Prince George Citizen - Thursday May, 7 2026

It’s been a long road to ‘twin city’ status with Jiangmen

Efforts

stalled years ago, but then Mayor Simon Yu went to China ...

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

In 2013, the City of Prince George and the much larger Jiangmen, China were reported to be close to a sister-city agreement.

More than a decade later, a letter from Mayor Wu Xiaohui presented at the April 27 Prince George city council expressed interest in a discussion over becoming sister cities during an upcoming delegation to this city scheduled for May 7 and 8.

That raises the question: why wasn’t the process completed last time around?

Involved in the last set of discussions between Prince George and Jiangmen was Coun. Garth Frizzell.

In an April 30 phone interview, he told The Citizen that contact was initiated under the tenure of former mayor Dan Rogers, who led the city between 2008 and 2011.

“Mayor Rogers took advantage at the time of a grant that was available through the provincial government Asia Pacific funding opportunities and we connected with Jiangmen,” Frizzell said.

“The first visit over to Jiangmen was in my first term, we went with then-chief Dominic Frederick (of Lheidli T’enneh First Nation) and then-president George Iwama of UNBC, (former councillor) Don Basserman, Mayor Rogers and I for a delegation.”

That visit, he said, included a visit to Taishan Middle School, which was partially built with proceeds from overseas remittances sent back to China from workers who went to Barkerville during the Cariboo gold rush. One of the stops on the itinerary for this year’s delegation is a visit to a local cemetery where immigrants from the Jiangmen area are buried.

Then, when Shari Green defeated Rogers to become the city’s next mayor,

Frizzell said the efforts continued and culminated with the signing of a memorandum of understanding.

He wasn’t sure why the process hadn’t progressed past that point or why the efforts were being revived, saying Mayor Simon Yu would know better.

However, he said he had heard that Prince George had become sister cities with a city in Estonia sometime before he had joined council. The website for Maardu, Estonia lists Prince George among the 22 municipalities it has been twinned with.

City staff sent The Citizen minutes from a February 2005 meeting where the council of the day endorsed former mayor Colin Kinsley signing a memorandum of understanding with Maardu.

That MOU is likely still in place as it states “the memorandum shall only be terminated by mutual agreement of the parties.”

The Citizen reported in November 2013 that Green had recently come back from her second trip to Jiangmen with a promise from local politicians to reciprocate with a visit to Prince George and sign a twinning agreement in the coming month.

That report noted that earlier that the previous year, two non-government delegations from Jiangmen had visited Prince George and representatives from Jiangmen’s Wuyi University had signed an MOU with UNBC that May.

Eight months later, in July 2014, another Citizen report noted that the twinning agreement hadn’t been completed yet as the Jiangmen delegation was having difficulty securing travel arrangements to Prince George.

Fast forward five years to October 2019 and The Citizen reported on how the city had spent almost $8,000 to send former city manager Kathleen Soltis and economic development manager Melissa Barcellos to a conference in Hong Kong the previous November.

That article noted that a sister-city agreement had yet to be signed with Jiangmen and that another MOU that former mayor Lyn Hall had signed with representatives from Suzhou City, China in 2015 also had yet to result in a twinning agreement.

Reached by phone in Vancouver on April 30, Mayor Simon Yu said the relationship was rekindled when he went to watch his son play professional

basketball in Hong Kong last year.

He said that while he was in the region (Hong Kong and Jiangmen are fewer than 200 kilometres apart), he reached out to see if Jiangmen wanted to expand the old relationship and ended up having lunch with the mayor.

That was followed up by the April 26 letter from Xiaohui announcing the delegation, which Yu said will be the first official government visit from Jiangmen. Joining her, he said, will be mayors from two communities near Jiangmen.

Though he said he wasn’t sure why the previous sister-city talks never got finalized, Yu said with Prince George’s population growing and the region being targeted for major economic projects, there’s an opportunity to explore new international partnerships.

For many years, the relationship between the Chinese and Canadian governments was sour.

An executive from Chinese tech company Huawei was arrested in Vancouver at the request of the United States government, who wanted her extradited to face fraud charges.

JASON HU/PEXELS PHOTO

Jiangmen is a city of about 4.8 million people in China. The City of Prince George is exploring a ‘twinning’ relationship with Jiangmen.

Delegaton from Chinese city visitng PG this week

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

In retaliation, two Canadians were arrested on espionage charges.

Since Prime Minister Mark Carney led the Liberals to victory in the 2025 federal election, things have thawed somewhat. Canada struck a deal to allow 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles into the country at a reduced tariff rate while in exchange, China lowered tariffs on Canadian agricultural products like canola.

“The prime minister has signalled to the world that Canada has turned the page in our relationship as an independent sovereign nation to the rest of the world,” Yu said. “The prime minister basically told the world nostalgia is not a strategy.”

By striking a deal at the municipal level, Yu said, he hoped Prince George could contribute to Canada increasing its international trade and finding new markets to sell into.

Jiangmen, he said, is part of a 32-million-person economic development zone that produces motorcycles, small engines, boats, furniture as well as a lot of actors.

Another topic that has come up for discussion in Canada in recent years is the potential interference of foreign governments in domestic politics.

A federal foreign interference commission led by Marie-Josée Hogue stated in its 2025 final report that “At the time of writing this report, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is the most active perpetrator of foreign interference targeting Canada’s democratic institutions.”

One of Hogue’s recommendations suggested that “the federal government should continue and intensify its efforts to engage and collaborate with provincial, territorial, Indigenous and municipal governments to counter foreign interference.”

Last December, Yu confirmed that representatives from Public Safety Canada met with him at city hall to discuss

prime minister basically told the world nostalgia is not a strategy.”

potential security risks relating to major economic projects.

“We would never, ever let national security be sacrificed just to promote more trade opportunities,” Yu said on April 30. “We have to be aware of certain things that may or may not happen, but personally, am I concerned? No … because at the end of the day, this visit is to do with history, to do with art, to people.”

When he was asked about the thaw in relations between China and Canada, Frizzell referenced Prime Minister Mark Carney’s comments at the World Economic Forum this past January where he talked about needing to move beyond hoping the new world order to be restored and having intermediate powers like Canada find a new path forward.

“The goalposts have changed in this new world order that’s being developed and I think it would be really wise for us to look at all the opportunities that come our way and figure out what the best thing is for Prince George and Canada,” Frizzell said.

On foreign interference concerns, Frizzell said he’s heard the stories and heard of the investigations.

“That’s important to keep in mind country-wide, but what we’re trying to do right now is really investigate how we can work together and what the opportunities are to work together,” he said.

“There’s a raft of different geopolitical and security issues that always have to serve as a foundation, for both them and for us, but within that broader context, we’ve got to look for opportunities with eyes wide open.”

CNC cutng 80 jobs as part of difcult new budget

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Reductions made as part of the College of New Caledonia’s 2026-27 budget will likely mean the elimination of around 80 employee positions, but the full extent won’t be known for a few months, the school’s president said in a Thursday, April 30 interview.

The college’s board passed a budget on Friday, April 24 that is still showing the financial impact of the federal government’s decision to start lowering the number of international students let into the country in 2024.

A $7.1 million drop in international tuition was projected in the college’s budget for the 2025-26 academic year.

The 2026-27 budget goes even further, projecting another $8.7 million plunge in international tuition. That’s a drop of about $15.8 million in two years.

To account for falling revenues, the 2026-27 budget noted that it’s looking to cut instructional expenses by $6.1 million.

Expenses and revenues are expected to balance at $83,044,904 in 2026-27, down from $92,631,975 in 2025-26.

President and CEO Cindy Heitman told The Citizen on April 30 that it’s hard to give exact numbers at this point because staffing is based on enrolment and applications for the next year are still open.Then there’s a four-month process in the college’s collective agreement with faculty to try to mitigate job losses.

She said it was the most difficult budget the college has had to manage.

“What I can say at this point, today, we’re looking at a reduction of about 80 employees across the college,” Heitman said.

Those staff will come from multiple areas and across all the college’s campuses, she said, although the bulk of reductions in smaller communities was

Families fill the CN Centre for the College of New Caledonia’s convocation in June 2024. The college is facing financial challenges, much of which come from the federal government’s cap on international students.

carried out the previous year.

In March, the college announced it would be shuttering its Fort St. James campus at the end of the month.

Though it came before the 202627 budget was up for final approval, Heitman confirmed that it was done for financial reasons.

However, as the college previously said, Heitman reiterated that CNC still intends to offer programming in Fort St. James but in community settings rather than in a brick-and-mortar building.

“The campus building itself is very underutilized,” Heitman said. “We thought ‘do we put dollars unto a building that’s underutilized or do we put dollars into providing instruction and programming in the community?’ We chose the latter.”

While the building is owned by the college, Heitman said its future still has to be determined by CNC and BC’s Ministry of Infrastructure.

Heitman said some programs are being cancelled while others are being suspended.

Cancelled programs likely won’t come back while suspended programs could come back if data reveals that there’s sufficient student interest and labour market interest.

A lot of the suspended programs are associate degrees in arts and sciences which are typically used as university transfers. Heitman said that’s because the primary demand for those programs came from international students.

The school within the college that offered those programs used to have more than 2,000 students, Heitman said.

Now there’s about 500.

Cancellations include several programs that were first announced as being under the axe back in October 2025, included applied business technology courses, post-diploma management courses and a diploma program for kinesiology.

Heitman said she believes that the number of international students should stabilize starting next year, but that it won’t materialize until students registered before the smaller caps were instituted graduate in the spring of 2027.

On April 28, the college held an event welcoming elementary and high school students from multiple districts to its Prince George campus (see the story on Page 30).

That event, Heitman said, is part of an effort to have domestic students identify learning opportunities at the college starting at an earlier age.

There has also been a push to continue programming that lets secondary school students take dual credit programs for trades or early childhood education before graduating.

“We’ve also expanded it into our educational assistant program and we are looking at more in the health area,” Heitman said.

Over the next year and beyond, Heitman said, the college is also looking

at partnering with various industries to provide training opportunities.

The federal government has earmarked projects like BC’s North Coast Transmission Line carrying power from Prince George to Terrace for expedition through its Major Projects Office.

Enbridge recently received federal permission to expand its Westcoast natural gas pipeline from Northern BC to the Lower Mainland.

Projects like those are the kinds of things CNC is looking to partner on, Heitman said.

“If you look at the British Columbia Look West strategy, it’s documented in there the role that we’re going to be playing in meeting the labour needs for those major projects,” she said.

Another program Heitman said she’s excited for is called Access to Practical Nursing.

She said it’s for students who have completed CNC’s health-care aide program and want to move onto practical nursing, aimed at helping address a shortage of those workers.

There’s an earn-and-learn program that will be running out of CNC’s Quesnel campus in partnership with the Dawson Creek-based Northern Lights College.

“It’s been difficult,” Heitman said of the recent budgeting process. “We have much fewer students and when you have fewer students, you need fewer supports and you need fewer classes with instructors.”

Heitman CITIZEN

Bird’s bill helps BC honour veterans, frst responders

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

November will soon be known as Veterans and First Responders Month in British Columbia once Lt.-Gov. Wendy Cocchia signs off on a Prince George MLA’s private member’s bill.

On Monday, May 4, the BC Legislature approved the third and final reading for Bill M231, which was put forward by Prince George-Valemount Conservative MLA Rosalyn Bird.

Bird, a former Royal Canadian Navy officer, is her party’s military liaison.

The text of the bill acknowledges the courage, professionalism and dedication of Canadian Forces veterans and emergency personnel like police officers, paramedics, search and rescue workers, dispatchers and firefighters.

While November is already being home to Indigenous Veterans’ Day and Remembrance Day, Bird said in a Feb. 23 debate in the Legislature that

“remembrance should not be confined to a single morning.

“By designating November as Veterans and First Responders Month, we create a broader opportunity for communities, schools, local governments and service organizations to coordinate events, promote education and deepen public understanding,” Bird said.

The bill received support from the government, including from parliamentary secretary for armed forces development and veterans’ affairs Darlene Rotchford.

Prince George-Cariboo Conservative MLA Sheldon Clare voiced support for Bird’s bill.

“Among our communities, there are a humble few who have volunteered to

sign an unlimited liability clause or to otherwise put themselves in danger for the security and safety of us all,” Clare told the Legislature.

“Our military veterans, our police, firefighters, ambulance paramedics, search and rescue personnel, emergency dispatchers and others — many of whom are present here today, both in the gallery and in this House — have done just that.”

In another debate on March 2, Cariboo-Chilcotin Conservative MLA Lorne Doerkson noted that the response to the then-recent shooting in Tumbler Ridge served as a reminder of the heroism of first responders.

Reached by phone the afternoon after the vote, Bird told The Citizen that the passage of her first-ever private member’s bill was made even more special by the presence of first responders in the chamber including firefighters from Prince George and police officers from Victoria.

“They make a huge commitment to their communities and their province, aand they suffer a lot of the same challenges that military folks do with mental health challenges, physical injuries and transitions when they leave their employment,” Bird said.

“I just thought this was a nice way for all of us to collaborate and highlight first responders, highlight veterans.”

This, she said, is especially important as attendance at Remembrance Day parades and general awareness of what first responders and veterans go through is low.

To commemorate the first Veterans and First Responders Month this November, Bird said she’s looking to hold ceremonies with first responders, members of the military, veterans and cadets in Prince George and at the Legislature. Bird emphasized that the bill is not intended to take anything away from existing November ceremonies for veterans.

FF D FACTORY DIRECT

Families could lose housing once subsidy deals expire

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Nearly 100 Indigenous families in Prince George may be at risk of losing housing within the next 23 months due to expiring subsidy agreements.

The Aboriginal Housing Society of Prince George (AHSPG) reports that subsidized housing and housing subsidies it provides through a partnership with BC Housing are set to expire on March 31, 2028, with no confirmation on whether the agreements will be renewed.

AHSPG operates approximately 289 housing units in Prince George, including a mix of deep subsidy, rent-gearedto-income and below-market rental housing. A significant portion of those units is now at risk.

In an emailed statement, BC Housing said funding for these agreements is provided through the Social Housing Agreement.

The organization said operating and maintenance funding for the projects has been delivered through the Canada-BC Bilateral Agreement under the National Housing Strategy, a costshared agreement between the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and the province.

BC Housing said extending existing operating agreements was a condition of that deal in exchange for cost-sharing.

In its statement, BC Housing noted the federal government will determine the future of the subsidies.

“The current extensions to March 31, 2028 align with the expiry of the bilateral funding agreement because the federal government has not yet confirmed whether the funding will be renewed beyond this date. Any decision on further operating support will depend on future federal funding commitments,” the statement said.

These federal-provincial cost-sharing programs were originally created in the

1980s and affect other provinces as well.

“BC Housing understands the concerns of providers about costs and affordability, and continues to work with partners to ensure providers understand available options, so tenants can keep their affordable homes,” the organization said.

In a statement emailed to The Citizen, CMHC said that on June 19, 2006, the federal and BC governments signed the Social Housing Agreement, transferring responsibility for administering social housing to the province.

In 2017, CMHC and provinces and territories entered into bilateral agreements under the National Housing Strategy.

CMHC said that as part of that agreement, the province committed to maintaining 34,491 units of low-income social housing — including 1,766 urban Indigenous units such as those operated by AHSPG — through March 31, 2028, that were no longer subsidized

Angus Project

under the original agreement.

AHSPG executive director Julia Sundell said in an interview that the organization has had an agreement with BC Housing for 99 urban Indigenous housing units for more than a decade.

The agreement provides rent-gearedto-income subsidies and below-market rental housing, meaning tenants could lose those supports — or their homes — if subsidies expire and rents increase.

Rent-geared-to-income subsidies cap rent at 30 per cent of household income, serving people across a wide range of financial situations.

Sundell said many tenants are seniors or people with disabilities, making potential rent increases or relocation especially challenging.

She added the organization’s long waiting list underscores the urgency of the situation.

Financial uncertainty makes planning difcult: AHSPG

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

“I think we have about 586 people on our waitlist, including families, seniors and individuals who need deeply subsidized units because they’re on social assistance, pensions or living with disabilities and can’t afford the high rents,” said Sundell.

She said there is concern that people waiting may have few alternatives if subsidies expire.

“Every housing provider that I’m aware of has a lengthy waitlist, and it’s not easy to find rent-geared-to-income housing that’s available right away. If waiting lists are years long and we’re 23 months away from the end of the subsidies, what does that look like?” she said.

While new housing projects are underway across BC, Sundell said many are aimed at middle-income earners, leaving fewer options for people with the greatest need.

BC Housing said some subsidized housing projects are designed to become financially self-sustaining after operating agreements expire.

“Operating agreements set out the amount, duration and conditions of funding provided by governments. Their expiry — often tied to a 35-year mortgage amortization period — means that once the mortgage is paid off, nonprofit housing providers are responsible for the project’s ongoing financial viability.

“The reasoning is that, following repayment of the mortgage, a project should be able to generate sufficient revenue to maintain viability while continuing to provide affordable housing,” BC Housing said.

However, Sundell said the properties affected in 2028 do not have debt attached.

“They’ve been mortgage-free for a very long time — they’re all held free and clear,” she said.

Plans had been in place to offset the loss of subsidies through new housing developments at 2940 14th Ave. and on Redwood Street.

However, BC Housing said the 14th Avenue project is currently delayed.

“Given fiscal constraints noted in the recent provincial budget, we are adjusting the pace of some housing investments to align with available funding. As a result, the rental housing project at 2940 14th Ave. in Prince George will proceed at a slower pace,” the agency said. It added that more information on the Redwood Street project will be released later.

Sundell said uncertainty around project timelines makes planning difficult.

“If it’s 10 years down the road, it’s useless. If it’s two years down the road, we could probably work with that. But it won’t help the people losing subsidies — we had planned to transition them into those new buildings,” she said.

AHSPG is exploring alternatives if subsidies are not renewed, including the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) program, which provides monthly payments to eligible BC residents aged 60 and older.

However, tenants receiving rentgeared-to-income subsidies are not eligible for SAFER, as only one subsidy is allowed.

Other options include transferring tenants to different subsidized units within AHSPG or applying for BC Housing’s Rental Assistance Program (RAP), which supports low-income working families earning $60,000 or less

Sundell said these alternatives are limited and may not meet the needs of all affected tenants.

“If these subsidies expire, there could be a surge in applications at the same time,” she said. “BC Housing could face a backlog of people still needing support.”

She added that some tenants may struggle to relocate due to financial or physical barriers.

“There are going to be people who, when the rent changes on April 1, can’t afford it,” she said.

In its statement, CMHC said discussions are ongoing to support housing partnerships.

annually.

RAP is not available to those already in subsidized housing or receiving income assistance or disability assistance.

“Work is being done by Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada to continue engagement, and federal, provincial and territorial housing ministers have committed to renewing housing partnerships to ensure continued support for affordable housing,” the statement said.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER

The Aboriginal Housing Society of Prince George operates subsidized, rentgeared-to-income and below-market-rent housing for Indigenous families.

OPINION

PG goes global: Why limit our ‘twin city’ to only one?

KENNEDY GORDON Citizen Managing Editor

Let’s say you ask someone from Prince George about our international “twin city.”

You might get a shrug, a guess or a long pause followed by “Somewhere in Europe, right?”

For the record, yes — there’s a relationship with Maardu, Estonia that was formed when the city was part of the World Winter Cities Association for Mayors.

And if that surprises you, you’re not alone. We had a hard time finding anyone who knows anything about it, but now we have something in our back pocket for trivia night.

That lack of info tells us something important: having international relationships isn’t the problem. Remembering what to do with them is.

Canada is trying to step out of the wide shadow of the United States and become a confident, independent world player.

Prince George should be a part of that.

We’re not suggesting we send elected officials on international trade junkets. We’re suggesting that they build real, working partnerships with cities in Asia. Canada’s economic and political gravity has tilted south for decades. That’s understandable. But it’s also limiting. The global economy is increasingly becoming Asia-focused, with massive urban regions there driving growth,

Members of a 2010 City of Prince George delegation to Jiangmen, China including former mayor Dan Rogers, former Lheidli T’enneh chief Dominick Frederick, former councillor Don Basserman and current Coun. Garth Frizzell, among others, have their photo taken with local officials.

manufacturing, innovation and demand. When Prince George explored relationships with cities like Jiangmen and Suzhou, it wasn’t dabbling in diplomacy for its own sake. It was knocking on the door of markets that dwarf anything available at home.

Consider Jiangmen alone. It’s part of an economic region of millions of people producing everything from industrial machinery to household goods.

It’s a potential pipeline for exports, investment and jobs for mid-sized cities like ours.

So it’s encouraging to see representatives from Jiangmen here in Prince George this week to help forge that kind of connection. This could be big for us.

Ah, but remember the Estonia thing. These efforts can easily fizzle out. Memorandums are signed. Delegations visit. Photos are taken. Then … nothing.

The issue isn’t that twinning doesn’t work — it’s that we haven’t consistently followed through. Twins in name only doesn’t benefit either party.

We can fix that.

There’s also a deeper advantage that often gets overlooked: existing human connections. Canada’s history with Asia isn’t new. From the days of the Cariboo gold rush to today’s vibrant immigrant communities, there are long-standing ties that can be built upon. The delegation from China is visiting Barkerville this week for a reason.

The same logic applies if Prince George were to pursue a new partnership in India — say, somewhere like Chandigarh in Punjab with historical, cultural and familial connections to PG’s established Indian community.

It might sound half-baked, but it’s actually smart strategy. Where there

are diaspora communities, there are already relationships, trust and cultural fluency.

Twinning doesn’t have to start from scratch — it can grow from what’s already here.

Of course, none of this happens in a vacuum. Concerns about foreign interference and national security are real, and they should be taken seriously.

But they’re not a reason to retreat from the world. They’re a reason to engage with it carefully. Cities can — and should — approach these partnerships with eyes wide open, working within federal guidelines while still pursuing economic and cultural opportunities.

The alternative is to sit still, but that’s been the approach in BC for too long. And in a world that is rapidly reorganizing itself, standing still is just another way of falling behind.

Prince George has always marketed itself as a gateway to the North, to resources, to possibility. The next step is to think bigger. To expand beyond our singular relationship with the United States, not instead of, but alongside it.

And who knows? If we get serious about building and maintaining these ties, maybe one day people here will not only remember Maardu, but also be able to point to thriving partnerships across Asia and beyond.

That’s the difference between having a twin city on paper and a real connection on the other side of the world.

We acknowledge the fnancial support of the government of Canada.

Nous reconnaissons l’appui fnancier du gouvernement du Canada.

Kennedy Gordon Managing Editor

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OPINION

It’s tme to wake up from this economic fever dream

WILL CADELL Guest Columnist

“Now, I work on the pipeline.” She said this in a sheepish manner, as if she ought to feel some kind of shame.

I’ve been thinking about this exchange for a few weeks now, and I realize that we’ve all been taught to feel that shame.

That, in some way, the resource sector, BC’s and Canada’s wealth, is shameful. But it’s not; our willingness to abandon our province’s future with no alternative is.

She was a geotechnical engineer who picked up a great job monitoring “the pipeline.”

I will assume the Trans Mountain pipeline, but I don’t actually know for sure. It was about her tone, which tells the story of BC’s struggle with its binary identity between environmental responsibility and resource extraction. It is a debate we are very much subject to here in the North.

Unfortunately, when we use the word “debate,” we imply a two-sided argument or discussion. I don’t think we have seen that. I think we have seen a series of political sound bites turned into policy, combined with a passive-aggressive sense of expectation.

The debate seems to imply that we

should “not do resources.” That the resource sector is dirty and destructive.

Yet we still want to build houses (I believe we have a housing crisis); we still need our devices (on which to share our opinions and revel in the dopamine rush of confirmation bias); and we still heat with LNG (I believe we have an affordability crisis). We end up buying the products we need from other countries, at a cost to our own economy.

I suppose it is so they can do the dirty work. This global NIMBYism is such an irresponsible approach; it’s laughable— not what I would expect from an ethical, progressive province or nation. So, our decision to cast shame on the resource sector is ultimately an economic delusion — a decade-long fever dream that Mr. Trump is presently waking us from in the least pleasant manner possible. Wake up, BC — we have some work to do.

Don’t for one second think I’m some kind of climate denier. I dearly love wild places; that’s why I live in the North.

I run a technology company, and my team analyzes satellite images of Earth every day. We see the changes, the human cost of climate change.

I believe in renewable energy. I think every house in BC could probably

benefit from solar (assuming its roof points the right way).

I also believe we can extract resources — wood, minerals and liquefied natural gas — in a responsible and respectful manner, with respect for Indigenous and rural communities, for the environment, for biodiversity, for water and for land.

I believe that two things can happen at the same time. Most of all, though, I believe that the people of British Columbia are responsible and ethical. And if resources are to be extracted, because globally we need them to be, then it’s our responsibility to do so, precisely because we can do it more ethically and efficiently than anyone else on our planet.

Some will say that by extracting LNG, we are enabling other economies to burn it. That’s true.

But this argument avoids the uncomfortable truth that we also want services. We want hospitals and decent education. If we allow others to do the extraction, then it will be done less thoughtfully, with a higher global impact. Our choice of inaction is palpable in the global economy.

Yet, today, the BC economy is in decline. There are no alternative tax revenues.

In BC, we have logistics, two ports, seasonal agriculture, fishing and resources. We do have a technology sector, but it’s small compared to Silicon Valley or even Austin, Texas, and the same with biotech. Almost everything else is either services or linked to the real estate market — a potential house of cards. So, we have allowed our main source of tax revenue and a huge employer to be infected with a sense of shame.

Yet, we could have the prosperity of a Middle Eastern petro-state combined with a tested democracy and high ethical standards — something akin to our Nordic friends on the other side of the Atlantic.

We have precisely what the global market is clamouring for. With an increasingly complex geopolitical situation, we are perfectly positioned to offer resources to a market that will value a “safe supply” of critical resources.

I believe it’s time we left the last decade of suicidal dithering behind and chose instead to lead, to build — to build with a sense of pride toward a clear vision of being a source of Canada’s sovereign wealth. Now is our moment.

Will Cadell is the owner of geospational technology company Sparkgeo.

Beautiful Northern BC has what global markets want, but we’ve spent too much time worrying about the future rather than acting to make prosperity happen, Will Cadell writes today.

OPINION

CNC and partners helping students go on adventures in health care

I see this sort of thing as very important. It inspires youth. It is not always easy for students to see the relevance of a lot in school.

Programs like this can inspire and motivate students in all parts of their lives: school, possible careers, and becoming more thoughtful and caring people. Well done to those participating and to those who develop these sorts of programs.

Mr. Science

PG re crews make short work of blaze on Victoria Street

I drove past the North Star. It looks like about four units are affected and have damage. The sad thing is these are groundfloor units that could have been used for seniors with wheelchairs, instead of being stuck in the hospital taking up a bed.

We need senior housing, but we are focused on trying to house the unhoused from who knows where, with who knows what.

The North Star should be drug-free so it could be a safe place for the working poor and seniors to have a home.

Also, there is a school a block away. Safety should be a big concern.

FHR

FortisBC upgrading 31,000 gas meters in the City of Prince George

How about, instead of sending someone out a second time to relight the pilot if no one is home, they simply book the services to begin with? This loss of administrative function will cost us all through inefficiency that will be offloaded to us, the customers.

I would also like to see what the testing stats of this product are and what its accuracy limitations are. Call me oldfashioned, but I would also like to see my delivery charges go down if we are reducing wages through technological advancements.

Tammy Lopes

Citizen editor Kennedy Gordon wins National Newspaper Award

Congratulations on your award of recognition, Editor Gordon, and congratulations to the Stolzs for bringing back the Citizen from the brink.

Sadly, so many smaller community papers have gone under, like the Kelowna Courier, Nanaimo Courier and the Kamloops paper.

BGeez

Citizen editor Kennedy Gordon wins National Newspaper Award

As a long-time reader, I will say this does not surprise me. Congratulations, and I look forward to much more excellent work.

Randy Flavel

Interesting. I like the idea of free education. I think the approach would be to start with a pilot program focusing on specific programs (trades and health care), funded by the federal government.

D Goods

“Wait times for surgeries and specialized health care must be eliminated.”

Agreed, but do not hold your breath.

We currently have an “educated society” that is promoting social breakdown, toxic drugs and bureaucracy.

In a recent editorial, Kennedy Gordon promoted the idea of “common sense.” An educated society that has lost its way and lost common sense will never deliver anything in a timely, cost-efficient manner, especially advanced health care.

Broken, educated ideology in BC is looking for ways to avoid doing anything and is running BC into the ground.

Waymar10@telus.net

Editorial: The better the transit, the better the community

The bike lanes are always full of gravel here and should be cleaned, along with bikelane barriers — like beautiful Penticton has everywhere. All types of personal electric scooters and bikes.

Editorial: The better the transit, the better the community

While the article makes a convincing case for improving transit services, it overlooks the fundamental question of how to fund those improvements. A realistic approach is needed, and simply adding to the tax burden is not the answer.

As recent reporting notes, fares have not been reviewed since 2019, despite years of inflation and rising operating costs. Reviews should occur annually, even if increases do not. Small, incremental adjustments, yearly or biannually, are far more manageable than infrequent, sharp increases, which is likely what the 2026 review will recommend.

A more consistent approach could have already helped fund extended hours on the busiest routes. The question is why the city has not pushed for a review sooner.

Perham

Albert Koehler: How to start building a better future for Prince George

Albert Koehler: How to start building a better future for Prince George

Nelly’s could stll rise from the ashes afer major fre

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

As smoke and flames enveloped the building in a catastrophic early-morning fire Wednesday, April 29 at Northwood Plaza, the shock of the disaster was just setting in for Nelly’s Pub owners Stew and Sheryl Malgunas when they were offered a reminder of how much Prince George cares about its own people. Their neighbourhood pub along the Hart Highway and the staff who work there have a special place in the hearts of the people who value what it provides as a gathering place for good times and social activities.

Much like Cheers of TV fame, for a lot of them, Nelly’s was the place where everybody knows your name.

Thanks to the prompt intervention of Prince George Fire Rescue crews, the fire that destroyed the Northwood Motor Inn and the adjoining Northwood Liquor Store, Hart Cannabis, Nelly’s Pizza and several other storefront businesses was held back and firefighters were able to save Nelly’s Pub and keep some of the stores intact.

But the future of the pub is still uncertain. The 25-30 people who worked there, as well as dozens of other employees of the hotel, liquor/cannabis stores, as well as Madison Ave. Fashions, The Paw Spa, Style You Up Nail and Pedicures and Collective Muse Beauty Studio and Boutique, suddenly find themselves out of work.

The fire was reported at about 2:30 a.m. When Stew Malgunas drove down from his house near Aberdeen Glen Golf Course and saw the flames he immediately thought the worst.

“You think of all the hard work you put in and how the staff is going to be affected and the community and it’s just really sad, and the next day you wake up and life’s different,” he said.

“When we took it over four years ago it was just after COVID and the live music scene was basically dead because of COVID. We wanted to revitalize that obviously and spruce up the décor and we brought in some new cooks and just kind of did things our

way and people really bought into that. It’s the whole Hart culture and Nelly’s culture, it’s like one big family. It’s something we didn’t realize, how close people are in the Hart and how close Nelly’s is to people’s hearts.

“It’s very emotional for Sheryl and I just with how much support we’ve received. That’s 100 per cent PG. That’s why we’ve always called this home, PG has one of the biggest hearts for a city.”

He spoke to fire Chief Bryan Burleigh who told him that aside from smoke and water damage the pub remains structurally sound, but the kitchen, banquet hall and liquor store were destroyed.

The Nelly’s banquet hall provided an affordable venue for celebrations of life, sports group activities and charitable events such as the Cops For Cancer fundraiser booked for next month.

The Malgunases supported the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society and the Jiggs Dinner event, which provides 100 hampers for 100 impoverished school kids at Christmas.

“The pub is the only thing standing and that gives us hope,” said Stew. “Nelly’s could rise from the ashes at some point, but it’s going to take some time. Fire investigators have to go in

there and assess everything and then the cleanup starts and hopefully the rebuild starts.”

Malgunas played for the Philadelphia Flyers and his jersey still hangs in a case in the pub untouched by the flames, along with NHL jerseys wore by Turner Stevenson and Brandon Manning and baseball player Jared Young’s New York Mets jersey.

The fire started before cleaning staff were due to arrive. The 14 hotel rooms were being renovated, a project Stew Malgunas says was prompted by smoke damage from a small electrical fire in the office of the Northwood Inn on April 7 that was extinguished by the sprinkler system. There were no hotel guests at the time of Wednesday’s fire.

“We’re just very fortunate that no one was hurt,” said Sheryl Malgunas. “The firefighters were awesome. It was a good 12 hours of them putting water on it.”

The flames were still being doused when local musician Aaron Trenholm, a regular Nelly’s Pub entertainer who hosts open-mic nights there for other musicians, decided to do something to help the pub workers he’s gotten to know so well.

Within four hours Trenholm

organized a Wednesday evening jam session/fundraiser at the bandshell at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park. Trenholm had 30 acts lined up for an open-mic session at Nelly’s the night of the fire and instead they went to the bandshell and had enough time for about half of them to play there from 6-10 p.m. Long & McQuade Musical Instruments provided the sound system and Domino’s donated 500 pizzas that were sold by donation. The event raised $6,700 for Nelly’s Pub workers.

“It warms my heart so much to see the outpouring of the community at such a tragic thing,” said Trenholm. “We live in an amazing community and it’s easy for me to put the shoutout, I’ve got a fairly decent following and so many people in my corner I can just think of an idea and it comes to fruition. With that much notice, I had the love and support of so many people and organizations around town and they’re the ones to thank.”

The 43-year-old industrial salesman says Nelly’s is the place that gave him his first break as a musician seven years ago.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE

Nelly’s Pub/Nelly’s Pizza owners Sheryl and Stew Malgunas visit the site on Thursday, April 30 to survey the wreckage surrounding their businesses at Northwood Plaza after an early-morning fire the day before.

Pub has been a vital part of community

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

He started out as a drummer in the band Cold Water Creek but during the pandemic he picked up a guitar and became a songwriter.

Nelly’s was hosting live entertainment Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. He’s seen hundreds of bands come to play there and stay overnight at the hotel. There are very few live venues left in the city and he looks forward to the day the pub reopens.

“I didn’t realize the emotional connection I had with Nelly’s and as soon as I found out (about the fire) I went down there and I sat there cried, I’ve never grieved in my life so much over anything,” Trenholm said.

“Having Stew at that event addressing the crowd, saying we’re going to rebuild, that was a huge part for me and brought me a lot of happiness and closure for him to see that support,” said Trenholm. “Stew and Sheryl have

supported this community so much and look at how many people came out at the drop of hat to support you. It sucks, but it’s just a building that can be rebuilt.”

When Stew and Sheryl bought Nelly’s from Troy Hrivi in 2022 it had been closed for months because of the pandemic. They spent $50,000 on renovations and hired new staff who brought customers with them and made it a thriving place.

They had spent 14 years operating the Husky truck stop on Highway 97 South prior to buying the pub.

“It took a while for people to get to know us and once we got some great serving staff that started to reach out to friends in the industry and we’re at a point now where we have amazing staff,” said Sheryl.

“It took us a while to get that team and that culture but we got that and things were going so well when this happened.

“It’s hard to articulate, but it’s a

We’ve done lots of fundraising and I think that’s why the community rallied behind our staff.”

different culture in the Hart community. They’re almost like their own little village, they’re there for each other, like this. The people up here are just amazing. If something breaks down, like a dishwasher, guys will just jump in and help for no reason. They’ll help us with our cars, if you need tires changed or something fixed. They’re just there, willing at any time.

She said there are probably 20 bands that rotate in to the Nelly’s stage as well as DJs that will also have to find other places to play. She said Brothers Inn Motel next door to Northwood Inn donated $1,000 to Nelly’s staff while other pubs and businesses in the city have reached out to them.

“They understand the hard work and they sympathize with us and our employees,” said Sheryl. “It just feels like the last year it’s where we wanted it to be and the vision we had was finally coming to fruition.

“We’ve done lots of fundraising and I think that’s why the community rallied behind our staff because they see how hard they work and put in their time to help others.”

The building is owned by Dave Bassi of Prince George. The Malgunases say they don’t yet know what he has planned for the site, whether it will be rebuilt or not.

“It’s really up to our landlord to figure out what he wants to do and what can be salvaged,” said Stew. “But 100 per cent, we want to open Nelly’s again.

“You’re dealing with staff issues and equipment issues and food margins are really slim these days, so where we made our money was obviously on the alcohol and draft beer, and we sold a lot of it. People in the Hart like to have fun.”

Businesses afected by Northwood fre

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Prince George’s fire chief spoke to reporters at Northwood Plaza following an early-morning blaze Wednesday, April 29 that left several businesses devastated and caused an estimated $1,000,000 in damages.

“At approximately 2:20 a.m. we received a call for a commercial structure fire and firefighters from three halls, with a total number of 15 firefighters, responded,” Chief Bryan Burleigh said. “Upon arrival, we found heavy smoke and flames coming from the roof line of the structure.”

Burleigh added that through the quick actions of firefighters, they were able to keep the extent of the damage to the roof area of the building. However, he noted that there is substantial water and smoke damage to businesses in the plaza.

In addition to Nelly’s Pub and the hotel, the plaza included several other small businesses and stores.

The building contained materials that were especially vulnerable to fire.

“It’s a bitumen product and it’s made with a petroleum base and they like to burn,” Burleigh said.

As well, the plaza’s age also helped the fire spread once it hit the roofline. Because of renovations, the buildings and businesses affected were unoccupied at the time of the fire and there are no reported injuries.

The Northwood Plaza Hotel was undergoing renovations.

“The residential suites were unoccupied at that time,” Burleigh said. “That definitely takes a factor of stress out of it from a firefighter’s perspective and in incident command, one less thing to account for, numerous occupants that could’ve been here otherwise.”

The fire at Northwood Plaza was one of three that took place within the last 24 hours, with the others taking place at homes in the Hart and on Domano Boulevard.

RCMP officers assess the situation at the front of one-half of a duplex a duplex at the corner of Porter Avenue and Oak Street in Prince George, BC after a drug raid on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 28.

Two people arrested afer drug raid on Porter Avenue

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Prince George RCMP were executing drug warrants when armoured vehicles and officers in tactical gear were deployed to a duplex on Porter Avenue on Tuesday, April 28, according to a Friday, May 1 media release.

On the afternoon of April 28, The Citizen reported that an armoured vehicle equipped with a battering ram and police officers were at a duplex on the corner of Porter Avenue and Oak Street. Police had also blocked off the intersections of Pine Street and Porter Avenue as well as Pine Street and Strathcona Avenue, with still more officers in the alleyway between Pine Street and Oak Street.

The Mounties’ May 1 release said that two armoured vehicles were initially deployed along with the North District Emergency Response Team “as the risk to police officers during this operation was determined to be high.”

Media relations officer Cpl. Jennifer Cooper said in the release that “distrac tion devices were utilized to assist in emptying the residences of their occu pants, which did gain the attention of neighbours in the surrounding homes.”

In the duplex, police said they found $500 in cash, a prohibited firearm and several ounces of what are suspected to be illicit drugs.

Two unnamed people were arrested and then released pending lab results of the suspected drug as well as potential federal drug charges.

Applicaton No. 456310

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION NOTICE

Applicaton for a Permit Under the Provisions of the Environmental Management Act

We, Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. (Coastal GasLink) at 450 1 St SW, Calgary, AB T2P 5H1, intend to submit this waste discharge applicaton to the Director to authorize the discharge of wood waste by burning at one proposed discharge locaton. Coastal GasLink intends to dispose of non-salvageable, untreated woody debris (e.g., wooden rig mats and other wood constructon waste) generated by constructon actvites from the Mount Bracey Compressor Staton.

The land upon which the proposed burning locaton will be situated, where discharge will occur, is located within the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. The locaton is on the Coastal GasLink Right-of-Way near KP 166+000, approximately 110 km north of Prince George, BC. The locaton is currently permited by Coastal GasLink under the Britsh Columbia Energy Regulator as a mult-use site for the constructon of the Mount Bracey Compressor Staton. The burning locaton is within the low smoke zone and is described in the table below.

Locaton Legal Descripton Registered Owner Lattude Longitude Tonnes of Wood Waste

The maximum amount of air emissions discharged will be 10,200 kg of total partculate. The operatng period for the burn piles will be 24 hours per day for a maximum of 6 consecutve burning days per burn event, as per the Open Burning Smoke Control Regulatons for the low smoke zone. The total burn duraton is estmated to be 14 non-consecutve burn days. The wood waste characteristcs are as follows: total partculate emissions are estmated at a discharge rate of 750 kg per day. Post-burn treatment will consist of containment and management of any remaining debris or metallic materials.

Any person who may be adversely afected by the proposed discharge of waste and wishes to provide relevant informaton may, within 30 days afer the last date of postng, publishing, service or display, send writen comments to the applicant, with a copy to the Environmental Management Technologist at BC Energy Regulator 6534 100th Ave., Fort St. John, BC, V1J 8C5 (Waste.Management@bc-er.ca).

The identty of any respondents and the contents of anything submited in relaton to this applicaton will become part of the public record.

Dated this 27th day of March 2026

Contact person:

Brianna Janssen Regulatory Advisor

Telephone No: 403-920-5110

Email: brianna_janssen@tcenergy.com

Paying expert witnesses ruled out in collision trial

BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A man who sued the driver and owner of a vehicle for injuries he suffered in a 2018 crash has lost an application to call four expert witnesses at a trial scheduled for July.

On April 23, BC Supreme Court Justice Ronald Tindale dismissed Steven Patrick Herzig’s application to exclude payment for the experts.

Herzig suffered a concussion and right shoulder injury while a passenger in a vehicle involved in an October 2018 crash at a City of Langley intersection. His November 2019 lawsuit alleges he was struck by a vehicle driven by co-defendant Kamil Wiktor Golowko and owned by the same co-defendant. None of the allegations has been tested in court.

Herzig’s lawyer, Dick Byl, filed an affidavit estimating damages in the case could range from $100,000 to $1 million. However, the four expert witnesses would cost about $49,000, which he argued would create undue hardship for his client.

Tindale said Herzig is a relatively high wage earner, but the only financial information before the court was an $80,000 down payment he made on a $400,000 home purchased for his parents.

“In my view the plaintiff’s application

to exclude the disbursements of the proposed experts fails because the plaintiff has not provided sufficient evidence to establish that he would be unable, without undue hardship, to incur the disbursements that are the subject of the application where those disbursements are not excluded,” Tindale wrote.

Following an examination for discovery in October 2022, Herzig saw an orthopaedic surgeon in March 2023. The doctor reported a small rotator cuff tear in Herzig’s right shoulder and recommended physiotherapy and an MRI scan with contrast dye for a clearer diagnosis.

The orthopaedic surgeon said Herzig would be able to continue working but “will always have pain when doing it.” He also said Herzig would likely be unable to return to wrestling, but could still perform household duties.

Tindale, who heard the application Jan. 19, said Herzig had not completed the recommended physiotherapy or MRI.

“Until those steps are taken there are significant evidentiary gaps in terms of the plaintiff’s prognosis to enable an analysis of whether, without the additional expert evidence, the plaintiff would suffer prejudice disproportionate to the benefit of not increasing the complexity and cost of the proceeding,” Tindale ruled.

A lawsuit case stemming from a collision in Langley was heard in Prince George court.

Flames cause $150K damage to church

Assistant fire chief Mike Holliday and others take a look at the doorway where a fire at Fort George Baptist Church started Friday, May 1. The City of Prince George reported the next day that the fire was reported at about 6:30 p.m. Crews arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from one side of the church. Firefighters were able to extinguish flames outside the building before heading inside to put out flames inside. Damage is estimated at $150,000. There were no injuries.

Man shoplifed twice over 3 days

BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

After an unendorsed search warrant, a man scheduled to be tried April 28 in Prince George provincial court appeared before a judge May 1 and pleaded guilty to two counts of theft under $5,000.

Darryl Stanley Ireland, 43, shoplifted on two occasions in October 2024, the court heard.

The first incident, on Oct. 16, 2024, involved the theft of $67.96 in merchandise from Winners HomeSense.

On Oct. 18, 2024, he took $123.73 worth of goods without paying from London Drugs.

In the first case, a store loss-prevention officer observed Ireland commit the theft.

In the second, he was seen on store surveillance footage. In both cases, he was stopped just outside the store by RCMP officers who were already in the vicinity.

Crown and defence lawyers jointly proposed a 30-day sentence with 12 months’ probation.

Judge Charles Hutchinson said Ireland had accumulated 10 days of pretrial custody, worth 15 days’ credit under the time-and-a-half system. The net sentence is 15 days.

Ireland, a status member of the Skookumchuck First Nation, has a Grade 10 education.

He has struggled with addiction for 15 years, initially with heroin but more recently with fentanyl.

“He is aware of how risky that is and has taken steps to access the safe supply program and try to wean himself off street drugs,” said defence lawyer Connor Carleton.

“It’s not lost on him that he’s lost a lot of friends and associates through overdoses and toxic drug supplies.”

Hutchinson accepted the joint sentencing submission.

Four months in jail for man who set pickup truck on fre

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A 40-year-old man was sentenced April 24 to another 132 days in jail after pleading guilty to setting a stolen truck on fire.

On Nov. 28, 2024, a woman called Prince George RCMP on behalf of her neighbour, who was recovering from a stroke, to report his Ford F-350 truck had been stolen.

The next day, officers on patrol on Victoria Street found the truck parked and running in the middle of the road. Officers observed John Robert Barton Craig, wearing a blue hoodie, approach the truck and open the passenger door. Moments later, it burst into flames during daylight in a residential neighbourhood near a school.

“The potential for harm to persons or nearby property was substantial,” said Justice Kaur Shergill.

Craig fled on foot. Officers saw him run across an open field to a waiting taxi. Police converged on the vehicle and arrested Craig and the other occupants.

The maximum sentence for arson is 14 years in jail and 10 years for possession of stolen property worth more than $5,000.

Crown prosecutor Eric Rines sought three years in prison and two years’ probation. Defence lawyer Jay Michi asked for two years plus a day in prison for arson and nine months concurrent for possession of stolen property.

Shergill sentenced Craig to a total of 28 months in jail and one year’s probation.

After spending 472 days in custody

before sentencing, he received 708 days’ credit under the time-and-a-half rule, leaving a net sentence of 132 days.

“The difficult feature of this case is

that Mr. Craig’s lengthy record — especially as it relates to property crime — demonstrates a persistent pattern that cannot be ignored,” Shergill said.

Craig’s repeat offending spans two decades and includes property crimes, breaches of court orders and convictions involving stolen property and motor vehicles.

Shergill said Craig acknowledged his addiction was active in fall 2024.

“He reports that his life and offending during this period were being driven by addiction and impaired judgment, which contributed to his offending on the day in question,” Shergill said. “Although he later achieved sobriety in custody, the materials are clear that the index offences occurred during a relapse phase, not during a period of stability or sustained recovery.”

The judge said prior interventions have failed to deter Craig from reoffending.

Shergill said mitigating factors include Craig’s early guilty plea, which avoided the cost of a trial.

The Moose Jaw-born member of the George Gordon First Nation in Saskatchewan has also experienced “intergenerational trauma, family disruption, substance dependence and cultural disconnection.”

He has been diagnosed with ADHD and left school after Grade 9. He has also suffered head injuries from playing hockey, motor vehicle crashes, violence and substance use.

Bail denied for man awaitng trial on assault charge

an Oct. 2, 2025, bail hearing.

A Prince George man’s application for release from custody while awaiting a trial in October was rejected May 1 in BC Supreme Court.

Jacob Johan Vanderminne, 33, was arrested Sept. 12, 2025, and charged with one count of aggravated assault and one count of breaching a probation order. He was detained in custody after

Justice Marguerite Church heard his 90-day bail review April 28 and reserved her decision.

Vanderminne, a member of the Bella Coola First Nation, has lived in Prince George for more than 20 years. He was in ministry care until he aged out.

“I am not confident that Mr. Vanderminne will abide by the terms of his release and, in my view, there continues to be a substantial likelihood that

Mr. Vanderminne will commit further offences if released,” Church said. “In view of the allegations against him and his criminal record, the risk to the safety of the community is simply too great.”

Provincial court Judge Martin Nadon sentenced him July 8, 2025, for mischief, theft and assault of a peace officer to time served, two years’ probation and a condition not to possess any weapons.

Vanderminne’s seven-page criminal record dates back to a conviction for assault in June 2011. It includes offences involving assault, theft, mischief, breaches of probation and breaches of undertaking.

The defence proposed house arrest at the Set Free recovery house under supervision.

But the Crown said it is not a registered community living facility and is not monitored by government agencies.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

A man will spend four months in jail after being found guilty of setting a stolen truck on fire.

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Importng methamphetamine puts woman behind bars

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Prince George-born woman has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in jail for speeding away from the Canada-U.S. border with 108 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden in a vehicle trunk.

Sukhvinder Kaur Sangha, 47, drove a rental car with Florida licence plates across the United States to the Pacific Border crossing in Surrey, BC, on Oct. 18, 2021. Rather than submit to a secondary search, Sangha fled from Canada Border Services Agency officers before she was arrested more than four kilometres from the border.

Just over three years later, Sangha pleaded guilty to unlawful importation of methamphetamine.

The Crown sought a sentence of 10 to 12 years in jail. The defence proposed a sentence of two years less a day to be served in the community,

plus probation. Sangha had no pretrial custody credit.

The Crown stayed the charge of possession for the purpose of trafficking. Sangha had worked for the past 10

years as a producer and broadcaster in Punjabi-language media. She said she was told indirectly to pay $150,000 or her teenage son would be injured or killed, and chose to import drugs

Judge fnds errors in original process, orders new trial for man convicted two years ago

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Almost two years after his conviction, a BC Supreme Court judge has ordered a new trial for Christian Michael Koval.

Koval, who was arrested in March 2022, was found guilty in Fort St. John provincial court May 2, 2024, of assault by choking, using violence or a threat of violence to compel a person to refrain from calling police, and possession of a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace. He was sentenced Feb. 14, 2025, to a conditional sentence of two years less a day and three years’ probation.

After an appeal heard over two days in January in Prince George, Justice Palbinder Kaur Shergill ruled April 29 that Koval was not afforded a fair trial. Shergill pointed to procedural

decisions made on three consecutive days that deprived Koval of “a meaningful opportunity to be present, to participate in the proceedings and to make full answer and defence.”

She said the integrity of the process was compromised.

“The significance of these errors taints the convictions by trial unfairness,” Shergill said. “They cannot stand.”

Koval sent an email to the registry March 6, 2023, but “there is no clear or reliable record of what the appellant was seeking on March 6, or on what basis.”

The trial judge said Koval sought permission to appear remotely, but the Crown believed he was requesting an adjournment.

“The decision to deny Mr. Koval’s request for an adjournment and/or

instead of paying.

Justice John Gibb-Carsley said Sangha expressed remorse because she was caught rather than for her actions. He considered her guilty plea a mitigating factor.

“I have assessed Ms. Sangha’s moral blameworthiness and conclude that she was aware that she was importing a large quantity of illegal drugs into Canada,” the judge said. “Given her previous work with youth and police, she would be aware of the harm that methamphetamine can cause to individuals and society.”

Gibb-Carsley said he hoped Sangha understood the “significant risks, dangers and consequences associated with the illegal drug trade. It is not a victimless crime.”

He addressed her directly: “My hope is that you can use your time of incarceration productively and positively such that this is your last interaction with the criminal justice system.”

Gun owner sues atorney general

BOB MACKIN

remote attendance was made unilaterally and summarily. There are no reasons — written or oral — explaining why the request was refused,” Shergill said.

On March 7, 2023, the judge decided to proceed in Koval’s absence after he had been in a motor vehicle crash.

The judge did not inquire about the type or severity of his injuries or determine whether he was medically fit to travel.

The judge also erred March 8, 2023, by adjourning the trial to allow Koval to attend and participate with the assistance of a lawyer, rather than considering a mistrial.

“That decision had the effect of requiring the appellant to proceed with a trial in which critical evidence had already been heard in his absence,” Shergill wrote.

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Clearwater man is seeking $35,000 after filing a small claim against the Attorney General of BC.

Lane Michael McDermott’s notice of claim, filed April 21 in Prince George Provincial Court registry, seeks damages after the Prince George RCMP used a warrant to conduct a search for a firearm that was allegedly stored unlawfully at a Salmon Valley Road address on Aug. 1, 2025.

According to McDermott, “in their search, they managed to unlawfully destroy my property and tamper with a court file that was to be used in another proceeding” in which an officer allegedly threatened his personal safety.

McDermott’s allegation has not been tested in court. The attorney general has not yet filed a response.

GOOGLE STREET VIEW IMAGE

A woman from Prince George will go to jail after being caught with methamphetamine at the Canada-U.S. border crossing in Surrey.

Once Upon a Child store set to open in Prince George

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

A new children’s store is coming to Prince George that its owners hope will fill a gap for parents in the community.

Joanna and Triston Tinker are excited to bring a new Once Upon a Child to the community in the coming months.

The Prince George location will open in a retail space at 136-6333 Southridge Ave. The location is in a plaza opposite Walmart.

Once Upon a Child is an affordable children’s store that sells and buys gently used children’s items, with more than 400 locations across North America.

When it opens, the store will pay cash on the spot for children’s items such as clothing, toys, books and equipment.

Joanna Tinker told The Citizen that before moving back to her hometown of Prince George, she and her husband lived in Kamloops, where they started their family. There, they were frequent customers of the Once Upon a Child location.

“We’re the first of our friends to have kids, so it was absolutely necessary for us to find a store like that. Right away, we knew this would do really well in Prince George. I think it’s a huge need because raising kids is so expensive as it is, and there’s just not a lot of affordable options out there,” she said.

Tinker added that the store typically sells items at 50 per cent of retail cost and buys items at 25 per cent of retail cost.

She said that when she spoke with parents in the community, she saw strong anticipation for the new location.

“There are definitely some children’s clothing stores where you can buy new, but that’s not always in everybody’s budget. That’s what I’ve really heard from the community — that they’re looking forward to having somewhere they can buy quality clothes at an affordable price,” she said.

The Tinker family is currently waiting for a building permit from the city and plans to complete renovations in the

space, with an estimated opening of September 2026.

However, Joanna noted the store will first open to buy items, with the goal of building inventory before selling to customers.

“It’s for a period of usually about six weeks, while we are just collecting our inventory, so everyone can come in, bring their items and we’re paying them cash on the spot. Once we have enough inventory to fill our store, that’s when we’ll open,” she said.

While the planned retail space for Once Upon a Child is large, Tinker said she is confident it will fill quickly during that period.

“A lot of people have questions about how we will possibly fill a store of this size, but I really think the community — and everybody I’ve talked to — has boxes and boxes of baby clothes and gear in their basements that they’re just waiting to get rid of, so I don’t foresee any issues,” she said.

The Tinker family announced the store was coming to Prince George on Facebook in mid-April, with about 800 locals following the page shortly afterward and expressing excitement.

“It blew up in a way that I was not expecting. I’ve been hearing that people are really excited for it and that there’s a need for this in town. I’ve been wearing my Once Upon a Child sweater all over town and people are stopping me to say

hi and that they saw my post. Everyone seems to be quite excited to have a new kids’ store in town,” she said. Another goal for the Tinkers is to connect with and support new parents in Prince George once the store opens.

“This isn’t just a business for us. We’re really hoping to build something for the community, and I’m excited to meet all these families and bring something that’s really needed to Prince George,” Tinker said.

Once Upon a Child is opening in this location on Southridge Avenue. The store, part of a national chain, buys and sells gently used children’s clothing. More information can be found on the store’s Facebook page.

Lack of fights could force courts to set suspects free

BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A statement from one of BC’s top judges warns that people facing BC Supreme Court trials in Williams Lake, Smithers and nine other communities could be released from custody due to logistics.

“It may not be possible for criminal trials to proceed as scheduled if the accused person is in custody and the courthouse is distant from the nearest pre-trial correctional centre,” wrote Associate Chief Justice Heather Holmes.

In the April 30 notice, Holmes said the RCMP and other local forces stopped keeping defendants in custody last year in police cells during their trials because they were unable to provide adequate staff or space.

The other courthouses affected are Cranbrook, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Nelson, Powell River, Prince Rupert, Revelstoke, Rossland and Terrace.

Defendants had been kept in local cells if the drive between the nearest provincial jail and the courthouse was not manageable on a twice-weekly basis. For longer trials, the defendant was returned to jail each weekend.

One solution has been chartering airplanes to shuttle defendants between

A remote area of Northern BC is seen from the window of a plane en route to Prince George in the fall of 2025. BC courts are routinely using charter flights to get people facing trial to courthouses in smaller communities.

jails and courthouses on a daily basis.

Sometimes charter flights are not available, so provincial officials and police are seeking an interim province-wide solution. Holmes does not know when a long-term solution is coming.

“Until those arrangements are in place, it is necessary to hold a case management conference for each potentially affected case to determine whether it will be possible during the trial to house the in-custody accused person in the community of the trial, or to transport the accused person daily from and to the correctional centre,”

Holmes wrote.

Holmes directed Crown and defence lawyers to contact scheduling clerks three months ahead of a trial to arrange a case management conference. It could mean adjourning a trial until suitable arrangements are available, moving the trial to a courthouse closer to a provincial jail or even releasing the accused person from custody.

The notice came seven weeks after a Provincial Court judge denied an application by a man accused of second degree murder in Smithers to move his case to Prince George.

Sylvester Gordon Joseph’s lawyers told Judge Gregory Brown that, as of last November, the RCMP stopped detaining accused individuals at the Smithers detachment. That meant Joseph would be sent from Prince George to Smithers in the morning for each court date and flown back to Prince George afterward.

Joseph estimated he would wake up before 6 a.m. daily and not be returned to his cell until after 7:30 p.m., within two hours of lockdown. He is on medication for ADHD and Suboxone, the anti-opioid medicine, and is anxious about flying.

“The flight time is over an hour to 90 minutes each way,” Brown said in his March 12 decision. “The Crown says it is less, but that does not include transport time from Prince George Regional Correctional Centre and the Prince George airport and transfer time from the Smithers airport to the Smithers courthouse.”

Brown said justice should be conducted locally whenever possible and a change in venue would delay the hearing by several months.

Brown’s ruling noted that time is of the essence: The 30-month ceiling for the case, under a 2016 Supreme Court of Canada decision, is March 2027.

Watercraf banned at Mt. Robson Park to prevent parasites

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Visitors to Mount Robson Park will be forbidden from using any watercraft or wading gear in lakes, rivers and creeks starting on Monday, May 4 as the provincial government tries to prevent the spread of a parasite dangerous to fish.

A media release sent out by the Ministry of Environment and Parks on Thursday, April 30 said the measures are aimed at stopping whirling disease from entering the provincial park, which is about a three-hour drive southwest of Prince George on Highway 16. Whirling disease is caused by a

parasite that attacks species of fish.

As the parasites damage a fish’s head, spinal and nervous tissue, they start to swim erratically, which is where the “whirling” description comes from.

There is no treatment for the disease, which means that preventing its spread is the best way of dealing with it. It can be spread by the movement of fish, mud and water. Spores can attach to watercraft and equipment as well as infected fish both dead and alive.

While pets can carry the spores, neither they nor humans are at risk from the disease. Juvenile trout, salmon and whitefish are the most at-risk from whirling disease.

Watercraft users can help stop the potential spread of the parasite by cleaning, draining and drying their vehicles and equipment before travelling between bodies of water.

Since 2024, BC law has made it mandatory for watercraft or boats to have their drain plug taken out when being transported over land.

The disease, the release said, was first spotted in Banff National Park in August 2016. It’s since been spotted in four major watersheds in southern and central Alberta as well as Yoho National Park and Kootenay Lake in BC.

The first BC case was detected in Yoho National Park in December 2023.

“BC monitors for whirling disease in priority waterbodies in the Columbia River watershed in partnership with First Nations, the Government of Canada and other partners,” the release said.

“So far, the disease has not been detected in Mount Robson Park, but BC Parks and Parks Canada are taking a co-ordinated approach to prevent the spread throughout parks in the Rocky Mountains.”

At Banff and Jasper national parks, Parks Canada is putting new restrictions on water activities while restrictions are already in place at Yoho, Kootenay and Waterton national parks as well as BC’s Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park.

Appeal court upholds hereditary chief’s convicton

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A BC Court of Appeal tribunal unanimously upheld the contempt conviction for a Wet’suwet’en hereditary chief involved in the 2021 protests against the Coastal GasLink pipeline project.

In an April 28 ruling, Chief Justice Leonard Marchand agreed with the lower court decision against Chief Dsta’hyl, also known as Adam Bernard Gagnon. Marchand dismissed the defence that he was acting in accordance with Indigenous law.

“Indigenous law has been denied, suppressed, and at times outlawed, for over a century in Canada,” Marchand wrote. “Canadian law has a role to play in undoing that harm and is learning to make space for Indigenous legal orders in various ways. But that work does not include allowing parties, Indigenous or non-Indigenous, to breach court orders.”

Marchand, a member of the Okanagan Indian Band, became BC’s first Indigenous Chief Justice in 2023.

Protests against the project escalated in October 2021. On Oct. 25-26, 2021, a blockade prevented vehicles from entering and existing the CGL P2 camp, which accommodated several hundred workers. Individuals could walk in and out, however.

“On Oct. 26, 2021, people working

Valemount expands areas its fre department covers

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

The Valemount and District Fire Volunteer Fire Department will expand its service area to seven more properties on Canoe East Forest Service Road after a bylaw amendment was passed by the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George board of directors on Thursday, April 16. These properties are to the southeast of Valemount, near the northern end of Kinbasket Lake.

A report from district staff notes that the owners of the seven properties petitioned to be added to the Valemount & District Fire Protection Local Service Area.

The text of the bylaw also noted that written consent had been obtained from the landowners, the Village of

Valemount and Director Dannielle Alan from Electoral Area H (Robson Valley-Canoe).

Director Owen Torgerson, the mayor of Valemount, told his colleagues that the addition of the new properties would enable the local fire department to more quickly respond to wildfires approaching the community from that direction.

“The Canoe Road wildfire in 2024 set a really high standard of what it looks like to aggressively extinguish a dangerous wildfire,” Torgerson said. “And the addition of these properties will enable our dedicated volunteers to get on it quickly.”

Alan said that during consultation with the residents of her electoral area, no objections were raised and the community was supportive of the move.

under Chief Dsta’hyl’s direction cut electrical wires and removed batteries from several pieces of heavy machinery near the camp.”

He was arrested the next day.

The proposed defence failed because Marchand decided disobeying the injunction was “not a matter of last resort” for the chief.

“There were other lawful and peaceful means available to the appellant

to challenge the injunction,” Marchand wrote. “The judge did not err in concluding the proposed defence amounted to a collateral attack on the injunction order. No exception to collateral attack applies.”

As such, the court did not address the oral history ground of appeal.

Marchand said defence witnesses described the Wet’suwet’en traditional law of trespass, “which requires permission of the house group to be on their territory beyond merely passing through it.”

The decision, agreed by Justices Margot Fleming and Nitya Iyer, said the way to address concerns about an injunction for an approved project is an appeal or application to vary, stay or terminate the induction. “Here, Chief Dsta’hyl’s proposed excusatory defence was not available to him and the judge did not err in finding the proposed defence amounted to an impermissible collateral attack on the Injunction,” Marchand wrote.

Get into the G GUNDAM groove

GIDIMT’EN

An RCMP officer talks to opponents of the Coastal Gaslink project at a blockade in this 2021 photo.

TOYS • COMICS • GAMES

What’s happening in PG

The Librarians Film Screening goes Thursday, May 7 at 6 p.m. at the College of New Caledonia Theatre Room 1-306. This is an award-winning documentary and the event brings together community and post-secondary partners to explore the vital roles libraries and the people behind them play in supporting access to information, intellectual freedom and meaningful community connection. Doors open at 5:30, introduction at 6:05 p.m. and film begin at 6:15. Parking fee will be waived from 5 to 9 to make attending more barrier free.

Spruce Capital Senior Centre Garage Sale goes Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. at 3 p.m. at 3701 Rainbow Drive, lower level, follow the signs to the side of the building entrance. There will be household goods, Christmas and Easter décor, fall clothes – plus size and regular. Craft projects, craft supplies, outside and inside items, too much to list. Fresh baked goods, hot dogs, chips and pop will be on offer. Help the cause by dropping off donations Monday to Thursday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. until Thursday, May 7.

Mother’s Day Elvis Tribute Show goes Saturday, May 9, doors open at 5:30, buffet dinner at 6 p.m. and show at 7:30 at Bon Voyage Restaurant, 4366 Highway 16 West. Steve Elliott has been coming to Prince George to perform his Elvis Tribute Show for 18 years and puts on an extraordinary showcase of everyone’s favourite Elvis songs. It is a very interactive show where people are encouraged to clap and dance. Tickets are $65 each, cash only. To make reservations call 250-964-2444.

Handbells Rock! Synergy Handbell Choir Concert goes Saturday, May 9 at 2 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 180 Tabor Blvd. Synergy is an advancedlevel handbell choir ringing five octaves of bells and five octaves of chimes and is a community of performers of all ages. Come enjoy show tunes, pop music, classical favourites and some handbell rock. Admission is by donation.

Mother’s Day 5k goes Sunday, May

Eighty-eight runners take off from the starting line on Sunday morning at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park while competing in a previous Prince George Road Runners Mother’s Day 5k. It’s back Sunday, May 10.

10 at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park with bib pick up and day-of registration opens at 8:45 along with the free kids fun run and then the 5k run starts at 9 a.m. for everyone else. For all the details and to register visit www.pgroadrunners.ca/join-us/registration

Second Annual CityFest goes Wednesday, May 13 at 3 p.m. at Canada Games Plaza. This is a fun, family-friendly community event where local pride comes to life. Bring the kids for face painting, a live DJ, and Touch-a-Truck in the plaza. There will be more than 25 city booths so visitors can speak with city staff, win prizes and swag and get a behind-the-scenes look at the programs, services, and projects shaping Prince George. From asset management and project delivery to bylaws, meet the people who keep the city running and learn something new along the way.

Live Pro Wrestling goes Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16 at 5:45 to 9:15 p.m. at the Civic Centre. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Scrapbook zone on 18th Ave, 3 Goblins Games, or

online at www.ticketseller.ca/tickets/ event/live-pro-wrestling

Origin Stories Re-Told Reception goes Saturday, May 16 at 2 p.m. at Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St. The Living Room Collective presents this event that features a dozen multi-media Northern artists. Hear the stories that inspired, the narratives recreated and be mesmerized by beauty and mystery. This is a free event and refreshments will be available.

Prince George Conservatory of Music fundraising event goes Sunday, May 17 at 3 p.m. at Trinity United Church, 3555 Fifth Ave. Come to an inspiring performance by an award-winning 10-year-old pedal harpist, featuring a vibrant program of hymns, classical works, contemporary and Celtic pieces. A beautiful showcase of talent, versatility, and musical storytelling. Admission is by donation to the Conservatory’s Bursary and Scholarship funds.

Wild Plant Identification for Edible and Medicinal Spring Plants goes Tuesday, May 19, May 26, June 2 and 9 from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. Event

is presented by Jen, wildcraft guide with Moose, Mushrooms and Mud and guides you to find and sustainably pick plants that are of benefit. Location to be explored is about 15 minutes from downtown PG. Be prepared to walk for two hours over light bush terrain. Cost is $55 and details about exact location will be available once registered. For more details visit www.facebook.com/ moosemushroomsandmud

Luv of Paws Night Market goes Wednesday, May 20 at CN Centre from 4 to 9 p.m. There will be local vendors and food trucks and pets are welcome to attend. This is a family-friendly event and fundraiser for Luvs Northern Animal Rescue. Pet food, pet items and monetary donations will be accepted during the event.

Seniors Paint Club goes Thursdays until May 21 from noon to 2 p.m. at Studio 2880-15th Ave in the Jack Bryan Room. These sessions are geared for those 55+ to learn new art techniques. Take up painting with your friends and enjoy an afternoon creating art. On April 30 the theme is Happy Sunflowers; May 7 Campfire Stories; May 14 Calm Water and May 21 is Big Red (a tractor). Each session is $25 and includes supplies. To register visit www.studio2880.com/ programs/art-classes/seniorspaintclub Woodsmoke and Oranges goes Saturday, May 23 at 2 p.m. at St. Michael’s and All Angels Church, 1505 Fifth Ave. Under the direction of Carolyn Duerksen, with Maureen Nielsen at the piano, the PG Cantata Singers feature a program of Canadian choral music to carry you somewhere beautiful. Joining the choir are guest musicians José Delgado-Guevara on viola, Ken Hall on penny whistle, Paul Mulligan on clarinet, Keshawna Garnot on Indigenous hand drum, and Julie Howard on percussion, alongside guest dancers Sarah Prendergast and Kiplin Stainton. Tickets are $15 for children and $30 for adults at www.tickettailor.com/events/ princegeorgecantatasingers

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Fury on the Fraser, a Roller Derby Double Feature goes Saturday, May 23 at 6 p.m. at CN Centre. This actionpacked event brings intense competition, high-energy matchups featuring Rated PG Thrashers, Team Northern BC and Eves of Destruction who provide non-stop entertainment to the CN Centre for one unforgettable evening. Fans can expect a full lineup of exciting bouts, featuring top fighters showcasing skill, power, and determination inside the arena. Whether you’re a longtime fight fan or just looking for a thrilling night out, Fury on the Fraser delivers edge-of-your-seat action from start to finish. Tickets are $15 each at www. ticketsnorth.ca/event/fury-on-the-fraser Strawberry Tea & Plant Sale goes Saturday, May 23 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Elder Citizens Recreation Centre, 1692 Tenth Ave. This event is hosted by the Tai Chi Group and offers the tea for $8 per person and the sale will offer annuals, perennials, vegetables, heir loom and container tomatoes, herbs, small fruits and house plants.

Prince George Conservatory of Music showcase event goes Sunday, May 24 at 3 p.m. at Trinity United Church, 3555 Fifth Ave. This year’s music scholarship recipients take the stage alongside the PG Symphony Youth Orchestra in a vibrant afternoon of performance. Showcasing a wide range of instruments and levels, the pro gram celebrates the dedication, growth, and artistry of our students. Admission is by donation to the Conservatory’s Scholarship fund. The conservatory has raised more than $4,300 to be given out in music scholarships this year and the concert will also serve as a thank you to the generous donors who made that possible.

Galaxy Prince George Psychic & Crystal Fair goes Friday, May 29 from 2 to 10 p.m., Saturday, May 30 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, May 31 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Ramada, 444 George St. Some of Canada’s top

psychics, mediums, astrologers, rune readers, healers, tea leaf and palm readers and an aura photo booth will be available. Beautiful crystals and handmade jewelry for sale. Lots of door prizes. Tickets are $10 and good for the whole event. Children 12 and under are free. For tickets visit www.eventbrite. ca/e/galaxy-prince-george-psychic-crystal-fair-tickets

Cruising PG goes every Wednesday and is presented by the Carefree Society, providing accessible and inclusive transportation services in Prince George and area. Pick up typically begins at 1 p.m. Recommended rate is $20. Book early as space is limited. To reserve a seat call 250-562-1397 or email book@carefreesociety.org

Canadian Cancer Society is looking for Wheels of Hope drivers who make a significant impact on the lives of those battling cancer. By providing crucial transportation to treatment appointments volunteers offer not only

Commonwealth Financial, 575 Victoria St. Everyone is welcome who has been diagnosed, those who are caregivers, family members and friends. Wheelchair accessible parking at the back of the building. For more information call Viv Lougheed at 250-981-2618.

Parkinson Support Group meetings are the first Saturday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, 3701 Rainbow Drive. Meetings are informal and are for sharing information about slowing down the progression of PD. There are guest speakers, special events and biweekly exercise sessions and positive social interaction. Use lower parking lot beside ball diamond to access the seniors centre.

Chronic Condition Support Group takes place the first Tuesday of every month from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Nechako Branch of the Prince George Public Library, 6547 John Hart Hwy. This is a community social group where people

with any chronic condition can come together to socialize, connect and learn from each other. This is a free drop-in event.

Trivia Night at Nancy O’s goes every other Wednesday at 8 p.m., 1261 Third Ave. There are three rounds per game, each round has five themed questions and five music questions. Book a spot by calling ahead at 250-562-8066. Open Mic at Nancy O’s goes every other Wednesday from 8 to 11 p.m. Open mic is hosted by Danny Bell and friends. Come on down and share songs, poetry, dance, stories, and anything else you can think to do on stage. All are welcome.

If you’ve got an event coming up email us at news@pgcitizen.ca to offer details including name of the event, the date, time and location, ticket price and where to get them and a little bit about what’s happening, too. LOCF

FANS and FUN

People who love science ction, games, comics, manga and anime made the CN Centre the capital of BC fandom over the weekend as Fancon returned for another big year of stars and surprises

LEFT: Hekates, a Sith of the 501st Legion and Dark Empire, aka

ABOVE

Nadine Phuuet, wields her lightsabre.

LEFT: Drake Landon, 18, a web design and graphics student at CNC, leaves the convention floor in Warframe cosplay.

RIGHT: 501st Legion and Dark Empire Tie Pilot Brian Stewart poses in his screen-accurate costume.

ABOVE: Hannah Leshures, 10, strikes a pose wearing the Hornet (from the video game Hollow Knight: Silksong) she created in two weeks, with the help of dad, while attending Fancon for the first time.

LEFT: Jade, 15, records a video as the cosplay character Lilia Vanrouge.

ABOVE Mark Wheeler (left) takes on actor Eric Roberts, one of several celebrity guests, in a mock arm wrestling match during FanCon at the CN Centre on Sunday, May 3. Fans packed the arena for the three-day convention.

Travelling dinosaurs fnd a home at Exploraton Place

BC Museum exhibit features fossils, teeth, tracks and more

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

One of the Royal BC Museum’s travelling exhibits, Dinosaurs of BC, has made its home at The Exploration Place.

Royal BC Museum curator of paleontology Victoria Arbour helped make Dinosaurs of BC a reality with years of research into the creatures that roamed the peaks, rivers and valleys of prehistoric BC.

The exhibit showcases a variety of fossils, dinosaur teeth, dinosaur tracks and much more, all collected in BC.

The travelling exhibit also provides information on the fossils and how they were collected and researched, including details on digs that took place on remote mountains only accessible by helicopter.

Two of the exhibits were also provided by The Exploration Place (those being fossils for a duckbill dinosaur named Brachylophosaurus, and a fossil of a Triassic-aged fish named Albertonia cupidinia).

The prize jewel of the exhibition is undoubtedly the model of Buster, also known as Ferrisaurus sustutensis, the first and only dinosaur species unique to BC.

Buster is approximately the size of a large dog and was found in northern BC in the Sustut River.

Chad Hellenius, assistant curator at The Exploration Place, told The Citizen what he finds so fascinating about the Exploration Place’s newest visitor.

“It’s amazing to a lot of people who think of dinosaurs as just these massive things. But then there’s Buster, who’s the size of a big dog; it really puts it into perspective that there was this huge diversity,” he said.

Hellenius also loves the exhibit, especially Buster, because it shows there are still new things to find in the world of paleontology — something he loves to share with visitors.

Exploration Place guests look at

“We’re still uncovering those things. It’s just an exciting time when you realize there are still new discoveries to make and to add on,” said Hellenius.

The curator for The Exploration Place, Alyssa Gerwing, also spoke to The Citizen and said this exhibit has been doing particularly well with local families.

“We’re trying to engage across all ages, but definitely we have had some excited kids touring this exhibit now that it is here. We’ve definitely had some pretty happy families,” she said.

Local kids have been particularly fond of the exhibit, with Gerwing seeing their impressed reactions almost daily.

“They are running around and seeing all the things they want to point at. They want to share everything. They always want to show everyone what they found. That’s why we have a little stool so they can get up close and personal with some of the fossils,” she said.

She added that the previous travelling exhibit provided a nice segue into the current one.

“It’s also a nice switch over from the last exhibit we had, which is Game Changers. So you go from video games to paleontology,” she said.

One thing that Gerwing noted was that Arbour, the curator of the travelling exhibit, visited The Exploration Place last year and shared her research and

A fossil of a Triassic-aged fish named Albertonia Cupidinia sits on display at Dinosaurs of BC on Wednesday, April 29. The Exploration Place is showcasing several of its own pieces at the Dinosaurs of BC exhibit, including this fossil.

adventures in the field of paleontology with local youth.

Arbour’s students have also played a role at The Exploration Place in the past, as Gerwing explained.

“She had some students come and take a look at some of the things in our collection and give us more information about them,” she said. “It’s always great when you have someone like Arbour come and give you more information about things that you wish you’d known.”

The exhibit is also hoping to improve accessibility at The Exploration Place.

“This exhibit comes with Braille,

which is really interesting. All of these panels have Braille pads and there are books of Braille at the front desk that you can request. Then you can read along on all the panels as well. It is a dual language — English and Braille,” said Gerwing.

Gerwing noted that this is the first time The Exploration Place has offered Braille for an exhibit.

Dinosaurs of BC will be hosted at the Exploration Place until Sept. 13, 2026. It’s included with general admission. For hours, school and group bookings and more information, visit: https://theexplorationplace.com/

EXPLORATION PLACE PHOTO

Two

Buster, the star of the Dinosaurs of BC exhibit.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER

New 3D-printed life keeps old plastcs out of landflls

Northern BC MakerCollective teaming up with UNBC on innovative new project

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

UNBC is hoping to make a difference in both the amount of plastics in local landfills and in students’ learning.

The university is opening a new plastics recycling station in partnership with Northern BC MakerCollective, a group of creators who use 3D printers.

Waste plastics from the UNBC campus are collected and shredded, then turned into raw materials for 3D printer users to create new usable products at a space run by the Northern BC MakerCollective in downtown Prince George.

The project is supported by $168,000 in funding from the provincial CleanBC Plastic Action Fund.

UNBC sustainability manager Ann Duong said in a media release that from her perspective, this is a confident step forward in reducing linear waste.

“From my lab experience, I’ve seen perfectly good plastics end up in landfills. This project aims to shift UNBC toward a circular economy, closing the loop rather than following a linear waste model,” she said.

UNBC added the project will help the university get on track to meet its target of 70 per cent total waste diversion by 2035.

Along with environmental benefits, the project will give students valuable insights.

“Students engage directly with recycling processes, gaining applied learning experience. The hands-on approach gives learners a better understanding of what recycling truly entails and fosters greater appreciation for material systems,” Duong said.

Duong said she believes the project can demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits of sustainable practices, which are often not accounted for.

Northern BC MakerCollective said the partnership grew from a mutual interest in community and sustainable design.

MakerCollective founder Belinda Larisch said the organization has been looking to create a new local maker space after the previous MakerLab at Two Rivers Gallery closed.

“When we were introduced to UNBC Sustainability, we found that we had much in common. We were intrigued by the idea of plastic recycling, as repurposing materials is a core principle for many makers,” Larisch said.

As planning wrapped up and the project began to take shape, MakerCollective opened the Maker Station, a new space to house the project’s recycling equipment.

“The ability to take waste plastic and reshape it into new and useful products opens up a seemingly infinite amount of potential projects. The addition of plastic recycling creates opportunities for greater creativity — whether for personal use, prototyping for future business ventures or small entrepre neurial projects,” she said.

UNBC staff and students have played a key role in shaping the project, with engineering students conducting term projects examining plastics available on campus, collection methods, processing pathways and potential end products.

“They looked at what types of plas tics are available on campus, how to collect them, product ideas and how to process plastic from collection to a final product,” said engineering associate professor Steve Helle.

Helle said the space will give students experience beyond what is learned on campus.

“Hands-on, real-world projects have higher learning potential. They are messier and require the ability to work with uncertainty, and they are highly motivating because this is not a makework project but one with real mean ing,” he said.

The project is not currently intended to operate at a commercial scale. However, organizers hope it will inspire similar programs across northern BC.

From left are Belinda Larisch, Joe Helle, Ann Duong and Ian Simpson, pose for a

Harwin Elementary hostng Indigenous Gala Night

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH

Citizen Staff

Harwin Elementary Indigenous Gala Night will feature an evening of Indigenous arts, culture and fashion during an event led and presented by students on Friday, May 8, 2026.

The fundraiser supports zero-cost programming at the school so there are no barriers for students to participate. If there is an after-school art or crafting class, all materials are covered through funding. If there is a sports program, such as hockey, all gear is provided to students, making it accessible for everyone. When hosting events such as Indigenous History Month in June, everything is provided.

Inside the Spirit Den — a lounge and workspace at Harwin Elementary — students fill every seat, eating lunch and preparing to speak.

Some sit up straighter while others settle into a couch, suggesting a mix of

excitement and caution.

“The kids are doing it all for the gala night,” said Marnie Blakely, community school co-ordinator at Harwin.

Last year’s event featured a fashion show with students modelling clothing from local companies.

“When I heard that, I thought, ‘Why can’t we have our own kids make things for the fashion show?’” said Jennine Sanderson, Indigenous education worker at Harwin.

“I love getting kids to do these types of things, teaching them life skills. I think that’s always important.”

Students are sewing reusable cloth bags and ribbon skirts to showcase at the event. The ribbon skirts will also be worn during performances of the jingle dance, an Indigenous tradition.

During a recent non-instructional day, students performed as special guest drummers at the UHNBC Northern Indigenous Health SEED launch ceremony. The Health SEED program

adults — the kids run everything.”

Grade 6 and 7 leadership students described their roles in the event.

Sadie Schlitt, a Grade 7 student, is taking on several roles, including MC, drummer, sewer and model.

“I really like that we are showcasing our own art and modelling it. That makes it a lot more special,” she said.

Harmony Cooper, a Grade 7 student who is a drummer, sewer and model, said learning to make a skirt was challenging.

“It was hard at first because this is the first time I have ever used a sewing machine, but as I kept going, it got easier and it was fun designing it,” she said.

Kailyn Llarena, a Grade 6 student, is an MC, jingle dancer, drummer, sewer and model.

“I am very glad I am doing all this and I am excited,” she said.

Kailyn said the event is special because students have created everything involved, making it more personal and meaningful.

“It’s a great opportunity for us,” she said.

offers Indigenous high school students (Grades 10–12) immersive health-care career opportunities, including job shadowing, hospital tours and simulation activities.

After drumming at the hospital, the students returned to Harwin to work on their sewing projects.

“So here I was busy working and they did it all,” Blakely said.

“Jennine had taught them and now they were teaching the next group. While I did my own work, they focused on their creations.”

Several students have multiple roles in the gala, including sewing, modelling, drumming and serving as masters of ceremony.

“On Fridays, we practise. The kids have signed up for different roles and they have MC notes, so we go into the gym and they practise modelling, drumming and speaking,” Blakely said.

“We also have a team that will be cooking. There are just a couple of

To support fundraising efforts, students have created art pieces, such as dreamcatchers, which will be for sale during the event. A silent auction featuring community donations will also be held, along with drumming, the fashion show and games such as heads or tails and rock, paper, scissors.

Dinner will be served at 6:15 p.m. and prepared by students under the guidance of youth care worker Ms. Tinney. Taking a life-skills approach, the group will prepare chicken Alfredo from scratch along with salads, following food-safe guidelines. A total of 100 guests will be served.

“This school is all about teaching and passing that knowledge to the next group of students,” Blakely said, referring to the leadership program at Harwin.

“Everyone is welcome to attend the event and watch all our little humans.”

Tickets are $25 and available at the Spirit Den Monday to Friday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Only 100 tickets are available.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHRISTINE DALGLEISH

These are some of the Harwin Elementary School students who created ribbon skirts that will be modeled during the student-led Indigenous Gala Night on Friday, May 8, a fundraiser showcasing arts, culture and fashion.

Cross-country runner passes through Robson Valley

Mental health advocate Trevor Redmond is the ‘Fellow in Yellow’

ABIGAIL POPPLE

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

When mental health advocate Trevor Redmond stopped outside of the Valemount A&W on April 23rd, it was far from obvious that he was on kilometre 11,546 of a cross-country journey.

Known as the “Fellow in Yellow,” Redmond is running across Canada with a smile on his face and donation cups in hand to inspire Canadians to overcome their mental and physical trauma, and support more investment in the Canadian healthcare system.

After staying with Thompson-Nicola Regional District director Lee Onslow at her home in Blue River, Redmond made the roughly 91 kilometre journey to Valemount on foot over the course of two days.

He ran about 41 kilometres on the last day to make it into town, he told The Goat

This is Redmond’s third journey across Canada — he’s biked and walked the length of the country before. He says he’s the first person to bike, walk and run across the country, a feat he has dubbed “the grand trifecta.”

In completing this journey, Redmond says he hopes to inspire people to “get up and move,” as well as serve as an example for anyone recovering from mental or physical trauma. Redmond has had his own traumatic experiences:

when he was 15, his leg shattered in over 20 places after being hit by a car.

“It was a jigsaw puzzle they had to put back together, and so was my life,” he said. “To have my leg shattered, I didn’t know where I was gonna go.”

Doctors thought they may have to amputate his leg, but a dozen surgeries later, Redmond had a chance at walking again.

It was difficult for him to muster the motivation to attend physical therapy

and leave his wheelchair until one of his orthopedic surgeries gave him some tough love, he said.

That memory sticks with him when he tries to motivate people in situations similar to the one he went through 40 years ago.

“I want people, if they are in that hospital, to come out with a full recovery, and whatever hospital dream you may have to let it come true,” he said.

Another part of Redmond’s goal is

to highlight the good that Canadian healthcare providers do. He advocates for the government to increase funding in healthcare, especially mental health services.

“When we talk about our healthcare system, a lot of people say it’s no good. But there’s a hell of a lot of good in it, and a hell of a lot of good people,” he said.

This article originally appeared in The Rocky Mountain Goat.

ABIGAIL POPPLE/LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER PHOTO

Trevor Redmond stops outside the A&W in Valemount to chat with people about his journey.

CNC creatng new possibilites for youth in the North

Prince George Folkfest Society (PGFFS) would like to invite existing and new members to attend our Annual General Meeting to discuss the continued success of coldsnap - the prince george winter music festival and all our live music events!

Wednesday, June 17th - 7:00 PM

Knox Performance Centre - 1448 5th Ave

Coldsnap Presents returns to Knox Performance Centre! For tickets and more information, and to sign up or renew your membership, visit www.coldsnapfestival.com artists and venues subject to change

Students tour the campus to learn about homegrown education

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

About 150 students from elementary to high school filled the College of New Caledonia (CNC) on Tuesday, April 28 as the college launched a new strategy to build interest and domestic support for students interested in post-secondary education in the North.

Create Your Possibilities — a name chosen by students from School District 57 (SD57) — is designed to support students at every step of their school careers, from building early awareness to their eventual transition into post-secondary.

The strategy was launched during a special event attended by Prince George residents, CNC faculty members and students from Immaculate Conception, Peden Hill Elementary School, Fraser Valley Elementary-Secondary

School and Prince George Secondary School.

Cindy Heitman, the college’s president and CEO, said in a speech at the event the program can help students foster interests in the North.

“This doesn’t just benefit CNC. It supports a healthier, more diverse student population and stronger communities,” she said. “It positions us in a place where learners feel valuable from the very beginning, not just when you apply, but when you start imagining who you might become.”

Before the event, the 150 students spent the day touring CNC and its programs, including IT, health care, biology, nursing and fine arts.

Students learned how to take X-rays, dissect owl pellets, create art collages and remove medical staples from a dummy.

Prince George Secondary School student Stella Lovell said she hopes to enter the health-care field when she pursues post-secondary and told The Citizen the experience helped her visualize the field.

“Everyone was really kind and positive, and you could tell they loved what they were doing. The X-ray instructor really helped us learn how to take X-rays,” Lovell said.

Other students who spoke to local media said the day’s events were exciting and new, and helped them focus on future post-secondary possibilities.

Create Your Possibilities began development in October 2025.

As it evolved, the program focused heavily on consultation with school districts, students of all ages, CNC employees, families and community organizations.

CNC said it recognizes that many students’ interests and ideal careers change frequently, which is why a key aim of the program is to adapt to students’ changing needs as they progress through school.

The college also hopes to reduce barriers for students accessing post-secondary and foster a welcoming environment at CNC for students in the North.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER

A student looks through a microscope during faculty-led activities during the launch of the CNC Create Your Possibilities Initiative.

Building engagement is key: CNC Out on the trail as spring returns

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Another major goal is to ensure youth can see themselves staying in their own communities while attending post-secondary institutions.

This local focus was chosen after CNC experienced a notable loss of revenue due to a drop in international student enrolment, which has declined significantly since 2024.

Shelley Carter-Rose, CNC’s vice-president of student affairs, told media the program could help stabilize the college as it shifts its focus inward.

“We’ve had a decline in international student enrolment, and colleges were created to support communities in the first place. We have been very intentional about building our enrolment domestically. We’ve had incremental growth over the last six terms. This is our lifeline. This is our stability,” she said.

“Having so many international students was wonderful and it was a great experience. But we’re here to serve our community.”

She added that understanding community needs will be a major focus of the project, with the goal of keeping northern students in the North as they pursue post-secondary education.

“We know we need to serve the region and the people of the community, so having a relationship with them and understanding what their needs are will help shape what we do,” she said.

Create Your Possibilities focuses on four key areas:

• Early awareness and exploration

• Youth engagement and experiences

The more we can engage and build relationships and comfort for students, the better. That has been proven many times at other

institutions.”

• Pathways and transitions

• Partnerships and community connections

The four focus areas are intended to guide various local initiatives and programs over the next three years.

These youth-focused initiatives aim to give students a taste of the CNC experience, improve communication between post-secondary institutions and northern school districts, and build partnerships with First Nations and youth-focused community organizations.

Proposed initiatives include summer camp programs, maker-day experiences, classroom visits, mobile engagement and youth conferences.

Carter-Rose, who has been a leading figure in the project since 2025, spoke with media following the event about CNC’s vision behind Create Your Possibilities .

“This has been part of our vision to work with junior high and elementary school students. The more we can engage and build relationships and comfort for students, the better,” she said.

Carter-Rose said transitioning from high school to post-secondary can often be a daunting and uncertain experience — something the strategy aims to address.

“The more we can engage and build relationships and comfort for students, the better. That has been proven many times at other institutions. We’re getting to that now, so we’re doing a full, robust engagement with our youth,” she said.

One of Carter-Rose’s main hopes is that students who attend Create Your Possibilities events will become active CNC community members in the near future.

“In other places I’ve worked, I’ve heard students say they came to an event at the college in Grade 8 and are now students. We have staff who say the same thing — they came for an event in Grade 9 or Grade 6 and now work here,” she said.

“We have an opportunity to build that comfort, and we have time. It really is a systems approach in terms of engaging early and providing opportunities so they develop that sense of comfort.”

People put away their flannel and started wearing shorts again over the past few days as April gave way to May with a few days of temperatures above 20 C. Motorcycles were back on the road and famllies headed out on local trails, including along this one that connects Foothills Boulevard to Ginter’s Green. The weekend forecast calls for continued warmer weather, with nights in the single digits, and cloudy skies on Saturday and Sunday.

A Night at the Opera with Canadian Soprano ACCOMPANIED BY VANCOUVER OPERA’S TINA CHANG

Guidebooks can help prepare for BC’s wildfre season

CITIZEN STAFF

You can never be too prepared.

That’s the message from both the BC Wildfire Service and the United Way of BC, both of which have released updated wildfire emergency preparedness guides.

The updated guidebooks are designed to help seniors, families, and entire communities understand risks and respond effectively to wildfires, floods, and other climate-driven emergencies.

They emphasize simple, practical steps — what to pack, how to communicate, and how to protect homes and property — all written in accessible language for those who may not rely on digital resources.

Here’s a sampling of the information contained in the guides.

What the guidebooks cover

Each guide walks users through:

• Building an emergency plan

• Preparing for power outages and service disruptions.

• Understanding insurance coverage and financial risks

Officials say these tools are meant to turn uncertainty into action — before disaster strikes.

Make a plan — and keep it current

Every household is encouraged to create an emergency plan — essentially a playbook for crisis situations.

Plans should include:

• Contact lists and meeting points if family members are separated

• Copies stored in multiple locations — home, vehicle, and workplace

• Experts recommend reviewing and updating plans at least once a year

Communication is critical during emergencies:

• Keep phones charged and conserve battery life

• Use text, email, or social media — these often work better than calls during network congestion

• Consider a shared online group for family updates

Build grab-and-go bags

Evacuations can happen with little notice — residents are urged to prepare bags in advance.

Basic supplies should include:

• Water and ready-to-eat food

• Flashlights, radios, and extra batteries

• First aid kits and medications

• Important documents and insurance papers

• Clothing, blankets, and personal hygiene items

Special considerations:

• Customize kits for children, seniors, and people with disabilities

• Prepare separate kits for pets — including food, leashes, and medical records

• Keep bags in multiple locations to ensure access at all times

Protect your home

Property preparation can significantly reduce wildfire damage.

The guides highlight three key zones around the home:

Immediate zone (0–1.5 m):

• Remove flammable materials and vegetation

• Use non-combustible surfaces like gravel or concrete Intermediate zone (1.5–10 m):

• Keep firewood and combustible items away from structures

• Use fire-resistant plants and landscaping

Extended zone (10–30 m):

• Space out trees and remove dry debris

• Maintain clear ground to limit fire spread

These measures can slow advancing flames and give firefighters a better chance to protect structures.

Know evacuation stages

The guides outline three key phases:

Evacuation Alert:

• Be ready to leave at a moment’s notice

• Gather belongings and fuel vehicles

Evacuation Order:

• Leave immediately — no exceptions

• Follow official routes and instructions

Evacuation Rescind:

• Return only when authorities declare it safe

Preparation during the alert stage can make the difference between a calm exit and a chaotic one.

During a wildfire

Follow instructions from local authorities at all times.

Do not attempt to return home until cleared.

Smoke safety tips include:

• Staying indoors with windows closed

• Using air filtration or visiting clean-air public spaces

• Limiting physical activity outdoors

Health impacts can be significant, especially for children, seniors, and those with existing conditions.

After the fire — returning safely

Re-entry should be cautious and methodical:

• Watch for hazards like downed wires or structural damage

• Use protective gear such as gloves and sturdy footwear

Food and water safety is critical:

• Discard spoiled or exposed food

• Wait for official confirmation before using water supplies

Document damage thoroughly for insurance claims:

• Take photos and keep receipts

• Maintain records of all expenses related to displacement

Insurance — know your coverage

Home insurance typically covers wildfire damage, but gaps may exist. Don’t be surprised.

Residents are urged to:

• Review policies with providers

• Understand coverage for evacuation-related living expenses

Notably, disaster financial assistance does not cover wildfire losses — making insurance essential.

A narrowing window to prepare Officials warn that disaster season in BC is becoming more predictable — and more severe.

The period before peak wildfire activity is described as a critical window for:

• Planning

• Gathering supplies

• Practicing evacuation routines

Once emergencies begin, the focus shifts from preparation to response — often with little time to spare.

The United Way guidebook is available online at uwbc.ca/ emergency-response-resources/

The BC Wildfire guidebook is available online (in multiple languages) at https:// www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/ emergency-management/preparedbc/ know-your-hazards/wildfires

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

A BC Wildfire Service pontoon plane, which can collect lake water and dump it on active fires, operates on Tzenzaicut Lake on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025 near Quesnel, BC.

May 7, 2012: Karensa Gauthier, 3 ½, found a pair of frog dolls at the Prince George Farmers’ Market on its rst outdoor day of the season. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY

DAVID MAH

May 7, 1974: Boyd Bayne, back left, and Al Reimer, members of the Prince George Lions Club, assembled toys the club bought for the children’s ward at the Prince George Regional Hospital. The gifts included toy tractors, teddy bears and more. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY

May 7, 1988: Kim Ewert of Bencher Logging tried a bunt during a batting practice before a tournament that welcomed a new team, Karolat Angels of Quesnel, into the Prince George Senior Women’s Fastball League. In addition to Karolat and Bencher, the league included Howat Insurance, Paci c Western Brewing, Norgate Auto Body and a bantam rep team. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY

LISA MURDOCH

May 7, 1959: Fitted with new ‘footwear,’ the rst Paci c Western Airlines aircraft in Prince George to be converted to pontoons took off from the top of a specially constructed dolly with pilot Bill Lopashuk at the controls. The new method was being used for the rst time. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

DOUG WELLE

Local teenager undergoing new diabetes treatment

Jack Thiessen, 17, is one of two BC youths taking a newly approved drug

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

A newly approved Health Canada diabetes medication that has been shown to delay the clinical onset of Type 1 diabetes has been put through its first round of treatments with two BC youths, one of whom lives in Prince George.

The medication, Teplizumab, has been shown to target the immune system in patients with early-stage Type 1 diabetes, delaying the process that destroys insulin-producing cells.

Although this is not a cure, it can allow for those at risk of developing Type 1 diabetes to prepare and postpone the need for insulin injections, reducing the likelihood of severe complications.

The medication has not been publicly funded yet and is currently restricted to patients identified as part of a research-clinical collaboration.

Teplizumab was administered daily to two patients through intravenous (IV) infusions at BC Children’s over two weeks and was carefully monitored by a team of physicians and clinical staff.

This was the first time in Canada that this medication could be administered continuously in a child-friendly hospital setting.

Dr. Dina Panagiotopoulos, pediatric endocrinologist at BC Children’s Hospital, identified the two BC youths who would first receive this medication through a research screening program she led.

She spoke to The Citizen about what makes this new medication unique.

“It’s the only drug right now that’s approved by Health Canada to delay the progression of Stage 2 Type 1 diabetes to Stage 3 Type 1 diabetes,” she said.

“That’s what makes it innovative right now, and we’re excited about the fact that we were able to treat the first two

kids in Canada with this drug.”

Panagiotopoulos also noted that this medication is especially important to young people as Type 1 diabetes can present with a life-threatening condition called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in 40-60 per cent of pediatric cases.

She shared what the trial stage of the medication looked like and how they knew the medication would be effective.

“Studies that were done on Teplizumab were where they took a group of people who had Stage 2 and gave them the drug for 14 consecutive days, and then they followed them over time and looked at how many of them get clinical Stage 3 Type 1 diabetes,” she explained.

“What that showed is that in the people who got the drug versus the people who

got a placebo, they were able to delay the progression to this Stage 3 Type 1 diabetes for an average of a median of two years,” she said.

A delay in the progression of diabetes from Stage 2 to Stage 1 can make all the difference in the world for someone suffering, as Panagiotopoulos explains.

“You can never forget about having Type 1 diabetes, not even for one day. You have to constantly be vigilant, and giving those insulin injections can lead to low blood sugars, and those low blood sugars can be quite severe, where kids can become confused or unconscious,” she said. “Delaying that progression means that the child can have a more normal life for a longer period of time, and basically lead to less

It’s the only drug right now that’s approved by Health Canada to delay the progression of Stage 2 Type 1 diabetes to Stage 3 Type 1 diabetes.”

stress on everyone’s part.”

For one Prince George family, the Thiessens, diabetes has become a part of their everyday lives, with relatives on both sides dealing with the effects and treatments of the disease.

Jack Thiessen, 17, has been part of a study that closely monitored the development of the stage of his diabetes and was chosen for Teplizumab treatments. In the summer of 2025, he entered Stage 2 and then became at risk of developing Stage 1 of the disease. Then Teplizumab was approved by Health Canada and he was chosen as one of the first youths in Canada to receive the treatment.

“My brother and my dad both have grown up with it,” Thiessen said. “My dad was diagnosed at 12, and my brother was diagnosed at 13 months. It changes your life. It’s an everyday, allday thing that you have to monitor and be aware of what you eat and do the correct amount of insulin and exercise. You’ve got to be really careful and be aware of what’s going on.”

He described what it felt like to be one of two people receiving first-in-Canada treatments.

“It is very intimidating,” he said. “I didn’t really know what to expect. I was obviously very intrigued because I knew we’d been monitoring this for years. We were kind of at the point where I’d realized that it was almost inevitable that I was going to develop Type 1. Once we heard about this, we did lots and lots of research, and then I was super-excited.”

TARYN THIESSEN PHOTO

Jack Thiessen receives Teplizumab treatments at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.

Nurses hold rally in Vancouver ahead of strike vote

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Nurses from across BC, including those in the Northern Health region, rallied in Vancouver as part of a demonstration organized by the British Columbia Nurses Union (BCNU) on Thursday, April 30.

The rally saw more than 500 nurses attend, with approximately 50 nurses from the Northern Healthcare region attending to represent the North.

Representatives from the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union, United Nurses of Alberta, BC General Employees’ Union and the Health Sciences Association, among others, also attended.

The rally was organized to bring attention to a critical time for nurses in BC and to protest workplace conditions.

Danette Thomsen, regional council member for the Northeast region of the BCNU, spoke to The Citizen about attending the rally.

“I think the key moments for me are just how united the nurses are right now and that we are saying, that enough is enough,” she said.

An upcoming strike vote could facilitate future job action, she said.

As stated in a BCNU press release, this

strike vote was planned after the Nurses’ Bargaining Association (NBA) provincial bargaining had declared an impasse between themselves and the Health Employers Association of BC (HEABC) and stepped away from the bargaining table on April 20.

Reasons given for the impasse noted in the release were a lack of meaningful progress at the table and that key issues like workload, workplace violence and occupational health and safety were not addressed.

Now more than 50,000 BCNU nurses are gearing up for a strike vote that will take place on May 8-11. This vote,

if passed, will give the union the legal authority to initiate province-wide job action.

Thomsen said that the bargaining stage has been ongoing for months and that nurses are getting nowhere.

“They’ve been at the table for eight months negotiating, and the health employers have rejected the majority of proposals that have been put forward. (They) have to be addressed to stabilize the health care system. And there’s just no movement,” she said.

Thomsen added that nurses in the North are not eager to strike but feel pushed into it by a lack of results and

workplace improvements.

“I want to assure you that nurses don’t want to be on strike; they’re being forced into this by the government. No nurse wants to be on strike. We want to be taking care of our patients but this is what we’re going to have to do to fight for ourselves and to advocate for ourselves as we do for our patients,” said Thomsen.

Thomsen herself has been an outspoken advocate against violence in the workplace, an issue she said has not gotten any better in her region.

The BCNU, in a media release, also shared that since 2019, injury claims across healthcare have risen by nearly 25 per cent, with psychological injuries having tripled.

Improved conditions for nurses don’t just mean better workplaces; they also mean better hospitals, as Thomsen explained.

“This isn’t just about nurses; this is about the patients we care for,” she said. “Those patients deserve better, more dignified care. A nurse, say on a med-surg ward, should be giving care to four patients and they’re seeing many more patients at times. That is so morally distressing for our members. They’re done. They just need to be able to provide the care that patients deserve. They’re ready to strike.”

Diabetes treatment program is looking for new patents

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Thiessen, accompanied by his mother, Taryn, were sent to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver to undergo the treatment.

They stayed at Ronald McDonald House while he underwent prep, blood work and eventually had the treatment. He described the process as non-intrusive and detailed what the two weeks of treatment looked like.

“Every day for 14 days we would show up at the hospital at 8 a.m.,” he said. “And they would hook me up to the IV machine and give me some

pre-meds, pre-medications, just in case I was allergic and just in case some of the side effects hit me. Then we would sit there while it did medication drift through the IV machine.”

Currently, it is too early in Thiessen’s treatment to determine if the medication is taking effect or not. However, he and his family will continue to monitor his condition.

“I’m looking forward to seeing if it worked and looking further into the future of this treatment and seeing what the other possibilities are,” he said. “They were talking about just the possibilities, maybe you can take it again and

just keep delaying it. But they just, they don’t know right now.”

Research into the medication and its effects is ongoing, with Panagiotopoulos putting out the call for more people to participate in her study.

“If you’re a first-degree relative and you’re between the ages of 2 and 45, of someone with Type 1 diabetes, or a second-degree relative of someone with Type 1 diabetes and you’re between the ages of two and 20, you’re eligible to participate in my study,” she said.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind before you apply.

“There’s a bit of a workup and you need to have a preparatory time before you’re eligible,” she said. “I think the other provinces are also gearing up to identify and treat people. Right now, the drug isn’t approved for use under the age of eight.”

If you screen positive with two or more auto-antibodies, Panagiotopoulos would then arrange more detailed glucose testing. if you meet those criteria, then Teplizumab or a variety of other options can be offered.

To find out more about the study or to sign up to participate, visit www. trialnet.org/

BCNU HANDOUT PHOTO

Nurses from the BCNU protest workplace conditon in Vancouver ahead of a May strike vote.

Local Sports Prince George athletes dominatng BC volleyball

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

It’s a rare occasion in any sport when a Prince George team wins a provincial championship, as the Duchess Park Condors senior boys volleyball team did five months ago.

Their banner-winning performance in the double-A senior boys high school championship at the College of New Caledonia on Nov. 29 earned them the Sport BC award for team of the year.

But two BC titles in the same school year? In the same sport? Remarkable.

Jake Birkhiem, Sawyer Roberts and Rhome Secor are back on the volleyball throne after they helped Prince George Kodiaks Red capture the Volleyball BC Division 1 Tier 1 club provincial U16 boys championship in Abbotsford.

The Kodiaks dropped just one set in a 6-0 undefeated run in the top U16 boys division. Their crowning achievement was a 25-16, 25-11 win in the final over the Kelowna Barn Owls on April 27.

“It was a very long day, but it was worth it. The boys worked hard,” said Kodiaks head coach Glenn Wong. “I was worried that they’d tire out, but they found some gas in the tank, and they took it in two straight. They dominated the final.”

Key ingredients in the Kodiaks’ club provincial win were Birkhiem, Roberts and Secor — all Grade 10 students at Duchess Park who played on that Condor team that beat the Richmond Christian Eagles in a thrilling five-set high school final.

“It’s a pretty surreal feeling,” said Birkhiem, a right-side hitter. “I think it was just that we were working together and playing like a team and just being a family — it’s what got us through it. We just worked through it, solved problems and got through it together.

“It’s sentimental to me. This is a year I’ll look back on for the rest of my life, just being able to do it twice in one year.”

Setter Darrien Padilla sealed the victory with a serving ace.

The atmosphere in the gym in Abbotsford wasn’t quite as electric as it was at the high school final with the Condors’ large and boisterous cheering section, but Birkhiem relished his team’s moment in the spotlight.

“It was a really great feeling, too — so many different faces and all the other teams watching, and some university coaches watching,” said Birkhiem.

“We’re definitely putting PG on the map.”

In the semifinal, the Kodiaks defeated Victoria Chargers Black 25-20, 26-24, after they topped Fraser Valley Marco 25-17, 25-16 in the quarterfinals.

The U16 Kodiaks Red team also includes Christian Lucarelli, Zachary Bibeault, Jordan Werrell, Archer Barnes, Gaven Kynoch, Kesler Lupul, Owen Makiwichuk and Max Newcomb. Jared Apolczer and JT Laxdal are the assistant coaches.

Roberts, a right-side hitter/middle blocker, was selected tournament MVP, and Kodiaks middle blocker Bibeault was a season all-star.

“In my eyes, Sawyer is a really great leader, and he didn’t play for himself — he played for the team and does what he needs to do as captain.”

The Kodiaks set the tone for their strong provincial showing at a Super Series club tournament in Vancouver on April 12, in which they rallied from a five-point deficit in the third and deciding set to beat the Fraser Valley Junior Cascades in a three-set final.

“In the third set, it’s the first to 15, and we were down 14-9 and came back and won it 21-19,” said Wong, now in his fourth decade coaching volleyball.

“That one was epic. That’s one of the highlights I’ll always remember — that these boys have fight and tenacity.

“Balance was there and versatility — any of the players can play three positions, and they can hit from anywhere

on the floor. There was no weak link. We could hit from power, right side and back row, and my setters (Padilla and Kynoch) were weapons as well. They were like a college team.”

The U-17 Kodiaks Red girls team came home with gold from the Division 2 championship. They went 5-2, defeating West Shore Black of Langford 25-20, 25-13 in the April 27 final.

“We had an up-and-down round robin, and we ended up third in our pool, and from there, in the playoff round, the girls kept pulling out really good sets and didn’t lose anything else after that,” said head coach Alia Logan. “We had a very nice second day.”

The Kodiaks swept Seaside Storm 25-19, 25-17 in the round of 16, blanked Air Attack Gold of Richmond 25-14, 25-19 in the quarterfinal and, in the semifinal, topped the Ducks of Coquitlam 25-12, 25-14.

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SUBMITTED PHOTO

Two-time provincials champions in the same school year: From left, Rhome Secor, Sawyer Roberts and Jake Birkhiem celebrate the Prince George Kodiaks’ U16 boys Division 1 Tier 1 gold-mdeal win at the Volleyball BC club provincial championship in Abbotsford on April 27.

Kodiaks girls teams pick up hardware in Abbotsford

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“Olivia Medhurst and Peyton Morris were on top of the world as attackers, and we had a really wicked block with Taylor Bartko and Camryn MacLachlan,” said Logan.

The 17U girls Kodiaks roster also includes Annaka Wotten, Amy Giesbrecht, Addison McLellan, Elina Barber, Violet Salton, Maija Coleman, Taylor Freeman, Katy Hiller and Saige Lupul. Duncan Elliot and Analeise Receveur are assistant coaches.

On Sunday, May 3, the 16U girls Kodiaks Red, under head coach Jasen Florell and assistant Hailey Chencharik, defeated Fraser Valley Volleyball Club for the Division 2 provincial title, winning 26-25, 25-13. The Kodiaks rallied in that first set from a 24-20 deficit.

In the semifinals, they defeated the Ducks of Coquitlam 25-14, 17-25, 15-10 and beat Nanaimo Mariners in the quarterfinals 28-26, 25-15.

The team includes Ellie Owen, Kaylan Chencharik, Adelynn Mapstone, Charlotte Dahl, Madilyn Keough, Irelynn Magee, Leah Boutin, Michayla Brkich, Ana Mackenzie, Abby Cramer, Lauryn Walsh and Reese Wood.

Two other Prince George Youth Volleyball Club teams climbed the medal podium at their provincial tournaments in Abbotsford.

The 12U girls Kodiaks and 14U girls Kodiaks Red won bronze in Division 2.

The 18U boys Kodiaks played Monday at the provincial tournament in Abbotsford and have advanced to the Division 1 quarterfinal round.

In the 15U girls tournament, Kodiaks Red were in the Division 1 Tier 2 semifinals Monday morning, and Kodiaks Black was playing in a fifth-place playoff.

Other PGYVC provincial results are as follows:

• 15U boys Kodiaks — fourth in Division 2;

• 17U boys Kodiaks — eighth in Division 1

• 18U girls Kodiaks — seventh in Division 1

• 16U girls Kodiaks — seventh in Division 2.

The U16 girls Prince George Kodiaks Red show off their hardware after winning the Division 2 provincial club championship Sunday, May 3 in Abbotsford.

The Prince George Kodiaks U17 girls were crowned Division 2 champions at the Volleyball BC club provincial championship in Abbotsford on April 27.

The U12 girls Prince George Kodiaks won bronze in Division 2 at the 2026 club provincial championship in Abbotsford.

Spruce Kings face tough Nanaimo Clippers

Spruce Kings goalie Ryder Green battles with Clippers forward Charles Beland for the puck in Game 2 of the BCHL Coastal Conference final series Saturday, May 2, at Kopar Memorial Arena. The Spruce Kings ended the weekend down two games to none in the series as the action moved to Nanaimo on Tuesday and Wednesday — after this issue of The Citizen went to press. For complete coverage of those two games, visit www.pgcitizen.ca.

More than 200 gymnasts competng here this weekend

Citizen Staff

The Prince George Gymnastics Club is getting ready to welcome more than 200 athletes for the first-ever Western Canada Cup held in the city this weekend.

Presenting to city council at its Monday, April 27 meeting, Lauren Hawkes, Alencia Graham and Danielle Bobbie from the club said more than 200 hotel rooms have been reserved in town for visiting athletes coming to compete at Kin 1 between May 8 and 10.

The club was founded in August 1988 after two other local organizations amalgamated. In the past five years, the club has had more than 2,400 members and 45 staff members including 43 coaches.

The competition being held in Prince George is a big deal as most major competitions in British Columbia are typically located along the south coast, council heard.

Having the event in Prince George will allow local athletes to have friends and family cheer them on in person without having to travel long distances, the club

members said.

The representatives also said that the club is looking to modernize the Exhibition Sports Centre, located at the city’s exhibition grounds. The club has been there since 1994.

However, those plans are currently on hold until the club hears more from the city on its own plans for the future of the building.

Coun. Tim Bennett said he’s had three kids go through programming with the club. He said he’s heard it’s easier to get Taylor Swift tickets than get into gymnastics and asked what the club’s plans for growth are.

Hawkes said if they were able to expand the space at the centre, it would allow for more classes to be held at once and hold those classes more safely as the current floor gets crowded. They’d also like to expand so that they can add seating for competitions like their annual invitational held every February. At present, spectators have to essentially sit on the floor. Recently, they’ve tried to expand their recreational, non-competitional

programming and get coaches certified to teach at those levels.

Coun. Garth Frizzell remarked that based on the photos and information in the presentation, it looked like the club had success with fundraising to get the equipment it needs.

Coun. Susan Scott congratulated the club on its training program for coaches and suggested that it could partner with local Rotary clubs for fundraising opportunities.

Coun. Brian Skakun asked about the status of the city’s Exhibition Grounds master plan and the sports centre.

Director of planning and development

Deanna Wasnik said the current master plan dates back to 1999. Developing a new plan is on administration’s workplan but will likely take place next year, she said.

Coun. Kyle Sampson said the membership figures cited by the club members would likely make it one of the larger organizations in the city. He said that while the city wants groups like these to operate independently, it should also make sure they don’t fall

behind.

He moved for city administration to consult the gymnastics club when it ends up updating the master plan.

Coun. Trudy Klassen asked if repairs to the sports centre identified in a 2019 civic facilities master plan had been completed.

Director of civic facilities Andy Beesley said he would have to look into the specifics, but he knows that it needs further work and it will be brought up for council to discuss in the fall.

Mayor Simon Yu called the club a “treasure of the community” and said it was his honour to present medals at its invitational last year. He said he was the last engineer to work on reinforcing the building 25 or 26 years ago and further repairs had recently been on his mind.

Vote summary

Motion: Council directs administration to engage the Prince George Gymnastics Club as part of its redevelopment of the Exhibition Grounds master plan.

Result: Approved unanimously.

COLIN SLARK

He’s pushing barriers to run 250 kilometres in 37 hours

Joshua Wilson ran the Lewiston Backyard Ultramarathon

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Officially, the race record shows Joshua Wilson did not finish the Lewiston Backyard Ultramarathon, held April 24 — 25 in Sicamous.

He was not alone. All but one of the 122 entrants in the endurance event had “did not finish” attached to their results.

For Wilson, a 24-year-old from Prince George, running 250 kilometres in 37 hours was not enough to win the last-person-standing event. He finished tied for fourth.

Kelowna’s Michael Serani lasted 41 yards (each yard represents an out-andback trip on a 6.7-kilometre course) and took home the winner’s silver medal — 41 hours of running.

Race rules require each runner to complete one yard every hour. Failure to do so ends the race for that runner and results in a DNF.

“I’m starting to recover, slowly,” said Wilson, who said every part of his lower body ached and he had blisters on his toes. “Everything underneath my hips is pretty sore — my knees, my ankles, my feet are pretty swollen.

“I think it was just about pushing my limits and seeing how far my body is capable of. I like to do uncomfortable things and did something I knew I couldn’t do right away, so I had to put months of training in and really put in the effort to do what I’ve done. It’s something that motivates me.”

Wilson, a native of Frankfurt, Germany, met his wife, Jewell, a Prince George native, in Norway. They have lived in Prince George for 1 1/2 years, where he works as a climbing instructor at the Overhang climbing gym and also teaches swift-water rescue techniques. He has a degree in outdoor and adventure education from a Finnish university.

Wilson said he enjoys the outdoors and Prince George’s winter cold was no

deterrent as he trained for the Sicamous race. At the height of his training, he ran 20 or 30 kilometres — sometimes twice a day — and logged up to 160 kilometres in a week.

“I’m not someone who likes to run indoors, so it was outside, even at minus 20 degrees, in the snow, I was running,” he said.

This was Wilson’s second ultramarathon and it far exceeded the distance of his first, an 80-kilometre race last year in Edmonton. He had previously run 122 kilometres in one stretch — the Sicamous race more than doubled that.

“Honestly, I felt worse after that one

waiting for him to finish each lap, providing massages, food, drinks and encouragement.

“It was a lot of talking to myself and figuring out where I was on the course and how I was doing at the time and what I needed to manage on the next loop — what hurt most but could be adjusted to avoid bigger problems later on,” he said. “I did a lot of conversation in my mind and, of course, I talked to the other runners there. It’s a lot of time, but somehow it went quicker than I expected.

“I planned to do it slow, so I did all the laps in 51 or 52 minutes. Usually I would run much faster, but it gave me time to sit down, eat and prepare for the next one.”

He even managed to lie down and may have gotten a few minutes of sleep at the aid station. By Lap 27, only eight runners remained.

Two other Prince George runners who train with Wilson in the PG Road Runners club entered the race. Lavis Russell, 32, finished 22nd after running 126.65 kilometres, and Devin Longeway placed 30th after covering 106.75 kilometres.

than I did after this one,” he said. “I didn’t know as much about the sport and what to do. It was less running, but I was a little more like a rookie back then. So I knew what to expect for this one.”

The Lewiston Ultra started at 8 a.m. Friday. For the first 12 hours, he kept his headphones in his pocket and did not listen to music. As night set in and he had to switch on his headlamp to see the course, the race became more difficult and he needed something to take his mind off what he was doing to his body.

He had his wife and four other members of his team working in shifts,

“The toughest part was running through the night, and I think that’s what made both of them quit because, for me as well, it was very hard mentally to go through the night when you can’t see and you just have your headlamp, when your body tells you that you should be sleeping,” Wilson said. “That’s when most people in the race dropped out.

“The 24-hour mark is exactly 160 kilometres. That’s a big goal for a lot of people, and for me as well. I knew I wanted to get there, but I didn’t want to stop there. The crew I had with me was very good at making me not quit when I wanted to. I managed to do a few more than 24, so clearly I can do more than my mind is telling me. It’s more mental than physical, this race, because you don’t have to go fast — it’s just for a very long time.”

Wilson hopes to compete in another ultramarathon this year. He and his wife plan to move to Germany this summer.

JEWELL WILSON PHOTO

Joshua Wilson takes a break between laps at the Lewiston Backyard Ultramarathon in Sicamous in April. The 24-year-old from Prince George finished tied for fourth after running 250 km in 37 hours.

Coach-GM-VP looks back at Pentcton’s frst WHL year

Record-breaking season for team that ousted Cougars from the playoffs

KEITH LACEY

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The man who led the Penticton Vees to one of the most remarkable and memorable seasons in Canadian major junior hockey history admitted the 2025-26 season was one of his proudest achievements in his brilliant coaching career.

Fred Harbinson, the head coach, general manager and vice-president of the Vees, saw his team set a Canadian Hockey League record for most wins and most points for an expansion team in CHL history during the regular season and captured the B.C. Division regular season championship for their efforts.

The magic continued in the playoffs as the Vees defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds in five games.

In the Division Final series, they rallied after dropping the first two games on home ice to the Prince George Cougars and won four straight games, including a comeback victory in game six in Prince George to advance to the Western Conference finals against the powerhouse Everett Silvertips.

Everett was the No. 1 ranked team in Canadian junior hockey for almost the entire season as they lost only eight times in regulation during the long and difficult 68-game regular season.

The Vees battled the Silvertips, but ended up losing in four straight games, including the 4-2 loss that ended their season.

Everett will play the Prince Albert Raiders for the league championship.

Harbinson said he couldn’t be prouder of his players and their record-breaking success over the past eight months.

“We obviously proved to a lot of people that we belonged in the league,” he said. “I think there were a lot of questions going into the season. Obviously,

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Vees defenseman Nolan Stevenson celebrates after scoring on Cougars goalie Josh Ravensbergen to make it 3-2 in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinal series at CN Centre Wednesday, April 15.

we’ve had a strong program here for decades, well before I got here, but this was a different beast going to the Western league and how it would translate.”

“I think in a lot of different areas, we showed, like I said, that we belonged, we more than belonged. We contributed to the league in a lot of different and positive ways I think and I hope people look at it that way.”

After saying goodbye to all the players, including a dozen who will not be returning as they age out of junior hockey, and conducting exit interviews, the work begins on the 2026-27 season with training camp set to open in just over four months, said Harbinson.

“We have a pretty good feel of who is coming back and who’s not,” he said.

“We have some tough decisions obviously.”

The teams’ scouting staff will prepare finals lists as the WHL amateur draft

Harbinson said talking to the players in the dressing room after the heartbreaking loss Wednesday night wasn’t easy.

“I just told them I was proud of them,” he said. “They gave everything they had. We had some challenges throughout the year and we found ways through them. We weren’t blessed with a bunch of NHL first rounders, but we competed and found ways to win in different ways and different guys stepped up.

“I think a lot of it had to do with the care for each other. They really enjoyed each other. They enjoyed the program. When you love something and you have a passion for it, you can do a lot of really great things together and that’s what they did. All the success on the ice transferred off the ice and the loyal fans gravitated to an outstanding group of young men who played their hearts out every time they hit the ice, which represents the culture this organization has demanded for decades.” said Harbinson.

is set to take place on Wednesday and Thursday.

A development camp will then take place for players drafted later this week and several players drafted last season and a few other invited players early next month from June 4-6.

“It never ends, there’s always something going on,” he said.

The fan support throughout the historic expansion season was incredible, especially during the thrilling playoff run to the league’s final four, he said.

“You want to take advantage of the positive vibe in the city right now,” he said. “We had really good attendance all year, but then in the playoffs it grew again … and we want to take advantage of that and try and make sure that we’re capturing some of these people, maybe first-timers or others who had been away from the rink for a while, that fell in love with the team again.”

“We were always very proud of how we conducted ourselves, with winning and moving players on and how we did it. If you talked to a lot of alumni, even myself as the guy who leads the ship … there was probably some fear are we still going to be the Penticton Vees and these guys allowed us to still be the Penticton Vees. They protected our brand and they protected what we stand for. I just wanted to thank them for their efforts and how they finished off. There was no quit.”

Saying goodbye to players is always difficult, but even more so after a remarkable season like this, said Harbinson.

“It’s emotional, it’s tough. Hockey is an interesting sport because it’s not a short window. You come together at the end of August and here we are playing right until May again.”

“Anybody who puts an effort into something that spans that kind of time … everybody thinks it’s a privilege to play and it is, but at the same time, they’re giving up one of the most precious commodity, which is their time.”

Life Events

Celebration Of Life

Steven Sintch

May 24, 1939 - December 23, 2025 ou re invited in celebratng a life well lived. Please oin us to share stories and memories as we honour Steve s legacy.

Date: Friday, May 8, 2026

Time:1:00 PM

ocaton Prince George Golf and Curling Club Address 2601 Recplace rive, Prince George, C In lieu of owers, the family re uests that donatons be made to the Prince George Hospice Palliatve Care Society in Steve s memory.

In loving Memory

Richard “Dick” Neville

January 22nd 1946-May 8th 2025

We love and miss you deeply, as do many family and friends in Ireland, England, Belgium, Canada, especially Prince George. Families in Immaculate Concepton parish Knights of Columbus and lrish community.

He was a highly respected city bus driver, remembered not only for his dedicaton but also for his kindness and warmth. We especially miss his baking - his Irish brown bread, scones, and most of all, his Christmas fruit cakes and Sunday brunches.

In Loving Memory

Jarred A. J. Goyer

May 6, 1998 - May 6, 1999

Happy birthday sweete Missing you lots ig hugs & kisses. ove you forever. Grandma & Grandpa.

Mary Hamblin

January 12, 1934 - April 8, 2026

Mary Hamblin passed away peacefully on April 8, 2026, in Prince George, BC, at the age of 92.

Mary lived a life centered on her faith and family. She loved the Lord and served faithfully in her church, and was at peace as she went to be with her Savior.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Wayne Hamblin.

She is lovingly remembered by her children: Paul Hamblin (Darlene), Judy Andrews (Greg), Heather Schultz (Darrel) and Robert Hamblin. Mary was a proud grandmother to eight grandchildren and a cherished great-grandmother to eight grandchildren.

Mary s greatest oy came from tme spent with her family, and she will be remembered for the love, kindness, and devoton she shared so freely. Her faith was a guiding light in her life and inspiraton to those who knew her.

th tn te April 12, 1933 - April 24, 2026

Art (Dad) was born in Eston, Saskatchewan, the sixth of ten children. He moved to Prince George in 1953 where he met the love of his life in 1958.

Dad and Mom married in 1960 and built their forever home in the Hart Highlands where they raised ve children. Dad worked hard to provide for his family. He and his brothers started up a sawmill on Chief Lake Road in the 50’s and he went on to work for the school district for a few years. In the early 70’s Dad was hired at PG Pulp and Paper where he worked untl retrement.

Dad enjoyed many hours in his garden and was always there to lend a hand to anyone who needed it. Dad and Mom volunteered with St Vincent’s meal program. Dad also delivered meals for the Hart Pioneer Centre’s Meals on Wheels Program well into his eightes. ad had a great sense of humour and a positve a tude towards life which he maintained untl his nal days.

Dad passed peacefully surrounded by family, in the same home he had lived in for y-eight years. Art was preceded in death by his parents, Frank & Clara, and siblings Bill, Bern, Cecil, Lee, Marguerite & Brian.

His memory will be cherished by his wife Deanna; children Mary Ellen, Glennys(Lloyd), Kevin(Tanya), Donna(Art) & Daniel(Cheryl Anne); grandchildren Allison( ick), Justne(Josh), ristan(Jenaye), Emily(Nolan), Eric(Devyn), Nicole(Tahno) & Kate(Josh) great-grandchildren Indica, Maverick, Violet, Levyn, Atley, Marigold, Roman & Macklin; and siblings Trudy, Wilf & Don.

The family would like to thank everyone involved in Dad’s care over the last two years and especially the wonderful nurses and care aides at Hospice at Home. You made Dad’s last few months more comfortable, and he was able to ful ll his wish to die at home.

Funeral Mass will be held at Christ Our Saviour’s Catholic Church, 4514 Austn Road on Saturday May 9,2026 at 11:00 am.

Untl we meet again May God hold you in the palm of his hand. Roisin, Elizabeth, Susan and (Cory) Culham. Also Annie and Patrick Kearns, Maggie & Rory, Fintan, Caira and Ronan Daly

In keeping with Mary’s wishes, there will be no formal service.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16

A luncheon and memories will be shared in the church basement following Mass.

In lieu of owers, please consider a donaton to Prince George Hospice Palliatve Care Society.

Classifeds

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETING

PG Alano Society GM 2:00pm

Sunday May 24, 2025 725 Alward Street Prince George, BC.

Booking deadline: Friday noon

Approval deadline: Monday at noon

ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING

Tuesday, May 7, 2024 Monday, May 11, 2026

4:30pm to 6:30pm

Central BC Railway & Forestry Museum 850 River Road, Prince George.

Please join us for the presentaton of the 2025 Annual Report and Operatonal Review. This meetng will also include a Community Consultaton Commitee meetng.

PUBLIC NOTICE FOREST OPERATIONS MAP REVIEW

PUBLIC NOTICE FOREST OPERATIONS MAP REVIEW

Carrier Lumber Ltd., invites the public to review its Forest Operations Maps (FOM ID: 1628) which provides George Timber Supply Area and administered from the Prince George Natural Resource District. The FOM(s) Forest and Range Practices Act and describe areas planned for Cutting Permit and Road Permit development public may provide comments on the FOM(s) at any point during the review and comment period, August 9, 2024.

The FOM(s) is accessible for public review and comment submissions online at the following website Forest Operations Map (gov.bc.ca) or https://fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects#publicNotices

Carrier Lumber Ltd., invites the public to review its Forest Operatons Maps (FOM ID: 3132) which provides development plans within the Prince George Timber Supply Area and administered from the Prince George Natural Resource District. The FOM(s) have been prepared in accordance with the Forest and Range Practces Act and describe areas planned for Cutng Permit and Road Permit development within the next three years. The public may provide comments on the FOM(s) at any point during the review and comment period, which starts May 7, 2026 and ends June 5, 2026.

Alternatively, in-person review and comment of FOM(s) can be completed, by appointment to ensure a Carrier will be available, at the following locations during regular office hours (8:30 am to 4:00 pm):

The FOM(s) is accessible for public review and comment submissions online at the following website address: Forest Operatons Map (gov.bc.ca) or htps:// fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects#publicNotces

Alternatvely, in-person review and comment of FOM(s) can be completed, by appointment to ensure a Carrier Lumber woodlands staf member will be available, at the following locatons during regular ofce hours (8:30 am to 4:00 pm):

4722 Contnental Way, Prince George BC V2N 5S5

FOM(s) comments may also be submited by mail to the above address or by phone at (250) 563-9271 or by email at fom.pg@carrierlumber.ca

• On Nov. 11, 1831, Nat Turner, an American slave and educated minister who believed that he’d been chosen by God to lead his people into freedom, was hanged in Jerusalem, Virginia, for leading a revolt with 75 followers through Southampton County, killing about 60 white people.

* On May 18, 1974, India became the world’s sixth nuclear power after successfully detonating its first nuclear weapon, a fission bomb similar in power to the American atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in Japan. The test occurred on the anniversary of the Buddha’s enlightenment.

* On May 19, 1836, Cynthia Ann

• On Nov. 12, 1969, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh revealed the extent of the U.S. Army’s charges against 1st Lt. William L. Calley at My Lai, Vietnam, in a cable picked up by more than 30 newspapers, saying that “The Army says he [Calley] deliberately murdered at least 109 Vietnamese civilians during a searchand-destroy mission in March 1968, in a Viet Cong stronghold known as ‘Pinkville.’”

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Love rules the amorous ARIES! It’s tme to make Sheep’s eyes at someone you’d like to know beter. (A loving LEO, perhaps?) And don’t be surprised by what follows.

Parker, at about 9 or 10 years old, was kidnapped by Comanche, Kiowa and Caddo Native Americans in Texas. She was adopted into the Comanche tribe and later married a chief, by whom she had three children. Parker lived with the Comanches until Texas Rangers recaptured her and forced her to return to live among whites again.

* On May 20, 1506, Christopher Columbus died in Valladolid, Spain, at the age of 55, still erroneously believing that he had reached Asia. His last months were spent in poor health with what modern doctors suspect was Reiter’s syndrome, and

making futile attempts to recover his titles and wealth from King Ferdinand.

* On May 21, 1994, the Flavr Savr tomato made its first appearance in grocery stores. Engineered to delay ripening, it was the first genetically modified food product approved for human consumption in the U.S. and was priced at 70 cents more per pound than its more conventional counterparts.

* On May 22, 2004, Michael Moore’s documentary film “Fahrenheit 9/11,” a sharp critique of George W. Bush’s foreign policy decisions, won the Palme d’Or, the top prize at the Cannes Film Festival.

* On May 23, 1783, following his own prediction that he would enter eternity courtesy of a lightning bolt, American Colonial patriot James Otis did indeed pass away when lightning found him as he stood in a friend’s doorway. According to the Boston Gazette, he “expired without a groan.”

* On May 24, 1915, Thomas Edison announced his invention of the telescribe, a device designed to allow businessmen to record telephone conversations by combining a telephone receiver with his phonograph. Though it was highly praised at first, it failed to catch on and was withdrawn from the market.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22)

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You might enjoy spending your tme at home, decoratng and redecoratng all you like. But friends old and new won’t accept “regrets” to their invitatons. So, go out and have a great tme.

• On Nov. 13, 1979, Philadelphia 76ers center Darryl Dawkins leaped over Kansas City Kings forward Bill Robinzine for a memorable slam dunk that shattered the fiberglass backboard. His equally memorable comment on the move, which was not his last and the sound of which spectators likened to a bomb going off: “It wasn’t really a safe thing to do, but it was a Darryl Dawkins thing to do.”

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You need someone who appreciates you. If this person is already in your life, congratulatons! If not, don’t setle for anyone who doesn’t value you.

• On Nov. 14, 1882, outlaw Frank “Buckskin” Leslie shot and killed Billy “The Kid” Claiborne, who had publicly challenged him, in Tombstone, Arizona.

• On Nov. 15, 1984, Baby Fae, a month old infant who received the world’s first baboon heart transplant, died at California’s Loma Linda University 20 days after the operation. Three other people had received animal heart transplants, but none survived longer than a few days.

• On Nov. 16, 2001, British author J.K. Rowling’s most famous and beloved creation, the bespectacled boy wizard Harry Potter (played by Daniel Radcliffe in his first major role), made his silver-screen debut in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” which went on to become one of the highestgrossing movies in history.

• On Nov. 17, 1903, the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party split into two factions: the majority Bolsheviks and minority Mensheviks. The Bolsheviks went on to become the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A previous problem is cleared up soon to your advantage. Meanwhile, give your selfconfdence a much-needed boost by taking on a tough project that you know you can handle.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) You’re ofen picked to lead in a group situaton, but this can cost you tme and energy that you might want to spend elsewhere. Feel free to decline. People will stll love the Big Cat.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22)

You’re usually the staid and steady sort. But the adventurous side of you emerges, and you feel like doing something diferent -- and maybe a mite daring. Good for you!

You need more preparaton before tackling a poorly performing venture. Research possible solutons. The more you know when you start, the more likely that all will end well.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21)

Your work is notced with approval. A promoton could follow. Meanwhile, at home, there’s some unexpected fallout from a family mater that you thought had been cleared up.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A relatonship that you thought just needed tme to ripen could be withering instead. It’s not too late to save it with reassurances that it’s stll your priority.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Your problem with acceptng workplace-related changes will disappear once you accept the fact that -- like it or not -- change is part of progress.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Don’t feel guilty about indulging in luxuries like beauty treatments for yourself and beautful things for your home. They bring joy to the soul, and you deserve them.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Don’t keep a low profle about your project untl you’re sure that it can succeed. You’ll achieve more if you allow others to know what you’ve done and to share in the work.

Homes & Living

Spring into lawn maintenance

Spring lawn care isn’t about one dramatic overhaul—it’s a sequence of well-timed, practical steps that set your lawn up for the entire growing season. Get this period right and you’ll spend far less time battling weeds, bare patches, and dull colour once summer hits.

Start with a thorough cleanup. Winter tends to leave behind a mess of fallen branches, compacted leaves, and matted grass. Raking your lawn removes this layer of debris and light thatch, allowing sunlight, air, and nutrients to reach the soil surface. It also helps lift grass blades that may have been flattened by snow. Be firm but not overly aggressive—your goal is to clear the surface, not rip out healthy roots that are just beginning to wake up.

Once the lawn is clear, take a moment to assess your soil. After months of moisture from rain or melting snow, soil often becomes compacted—especially in areas with foot traffic. Compacted soil restricts root growth and makes it harder for water and nutrients to penetrate. If your lawn feels dense or water tends to pool rather than soak in, aeration is a smart move. Core aeration, which removes small plugs of soil, opens up space for oxygen, water, and nutrients to reach deeper into the root zone. It’s one of the most impactful steps you can take for long-term lawn health. With improved soil conditions, overseeding becomes much more effective. Spring is an ideal time to fill in thin or patchy areas and improve

overall density. Choose a grass seed suited to your region and existing lawn type. Spread it evenly over problem areas, then lightly rake it in to ensure good soil contact. The key here is consistency—keep the seeded areas evenly moist for the first couple of weeks. Not soaked, but never allowed to dry out. This is where many people slip up, and it’s often the difference between success and frustration.

Fertilizing should follow, but timing matters. Early spring feeding should support steady growth, not force it. A slow-release, balanced fertilizer is your best option, providing nutrients gradually as the lawn comes out of dormancy. Applying too much fertilizer too early can lead to rapid top growth while roots

remain underdeveloped, leaving your lawn vulnerable later on. A practical guideline is to fertilize after you’ve mowed your lawn a couple of times—this signals that active growth is underway.

Weed control is another area where timing is critical. Pre-emergent herbicides are effective against weeds like crabgrass, but only if applied before those weeds germinate. Wait too long, and you’re left dealing with them after they’ve already taken hold. However, there’s a trade-off: if you plan to overseed, pre-emergents can prevent your new grass from sprouting as well. You’ll need to decide which priority matters more—weed prevention or lawn thickening—and plan accordingly.

continued from page 46

Watering habits should also be adjusted in spring. It’s easy to assume seasonal rainfall is enough, but that’s not always reliable. Instead of frequent, shallow watering, aim for deeper, less frequent sessions. This encourages roots to grow downward in search of moisture, resulting in a stronger, more drought-resistant lawn. Watering early in the morning is ideal, as it reduces evaporation and allows the grass to dry out during the day, lowering the risk of disease.

Mowing plays a bigger role than most people realize. Cutting your grass too short—often called “scalping”—can weaken it and create opportunities for weeds to move in. Stick to the one-third rule: never remove more than one-third of the grass blade at a time. Keeping your mower blades sharp is just as important. Dull blades tear rather than cut, leaving ragged edges that can turn brown and invite disease. Adjust your mowing height slightly higher in spring to help shade the soil and retain moisture.

Finally, pay attention to consistency. None of these steps are particularly complicated, but skipping or rushing them can limit your results. A healthy lawn is built gradually through good habits rather than quick fixes.

Spring lawn maintenance is really about setting a strong foundation. Focus on improving soil conditions, timing your treatments properly, and maintaining steady care. Do that, and your lawn will respond with thicker growth, richer colour, and far fewer issues as the season progresses.