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MID-AUTUMN MOON FESTIVAL Barkerville Historic Town and Park’s annual MidAutumn Moon Festival is set for Saturday, Sept 9 The festival honours the Cariboo region’s Chinese community and includes festival-themed activities throughout the day, evening entertainment at the Theatre Royal, and a lantern parade at dusk
‘I’m assuming we won’t have parking for another three or four weeks’ PAGE 16
City, province clash over encampment
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
Members of Prince George city council say they are surprised, confused and disappointed in the Ministry of Housing’s response to the city’s decision to clear the Millennium Park encampment.
The city released a statement on Aug 31 notifying the public that occupants of Millennium Park encampment have been informed that they must remove all personal property from the site by Sept 9, citing safety concerns.
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon then issued a statement stating
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he was disappointed in council’s decision and urged council to reconsider The city said it signed a Memorandum of Understanding, called Heart and Hearth, with the province regarding supports for the unhoused in Prince George in June Coun. Tim Bennett said the situation at Millennium Park has become increasingly dangerous.
“We’ve recently heard from our frontline staff about conditions at Millennium Park and concerns that if something was to happen, the risk of how that would impact those living there, and the risk to the community ”
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Notice of Public Hearing Meeting
Salmon River-Lakes Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1587, Amendment Bylaw No 3300, 2023 and Zoning Bylaw No 2892, Amendment Bylaw No 3301, 2023
Subject Property: 17900Thompson Road W
Purpose: to amend the official community plan and zoning bylaw to permit a lot line adjustment between two properties (no additional lots will be created)
Next Steps: a public hearing meeting will be held on September 20, 2023 at 6:30 pm via telephone conference call or in-person attendance at the Regional District Board Room
Bear solutions sought
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
Prince George city council has requested a report from administration on possible solutions to minimize local human-bear conflicts.
The Conservation Officer Service said it has received more than 1,200 calls since the start of August regarding human-bear conflicts in Prince George, leading to 21 bears being put down
Blake McIntosh, director of civic operations, said the city has been sharing information with the public regarding bear awareness since the end of March
Since April 1, there have been 316 complaints received by the bylaw department in relation to bears and 41 tickets and 19 warnings in the past few months.
“I don’t like to see bears to be killed in our city so I would love to see more data and better campaign to see if we can reduce the bear fatalities,” Mayor Simon Yu said
However, McIntosh noted the onus for
keeping bears away from their properties also lies with the residents
“I think there is a responsibility on the public to ensure that their garbage is secure whether they put it in a building or use a ratchet strap to strap it down,” he said. “Part of the public awareness campaign highlighted that, and I think that if everyone does their part there would be less bear-human interactions ”
Coun. Ron Polillo inquired about the bear proof bins pilot project, which took place in 2019 and saw 300 bear proof bins used in a neighbourhood in the Hart McIntosh explained that the latching mechanism on those bins froze during the winter months, slowing garbage collection, so the style of can wasn’t successful
“We need to look at a better solution that works 12 months of the year,” said McIntosh. However, he noted that bearproof cans are about five times more expensive than regular containers and with 25,000 households in need of cans it could cost roughly $10 million.
Local boy gets three specialized bikes
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
Thanks to the generosity of the community, a Prince George boy with cerebral palsy now has bikes for life.
In July, Angela Shymanski started a fundraiser to give her 11-year-old neighbour, King, a specialized bicycle tailored to his unique needs
She said King originally had a small battery-operated bicycle that he could ride around the neighbourhood, but it was designed for much younger kids and he had since outgrown it
Knowing that a new specialized bike would cost about $5,000 and that his family only had one income, Shymanski started the GoFundMe to get him a new bike this summer. The GoFundMe raised $6,825 of its $5,000 goal
King now has bike that he can use now, one for when he outgrows that and a forever bike for when he’s an adult
“King got his bike! Well, actually… due to the incredible generosity of this
Man charged with murder
BC Prosecution Services has approved charges following the death of a Prince George woman on July 18.
Isabelle Thomas, 22, was killed in her home in the Alpine Village in the 2100 block of Upland Street following what was described as a home invasion
Zain Wood, 23, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the homicide.
Thomas had been living in the townhouse for about four years with her two young daughters A GoFundMe was launched by Thomas’ relatives to support her daughters, which raised $8,145 from the community.
“She always had the brightest smile and looked you in your eyes as she was talking with you,” her mother Leslie Thomas told the Citizen.
community, King got not one bike, but three,” said Shymanski in an update on
the GoFundMe campaign page.
She explained that he now has a new bike that fits for his needs now, another for when he outgrows his current bike and a third that will be his forever bike.
“Humongous shout out to Sheralee and the staff at Cerebral Palsy Kids & Families in Calgary, Alberta! They truly went above and beyond,” said Shymanski.
She added that King and his parents enjoyed their first ever vacation with no medical appointments whatsoever
“They spent two nights in a hotel, enjoyed water slides and rides and truly made some incredible memories,” said Shymanski “The icing on the cake was coming home with these bikes that have already given King immense freedom! He has been cruising around the neighborhood, Lheidli T’enneh park and other trails ”
Purpose: to rezone a 4-ha portion of the property from Rural 3 (Ru3) to Industrial 9 (M9) to permit Logging/Trucking Contractor use and Equipment Repair and Servicing use
Next Steps: a public hearing meeting will be held on September 20, 2023 at 7:30 pm via telephone conference call or in-person attendance at the Regional District Board Room
Temporary Use Permit No. 281
Subject Property: 6510 Tabor Lake South Road
Purpose: to allow gravel crushing and screening (Preliminary Resource Processing use) at an existing aggregate pit for a three-year period
Next Steps: a public consultation meeting will be held on September 19, 2023 at 7:30 pm via telephone conference call or in-person attendance at the Regional District Board Room
Local families grieve on overdose awareness day
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
Prince George families once again came together to grieve their loved ones lost to the overdose crisis as the city marked International Overdose Awareness Day last Thursday at Veterans Plaza.
The event, organized by Moms Stop the Harm and Broken Hearts of Fentanyl, was an opportunity to spread awareness and work toward breaking the stigma of drug use.
Illicit drug toxicity is the leading cause of unnatural death in British Columbia and is second only to cancer in terms of years of lives lost
“It is sad to say that we are losing our kids at a rapid rate,” said Michelle Miller, one of the organizers, who also lost her 25-year-old son Tanner to toxic drug poisoning “Approximately every four days here we lose a child Too many lives lost in BC, in Prince George, in Canada These are our kids passing away behind closed doors alone, in rehab centres, and on our streets of Prince George.”
Mayor Simon Yu also addressed the crowd
“My thoughts first and foremost go to all the families who have lost their kids and as a father of six and grandfather, I cannot imagine the pain, the suffering
experience due to drug overdose,” said Yu.
“We as a community we must come together not just on these days like this, to get to know each other, to help each other to make our streets safer to make sure drugs on the street is safe.”
Organizations and service providers were also on site together to raise awareness and provide harm reduction education
“Over 12,739 people have died since the province announced the crisis in 2016 and we’re continuing to lose people at a rapid pace,” said Alexandria West, executive director of Positive Living North
“The theme for this year’s Awareness Day is recognizing those that go unseen I would like to acknowledge all of those that have lost loved ones to this crisis Your loved ones mattered and were loved ”
Katt Cadieux, founder of the peer-led group UNDU (Uniting Northern Drug Users Undoing Stigma), said she wouldn’t be alive today if it wasn’t for options like safer supply.
“We need more because there’s just not enough accessibility nor availability out there and that we’re fighting a war on drugs, we’re fighting a war and a race on the toxicity and poisoning of drugs.”
Corrine Woods, a member of Moms Stop the Harm, lost her 22-year-old son Tony to an overdose in January
2018.
“The importance of the event for me is my son struggled with substances from an early age, there was no recognition of the poisonous toxic supply back in 2017,” said Woods, adding that despite there being more awareness of the crisis now, more work needs to be done
“We really need to push for more. So, people think that because there’s more awareness now, or because there’s agencies that are out there combating the crisis, that things are slowing down and they’re not We are losing our sons and daughters every day.”
Sasha Molbey started a local support group for families,through Mom’s Stop the Harm called Healing Hearts and attended the event to spread awareness of resources
“I lost my 24-year-old son in 2019 and I feel like I’m ready to be supportive to people who are dealing with this I mean it’s never going to get easier, but I just feel that I am ready to put my energy into helping to support others,” said Molbey, adding that her daughter also helps run the group
Healing Hearts bereavement support began holding monthly meetings in April and now has about nine members.
For more information, including meeting location details, email healingheartsprincegeorge@gmail com
Vanderhoof family farm fighting crime wave
TED CLARKE Citizen staff
Four days after someone deliberately set fire to two sheds and destroyed $1 million worth of hay needed to feed his cattle this winter, John Kochel and his family on their farm west of Vanderhoof were victimized by another criminal act.
While Kochel was attending church Aug 13 with his wife Karen and son Brian, someone went to the rear of Brian’s house and turned on two exterior taps.
By the time it was discovered the following afternoon, water had leaked through the window wells and the basement was flooded. Damage is estimated at $100,000
A few days later, someone left two of the Kochel’s cattle gates open, which allowed his herd to spill out onto the road in the dark of night
“Somebody is kicking our butts really bad,” said John Kochel “What they’re
showing is they can do what they want to do, when they want to do it
“The fact is there’s somebody out there who’s relentless, that’s three different things, and the fire, of course, is the most devastating We’re being terrorized and we’re terrified what’s next. My wife can’t sleep and nobody can. We’re terrorized, afraid of everything ”
The fire happened at about 4 a.m. on Aug.9.
The driver of another pickup truck who had been spotted driving at a rapid pace on Telegraph Road (about two miles from the fire site) at the time of the fire had been under suspicion.
We’re being terrorized and we’re terrified what’s next. My wife can’t sleep and nobody can. We’re terrorized, afraid of everything.”
Two sheds full of hay were lit simultaneously.
After an investigation, the RCMP fire commission determined arson was the cause
Police are looking for a 1993-97 off-white Ford F-250 super cab pickup truck with a primer black front driver’s side fender in connection to the hay fire
But he contacted a friend of Kochels a day later and said he’d been late for work that day, which is why he was speeding
He was approaching the other truck from behind at about 5:20 a m when the driver of the suspect vehicle suddenly swerved and pulled over on the road and turned out the headlights just as he passed by.
He reported to police there were two occupants in that truck.
All three incidents are being investigated by Vanderhoof RCMP to determine if they are related
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Vanderhoof RCMP at 250-567-222 or call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477
Kochel has 800 head of cattle and his crop was uninsured so he has no hay to feed them this winter.
They took a second cutting of the fields but it won’t be enough and, due to drought conditions across Western Canada, nobody has hay for sale.
The closest supply he’s found is in central Washington state and the cost ($450 per tonne) is prohibitive
So he faces the real prospect of having to sell his cattle for slaughter, including choice young mother cows aged three to six years he would normally keep for breeding and milking purposes for up to 12 years
“You don’t budget $1.5 million extra for feed when you put up your own feed,” said Kochel.
“Can we get it? I don’t think so That’s a lot of money to raise in our little world in a family farm ”
Toxic drugs killed six local residents in July
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
Data released by the BC Coroners Service for July shows the toxic drug crisis caused six more deaths in Prince George in July.
The number of deaths from unregulated drugs in Prince George so far this year is 45 Northern Health has seen 107 deaths in 2023, including 64 deaths in the northern interior, 11 in the northeast, and 32 in the northwest.
Provincially, for the 13th consecutive month, more than 190 British Columbians have lost their lives to the toxic,
unregulated drug supply.
Between January and July 2023, at least 1,455 deaths were attributed to toxic drugs, the largest number ever reported by the BC Coroners Service in the first seven months of a calendar year
The provincewide death rate stands at 46.2 per 100,000 residents, with the Vancouver Coastal (56 7), Island (52 4) and Interior (50 7) health authorities all posting death rates higher than ever
previously recorded.
The Northern Health Authority (59 8) continues to report the highest rate of death in the province.
Northern Health continues to report the highest death rate in the province.
The BC Coroners Service says that while the highest number of deaths have occurred in urban centres like Vancouver, Surrey and Greater Victoria, the most impacted health service delivery areas in 2023 also include Central Vancouver Island, Northern Interior, Northwest and Greater
Nanaimo. The number of unregulated drug deaths in July 2023 equates to about 6.4 deaths per day.
“I am saddened to once again report that British Columbia’s toxic drug crisis shows no signs of abating,” said Lisa Lapointe, chief coroner.
“We are continuing to experience record numbers of deaths provincewide because of the toxic drug supply The unregulated illicit market is highly unpredictable and continues to put thousands of lives at risk each month. Despite recommendations for the urgent expansion of a safer drug supply, very few have access to a stable, lower-risk alternative ”
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‘We have been begging for resources and support’
Continued from page 1
Coun Cori Ramsay said that from RCMP patrols, Prince George Fire Rescue and city staff, that there are serious safety concerns for the occupants living in Millennium Park, but also on first responders due to the increased density.
“The reality is that first responders cannot enter the encampment anymore. It’s just too unsafe due to the density ” Kahlon also said in his statement that he offered Prince George new resources like dedicated encampment response staff and deployment of temporary housing units to the community, but council chose not to access those resources
“I will accept any resources the province is willing to offer us, we are in a dire situation here We have been begging for resources and support,” Ramsay said. “That if the province is offering those services and supports, I welcome them to the city of Prince George ”
Coun. Kyle Sampson said he was “incredibly disappointed” in the minister’s statement.
“We’ve been short of begging the province to come to the table for years, but especially in the last few months, to provide resources and supports for folks experiencing homelessness, mental health issues, and addiction issues here in our community.”
Sampson also said he hadn’t seen the offers of support in the minister’s response made available to the city
“If those resources are available, we’ll take more, we’ll take all the resources the province can provide to the city of Prince George, and to the residents of Prince George, that helps in their execution of their jurisdictional responsibilities ”
Coun Brian Skakun said both the province and the City of Prince George share responsibility
“The city cannot simply blame the province for this situation and not accept any responsibility,” he said in an emailed statement “The city should never have allowed any of the folks in this encampment to get so entrenched that it got us to this point in time. We committed to
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working with the province on this matter and now can’t just throw them under the bus for political purposes.”
In an interview with the Citizen, Kahlon said that his BC Ministry of Housing staff, and BC Housing staff has been talking with city staff about some of the solutions they believe can be deployed
He said they were prepared to fund rapid housing to ensure people had shelter and were in discussions about locations where housing could be deployed
“All these conversations have been happening for six weeks and that’s a surprise that council is surprised because that’s the purpose of the MOU,” he added
“For us to get a surprise call on Wednesday saying council in-camera decided that they’re going to go ahead unilaterally was a surprise and a real disappointment, not to mention the fact that the courts have stated repeatedly that you must have a shelter available for individuals before you move an encampment, and so that’s our frustration ”
He said had a conversation with Mayor Simon Yu and they agreed they have a mutual interest which is wanting to support individuals that are needing housing but also wanting to keep the community safe
“I reiterated my point to him, which is we agree with them and we agree with council, that this camp is not safe for the individuals there and not safe for the community at large. But you got to
move methodically and just moving one encampment down the street does not solve the problem. Moving them to a different part of the city does not solve the problem.”
Occupants of Millennium Park will be required to leave on Saturday, Sept. 9. Ramsay said the last update she received from B.C. Housing was that there was enough shelter spaces in the city for those at the encampment.
“But obviously, not everyone is going to want that solution. There have been significant improvements made at the Lower Patricia encampment to ensure that first responders can access, and egress can be achieved,” she added
Sampson said that although not ideal, the Lower Patricia encampment known as Moccasin Flats is a safer situation.
“My hope for how encampment day goes is that it’s peaceful, smooth, and well run We’re giving folks notice ample notice to find alternative means. There’s outreach workers down there all the time, including city outreach workers, and we’re going to try to get them tapped into any resources that they want and or need ”
He added council will to continue to ask the province to provide support on decampment day, and for them to provide housing and other provincial resources to ensure smooth operation. See letters to the editor on page 9 and city manager’s email on page 13
Temporary Use Permit No. 270
Subject Property: 9040 Tabor Glen Drive
Purpose: to allow Storage/Warehouse Facility use for a three-year period
Next Steps: a public consultation meeting will be held on September 19, 2023 at 6:30 pm via telephone conference call or in-person attendance at the Regional District Board Room
City sees second-driest summer on record
TED CLARKE Citizen staff
Environment Canada meteorologist Armel Castellan says Prince George has just experienced its second-driest summer on record.
Just 83.6 millimetres of precipitation was recorded in the city over the past three months, which is just 47 4 per cent of the average 176.7 mm.
The only drier summer was in 2014 when the city had just 68 mm of moisture.
At the other end of the scale, 1954 was the wettest at 254 mm.
In June-July-August, the mean temperature (average high and low combined) in P G was 15 7 C, which makes it the 11th warmest summer on record
Smithers, Dease Lake, Chetwynd and Fort Nelson and the Yukon Territory had their warmest summers ever
“When you look at the temperature curve for Prince
George, what’s striking is the anomaly was strongest earlier in the season,” said Castellan
“In mid-June and late-June and again in early-July those were strong multi-day events where you were significantly above seasonal.”
Although the thermometer at Prince George Airport rose above 20 C for 25 of the 31 days last month, the city averaged 16 1 C in August, just above the average 15 C August precipitation was significantly lower than normal with just 22 5 mm recorded, 43 6 per cent of the average 51.5 mm for the month.
No daily high records were broken in August but we hit 30 C or warmer on three of those days (Aug. 6, Aug. 13 and Aug 28)
On average, we usually break the 30 C barrier in August just once
Selective memories trivialize our colonial past
Hadiksm Gaax di waayu, Jessie King di waayu My name is Jessie King I am Gitxaała, people of the open sea and Git Lax M’oon, people of the saltwater. My wil’naat’al (matriline) is traced to Lach Klan, also known as Kitkatla, approximately 60 km south of Prince Rupert For transparency, I am also Scottish and Irish from my Father I position myself to give you context
In August, I have seen two letters in the Citizen about the successes and achievements of John Fergus O’Grady I see you and I hear you, though you are forgetting to see the forest for the trees
Indian Residential Schools, I prefer to use institutions as these were not schools by my definition, were designed with one intention
“I want to get rid of the Indian problem I do not think as a matter of fact, that the country ought to continuously protect a class of people who are able to stand alone
Our objective is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic and there is no Indian question” (Duncan Campbell Scott, 1920 in the National Archives of Canada)
I cannot believe that in 2023, I must write this again, that Indigenous peoples have to educate people on this once again
That these letters are published one month before National Truth and Reconciliation Day is both traumatic for me and tragic for efforts towards reconciliation
I am tired and heartbroken, but I remain hopeful that my children will not have to continue these conversations when I become their ancestor
What is the problem in defending someone that did a few good things while playing a key role in the assimilation agenda of colonial Canada?
Everything
Please, spare me the anecdotes of a few good examples and let us really take a look at what this commentary aims to do
First, I do not disagree with your viewpoints; sure, maybe you did have great interactions with this person
This is an example of how you can see more than one perspective at a time, this is called two-eyed seeing (termed by Mi’kmaw Elders Albert and Murdeana Marshall).
I am not diminishing your experiences by clapping back by saying you are wrong, I am saying, however, that you have chosen to trivialize colonial history by highlighting a few good deeds by one person.
A few good examples does not absolve someone of their efforts to maintain institutions that were specifically designed by Canadian officials to eliminate family in my Grandmother’s generation
Please do not trivialize this desert-sized violent colonial agenda by focussing solely on your grain of sand.
The Canadian government sent observers to the U.S. to study their Indian Boarding schools
U.S. Indian Boarding schools were designed to rid them of Native Americans, to control them, to remove them, and to relegate them to lands away from Americans.
Yes, Prime Minister at the time, John A MacDonald, sent Nicholas Davin to report on the civilization of Native Americans to justify public funding to do the same in Canada
Here is an excerpt from Davin’s report submitted in 1879:
“The missionaries’ experience is only surpassed by their patient heroism, and their testimony, like that of the school teachers, like that of the authorities at Washington is, that if anything is to be done with the Indian, we must catch him very young The children must be kept constantly within the circle of civilized conditions” (Davin, 1879, p 24)
The key to accomplishing assimilation, was to catch us while we were young and finding people willing imprison us at these institutions
People who often were not trained to educate in poorly funded institutions Children were physically, emotionally, and sexually abused if not killed in horrendous ways.
Your examples of a few good deeds attempts to dismantle those truths. It gives people permission to look away from the unmarked graves being found on the sites these institutions ran on, and it allows us to be complicit because it is comfortable
Disguising complaints about streets being renamed in 2023 by sharing a few good examples of someone who played an active role in maintaining institutions to disappear my ancestors, me, and my children is nothing but an attempt to undo the work many good people are doing towards reconciliation
Histories need to tell both sides of a story that until now have largely been written from a non-Indigenous perspective
In addition, these efforts spit in the face of the work many of us are doing now as adults to reclaim cultures, languages, and belonging that was stolen from our parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents
Despite this, my Grandmothers would ask me to be gentle and I tend to agree I encourage you to keep learning; do not lose your good examples of this person, but do not do it at the cost of erasing the harms that same person committed.
These are the historical harms people continue to heal from in contemporary spaces and will continue to do so with or without your empathy and compassion if you choose to remain complicit in your own version of history.
To my Indigenous brothers, sisters, and non-Indigenous allies working towards seeing the full picture of our shared history, I see you.
Now we can keep going
We acknowledge the financial support of the government of Canada. Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.
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Jessie King
Prince George
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
SAME MISTAKES AGAIN
In 2021, the City of Prince George failed its attempt to “decamp” at both the Splits (George Street) and Moccasin Flats. As we all know, the city made a public apology following the decampment and the city awarded payouts to victims The city has paid out to almost a dozen victims and is still in arrears to pay out approximately two dozen more.
Together with victims, a report was sent to the city regarding the damages, which amounted to more than $50,000 The victims also identified several important “lessons learned” to avoid harmful and expensive mistakes in the future
- There should be an open and clear commitment to improve the process when residents are transitioned into social and supportive housing
- Ensure there is transparency and consent throughout the whole process
- List the reasonable supports that will be offered before the transition to supportive housing occurs. Discuss this with residents individually and also publicly
- If you intend to dispose of people’s belongings, explain the process that is about to happen in clear language at least two weeks in advance This should be publicly explained and notices should be put up so that people who are not physically present can understand. Provide a contact number so that people can get further information.
- Offer reasonable support to transport goods to the new shelter or to storage facilities Two bins is insufficient
- Ensure there is time for people to figure out what to do with belongings that won’t fit at the shelter or storage facility. We have friends and family who can help
- Get signed agreements to confirm that residents understand the process
- Take a photo of the scope of items that will be disposed of so there is no disagreement later.
- Have residents sign that reasonable support was provided to transport goods and that disposal can proceed Claimants felt that if transition to housing and the “clean up” is done right, the city and citizens will be “better friends” afterwards If our relationship is not better after transition to housing, something has gone wrong
Given the expansion of the Safe Street bylaw made in July to allow bylaw to
remove abandoned items, these recommendations should be taken seriously. Claimants and other de-housed citizens are willing to provide consultation so we can get this right
Amelia Merrick, Prince George
SHUT DOWN THE PARTY
I was hoping that you could help me get the word out to the teenagers and young adults that like to “party” in Glenview Elementary parking lot on the weekends that this has to stop You need to find somewhere else to party.
For two years now I, a homeowner who lives beside the school, have put up with midnight basketball, screeching tires, loud music, yelling, swearing, drinking, drug dealing and fighting in the school parking lot at all hours of the night
I have tried and tried to work with SD57, mayor and council and the bylaw department to address some of my concerns but I am either gaslighted by the school district or just ignored.
And although I have had to call the RCMP three times this summer because of what was going on in the parking lot, they really don’t have time to drive up to the Hart two or three times a night every weekend to babysit our kids.
And they shouldn’t have to Parents, where are you when your teenage children are out driving around with music blaring and tires screeching at 4 a m ?
So this is an open letter advising people that like to party in the parking lot at Glenview Elementary that I will be doing all I can to shut you down I am having security cameras installed and they should be up by next weekend I will also come out and confront you directly, documenting your licence plate and vehicle type so it can be reported to the police and hopefully your parents
So far this summer I have been going out myself and confronting the teenagers and young adults directly, giving them the choice to leave or having the police called. Most of them leave. And now I am a target with kids driving by swearing at me and throwing garbage at me.
Welcome to Prince George, Lynn I have no choice but to try and deal with this myself No one will help, except the RCMP. And no homeowner should have to put up with this ongoing
disturbance at all hours of the night every weekend.
It’s time for this homeowner to draw a line in the sand.
People, go party somewhere else at 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Maybe right in your parents driveway And crank up that music real loud.
Lynn Blatta, Prince George
‘DISGUSTING MESS’
Minister Kahlon, how dare you criticize Prince George for dealing with the disgusting mess your government has failed to deal with?
I don’t see tent encampments in downtown Victoria or Vancouver parks The legislature lawn is a great place to send our homeless to set up their camp but I’m sure you’d deal with that expeditiously I guess we’re out of sight, out of mind.
The residents and businesses of Prince George have been forced to deal with the crime, squalor, vandalism, public drug use, danger and cost of the poor victims of addiction or mental issues while your useless government sits on your fat hands and makes hollow promises
Your incompetent handling of these problems has made parts of our city uninhabitable, made business operation impossible and/or unviable, cost our citizens financially and made citizens ashamed of our community
Do your job or quit and give it to someone who will
Don McMillan, Prince George
WHAT TOOK SO LONG?
All it took was a building to blow up, a city employee to get seriously injured and a mass of angry citizens to get city hall off their duff and move ahead with the removal of the camp at First Avenue
The question is why did it take the city so long to deal with this issue after passing the motion to remove the camp months ago?
There are many thoughts on this but my personal opinion is about half of city council was scared to do anything and decided to let it play out Well, it played out badly with damages to multiple businesses, a destroyed building, a seriously injured person and a bunch of angry citizens who are wondering why city council is so ineffective.
What will it take next time for council
to move on the homeless? A fatality with staff, downtown going up in flames, or angry citizenry which we all know you ignore anyway.
It is very obvious that only two city councillors and Mayor Simon Yu have been vocal about the issue and get blocked by the rest of council who vote down motions or deny motions before they reach the floor. The rest of council seems content to stick their heads in the sand and ignore what the citizens of Prince George want If you are not willing to listen to the citizens of the city, I suggest you step down and let someone else do the job in your stead
It’s about time you started doing what we elected you to do and listen to the citizens of this city If you can’t do that, well then we have a problem
Dean Soiland, Prince George
O’GRADY HELPED ALL
Bishop O’Grady changed many lives
He changed mine before I even met him, when I joined a friend to be a volunteer teacher in one of the new church-related schools in Prince George Having intended to stay for the school year, I decided to continue teaching in B C , later married, raised a family and became a Canadian citizen
Bishop O’Grady was responsible for the construction of many church-related schools throughout northern B.C., from Prince George west to (I believe) Prince Rupert. Those schools were attended by Indigenous, Caucasian and other students.
A young Indigenous woman who became a friend of mine, from the Williams Lake area, attended the high school named Prince George College since the public schools, at that time did not accept Indigenous students. She then went on to become one of the first Indigenous registered nurses in B.C.
Many people are unaware of the fact that B.C. provincial schools chose not to accept responsibility for educating Indigenous students during the 1960s. Many young students, including next-generation survivors, benefitted from Bishop O’Grady’s altruism
Changing street names and signs is an example of revisionist, short-sighted denial of factual history.
Mary Ellison, Williams Lake
Contractor sues city over watermain work
MARK NIELSEN
Special to the Citizen
A contractor has taken the City of Prince George to court, claiming the municipality has reneged on more than $500,000 worth of unexpected extra work related to the installation of a pair of watermains.
In a notice of claim, Progrus Constructors Inc. says it had to deal with two breaks along the city’s existing watermains while installing a new PVC water main along Chief Lake Road during the late summer of 2021
One occurred in August when workers struck the main at Highway 97 North and the other in September when the main at Kelly Road “spontaneously ruptured” and flooded the nearby Chief Lake Road excavation
Progrus says the city is responsible for both of them, alleging the municipality failed to properly identify the location of the main along Highway 97 North and failed to properly maintain or install the Kelly Road watermain
Including a 10 percent markup and GST, Progrus is seeking $233,515 15 for the costs of repairs from the breaks and
an alleged 31 days worth of subsequent delays to complete the Chief Lake Road project.
As well, Progrus is seeking $287,864 04 for “extra work” done while installing PVC watermain at the intersection of Patricia Boulevard and Ontario Street at about the same time as the Chief Lake Road project
According to the claim, in November 2021 the city directed Progrus to expose two additional portions beyond the existing location specified in the contract and carry out some tie-in work.
Progrus “duly performed” the extra work, however the city has “refused or
neglected” to pay. For that, Progrus is seeking $195,681 51, GST included, in allegedly outstanding payments plus $92,182 53 in “lost profits” created when the city subsequently repudiated the contract and took over the remaining work
All told, Kamloops-based Progrus is claiming $521,379 19 in damages plus interest, legal costs and any further relief the court may deem appropriate Progrus filed the notice of claim on August 25 in B C Supreme Court in Vancouver. The allegations have not been tested in court and the city has not yet filed a response
Pipeline construction work wrapping up
All but about 20 kilometres of the 670-km Coastal GasLink pipeline was installed as of the end of July, according to TC Energy’s August update.
About half of the remaining pipeline to be installed is in Section 3, the 103-kilometre portion that stretches from east of McLeod Lake to north of Prince George.
Going forward, the company says reclamation will continue to ramp up as pipe installation is completed. A five-year post construction monitoring program will follow to ensure that reclamation efforts are successful. “Mechanical completion” is on pace to be done by the end of the year.
“We are also advancing our operational readiness, which ensures that the pipe can safely receive and transport natural gas when we shift into operations,” the update says. “This includes meeting with communities along the project route to share our plans for safe operations.”
School board chair to run for MLA in next election
Taylor herself would suggest you spend those thousands on books. To help you out, here is her own top ten list of favourite reads!
Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
The Great Gatsby by F. G. Fitzgerald
Conversation with Friends by Sally Rooney
To Killa Mockingbird Bird by Harper Lee
Normal People by Sally Rooney
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
School District 57 Board of Education chair Rachael Weber has secured the Conservative Party of British Columbia nomination as a candidate for MLA in the riding of Prince George-Mackenzie in the next provincial election.
“Rachael’s experience in a leadership role on her community’s school board has given her the tools to be a great MLA and a leader in a Conservative government,” said Conservative Party of British Columbia Leader MLA John Rustad
“We’re going to be running 93 candidates who are committed to fighting for their ridings and their home communities
we’re proud to have Rachael standing with us,” Rustad added. “I believe in being straightforward about tough decisions, and standing up for constituents That’s why I’m choosing to run with John
Rustad and his Conservative Party of British Columbia team.”
“I’m looking forward to connecting with everyday British Columbians all across Prince George-Mackenzie, and working with the Conservative Party of British Columbia team to build momentum for our movement and stand for what’s right for British Columbians,” she said In July, when it was announced that Weber was seeking the nomination as BC Conservative candidate, she said she would remain in her position as chairperson but would make necessary adjustments if and when needed
“The School Board is not the only responsibilities that I hold,” Weber said “My commitment and dedication to the School District and the communities are steadfast and will remain this way until the need to change ”
B.C.’s next provincial election is scheduled for Saturday, October 19, 2024
Couple lands lottery win
Myung and Jin Kim struck it rich in the June 17 Lotto 6/49 draw and as a result they’re planning a winter holiday this winter to Korea.
The Prince George couple bought their ticket at Walmart in Southridge Avenue and picked five of the six numbers to win $139,400.30. Jin was the ticket buyer and was out with his wife Myung when they di d th i d f t
“I saw there was a winner in Prince George and I asked my wife to check the ticket and tell me the numbers,” said Jin “We saw the winning numbers and discovered we matched them My wife was very happy.”
The described the feeling of winning all that money as “unbelievable,” and they plan to pay off their mortgage with some f th i i i
Myung and Jin Kim of Prince George
Home builder sees housing crisis ahead
TED CLARKE Citizen staff
Allen Creuzot has been building housing projects in Prince George for 45 years and the construction industry climate change he’s been seeing lately seems irreversible.
The price of building materials has skyrocketed, mortgage rates continue to increase and new building codes to raise energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions are adding to the cost of building a new home
“It’s going to be a real mess coming up soon,” said the Creuzot Homes owner “We’re facing so many challenges it’s not even funny From accessibility to money - banks are ignorant to deal with at times, they’re not easy to help out the building community at times Every time I go to the wholesaler or lumber yard there’s cost increases that we incur that have to be passed on to the homeowner. It’s kind of gotten carried away ” As a general contractor lining up work
Prince
performed by tradesmen, there’s always uncertainty for Cruezot when he starts a building project because he never knows
what the final bill for that work will be.
“You get a price today and it’s only good for 14 days,” he said. “They don’t even know what the price is going to be like tomorrow, so some of these trades don’t want to give you prices ” Creuzot said lending institutions don’t like that uncertainty and the possibility a new home could cost more than originally estimated, which rules out some potential homeowners qualifying for mortgages
efficiency than in 2018. The province also introduced its five-level Zero Carbon Step Code, which aims to create airtight buildings that supply their own energy needs with net-zero renewable energy by 2032.
“This is an extremely easy industry for governments to hit because it’s something that isn’t there yet, it’s not like used housing where they can give you incentives,” said Creuzot
To meet those standards requires energy efficiencies such as triple-pane windows and heat pumps as a heating source Some local homeowners who have switched to heat pumps are paying as much as $800 per month just to heat their homes
“A heat pump or electric heat takes a lot longer to heat that home and it costs a lot more,” Creuzot said. “Provincially, they’re trying to get you away from natural gas to try to have everybody electrify - the city of Vancouver already has a ban and any new construction can’t have natural gas in it
“In the Lower Mainland you may be able to heat your home really well and fairly efficiently with a heat pump, but in other parts of the province, such as here where we hit 40-below weather, we have totally different heat loads Natural gas is still an efficient way to heat your home.
On May 1, a new BC Building Code took effect which requires most new buildings to have 20 per cent better energy
“Now, what the (provincial and federal) governments are doing with the carbon tax is making it artificially look like natural gas is becoming less and less cost efficient In actuality, gas is cheap, it’s all the taxes that are on there.”
CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO
George builder Allen Creuzot sees troubled times ahead for the local housing construction market
City manager’s email to city employees
Editor’s Note: City manager Walter Babicz sent the following email to City of Prince George staff last Thursday (Aug. 31) afternoon
Good afternoon everyone, I’m writing today on behalf of myself and the entire senior leadership team to confirm to you that your safety is our primary concern, at all times.
Our downtown has been a source of concern and frustration in our community for some time, and despite increased resources directed at the downtown area, it only seems to be getting worse I know that this is felt by all of you, both as citizens and as City employees I have heard these concerns, I understand them, and I share them
We all know that encampments of unhoused individuals in the downtown core are not safe for occupants, and they’re not safe for the general public in surround areas
As you all know, the City has grappled with encampments for a long time
Our challenge has been that the laws
around encampment response have become very complex, and there are a lot of legal hurdles involved. We need to be extremely careful in responding to an encampment.
We learned this the hard way at Lower Patricia, which is now protected indefinitely by court order as the result of the City’s previous attempt to clear the site.
Over the past few months, we have been focused on checking all the boxes required to ultimately bring an end to outdoor camping in Prince George.
This has involved a huge number of moving pieces, from bylaw amendments to complex negotiations with the provincial government
Because of the nature of this work, which includes confidential legal advice and sensitive information, the public is not aware of the massive efforts both administration and Council have made in pursuit of this goal
As a result, there is a widely held (and completely understandable) perception, including among some members of
staff, that the City is “doing nothing” to improve conditions downtown Moving forward, we’ll communicate more on the extent of the City’s efforts on the pieces that aren’t confidential.
I can report to you now that we believe the City is finally in a place where it can successfully take a stand on public safety
To that end, I want to share with you that the encampment at Millennium Park will be cleared in September.
The site will be fenced and measures will be taken to ensure that the encampment cannot be re-established
BC Housing representatives are working to connect occupants of the park with available shelter space, but we expect some occupants may move to Lower Patricia or other areas of the City
The City is ready to immediately address any attempts to establish further encampments.
I know this has been a long time coming, and that you are all tired and frustrated
I want to assure you that both Council
Angus Project Invitation to Comment
and administration are dedicated to urgently improving safety in the downtown core. While that work is underway, I want to remind everyone:
If you feel threatened while doing your job, stop and get yourself somewhere safe.
If you feel that your job requires you to be in unsafe or threatening situations on a regular basis, please talk to your supervisor. We will take whatever steps are necessary to allow you to work safely
If you see any person contravening City bylaws, particularly those relating to public safety, please report it immediately
No one employed by the City will never face repercussions for taking steps to stay safe, or for communicating safety concerns to their supervisor
Thank you all very much for everything you do to serve our community I am incredibly appreciative and proud of your efforts, and of your commitment to Prince George.
Take care, Walt
The EAO is holding a public comment period on the Initial Project Description, which outlines major components of the project and anticipated effects
Teachers ready to start new school year
Class was back in session Tuesday, with School District 57 teachers busy welcoming students back to school.
“Teachers been working hard last week to have things in the classrooms ready People are excited to welcome new students. Enrolment is up in Prince George and I hope that our classes will be fully staffed,” Prince George District Teachers’ Association (PGDTA) President Daryl Beauregard said
“That’s been a big challenge over the last, I guess, six years now ”
He said that is one of the biggest concerns because when classes aren’t fully staffed, specialist teachers supporting vulnerable students are pulled from their duties and those services aren’t available for students in need
“A big hope for us this year, that we might see a beginning of a turnaround of the teacher shortage.”
However, Beauregard added that the PGDTA won’t have final staffing numbers for a couple of weeks because students are still enrolling and the district is still building divisions as the school year begins.
“Everything is in flux for the first couple of weeks ” Beauregard noted that some of the more concerning
items on the PGDTA’s radar have not gone away over the summer and that includes growing movements taking place across the country that impact the rights for students who are LGBTQ+
“My members in this union are very much committed to continue in providing a safe, welcoming place for everyone and I hope that some of the more concerning aspects that are in our communities don’t impact the public-school service that we provide,” said Beauregard
“This is something that that is a very core value to public education, and to my union So, we’ll be continuing to push governance, to make sure those rights are
secured ”
Beauregard added that it has been a difficult summer for a lot of people in the community citing wildfires, smoke and economic uncertainty
“And that applies to the families of our students and some of our members so let’s start the school year inviting them all in a welcoming space,” he said
“Folks who need support, we’re going to be there to give that support One thing that we should all be able to count on is a public school system that is there for people when they need it and that’s something we’re committed to.”
School district hires superintendent search firm
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
The Board of Education of School District No. 57 (Prince George) has hired a Vancouver company called Boyden Executive Search firm to support the recruitment search for a new superintendent.
The district said Boyden will begin work this month.
Staff and members of the public will be able to provide feedback related to the search directly to Boyden Executive Search through a survey link for their collection and information The survey link will be available next week.
“We’re excited to begin the process of recruiting a new Superintendent to prudently manage day-to-day operations and carry out the long-term vision for our District,” said Rachael Weber, Chair,
School District 57 Board of Education.
“We recognize there has been some turnover in this position in recent years, and we want to ensure that we take a measured approach in recruiting the best person for the job to ensure our students receive the best education that the District can provide ”
Weber added the board is grateful for the work that interim Superintendent Pamela Spooner has been doing since March 10 and reiterated that she has the full support of the board.
Spooner is currently serving as Acting Superintendent following the removal of former superintendent Cindy Heitmen, which triggered the resignations of former trustees Gillian Burnett and Betty Bekkering.
Heitman has since been named as the new president of the College of New Caledonia
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
School District 57 teachers and students returned to the classroom this week
Celebration held to open Jumpstart court
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
The brand-new Canadian Tire JumpStart Multi Sport Court in Carrie Jane Gray Park is now open.
Local children sporting red JumpStart t-shirts court were the first to try out the court in a special grand opening celebration last Wednesday morning
Spanning over 28,000 square feet, the new JumpStart Multi Sport Court is the largest of its kind built in Canada to date
Designed to accommodate physical, cognitive, and sensory disabilities, the recreation space supports casual play and a variety of organized sports and para sports
“We’re thrilled this project is completed and ready for people to enjoy” said City of Prince George Mayor Simon Yu.
“We know there’s been a lot of buzz about this for people keen to play basketball, volleyball, hockey, tennis, pickleball and even badminton. We’re grateful to JumpStart for their contribution to this fantastic facility,” he said.
The court came to be through a collaboration with JumpStart and because of the generosity of local Canadian Tire dealer Selen Alpay.
“This new multisport court will be a hub of activity where kids and families can gather, get outside, and share in the many benefits of sports and recreation. This new facility will also help remove barriers to recreation giving kids of all abilities the access and opportunity to
try a new sport or continue a sport they love,” said Alpay
The city contributed $475,000 from reserve provincial grant money, and JumpStart contributed $950,000 to build the project
The playground is located in Carrie Jane Gray Park, a neighbourhood hub that features sporting fields and a wide variety of recreational facilities The JumpStart Multi Sport Court is part of the charity’s Inclusive Play Project, which
focuses on removing accessibility barriers to sport and play
The court also features a new an automated external defibrillator (AED) machine, thanks to a donation from the family of Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond in memory of her late husband Bill She said Alpay and his wife Anita approached her and asked if she would be wiling to help install an AED machine in the new court.
“Selen and Anita have been partners in
University Way closure extended
The Shane Creek Bridge on University Way is going to remain closed for another two to four weeks.
The city said as work has now commenced on the resurfacing for the Shane Creek Bridge deck, further deficiencies have been identified, increasing the scope of work for the project.
Despite the delay, the city says the project is expected to remain within the budget.
“We’re also taking advantage of University Way being
closed to vehicles by undertaking a pothole sweep over the coming weeks and ensuring remedial work can be done on the road during this time,” manager of roads and fleet Jordan Wiseman said “We apologize for the estimated timeframe needing to be extended, but like a lot of upgrade work, once you start the work you identify various issues along the way. We appreciate everyone’s understanding ”
The city is also urging pedestrians and cyclists to be cautious around active work sites University Way is closed to traffic from Foothills to the entrance of UNBC however at any time, authorized construction vehicles
a legacy project for my husband. Many of you would know we placed AEDs in public places in Bill’s honour and so when Selen and Anita said would your family consider putting an AED in this park and it didn’t take more than a nanosecond to say absolutely,” she said.
Bond established the Bill Bond Memorial Fund alongside the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Prince George Community Foundation which has paid for more than eight AED machines
may utilize the road as part of the work. Pedestrians and cyclists need to remain on the bike lanes and sidewalks and comply with the detour signs.
Work was originally supposed to take place between Aug. 8 and Sept. 1 but the project was delayed and work did not begin until Aug 22, with an expected completion date of Sept. 15.
The road is closed between Foothills and the entrance to the University but the university entrance is still accessible via Tyner Boulevard Transit service has also been impacted by this road closure as it requires a detour for Route 15 UNBC/Downtown
CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO
Local children prepared for a game of wheelchair basketball during the opening celebration of the new Jumpstart court
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
Watermain repair causing grief for businesses
TED CLARKE Citizen staff
Downtown stores and restaurants on Third Avenue have noticed a significant downturn in business since the city began a project to replace the water supply lines that run underneath the road.
The project began August 8 and is slated for completion sometime at the end of September.
That day can’t come soon enough for North 54 general manager and head chef Tyler Currie. He says business has dropped about 50 per cent since construction began With Third Avenue closed to traffic for about two blocks, customers are unable to park in front of the restaurant
“It’s running really slow, they told us they were going to be doing our water last Sunday, now they’ve pushed us off to next Sunday and I’m assuming we won’t have parking for another three or four weeks,” said Currie
The sidewalks on the street remain open but Currie says people are reluctant to walk through the downtown because of the street people who frequent the area
“Parking is the biggest problem, they’ll park somewhere close to Nancy O’s or White Goose and go there for lunch,” said Currie.
“No matter what, they had to do this The (watermain) is from the 50s”
Among the businesses affected are Third Avenue Pharmacy, Karim Indian Cuisine Restaurant, Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop and Canadian Western Bank, as well as several stores west of Victoria Street in Victoria Square
The area under construction is the entire block west to Vancouver Street and half the block east from Victoria Street to Brunswick Street.
Savers Optical owner Brenda Johnson said the city gave business at least two months warning street access would be restricted Her business is down about 40 percent and the lack of parking is the biggest issue for her customers
“Some people are giving up, kind of circling around and some are giving up because there’s not really anywhere else to park to get in here,” said Johnson.
“They were off to roaring start and did really good the
first week,” she said “They dug it up and replaced the pipes and filled it over and we thought, great, it’s not going to take two months, but they haven’t really been back.”
According to the city, work was slightly delayed this week to allow for bacteriological testing of the water. The city is also replacing copper water lines as close as possible to the affected properties and will replace all hydrants on the water line
A temporary hydrant was installed to allow testing and flushing and will be removed before the street is paved.
Blake McIntosh, the city’s director of civic operations, realizes what an inconvenience it is for the affected businesses but to prevent watermain breaks that happen
occasionally during freeze-thaw cycles the city had no choice but to act on the project.
“It’s a tough one, we try to keep people in water but that infrastructure is probably 60 years old and it’s hard to keep band-aiding it,” said McIntosh “They’re going to get new water, new services and then they’re going to have fresh pavement when it’s done, so it’s going to be good for them.”
Earth To Sky Cannabis supervisor Garnet Grenon figures his store has lost about 20 per cent of its business in August but many of his regular customers are walk-in clients who don’t require parking
The store had to close the past two Sundays when the water supply was turned off and there were no washroom facilities for staff
CITIZEN STAFF PHOTOS
Above, Garnet Grenon looks out at the watermain construction project that has closed Third Avenue in front of his Earth To Sky Cannabis store Bottom left, the road to Victoria Street on Third Avenue has been closed since early August to allow for watermain replacement Bottom right, Third Avenue between Vancouver Street and Victoria Street will remain closed into September to allow for watermain replacement
Fraudster sentenced to house arrest
MARK NIELSEN
Special to the Citizen
A Prince George woman who used her employer’s credit cards to satisfy a penchant for online gambling has been sentenced to a 16-month conditional sentence order - effectively house arrestfollowed by 20 months probation.
Chantal Loring, 35, was also ordered to pay $32,973 restitution for the amount her employer was unable to recover from the B.C. Lottery Corporation, under the terms issued August 22 by Prince George Provincial Court Judge Michael Brecknell
According to a reasons for sentence, Loring was hired in November 2018 by an agency that provides nurses and other health care professionals on a temporary basis
Her duties included booking travel and hotels using company credit cards
She signed an agreement that the cards would be used only for the bookings she made as part of her employment but within a month the credit card company’s fraud department alerted her employer that the cards were being used to transfer money to a PlayNow account.
The cards were cancelled and two new cards issued
But they too were added to the PlayNow account, registered to Loring, and the unauthorized transfers continued.
As well, a portion of the funds were transferred from the PlayNow account to her personal bank accounts
Slightly less than three months after she had been hired, Loring was fired from her job and arrested at the office by RCMP on counts of theft over $5,000 and fraud over $5,000
It was not the first time Loring had committed such offences
discharge for shoplifting at a Prince George grocery store in February 2018
Crown counsel had argued for 9-12 months in jail followed by two years probation, but in reaching his decision, Brecknell made note of the effort Loring has made in the four years since her arrest to turn her life around
At the time of the offence, Loring was taking eight-plus Tylenol 3 pills daily, which made her thinking cloudy and disconnected
Though this was humiliating, Ms. Loring feels that was the wakeup call she desperately needed and may well have saved her life.”
In February 2017, she stole cheques from a social agency where she was working and wrote more than $10,000 to herself and paid bills with them
In January 2022, she was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay $4,469.85 restitution.
At the same hearing, she was also sentenced to an 18-month conditional
Since the arrest, she reduced the intake and by August 2022 had completely stopped taking them
“The RCMP arrested Ms Loring at work rather than serving her a summons at her residence Though this was humiliating, Ms. Loring feels that was the wakeup call she desperately needed and may well have saved her life.
“In custody, she accepted that her T3 use was out of control as she started detoxing in cells She is profoundly regretful that it took an arrest for her to
Martin retiring as regional district CAO
Jim Martin, the chief administrative officer for the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, will be retiring at the end of 2023.
The CAO since 2007, Martin has been with the Regional District since 1994 when he joined the newly-formed Environmental Services Department to
support the implementation of the Regional Solid Waste Management Plan.
“Jim’s leadership and contributions have left an indelible mark on the regional district,” Lara Beckett, chair of the regional district board, said in a news media release.
‘get clean.’”
Loring has also admitted she suffers from a gambling addiction and has received some counselling for the problem.
She has also removed all online gambling applications from her phone and gave up her smart phone so that she will not be tempted to gamble.
And although currently on leave, Loring has completed “return to work” interviews for a job that does not involve handling money and where her supervisor is aware of her criminal convictions
Brecknell found Loring poses a low risk to reoffend given her present form of employment
While on a conditional sentence order, she can return to work, make restitution payments and care for her family, the judge also noted
Except for work and medical reasons, and for brief periods to attend to personal needs, Loring must remain at her home for the first eight months of the conditional sentence order and is subject to a curfew for the remainder
Conditions during her probation include completing 30 hours of community service work.
“He has navigated us through challenging times and been a calm steady presence in supporting the board and staff His leadership will be greatly missed, but the impact he’s made will resonate for years to come.” The board will begin the process of searching for a new regional district CAO this fall.
HOROSCOPES
ARIES
You’ll be glued to social media because you don’t want to miss anything. You should include your significant other in more shared activities to build a closer bond At work, your entire team needs your expertise.
TAURUS
Calls, texts, messages and more your phone won’t stop ringing. Your clients may need your services, or your relatives may be looking for you. You’re sought after because of your efficiency If you’re single, you’ll fall in love once you stop looking for it.
GEMINI
You consider upgrading your car to impress a new crush. Be patient, and the salesperson will end up making you an even better offer At work, your team will support you hen you’r overwhelmed with tasks.
CANCER
As you calculate your budget, you’ll realize you can afford a bit more luxury, including a wonderful couple’s getaway At work, changes will be very beneficial if you overcome your fear of the unknown.
LEO
Changes are needed in your relationship, in the home and at work. Let your emotions settle before acting. Some decisions take time; impulsiveness isn’t always the best approach.
VIRGO
Your loved ones will encourage you to spoil yourself more. You may consider giving yourself a makeover and engag -ing in self-care with the advice of a specialist. By easing anxiety, you’ll have better vitality
LIBRA
You’ll be the focus of attention in one way or another You’ll deal with a group that may pay you tribute or applaud you warmly A promotion awaits you at work.
SCORPIO
You may consider a move if your family situation changes. One of your relatives may announce a birth, which will make you happy Take care around some highly sensitive people, and you’ll be better able to help them.
SAGITTARIUS
A lot of conversation ahead! Even at work, you’ll find yourself constantly in the midst of important discussions, allowing you to expand your social circle and network of contacts. New friendships will make for great activities.
situation. You’ll choose your words carefully and should be able to convince some people to follow you. The emotional aspect of your relationship unfolds better with communication.
AQUARIUS
You’ll be forced to make a decision without knowing all the information. Trust your judgment and intuition. To mini -mize financial stress, avoid making purchases that involve long-term payments.
PISCES
At work, you’ll be offered a position you can’t refuse. Take the time to discuss it with those closest to you before accepting, even if it’s your dream job. Affection will magically manifest itself as soon as you’re in the right frame of mind to receive it.
CAPRICORN
You’ll be able to get out of a complicated financial
Inlovingmemoryof BillBurden
It’s been 5 years since you left us dad. Still feel your presence, hear your voice, and see that twinkle in your eyes Miss and loveyousomuch!
Yourdaughter,Micki andyourfamily
To place an ad call: 250-562-6666
On August 29, 2023 mom and grandmother Julijana Pavla Vohar received her angel wings After a short battle with health complications, she is now free of all pain and suffering. She will be dearly missed by all family members and will rest now in peace in the arms of her husband and her parents There will be a viewing Wednesday, September 13th from 2-4 pm at Assmans Funeral Chapel in Prince George with a church service Thursday, September 14 at Sacred Heart Church at1:30pm.
June25,1967-August15,2023
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved brother Charles Christopher Chingy/Chingee For anyone who knew Charles would describe him as humorous, free willed, and strong willed. Charles was very intelligent and outspoken and someone who changed the rules constantly He marched to the beat of his own drum Charles was very proud of his Land and Tse Khene heritage We all miss him; cherish him and love him forever He was known to make the best chili inthewholeworld.
Funeral Service is scheduled for 1p.m on Saturday, September 9 at the SacredHeartCathedral(887PatriciaBlvd.PrinceGeorge,BC)
From all his family & Friends. Charles you will be forever in our Hearts!
MikeDarchuk
Mike Darchuk, 89, passed away peacefully at hospice on August 18, 2023 He had a long battle with prostate then lung cancer that spread. He will be grieved by his loving daughter Melissa, numerous nieces, nephews and friends whose lives he touched His Mr tough spirit, calm, kind demeanor and shirt off his back with helping others will be missed. Open house celebration of life will be held on Sunday, September 17th from 1 pm- 4 pm (call 250-617-0738 for details) Many thanks to his medical treatment teams and hospicewhohelpedonhisjourney
Greulich, Marlies
August 14, 1946 - August 22, 2023
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Marlies Greulich. She is survived by her daughter Sabina (Neil) Burns, son Marko (Tracy) Greulich, eight grandsons, as well as numerous relatives and friends.
Marlies spent many years on various city committees and organized the Canada Day in the Park festival for over 40 years.
Marlies’ family wishes to express their gratitude to the medical staff at UHNBC for their care and compassion during her final days and her previous stay.
December2,1935-July30,2023
It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mary Louise Turl on July 30, 2023 at the age of 87. She passed away peacefully at the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society Mary is survived by her loving husband of 50 years, Brent Turl. Mary is also survived by her sister Shirley Johnson; sister-in-laws Lynn Green, Fern Greene; numerous nieces and nephews and other family members! She was predeceased by her parents Herbert and Adelia Green; siblings Stella Marceau, Laura Dowe, Basil Green, Sam Greene, Margaret Green and RockyGreen.
Mary was born in Plaster Rock, New Brunswick and her family moved to Prince George in 1952 where her parents bought a property on the Hart Highway and established a well recognized local potato farm! Mary lived in town and spent most of her working years at Canada Post where she met Brent Turl They lived in the Hart area for a while but Mary’s great love of nature, wildlife and animals brought them to develop a farm in Upper Mud River where they lived for about 20 years They eventually returned to the Hart Highway where Mary and Brent spent the rest of her years Mary was an avid knitter and gardener She also had an extensive library of books she had read and encouraged this interest in her nieces and nephews. Mary loved to cook and often entertained family and friends Mary and Brent also enjoyed going to the Prince George Playhouse and enjoyed many plays She was also very interested in preserving our family historyandhadmanystoriestoshare
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ATCO, VELMONT, located at #33 - 4195 WILDWOOD
WILLIAMS LAKE BC. Wildwood MH Park LTD., the owner of Wildwood MH Park, 251-3381 Cambie St., Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 4R3 (604-248-7505), will dispose the abovementioned trailer unless the person being notified takes possession of the property and establishes a right of possession of it within 30 days from the date the notice is served on that person.
If you own a heritage home, you might be interested in restoring it. Here are three resources that can help you with your renovation project and ensure you respect the building’s history
1. CRAFTSPEOPLE
When it comes to old houses, there are a number of repair and maintenance tasks that require specific tools and training Look for individuals and companies that specialize in traditional trades, as they’ll have the know-how to assist you with your restoration. Reach out to local guilds to find talented craftspeople in your area.
2.
TECHNICAL GUIDES
Restoring a historic building is a major undertaking Fortunately, there are guidebooks available that outline the steps involved and provide recommendations based on the style of your home They might also give you a better idea about which types of professionals can help with your project
3. BUILDING INSPECTORS
To ensure your restoration project is up to code and respects local regulations, you’ll need to hire an inspector The Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI) is a great resource to help you find building inspectors that specialize in historic houses
Finally, be sure to contact your municipality before you get started to find out if you need special permits to restore your heritage home
Does your closet feel more like a cave? If you’re tired of fumbling around in the dark for clothes, here are three ways you can shed some light on the situation without doing any electrical work.
1 Replace the rods in your closet with illuminated LED models If there isn’t an outlet nearby, opt for ones that are battery-operated
2. Place small, battery-operated puck lights in strategic locations such as beneath the upper shelf Most models include adhesive strips to facilitate installation
3 Line the inside of the door frame with LED strip lights to provide an even distribution of light. Both wireless and plug-in models usually come with a switch.
Finally, consider freshening up the inside of your closet with a coat of pure white paint to further brighten up the space
One of the most desired neighbourhoods in Prince George This immaculately kept home offers 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. With ground level entry it also has suite potential! Most of the lower level has been renovated with new flooring, paint and trim The master bedroom has a full ensuite and a walk-in closet.
The large, vaulted ceiling living room boasts amazing sunlight and with views of Moriarty Park it feels very private. The wrap around deck is great for entertaining or morning coffee, whichever you prefer Double garage with lots of storage and concrete driveway allow for ample parking. This home is a must see to fully appreciate.
A buyer’s guide to washers and dryers
Are you in the market for a washer and dryer? Here are some things to keep in mind as you shopforyournewappliances
SIZE
Measure how much space you have to accommodate a washer and dryer Keep in mind that you need to leave room behind both appliances for plumbing and ventilation You should also factor in how many people will use the machines
TYPE
Top-load washing machines with agitators are oftenthemostaffordableoption,buttheytendto be louder, less efficient and hasher on clothes than high-efficiency top-loaders Alternatively, youcanoptforafront-loadwasher,whichuses
a tumble method to clean clothes This causes lesswearonfabricsandremovesmorewaterfor quickerdrying
Dryers only come in front-load configurations If you want to save space, buy front-load appliances with front-mounted display panels so youcanstackthem.
FEATURES
Most new washers and dryers come with a variety of energy-saving features such as automatictemperaturecontrolandmoisturesensors To make sure your appliances are energy efficient, besuretolookfortheEnergyStarcertificate Tofindtherightwashingmachineanddryerfor your home, visit the appliance stores in your area
How can I spruce up my kitchen?
As the saying goes, the kitchen is the heart of the home. If yours is damaged, poorly organized or simply out of style, you should investinitstransformation!
Here are a few add-ons that will go a long wayincreatingamorefunctionalandstylish kitchen
• Ultra-modern appliances (such as a gas stoveoranenergy-efficientdishwasher)
• Classy, practical flooring (top picks include ceramic tiles, vinyl, laminate and natural stone)
If you want your kitchen remodel to be a success, hire a local contractor with a good reputation
An experienced crew led by the right contractorwillcompletetheworkinatimely fashion without going over your budget For akitchenyoucanbeproudof,trustthepros!
