Prince George Citizen March 13, 2025

SATURDAY, MARCH 29TH

THURSDAY, March 13, 2025

Families accept tiny school closure

With just 10 students left, Giscome Elementary can’t offer everything kids need

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Kyle and Kylea Carr don’t want to send their three boys away from Giscome Elementary School, close to where they live, to another school that’s a 20-minute drive away in Prince George, but they really don’t have a choice.

Teacher/vice-principal Christine Anderson oversees a class that includes three Grade 7s, one Grade 6, one Grade 5, two Grade 4s, two Grade 3s and one kindergarten student.

The Carr kids are six, eight and 10 and ever since the older classroom was blended with the younger one two years ago the brothers have been fighting with each other more often.

Community hopes to continue using school building

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The school is located on Upper Fraser Road on the west shore of Eaglet Lake, 40 minutes from the centre of Prince George.

The Carrs have lived in the area nearly 13 years and Kylea worries for the future of the community, which was thriving when the nearby Upper Fraser Sawmill east of Giscome was in operation. The mill closed in 2003.

“One of our key selling points out here is that there’s an elementary school that’s local and if it closes that could impact everybody, not just the kids but home sales and things like that,” she said.

When Danielle Malais moved to Giscome in 2019 the school had 28 students and two teachers. But with just 10 students there are not enough resources available to her daughters Hadley, 10, and Cooper, eight.

“My oldest daughter has been struggling a little bit and she’s not able to get the help she needs, there’s not enough teachers, and it’s hard when they’re at different levels of learning,” said Malais. “They don’t want it to close, they like it, and it would be a hard adjustment for them to go to a bigger school, but it’s necessary.”

Giscome opened Jan. 16, 2015 and the

City, partners launch new business survey

The City of Prince George has just announced that it has partnered with several business support organizations to launch the Support PG Business Survey.

This new survey will be a collaborative effort between the Prince George Chamber of Commerce, Community Futures Fraser-Fort George, BC Northern Real Estate Board, Downtown Prince George, Tourism Prince George, CHBA Northern BC and the Northern Regional Construction Association. The goal of this survey is to better understand the needs of local businesses, identify various challenges and opportunities, and make sure that support is available to help businesses

people who spoke at Monday’s meeting agreed it would be a huge loss to the community if the building itself is permanently shuttered, assuming trustees approve to end Giscome’s educational program as of June 30.

The building was partially built with locally raised funds as a community centre and is two-thirds owned by the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George. Residents are hoping the building will remain open for community functions.

Closing Giscome will save the district an estimated $370,000 in the first year and $170,000 in the second year. That reflects the loss of a $200,000 annual provincial grant. But superintendent Jameel Aziz says saving money is not

NEWS NOTES

succeed across Prince George.

The city is encouraging local business to participate for the following reasons:

• Share insights into their business challenges, opportunities, and support needs.

• Connect directly with available business support resources

• Help business support agencies better understand the broader business landscape in Prince George and the region

All responses will be kept confidential and presented only in aggregate.

Colleen Van Mook, executive director of Downtown Prince George, said many business owners are worried about the

why Giscome is on SD 57’s chopping block.

“This is not budget-related at all, this is really related to the fact that we don’t feel we’re offering kids an equitable education program,” said Aziz. “The school at one time had as many as 35 students and it’ll be down to seven students next year and possibly four and we just don’t feel that quality program can be offered kids with that low of a number.

“We’ve even heard from the kids that they would like to participate on (school) teams and have more engagement with kids their age and we can’t offer that here.”

Policy dictates that after the school board passes a resolution to indicate a school closure a 60-day consideration

potential U.S. tariffs. “With this survey, we really want to learn exactly how these tariffs might affect them and begin a conversation at a local level. Ultimately, we hope to find solutions that specifically work for Prince George,” she said. For more information, or to access to the survey, contact ecdev@princegeorge.ca.

Hospice seeks donations for two local thrift stores

The Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society is looking for community support in the form of donations and purchases at its affiliated thrift stores.

The store operators are asking locals to donate thoughtfully chosen items, purchase items and/or donate funds.

Funds from items purchased and

period must follow before any decision is made.

Highlights of the discussion in Monday’s meeting will be shared at the April 16 school board meeting. A final decision will be made at a special meeting on April 22.

If the closure is approved Aziz said the district will work with parents who want to send their kids to other schools out of the catchment area to try to give those families priority.

Ashley Feniuk, an Indigenous educator at Westwood Elementary, said she wants her nine-year-old daughter to attend school there.

“I work in the district and I know how much they’re missing out on,” said Feniuk.

monetary donations will go directly to The Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society.

The stores are looking for donations of clothing, housewares, books, electronics and more.

Stores will not accept any items that are dirty, stained, broken, or otherwise unusable. These items cannot be sold and result in additional disposal costs for the Hospice.

Donations can be dropped off at either of the store locations listed below during operating hours. For larger items like furniture or inquiries about the suitability of a donation, please contact the respective store directly.

The Domano location is at 7080 Domano Blvd., while the Tabor location is at 100 Tabor Blvd No. 219.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE

A crowd of 25 community residents gathered Monday night for a discussion with SD 57 staff and trustees.

Twinberry modular home project moving forward

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

After rejecting an application two years ago, Prince George city council reversed course and approved the first three readings of a rezoning bylaw that will allow for a modular home development to move forward in the Hart.

The developer first tried to get the development at 9153 Twinberry Drive approved in April 2023. At the time, The Citizen reported that council rejected the bylaw at third reading after receiving 18 letters in opposition to the project and six in support.

Councillors cited potential deficiencies with road infrastructure and inconsistencies with the character of the surrounding neighbourhood and concerns about the safety of nearby wildlife in deciding to reject the application.

Residents expressed a desire not to have a mobile home park in their neighbourhood, among other complaints.

Two years on, Westcan and city administration were proposing several modifications alongside the zoning bylaw it needs for construction to occur.

Manager of development services

Mandy Jones said that the changes since the last time around are intended to address the concerns that were raised in 2023 as well as an open house last year.

The developer wants 10.6 hectares of 9153 Twinberry Dr. rezoned from a combination of RS2: Single Residential, RM1: Multiple Residential, RM3: Multiple Residential and AG: Greenbelt to RM9: Manufactured Home Park and rezone another 0.6-hectare portion to AG: Greenbelt.

The developer and administration also proposed establishing a restrictive covenant granting the city an infrastructure right-of-way to the property, another covenant limiting the housing density on the site to 15 units per hectare and a third covenant prohibiting a building permit from being granted until the city improves water and sewer infrastructure at the site.

The density covenant would also prohibit homes meeting the CAN/CSA Z240 MH standards from being put on the property. Essentially, that would mean only modular homes, not mobile homes can be placed there.

Two nearby residents, both listing the same address, wrote emails to the city objecting to the project.

They expressed dismay that the project is being considered again, arguing that they purchased their home with the understanding that mobile homes would not be allowed to be installed in the subdivision.

By contrast, L&M came in with a package featuring 49 letters of support, most of which were pre-written form letters stating their support for Westcan and how it manages its other properties.

Attached to the agenda was an environmental assessment report outlining how riparian and wetland areas on the property near an unnamed lake are habitats for the Western Toad, listed as a species of special concern under the federal Species at Risk Act.

The reports notes that extra approval may be needed for work that requires the collection, transfer, salvage or release of toads and that the BC Ministry of Water, Land and Resource will have to approve work carried out on streams.

A servicing brief acknowledges that the water demands for the development would lead to inadequate flows in firefighting scenarios. Two new watermains are needed to bring the flow up to the needed level of 67 litres of water.

On top of that, one of the sanitary sewer mains that would service the property is overcapacity and the city is looking to replace and relocate an existing lift station and install a second sewer to help deal with it.

This water and sewer work is what needs to be completed to fulfill the conditions of one of the restrictive covenants.

After voting against the project the first time around, Coun. Trudy Klassen said she had changed her mind. While she acknowledges the neighbourhood’s concerns, she said she was glad the riparian concerns had been addressed and said the development helps address the ongoing housing affordability crisis.

Coun. Cori Ramsay said she thought the applicant had done an “extraordinary amount of work” since the last time the project appeared before council. After being the lone councillor to support the project last time around, she said the extra work done by the applicant has reinforced her position.

Coun. Brian Skakun said he remained opposed to the development, noting residents’ concerns with form and character, snow removal and infrastructure from the last time around. He also noted concerns with the city’s costs relating to the new water and sewer infrastructure.

Jones said the cost would be shared between the developer and the city, with the split to be determined in the future following engineers completing a design. If the bylaws are approved, she

said the items would be included in the 2026 operating budget.

Skakun said situations like these show the need to review the city’s development cost charges. He maintained his opposition, though he thanked administration for getting commitments from the developer.

Referring to the letters of support, he said they’re not all from the same neighbourhood as the development.

Mayor Simon Yu expressed concerns with how the development would tie into the neighbourhood’s road network, though he said he’s visited the modular homes targeted for this development and thought that they’re beautiful.

Coun. Ron Polillo said he was also changing his stance after the developer’s two years of work and the letters of support. He said there’s a big market for affordable but modern homes like the ones planned for this development.

Coun. Kyle Sampson said he shares some of Skakun’s concerns, but he believes the benefits of the project will outweigh the costs to the city. He said he thought it would provide homes for both people starting out and seniors looking to downsize.

Coun. Tim Bennett said he went back and watched the video of the debate the last time the subject came before council and he felt the concerns raised then had largely been addressed. He said residents these days don’t have the same opportunity he did when he bought his first home for just over $200,000.

Coun. Susan Scott said her parents downsized into a modular home and found it very functional. “Modular homes have come a long way, baby,” she said.

Coun. Garth Frizzell noted the work to address the wildlife concerns and asked staff to provide more details on some of the zoning changers meant to help with that.

The vote for first three readings of the bylaw passed by a margin of seven to two, with Yu and Skakun opposed. The vote to delay fourth reading until the city’s conditions are met passed by the same margin, with Yu and Skakun opposed again.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK

Manager of development services Mandy Jones (left) discusses a rezoning bylaw for 9153 Twinberry Dr. at the Monday meeting of Prince George city council.

Council moves toward ending 3 restrictive covenants

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Prince George city council passed third reading of three bylaws removing restrictive covenants at its Monday, March 10 meeting.

On behalf of Kidd Real Estate, L&M Engineering was applying to have one covenant removed from 4114 Balsum Road, a second removed from 6934 and 6936 Langer Crescent and a third from 8777 Foothills Blvd.

The first two covenants restricted the ability for the developer to build secondary suites in duplexes, which a report from city staff says now goes against provincial legislation promoting small-scale multi-unit housing. The developers want that restriction removed.

The third covenant for the Foothills property restricts housing density on it to 22 units per hectare, requires a 50-50 mix between single-detached and multiplex housing as well as that 10 per cent of the developed units have accessible housing features.

The developer is looking for those requirements to be removed, so that the density could be up to the 30 units per hectare allowed under the current zoning and that it can decide what housing forms are appropriate for the site as per the BC Building Code.

During the hearing for Balsum Road, Susan Grattan who lives on nearby Crown Drive and looks down on the subject property said she had previously received a notice from L&M in 2020 regarding the rezoning of the property from park land to a residential subdivision containing four detached units and two two-unit housing buildings. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Grattan said she declined an offer from L&M to learn more about the project but called into a public hearing to object to the property’s rezoning.

Grattan said she realizes the ship has somewhat sailed already given the rezoning, but she believes the proposed development goes against the character of the neighbourhood and promotes too much density for that neighbourhood.

She added that the property has lain dormant from 2020 until December, when the trees on the lot were cut down.

While she acknowledged that removing the covenant would align with the provincial legislation, she asked council to consider whether there are larger issues with the planned development.

She asked council to postpone third reading of the bylaw by a further two weeks so that area residents can learn more about the development.

Responding to the speaker, Mayor Simon Yu said the city must follow the provincial housing legislation, adding that some of her concerns like the visual impacts of the development can’t be considered, only the land use considerations.

Mandy Jones, the city’s manager of development services, explained that many restrictive covenants were put in place to deal with residents’ concerns over what were then illegal secondary suites in homes.

Next up was Carey Evans, another Crown Drive resident who said she lived near the intersection with Balsum Road. She said she owns a home-based business and worried that the added traffic and parking density from the development would cause a safety issue, especially during the winter.

Addressing the parking concerns, L&M representatives said they’re required when getting building permits to include plans for enough spaces as are designated under the city’s zoning bylaws.

Returning briefly to the microphone, Grattan said she had asked one of the L&M representatives for his phone number so she could further discuss her issues with the company.

Following the close of the public hearing, Coun. Cori Ramsay said that in her view, neighbours across the street would have the ability to build secondary suites because of the provincial legislation. In the interest of fairness, she said she would support the elimination of the covenant.

Third and fourth readings carried unanimously.

After the hearing, Grattan told The Citizen that while it’s true that she and her neighbours could build secondary suites under provincial legislation, they can’t build a six-lot subdivision as the developers are planning to do.

She said she and some of her neighbours want to know whether the development will include other stages and planned to speak with L&M on the subject.

“We know something’s going in there, we just want to know what,” Grattan said.

Moving onto the Foothills Boulevard public hearing, deputy corporate officer Leslie Kellett said five letters were received ahead of time opposing the discharge of the covenant.

Going over the project specifics, Jones said eliminating the covenant would allow for a maximum of 103 units to be built on the site, an increase of 28 from what was originally planned.

As a public hearing was held for the bylaw imposing the restrictive covenant, she said another public hearing had to be held for it to be removed.

One resident from the Woodlands subdivision called in to register his opposition, citing concerns with increases to traffic density as a result of the development.

Coun. Brian Skakun said he wouldn’t support the motion, saying he was worried with traffic and sightlines on nearby Chief Lake Road.

Third reading of the bylaw discharging the Foothills covenant passed seven to two, with Skakun and Yu in opposition.

For the final public hearing on the covenant on 6934 and 6936 Langer Crescent, there were speakers in support or opposition and the applicants were not called upon to answer questions.

Council approved third reading of the final bylaw unanimously.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK

Susan Grattan speaks in opposition to the elimination of a restrictive covenant on 4114 Balsum Crescent during a public hearing at the Monday Prince George city council meeting.

Logan facing challenger in Lheidli T’enneh election

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Wednesday, April 9 is election day for the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation.

Incumbent Chief Dolleen Logan has been nominated for a third consecutive term and will run against Regina Toth.

The Lheidli T’enneh will also elect eight councilors and three lands authority representatives.

Voting hours are from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. on April 9.

The polling station is at the Lheidli T’enneh administration office in Prince George at 1041 Whenun Rd.

Mail-in ballots are available upon request from the electoral officer Ron Laufer (Email: ronlauuferelections@ gmail.com).

First elected in April 2021, Logan previously served six years as a band councillor. Prior to taking office, she worked for the nation for 14 years. She become the second female chief in the history of her nation and the first to be re-elected.

Toth has four decades of leadership, governance and experience in economic development, having held a key role in developing the province’s first Land Code and Matrimonial Real Property Law, which empowers Lheidli T’enneh people to take control of their land and resources.

Her election priorities centre around education and training, stimulating economic growth, self-governance, building more affordable housing and fostering community unity.’

“Lheidli T’enneh stands at a turning point, with opportunities in land development, business growth, and self-governance,” said Toth, in a prepared release. “But opportunity alone is not enough. We need leadership that fights for fair deals, delivers real results, and ensures our Nation has not just a seat at the table, but a powerful voice. And that’s why I’m running.

“We need leadership that listens to our people and works to build a

stronger, more prosperous future for all members,” she said. “For too long, decisions about our land and future have been made by others. It’s time to take charge of our path forward. Together, we can build a thriving, independent community where every member has the opportunity to succeed.”

There are 26 nominated candidates in the race for councilor and seven have let their names stand after being nominated for lands authority positions.

The candidates for councilor are: Crystal Bird, Jamie Bird, Glen Bjorklund, Helen Buzkas, Kerri Chersinoff, Dominic Frederick, Crystal Gibbs, Candace Godwin, Wendy Jael, Clarence John, Corinna Joseph, Victor Joseph, Renata Logan, Kyle McIntosh, Dawn Murphy, Leslie Oien, Doug Olson, Clayton Pountney, Tandi Purych, Joshua Seymour, Miranda Seymour, Tasheena Seymour, Janice Shannon, Carleigh Smart, Kenora Stewart and Laura Young.

Gibbs, Jael, McIntosh and Joshua Seymour are incumbent councilor candidates.

The Land Authority candidates are: Jamie Bird, Kerri Chersinoff, Maranda Godwin, Victor Joseph, Shane O’Donnell, Clayton Pountney and Miranda Seymour.

As of December 2023, the Lheidli T’enneh population was 795, including 49 males, 47 females living on the reserve at Shelley.

Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dollen Logan is up for re-election April 9.

Budget lays out funding for Phase 2 of UHNBC tower

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

The BC government’s 2025 budget formally commits to the rest of the funding for the new acute care tower at University Hospital of Northern BC after the province made a pre-election announcement for the funding before last year’s election.

That project is part of a budget forecasting a $10.9 billion deficit due in large part, the government said, to the U.S.-Canada trade war launched earlier in the day when President Donald Trump’s long-threatened 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods went into effect.

The province’s 2024 budget only included funding for $103 million in funding for the first phase of work on the tower, which consists of preparing the site for further construction.

While Phase 1 was anticipated to complete in 2025 in last year’s budget, this year’s budget now predicts it will be finished sometime in 2026. So far, $11 million of the budgeted $103 million for Phase 1 has been spent.

The 2025 budget includes $1.579 billion in funding for Phase 2, the actual construction of the tower which is expected to be complete by 2031. It will add 109 beds for mental health and substance use as well as cardiac care.

That lines up with a pre-election announcement made by then-Health Minister Adrian Dix, who came to Prince George in August 2024 to announce a business plan for the project with a $1.579 billion price tag.

Of that funding, the budget says $1.246 billion is being drawn from either internal sources or borrowing with another $333 million from “other contributions.”

It’s not clear from the document where that $333 million is coming from. Last September, the Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District Board passed a bylaw approving around $318.7 million towards the project.

If that’s included in the “other contributions,” there would still be around $14.3 million we don’t know the source for.

There’s also a spending update in the 2025 budget for a BC Hydro project adding three capacitor stations as part of the effort to increase the capacity of transmission lines from Prince George to Terrace.

One of the stations is near Vanderhoof, the second is near Burns Lake and the third is near Telkwa.

In the 2024 budget, $27 million of the $582 million budgeted for the project had been spent. The 2025 budget said that $121 million has been spent.

Other than an appendix comparing property tax rates of various BC communities, the only other mention of Prince George in the budget document references the $80 million in funding from the 2023 budget to establish supportive homes or shelter beds in 10 municipalities through the Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing program.

“Hundreds more units through this program are underway. To build on these efforts and continue to address the urgent need, Budget 2025 provides $90 million more over the next three years to expand these programs,” the document said.

“Funding will support community-based wrap-around supports, including leveraging village-like housing as alternatives to encampments. This new funding will enable this program to expand to additional communities over the next three years.”

There are no listed capital projects

in the budget for School District 57 or any post-secondary institutions north of Kelowna.

The budget does include $104 million in funding to help cover negotiated wage increases for RCMP officers in BC, as well as to help pay for the expansion of body-worn cameras for frontline RCMP officers.

Prince George was one of the first communities to have its RCMP officers adopt body-worn cameras late last year.

The City of Prince George was expecting to have to bear $300,000 in costs as part of the adoption.

Reached by phone after the budget was introduced in the Legislature, Prince George-Mackenzie Conservative MLA Kiel Giddens told the Citizen that he was glad to see funding certainty for Phase 2 of the UHNBC tower.

“We want to keep pushing this along,” Giddens said. “We need, obviously, for this hospital to be modernized and we need proper cardiac care.”

While Finance Minister Brenda Bailey dedicated time in her budget speech to talk about how it was a response to American tariffs, Giddens said BC’s “weakening fiscal position” is making this province more vulnerable to them.

After projecting an $8 billion deficit last year and ending up in the neighbourhood of $9.4 billion, Giddens said he finds it hard to believe that BC won’t have a larger-than-forecast budget once again in this fiscal year.

“What we’re seeing right now is a significant decline in economic activity,”

he said. “Our exports to the U.S. actually dropped 5.5 per cent last year, so business confidence is collapsing and we’re not seeing enough from the government to actually do something about the tariff threat. There was nothing about internal trade between provinces at a time when we’re seeing Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Ontario … talking about dropping their trade barriers.”

When it comes specifically to his constituency, Giddens said he was concerned by both the scheduled 3.3 per cent increase to BC’s carbon tax on April 1 as well as the Ministry of Agriculture’s projections that 7,000 jobs in that sector will be lost this year.

“That’s seriously concerning for an area in the province where we have ranchers and farmers who are trying to make ends meet.”

Giddens also touted Opposition Leader John Rustad’s idea to impose a carbon tax on coal heading through the Port of Vancouver on its way to the U.S. and holding that money in trust to support the softwood lumber industry.

Responding to that idea in the Legislature last month, Eby said BC can’t tax export goods moving through a federally regulated port.

Despite the public sector hiring freeze announced last month, Giddens said he was disappointed that the budget didn’t tackle the size of the existing workforce. Giddens is the labour critic in the Tories’ shadow cabinet.

He also pointed out that, despite the freeze, the cabinet continues to hire communications officials and has increase the budget for the premier’s office.

Also reached by phone, Prince George-North Cariboo Conservative MLA Sheldon Clare noted some of the projects for his constituency laid out in the budget like repairs to two roads damaged by landslides, work on the new Quesnel Junior School and Carson Elementary, the redevelopment of Cariboo Memorial Hospital as well as the UNHBC tower, but said they represent continuations of old projects, not new ones.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY TED CLARKE

Health Minister Adrian Dix announced last summer that the province had approved the business plan for construction of a $1.579 billion patient care tower.

PG federal Liberals overwhelmingly support Carney

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney underperformed his federal vote share in Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies and overperformed it in Cariboo-Prince George, but still commanded a vast lead over his rivals in the Liberal Party of Canada’s leadership race.

On Sunday, it was announced that Carney had won the race to replace Justin Trudeau, receiving 85.9 per cent of available points on the first ballot.

Former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland received eight per cent of available points, former government house leader Karina Gould received 3.2 per cent of points and former Pierrefonds-Dollars Liberal MP Frank Baylis received three per cent of the points.

Instead of a straight popular vote, each of the 338 federal riding in the

country received 100 points, which were distributed to the four leadership candidates based on their vote percentages within those ridings.

Results posted on the party’s website break down how many people in each riding voted for each of the candidates and how many points they received.

In Cariboo-Prince George, which is currently represented in the House of Commons by Conservative MP Todd Doherty, 293 people voted.

Carney received 256 votes and 87.38 points, higher than his share of the points across the whole country. Freeland got 22 votes and 7.51 points, slightly lower than her federal vote share.

Conservatives have concerns about new provincial budget

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He said he was particularly disappointed to see no funding for the northsouth interconnector project he’d like to see to improve safety on Highway 97. Clare held a town hall on this subject back in January and said he has yet to hear a response to 23-page letter with his findings that he provided to Transportation minister Mike Farnworth.

However, the biggest problem he said he has with the budget is that he doesn’t think it does enough to respond to American tariffs. Clare said he thought the government was too busy virtue signalling by taking so-called “red state” liquor off of store shelves rather than seriously addressing the crisis.

“I think this is the same budget they had ready to go back in September,” Clare said. “There’s an at least $10.9 billion deficit, some of my colleagues think (it will be) as high as $15 billion in

Baylis, who placed fourth across the whole country, came in third in this riding with eight votes and 2.73 points. Gould had seven votes in her fourthplace finish, worth 2.39 points.

In Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies, which Conservative MP Bob Zimmer represents in the House of Commons, Carney’s share of the 196 votes cast was still commanding, but not quite as high.

The former governor of the Bank of Canada got 162 votes, worth 82.65 points. Freeland outperformed her federal vote share but was still a distant second with 21 votes and 10.71 points.

Gould was in third place in this riding with another seven votes, worth 3.57 per cent. Baylis came in fourth with six votes and 3.06 points.

Across both Prince George ridings, 489 votes were cast: 418 for Carney (85.5 per cent), 43 for Freeland (8.8 per cent), 14 for Gould (2.87 per cent) and

14 for Baylis (2.86 per cent)

Whether Carney can swing his big local victories into seats in the next federal election is another story entirely.

Since Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies was created in 1968, voters have only sent a Liberal MP to Ottawa once, in 1968. In all other elections, the winning candidate has been for the Conservative Party of Canada or one of the parties that merged to form it.

Cariboo-Prince George has only elected Conservatives since it was created in 2004.

This riding was formed from two other ridings, Cariboo-Chilcotin and Prince-George Bulkley-Valley. Cariboo-Chilcotin only ever elected Conservative or related candidates and Prince George-Bulkley Valley was much the same, except for between 1988 and 1993 when Brian L. Gardiner served as the NDP MP for the riding.

A projected 25 per cent drop in corporate tax revenues and a three per cent drop in exports, he said, are a sign of businesses’ confidence in BC declining.

The 9.2 per cent drop in housing starts listed in the budget isn’t enough to meet growing demand, he said, adding that the budget doesn’t seem to have a real plan towards tackling addictions and mental health issues.

“I think the budget’s disappointing,” Clare said. “It really shows that they are not very good stewards of our tax dollars and I think it is a demonstration of a budget that is heading into a depression and a financial crisis.

Clare, who serves as the Tories’ deputy whip, said he and his colleagues will be caucusing the discuss their response to the budget in the Legislature. With a slim majority for the government, he said his party continues to look for opportunities to force an election.

Carney

Why say no to ‘free money’ for environmental work?

KENNEDY GORDON Citizen Managing Editor

At a time when the city is facing an increased threat from wildfires, and other communities have been devastated by similar disasters, city council voted down an opportunity to apply for climate change mitigation funding through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and Global Affairs Canada (GAC).

The funding, totalling $11.5 million, was to be divided among nine Canadian municipalities, one of which would have been Prince George. The city would not have had to contribute financially beyond some limited staff time.

The project would involve climate change adaptation and mitigation research over five years — an area in which Prince George has been actively engaged, particularly in wildfire mitigation. The research would have seen Canadian municipalities partner with counterparts in Tunisia.

Despite these clear benefits, and the opportunity to bring outside funding to the city, the motion was narrowly defeated. This decision highlights a rift within council regarding the city’s priorities and its approach to addressing the challenges it faces. The rejection also suggests a reluctance to embrace investments that could benefit the city, despite the success of initiatives like the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), which has proven that research is an economic driver for the community.

Mayor

Yu

convince his colleagues to support a motion to have the city apply to a Federation of Canadian Municipalities climate change mitigation program, partnering with municipalities in Tunisia, at a special council meeting on March 5. The motion was defeated by a narrow five to four vote.

The proposal, put forward by Coun. Cori Ramsay, outlined a relatively low-risk initiative. If successful, Prince George would not only have received a portion of the available funding but would also have had the chance to collaborate on climate adaptation and mitigation projects with a developing country — a benefit for both nations.

Mayor Simon Yu, a strong supporter of the application, pointed out that Prince George has been recognized as one of Canada’s most progressive cities in terms of climate efforts. He noted that the project aligned well with the city’s strategic goals.

Even Coun. Garth Frizzell, with his experience working on international partnerships, saw the potential to promote democratic governance and international diplomacy while addressing

local challenges.

However, despite these advantages, council rejected the proposal.

The reasons for this decision are troubling, especially given the support the proposal received from several councillors. Coun. Brian Skakun argued that the city should focus on more immediate local issues, such as crime and the fentanyl crisis, rather than pursuing “extraordinary” international partnerships. While local issues are undeniably important, climate change is a global problem that demands global solutions. Rejecting such partnerships — particularly when they offer an opportunity to enhance local climate research — risks leaving Prince George behind in addressing the challenges it is already facing.

Coun. Kyle Sampson raised concerns about the “cost” to staff resources, despite the proposal clearly stating that there would be no direct cost to the city. Ramsay clarified that her involvement would be voluntary and that previous FCM projects had required minimal staff time. City manager Walter Babicz supported this, assuring council that while staff resources are limited, the project aligned with the city’s strategic plan and could be accommodated.

In fact, FCM has previously praised Prince George’s district energy system and wildfire mitigation efforts, demonstrating that the city has the expertise to contribute to the project without overburdening staff.

By rejecting the proposal, council has missed an opportunity to leverage

the city’s strengths for both local and international benefit.

The decision raises an important question: Why are we so quick to reject “free money” that could directly benefit the city’s climate mitigation efforts? This project was a chance for Prince George to contribute to global research while gaining valuable funding and insights to improve its own climate initiatives.

Coun. Ron Polillo, citing concerns over the five-year commitment, and Coun. Trudy Klassen, who did not see the urgency of the project, ultimately voted against the proposal.

It is clear that the rejection was not due to a lack of resources but rather a reluctance to engage in a project that could have long-term benefits for both Prince George and the world.

The motion was defeated by a narrow margin, with councillors Bennett, Klassen, Polillo, Sampson, and Skakun voting against it.

The message sent to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and Global Affairs Canada is clear: this council is divided on how best to address the challenges facing our community, and Prince George is not interested in research funding being invested here.

Let’s encourage our councillors to make more proactive decisions in the future — ones that prioritize the longterm well-being of our city and its future investment opportunities.

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OPINION

LETTERS EDITOR to the

U.S. will come out of this hurting much more than Canada

I’ve been reflecting on recent events with America. I’ve come to see that while the current direction of the American government towards Canada will hurt us, maybe greatly, we will prevail. No matter how much we are damaged, America will be damaged more. I say this because no matter the economic harm we suffer, the greater damage is being done to the American legacy.

The American people elected a malignant narcissist to lead them. A man to whom signatures, pledges and oaths mean nothing. Narcissists only use them to bind the other party until they are no longer advantageous. Trump has shown that in every aspect of his private life. The world sees this clearly now.

Sadly, we are witnessing the decline of a once great empire. The world now sees that America cannot be trusted. Other empires have lasted for centuries, they’ve managed to blow theirs up in 80 years. They pledged to protect Ukraine in 1994 and now they want extortion minerals. They gave the canal to Panama in 1978 and now threaten to take it back. They signed CUSMA and now they throw it in the fire.

Canada will come out of this stronger for seeing that we’re in an abusive marriage with America. The only cure is distance. And while we may never totally separate we must reclaim our independence. We can’t allow ourselves to go down with the sinking ship. While it’s true that America has the largest economy in the world, they only have 350 million people. There are another 7.8 billion people open for business.

America is in the FO stage of FAFO. The world sees you for who you’ve become and will adjust. Because that’s what the world has always done. Elections have consequences and these are yours. Hire a clown and expect a circus.

I feel a certain sympathy for the

American people as they hang by their fingernails onto the delusion of “American exceptionalism”. It must be troubling to so what something to be true that you sacrifice your very existence in the hopes of getting it.

Mike Tasker

Prince George

Symphony concert provided an enjoyable space for local family

Re: Sensory-safe events are creating inclusive spaces for PG families

We had a wonderful time with my son at the PGSO concert. He is on the autism spectrum and truly enjoyed the event. Thank you for supporting these events.

Laurie Meade

Prince George

Here’s a challenge to Citizen columnist’s ‘turncoats’ opinion

Re: James Steidle: ‘Sawmill turncoats’ handing industry over to the U.S.

James Steidle challenged me to critique his latest column.

Let’s begin with his contention from Google’s AI, “a truly competitive economy would likely not produce billionaires.” My response - GIGO, garbage in, garbage out. A computer program will give you anything you ask it for. The reality is, the principles of a free market competitive economy that enable one

don’t have that much cash on hand, their wealth is tied up in assets. They make an investment, a down payment, but the rest is raised from capital markets, investors and banks. Then their U.S. operations will have to pay for themselves.

Art Betke

Prince George

Snow removal situation is a sad sign of the state of the city

Re: City to consider reducing snow removal service on holidays

I am utterly dismayed by the callous disregard for the taxpayers of this city being exhibited by the City of Prince George.

to become successful in business are the same that enable astute businessmen to become billionaires.

Had we maintained the small mill model, they wouldn’t have been able to compete in the modern international marketplace. Hi-tech operations like Dunkley, Carrier, Lakeland are not small, they are the kind of modern mill needed.

So why is Canfor leaving? After going to all the trouble and expense of buying up those mills, amounting to what James calls a monopoly, why abandon it all? Monopolies are a way to make bigger profits. Why not keep the mills running here as well as in the US?

“Capital will always go where it’s welcome and stay where it’s well treated. Capital is not just money. It’s also talent and ideas. They, too, will go where they’re welcome and stay where they’re well treated.” — Walter Wriston, chairman Citibank.

Both federal Liberals and BC NDP want 30 per cent of BC conserved. They impose ever-increasing taxes and regulations, ever more bureaucracy over resource extraction, more hoops to jump through, more restrictions, more red tape. After a while it just isn’t worth the hassle.

And finally, they aren’t taking billions of our money into the U.S. Billionaires

In a recent article regarding the snow removal budget the city reiterated that it is over budget for snow removal, and was considering cutting back on snow removal during statutory holidays in order to reduce the cost of said snow removal.

Meanwhile many readers commented/complained that the city was plowing and hauling roads and snow that did NOT require any action from the city due to the lack of snow and spring like conditions.and that to do so was nothing more than a waste of taxpayer funds.

Surprisingly to me, no one from the city chose to comment about this issue, and defend the cities actions in regards to this ongoing situation.

In fact just the opposite seems to be happening as here we are a week or so later after more sunshine and warm weather the same thing is continuing to happen. On March 3 while out and about I observed city dump trucks hauling snow to the snow dump.

Not only is it shocking and disappointing that this is happening, but it is troubling to say the least that in light of this obvious waste of money that members of the city council are unsure how they can save money on the snow removal budget. The answer seems glaringly simple to me. Shame on council for allowing this to happen.

Greg Chappell

Prince George

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

City crews clean-up some of the snow built up along Pine Street March 5, hoping to get prepared for street cleaning to start in the next few weeks.

OPINION

Prince George council to take another look at Hart modular home park plan

Twinberry tried to be an executive home development but it just isn’t.

Modular homes fit in well with the other homes on that side of the highway.

RReader

Prince George council to take another look at Hart modular home park plan

RReader, I agree with you. A couple of years ago, I picked up an item I purchased from a home on Twinberry, and it is the weirdest, badly designed development.

Narrow road, VERY narrow (not sure how a fire truck would turn in there if there was a fire, especially with the snow piled up like when I was there), houses crammed in cheek by jowl, and it felt like it was trying to be something that it was not.

A modular home community seems to make more sense for that area for fit, quicker and cheaper to build than a traditional home, and provides more affordable home options.

4strcat

Community Heroes Night raises $60,000

Such a good news story!

Proud to live in Prince George ..

Lia Forrest

Editorial: Open, clear communication vs. rumour, misinformation

I applaud the efforts of supportive housing.

There is one problem; people in the area bought, invested and lived in the area before our government so kindly changed the rules on them.

People buy homes their single largest investment in their entire lives after doing research, saving and choosing a home and an area.

Their homes appreciate in value and their lives progress. When through no fault of their own, government changes the rules and expects us to follow without dissent, or conversation the choice is taken from us, choice becomes a figment of our imagination because someone else has chosen for you. The benefit of 20 at the cost of 100s.

I personally cannot trust that the rules will not change yet again to the benefit of those afflicted with drug and or addictions.

Lastly, I bought my home after research.

Time to track the listing

and sales within the area to identify the financial impacts on existing home owners with regards to their property values.

Government should pay the difference if losses occur or if historical appreciation for the area is reduced after the facility is occupied. Facts speak better than rhetoric out of the mouths of government officials.

It may be too late for Upper College Heights but it will help in areas of Austin Rd (E/W), Foothills, Westgate and University Heights should government/ developers want to change the neighbourhoods in those areas at the expense of existing home owners. If there is no change to these facts then we have our answer and life continues.

I wonder if this information is available elsewhere in the province pre & post institutional development. Any actuarials out there up for a challenge to get these numbers?

CCMail

Editorial: Open, clear communication vs. rumour, misinformation

Supportive housing for the mentally challenged or those with developmental challenges is far different than those with “complex drug-related” issues. Nearby residents are rightly concerned as history has shown there can be adverse neighbourhood impacts when drugs enter the picture.

Letter to the editor: There’s no proof seized drugs came from safe supply

While I applaud the reasons behind this opinion piece, there is one glaringly obvious problem with the opinion.

RCMP are big on evidence, big on science and for the love of God wouldn’t go after the drugs if there wasn’t some scientific proof that the chemical make up, genetic and consistency/etc. leads them to the safe supply statement.

CCMail

Albert Koehler: Trade agreements must benefit Prince George and BC

The problem with the EU system is that people can wander back and forth as well so if one country lets in migrants like Germany did under Merkle they go anywhere in the EU and you turn Europe into the garbage dump where the migrants came from.

Just look at what happened to the UK and most of the EU. Turning into a garbage dump from migrants.

Sweden even has no go zones where to cops even don’t tread. Europe and the UK found out too late.

Frequently supports for the “complex drug-related” housing is inadequate, with spillover crime and discord following the establishment of these initiatives.

Clarity by advocates of a project of this sort is paramount to get positive support of the community.

B1

What we need is an unfettered free trade deal where there are no tariffs.

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Hudson’s Bay files for creditor protection

Canada’s oldest business, the Hudson’s Bay Company, filed for creditor protection Friday, March 7.

There was no immediate word on what this means for The Bay, its chain of 80 department stores, although the company indicated Friday that there are

plans to restructure. The company has other holdings, including the Canadian Saks Fifth Avenue and Saks Off Fifth stores.

“While very difficult, this is a necessary step to strengthen our foundation and ensure that we remain a significant part of Canada’s retail landscape, despite the sector-wide challenges that

have forced other retailers to exit the market,” stated president and CEO Liz Rodbell in a press release.

The Prince George store is located at Parkwood Place.

Northern Health announced plans in February to take over the second floor of the store, turning it into office space.

Dental clinics’ dispute winds up in court

the Family Dental Care (FDC) banner. The deal allowed Minhas to operate FDC Clinics on contract.

A BC Supreme Court judge decided March 4 that it was appropriate to offer a minor clarification to a court order because the defendants in a dispute over dental office franchises “appear to have lost the plot.”

Last November, Justice Ward Branch granted an injunction to Dentalcorp Health Services Ltd. for Dr. J.S. Minhas Dental Corp. to cease being in engaged in the acquisition, consolidation and/ or management of dental clinics at Pine Centre Mall in Prince George and Powell River Town Centre.

In 2017, Dentalcorp agreed to pay $11 million in cash and shares for Minhas’s five Prince George dental clinics, under

From 2018 to 2022, Minhas worked with Dentalcorp on potential acquisition of clinics in Prince George, Quesnel, Ladner, North Vancouver and Vancouver. Minhas started his own company called Smili, which prompted Dentalcorp to terminate its services agreement with Minhas in June 2024.

They returned before Branch on Jan. 14 and Feb. 4, seeking clarification about what might breach last year’s injunction.

“Their ‘what ifs’ included such potential arrangements as acting solely as a lessor for an intended dental practice,” Ward wrote. “At times, the hearing had

Judge orders dozens of old cars removed

BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A B.C. Supreme Court judge granted the Regional District of Fraser–Fort George Regional District an injunction to force a Prince George man to clean-up his five-acre agricultural property.

On March 7, Justice Kenneth Ball found Thomas Stander broke regional district bylaws at 8570 Chilcotin by storing more than 100 cars, many of them undriveable, plus parts and other materials.

“The plaintiff had been seeking a solution to this problem with the defendant, and before him the defendant’s father, for a number of years without a positive response,” Ball wrote in his verdict. “There are clear breaches to both the Zoning Bylaw and the Unsightly Premises Bylaw.”

Ball said the Zoning Bylaw does not permit lands zoned for rural residential to be used as a vehicle storage yard or facility for unroadworthy vehicles.

the feel of an episode of Let’s Make a Deal, with the defendants making submissions along the lines of ‘What if we only leased out premises and did not train the staff – would that be all right?’”

Branch said Minhas sought clarification on how to respect the injunction at the Pine Centre Clinic, noting there had been discussions between the parties “as to how or if the defendant should extract himself from the operation of the Pine Centre Clinic.”

But Branch said the court was not provided enough detail to issue guidance.

He did make a limited clarification, that the standard form franchise agreement in Minhas’s Jan. 10 affidavit was within the scope of his Nov. 1 court order.

Ball said bylaw enforcement officers inspected in 2019, twice in 2020 and again in 2022. On the latter visit, the bylaw officer observed at least 165 derelict vehicles and multiple piles of materials similar to those seen on the second and third inspections.

Ball said Stander’s affidavit characterized his activities as a hobby, not a business and that he claimed he was entitled to use his home as he sees fit.

Ball, who heard the case on Oct. 10, gave Stander 90 days to remove any items that contravene the bylaws, including all mechanical or metal parts and motor vehicles in excess of 10. No more than two of the remaining vehicles may be derelict.

If Stander fails to meet the deadline, Ball authorized the regional district to enter the lands and remove the materials at the defendant’s cost. The regional district may sell materials removed in order to pay for the removal, storage and sale of the vehicles.

CITIZEN STAFF

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

The Bay department store in Prince George is located at Parkwood Place.

DEVELOPMENT OF A PEST MANAGEMENT PLAN

Reference renewal # FBCG – 25/30, FBCE – 25/30, FBCW – 25/30

As per the Integrated Pest Management Regulation of British Columbia, Section 61(1) this is Public Notification that:

FortisBC Inc. and FortisBC Energy Inc. (collectively referred to as FortisBC) is renewing their Gas Facilities and Right of Way , Electric Facilities and Right of Way and Wood Structure Maintenance Integrated Pest Management Plans (IPMPs). Under these regulations, these plans are required to be updated every 5 years (the proposed term of the IPMP is five years from June 5, 2025 to June 4, 2030).

The purpose of this renewal is to support an integrated approach to managing and controlling pests and/or vegetation associated with gas and electrical facilities, rights of way, wood structures (poles) and related operating infrastructure. The overarching goal of the program is to support the safety and reliability of FortisBC’s gas and electric infrastructure. These IPMPs will cover FortisBC’s service and operating areas in British Columbia. Gas operations include communities on Vancouver Island, Greater Vancouver, Sunshine Coast, Whistler, Fraser Valley, Okanagan, Similkameen, Thompson-Nicola, ColumbiaShuswap, Kootenays, Cariboo, Prince George, Chetwynd, Hudson Hope, Mackenzie and Fort Nelson. Electrical operations include communities within south and south-east BC, including the Okanagan, Similkameen and Kootenays.

Using the principles of integrated pest management (IPM), the pest management methods proposed for use may include, but not be limited to, tree falling, cutting, brushing (mowing, slashing, manual hand tools), seedingrevegetation, biological control, and the use of pesticides by ground application (backpack selective plant, and/or handgun foliar). The use of pesticides is intended within the area to which the IPMP applies.

Trade names and active ingredients of the pesticides proposed for use under these plans may include:

• Pesticides Proposed for use in facilities and right of ways: 2,4-D Amine, Navius VM, Rinskor, Telar XP, Kerb SC, VP480, Garlon XRT, Arsenal Powerline, Esplanade SC, Clearview, Milestone, Torpedo EZ, Detail, Octtain XL, Tordon 22K, Lontrel 360 (Active ingredients: Dimethylamine Salt (2,4-D), Aminocyclopyrachlor, Florpyrauxifen-benzyl, Chlorsulfuron, Propyzamide, Glyphosate, Triclopyr, Imazapyr, Indaziflam, Aminopyralid, Metsulfuronmethyl, Pyroxasulfone, Flumioxazin, Saflufenacil, Fluroxypyr, Picloram, Clopyralid)

• Pesticides proposed for wood pole maintenance: Cobra Wrap Gel, Can-Bor, Cu-Bor, Cobra Rod, Cobra Wrap, Champion Technical, Solvable, Timbor, Genics Postguard (Active ingredients: Copper naphthenate & sodium fluoride or borax, Copper hydroxide, Sodium tetrahydrate decahydrate, Carboxymethyl cellulose, Gluonic acid, Sodium gluconate, Zinc naphthenate, Disodium octaborate tetrahydrate, Anhydrous disodium octaborate, Sodium tetraborate decahydrate with copper hydroxide, copper salt & 2-aminoethanol)

Draft copies of these IPMP documents are available at: https://www.fortisbc.com/pestmanagement

Map(s) are available upon request.

For more information, please contact: FortisBC

Attn: Vegetation Management Department

Address: 750 Vaughan Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 7E4

Phone Number: 1.866.436.7847

Email: p estmanagement@fortisbc.com

A person wishing to contribute information about a proposed treatment site, relevant to the development of this Pest Management Plan may send copies of the information to the email address above within 30 days of the publication of this notice.

Police seek pair of suspects

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

The Prince George RCMP is looking for help in identifying two suspects accused of shoplifting.

The RCMP began their investigation into the suspected shoplifters on Feb. 17 when loss prevention officers at a retail location on the 1600 block of 15th Avenue reported seeing two people leave the store without paying for their items.

The female suspect is described as approximately 30-35 years old, wearing

a camouflage jacket at the time of the incident.

The male suspect is described as 30-35 years old, wearing a camouflage jacket and jeans at the time of the incident.

“We are releasing still photos of the individuals and ask that anyone who has information on who they may be or where they may be residing contact an investigator by calling the Prince George RCMP non-emergency line at 250-561-3300,” states Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer for the Prince George RCMP.

Guilty plea in sexual assault case

BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A 30-year-old man pleaded guilty March 7 in Fort St. John Provincial Court to sexual assault.

Haeden Joseph Nickerson was accused of committing the offence between Dec. 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023.

Judge Darin Reeves adjourned the case to March 13. Reeves confirmed Nickerson’s guilty plea and asked Nickerson if he understood that there may be collateral consequences of his plea

or sentence, to which he answered in the affirmative.

“As a result of your sentence or your guilty plea, you may find it more challenging to cross the border, to travel to the United States or other things like that,” Reeves said to Nickerson.

The Crown stayed a charge of breaching a conditional sentence order.

Last May, Nickerson was sentenced to 18 months house arrest and 18 months of probation for one count of sexual assault committed May 8, 2022 in Fort St. John.

Prince George RCMP are looking for these two people in connection with an alleged shoplifting case.

Pair found not guilty of machete attack

BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two men charged with aggravated assault and break-and-enter after a grisly 2022 machete attack at a Prince George motel were acquitted Monday, March 3 in BC Supreme Court.

In his oral verdict, Justice John Gibb-Carsley ruled the Crown did not prove its case against Dakota Rayn Keewatin, 31, and Kerridge Andrew Lowley, 49, beyond reasonable doubt.

They had been accused of committing the crimes at unit 255 of the Econo Lodge City Centre Inn on Aug. 11, 2022.

The Crown alleged the incident began with an exchange about a drug debt outside a Tim Hortons between Arlen Chalifoux and Keewatin. Keewatin, in the passenger seat of a pickup truck driven by Lowley, asked when his money would be repaid. Chalifoux said if he wanted the money, he should come and get it.

Chalifoux hurried back to room 255, followed by Keewatin.

Keewatin knocked repeatedly. When Chalifoux opened the door, he sprayed Keewatin directly in the face with bear spray from his left hand and struck him with the machete held in his right hand.

Keewatin reacted in self-defence, barging into the room, disarming Chalifoux and striking him repeatedly with the machete. Chalifoux, whose right arm was almost severed, also suffered serious gashes to his right hand and knee.

Gibb-Carsley said it was “not unreasonable for Keewatin to defend himself by going on the offensive and attempting to neutralize what was a hostile threat to him.”

Keewatin had limited means to retreat or escape on the unfamiliar, narrow outdoor hallway, one storey above the parking lot. While he could have retreated by running away, Gibb-Carsley said Keewatin could not have taken cover quickly and would have been left exposed and vulnerable.

“It is, again, necessary to note that the entire interaction took place in 26 seconds. Keewatin had little time to consider his options,” he said. “In

considering the reasonableness of the defendant’s use of defensive force, the court must be alive to the fact that people in stressful and dangerous situations do not have time for subtle reflection.“

The location was unfamiliar and so were the weapons. Keewatin did not know whether the machete blade was sharp, dull or in a sheath. So he would not know the severity of the damage he was inflicting upon Chalifoux.

“In my view, the circumstances may be different had Mr. Keewatin inflicted injury upon the complainant with a weapon that he brought to the hotel room or a specific weapon with which he had familiarity,” Gibb-Carsley said.

Gibb-Carsley said Chalifoux’s testimony evolved over time and shifted as questions developed, but found him generally straightforward.

He did have some difficulty due to “either the trauma and chaotic nature of the events in unit 255 or the passage of time.”

Gibb-Carsley had reasonable doubt whether Lowley held a knife or another bladed object when he entered the unit for all of eight seconds. He also doubted whether and how Lowley participated

Deaths of homeless up almost 50%

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

The number of people experiencing homelessness who died in the region that includes Prince George rose by almost 50 per cent from 2022 to 2023, according to a new report from the BC Coroners Service.

The report defines people experiencing homelessness as those living unsheltered in a place not intended for habitation, those temporarily sheltered at a place like a shelter, safe house for youth, transitional housing for women and children fleeing violence or a friend’s house and those residing in those forms of short-term housing for an unknown length fo time.

in the assault. The Crown, he said, was not able to provide any corroborating evidence to support its allegation that Lowley stabbed Chalifoux.

“I am concerned that it would be unsafe to accept only the evidence of the complainant as supported by a wound, to which no definitive cause or mechanism of injury was provided, to support the Crown’s theory of Mr. Lowley’s guilt.”

Gibb-Carsley paused to note the substantial and graphic evidence of the severity of Chalifoux’s injuries at the trial. He also noted that Chalifoux testified he had been sober since the incident.

“This is no small feat and I commend him for his progress. I also acknowledge that he sustained significant injuries, and there continues to be ongoing pain from those injuries today,” the judge said.

“However, justice demands that criminal convictions and punishments be reserved for those whose guilt have been established on the high standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The standard has not been met in this case.”

That report shows that in 2023, a total of 458 people experiencing homelessness died in BC, a 23 per cent jump from 2022 and almost three times the number who died in 2020.

The majority of the deaths in 2023, 394, are classified as accidental, due to the toxicity of unregulated drugs. That represents 86 per cent of the total deaths of people experiencing homelessness. A total of 91 per cent of the deaths are considered accidental.

Of the total number of deceased people, 79 per cent were male.

It also breaks down that total into health service delivery areas. Prince George is in the Northern Interior health service delivery area, which also includes much of the rest of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, Quesnel, Burns Lake and Vanderhoof. That breakdown shows that 28 people in Northern Interior experiencing homelessness died in 2023, compared to 19 in 2022, 17 in 2021, 11 in 2020, five in 2019, 13 in 2018, 10 in 2017 and six in 2016.

The report also includes a caution that the coroners service does not investigate all deaths of people experiencing homelessness and the number of deaths within the report excludes people who did not meet its criteria.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Two men who were accused of aggravated assault and breaking and entering were acquitted in Prince George court last week.

Man admits lying to ICBC about wife’s vehicle crash

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Prince George man pleaded guilty Wednesday, March 5 in provincial court to providing false or misleading information to ICBC about a single-vehicle crash last year.

Judge Cassandra Malfair fined Sukhjinder Singh Sidhu $2,000.

The court heard that Sidhu did not immediately report to ICBC that his vehicle was involved in a collision with a City of Prince George light standard on Dec. 3, 2023.

When he finally called ICBC on Jan. 11, 2024, Sidhu instead claimed that the car had sustained damage in a hit-and-run at a Shoppers Drug Mart parking lot.

Sidhu repeated the story to ICBC a week later. Then, on Jan. 29, 2024, Sidhu provided a verbal, warned statement to ICBC. During that interview, Sidhu was confronted with physical evidence of the collision with the light pole and admitted he made up the story. He explained his motive was to cover up the fact that his wife had been driving.

“His wife, at the time, had a learner’s licence and wasn’t listed on Mr. Sidhu’s

insurance,” said Eleanor Aston, an articling student acting for the Crown.

“The collision caused the City of Prince George to have to pay approximately $900 to repair the light standard, and Mr. Sidhu’s car sustained approximately $9,000 of damage. But ICBC did not, in fact, pay out any money to Mr. Sidhu.”

Aston said that the costs incurred by ICBC due to fraudulent claims hurt all drivers in BC but noted that first-time offender Sidhu had pleaded guilty and avoided a trial.

Sidhu was assisted by Ellen Knife, a native court worker. Knife said Sidhu

Woman wanted on several charges by local RCMP

Prince George RCMP are seeking the public’s assistance in locating 26-yearold Alexis Robin Fleury, who is wanted on two unendorsed warrants and one endorsed warrant for multiple charges, including theft under $5,000, obstructing a

CRIME NOTES

police officer, personation with intent to avoid arrest, failing to comply with a probation order and breach of undertaking.

Fleury is described as an Indigenous female, 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) tall, weighing 141 pounds (64 kg), with black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone who may have information regarding her whereabouts is urged to call 250-561-3300. For those wishing to remain anonymous, tips can

has a master’s degree in computer science and engineering from India and regretted making the false claim. He has since paid for the damage to his vehicle.

“He is aware that any further incident could result in higher fines and the possibility of jail,” Knife said.

The judge gave Sidhu, a Petro-Canada cashier, until the end of June to pay the fine.

“The proposed joint submissions are not contrary to the public interest and would not bring the administration of justice into disrepute,” Malfair said. “I will therefore accede to it.”

Police say fire was suspicious

A fire on Parsnip Crescent early Tuesday morning is being treated as suspicious by the Prince George RCMP. Police were called to the 1100 block of Parsnip Crescent shortly before 2 a.m. March 4 to find the house engulfed in fire. All residents of the home were successfully evacuated and there were no injuries. Police are asking if anyone in the neighbourhood has any video surveillance, cell phone video or dash camera video that would have captured movement outside the home or any indication as to how or where the fire started. Anyone with information is asked to call the non-emergency line at 250-561-3300, quoting file No. 2025-6184.

be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

Three arrested after incident outside dowtown bar

Prince George RCMP officers arrested three people early Sunday, March 2, after an alleged assault outside a local bar. Officers were in the area monitoring the crowd at closing time, around 3 a.m., when they witnessed an altercation between two women. As officers attempted to arrest the primary suspect involved in the assault, the woman became unco-operative, leading to

further tension, police say.

A large crowd quickly gathered around the officer, reaching out and obstructing the arrest in an attempt to prevent the officer from taking the suspect into custody, police say.

Fearing for their safety and the safety of others, the officer called for backup. Additional RCMP officers arrived on the scene to assist.

Three people were arrested: The initial suspect and two others connected to the incident. All three were taken to the RCMP detachment and later released without charges.

Fleury

The Pastoor’s barn was destroyed in a fire at their off-grid farm on March 1.

Off-grid farm’s barn burns

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Living off-grid can be difficult at the best of times, but for Marianne Pastoor and her family, a string of bad luck and a recent barn fire have made it significantly harder.

On March 1, Pastoor’s barn caught fire, destroying a valuable structure that housed their meat, frozen food, and animal feed. Ten chickens were trapped in the blaze, and two of the family’s cats, which are currently missing, are also believed to have perished in the fire.

Pastoor told The Citizen that the fire started while the family was returning from a visit to a friend’s property.

“We were heading back, and I saw a big plume of black smoke in the sky,” said Pastoor. “I let my daughter drive at the time, so I told her she had to pull over because we had to get back. I didn’t know what was on fire, but I knew it was something on our property. When we got back, the shop was fully engulfed. We were only gone for about 30 minutes.”

Pastoor believes the fire was caused by an explosion of the solar batteries used in the barn’s rooftop solar panels. She also said she was nearly a victim of the blaze.

“I’d set up two battery banks so we could charge them and avoid running the generator constantly,” said Pastoor. “I guess my saving grace was that, before I went to the cabin, I had debated going into the shop to do maintenance on the batteries. I normally check their water and top them up, and I also do

the oil on the generator. Had I done that, I would’ve been in the shop when it went up.”

Longtime neighbour and friend Kim Krikau started a GoFundMe campaign to support Pastoor and her family during this difficult time.

“They’ve had nothing but bad luck for the last four years,” said Krikau. “Seeing the devastation of this fire and how bad it was, I asked myself, what can I do to help? This was the only thing I could think of.”

The fire’s damages are estimated at around $400,000. Since the structure was not insured, the family will have to pay out of pocket to replace the lost equipment.

Pastoor estimates it will take about a year to fully recover from the devastation caused by the fire.

However, she has seen an outpouring of support from neighbours and the community since the GoFundMe was launched.

In just one week, the campaign raised $1,050 of its $7,500 goal.

“There’s been a lot of support,” said Pastoor. “I’ve received a lot of messages, and many people have offered to donate horse tack and supplies. One neighbour already dropped some off. Kim and her partner Pat also picked up a battery bank for us since we lost our entire power system, and they refused to let me pay them back. That was really nice.”

If you are interested in supporting Pastoor and her family, you can donate to their GoFundMe at www.gofundme. com/f/off-grid-barn-shop-fire

PUBLIC HEARING

PROPOSAL:

• “City of Prince George Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 9525, 2025”

• “City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007, Amendment Bylaw No. 9526, 2025”

APPLICANT: SUBJECT PROPERTY: City of Prince George City Wide WHEN: WHERE:

7:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 19, 2025 Council Chambers of City Hall, 2nd Floor 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC

The City of Prince George proposes to replace the “City of Prince George Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 8383, 2011”, which was adopted in 2012. In addition, subject to the adoption of “City of Prince George Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 9525, 2025”, consequential amendments to the “City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007” will be required. The Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 9526, 2025 is also subject to a public hearing scheduled for March 19, 2025.

For more information about the Official Community Plan Review, visit: https://getinvolved.princegeorge.ca/ocp-review.

To access information considered at the February 24, 2025 Council Meeting regarding the Official Community Plan and amendments to the Zoning Bylaw, visit: https://www.princegeorge.ca/city-hall/mayor-council/meetings-agendas-minutes/ regular-council-meeting-181

WAYS TO PARTICIPATE:

Telephone

To participate by telephone, call 1-877-708-3350, Access Code: 1269574#.

In Person

Members of the public may speak to Council in person during the public hearing.

Written Submissions

Written comments may be sent by email to cityclerk@princegeorge.ca, faxed to 250-561-0183, or mailed or delivered to the address at the bottom of this Notice.

Written comments received by the corporate officer by 12:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 19, 2025, will be provided to Council for consideration during the public hearing. Comments may also be submitted in person at the public hearing, up until the public hearing is closed.

For more information on how to submit comments to Council, please visit www.princegeorge.ca/publichearings

By submitting written or spoken comments, you consent to the disclosure of any personal information (including your name and address) and understand that all comments will be published on the City’s website as part of the official public record of the council meeting and will be broadcast and recorded for public viewing.

MORE INFORMATION:

A copy of this notice and the proposed Bylaws will be available on the City’s website www.princegeorge.ca/PublicNotices beginning Monday, March 10, 2025. A copy of the Bylaws are available to view at the Development Services office on the 2nd Floor of City Hall on March 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, and 19, 2025 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

QUESTIONS?

Contact: Development Services: devserv@princegeorge.ca 250.561.7611 | 2nd Floor, City Hall

SUBSCRIBE TO STAY INFORMED

Subscribe to receive information or updates regarding upcoming public hearings, council and committee meetings, media releases and more by registering at www.princegeorge.ca/Subscribe

Conifex loses bid to overturn NDP crypto mining rule

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The BC Court of Appeal has dismissed a Prince George forest products company’s challenge of the BC NDP cabinet’s 2022 moratorium on powering new cryptocurrency mines.

Conifex Timber Inc. failed to overturn the decision in BC Supreme Court last year.

“The appeal is not moot, as it addresses a controversy that could have practical implications for Conifex’s pending electrical service requests,” ruled the tribunal.

“On the merits, Conifex has not established that the (order in council) was outside the scope of the (cabinet) regulation-making authority.”

The March 3 decision, written by Justice Paul Riley and concurred by Justices Margot Fleming and Lauri Ann Fenlon, came after a one-day, Nov. 25 hearing that also named BC Hydro as a respondent.

The tribunal said that the proposed Conifex projects would use almost half the projected energy output from the new, $16 billion Site C Dam. Therefore, it was reasonable for cabinet to conclude it had the authority to order a pause in delivery of service to cryptocurrency operations, “based on cost-of-service and economic concerns tied to their distinctive electrical consumption characteristics.”

It was also not unreasonable for cabinet to issue an order directing the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) to exercise its power to relieve BC Hydro of its obligation to provide service to new or pending cryptocurrency mines, despite the requirement for the BCUC to “hold a hearing before independently exercising that statutory power.”

Conifex applied in April 2021 to BC Hydro for three megawatts (MW) of service, with a potential to expand to 25 MW, in Mackenzie.

It also envisioned similar projects at Kennedy Creek, Salmon Valley and Ashton Creek.

Conifex later abandoned the Kennedy Creek plan, but submitted applications

for Salmon Valley and Ashton Creek in April 2022, proposing to operate each site to 150 MW. In June 2022, it entered into system impact study agreements that required BC Hydro to complete necessary reports by the end of April 2023 and then proceed to the impact study phase.

But BC Hydro was flooded with requests to power cryptocurrency mines.

The Crown corporation became concerned that it would be forced to increase electricity rates for all customers and lose the ability to meet future power demand while achieving government-imposed objectives to transition away from fossil fuels.

So cabinet directed BCUC to pause new and pending electrical service applications for crypto mining for 18 months. It specified four projects,

including Conifex’s  (HPC) performance computing sites in Salmon Valley and Ashton Creek.

BC Supreme Court heard Conifex’s petition over two days in October 2023 and dismissed the case in February 2024.

On the last day of the spring Legislature session in May 2024, the NDP government enacted the Energy Statutes Amendment Act which authorized cabinet to regulate provision of electrical service for crypto mining. By the end of June 2024, the 18-month moratorium elapsed. But, on the same day, cabinet issued the Cryptocurrency Power Regulation that said BC Hydro must not supply service to certain cryptocurrency projects, including Conifex’s Salmon Valley and Ashton Creek sites, for a further 18 months.

The Court of Appeal decision said Conifex “intends to pivot away” from proposed crypto mining to offer HPC services to clients in the artificial intelligence and machine learning industries.

It advised BC Hydro of this move last May, after the BC Supreme Court decision.

“Conifex says this change in end use does not affect the particulars of its interconnection requests for the Salmon Valley and Ashton Creek HPC Sites, which should be allowed to proceed through the BC Hydro interconnection process without further delay,” said the Court of Appeal.

Conifex, publicly traded on the TSX, has a corporate office in Vancouver, a regional office in Prince George and sawmill and power plant operations in Mackenzie.

BC HYDRO PHOTO

A tribunal determined that proposed Conifex projects would use almost half the projected energy output from the new $16-billion Site C Dam.

Quesnel mayor beats his own city council in court

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A BC Supreme Court judge has quashed three resolutions to censure and sanction the City of Quesnel’s mayor made last spring.

Mayor Ron Paull successfully claimed that Quesnel city council’s April 30 decisions against him were made without procedural fairness.

Councillors voted to withdraw Paull’s travel budget and remove him from city committees and the Cariboo Regional District board after his wife shared a book disputing residential school history.

The book offended members of the Lhtako Dene First Nation, which signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate with the city in 2017.

“I do not mean to suggest that there was any attempt in this case to misuse powers for cheap political gain,” Justice William Veenstra wrote in his March 3 decision.

“It appears to me that the actions of council in this case are more likely attributable to a confusing and ambiguous staff report, the difficulty of ascertaining facts given the information presented by Mayor Paull in the April 24 memo, and the sense that clearly

motivated several of the councillors to believe that immediate action was required in order to preserve important relationships.”

The controversy began after Paull’s wife, Pat Morton, had shared Grave Error: How the Media Misled Us (and the Truth about Residential Schools) with a parent of another council member. Veenstra said Indigenous communities saw the book as being “hurtful,

hateful and harmful” to the cause of reconciliation.

Paull said at a March 19 council meeting that he had not read the book and he had no interest in doing so.

On March 21, he attended a regional district meeting where there was discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity-themed books in the children’s section of public libraries.

The next day, Paull showed his wife’s

copy of Grave Error to two regional district directors, but claimed he gave no opinion about the book and its contents.

Veenstra said that the April 18 report to council, the basis for the April 30 decisions, did not meet procedural fairness requirements owed to Paull because it did not clearly set out the case against him. Paull understood the report to be an “informational document” containing general advice and a possible process to pursue censure and sanction.

“It seems clear that the only substantive and active allegation against Mayor Paull in the April 18 report was that he had personally ‘attempted to distribute the book at a Cariboo Regional District meeting,’” Veenstra wrote.

Veenstra ruled the council did not follow the code of conduct requirement to provide Paull with two weeks notice, purported to censure him based on a report that could be read as merely inviting his input and decided to act against Paull based on “alleged misconduct (or shortcomings other than misconduct)” different from events in the April 18 report.

Veenstra said Paull was entitled to seek reimbursement of his legal costs from the City of Quesnel.

Grand opening for new urgent and primary care clinic

ANDIE MOLLINS Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The new urgent and primary care centre (UPCC) in Williams Lake had its grand opening Feb. 28.

“We’ve seen patients already that haven’t seen a physician in 10 years,” said Kelly Dillon, director of clinical operations for Interior Health. “It’s been absolutely amazing for the community.” About 30 people attended the opening, hearing from community and healthcare leaders including Kukpi7 Willie Sellars from the Williams Lake First Nation, Mayor Surinderpal Rathor and Diane Shendruk, vice-president of clinical operations for Interior Health.

“When people come to this centre, they will be provided with a team-based care model, which means improved connection to specialized services such as family physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, a social worker and an indigenous care coordinator,” said Shendruk.

The centre in Williams Lake joins 10 others introduced in the Interior Health region following BC’s 2018 plan to set up UPCCs across the province to help address the health care crisis.

“Our turn has come, and we have this new team in town and it’s not just the Mustangs,” said local doctor Glenn Fedor, referencing the city’s new Junior A hockey team in addition to the new

health care team.

“I see this as a building block for our town,” Fedor said, positive the centre will help attract more healthcare workers to live and work in Williams Lake.

The clinic had a soft opening in the days before it officially opened, serving 47 patients on Wednesday and 51 on Thursday. Interior Health expects the centre will serve more than 42,000 patients per year, with a daily capacity of up to 116 patients once fully staffed.

The Interior Health team said they exceeded their goal of hiring at least 50 per cent of staff by opening and are enthusiastic about hiring more staff for the centre to help fill in its four-hour shift approach.

Karen Cooper, executive director of clinical operations for Interior Health, said the centre only takes walk-in appointments at the moment, though this may evolve as time goes on.

The centre is available to any patient needing same-day care, whether or not they have a primary health-care provider. It will offer services, both in person and virtual, ranging from helping with sprains and small cuts to meeting mental and sexual health needs.

Once fully operation, the UPCC in Williams Lake will be open every day, including on statutory holidays, from 9:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m.

This story originally appeared in The Williams Lake Tribune.

SCREENSHOT FROM CITY OF QUESNEL WEBSITE

Quesnel Mayor Ron Paull has won his lawsuit against city council.

What’s happening in PG

Golden Age Social goes Monday, March 10 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre, 808 Canada Games Way. Prince George Council of Seniors and the City of Prince George is inviting all seniors to this event. This is a wonderful way to end the snowy winter and welcome spring. Spend the afternoon with friends, enjoying great local entertainment, light refreshments and wonderful conversation. This free drop in event is open to all seniors.

Naloxone Training goes Tuesday, March 11 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Prince George Public Library main branch and Thursday, April 24 at the Prince George Public Library Nechako Branch. Join harm reduction staff from Northern Health and learn how to use Naloxone correctly. Kits will be available to take after the training. These sessions are geared for adults. Free drop in.

Anything Goes! presented by UNBC Musical Productions goes Thursday, March 13 to Sunday, March 16 and Thursday, March 20 to 23 at 7 p.m. with Saturday matinees at 1 p.m. at Knox Performance Centre, 1448 Fifth Ave. This is a 1930s musical comedy following an ocean liner bound from New York to London. With secret stowaways, deceptive disguises, and a risky plot to break up an engagement, this story follows the antics of the misfits and megastars travelling across the Atlantic. Accompanied by seductive nightclub performances, engaging tap numbers, and the big band style music of Cole Porter performed by a live band, this production proves that sometimes destiny needs a little push. Tickets are $20 for the general public and $10 for students at www.knoxcentre.ca/ event-anything-goes-unbc-musical. Live Pro Wrestling presented by Primetime Entertainment goes Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15 from 5:45 to 9:30 p.m. at the Prince George Civic Centre. This is a fundraiser for Duchess Park Dry Grad. VIP doors open at 5:45 and starts at 6 p.m. General

doors open at 6:30 p.m. and bell at 7 sharp. General tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. VIP tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. VIP limited to 100 tickets. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Scrapbook Zone on 18th Ave, J&A Stereo +, or online at www.ticketseller.ca/tickets/ event/live-pro-wrestling.

Child of the Violin: Anna Maria and Maestro Vivaldi goes Saturday, March 15 at 11:30 a.m. at the Prince George Public Library main branch and at 3 p.m. at the Prince George Conservatory of Music, 3555 Fifth Ave. Join the PG Symphony Youth Orchestra for a family-friendly concert that brings 17th century Venice to life through music, sound effects, narration, and illustrates through music the journey of a young orphan child who hears in a unique way and becomes one of the most important female musicians of her time. This short concert will showcase all the players of the PGSYO, and features soloists

Hannah Yin and Maggie Corbett. Admission by donation - any donations received will support the youth orchestra’s upcoming tour.

Shamrocks & Shenanigans St. Patrick’s Day Party goes Saturday, March 15 from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Roll-ADome, 2588 Rec Place Drive. This event is presented by Farmhouse Catering and is a dinner dance. Guinness Stew & Pachos for dinner, entertainment from Rhythm & Sound DJ, beer pong tables with prizes to be won and a dance. Door open at 6:30. For tickets visit https://www.farmhousecatering.ca/ event-details/shamrock-shenanigans.

Shamrocks & Metal Rock goes Saturday, March 15 at 7 p.m. at Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St. The Shiels Brothers Band with supporting acts Madbomb and Smog City Syndicate will perform. Tickets are $30 at the door or in advance at Black Sheep Gifts at Pine Centre Mall for $20.

Prince George Cougars vs

Wenatchee Wild on Saturday, March 15 at 6 p.m. at CN Centre. Tickets at https://ticketsnorth.evenue.net/events/ CSG.

Saturday Dance with Long Rider goes Saturday, March 15 at the Prince George Seniors Activity Centre, 425 Brunswick St. Doors open at 7, music at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door. Cash bar and 50/50 draw. Everyone 19+ is welcome to attend.

FYDLKYN Live at Trench goes Saturday, March 15 from 8 to 10 p.m. at 399 Second Ave. This is an Americana old-time band that messes around with all things roots, western swing, country and bluegrass. Its members met up at PG Old Time Fiddlers Association jams and they often invite the whole fiddle club out to close their sets with 10 or more fiddlers ripping it. A must see Prince George phenomenon. No cover charge but tips are always welcome.

Prince George Cougars vs Victoria Royals goes Friday, March 21 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 22 at 6 p.m. at CN Centre. Tickets at https://ticketsnorth. evenue.net/events/CSG.

Rockabilly Weekend with the Chevys goes Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22 from 8 to 10 p.m. at Trench Brewing at 399 Second Ave. The Chevys are a four-piece band from Prince George that is dedicated to creating a rockabilly musical experience for audiences of all ages. There’s no cover charge but tips are always welcome. Book your reservation today by calling 236-423-0065.

Rated PG Thrashers vs Bulkley Valley Bruisers goes Saturday, March 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Roll-A-Dome, 2588 Recplace Dr.. This is a classic roller derby event with a beer garden. Admission is $5.

Miracle Theatre Presents Lunenburg and Here on the Flight Path by Norm Foster from March 27 to April 23 at ArtSpace, above Books and Co. All proceeds from the shows will be donated to the Prince George Seniors Emergency Endowment Fund at the Prince George Community Foundation to help

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

It’s a night of roller derby action at the Roll-A-Dome as the Rated PG Thrashers take on the Bulkley Valley Bruisers Saturday, March 22 at 6:30 p.m.

seniors in need meet essential expenses through the Prince Geroge Council of Seniors Resource Centre. Tickets are at Books & Co., 1685 Third Avenue or by calling 250-563-6637.

Improve Shmimprov Brighten Your Day goes Saturday March 29 from 8 to 11 p.m. at Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St. Brightening up your beautiful March evening, with a glorious evening of improvised theatre. There’s a host of new games that will be played out for your amusement. As always, there’s snacks and drinkie drinks so bring your significant other and have some laughs. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8. Tickets are $20 at www.shmimprovimprov. ca/brightenyourday.

Willow River Farmers Market presents the Spring Market on Sunday, March 30 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ferndale Hall, 3595 Upper Fraser. Come and support local vendors. There’s a concession, too.

Spring Fling Alice in Wonderland Variety Show presented by the Queer Connection Society goes Saturday, April 5 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Ignite Nightclub, 1232 Third Ave. Step through the looking glass and into a world of wonder, whimsy, and fantastical entertainment. Ignite transforms into a Mad Hatter’s dream, where reality bends and time races into a curiouser and curiouser landscape of play. Mesmerizing performances include belly dancers, drag artists, Legends Live tribute acts, gravity-defying pole dancers, burlesque performers. Dress up if you would like to embrace the Wonderland theme. There is a themed photo booth and interactive surprises. Tickets: Member Pre-Sale: $20 (Members, check your email for your promo code.) Regular Pre-Sale: $25, at the door: $30 (if not sold out) Tickets at www.eventbrite. ca/e/2025-spring-fling-variety-showtickets.

No Big D album release show with Scribbens goes Saturday, April 5 at 9 p.m. at Legion 43 PG, 1110 Sixth Ave. Brand new album from Quesnel-based all-femme post punk garage rockers.

With multiple songwriters sharing vocal duties and a collaborative approach, they wasted no time crafting a set list of all original tunes. Their individual styles are eclectic, adding a dynamic edge. On stage there is no doubt that these four friends are in their happy place, so come see what all the fuss is about. Scribbens is a local favourite, bringing their own approach to the post-punk genre that borders on prog. Music For $15 tickets visitwww.madloon.ca/ tickets.

Bachman-Turner Overdrive Back in Overdrive goes Tuesday, April 8 at 7 p.m. at CN Centre. Join Randy Bachman, Tal Bachman and the rest of the band for this rockin’ show, along with special guests April Wine and Headpins. The band will also play hits from The Guess Who, the iconic rock group which Bachman co-founded with Burton Cummings. Tickets are at https://www.ticketsnorth.ca/event/ back-in-overdrive-2025/

Prince George Mixed 55+ Slopitch League 2025 with practice every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon from about May 13 to Aug. 12. A group of players is looking to put together a team for the 55+ BC Games

this year. Format is seven men and at least three women 55+. Registration is April 28, 29 & 30 at the Prince George Golf & Curling Club from 1 to 4 p.m. $75 per player, cash only. For more information call Jackie Burns at 250-962-9230.

BC Old Time Fiddlers’ Jams and Lessons go every Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 483 Gillett St. Everyone is welcome to attend. Drop-in fee is $5 at the door.

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

Randy Bachman brings the Bachman-Turner-Overdrive Back in Overdrive tour to Prince George on April 8 at the CN Cdentre. With his son Tal Bachman, the Canadian rock legend will play songs from his Guess Who and BTO days. Opening are April Wine and Headpins.

Miracle Theatre boosts community, one play at a time

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

It was 30 years ago that Ted Price and Anne Laughlin first brought professional theatre to Prince George through Theatre NorthWest. Although things look a bit different now, they continue to do so through Miracle Theatre.

They scouted four cities, and because of how welcoming and supportive everyone was in Prince George, they settled here.

“Early on, we decided we could offer affordable luxury,” Laughlin said. “Don’t go to Disneyland, don’t go on that vacation. But come for a night out. That’s something we’ve always strived for – to make it accessible to people.”

This year’s offering at Miracle Theatre includes two plays by Canadian playwright Norm Foster: Lunenburg and Here in the Flight Path, presented in repertory from March 27 to April 23.

Each Miracle Theatre production sees proceeds go towards a great need in Prince George.

Last year, proceeds funded a Structure Protection Unit capable of saving up to 50 homes from an imminent fire threat. This year, an endowment fund will be established for seniors in need in the community.

The Prince George Council of Seniors Emergency Fund, held in trust by the Prince George Community Foundation, will see proceeds directed to the Prince George Council of Seniors to help seniors in need.

“When we saw the need, we thought, how do we get funding up quickly so the endowment fund can have a significant impact?” Price said.

“Our goal is to always make the next endowment fund bigger than the last. Last year, we raised $180,000, and with two shows this year, we hope to surpass that amount. Our double-barrelled effort is going toward something that’s largely gone unnoticed. We were shocked when we found out how extensive the problem is, not only across the country but, most importantly, right here in our own community.”

Starring in Miracle Theatre’s A Comedy of Tenors, from left to right is Michael Charrois, Ian Farthing, Quinn Churchill, Maggie Trepanier, David Rosser, Lucia Frangione and Missy Christensen. The play was presented at Artspace, above Books & Co., in 2024.

Laughlin and Price came to Prince George to make their dream a reality.

“We’ve had our adventures,” Laughlin said.

“It was a huge gamble on a personal level,” Price said. “And it was surprising how quickly it became evident we had chosen the right place. Our goal was to create a new regional theatre for the province. In our case, we chose the most north-westerly location in Canada for a regional theatre.”

“And that’s where the name came from – Theatre NorthWest,” Laughlin interjected.

“We looked at four other places in the province,” Price said.

“We went to the Okanagan, Kelowna, and Penticton because I grew up in the Okanagan,” Laughlin said.

“But it wasn’t in the cards.”

“And then Whistler,” Price said. “What was interesting was they were the most encouraging, the most eager. Then the Fraser Valley, which was very underserved at the time. And, of course, here. In 1994, the community seemed very

lively, very prosperous, and, in many ways, kind of neglected in terms of professional full-time arts. For us, it was the most far away, and what cinched it was the community. You know the old cliché about a welcoming community? Well, we found that here.”

Laughlin and Price arrived in Prince George with a pickup truck, a box of carpentry tools, and a computer.

“And I had a box of paper and a printer,” Laughlin added with a smile.

“And that’s the resources we started with,” Price said.

“So Anne would go out into the community and try to get support.”

“And what I found, particularly when we did the renovation — because we started in McGavin’s discount bakery with 102 seats and knew that wasn’t enough — was that people would give you things, but not so much cash,” Laughlin said.

“But they would see you using the stuff, and they could see you were getting your hands dirty – you were actually doing something – and then

they came on board.”

For example, Laughlin would buy a load of cement and get one free.

“And down the street, the rebar was free,” Laughlin added.

She’d never heard of Hilti concrete nails, but she got those for free, too.

“And it all really started with UNBC when they were doing construction and had all those ATCO trailers,” Laughlin explained.

The trailers were on attached platforms, so they formed one big unit.

“Ted would haul the lumber with his pickup truck, bring it to the warehouse Henry Novak let us use to build a set, and I would be down there pulling nails,” Laughlin said. “And all that timber is what’s used to hold up the balcony in Theatre NorthWest. It’s all recycled lumber from UNBC.”

“And there’s Anne, making cold calls to find accommodation for visiting actors,” Price said.

“Talk about Pony, Anne.”

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MIRACLE THEATRE PHOTO

Norm Foster plays on the schedule for the 2025 season

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

“Oh yeah, so there was this woman named Pony, and she told me there was a guy who lived up North Nechako Road and had a big house. His marriage had dissolved, and he had room for some actors. So I called this fellow, Ron Lind, and asked if he might be able to put up some actors. I didn’t know what kind of house it was — I had no clue who this guy was — and he said he might be able to help. I asked to see the house first. So I went over and found a huge mansion — it was crazy. He took me upstairs, and it was just bedroom after bedroom. He did that for several years until he moved away.”

“And that’s how we knew we had chosen the right place,” Price said.

“Just imagine getting a call from someone you don’t know, and you don’t know them either. But someone you know, named Pony, says you have a big house and we need to put people up. Now, I don’t know how much things have changed, but I bet you could still make that happen in Prince George. Try that in Vancouver, and it would be considered a scam!”

Price said they ended up with a large contingent of people willing to accommodate visiting actors from across the country.

“And they’re still doing that over at Theatre NorthWest, and we do it too,” Laughlin said. “And some people have been doing it since day one.”

“That was a big deal because part of our goal was to make Prince George part of the Canadian theatre community,” Price said.

“And part of our success was because Prince George was willing to literally open their doors to these visiting performers.”

Price explained that a tier system is in place that reflects performers’ pay rates, depending on the number of seats and ticket prices. Theatre NorthWest was rated as an F-House, near the bottom of the list.

“But when we told people there would be accommodation provided, that was a tipping point,” Price explained. “It

wasn’t required — you just had to provide housing options. You didn’t have to pay their rent.”

Because performers didn’t have to pay for accommodation in Prince George, it made the city more appealing.

“That was a big deal for us,” Price said. “The community always said yes — to providing accommodation, to providing materials, and yes to buying tickets. That was huge.”

“And it happened faster than we thought — it took off,” Laughlin said.

“The only ones with real reservations about joining us were the city, but the one group that totally understood what we were doing was Ottawa,” Price said.

“Ottawa came to see us most often, and that’s where our very first funding came from. Then Victoria, and then the city came on board — but when they did, they ended up being our biggest supporter.”

During one of the Canada Council officer’s visits, she told the duo that Theatre NorthWest had the highest per capita subscription rate in Canada.

Price quickly explained that this meant, for a catchment area of just over 100,000, Theatre NorthWest had the most season-ticket holders.

“That was so encouraging,” Price said. “And it comes down to the community just being so open. The audience would buy season tickets not even knowing what the plays were.”

In her extensive experience in theatre management, Laughlin understood that avoiding deficits was crucial.

“And even through renovations, in all those years, we never had a deficit,” Laughlin said. “No way — not ever.”

Laughlin didn’t like to rent equipment she knew they’d need again, so she invested in what was necessary.

“I bought our photocopier,” Laughlin said. “And we started to look ahead, way into the future, and that’s when we started the endowment fund that reached upwards of $400,000. Theatre NorthWest has that now. Organizations evolve, and this endowment won’t pay all the bills, but it helps.” CONTINUED

Anne Laughlin and Ted Price are celebrating 30 years in Prince George offering the community professional theatre productions.

This year’s productions will benefit Council of Seniors

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Laughlin said she and Price have complementary skills, making them a strong team.

“I do a lot of things that administration usually doesn’t do, but Ted also does things that artistic directors don’t do,” Laughlin said.

“You don’t often find that in a theatre.”

When Price and Laughlin hit their 60s, they decided it was time to retire from Theatre NorthWest.

“We told the board, gave them plenty of warning, and asked them to start thinking about who they wanted to hand the theatre over to,” Price said.

“We told them to look after it,” Laughlin laughed.

Price said he was looking for a less hectic lifestyle.

“You’re much more in control of your life when you’re a freelancer,” Price said. “Running a regional theatre is just one giant hamster wheel — it never stops. People think when the show is open, you can relax, but you’re on to the next one. Even in the summer, you’re building sets, casting actors, and so on. When you’re the one signing the front of the paycheque, it’s much more pressured than when you’re signing the back.”

And then they created Miracle Theatre. “Now there’s no paycheque, which, in some ways, makes it even more stressful,” Price laughed.

Miracle Theatre was named after their first production, Miracle on South Division Street, which raised $42,294 for the Salvation Army Food Bank and 47 Million Voices.

“There’s no paycheque, but this is the most satisfying because not only are we making theatre for people, there are these really worthy causes in the community that aren’t getting the support they deserve,” Price reflected.

“We’re contributing to that, and to the arts. And going back to the support and openness of the community, it’s pretty gratifying.”

In the past, Miracle Theatre raised as much as possible for each cause

and has increased its fundraising every year. But last year had a specific goal: $180,000 for a Structure Protection Unit for the City of Prince George. They raised $180,025.

“There was a lot of pressure last year because it was the first time we actually committed to raising a certain amount,” Laughlin said.

Price and Laughlin want to keep increasing their fundraising goal each year, and to do that, they decided to offer two shows in repertory.

“We’ve created two professional theatre organizations for the region — one full-time, one project-based,” Price said. “To come to a community where that is doable, especially at this stage of our careers, we feel we’ve accomplished something.”

Miracle Theatre started because people kept asking Laughlin and Price to do another show. But they wanted to do one better and make it a fundraiser for a good cause.

Aware of donor fatigue, they thought the best way to raise funds was by giving something back — that’s where the idea of putting on a show with proceeds going to a worthy local cause began.

raise awareness for the causes,” Laughlin said.

This year, Miracle Theatre is raising funds for the Prince George Council of Seniors via the Prince George Seniors Emergency Fund.

“And people haven’t even heard of the Prince George Council of Seniors,” Laughlin said.

Many don’t know that the Council of Seniors is a service organization doing so much for seniors in Prince George.

“They help with things like dentures, income tax, food, and housing,” Price said.

“So we’re trying to raise awareness,” Laughlin said. “When people come to the play, hopefully, they’ll learn a little bit and realize there are people who need help.”

“There’s a serious, unrecognized need out there,” Price said.

One in four seniors live below the poverty line of $23,000 a year.

“We thought offering a show, rather than another chicken dinner or dance, would be more sellable,” Price explained.

“But we had no intention of doing this every year when we started,” Laughlin added.

“After the first play, someone asked Ted where to buy season tickets, and I said, ‘No, no, no, no, no! We won’t be doing that!’ But people kept asking, ‘When’s the next one? When’s the next one?’ So I said, if there’s going to be another, it’s going to be for cancer. I had been diagnosed and was going through chemo during the first show.”

The next show, The Last Romance, presented in February and March 2017, raised $52,144.12 for the local fight against cancer, specifically for the purchase of equipment for the Prince George Breast Imaging Centre. The production affiliate was the Spirit of the North Health Care Foundation.

“So many people have been touched by cancer — family, friends, or even themselves. We got a lot of support from the community again,” Price said.

And it’s continued over the years.

“We present a play, raise funds, and

“We want to draw attention to organizations like the Prince George Council of Seniors, which does all this crucial work,” Price said. “They deserve more attention.”

Laughlin and Price joke about being the “peasants” of the theatre community because they have no office, no funds, no board, and no available funding for their projects, as they give all the money away.

“The kitchen table is where it all starts,” Laughlin said. “And all the materials for seating are stored in our garage, my garden shed, and backyard.”

“We’re very much on the fringe, but what helps us is that now, after 30 years, many people are happy to work with us. We hire professional people, and a large number of them have had good experiences in the theatre world in Prince George, so they’re willing and happy to come be part of it,” Price said.

“We can absolutely say we are part of the Canadian theatre community, and people apply to be part of our shows from across the country.”

“And that doesn’t happen overnight,” Laughlin said.

“We spent 30 years building this one step at a time. There are no shortcuts.”

MIRACLE THEATRE PHOTO

William Vickers and Linda Goranson are seen here as Norman and Ethel Thayer during Miracle Theatre’s production of On Golden Pond presented at the Prince George Playhouse in 2022.

Celebrating Ghana’s independence

The local Ghanaian community celebrated the sub-Saharan African nation’s independence at City Hall Thursday, March 6 with a proclamation declaring Ghana Independence Day in Prince George. Mayor Simon Yu and Coun. Garth Frizzell took part in the ceremony with the mayor reading the proclamation and the Ghanaian flag being raised in celebration. Prince George has been home to Ghanaian people for more than 30 years, and the Ghanaian community has grown significantly in recent years.

RCMP Community Heroes Night raises $60,000 with 50/50 draw

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

The Prince George RCMP and the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation have announced the total raised from their 50/50 draw during Community Heroes Night.

“In total, $60,000 was raised through the charitable donations of Prince George residents. We’re simply amazed at the generosity of those who donated,” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer for the Prince George RCMP.

The $60,000 will be split between the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation, the Prince George RCMP, and the Prince George Firefighters Charitable Society.

“Prince George RCMP will be partnering with the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation to help fund a piece of equipment identified by the Foundation

as a need in Prince George. We are happy to keep this money in Prince George and return it to the community that so generously donated it,” said Supt. Darin Rappel of the Prince George RCMP.

Cooper told The Citizen that one of the possible pieces of equipment they are considering purchasing is a LifePak for the pediatrics unit at UHNBC.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Prince George RCMP for their dedication in helping support crucial medical equipment for UHNBC, strengthening care for our entire community,” said Aimee Cassie, CEO of the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation. “A huge thank you to the teams who worked tirelessly behind the scenes and to our community, who continue to step up year after year to support Community Heroes Weekend. Your commitment makes a real difference, and we are so appreciative.”

Transit Operator & Worker Appreciation Day | March 18, 2025 Celebrate your favourite transit operators and workers by

Royal recognition for Prince George people

MP Todd Doherty invited recipients of the King Charles II Coronation Medal to the Courtyard by Marriott hotel Sunday afternoon. The medals, handed out nation-wide, go to people who have made a significant contribution to Canada or to a particular province, territory, region or community of Canada, or have made an outstanding achievement abroad that brings credit to Canada.

MP Todd Doherty poses with the recipients of the King Charles III Coronation medals March 9 at the Courtyard by Marriott.

MP Todd Doherty presents a medal to Jim Terrion for raising more than $960,000 dollars for cancer and walking 9,917 km across Canada for deaf awareness.

MP Todd Doherty and Prince George Hospice Society executive director Donna Flood pose for pictures with Flood’s medal and certificate.

MP Todd Doherty poses with Scott McWalter after recognizing him for his volunteerism and dedication to community service.

MP Todd Doherty presents the medal to Prince George Spruce Kings general manager Mike Hawes.

The first medal recipient Ellen, (Honey) Alexander Affleck, enjoys a laugh with MP Todd Doherty as he reads her bio.

CITIZEN PHOTOS BY CHUCK NISBETT

Former city man named to BC Business Top 30 under 30

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Andrew Warburton has been named one of BC Business’s Top 30 Under 30.

The 22-year-old is the founder of the BC business Peak Beverage, which can be found on store shelves across the province.

“It was pretty exciting,” said Warburton. “I’ve been following the 30 under 30 since a young age, especially in Prince George. Prince George did a 40 under 40 probably 10 years ago, and I remember following that. I’ve always kind of looked up to the 30 under 30 list. I’ve always wanted to be on it one day. It’s exciting to finally make it — childhood dreams kind of come true.”

Warburton began his entrepreneurial career with a lemonade stand in Prince George.

Seventeen years later, he has scaled up his operations significantly. He got the idea for Peak after moving to Summerland and noticing the lack of craft-style non-alcoholic drinks.

“After moving down here, everyone’s bragging about the wineries, the cideries and the distilleries, and the quality of all their products,” said Warburton. “There was no one doing the same thing with non-alcoholic beverages. I saw a gap. I thought it would be cool if people who don’t drink, or people who are underage, could enjoy a high-quality beverage with the same commitment as the wineries, distilleries and cideries.”

Peak Beverage’s very first location was in Warburton’s converted garage. However, his business quickly grew, and in 2024, he partnered with

a co-packer to expand production fivefold.

“It was quite overwhelming,” said Warburton. “

There were a lot of steps I didn’t take into consideration, a lot of learning as I went. Going from handling everything myself to working with a co-manufacturer was a big change. It’s a lot more industrial. I was still able to keep my finger on the pulse of everything, but it’s definitely on a larger scale. There were a lot of different aspects I hadn’t dealt with before. It was definitely a challenge.”

Warburton told The Citizen that one of the highlights of his journey as the founder of Peak Beverage was seeing it available on store shelves.

“The highlight of seeing it grow was starting to see it on restaurant menus and on store shelves,” said Warburton. “When people start talking about it, you get these surreal moments, especially when you’re standing in a grocery store looking at a shelf and thinking, ‘I created this from start to finish.’”

One of the key lessons Warburton took from his 17 years in Prince George is the sense of community. He still aims to bring that feeling to his company and his products.

“There are a lot of good memories,” said Warburton. “I did some photography for Cold Snap for a few years. I worked at the farmers’ market for a while, volunteered at the Crisis Centre, and was able to see the community Prince George has. I think that was pretty cool. I also worked for Betulla Burning. Working at a small, farm-focused restaurant helped me in that aspect, seeing how to bring the taste of local products and how much support

comes from the community.”

The future of Peak Beverage under Warburton’s leadership looks bright. He is considering introducing an unsweetened version of his product and

expanding its reach to new markets, including Prince George.

He hopes to see Peak Beverage products on shelves in his hometown before summer begins.

PEAK BREWING PHOTOS

Andrew Warburton started Peak Beverages (below) after noticing a gap in the market for non-alcoholic drinks.

Lifetime achievement award for local equestrian

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Bonnie Kennedy has been honoured with the 2024 Sherman Olson Lifetime Achievement Award, the Horse Council of BC’s most prestigious recognition. The award is presented annually to a BC resident whose dedication and hard work have made a lasting positive impact on the province’s equine community while inspiring others.

“This is such a lovely honour,” Kennedy said.

Her lifelong passion for horses began when she was around six years old, growing up in Calgary. Her father, who worked in the oil industry, decided to try raising cattle, so the family moved to a ranch.

“And back in those days, we were just turned loose,” Kennedy recalled with a laugh.

They had about a dozen horses.

“My sister and I would chase them in and catch our two, and we were free to tear around bareback all morning. Then my mum would make us put them away at lunchtime so the poor horses could get a break,” she said.

As a teenager, Kennedy’s love for horses deepened when a family friend introduced her to the first indoor arena in Calgary, St. George’s. It was there that she discovered English riding, took lessons, and began jumping.

“We got different horses, started jumping, and became involved in the pony club,” she said. “It’s about building that connection with the animal. If you watch their body language, they say a lot to us and to each other. The training itself is fascinating, and of course, it’s changed over time.”

Kennedy, now retired from teaching, has coached and trained more than 150 equestrians throughout her life. At 78, she still offers lessons.

“In Canada, we’ve introduced more European methods. There are so many disciplines in the horse world, so you can make choices in how you want to move forward. Working with horses and riders has been a great joy for me, watching them learn, progress, and

grow,” she said.

An accredited course designer, Kennedy has travelled across BC over the past 25 years, supporting competitions and preparing riders in communities such as Quesnel, Terrace, Smithers and Prince George.

Kennedy played a key role in establishing an equestrian component for the BC Summer Games in Prince George, which included organizing a development camp and overseeing all the preparations for course design, stadium jumps, and supplies.

She served on the Prince George Horse Society board for a decade, during which she was instrumental in taking over the lease of the Prince George Agriplex. The facility offers boarding, show hosting, and clinic spaces in the heart of the city.

In 2000, Kennedy and her team successfully secured funding for the construction of four show barns, each

capable of housing a dozen horses.

Thanks to her vision, dedication, and tireless work, the Prince George Horse Society continues to host two major Horse Council of BC shows each year, in June and September.

Kennedy is responsible for preparing dressage tests, hiring judges, and organizing the entire event program and prize list.

Her support for the Rising Stars program has helped numerous young riders achieve provincial and national success. Several have gone on to become Grand Prix dressage champions, coaches, accredited officials, and professionals with their own training arenas and boarding facilities. Many local riders, volunteers, and coaches have continued to be involved in competitions over the past three decades.

Kennedy is also committed to providing opportunities for local riders by offering events in Prince George before

they head south for more competitive events.

“We must always support the northern community,” she said. “If there’s no goal, people have nothing to work toward. You have to offer a little competition or an opportunity for education, like a clinic, so they have something to aim for. It helps them improve and expand the community. It’s all about education and staying connected.”

Kennedy acknowledges the hard work and exhaustion that goes into organizing big events, but she finds it all worthwhile.

“Everybody’s been through it—the long hours and hard work,” she said. “But then you see the impact on people—the big smiles as they come out of the ring, the things they’ve learned. Sometimes there are tears, but they learn something from it, and the next day is better. It’s all so rewarding, really.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Bonnie Kennedy has recently been recognized with the most prestigious Horse Council of BC lifetime achievement award. She is seen here with her horse Tommy, a Canadian Warmblood.

One decision could give a stranger a new lease on life

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

During a person’s life, there are countless decisions to be made, and hopefully not many as serious as life and death.

But there is one truly selfless decision that could profoundly change someone else’s life.

More than 200 incredibly generous organ donors helped 481 British Columbians receive life-saving organ transplants in 2024.

In that year, six organ donors in Northern Health contributed to this effort. Ben Drover, the on-site organ donation co-ordinator for Northern Health, was there to help.

Drover works with critical care teams at UHNBC and donor families to coordinate organ donation cases.

For Drover, it began when he was a bedside nurse in the ICU, where he dealt with many organ donation cases.

“I’ve always felt that it’s very important and such a meaningful, impactful thing to be involved with from a healthcare provider’s perspective. When the position of organ donation coordinator became available, I jumped on it. I’ve been doing this job since 2019.”

In Canada, organ donation coordinators either work on the donor side or the recipient side.

“I work completely on the deceased donor’s side,” Drover explained. “I’m involved with family support, discussions to obtain consent, and helping them with the process of organ donation by providing information and walking through different donation pathways, whether it’s a brain-death case, a donation after cardiac termination case, or a MAID case.”

MAID refers to the medical assistance in dying program, where a person receives end-of-life assistance from a medical practitioner.

Drover also provides support for hospital staff.

“I help them throughout the entire process, reaching out to the different sites in Northern Health with ICUs that refer patients to BC Transplant,” Drover

explained.

It takes a special type of person to choose a career that continually deals with death and dying.

“I grew up on Haida Gwaii, where there was no funeral home and no mortician,” Drover said. “So I got involved with the local mortician, who wasn’t really a mortician, and we just helped families when a loved one passed. We made arrangements for cremations or burials. I became good friends with him and started tagging along. I did this for about five years, so I got quite comfortable dealing with death. I think it made it easier coming into this role. As a critical care nurse, I saw a lot of death, but in this position, dealing with death and families is a bit more than at the bedside.”

It’s a tough job.

“There are definitely tough days, but there are also good days when you realize why you do this job. Even on tough days, we’re still making a positive impact by saving someone’s life and helping make donation successful,” Drover explained.

Knowing that, in some way, the donor will live on in the recipient often brings comfort to families who have lost a loved one, he added.

“Even though we can’t change the outcome for their loved one, we can bring a positive aspect to the loss, which I think is really important,” Drover said.

The process begins when ICU staff identify a patient who meets the criteria for organ donation.

“There has to be a grave prognosis, and they must have the intention to move to comfort care and be ventilated,” he said. “We also assess eligibility in terms of health history and whether they are registered donors. Once a referral comes through, we do a care connect review, where we look into their health history, which might rule them out as an organ donor. Then we discuss our findings with ICU and make a plan to meet with the donor family to discuss organ donation.”

Drover provides the family with all the necessary information about the process, the different diagnostics that will be done, the pathways for donation, potential barriers to donation, and the timeline for that particular case. He then seeks consent.

“We work to book an operating room, and at the same time, the Northern Health organ donation allocation teams look for potential recipients for the organs,” Drover explained.

“Once we find a matched recipient, we set an operating room date. While we are retrieving the organs, the recipients are being prepared. There is a very short window between retrieval and implantation, called cold ischemic time. The heart has between four and six hours, the kidney has 24 hours, and the liver has eight to 10 hours. Each person can potentially donate their heart, kidneys, liver, pancreas, and islets of the pancreas.”

“So each person has the potential to save six lives,” Drover said.

When considering organ donation, there are a few important points.

“You are much more likely to need an organ than to ever be able to be an organ donor yourself,” Drover said.

“Knowing that organ donation is an option for loved ones during end-of-life care is something that has a positive impact and saves lives. I think that’s probably the most important thing— knowing it’s an option.”

Currently, 6,318 British Columbians are alive today because of organ donation.

In 2024, there were 118 deceased donors and 90 living donors, contributing to 309 kidney transplants, 92 liver transplants, 47 lung transplants, 25 heart transplants, and 13 pancreas and islet transplants (including five pancreas/kidney transplants).

After three consecutive years of record highs, the number of deceased donors has returned to more historic levels. BC Transplant honours the additional 44 deceased donors and their families who consented to organ donation but were unfortunately not suitable. There were a record 1,119 referrals from hospitals and healthcare providers for potential donors in 2024, compared to 989 in 2023.

“To help normalize conversations about organ donation, we are partnering with the Canada Revenue Agency on a new public awareness initiative this spring,” said Dr. Sean Keenan, provincial medical director of donation services at BC Transplant.

British Columbians will see a checkbox on their annual tax return asking if they would like to receive information about registering as an organ donor. Anyone who selects “yes” will receive an email from BC Transplant later this year with information on how to register.

British Columbians can register as organ donors online at www.registeryourdecision.ca. It takes just two minutes, and all you need is your Personal Health Number.

As of December 31, 2024, there were still 666 people waiting for their second chance.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Ben Drover is the on-site organ donation coordinator for Northern Health.

GoFundMe launched for family of snowplow driver

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Prince George snowplow operator Les Suvee died on the job Saturday, March 1 while clearing an area highway.

His plow went off the road on Highway 16 near Purden Lake.

Suvee was described as a “fun-loving, never formal, and always laughing” person who would “give you the shirt off his back,” according to GoFundMe organizer Thea Klassen.

“There wasn’t a room he couldn’t fill with light through his goofy sense of humour, huge smile, and generous spirit,” Klassen said in the GoFundMe post.

“He dedicated his work to ensuring everyone got home to their family at the end of the day, and sadly, he wasn’t given the same in return. He was a son, father, partner, brother, cousin, friend, and more. He will be remembered and missed by everyone who met him.”

Klassen started the GoFundMe to support Suvee’s daughter, Amber Suvee, with the costs associated with her father’s death.

“We could literally have fun anywhere we went,” said Amber. “We would be driving through the mountains, and he’d see a tiny random little turnoff, and all of a sudden we’d be on a two-hour trek through the forest just trying to find something fun. That’s the thing — it’s so hard to pinpoint anything about my dad specifically because I never once had a bad time with him. He was one of my best friends, and we could just have fun, literally, no matter what.”

Amber has had her own share of hardships even before her father’s tragic passing, which has made managing her finances in the wake of his death even more difficult.

“I’ve been on disability since October 2023,” said Amber. “From two not-atfault car accidents. So I’ve been struggling, just kind of getting by, and then a bunch of stuff happened, and then all of a sudden, now my dad passed away. Financially, unfortunately, he left me the largest mess in the world.”

“My dad didn’t have any liquid funds, so I have to pay for all of that. I’m going to be doing some sort of celebration of life once I can afford it, and then I’ll be travelling back and forth, because I can’t do anything from Alberta — I have to be in BC all the time. So I’m going to be traveling back and forth non-stop… I got left with a terrible, terrible mess to clean up. It’s crazy, because I can’t even take the time to grieve my dad because it’s just non-stop trying to clean up the finances and stuff.”

In addition to her financial struggles, Amber has had to deal with the grief of losing her grandfather, who passed away four months ago. Since then, she has taken on a large role in caring for her grandmother.

She also cares for her mother, who suffered a life-altering brain injury five years ago.

Amber told The Citizen that she was very surprised and thankful for the outpouring of support from the Prince George community in the 24 hours since Klassen started the GoFundMe.

“My friend had the idea, and I thought maybe I could get a couple hundred dollars and then take out a bank loan or something for the rest. Yeah, I think it’s at like $1,300 in 24 hours. That’s insane. I’ve been checking it pretty much nonstop because I just cannot even fathom

that people are willing to help me out, especially people I’ve never talked to.

It’s just crazy.”

If you are interested in supporting

Amber, consider donating to her GoFundMe at this link, or search for “In Loving Memory of Les Suvee” at www. gofundme.com.

Amber Suvee as a baby with her father, Les Suvee, who died recently while working as a snowplow operator.

Behind the scenes with Cirque du Soleil at CN Centre

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Thursday, March 6, marked the local opening of Cirque du Soleil: Crystal, a dazzling ice skating and acrobatics show created in 2017.

Crystal has toured more than 145 cities across 24 countries, including Brazil, Belgium, and Kuwait.

The show, which ran for several performances last weekend, centres on Crystal, a creative misfit who dives into a frozen dreamworld in a classic coming-of-age story.

The Citizen was given the opportunity early on the day of the first show to see what goes on behind the scenes to bring such an impressive and intricate performance to life.

The CN Centre itself was transformed to accommodate the more than 100 crew members, 45 performers from 25 countries, and approximately 500 individual set pieces that are constructed and torn down each week.

Backstage, performers have everything they need, including a working kitchen staff, wardrobe and several laundry machines to wash both personal and on-stage clothing.

There is also a dedicated area for warm-ups and practice, which performers frequently use to prepare for their shows.

Speaking of wardrobe, the show uses about 1,250 pieces of clothing per performance and travels with over 4,000 items in total.

All of this is even more impressive when you consider that the crew and cast must travel constantly to different cities every week. This means all the living and performing equipment, including the massive performance rigging attached to the CN Centre’s roof, must be packed up at the end of their Prince George run.

“It’s multi-disciplinary, not just an experience, but really the expertise,” said artistic director Boris Verkhovsky. “When you look at the logistics, all of this has to be dismantled in under four hours. By the end of Sunday, it has to be reassembled within one day at the

Figure skater Sophie Brandeborn rehearses a spin as Brandon Mroz also rotates around behind her prior to the opening of Cirque du Soleil’s Crystal at CN Centre on Thursday, March 6.

beginning of the week. It takes a lot of specialty. We hire a lot of local staff each time, but the drive is done by people with a lot of expertise and knowledge. One of the unique differences between projects like this and, let’s say, a giant music concert, is that it’s not the same rigging. When you’re rigging for human performance, the criteria are very different. The requirements for redundancy and backup mechanisms are much more intense.”

Verkhovsky has been with Cirque du Soleil for more than 30 years and has a clear passion for his job.

“I started working with this company in 1993,” said Verkhovsky. “I came in basically for one week to help with a little workshop during the creation of Mystère, our first resident show in Las Vegas. And then the rest is history. I

thing to share with a group of people who have worked their whole lives to get here. We share the same passion and we’re here for the same reasons because we love it.”

Van Wyjk also shares the stage with her fiancé, Darren Trull, and says that most performers tend to become close while touring together.

“We spend all day, every day together,” said Van Wyjk. “We eat together, share hotels together, and share the stage together. What we do has a safety element to it, and that really makes you understand everyone. You can’t just come in and not understand the rigours or not get along with your artistic director. It opens your perspective on different cultures, different languages. Everyone works hard to create a very family-like atmosphere. If you don’t have that mentality or can’t get along with people from other cultures, you maybe don’t belong here.”

One of the talents on the ice is Leo Lucas Forza, who comes from a competitive figure skating background and has been with Cirque since 2019. He also shares the stage with his wife, Nicole Gosvian, whom he met at a figure skating competition.

ran away with the circus, and it’s been 30-plus years. In that extensive period, many things have happened, but I come from the world of sport, as many of our people, both on the artistic side and among our coaching staff, come from sport. We bring a lot of that knowledge, but you have to learn a lot because it’s a completely different industry, a completely different activity.”

The majority of performers in Crystal have extensive backgrounds in sport, such as 30-year-old Amber Van Wyjk, who comes from a sports acrobatics background and joined Cirque when she was 15.

“Every day is different,” said Van Wyjk. “Every day brings something new. We’re working with people who are very passionate about the same thing you are, and I think that’s a beautiful

“For us, it’s a bit different because we didn’t meet here,” said Forza. “We joined the tour together, so we’ve been skating together for a bit longer. We’re already used to each other, but, of course, training every day for hours, doing the same stuff — you try to make it perfect and more stable so you can perform it every day without it being dangerous or sketchy. The hardest part is not doing the stuff once, but being able to do it 300 times a year, show after show.”

Forza told The Citizen that one of his favourite parts of the job is the unique nature of Cirque’s performances.

“It’s always like the first day,” said Forza.

“It’s super exciting, and it can give you a bit of anxiety, but that’s good. It keeps you focused. I never take it for granted, so you always have to focus on the present, even if it’s your 10,000th show. It’s really exciting.”

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Throwback Thursday: Week of March 13

March 14, 1994: Pink Floyd fans camped out by the door to Studio 2880, the local ticket agent, from as early as 3 a.m. to get tickets to the June 25 Vancouver concert. After the first Vancouver show sold out in an hour, a second was added, which also sold out except for package deals. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

March 13, 2012: Austin Gray of the Farr Fabricating Cougars breaks through Ralph Jarratt (left) and Bowden Sawers of the Grand Prairie Storm during an exhibition game at Kin 1. The Cats won two of three weekend contests against the Storm. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY DAVID MAH

March 13, 1961: Local artist Naomi Patterson was commissioned to do two three-foot-by-fivefoot oil paintings for the Canyon Room at the Hotel Simon Fraser. The oils for the hotel’s dining room will depict a summer scene and a winter scene in the Fraser Canyon, in keeping with the hotel’s theme. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY W.D. WEST

March 14, 1979: BC liquor licensing boss Vic Woodland gets a first-hand look at a Prince George neighbourhood pub. Woodland toured both local pubs and eight other potential sites during a visit to Prince George to discuss conflicting policies with city council. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY TIM SWANKY

Healthy North

March is Nutrition Month

This year, Northern Health Dietitians are celebrating the joy of eating together. Did you know that eating together, with family or friends, can support healthy eating and mental wellness? Cooking and eating with others allows us to make valuable connections and lasting memories. Follow NH social media for more information about the benefits of eating together, to learn tips and tricks, and to share why eating together is important to you! To learn about how to access a dietitian in or near your community visit: https://tinyurl.com/33en9esy

NH Stories: Northern Health Preceptor Award

Northern Health partners with post-secondary institutions across the province to create a culture of teaching and learning, where students are mentored by preceptors through their clinical education. Ryan McMaster, a nurse working at UHNBC, has been awarded the first annual Northern Health Preceptor Awards, which recognizes excellence in student mentorship. Nominations for this award are submitted by health care students from across BC. Congratulations, Ryan! Read the full story by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/bdfmee9t

Celebrating Ryan McMaster: Preceptor extraordinaire

FURQANA KHAN Northern Health

The Student Practice Education team is proud to recognize Ryan McMaster as the first-ever recipient of the Preceptor Award at Northern Health.

Northern Health (NH) partners with post-secondary institutions across the province to foster a culture of teaching and learning, where students are mentored by preceptors throughout their clinical education. Each preceptor takes on the additional responsibility of mentorship while striving to provide quality patient care to the residents of the North. To acknowledge these role models, the Preceptor Award was launched at NH in 2025.

Students from Stenberg College, College of New Caledonia (CNC), University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), University of British Columbia (UBC), and other institutions with strong clinical programs submitted nominations. More than 20 students nominated their inspiring preceptors, and their names were entered into a draw for a prize.

Ryan McMaster, a nurse on the Internal Medicine Unit at University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC) in Prince George, was nominated by multiple students for his exemplary work as a preceptor.

One student said, “Ryan is an amazing nurse. He reminded me how important it is to care for patients holistically, rather than just medically. He was encouraging and supportive of my efforts to achieve my goals. He reminded me of why I want to be a nurse, and he made every shift enjoyable, despite the stressful nature of the unit. He has so much valuable knowledge to share, and I learned a lot from him!”

Ryan shared how rewarding it is to see students’ confidence grow over the duration of their placement, especially when they return as his colleagues after being hired by NH. He emphasized that everyone has a duty to train new professionals, and those

makes difficult concepts easier to understand, and she also keeps it real, which I liked. She has a realistic view of the world and nursing, which made her an excellent instructor and teacher.”

“I was provided an incredible amount of opportunities while receiving honest, critical feedback about my performance and expectations. I was given a safe experience to learn and grow, and as a result, I’ll be a safer nurse with stronger critical thinking skills. I am incredibly appreciative of her time and experience; I highly recommend her for any student who is interested in earnestly learning the field and growing.”

“He made me feel like part of the team and treated me like an actual nurse, rather than ‘just a student,’ which some preceptors fail to do. His mannerisms and leadership were something that I admired and will adapt into my own practice. He has a strong ability to think critically and always took time to explain those thoughts. He also pushed me to think critically on my own and had me try to teach him as if he were a student himself, then aided me when I got stuck in a way that strengthened my confidence. I feel this preceptor deserves more recognition than I can give in this post. He truly made me feel like a strong nurse, and I’ll forever be grateful for that.”

who embrace this responsibility make excellent team members who help carry the load of preceptorship on the unit.

To those considering working with students, Ryan said, “Hanging out with students is incredibly inspiring when you get to learn from them too!”

Ryan has been working at UHNBC since 2006. He finds that the passion of his co-workers fuels his drive to be the best nurse he can be. When asked for advice for others who may look up to him, he said, “As a student, don’t give up on your dreams. Health care is hard, but if you stick with it, it can be super rewarding. As a preceptor, reflect on your experiences from

when you were new and try to be the support you needed.”

When he was presented with his award, he expressed tremendous gratitude and excitement for the nurses he’s mentored in the past and those he will meet in the future. Ryan exemplifies the values of respect and collaboration at NH by going above and beyond in his work with both patients and colleagues.

Congratulations to Ryan on this achievement, and a huge thank you for his hard work!

What students are saying about preceptors

“She has a way of teaching that

“He was able to support me when I was convinced I was going to drop out because I wasn’t smart enough to continue. He was also very approachable and allowed me to grow and learn as a nurse. I’m certain I wouldn’t be the nurse I am today without his help.”

“She was always willing to answer questions and offered support when I experienced challenges. She helped me feel safe and connected in a busy, demanding profession, providing clear expectations and space to grow. At the end of my practicum, she went above and beyond by mentoring me for two extra shifts outside of my practicum hours so I could meet my learning needs.”

NORTHERN HEALTH PHOTO

UHNBC nurse Ryan McMaster is the first recipient of the Preceptor Awards at Northern Health.

It was an unforgettable night of teamwork and support

KATELYN GOERTZEN Northern Health

During the night of the Fort Nelson hospital evacuation, the northern lights appeared above the glow of the wildfire below.

Salt Spring Island to Fort Nelson

My first assignment with GoHealth BC was on Salt Spring Island, a beautiful community with ocean views, beaches, and a laid-back lifestyle. Being on one of the Gulf Islands was a refreshing change of pace. The staff and patients were kind and welcoming, and I appreciated having the time to sit and talk with patients, caring for their whole well-being.

After that assignment, I was asked to work in Fort Nelson for a short 10-day placement. I was happy to return, having worked there years ago as a new grad. I was eager to help the hospital avoid a service interruption.

During my first shift, I was informed that two forest fires were burning outside of town, and we were placed on evacuation alert in case the fires moved in our direction.

I finished my night shift, went to bed, and hoped the fires would stay far from town.

When I woke up, I stepped outside to see a massive plume of smoke dangerously close to Fort Nelson. At the hospital, I was greeted by dozens of people packing boxes and making urgent phone calls to prepare for evacuation. I was told to fill my car with gas and pack my belongings, so I did.

By the time I returned to the hospital, patients’ families had been notified, and plans were in place to evacuate four wards, one emergency room, and seven long-term care patients.

Evacuating the hospital

Within hours, ambulatory and semi-ambulatory patients were loaded onto a school bus, while the other five non-ambulatory patients awaited ambulance and air ambulance transport. GoHealth BC nurse Maria Sunico and another agency nurse volunteered to ride on the bus with the residents as

immediately. By 1 a.m., the fire had shifted and was no longer heading directly toward the town. Once the last patient had been evacuated, we did a final hospital check, locked the doors, and made our way to safety.

Appreciation and gratitude

In the following days, I reflected on my experience in Fort Nelson. It was an exciting deployment full of adrenaline, adventure, and new experiences.

I want to express my appreciation for the Fort Nelson hospital staff. I was impressed by their calm, professional, and caring demeanour during a time that could have been chaotic. Working closely with EHS and the Patient Transfer Network was a rewarding experience, and I was proud to work alongside such competent professionals.

I also want to thank my GoHealth BC team. Cyrille (Cy), the program lead for all three of us GoHealth BC nurses in Fort Nelson, checked in with us multiple times throughout the night, long after her shift had ended. Her caring and thoughtful nature ensured we were safe, and I greatly appreciated her concern. The northern lights above provided an unforgettable view during that eventful night.

The next morning, we exchanged phone calls and texts with Cy and Joanne, one of our administrative assistants, to figure out our next steps and how to finish our contracts. They quickly booked us Airbnbs, and we felt well cared for. I’m incredibly grateful for the teamwork and communication from them.

they made their way to Dawson Creek. Their selfless decision ensured patients received quality care and attention, for which I was grateful.

By 9 p.m., we were told that if the winds didn’t shift within the next 90 minutes, the fire would likely reach town. We were also informed that we had to be out of the hospital by 11 p.m. because, by midnight, the hospital might no longer exist.

With that information, all we could do was wait for the ambulances to arrive. By this time, only the staff nurse, program lead, two administrators, maintenance staff, and I remained. We waited anxiously, wondering if everyone had evacuated safely.

By 11 p.m., all but two patients had been evacuated. A plane had been sent from Alberta, and another was dropping off a patient before returning

Thank you to everyone who made us feel valued and supported during this stressful experience. From Maria, who immediately volunteered to ride on a bus with patients to another town, to the hospital staff who made sure we had snacks, water, and a safe way out of town, this was a remarkable experience. I will never forget watching the glow of the fire from the parking lot, with the northern lights in the sky above.

I look forward to future deployments with GoHealth BC, hopefully with a little less adventure next time!

NORTHERN HEALTH PHOTO

Katelyn Goertzen woke up to see a plume of smoke nearby after her first night shift in Fort Nelson. During the night, the Northern LIghts appeared over the glow of the wildfire, making for an unforgettable view during the eventful night.

Local Sports

Don Nachbaur closing in on all-time WHL record

Wenatchee Wild coach returning to his Prince George roots this weekend to face the Cougars

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Don Nachbaur was worried.

In his first stint as head coach with the Seattle Thunderbirds in 1994, the team had a dreadful start with just one win and 11 losses. He was called into a meeting with general manager Bob Tory and team president Russ Williams.

“I thought I was going to get fired,” said Nachbaur. “They said to me, ‘We love the job you’re doing, and we’d like to add some money to your contract and give you another year.’ I almost fell out of my chair. But they gave me a vote of confidence.”

Under Nachbaur’s leadership, the Thunderbirds had a dramatic turnaround, finishing the season with a 42-28-2 record. Two years later, he guided them to the WHL final.

“We were expected to be last in our division, and I ended up being coach of the year,” he said. “I go back to how fragile coaching is. That moment they could have fired me, and I would have been out of coaching, and we wouldn’t be talking about 700 games. My coaching career could have been a lot different if that day had been different.”

Twenty-one years later, the coach who spent his formative years in Prince George is now the WHL’s third-winningest coach. At 66, he’s still going strong, entering his fourth stint in junior hockey and his first season as head coach of the Wenatchee Wild.

Heading into Wednesday’s game in Kamloops, Nachbaur had 714 wins, needing just 37 more to surpass Don Hay’s all-time WHL record of 750 wins. He reached the 700-win milestone on Nov. 20 in Kelowna.

“I was really fortunate. I had good teams, good players who bought into the game plan, and good staffs to work with. The other side is good health and staying in the game a long time,” said Nachbaur.

“I’m proud of the 700, but what I’m most proud of is how I helped mentor young players,” he said. “There were a lot of guys who went on to pro careers, but it’s the guys who didn’t make it to the pros—those who became RCMP officers, accountants, doctors—that I’m proud of. The discipline, getting up every day at a certain time, sticking to a routine—that’s what’s important in their lives.”

Nachbaur, whose nickname “Snack” was inspired by a chocolate confection, didn’t realize the impact he had on his players until returning to Kent, Wash., on Nov. 4, 2023, for the Seattle Thunderbirds’ retirement of Patrick Marleau’s No. 12 jersey.

“I got invited to go on the ice, and I think 22 guys showed up for that retirement,” he said.

“We went up to a suite, then to a restaurant where we ate, drank, and

reminisced. That’s when it hit me—the impact I had 30 years ago with those guys, who are all in their 40s now. They started a chat line called ‘Snackisms,’ things I said in the locker room that they still use in their businesses today.

A lot of times, you think the players aren’t hearing you, but those players heard everything.

“One player, Chris Thompson, who owns his own accounting firm in Prince Albert, sent me a message that said: ‘Always prepared, never surprised.’ I used to put that on top of the scouting report—know the other team better than they know themselves. He uses that saying every Monday with his accounting firm to get all his employees dialed in for the week. That’s what coaching is all about—teaching players.”

Nachbaur played 15 pro seasons as a centre, with NHL stops in Hartford,

Edmonton, and Philadelphia, nine years in the AHL, and a four-year stint in Austria. Drafted by the Whalers in the third round, 60th overall, in 1979, he didn’t play for Hartford until the 1980-81 season, the year after Gordie Howe retired. He was a teammate of Howe’s sons, Mark and Marty, and his hockey idol, Dave Keon, for two seasons.

“I was lucky, I got 15 years of fooling people,” Nachbaur chuckled.

He played 223 regular-season NHL games, recording 23 goals, 69 points, and 465 penalty minutes (including fights with Bob Probert, Tiger Williams, and Chris Nilan). He also played for two Flyers teams that reached the Stanley Cup final. He appeared in seven playoff games in 1987 and took warm-ups in the first game of the final series against the Oilers that year.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Wenatchee Wild head coach Don Nachbaur returns to his old stomping grounds in Prince George this weekend at CN Centre to take on the Cougars.

WHL coach got his start in Prince George minor sports

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

“It was a long grind, a month and a half, and we lost in Game 7, but the Oilers were a good team,” he said.

Born in Kitimat, Nachbaur lived in Inuvik, Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Kamloops, and Surrey before the family settled in Prince George when he was 10. Nachbaur, a 1977 graduate of Prince George Secondary School, grew up in Spruceland on Vedder Crescent. He played school sports, Little League baseball at Rainbow Park, and was a quarterback for the Spruceland Bombers in the Prince George Minor Football Association. He and Darcy Rota would sometimes box at the Spruce City Boxing Club.

“I learned how to hit, probably not in hockey, most likely in football,” he said. “I liked tackling guys, and when you’re carrying the ball, you’re going shoulder to shoulder with guys. I was geared to the physical side of football.

“As a kid, I did all the sports. Maybe that’s the difference between kids today. Back then, hockey season was from September to April, and after that, you played baseball, football, lacrosse, and school sports. All those other sports were good for me.”

Nachbaur left Prince George after bantam hockey. At 17, he attended the Calgary Centennials’ WHL camp and was sent to their BCJHL farm team in Merritt. The following year, he made the cut for Calgary’s team in the 1977-78 season.

“The team was sold to a businessman in Billings, and we were told in the middle of training camp we’d be moving to Billings. Most of us had no clue where Billings, Montana was,” said Nachbaur. “That year, we started with Andy Moog and Mike Vernon as our goalies— until Mike got traded to the Calgary Wranglers.”

One of his teammates in Billings was Jim Dodds of Prince George, and 10 years later, Nachbaur married his sister, Kim Dodds.

“It turned out to be a great place to play,” said Nachbaur. “I was fortunate to have a really good coach, Dave King,

who went on to coach the Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames, and Phoenix Coyotes. He mentored me to be a pro, teaching me a lot about the physical side and competing. I thought I was a skilled player, but he got that part out of me, and when I got to the NHL, I realized how important that side of the game was for me.”

The Bighorns went 20 games deep into the 1978 playoffs before being swept in the final by the New Westminster Bruins, who went on to win the Memorial Cup. Nachbaur set a league record that season with 18 playoff goals and tied another with five goals in one game in a 7-4 win over New West in the round-robin tournament.

He’ll never forget his first game in the WHL, in New Westminster. The Bighorns had just acquired tough guy Brent Gogol, who warned his teammates there would be trouble.

“Nobody knew him, and he said in the locker room, ‘I’m going to start a brawl, there’s a player on that team, and I’m going to get him,’” said Nachbaur. “No sooner did we get out for warm-ups, and we had a 30-minute pre-game brawl—no linesmen, no referees, no policemen— nothing on the ice. We fought until the teams separated. We had three players on my team carried off the ice injured after getting sucker-punched, knocked out. That was the old days, my first time in Queens Park Arena.”

In Vancouver on March 2, Nachbaur saw Ernie McLean, coach of the New West Bruins, who is now 94.

“They were called the Big Bad Bruins,

and they played a tough, physical style. We had a long season and a long playoffs fighting those guys,” he said.

One of the highlights of his playing career came in 1988 when he was captain of the Hershey Bears, who went 12-0 in the playoffs and won the Calder Cup.

Before taking over the Wild bench last summer, Nachbaur spent two seasons as an associate coach with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers from 2022-24. There, he coached future NHLers such as Connor Zary, Jakob Pelletier, and goalie Dustin Wolf, a Calder Trophy candidate this season with the Flames.

“I’ve worked with a lot of young goaltenders, including Carey Price, and (Wolf) was as dialed in as a first-year guy in the AHL,” said Nachbaur. “He won back-to-back Goaltender of the Year awards, and you knew from his work ethic—he came out early and stayed late—that those professional traits were in him from the start. I’m not surprised he’s had success. He earned it because he worked for it.

“He’s not a big guy, but he reads plays and gets to the puck in time. He’s not passive. He’s very aggressive. He reminds me of Jonathan Quick when I had him in L.A.”

Nachbaur was WHL Coach of the Year for the second time in 2008 when he led the Tri-City Americans to a 52-16-2-2 record and set a franchise record with 108 points. His third Dunc McCallum Memorial Award came in 2010-11 during his first of seven seasons with the Spokane Chiefs.

Nachbaur is looking forward to returning to Prince George this weekend to face the Cougars. The Wild are the remnants of the former Winnipeg Ice franchise, which moved to Wenatchee in 2023. They started the week three points behind Seattle and now have five games left, including two in Prince George at CN Centre on Friday and Saturday. The Cougars won both games in Wenatchee last week by identical 4-3 scores.

“I give our guys a lot of credit,” said Nachbaur. “We work hard, we compete hard, we play structured, but we’ve made mistakes with the puck, which has cost us some games. I respect what the guys have done.

“We’ve battled injuries all year, which has meant I haven’t had all four lines intact every night. Continuity’s been a real problem.”

Nachbaur also noted the challenge of playing three games in three nights, which has contributed to injuries and fatigue.

“That’s all part of being dialed in every night,” he said. “This league teaches you mental toughness and focus.”

In 2002, Nachbaur bought a home in Richland, Wash., just before joining the Tri-City Americans. He has kept that as his base since then. His son Daniel, a former BCHL forward with Merritt and Prince George, played two hours away in Wenatchee with the Wild in their first year as an expansion team before moving on to UMass-Lowell.

Nachbaur says he has a winning record in Prince George because he’s had such strong teams. He last coached at CN Centre on Feb. 14, 2017, with Spokane. His parents, Walter and Melitta, have passed away, and his sister Judy lives on Vancouver Island, but his older brother Andy still lives in Prince George, as do his wife’s brother and sister and their families.

“I’ll be nice to get up there not just to see them but to catch up with old coaches, old players, and people I went to high school with,” he said. “Life’s too short. I’m looking forward to getting back to my roots.”

EBAY PHOTO

Don Nachbaur as he appeared early in his pro career after he was drafted in 1979 by the Hartford Whalers.

MARCH 2025

kane Chiefs in Victoria, the Cougars Wild Friday and Saturday at CN Centre.

PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS

Speed skaters heat up the ice

Keanna Royce of Port Coquitlam forces her way to the front of a close packed field in the Neo Jr./Jr. Women 1000m

A Final event Sunday at the BC Short Track Championships, held at Kin 1 over the weekend.

College Heights savours taste of AAA basketball victory

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

The College Heights Cougars found their winning stride Friday at the BC triple-A boys basketball provincial championship at Langley Events Centre.

They beat the Caledonia Kermodes of Terrace 61-41 for their first win after two losses to start the 16-team tournament.

North Central zone MVP Tolu Bankole scored 12 points in the first quarter to stake the Cougars to a 14-10 lead after 10 minutes and they stretched that gap to 26-18 by the half.

Bankole collected a game-high 23 points and Jeona Gill had 17 to move College Heights into the 13th-place playoff Saturday at 1:15 p.m. against Edward Milne Wolverines of Sooke.

Meanwhile, in the double-A boys tournament, also being played in Langley, Grade 9 forward Zeke Ferguson provided the margin of victory for the Nechako Valley Vikings of Vanderhoof in a 65-63 thriller over the Fernie Falcons.

Ferguson drew a foul in the dying seconds of the game and nailed both his free throws. The Falcons had just come back to tie the game with consecutive buckets that wiped out the Vikings’ 63-59 lead.

Player of the game Dwayne Mueller finished with a team-high 16 points for the Vikings, backed by Kole Shoesmith’s

Nechako Valley defenders Linden Buchanan (12) and James Walker make life difficult for Amir Mojarradi of the Collingwood Cavaliers during BC double-A senior boys basketball championship opening round on Wednesday, March 5 at the Langley Events Centre’s South Court.

15 points and 10-point game from Thomas Cross.

Nechako Valley will play for 13th against Charles Hays Rainmakers pf Prince Rupert Saturday at 1 p.m.

In the quad-A tournament, the Prince George Polars finished up their tournament with a 79-66 loss to the Mount Baker Wild of Cranbrook in the 15th-place playoff Friday afternoon.

It was the second loss of the day for PGSS (0-4), who fell 94-74 in a morning game Friday to the Semiahmoo

Thunderbirds of Surrey. Conor Burbee Harsh Cheema and Rvnoor Thandi each shot 14 points for the Polars, while JB Burguillos hit for 13.

The single-A Northside Northstars and double-A Nechako Valley Vikings, both champions of the North Central zone, each came out on top in their 13th-place playoff games to end their respective provincial tournaments on a winning note.

On the strength of a 29-point performance from Graham Yoder, the

Northstars beat St. Ann’s Academy 53-48 on Saturday.

The Cedars Christian Eagles lost 72-47 to the Ucluelet Warriors in the game to decide 15th and 16th place. Kaeden Paulsen led Cedars with 19 points.

St. John’s School Eagles captured the single-A B.C. banner with an 87-82 win over the Unity Christian Flames of Chilliwack.

In the double-A tournament, Nechako Valley topped the Charles Hays Rainmakers of Prince Rupert 57-46 for 13th place.

For the Vikings, Kole Shoesmith had 14 points, Dayne Mueller had 11, and Thomas Cross finished with 10.

The Pacific Academy Breakers of Surrey defeated the Summerland Rockets 80-69 for the double-A provincial title. At the triple-A championship, the College Heights Cougars lost 62-55 to the Edward Milne Wolverines of Sooke in the battle for 13th place.

Lucas Lucarelli, with 16 points, and Jeona Gill, with 10, paced the Cougar offence.

The Windsor Wolves of North Vancouver defeated the St. Thomas More Collegiate Knights of Burnaby 66-58 in the triple-A final.

In the quad-A tournament, the Prince George Polars finished 16th.

PGSS wrapped up the season on Friday with a 79-66 loss to the Mount Baker Wild of Cranbrook.

Cariboo Cougars complete first-round playoff sweep

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

The Cariboo Cougars lived up to their BC Elite Hockey League U18 triple-A first-round playoff expectations.

The top-seeded Cougars completed a two-game series sweep of the Thompson Blazers with a 3-0 triumph Saturday at Kin 2.

Nicolas Gendron, on a power play, and Jaxon Larmand, while shorthanded, staked the Cats to a 2-0 lead in the first period and Cariboo scoring leader Rylan Bissett capped it with a goal late in the third period.

Andrik Lygas stopped all 21 shots for the shutout as his team outshot the Blazers 46-21.

Cariboo opened the playoffs Friday at Kin 2 with a 9-4 win.

Bissett and Larmand each fired a pair in the series opener. Nicholas Gendron, Beau Murray, Riley Lettington, Jack Tidsbury and Ben Fomenoff also got into the scoring act.

Isaac Gossen, Levi Rotvold, Kieran McMillan and Linden Dellman were the Blazers’ goalscorers.

Jaxson Dikur made 31 saves in net for the Cougars, who held a 51-31 shot advantage.

The Cougars advance to the semifinals against Vancouver North West Hawks starting Friday at Kin 1 (3:45 p.m.).

Game 2 is set for Saturday at 3 p.m., Kin 1. If Game 3 is needed that would be played Sunday at 9 a.m.

The Cougars clinched first place with a 26-6-3-1 record, while the Hawks (1613-3-4) finished fourth.

The other semifinal pits the second-place Valley West Giants (25-0-0-1) against the third-place Okanagan Rockets (21-12-2-1).

Meanwhile, in the U18 triple-A female

division, the Northern Capitals of Prince George begin their playoff quest Friday in Langley.

The second-place Rush (16-12-1-3) finished three points ahead of the thirdplace Capitals (16-15-0-1) in the 32-game regular season.

Game 1 is set for Friday at 6:15 p.m. in Langley, with Game 2 follow Saturday at 1:30 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Sunday.

The U15 Cariboo Cougars went 3-1 in the playoff tournament, losing 5-1 to Okanagan Rockets in the championship game March 2 in Langley.

The U17 Cariboo Cougars pushed the Vancouver North West Hawks to the limit in their playoff series in North Vancouver (Feb. 28-March 2). The Cougars lost Game 1 3-1, defeated the Hawks 3-1 in Game 2, then lost 7-2 in the deciding game.

New York Mets send Jared Young to triple-A Syracuse

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

The New York Mets on Sunday sent infielder/outfielder Jared Young of Prince George to their triple-A affiliate Syracuse.

Young signed a major league contract with the Mets on Dec. 16 and was expected to provide fielding depth and left-handed power at the plate at a time when incumbent first baseman Pete Alonso appeared to be heading to another team as a free agent.

But that situation changed Feb. 12

when the all-star slugger re-signed with the Mets after agreeing to a two-year contract worth $54 million. In 19 games in spring training Young had four hits for a .211 batting average. His on-base percentage was .348 and he had a .559 OPS (on-base plus slugging average).

Young was coming off two solid

seasons of triple-A and a stint in the Korean Baseball Organization.

In 90 games with the Iowa Cubs in 2023 he hit .310, had a .417 slugging average and .557 on-base percentage. The Memphis Redbirds claimed him off waivers that winter and Young continued to deliver at the plate in 2024, posting a .285/.411/.506 slash line with 11 home runs.

He signed with Korea in late July 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.

Syracuse, in upstate New York, is just 318 km from New York City and Young will be ready if at any point in the season the Mets call him up.

According to CBS Sports: “The 29-year-old has some experience in the corner outfield and at third base, but since he profiles best defensively at first base, he may not be in line for much action with the Mets unless Pete Alonso misses time with an injury.”

The Syracuse Mets open their season on the road in Worcester, Mass., on March 28.

Thompson Blazers defenceman Kieran Mcmillan tries to guard Cariboo Cougars forward Brett Peebles Saturday at Kin 2.

Young

Life Events

In Loving Memory

Walter Eberle

February 17, 1945 to March 14, 2022

I cried when you passed away, I still cry today. Although I loved you dearly, I couldn’t make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, Hard working hands at rest. God broke my heart to prove to me he only takes the best

William John Tedford

August 27, 1951 - February 28, 2025

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Bill Tedford. Bill was a loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend.

He is survived by his children Ryan, Nicole (Jeremia), and Kristin (Mike), grandchildren Brynn, Rhya, Emery, and Rhett, and siblings Robb, Jeannie, and George, along with many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Bill was a respected member of the Prince George construction community and enjoyed a peaceful retirement, gardening and working in his woodshop. He was well-loved by his neighbors and everyone who knew him.

Bill passed away at the University of Northern British Columbia Hospital with his family by his side.

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you plant a vegetable garden in his memory.

He will be deeply missed, but his memory will live on in the hearts of those who loved him.

Marianne

“Carole” Langley

December 10, 1945 - March 2, 2025

“But, of course, it isn’t really Good-bye, because the Forest will always be there…and anybody who is Friendly with Bears can find it.”

A.A. Milne

Marianne “Carole” Langley passed away on March 2, 2025 at the age of 79. Carole was a long-time resident of Prince George having moved from Chilliwack to Prince George at nine years of age. She grew up on Patricia Boulevard and maintained life-long friendships from that era.

Carole was a loving mother and grandmother. Family was paramount to her. She had a wicked ability to bake a perfect pie crust and family gatherings always benefited from her culinary skills. Her green thumb was evident in her beautiful flowers and in her vegetable harvests. Carole excelled at problem solving. She was adept at puzzles, scrabble and cards. She enjoyed travels especially when family were involved.

Carole had a keen sense of humour and her laughter was contagious. Her kindness was evident to people and especially to her four-legged friends which were many over the years.

Carole was predeceased by her parents William and Lily Robertson, and brother Wayne Robertson. She is survived by her loving husband Patrick Langley (married 61 years), daughter Anita Langley (Elio), daughter Joanna Langley, son Sean Langley (May), grandchildren, Megan, Marlo, Sam, Max, Jordan, Cameron, Erica, sisters Anita Robertson, Wendy Proverbs (Trevor), brother Robert Robertson, and many nieces and nephews and good friends.

Celebration of life to be held in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the SPCA or to a charity of your choice.

January 12, 1958 - March 2, 2025

Donna Heildelbach age 67 of Prince George, BC. passed away on March 2, 2025.

Donna is surviced by husband Dave, Sparky the dog, her daughter Tammy, mother Moureen, Dave’s children, Courtenay, Jay and families, sister Rosemary, Holly and families, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Predeceased by her father Orville Claffey Donna suffered for a long time but isn’t suffering anymore. She ejoyed music, playing bingo and signing ‘Happy Birthday’ to everyone. She is now spending time with family and friends. She is now with her dad. No service by request. Family gathering at a later date

Robert Lorne Sigurdson

May 21, 1939- February 22, 2025

Robert Lorne Sigurdson, born Vancouver May 21, 1939 passed quickly on February 22, 2025.

Predeceased by his beautiful wife Barbara and leaving behind his extended family Jana & Scott, Gord & Gloria, 5 loving grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Gramps loved to tell stories from his past. As a child Bob went to work early, assisting the milkman on horse and cart, soon after to take on a lead role organizing newspaper delivery. As an adult Bob had a natural talent for numbers and a successful career as a Project Administrator for Standard General and Dillingham. Gramps & Gran enjoyed time with family, socializing with friends & travel.

We will miss the cheekiness, the laughter, and the love we shared.

Donna Heildelbach

ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING

LOST CONTACT

Looking for former roomate; Robert Adam Please contact; Robert Adams 250-960-2274

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Thursday, May 8, 2025

4:30pm - 6:30pm

4:30pm to 6:30pm

Uda Dune Baiyoh, House of Ancestors

The Exploration Place 333 Becott Place

Prince George, BC

355 Victoria Street, Prince George.

Please join us for the presentation of the 2023 Annual Report and Operational Review. This meeting will also include a Community Consultation Committee meeting.

Please join us for the presentation of the 2024 Annual Report and Operational Review. This meeting will also include a Community Consultation Committee meeting.

1. Name the first artist to release “Angel of the Morning.”

2. Who wrote and released “I Was Made to Love Her”?

3. Name the singersongwriter who released “Donna the Prima Donna.”

4. Who released “Babe” in 1979?

1. Which group released “Rag Doll”?

Answers

2. Name the artist who wrote and released “Dreamy Eyes.”

3. Which group released “GreenEyed Lady”?

1. Singer-songwriter Chip Taylor, in 1967. But it was Merrilee Rush who made the song a hit in 1968, earning her a Grammy.

4. Who wrote and released “Cracklin’ Rosie”?

2. Stevie Wonder, in 1967. The song almost made it to the top of the chart but was blocked from the No. 1 slot by “Light My Fire.”

5. Name the song that contains this lyric: “If I could take my pick of all the girls I’ve ever known, Then I’d come and pick you out to be my very own.”

Answers

3. Dion (born Dion Francis DiMucci) in 1963. Dion had been invited to fly on the ill-fated plane that crashed and killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson (the Big Bopper) on Feb. 3, 1959, but didn’t want the expense of the ticket.

1. The Four Seasons, in 1964. The song spent two weeks at the top of the Hot 100 chart and reached No. 1 in Canada as well.

4. Styx. It was used in the 1999 film “Big Daddy.”

2. Johnny Tillotson, in 1958. The song was his first single and made it on to the Hot 100 chart. Tillotson

Sekani Forest Products

Public Notice: Forest Operations Map Review and Invitation for Comment.

In accordance with the Forest Range and Practices Act, Sekani Forest Products and Spectrum Resource Group invites the public to review its Forest Operations Maps (FOM ID: 2228) in the Mackenzie Natural Resource District. The FOM describes areas proposed for Cutting Permit and Road Permit development within the next three years starting on April 30th, 2025, and ending on April 29th, 2028. We welcome your comments and feedback during the review period starting March 13th, 2025. Please, submit your comments by April 13th, 2025.

The map is accessible for review and comment submission online at:

https://fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects#publicNotices

Alternatively, in-person review and comments can be scheduled and completed at the following location during regular office hours (Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM): 1960 Robertson Road, Prince George, BC, V2N1X6

Comments may also be submitted by mail to the above address or submitted via phone or email at:

1-250-564-0383; etorres@srg.ca

Quesnel Tillicum Society seeks a full time (35 hours/week)

FAMILY LAW ADVOCATE

To provide legal information, referrals, legal advice, legal representation, public legal education and related supports with other services in the Quesnel Community.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

• A law degree or paralegal training with knowledge and experience in the areas of family law – knowledge of Child Protection

• Maturity and capacity to manage a demanding case load while maintaining work/life balance when working with a diverse client base who often face difficult life circumstances

• Aptitude for working effectively with clients with diverse backgrounds

• Strong conflict resolution and problem-solving skills

• Ability to work independently as well as seek assistance/advice/direction as appropriate

• Superior file management and experience with client and professional ethics

• Appropriate computer and other technological literacy

• Good knowledge of legal community and social services available to clients

Salary is dependent upon experience and qualifications. The successful applicant is eligible for a benefits package with QTS. This position is subject to funding from the Law Foundation of BC

Please send electronic resumes with cover letter to Tony Goulet - Executive Director; tony.goulet@qnfc.bc.ca

In person; Quesnel Tillicum Society, 319 North Fraser Drive, Quesnel, BC, V2J 1Y9

Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. We thank all individuals who have submitted an application for their interest.

Application Deadline: Friday March 21, 2025 (3:30pm)

*On March 24, 1965, the first “teach-in” was conducted at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, in which 200 faculty members led special anti-war seminars while regular classes were canceled and rallies and speeches held sway for 12 hours.

* On March 25, 2001, Icelandic

• On Nov. 11, 1831, Nat Turner, an American slave and educated minister who believed that he’d been chosen by God to lead his people into freedom, was hanged in Jerusalem, Virginia, for leading a revolt with 75 followers through Southampton County, killing about 60 white people.

ARIES(March 21 to April 19) Consider moving beyond the usual methods to find a more creative means of handling a difficult on-the-job situation. Avoid confrontation and aim for cooperation instead.

actress and pop singer Bjork made an unforgettable appearance at the 73rd annual Academy Awards in a nude body stocking draped with a large, fake white swan. As if that weren’t enough, the artist then proceeded to “lay” six giant ostrich eggs. Whatever popular opinion said about the look, the dress went on to be honored by the Museum of Modern Art and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

* On March 26, 1804, President Thomas Jefferson attended a public party at the Senate and led a diverse crowd in eating an enormous loaf of bread dubbed the “mammoth loaf.” The

bread had been baked to go with the remnants of a giant block of cheese.

* On March 27, 1929, President Herbert Hoover had a phone installed at his desk in the Oval Office of the White House. It took a while to get the line working correctly and Hoover complained to aides when his son was unable to reach him from an outside line. Previously, Hoover had used a phone located in the foyer just outside the Oval Office.

* On March 28, 1814, the funeral of Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin, inventor of the execution device that bore his name, took place outside of Paris, France.

Guillotin had given the contraption to the French as a “philanthropic gesture” and was upset at how his reputation had suffered afterward when it became closely identified with political executions and abuses during the French Terror after the Revolution.

* On March 29, 1982, 19-year-old North Carolina freshman Michael Jordan scored a 16-foot jump shot with only 15 seconds left to give the Tar Heels a 63-62 win over Georgetown for the NCAA tournament championship. “To tell the truth,” he said to New Orleans reporters, “I didn’t see it go in. I didn’t want to look.”

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A career change offering what you want in money and responsibilities could involve moving to a new location. Discuss this with your family members before making a decision.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Planning for the future is fine, especially if you include the roles that family members may be asked to play. But don’t be surprised if some hidden emotions are revealed in the process.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Your watchwords this week are “focus, focus, focus.” Don’t let yourself be distracted from what you set out to do. There’ll be time later to look over other possibilities.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) A seasonal change creates a new look for the outdoors. It also inspires Taureans to redo their own environments, so this is a good week to start redoing both your home and workplace. Enjoy!

• On Nov. 12, 1969, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh revealed the extent of the U.S. Army’s charges against 1st Lt. William L. Calley at My Lai, Vietnam, in a cable picked up by more than 30 newspapers, saying that “The Army says he [Calley] deliberately murdered at least 109 Vietnamese civilians during a searchand-destroy mission in March 1968, in a Viet Cong stronghold known as ‘Pinkville.’”

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A misunderstanding needs to be straightened out so the wrong impression isn’t allowed to stand. If necessary, offer to support the use of a third party to act as an impartial arbitrator.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Feeling miffed over how you believe you were treated is understandable. But before you decide to “set things straight,” make sure that the whole thing wasn’t just a misinterpretation of the facts.

• On Nov. 13, 1979, Philadelphia 76ers center Darryl Dawkins leaped over Kansas City Kings forward Bill Robinzine for a memorable slam dunk that shattered the fiberglass backboard. His equally memorable comment on the move, which was not his last and the sound of which spectators likened to a bomb going off: “It wasn’t really a safe thing to do, but it was a Darryl Dawkins thing to do.”

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Showing you care makes it easier to build trust and gain an advantage in handling a delicate situation. What you learn from this experience will also help you understand yourself better.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Making choices highlights much of the week, and you have a head start here, thanks to your ability to grasp the facts of a situation and interpret them in a clear-cut manner.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Carrying a torch can be a two-way situation: It can either keep you tied to the past or help light your way to the future. The choice, as always, has to be yours.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A workplace opportunity might require changes that you’re not keen on making. Discuss the plusses and minuses with someone familiar with the situation before you make a decision.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Love and romance are strong in your aspect this week. If you’ve already met the right person, expect your relationship to grow. And if you’re still looking, odds are, you’ll soon be finding what you want!

• On Nov. 14, 1882, outlaw Frank “Buckskin” Leslie shot and killed Billy “The Kid” Claiborne, who had publicly challenged him, in Tombstone, Arizona.

• On Nov. 15, 1984, Baby Fae, a month old infant who received the world’s first baboon heart transplant, died at California’s Loma Linda University 20 days after the operation. Three other people had received animal heart transplants, but none survived longer than a few days.

• On Nov. 16, 2001, British author J.K. Rowling’s most famous and beloved creation, the bespectacled boy wizard Harry Potter (played by Daniel Radcliffe in his first major role), made his silver-screen debut in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” which went on to become one of the highestgrossing movies in history.

Homes & Living

Storing Winter Equipment: A Guide to Maintenance and Care

As the winter season draws to a close, proper maintenance and storage of your winter equipment become crucial to ensure their longevity and peak performance. This comprehensive guide will help you take care of essential winter tools like snow blowers, snow shovels, and other cold-weather gear, making sure they are ready for next year’s snowy adventures.

Thorough Cleaning. The first step in winter equipment maintenance is cleaning. Take time to remove any snow, ice, salt, or debris from your equipment, paying special attention to moving parts and hard-to-reach areas. Use a pressure washer or stiff brush to scrub away any stubborn buildup. Removing residue will help prevent rust and corrosion from forming during storage.

Fluid Management\. Old oil and fuel can cause engine problems and

degrade over time. To avoid this, drain or stabilize fuel using a fuel stabilizer. Next, change the oil and check hydraulic fluids to ensure they are fresh. Consult your owner’s manual for specific fluid recommendations. Fresh fluids will help prevent corrosion and ensure a smoother start-up when the winter season returns.

Component Inspection. Inspect belts, cables, and fasteners for signs of wear and tear. Replace any damaged or worn parts to maintain your equipment’s performance and prevent potential breakdowns. Checking these components will help extend your equipment’s lifespan and save you from future headaches.

Lubrication of Moving Parts. Lubricating moving parts, such as chains and gears, is essential to keep your equipment functioning smoothly and prevent rust. Consult your owner’s manual for the appropriate lubricants

and application methods for your specific model. Proper lubrication ensures optimal performance when you need your equipment most.

Safe Storage. Choose a dry, covered location for storing your winter equipment, such as a garage or shed. If you must store items outside, invest in a waterproof cover to protect them from the elements. Additionally, keep storage areas free from pests and rodents that may cause damage to your equipment’s components.

Proper care, maintenance, and storage of your winter equipment will help ensure they remain in optimal condition, ready for when the snow starts to fall once again. By taking the time to perform these essential tasks, you can prolong the life of your investment and stay prepared for the next winter season. Remember to consult your owner’s manual for any specific maintenance requirements and

recommendations for your particular make and model.

Get ready for hiking season

As

Hiking

and maintain overall health. However, preparing for hiking season requires some thoughtful planning

ensure safety and enjoyment on the trails.

First and foremost, it’s essential to assess your current fitness level. Hiking can be physically demanding, especially on uneven terrain. Start with shorter, less challenging hikes to build your stamina and gradually increase the difficulty as your fitness improves. Incorporating regular cardiovascular exercises, such as walking, swimming, or cycling, into your routine can help prepare your body for the demands of hiking.

Equally important is strength training. Focus on exercises that target your legs, core, and upper body. Strong leg muscles will help you navigate steep inclines and descents, while a strong core will improve your balance and stability. Upper body strength is

also crucial for using trekking poles, which can reduce the strain on your knees and provide additional support.

Proper footwear is a key component of a successful hike. Invest in a good pair of hiking boots that provide ample support and have a sturdy grip. Make sure to break them in before embarking on longer hikes to avoid blisters and discomfort. Additionally, consider using moisture-wicking socks to keep your feet dry and prevent chafing.

Hydration and nutrition are vital aspects of hiking preparation. Always carry enough water to stay hydrated, especially on longer hikes. Dehydration can lead to fatigue and other health issues, so it’s important to drink water regularly, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Pack nutritious snacks, such as nuts, dried fruit, and energy bars, to keep your energy levels up throughout the hike.

Safety should always be a top priority. Before heading out, check the weather forecast and trail conditions. Inform someone of your hiking plans, including your expected return time.

Carry a fully charged cell phone, a map, and a compass, even if you’re familiar with the trail. It’s also wise to pack a basic first aid kit, including bandages, antiseptic wipes, and any personal medications you may need. Dressing appropriately for the weather is crucial. Layering is the best approach, as it allows you to adjust your clothing based on changing conditions. Start with a moisturewicking base layer to keep sweat away from your skin, add an insulating layer for warmth, and top it off with a waterproof and windproof outer layer. Don’t forget a hat and sunglasses to protect yourself from the sun.

Lastly, consider joining a hiking group or club. Hiking with others can provide motivation, companionship, and an added layer of safety. Many communities have groups specifically for older adults, offering a supportive environment to enjoy the outdoors together.

By taking these steps to prepare for hiking season, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable experience on the

trails. Embrace the beauty of nature, stay active, and make the most of this wonderful outdoor activity. Happy hiking!