Prince George Citizen December 26, 2024

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Civic Core Plan could leave Spruce Kings without a home ... Page 33

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

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CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Matt and Latisha Popovits enjoy the displays with 19-month-old Hunter and family pet Zoe at the College Heights home of Murphy Crampton, 15, who has turned his yard into the Penguin Lane Christmas attraction, on Wednesday, Dec. 18. See the full story on Page 27.

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PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

NEWS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Foothills landfill will be full by 2028: Regional District There’s a plan to add two more ‘cells’ to accommodate the next decade-plus worth of waste COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Preparation work for a new cell at the Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill is progressing and the first section is expected to open in 2027.

A progress update on the landfill was given at the final 2024 committee of the whole meeting for the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George on Dec. 19.

A cell is a single section of a landfill that is eventually covered over once full of solid waste.

The Foothills landfill collects 98 per cent of municipal solid waste in the regional district, with the remaining two per cent going to smaller landfills in Mackenzie and Legrand. A regional bylaw prohibits waste from outside the region being deposited in the landfill.

Originally opened by the City of Prince George in 1976, the former gravel pit was placed under the ownership of the regional district in 1994.

The existing Cell 1 is expected to reach the end of its life in spring 2028.

Cell 2, its replacement, is being developed in two phases: 2A and 2B. In 2024, the area earmarked for cell two was cleared, grubbed and logged.

A land survey outlining the area’s topography was also completed along with a drilling site investigation, a cost estimate and a development design brief outlining regulatory processes and site-specific considerations.

As of the meeting, the estimated cost of the earthworks for Cell 2A was $7.244 million and the actual construction of the cell $8.421 million for a total estimated cost of $15.665 million.

A schematic design will be done by next summer and the construction contract for the earthworks will be awarded. A detailed design will be completed that fall with the final design done in late 2025 or early 2026.

The earthworks and cell construction will be done in 2026 and 2027, with an anticipated opening date for Cell 2A of fall 2027.

Currently, there’s a 27-foot difference

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

The first new section of the landfill is expected to have a lifespan of 10 years and the second more than 10 years.

between the highest and lowest points of what will become Cell 2.

Regional district representatives have met with representatives from the BC Ministry of Environment and Parks and an application was submitted this month to have cell two added to the landfill’s operations certificate. More updates to that certificate will be filed in 2025.

The regional district will also need to submit a new design, operations and closure plan in 2025.

Both portions of this new cell will be installed with a liner aimed at preventing waste products from leaching into the ground and the nearby environment.

That liner will be made of geosynthetic clay and a high-density polyethylene geomembrane.

There will also be a collection system to gather any materials that would otherwise leech into the ground, known as leachate.

Representatives from engineering firm Tetra Tech told the regional directors at the meeting that the liner is at risk of being punctured by certain types of waste. To reduce the chance of that happening, a layer of wood chips or shavings will be placed at the bottom.

Then, for the initial part of Cell 2A’s lifespan, softer household materials will be placed at the bottom while sharper

REGIONAL DISTRICT OF FRASER-FORT GEORGE

An image from a video played for the directors of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George on Thursday, Jan. 19 shows the location of the two new cells planned for the landfill.

and heavier construction and demolition waste like rebar and two-by-fours will be placed in cell one.

Cell 2A is expected to have a lifespan of 10 years and 2B more than 10 years.

An integrated landfill management plan completed in 2010 had predicted Cell 1 would be full by 2025 and Cell 2 by 2042.

“It’s quite possible that there will be 20 years of life between these two sites,” said Tetra Tech’s Michelle Jelinski.

The Tetra Tech representatives said they tried to account for possible trends, like population growth and possible waste diversion programs, like for organic waste.

In most years, 75,000 metric tonnes of waste is deposited in the landfill.

However, the estimate for 2024 is closer to 70,000.

It was noted that the amount of waste deposited each year is tied more to construction cycles rather than population growth.

The reason that the new cell halves will only have a roughly 10-year life span, Jelinski said, is because they want to avoid having to front capital costs for a larger cell all at once. At the same time, they want to avoid having to build a new cell every year.

The other Tetra Tech representative, Michel Lefebvre, said the system being put in place to capture gas in the new landfill cell won’t start working for four to five years due to various factors.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

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PEACEMAKERS Prince George Peacemakers is thankful and thrilled that our Mayor Simon Yu has declared December as “Christian Heritage Month!”

Blessing Our Neighbours in Prince George- Peacemakers initiates “Christmas Cookie week”: Testimonies: “went to the other neighbor beside meI got to bless them and both neighbors were very thankful “…Linda “went to 3 neighbors, we gave a bundle of Birch Firewood to each .We gave the best and they appreciated it. One neighbor was extremely talkative and gave us each a bag of potatoes.” Wayne & Adrianna “Blessed my upstairs family today.... they

Christian Flag Raising Ceremony 11 December

got chocolate kitkat houses to build for kiddos and box of chocs for dad and mom... very thankful. Also blessed girls at work with cookies.... they loved home baking.” Ellen “We took 9 plates of baking to our neighbors to celebrate Christian Heritage Month as well as Christmas. People were warm and thankful” Henry & Jeannie “So fun taking our gifts to our neighbours.

They were both so thrilled and thanked us so much!” Dave & Dorothy

A silent night, a star above, a blessed gift of hope and love. A Merry Christmas to you and your whole family! From PG Peacemakers 1534- Jacques Cartier to HochelagaMontreal JACQUES CARTIER, from St. Malo, France In 1534, Jacques Cartier sailed up the St. Lawrence River to Montréal, then called “Hochelaga” in the native language..

To commemorate the founding of

Canada’s oldest Christmas song The “Huron Carol” (or “Twas in the Moon of Wintertime”) -, written probably in 1642 by Jean de Brébeuf, Jesuit missionary among the Huron.

Brébeuf wrote the lyrics in the native language of the Huron/Wendat people; the song’s original Huron title is “Jesous Ahatonhia” (“Jesus, he is born”).

Montréal, Cartier wrote in his diary “… we all kneeled down in the company of the Indians and with our hands raised toward heaven yielded our thanks to God.” he arrived at Hochelaga, near a mountain which he named Mont-Royal (and hence in French- Mont-real), and was the first

‘Twas in the moon of winter-time When all the birds had fled, That mighty Gitchi Manitou Sent angel choirs instead; Before their light the stars grew dim, And wandering hunters heard the hymn: “Jesus your King is born, Jesus is born, In excelsis gloria.”

Canadian Coat of Arms- “ A Mari Ad Usque Mari” “He shall Have DominionFrom Sea to Sea”- Psalm 72 Leonard Tilley (1818-1896) became Premier of New Brunswick, and subsequently led his province into

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In the Native version Baby Jesus Jesus is born in a “lodge of broken bark” and wrapped in a “robe of rabbit skin”. He is surrounded by hunters instead of shepherds, and the Magi are portrayed as “chiefs from afar” who bring him “fox and beaver pelts” instead of the more familiar gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Confederation. In December 1866, in the finalization of the details of the British North American (BNA) Act, which Tilley helped write, there were many suggestions as to what the new United Canada should be called. In his morning readings of the Bible, he read in Psalm 72, verse 8, “He

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peacemakerspress.ca

to use the name “Kanata”. He was given a joyous reception which even took on the air of a religious ceremony; to the Iroquois, who presented their sick to be cured, Cartier read the gospel according to St. John and the Passion of Christ.

Cartier raised a Cross on Mont-Real.

shall have Dominion also from sea to sea”, he then went back to the convention and suggested the word “Dominion” which was agreed to. Hence we are the “Dominion of Canada”, and our Coat of Arms reads “From Sea to Sea”.

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NEWS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024 24124CC0

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

City rehabilitated more than 50 km of roads in ’24 And along with that, about 6.4 km of sidewalks COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

City staff completed around 52.3 lane kilometres of roadwork and around 6.4 kilometres of sidewalk work in 2024, according to a report delivered to city council on Monday, Dec. 16.

Prince George budgeted $6.7 million for road rehabilitation in its 2024 capital budget, along with $1.5 million for sidewalk rehabilitation and $420,000 to build new sidewalks.

The report attached to the agenda for the meeting said that this budget allows for about two per cent of the city’s pedestrian network to be renewed.

The most recent study of that network showed that around 32 per cent of it is in fair to very poor condition.

Of the roadwork done, 9.79 lane kilometres worth of the work was for thin lift overlays. That’s where 40 to 55 millimetres of new asphalt is laid over existing road with only minor work done to that existing road. This type of repair doesn’t last as long as others.

Thin lift overlays were done on these stretches of road: • 4.24 km of Foothills Boulevard from the Nechako Bridge to North Nechako Drive, • 2.1 km of Valleyview Drive from Austin Road to the end of the street, • 1.31 km of Estavilla Drive from Highway 97 to Knight Crescent, • 0.81 km of Glendale Drive from Estavilla Drive to Knight Crescent, • 0.62 km of Alderwood Court from Shady Lane to the end of the street and • 0.61 km of Shady Lane and Woodhaven Drive from Highway 97 to Brentwood Drive.

Another 15.86 kilometres of the roadwork was done in the form of mill and overlay. That’s where 50 mm of the existing asphalt is milled down and then

replaced with new material. This helps remove surface deficiencies.

That work was done at these locations: • 4.8 km of University Way southbound from Foothills Boulevard to Shane Creek Bridge, • 2.84 km of Ospika Boulevard from 15th Avenue to Rainbow Drive, • 1.83 km of Ospika Boulevard northbound from Nicole Avenue to Massey Drive, • 1.71 km of Ospika Boulevard northbound from Tyler Boulevard to Davis Road, • 1.52 km of Terminal Boulevard from Highway 97 to where the street ends, • 1.35 km of Westwood Drive from the Highway 97 on/off ramp to Massey Drive, • 0.97 km of Massey Drive eastbound from Ospika Boulevard to Westwood Drive, • 0.72 km of St. Lawrence Avenue from Southridge Avenue to St. Andrew Court and • 0.12 km of Pacific Street and Highway 97 from Pacific Street to Highway 97.

The final and largest portion of work was curb relief milling and overlay, of which 26.60 lane kilometres were done.

In that process, 2.2 meters of asphalt adjacent to the curb is milled off of both sides of the road at a depth from zero to 50 mm.

“This method allows for the new asphalt overlay to match the existing curb and gutter elevation, without incurring the cost of a full milling operation,” the report said.

That work was done on these stretches of road: • 2.45 km of Ferry Avenue from Highway 16 to Clapperton Street, • 2.29 km of Dakelh Ti from Domano Boulevard to Southridge Avenue, CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

NEWS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

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A detailed breakdown of projects completed this year CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

1.55 km of Carney Street from 5th Avenue to First Avenue, 1.33 km of Vance Road from Westwood Drive to Highway 16 1.26 km of Loyola Drive from Gladstone Drive to Malaspina Avenue, 1.23 km of Barnes Drive from Davis Road to Cormack Crescent, 1.2 km of Clark Crescent from Boyd Street to another point of Boyd Street, 1.08 km of Alward Street from 10th Avenue to 5th Avenue, 1.08 km of Westgate Avenue from the Highway 16 frontage road to Chartwell Avenue, 0.87 km of Valley Crescent from 5th Avenue to the end of the road, 0.83 km of Boyd Street from Tabor Boulevard to First Avenue, 0.83 km of Webber Crescent from 22nd Avenue to another point of 22nd Avenue, 0.78 km of Urquhart Crescent from 5th Avenue to Fifth Avenue at another point, 0.73 km of Lancaster Crescent from Loyola Drive to Lemoyne Drive, 0.65 km of Lacoma Street from 5th Avenue to Ness Avenue 0.61 km of Ness Avenue from Tabor Boulevard to Lacoma Street 0.61 km of Punchaw Crescent from Ness Avenue to Lacoma Street, 0.6 km of Otter Crescent from Lacome Street to another point of Lacoma Street, 0.59 km of Norwood Street from 17th Avenue to 20th Avenue, 0.58 km of St. Dennis Place from St. Patrick Avenue to the end of the road, 0.57 km of Merton Crescent from Ness Avenue to another point of Ness Avenue, 0.56 km of Quentin Avenue from Tabor Boulevard to Lacoma Street, 0.56 km of Oak Street from 17th

KTW FILE PHOTO

Prince George budgeted $6.7 million for road rehabilitation in its 2024 capital budget, along with $1.5 million for sidewalk rehabilitation and $420,000 to build new sidewalks.

• • • • • • • • • • • •

Avenue to 20th Avenue, 0.55 km of Santa Fe Road from Milwaukee Way to the end of the street, 0.44 km of Cormack Crescent from Barnes Drive to Barnes Drive at another point, 0.41 km of Bellos Street from Clark Crescent to Clark Crescent at another point, 0.28 km of Nicholson Road South from Massey Drive to the end of the road, 0.27 km of Zillmer Street from 5th Avenue to Valley Crescent, 0.27 km of Wolverine Street from 5th Avenue to Valley Crescent, 0.26 km of Rush Place from Webber Crescent to the end of the road, 0.22 km of Leyden Crescent from Lancaster Crescent to Malaspina Avenue, 0.19 km of Quesnel Avenue from Ospika Boulevard to the end of the street, 0.17 km of Dupre Avenue from Boyd Street to the end of the road, 0.13 km of Barnes Drive from Davis Road to Cormack Crescent, 0.1 km of Westgate Court from Westgate Avenue to the end of the street,

•

0.1 km of Westgate Place from Westgate Avenue to the end of the road and • 0.07 km of St. Lawrence Place from St. Lawrence Avenue to the end of the road.

A total of 2,314 meters of concrete sidewalk was rehabilitated in 2024 in these locations: • 829 meters on First Avenue from Tabor Avenue to Skinner Street, • 538 meters on Strathcona Avenue from Redwood Street to Highway 16, • 241 meters on Austin Road West from Crown Drive to 3885 Austin Road West, • 222 metres on Carney Street from 15th Avenue to Ellison Drive, • 186 meters of Third Avenue from Queensway to Ontario Street, • 102 meters of Third Avenue to Toronto Street to Kingston Street, • 100 meters of Second Avenue from Ottawa Street to Toronto Street and • 96 meters on Second Avenue from Ontario Street to Scotia Street.

Another 3,244 meters of asphalt sidewalk was rehabilitated in these locations: 1,303 meters on Foothills Boulevard from 5th Avenue to Moore’s Meadow,

1,168 meters on Domano Boulevard from Malaspina Avenue to Gladstone Drive North and 773 meters on Ospika Boulevard from Range Road to Davis Road.

And finally, 845 meters of new sidewalks were installed in 2024 at these locations: • 416 meters of Ellison Drive from 20th Avenue to Carney Street, • 164 meters of Dawson Road from 6398 Dawson Rd. to 6282 Dawson Rd, • 144 meters of Westmount Drive from 6926 Westmount Dr. to Cathedral Avenue, • 75 meters of Ospika Boulevard North from 1281 Ospika Blvd. to McGowan Drive, • 46 meters of Chartwell Avenue from Westgate Avenue to 3404 Chartwell Ave. Director of civic operations Blake McIntosh said during the meeting there’s been some consideration of installing thermoplastic crosswalks rather than repainting them with latex paint each year, but the cost and labour difference is significant.

Thermoplastic was used for a crosswalk on Massey Drive and McIntosh said it seemed to degrade quickly where there was a lot of wheel traffic, though not as quickly as latex paint.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

NEWS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Friendship Centre helps out with Christmas dinner CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

A lot of love went into co-ordinating the many volunteers who organized the holiday hampers that will be received by those most vulnerable in Prince George.

Stepping into the Native Friendship Centre’s Circle of Unity Room offered a glimpse of the many Elder elves who were filling boxes with perishable food items like potatoes, onions and mandarin oranges.

The next phase would be taking the turkeys, eggs, bacon, and butter out of the fridges and then with a quick trip over to the Power of Friendship Hall, which was filled with canned and dry goods that would also be included in the hampers.

To make a 200-hamper project a success took the triple-threat powerhouse efforts of the Native Friendship Centre, DoorDash’s Project DASH and United Way BC’s Food Link.

“Everything you could ever think of to put a meal together is included in the hamper,” said Sarah Armstrong, marketing and communications coordinator for Northern BC United Way. This is the first time United Way has partnered with the Native Friendship Centre for this project.

“I feel so humbled and honoured to be part of this project,” said Victoria Adowele, regional coordinator, community impact & investment for Northern BC United Way. “This is such a great project because we are putting smiles on people’s faces by delivering these hampers to those in need in the community.”

Pearl Lalond is part of the Elders group at the Friendship Centre called Kookums’ Konnection, which sees a female group of elders connect with youth in the community in a meaningful way, bringing young and old together.

“We’re from the Elders group,” Lalond said, gesturing to the half dozen people in the room. “And we’re putting together all the boxes and then we’re going to do all the produce and stuff.”

Lalond has been volunteering with

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Elder Pearl Lalond drops bags of potatoes into hampers at the Native Friendship Centre Wednesday.

Kookum’s Konnection as an Elder for the last 15 years and has been involved with the Native Friendship Centre since she was about 14 years old.

A lot of history.

“The hampers are so important,” Lalond said. “I like it that they have enough food for the whole day – they’ll get bacon, eggs, milk, bread so they can have a nice breakfast and then still have enough for dinner – so it’s everything for the day - because nobody should be without a nice Christmas dinner.”

And the first and the last step involved those delivering the food to the Friendship Centre for hamper assembly and then the next day delivering the hampers to bring Christmas cheer to those in need.

Danielle Cody of Red Spade Enterprises, a Prince George delivery company, was so inspired when she delivered the food to the Native Friendship Centre and saw all the effort being made by young and old, she announced she would donate delivery efforts for the hamper project.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Sarah Armstrong (left) and Victoria Adowele from United Way help Danielle Cody from Red Spade Enterprises Ltd to get mandarin oranges ready for hampers at the Native Friendship Centre Wednesday.

“It’s thanks to Danielle and Red Spade that we have everything in here,” Armstrong said.

“I am just a small cog in the wheel,” Cody laughed as she gestured to all the activity at the Friendship Centre. “When I saw the scope of what’s going on here

– the total number of hampers and all the food – and there’s so many volunteers around here chipping in, it just doesn’t make sense to me to put money in my pocket when I could be contributing back to the community. It’s a much better way to do things.”

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

NEWS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

7

Heritage Commission looks to add members, meetings This would require a bylaw amendment COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Prince George’s Heritage Commission is looking to boost both its number of members and meetings dates heading into 2025.

The proposals were discussed during the commission’s last meeting of 2024 held on Thursday, Dec. 12.

Commission chair George Davison said at the meeting that the body has had difficulty getting things done with just four meetings a year.

There had been some consideration of increasing the number of meetings to 10, as the commission used to in the past, but decided on seven as a compromise.

Joining that proposal is one to raise the number of commissioners from nine to 12. Davison said that in the past, both the Exploration Place and the Prince George Public Library had representatives on the commission and this would allow those entities to join once again.

The benefit of this, he said, is that it would allow for those entities to designate staff to work on heritage-related projects.

To increase the number of members and meetings, city council would have to amend the bylaw establishing the commission.

Ethan Anderson, the city’s manager of legislative services, said at the meeting that he doubted it would be possible to do so ahead of the commission’s first scheduled meeting of 2025 in March as council will soon be occupied with budget deliberations and would likely ask staff to prepare a report on its options for amending the bylaw before making any changes.

One of the commission’s current projects is to review and update heritage signs within the city with various stakeholders.

The commission’s draft report to council for its 2024 activities discussed at the meeting said that of the 61 heritage site signs in Prince George, about

CITIZEN STAFF

The city’s heritage commission is looking into the gradual replacement of signs like this one around the city.

half need to be repaired. At a rate of roughly three signs per year, it would take about 10 years to get through the list.

Two signs were fixed this year at the Zion Lutheran Church on Tabor Boulevard and Carrie Jane Gray Park.

The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway sign has been taken down for repairs.

Davison said he reached out to Kalitec, a Montreal-based company that made weatherproof and graffiti-proof signs for Mount Robson Provincial Park, for quotes. One sign from them would cost $1,237.12, 10 would cost $696.19 each and 60 would each cost $645.05.

However, the chair noted that this quote expires as of Dec. 15.

Many of the existing heritage signs in Prince George were installed for the city’s 100th anniversary back in 2015.

Husky Energy provided funding towards the project, which is why the company’s logo is featured on those signs.

For the next set of sign updates, Davison said they’re looking into funding from various sources including provincial and federal grants and donations from private foundations and corporate sponsors.

Going forward, the commission wants to ensure that local heritage material accurately reflects that this area has been the territory of the Lheidli T’enneh

for thousands of years.

The commission is recommending that the public be allowed to nominate elements of Prince George heritage between January and March 2025

and then evaluate their suitability for recognition in a report prepared for next fall.

The commission is working on finalizing the addition of two heritage buildings to the city’s register: The former Knox United Church at 1448 Fifth Ave. and the mid-century modern home at 2299 Laurier Cres.

Part of the old church has since become the Knox Performance Centre after the congregation merged with the one at St. Andrew’s United Church to become Trinity United Church.

The latter home was designed by architect Alan Greenwell, a former city alderman whose firm designed Prince George Secondary School, the Civic Centre and the HSBC Bank Tower.

Both those buildings have been under consideration for heritage status since at least 2022.

Since the heritage registry was created in 2007, 15 buildings and sites have been added to it.

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Wishing you all a most wonderful Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!

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8

OPINION

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

This is your first look at The Citizen’s updated branding, soon to be rolled out on our paper, signage and promotional merchandise. Merry Christmas!

How we saved The Citizen from certain death CAMERON STOLZ

Citizen Owner and Publisher

If my New Years resolution in 2024 had been to find something interesting to do, I would have achieved it in spades. The last 12 months have been interesting, exciting, and so much more.

On Feb. 1, the staff of the Citizen were called in early for a meeting. The mood when Terresa and I arrived was one of despondency as they expected to be told that the paper was being shut down. Their reaction turned to surprise and cautious optimism when we announced that we had purchased the business.

Having never been in the newspaper business, other than as a paperboy as a kid, or the advertising business, I had

no basis for what we were jumping into.

The plus side is that I also had no idea what wasn’t possible.

Our first priority was achieving a new union agreement. The Citizen staff’s last contract was signed in 2012 and expired almost a decade ago.

Terresa and I met with the union and negotiated the new agreement ourselves – reaching out only for technical support.

A process we hoped would only take a few weeks to work, ended up drawing out until the end of June.

The result though, was a new fouryear contract.

Next, we went to work on rebuilding the newspaper. The paper has gone from the 24 pages it used to be to 32, 40 and now 48 to 64 pages each week. All because of the feedback from you, our

readers. Better yet, these pages are full of local content only.

We’ve also seen our circulation grow for the paper from 17,500 copies to 23,000 now.

It doesn’t stop there.

Our digital news site has also grown in viewership. In January, Google Analytics showed our site had 750,000 views. For the last 30 days, our page views have grown to over 1 million. That’s more page views than the other news sites in Prince George combined.

The learning curve this last year has been incredibly steep, but we are exceptionally pleased with the results.

For the first time in over a decade, The Citizen is adding staff - instead of cutting staff.

Our first was a new editor with 35 years of experience in the industry. We

We acknowledge the financial support of the government of Canada.

Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.

Cameron Stolz Owner / Publisher

Terresa Randall-Stolz Owner

Kennedy Gordon Managing Editor

then added people who work behind the scenes to help get your paper out, sell advertising, and keep the website running smoothly.

The people I’m most excited about hiring though are the three new reporters that we recently brought on board.

Now we can return to the work I am the most passionate about – investigative journalism.

Our team is currently working on two significant stories and will be launching into more in January.

As the proud owners of our local newspaper of record, Terresa and I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

We can’t wait to see what next year brings.

Have your say with a letter to the editor: editor@pgcitizen.ca

OFFICE (8:30a - 4:30p) 505 Fourth Avenue Prince George, B.C. V2L 3H2 FRONT DESK AND CLASSIFIED frontdesk@pgcitizen.ca 250-562-2441 NEWS AND SPORTS news@pgcitizen.ca LETTERS TO THE EDITOR editor@pgcitizen.ca OWNER / PUBLISHER owner@pgcitizen.ca

Letters to the editor are welcome. The maximum length is 300 words.

Letters may be subject to editing for length, clarity, grammar, spelling and legalities prior to publication. Please include your daytime contact information.

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

OPINION

NEWS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

9

Santa Claus explains the science behind his magic As I See It TODD WHITCOMBE

Hockey is the great Canadian game and whether it is watching the Cougars or Spruce Kings play on their way to professional or semi-professional careers or just a group of kids in the street with sticks and an old tennis, hockey runs through our culture.

I like to watch hockey when I can. But sometimes strange things happen at games and not just on the ice.

Recently, while sitting in the bleachers, a strange fellow sat down beside me.

With white hair and beard and an old mackinaw coat, he looked surprisingly familiar.

His eyes, how they twinkled. And his dimples were quite merry. His cheeks were like roses and his nose like a cherry. Perhaps not too surprising given the cold in our neck of the woods!

As I caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of my eye, I couldn’t help but wonder. Especially as he had a broad face and a plump belly, which shook when he laughed like a bowl full of jelly.

So, putting aside the sceptic within me, I worked up my courage and asked, “Are you…?”

Before I even finished my question, he said “No. Of course not. You know I don’t really exist? I mean, how could I be? Especially in the world we have today?”

“But you look just like him,” I said “And there are so many questions I want to ask. Would you consider answering a few?”

“Go ahead and ask if you must,” he replied “and I’ll make some stuff up. Will that make you happy?”

“Well…” I said. I wasn’t really sure how to respond. Make up stuff? But then I noticed a twinkle in his eye and the smile on his lips. I knew this

THOMAS NAST ILLUSTRATION

One minute you’re enjoying a Spruce Kings game, the next you’re discussing quantum mechanics with St. Nick. Well, that’s Todd Whitcombe’s story.

stranger must be St. Nick.

So, with some hesitation, I asked the most obvious question first: “How do you do it all in just one night? I mean there are billions of good children in the world. And you start at midnight! Even with all the time zones, you really only have 32 hours to deliver presents. And there are an awful lot of presents!”

He chuckled. And his belly shook. And he winked at me.

“Only one night if you believe in old Isaac Newton! Humph … he kept asking for a telescope every year. Anyway, Sir Isaac believed in linear time. A series of consecutive events. One following the next. He even thought if you could gather enough information, you would

be able to predict the future! What a load of rubbish? I mean who could have predicted 2020? Really?”

“Are you saying time is not linear?” I asked.

“Well, of course it isn’t!” he replied “That is what quantum mechanics and relativity tell us. The world we see is not the world as it really is.”

“Huh…?” I must admit I was a little puzzled.

“Most of the universe is not visible to us. Haven’t your physicists calculated you can only see five per cent of everything there is? Dark matter, dark energy, photons … these are the things which really matter” he said.

I could tell by the smile on his face this was a subject he didn’t get much chance to talk about, so I simply said “Go on…”

“Well, everything is really made of energy. In its simplest form, energy travels as photons – as a boson – and they are elusive as all get out. But the one property they all have is they travel at the speed of light. Do you know what happens to time at the speed of light?”

“Yes,” I said, “it stops.”

“Absolutely, my boy!” he exclaimed.

“And when time stops, well, you have all the time in the world to do pretty much anything you want. You also have all the energy in the world to do pretty much everything you want. After all, they are just two sides of the same coin. I have seen physics articles written by scientific Scrooges claiming I couldn’t fly fast enough or make all those stops but what they don’t understand is I have all the time in the world.”

“Except right now…” he continued “I have to go. I know there are many questions left unanswered. But that is what science and wonder are for, eh?”

With that he got up, laid a finger aside his nose, and headed off down the row of seats. But as he got to the aisle, he looked back at me and said “Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!”

Todd Whitcombe is a chemistry professor at UNBC

10

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

OPINION Prince George council to consider three different Civic Core plans Monday

NEWS

Prince George council to consider three different Civic Core plans Monday

Where are all these people going to park? I attempted to go to Winter Fest at the Civic Center but gave up as I couldn’t find any parking.

Good thing the pool is down for maintenance (in December.... when kids need something to do when the weather isn’t great but that’s another complaint) otherwise families trying to go to lessons wouldn’t be able to park anywhere.

It’s already bad enough trying to find a decent spot down there, and then having your back to whoever while trying to buckle a kid in is terrifying - I’ve had people approach me from behind several times asking for money while I’m trying to wrangle kids into car seats. It’s a great idea in theory but not in real life. blahblahblahblah Council chooses direction for Civic Core Plan after more than two hours of discussion PG, we can have nice things, if we plan better. The approved plan is an energy hog, ignores winter, is short-term, and all the costs are borne by the taxpayer. I will work hard to have Council consider a better plan.

Trudy Klassen

Share your views on our stories at pgcitizen.ca

Twenty to thirty years ago, the downtown area had many pubs and bars, all booming on the weekend.

Once upon a time there were multiple theatres in town and people were lined up out the door.

The annual fairs were at the height of their business.

Cougars games were often near sellout crowds.

Fast forward to today. The last remaining theatre is often empty, even during peak time.

Cougars are at half capacity at best, the downtown area is on life support, the weiner king couldn’t survive down there.

The fairs rolling through town are dwindling.

What has happened? It appears to me, that the economy is circling the toilet bowl and with the remaining local mills and now Tidewater on the ropes, Donald Trump’s tariff threat looming and not a large scale construction project in sight in the north, other than the fabled surgical tower that will be staffed by phantoms.

Things look bleak.

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Council chooses direction for Civic Core Plan after more than two hours of discussion I’m not sure downtown is the right place for the replacement arena. Doubling the capacity will require many more parking spaces and I just don’t see the room. Relocating to the lands between 22nd/18th/Ospika/ Foothills would seem more logical. Centralized arena equipment, staffing etc. Not having the arena downtown would free up more space for everything else being planned. Money will always be an issue so hopefully the city can somehow find financing through partnerships with others.

DBA Council chooses direction for Civic Core Plan after more than two hours of discussion I love that Yu thinks big. If you think small in 50yrs it will be small and outgrown.

Look what Vancouver did with industrial wasteland. Where do you see parking around Rogers arena or BC Place? Way bigger venues. Connaught hill is a untapped jewel of the city.

As for size if you build it small or of size, like the rink there now you will outgrow it. A big obstacle to overcome in the city is our street situation and the problem we have created.

We have a triangle from the Connaught Inn, to First Avenue and to our new bushcamp.

These lofty ideas would have been good twenty years ago, but feel obscene today.

Add in all the centers in between and we do not have a very good downtown environment. What is the long term plan?

Zangief

Keep things fair

Hereditary chief sentenced to house arrest for sexually assaulting teen Far right, far left? I never felt likeThe Citizen was either, espe cialy after reading CBC or The National Post.

The stories just tell the facts and the reader can decide.

The comment section leans right, I suppose. Just frustrates me when people can’t comment on certain stories.

Strange, a teacher sexually assaults a woman during consensual intercourse and the comment section is wide open.

But then a certain hereditary leader forces himself upon a minor and thats a no-go for comments. I don’t blame The Citizen, though, they will likely face legal consequences from certain groups, for allowing people to speak freely, even if it is the truth.Not hard to see why many lean to the right these days. Tired of double standards, hypocrisy and being muted.

The left is all about freedom of speech, unless it doesn’t suit them.

Zangief

NEWS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

11

Council approves security camera project funding

being positive enforcement tool for them.

He said the cameras would be part of local RCMP’s closed-circuit television registry, which could help expedite accessing the data they collect.

However, it was noted that while council can order bylaw officers to comply with the pilot project, it can only request that the RCMP collaborate and it will be up to the Mounties whether they do so.

During council’s debate, Mayor Simon Yu said he viewed the approval of the program as a goodwill contribution towards the struggles faced by downtown businesses.

Coun. Kyle Sampson said he was concerned that the language of the motion

didn’t make it clear enough that this was one-time funding to set up a pilot project and not commitment towards annual funding.

In response, Coun. Ron Polillo said he thought it was clear that the funding was for a pilot project and wasn’t a firm commitment past that point.

Coun. Tim Bennett said that he didn’t want residents to see the program as a “fix-all” for downtown issues, but one effort towards the neighbourhood’s improvement. He wanted to see the money on the project spent ethically, since it’s being handed over to a private entity.

Capturing footage of crimes won’t be helpful unless they are eventually

prosecuted, said Coun. Garth Frizzell.

Coun. Cori Ramsay said she thought it was a good idea for the city to invest in pilot projects, but had concerns over funding needs should it extend past the initial stage.

Coun. Susan Scott said every pilot project has to start somewhere and $40,000 is nothing compared to what businesses in the area have had to pay because of crime.

Coun. Brian Skakun, joining the meeting remotely through Zoom, encouraged his colleagues to attend public safety committee meetings, where issues like this are discussed in detail.

Staff will return with a report after the one-year pilot program wraps up. Mayor Yu said he’ll expect to see a crime index map of downtown that compares Prince George’s program to other jurisdictions, including a prosecution rate.

Addressing Skakun’s comment, Sampson said if councillors were expected to attend every committee meeting including those they’re not on, it would defeat the purpose of having committees.

Manager of finance and IT services Kris Dalio said there was enough money remaining in the 2024 operating budget to cover the extra $4,250 cost.

The motions approving the program were approved unanimously.

to treat imitation firearms like they are real.

Police will treat all firearm reports like they involve real guns, regardless of whether they are real, imitation or a less-lethal weapon like a pellet gun.

For your safety and others do not bring pellet guns into public unless they are concealed, police say.

If you are planning to bring a prop gun into a public area for a film or social media post, call the non-emergency line beforehand and let them know where, when, and why.

The cases are unrelated.

Misty Lynn Henry is wanted on an endorsed warrant for driving while her license was suspended.

Henry She is described as a Caucasian female, 5’10” (178 centimetres), weighing 133 pounds (60 kilograms), with brown hair (sometimes dyed blonde) and brown eyes.

Jessie Lynn Giroux, meanwhile, is wanted on two endorsed and three unendorsed warrants for several offenses, including failing to comply with a probation order, theft under

$5,000 (three counts), breach of undertaking, and mischief under $5,000.

Giroux is described as an Indigenous female, 5’4” (163 Giroux cm), weighing 141 pounds (64 kg), with black hair and brown eyes.

Authorities have warned that Giroux is considered dangerous and should not be approached.

Anyone who locates either of these suspects should contact local police immediately.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously via Crime Stoppers.

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Prince George council voted at its Monday, Dec. 16 meeting to contribute $35,750 from its remaining 2024 contingency funds and $4,250 from the 2024 operating budget to help create a new security camera pilot project downtown.

At the Sept. 27 meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Safety, Downtown Prince George and the Prince George Chamber of Commerce requested $40,000 for what they referred to as the “hard costs” of setting up the program aimed at tackling downtown crime.

A report presented by the organization at that meeting said the goal of the program is to reduce “theft, vandalism, and harassment through strategic surveillance and intervention.”

Those costs involve purchasing and installing camera equipment, hiring security monitoring services and communication-related expenses.

City manager Walter Babicz said staff spoke with their colleagues from the City of Penticton about a similar program it is running.

Eric Depenau, the city’s director of administrative services, said local RCMP view the program as potentially

CRIME NOTES RCMP called about firearm, turns out to be pellet gun

RCMP responded to a 911 call about a man brandishing a firearm near the Kopar Memorial Arena at midday Wednesday, Dec. 18 Two cruisers responded and officers armed with rifles began a search.

However, the firearm in question turned out to be a pellet gun found by a homeless man in the woods near the downtown arena.

The call was made after someone spotted him with it.

Police quickly questioned the man and left the scene.

The RCMP wants to remind citizens

CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE PHOTO

The City of Prince George will provide funding to a new downtown security camera pilot program.

Two local women wanted

by Prince George RCMP

Prince George RCMP are currently searching for two women with multiple warrants for their arrests.

12

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

NEWS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Gas station robbery ends in crash, three arrested CITIZEN STAFF

Three people were arrested after RCMP responded to a theft report from a gas station located in the 11400 block of Carmel Drive on Monday, Dec. 16.

It happened just after 8:30 p.m. The attendant reported that two suspects entered the store, demanded money and cigarettes, and fled in a red pickup truck.

Officers quickly spotted the vehicle heading eastbound on Peden Hill and attempted to stop it. However, the truck sped away at a high rate of speed, police say.

The vehicle was later found at the intersection of Highway 97 North and 10th Avenue, having collided with another vehicle.

The suspects fled on foot but were quickly located and arrested by police. All three suspects were taken to the Prince George RCMP detachment and have since been released

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

Prince George RCMP investigate at the scene of a two-vehicle collision at Highway 97 and 10th Avenue on Monday, Dec. 16. Two people were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

on undertakings with future court dates.

“This is another example of the great police work being done in Prince George,” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer for the Prince George RCMP.

“All suspects were arrested within 25 minutes of the report being made, despite fleeing from police and traveling halfway across the city.”

The stolen pickup truck had been taken from Fort St. James earlier that day.

The driver and passenger of the other vehicle involved in the collision were treated for minor injuries at the hospital, and no other injuries were reported.

The investigation is ongoing, and RCMP continue to encourage the public to report any tips.

Easy to buy drugs downtown, says RCMP superintendent Rappel updates city’s public safety committee on money laundering, human trafficking COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

The officer in charge of the Prince George RCMP told the city’s Standing Committee on Public Safety at its Monday, Dec. 16 meeting that it’s “very easy” to purchase methamphetamine and fentanyl downtown.

Addressing the committee’s last meeting of 2024, Supt. Darin Rappel went over some observations on undercover operating, drug and human trafficking and money laundering in Prince George.

He said undercover investigations into drug trafficking are launched after receiving intelligence and try to target a specific person. They’re not done randomly, with officers waiting around to see who’s selling drugs.

“You would approach these individuals and try to purchase drugs,” Rappel said. “During these, we make multiple opportunities for purchases, but there were individuals that would see the undercover officer (and) clearly not recognize that person as undercover and then make approaches to sell them drugs.

“Those are called opportunity purchases ... and they were typically selling fentanyl and methamphetamine.”

It’s very easy to buy meth and fentanyl in the downtown core, Rappel said.

Something that makes dealing with organized drug trafficking is a change to how the networks of dealers of formed.

Rappel said they used to have a stricter hierarchy, which made it easier to disrupt operations by taking down an important piece.

Now, the structure is smaller and flattened so that there are fewer disruptions if someone is arrested.

Earlier this year, the BC Government

backtracked on some elements of its experiment with decriminalizing the possession of illicit drugs. As a result, Rappel said Prince George RCMP’s year-end stats will show an increase in drug-related arrests with officers able to enforce those laws once again.

Beyond drugs, Rappel said local officers are seeing the sale of illegal cigarettes, which is very profitable for organized crime.

Addressing local human trafficking, Rappel said it’s women who are frequently used to coerce other women into forced labour or sexual exploitation. Frequently, trafficking is done by organized crime.

“The suspects in these scenarios know that they appear to be more approachable to these victims and these victims are more inclined to trust the female,” he said.

Trafficking and exploitation were said to start frequently with someone being offered gifts, money and alcohol as well as being invited to parties. Then, they

are told that these items were not free, which is when the extortion begins.

For the proceeds of crimes like drug and human trafficking, organized crime needs to launder their revenues to make it appear legitimate.

While this activity happens frequently in larger cities than Prince George, Rappel said money laundering still happens at a smaller scale here.

One popular way to launder money is to take it to a casino, play a few games and then cash out with a receipt.

There’s also the resale of stolen property and cash sales of real estate.

In Prince George, Rappel said laundering happens when people are given cash and told to load up prepaid credit or other cards. In some cases, Rappel said local Mounties have seen people selling drugs and using a portable terminal to accept purchases through tapping debit or credit cards.

“It’s moving into the digital age, which is good for us,” Rappel said. “That’s a little easier to track than cash.”

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Public safety meeting opens with Hank tribute COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

The final meeting of Prince George’s Standing Committee on Public Safety for 2024 began with a tribute to the man known affectionately as the mayor of Moccasin Flats.

Earlier this month, Hank Hayden was found dead inside his tent at the encampment.

For more than two years, the former diamond mine first aid attendant helped people going through overdoses and other medical crises and served as a liaison between the unhoused and community leaders.

Hayden was a regular attendee of the committee’s meetings since it formed earlier this year and his friend Alan Huggett talked about his impact on the community at the Tuesday, Dec. 17 meeting.

“Hank responded to overdoses, administering naloxone, doing chest compressions, rescue breathing and calling the ambulance,” Huggett said, his voice wavering.

“He also treated infections, removed bullets, dressed knife wounds, treated frostbite, attended to the drug sick — the people who couldn’t help themselves — and did peer-to peer counselling and helped people find ways out of the encampHayden ments if they asked him for help.”

Huggett spoke of a time when Hayden helped a pregnant woman return to her home community, enabling her to deliver a healthy baby. He also said the pair of them helped convince teens at the flats that it wasn’t the place for them, helping them find assistance elsewhere.

Frequently, Huggett said, Hayden felt that the needs and hopes of the homeless in Prince George were not being met adequately and that the city was taking action affecting them without consulting them.

“Hank worried that the city was building shelters to simply meet the demands of the court order and not to truly meet the needs of the people,” Huggett told the committee.

“I hope we can prove him wrong.”

In 2022, a BC Supreme Court justice ruled against the city’s application to close the encampment and ruled that Moccasin Flats must be allowed to stay open until Prince George can demonstrate that its residents can be accommodated elsewhere.

Mayor Simon Yu said Hayden’s impact lives on.

“We as a committee very much still feel his presence in our deliberation of various programs we do,” Yu said.

NEWS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

Call for Expressions of Interest Tabor Mountain Ski Area The Province is initiating a call for Expressions of Interest, seeking parties who may be interested in operating the Tabor Mountain Ski Area.

Tabor is a small community ski area located 20km east of Prince George on Hwy 16. On-hill recreation infrastructure includes a chairlift, T-bar, ski runs and trails, large workshop/maintenance building, ski patrol and first aid building and several smaller out-buildings. The Province is seeking Expressions of Interest from parties interested in pursuing an Operating Agreement with the Province with the intent to work towards reopening and operating Tabor under the All-Seasons Resort Policy.

The Province invites interested parties to submit an Expression of Interest.

For contact information and details on the requirements for submissions visit: https://ow.ly/vj2B50U7g0T The deadline for submitting an Expression of Interest is February 14, 2025.

Inquiries on submitting an Expression of Interest should be directed to the Mountain Resorts Branch of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport at mountainresortsbranch@gov.bc.ca or by phone at 250 371-3952.

Disclaimer This advertisement is part of the Call for Expression of Interest process. It does not constitute approval of development by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. Should the Province select a successful proponent, they will be asked to prepare a draft Master Plan and apply for an Operating Agreement, at which time public engagement will be initiated.

13

14

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

NEWS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Body camera footage already being used for evidence COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Prince George RCMP officers started wearing body worn cameras on Dec. 8 and presented evidence from them to Crown counsel for the first time that evening, the city’s Standing Committee on Public Safety heard at its Tuesday, Dec. 17 meeting.

The meeting was the first time the committee has convened since local Mounties started wearing the cameras.

Prince George is the first community in Northern BC to have its officers start to use the technology, with around 100 having been deployed so far.

The local officer in charge, Supt. Darin Rappel, passed one of the cameras around the conference table for attendees to look at.

He said it was the first casualty from among the new equipment after someone knocked it off an officer’s vest the previous day.

Joining Rappel for the presentation were constables Jennifer Cooper and Chris Nichol.

Nichol had one of the cameras strapped to his vest. He showed that the camera could connect via wi-fi to his phone to show a live stream of footage.

While his camera was placed lower on his vest, he said there are different mounts that allow it to be placed higher on an officer’s body.

His phone was passed around the room so that attendees could see what his camera was capturing in real time.

The cameras are always capturing audio and video when on but aren’t saving that data unless activated. When an officer switches their camera on, it saves a 30-second buffer of soundless footage from before the activation and then starts recording live audio and video.

The camera unit flashes green when it is ready to record and flashes red when it is actively recording.

Cooper said that unlike Prince George, an issue with rolling out the cameras to other communities in Northern BC will be bandwidth.

To upload footage taken from one of

RCMP SCREENSHOT

Prince George RCMP is one of 86 detachments that are part of the initial country-wide roll-out of body-worn cameras.

the cameras to the cloud-based digital evidence management system, an officer has to put their unit into a docking station. No data connection is needed for the recording itself. They can record up to 60 hours of video, though most officers won’t record that much between uploads to the cloud.

Because of sometimes spotty internet connections in northern communities, the rollout in on hold until potential issues with uploading footage can be ironed out.

However, the units themselves are expected to function just fine in winter weather. They were tested in Nunavut and worked fine. They can also be submerged in water up to a metre deep for a short time.

Once footage is uploaded, it is stored for a minimum of 30 days and longer if warranted by an investigation.

The mantra being drilled into officers with the equipment is “seatbelts off,

camera on,” meaning that they turn the unit on when leaving their vehicle and entering what are referred to as “dynamic situations.”

However, the cameras aren’t to be used in all situations. Cooper said she wouldn’t turn it on if, for example, she was attending a school to give a talk.

Cameras are also to stay off when officers are undertaking a sensitive or intimate search of a detainee or if a detainee is changing their clothes after being arrested. Another area where they likely won’t be used is when officers make certain visits to medical facilities.

Once footage is uploaded to the cloud, it can’t be altered or edited unless an application is made to a supervisor. An example scenario is if, say, a detainee is accidentally filmed during an intimate search.

Cooper clarified that the primary purpose of the cameras is not for evidence

gathering as most times, officers will arrive on scene after a crime has been committed. Instead, the intent is to provide transparency in officers’ dealings with the public and to help resolve public complaints into police conduct.

After the Calgary Police Service adopted body-worn cameras in 2019, Cooper said there was a 70 per cent reduction in public complaints.

Members of the public can request copies of footage they are in, but it has to be accessed through the federal Access to Information and Privacy process.

“It’s not going to be like we see in the States where there is an exciting arrest or a dynamic chase and they pop that video up on YouTube right away or your social media feeds right away,” Cooper said.

“We won’t be throwing up video on social media very often for people to see. Only when there is an exceptional circumstance or to uphold public confidence in what happened. That would have to be under some serious review before we popped it up there.”

The $3,000 per year per member cost for each camera is for the camera itself, the software it runs on, the digital evidence management system, IT support and assistance with redacting and transcribing the recorded video.

Though the federal government put aside $238.5 million to help get bodyworn cameras rolled out to police agencies in 2020, Coun. Cori Ramsay said at the meeting that this funding expired before municipalities actually started adopting them.

She said the Union of BC Municipalities is preparing a motion to make that money available to municipalities.

Ramsay is not a member of the committee but sat in for the first half-hour of the meeting.

One of the reasons Rappel cited for the long time it took to implement the cameras was the maturity of the technology. He said that initially, the available technology did not capture audio and video of sufficient quality to meet the expectations of both police and the public.

NEWS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

15

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

RCMP collects 3,000 pounds of food

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

NEWS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Crown appeals sentence for man guilty of sex charge BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Provincial Court judge erred in ordering a man to spend 90 days in jail on weekends for invitation to sexual touching, according to a Crown application to a judge in B.C. Supreme Court on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Two Crown lawyers told Justice John Harvey in Smithers that Judge Garth Smith, who sentenced Briar Gerrydean Malloy Nikal, made errors in principle by not considering aggravating factors such as abuse of trust and moral blameworthiness.

Nikal was originally tried and found guilty of both sexual assault and invitation to sexual touching for an Oct. 18, 2022 offence in Smithers. Only the latter conviction was entered, due to a legal rule against multiple convictions for the same offence.

Nikal received the 90-day minimum sentence upon summary conviction when Smith gave his oral verdict on June 11.

On the abuse of trust issue, Crown counsel Emily Rogers Beggs said there was a significant age gap: Nikal was 32 at the time and the victim under 16. The

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Two Crown lawyers told a judge that a man convicted of invitation to sexual touching recieved too lenient a sentence.

victim was away from home, vulnerable and dependent on Nikal. A parent of the victim had entrusted the victim with Nikal, “which came with the expectation of caring for the safety of the child.”

Details of the victim’s identity are covered by a publication ban.

Beggs said the judge did not consider the fact the sleeping victim woke up to

discover Nikal’s offending conduct, “and the act of physical control of the victim in this offence and the foreseeable impact of the harm to the child.”

Crown lawyer Stephanie Lacusta said the judge’s second error in principle was failing to adequately consider Nikal’s personal responsibility for the offence.

“The point here is that the only consideration of moral blameworthiness of the offender is when the sentencing sentencing judge relies on a self-reported brain injury to reduce the offender’s moral blameworthiness, without any medical evidence and without any consideration to these seriousness of the offence,” Lacusta said. “This is a failure on the judge’s part to account in the sentence for the level of culpability of these offences.”

Nikal’s defence lawyer, Ian Lawson, said Smith was correct in crafting an intermittent, minimum sentence for his client, who has Indigenous heritage. A suitable alternative, he said, even if it includes time in jail.

He also argued that the Crown did not prove Smith’s sentencing decision was unreasonable.

“At any appeal, there’s always pot shots taken at the reasons — well, the judge didn’t mention this, or he didn’t spend enough time on this issue, or there’s no mention of this circumstance, and so on,” Lawson said. “And, as I’ve been hearing my friends, that’s really what the main pitch is.”

Harvey scheduled Jan. 9, 2025 for a decision.

Curfew, probation for man in assault, firearms case BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Prince George man was sentenced Dec. 16 to one year of curfew followed by two years of probation after he pleaded guilty in Provincial Court to assault, threats and firearm storage charges.

Prince George RCMP arrested Aaron Robert Jonathan Young, 46, on July 31, 2023 after neighbours complained that he was making threats and attempting to gain entry to their residence.

The Emergency Response Team was called in to assist and a search warrant obtained to seize a .30-06 rifle in Young’s bedroom.

An RCMP officer heard Young make further threats to a neighbour.

“Mr. Young was in a difficult place back on the 31st of July 2023 and his life was marred at that time by substance abuse and that led to some form of psychotic episode,” Judge David Simpkin said.

Court heard that Young’s abuse of alcohol and cocaine was out of control.

Young was in custody until Aug. 9, 2023 and another month later in the year.

He was released to a treatment program in the Lower Mainland.

Young pleaded guilty to assault, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, breach of release order and careless storage of a firearm.

Crown stayed three breach of release order charges.

For his part, Young apologized to the

court, “for the time spent on this tumultuous affair. My sincere apologies to all of those that were involved.”

Court heard the status Takla First Nation member was born in Prince George, raised mainly on reserve until age 14 and a victim of abuse. The father of three was educated at University of Northern B.C. and a commercial pilot by trade.

Simpkin agreed with the joint sentencing submission by the Crown and defence for Young, who now lives in Alberta. He must obey the law, have no contact or communication with six people and their immediate families, and remain home between 10 p.m. and 7 p.m. every day for the next year, except to leave for an emergency medical appointment or for employment,

with written permission of his sentence supervisor.

Young must report to forensic psychiatric services for assessment and cannot possess firearms, explosives, drugs or alcohol (except prescriptions).

Simpkin said the sentence addresses denunciation, deterrence and rehabilitation, by allowing Young to continue working.

“You’re going to be under supervision, but it’s not the end of the world,” Simpkin said.

Court heard that Young did not have a criminal record at the time of the offences.

Last July, he pleaded guilty to three breach of release charges and received a jail sentence of seven days time served.

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NEWS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

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Man guilty in drug, firearm case, co-accused acquitted BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A BC Supreme Court judge found a Prince George man guilty Dec. 18 of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking and unauthorized possession of a restricted firearm.

Justin David Dupray, born in 1995, had been charged with possession of a prohibited or restricted firearm with ammunition, but Justice Kathleen Ker decided he should instead be convicted of the lesser and included offence of unauthorized possession of a restricted

firearm.

Dupray’s co-accused on the drug charge, 1996-born Tor Liam Green, was found not guilty.

Prince George RCMP seized guns, cocaine and $9,000 in cash from residences on McIntyre Crescent in early 2021. It took until June 2022 for the charges to be approved and announced.

The case was tried intermittently, between May 27 and Sept. 18 of this year.

Ker said she had to decide whether the Crown had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Dupray and Green were in possession of cocaine and Dupray in

possession of the firearm.

“It is clear to the totality of the evidence that Mr. Dupray was engaged in a drug trafficking enterprise,” Ker said in her oral verdict.

Ker said the items police found included a loaded 9 mm Glock, a “distinctive looking dime bag” containing cocaine and an envelope containing cash, some of which was loose and some of which was fastened with elastic bands.

Ker also described communications obtained by police, particularly WhatsApp messages.

Ker said Green was in a different position than Dupray. Though positively identified on surveillance video, evidence seized by police was “too little and too inconclusive” to find Green guilty of possession of the cocaine.

“The prosecution’s burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt is a heavy one, complicated when the case is entirely circumstantial,” Ker said.

A pre-sentencing report on Dupray is scheduled to be complete by Feb. 24, 2025. Ker scheduled March 3, 2025 for a hearing to determine when Dupray will be sentenced.

‘Reasonable doubt’ leads to verdict in trafficking trial BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Provincial Court Judge said Wednesday, Dec. 17 that he had a “lingering doubt” about whether a man was guilty of possessing fentanyl and methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking.

In his oral verdict, Judge Peter McDermick said that he did not entirely believe Robert Frederick Basil, who testified in his own defence about the Nov. 16, 2021 offence in Prince George.

McDermick instead ruled there was ample evidence beyond reasonable doubt to convict Basil of the lesser and included offence of simple possession.

McDermick said the trial heard that Prince George RCMP found nearly $5,000 in Basil’s possession, along with 62.48 grams of fentanyl and 18.97 grams of methamphetamine. Police witnesses

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

A man on trial for drug trafficking admitted he had fentanyl and methemphetamine, but denied he was planning to sell them.

testified the quantities of the drugs were “outside the scope of personal use.”

Basil admitted in court that he possessed the drugs, but McDermick said he “disavowed possessing any of the drugs for the purposes of trafficking.”

“In cross examination, he gave the following evidence: ‘not all the stuff in the car was mine. I didn’t know there was drugs in the back end of the car.’ He didn’t recall whether he possessed the

backpack in question,” McDermick said.

“This specific evidence was not clear or sure-footed, nor detailed in nature.”

Officers, however, did not find Basil in possession of the telltale signs of drug trafficking, which contributed to McDermick’s reasonable doubt.

“There are, in summary, some concerns with respect to Mr. Basil’s account,” McDermick said. “But I am also impacted, in this case, by the

absence of certain other items that are traditionally associated with trafficking.

To wit, multiple cell phones, a scale, any weapons and score sheets.”

A score sheet is slang for a ledger, that traffickers use to record drug transactions.

McDermick said Basil testified that he became addicted to hard drugs over the last 20 years, though he had periods of sobriety.

In the winter of 2021, Basil began using again after he broke up with his girlfriend, was in a significant vehicle accident and stopped working. He said his use increased by spring 2021 to more than a gram per day.

Basil testified that he relied on income assistance and casino winnings, but kept his money and drugs on his person due to distrusting his roommates.

A date for Basil’s sentencing is to be determined.

Local man hit a police cruiser with his skateboard in a fit of anger BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A 27-year-old man who angrily struck a Prince George RCMP vehicle with his skateboard more than a year ago pleaded guilty to assault, mischief and forcible entry in Provincial Court on Tuesday, Dec. 17.

Jonathan Thomas Hill, born in 1997,

maintained his not guilty plea to a break and enter charge related to the Oct. 18, 2023 incident, but pleaded guilty to the lesser and included offence of forcible entry, said his lawyer Connor Carleton.

Hill also pleaded guilty to assault with a weapon — the skateboard — and mischief under $5,000. The Crown changed the wording of the latter count. Instead of damaging a door, Hill damaged a

police vehicle, the property of the RCMP. “It reflects the facts that we’re referencing, namely that Mr. Hill, when he was dealing with RCMP, did lose his temper at the windshield of the police vehicle with his skateboard,” Carleton said to Judge David Simpkin.

Carleton said a Gladue report — a pre-sentencing report about the Hill’s Indigenous background and how that

may have influenced his behaviour — has been ordered in another case involving Hill and will be part of the sentencing for the Oct. 18, 2023 charges.

Carleton told Simpkin that he would discuss with the Crown whether to file a joint submission for sentencing Simpkin set Jan. 22, 2025 as the date for Hill’s next hearing and the deadline for the Gladue report.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

COMMUNITY

What’s happening in PG Celebration of Lights goes to Monday, Dec. 23 and again from Friday, Dec. 27 to Monday, Dec. 30 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum, 850 River Road. Delight in the biggest light show in Northern BC with over 150,000 lights, light displays, rail cars and buildings in the museum park.

For more information about scheduled entertainment and advance tickets visit www.pgrfm.bc.ca.

Nanaimo Clippers at Prince George Spruce Kings goes Saturday, Dec. 28 at 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 29 at 3 p.m. at Kopar Memorial Arena, 888 Dominion St. For Spruce Kings tickets visit https:// www.sprucekings.bc.ca/tickets Skiing with Santa! Goes Monday, Dec. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hart Ski Hill, Hart Highlands Winter Club, 3740 Winslow Drive. Santa will be at the Hart Ski Hill skiing with his elf. Come join the fun.

Mike McGuire Raising Spirits goes Saturday, Dec. 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Artspace, above Books & Co., 1686 Third Ave. McGuire, friends and family will perform the annual holiday stand-up comedy show appropriately named Raising Spirits. Tickets at Books & Co. $20 in advance or $25 at the door.

New Year’s Boogie goes Dec. 30 at the Prince George Public Library main branch. Itty Bitty Boogie for those up to five years old goes from 11 to 11:45 a.m. with ball drop at 11:30 p.m. Big Boogie for all ages goes from 1:30 to 3 p.m. with ball drop at 2:45 p.m. Families with children in both age groups are encouraged to attend the Big Boogie. This is a free drop in event. Light snacks and drinks provided. For more information about the event and its accessibility visit www.pgpl.ca/events/new-years-boogie.

Nelly’s Neon New Years Party goes Tuesday, Dec. 31 at Nelly’s Pub, 2280 Johan Hart Highway. No tickets, no cover charge. Just be sure to book reservations. Special is prime rib and shrimp dinner for $35. Party favours at midnight. Live music featuring Four on the Floor. Wear your best and brightest attire. Reservations highly recommended email info@nellyspizza.ca or

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Ski with Santa and his elf Monday, Dec. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hart Ski Hill.

call 250-563-0456, ext. 3.

Alegria, a traditional Latin New Year’s Party goes Tuesday, Dec. 31 from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at PGSA Clubhouse, 1771 George Paul Ln,. Enjoy an authentic Mexican dinner and the best Latin music with DJ MAO. Cash bar. Doors open at 6 p.m. Where black or white and come prepared to dance and have fun.

Tickets are $65. Call 778-349-7085.

Glitter and Ice, a magical winter night presented by the Prince George Pride Society on Tuesday, Dec. 31 from 6:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Knox Performance Centre, 1448 Fifth Ave., downtown.

Family friendly evening, late lunch and adult dance to follow. There will be a silent auction, live music, late lunch, photo area, drinks, dancing and any other fun little goodies we can pull off.

Bring friends, family, and remember to sparkle. For more information and tickets visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/ nye-glitter-and-ice.

Family New Year’s Eve goes Tuesday, Dec. 31 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Prestige Treasure Cove Prince George, 2005 Hwy 97S. Dance party, glow in the dark pool party, kids’ swag bags, New Year’s Eve countdown, kids concession, children’s activities, such as colouring and board games and even an executive parents lounge. For more information and tickets visit www.worldhotels.com/content/ luxury-hotels.

Karaoke Night New Year’s Eve goes Tuesday, Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Trench Brewing, 399 Second Ave. Sing your heart out and bring in the new year with some good times

at Trench Brewing. Hosted by Mackenzie and Andy. Book a reservation at 236-423-0065.

Alpine Pub New Year’s Eve goes Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 6 p.m. at 6145 Kelly Road. Come ring in the new year with DJ Nels who will be spinning all night starting at 8 pm. with Triple A prime rib buffet starting at 7 pm. Music, dancing, beer pong. Karaoke bar upstairs. Prizes & Giveaways including a 50” 4K ROKU Flatscreen TV!!! Midnight Champagne.

Tickets are $50 each.

Swing into 2025 on New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, Dec. 31at 7:30 p.m. at the Underground Show Lounge. Roar into 2025 with a night of vibes as swinging sounds created by Artistic DJs Phat Funk, Play On and Bruce Illest. Two floors of fun to enjoy. Private outdoor smoking patio. Affordable drink prices. Friendly staff that do our best to keep our patrons safe and happy.

19+, cash bar. For information and tickets visit www.eventbrite.com/e/ swing-in-the-new-year-the-underground Light Up the Orchard goes until Dec. 31 at Northern Lights Estate Winery, 745 Prince George Pulpmill Rd.. Walk through enchanting light installations around the property, capture holiday memories at various themed photo stations. Fireside Mingling: Warm up by the fire pit on the patio (weather permitting). There is a concession offering treats, warm and cold beverages.

Tickets for adults (16+) are $9.75, for children (3-15) are $7 (includes a treat), family pass is $32 for 2 adults and up to 4 children, and a group of four adults is

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

$35. Free for kids under 2. Tickets are only available online at www.northernlightswinery.ca/light-up-the-orchard.

Games Night goes every Thursday at 7 p.m at Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, 3701 Rainbow Drive. Come on down and join in a game of backgammon, checkers, crib or better yet try out the pool table or dart board, please bring your own darts. Open to everyone for a $5 drop in fee.

Craft & Chat at the main branch of the Prince George Public Library goes every Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. in the magazine corner, second floor, where fibre artists are invited to bring their latest projects to share, vent frustrations, brag about successes, get and give help and join in lively discussions. Snacks provided. This event is in partnership with Great Northwest Fibre Fest.

Parkinson Support Group meetings are the third 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.

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. There’s something for everyone. The winning team gets a custom Nancy O’s Trivia trophy and a round of drinks, their photo on the wall that goes into the winners’ book after two weeks. Those caught cheating will be publicly shamed and labelled as cheaters – good wholesome fun. Book a spot by calling ahead at 250-562-8066.

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

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Christmas tree farm owners hope someone keeps the tradition alive as they prepare to close for good MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Alpine Ranches stretches over 30 acres and is, to put it mildly, a stunning property.

The ranch is unique as the owners don’t raise cattle or horses – they grow Christmas trees.

The ranch has been run by David Doust and Wendy Pelletier with their land is devoted to growing white pine, Norwegian Spruce, and Alpine Fur. The tree farm is located on Horseshoe Drive, southeast of the city.

Unfortunately, as Doust explains, they will be closing their doors after over a decade of spreading holiday cheer.

“We’re closing operations because we’re getting older,” said Doust. “But the biggest factor is because we were running out of trees. We’ve planted a lot but the demand exceeds what we can produce every year.”

However, they hope that someone in the local community can pick up the torch and carry on the tradition of providing a unique outing for families in Prince George.

“This is a great business. Part of the reason we’re encouraging others is because people are going to depend on coming here and getting a tree, and they’re going to be quite disappointed because this is something they’ve been doing for some people for 19 years,” Doust said.

“It’s a good fun business that people love going out with a sleigh and a saw and cutting down their own trees, with their families, and sometimes we have three generations coming up here with 20 people enjoying the outing. That’s what we do: we sell the trees but we also provide an outing which is in big demand in Prince George. Anybody can go to the supermarket and get a tree.

But this is not something that more people should be doing. It’s kind of ironic living in Prince George where all there is is trees and yet nobody is producing Christmas trees.”

Doust also emphasized that many

CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER

Alpine ranches co-owner David Doust tours the Christmas tree farm earlier this month. The business, a popular destination for families looking for a Christmas tradition, will close after this season.

tree farms are run by seniors who are unable to pass on the business to their children due to the labour and time it takes to properly run a Christmas tree farm.

As trees take so long to grow, many aren’t willing to put in the time investment either.

Still, the owners hope someone else picks up the tradition.

“It’s up to other people and other farms,” said Doust. “If you have four or five acres that’s partially cleared, just plant trees. Then we would like to pass on our expertise of what species to grow and where to buy them and all this stuff to somebody that’s interested in starting this up. It can be a nice retirement hobby.”

Alpine Ranches has given a lot of joy not only to the family running it but also to the people who have been coming here for generations. Wendy Petiller, who co-owns the farm, has seen young

CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER

A sign at the Alpine Ranches Christmas Tree farm offers a look at what visitors looking to cut their own tree might find.

couples grow and start families of their own, all from providing a simple outing.

“Making people happy and being part of their tradition, that’s number one,”

said Petiller.” It always has been, that’s very special, being part of a family’s tradition, which is why we want to keep that tradition alive in Prince George.”

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COMMUNITY

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Taking a train ride back in time to the early 1900s This is part one of a three-part series CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

No, there’s no clicketyclack as you ride the rails anymore but the ebb and flow of the swaying train is so mesmerizing.

There’s something so familiar about the locomotion - steady as a heartbeat, comfy as your favourite chair.

The local Train Lady, Linda Campbell, hosts train trips to remote communities mostly along the East Line rail geared for those who wish to step back in time for a moment or two.

Campbell first got the idea of hosting the train trips when she attended a talk at the Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum and heard historian Ray Olson chat about life on the East Line in days gone by. The East Line is the narrow strip of accessible spruce forest bordering the railway that stretched about 160 km east of Prince George.

Olson, who spent some of his early childhood east of Prince George, is the author of three historically-geared books, including Ghost Towns of the East Line, From Liabo to Loos and Hutton: A Historical Retrospective.

“Ray’s passion, interest and willingness to share has just been so important for me wanting to do something as well,” Campbell said. “He and I got to be friends and he’s just opened up a whole new world out there,” Campbell said.

“You learn one thing and you want to learn more.”

On the train heading to Dome Creek, stepping into the glass-ceilinged Dome Car brings life into clear perspective.

There’s an instant sense of peace and a hush settles over every filled seat.

A quick intake of breath is the automatic response when you see the front seats are left unoccupied. Do you dare?

Absolutely and with an (almost) apologetic pounce those seats are filled.

As the world goes by at a leisurely pace your head is on swivel to take it all in and that quick breath is exhaled with

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Passengers ride in the dome car as the train sails through the forest, providing excellent views of passing towns and wildlife during a train ride through history. Historian Ray Olson talks about the highlights and lowlights of pioneer living, starting in 1914 when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway first came through the area.

sheer contentment.

Trees, rivers, lakes, hamlets and old town sites, with the occasional precariously angled ancient hydro pole with the glass insulators still on them, whoosh by.

On the train and enjoying the view out the dome car’s windows passengers spy, rather magically appropriate, a speckled eaglet flying along the shore of Eaglet Lake, a burly bear cruising along a distant noll and a healthy moose snacking on the willows in a marshy area alongside the tracks. Giant crows fly ahead of the train, keeping pace, swooping into the train’s path, playing their windshear games.

And then there are the bridges. They come along pretty early on during the East Line trip and the first one kind of throws you but then you’re ready for the rest.

The trestles are so close a hand instinctively moves skyward, fingers reaching to touch them even though you know it’s not possible. But it’s a sensation that certainly brings a smile.

Standing in the aisle, historian Ray Olson has a head set on and talks about the highlights and lowlights of pioneer living between 1914 when the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway came through the area and the mid-1960s when time finally caught up with the East Line communities and modern conveniences like roads were built to connect to the outside world.

“Up until 1940 there were more people living between Prince George and McBride than living in Prince George,” Olson said.

“In fact, at Hutton the mill was owned by United Grain Growers and in the 1920s they had a hospital better equipped than the one in Prince George in that they had an X-ray machine.”

There were big plans for some major cities along the rail line heading east from Prince George.

“Willow River was going to be one of the distribution centres for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. And that was the only town that was laid out by Pacific Western other than the divisional

points they have now – McBride, Prince George and Smithers,” Olson said.

“It was a build it and they will come sort of thing. So when they put the railway through they had plunked down stations every eight to 10 miles and it didn’t matter what was in the area, mileage was the only consideration.

So they plunked these stations down hoping people would show up at those locations and settle.”

Then there was the prospect of Fraser City.

“They had it all laid out – streets, electricity, railways and ferries, and they sold lots in it and it soon became known as a fictitious city because nothing happened there,” Olson said.

“Adjacent to that – east of it – along the Salmon River, there was another town laid out and it was called Fort Salmon.”

Ice bridges across the Fraser River were also mentioned during the trip to Dome Creek.

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Once the roads started being built, things began to change CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE “Primarily the ice bridges were put in to facilitate logging so that the logging trucks could cross the river to deliver the logs to the mills and the community would use the ice to drive on with their vehicles and that happened in all the communities along the Fraser River,” Olson said.

It was just part of life out there, he added.

“The heyday of the industry would probably have been in the ’50s and ’60s,” Olson said.

“That was the time when the most activity was in that area. That basically came to an end when Northwood came in and started buying up the timber and subsequently the road went in from McBride in 1967 and then the forestry industry was centralized. Mills shut down and that was the end of the communities out there.”

Olson said he appreciates Campbell’s

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Via Rail train No. 6 rounds a curve in the track during a trip from Prince George to Dome Creek this fall.

train trips with an historical bent because that way he can share his extensive knowledge of the area.

“I can give these talks on all the trips along the East Line and I never run out of things to say and never repeat myself

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during the presentations because there is so much history unique to each town,” Olson said.

“My biggest concern is that history be preserved and the knowledge shared.

It’s so nice to have Linda put together

these trips because it’s a nice way to present the local history.”

To find out more about the Train Lady trips visit www.facebook.com/ TheTrainLady.

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Former DJs turns things up with new business launch Inspire founders credit Community Futures with helping them turn an idea into quick success MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Starting as mobile DJs, Nigel Rimmer and Darren Hanson ran separate businesses but frequently collaborated during events.

Working together, they quickly realized that they share the same passion, drive and talent for their work.

Fortunately for them, an opportunity to collaborate came in the form of the region’s leading audio-visual company closing its doors, leaving a crucial gap in event services.

“We had done a Halloween show together a couple of years back,” explains Hanson. “We were having this meeting where we were talking about how we should go into business together. I leave that meeting with the rentals in my truck to go to Blake Productions. I pull in and I drop off the stuff and Brent Blake says to me ‘ We are going to close the doors to Blake Productions, if you want to take a stab at this end of the industry, we’d be happy to work out a deal and sell you equipment.’ I was like, no way, like 20 minutes ago, we were just having this conversation. So I called Nigel and I said, ‘Hey, man, I think I found our thing.’”

The duo soon took their idea to Community Futures, an organization dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs across the Fraser-Fort George region.

They quickly picked up essential planning and funding to help them grow their unique business.

In May of 2023, Inspire was already well on its way. Their first job, doing production for the area’s largest fan conventgion at the CN Centre, came much sooner than expected.

“Our year three plan in our business plan was to service the CN Centre. Our first job was FanCon in the CN Centre.

We got thrown into the fire. We went from not even knowing what we’re going to do and within like five months, we were already servicing the largest venue in the city.”

Since this milestone, Inspire has only

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Darren Hanson (left) and Nigel Rimmer found quick success with their new business, Inspire.

grown. They now offer full audio-visual and event services and their company specializes in concerts, special events, corporate conferencing and equipment rentals. So far they have hosted several large events, including BMO Community Art Days, a Northern Health Indigenous

health conference, the City of Prince George volunteer appreciation day and many others.

“There’s a lot of really cool relationships that we built in business. Like Crystal and with the House of Ancestors. They throw us a lot of work and

they recommend us highly all the time.

So we have to thank her,” said Hanson. “We have to thank the Chamber of Commerce, they’ve been huge in really pushing our business and they’ve been getting us these interviews that’s really helped us have a little extra marketing. One of the biggest people is Blake productions, Brant and Melanie.

We wouldn’t be where we are without them.”

Rimmer and Hanson credit Community Futures with being approachable and supportive from the start. “You don’t have to have everything figured out,” said Rimmer. “Even if you just have an idea, reach out — they’ll help.

When we signed our loan agreement with Community Futures, we had a fiveyear term. They said a business goal for us sh0uld be to become bankable.”

As of December, the duo and Inspire have become “bankable,” a feat which the partners said Community Futures thought would take five years.

Their rapid success shows how effective both their business and Community Futures are at building success, they add.

“We commend Inspire Productions on their success, and for becoming ‘bankable’ so quickly,” said Community Futures general manager Anna Duff in a press release. “We pride our programming for filling a gap in meeting new business needs; when there are already so many challenges in place for start-ups, we can reduce some of their worries.”

Community Futures is the only organization in rural BC with a mandate for small business and community economic development. Their experts offer local assistance with business planning, loans and more.

In 2022-2023, the nine Community Futures offices in northern BC loaned $7.4 million, provided close to 4,500 business advisory services and supported more than 120 community projects in their respective regions.

For more information visit www.InvestedInBCsNorth.ca

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Humane Society launches Tails of Triumph fundraiser CITIZEN STAFF

The Prince George Humane Society (PGHS) has launched its Tails of Triumph Fundraiser, a month-long campaign dedicated to providing second chances for vulnerable animals in Prince George and surrounding areas.

The month-long event began Monday and will run until Jan. 15, with a fundraising goal of $40,000.

Throughout the month, 50 local individuals will rally their networks for donations, striving toward the collective goal of reaching $40,000. On Jan. 15, participants are encouraged to visit the PGHS location at 1839 1st Avenue, where the first 50 visitors will receive a $10 gift card from Mr. Mike’s as thanks for their support.

“At the PG Humane Society, we strive to create a brighter future for animals in need,” stated Angela McLaren, executive director of the PG Humane Society, in a press release. “This fundraiser is not just about raising funds but also

about building a community that continues to care deeply about animal welfare.

We are excited to bring together animal lovers and advocates to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable animals.”

The PGHS has seen a significant increase in animal surrenders over the past year, while donations have dropped to a record low, the release states. Rising operational costs, particularly for veterinary care, have further strained the charity’s resources.

“Veterinary care is essential to ensuring the health and well-being of the animals we rescue, and your support will help provide them with the medical attention they need,” McLaren said.

“Now more than ever, we need the community’s help to continue our life-saving work.”

Online donation options are available at bit.ly/TailsOfTriumph.

To learn more about the Tails of Triumph Fundraiser visit pghumanesociety.ca.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Two puppies, part of an animal rescue effort by the Prince George Humane Society earlier this year, play in their crate at the society offices on First Avenue.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

UNBC set to host Faculty of Business and Economics dinner CITIZEN STAFF

The University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) will host its 2nd Annual Faculty of Business and Economics Dinner on Friday, March 14, 2025.

The event will feature a keynote address by David Luba, head of partnerships and co-Founder of tentree and veritree, who will speak on Winning with Climate Solutions: From Planting Trees to Planting Trust.

Luba, known for his role in establishing tentree, a company that has planted over 105 million trees globally, will share his insights into the power of innovative business practices to drive meaningful climate action. Veritree, the company he co-founded, is helping businesses integrate verified climate solutions into their operations, fostering greater trust and transparency in

environmental efforts.

“UNBC’s commitment to sustainability and its focus on developing climate-conscious solutions deeply resonate with my work,” said Luba. “I’m excited to share my experiences in building restorative business models with an institution that prioritizes environmental stewardship and innovation.”

The Faculty of Business and Economics Dinner, first held in 2024, was created to foster connections between students, faculty, and community leaders while focusing on sustainability and the future of business. The inaugural event set the stage for this annual gathering, which aims to bring together key stakeholders to discuss and promote sustainable business practices.

The evening will also include live jazz music, networking opportunities.

Tickets for the event are available for purchase at unbc.ca/fbedinner.

Wishing you and yours Peace, Health, Happiness and Prosperity.

Rosalyn Bird MLA

Prince George-Valemount

778.744.8598 Rosalyn.bird.mla@leg.bc.ca

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All lit up for Christmas

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CITIZEN PHOTOS

BY CHUCK NISBETT

From the crane towering over the University Hospital of Northern BC to the Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum to many homes around the city, Prince George is glowing with Christmas spirit. Above is a home on Upland Street, while below is a a snow family enjoying Candy Cane Lane.

Above left: Larhonda Hildebrandt and her granddaughter Aalayah, 3, take in the village of houses laid out in the schoolhouse at the Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum Celebration of Lights. The museum’s biggest fundraising event of the year features 150,000 lights and displays throughout the grounds.

Above right: Visitors enjoy a mini train ride through the seasonally lit up grounds for Celebration of Lights, which ran from Dec. 18-23 and reopens to run Dec. 27-30.

Left: Members of the Prince George Cantata Singers entertain the crowds at the Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum for the opening of the Celebration of Lights Wednesday, Dec. 18.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

COMMUNITY

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Mom’s surviving and thriving after beating addiction CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

When a child is permanently placed in foster care after a continuing custody order (CCO) is issued it’s almost never reversed, just ask longtime social worker and team leader at Phoenix Transition Society, Kyla-Rae Laferdy.

“I’ve never in coming up to 20 years in social work practice ever seen a CCO reversed,” Laferdy said.

“But I’ve seen one now.”

An Indigenous woman came to the Phoenix Transition House and its Harmony House in need and was welcomed with open arms.

Phoenix Transition House provides temporary shelter to women and their children who are fleeing domestic violence. Harmony House provides support for women who are struggling with mental health or problematic substance use, are pregnant or new mothers at risk of losing their child to the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

Originally from Dawson Creek, the Indigenous woman, who shall remain anonymous, said she needed to come to Prince George for care when her struggles got to be too much.

After losing her sister in a motor vehicle crash and her brother went missing in 2016, she eventually fell deep into her addiction.

“I was pregnant and in addiction and back in Dawson Creek there was no help at all,” she said.

“And so I ended up going into labour and had my son in Dawson Creek and I still basically had my feet still in the stirrups when the ministry (of Children and Family Development) came and took him.”

Her son was born the summer of 2022.

Mom was able to be with baby for about 14 hours until he was flown to UHNBC in Prince George where he stayed for about three weeks.

Mom spent three days in the hospital in Dawson Creek, got on the Northern Health Connection bus, and went straight into detox in Prince George.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

With help from Phoenix Transition House, a Prince George survivor and thriver has her children with her now, after she struggled with addiction for years.

“I wasn’t allowed to see baby because I was in detox and he had been apprehended by the ministry,” Mom said with eyes downcast.

She contacted her Dawson Creek support worker to see if she could help.

“I was looking for a transition house so I could get help while I smartened up so I could get baby back,” Mom said.

At that time Phoenix and Harmony House were physically close so under Harmony House mandate the young woman was offered a spot at Phoenix House until a bed opened up at Harmony House.

“I didn’t know what the next steps were going to be when I got to Phoenix House,” she said.

“I was so used to nothing ever working out.”

Mom was able to visit her newborn son as he spent three weeks in hospital.

“And then one day I went to visit and he was gone,” she said.

Baby had been placed in foster care.

Thanks to Beverly Zorn, Harmony House team leader, who advocated for the young woman, the baby was returned to his mother after a week in foster care.

“I have had my son back since he was a month old thanks to all the support I

was getting at Phoenix,” Mom said with a smile.

She went to Harmony House from Sept. 19 to Oct. 19, 2022 then both she and baby went to Peardonville residential treatment centre in Abbotsford until Jan. 26, 2023.

“I guess I did awesome at treatment,” Mom said. “It ended up being a huge breakthrough for me because it was the first time I got to see a trauma counsellor. I had a lot of stuff validated from my life and I realized that I couldn’t help how I was raised but I could continue to do better and I am capable of doing better.”

From the treatment centre the young mother was able to return to Prince George and stayed at Phoenix House until she was placed in the Phoenix second stage housing program in June 2023.

During her recovery the woman started to think of what the future could look like for the first time in a long time and wanted to change the fact that there were two people missing from her family.

The young mother has two older boys from another relationship with an abusive partner who is now deceased.

During that relationship the woman

said she was in a really dark place, the lowest time in her life, and the boys had been put in foster care when they were seven and eight years old in February 2018. Mom had visits with her sons in person and virtually throughout that time but wanted to keep her distance from them when she was in the deepest part of her addiction.

“I didn’t want them to see me like that,” she said with sadness. “It was better to take a step back rather than continue to hurt them.”

As she became stronger and more secure in her recent recovery in Prince George, the young woman reached out to let everyone know that she wanted her children back.

“But only if they wanted to come home,” she was quick to say. “If they didn’t want to be back with me that was fine. It was their choice.”

Both of her sons, now 14 and 12, wanted to be reunited with their mother and their baby brother but there was an obstacle in their way.

“The ministry had issued a continuing custody order for both boys, placing them permanently in care of the director, which is the Province of BC,” Laferdy added. “So taking away all of the mother’s parental rights.”

The continuing custody order had been issued in April 2022.

With many advocates by her side during this journey, the young woman went to court to have the continuing custody order successfully rescinded on Oct. 18, 2024.

“It was crazy,” she said. “My judge had tears in her eyes, my social worker had tears in her eyes – even my lawyer had tears in his eyes.”

The young woman has now come full circle, living in BC Housing and with the continued support of advocates now works part time at Harmony House.

She said she will soon begin the schooling she needs to become a social worker as she feels with her lived experience she can help those in need.

“Everything this young woman has done since the CCO was put in place has been just remarkable,” Laferdy said with a huge smile. “She did it! She did it!”

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

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Teenager’s Christmas display blows up his yard CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

On the first day of Christmas Murphy Crampton gave you and me a tall singing Christmas tree; On the second day of Christmas Murphy Crampton gave you and me two flying Santas and a tall singing Christmas tree; On the third day of Christmas Murphy Crampton gave you and me three raccoon reindeer, two flying Santas and a tall singing Christmas tree; On the fourth day of Christmas Murphy Crampton gave you and me four waddling penguins, three raccoon reindeer, two flying Santas and a tall singing Christmas tree ...

Well, you get the idea.

Murphy Crampton, 15, is Prince George’s Mr. Christmas.

He’s always been crazy about the holidays – Halloween and Christmas are on top of the list – and to showcase his enthusiasm and his love of penguins Murphy has created Penguin Lane, where he invites people year after year into his yard to go through the display of extraordinary inflatables that first sees Yoda in a Christmas hat welcoming everyone.

An animatronic bigger-than-life nutcracker waves his arms, a giant hugging teddy bear and the singing Christmas tree with a country music bent is a bit of a show stopper.

As a nod to Murphy’s mom, Shelley Ruiz, there are even raccoons pulling Santa’s sleigh and one popping out of a chimney.

There’s a Frosty the Snowman that stands about 19 feet tall, towering over the Christmas Countdown Clock at his feet.

A crowd favourite is the humansized snowman playing a candy cane saxophone who rocks out as he’s performing.

And to lock in the title of Mr. Christmas, Santa-hat wearing Murphy asks the public who come to visit his display for donations to the BC Children’s Hospital.

“It’s free admission,” Murphy said.

“But we’ve got donation boxes for people who would like to donate to BC Children’s Hospital. In total I’ve raised

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Murphy Crampton, 15, with mom Shelley Ruiz at the entrance to the walk-through Christmas display that fills their yard in College Heights. Visit pgcitizen.ca for more photos of what Murphy has dubbed Penguin Lane.

about $3,000 for BC Children’s Hospital over the last two years. Last Halloween was our biggest and we got over $2,000, which basically doubled the Halloween before. It was great. I just like doing the charity work because why not? It’s to let others enjoy the display and while they’re at it they can help the charity.”

The search for the perfect inflatables is a constant quest with Murphy and Shelley traveling all over BC and hopping across the border to find additions to the collection.

“I started doing small displays when I was 10 or 11 – right before COVID – and I started setting them up on my own and I grew to love them a lot and I would spend all my allowance money on these things,” Murphy said. “It’s a hobby for me. I really like it. It’s fun.”

Murphy has come up with unique designs for the display, always planning to make it even better and even built the grand entrance archway with his grandfather to enhance the experience.

The community feedback is quite amazing, Shelley added.

“It’s just really great to see how happy it makes people when they see the display and they come back every year,” she said. “They wait for the open sign to appear and they wait to see Murphy and they wait for the day they can come in and see it all and they come numerous times, which is really good to see.

It’s something we can give back – we’re on the corner, people can drive by.

People stop to look and we’re right next to the school and it’s something we can give that makes people happy. Murphy

puts all his time and energy into the display and he’s always coming up with new ideas.”

A little family visited the display recently and Mom’s favourite was the giant Frosty.

“We came to the Christmas display last year and we were here for the Halloween display this year,” said Latisha Banotra said, holding a leash attached to chi hua hua-terrier Zoe. “We live around here so we just walk over. It’s pretty cool.”

Dad Matthew Popovits was busy watching over baby Hunter as they made their way through Murphy’s Penguin Lane.

“It’s a really fantastic display,” he said.

Check it out at 2995 St. Anne’s Ave. in College Heights.

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

Throwback Thursday: Week of December 26 Dec. 21, 1939: This illustration dominated the front page of The Citizen in 1939, just a few days before Christmas, with the headline “To one and all, Merry Christmas.”

Other items on the front page that day included the news that voters had just re-elected Mayor A.M. Patterson to a 14th term (elections were in December back then), the theft of four geese from a farm, the announcement of a new sawmill at Mile 67 and the manager of the Strand Theatre inviting kids to see Santa there.

CITIZEN FILE IMAGE

Dec. 24, 1974: Icy water makes a camper shudder as he takes a pre-Christmas dip at Camp Trapping. The boys of the camp headed home “to Dawson Creek, 100 Mile House, Fort Nelson and Vanderhood to see, with new eyes, the parents, friends and influences that shaped their lives,” the story reads. The camp offered what were then called “juvenile delinquents” a one-month isolation program involving bushcraft to help them get back on track.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY DOUG WELLER

Dec. 24, 1965: The Citizen combined two iconic characters for an editorial cartoon in its Christmas Eve edition. CITIZEN CARTOON

BY JACK BOOTHE

Dec. 24, 1985: The magic of Christmas is in the eyes of Bryan Williams, 2, and his brother Reese, 5, as they hope to catch sight of Santa and his reindeer arriving in Prince George.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY BROCK GABLE

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

29 L.O.C.F.

Throwback Thursday: Week of December 26

Dec. 25, 1952: The Citizen was published on Christmas Day in 1952 – not something that happens anymore – and featured this full-page illustration to with readers a Merry Christmas.

CITIZEN FILE IMAGE

Dec. 24, 2007: Sisters Samantha Burke, 4, and Holly Burke, 7, had a chance to talk to Santa with some last-minute gift requests at Pine Centre Mall.

Dec. 24, 1998: After more than two months of crowds, the Christmas rush at Pine Centre Mall ended at 5 p.m. Christmas Eve.

Dec. 24, 2015: A ski hill and skating rink were part of the miniature Christmas village on display at the Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum’s Celebration of Lights.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

COMMUNITY

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

White Christmas The trail leading to Ginter’s Meadow is covered in fresh powder after a recent snowfall. After a very snowy December with some cold snaps, Prince George will see scattered flurries Christmas Day with temperatures reaching 3 C, feeling like -1 C. Expect occasional sunshine but a 40 per cent chance of snow throughout the day, Environment Canada advises. Overnight Wednesday, temperatures will drop to around zero, with continued flurries and a slight chance of snow accumulation. On Boxing Day, expect a mix of rain and snow with temperatures around 3 C, feeling like zero. There is a 70 per cent chance of precipitation, with less than 1 cm of snow expected and up to 1 mm of rain. Nighttime Thursday will be cloudy with a chance of wet snow, temperatures dropping to -1 C. CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

Valemount Elementary testing early dismissal program ABIGAIL POPPLE

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Childcare takes a village, as the saying goes. That’s why Valemount Elementary School has partnered with organizations like Avalanche Canada and the Valemount Public Library to organize structured activities for students in Kindergarten through Grade 3 during early dismissal days, when it may be difficult for parents to find childcare during the afternoon.

The school scheduled early dismissal 10 times in total this year, according to its website.

Four of those days took place in October, when the school held parent-teacher conferences from the 21st through the 24th. The remaining days are being used for teacher collaboration time, where staff discuss how to improve their teaching skills and promote inclusivity in the classroom, said principal Rebecka Riddell-McKay. “It’s all about how to meet the needs of our students,” Riddell-McKay said of the collaboration time. “We have a variety of needs in our schools. When

else do we have the time to actually get together and see what works for this kid? What do you do to get this kid to cooperate or learn, how do you reach this kid or that kid? We have a lot of teacher talk time during early dismissal.”

Although the early dismissal time allows teachers to touch base with one another and complete training, Riddell-McKay understands it can be hard for working parents to accommodate.

“Schools are for learning. But let’s be honest, schools are also for childcare,” she said.

“If we don’t have students coming here, then that means somebody in the family can’t work.”

After receiving feedback from the Parent Advisory Council and the ongoing Community Engagement Survey – available in the school’s monthly newsletters – staff started brainstorming solutions to the lack of childcare during early dismissal days.

Teachers can’t take on the burden of looking after kids during their collaboration time, so keeping kids in classrooms wouldn’t work, Riddell-McKay said

– likewise, taking kids to another location like the library would be difficult to coordinate.

Instead, staff chose to host programs at the school with local organizations, under the supervision of Educational Assistants.

For example, Avalanche Canada organized a hands-on avalanche safety activity for the December 11th early dismissal day. In January, the library will begin its early dismissal program, featuring crafts and other kid-friendly activities.

While Riddell-McKay said she’s glad to have programs available for students during early dismissal days, it’s not the ideal solution.

“This is a stopgap measure, though – what we would really like to see in the future is after-school care programming provided by a third party,” Riddell-McKay said, adding that districts across the province are exploring similar ideas. “In the future, I think there would be a role for the school to play in hosting after-school care, but not running after-school care.”

But until another childcare option is

available, the early dismissal programs are a neat compromise between the needs of teachers and families, Riddell-MacKay added.

“Teachers get to improve their practice because they’re having that collaborative time, and families get to have their kids cared for in a familiar, safe environment,” she said.

Additionally, staff are looking for information about kid-friendly activities for professional development days, during which class is not held at all.

These days are: Jan. 27, April 11 and June 2. Riddell-McKay hopes to find a Valemount organization which can provide an activity for kids in case parents struggle to find childcare on those days.

While the search for reliable afterschool care will likely continue for some time, Riddell-McKay said she looks forward to testing out the early dismissal programs.

“It’s a trial basis. We’re going to see how it goes,” Riddell-McKay said. “We’re really, really thankful that the library has gotten on board with this and that they’re willing to come into our space.

We look forward to seeing how it goes.”

HEALTH

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

31

Holiday donations: Help support your local food bank AMELIA COOPER Northern Health

For some, the holiday season is a time to think about food charity and what it means for our communities.

Familiar initiatives, such as the CBC BC Food Bank Day and other food drives encourage us to give or share, if we can.

Unfortunately, food bank use has been increasing at alarming rates in the past few years.

The good news is, many people and businesses are wondering how they can help.

If you have the means to donate non-perishable food items, the BC Food Bank’s top 10 most-needed options include foods such as fruits and vegetables (canned or dried), protein foods, and grains. Your local food bank might have different needs --- you can always call and ask what their priorities currently are.

Did you know that donating money is one of the best ways to support food banks?

According to many food bank staff, donating money to your local food bank is the most effective way to be sure that nutritious foods are available for families. Here’s why: • Both perishable and non-perishable items can be purchased by staff, which helps to ensure that food bank users have consistent access to a variety of nutritious foods.

• Food bank staff know exactly which foods are in need.

• Food banks are costly to run, so monetary donations also help with operational costs (e.g., building costs such as rent, hydro, and heat).

• Food banks purchase in bulk and can buy three to four times more food with each dollar.

“Money helps us to buy foods when needed, so that we can have a good supply of food year-round,” said a Salvation Army staff member. “ • How to donate money to your local food bank and other FAQs

NORTHERN HEALTH PHOTO

Northern Health recommends supporting a local food bank or other food program in your community.

•

Food Bank BC has an online donation system.

• Your donations are eligible for a tax receipt.

• Your online donations help food banks across BC, including those in rural and Northern communities.

• If you know your local food bank, or another food program, ask how you can donate. Perhaps you can send an email money transfer, or you can drop by with cash or a gift card.

• Visit Food Bank BC to find a food bank near you.

Household food insecurity is when individuals or families can’t access the food they need because they don’t have enough money.

Northern BC has the highest cost of food in the province, as well as the highest rates of food insecurity: Based on data from 2018, about 17 per cent (1 in 6) of households in Northern BC experience some level of food insecurity. This number is probably higher now because of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the

cost-of-living crisis.

Those most affected are single-parent households with children, those who rely on social assistance, and many people in the work force.

Research shows that household food insecurity is mainly an income-based issue that is tightly linked to poverty.

It affects some households more than others, including those who experience racism and other barriers to accessing meaningful employment, adequate housing, or social supports.

Indigenous households also experience higher rates of household food insecurity due to the longstanding and ongoing effects of colonial practices.

More than monetary or food donations, food security requires supporting food justice and Indigenous food sovereignty.

How can food banks help?

While food banks are not a solution to these complex issues at the root of household food insecurity, they can help provide short-term, immediate access to food.

This holiday season, will you support a local food bank or other food program? If yes, consider donating money.

NORTHERN HEALTH PHOTO

During the holiday season, we share food with others in many ways. This photo was taken at a Winter Craft fair in Fort St John, with donations going to a women’s resource program.

If you’re hosting a food drive in your church, school, workplace or community group, allow and encourage donations of cash or gift cards.

This will help staff and volunteers buy high-quality, nutritious foods to support families during the holidays and beyond.

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Med students offer free coaching on staying healthy MICHELLE GAMAGE

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Medical students at the University of British Columbia are offering free, online preventive-health coaching sessions to all adults in the province.

Many British Columbians do not have a family doctor. When people are able to see a doctor, it’s because they want help with an existing problem, says Nicole Ketter, co-president of the UBC Prevention and Lifestyle Medicine Coach program, a collaboration between the research lab of Brodie Sakakibara at UBC and the Prevention and Lifestyle Medicine Club at the UBC faculty of medicine undergraduate medical program.

“We have a bit more time to focus on preventive care and making those lifestyle changes that can’t really be offered as easily through a doctor’s appointment,” Ketter said.

Preventive health and programs like this fill “a really important gap in the current health-care landscape that we have really been scratching our heads over,” said Cam Clayton, resident physician and co-founder of the PLM Coach program.

“We all agree that exercise, dietary change and stress management are behavioural and lifestyle things foundational to health and longevity, but we do a poor job of supporting that in the current structure of the health-care system.”

Taking a proactive approach to health care is important because once a person develops a chronic condition, there are “downhill side-effects where, often, once you get the one, it increases your risk of developing another. There’s a bit of a snowball effect,” Ketter said.

That doesn’t mean that PLM coaches will lecture you on why you should go to the gym more.

“We try to balance the prescriptive nature of health care and medicine with the sense that people have autonomy and agency and should be directing their own health,” Clayton said.

When clients sign up, they are asked to reflect on their health goals

MICHELLE GAMAGE, LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER

‘We try to balance the prescriptive nature of health care and medicine with the sense that people have autonomy and agency and should be directing their own health,’ says Cam Clayton, resident physician and co-founder of the PLM Coach program.

and identify what they want to work towards. The coach then helps create a step-by-step plan for how to achieve that.

The coach will be able to see only the information the client provides, Ketter added, so they’ll focus only on areas the client identifies as being important to them. The coach will not be able to access their health records, and the sessions are confidential.

A client will be paired up with a coach for about six one-hour online sessions.

The online intake form asks for clients to be 30 years old and to have at least one chronic health condition, but Ketter said these requirements are “loose.”

The program’s current clients can generally be lumped into three groups, Ketter said: younger people who want to implement coping skills to support their mental health; young parents whose kids are now three to five years old and who are looking to re-prioritize their own health; and older adults who have recently retired and are looking to address chronic conditions related to older age.

However, “we take anybody and we see everybody,” she added.

Currently about 110 clients have gone through the program and there are between 20 and 25 coaches. Coaches generally work with a single client at a

time, Ketter said.

Most chronic conditions are affected by the way we live, including the food we eat, the way we work and how active or sedentary we are, Clayton said.

People have the most success longterm if they are choosing to make lifestyle changes and receive the proper support to do so, rather than if they’re told to do something, he said.

Conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers and multiple sclerosis can be “really, really helped by managing or changing your lifestyle towards one that’s more oriented towards exercise and certain dietary patterns,” he added.

Another program using lifestyle interventions as medicine is LifestyleRx, a diabetes prevention program. Type 2 diabetes is a disease where “you can make massive strides in decreasing someone’s average blood sugar” through diet and exercise, Clayton said.

Decreasing carbohydrate intake and doing strength building and “standard cardio” can reduce blood sugar spikes and build muscle, which acts as a “glucose vacuum,” Clayton said.

“They have good data showing that they’re successful at reducing and sometimes reversing Type 2 diabetes with strictly lifestyle-oriented approaches and getting people off their

medications,” he said.

Medications for chronic diseases can come with a hefty price tag.

According to the national health charity Diabetes Canada, in 2023 a British Columbian with Type 2 diabetes can expect to pay between $388 and $4,985 per year for medication and supplies, depending on their income and insurance coverage.

Lifestyle changes can also bolster mental health.

“Dancing appears to be the most potent antidepressant form of movement and exercise that integrates social connection, fun and play and improves your cardiovascular system,” Clayton said.

Exercise is “at least equal and perhaps superior” to other treatments for mild to moderate depression, he added.

“Probably if you could get somebody who is severely depressed to exercise, that might help too, but often they need more support and it’s tough to engage at that level when you’re so crushed by mental health.”

The idea for the program emerged from the social isolation common at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clayton and research collaborator Michelle Yang adapted an earlier program they’d created to offer a video-based health promotion program aimed at older adults to connect them with medical student coaches who could offer ongoing health promotion.

When they evaluated the updated program, they received glowing reviews from clients and coaches alike.

“The med students who participated as coaches said it was a really meaningful experience for them and their development as clinicians,” he said. “A lot of the time in the first couple of years in medical school, you don’t actually get much contact with patients. For a lot of them it was their first longitudinal experience working with folks on their health, and that can be quite a powerful experience.”

“Based on that really positive feedback from patients and students, we were like, ‘This probably should just be a thing,’” Clayton said.

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Local Sports

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

33

Spruce Kings shut out on Civic Core Plan ‘I really wish council would have consulted with us prior to deciding on a concept they felt was best’ TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

The decision of city council to proceed with the second of two staff-generated options for the Civic Core Plan is not sitting well with the Prince George Spruce Kings.

The major redevelopment design calls for Kopar Memorial Arena, the home of the Spruce Kings since 1972, to be demolished with a new 4,500-seat arena and park to be built where the old rink now stands.

The plan council approved also calls for a performing arts centre and mixed-use residential development and park to be built next the Civic Centre on land where the now-demolished Four Seasons Pool once stood and a hotel development on the former fire hall site.

The arena plan would force the B.C. Hockey League team to have to play its home games elsewhere, either at Kin 1 or CN Centre, and neither option would work for the Spruce Kings.

In fact, according to Kings general manager Mike Hawes, a forced move to an existing arena in the city might put the team permanently out of business.

“I really wish council would have consulted with us prior to deciding on a concept they felt was best,” said Hawes.

“From an organizational standpoint, we’re thrilled and excited they’re moving forward with a plan to revitalize the downtown core with the Civic Core Plan, which would include a new arena and we’re thrilled council voted to choose the most expedient process,” he said.

“Concept 1 would have been ideal for Spruce Kings and the performing arts because it would have left Kopar Memorial Arena standing while they constructed a new one (on the site of the former Four Seasons Pool) and the

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

While both of the city staff-designed options for the Civic Core Plan included a replacement for the Kopar Memorial Arena, only one would require the Spruce Kings to relocate during construction. That’s the one council chose.

performing arts centre would have gone where the old fire hall was, and everybody would have been happy moving forward.

“Concept 2, they build a new Kopar Memorial Arena in the footprint of old Kopar and that leaves us out of a place to play for I’m guessing a three- to fouryear window.”

The plan council approved designates the former Four Seasons Pool site adjacent to the Civic Centre for the performing arts centre as well as a mixed-use residential development and park.

The former fire hall site on Dominion Street would be used for a mixed-use hotel.

Hawes has been told demolition of the old rink would take nearly a year to complete and he estimates construction of its replacement would add another two years to the Spruce Kings’ wait time.

He says the team can’t play at CN Centre because the BCHL would not

allow it.

“Sharing CN Centre with the Cougars is absolutely not an option,” said Hawes.

“Although we have a good relationship with the Cougars, the WHL and BCHL are competing leagues. I cannot speak for the Cougars or WHL, however, I know the BCHL would not allow one of its member teams to play games in an arena with WHL logos and advertising throughout the arena.

“Obviously, changing out these ice logos and rink boards and advertising in the building every time a team plays a game is not a realistic or a viable option.”

The Spruce Kings are community-owned and the team operates as a non-profit society which allows them to run a show home lottery and 50-50 draw which annually generates a majority of the operating budget.

As BCHL members, Hawes says the team is required by the league to generate advertising revenue and needs that

to pay the bills.

“I’d guesstimate 40 per cent of our revenue that we need to operate is from in-house advertising, our concessions and game-night ticket sales, and everything else comes from the lotteries.

Without that we don’t survive, we’re not here. We need in-building advertising ice logos, rink boards and it’s also vital that we have our concession and beer sales in the building. We wouldn’t have that at CN Centre.”

Moving to Kin 1, which has a maximum capacity of about 800, would be too small to conform to BCHL standards, which require a minimum of 1,500 seats. The rink is also Olympic-sized, 200 feet long and 100 feet wide, where BCHL rules stipulate rinks must meet NHL dimensions (200x85).

Kopar’s 190x85 rink was grandfathered in to be allowed as the Spruce Kings’ rink.

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Temporarily sharing CN Centre not an option, says GM CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE “The advertising and concession revenues are not available to us there because the city owns that and even if they gave it to us, with the small attendance, it wouldn’t generate enough for us to survive,” said Hawes.

The BCHL standards document also requires each team to offer a dedicated players dressing room, players’ lounge, medical room, storage and office space, as well as a press box and a broadcast area for both teams.

“We have all that now at Kopar Memorial Arena, we would not have any of it at Kin 1,”said Hawes.

“The decision made Monday night at city council to accept Concept 2 and to build a new arena on the footprint of Kopar Memorial Arena and put us out of place to play for whatever a period of time it is, is going to put our organization that’s been in Prince George since 1972 in serious peril here.”

On Tuesday, Dec. 17, Hawes sent emails to each council member, Mayor Simon Yu and city staff expressing his concerns if the second plan goes through. Hawes explained his situation to Andy Beesley, the city’s facilities manager, and Beesley sympathized with the club’s reasoning but he did not have a vote at Monday’s meeting.

Hawes said he’d prefer a rink with a capacity of between 2,500 and 3,000, where Yu was proposing a 5,000-set rink to host large conventions.

“They’re thinking is for convention space reasons and based on the life of the CN Centre, which is halfway through its life, to build something with more seats makes more sense on their end,”

CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE

The second Civic Core Plan option presented by City of Prince George staff would see a new 4,500-seat arena built on the site of the current Kopar Memorial Arena. This would force the BCHL Spruce Kings to play somewhere else for as long as that takes, says GM Mike Hawes, and he isn’t sure the team could survive that.

said Hawes.

“From a Spruce Kings standpoint we would prefer less seats. That being said, if they build a new arena downtown that isn’t in the footprint of current Kopar and it works but it’s 4,500 seats we won’t complain and will find a way to make it work.”

Hawes wonders why city council went ahead with its decision in Monday’s public meeting at city hall without consulting the team.

In the vote passed Monday, Dec. 16, council agreed to involve local arts groups in future discussions of development of the performing arts centre and

the future of the Prince George Playhouse and will consider several seating options for the new arena.

Once a final design has been approved, then it will be up to taxpayers to decide in a referendum whether the Civic Core Plan will go ahead as planned.

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Jared Young signs with the New York Mets ThePrince George native spent part of last season playing in South Korea TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Next stop for Jared Young: New York City.

The New York Mets have signed the 29-year-old veteran infielder from Prince George to a one-year contract.

Reached at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., he says he’s relieved to have a new contract to resume his baseball career and is looking forward to playing under the microscope that comes with being a professional athlete in New York.

“It’s exciting, obviously I wanted to get it done as soon as possible, so to get it done before Christmas and before the New Year is really nice,” said Young.

“So now I kind of know where I’m going I can start making plans.

“There’s not too many teams bigger than them. It’s really humbling and an awesome opportunity for me. It makes it easier when you know where you’re going and you have a goal in mind.”

Young had other offers as a free agents but decided to sign with the Mets. According to The Associated Press the deal will pay him a major league salary of $1.15 million or $425,000 if he’s playing in the minors.

“You’ve got to weigh the options and choose the one that’s best for your career,” he said.

Young is looking forward to resuming his major league career after a productive 2024 season split between the triple-A Memphis Redbirds, the top farm team of the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Doosan Bears of the Korean Baseball Organization.

The left-handed hitter played 22 major league games with the Chicago Cubs in 2022 and 2023 and has a career .210 batting average with two home runs, eight RBIs, seven extra-base hits and a .725 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage).

MLB IMAGE

Jared Young unloads with a two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies, Sept. 22, 2023 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

Young was selected by the Cubs in the 15th round of the 2017 amateur draft and rapidly climbed the ranks to become an everyday player at the triple-A level. His numbers have been trending upwards over the past two seasons.

In 2023 he hit .310, had a .417 slugging average and .557 on-base percentage in 90 games with the Iowa Cubs. Claimed off waivers by the Cardinals last winter, Young continued to deliver at the plate, posting a .285/.411/.506 slash line with 11 home runs before the Cardinals released him in July.

“They’re not going to give (a contract) to you if you don’t deserve it, and I’ve earned it,” said Young. “I’m 29 years old now, I’ve played baseball for a while now and I think some of my best baseball is ahead of me and I believe the Mets do too, so I think it works out great.”

He went to Korea and made an immediate impact with the Bears, hitting .326 with 10 homers, 39 RBIs with a 1.080 OPS, to lead Doosan into the playoffs.

He quickly became a fan favourite with Bears fans and living in the capital Seoul, a city of nearly 10 million, gave

him a taste of what it will be like playing in front of a New York crowd.

“Seoul is a great city, it’s big, it’s massive, a lot of fans, and I’m sure it will be similar,” said Young. “There will obviously be differences – including the fact I speak the language – that’ll make a big difference, but I’m sure there will also be similarities.”

In New York, Young could add depth at first base with starter Pete Alonso potentially moving to another team as a free agent.

Young brings defensive versatility.

He split last season between third base and the corners in the outfield and also played two games at first.

“It definitely helps, it can keep you in the lineup,” he said. “There’s definitely some roles there for a player who can play multiple positions and I take a lot of pride in that the last two years to get myself on the field.

“You have to figure out which kind of baseball player you’re going to be and try and get the best at that. Being able to play multiple positions instead of being an every day guy at one, this is my niche and I’m excited to do it.”

All 12 of Young’s major-league starts with the Cubs were at first base. As dependable as he is on defence, Young’s bat did the talking with the Mets.

“It’s no secret that I’m probably a bat-first player, but that’s not all it takes, unfortunately to play at the highest level,” Young said. “You’ve got to take pride in all the things you do in baseball but I’m definitely going to make my noise at the plate.”

The Mets rocked the sporting world Dec. 11 when they signed free agent outfielder Juan Sota from the Yankees for a record-breaking $765 million 15-year contract. Worth an average $53.6 million, it’s the richest deal every awarded to an athlete.

The Mets ended the season with a team payroll of $356.2 million, the highest in MLB. “It’ll be good, there will be a lot of media,” said Young. “You want to be around the best players in the world and there’s going to be an opportunity to be the best.”

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Goalie coach brings Prince George ties to world juniors TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

With two international hockey titles under his belt already this year, Dan De Palma would love to add a world junior championship ring to his collection.

Considering he’s part of the Team Canada staff, completing that trifecta is well within the realm of possibility.

De Palma was hired as Hockey Canda’s goaltending consultant for the team many pundits expect to win the 1-0-team IIHF world junior tournament that starts Boxing Day in Ottawa.

In May, De Palma was Canada’s goaltending guru when the U18 national team won gold at the world championship in Finland, and he got to celebrate another championship in August when Canada won the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton.

“It’s a really big honour to be asked and just like before I don’t want to let the team down, I want to try to help win gold and I’m just excited about the chance to do that,” said De Palma.

De Palma took over the world junior team job from Justin Pogge, a former Prince George Cougars netminder (200305), who left Hockey Canada in August to coach the Abbotsford Canucks, the American Hockey League affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks.

The 53-year-old Duchess Park Secondary School graduate is in his 16th year as the Kamloops Blazers goalie coach, having served three years at the start of his WHL career in a similar position with the Prince George Cougars.

“They wouldn’t ask if they didn’t think you could help,” De Palma said. “You’re lucky when you get mixed up with good teams and good players. They always say good players make good coaches and we’ve had a couple good crops of Canadian players over the last few months and I pretty feel fortunate to have won and try to do it again.”

Playing in the world junior tournament is a pinnacle achievement in the career of every junior hockey player who makes it that far and it’s the same for the coaches and staff. Canada has

ANDRE RINGUETTE/HOCKEY CANADA PHOTO

Dan De Palma gets a close-up look at his goaltenders during a training session with Canada’s world junior team in Ottawa. The 53-year-old Prince George native will serve as Canada’s goaltending consultant for the upcoming tournament, Dec. 26-Jan.5.

won the title 20 times since the tournament began in 1977, more than any other country.

“It’s really cool,” said De Palma. ”A lot of these guys you know them by name but you’ve never been around them this closely or even watched them this closely. There’s just so much talent in this group, it’s awesome.

“My lane is the goaltenders and l try to stay focused on them and make sure my focus is where it needs to be.”

Canada kept three of the four goalies invited to the selection camp, including 19-year-old Brandon Wheat Kings goalie Carson Bjarnason, a Philadelphia Flyers second-round draft pick, 51st overall in 2023, and 18-year-old Carter George, who plays for the Owen Sound Attack in the Ontario Hockey League. George was selected 57th overall in the second round of the 2024 draft by the L.A. Kings.

The third goalie is 17-year-old Jack Ivankovic, 17, who is draft-eligible in 2025. He plays in the OHL for the Brampton Steelheads.

De Palma has renewed his ties with Canadian defenceman Tanner Molendyk of McBride. Their paths crossed years ago when Molendyk showed up to take shots in Kamloops at a goalie De

Palma was coaching at the time.

“I hadn’t seen him in quite some time, I remember him coming out when he was quite young,” said De Palma. “First thing he says, ‘I remember you, I’ve been on the ice with you,’ and that’s what’s neat about the game, just the connections you make and remake with these young men over time.

“He’s a special player and he sure makes that region of our province pretty proud.”

Ottawa hosted the event in 2009 when Canada defeated Sweden in the final to win the world junior title for a record-tying fifth-straight time.

“There’s real history here and I think the city’s abuzz right now just waiting for it to be back,” said De Palma. “The days are pretty long, but I’d rather be a little tired than stressed so you get your work done and feel good about it and then you go to sleep.

“It’s hockey and it’s fun, you don’t complain about a long day in hockey.

It’s a gift for me. When you watch it from the other side like I have all these years you’re cheering for Canada, you’re proud to be Canadian. Here, you’re proud to represent your country and you don’t want to let people down,

you want to make them proud and do a good job and that’s where we’re at this year.”

De Palma is the first Prince George native to be hired as a world junior team coach. In addition to his coaching duties in Kamloops with the Blazers, De Palma holds down a full-time position In Kamloops with Arrow Transportation Systems as director of marketing and business development. He moved to Kamloops in 1995.

“Even though Prince George isn’t home and hasn’t been for years it’s always home and part of the fabric of my identity to be from there and I’m proud to be from there, and still have a lot of family and close friends there,” he said.

In addition to Pogge and Calgary Flames goalie consultant Jason LaBarbera, De Palma is the third high-profile goalie coach with ties to Prince George.

LaBarbera also grew up in in the Spruce Capital before he went on to junior hockey with the Portland Winterhawks and the NHL with New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, Phoenix Coyotes and Anaheim Ducks. He’s now in his fifth season coaching with the Flames.

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Fatbiking creates a stronger father-daughter bond CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Gino Nava is embracing the winter city-ness of Prince George and there’s proof.

Tourism PG created a video in partnership with filmmakers 6ix Sigma Productions to highlight the city’s snowscapes and connectedness to its residents through winter fatbiking.

But to Nava, who stars in the short film with his 10-year-old daughter Matteia, the video is more than a Prince George showcase.

It’s a love letter to his children and their shared enthusiasm for twowheeled, people-powered fun.

But Nava’s life wasn’t always this way.

His childhood was filled with turmoil, to say the least.

“My childhood was very difficult,” Nava said. “I was born in Canada but my parents were Sri Lanken. We lived here for a few years, not enough to have any memories and then we moved back. I lived in war until I was about my daughter’s age actually. At 10-11 years old I came back to Canada a completely different human being. I like to think my parents did the best they could because of the circumstances but you talk about philosophies instilled in me as a kid – nothing – completely destroyed. I missed being a child.”

Coming out on the other side of his childhood trauma, he knew he wanted to give his children a different life.

“Doing things with your children, I think, is very important,” Nava said about the family he created with his wife Kerri, Matteia and nine-year-old twins Emma and Gianna.

“There is a very specific reason I picked cycling. Before I had kids I would chat with parents and they would talk about how they would drive their kids to soccer. Drive their kids to basketball.

Drive their kids to volleyball – always driving their kids here, driving their kids there. They would sit and watch and they would become the spectator.

And I thought that sounds a lot like chauffeuring your children around town and you’re not really involved.

TOURISM PG PHOTO

Matteia Nava and her dad Gino star in the Fatbiking in Prince George video presented by Tourism PG.

And I knew I couldn’t do that. I needed to do things with my kids. I didn’t want to spectate.”

He knew cycling was the answer.

“I could do that with my children,” Nava said. “I can train her, coach her and she rides with some of the groups I go with and we actually compete in the races together. We do different distances but we are at the start line together. So that was my dream. It was the big take away of how I wanted to design my relationship with my girls growing up.”

Matteia said she knows there is something special about spending time with her dad.

“They’re pretty precious moments,” she said. “I think I have a pretty good dad.”

Nava came to fatbiking as he was looking for an alternative to basketball he played during the winter. After being plagued with injuries and realizing he

couldn’t play ball anymore he needed to find something else to do during the colder months, he explained.

“So I had already been mountain biking in the summer and during the winter I was getting the blues,” Nava said.

“So of course you explore skiing and snowboarding and all the winter sports but then you look at the cost and the time commitments and it’s just crazy so I thought I already know how to bike and they have these bikes with fat tires to ride on snow and we’ve got these amazing trails.”

Putting it all together was easy for him.

Nava got his first fatbike in 2017 and has been riding ever since and then the real fun started when Matteia started riding with him about five years ago.

She’s 10 now so she’s been fatbiking for half her life.

Nava jumped in before Matteia could answer the question “and did you start

riding because of your dad?”

“She had no choice,” he smiled and Matteia smiled right back.

At first it was a bit scary for Matteia.

“I was afraid to fall but then once I fell it was like falling into a cloud,” Matteia said, throwing her arms up in the air.

“The fresh air and sun makes me feel happy. I feel like I’m stronger than I was.

It makes me feel like I can do this!”

To go fatbiking together allows Nava to be a kid with Matteia, he said.

“We try to get in as many adventures as possible so we can see the world on two wheels.”

Fatbiking is a sport growing in popularity in Prince George. It sets a different pace compared to those who do the more extreme mountain biking that sees some crazy, high-speed downhill trail adventures.

“There are a lot more retired people, a lot more people who are just not aggressive in how they ride,” Nava explained.

“They just want to get out there and they don’t want to do jumps or anything. So they get out and we have this whole retired group of people who just like to have fun.”

On any given weekend, Nava said, there are dozens of people who are in their 40s, 50s and 60s who ride together.

Nava is a longtime member of the Prince George Cycling Club that uses groomers to finesse the trails around Prince George.

“And the trails are amazing,” Nava said.

In the video, the father-daughter duo navigates the frosty trails of Forests for the World, not only showcasing the undeniable bond between them but the winter sport and the beauty of Prince George as well.

The unique Prince George Tourism video will ultimately be used to attract visitors to the area, promoting it through television and social media platforms.

“Fatbiking is a market that is still relatively untapped but has huge potential in enticing tourists to visit our community,” said Colin Carson, CEO of Tourism Prince George.

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Cougars head into Christmas break atop BC Division TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

In their last game ahead of the Christmas break, the Prince George Cougars discovered defence was their best offence.

Defencemen Villiam Kmec and Carson Carels both answered the call with goals which led the Cats to a 5-3 win Tuesday, Dec. 17 over the Rockets in Kelowna.

Kmec had a two-snipe game and also picked up a pair of assists. He finished off a 2-on-1 rush into the Kelowna zone with a shot from the circle that found the net behind goalie Rhett Stoesser for the gamewinner, 11:20 into the third period.

Terik Parascak capped the victory into an empty net in the final minute.

Kmec also set up the rookie Carels for his fourth of the season, that tied the game eight minutes into the second period. Then it was Kmec’s turn a couple of minutes later when he joined the rush and scored with one second left in a Cougars’ power play to make it

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Defenceman Villiam Kmec, seen here in a 2022 game, was a key player in the Cougars’ victory over Kelowna last week.

a 3-2 game.

Rockets forward Brett Calhoun tied it up before the period ended on a play set up by Andrew Cristall, who scored his 23rd and 24th goals to stake the Rockets to a 2-1 lead five minutes into the period.

Matteo Danis also scored for the Cougars, who improved to 18-9-3-2. Prince George leads the BC Division and ranks second in the Western Conference. The Rockets (13-14-2-1, remained fourth in

BC Division.

The Cougars outshot the Rockets 34-30.

Cougars goalie Josh Ravensbergen improved his record to 15-4-3-1. He also picked up his third assist of the season, starting the play that led to Kmec’s first goal.

The win leveled the Cats’ road record to the .500 mark at 8-8-0-0, one of their goals when they left Prince George a week ago to start their four-game

roadtrip. They started with a 4-3 shootout win in Tri-City, lost 4-1 in Portland, then defeated Spokane 3-1.

LOOSE PUCKS: The Rockets were missing four regulars out of the lineup.

Defenceman Caden Price is with Canada’s world junior team, while defenceman Marek Rocak and left winger Jakob Stancl will be playing for Czechia at the tournament that starts Boxing Day in Ottawa … Cougars players caught flights out of Kelowna to go home for the week-long Christmas break. They’ll meet again in Vancouver for the ferry ride to Victoria for a two-game set Dec. 27-28 in Victoria against the Royals …

The Cougars lead the BC Division by two points ahead of the second-place Royals … Cristall now has 55 points in just 23 game, averaging a league-high 2.39 points per game … Cougars forwards Kaden Lemire and Patrick Sopiarz served their one-game suspensions for illegal hits in the Portland game …

The WHL trade deadline is on Tuesday, Jan. 10.

Spruce Kings’ Bellamy added to BCHL Top Prospects roster TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

The Prince George Spruce Kings have doubled their pleasure.

They will have two players representing the team at the BCHL All-Star Weekend in Salmon Arm. Defenceman Evan Bellamy has been added to the Coastal Conference roster for the Top Prospects Game.

The 19-year-old Bellamy has emerged as the Kings top defenceman and has

two goals and 12 assists in 26 games this season. He will be replacing Nanaimo Clippers defenceman Andrew Brown.

Bellamy will join Bellamy Spruce Kings right winger Skogan Schrott, 19, a Michigan Tech recruit, on the ice in Salmon Arm for the Top

Prospects Game on Friday, Jan. 17.

To be considered for a Top Prospect, players must be eligible for the NHL draft.

It’s also open to 16- and 17-year-old players, but not 20-year-olds.

The league also added Coquitlam Express forward Jack Bakker and West Kelowna Warriors defenceman Axel Lofgren to the Top Prospects rosters.

Bellamy and Bakker will play for the Coastal Conference team, while

Lofgren is on the Interior Conference team.

The BCHL also announced Surrey Eagles forward Sihwan Kim and Nanaimo Clippers forward Cole Lonsdale will join the Coastal Conference roster for the All-Star 3-on-3 Tournament on Saturday, Jan.18.

Prince George native Brady McIsaac, a 20-year-old forward who plays for the Alberni Valley Bulldogs, has been picked for the Coastal roster for the AllStar Tournament.

Former Cariboo Cougar Jandric leads Finnish pro team in scoring TED CLARKE Citizen Staf

Steven Jandric has found a new home half a world away in Finland.

With 13 goals and 15 assists through 33 games, the 27-year-old left winger from Prince George is the leading scorer for Rauman Lukko in his second season

playing in the Finnish Hockey League (Liiga) the top professional league in Finland.

This is not Jandric’s first hockey posting north of the Arctic Circle. The former Vernon Viper (BCHL) went to Alaska to play three seasons for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks from 2017-20 before the college’s

hockey program folded.

Jandric finished his college career during the pandemic, playing at the University of Denver and Merrimack College before he broke into pro hockey in the ECHL in 2022.

He played 33 games over two seasons in the AHL with Providence and Springfield before heading to the ECHL,

most recently with the Orlando Solar Bears. He left the Bears after 19 games last season to go to Finland, where he scored 12 goals and 22 points in 31 games for Lukko.

Jandric was part of a star-studded Cariboo Cougars U18 team that won the Mac’s Invitational tournament 10 years ago in Calgary.

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CARIBOO COUGARS PHOTO

The Cariboo Cougars U18s are off to a great start in the BC Elite Hockey League. They will represent northern BC at the prestigious Circle K Classic tournament in Calgary, Dec. 27-Jan. 1.

Cariboo Cougars head to Calgary for Circle K Classic TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

It’s a Christmas hockey tradition, much like the world junior tournament.

Starting on Friday, Dec. 27 and running through New Year’s Day, 32 teams of players all under the age of 18 will converge on Calgary for the Circle K Classic, formerly known as the Mac’s Invitational.

The Cariboo Cougars of Prince George (15-3-1-1) earned their invitation as the first-place team in the BC Elite Hockey League. Cariboo is one point ahead of the Valley West Giants, with a game in hand. The Cougars will share a pool with Detroit Victory Honda, Sioux Falls Power and Okotoks Bow Mark Oilers.

“We have to make sure we’re giving them every opportunity to play at the next level, whether it’s in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba, and on the exposure side of it, this is the biggest tournament at our level,” said Cougars head coach Tyler Brough.

“It’s very competitive and we’ll see other teams that we’ve never played against from the other provinces and the states and Team Hungary is there.’

The league-leading Cougars have two top-10 scorers in Rylan Bissett (18-1533) and Jaxon Larmand (14-17-31), with

Grady Gustafson (11-17-28) and Blake Collison (9-18-27) in the top 15.

But it’s their defence that sets the Cougars apart from the rest of the nine-team BCEHL. Andrix Lygas has drawn the bulk of the starts in goal and sports an 8-2-1-1 record while Seattle Thunderbirds draft pick Jaxson Dikur holds a 6-4-1-0 record, having been called up the T-birds earlier this month while Scott Ratzlaff was trying out for the world junior team.

Brough has his pick of three solid defence pairings, including Josh Gendron-Carson Brookes, Carter Krueger-Ben Fofonoff and Connor Feeney-Ryan Richter. Richter, a 16-year-old Smithers native who started the season at Delta Academy, has played two games this season in the WHL with the Prince George Cougars.

“One of the things I’m most proud about is our goals-against average (2.95), which is the lowest in the league, at just under three goals per game,” said Brough.

“That’s a small pride win for us. It’s the oldest saying in the world that defence wins championships and it’s the truest.

You’ve got to score goals to win, obviously, but you’ve got to keep pucks out of your net, something I truly believe in.”

Nine players returned from last year’s team and that’s paved the way for the Cougars to climb the standings right from the get-go.

“When you have a big group of

returning guys you typically start the year off a little bit smoother than years previous and I like our returning group and our young guys,” said Brough. “I’m happy with our goaltending and our defence has been chipping in from the back end and our forward group is obviously scoring by committee.”

The other Cougars players are forwards Jack Tidsbury, Blake Lambe, Brett Peebles, Beau Murray, Lucas Woodbeck, Miller Tedesco, Nicholas Gordon and Riley Lettington.

Shattock St. Mary’s of Minnesota is back to try to defend its Circle K title.

The Cougars last played in the tournament in 2020, when they advanced to the semifinal round and lost to the Calgary Buffaloes.

Cariboo went all the way to the top in 2014, beating the Regina Pat Canadians in double-overtime. Chase DuBois fired the winning shot and goalie Griffen Outhouse stopped 40 of 41 shots to carry the Cougars the title.

Because it’s been four years since they were there, none of the Cougar players have been through it before.

But they can lean on Brough’s coaching experience and that of assistant coaches RJay Berra and Jordan Duncan, who know the drill of performing in front of one of the most heavily-scouted tournaments of the year. Since it started

in 1978, 80 players from the tournament have gone on to play in the NHL. “The staff and the players have obviously done an exceptional job to get that invite,” said Cougars general manager Trevor Sprague.

“Actually, our whole coaching staff has been there before. RJay and Jordan have played in that tournament so they have that experience that hey, this is playoff hockey. Now it’s just making sure that the players understand that, yeah it’s a Christmas tournament, but we’re there to win the thing. We want to put our best foot forward.”

The Cougars hosted the Thompson Blazers in a doubleheader on the weekend at Kin 1, with a game Saturday and a rematch Sunday.

Saturday’s game featured the firstever Cariboo Cougars/St. Vincent de Paul Society teddy bear toss and fans were encouraged to bring their stuffies to throw on the ice when the Cougars score their first goal.

The Cougars are also getting ready for the Outdoor Classic at Ernie Sam Memorial Arena in Fort St. James, where they’ll face the Valley West Giants on the night of Saturday, Jan. 18. The Outdoor Classic was first played in 2018.

The Northern Capitals triple-A female U18s will take on the Fraser Valley Rush on the outdoor rink on Jan. 17.

40

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

41

ACROSS 1 Airport screening org.

4 Out of control 8 Appear ominously 12 Pioneering ISP 13 Kid’s plea 14 “The Music Man” setting 15 Oafs

17 Daniel Craig role 18 “Homeland” star Danes 19 Devious 21 ER workers 22 Persuades 26 Track races 29 Wee dollop 30 Goat’s plaint

31 Symphonic gp.

32 Sleep acronym 33 Dick Tracy’s love 34 Consumed 35 Chignon 36 Walking sticks 37 Persian king 39 Mined-over matter 40 Ordinal suffix

41 Blue hue 45 Hoodlum 48 Defeats cleverly 50 Mexican money 51 Worry 52 TV’s Longoria 53 Mideast gulf 54 Belongs 55 Knight’s address

DOWN 1 Body powder 2 Satan’s purchase 3 -- mater 4 Squirrel’s stash 5 High points 6 Low digit 7 Big-screen airer of stadium smooches 8 Tripoli’s land

9 Tic-tac-toe win 10 Possess 11 Irate 16 Wharton’s “House of --” 20 Arcing tennis shot 23 Marvel superheroes 24 Lighten 25 Get lippy 26 Deception

27 Deco artist 28 Computer brand 29 Lion’s home 32 Exit in haste 33 Cardio-boxing routine 35 Wager 36 Seals and -- (soft rock duo) 38 Noble gas 39 Group of eight

42 Chopping tools 43 Jeans maker Strauss 44 Romanov ruler 45 Transcript no.

46 British ref. work 47 Sugary suffix 49 Swiss canton

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PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

Life Events Dr. June Claire Mitchell Oehler Frye

Unlocking the Past to Allan Williams

Margery Marinus, soon to be McAlinden is now beginning what will be the best 30 years to come.

So, Allan, I would love to take you up on your offer of dinner that you made me, forty five years ago at my parents home in Courtenay.

Margery McAlinden 250-617-1360

In Memoriam

Jason Ross Middleton

March 6, 1979 - December 29, 2013 Remembering our Little Man for his Love, Care, Kindness, Sense of Humour, and Music.

Always missed Love Dad, the Turgeon and Niro Families, and many Friends

Jean Rene Robert It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we (Teresa and Sam) announce the passing of our beloved friend Jean Rene Robert on November 25, 2024.

Born in Joliette, Quebec, Rene moved to Prince George in the early 90’s and became the people’s favourite waiter in our city.

From Da Moreno, North 54, Ramada Hotel and his latest position at Coast Prince George hotel by APA that he held with pride until his last days. He always showed his professionalism with grace and care.

Funeral arrangements will be announced here at a later date in the New year.

It is with profound sadness that the family announces the passing of Dr. June Claire Mitchell Oehler Frye on Friday, December 13, 2024 surrounded by her family and close friends.

June leaves to mourn her children Dr. Jeff (Dr. Mary) Oehler, Dr. John (Carol) Oehler, Chris Oehler, and Michael (Vivian) Frye, brother John Mitchell, grandchildren Nicholas, Grant, Nathan, Robert, Ian, and Ashley Oehler, and Whitney Burger, four great-grandchildren Brynlee, Rowenna, and Evelyn Oehler, and Hailee Burger, numerous nieces and nephews, her long-time friend from medical school Dr. Marlene Goodfriend, and former colleagues and close friends Dr. Naeem Jhetam (Cathy) and Dr. Rizwana Shaheen whom she had the opportunity to speak to in her final days.

June was born in Shelbyville, Indiana on November 21, 1938, the eldest sister to Steve, Jeff, and John Mitchell. She graduated from high school in 1956, and attended Franklin College for two years before studying abroad in Germany for two years. Upon returning to the US, she attended and graduated from the Indiana University with a BA in Fine Arts.

She became a certified school teacher and for two years taught language arts at the junior high level.

Given her passion for learning, June entered the field of medicine and graduated from the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1969.

While in medical school June met the love of her life Dr. Charles (Russ) Frye. They married in 1969 and worked in Chicago, Illinois before moving to Prince George in 1982. They both loved the north and the four seasons. They shared a passion for learning and teaching, the fine arts and the theatre community, reading, fishing, hiking, skiing, white-water kayaking, canoeing, golfing, travelling,

Celebrate

cooking, and hosting dinner parties with friends and colleagues. June and Russ were very involved in amateur theater in Prince George in the 1980’s and performed in a play that Russ wrote in 1989. June and Russ worked tirelessly to recruit psychiatrists and to develop psychiatric services in Prince George.

In 2017 June was the first woman to be inducted into the Northern Medical Society Hall of Fame.

June and Russ were married for 47 years before his passing in 2016.

The family would like to thank the following whose love and support meant so much to June in her final few months: Dr. Michael O’Malley and June’s “dearest” friend Nancy O’Malley , Dr. John Smith and Finola Gallagher-Smith, Dr. Brenda Griffiths, Kara Hunter, Dr. Cathy Textor, Dr. Siobhan Key, Dr. Melanie MacNicol, Dr. John Ryan, Dr. Alve McNestry, Sandra Ramsay, Maura and MaryElizabeth Maura O’Malley, Julie and Begonia from Comfort Keepers, Cindy from the Chateau who made June’s short stay there so comfortable, the many home support workers, and most importantly, the exceptional care from the nursing staff and care aides at the Rotary Hospice House who treated June with love, compassion and dignity. A very special thanks to her “guardian angel” Colleen Fisher who has been by her side constantly for her last few months.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the UHNBC Department of Psychiatry through the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation.

A celebration of life to honor and celebrate June, her life, and career will be held in the spring of 2025. In the meantime, as June would say, “stay safe!”.

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ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Sharing the joys of the celebrations that mark this time with your loved ones can help reinforce your devotion to them. You’ll treasure the reactions you get in return.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Love of home and family is reinforced during this last week of the year. This could be your chance to open up about secrets that you’ve held on to for far too long.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Enjoy the parties and pleasures of this week with families and friends. A holiday romance could take you well into the New Year -and maybe beyond!

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Enjoy this week’s special round of merriment with loved ones who adore you, whether you’re roaring with delight at a party or purring with affection at home.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Your loved ones help make this week’s celebrations especially meaningful. Make time to do some serious thinking about the decisions that you’ll soon be facing.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) This last week of the year is a good time to assess what you’ve done and reassess how recent changes might affect your plans for the coming year.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Balance the festive aspects of this last week of the year with honest reflections about the relationships you truly value and those you think might have become irrelevant.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Celebrate the week’s festivities knowing that you’ll be able to invest what you’ve learned over the past year into opportunities that await you in 2025.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Share the merry moments of this week with the wonderful people who have loved you and encouraged you to realize your dreams.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) As this week of celebration moves into history, the sage Sea Goat takes their high place in the Zodiac to judge the past and face the future.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Enjoy the last merry-making week of the year knowing that you’ve done well in 2024 and that you’re ready to confront the challenges of 2025!

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) When you ultimately emerge from the celebrations of this week, you’ll find yourself with many new friends whom you’ll take into the next year!

44

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

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Homes & Living

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

45

The history of Boxing Day in Canada

Boxing Day, celebrated on December 26th, is a significant holiday in Canada and other Commonwealth countries. Its origins are rooted in various traditions and customs that have evolved over centuries.

The term “Boxing Day” has several theories regarding its origin. One popular belief is that it comes from the tradition of giving boxes of gifts to the less fortunate. This practice dates back to the Middle Ages when alms boxes were placed in churches to collect donations for the poor. These boxes were opened and distributed on the day after Christmas, coinciding with the Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

Another theory suggests that Boxing Day was a day off for servants and tradespeople, who would receive gifts or “Christmas boxes” from their employers. This tradition allowed them to celebrate Christmas with their own families after serving their employers on Christmas Day. In Canada, Boxing Day has been a statutory holiday in some provinces, such as Ontario,

and for federally regulated employees. It is a day when many Canadians take advantage of post-Christmas sales, making it one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Retailers offer significant discounts, and shoppers flock to stores and malls to find the best deals.

Boxing Day is also a time for Canadians to relax and enjoy time with family and friends.

Many people use the day to unwind after the Christmas festivities, often watching sports events or participating in outdoor activities like ice skating and skiing.

The historical significance of Boxing Day in Canada is closely tied to its British roots. As a former British colony, Canada inherited many traditions from the United Kingdom, including the celebration of Boxing Day. Over time, the holiday has evolved to reflect Canadian culture and customs.

In the 19th century, Boxing Day was primarily a day for charitable giving and recognizing the efforts of those who provided services throughout the year. Employers would give

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their employees gifts or bonuses, and people would donate to the less fortunate. This spirit of generosity and goodwill remains an essential aspect of Boxing Day in Canada.

Today, Boxing Day in Canada is synonymous with shopping and sales. Retailers prepare for weeks in advance, offering deep discounts on a wide range of products. The day has become a significant event in the retail calendar, with many stores opening early and staying open late to accommodate the influx of shoppers.

In addition to shopping, Boxing Day is also a time for sports enthusiasts. The day is marked by various sporting events, including hockey games, which are a favorite pastime for many Canadians. Watching a hockey game with family and friends has become a Boxing Day tradition for many households.

Boxing Day in Canada is a holiday with deep historical roots and evolving traditions. From its origins as a day of charitable giving and appreciation for service workers, it has transformed into a major shopping event and a

time for relaxation and enjoyment. Despite these changes, the spirit of generosity and community remains at the heart of Boxing Day celebrations in Canada. Whether it’s shopping for bargains, enjoying outdoor activities, or spending time with loved ones, Boxing Day continues to be an important and cherished holiday for Canadians.

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46

Carla Hamborg Sales Representative Home Girls 250-612-7968 PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

GO FOR GOLD.

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

Our Property Management Department offers a wide range of rental properties available to rent, as well as we can provide management services for your investment and strata properties.

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

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

Melissa Pineau Sales Representative Serving Mackenzie 250-997-1054

Gordon Langer Sales Representative 250-565-4663

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Carla Hamborg Sales Representative Home Girls 250-612-7968

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Steve Burt Sales Representative 778-675-9515

Pankaj Sharma Sales Representative 250-640-7794

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Angela MacInnes Sales Representative 250-981-4533

Don Gowan Sales Representative 778-349-4026

Sarah Pineau Sales Representative Serving Mackenzie 250-990-0002

Deanna Silva RBC Mortgage Specialist 250-617-7774

Kelly Green Leasing Manager 250-564-2100

Ashley Gray Receptionist 250-564-2100

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

How to warm up those cold floors Cold floors can be uncomfortable, especially during the winter months.

Fortunately, there are several effective ways to warm up your floors and make your home more comfortable. Here are some practical solutions.

Insulate Beneath the Floor One of the most effective ways to warm up cold floors is to insulate the space beneath them. If your floors are above an unheated basement or crawl space, adding insulation between the floor joists can significantly reduce heat loss. Spray foam insulation is particularly effective, as it fills gaps and prevents drafts.

Install Radiant Floor Heating Radiant floor heating systems are an excellent solution for cold floors. These systems can be installed under various types of flooring, including tile, hardwood, and laminate. Radiant heating works by circulating warm water or electric heat through pipes or cables beneath the floor, providing consistent warmth.

Use Area Rugs and Carpets Adding area rugs or carpets is a simple and cost-effective way to warm up cold

floors. Rugs provide an extra layer of insulation and can make a significant difference in the comfort of your home.

They are especially useful in high-traffic areas and rooms where you spend a lot of time.

Seal Gaps and Cracks Drafts from gaps and cracks in your floors can contribute to cold floors.

Sealing these gaps with caulk or weatherstripping can help keep warm air in and cold air out. Pay special attention to areas around baseboards, windows, and doors.

Add a Thermal Break A thermal break is a material that reduces the conduction of heat between two surfaces. Installing a thermal break, such as a subfloor membrane panel, can help keep your floors warmer. These panels create an air gap that prevents cold from transferring through the floor.

Improve Overall Home Insulation Improving the insulation of your entire home can also help warm up cold floors. Ensure that your walls, attic, and basement are well-insulated to prevent heat loss. This not only keeps

your floors warmer but also makes your home more energy-efficient Use Floor Mats with Heating Elements Heated floor mats are a convenient option for warming up specific areas of your home. These mats can be placed under rugs or directly on the floor and plugged into an electrical outlet. They provide localized warmth and are easy to use.

Maintain Your Heating System Regular maintenance of your heating

system ensures it operates efficiently and effectively. Clean or replace filters, check for leaks, and ensure that vents and radiators are not obstructed. A well-maintained heating system can help keep your entire home, including the floors, warm.

By implementing these strategies, you can enjoy warmer floors and a more comfortable living environment throughout the winter.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Understanding ice dams and how to prevent them Ice dams are a common winter problem that can cause significant damage to homes. They form on the eaves of roofs when snow melts and refreezes, creating a barrier that prevents water from draining off the roof. This trapped water can seep into the home, leading to water damage, mold growth, and structural issues.

Ice dams typically form when the roof’s surface temperature is uneven.

The upper part of the roof, warmed by escaping heat from the attic, causes the snow to melt. As the water flows down the roof, it reaches the colder eaves and

refreezes, forming a dam. Over time, this dam grows, trapping more water behind it. The weight of the ice can damage shingles and gutters, while the backedup water can leak into the home, causing damage to ceilings, walls, and insulation.

Preventing ice dams involves addressing the root causes: heat loss from the home and inadequate roof ventilation. One of the most effective ways to prevent ice dams is to improve the insulation in your attic. Proper insulation keeps the heat inside your home, reducing the amount of heat that escapes through the roof.

This helps maintain a more consistent

To start or not to start Warming up your car on cold winter days has been a common practice for many years. However, with advancements in automotive technology, the necessity of this practice has changed.

In the past, cars with carburetors needed to warm up to ensure the right air-to-fuel mixture and prevent stalling.

Modern cars, however, are equipped with fuel injection systems that automatically adjust the air-to-fuel ratio, making prolonged idling unnecessary.

One reason people warm up their cars is to ensure the engine oil flows properly.

In extremely cold temperatures, oil can become thick and sluggish. Modern synthetic oils, however, are designed to perform well even in low temperatures, maintaining their viscosity and ensuring proper lubrication almost immediately after the engine starts.

Another belief is that warming up the car helps to defrost the windows and heat the cabin. While this is true to some extent, driving the car is actually a faster way to warm up the engine and the interior. When you start driving, the engine warms up more quickly than it does when idling.

Excessive idling can also have negative effects on your vehicle. It can lead to incomplete combustion, causing a

buildup of fuel residue on the cylinder walls, potentially damaging the engine over time. Additionally, idling wastes fuel and contributes to unnecessary emissions3.

For most modern vehicles, warming up the car for an extended period is not necessary. A brief 30-second idle is sufficient to ensure proper oil circulation, after which driving the car will warm it up more efficiently. Always ensure that your windows are clear of ice and snow before driving for safety reasons.

roof temperature, preventing the snow from melting unevenly.

In addition to insulation, proper ventilation is crucial. Good attic ventilation allows cold air to circulate under the roof, keeping the entire roof surface at a more uniform temperature.

This can be achieved by installing soffit vents along the eaves and ridge vents at the peak of the roof. Together, these vents create a continuous flow of air that helps prevent the formation of ice dams.

Another preventive measure is to seal any air leaks in your home. Warm air can escape through gaps around chimneys, vents, and other openings, warming the roof and contributing to ice dam formation. Sealing these leaks with caulk or weatherstripping can help keep warm air inside your home and reduce the risk of ice dams.

Regular roof maintenance is also important. Keep your roof clear of snow to prevent the buildup that can lead to ice dams. A roof rake can be used to safely remove snow from the edges of the roof while standing on the ground.

Be cautious when using a roof rake to

avoid damaging the shingles.

In some cases, installing heated cables along the roof’s edge can help prevent ice dams. These cables are designed to keep the eaves warm, allowing melted snow to drain off the roof rather than refreezing. Heated cables should be installed before the winter season begins and can be an effective solution for homes prone to ice dams.

If ice dams do form, it’s important to address them promptly to minimize damage. One method is to use a calcium chloride ice melter to break up the ice.

Fill a pair of pantyhose with the ice melter and place it across the ice dam, allowing the calcium chloride to slowly melt the ice. Avoid using rock salt, as it can damage your roof and gutters.

Ice dams are a serious issue that can cause extensive damage to your home.

Preventing them involves improving attic insulation, ensuring proper ventilation, sealing air leaks, and maintaining your roof. By taking these steps, you can protect your home from the damaging effects of ice dams and enjoy a safer, more comfortable winter season.

DIY defrosting solutions

Winter mornings can be challenging, especially when you find your car’s windshield covered in frost. While commercial de-icers are available, you can also use simple homemade solutions to defrost your windshield quickly and effectively. Here are some tried-and-true methods: Vinegar and Water Solution Mix three parts white vinegar with one part water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on your windshield the night before to prevent frost from forming.

If frost has already formed, spray it on the windshield and wait a few minutes before wiping it off.

Rubbing Alcohol and Water Solution Combine two parts rubbing alcohol with one part water in a spray bottle.

This solution works quickly to melt ice due to the low freezing point of alcohol. Spray it on the frosted windshield and watch the ice melt away.

Saltwater Solution Dissolve a tablespoon of salt in a cup of water and pour it into a spray bottle.

Spray the solution on the frosted windshield. Be cautious with this method, as salt can be corrosive to your car’s paint and metal parts if used frequently.

47

Warm Water Fill a plastic bag with warm (not hot) water and gently rub it over the frosted windshield. The warmth will help melt the ice without the risk of cracking the glass, which can happen with hot water.

Homemade De-Icer Spray Mix one part water, one part rubbing alcohol, and a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle. This combination helps to break down the ice and makes it easier to remove. Spray it on the windshield and use a scraper to clear the ice.

48

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2024

250-562-6228 Mike Hurrell Realtor® P.R.E.C. Managing Broker 250-981-3100 10 yrs MLS Sales Award Winner 2007, 2009-2022

LAND FOR SALE

8390 CANTLE DR - City Services R2916601 - $159,900 10315 GLENMARY RD - 5.29 AC R2906056 - $179,000 2845 VISTA RIDGE DR.- City Services R286099 - $199,900 GGRASSLAND RDD - 4 Acres N IN- $165,000 PER2927976

1

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Matt Petkau Realtor® 250-617-8179

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2121 QUINCE $39,900

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12-7128 OTWAY RD. $69,900

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D SOL V O IN N

209-2644 ARNETT AVE., $189,900

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864 BLAIR CRES., $319,900 MLS# R2928514

1535 GORSE ST $349,900

7443 S KELLY RD., $384,900

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G NDIN

D SOL V O IN N

2650 OAK ST., $324,900 MLS# R2931819

2047 NORWOOD ST., $389,900

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2440 15TH AVE., $279,900 MLS# R2947826

PE

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D SOLEC IN D

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6619 SINDIA RD., $1,074,900

938-970 PATRICIA BLVD., $739,900

7833 SOUTHRIDGE AVE., $789,900

16685 CHIEF LAKE RD., $899,000

MLS# R2895664

MLS# C8060682

DEVELOPMENT LANDS

PG Motor Court 867 17TH AVE., $1,350,000

WESTERN ACRES DEVELOPMENT, $14,650,000 MLS# C8047725 UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS DEVELOPMENT, $19,999,900 MLS# C8047725

389 WILLMANN RD $1,239,900

Linda Stacey Property Manager 250-562-6228

Western Properties

***All Lots fully City Serviced, 0% Financing available O.A.C for Licensed Builders, Cash Discounts available.*** Located on Western Rd.

Lot 1, $219,900 - 1.2 Acres R2837615 Lot 2, $219,900 - 1.13 Acres R2837574 Lot 3, $219,900 - 1.06 Acres R2837575 Lot 4, $219,900 - 1.06 Acres R2837578 Lot 5, $219,900 - 1.06 Acres R2837583 Lot 6, $219,900 - 1.06 Acres R2837586 Lot 7, $199,900 - 1.06 Acres R2837601 Lot 8, $189,900 $174,900 R2837609 Lot 9, $219,900 - 1.06 Acres R2837613 Lot 10, $219,900 - 1.06 Acres R2837615

SOLD

LOCATED ON SOUTHRIDGE AVE

SOLD SOLD SOLD

Lot 8, $259,900 - 8,536 SF R2823764 Lot 9, $259,900 - 6,157 SF R2823794 Lot 10, $249,900 - 6,609 SF R2823807 Lot 11, $249,900 - 7,481 SF R2823818 Lot 12, $239,900 - 9,871 SF R2823838 Lot 13, $239,900 - 10,355 SF R2823847 Lot 14, $239,900 - 10,366 SF R2824067 Lot 15, $239,900 - 9,548 SF R2824068 Lot 16, $239,900 - 9,634 SF R2824080 Lot 22, $239,900 - 8,826 SF R2824222

SOLD SOLD SOLD