Saturday Evening Bingo at 6pm $
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH
THURSDAY, February 23, 2023
Agnes brings cheer to seniors
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff
Agnes the snow lady is an import from the Hart.
The snow in the Bowl was just too icy so Sarah Bonnar, Samantha Dube and Rene Wade got together and filled their recycle bins with fresh Hart-quality snow to create their Agnes masterpiece
“We thought we’d build a senior-looking snowman in front of the Chateau seniors’ facility,” Bonnar said “We just wanted to spread a little joy and make something for the seniors to look at ”
While they were building the Agnes the three snow artists even had one resident come out and tell them what a lovely job they were doing.
Agnes is adorned with a pearl necklace, a shawl, dentures and glasses along with her trusty walker.
“We had so much fun building
ON THE TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF THE LHEIDLI T’ENNEH
Sarah Bonnar, left, Samantha Dube and Rene Wade brought snow from the Hart to create Agnes the snow lady.
Agnes we are feeling inspired to build other snow characters around town,” Bonnar said.
The Citizen will keep you
posted on where residents can look for the next creation by snow artists Sarah, Samantha and Rene
A potentially key piece of evidence has been put in doubt after a judge found Prince George RCMP failed to provide a man accused of setting a deadly fire timely access to a lawyer.
B C Supreme Court Justice Margot Fleming found police imposed an unneeded delay in giving Justin Kyle Aster an opportunity to speak to a lawyer when he was arrested on September 16, 2020, violating his rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in the process
Whether the delay was enough to bring the administration of justice into disrepute is still to be determined Crown and defence counsels will provide arguments on that aspect at a later date Fleming issued a similar decision last month regarding the initial detention and arrest of Aster on July 11, 2020, three days after a fire ripped through the Econo Lodge Motel on Ninth Avenue at Victoria Street Three people were killed in the blaze
However, both Crown and defence counsels confirmed that in a subsequent decision, Fleming ruled a statement Aster gave to police on that day was nonetheless admissible.
At the time, Aster admitted he had passed through the Econo Lodge at about the time the fire had erupted but denied he had set the blaze, believed to have been ignited in a pile of carpeting and underlay that had been left under a stairwell while a renovation was being carried out
Aster was not charged following his July 2020 arrest and was let go the next day But he remained a suspect and, on September 16, 2020, he was picked up once again and this time charged with three counts of criminal negligence causing death and one count each of arson in relation to an inhabited property and arson damaging property
MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff
2006 Kenworth C500 Tri-Drive Texas Bed Winch
Mackenzie resident pockets lottery win
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff
Mackenzie resident Shannon Stuart couldn’t believe it when she got the call from BC Lottery Corp. that she’d won the progressive jackpot of $364,969.90 after playing the holiday-themed Winning Tree casino game on BCLC’s online gambling platform, PlayNow.com.
called back to confirm ”
Once Stuart verified her win, the disbelief quickly turned into exuberant delight. Stuart plans to celebrate the win with a big get-together for her family in the Shuswap and her dream vacation
“I kept asking the BCLC employee if this was real,” Stuart said “They had to repeat the amount three or four times. My husband didn’t believe it, either He made me find another number online for BCLC and I
“I am going to take my twin sister on a trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand,” Stuart said. “We’re going to go backpacking, so it will be a lot of fun!”
Stuart said she’s also going to take time off work and spend time with her husband
“This win means a lot to me,” said Stuart “It really feels like a windfall right now.”
Expired scratch ticket wasn’t a winner: BCLC
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
A Prince George couple thought they lost out on the chance to take home $100,000 dollars after discovering their winning scratch ticket had been expired for five days.
However, BCLC has confirmed that what the couple thought was a winning ticket that had expired just days before was in fact not a winner after all.
“This weekend my wife was doing a little bit of cleaning up in our bedroom and found a box full of odds and ends that were left over from Christmas, hand warmers and that sort of thing, and in that box was a scratch ticket,” explained Dan Lewis
It was a two-player Clue scratch game, and so Lewis’ wife, Cerise asked him if he wanted to play it
Lewis said he looked at the ticket and saw she had all three symbols and then
checked the rules on the back that clarified if you have the three symbols you win a $100,000 prize
However, the couple’s joy was short lived as Cerise quickly got out her phone to check the ticket on the BCLC app only to discovered it had expired The app didn’t say if the ticket had been a winner or not, just that it had expired
BCLC has confirmed that the even if the couple had tried to validate the ticket prior to its expiry date, that it would not have been a winning ticket for any prize value. BCLC said the single top prize of $100,000 from the Clue Scratch & Win product was already won in August 2021 by a player from Chase, B C
Lewis says his advice going forward is to check your tickets as soon as you get them
“A lot of people have shown us support during this whole ordeal, and we really appreciate everyone’s concern,” noted Lewis
Prince George Econo Lodge Fire - Class Action
A class action lawsuit about the July 8, 2020, fire at the Prince George Econo Lodge City Centre Inn has been allowed to proceed by the British Columbia Supreme Court. The plaintiff, Leonard Hay, has filed the class action to seek compensation for himself and other Class Members who suffered losses or injuries as a result of the fire.
You may be a Class Member if:
• You were a registered guest at the City Centre Inn on July 8, 2020;
• You were present at the City Centre Inn on July 8, 2020 at the time of the fire;
• You were present at Yolks All Day Family Restaurant on July 8, 2020 at the time of the fire; or
• You are a family member of one of the victims who was killed in the fire.
However, you are not a Class Member if you intentionally started the Fire, conspired to start the Fire, or were an employee of one of the defendants in the class action. The defendants are:
• Mundi 910 Victoria Enterprises Ltd.;
• Choice Hotels Canada Inc.;
• The City of Prince George; and
• All Points Fire Protection.
The class action will seek to claim compensation for Class Members who suffered losses as a result of the fire, including:
• Wrongful death;
• Personal injury, including physical and psychological injuries;
• Lost or damaged possessions;
• Room costs that were not refunded; and
• Expenses caused by the fire, such as transportation and hotel costs.
Participating in the Class Action
Your legal rights will be affected if you are a Class Member You do not need to sign up for the class action for your legal rights to be affected. If you do nothing:
• you will be eligible to participate in the ongoing class action, and
• you will be bound by the outcome of the class action, including any judgment on the common issues for the class, whether favourable or not, and
• you may receive money from the class action, but
• you will not be able to start or continue your own case against the Defendants regarding the claims made in the class action.
If you believe you are a Class Member and would like to know more about your rights and the class action, please contact Class Counsel for more information.
You should save any documents you have that might relate to your losses, such as receipts for any expenses you incurred because of the fire, medical records, and booking information with the City Centre Inn.
Choosing not to Participate in the Class Action
If you do not wish to participate in the class action you must take action to exclude yourself before May 24, 2023 This will be your only opportunity to opt out of the class action.
If you opt out:
• you will not be eligible to participate in the ongoing class action, and
• you will not be bound by the outcome of the class action, including any judgment on the common issues for the class, whether favourable or not, and
• you will not receive any money from the class action, but
• you will be able to start or continue your own case against the Defendants regarding the claims made in the class action.
If you wish to opt out of the class action you must do so on or before May 24, 2023 by sending a letter or email, signed by you, stating that you are opting out of the Class Action to Class Counsel. The letter or email must also include: (i) your full name, (ii) your current address, (iii) your telephone number, and (iv) a statement that you wish to opt-out of the Class Action.
Contacting Class Counsel
To contact class counsel please send a letter to:
CFM Lawyers 400 – 856 Homer Street Vancouver, B.C., V6B 2W5 ATTN: Amy Mileusnic
Or, send an email to: AMileusnic@cfmlawyers.ca
The law firms of CFM Lawyers LLP and Dick Byl Law Corporation represent Class Members. If the Class Action is successful, Class Counsel will ask the court for approval of their fees, which will be a percentage of the money recovered from the defendants. To find out more, please visit www.cfmlawyers.ca or www.dbylaw.com or contact Class Counsel through the address and email above.
SHANNON STUART
Welfare office move planned to Second Avenue
MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff
The provincial government has backed away from a controversial plan to make the old Spee-Dee Stationers building the new home of Prince George’s social assistance office.
Instead, it will be “trading locations” with BC Housing, whose offices are currently in a city-owned spot at the corner of Second Avenue and Brunswick Street - beneath the Second Avenue parkade and across Brunswick Street from the Downtown Prince George office
The social assistance office is currently located in Kandola Plaza at 1445 10th Ave
“These locations are better suited to each of the respective offices’ needs,” a BC Housing spokesperson said in an
email “BC Housing took possession of the building Feb. 1. Some renovations are needed, and hopefully the move will be fully completed by summer.”
A campaign to prevent the office from being moved to the Spee-Dee building at Brunswick Street and Fifth Avenue dates back to February 2020 when a 68-signature petition from the Prince George and District Senior Citizens Activity Centre was sent to city council
The centre is located a half-block away from the spot and concerns were raised about parking, foot traffic and safety
Because the site is already zoned for the use, the proposal did not have to go through a public hearing and the best city council could do was to seek a meeting with ministry officials.
Downtown Prince George also opposed
the move In March 2022, it issued a media release outlining its concerns.
“The proposed new location is in very close proximity to a daycare, a senior centre, a church, service-based businesses, and other community retail,” the organization said, and went on to say meaningful consultation was not conducted prior to the decision
In a statement to the Citizen, Citizen Services Minister Lisa Beare said the ministry, which manages government-owned and leased real estate, buildings and office space, is now “exploring a plan” to lease the premises at 1380 Second Ave from the city on a long-term basis for use as a front-facing Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction office
The step was taken after “hearing feedback from the community ”
Beare went on to say that DPG has provided a letter supporting the change.
“This will ensure that critical social supports and services will continue to be delivered to the people the community who need them the most,” Beare said.
DPG executive director Colleen Van Mook said that although many other suggestions were raised during consultations on the matter, DPG decided it could “could accept” Second and Brunswick as the new location.
She said the provincial government made it clear it wanted a location downtown and that the willingness to at least relocate to the “outer layer” as opposed to right in the middle “where there is still potential for retail and we have the daycare and the seniors centre” was an acceptable compromise
Thousands of local kids living in poverty: report
ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff
There were 2,380 children in poverty in the Prince George census agglomeration in 2020, according to a report.
The Prince George census agglomeration includes the city and outlying rural areas
The First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society released its 2022 BC Child Poverty Report Card last week.
Across the province, 13 3 per cent of children and youth (from newborn to age
17) – a total of 116,500 children – were living in poverty in 2020, down from 18 per cent in 2019, according to the report.
“There were 2,380 children (or 12 8% of all children) in the Prince George (census agglomeration) living in poverty in 2020,” the report says “High child poverty rate census tracts were clustered in and around Downtown Prince George.”
The child poverty rate in 25 census tracts throughout the city ranged from as low as 6 9 per cent up to 40 per cent, the report says.
A map of child poverty by census tract is available on the society’s website
The highest rate of child poverty (40 per cent) was reported in the area of the west bowl south of 15th Avenue and west of Highway 97
South Fort George had the second-highest at 35 4 per cent, followed by the Crescents area at 34 5 per cent
The lowest rate of child poverty was reported in the lower Hart area at 6 9 per cent, followed by Pineview at seven per cent, and North Nechako and Beaverly were tied in third at 7.6 per cent.
In general, child poverty rates were higher within city limits and lower in the outlying areas.
“First Call’s previous 25 BC Child Poverty Report Cards demonstrated government’s too-slow approach to ending child poverty in BC,” the report says “Over the past decades, too many children have grown up poor Now, more than ever, it is critical for governments at all levels to ensure that public services are robust and reach those most in need, that families can access affordable housing and that inflation is curbed.”
Forestry forum Feb. 28
In the wake of sawmill shutdowns and the permanent closure of Canfor’s pulp line at Prince George Pulp and Paper, a group of concerned stakeholders is gathering Feb. 28 at UNBC to discuss the future of our forests and how they should be managed.
James Steidle, the organizer of the Future of Forestry in Our Region: A Community Conversation, says the forum is needed to inform the community about alternatives to existing forest practices and what should be done to protect species habitat and promote forest vitality
The lineup of guest speakers includes Ben Parfitt from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives; Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris; Canfor millwright Chuck LeBlanc, president of the Public and Private Workers of Canada Local 9; Prince George Mayor Simon Yu and Liam Parfitt, co-owner of Freya Logging
The two-hour forum starts at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb 28 and will be held at the Canfor Theatre at UNBC. Each speaker will make a 20-minute presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session
City broke B.C. law with land sale,
ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff
The City of Prince George failed to meet the requirement under the B.C. Community Charter to notify the public when it sold land at 4500 Ospika Blvd. to a Vancouver-based developer in July 2020, according to a statement issued by the city.
The staff error was discovered during an internal review, after Prince George community group Ginter’s Green Forever questioned the legality of the sale.
Under Section 26 of the Community Charter, municipalities must issue a statutory public notice before disposing public land or improvements.
“City administration and Council take this matter very seriously,” temporary
acting city manager Adam Davey said in a statement
“At the time of the property sale, taking out an ad in the newspaper was a legislative requirement Failing to do so makes the process less transparent to our citizens and erodes the public trust We are taking immediate steps to improve our processes as that trust is extremely important to all of us.”
Walter Babicz remains the city manager, a city spokesperson clarified on Friday An acting city manager is appointed when the city manager is away.
Following the review, city administration “took immediate remedial action, including undergoing a restructuring and rebuilding of the City’s real estate division ” At a special closed meeting of city
council, staff was directed to provide a report in a public city council meeting, with “recommendations on strengthening the policies and procedures regarding land sales ”
The City of Prince George sold the land to The Hub Collection Ltd for $500,000 in July 2020, on the condition the developer would build a 256-unit student housing complex on the 5.64-acre lot within 24 months
BC Assessment valued the land at $682,000 in its 2019 and 2020 assessments.
Following an amendment to the official community plan and rezoning, BC Assessment valued the land at $3 547 million in the 2023 assessment.
“The developer bought the land from the City for $500,000, which the previous
Administration considered to be at-then current market value based on similar development lands of its size in Prince George,” the city statement said “Factors that are considered in a property’s valuation include, but are not limited to, the existing zoning, topography, geotechnical qualities, and access to municipal services The property at 4500 Ospika Boulevard is not serviced and has a 1.09 ha ‘no-build’ area ”
On Feb. 6, city council rejected a proposal by the developer to change the restrictive covenant on the land to allow development of a 118-unit seniors housing complex instead.
Variety telethon to feature Prince George boy
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff
Diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia 11-year-old Prince George student
Cameron Carlson needs extra support at school and mom Lindsay paid for the private psychoeducational assessment but suspected there was a bit more going on with her beloved son.
Doing some research to realize Cameron also needed an autism assessment Lindsay reached out to see about going through the public process for testing only to find out there was a wait list of at least two years
“Early intervention is key with autism and getting supports for it is important,” Lindsay explained
So she decided to go private as it’s a faster process and she had paid about $2,300 out-of-pocket for the psychoeducational assessment for learning disabilities and knew the autism assessment would be about the same but just didn’t have the funds
“So I wasn’t sure what to do,” Lindsay said “A friend said ‘what about Variety?’ I know they buy equipment and they do all these heavy medical things but in recent years they expanded to do all these services because no one could get them.”
Lindsay reached out to Variety – the Children’s Charity of BC - for a grant to cover the cost
“It was really easy to apply,” Lindsay said. A few short months later Cameron was assessed
Lindsay said she was very grateful for the grant because Cameron is on the spectrum of autism and now there’s more support that can be accessed to help
Cameron navigate the world
Cameron is in Grade 6 and loves Star Wars His favourite character is Captain Rex and his favourite class in school is Applied Design, Skills and Technologies where he makes movies with his team and his latest project is called Aliens Invading and is about blue and red blobs invading the planet Earth It’s going to be awesome.
During the annual Variety telethon viewers will meet Cameron and other children whose lives have been transformed. Cameron will be on the telethon on Sunday, Feb 26
Variety - the Children’s Charity Variety Show of Hearts will launch Global News Hour at 6 on Thursday, where viewers will be treated to stories of hope, courage and resilience from children who Variety has helped in 2022.
The inspiring stories will continue on all of Global BC’s newscasts including Global News
The 57th annual Variety Show of Hearts Telethon airs on Global BC and via livestream at GlobalNews.ca on Sunday, February 26 from 1 to 5:30 pm
Two-thirds of local homeowners have a mortgage
CLAIRE WILSON Glacier Media
New mortgage data is offering a snapshot of where B.C. homeowners are getting their first foot into homeownership and how recent interest rate hikes are weighing down younger people more than others.
Only 36 per cent of Prince George homeowners have their home paid off, the ninth-lowest rate in B.C.
“It just tells you that these very, very substantial interest rate increases disproportionately affect the people who are struggling the most to begin with,” said Andrey Pavlov, a professor of finance at Simon Fraser University.
Cities on the periphery of large census metropolitan areas, who have a
higher percentage of younger and new homeowners, have higher numbers of mortgage holders, according to Statistics Canada census data provided to Glacier Media by Andy Yan, director of Simon Fraser University’s City Program
“This is reflective of particular demographic trends, but then also of particular financial trends, especially when it comes to interest rates,” Yan said.
Throughout the province, 58 per cent of homeowners have a mortgage versus the 42 per cent of homeowners who are mortgage-free. The three communities in B C with the highest percentages of mortgage holders are Fort St. John, the City of Langley and Surrey
Fort St. John has by far the highest proportion of mortgages, with 76 per cent of homeowners being mortgage holders.
In comparison, only 44 per cent of West Vancouver homeowners have a mortgage, the lowest percentage in the province The regional district of Powell River is second with 46 per cent and Sechelt is third with 47 per cent
The distribution across the data is “striking,” said Pavlov.
Those areas with higher home prices, like West Vancouver, have lower percentages of mortgage holders
Many of the homeowners who purchased homes in that area, did so a “long time ago” and don’t have a mortgage anymore, said Pavlov
“But if you look at the places that have a high percentage of mortgage holders, areas like Surrey, Port Coquitlam, New Westminster, Abbotsford, those are the relatively more affordable areas of the
Lower Mainland,” he said.
“It really shows the impact on younger people, and in a way lower-income people, because those are the people, through no fault of their own, they are now impacted more from interest rates than the average person,” he said
To compare, in the City of Surrey, where 68 per cent of homeowners have a mortgage, there are 72,580 people between the ages of 30 and 39, according to Statistics Canada. In West Vancouver, there are only 2,615 people within that age group.
“It ties into historic patterns of getting on the housing ladder. That if you’re young, if you’re a young household trying to step into housing ownership, that you buy in the municipalities outside of central cities,” Yan said.
Hotels hit with staff shortages, higher costs
Workforce shortages that prevent hotels from operating at capacity still hamper the path to a post-COVID-19 recovery.
The province now has as many as 50,000 job vacancies in tourism and hospitality and federally there’s a shortage of 300,000 workers
The federal government has adjusted its Temporary Foreign Workers policies to allow the hospitality industry to bring in up to 30 per cent of its workforce from
other countries The program allows them to work while they wait for approval as landed immigrants and that’s helped increase employment numbers, but it’s not enough to fill the thousands of jobs currently available in B.C. hotels.
“Many of the hotels are operating at 70 to 80 per cent capacity because they don’t have people to clean the rooms,” said Ingrid Jarrett, president and CEO of the B C Hotel Association “This is the tightest labour market that we’ve seen and it’s not just our industry, it’s construction, manufacturing, many industries because the baby boomers are retiring
and the tech sector is growing ”
Fuelled by megaprojects like the LNG Canada gas terminal, BC Hydro’s Site C dam, Trans Mountain Pipeline and Coastal GasLink pipeline, hotels in the Prince George-Prince Rupert-Fort St. John corridor avoided the precipitous drop in business during the pandemic felt more profoundly in Victoria, Vancouver and the Okanagan, whose economies are more dependent on tourism
Prince George has significantly increased its hotel room inventory over the past five years to meet the demand for rooms, largely driven by the city’s
role as northern B C hub for goods and services, health care, and the prevalence of large-scale projects in the region
The new hotels – Courtyard Marriott, Pomeroy Inn & Suites, Best Western Plus and Hyatt Place – raised the Prince George hotel room inventory to 1,803, as compared to 2,179 rooms in Kamloops and 650 in Nanaimo Jarrett, a former Prince George resident, will be in the city March 1-3 for the BC Tourism and Hospitality Conference at the Prince George Civic Centre and Conference Centre.
- See related story on page 13
Lindsay Carlson and son 11-year-old Cameron are seen at The Exploration Place in Prince George
City seeks voter approval to borrow $2.7
ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff
The City of Prince George is seeking voter approval to borrow $2.7 million dollars to replace some of the city’s existing equipment and purchase new light-duty trucks and tents for the fire department.
According to a report that went before city council on Feb. 6, borrowing the money from the Municipal Finance Authority at 4.77 per cent interest would increase the city’s annual debt payments by $341,407 – equivalent to a 0.29 per cent tax increase in 2024 The money would be borrowed for a period of up to 15 years.
City council approved using the Alternative Approval Process to obtain elector assent to borrow the money
“Personally, I am not a huge fan of the alternative approval process,” Coun Tim Bennett said. “(But) going ahead with the Alternative Approval Process is a much better use of taxpayer dollars and staff resources, then going to a referendum process.”
According to the city staff report, it cost the city $91,000 to hold the 2017 referendum to obtain voter approval to borrow money to build the Canfor Leisure Pool and new fire hall Given how much costs have risen since 2017, Bennett said, it’s likely a referendum would cost even more today.
“Is there a better way to do this, if we planned ahead and saved in advance?”
Coun Trudy Klassen asked Klassen agreed with Bennett that she personally doesn’t like the Alternative
Approval Process, but holding a referendum every year to finance routine equipment replacements isn’t ideal either.
City director of finance Kris Dalio said the city could create an equipment replacement levy to fund the purchases through taxation rather than borrowing the money However, he added, the city receives “very, very favourable rates” from the Municipal Finance Authority
The loan would finance replacing nearly $2 4 million in mobile equipment replacements, a driveable hoist for the city’s lube bay at $65,000 and $30,000 to replace floor scrubbers for the city’s janitorial staff In addition, the loan would finance the purchase of two new light-duty 4x4 pickup trucks for the Prince George Fire Rescue Service’s emergency services staff and training captain at $85,000 each, and
the purchase of “two military style inflatable tents, complete with dividers and bladders for anchors” for the fire department at $51,000 The tent purchase would also include a portable diesel heater for the tents
Under the Alternative Approval Process, electors who are in favour of the city borrowing the money don’t need to do anything
Voters who want to see the issue taken to a referendum can fill out an Elector Response Form and submit it to the city by 5 p m on March 30
If 10 per cent of the electorate – 5,594 electors or more - file a valid Elector Response Form by the deadline, the city will be legally obligated to hold a referendum to seek voter approval to borrow the money
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH
Saturday Evening Bingo at 6:00pm
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
FIX DOWNTOWN NOW
I have been misunderstood, by some folks They think I am always critical or negative about the community I live in. I am not, well ok, sometimes I am, but it’s with the goal of doing better. Every community has issues, some large some small. If there is no one to speak to those issues, they never change, they remain the same. There’s a limit to what each person is willing to do to make things better, sometimes just going about your business in daily life, while being considerate of others is enough for some folks. I would be happy if that were the case for me. Put the blinders on and ignore everything I don’t like and go about my business, minding just that I would like to carry on, run my business, look after clients and enjoy life and what it has to offer. I would like to go to work and open up and greet folks as I once did as they walked down the street. A smile, a good morning or even a nod meant everything is fine. That hasn’t happened in a long time There is a change in the air, folks are not as they once were downtown Downtown is not as it once was, it’s changed and not in a good way. People are stressed, you can see it in
their expressions Folks come up to me while I am standing on the sidewalk and tell me they are not happy They are not happy for a lot of reasons, but more of the reasons are the state of downtown. Why isn’t something being done about downtown? Why hasn’t something been done about the homeless, the drug addicts, the panhandlers, the person down the street screaming obscenities for no apparent reason? The almost constant sound of sirens?
I can only say that we have a new city council and mayor and they must be doing something to address the issues. I keep my eye on the local news, hoping to see mayor and council have started a new initiative to address the issues Nothing I have reached out to successful councillors and Incumbents to engage them in conversations about the downtown Discussions end with “we will see.”
Well, I along with many others are waiting. Any time now would be good.
John Zukowski, Prince George
BALLOONS IN THE BUSH
Concerning the recent spate of supposed spy balloons over northwest Canada, this isn’t the first time that balloons have loomed large over our backcountry
During the Second World War, Japan launched more than 9,000 so-called ‘FuGo’ fire balloons towards western North America Armed with incendiary and fragmentation bombs the campaign was intended to have a psychological impact on the U.S. and Canada, and to cause damage and tie up resources by starting west coast forest fires.
But these weren’t the only balloons over the skies of B.C.
Twice in my 45 years of roaming our local mountains I have found the remains of weather balloons with radiosonde payloads. In the first instance, stumble was the right word as I literally tripped over a thin but strong para-cord that was hidden in dense alpine vegetation on a solo bushwhacking approach on the north side of Caledonia Mountain, 100 kilometres east of the city Following the cord for several metres led me to a delicate milk carton sized payload of instruments and electronics. The second, a few years later, was in the McGregor Mountains west of Pass Lake. After a bit of research I learned that several of these disposable devices were (and still are) being launched every day from Prince George to record and transmit weather data as they ascend into the upper atmosphere The prevailing
winds carry most of them over our mountains where they eventually fall as litter
The Japanese Fu-Go balloon payloads landed from Alaska to Mexico and as far inland as Nebraska, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories There were six direct fatalities resulting from the balloon attacks: five children and a pregnant Sunday school teacher were killed when a balloon that they had found exploded on May 5, 1945, in southern Oregon. Some ten per cent of the fire balloons launched were thought to have reached North America and 300 are known to have been found or destroyed, leaving more than 600 unaccounted for, presumably in remote backcountry areas.
The most recent one to be found in B C was in October 2014 when forestry workers found an unexploded balloon payload that was later detonated by a Royal Canadian Navy ordnance disposal team. That raises the possibility that, like the remains of the weather balloons I found, there are more unexploded fire balloons out there. In the highly unlikely event that you should stumble on something that looks suspiciously like a 1940s vintage balloon payload, stay clear and contact the authorities.
Mike Nash, Prince George
We acknowledge the financial support of the government of Canada. Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.
MAILING ADDRESS
505 Fourth Ave. Prince George, B.C. V2L 3H2
OFFICE HOURS
8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Friday
GENERAL SWITCHBOARD 250-562-2441 info@pgcitizen.ca
GENERAL NEWS news@pgcitizen.ca
SPORTS INQUIRIES 250-960-2764 sports@pgcitizen.ca
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
250-562-2441
cls@pgcitizen.ca
PUBLISHER 250-960-2757
carmstrong@pgcitizen.ca
READER SALES AND SERVICES
250-562-3301
rss@pgcitizen.ca
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@pgcitizen.ca
WEBSITE FEEDBACK
digital@glaciermedia.ca
Why I’m not running for city council in 2026
Ifiled my municipal election expense form the day after it was due It shows that I raised and spent a modest
$6,516 65 on my campaign for city council and reused $2,000 worth of sign frames In filing the day late and paying the $500 late fee, I have ensured that my name will not be on the next municipal ballot.
During the municipal campaign I ran on topics that were quite personal to me - problems that I have faced in my business, in the organizations I have volunteered for, and in my family Since Dec 24, one issue in particular has become even more urgent and exceptionally personal. Prince George does not have a mental health treatment facility, such as the one being built in Terrace.
When it comes to mental health services for youth, the only space in all of Northern B C are the six beds at the Adolescent Psychiatric Assessment Unit located in the University Hospital of
STOLZ SENSE
CAMERON STOLZ
Northern B C Demand is such that the youth stay there is very short, with the longest being less than 30 days – long enough to be assessed and then released. For adults with severe mental health challenges, if there is no facility to support them, they end up on the street For youth with those same challenges, they are released to their parents If they are in the care of Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD), they will likely end up in a group home as successfully placing children with mental health challenges in foster care is rare.
The only recourse other than parents or MCFD is the Reconnect Youth Village located on George Street and Second
Avenue, right next to a tent city, or living on the street
When you’ve engaged in politics for as long and as much as I have, it’s hard to talk about issues with people without them thinking that there is some other motive attached to what you’re discussing and that the issues I’m trying to champion are simply political maneuvering for my next campaign It has reached the point where in the last six weeks I’ve had numerous people weekly and even elected officials ask me what office I’m positioning myself for
My approach when I served on council was that I took a stand on issues that I felt were important to our community and fought for them It had a polarizing effect where my colleagues and the public either loved what I was doing or hated it I ran for city council again this last fall and wasn’t successful, finishing tenth Thank you to those who supported and voted for me
In the video I released after the election, I stated that I planned on staying involved At this point, I feel that the possibility of me being a candidate in the next municipal election is hampering my ability to make an impact now As such, I have disqualified myself from running in 2026
I believe this new freedom I have given myself opens the doors for me to be more vocal in our community, without it being discounted as simply campaigning It also means I’ll be able to have more opportunities between now and the next election to share what is going on in city hall and how council is doing in addressing the issues our city is facing, without it being seen as part of some campaign strategy.
I look forward to continuing to inform our community and making an impact for the better I hope to have much to share in the months and years ahead.
Cameron Stolz is a Prince George writer
Individual, collective rights constantly clashing
Democracy is the worst form of government, except all the others, according to Winston Churchill. Democracy demands much of its citizens. All forms of government do. It is the price we pay for living within a society.
In Canada, we view politics as “right” and “left” – a system developed during the French Revolution when the supporters of the king sat to the right of the President of the National Assembly and the common folk were seated on the left. I doubt anyone who identifies with right-wing politics today would think of themselves as supporters of the nobility Right-wing politics has evolved to be
WHITCOMBE
about the individual, traditional values, and traditional views. Or, at least, that is the way right wing parties portray themselves.
Those on the left-wing of the political spectrum tend to social values and changing societal norms People should be allowed to do as they collectively want. Of course, these are vast over-simplifications. Because right-wing politics tend
to take a very libertarian viewpoint if the issue is something they care about For example, is individual freedom paramount? If so, then government shouldn’t be able to tell people what they can and can’t do Wear a mask? No way No one has the right to tell me I should wear a mask
Yet at the same time, we see right-wing politicians wanting to ban same-sex marriages, do away with abortions, disband unions, and get upset when someone protests the cutting of old growth forests. How dare people stand up for their values and views! But isn’t that what individual freedom is all about?
It has been a year since the trucker’s
convoy descended on Ottawa, Alberta, and a host of other sites across the country. Many would like to portray the protesters as law-abiding citizens engaged in public protest. Fair enough. Did they go too far? I think so and apparently so does the Public Order Emergency Commission.
The final verdict, after considering the evidence, is the very high threshold for invoking the Emergencies Act was met But what does this really say about our rights as individuals in Canadian society versus the collective rights of the public? Only time will tell us the impact of the protest on our democracy.
Todd Whitcome is a chemistry professor at UNBC
Earthquake is natural but death toll is manmade
The world watches in horror as the death toll from an earthquake in Turkey and northern Syria continues to rise. This is a wake-up call for humanity, where we say to ourselves, “My god! What have we done?”
Two factors contributing to the high death toll are direct consequences of actions by the international community The region of Turkey struck hardest by the earthquake has the world’s highest refugee population. Secondly, aid has been slow to reach victims in Syria because opposing sides in the ongoing Syrian War cannot put aside their differences and allow assistance to flow to those who need it
The war in Syria dates to 2011 when the president of Syria, Bashar al-Assad, crushed opposition to his government in response to protests during the Arab Spring uprisings in the region News
sources told us the conflict in Syria was
complex and diplomats were supporting democratic efforts in the region
As a descendant of Syrian refugees from a century earlier, I remember advising caution regarding military intervention in the country. I now deeply regret not having been more outspoken
In truth, the situation in Syria is not complex at all Syria has a very diverse population and Assad is a political strongman At the same time, he was holding the country together and life was improving for Syrians Before the war, literacy rates were over 90 per cent and 97 per cent of children were receiving at least a primary school education, and government spending on education was increasing. Syria had also demonstrated significant improvements in healthcare, with drops in infant mortality, and life expectancy increasing from 56 years in 1970 to 73 1 in 2009
I knew that while they did not enjoy the
same freedoms that I enjoy in Canada, my Catholic relatives in Aleppo were at least safe under Assad, which would not be the case if more extremist elements took control of the country
I have lived under two U.S.-backed dictators, and though I never visited Syria, the people there seemed far better off than those living under Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines or Mobutu Sese Seko in the Congo
Since 2011, the Americans, Russians, their allies, and weapons manufacturers became heavily involved in Syria, and the result has been devastating War crimes have been committed on all sides and millions have become refugees Media coverage has been pathetic, with all but a few journalists adding to the confusion by providing incomplete coverage to avoid offending their sponsors
Sanctions were put in place by the Americans and their allies to destabilize
the government of Assad Their primary impact has been to deprive ordinary people of food, fuel, education, medical supplies, and healthcare.
Sanctions are also compounding the suffering of people dealing with a deadly earthquake This is not only wrong, it is obscene. There have been a number of reports, for example, that Syrian expatriates have been unable to even send money to their families in need
The war in Syria did not have to happen World leaders acted in a way that is criminal and those of us living in democracies allowed them to do so
The earthquake in Turkey and Syria was a natural disaster but the death toll resulting from both the earthquake and the Syrian War was manmade
This is a hard truth that we cannot deny and a reality to which we must finally respond
Gerry Chidiac is a Prince George writer
What it took for one resident to beat addictions
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff
One homeless woman in Prince George was so deep in her addiction she didn’t think she’d ever get out.
Kim Suel said she knows she would not have made it if it hadn’t been for the tenacious outreach workers at the Association Advocating for Women and Community who just wouldn’t leave her alone while she was struggling during her darkest days
“I was in my addiction, sleeping on the streets, spending time in the hospital because of overdoses, going in and out of AWAC and then the outreach workers started connecting with me,” Suel said Mostly it was outreach workers Mark De Souza, who has since passed away, and Kayla Derkatch who made the connection with Suel
“Mark and Kayla and a few other people said there is another way,” Suel said “I did know there was but I was just too chaotic in my addiction at that time so then one day I just went up to Mark and said ‘I’m done, I am so done’ and Mark said to get into detox so I said Ok. When I tried to get into detox I OD’d on Feb 6, 2022 and I went to my doctor and told him I was trying to get into detox and he said he’d help and the next morning I was in detox – he fast-tracked me ”
Detox was a real struggle but with medications and support from De Souza and Derkatch, Suel was able to make it
“I got stable and kept hanging on and hanging on,” Suel said “I stayed for seven days and then Mark came and got me and brought me here to the Olive’s Branch ”
AWAC’s Olive’s Branch is a one- to three-year sober living, transitional housing program for individuals who are on their own unique journey of sobriety
“Here they give you a clean, sober way of living and there are different programs and I followed the program – we did horse therapy, we did life skills, I did
street humanities – it gives you a little bit of schooling.”
In partnership with AWAC, the College of New Caledonia offers street humanities as part of their continuing education program, where students get hot meals and bus passes to get to classes, tuition, books and other materials, study and discussion groups, a network for educational and emotional support, tours and orientation for a gradual integration into college life. Courses offered include anthropology, biology, English, First Nations studies, history, visual arts, psychology, math, business and sociology
“We even had a dinner to celebrate,” Suel said, about graduating from the 12-week program
“If I didn’t have all the support from the people at AWAC I wouldn’t have made it,” Suel said. “There was no way I would’ve made it I would’ve bolted back out onto the street and still would have been living in my addiction ”
At Olive’s Branch Suel said there are so many programs to keep residents actively learning and engaged.
“So after six months I moved out of Olive’s Branch,” Suel said and into AWAC’s housing readiness program
The Housing Readiness program is a transitional housing program for individuals geared to cultivating independence through empowerment, life skills, wellness groups, and daily programming Individuals are required to complete a program agreement and may stay for up to one year.
“I started working for them and they were training me here, there and everywhere and now I am doing outreach for them,” Suel said about AWAC. “I love it and I am out in the community working with people who need help shopping, getting to their appointments, and it’s just about helping people and I love doing it.”
The future looks bright for Suel
“I can see a future and I’m doing things now that I have never done before ”
Fundraiser goes Saturday
The Coldest Night of the Year takes place Saturday and is an annual family-friendly walk to raise funds for local charities serving people who are experiencing hurt, hunger and homelessness
The Prince George event is hosted by AWAC and starts at St Giles Presbyterian Church, 1500 Edmonton St. People can start gathering at 4 p m The walk begins at 5 p m and there is a hot meal waiting at 6 p m once the two-kilometre or five-kilometre walk is completed by participants
So far there are 103 walkers in 23 teams, with nine volunteers ready to help out
the fundraising effort for AWAC, the Association Advocating for Women and Community that is a non-profit that offers safe and supportive shelter for street-involved women and men With the rate of homelessness increasing in Prince George AWAC has created Housing First, Outreach, Housing Readiness, Mark’s Place and Olive’s Branch therapeutic community house programs All programs are open to all genders to better serve the community
The fundraising goal is $34,000 and $21,269 has been raised so far
CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO
Kim Suel, right, talks about what it took to get clean in Prince George with Kayla Derkatch, assistant manager of community services for AWAC
Meals On Wheels seeking volunteers
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff
Meals on Wheels needs a boost in volunteer drivers to meet the needs of seniors in Prince George.
The service is overseen by the Prince George Council of Seniors with meals prepared at the Prince George & District Senior Citizens Activity Centre Society at 425 Brunswick St from Monday to Friday
Volunteering is a good deed that requires very little time or energy, said one volunteer.
“It makes my day,” Shawn Basi said about his occasional volunteer duties with the Meals on Wheels program in Prince George. “To see those smiling faces when you deliver a meal, there’s nothing like it ”
Kalvin Basi, Shawn’s dad, is retired so he’s made a commitment to volunteer for his once-a-week route that doesn’t even take him an hour to complete
“I’ve been volunteering for the last five years,” Kalvin said “Ever since I retired I’ve given back to the community and looking after seniors – what could be better than that? And you never know I might need it one day, too Just seeing the smiles on people’s faces – one of my ladies – she’s 102 years old and she’s always so happy to see me.”
Kalvin’s son, Shawn, is the one that gets the call when things don’t go quite as they should for Meals on Wheels coordinator Nicole Currie.
“I work full time and never take a lunch except when I get that call from Nicole and then I go,” Shawn smiled
Shawn said a volunteer can make their
route as long or as short as they wish as they stop to chat with the people getting their meal delivered
“Sometimes you talk for a few minutes and the people just love it and that might be the only interaction a senior gets all day,” Shawn said “When I go back to work afterward I tell my business partner how great I feel about it I did my good deed.”
To volunteer at Meals on Wheels a volunteer needs a criminal record check done and have a valid driver’s licence
Volunteers need about an hour of free time and they can pick and choose their routes as they’d like. The maximum commitment is an hour and a half, Nicole said
“We have about 55 volunteers and it’s still not enough because since everything’s opening up our volunteers, who are mostly seniors themselves, are going on longer vacations,” Nicole said
So it would be nice to have more volunteers to fill in the gaps, she added
Each route is set out in a small area of town so that the time driving between delivery destinations is minimal and depending on the volunteer they can deliver between four and eight meals on their route The volunteer can pick and choose where they would like to deliver and right now delivery is only available in the bowl area so the routes are never very far away
Through Meals on Wheels there is the Adopt-A-Senior program to help ease the financial burden for low income seniors.
For more information about volunteering as a Meals on Wheels driver contact the Prince George Council of Seniors at 250-564-5888 or mow@pgcos ca.
Relay cancellation won’t stop MP Doherty
Nenachailya, Merci Beaucoup and Thank You!
Prince George Folkfest Society are delighted to say the 16th annual Coldsnap winter music festival was a tremendous success! Between January 27 and February 4 2023, we hosted 60 musicians from all across Canada, and even from Australia! We extend ourheartfeltthankstoourgenerousfestivalsponsors and funders for your steadfast support since our society’s inception 20 years ago! We respectfully acknowledge that Coldsnap is presented on the unceded ancestral territory of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, and we especially thank them for their support of the festival and for the welcomes and gifts they provided to our visiting musicians We are particularly thankful for the wisdom and generosity of time from Kym Gouchie, Les and Janice Baker, and all the members of Atslyan Ink’E’ Atsoo Elders Society for their guidance with protocol, translation and land acknowledgements Thanks also to all our emcees and our esteemed speakers who provided hosting duties and welcomes at all our events Big thanks to Ali Kenoras-Schwandt for the design of our beautiful graphics that gave us a brand new
Jordana Archer
Danny Bell
Katherine Benny
Heike Beyer
Kevin Beyer
Noelle Bouvier
Beth Bressette
Maddison Brown
Betty Burbee
Bud Burbee
Shannon Carson
Patricia Covington
Rod Cryderman
Kathleen Cunniffe
Sharon Davalovsky
Tom Davalovsky
James Doyle
Steven Dubas
Michelle Dyble
Elizabeth Eakin
Donny Edbom
Rev Bob Fillier
Sylvia Foote
Maureen Fotos
Leone Gamache
Kym Gouchie
Glen Goudy
Jim Green
Marnie Hamagami
Fraser Hayes
Cindy Heidt
Meagan Howard-Gibbon
Kathi Hughes
Norm Jacob
Aidyl Jago
Sue Judge
Marlene Kirkpatrick
Marge Lachecki
Alex Rowan
Leah Lampert
Dave Leman
Kevan Leman
look and renewed energy! Thanks also to CCFPG for their collaboration and cooperation on “Kickoff to Festival d’Hiver” Many thanks and kudos to the production teams at Russell A/V, Sound Factory and Mad Loon Productions for your amazing hard work and dedication to excellence that makes this one of Canada’s premier live music festivals We are very grateful to our team of wonderful volunteers listed below with board members and staff It is no exaggeration to say this festival would not happen without you and its success is a direct result of the time and work you provide Gratitude also to the fabulous volunteer party crew and the Royal Canadian Legion for hosting our epic volunteer and sponsor party, and also to all the generous sponsors that donated door prizes to help us thank our volunteers And finally THANK YOU to all our patrons,membersanddonorswhocontinuetoshow unwavering support for us and for live music in this great city! Coldsnap 2024 will be February 2 to 10 and we will see you there!
Karen Limoges
Cheryl Livingstone-Leman
Samantha Lui
Malcolm McColl
Andrew McFayden
Elissa Meiklem
Karen Mohr
Erin Mould
Anne Muirhead
Jim Mullen
Jorja Naziel-Sutherland
John Ortynsky
Cherryl Ortynsky
Susan Parsons
Barb Pethick
Anik Provencher
Tyler Rai
Anne Ram
Dave Read
Joanne Rebagliati
Kyla Roorda
Scott Sargent
Teresa Saunders
Sharukh Ali Shaik
Raychill Snider
Greg Spiers
Yvonne Springall
Bob Steventon
Cindy Storozinski
Donovan Unruh
Robbyn Unruh
Diana Van Der Zande
Karma Vance
Rob Watt
Anita Watts
Derek Weber
Layna Witzke
Dwight Wolfe
Junyeol Yang
Kayla Young
Lorraine Zettler
Two months after he had his second knee operation, Todd Doherty vows he will be walking on that wounded leg, even if it means using a walker for balance, to take part in his own version of the Relay For Life cancer fundraiser
“It’s so disappointing, for so many years Prince George was that beacon in the Canadian Cancer Society’s fundraising and the Relay for Life fundraising,” said Doherty “Our 24-hour event was not just an event for our region but we had families from all over our province and even Alberta come here to spend the weekend with survivors and other families that lost loved ones and do whatever we could to raise funds for cancer research and cancer cure.
For 28 years, until it was interrupted by the pandemic, the Prince George relay brought thousands of people together each year for the 24-hour event. It was the country’s top Relay for Life fundraiser for a fourth consecutive year in 2017 and that year it raised more than $500,000
“It’s my hope the relay comes back,” Doherty, who served on the organizing committee from 1999-2003.
Having had his second knee replacement Dec. 14, Doherty intends to be healthy enough in four months to set up his trailer at CN Centre parking lot and complete his own walk, just like he did in 2021 when Relay For Life was canceled by COVID
“I’m resolved to still relay my way and I’ve set June 9th as my target date to be healthy to walk and do my pat and I’ll still do that,” he said.
Fraser Level Sponsors Funders and Foundations
TED CLARKE Citizen staff
Hometown inspires novel for former resident
TED CLARKE Citizen staff
Before the pulp mills were built in the mid-1960s, Prince George was known for its abundant boreal forests and dozens of sawmills that turned those trees into building products.
It was a lumber town with a population of less than 6,000 that relied on the adventurous spirit of the loggers it attracted to work in the bush to create the capital of northern B C
Those characters and the lives they led while shaping the early history of her hometown have inspired author Bev Christensen to write her first novel, Too Soon Old - Too Late Smart, published by Friesen Press.
“I started it many years ago and probably was working at the Citizen and I had been reading a lot of books written by Maritime authors in which they talked about the colourful hardworking guys who were fishermen and the dangerous work they did,” said Christensen
“I lived in Prince George since 1939, so I knew the history that most people there don’t remember or never knew and it was every bit as colourful. The city was surrounded by small haywire sawmills, hundreds of them, and people often lost
fingers and feet to those mills On the weekend, they’d all flood into Prince George and the town would be overrun with drinking loggers, so I just wanted to capture that.”
The plot centres around Else, a young mother who decides to flee her alcoholic and abusive husband in Vancouver and return to the farm her late parents from Norway built in the northern B C wilderness Eventually she finds love in her life again, just as her ex-husband returns to torment her again.
Christensen used to live on Cranbrook Hill with her husband Svend in a house without electricity or running water, living in relative isolation through severe winters while dealing with bears and other wildlife, and she relied on her own memories to describe in the homestead Else and her son came back to the family farm after living in the big city
with her family Her father Cliff Warner became part-owner of the Citizen in the 1940s, her uncle started the Interior News in Smithers and both her brothers were trained to be printers.
She joined the Citizen news team in 1969 as the women’s page editor and covered news in the city for 24 years until she retired in 1993
BEV CHRISTENSEN
A forest fire threatens the area and it’s all hands on deck The mills shut down and everybody joins the effort to fight the fire with the support of the townspeople who bring them food and temporary shelter.
Born in Smithers, Christensen was eight when she moved to Prince George
The characters in her book are based on real people and Christensen twisted details of their lives enough to avoid revealing their identities.
“It’s people that I knew and incidents I heard of and some that are the creation of my overactive imagination,” she said
“I’m just trying to capture some of the spirit that was there when there were all those sawmills and all these colourful people who really supported each other in important ways. The early part of the book is based on some pioneer people that I knew and those people who moved in there during the depression and managed to make a life We forget that, and their stories are quite amazing ”
She’s ghost-written numerous autobiographies of city pioneers, utilizing her collection of old photographs to document
their lives for the UNBC archives
Christensen, a former School District 57 trustee who once served as a BC Rail director and was president of the Prince George Minor Hockey Association, also writes non-fiction and has released three books, two of which delve into Prince George and northern B C history
Too Good To Be True: Alcan’s Kemano Completion Project was shortlisted for the Huber Evans non-fiction B C book prize in 1996. She also featured local businesses in Prince George Rivers, Railways and Timber.
Christensen’s biography Grab The Devil’s Tail: Confessions of a Convict Turned Police Informant, focuses on the fascinating life of career criminal Patrick Michael Mooney.
Now 91, Christensen lives in Victoria where she shares a condominium with her youngest daughter Suzanne Christensen, the assistant deputy minister of the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction
“I still miss Prince George; it’s the people,” she said “I think people in Victoria are a bit uptight and I’ve got to the point where I take delight in saying something I know will shock them. People better not say anything bad about Prince George or they’ll hear from me.”
TNW’s The Shoplifters a heartfelt comedy
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
Theatre NorthWest’s production of The Shoplifters by Morris Paynch will leave you with a smile on your face.
A true heartfelt comedy with a poignant message, Theatre NorthWest expertly transports you into the world of a grocery store stockroom, filled with dark humour, abused situations and four sharp-witted misfit characters
We meet Alma, a career shoplifter who prefers the “five-finger discount” over any senior citizen’s deal
However, it’s not just an empty wallet that leads Alma to a life of petty crime - it’s also her strong convictions about social justice and economic inequality
Alma is played by actress Erla Forsyth, whose performance will have you laughing out loud as she truly embodies Alma’s
sharp wit and with perfect comedic timing.
Her dry, sardonic humour is contrasted by her accomplice and friend Phyllis, played by Cheryl Hutton, who is more frazzled to be found caught shoplifting at a major grocery chain
It’s Alma who does the talking when the pair is apprehended at the grocery store by Dom, played by actor and musician Teo Saefkow, an overzealous rookie security guard on his first shift
He’s also guided by the strictness of his born-again Christian belief, and ready to handcuff the culprits and call the police Dom is being mentored and sometimes reigned in, by his affable senior partner Otto, who ends up having quite a different view of the crime
Making his Theatre NorthWest debut, actor Declan O’Reilly plays Otto and his year’s of working as a seasoned voice
over actor with multiple TV and film credits are apparent in his exemplary performance
The chemistry and back-and-forth banter between Alma and Otto is superbly entertaining I also personally enjoyed the strong language in this play – sometimes a punchline is just that much better with a few curse words thrown in.
However, not only is the play simply funny and enjoyable to watch but as Alma, Phyllis, Dom, and Otto share their wildly different takes on the situation, complex views on morality and ethics begin to emerge
Its underlying message is subtle enough that it’s the kind of story you can chew on afterwards, if you want to, or just simply enjoy the absurdity of the situation at face value.
I did think the themes were very relevant as we’re currently watching inflation
raise prices on almost every grocery staple, so Alma’s Robin-hood like antics don’t seem wildly unfathomable in this day and age.
The set is also incredible
Set designer Hans Saefkow transformed the stage into a grocery store stockroom with boxes of various products stacked to the ceiling.
With exit signs, a fire extinguisher, and breakroom table, no small detail was forgotten
It really does feel like you are watching four people bicker over stolen steaks in the backroom of a grocery store
I came to watch this play not knowing too much about and it and was delighted with everything: the storyline, the script, the set and especially the performances
The Shoplifters runs until March 8 and tickets are available through Theatre NorthWest’s webstie.
Tourism conference delegates here next week
TED CLARKE Citizen staff
More than 300 delegates are expected for the BC Tourism and Hospitality Conference, March 1-3 at the Prince George Civic and Conference Centre, and they’re all invited to Otway Nordic Centre to try out our world-class cross-country ski and snowshoe trails before the conference gets cooking downtown the following day.
“Us and Northern BC Tourism Association are hosting the welcome reception and we really wanted to make it feel like Prince George and embrace that we’re in the north, so the reception will be held at the (home of the) Caledonia Nordic Ski Club,” said Tourism Prince George CEO Colin Carson
“We’re going to encourage people to go outside We have some ski rentals set up and we’ll have some fires set up, so it’ll be a bit of northern experience some of these folks coming from the Lower Mainland might not have experienced before ”
Walt Judas, CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of B.C., visits Prince George once or twice every year and this is a rare opportunity to get tourism stakeholders from all regions of the province together in a part of the province that’s not a high-profile tourist destination
“Because we’re an industry that’s so
put off again last year with the Prince George Civic Centre still being used as the COVID vaccination site and Vancouver stepped up to stage the event
“We’re just excited to host it and we’re fortunate to partner with the Northern B.C. Tourism Association to get the conference to Prince George,” said Carson “For me, it’s always about networking with these other destinations and really seeing what they’re doing or even ideas we can steal ”
spread out we don’t often get a chance to connect with each other in personal settings and it’s such a big motivator because people like to talk about best practices and maybe partner on certain programs and initiatives,” said Judas, from his base in Vancouver.
“Many people that work in our sector have actually never experienced the north They don’t know what it’s about In as much as they’ve never thought of a
Guns and hoses game goes
this weekend
evening at Kopar Memorial Arena
Usually they work together to serve and protect the people of Prince George, but on Saturday, the Prince George Firefighters and Prince George RCMP will be facing off against each other in a battle for hockey bragging rights.
The Prince George Spruce Kings are sponsoring the inaugural Sirens Cup Charity Hockey Game between the firefighter and the police – part of a hockey doubleheader which will have the Spruce Kings taking on the top-ranked Penticton Vees in a BCHL game that follows that
Tickets purchased for the charity game at 4:30 p m will be good for admission to the Spruce Kings-Vees game at 7 p m
All money raised in Sirens Cup game will be divided between the Prince George RCMP Victim Services Society and the Prince George Firefighters Charitable Society.
“We have partnered with the Prince George Firefighters to bring the traditional police officer vs firefighter hockey game to Prince George,” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer for the Prince George RCMP. “We’re really excited to be bringing this event to Prince George.”
Backcountry skiers make the climb towards the switchbacks along Viking Ridge west of Prince George Developing visitor attractions will be focus of the B C Tourism and Hospitality Conference coming to Prince George, March 1-3 The second installment of Tourism Prince George’s Local Legend Series features a Prince George resident and former Olympian.
Tourism Prince George is telling the stories of local legends and places in a new video series, which have been beautifully produced by local company 6ixsigma.
Tony Fiala is a biathlete who competed in the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville,
France. In the video, Fiala explains the history and importance of Otway and the Caledonia Nodic Ski Club to Prince George
The facility opened for the 1984-85 season and at the time boasted 4km of trails, a two story cabin, a biathalong range and 250 members.
“Now Otway is bigger and better than ever,” said Fiala in the video.
vacation in Prince George or the north, this will be a catalyst for learning more about the culture and the people of the north and what Prince George and the surrounding region offers. As they learn more, they will be directing more people there, to be sure.”
The conference has never been held north of Kelowna. It was supposed to come to Prince George in 2021 but that was postponed by the pandemic. It was
Tourism Prince George is one of the nominees, along with Chilliwack and Victoria, for the professional excellence award, to be presented as part of the BC Tourism and Hospitality awards ceremony on the night of Wednesday, March 2. Northern FanCon is nominated, along with Barkerville Historic Town & Park, for the remarkable experience award, while Barkerville CEO Kate Cox is in the running for businesswoman of the year
“While it may not have the amenities you’ll find in places like Vancouver, Kelowna, Whistler or Victoria, people love living in Prince George,” said Judah “What it offers, the people that are there and the jumping points to the wonderful countryside, the outdoor adventure and what excursions they can go on, that’s really the big appeal, and it’s not that difficult to get to, especially in the summertime.”
TED CLARKE Citizen staff
HOROSCOPES & PUZZLES
HOROSCOPES
ARIES
You like that your job gives you stability and financial independence. You may be allowed to travel more often with work. Watch your speed behind the wheel this week.
TAURUS
You’ll have an abundance of great ideas this week. You may constantly change your plans based on your mood, irritating those around you.
GEMINI
Creativity is born out of chaos. If you’re feeling bogged down, have a second cup of coffee to regain your energy and boost your productivity
CANCER
After going through a period of intense stress, it’s time to take a step back and rest. Once rejuvenated, you’ll experience a new beginning.
LEO
You’ll put in many extra hours at work. You’ll also find time to relax and have fun with your family and friends by participating in fun activities.
VIRGO
You’ll be on cloud nine while on a trip or romantic getaway You’ll consider the idea of living abroad or going on an expedition.
LIBRA
Change is on the horizon. It may be time to end some toxic friend ships to relieve stress. You’ll take a new approach to life that’s more in line with your aspirations.
SCORPIO
Your emotions are running high this week. Avoid putting yourself in a situation where you must make all the decisions; you could face harsh criticism.
SAGITTARIUS
You’ll have to use your tenacity to set yourself apart at work. You could be allowed to travel and discover new cultures.
CAPRICORN
You’ll stand out in your circle of friends and colleagues. Those around you will offer you a helping hand as you undergo a personal transformation.
AQUARIUS
With many people on spring break, you could have guests over who could behave poorly and make you pick up after them. Hopefully, you’ll manage to have some fun.
PISCES
Your first idea is the right one. Don’t be fooled by people who don’t know you; trust yourself. A protective family member could slow you down.
31. Bumped into
Twist of fate
bested
Bouncing
Arm joint
Aussie’s
Rarely
Ranch unit
Melt
Ripoff
Teamster’s rig
Water buffaloes
Thin board
Cut grass
Private road
Disintegrate
Dusks
Annoy
“____ the king’s horses “
Denial
Tinting agent
HOW TO PLAY:
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.
Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3x3 box.
cl assi fi eds
REMEMBRANCES
In Loving Memory Of Doreen (Coombes) Thorne
July 15, 1949February 21, 2013
Our lives go on without you but nothing is the same. We have to hide our heartache when someone speaks your name. Sad are the hearts that love you, silent the tears that fall. Living our lives without you is the hardest part of all. You did so many things for us, your heart was kind and true. And when we needed someone we could always count on you. The special years will not return when we were all together, But with the love within our hearts you will walk with us forever.
Love, George
Monika Helene Lapointe
October 3, 1949 - February 19, 2022
Your spirit will never die it shines like the stars I know you’re sleeping in heaven but you’re living in my heart.
Rest in peace my dear Maurice
In loving memory of Barbara Cousins June 10, 1947 - February 25, 2021
When we lose someone we love, we must learn not to live without them, but to live with the love and memories they left behind.
Richard Joseph Bachand
August 9, 1967 - February 2022
Because we love you so Time will not dim the face we love
The voice we heard each day The many things you did for us In your own special way. All our lives we’ll miss you, As the years come and go, But in our hearts we’ll keep you, Because we love you so. Anonymous
Love mom & dad, brothers Michael and family, Alain & family
Erich W. Metz passed peacefully on February 3, 2023. He is survived and missed by his loving wife of 61 years, Delores Metz, his children Rick Aimetz (Kimi) and Barry Metz (Shauna) and his grandchildren Raiden, Rock and Brandi. He will be forever cherished and remembered by his family and friends.
As a man of faith, his life will be celebrated on February 25 at 1:30 PM at the Evangelical Free Church, 4590 5th Avenue, Prince George.
Obituaries
Memoriam
In Memoriam
Erich W. Metz
Peter Anton Kowalski
August 6, 1935 - Februar y 13, 2023
Peter Anton Kowalski born August 6, 1935, passed away peacefully on Februar y 13, 2023, in Abbotsford B C Sur vived by his loving wife of 65 years Christine, and son Glen (Lidia) and family Ryan (Alexandra), Brianna, Larissa ( Vincenzo) and son Gar y (Sandra) and family Mitchell and Spencer
Dad was a very social person who was loved and will be missed by many No ser vice by request
Master Corporal Donald Wayne Edward Mackenzie
Donald Wayne Edward Mackenzie left us on February 3rd, 2023 he was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. Donald was a man who cared deeply for those closest to him and devoted his early life to serving in the airborne regiment.
Don is survived by his loving wife Brenda, two daughters, two sons, four grandchildren, one great-grandson, two brothers, and one sister. His passing has left a deep void in everybody’s lives, but his memory will live on through the cherished moments they shared together.
As a soldier of the Airborne Regiment Donald served his country with honour and distinction. He was a brave and dedicated soldier who took pride in his work and held the brotherhood of his fellow soldiers in the highest regard.
Beyond his military service, Don was a devoted family man. He provided for and protected his loved ones with a fierce loyalty that will never be forgotten. He cherished the time spent with his family, and his absence will be felt deeply by all who knew him. With respect for his wishes there will be no funeral service. However, we will take comfort in knowing that Donald will live on through the memories he shared with those closest to him.
Rest in peace, Donald Mackenzie
Alot
Business Opportunities
Established Franchise Photography Business
Serving Northern B.C for over 35 years
Gross Revenues of $150.000 plus annually from seasonal work
Lots of opportunity to expand the business. Transition support available to the right buyer
Serious Enquiries Only
Office 250-596-9199 Cell 250-981-1472
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Established Franchise Tax Preparation BusinessMackenzieservicing and McLeod Lake area for over 30 years.
Gross Revenues of $85,000 to $90,000 Annually and Potential to expand revenues in a growing economy.
Transition support available for the right buyer.
Serious Inquires Only
Office (250)997-9003
Home (250)997-5538 Cell (250)990-0152
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.
Trucking & Transport
Experienced gravel truck driver required in PG area (250) 614-6667
SERVICES
Drywall
Experienced drywaller available for small jobs. Homeowners
Management/Administration
Chief Administrative Officer/ Chief Financial Officer
The Lakeside Village of Granisle is seek ing a well-rounded CAO/CFO multi-talented leader who has passion about public ser vice and community building, along with Municipal Finance background; Municipal Government or Public Sector experience is impor tant 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, Februar y 24, 2023 to Linda McGuire, Mayor
Email: lmcguire@villageofgranisle.ca or mail to PO Box 128, Granisle, BC V0J 1W0 marked confidential
Antiques
AVON COLLECTIBLES, Valued $3600, asking $1500. 250-6171934
Art & Collectibles
A LOT Of 45 & LPs. All kinds $5$40 each, 778-675-4716
BUYING ALL SILVER! 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!!! TODD 25O 864 3521 COLLECTOR PURCHASING COINS & COIN COLLECTIONS!
BUYING OLD COINS, ROLLS OF COINS, BANK BAGS OF COINS, RARE COINS, COLLECTOR COINS, OLYMPIC COINS, OLD PAPER MONEY, PRE 1968 COINS, ROYAL CANADIAN MINT COINS, US MINT, COLLECTIONS +. WANTED CANADA, USA & WORLD COLLECTIONS! Todd’s Coins 1-250-8643521
Antique Superb Dutch drop front Secretary, 140 years old, in excellent condition, $6500. 250-964-3794 Prince George
Collectibles & Classic Cars
QUICK PAY
For all gold, Estate jewelry, scrap or unwanted, coins & currency, antiques, Rolex. Unbeatable pricing, privacy assured. (250) 612-1808 24/7
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 ++++ TODD 25O 864 3521
Motorcycles
SUZUKI Bandit 1200, great shape, recent tune-up and brakes. (250)613-5981
HARLEY DAVIDSON Wide Glide. Low mileage. 250-6170443
BMW 1150 RT motorcycle, excellent cond. $5500. (250)5643152 (250)640-8267
COINS, OLD MONEY, COIN COLLECTIONS, 9999 BARS & COINS, ROYAL CANADIAN MINT COINS, COIN SETS, WORLD $$$ COLLECTIONS ++ TODD 25O 864 3521
Genuine Rolex watches, all models, old, new, damaged or parts req’d. Top prices paid subject to viewing. Gold, two-tone, tri-color & Stainless. Available 24/7 250-612-1808
$3000 now $2500 1999 MAZDA PROTEGE
Lots of recent work, have receipts. 1.8 L 5 Spd standard. Momo rims w/
SUDOKU
PUZZLE ANSWERS ON SEPARATE PAGE
1. Sea grape
5. European public health group (abbr.)
9. A way to delight 11. Appetizers
13. Ancient heralds’ wands 15. Make a booking 16. ‘__ death do us part 17. Pearl Jam frontman 19. Spider genus 21. Fill with high spirits 22. A major division of geological time 23. Catch
25. An independent ruler or chieftain
26. Electronic music style (abbr.)
27. Influential Spanish cubist painter
29. Illegally persuades
31. A way to derive
33. British School
34. Appear alongside
36. Surely (archaic)
38. Harsh cry of a crow
39. A day in the middle 41. Kansas hoops coach Bill
15. Call it a
43. The longest division of geological time
44. The first sign of the zodiac
46. Appetizer
48. Link together in a chain
52. A bacterium
53. In a way, forces apart 54. Cheese dish
56. Combines
57. In an inferior way 58. Colors clothes 59. Dried-up
43. Electronic countercountermeasures 45. Attack with a knife 47. Feel bad for
Enclosure 50. Assert 51. Geological times 55. Midway between east and southeast
Unproductive of
HOMES
4
Most people dream about creating a welcoming, tidy and attractive home. However, creating a magazine-worthy space can be pricey. Fortunately, there are several inexpensive ways to make a stylish residence. Here are four smart ideas.
1. DISPLAY YOUR FASHION ACCESSORIES
Use nails, hooks, shelves or pegboard to artistically display your most beautiful, eccentric or elegant accessories like hats, evening bags, stilettos, watches and ties.
2 CREATE A BOLD ACCENT WALL
Transform the end of a hallway or large wall into a statement piece. For example, you can use a contrasting paint colour or apply a uniquely patterned wallpaper Using recycled paint or liquidation wallpaper is even better.
3. MULTIPLY THE PLANTS
Walking into a room full of plants instantly makes you feel good. Fortunately, you can find beautiful, affordable and easy-to-care-for plants at local stores If your friends have green thumbs, ask them for a few cuttings.
4. CHOOSE USED ACCESSORIES
With some research, you can find oneof-a-kind decor in classified ads, thrift stores, second-hand stores and garage sales For example, you can pick up mirrors, knick-knacks, frames, lamps and vases in good condition at ridiculously low prices.
With a bit of imagination and resourcefulness, decorating your home can be affordable and fun.
•Pairfurnitureandaccessoriesinearth toneswithwhitewalls Youcanalso introducesubtlepatternsusingwallpaper oraddtexturewithwoodpanelsorslats
•Createanopenspacethatallows inplentyofnaturallight,andaddan arrayofindoorplants
When designing a Japandi-inspired space, alwaysremembertokeepthingssimpleand optforqualityoverquantity
