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Officers charged with manslaughter MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff

Two-and-a-half-year-old Prince George resident Ethan Reimer was out of heart surgery and recovering Saturday in the ICU at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.

Mom Megan said it’s been rough because his pain level is high but Ethan is surrounded by family and has his trusty stuffie, Deer, beside him who has helped him get through many medical procedures.

Ethan had his first heart surgery when he was just six weeks old. He was born with a variation

of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a condition which will affect him for the rest of his life.

Family friend Natalie created a Gofundme page for the family to offset the financial burden of traveling and living in Vancouver for the Prince George family while Ethan waited for the surgery, had the surgery and will now recover from the surgery, which is expected to take about six weeks.

“We are very blessed and we are so thankful for all the support we have gotten and I just wanted to give a very big thanks because we don’t have to worry because now Ethan can get everything he needs to support his recovery,” Megan said.

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Local boy fighting heart issues

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Ethan Reimer is recovering from major heart surgery with his trusty stuffie, Deer, close by.

Two Prince George RCMP officers have been charged with manslaughter, the B.C. Prosecution Service said.

Cst. Paul Ste-Marie and Cst. Jean Francois Monette now face the count in relation to the July 18, 2017 death of Dale Culver.

As well, three other officers -- Cst. Arthur Dalman, Cst. Clarence (Alex) Alexander MacDonald, and Sgt. Bayani (Jon) Eusebio Cruz -have been charged with attempting to obstruct justice in relation to the incident, BCPS said.

Culver’s death sparked an investigation by B.C.’s civilian based police watchdog, the Independent Investigation Office. In March 2020, IIO chief civilian director Ronald J. MacDonald forwarded a report to the BCPS in which he recommended that charges be laid.

Culver, an Indigenous man from the Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en Nations, was 35 years old at the time of his death.

An RCMP release from the time said police received a report about a man casing vehicles and found a suspect who tried to flee on a bicycle.

There was allegedly a struggle when police tried to take the man into custody, other officers were called, and pepper spray was used. Officers noticed the man appeared to have trouble breathing and called for medical assistance. He collapsed immediately after being taken out of the police vehicle and died soon after, police say.

The BC Civil Liberties Association alleged in a 2018 complaint to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP that the association had “learned of troubling allegations that RCMP members told witnesses to delete cellphone video that they had taken.”

The first appearance for all officers on these matters is scheduled for March 14, 2023, in Prince George Provincial Court.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

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“ The benefits of

COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the risks.

That’s why my children are vaccinated.”

Dr. Danièle Behn Smith Deputy Provincial Health Officer, Indigenous Health Vaccination helps prevent serious illness and hospitalization.

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Book your child's COVID-19 vaccine today. gov.bc.ca/vaccineforkids

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

Saik’uz Chief Priscilla Mueller speaks at a Prince George event last week.

Indigenous coalition to help unhoused HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff

Indigenous leadership from throughout northern B.C. gathered at Moccasin Flats in Prince George last week to support and learn more about the vulnerable and unhoused population in the city.

The event was hosted by the Healing Fire Coalition, which is a group of Indigenous communities and organizations working together to support and connect with vulnerable members living on the streets of Prince George.

“It’s about connecting with our membership,” said Saik’uz Chief Priscilla Mueller. “I think that it’s really important we come down here and we show them that we do really care about them and we are going to work on solutions.”

She explained Saik’uz has been hosting weekly Healing Fires since June 2022 following a tragic death in the community.

She said the community has suffered 53 deaths since 2019 and three young people in January to overdose.

The Healing Fire sessions provided comfort and support to people dealing with addictions or who may have lost a loved one to the overdose crisis.

“The Healing Fire sessions allow our community to tell members considered vulnerable that you are loved and that you are important, that we hear your cries for help and that you are not alone,” said Mueller. “We started telling our neighbouring First Nations about the Healing Fire sessions and then invited the chiefs to join us in Prince George as many of those considered ‘homeless’ and living on the streets are members of our communities.”

Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dolleen Logan welcomed the Indigenous leadership, as Moccasin Flats residents, community members and partner groups shared food and songs around the fire.

“When Chief Mueller first told me about

the Healing Fire sessions in her community, I thought it was a great idea. We then got talking about the situation with vulnerable people living on the streets in downtown Prince George. These people are from many Indigenous communities in central and northern B.C.,” explained Logan. “We want to show the vulnerable population that they are not alone, that their communities, leaders and Indigenous organizations care about them and continue to seek long-term solutions that work for vulnerable people.”

Logan said she sees this collaboration “growing and growing” and that gathering in Moccasin Flats on such a cold and snowy day gives leadership a taste of what the unhoused population is going through.

“This is kind of the first step toward leadership getting together and seeing firsthand what’s going on out there and trying to do something more,” added Chief Robert Michell from Stellat’en First Nation.

“I think this will be a stepping stone and you’re going to see more of these collaborations, as we... try to deal with some of the people that are on the streets and provide them some dignity. It’s not their fault they’re here and so we have to provide that dignity to make sure that they continue on in life as much as possible as they can in their situation.”

Prince George Mayor Simon Yu also attended the event and said he would work collaboratively with the group to find solutions.

“I will do my best to help to coordinate to do whatever necessary to address the problem we are facing here today. I ran my campaign based on I will find a solution along with you guys together we will address this issue,” said Yu. “Prince George can do better, we can do better. We must do better.”

The event also included food and care packages given to vulnerable people.

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Prince George ranked most affordable in B.C. CLAIRE WILSON

Glacier Media

Data compiled on 26 cities in B.C. reveals that Prince George, Fort St. John and Terrace are the top three most affordable places to live in the province, according to a list created by Zolo.

Among the province’s larger cities, the most affordable places to live are: Kamloops, Abbotsford and Nanaimo.

Prince George, Vernon and Courtenay ranked as the top three for medium-sized cities, with Forts St. John, Terrace and Prince Rupert being the most affordable of the smaller cities.

In B.C., the average price for a home by the end of 2022 was roughly $95,000 more than the next most expensive province, Ontario, said Zolo. Cities like Vancouver, Kelowna and Vernon can skew this data, they said.

Using average home price, average household income, population, home price-to-income ratio and unemployment data, the list shows the most affordable cities throughout the province, broken down by size.

“It really comes down to looking beyond the home price as a measure of affordability and thinking about the opportunities for the people that could be moving to these cities,” said Jordann Kaye, spokesperson for Zolo.

Kaye described the methodology as taking a “holistic view” on affordability in order to create a resource for British Columbians who may be looking to move.

“Especially during the pandemic, and coming out of the pandemic, people are moving longer distances than they have in the past due to the flexibility of remote work. They’re looking at the smaller towns with fresh eyes now and we’re sort of seeing the migration trend reversing from everyone moving to the larger cities,” she

GETTY IMAGES

Prince George is ranked as the most affordable of all B.C. cities, according to Zolo.

said.

The ranking also highlighted that some smaller cities in B.C. can rank low on affordability due to being a “vacation town.” Kaye said that in these areas, the average home price is high while the average household income is relatively low.

Vancouver had the highest home price-to-income ratio by a “significant” margin, said Kaye, showing that despite the higher income, it was not enough to support the price of housing.

Of the 26 cities analyzed, the most unaffordable ones are: Vancouver, Victoria, Squamish and Duncan.

Property Use Agreement for the: Willow River Equestrian Property; Pilot Mountain Firehall Meeting Room; Penny Community Hall Property; Dome Creek Recreational Facility Property; and the Bear Lake Recreational Property The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George intends to enter into property use agreements for the use of Regional District properties for community purposes for 5-year terms with: Willow River Recreation Association for the Willow River Equestrian Property legally described as Lot A of District Lot 785, Cariboo District Plan 8289, located off Arnett Road in Willow River, BC. Pilot Mountain Recreation Commission for the Pilot Mountain Firehall Meeting Room Facility legally described as Lot 1 of District Lot 2414, Cariboo District Plan PGP39734, located at 9070 Syms Road in Prince George, BC. Penny Community Historical Association for the Penny Community Hall Property legally described as Lot 20 of District Lot 5496, Cariboo District Plan 2294, located off Penny Access Road in Penny, BC. Dome Creek Community Association for the Dome Creek Recreational Facility Property legally described as Part of the Fractional Southwest ¼ of District Lot 3274, and District Lot 9085, Cariboo District, located 13766 Dome Creek Road in Dome Creek, BC. Bear Lake Recreation Association for the Bear Lake Recreational Property legally described as Lot 25 of District Lot 2971, Cariboo District Plan PGP10838, located 461 Hart Lake Road in Bear Lake, BC. In consideration of the entitlements given, the Regional District will receive a nominal sum of $1.00 each of the specified term of the agreements.

For more information please contact: Cindy Paton Community Services Leader cpaton@rdffg.bc.ca

Main Office: 155 George Street, Prince George, BC V2L 1P8 T: 250-960-4400 TF: 1-800-667-1959 F: 250-563-7520 www.rdffg.bc.ca

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permission to have a second assessment carried out in an expedited fashion.

Along with determining Belcourt’s risk of committing similar crimes in the future, Sentencing for a Prince George man Church agreed with defence counsel Stewho pleaded guilty to luring a child fan Catona’s request that the assessment for a sexual purpose was put on hold also take into account any mental health Tuesday so he can go through a new issues Belcourt may be dealing psychiatric assessment. with.

In June 2022, Kevin James BelThe hope now is to have a hearcourt pleaded guilty to sexually ing on sentencing by sometime in interfering with a person under early-to-mid-April.

16 years old, telecommunicating In December 2019, Prince to lure a child under 16 years old George RCMP issued a stateand possessing child pornograment saying Belcourt had been phy. But the psychiatrist who subKEVIN JAMES arrested and charged with alleged sequently assessed Belcourt was offences related to a single youth, under the impression he pleaded BELCOURT but suspected there may be more guilty to different offences. victims.

In response, Belcourt “became upset “Police believe that Belcourt commuand did not interact with the doctor to nicated with the victim via the Snapchat the level he needed to,” and that led to a social media app which facilitated several “tainted” outcome, B.C. Supreme Court in-person meetings,” RCMP said at the Justice Marguerite Church was told time. “Belcourt’s Snapchat vanity names during a hearing. included Emily Mojo, James Biggs and The assessment was filed in October Eddy100.” and, once the discrepancy was discovRCMP asked anyone who had contact ered, the initial plan was to have the with those accounts or with Belcourt psychiatrist testify during the sentencing between July 1 and Nov. 30, 2019, when hearing. But in the name of fairness, he was arrested, to contact the detachCrown prosecution agreed with defence ment’s sex crimes unit. counsel to instead seek a judge’s

MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff

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Witness recalls escaping deadly motel fire MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff

A man can thank his dog and a CBC reporter for escaping a deadly fire that struck a Prince George motel.

David Klein testified during a trial for Justin Kyle Aster, accused of setting a blaze on the morning of July 8, 2020 that killed three people staying at the Econo Lodge Motel at the corner of Victoria Street and Ninth Avenue.

Appearing via a video link, the Lethbridge, Alta. resident said he was staying overnight in a ground-level room in the motel’s east end. He was asleep when at about 8:45 a.m. he heard a loud bang that woke up both him and his dog.

Klein “just sat there for a minute,” but because it was quiet again, he went back

to sleep. About 15 minutes later, Klein’s dog was on high alert.

“My dog was on the bed, scratching at me and kind of freaking out,” he said.

“That wasn’t normal behaviour for the dog and then I heard glass breaking and a bunch of noise - I actually thought there was a fight or something going on outside.”

He opened the curtains to the room’s window, which faced west and into a courtyard, and encountered a “solid wall of fire.”

Knowing he had to get out, Klein gathered his dog and grabbed his two bags.

An amputee - he is missing the lower portion of one leg - Klein relies on crutches to get around.

He stuck to the right and hugged the wall to skirt around the worst of the

flames and progressed about 10 metres before he tripped and fell. Klein rolled against the wall and yelled for help.

About a minute later, “somebody grabbed me by my arms and drug me through the flames, out into the open where the fire department was showing up.”

That someone turned out to be Faith Fundal. Now the host of CBC Manitoba’s afternoon show, at the time of the fire Fundal was a reporter at the CBC station across the street.

According to an agreed statement of facts read into the court record, Fundal had just finished the morning show when they heard someone yelling fire. Fundal ran across the street and started banging on doors, then came across Klein, who appeared confused and trying to go back

into the fire in search of his dog.

As it turned out, his dog was found next to Klein’s car across the street.

Klein could not say for certain where the fire had started but upon arriving the day before, he noticed a “large pile of debris, made up of carpet, underlay and all the wood packing that fastens carpets down,” underneath the stairwell immediately in front of his room. Klein said it stuck out for him because he does renovations for a living.

Klein suffered “quite painful” second and third degree burns to various spots on his body with his left hand and wrist getting the worst of it. Klein was taken to hospital in Prince George where he stayed for the next day-and-a-half while a member of Prince George Fire Rescue took care of Klein’s dog.

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Drug decriminalization falls short, advocate says HANNA PETERSEN

Citizen staff

British Columbia has introduced a policy of decriminalization as part of what it says is an overall plan to prevent overdose deaths from illicit drugs, but a drug user group in Prince George doesn’t think it will have much impact.

“I think it’s definitely not the end all, be all answer,” said Katt Cadieux, the founder and executive director of Uniting Northern Drug Users Undoing Stigma (UNDU), an Indigenous-led, peer-run, grassroots drug user group that focuses on harm reduction.

“I just don’t feel like it’s really that big of a response. It’s a starting response, but there’s a lot of work that needs to be done around it.”

Drug users will now be allowed to carry

up to a total of 2.5 grams of opioids such as heroin and fentanyl, as well as crack and powder cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA, also known as ecstasy.

B.C.’s application to the federal government called for 4.5 grams, but police requested one gram before a decision by Ottawa to allow a cumulative 2.5 grams.

Cadieux said that 2.5 grams is also not realistic, and that she wished the government would have listened to advocates calling for an increased amount.

“It might work for people who are just surviving day to day from one fix to another fix and are only able to pick up small amounts at a time,” she said. “But there’s so much information missing.”

She said there are grey areas that need to be looked at, adding that she’s heard concerns from drug users about whether or not drugs contaminated with benzos

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qualify for decriminalization.

“Almost everything has benzos in it,” added Cadieux.

However, the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions has clarified that individuals will not be criminalized for any contaminants present in their drugs, including benzodiazepines.

Cadieux said she wishes the government had worked with drug users groups and other advocates that could offer support and education to inform drug users of the finer details involved with decriminalization. The B.C. government says decriminalization is one tool it is using to deal with the toxic drug supply.

Substance users who carry up to the maximum threshold will no longer be arrested or charged, and police will not seize their drugs.

Instead, police will be handing out

Decriminalization ‘small step,’ DPG president says MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff

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so-called resource cards with information on where people can access services in their community. However, drug users and advocates are concerned that services will not be available when people are ready to use them, especially in rural and remote communities.

“Most of the recommendations or places they are wanting to connect them with is basically treatment,” said Cadieux.

“You can’t force it - it’s around the same lines as trying to force somebody to get off substances. You can’t force people. It has to be their own choice.”

She said there also needs to be sufficient housing, financial stability, as well as a connected and compassionate support group for treatment to be successful, services severely lacking or inaccessible in Prince George and many northern and rural communities.

Downtown Prince George president Eoin Foley expressed support for allowing people to carry small amounts of illicit drugs as a “small step in the right direction” but added it will go only so far when it comes to solving the problems surrounding addiction.

People 18 and over in B.C. can carry up to 2.5 grams of opioids such as heroin and fentanyl, as well as crack and powdered cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA. Users will not be arrested or have their drugs seized by police in what is a three-year pilot project.

Foley, who owns a trio of restaurants in the city’s downtown, hopes one of the outcomes will be a “noticeable drop” in the amount of property crime that downtown businesses have endured.

“If somebody that has an interaction with the police has their small amount of drugs taken away from them, they might be inclined to go steal or break in to your store or car to get themselves square again to get their next fix,” Foley said. “So if we can eliminate just a little bit of that, that’s a bit of help for our businesses and

the general public at large.”

He said the social issues are the “number one topic” whenever the DPG board of directors meets and had sharp words for the lack of progress governments, particularly the provincial government, have made so far to tackle addiction.

“I think it’s probably one of the easiest to implement - directing police to not take certain actions,” Foley said of decriminalization. “My message to provincial leaders is that this is probably one of the easiest, possibly the most laziest way for them to address these issues and they really need to step up a lot more than this.”

But Foley also said the public should not shy away from downtown when retailers and restaurants are open and noted most of the significant crime occurs overnight when businesses have closed.

“Of course there are some people on the streets that spend most of their time there, that some citizens don’t want to have to encounter but the vast majority of them, they’re not going to be accosting you or stealing from you,” Foley said.

“A lot of the time, they’re just going about their daily business, they’re just looking for a place to be, they’re human beings.”

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Comments cause stir at school board meeting HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff

A number of people wore rainbow flags and rainbow clothing to the School District No. 57 (SD57) public meeting Tuesday night, in response to antiLGBTQIA comments made by a member of the public at the previous meeting.

During the public remarks section of the Dec. 13 meeting, a parent spoke to address a school bussing issue but went on to criticize the district stating that “student-teacher abuse cases are up” and that “the number of children having psychological issues is up, and the amount of children who are confused about their gender is up.”

Board Chair Rachael Weber responded by thanking the presenter for taking the

time to come and make his comments.

Daryl Beauregard, president of the Prince George District Teacher’s Association , then wrote a letter to the SD57 Board of Education and the Ministry of Education addressing his concerns regarding those comments, as well as concerns over a Christian prayer which was said at the beginning of that meeting.

He said that a Christian prayer could be alienating to anyone who doesn’t identify as Christian.

Beauregard spoke to the board regarding the issues he raised in his letter at the Jan. 31 meeting.

“A member of the public was thanked and praised for stating a series of unsubstantiated attacks on public education, the work of my members, and the lawful

gender identity curriculum that allows our students to feel belonging at school no matter how they identify or who they are as people,” said Beauregard.

“I call upon you to, instead of praising and thanking members of the public who attack your staff, to ask them to leave.”

Weber responded to Beauregard’s remarks by stating she would address his comment on the Christian prayer.

“This was not a Christian prayer, this was written by the Elders of the McLeod Lake Indian Band and I was blessed with it and asked to say it at the meeting.

So, before you start commenting and addressing certain prayers and certain religions, please make sure that your facts are correct.”

Later in the meeting, Trustee Erica McLean became quite emotional as she

took a moment to speak about respect and diversity.

“We did receive valuable feedback regarding content and inaccuracies of statements made, by stakeholders and rights holders, in recent public process.

I think it remains necessary we meet our community partner groups where they are at and try to move forward together from there,” said McLean.

Beauregard said he wrote the letter because he felt the board needs to respect the diversity of all students and staff.

“By allowing a member of the public to criticize our work like that, it makes it unsafe to be a student in this district who doesn’t conform to the binary norm, or to be a staff,” he said.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

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Teachers’ complaints out of line

T

he Jan. 13 complaint letter from the presidents of the Prince George, Mackenzie and McBride Teachers Associations to the School District 57 board, complaining about what occurred at the Dec. 13 meeting, deserves a failing grade.

In their letter, Beauregard, Shannon Pride of the Mackenzie Teachers Association and Shirley Giroux of the McBride Teachers Association said starting the meeting with a Christian prayer “undermined inclusiveness, respect for diversity and reconciliation.”

Weber defended the choice, stating it was submitted from elders of the McLeod Lake Indian Band. Perhaps these teachers are unaware that a significant portion of Indigenous elders in the Prince George region are Christian (Roman Catholic, to be specific). So, in the spirit

of reconciliation, these elders should be denied their chosen religious traditions?

So much for diversity and inclusiveness.

Then the letter complains about Josh Silva’s “several unsubstantiated comments to characterize the public education system as failing, the work of teachers as abusive, and stated offensive views on gender and sexual identity inclusion” at the December meeting.

For Weber or any school board trustee to use their position to correct Silva on the spot – or worse, “asking him to leave” as Beauregard suggested Weber should have done – would be as ridiculous and “anti-democratic” (what Beauregard accused the board of being) as Prince George city council shutting down a presenter for criticizing them and the choices and conduct of city workers.

There is a big difference between Weber thanking Silva for sharing his

views with the board and agreeing with what he said.

There is a big difference between criticizing the work of educators and criticizing the educators themselves.

There is a big difference between criticizing gender and sexual identity curriculum in the classroom and discriminating against non-binary students and school district employees.

Arguing these differences should be seen in the same light is a false equivalence. In the same way, this editorial is a criticism of Beauregard’s words in his letter and his comments to the school board but is in no way a personal attack on Beauregard as an individual or as a teacher.

The B.C. Human Rights Code is not supposed to be a weapon to attack concerned residents speaking contrary views to their elected representatives. It

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

CLEAN UP CITY HALL

Over the last few years, we have seen some pretty shady dealings coming out of and involving city hall administration.

We could go for a stroll down memory lane - Willow Cale Bridge/Culvert debacle, the library entrance renovation, the Massey Drive sink hole to nowhere, the fire hall mystery square footage issue etc.

Then there’s the favorite of most P.G. residents: the $34 million underground “private parkade” (sold to us all at $12 million).

Then to top it off it’s the cost overrun for an “on budget” pool build that received lousy steel beams that were not properly coated by the manufacturer.

Heck, even Walmart will take back a crappy product in exchange for a good one, but the city needs to pay to recoat the beams at “our expense.”

Promotions, demotions and just walking away seems to be the rational with those who are “in the know” in the inner

We acknowledge the financial support of the government of Canada.

Nous reconnaissons l’appli financier du gouvernement du Canada.

E-mail: letters@pgcitizen.ca

workings of city hall.

We have folks who are promoted to positions they are not qualified to hold by their lack of qualifications in the field.

We have folks who are not responsible for any actions they take, based solely on their lack of qualifications, meaning they have no “professional trade responsibility” to be accountable.

Who the hell dreams up this stuff?

Accountability is a phrase not used in city hall, because it doesn’t matter even when it’s pointed out in e-mail correspondence.

Unionized staff are accountable under their agreement, with firm checks and balances in place to ensure they do their jobs as required.

However, inside non-union staff work under the wink, wink, nudge, nudge system. You cover my backside, and I will cover yours (maybe) seems to be the primary operating theory within city hall. What about those of us who have asked (repeatedly) for a clearing out and

CURTIS ARMSTRONG PUBLISHER

is a shield meant to protect individuals, groups and views in the present and future from the systemic abuses of the past. Furthermore, the code plays second fiddle to the Charter of Rights, which protects both Silva and Beauregard’s freedom of expression.

I completely disagree with what Silva is reported to have said and I completely defend his right to say what he said at a public meeting.

What’s disgraceful is that its inhabitants weren’t looked after with the same amount of care and responsibility provided to the George Street encampment in the fall of 2021. What’s even more disgraceful is the lack of action or any sort of plan that’s been communicated to local residents from local government of what’s allowed and not allowed for public camping this coming spring and summer.

Editor-in-chief Neil Godbout

NEIL GODBOUT EDITORIN-CHIEF

cleaning up of city hall? The business owners and homeowners who repeatedly see our taxes climb time and again and see nothing but scandal after scandal coming from our city administration.

Is this the issue of this city council?

Well actually no, it’s been a method of operation for the city for a number of years and several city councils.

Can our current council make changes to fix the issues? Well, when you consider who’s sitting on council and how long their butts have been in chairs, it’s doubtful they have the energy or motivation to “rock the boat.”

Don’t get me wrong.

We have a few good folks there that we need to keep in place, but we need to fill the other seats with folks motivated to fix issues and work problems, without defaulting to the “better judgent” of administration time and again, which has been the status quo for previous councils and mayor.

We have a lot of wrong people, in wrong

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positions, doing lousy work, and passing it off as the best solution moving forward, once the lipstick and mascara is applied to the report.

The rubber stamping needs to stop, as does the costly bleeding of money by city hall.

John Zukowski, Prince George

RENT BENEFIT BAD IDEA In response to Jo-Anne Berezanski’s suggestion the federal government could allow renters to claim rent as a taxable benefit to help alleviate the housing shortage, I am afraid we renters would not be too happy.

I have already paid income tax on the income I use to pay my rent and if I had to declare my rent payments as a taxable benefit, I would be paying double tax on that portion of my income. I receive a taxable benefit on my extended health and it must be declared and income tax paid on the benefit I receive.

Lena Ablett, Prince George

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OPINION

P R I N CE G E O R G E C I T I Z E N

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

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Tax hike does nothing to move city forward

P

rince George is a small city with aspirations of being big.

There is a sense we should be at least the same size as our comparators: Kelowna, Kamloops, and Nanaimo.

Except, of course, we are not.

So, we don’t have the same tax-base they do and yet we need to offer similar amenities and services. Whether it is health care, schools, recreational facilities, or roads, we have needs similar to much larger cities.

Particularly as we are supporting the surrounding communities.

This has many financial implications.

For example, if we decide to build a new performing arts centre, the cost will be

AS I SEE IT TODD WHITCOMBE apportioned over the 30,234 households in Prince George. If Kelowna builds the same facility, they have 53,905 households to pay for it.

Simple arithmetic tells us that for a $54 million venue, it will cost $1,000 per household in Kelowna versus $1,786 per household in Prince George. On a per household basis, things cost more.

While this is a singular example, it is

true for all of our services, such as the fire department, road clearing, policing, recreational facilities, etc. The cost of supplying these is comparable among these cities but our tax-base is smaller. Hence, we pay more taxes.

But this is not an argument for city council to have a free reign to hike taxes.

Quite the contrary.

We need to be a lot smarter in our approach. Fixing the problem is not about expanding the Civic Centre to attract more conferences, for example. Conferences bring in more money and help out the hospitality industry but it is a shortterm gain.

What Prince George needs from its

city council is the vision and a plan on how to grow the local tax-base in Prince George. A plan to bring sustainable, longterm financially viable businesses to the city which will employ people, increase the number of households, and build a stronger tax-base while having a minimal impact on services.

We don’t need another call centre with minimum wage jobs which can come and go, but a move to a sustainable industrial base suited to the 21st century. And the last thing Prince George needs is a 7.58 per cent tax increase which will do nothing but drive people out of the city.

Todd Whitcombe is a chemistry professor at UNBC.

Climate change driving rising taxes

T

axes are going up and climate change is a major culprit.

That was a recurring theme during city council’s discussion before approving a 7.58 per cent increase in property taxes.

Are potholes getting worse? Climate change. Is the budget for the emergency services going up? Climate change. Are roads and bridges getting beat up? Climate change.

At first I thought how typical. Government loves to blame cost overruns on things they have no control over.

But when they started talking about the excess humidity in the Kin Centre, I realized we couldn’t blame everything on the hot air coming out of the finance department.

The dry air normally expected in winter has been replaced with weeks of abnormal, above-freezing highs, meaning we would now have to buy a dehumidifier for the recently renovated Kin Centre to the tune of $1.75 million.

THE BACK STORY JAMES STEIDLE

When Councillor Kyle Sampson cracked a lighthearted joke about how the ‘old days’ before climate change was less than a decade ago, we all let out a chuckle.

But how soon these impacts are manifesting themselves in these insane tax hikes is no laughing matter.

Even if you want to delude yourself that things aren’t getting warmer (they are), you can’t deny the market. From insurance rates to stormwater management, things are getting more expensive.

And yet the city planning department and the province bumbles along, as if there is no looming financial tsunami of liability awaiting in the years ahead.

We need serious action, and we need it now.

First of all, forest fire is probably the most immediate climate-related threat, but our fixation on planting conifer trees around our new developments does nothing to mitigate this. In fact it makes it exponentially worse.

And when BC Timber Sales, a public agency, has logged around town, they’ve been busy spraying and brushing all the fire-resistant aspen to grow the most flammable forests we can grow- pine! They even heli-sprayed some blocks in city limits back in 2010.

Firesmart BC may tell you to plant deciduous trees around your house, but apparently the government, the city, and our developers don’t have to follow this advice at the big picture level where it actually matters.

Nothing destroys trust in government like this kind of hypocrisy.

It’s time that changed.

Another thing is all these new developments on the escarpment. Mowing down our aspen and birch forests up there will

remove our fire-break and will destabilize hillsides, creating erosion risk, make heat waves worse, increase pressure on our stormwater management system, and add more roads to an already over-sized and spread-out road network.

We should be developing our urban core, not spreading things out to expose more public assets and private property downhill to the whims of increasingly volatile weather while showing zero leadership on how we should grow as a city.

Finally, we need to think about our lack of local economic security.

We need local dairy and egg production, local beef processing, more local produce, and we need to start developing our manufacturing capacity to reducing our offshore imports.

This goes well beyond city jurisdiction, but my guess is the weird weather will impact a lot more than just our local property tax bills in the rapidly approaching years ahead.

James Steidle is a Prince George writer.

City has huge opportunity sitting in its backyard

T

he City of Prince George may want to look to the past to find the best way to respond to the shift the forest industry will be going through for the next few years. We need new opportunities for our economy and bold moves to bring them about.

In 2007, as the world began to experience the financial crisis, a group of people led by Northern Development Initiatives Trust (NDIT) decided to look for opportunities to broaden the northern economy.

They saw the potential that our region had and built business cases for investing in infrastructure projects which could lead to significant economic development.

One of those recommendations from NDIT which was acted upon by the Provincial Government, involved the electrification of Highway 37.

Another was the improvement of

STOLZ SENSE

CAMERON STOLZ

Highway 97 through the Pine Pass.

The City of Prince George should follow in the footsteps of NDIT and look at creating “Made in Prince George” solutions.

There are many different opportunities that Prince George could look at to develop and help diversify our economic base.

Mining and refining of critical minerals such as copper and rare earth minerals, building on the production of clean fuels, agriculture, and technology hubs to name but a few.

One of the biggest potentials for our city lies just past Salmon Valley, on the

opposite side of the highway from the Hubble Homestead. It’s called Hart North. It has been identified by the Regional District as an ideal site for major industry.

It’s provincial land and sits next to the highway and railway line.

For energy, BC Hydro has a substation adjacent to it and there’s a natural gas pipeline close by.

As for water, the Fraser River is just four kilometres away. The best part is that an air quality impact study done by the Regional District indicated that this location would have little impact on Prince George.

This makes Hart North a viable and desirable site for any major industry.

The next step would be creating a business case for Hart North that explores the costs associated with developing it.

It would include a list of prospective

industries which would likely be located there with a plan to market it. The key component though would be the involvement of the Lheidli T’enneh. What kind of partnership could be developed between them, the province, and the City of Prince George to bring this about?

As seen in the Peace region, the municipalities have benefitted directly from the Fair Share Agreement with the province that shares the major industry tax revenue.

This, along with the high paying union jobs created by major industry locating at Hart North, would have a significantly positive impact on our city.

This is just one of the great opportunities that we have available.

Bold efforts in 2023 can ensure our community has a strong future for decades to come.

Cameron Stolz is a Prince George writer.

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OPINION

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

P R I N CE G E O R G E C I T I Z E N

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR GASLIGHTING AT WORK Quite disappointed in your article regarding the school board meeting the other day.

Your gaslighting comments regarding Mr. Silva were in poor taste. As journalists, you should know that you need to show both sides of a story and not interpret a persons words and turn them into hateful rhetoric.

You calling Mr. Silva an anti-LGBTQ person is not proper as you have no clue who he is.

You make statements that puts a false flag upon a person and now puts a target on his back and a title on him that he is not.

How can you do that to a person?

Mr. Silva was standing up for his children and other parents’ children and made proper statements that a lot of parents are thinking and talking about.

Not once did he name call or insinuate anything (go back and listen).

He is just telling the school board that they should be focusing on proper education and teach children the proper fundamentals and education that parents expect and to keep anything that causes major confusion and possible mental issues that can come up away from our children.

Leave the parenting to parents and

fundamental education to the educators.

Let children be children and learn what they are to learn on their own without any agendas from the school board and teachers.

We would expect much more from the media to keep their opinions out of it and just report facts and two sides of a story rather then gaslighting and harming a person’s reputation and put false flags upon them.

Would like to see an apology retraction piece on Mr. Silva as he is a loving father and a good human being that is looking after our children’s futures.

Domenic Cinalli, Prince George

FOLLOW THE OCP In response to Neil Godbout’s “How the City of Prince George might waste a big pile of time and money in 2023” and Colleen Mahoney’s “Letter to the editor: Prince George’s Official Community Plan worth updating.”

Mr. Godbout suggests that the city’s community plan is a document that “amounts to nothing more than thoughtful suggestions and wishful thinking, and therefore, work on the policy is unnecessary”.... and Ms. Mahoney suggests that the community plan is not a waste provided that the “consultation and engagement is extensive.”

The issue isn’t that a new community

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www.princegeorgecitizen.com

E-mail: letters@pgcitizen.ca plan is a waste of money, the issue is that the city needs to focus on ongoing and effective monitoring and implementation of the plan to ensure that it is not a “huge waste of money and time,” something that it hasn’t done in the past.

A failure to monitor and implement the plan results in wasted taxpayer dollars.

Mr. Godbout’s criticism is misplaced.

A review and update of the city’s Official Community Plan is necessary because of changing community dynamics as well as emerging issues, opportunities and challenges that have arisen since 2011.

Ms. Mahoney’s suggestion that rigorous community engagement will ensure that the 2023 Community Plan is not a wasteful exercise also misses a critical issue: without effective monitoring and implementation, the community plan will become stagnant and outdated, regardless of the effective engagement or lack thereof.

There is a valid criticism that should be made: cities constantly drop the ball when it comes to plan implementation.

The cost of creating an official community plan is significant.

Perhaps tens of thousands of dollars and even hundreds of thousands when all the costs are considered. You would think that with such a high price tag mayor and council would have an interest in receiving updates on successes and failures.

If mayor and council don’t know what is and isn’t working, they can’t make course corrections.

They can’t fix what they don’t know is broken.

The city should provide an annual report card to track the successes and failures of the official plan implementation.

This will empower council to make changes when necessary.

City staff should use this annual opportunity to offer small update suggestions in response to emerging trends and issues.

Council could consider this on an annual basis and undertake targeted community engagement on emerging issues

so that the plan remains current (which will help reduce the large cost of updating the document every 10-15 years).

To city hall’s credit, the city produced a five-year monitoring report on the 2011 community plan.

This was supposed to provide a snapshot of “progress towards implementing and achieving objectives and policies.”

Unfortunately, a quick comparison of the 2011 Community Plan and the monitoring report also shows that not all the policies of the 2011 plan were reported on.

Case in point: Policy No. 7.5.16 of the 2011 Official Community Plan states that the city should “consider pursuing a Standards of Maintenance bylaw which allows the City to enforce basic levels of maintenance for rental accommodation.”

This would have brought minimum standards for rental apartments and would penalize corporate landlords who allow their rental buildings to deteriorate.

This policy was highly progressive for 2011 but seems to have been completely abandoned without explanation.

Why did this fail?

Shouldn’t staff report back to the public and to mayor and council about the policy failures so we can avoid these mistakes moving forward?

Jake Jacobson, Prince George

MISSILE FLIGHT PATH The Chinese surveillance balloon was first reported to be near a nuclear missile silo near Great Falls, Montana. I had a look on Google maps and saw something interesting.

By zooming all the way out, I saw that missiles launched from there to attack China would go right over my house. So would missiles from China aimed at the Montana silo.

But don’t worry.

The Americans would try to shoot them down.

Another interesting thing I found online is that Amazon sells Geiger counters.

Boris DeWiel Prince George

THANK YOU FOR RECYCLING THIS NEWSPAPER.

OPINION

P R I N CE G E O R G E C I T I Z E N

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

E-mail: letters@pgcitizen.ca

CITY TAXES TOO HIGH Prince George has the highest tax rate per person for all communities in British Columbia, with a population more significant than 50,000 people, excluding the capital. Prince George is a full 23.4 per cent greater than the provincial average in this respect.

Prince George has the second highest tax rate for northern communities with a population greater than 10,000. It is not the snow or the north.

Prince George has a very high tax rate per capita, even when compared against other municipalities for area per resident and total roadway length per resident. It isn’t that we have a more rural spread of town. If anything, municipalities (population greater than 50,000) with a larger area per resident seem to have lower per capita taxes, except for Prince George.

The proposed 7.23 per cent property tax was 28 per cent higher than the average 2023 increase for B.C. municipalities greater than 50,000 population. This increase will move Prince George to be 25 per cent greater than the provincial average for municipal taxation per capita for communities 50,000 people or greater, excluding the capital.

The proposed tax increase was significantly larger than the wage growth in Prince George (or B.C. on average).

The 7.23 per cent proposed property tax increase is 64 per cent higher than the average wage growth.

This means that Prince George’s residents will have to fund these tax increases by deferring other spending, alongside a larger increase in goods and services inflation.

I am sure you are aware that relative to other similar municipalities, Prince George’s share of taxes falls to a greater degree on the business community. We have a more extensive industrial tax base than average and our proportion of taxes on industry is high. I’d be happy to provide a more detailed analysis on this for you but Prince George is not competitive for business in terms of municipal taxation.

LISA HANDLEY GRAPHIC

Citizen reader Lisa Handley created this graphic to illustrate how Prince George residents pay more in municipal taxes per capita than other B.C. cities.

As businesses move or choose to never be in Prince George, this problem will get worse as we will have to continue to increase taxes on the remaining businesses and residents.

Lisa Handley Prince George

OVERHARVESTING FAULT We are running out of trees.

Sixty years of overharvesting, bugs and fires have left us with only a fraction of what we had.

There are now only two options.

We can do what the East Coast fishery did when cod stocks were getting scarce

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– keep harvesting until the cod were nearly all gone and then shut the fishery down.

That happened in 1992, it still hasn’t reopened, and a cod grows faster than a tree.

Or we can slow things down a bunch and leave something for a few more generations.

That will mean more job losses soon.

Those promoting the first option are either only thinking of themselves or have their heads in the sand.

Industry and government would like us to believe that the bugs and fire are the culprit and to some degree they are.

But overharvesting and questionable reforestation practices need to take a big chunk of the blame. The bugs and fires just sped up the inevitable. Space doesn’t allow me to tell the entire story but both industry and government have known for decades that sustained yield is either a myth or a nasty, mean joke. Ken Bernsohn’s well researched, still relevant 1982 book, Cutting Up The North, documents it well to that point and things haven’t changed.

Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris probably has the best political grip on where we are today and has the strength of his convictions to say what he thinks. He has been telling anyone who would listen for a few years how serious the problem is.

So now we will see if Premier David Eby has what it takes to make the tough calls needed and then, if he does, will the electorate chuck him out in the next election. If he slows down the forestry sector even more there will be more job loss and voters won’t like that. Value-added could be part of the solution but efforts to make everything from chopsticks to plywood haven’t lasted.

In hindsight, perhaps the cool to vindictive NIMBY reception given to West Coast Olefin’s proposed plant may now appear to have been a tad hasty to several hundred soon to be out of work industrial workers.

With hundreds of good paying sawmill, pulp mill and logging jobs evaporating in the forestry sector I would guess the jobs we turned our collective noses up at would look pretty darn good to a lot of folks. Sure, there were concerns about the Olefin plant but there was a noticeable suspicion and lack of enthusiasm for what might have had a lot of upside. This lack of enthusiasm for a new industry in our industrial city makes Mayor Simon Yu’s commitment to grow our city tougher.

We need to find something other than trees to stake our future on.

Watch for more shutdowns.

John Warner Prince George

City needs to get serious about spending

T

he die were cast for the City of Prince George’s 7.58 per cent tax increase for 2023 long before the October 2022 municipal election that elected Simon Yu to the mayor’s office.

But if Yu and anyone else on city council wants things to be different for 2024, they need to be giving direction to administration now.

While Coun. Kyle Sampson’s efforts to shave $150,000 in spending from human resources and emergency programs failed, it was commendable.

It’s too small, however – just 0.1 per cent of the operating budget – and the

numbers and departments seem arbitrarily chosen.

Rather, city council needs to take the words of city manager Walter Babicz that “staff is always looking for efficiencies” and ask him to prove it.

Now is the time for mayor and council to direct Babicz to bring forward a report this coming fall, in advance of the 2024 budget submission, with a one per cent cut in the city’s operating spending.

From there, it is Babicz’s job to spend the next nine months identifying savings opportunities and bringing them forward for council consideration.

In fact, this should be an annual

exercise for city administration, to show both their political masters and city taxpayers in black and white how serious local government is about holding spending in line.

Should those savings be used to reduce future tax increases?

Absolutely not.

Babicz informed city council this week that the city continues to fall behind on spending to maintain infrastructure.

Essential maintenance projects (stormwater drains, sidewalks, trails, parking lots, playgrounds, etc.) budgeted for $9.4 million in 2024, $7 million in 2025, $6.1 million in 2026 and $6.2 million in 2027 currently

have no funding source.

Annual operational savings should be the seed money for that infrastructure investment.

It’s the equivalent of a homeowner recognizing that the hot water tank needs to be replaced this year, the washer and dryer next year, and the roof the year after that, so spending habit vigilance and saving now can pay for some or all of that future spending, rather than making no changes and paying for essential upkeep with a loan or by renewing and extending the house mortgage.

Over to you, mayor and council.

Editor-in-chief Neil Godbout

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

NEWS

P R I N CE G E O R G E C I T I Z E N

Taxes should be higher, top city staff say ARTHUR WILLIAMS

Citizen staff

Given the challenges facing the City of Prince George, the city’s taxes should be higher than they are, according to two of the city’s senior administrators.

During a budget presentation to city council last Monday night, city manager Walter Babicz and city director of finance Kris Dalio said that given the unique challenges facing the city, Prince George’s taxes should be higher than other comparable B.C. municipalities.

“It’s not surprising we have high per-capita tax rates,” Babicz said. “We have a big city with a low population. Our reality is we need to grow our population to meet our infrastructure needs.”

A Citizen examination of the 20 largest municipalities in B.C found that Prince George had the second-highest per capita tax rate among B.C.’s big cities.

However, the total taxes and fees (municipal, regional district and other agency property taxes, plus garbage and utility fees) for an average single-family house in Prince George were the third-lowest in the group, after Kamloops and Chilliwack. A decision in 1975 to increase the city limits from 61 sq. kilometres to 329 sq. km was made based on the rapid population growth seen in the city from the 1950s to the 1970s, Babicz said.

“Prince George was a boom town in the 1970s, and then it wasn’t,” he said. “The physical size of our city was supposed to have more than 200,000 (people) by now.”

The city’s first official community plan, created in 1979, projected Prince George would have a population of 185,000 people by 2012. However, population growth in the city stalled in the 1980s and the city’s population has stayed relatively unchanged since the mid-1990s.

As a result, the city has more roads, water mains and sewer pipes and other

infrastructure - much of it built in the 1960s, ‘70’s and 80’s - than other B.C. cities of comparable populations, Babicz said. Prince George is more than 35 per cent larger in area than Kamloops and Kelowna, with 20,000 to 70,000 fewer residents.

Prince George is larger than the District of Saanich (104 sq. km), City of Naniamo (90 sq. km) and City of Victoria (19 sq. km) combined, with a population 17 to 35 per cent smaller than any of them.

“The average age of our infrastructure is 45 years old,” Babicz said. “Our infrastructure is old, and it has to serve a very large area.”

Prince George allocates $10 million per year to snow control, Dalio added. far more than comparable municipalities in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island need to spend.

“We do have some pressures that other municipalities don’t,” Dalio said.

The city’s capital spending on infrastructure maintenance is also not keeping up with the needs, Dalio said.

The sinkhole which closed a section of Winnipeg Street for months in 2018 was a direct result of lack of investment in the city’s storm water infrastructure, he said.

Starting in 2024, the city has identified millions of dollars of essential maintenance projects - $9.4 million in 2024, $7 million in 2025, $6.1 million in 2026 and $6.2 million in 2027 – for which the city has no funding source, Dalio said. The unfunded projects include things like repairs to stormwater drains, sidewalks, trails, parking lots, playgrounds, ball diamonds and more.

“These are areas we think are really important to maintain our assets,” Dalio said. “If we don’t have a funding source, we’ll have to use debt to fund them.”

The alternative is to increase the levy, and thus taxes on residents, to avoid going into debt to do routine annual maintenance projects, he said.

CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE HANDOUT IMAGES

Above, the size of Prince George compared to Victoria, Saanich and Naniamo.

Below, the population density of Prince George, Kamloops, Naniamo, Saanich, Kelowna and Victoria.

City approves 7.58 per cent property tax increase ARTHUR WILLIAMS

Citizen staff

Prince George city council approved the city’s 2023 budget last Wednesday, including a 7.58 per cent property tax increase – a roughly $175 per year increase for an average local home.

City council approved a $129.25 million tax levy for 2023 - $128.23 million to maintain services at existing levels, and $1.02 million to hire an additional four RCMP officers and two civilian support staff. The budget is a roughly $9 million increase from 2022, of which nearly $1.37 million is offset by taxes on new development.

Coun. Ron Polillo proposed funding the additional four RCMP officers using COVID-19 Safe Restart Grant money.

“I am fully aware this is a deferral,”

Polillo said. “(But) if this enhancement is approved and the other enhancements are approved, we’ll be looking at a tax increase of over eight per cent.”

Polillo said he fully supports funding the positions, and that they will have to be paid through taxation in future years, but there “are a lot of people who are struggling right now.”

Coun. Trudy Klassen said she can’t support using one-time funds for ongoing operating costs.

“We need to support this enhancement.

Every single day we are struggling with the safety issues in our community,” Coun. Cori Ramsay said.

However, she couldn’t support using the one-time Safe Restart money to simply defer the tax increase until next year.

“We provided that one-year break, and

then last year we did it again,” Coun. Kyle Sampson. “Gosh, we can’t keep kicking the can down the road.”

Deferring taxes this year isn’t a real reduction in taxes – all it does is pass that increase on the next year, Sampson said.

Council ultimately decided to approve hiring the four RCMP officers and two police support staff, to be funded through regular taxation.

City council approved using the remainder of the COVID-19 Safe Restart Grant to offset the potential $5.5 million retroactive pay package for the RCMP contract negotiated by the federal government.

Council reduced the proposed $10.4 million snow removal levy by $600,000 to $9.8 million. The city’s snow removal budget was $10 million in 2022.

“I know it’s a calculated risk. (But) we

have been lucky the last couple years,” Polillo said. “We have a significant tax levy (increase) we are facing.”

Coun. Tim Bennett said the reduction, which amounted to a roughly 0.5 per cent reduction in the tax increase, is a small way to alleviate some of the impact on people living on fixed incomes in the city.

“I think about our residents who are living on very fixed incomes – our seniors on long-term pensions; people working two or three jobs to afford the high (cost of living) in our community,” Bennett said.

Because city council deferred a property tax increase in 2020 and a reduced property tax increase in 2022 using the COVID-19 Safe Restart Fund, city council came into this year’s budget “behind the eight-ball,” Bennett said.

P R I N CE G E O R G E C I T I Z E N

NEWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

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Curling team a combined age of 305 years CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff

Editor’s Note: This is the premiere of the Masters in Motion series showcasing seniors in sport in The Prince George Citizen and Shaw Spotlight, community television.

“There are no waddlers in this league,” curler Floyd Crowley, 84, who has played the game for 74 years, said about the Seniors League of curlers on the Prince George Golf and Curling Club ice.

“We all run for the entire game.”

In fact, Floyd runs up and down the sheet so much he logs between three and four kilometres during every game.

The Crowley Rink plays every Tuesday and along with Floyd includes team members David George, 69, lead, Linda Meise, 73, second and Hilary Crowley, 79, third.

They are a competitive team that prepares for their 55+ BC Games tournament all year long.

They competed in the 2022 55+ BC Games in Victoria in September.

Unfortunately their lead, David, tested positive for COVID-19 upon his arrival at the Games and could not compete, leaving the Crowley Rink short.

“So things didn’t go as we planned,” Floyd said.

With a local athlete coming in as a substitute the team just didn’t gel in time to come up with their anticipated podium-positive result but there’s always next year.

And they’re training for that right now.

Floyd is the president of the Prince

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

The Crowley Rink curling team that plays at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club are Floyd Crowley, left, Hilary Crowley, Linda Meise and David George.

George Seniors League that has 92 participants.

Being part of the league comes with some honours that started several years ago.

“We had several older people curling together and they said ‘we don’t win any games but we’d still like to be recognized,’ so we started the 300 Club,” Floyd explained.

If a team of four players has a combined age of 300 years or more they are each awarded with a pin in recognition of that.

The Crowley Rink comes in at 305 years so they have earned their membership into the exclusive 300 Club.

Linda, who has been the Zone 9

coordinator for the 55+ BC Games for years and has recently stepped down from the role to take on the treasurer and registrar positions, is fairly new to curling and loves it.

“I started curling off and on for about 10 years ago, then stepped away from it for years and then just came back to it recently,” Linda explained. “I started using a stick to throw the rock rather than getting down close to the ice because my knees just won’t do that anymore.”

While the lead sets the first two rocks in prime scoring position, Linda, as the second, uses her accuracy to take out the rocks the other team has put in a

scoring position.

“That way I can throw as hard as I want,” Linda explained. “And it generally goes straighter if you throw harder.”

Hilary’s position is third on the team.

“I have played all the different positions on the team but third is my favourite because there’s more takeout than draws,” Hilary said. “I’m usually more accurate taking out the other team’s rocks than I am drawing to the button and I don’t have the responsibility of being the skip.”

A little more fun, a lot less pressure, Hilary added, who started curling in 1980.

Hilary emigrated from England and curling wasn’t a thing there.

“So the first time I went curling with Floyd I was looking for my skates,” Hilary laughed. “He said ‘what do you want your skates for?’ – well it’s on ice…”

David, who plays the lead, said he didn’t think he had a lot to add to the conversation because everyone is more experienced.

“I’m the newbie,” David said. “I dabbled with it during my working years and then it was just last year when I got on Floyd’s team and I’ve had a great time.

I’m the 69-year-old rookie, I call myself.

I feel really lucky to be on Floyd’s team because I consider him more of a coach than a skip – and he’s a friend, too. He’s really patient and it’s been really fun.”

David is still able to use the traditional technique when he curls.

“I get down in the hack and I’ll keep doing that until I can’t get back up,” David laughed. “It’s great exercise and a lot of fun and curling is something that anyone can do at any age.”

Painless Jones beer pays tribute to historic dentist HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff

Barkerville Brewing Co. has created a new beer celebrating B.C.’s first licensed dentist in honour of Black History Month.

The beer is called Painless Jones Schwarzbier named after William Allen Jones, a dentist during the Cariboo Gold Rush, also known by the nickname Painless Jones.

Visitors walking the streets of Barkerville Historic Town and Park will find a sign that reads: “Painless Tooth Extraction: Dr. Jones will extract teeth and perform short operations without pain.”

Jones was a formerly enslaved black miner who migrated from the United States to Salt Spring Island before making his way to Barkerville in hopes of striking gold.

Instead of striking gold, he set up his

dental practice, becoming the first dentist to offer painless dentistry; hence his nickname Painless Jones.

Jones was granted a license under the British Columbia Dental Act on June 26, 1886, although he may have been practicing dentistry as early as 1865.

When Barkerville was restored as a gold rush town tourist attraction, the office of Painless Jones, complete with chair and instruments became a feature on the main street.

EVENTS ARE BACK!

The sign for Painless Jones still stands in Barkerville, as does his legend.

From now until supply runs out, Barkerville Brewing Co. says its honoured to highlight the historical significance of William Allen Jones with its new release the Painless Jones Schwarzbier.

It’s a dark German-style lager, rich with bread-like malts and a roasted, velvety character and is the perfect balance of noble hops and a slight sweetness, followed by a clean finish.

LIST YOUR EVENT FREE SEE LOCAL EVENTS GET TICKETS

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A14

NEWS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

P R I N CE G E O R G E C I T I Z E N

HOROSCOPES & PUZZLES

HOROSCOPES ARIES A strange event could disturb your peace of mind. Have faith that your loved ones will help you discover the joy in life. Perhaps being more trusting would help.

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GEMINI You’ll have many details to sort out at work and at home. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment for completing the tasks you’ve been putting off.

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LEO This week will be hectic. You may have to work overtime or manage demanding family obligations before you can relax.

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AQUARIUS Your boss will offer you a promotion as if on a silver platter. You’ll be excited about taking on new professional and personal projects, even if you’re short on time.

VIRGO If you’re making changes at home, in your work or even in your decor, you’ll find good deals, and your property will increase in value.

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PISCES A getaway or trip is on the agenda. You’re in the mood for a party and will organize a celebration get-together. You’ll also start a new spiritual practice.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

careers • homes • legal ads • memorials • notices • obituaries • rentals • services • vehicles

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| 15

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REMEMBRANCES In Memoriam

Obituaries In loving memory

Maureen Amelia Meise

Florence Jean Schultz

Feb 8, 2021

May 14, 1951 February 4, 2023

June 20, 1947 January 27, 2023

Joe Mortenson Death takes the body God takes the soul Our mind holds the memories Our heart keeps the love Our faith tells us we will meet again.

Missing & loving you always Wife Cecile, sons Marc, Marvin (Janet), daughter Laurie Jo (Marcel) and families

Lincoln James WHITEHEAD

May 29, 1971 - February 6, 1993

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Maureen.

She will be remembered in the restaurant industry as a server for many years around Prince George.

We would like to thank Dr. Schocking and his team for their care and concern, also the nurses at University Hospital of Northern B.C. who took care of her.

Predeceased by father & mother Lud and Bertha.

She leaves behind 2 brothers Tony (Ellie) and Ken (Maryann), uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.

There will be no service by request.

Rest in peace.

GABRIELSON, EILEEN (nee Mahon) April 30, 1932 - January 28, 2023

We are blessed because he’s always remembered and forever loved...

Mom & Dad Charlene Dettling & Raye Sherback and sister, Shandee Whitehead

Flo finished her time here with us, and moved on to her Heavenly Home, to be with her Lord and Saviour, Jesus the Christ, after completing her UNBC Bachelor of Arts Degree, awarded on January 25, 2023. Many thanks to Dr. Anekwe, and Hospital Nurses and Staff, who were so caring and accommodating of Flo’s needs, and to those of Flo’s family and friends that visited.

A Memorial and Celebration of Flo’s life will be held on February 18, 2023, @ 11:00 am, with a light luncheon following. Location: PG Pentecostal Church, 5th & Ospika To attend online, please visit the PG Pentcostal Church website for details.

PLEASE RSVP your plan to attend by text @ 250-612-9061 or email: gddissler@telus.net, on or before February 15th.

In lieu of flowers, please consider gifting through the Go Fund Me page @ gofundme.ca, Florence Schultz Memorial; or through cards at the day of the service.

Remembering Lincoln We can’t feel saddened over the loss of those we love without first remembering the joy of loving them.

The real sadness would have been never having had them in our lives at all.

Remembering is a journey the heart takes, back into a time that was, and our thoughts are the only tickets needed to ride.

We who have truly loved are blessed.

Obituaries

Celebrate the lives of loved ones with your stories, photographs and tributes

May the Sunshine of Comfort Dispel the Clouds of Despair

Eileen was born in Vermillion Alberta and moved with her family to Prince George BC at the age of seven. Her quick wit, feisty determination and compassionate heart will long be remembered.

She was predeceased by her son Earl Barber (1983), husband Bud Gabrielson (2009) and son Gordy Barber (2011), and so many other close friends and family. She is survived by her daughter Diane, numerous relatives and friends as well as friends who became family. She always said to enjoy every day, help each other and keep looking forward. In honor of her beliefs and wishes there will be no formal service at this time. Think of her when her beloved hummingbirds return in the spring.

As you share the stories and the memories of how they lived their lives and how very much they meant, may you find comfort...

Celebrate the lives of loved ones with your stories, photographs and tributes

16 |

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

P R I N CE G EO RG E C IT I Z E N

REMEMBRANCES Obituaries

Obituaries

Fred Hofferd

Roy Fredrick CARDWELL

Life is to be lived and each day cherished. It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of James Frederick Hofferd (Fred) at age 69.

It is with the deepest regret and sorrow we report the passing of Roy Fredrick Cardwell, our treasured husband, father, grandfather and friend. Roy passed away on January 25, 2023 surrounded by those he loved in Prince George, BC Canada.

Roy is survived by his wife, and best friend of 51 years, Valerie.

Children; James (Bev), Ryan (Fei), and Natasha (Jordan).

Grandchildren; Chris, August, Liliana, Sparks, Connor, Hunter, Declan, Lucas and Alice who were all the joys of his life.

A funeral was held on February 4th, 2023 at Grace Anglican Church In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Roy’s name to the Stephen Lewis Foundation, Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign, Prince George.

The family wishes to extend their thanks to the staff in Emergency, IMU, and HAU at UHNBC for the care that they showed to both Roy and his family.

Fred found great joy in so many things and put great effort and passion in all that he did. He was competitive in curling, fastball, and golf but he also brought his own sense of humor to the sport; his teammates were often entertained by his quick one-liners. From the 1994 BC Championship of Curling with Rex, Dean, and Danny, to the 12:11 Wednesday Golf Group with Murray, Denis, Randy and Gary. It didn’t matter the sport; Fred was always intensely competitive but most of all he loved the camaraderie and post game jousting that he excelled at.

Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightening they Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Fred and wife Vonda really enjoyed spending time at their cabin with their many lake neighbours and friends. Fred’s favorite spot in the world was under a starry sky at the firepit where he held court solving life and world problems, laughing, sharing stories and as always kicking everyone’s butt at sports trivia or name that tune. Daytime water sports and late-night boat rides loaded up with his favorite furry friends just won’t be the same without Captain Fred at the helm of his pontoon boat “Toes in the Water” on glorious Summit Lake.

Fred moved to Prince George from Brownvale, Alberta in the early 70’s as a sheet metal apprentice. He worked hard for his $9.00 an hour and eventually Fred and Vonda owned and successfully managed C.C. Industries and C.C. Recreation from 1981 until he sold in 2011. Fred’s sharp business skills radiated out to help so many groups and organizations in Prince George. He led the building committee of the Salmon Valley Curling Club, and together with so many neighbors and friends turned it into a wonderful Valley meeting place. He was a board member for the PG Golf and Curling Club, the BC Sheet Metal Association (SMACNA) and was always the first to step up and run countless committees and working groups including the Salmon Valley Country Music Festival and Scott Tournament of Hearts. Although he travelled, he never saw all the places he wanted to explore.

Fred is predeceased by his parents Mary and Lewis and by two nieces Debbie and Nicole. He is survived by his wife Vonda, brothers Albert (Donna), Robert (Pearl), Lawrence (Kay), and Norm (Shirley) and by his sister Jeannette. There are also many nephews, nieces, greats, and great-greats.

Family was important to Fred and he cherished the time he spent visiting, laughing, and teasing those he loved. Fred will be greatly missed and will leave many with a void only he could fill. A Celebration of Life will be planned for family and friends in the summer at his cabin on Summit Lake.

by Dylan Thomas

your loved one

Honour

Let us help you through your loss, share your loved one’s memory.

Call us at 250.562.6666 or email us at cls@pgcitizen.ca and we will assist you in telling their story.

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

Celebrate all your family occasions in the

REMEMBRANCES Obituaries

Obituaries

Greg Rolufs

Maria Rachel Liane-Dawn Siemens Sep 5, 1939 - Jan 25, 2023

Maria Rachel Liane-Dawn Siemens died January 25, 2023 at the age of 83. She was born on September 5, 1939 in Hague Saskatchewan. Those who knew Maria, will remember her care, love and generosity toward them. Although folks in Prince George may not have known her name, they will remember Maria as the lady who walked around town in her special sun protecting garb. Maria loved dogs and because of this she always carried a bag of doggie treats for her special doggie friends. Maria loved to sew and she kept herself busy with various hobbies, crafts, gardening, carpentry and so much more. Music was important to Maria and having a beautiful voice she was often asked to sing at special occasions. Her favorite song was ‘Amazing Grace’. Maria loved her work. Of the 44 years she worked for the Provincial Government, most of them were spent at the Land Title Office.

Maria is pre-deceased by her parents Frank and Mary Siemens, brothers John, David and his wife Kathy, nephew Colin and niece Nicole. She is survived by her brothers Peter (Margaret), Henry (Jacquie), Don, sisters Trudy (Vern), Gloria (Wayne) and sister-in-law Elsie, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to remember Maria at an afternoon tea on Friday, February 17, 2023 between 2:00 - 4:00 at the Evangelical Free Church, 4590 - 5th Avenue Prince George.

Brett Nelson

August 5, 1951 January 13, 2023

With heavy hearts we announce Gregory Rolufs passed peacefully at his home. Greg was loved by all who knew him and will be sorely missed.

Greg is predeceased by his spouse and high school sweetheart Elaine (1952-2022) and is survived by his son Dean (Muriel) and daughters Stacey (Jack) and Kelsey, grandchildren Anders, Henna, Brienna, Cyle, great grandchild Jenevea, his sister Linda, family friend Steve and his extended family and friends.

Greg was well known in the community as an advisor, friend and volunteer with both Rotary and Kiwanis. Greg started his career as an investment advisor in 1978 retiring in 2013. He built his career providing advice and guidance and was highly respected both professionally and personally. Greg will be missed by many.

A celebration of life will be announced later for Greg and Elaine Rolufs. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Prince George Hospice House.

Brett had a great love for sports which saw him playing for Team Canada in the Babe Ruth Little League World Series at age 12 and earning recognition as one of the ten best players in the tournament. He also played soccer in several leagues, squash, ran, biked and tried his hand at anything athletic at least once.

Celebrate Good Times!

Mike

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1987-2022 It is with greatest sorrow that we announce the passing of Brett on December 9, 2022.

After seven years of living with brain cancer, Brett told his body to rest and his body listened. He passed at home surrounded by love and gratefulness for his life. He is deeply mourned by his loving wife Alise; parents Rick and Kelley Nelson; brothers Sean and Paul Nelson; Steve Thate and godson Logan; in-laws Gordon and Janice Johnson; sister-in-law Lauren Wolstencroft (Steve); niece Lucy, along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents. Brett is predeceased by his grandfather John Marsh and grandmother Elaine Holgate.

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Celebrate the lives of loved ones with your stories, photographs and tributes ASSMAN’S FUNERAL CHAPEL R0011781593 4.00x56.0-4C PG11 / PG000001

Love, All our usan, Rick, S Brian Kate &

To place your Announcement NSNews.com call 250-562-6666 or 604-630-3300 email cls@pgcitizen.ca

Celebrate

A Life Lived With the opportunity for great personalization, the funeral service can truly reflect the uniqueness of the life it honours.

He graduated from Langley Christian School before continuing to the University of the Fraser Valley and then transferring to UBC where he completed a degree in Forestry, Forest Sciences graduating with Honours. In 2013, Brett began a career with Canfor in Prince George where he excelled with his love of creating community and passion for the outdoors.

Contact us to find out more.

He loved to travel and travelled extensively through Europe with Alise, as well as several trips to Mexico, and Central America. In the last few years, Brett embarked on several BC road trips to visit breweries around the province, indulging his other passion: beer. Brett was a great lover of all things craft beer, the hoppier the better.

ASSMAN’S FUNERAL CHAPEL

Brett approached life with a zest for adventure, a quick wit, an easy smile, and a genuine interest getting to know anyone and everyone who quickly became new friends. He was thoughtful, compassionate, courageous and joy filled.

Glenn Johnston - Director Full range of pre-arrangment services

His life was beautiful. His loss is immeasurable.

1908 Queensway St.

250-564-4431

Celebrations of Life to be held in Prince George on March 25 and Vancouver on April 1st. Details to follow.

Condolences may be offered at www.LakewoodFH.com

| 17

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A division of Service Corporation International (Canada) ULC

www.dignitymemorial.ca

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CLASSIFIED ADS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS Toys/Games/Puzzles

EMPLOYMENT

To place an ad call:

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250-562-6666

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For more information refer to our Village website at www.granisle.ca. Interested candidates can submit their resume and cover letter by 4:00pm on Friday, February 24, 2023 to Linda McGuire, Mayor.

Email: lmcguire@villageofgranisle.ca or mail to PO Box 128, Granisle, BC V0J 1W0 marked confidential.

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princegeorgecitizen.adper fect.com

AGRICULTURE Hay/Bales For Sale 5X5 1300-1500 lb round hay bales, $160 each net wrapped in barn. 250-614-6667 or 250-5682338

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Horses & Tack

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• • • • • • •

Handyman Painting Framing Flooring Trims Electrical Snow/ Lawn (250) 277-1924

Trucking & Transport Experienced gravel truck driver required in PG area (250) 614-6667

Build Results Skilled Help

Registered 12 yr Morgan Gelding Sire: Blue Diamond Hawk, Dam Sun-West Omega Chestnut, tail flaxen, mane mixed red/flaxen. $4,500.

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DL# 10901

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Drywall

Skilled Help The Prince George Citizen is looking for a freelance photographer.

Interested candidates please email lsmith@glaciermedia.ca along with some samples of your best photos.

Business Opportunities

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MERCHANDISE

AUTOMOTIVE

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Motorcycles great and

2002 BMW 1150 RT motorcycle, excellent cond. $5500. (250)5643152 (250)640-8267

Apartments / Condos-For Sale

PAINTINGS AND WALL ART

Worldwide Limited Editions/Master Editions

7 Replica Oil Paintings: * 5 Group of 7 * 2 Tom Thomson Best Offer 250-967-4215

Jewellery

1977 FORD 1 ton, renovated, $2500. 250-306-2292

Parts Trucks Chrome tailgate, fits 3/4 ton GMC, cover top fits GMC 6 1/2 ft box, chrome rails. Shop vac 250-963-6898

2002 THUNDERBIRD REPLICA

Fully Loaded, two tops.

Red exterior, black interior.

Never winter driven.

Please recycle this newspaper.

Price $29,000 obo.

Phone 250-964-6610

Please recycle this REAL ESTATE newspaper.

Please recycle this newspaper.

Houses for Sale

1x2

2x1

Property For Sale “DUNSTER PROPERTY FOR SALE” 115 acres with 1/2 mile Fraser River frontage. 10 acres Island. 15 acres cleared. Mixed forest.

100% reliable water source. Log cabin attached to mobile home. Water line and hydro.

Easy access.

Mountainscape views. Private. 250-479-5545

1000sq m building lot, #L72NCorintoPearleco-development Honduras. Contact Recap Investments, Toronto 1-888-212-8584 for more info and owner 250-5634999 $35,000 Canadian

Please recycle this newspaper.

2x1.5 INVESTMENT & OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYMENT ORMOND CREEK (NORTHSHORE FRASER LAKE BC) ON 8.1 ACRES/HOME MACHINERY/SHOP/GREENHOUSES

Please recycle this newspaper.

PHONE 250-699-1072 ONLY $255,000 (HOME) $105,000(MACHINERY)

FOR MORE INFORMATION GOOGLE: ACREAGES FOR SALE IN BC TOWNPOST 3x1

Build Results

11.26 acres manicured sub-lakeshore at Cluculz Lake, finest location by owner Only $399,000 end of Meier Rd. 604-908-0313

Please recycle this newspaper.

RENTALS Cabins

Out Of Town 3x1.5

Compost toilet for 2 - brand new never used $1200.00 obo (250-967-4215)

PLEASE RECYCLE THIS PAPER Ranch house with 9 acres irrigated pasture

All Amenities Next to Eagle Point Golf (Kamloops) 985K Will carry mortgage View Realtor.ca 250-573-3346 e-mail biffsbenson@yahoo.ca

Adult Personal Messages

250-612-1828

250-612-9321

1998 FORD F250 Diesel w/ plow.

Exc. cond. $10,000. 250-3980720

PERSONALS

REVOLVING TRAY JEWELRY DISPLAY CABINETS Top lock and locking back slide doors 36” wide X 42” high 5 Available. $350 each Negotiable on all five.

Lots of recent work, have receipts. 1.8 L 5 Spd standard. Momo rims w/ summers & studded winters, power locks & windows w/ tint. Looks good, runs good.

228,000 kms.

Spacious, 3 level 4 bdrms, 4 baths, superb location. $277,500.

250-561-1255 Ready to sell!

Recreational Property

Art & Collectibles

1999 MAZDA PROTEGE

2006 DODGE Cummins diesel, 4x4, 4 dr, Lb, auto, 2 owner, receipts since new, no accidents, 107K, $27,900 obo. 596-5434

2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON Wide Glide. Low mileage. 250-6170443

45.5 ACRES Corner of Upper Fraser Rd & Beaver Forest Rd. with good driveway & building pad. $210,000. 250-614-6667

Antique Superb Dutch drop front Secretary, 140 years old, in excellent condition, $6500.

250-964-3794 Prince George

$3000 now $2500

Trucks & Vans

OLD COINS, ROYAL CANADIAN MINT COINS, OLD PAPER MONEY, GOLD COINS, SILVER COINS, COIN SETS, COLLECTOR COINS, WORLD MONEY COLLECTIONS, FRANKLIN MINT SETS, ALL 9999 BULLION, COINS, BARS, INGOTS, WAFERS, MAPLE LEAFS ++++ TODD 25O 864 3521

SUZUKI Bandit 1200, shape, recent tune-up brakes. (250)613-5981

Sports & Imports

Sports Utilities & 4X4s 2012 RAM 1500 4X4 short box, loaded, maroon. Extended 7 yr 160k warranty. 21,000 kms, too much to list. Equity. $39,000 owing. Take over payments. 250301.0221, 250-967-4268

***Please Note: Ads running under this classification will appear in print only and will not run online***

Hot Spot For Sale

604.630.3300 250-562-6666

RO M

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

LEGALS Legal/Public Notices

BAILIFF SALE The bailiff will offer for sale by public bid at 9085 Rock Island Rd, Prince George, BC on Feb 17, 2023, the 1998 Advance Tank Trailer 2AEABRAH2XR000174 for repairs completed for Sovereign Creek Mining Inc., in which the balance remaining due and owning is $21,115.43 if the balance is not paid by Feb 16,2023.

Sold as is, where is, the highest or any offer not necessarily accepted.

To view the item or to obtain further information, contact: Northern Aluminum Tank Services Ltd. 250-564-0324.

WAREHOUSE LIEN ACT Smart Way Truck Repair Ltd. provided trucking service and repair in Prince George, BC. They have left their tools, equipment, inventory, and mobile office, behind after the end of their lease and as of January 31st, owe $10,080. Under the Warehouse Lien Act, the landlord will be auctioning everything in an unreserved public auction. The action will be at Suite 120, 2211 Nicholson, Prince George, BC, on February 14, at 2:00pm. Interested parties may contact Majestic Management at 250-5628343 to arrange a viewing prior to the auction. If you have a claim to any of the said items, please respond in writing prior to February 6th, 2022 to Majestic Management, Suite 1010, 299 Victoria Street, Prince George, BC. 250-562-8343

Call 250-562-6666 or email cls@pgcitizen.ca

| 19

How Howtotowrite write a aclassified classifiedadad that thatworks. works.

Writing Writingan an effective effective classified classifiedad ad isiseasy easywhen when you youuse usethese these time-tested time-tested principles. principles.

• Use • Usea keyword. a keyword.Start Start your youradadwith withthetheitem itemforfor sale, sale,service serviceoffered offeredororthethe jobjobtitle. title.

• Be • Bedescriptive. descriptive.Give Give customers customersa reason a reason to torespond. respond.

Advertisers Advertisers have havefound foundthat thatthethe more moreinformation informationyouyou provide, provide,thethebetter betterthethe response. response.

• Limit • Limitabbreviations. abbreviations.

Use Useonly onlystandard standard abbreviations abbreviationsto toavoid avoid confusion confusionand and misinterpretations. misinterpretations.

• Include • Includeprice. price.Always Always include includeprice priceof ofthetheitem item forforsale. sale.

• How • Howtotorespond. respond.Always Always include includea phone a phonenumber number (with (witharea areacode) code)and/or and/or street streetand andemail emailaddress. address.

Findit inthe Rentals Section.

To advertise, call

To250-562-6666 Toplace placeyour youradadcall: call:

or email 604-630-3300 604-630-3300 cls@pgcitizen.ca

Get MORE

LIVING ROOM Find it in the Rentals Section.

To place place your your ad To adcall call To place your ad:

classifieds.

604-630-3300 250-562-6666 burnabynow.com

20 |

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

CLASSIFIED ADS

P R I N CE G EO RG E C IT I Z E N

BUSINESS DIRECTORY BUYING COIN COLLECTIONS!!

EXCAVATION

Buying Coin Collections!

Old Coins, Royal Canadian Mint Coins, Old Paper Money, Gold Coins, Silver Coins, Coin Sets, Collector Coins, World Money Collections, Franklin Mint Sets, All 9999 Bullion, Coins, Bars, Ingots, Wafers, Maple Leafs ++++

EXCAVATION BACKHOE MINI-EXCAVATOR SKID STEER

DRYWALL

SERVICES FOR HIRE

CASH CASH CASH

BUYING ALL GOLD!!

FREE REMOVAL Unwanted Cars, Trucks & Equipment.

Call George 250.614.8915

For all Gold, Estate Jewelry Scrap or unwanted Coins & Currency, Antiques & Rolex.

Unbeatable pricing, privacy assured.

(250) 612-1808 24/7

WANTED 9999 BULLION!!!

BARS, COINS,WAFERS, ALL JEWELRY,WATCHES, CHARM BRACELETS, SCRAP, DENTAL GOLD, ALL GOLD COINS, COIN COLLECTIONS, SILVER COINS, ALSO BUYING SILVER! TODD’S COINS 1-250-864-3521

Todd’s Coins 1.250.864.3521

CALL OR TEXT ANDY (250) 613-9373

Experienced drywaller available for small jobs. Homeowners are welcome to assist.

Fair rates. Call Rolf 250.613.8777

MISC CHORES

BUYING ALL SILVER!!

BUYING OLD JEWELRY

HOME SERVICES

FIREWOOD

WANTED 9999 BULLION, BARS, COINS, ROUNDS, ALL SILVER COINS, PRE 1968 COINS, ROYAL CANADIAN MINT COINS, FRANKLIN MINT SETS, OLD STERLING SILVER, COIN COLLECTIONS +++ ALSO BUYING GOLD!!!

Buying Old Jewelry, Coins, Old Money, Coin Collections, 9999 Bars & Coins, Royal Canadian Mint Coins, Coin Sets, World $$$ Collections ++ Call Or Text Todd’s Coins 1.250.864 3521

• Handyman • Tile • Framing • Flooring • Trims • Electrical • Paint • Lawn

HAY FOR SALE

Man with Truck and safety gear available for yard maintenance, chain saw work, dethatching, aeration and ready for brush cutting. Also rubbish removal, includes rubbish of any sort you may need hauled away.

Openings available for summer season lawn care, weed trimming lawn cutting, tree branch limbing for both high and low branches.

BIRCH Firewood in 20 foot lengths.

5x5 1300-1500 lb, round hay bales. $160 each net wrapped in field.

Ask for: Duncan ph. 250 552 1937

TODD’S COINS 1-250-864-3521

250.277.1924

GROW YOUR BUSINESS

Delivered by dumptruck load. $1100. or bucked to length $1300 per load delivered 250-614-6667

250.614.6667 or 250.568.2338

For only $50 + TAX, you get 4 Display Ads in Thursday’s Business Directory plus a Classified Ad for 4 Issues Call 250.562.6666 to book your space now.

Grow your Business

Call 250-562-6666 or email cls@pgcitizen.Ca to place your ad

HOMES

HOMES

P R I N CE G EO RG E C IT I Z E N

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

A21

REAL ESTATE LISTINGS

DESIGN TRENDS • HOME IMPROVEMENTS & RENOVATIONS • OUTDOOR LIVING

Design ideas for small kitchens

Small kitchens can be difficult to use. However, a few design hacks can make a small space more manoeuvrable. Consider these layouts and design ideas.

SMALL KITCHEN LAYOUTS Your kitchen layout can have a significant impact on efficiency and comfort. Try these styles in your home: • Galley. A galley kitchen utilizes a middle aisle flanked with cabinets and appliances on one or both sides. Ensure there’s enough room for your kitchen cabinet doors to swing open all

the way.

• U-shaped. This horseshoe-shaped layout features cabinets and appliances on three sides. You can place an island in the middle for extra workspace if you have room.

• L-shaped. This layout efficiently utilizes a corner of the room with cabinets and appliances on two sides. It gives you a triangle-shaped workspace with everything you need within easy reach.

SPACE-SAVING IDEAS Incorporate these space savers into your kitchen

design to maximize efficiency.

• Small appliances. Standard-sized appliances can take up a lot of room. Choose a smaller dishwasher, refrigerator

your dream door starts here

and stove to free up space.

• Accessories. Under-cabinet storage containers and slide-out pot organizers can increase the functionality of your

kitchen and keep it organized.

If you’re designing a new kitchen, talk to an expert at your local home improvement store for more space-saving ideas.

Quality landscaping

CommerCial o rC &r residential sd •d design s g • Co ConstruCtion s r C o • maintenanCe

Stone Work retaining Walls, Ponds & Waterfalls FenceS DeckS & Patio’S ScreW PileS irrigation SyStemS Drainage SoD & SeeDing

Paving Stone Patios & driveWays

Maintenance ServiceS: All Weather Windows, exterior entry, patio and garden doors.

Whether it’s a commercial office complex, business or a prestigious hotel, Suntree Landscaping Ltd. provides professional grounds maintenance services that keep properties looking their very best.

Call for your Custom quote installation services available.

Central Door anD WinDoW A division of Home Building Centre

250-562-0365

or stop in at 1552 s. lyon st.

Landscaping Ltd. Russ Hill • 250.563.7062

Landscaping Company

Lawn Maintenance

voted Prince george’s best landscaping company for the past five years!

A22

HOMES

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

P R I N CE G EO RG E C IT I Z E N

2160 Norwood St • $190,000

First Time Buyer or Investment Property!! NEW Roof, deck railings and stairs!! Looking for an affordable home to live. Here it is!! 2 bedrooms, 1 bath home. Enjoy living in city limits within walking distance to many amenities including parks, the hospital, and the new Pool. 11X11 shed and cedar trees planted for privacy on this 0.13-acre property with farm behind..listen to the goats and chickens while sitting with your coffee on your deck.

Measurements approximate, Buyer to verify if deemed important.

7224 Imperial Cres • $369,800

2740 Victoria Street • $265,500 Great starter home with lots of updates and freshly painted. Newer vinyl windows, roof and siding. Close to the Carmel restaurant and entertainment.

Ready to Move into.

1593 Fir St. • $323,000 Good strong bones in Millar Addition character home on tree lined street. Waiting for the buyer who has inspiration to create a 3 bdrm. suite up and a 1 or 2 bdrm suite down - great potential for rental investment.

Affordable home in lower college heights with concrete basement.

3 bedrooms on main, 1 down, 2 full baths. Ashpalt driveway with plenty of parking. Large fenced backyard. Roof updated in last 10 years, hi-effeciency furnace. Excellent area, close to schools, walking trails and many amenities. Come make this home your own and/or suite the basement utilizing the back the entrance.

Open House Sun Feb 12 • 1:30-2:30 4209 Punchaw Cres • $469,900

990 Gillett St • $424,900 Perfect investment property or Home with a Mortgage Helper. The Home has a legal 2 bedroom suite. All vinyl windows, new furnace. Roof in good condition. Close to shopping, bus route restaurants and entertainment.

4306 Ewen St. • $439,000 This home has lots to offer the growing family. Efficient updated kitchen, main floor family room and living-room, 2.5 baths, fully finished basement with bedroom, 4 pce bath, family room, sauna and laundry.

Ellen Parker

Jennifer J G Gowan G 250.640.4642 jen@jennifergowan.com JenniferGowan.com

CORE REALTY

RE/MAX Core Realty 1717 Central St. W., Each office is independently owned & operated

Your Real Estate Needs are my Priority!

250-981-2008

independently owned & operated

3020 Island Park Dr $1,300,000 New Listing

2830 Killarney $479,900

250-612-8326

7076 Hillu Rd $685,000 New Listing

206-1654 10th Ave $174,000 New Price Suite No. 206

SOLD Lot 18 Eena lake rd $132,000

Nola Stairs

250.565.1200 nolastairs@remax.net www.nolastairs.com

Aggie Thompson RE/MAX Core Realty

northernbcproperties.com

250.981.1902 eparker@remax.net

6 ways to optimize your kitchen storage

Finding Homes for Families

Karen Thompson

Convenient Location, close to amenities!! Updated 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath home with OSBE and single carport. Main floor has brand new sub-floor, new vinyl plank flooring and new paint through-out. Main bath has been updated. Foyer can be entered through front or back entrances. Large living room w/newer front window and brick f/p, adjacant eating area. 3 bedrooms on main floor, 2 pc ensuite in primary bdrm. Bsmt boasts large L shaped rec room, laundry rm has new flooring & paint, leads to cold storage room for all your canning and wine!! Work shop area, 3 pc bath, freshly painted bedroom, and OSBE, can be easily suited. Single carport, hwt & furnace approx 5yrs.

61 Londeau $109,000 New Listing

Are you looking for ways to tidy up and declutter your kitchen? Here are six ideas to inspire you.

2683 Abbott Cres $424,900 New Price

SOLD

1. Shelves increase storage possibilities and come in various materials to match your decor.

2. Stackable containers maximize useable space and look good on shelves and inside cabinets.

3. Dividers are perfect for drawers and cabinets because they keep things like

spices, utensils and snacks in place.

4. Stacking trays are ideal for deep drawers because they save space and keep each item accessible.

5. Swivel trays are easy to install and prevent you from awkwardly twisting and turning to reach rarely used items.

6. Door storage units have many uses, and you can hide them.

Check out your local stores for practical and affordable storage ideas.

HOMES

P R I N CE G EO RG E C IT I Z E N

GO FOR GOLD.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

A23

Welcome to the face of Century 21 Energy Realty Please meet our amazing team. Whether you are buying or selling, we would love to hear from you and make your home dreams become a reality.

Our Property Management Department offers a wide range of rental properties available to rent, as well as we can provide management services for your investment and strata properties. Please contact Keisha Rochon at 250-617-4864.

Shawn McLaughlin *PREC Owner/Sales Representative 250-640-5478

Shawna Kinsley Associate Broker Sales Representative, Home Girls 250-552-2757

Melissa Pineau Sales Representative Serving Mackenzie 250-997-1054

Gordon Langer Sales Representative 250-565-4663

Jessica Davey Sales Representative 250-301-6398

Elisha Flynn Sales Representative 250-981-9898

Gurinder Paul Sales Representative 250-613-1333

Tyson Witala Sales Representative 250-981-8084

Paul Wilson Sales Representative 250-552-3559

Rob Clarke Sales Representative 250-719-8080

Carla Hamborg Sales Representative Home Girls 250-612-7968

Joe Postnikoff Sales Representative 778-675-4663

Morgan Young Sales Representative 250-301-6366

Lindsey Hamborg Sales Representative 250-617-4506

Steve Burt Sales Representative 778-675-9515

Amit Jassal Sales Representative 778-994-5441

Lee Foulds RBC Mortgage Specialist 778-349-7099

Keisha Rochon Property Management Unlicensed Assistant 250-617-4864

1310 5th Avenue | Prince George, BC V2L 3L4 | 250-564-2100 | www.century21.ca/energyrealty

Interior door handles: how to make the best choice Investing in a stylish handle can instantly elevate the look of your interior doors. Here’s a short guide to help you make the best choice.

MATERIALS Door handles are typically made of durable metals like steel, aluminum, brass, wrought iron and chrome. You can also find handles made of wood, plastic and porcelain. However, the internal mechanisms are always made of metal.

TYPES Here’s an overview of the three main types of handles: • Lever handles can either have a lock or no lock. They’re activated by raising or lowering the lever.

In addition, you can find curved levers that are suitable for people with limited dexterity.

• Knob handles are usually round and have a locking mechanism.

You can also purchase fixed knob handles that don’t that need to be rotated or turned to open or close the door.

• Pull handles are fixed and can only be locked by purchasing a separate accessory.

The door handle you choose largely depends on your style and preferred use. Visit your local hardware store to browse different models.

How to maintain wood flooring Here are a few tips for caring for your wood flooring to keep it looking its best for years to come.

• Regularly dust with a microfibre cloth or soft broom instead of a vacuum cleaner.

The aggressive brushes and wheels can damage the wood.

• Avoid using citrus-, oil-, vinegar- and wax-based cleaning products. These substances can degrade the finish.

• Use products specifically designed for wood floors. These products keep the

floor shiny without making it slippery.

• Promptly clean up spills. Standing liquids can cause your wood flooring to buckle and fade. High humidity levels can do the same.

• Use liquid repair products for stains and scratches. Make sure you strictly follow the application instructions.

Has your wood flooring seen better days, but you want to refinish it rather than replace it? Contact a professional to make it look great again.

A24

HOMES

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2023

P R I N CE G EO RG E C IT I Z E N

Mike Hurrell Realtor® P.R.E.C. Managing Broker

250- 981-3100

1

10 years MLS Sales Award Winner

Real Estate Services Ltd.

.95%

250-562-6228

FULL SERVICE AT A FREE MARKET FAIR PRICE EVALUATION

Autumn Nilsen Realtor® 250-981-2424

FULL SERVICE MLS LISTING*

362 GEoRGE STREET, $16.50/SF oR SaLEFoR $1,699,900

This building has great street appeal and was completely renovated in and out. The 2 floors can be leased separately w/ separate meters (hydro, gas).

INVESTOR OPPORTUNITY. This completely renovated building with great street appeal has separate hydro/gas meters for the two floors.

10233 WESTERN Road, $99,000

This nice flat treed 80’ x 150’ city lot is the perfect place to build your Western Acres dream home. City Water/sewer are available.

2588 QUEENSWaY STREET , $59,900

Well established turn key Pre-school has an professional customer base & is the #1rated pre-school in PG. Currently licensed for 20 kids per class.

31645 PINEWood Road, $109,900

Enjoy country living on level, treed acreage. This lot has electricity, septic and a deep water well (295 feet) with good water quality as per seller.

Matt Petkau Realtor® 250-617-8179

John Bucur Realtor® 250-961-0001

Linda Stacey Property Manager 250-562-6228

2007, 2009-2019

®

FOR SALE OR LEASE

Carling Groves Realtor® 250-570-7439

SFOEBLRUDARY

IN

13 3480 PIERRERoY Road, $69,900

Well cared for, move in ready, 2 bed mobile home. Updates include metal roof, siding, windows, hot water tank and furnace.

E5 1900 STRaTHCoNa avenue , $119,975

Clean & bright 3 bdrm 1.5 bath townhouse. New siding & windows in the process throughout the Alpine complex. No rental restrictions and pets are permitted with some restrictions.

40 10180 HaRT HIGHWaY, $79,900

14‘ wide trailer has two bedrooms & 1 bathroom, located in Northland RV Park. Pad rent is $375.00. Park management approval needed.

210 3777 MaSSEY dRIVE, $159,900

Totally updated 1 bedroom unit. Strata is $298.25 per month, rentals are permitted, NO pets allowed.

8040 SPaRRoW Road, $199,900

2047 NoRWood Street, $339,900

Custom home, overlooking city views & boasts 3 bdrms up & a 2 bdrm suite down. Upstairs has potential to rent for $1700 & and with a bit of work the basement could rent up to $1400.

1421 FIR STREET, $499,900

5 bedroom home w/ new & completely self contained basement suite located in the picturesque Millar Addition. The main floor has traditional layout.

1933 SPRUCE STREET, $840,000

Centrally located 6 unit apartment, 100% occupied and close to absolutely everything. Great investment opportunity!

3265 GEddES Road, $1, 990, 000

160 wonderful acres featuring two large shops (60ftx40ft and 60ftx80ft).

Newly renovated 5800 sqft, 5 spacious bedroom, 3 full bath home.

204 3777 MaSSEY drive, $179,900

2 bedroom 1 bathroom condo, centrally located. monthly Strata fees are $356.00. Currently rented for $1200.00 not including utilities. NO pets

G N I D N PE

G N I D N PE A great mobile home, with edition, in a quiet country setting in city limits. 3 large bedrooms, large livingroom and kitchen plus enclosed sundeck. Carport and a detached garage.

4321 NoRdIC dRIVE $96,950

Business is turn-key with strong financials (even during COVID) & a fantastic lease of only $505 /month that has another 34 mnths. Call Mike!

9339 WEST BEaVERLEY Rd., $229,900

Beautiful West Beaverley lot is semi developed with park like landscaping, a 25’ wide gravel driveway, camp site, and 200 Amp service.

755 UNIoN STREET, $359,900

Bright 5 bedrooms 2 bathrooms home with covered deck.

Private basement entrance for suite.

16550 W THoMPSoN Road, $229,900

This 3 Bed, 1 Bath home home with huge shop and addition is located on a super private 4 acres backing Nukko Lake Elementary School.

2277-2383 QUINCE STREET, $399,900

Recently renovated on one side and ready for you to move-in or for a tenant to enjoy. Each unit offers three levels of living space.

9305 SaLMoN VaLLEY Road, $289,900

Perfect place to build your DREAM HOME! Driveway and power already in place. Flat lot with approximately 8 acres currently used as a hay field.

1910 LaRCH STREET, $449,900

4 bd, 3 bth on 3 city lots & walking dist. to Parkwood Pl. Unauth daylite suite w/ lrg backyrd allowing tenants to have their own backyard space.

D L O SFEBRUARY

IN

6552 dELISLE Court, $524,900

Open layout with both a casual eating area and formal living and family room, 3 large bedrooms, hardwood floors, laundry, plus fresh paint and decor throughout.

6560 CHILaKo STaTIoN Road $919,000

Riverfront farm for sale! 188 acres of sandy loam and rich river bottom soil.

Home is south facing 3 bedroom, 2 bathrooms with walkout basement.

Peaceful views of the pastures and river.

1510 PG PULP MILL Road, $2,888,000

Investor Opportunity! Don’t let the exterior fool you as the building boosted 25,000 Sq/Ft finished in the proportion of 65%.

2365 MCBRIdE CRESCENT, $610,000

2 unauthorized suites & 1 authorized suite all currently rented. Every suite has their own laundry & own entrance. There ample space for parking. Two car garage.

5675 BLaCKBURN Road, $999, 900

296 acres Historic farm in Pineview! Bordering the city limits and with several outbuildings that date back nearly 100 years.

15450 CLEaR LaKE SaWMILL Road, $4,750,000

120 Acre Heavy Industrial site is the former location of the Clear Lake Sawmill. It boasts 25Kw 3 phase power supply.

3248 VISTa RIdGE PLaCE, $609,900

On the view side of vista ridge. 3 bedrooms up, 4th bedroom or office off the entrance foyer. Master boast huge walk-in closet and ensuite.

393 CaRNEY STREET, $1,260,000

7 unit apartment is in a great central location. Features 6 big updated 2 bdrm walk-out units plus a large storage unit that is currently rented.

HaRTMaN Road, $14, 650, 000

This 383 acre development property is adjacent to city services, includes over 1780 feet of highway frontage with commercial zoning/

LoT C MIWoRTHd Road, $324,900

INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY! 16 acres on Miworth Rd approximately 15 min from Prince George. Close to Caledonia Ski Club. Incl 3 drilled wells.

4312 doME aVENUE, $459,900

Bright updated 3 bdrm home w/ bachelors suite. Half the bsmnt remains part of the main home w/ additional bdrm, laundry & extra full bath.

7040 ToNY Road, 734,900

This brand new and nearly finished home boast 3 large bedrooms with a possible 4th bedroom or office. Features open concept living area with the bonus of a legal 2/3 bedroom suite. Some choices of finishing’s still available.

1921 UPLaNd STREET, $1,799,000 REnovated 12 unit apartment building in excellent condition. Complex has new roof, new twin boilers and most of the windows.

TYNER BoULEVaRd, $19,999,900

111.62-ac premiere development property offers stunning city views from almost entire property & will accommodate 300-500 single family residential and / or mixed use commercial.