinvention looks like.”

What the city is aiming for as a community forest would be within a 22-kilometre radius from the centre of Quesnel, which would give it room to clear fire breaks in its rural-urban interface zones, conduct fuel management work to mitigate their forest fire risk and to build trails.

The city has an extensive integrated trails network, Simpson explained, but getting trails designated and protected within a timber license can be a difficult argument, but easier in one that the city oversees.

Quesnel will need more co-operation from the province, but Simpson said he senses an understanding of what the city is trying to accomplish.

“But I’d have to say right now, we’re being well received,” Simpson said.

“People are interested in what we’re doing. And they’re looking to enable us. We’re not feeling, you know, kind of a broad base resistance to what we’re doing.”

MP bLAStS 'PAId ProteSterS'

Arthur WILLIAMS Citizen staff

The railway blockades in solidarity with a group of Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs and their supporters opposing the Coastal GasLink pipeline are putting Canada's economy at risk, Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty said.

"It's absolutely shocking we've allowed it to get this far," Doherty said. "We're a trading nation, these blockades have frozen our economy. This is our national supply chain that is being attacked."

Doherty said he's concerned the agenda of "a small group of activists" is being misrepresented as the desire of the Wet'suwet'en people – all five elected Wet'suwet'en councils have signed benefit agreements in support of the project.

"First and foremost we have to listen to the real voices of the Wet'suwet'en. They value the project for economic prosperity and jobs and building capacity in their communities," Doherty said.

Doherty said he's seen interviews with several Wet'suwet'en leaders who were concerned that many of the people at the blockade weren't Wet'suwet'en people.

"These are paid protesters who are promoting violence," Doherty said.

If the protests are allowed to remain in place, it will embolden others to do the same thing, he added.

The blockades could continue to have a serious economic impact in Prince George and northern B.C. by disrupting shipments of lumber, pulp, paper and wood pellets to market.

“Canfor is seeing restricted rail car

capacity that has been impacting our supply chain," Canfor director of communications Michelle Ward said in an email. "The rail disruption has implication for our lumber and pulp business, which have already dealt with downtime, as well as our pellet operations.”

B.C. Council of Forest Industries president and CEO Susan Yurkovich said in an email the organization is trying to assess the damage from the rail disruptions.

"Forest products make up about 10 (per cent) of all rail traffic that moves through Western Canada, and in many cases, our members’ operations are in areas where rail service is the only economic transport option," Yurkovich said. "As such, any disruption to rail service that impedes our ability to serve our customers around the world will adversely impact

B.C. forest companies at a time when we are already facing significant challenges and increasing competition from across the globe.”

In a press release, Teamsters Canada –the nation's largest transportation union – called for the federal government to intervene and end the blockades.

“These blockades are having a catastrophic impact on ordinary, workingclass Canadians who have nothing to do with the Coastal GasLink pipeline," Teamsters Canada national president François Laporte said. "Hundreds of our members have been out of work close to a week. Now up to 6,000 of our members risk not being able to support their families or make ends meet this month, and they are powerless to do anything about it."

Wet'suWet'en, province in talks

AMy SMArt

The Canadian Press

As cabinet ministers broker urgent meetings over rail blockades in support of hereditary chiefs in northern British Columbia, a series of negotiations over the Wet'suwet'en Nation's land rights have been quietly taking place for a year.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cancelled an international trip and instead held an emergency meeting of cabinet ministers Monday in Ottawa, but participants were tight-lipped about potential solutions to a series of national solidarity protests that have disrupted rail transport across the country.

Meanwhile, the B.C. government and Office of the Wet'suwet'en have been meeting on how to explore a path forward together for a year. They issued a joint press release on Feb. 7, 2019 announcing a “reconciliation process.”

“This process has emerged from decades of denial of Wet'suwet'en rights and title. Both parties believe that the time has come to engage in meaningful nation-to-nation discussions with the goal of B.C. affirming Wet'suwet'en rights and title,” it said.

Former New Democrat MP Murray Rankin, a lawyer and mediator, was appointed as B.C.'s representative to help guide and design the process just weeks after RCMP enforced an injunction last year against opponents of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, who formed a blockade in support of the chiefs outside Houston, B.C.

Coastal GasLink says it has agreements with all 20 elected First Nations councils along the 670-kilometre route, but the hereditary chiefs in the Wet'suwet'en First Nation say they have title to a vast section of the land and never relinquished that by signing a treaty.

While the self-governance talks are independent from any particular project, they take on new significance as a national debate over Indigenous land rights and sovereignty flares.

Na'moks, one of five hereditary clan chiefs, said he believes the talks could solve the impasse over the Coastal GasLink pipeline, a key part of a $40-billion LNG Canada liquefied natural gas export project.

Proper affirmation of Wet'suwet'en title rights would also affirm that Coastal GasLink must leave the territory, he said, but the implications of the negotiations

are much bigger than that.

“It will give surety to all companies, it will enhance environmental laws, and our Indigenous rights - which are enshrined in the Constitution - will be a daily thing. We won't have to go to court to remind each other,” Na'moks, who also goes by John Ridsdale, said.

At the same time, he said the talks are specifically non-transactional. In other words, don't expect a deal in which the chiefs consent to the pipeline in exchange for a broader recognition of rights.

The Wet'suwet'en hereditary clan chiefs assert Aboriginal title, or exclusive rights to the land, over 22,000 square kilometres of northern British Columbia.

Although a 1997 Supreme Court of Canada case affirmed that Aboriginal title has not and cannot be extinguished by the provincial government, but fell short of identifying the specific area and boundaries where Wet'suwet'en title applies.

B.C.'s Indigenous Relations Minister Scott Fraser agreed that while the self-governance talks are not about the pipeline, they're relevant.

“It's a much larger issue than a particular project, we all agreed it would be a

separate process,” he said.

“That being said, as we dig deeper into the conflict here, the rights and title issues come up over and over again, and that's still an outstanding issue that we haven't been able to address.”

Fraser said the talks have been “challenged” by the fact that the hereditary clan chiefs have designated representatives instead of participating directly themselves but Rankin continues to visit the territory about once a month.

He also clarified that the province is not seeking to impose any form of governance on the First Nation through the self-governance talks, saying it's up to the Wet'suwet'en to determine the potential roles of hereditary and elected leaders.

While the Indian Act designated elected band councils to lead First Nations, the province's adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the fall gave the government more tools for recognizing traditional forms of governance, such as hereditary systems, Fraser said.

The province is keen to keep dialogue open with the Wet'suwet'en and the title talks began with a smoke feast attended by Fraser and Premier John Horgan last March, he said.

But just as Na'moks held strong against the pipeline, Fraser maintain his government's support for it.

“While the Office of the Wet'suwet'en may have been strong in their position there, we are equally strong as government,” he said.

“The project was OKed years ago,” he said, adding the province approved its environmental assessment certification following extensive consultations and community meetings.

“There is no basis for shutting it down.”

Alan Hanna, assistant professor of law at the University of Victoria, said ironing out Aboriginal title and rights issues has occurred in various venues, including the courts, the modern treaty process and through broader negotiations.

While ongoing talks between the Wet'suwet'en and B.C. government may not directly address the Coastal GasLink project, he said reaching a self-governance agreement could guide what happens in the case of a future impasse.

“Through negotiation, they can determine who sits at the table, how many individuals represent each of the parties and then if they come to an impasse, who or which entity can determine the outcome.”

cp photo

People make their way towards Queen's Park in Toronto on Monday during a Family Day march in support of the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs.

AROUND TOWN COMMUNITY CALENDAR

Youth-centred show

Thursday, Feb. 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at The Exploration Place, 333 Becott Place, there is a youth-centred evening of performances featuring Kym Gouchie & Lheidli T'enneh Men's Drum. This is an evening of youth-centred performances. Free admission. Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. The event is part of the inheritors of the future project.

vagina monologues

Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Elks Community Hall, 663 Douglas St., the Nechako Community Theatrics Society presents a charity performance of The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler. The performance is in conjunction with the Prince George Elks for the benefit of The Phoenix Transition Society - a local organization working to prevent violence against women and children and to aid their recovery. NCTS and the Elks are covering performance expenses so that every dollar raised goes to The Phoenix Transition Society. Tickets are $20 at Books & Co. or at the door. For more information call Kerry BetzStablein, president, Nechako Community Theatrics Society at 778-983-2150.

isitwendam (an understanding)

Until Sunday, Feb. 23 from 8 to 9:15 p.m. at Theatre Northwest, #36 - 556 North Nechako Rd., Isitwendam is presented. Originally started at Theatre NorthWest as part of the 2017 Presentation Series, this play comes to Prince George fresh off its world premiere in Toronto. An amazing performance by CBC TV’s Burden of Truth star Meegwun Fairbrother, taking on nine roles, is accompanied by digital and video elements. When Brendan White, a half Ojibway, half-white man is hired by Aboriginal Affairs to discredit a residential school survivor’s claim his whole world is turned upside down. Uplifting, powerful, and often humorous, this one person performance is truly virtuosic. For tickets visit www.theatrenorthwest.com.

miracle theatre

Until Sunday, March 8 at 8 p.m. except Mondays while Sundays have performances at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. at ArtSpace, above Books & Co., 1685 Third Ave., Miracle Theatre presents the comedy The Birds and the Bees, a full-length professional theatre production. Proceeds from the show will be donated to the Children of Prince George Endowment Fund under the trusteeship of the Prince George Community Foundation. This new endowment fund for local charities was established with $84,039 donated from Miracle Theatre’s last production. Tickets are $34 each at Books & Co. or call 250-563-6637. For more information visit www.miracletheatre.ca.

caledonia ramblers

Sunday, Feb. 23 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Caledonia Rambers will lead a moderateto-strenuous snowshoe through Slim Creek Provincial Park. The trek will cover 10 to 15 kilometres with some bushwacking. Participants should bring snowshoes along with a day backpack, sufficient water or perhaps something hot to drink, lunch and snacks, extra warm clothing and possibly

hiking poles. Meet 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time of 8 a.m. in the parking lot behind Prince George City Hall. The carpool fee is $12. For more information go to caledoniaramblers.ca.

earlY music

Sunday, Feb. 23 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Grace Anglican Church, 2640 Goheen St., join soprano Erica Skowron and harpist Shoshanna Godber for a musical journey through the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods. Admission is by donation. For more information visit www.albanclassical.org or www.shoshannagodber.com.

Jonathan crow show

Saturday, Feb. 29 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Vanier Hall, 2901 Griffiths Ave., former Prince George resident Jonathan Crow, who learned his craft in SD 57's string program and the Prince George School of Music is now associate professor of violin at the University of Toronto, faculty of music and the concertmaster of the Toronto Symphony since 2011. This concert begins with award winning Canadian composer Marjan Mozetich’s Postcards from the Sky, followed by two pieces by Franz Schubert: Symphony No. 8 Unfinished and Entr’acte from Rosamunde. The highlight of the evening will no doubt be Jonathan Crow’s performance of Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26. For more information and tickets visit www.pgso. com.

the diamonds fundraiser

Sunday, May 24 at 2 and 7 p.m. at Vanier Hall, 2901 Griffiths Ave., the Prince George Council of Seniors is hosting a fundraiser featuring the doo wop band called The Diamonds who present Old Gold Retold. Ticket are $42.75 each and available at ticketsnorth.ca or at the CN Centre.

beginner ski lessons

Every Monday from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at 8141 Otway Rd., Caledonia Nordic Ski Club offers free Classic Cross Country Ski Tours for seniors 55+ led by senior ski instructors. There will be tour groups to accommodate all levels of skiers from beginner to experienced. For non-members there are half-priced rentals and trail passes. There is free hot beverages and goodies served in the ski lodge from 2:30 to 3 p.m. Register at 250-564-3809 | office@caledonianordic.com.

beading night

Every Monday fro 6 to 9 p.m. at the Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St., Bring your beads and bead on. This will be a fun opportunity for artistic and cultural exchange to occur. Hosted by Tracy Peters and Crystal Whitehawk. Everyone welcome. Donations accepted for use of the space. www.ominecaartscentre.com

heartbeat meetings

On the third Monday of the month at the Foundry, 1148 Seventh Ave., at 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. for youth between 12 and 24 and for adults at 6:45 to 8 p.m., there is a peer support group for those who have lost a loved one by suicide. For more information contact Sandra Galletti at galletti@telus. net or call 250-961-9330.

Relay Fo R l i F e

FF e R s

R ize

Christine hinZMAnn Citizen staff

Everyone has been touched by cancer. It's almost cliche to say.

It's those who have not only been touched by it but stomped on, beat up,and dragged unwilling into the cancer battle that need help.

The way to help cancer patients now and into the future is to raise funds for research to find a cure and that's where the Canadian Cancer Society's only 24hour Relay for Life comes into the Prince George picture.

The local Relay for Life takes place at Exhibition Park June 13 and 14 and to help inspire some rigorous fundraising it was announced last week that Northland Dodge won't be offering up a car this year as it has in the past but a chance to win cold, hard cash of up to $10,000 to those who raise more than $500 for the cancer research cause.

For every $500 raised a relay participant gets a ballot for a ticket to get a little richer themselves.

The local relay has for years been ranked the most successful national fundraiser but last year the numbers dipped.

Organizers are looking to bring numbers back up with this year's fundraiser to take top national honours once again.

"We are always humbled by the amount of support relay receives in Prince George," Aimee Cassie, annual giving officer for the Canadian Cancer Society, said.

"It is an incredible community event which has a direct impact to people across Northern B.C. and something we can all be incredibly proud of."

Northland Dodge has been a sponsor of the event for years.

"We are honoured to assist and partner with the Relay team to keep building on the momentum this event has established over the years," Kyle Bachman, dealer principle for Northland Dodge, said. "Northland continues its support and we hope to see the numbers climb this year as it helps fight against a disease that has impacted all of our lives to some degree."

There are several ways people can participate in the Relay for Life, including individually or by creating a team of family, friends and co-workers.

Online registration takes place at www.relayforlife.ca/princegeorge

The joy in reconciliaTion

The greatest value of the arts - besides being creative for imagination's sake - is to foster an understanding of the world and ourselves. Artists have the latitudeto borrow Linda Rempel's column name and frequent subject - to create fictional works that are real enough to help us better understand reality while also entertaining us.

More often than not, we are thrilled to learn new things, to see the world differently, because we feel we've been let in on a valuable secret. That's why we run to our friends and take to social media every time we find a new show on Netflix that "omigod, you need to start watching this RIGHT NOW!"

Isitwendam, the current Theatre Northwest production that runs until Feb. 23, literally means "understanding" in Ojibwe and both the show and its actor/creator Meegwun Fairbrother are a revelation.

Let me be plain - you need to see this show RIGHT NOW!

For the non-Indigenous folks out there who think that the modern Canadian definition of reconciliation means permanent shame and endless apologies to First Nations peoples for settlement and residential schools, this play is for you. Isitwendam offers a hopeful path forward through a conversation of listening and understanding.

As a French Canadian whose family has been in Canada since 1651, I have plenty to be guilty about the way my ancestors treated Aboriginals. Isitwendam is a reminder that it's not about me or my feelings. It's about listening, with my mind and my heart, to the stories of my fellow Canadians. I can't erase what was said and what was done but I can try to be better than they were.

SHIFT

NEIL GODBOUT

That's the cleverness of the Isitwendam plot. Stripped of its racial and cultural politics, it is simply the story of a young man who, once he learns the truth about his father and mother, decides to be inspired by their legacy to help others but also to make wiser choices.

Isn't that what most of us take from our parents and what most parents hope from their children?

So let's take that family narrative and expand it to our national history. There is nothing unpatriotic about recognizing that a genocide was committed against First Nations peoples in this country, with the men celebrated on our currency having key roles in that crime against humanity. We can still admire the political courage of John A. Macdonald and the early prime ministers while also vowing to see and hear Indigenous peoples, rather than dehumanizing them and their culture.

A telling moment happened after Friday night's performance. Fairbrother and co-creator Jack Grinhaus, the former artistic director of Theatre Northwest, made a few comments to the audience and then took questions.

One gentleman asked about the significance of the Hudson Bay blanket as a prop.

Initially, both Grinhaus and Fairbrother were puzzled by the question but the man persisted. It was Grinhaus who real-

ized first that the man was asking, without coming right out and saying so, if the blanket was a reference to the longheld belief that blankets were used to spread smallpox among Indigenous populations. No, that certainly wasn't the intent, Grinhaus answered. Fairbrother's response went one step further. To paraphrase his remarks, the Hudson Bay blanket should be a symbol of comfort and warmth for all Canadians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike. Isitwendam is about reclaiming common history and culture. While it wasn't a conscious artistic intent, the reclamation of the Hudson Bay blanket for its pragmatic purpose and symbolic power, both within the performance and in broader culture, can only be a good thing.

Reconciliation – whether it's a couple whose marriage is on the rocks because of an affair or a country struggling with the pain caused by colonial domination - is about moving forward together, overcoming differences and finding joy and peace in a new and better relationship. Most importantly, reconciliation requires people coming together as equals with the understanding that the ongoing effort to build a better relationship, even with its inevitable setbacks, is more desirable than endless conflict. We disagree with our spouses, our families and our neighbours. Reconciliation doesn't mean we have to suddenly agree on everything. It simply means we see and hear each other respectfully, celebrate how far we've come together and how much more we can do, not out of guilt or shame, but with pride and joy. But please don't take my word for it. Go see Isitwendam right away. It will entertain and inspire you, as the greatest artistic statements do.

Cutting Corners

Citizen photo by James Doyle

A horse and rider make their way around the barrels at the Prince George Agriplex on Friday night during the Prince George Rodeo Association’s Valentines Barrel Race.

How we're built for friendsHip

BarBara J. King

Special To The Washington Post

Spending time with others improves our health, emotionally and physically. Our risks of depression and early mortality are reduced. The effects are so robust that social connection with others, good friends or casual acquaintances, is now recognized by scientists as a public health issue of equal importance to eating well and not smoking.

We humans are biologically built to seek friends, and we can see suggestions of our evolutionary past in the social behavior of some animals.

In Friendship: The Evolution, Biology, and Extraordinary Power of Life's Fundamental Bond, journalist Lydia Denworth explores the science behind friendship. In an accessible and enlightening style, she takes us with her on her journeys to primatology research sites in Puerto Rico and Kenya, and to cutting-edge biology and neuroscience laboratories in the United States. She discovers that female baboons in Kenya who establish stable social bonds with friends and kin have more babies and live longer. Numerous species of animals, ranging from elephants to zebra fish, show evidence of friendships as measured by the degree of the long-term cooperation between pairs of individuals.

In a human study, researchers drew on a group of graduate students connected by social networks.They put each of the 42 participants into a brain scanner and had them watch video clips. The scientists discovered that they "could predict which participants were good friends and which were not by matching up the way their brains perceived and responded to the world around them." The findings suggested that friends' neurons fire more similarly than the neurons of more distant acquaintances. That result posed the question: Does the brain change as friendships develop, or do friends with similar brain patterns come together in

the first place? Preliminary results suggest it may be the former: that friends' brains gradually align.

Denworth reports on the connection between loneliness and health. One study of 229 older Chicago residents found loneliness, determined through physical exams and extensive interviews, was associated not only with poor sleep and greater social withdrawal but also with increased mortality and depression. Blood analysis of 14 participants revealed that genes in the loneliest people were more inclined toward inflammatory responses than antiviral responses.

Denworth introduces us to Paula Dutton, a woman whose life became one of near-isolation after her parents died, her marriage broke up and she retired from her job. After a severe panic attack, she realized she had to make some social connections. She joined a group called Generation Xchange that brings volunteers into underresourced South Central Los Angeles schools. Dutton volunteered most weekdays in a first-grade classroom. Denworth describes how Dutton lights up as students joyfully share their work with her. UCLA epidemiologist Teresa Seeman conceived and runs Gen X, as it's known. "It is an educational nonprofit," writes Denworth, "wrapped in a community health initiative with a loneliness intervention program beating quietly but steadily at its heart."

In a chapter titled "Digital Friendship," Denworth asks whether connections forged on social media amount to real friendship. She avoids knee-jerk railing against social media and its overuse. She contends that if Facebook is used to enhance connection with those we spend time with in person, or to share aspects of our lives with people who live far away, it may support rather than undermine intimacy.

I found one aspect of "Friendship" disturbing. Denworth describes cruel animal experiments mostly without comment. We read of rats "subjected to blar-

Friendship: The Evolution, Biology, and Extraordinary Power of Life's Fundamental Bond by Lydia Denworth

ing light, deafening noise, and extremes of hot and cold," kittens whose eyes were covered to "disrupt the development of normal vision," monkeys that were prevented from ever being able to see another face, human or nonhuman. Of the monkeys' treatment, Denworth writes: "For the record, the animals had lots of attention, activity, and toys. They were well-nourished, and lovingly bottle-fed as infants. The only thing their worlds

lacked was faces." Clearly, the science Denworth witnesses in pursuit of understanding friendship is at times brutal. By highlighting the importance of human connection, Denworth has crafted a worthy call to action. "Friendship is not a choice or a luxury;" she tells us, "it's a necessity that is critical to our ability to succeed and thrive." Embrace friendship, invest in it, work at it, she urges. Your life will be the better for it.

ExpEdition subjEct of talk

Citizen staff

Explorer and wildlife photographer

John Dunn will be speaking in Prince George on Feb. 20 about his 8,000-kilometre, 400-day journey paddling, hiking and skiing from Tofino, B.C. to the tip of Ellesmere Island.

Dunn is a veteran of 25 Arctic expeditions and is a regular lecturer with the Canadian Geographic Society and Royal Geographic Society in Britain.

His work has been featured in National Geographic magazine.

Dunn's presentation will feature photos and stories about his expedition. The event takes place at the Weldwood Theatre at UNBC, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 at the door or from jdunn.eventbrite.ca

For more information go online to www.arcticlight.com

Bajan Beauty aBounds

Steve MacNaull

Special to The Citizen

The Bajan Queen partied too hard.

And now she's at rest on the bottom of the Caribbean Sea. But all is good.

This 45-metre tugboat, which toiled for years at the port in Bridgetown, Barbados, and finished out her above-water life as a tourist-party boat, was sunk deliberately in Carlisle Bay in 2001.

Now, in only 10 metres of water, she is coral-crusted and serves as a fish-rich marine park and snorkelling magnet.

My wife, Kerry, and I are introduced to the Bajan Queen on Island Routes’ Sun, Sand and Snorkel five-hour excursion aboard the Cool Runnings II catamaran.

She's the second stop on the itinerary, right beside Ellion, the drug boat sunk in 1989 by the Barbados Coast Guard.

As our group of 30 snorkels, the contrast of the vessels' checkered past to current fishy habitat is not lost on us.

Neither is the idyllic setting of meltedgemstone green water, filtered sunshine and reggae playing on the catamaran's sound system.

The day started when we boarded Cool Runnings II at Bridgetown's Careenage Marina and took off in a light breeze under clear skies.

Our first stop is also in Carlisle Bay, but at a sandy-bottomed section populated by green sea turtles and stingrays.

Our guide, Chad Hercules, yes, that's his real name, lures the sea creatures ever closer to our group of snorkellers with chunks of bread.

The turtles are discs, elegantly gliding through the water and the stingrays resemble a prehistoric bird flapping under the sea.

Back on board, the sails are raised for us to cruise the 15 kilometres to Payne's Bay at a leisurely nine knots.

There's a lunch of jerk chicken on the catamaran with swimming and sunbathing to follow, all with a view of One Sandy Lane hotel.

The hotel is the $15,000-a-night hang out of Barbados' most-famous daughter, Rihanna.

Days of perfection are often defined this way.

They are seared in the memory not just for the warmth, sunshine and scenery, but for how they make you feel.

And we feel lucky, content and exhilarated, all at the same time.

It's a Caribbean thing, it's a Barbados thing, it's a paradise thing.

Kerry and I get the same tingly feeling at the resort where we're staying, the uber-romantic, couples-only Sandals Royal Barbados.

It's a five-star luxury resort, so, of course it's location is spectacular on icing-sugar-soft Maxwell Beach in St.

Lawrence Gap.

The accommodations are innovative.

The rondoval thatched-roofed bungalows have private patios with plunge pools, outdoor tubs, outdoor showers and butler service.

Swim-up suites apply the swim-up bar concept to resort accommodation with the suites' patio directly connected to an elaborate network of palm-tree bordered pools.

Even if your room is on the second, third or fourth floor, it will have an infinity pool or soaker tub for two on the balcony, complete with billowing, white privacy curtains.

Upgraded to a rondoval bungalow with butler, Kerry and I revel in VIP treatment.

Room-service breakfasts on the patio are followed by frolic in the plunge pool, then time on the beach or one of the main pools, where our butler has saved prime chairs under an umbrella and placed a cooler with water and whatever we want from the bar.

Sandals firsts at Royal Barbados are also given a test drive: the chain's inaugural rooftop pool, rooftop bar and rooftop restaurant; bowling at Lover's Lane; jasmine-sunset couples massages at Red Lane Spa; and dinners at new-concept

sandals Royal

American Tavern and Asian-fusion Chi.

Again, it's how a vacation makes you feel, as much as the sumptuousness of the resort, that defines getaway success.

And Sandals Royal Barbados makes us feel special, sexy, pampered, relaxed and

rejuvenated. Air Canada flies non-stop between Toronto and Montreal and Bridgetown, Barbados.

Check out Sandals.com and AirCanada.com.

Photos by Steve MacNaull

Rondoval bungalows at sandals Royal Barbados resort come with private patio and plunge pool.

Photos by Steve MacNaull

Barbados occupies prime real estate on Maxwell Beach in st. Lawrence Gap.

GEORGE CITIZEN

It is with great sadness that the family of Bonnie Mueller announces her peaceful passing on February 4, 2020.

A Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.

LEANNE PATTIE 2x37.5

PATTIE,LeslieG.

May10,1950-February02,2020

LespassedawaypeacefullyinOliver,BC.Heispre deceasedbyhiswifeSusan,parentsRobertandMary, brotherDonald,andsisterMaureen.Heissurvivedbyhis threechildrenKristine,Leanne,andJason(Jessica), grandsonHunter,hisbrotherDavid,sisterSharon (Andre),aswellasnumerousnieces,nephewsand extendedfamily.

Ruth Anne Evans Sullivan (nee Andrew)

December 24, 1938February 7th, 2020

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ruth Sullivan on February 7th, 2020 surrounded by the love of her family. She was an amazing Mom, Gramma, Great Gramma, Sister, Aunt and Friend and will be forever missed by everyone she touched. She is survived by her daughter Cheryl Young (Craig), son Terry Dunn (Kelly), Daughter in law Darlene Dunn. Grandchildren; Tarah Paulsen (Marc), Kyle Young, Lisa Dunn (Chris),Sarah Dunn (Justin). Great Grandchildren; Eli, Owen, Chloe and Torunn. Sister Irene Rust (Otto). Step son Bill (Christine) Sullivan and their children Haakon, Erik and Sonja Sullivan, as well as numerous other family and friends. Ruth was predeceased by her beloved husband Leo, her dear brothers Ernie and Doug Andrew, and her precious grandson Ryan Dunn.

A Celebration of life will be held on February 22nd, 2020 at 2pm at the Hart Community Centre. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honour of Ruth to the Prince George Hospice Society, Auxiliary to UHNBC or charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be sent to Ruth’s family through her obituary at www.bowersfuneralservice.com

Donald Robert MacIntyre

Donald Robert MacIntyre, 92, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Feb 6, 2020 in his home at Gateway Lodge in Prince George, BC after living a long and full life.

He is survived by his sons Don MacIntyre Jr (Maggie), Randy MacIntyre, sister Margaret Cobb and numerous grandchildren. He is predeceased by Marion MacIntyre, brother Guy MacIntyre, brother Lawrence MacIntyre and cousin Ferne Lippert.

Don was born on March 5, 1927 on the family farm near Tate, Saskatchewan to James MacIntyre and Violet Gallagher MacIntyre. He was one of 4 children. As a young man Don worked on the family farm with his dad. Farming was tough during these years and he eventually struck out on his own, becoming a certified plumber. He married Marion Ozmun and they raised two sons together in BC. Eventually they drifted apart and Don moved to Ontario where he worked as a sheet metal fabricator.

Don spent many years traveling, dancing and enjoying life with Marion and later his cousin, Ferne Lippert. He was very musical and played the guitar and banjo. Don was a Mason for over 50 years. He was known for his gentle, kind personality and love of music and will be greatly missed.

Manfred took his last breath on February 10th, his wife, Frances holding one hand, his daughter, Connie holding his other and granddaughter, Kim holding his arm and stroking his face while other loved ones surrounded him. Opa was a man every boy should aspire to be like, every man should pray to be. Opa was a man with astounding morals. A good man. A very hard working man that took care of his family. A man that was always smiling, we never once saw him lose his cool or get angry. Happy, joyful, loyal, friendly, proud. He loved his family and friends deeply. He was an amazing husband to his wife of many, many years. A father that raised his 4 children with love, the best Opa ever to his 4 grandchildren, and the proudest ever Great Opa to his much loved great grandchildren. He can now rest easy, no longer bound to a wheelchair, free to be the independent, happy man we will always remember him as. Now with his parents, great baba, siblings, Senta, and his many friends who have passed before him. We know he’s up there kicking ass at crib with Uncle Henry and his friends, laughing as his Ukrainian family cheats in cards (great, great baba). Watching wrestling matches with Baba. Sharing his lunch with Senta and watching down on his family and friends that he has left behind. He will be very missed and always remembered by the many lives he touched.

We love you more than words can express.

Manfred Paul Chroscinski

Debra Leah (Downie) DWYER

April 28, 1957February 2, 2020

Deb passed away February 2, 2020 in UNBC Hospital with her family by her side. Debbie had struggled for the last two years with Lupus, Fibrosis, and more recently, heart issues. She was known to be fiercely loyal to those close to her. Not only people, but also her pets. Her baking at Christmas was unsurpassed by no one, using old traditional family favourite recipes, and the occasional new one. Those who received a sampling were delighted ! Debbie was predeceased by her Dad (Ed), Mom, (Mavis & Don Schneider), and her grandparents. She leaves behind her devoted, loving husband of 34 years, Dan, and two sons, Duane & Sean. Grandkids Skylar ( Kylea) , Sierra, and Kaitlyn. Great Grands, Kinley and Lyncoln. Brothers Sheldon (Cathie), Curtis (Michelle). Dan’s parents, John and Mary Dwyer, brothers in law Mike (Cindy) and Tim. Numerous Aunts and Uncles, nieces and nephews, and Great nieces. Debbie will be missed by all. She left us too soon.

Sleep well Deb.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Debbie’s name to the SPCA.

Remember: I’m the Boss of all of you!

Celebration of Life will be held at the Westwood Pub on February 22nd, from 12 - 3 PM.

Keith Albert Dettling

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the peaceful passing of Keith Albert Dettling of Cranbrook, B.C., on Sunday, February 9th, 2020 at the age of 70 with his loving family at his side.

Keith is survived by his wife of 49 years, Lois; his daughter Nicole Kraljic (Tony) and their sons James and Carter, daughter Amy Penney (Kevin) and their son Lincoln. He also leaves to mourn his brother Greg (April) Dettling, sisters, Charlene Dettling (Bob) and Arlene Dettling. He will be greatly missed by many more family and friends and his very special friend Ken Bridge.

Keith was a NASCAR enthusiast and attended many races over the years with his best bud, Ken Bridge. He was also an avid classic car guy and belonged to the Rockin’ in the Rockies Car Club of Cranbrook and the Pharaohs Car Club which was made up of a mix of Canadian and American car enthusiasts. He also travelled once a year for many years with the Idaho Cruisers. He took great pride in his car collection which included his red (not orange) 1971 Chevy truck, a 1955 Chevy Del-Ray and his 1937 Ford Coupe.

Keith was a successful businessman for over 30 years and a strong supporter of his community. He donated countless hours volunteering or just plain helping you out when the call came. He was a happy, go-lucky, optimistic, and uncomplicated man and you could always count on him for a good time.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the East Kootenay Foundation for Health, https://www.ekfh.ca/method/in-memory/.

Please join the family in helping celebrate Keith’s life on Saturday, February 22nd, 2020 at 2:00pm at the Colombo Hall.

Arrangements entrusted to McPherson Funeral Services. Condolences for the family can be offered at: www.mcphersonfh.com

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