Prince George Citizen May 8, 2025

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL PROCESS

• Alternative Approval Process for the following:

• “City of Prince George Equipment Financing Bylaw No. 9532, 2025”

• “Stormwater System Renewal Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 9533, 2025”

• “Civic Centre BAS & Chiller Renewal Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 9534, 2025”

OVERVIEW: At its February 3, 2025 meeting, Prince George City Council gave

first three readings to “City of Prince George Equipment Financing Bylaw No. 9532, 2025”, “Stormwater System Renewal Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 9533, 2025”, and “Civic Centre BAS & Chiller Renewal Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 9534, 2025,” which would authorize funding the Equipment Financing Program, Stormwater System Renewal Program, and Civic Centre BAS & Chiller Renewal through Municipal Finance Authority (MFA) debt funding.

Equipment Financing Program

The annual replacement and addition of vehicles and capital equipment are

financed through the MFA Equipment Financing Program. The following capital projects are included in this Bylaw:

• #0431 – Mobile Equipment Replacement - $4,178,000

• #3208 – Janitorial Equipment – Replace Floor Scrubbers - $20,000

• #3406 – Fire Services – Hose Renewal - $50,000

• #3442 – Fleet Column Lifts Hoist System Renewal - $140,000

• #3443 – Tractor With Flail Mower New – $400,000

• 2025 Service Enhancement - Arborists Equipment - $701,500

Stormwater System Renewal Program

Project #3321 is part of annual stormwater system renewal program which includes activities that return the service capability of an asset up to that which it had originally provided. This includes relining, full replacement of existing assets and disposal of old assets, lowering of operating costs, and bringing an asset up to current code/standards. The renewal program will include, but is not limited to, stormwater green infrastructure, ponds, outfalls, storm mains, culverts, armoring, recharge chambers, catch basins, manholes, service connections, flood pumps, oil grit separators, ditch renewal, electrical, SCADA, communications, property acquisitions and necessary encumbrances. Renewing the stormwater system is essential to prevent flooding, erosion, sedimentation/degradation of water quality and negative impact on aquatic life.

Civic Centre BAS & Chiller Renewal

Project #3280 is for the replacement and renewal of the Civic Centre’s building automation system (BAS) which controls the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system as well as the air conditioner and associated valves, dampers, electric motors, temperature stats and flow meters.

AREA: This Alternative Approval Process applies to all electors of the City of Prince George.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:

• Bylaw No. 9532 authorizes borrowing up to $5,489,500 for the Equipment Financing program. The loan term will be up to 15 years, with estimated annual debt servicing costs of $604,430, which would result in a 0.40% increase in future tax levies.

• Bylaw No. 9533 authorizes borrowing up to $2,620,000 for the Stormwater System Renewal program (Project #3321). The loan term will be up to 20 years, with estimated annual debt servicing costs of $211,070 which would result in a 0.14 % increase in future tax levies.

• Bylaw No. 9534 authorizes borrowing up to $3,260,000 for the Civic Centre BAS & Chiller Renewal program. The loan term will be up to 20 years, with estimated annual debt servicing costs of $262,629, which would result in a 0.18% increase in future tax levies.

The timing of when these costs would impact the levy depends on when the work is completed, and the funds are borrowed; it is anticipated that these costs will impact tax levy beginning in 2026.

ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL PROCESS: In accordance with Section 86 of the Community Charter, the City of Prince George is seeking the approval of its electors through an Alternative Approval Process (AAP). Eligible electors opposed to the City funding these projects through MFA debt funding may petition against the adoption of Bylaw No. 9532, Bylaw No. 9533, and/or Bylaw No. 9534 by signing an elector response form.

City Council may proceed with adopting each of the Bylaws unless, by the deadline, at least 10% of the electors of the City of Prince George submit a valid elector response form relevant to each specific Bylaw. The number of eligible electors within the City of Prince George has been determined to be 56,291, and the number of valid elector response forms required to prevent the adoption of Bylaw Nos. 9532, 9533, and/or 9534 without first obtaining the assent of electors by referendum is 5,629 for each Bylaw.

ELECTOR RESPONSE FORMS: Elector responses must follow the format established by City Council. If you oppose the City’s borrowing to fund the projects outlined in Bylaw No. 9532, Bylaw No. 9533, and/or Bylaw No. 9534, you are required to submit a separate completed form for each Bylaw you oppose. Forms are available at Prince George City Hall or on the City’s website at www.princegeorge.ca/aap. Only electors of the City of Prince George are eligible to sign the forms.

DEADLINE: The deadline for submitting signed elector response forms to the City of Prince George is 5:00 p.m. on May 20, 2025. Emailed or faxed copies are acceptable, but they must include the elector’s written signature. Forms must be received by the deadline to be counted.

A copy of Bylaw No. 9532, Bylaw No. 9533, and Bylaw No. 9534 and related records are available for viewing at the 1st Floor and 5th Floor at City Hall during regular business hours (excluding statutory holidays) from the date of this notice until May 20, 2025, or on the website at www.princegeorge.ca/aap

For further information, or to obtain an elector response form, contact Legislative Services at the address below, by telephone at 250-561-7793, or by email at legislativeservices@princegeorge.ca.

Teacher who commited sexual assault is back in court

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A BC Supreme Court judge is scheduled to issue a decision June 3 on whether to stay Brendan Tomas Boylan’s November’s sexual assault charge.

Boylan was charged in November 2020 and tried intermittently between April 2023 and September 2024. At issue was a sexual encounter that began with mutual consent.

The victim, who lived with Boylan in 2018, testified that he ignored her pleas to stop. Instead, she told the court, he held her down on the bed, forcibly continued and caused her to be injured.

Boylan denied the allegations, but Justice Simon Coval found his testimony “implausible, not credible and untruthful” and deemed him guilty beyond reasonable doubt last Nov. 20.

During three days in Prince George and two days in Vancouver, Boylan contested Coval’s verdict on the grounds that his constitutional right to a timely trial was violated. S ubmissions concluded on schedule May 1 at the Law Courts in Vancouver,

so the May 29 continuation in Prince George is not needed.

Boylan’s trial lawyer was Jon Duncan, but he represented himself with assistance from Duncan associate Hazem Osso.

Boylan argued that the time period from the charge to the end of his trial was 46 months and nine days, which far exceeds the 30-month presumptive ceiling for a case in BC Supreme Court, as set by the Supreme Court of Canada in 2016.

Prosecutor John Cliffe rebutted Boylan’s arguments, by quoting from court transcripts about scheduling and delays. C

liffe reminded Coval of the defence decision to move the trial from Provincial Court to B.C. Supreme Court and to file numerous applications that added to the delays.

Coval has scheduled Sept. 8-10 as tentative dates for sentencing, should Boylan’s application fail.

After the November conviction, Boylan was listed in the BC. government online registry of teachers as having signed an undertaking not to practice “pending resolution of a matter before the commissioner or a hearing panel under Part 6 of the Teachers Act.”

The Amazing Race Canada shoots in Prince George

CITIZEN STAFF

One of Canada’s most popular reality competition shows turned up in Prince George last week.

Crews from The Amazing Race Canada were spotted near Mr. PG at the intersection of highways 16 and 97 on Friday, as well as at other locations around the city.

Coun. Cori Ramsay brought up the filming at the Monday, May 5 Prince George city council meeting, saying she’d heard that the show had filmed in front of Mr. PG and on the campus of the University of Northern BC.

Director of civic facilities Andy Beasley said more civic facilities were involved in the filming, though he wasn’t able to divulge more at that time.

Airing on CTV and hosted by Olympic gold medalist Jon Montgomery, the series features teams of two racing against each other in a globe-trotting competition.

Contestants rely on multiple forms of transportation, from planes and boats to taxis and bicycles, as they race to avoid elimination and stay in the game.

At the end of most legs, the last team to arrive at the designated Pit Stop is eliminated.

The race culminates at the Finish Line, where the first team to arrive is crowned the winner, taking home a grand prize of $250,000.

It’s unknown when the Prince George leg of the adventure will be aired on television.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY BOB MACKIN, LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER

Brendan Tomas Boylan (at right) of Prince George leaves Vancouver court with lawyer Hazem Osso on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. Boylan, who was convicted of sexual assault last year, can be seen to be wearing a Moose Hide pin, meant to be a pledge to honour and respect women and speak out against domestic violence.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY AARON BAUMBACH

Crews film an episode of The Amazing Race Canada near Mr. PG on Friday.

OPINION

BC Conservatves are right to be wary of Bill 15

KENNEDY GORDON Citizen Managing Editor

The BC NDP’s new Infrastructure Projects Act (Bill 15), introduced on May 1, is being called a measure to accelerate critical infrastructure in British Columbia.

But beneath the surface, the legislation carries troubling implications for transparency, accountability, and regional equity.

There are two pieces to this. The first allows cabinet to get around lengthy approval processes at the local government level.

The second allows cabinet to expedite projects through the provincial permitting process, although they have excluded LNG plants and pipelines as they do not deem it to be critical infrastructure.

While some local leaders, like Prince George Mayor Simon Yu, see the potential for partnership with a “more involved” provincial government, the concerns raised by BC Conservative MLA Kiel Giddens (Prince George-Mackenzie) — particularly about unchecked cabinet power and the potential for regional neglect — are justified. The public should take those concerns seriously.

Bill 15 would allow the NDP to bypass or override local approval processes, expedite environmental permits deemed “low risk” and unilaterally designate projects as being of “provincial significance.”

George, where residents have long felt the sting of policies crafted with the Lower Mainland in mind.

The north is too often treated as an afterthought — its economic drivers, infrastructure challenges, and development potential overshadowed by Vancouver-centric priorities.

renewable energy is undoubtedly part of the province’s future, it cannot be the only option permitted for fast-tracking.

Giddens hits the mark again, identifying the public procurement as another issue.

We

Nous reconnaissons

The government may think this sounds like efficiency, but it doesn’t sound like that to us.

As Giddens rightly pointed out, this creates a scenario where cabinet could rewrite local zoning bylaws or override regulations from Victoria without a single local public meeting.

That should concern everyone who values democratic process and regional autonomy.

The legislation echoes a troubling trend of centralization under the current NDP government. As Giddens noted, it bears a striking resemblance to Bill 7, which also gave cabinet significant powers, this time in response to foreign trade actions.

In both bills, the pattern is clear: Cabinet is granted broad authority to act without meaningful legislative or public oversight.

This isn’t streamlining; it’s sidelining.

These concerns are particularly acute for northern communities like Prince

In a democratic system, we expect opposition parties to question power, and Giddens is doing exactly that. His warnings about the potential for NDP overreach are grounded in legitimate concern, not only for democratic accountability, but for ensuring northern voices aren’t drowned out by the noise of Lower Mainland priorities.

Yu’s optimism is understandable. Prince George and Northern BC do need provincial and federal support for infrastructure to enable housing and industrial development. But that support must come with respect for local decision-making, not a blank cheque for Victoria to override councils and regional districts at will.

Yu may not be worried about provincial overreach today, but the wording of Bill 15 opens the door for it.

What’s more, the bill has a highly politicized vision of infrastructure, one that sidelines oil and gas in favour of renewables regardless of regional economic realities.

This is another cause for concern. Giddens’s point about energy sovereignty is well taken.

Northern BC depends on natural resource development, and while

Kennedy

Editor

The NDP’s preference for union-only contracts has limited bidding competition and driven up costs, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill and allowing more projects to fall under centralized control. Without fixing these procurement practices, the problem may only worsen.

Lastly, Giddens correctly draws attention to the increasingly murky trail of infrastructure spending.

As more projects come in over budget and the newly formed Ministry of Infrastructure expands its reach, it becomes harder for opposition MLAs, let alone the public, to scrutinize the money trail.

The province announcing that it intends to accelerate critical infrastructure projects needs to be more than a blank sheet with a signature at the bottom, to be filled in later. There needs to be clear guardrails on what the Act authorizes.

Giving the cabinet even more authority without fiscal transparency only fuels public mistrust.

If the government truly wants to work with municipalities, it should do so through partnership, not by granting itself the power to act alone.

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

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Premier David Eby speaks to reporters at the Civic Centre in Prince George during the BC Natural Resources Forum in January.

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Mass held for Pope Francis at Sacred Heart

Bishop Stephen Jensen held a mass for Pope Francis Friday, May 2 at Sacred Heart Cathedral. The mass was livestreamed so those unable to attend could take part. The pope died at The Vatican of a stroke Easter Monday at 88.

Angus Project

Vitreo Minerals Ltd. is proposing an open-pit silica sand mine with project components 10km east of Bear Lake, for use in natural gas production.

Invitation to Comment

April 28 to May 28 April 28 to May 28

The Environmental Assessment O ce is holding a public comment period on Vitreo Minerals Ltd.’s application for an environmental assessment certi cate, which details the project’s design, operations, potential e ects and proposed mitigation measures.

In-Person Open House

May 13, 2025

Bear Lake Community Hall #1918-461 Hart Lake Road, Bear Lake, B.C.

Online Info Session

Learn more about the project and tell us what is important to you: engage.eao.gov.bc.ca/Angus-AR engage.eao.gov.bc.ca/Angus-AR 4:00pm - 7:00pm PDT

To register, visit the link or QR code on the left 12:00pm - 1:30pm PDT May 21, 2025

You may also submit comments by mail: Angus Project, PO box 9426, Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, B.C. V8W 9V1

Giddens wary of province’s expanded powers in Bill 15

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

The Conservative MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie has some concerns about similarities between a new infrastructure bill introduced by Premier David Eby and Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma on Thursday, May 1 and the province’s proposed legislation responding to American tariffs on Canadian goods.

However, Prince George Mayor Simon Yu is more optimistic, telling The Citizen that he thought it was a sign the province is looking to be a bigger partner in infrastructure development.

“Like Bill 7, it is really giving cabinet a lot of arbitrary powers and that’s something I am concerned with,” said Kiel Giddens in a Friday, May 2 phone interview.

“Less accountability, limited oversight and really taking the legislative process out of some of the process for infrastructure projects.”

Bill 15, the Infrastructure Projects Act, would give the province the power to expedite selected projects through the approvals process, automatically approve some environmental permits deemed to be low risk and let the province assist school districts, health authorities and post-secondary institutions with some procurement.

It would also allow the province to work with local governments — municipalities and regional districts — to either waive or modify certain approval requirements for designated infrastructure projects or bypass local governments entirely if the infrastructure minister deems it important to circumvent delays.

On that last point, Eby said on May 1 that it would be used as a last resort.

Giddens said the legislation, if passed, would allow the provincial cabinet to rewrite zoning bylaws, override regulations and sideline municipal councils without needing to hold a single public meeting.

One of the problems Giddens’ party raised with Bill 7 is that it would allow the cabinet to bypass the legislature in

Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Kiel Giddens speaks at an event in February. Giddens has responded to the province’s new Bill 15 with some misgivings.

response to actions taken by a foreign jurisdiction. In both cases, Giddens said it was a threat to public transparency.

“That’s a real problem,” Giddens said of Bill 15. “And I think local governments will have a serious concern with this as well.”

He also said it would continue to trend of the NDP picking winners and losers “as opposed to having private sector-led projects that actually make sense.”

Public procurement practices, he said, have been arbitrary under the government, like only using union contractors on projects. He said that has inflated the cost of public projects by limiting bidding, which is bad for both taxpayers and workers.

For both Bill 15 and Bill 14, another piece of legislation aimed at streamlining permitting for renewable energy products, Giddens said while he supports energy projects led by sound economics, he doesn’t want to see them driven by government politics.

“I worry about an over-reliance on

Legislature is reviewing budget estimates and in looking at the creation of the Ministry of Infrastructure, he feels it’s getting harder to figure out where money in the government is going as infrastructure projects keep coming in over budget.

Because of that, he said he’s worried about Bill 15 giving cabinet more authority in these matters.

Also reached by phone on May 2, Mayor Yu said he’d taken a first glance at the bill and spoken to Giddens about it briefly during a discussion at the Minerals North conference at the Civic Centre.

“I was really glad this bill came forward,” Yu said. “I think government realized Bill 44 ain’t going to work unless infrastructure — the water, sewer, the roads and all the infrastructure to support these housing densities — is there.”

Bill 44 was the legislation passed by the provincial government in their last term promoting the construction of small-scale, multi-unit housing.

wind projects just because it’s the politically expedient thing to do, not because it makes the most sense for the power generation capacity that we actually need for power in this province,” Giddens said.

Under Bill 15, the province would have the power to designate some projects as being of provincial significance so they can be expedited, including public infrastructure, critical mineral supply, food or water security, human health and safety, trade diversification, access to markets, post-disaster recovery and others.

However, Eby told reporters on May 1 that the energy projects would have to be renewables, not oil- and gas-related.

“I think we absolutely need oil and gas projects now,” Giddens said. “Especially at a time when our economic sovereignty is on the line. We rely on pipelines and oil and gas infrastructure. The risk to the Tidewater Renewables refinery nearly closing shows how fragile our energy sovereignty really is.”

Currently, Giddens said, the

He said Prince George is already “very speedy” regarding infrastructure construction for housing and industrial land development and he isn’t worried that the province would need to intervene locally.

As a director for the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, Yu said he feels similarly about the situation at that level as well.

With Prince George being the size of two Victorias, two Nanaimos and Saanich put together, Yu said what the city really needs is for the provincial and federal government to recognize that they need to provide more financial support.

Especially so, he said, because new Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he wants to promote housing construction at the federal level as well.

“And so, I see this legislation for us as a positive thing,” he said.

Giddens also said he’s participated in around 26 hours of committee-stage debates surrounding Bill 7 to this point. SEE ‘MAYOR’ ON PAGE 13

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Council delegaton meets with BC cabinet ministers

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

A recent delegation by the City of Prince George’s Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs went to Victoria to meet with members of the provincial government who held 16 formal meetings and other informal meetings during the last week of April. During the Monday, May 5 city council meeting, councillors Garth Frizzell, Kyle Sampson and Susan Scott discussed their experiences and gave an overview of their meetings.

According to a handout given out that night, those formal meetings were with:

• Premier David Eby, with whom the delegation discussed the University Hospital of Northern BC acute care tower project and helipad, homelessness and housing, economic development, partnerships with Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and the recent federal election,

• Attorney General Niki Sharma on the new cabinet committee on public safety, a $67 million fund aimed at tackling street disorder, the Repeat Violent Offending Intervention Initiative, bail reform and homelessness,

• Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Diana Gibson on diversifying Prince George’s economy while still supporting the forestry and other resource-based sectors,

• Health Minister Josie Osborne and parliamentary secretary for mental health and addictions Amna Shah on UHNBC acute care tower and helipad projects, the sustainability of the regional hospital district funding model, regional support for opening a mental health and addictions treatment centre in Prince George, naloxone funding and access, nurse-to-patient ratios, violence against health-care professionals and expanding access to health-care workers in the north,

• Forestry Minister Ravi Parmar, on the decentralization of a head forestry office, softwood lumber duties, the province’s outlook for the industry and the need to promote forestry at an upcoming meeting of the Council of the Federation,

• Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services Terry Yung on organized retail crime, the $67 million street disorder fund and opening a mental health facility in Prince George,

• Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma on the UHNBC projects, the regional hospital district funding model and the mental health facility,

• Transportation and Transit Minister Mike Farnworth on the need for a bridge between the Lheidli T’enneh reserves separated by the Fraser River and the paving of Landooz Road,

• Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Minister Kelly Green on the upcoming wildfire season,

• Post-secondary Education and Future Skills Minister Anne Kang on recent impacts to post-secondary institutions,

• Energy Minister Adrian Dix on advocacy for hydrogen projects in Northern BC,

• Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Minister Chandra Herbert on supporting the region’s growing film industry,

• Parliamentary secretary for anti-racism initiatives Jessie Sunner on partnership opportunities,

• Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Community Brittny Anderson and staff from the Ministry of Housing on regional issues,

• Opposition Leader John Rustad on the delegation’s slate of meetings and his party’s views on the issues being discussed and

• Prince George-area Conservative MLAs Rosalyn Bird, Sheldon Clare and Kiel Giddens on

regional issues like a north-south transportation corridor, bail reform, homelessness, inter-provincial trade, advanced education changes and emergency management.

Frizzell said that though no representatives of Lheidli T’enneh First Nation were able to join the delegation because of their recent election, councillors were able to raise some of the community’s concerns during the trip.

On economic concerns, Frizzell said they stressed to the government the need to find assistance for the lumber industry and for the country to stay united in its response to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Babicz said he thought the meetings held by the delegation were much more efficient and fulsome than the brief conversations held during previous annual general meetings of the Union of BC Municipalities.

He said going forward, it might be a good idea to use the UBCM meetings to follow up on issues raised by the delegation.

Coun. Cori Ramsay chimed in to say that meetings with ministers are usually only 15 minutes long during the UBCM AGMs. While they’re worthwhile, she said she thought one-on-one meetings by the PG delegations might stick better in ministers’ heads since they’re not being deluged with requests by other communities as well.

As previously reported by The Citizen, Giddens brought up a local petition calling for a mental health treatment facility in Prince George during question period in the Legislature that same week.

Scott said the Legislature was asked to recognize the presence of the Prince George delegation three times, which meant that MLAs were very aware of their presence and it became a talking point in the building’s halls.

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RCMP ofcer working to overturn convicton in court

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The former superintendent of the Prince George RCMP testified Tuesday, April 29 in Prince George Provincial Court that he was shocked to learn that Const. Arthur Dalman was facing a charge of deleting video evidence.

“So it was quite surprising to me at that point, because I had never heard any intonation that that may occur,” Shaun Wright testified.

Last July, Judge Adrian Brooks found Dalman guilty of directing a witness to delete a smartphone video the night of the violent July 18, 2017 arrest of Dale Culver. The 35-year-old Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en man died in Prince George RCMP custody.

Dalman’s sentencing for obstruction of justice was delayed indefinitely so his lawyers could apply for a stay of proceedings on the grounds that his constitutional rights to a timely and fair trial were breached.

Wright admitted he did not start a code of conduct investigation after he learned Dalman was being recommended for charges almost five years ago. He said he needed an evidentiary basis to mandate such an investigation.

“I made requests to the (Independent Investigations Office) for disclosure with regards to information that would relate to that allegation,” Wright said in court.

Initially, he said, the answer “was an outright no.” But, after a month, in July 2020, he received some limited disclosure from the IIO, but had to sign a confidentiality agreement.

“Essentially, it was a rehash of information that had already been disclosed in public media releases and then, in very general terms, that the IIO had obtained witness statements that some individuals had interacted with members with regard to video recordings,” Wright said.

Wright said he drafted a decision document regarding all five accused members, regarding whether to initiate code of conduct investigations.

“My analysis was that no code of conduct investigation was warranted at

that time.”

Earlier, Wright said that if he became aware of information that one of his members contravened the code of conduct, it would trigger him to initiate an investigation of that member for potential discreditable conduct.

Wright retired last August after five years in charge of the Prince George detachment.

In 2020, the IIO’s chief civilian director, Ronald MacDonald, found reasonable grounds to believe that two officers committed excessive force offences against Culver and three others committed obstruction of justice.

BC Prosecution Service announced charges in 2023. But, in early 2024, it stayed manslaughter charges against Const. Paul Ste-Marie and Const. Jean Francois Monette and an obstruction of justice charge against Const. Clarence Alexander MacDonald.

The only other officer charged, Sgt. Bayani (Jon) Eusebio Cruz, was tried at

grounds that his constitutional rights to a timely and fair trial were breached.

MacDonald, who retired almost a year ago, said the investigation needed expert reports, took extra steps and constantly battled IIO’s staffing challenges.

“We were overworked, had too many files and not enough people to handle them,” MacDonald testified.

He said when investigators left IIO, few candidates wanted to fill their jobs because the pay scale was lower than other law enforcement agencies and the IIO did not pay overtime.

When Crown counsel finally approved charges against Dalman and other officers, media coverage about IIO staffing troubles led to pressure on the government, which relented and took steps to improve pay.

“That did allow us to get to a point where we were eventually fully staffed,” MacDonald said.

After receiving a pathology report in January 2019, IIO still had questions, so it followed up with the BC Coroners Service.

the same time as Dalman and found not guilty of obstruction of justice.

The next day, Wednesday, April 30, the former head of the province’s civilian-led police oversight agency testified about the delays in the case.

In 2020, the Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) chief civilian director, Ronald MacDonald, found reasonable grounds to believe that two officers committed excessive force on July 18, 2017 against Dale Culver and three others committed obstruction of justice.

Crown prosecutors finally announced charges in 2023.

Last July, Judge Adrian Brooks found Const. Arthur Dalman guilty of directing a witness to delete a smartphone video the night of the violent arrest of 35-yearold Culver, a Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en man who died in Prince George RCMP custody.

Dalman’s obstruction of justice sentencing is delayed while his lawyers seek a stay of proceedings on the

A report by a use of force expert did not arrive until 2021. It was delayed, in-part, by the search for an expert and the need for governmental sources to approve the fee schedule.

Also at issue during Dalman’s constitutional challenge is the IIO designation of a subject officer versus a witness officer. A subject officer is believed to be a significant contributor to serious harm or death of a person. A witness officer is an officer that an investigator believes can provide evidence about an incident.

MacDonald testified that he never directed that Dalman be designated a subject officer, but instead was designated a witness officer.

MacDonald eventually had reasonable grounds to believe Dalman had committed an offence, but he preferred to “refer that matter to the Crown and leave it to them to determine whether it was appropriate” he be charged or not.

Prior to joining the IIO in 2017, MacDonald had spent 17 years as a Crown prosecutor in Nova Scotia.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Judge Adrian Brooks found Arthur Dalman guilty of directing a witness to delete a smartphone video the night of the violent July 18, 2017 arrest of Dale Culver.

CRIME NOTES

Cocaine, meth, fentanyl, cash seized in police search

Prince George RCMP’s Street Crew Unit executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant in the 16000 block of East Perry Road on Thursday, April 24, 2025, P

Several risk factors were identified, prompting assistance from the North District emergency Response Team.

During the search of the property near Ferndale, officers seized more than a kilogram combined of suspected cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl, along with more than $10,000 in cash.

“Police officers are well aware of the activities happening in the area and are actively pursuing enforcement options. Residents are encouraged to contact police if they are encountering criminal activity in their area,” said Sgt. Dan Morris, commander of the Street Crew Unit.

Fifteen individuals at the property were arrested and later released the same day.

Potential drug-related charges are pending further laboratory analysis and are subject to approval by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.

Many of those arrested are known to police for similar offences.

The investigation is ongoing.

Prince George RCMP probing string of recent break-ins

Prince George RCMP investigators are probing a series of break-and-enters that have resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in losses for residents and businesses in the area.

Police say the first incident occurred

Man fned over dog-walking, ordered to use leash and microchips

Judge says the accused was of ‘little assistance’ at trial

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Provincial Court judge fined a semi-retired Prince George man more than $2,000 and ordered him to leash his dogs and obtain a nuisance dog licence within 14 days.

Judge Michael Brecknell found Kamran Mehrassa guilty on two of three bylaw violations from a Sept. 15, 2024 incident and issued the fine on April 8.

Brecknell ordered Mehrassa to pay two $1,000 fines plus $150 each in victim fine surcharges.

City of Prince George had asked Brecknell to fine Mehrassa $2,000 per count.

Brecknell told Mehrassa he must have a microchip implanted in his dogs

within 28 days and inform the city’s manager of animal services.

He must also ensure the dogs are leashed at all times when they are in the city, but off his property.

“I think that is important so that he does not get misled to believe that he could not take the dogs out to the Regional District, for example,” Brecknell said.

Brecknell said Mehrassa was of little assistance in the sentencing process.

“I would say that his allegation that he cannot find a place to walk his dogs simply is not true in the sense that there are facilities just outside of the city boundaries and, in fact, there may be one in the city where there is a privately-owned off-leash facility, which would be private property and which he could arrange to run his dogs,” Brecknell said.

Brecknell’s order will last until April 7, 2026.

on Friday, April 25, 2025, at a residence in the 11000 block of Pinko Road. Residents reported an early morning break-in that led to the theft of multiple firearms, ammunition and a silver Kawasaki UTV.

The remaining incidents took place on Monday, April 28.

Shortly before 2 a.m., a commercial yard in the 9800-block of Milwaukee Way was broken into. Several tool kits and a 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 extended cab with a white fiberglass cap were stolen from the site.

A second break-in occurred at a sea-can located at a job site in the

1100-block of Foothills Boulevard. Company representatives estimated that nearly $80,000 worth of laser mapping equipment, tools and rebar cutting gear was stolen.

The third break-in of the day hapened shortly after 6 a.m. at a property in the 7800 block of Cummings Road. Security personnel reported that someone used a torch to cut through a fence before stealing a reel of copper.

A short time later, the stolen UTV was found abandoned on a nearby property, with the copper still attached. The UTV was confirmed to be the same one taken during the April 25 break-in and was seized as part of the ongoing investigation.

“Investigators are looking for anyone with information on who might have committed these break-and-enters and where any of the items are now,” said Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer for Prince George RCMP.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Prince George RCMP at 250-5613300, or to report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

TOYS • COMICS • GAMES

Nothing trivial in the pursuit of this iconic Canadian game

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Prince George RCMP investigators are looking into several recent burglaries.

New Tory MP plans to hold Liberals to account

Ellis Ross took Skeena-Bulkley Valley from the NDP in last week’s vote

COLIN SLARK

Not content with having flipped an NDP seat at the provincial level, Ellis Ross pulled it off again at the federal level on election night when he ousted incumbent Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach.

Though two polls still had yet to report results as of Thursday, May 1, Elections Canada showed the former Haisla Nation chief councillor with 21,202 votes, 47.2 per cent of all votes cast.

Skeena-Bulkley Valley encompasses the northwest tip of BC, including communities like Prince Rupert, Terrace, Smithers, Kitimat, Houston, Burns Lake, Fort St. James and Haida Gwaii.

Bachrach, who replaced former MP Nathan Cullen after he moved into provincial politics, received 17,662 votes, 39.3 per cent of ballots cast.

Back in 2017, Ross ousted 12-year NDP MLA Robin Austin in the provincial constituency of Skeena when he was a member of the BC Liberal Party.

“I came from a labourer’s life, just trying to find a full-time job, into the political life in 2003,” Ross said during a May 1 interview with The Citizen.

“It’s very humbling, but it’s also … very hard for my family, especially my mom and dad who are now deceased, to believe that this could happen to a native from a small reserve.”

Ross said he thought the Conservatives’ platform on affordability, drugs and the carbon tax resonated with voters across his riding.

“It’s not just the carbon tax up in my region,” Ross said. “It’s the taxes and the carrier charges on home heating for natural gas. In every remote community, the prices go up because transportation charges actually add to your cost

of living as well.”

On drugs, Ross said he didn’t realize the extent of the problem until he started visiting the riding’s remote communities.

Though Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre lost his seat on election night to Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy, Ross said he is backing him to remain in charge of the party.

Ross said he was surprised at the long list of candidates in Poilievre’s former riding of Carleton, in the Ottawa area. The Canadian Press reported that 85 of the 91 candidates in the riding were arranged by The Longest Ballot Committee as a protest to spark a national conversation on electoral reform.

Since the interview, Battle River-Crowfoot Conservative MP-elect Damien Kurek announced his intention to resign to allow Poilievre to vie for the seat in a by-election.

Part of the reason for Ross’ support, he said, is that he thinks the Conservatives under Poilievre align with his people’s views on law and order and drugs.

However, he also said he watched Poilievre in action on the Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) during committee discussions before he became party leader and was impressed with his direct approach.

Ellis Ross is the newly elected MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley.

What’s happening in PG

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Mixology Evening at the Farm goes Friday, May 30 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at Wildflower Farm, 9295 Pooley Road. Led by Worth A Shot Mobile Bar guests create three summer-inspired cocktails using farm florals and herbs. Master mixologist provides instructions. Get a bouquet of 10 assorted tulips to take home, do a walk thru of the gardens, visit the animals and enjoy the country vibe. $50 per person to register. Text Lisa to join at 250 961 3519 or email wildflowerfarmpg@hotmail.com.

Wrangler Round Up 4-H Dinner & Dance goes Saturday, May 31 at 6 p.m. at Pineview Hall, 6479 Bendixon Road. Support the Prince George 4-H district at the annual fundraiser. Wear your western best for best dressed contest. There are spot dances and a silent auction starting at 6 p.m. There is a dance with a DJ that will follow dinner. Tickets are $50 each, cash bar only. For

Tickets are $50 each, cash bar only. For

Wild about nature at Outdoor Festval

Recreational Canoeing Association of BC instructor Vanessa Elton, in the back of the first canoe, shares a laugh with canoe mate Manpreet Parmar and, in the second canoe, Su Yang, Myles Yang, 5, and Hannah Dong while leading an introduction to canoeing class at Cottonwood Park as part of last year’s Walk PG Outdoor Festival. This year’s Walk PG: Wild about Lheidli Keyoh Prince George Outdoor Festival goes May 31 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a variety of workshops and activities for all ages. A shuttle bus will run from UNBC and Parkwood Place. For more information visit www. wildabout.ca/cottonwoodpark.

more information contact Liz Ramsay at 250-301-4686 or email pineview.4H. club@gmail.com.

Fishing Forever Prince George goes Saturday, June 7 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Vivian Lake Resort, 10435 Vivian Lake Road. BC Wildlife Federationaffiliated clubs host Fishing Forever events across B.C. to make fishing accessible to people of all abilities, backgrounds, and ages. Fishing Forever volunteers and sponsors have spent countless days outdoors helping those who may need a little extra assistance to learn how to fish and enjoy nature. For a complete list of dates, times, and locations for Fishing Forever 2025 events visit https://bcwf.bc.ca/ fishingforever/.

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

Art Batle

Twelve area artists competed last Friday at Knox Performance Centre, challenged to create their best work in 20 minutes ... with an audience on hand

ABOVE: Kinte Jackson, who creates custom painted clothing, works on his canvas in the first round.

BELOW: Diane Levesque works on her canvas during the first round of the competition as the audience watches RIGHT: Completed paintings from each round of Art Battle are displayed for a silent auction with patrons bidding on each piece and proceeds split 50/50 between the artist and the Prince George and District Community Arts Council.

UPPER RIGHT: Komfort Kristy Wiafe works on her painting in the final round.

LOWER RIGHT: Williams Lake apprentice tattoo artist Sarah Marceau uses her hand to blend paint into her canvas.

CITIZEN PHOTOS BY CHUCK NISBETT

Educator wins Women in Wildfre Resiliency award

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

The Lynn Orstad Award for Women in Wildfire Resiliency was presented to five recipients on April 18.

Among them was Amanda Reynolds of Prince George.

The award, presented in partnership with The Co-operators during the Wildfire Resiliency and Training Summit, brought together more than 800 members of the wildfire community from across B.C.

The Lynn Orstad Award is named after a long-time advocate for wildfire resilience, known for her work in emergency management, wildfire risk reduction and community education.

Winners receive a personalized award and a $1,000 grant to further support wildfire resiliency initiatives in their communities.

The award recipients and their respective fields are:

• Kira Hoffman, fire ecologist and practitioner, University of British Columbia / Bulkley Valley Research Centre

• Nora Hannon, disaster mitigation and adaptation senior advisor, Regional District of Central Kootenay

• Amanda Reynolds, mitigation specialist, First Nations Emergency Services Society (FNESS)

• Amy Cardinal Christianson, policy advisor and Indigenous fire stewardship specialist, Indigenous Leadership Initiative

• Shelly Harnden, land and resource co-ordinator, Ministry of Forests

Reynolds, a Prince George local working as a mitigation specialist for FNESS, said she was excited and humbled to receive the award.

“It was very humbling to be recognized for the work that I’ve done in wildfire resiliency,” said Reynolds.

“There are so many other amazing women working in this space, so to even be nominated — and then to win — was very humbling. I was surprised

or people with mobility challenges who can’t walk 30 metres to get wood in the middle of winter.”

Reynolds, who offers wildfire education and tools for First Nations communities, has been a passionate advocate for wildfire resilience since early in her career.

“I was a high school teacher,” she said. “I remember someone telling me, as a teacher, you really have to educate about something you’re passionate about. When I learned about wildfire prevention and the FireSmart program, it was like a light bulb went off for me.

“In 2019, I was nominated to attend the FireSmart Canada Summit. At the time, I was the information officer for the Prince George Fire Centre. Part of my job was to relay wildfire information to the public, and people always wanted to help — bake cookies, send them to fire camps. They just didn’t know what role they could play.

“When I went to the summit, it was like —oh my gosh, this is it. That was the start of my spark. I got involved in FireSmart BC and became an advocate for the program, helping make it a recognizable name.”

The irony of leaving her teaching job to become an educator in wildfire resilience is not lost on Reynolds.

“I never thought I’d go back to teaching — and then, ironically enough, I’m now educating people about the FireSmart program,” she said.

“Before I left for FNESS, I led the development of the FireSmart BC education program, which is aligned with the B.C. school curriculum.

and totally honoured.”

Reynolds spoke to The Citizen about her role at FNESS and the programs she’s been involved in.

“When I moved over to the First Nations’ Emergency Services Society, as part of my own journey of reconciliation, I wanted to ensure the FireSmart program was inclusive of First Nations communities. I wanted them to see themselves in wildfire resiliency efforts. That meant bridging Indigenous

knowledge with Western science to create programs aligned with community values.

“One of the things I advocated for — and was able to deliver — was a woodshed program. Many First Nations communities store wood right beside their homes. We wanted to encourage people to move it farther away for safety, so we created funding, blueprints and a guide to help communities build firewood shelters, especially for elders

That alignment adds value for teachers because it connects directly to what they’re already teaching. If you want future change, you have to start with today’s youth.”

Reynolds said she is honoured to be part of Lynn Orstad’s legacy and recognizes that many women are deserving of recognition for their work in wildfire resilience.

She looks forward to using the grant money to support her continued efforts at FNESS.

CO-OPERATORS PHOTO

Nominator Malina Garner (left) presents Amanda Reynolds with the Lynn Orstad Award for Women in Wildfire Resiliency.

The Urban Shroomery sprouts up in a new locaton

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

If you’ve visited the Prince George Farmers’ Market recently, you may have come across a unique business selling high-quality mushrooms, mushroom salts and other fungi-related products.

Urban Shroomery has been in business for four years, after Joshua Halsband purchased the market-based company from a friend.

“I started growing mushrooms when I moved to Prince George back in 2007,” said Halsband. “It was just a bit of a hobby. Then, about four years ago, a fellow approached me to buy shares in the business that was set up in this spot. I was actually looking at opening a brewery on my own. I’ve always had this sort of entrepreneurial spirit, so I talked to him about it and said, ‘That’s not going to work.’ And he says, ‘By the way, I’m selling a mushroom business.’ I said, ‘Well, that might be more my speed right now. I’ll see what I can do.’ So I purchased some cultures and stepped into what he was doing at the market.

Halsband’s business quickly grew, selling to local restaurants such as Betulla Burning, White Goose Bistro and Nancy O’s, and expanding to more farmers’ market locations.

“At first, it was just a few small sales on Saturdays, and I ran the operation out of my basement,” he said. “I quickly realized that Prince George was really hungry for mushrooms.”

Last fall, Halsband opened a warehouse at 1737 Nicholson St., giving him more space to grow mushrooms and

Joshua Halsband holds up some of the mushrooms he grows in the freezer system at

Joshua Halsband holds one of the successful crops grown in his freezer tent on Tuesday, April 29, 2025

The business, familiar at the local farmers’ market, has expanded into a new location

plan future expansions.

The idea to open a storefront soon followed, with the goal of supporting local artists and brands while offering customers an easier way to get their mushroom fix.

“At first, I told my wife we could have our product out there,” he said. “Then we started talking more and realized there are all these great artists, food makers and artisans who really need representation. We love the art, we love the food — so it was a natural thing. My wife started reaching out to local vendors, saying, ‘Hey, this is our client. Would you be interested?’ And then it just ballooned. We got a lot of people, as you can see — with art, honey, crackers, soups — it’s all Prince George made.”

24th - May 14th

Halsband grows all his mushrooms in sawdust packets at his warehouse using freezer tents that create optimal growing conditions. Once placed in the “fruiting room,” it typically takes between one week and a month for the mushrooms to fully mature.

“It’s a daily task, for sure,” said Halsband. “We’ve got to keep an eye on things to make sure humidity stays stable, the humidifiers have water, the temperatures are consistent, and we’re avoiding any contamination problems. There’s a lot of lab work to get things going — it’s not super-easy, but it’s not super-difficult either. It’s just busy work.”

The future of Urban Shroomery looks bright, with plans to expand into mushroom-based to-go food.

“We’re going to add more items to the storefront,” said Halsband. “Our phase two is to install a small Northern Health-approved kitchen in the back. Then we’ll start offering hot to-go food like quesadillas, mushroom empanadas, mushroom soup, things like that. One of our good friends also makes bagels and pretzels, which will go really well with the brewery next door, since they don’t serve food. Their customers can come here, grab some hot food, and take it over there to eat. We’re not planning a sit-down area, since that would change the licensing, so it’ll be strictly to-go. That’s the next phase: hot food, mushroom tea and Lion’s Mane coffee.”

To learn more or support the business, visit Urban Shroomery’s Facebook page.

by

CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER

in Prince George, BC.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER

his business, Urban Shroomery.

on Nicholson Street.

Norm Foster

Red dresses line highway to remember lost women, girls

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

May 5 is recognized across the country as Red Dress Day.

More than 100 members of the local Indigenous community, their allies and families of victims of this Canada-wide crisis gathered at the Red Dress monument, located at Highway 16 and Ferry Avenue, on Monday.

Acting Mayor Susan Scott opened the event by reading aloud a proclamation of support from the City of Prince George.

Signed by Mayor Simon Yu, the proclamation formally recognized the day as a Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People, and affirmed the city’s support for the cause and its goals.

Red Dress Day was inspired by Métis artist Jaime Black, who hung hundreds

of red dresses in public spaces to represent missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada.

The event featured speakers from the RCMP, event organizers, and members of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, including Chief Dolleen Logan, who shared how the crisis has affected her personally.

“We’re all touched in some way, on behalf of the murdered and missing women,” said Chief Logan. “We all have an auntie. We all have a relative … I

Williston Reservoir Operations Open House

BC Hydro is hosting open houses in Hudson’s Hope and Mackenzie to provide an update on the forecast for Williston Reservoir. Members of the public are invited to attend.

HUDSON’S HOPE PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION :

Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Time: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. MST

Location: The Pearkes Arts & Events Centre, 10801 Dudley Drive, Hudson’s Hope, B.C.

MACKENZIE PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION :

Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025

Time: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. PST

Location: Mackenzie Recreation Centre, 400 Skeena Drive, Mackenzie, B.C.

We want to hear from you and hope to see you there.

wish we didn’t have to have events like this to get recognition for our women. But I want to thank you all for being here for support.”

Family members of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls also addressed the crowd, sharing stories of grief and their ongoing search for justice.

One of the speakers was Jenn Jack, a member of the missing Jack family of Prince George, who offered her perspective on the crisis.

“These are not just the names or faces we’ve lost touch with,” said Jack. “These are the threads of the fabric of who we are. Their absence is felt in our gatherings, in our stories, in the spaces where their laughter and presence once lived. We remember them not just with sadness but with hope—hope that we can reconnect, rebuild and bring our family back together. Whether time, distance or circumstances have separated us, our rooms remain shared and our hearts remain open.”

Another speaker was Terry Teegee, Regional Chief of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations. Teegee, who has been personally affected by the crisis with the loss of a cousin, spoke with The Citizen at the event.

He emphasized that more needs to be done by both the province and the federal government to address the 231 Calls for Justice outlined in the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

“The implementation of the 231 Calls to Justice and the national inquiry needs to be fully resourced and committed to,” said Teegee. “As we see a new Liberal administration take office as a

minority government, this is an important matter that needs to be prioritized. I would say the province needs to do the same.

“Resources for the prevention of these heinous acts against our women are really important. I think it’s really important to raise awareness for the safety of women and also children, because there are cases out there where our women and girls’ children have fallen victim to a partner or someone known. Anything within the Calls to Justice that could prevent this from happening needs to be fully supported.”

One of the event’s notable speakers was Ron Palta, unit head of the RCMP Special Projects Unit, which has worked on the Highway of Tears case since 2000.

“You can’t help but be touched by the grief of the families and the community,” he said.

“At an event like this, to have all the families present, to see the hurt that’s still so present, it brings motivation to bring some resolve and closure to the families.”

He added that while more work is needed to bring closure, events like Red Dress Day serve as powerful motivation for investigators.

“What we’d like to do is, of course, solve all the cases and bring answers,” Palta said.

The event concluded with more than 100 attendees lining Highway 16 to drum, sing and raise awareness about the crisis.

If you have any information on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, contact the MMIWG toll-free support line at 1-844-413-6649 or your local RCMP detachment.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER

Supporters line Highway 16 in a show of solidarity for Missing and Murdered Indigenous women and girls Monday, May 5.

COMMUNITY

Church bell once again ringing out over Prince George

Sacred

Sacred Heart’s rector is busy connecting with parishioners via social media

Heart’s Rector connects with his parishioners via social media

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

If you’ve heard a bell ringing intermittently throughout downtown Prince George and wondered what it means, Fr. Rectorino Mendoza Tolentino, rector of Sacred Heart Cathedral in the Diocese of Prince George, sat down with The Citizen to explain. First off, it’s not a traditional church tower bell.

Fr. Rector doesn’t go to the base of the tower to pull a rope and set the bell in motion. Instead, it’s an electronic bell connected to a public address system, with a boom speaker installed in the bell tower. The system is operated via a control panel that can be accessed through a smartphone.

There have been a couple of times when Fr. Rector had to climb to the top of the bell tower to fix the speaker. Access requires climbing a fire escape–style ladder that leads to a staircase behind a monolithic black tower at the back of the sanctuary — no easy task.

Since his arrival in 2017, Sacred Heart Cathedral has always used an electronic bell system. Fr. Rector speculated that the old church may have had a traditional bell, but that would have been back in the 1920s.

“The bell system was here when I came to Prince George, but I added my own meaning to it when the pandemic came,” Fr. Rector said.

“Traditionally, ringing the bell is a call to pray. We would ring it at noon and 6 p.m. to pray the Angelus, which reminds us that God came into the world to be human like us. During Easter, instead of the Angelus, we pray the Regina Caeli — ‘Queen of Heaven, rejoice’ — to commemorate the rising of Our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead.”

During the pandemic, when churches were closed to the public, Fr. Rector realized he needed a way to connect

With many church traditions still honoured, Fr. Rector said he felt there was more he could do to reach people.

“What I’m trying to do is reach the wider public,” he said. “The church can adapt. While we follow tradition, we can also be modern in how we use technology.”

The parish has its own website and Facebook page. During the pandemic, Fr. Rector said, he felt called to make an even bigger impact.

“So I started by livestreaming Mass via our Facebook page. Eventually, I launched a YouTube channel for reflections on the word of God,” he said.

Fr. Rector has received positive feedback on his social media outreach and shared a poignant example.

“I was baptizing someone on Easter Sunday, and the baby was so quiet. The mother told me it was because he was familiar with my voice from the YouTube channel,” he said. “It was just so heartwarming.”

On another occasion, a young girl came up to him.

“She came running up to me with such joy,” he recalled. “She said, ‘I saw you on YouTube! I’m a fan!’ I was so touched because her family had watched.”

He continues to post weekly content on his YouTube channel. Over time, he realized that his audience extends well beyond Prince George.

with the broader community.

Because the bell can be heard far and wide, he decided it could serve as a reminder that the church is still present and praying.

“I thought I would ring the bell at 9 a.m. to invite people to pray for those suffering around the world. At noon, the bell rings for those who are sick and for their healing. At 3 p.m., we ring it for the healthcare workers and first responders caring for those affected by the pandemic,” he said.

“At 6 p.m., it rings again to honour those who have died because of the pandemic. What I’m trying to communicate — then and now, beyond the pandemic — is that the church is always at prayer. When people hear the bell

ringing, I want them to know that the church is praying for them and inviting everyone to pray.”

On weekends, the bell also rings two minutes before Mass: at 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays, and at 9 and 11 a.m. on Sundays.

“It’s another reminder that something is happening at the church,” Fr. Rector said.

Historically, church bells were also rung to mark the death of a well-known community member. So when Pope Francis died on April 21, 2025, Sacred Heart Cathedral rang the bell in his honour.

The only time the bell hasn’t rung has been due to technical issues, Fr. Rector added.

“My subscribers are not just parishioners — they’re from across the world,” he said.

Fr. Rector is also active on TikTok and Spotify, all under the umbrella of The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector.

“Sacred Heart Cathedral has adapted to modern technology in an effort to reach the broader public,” he said. “That makes it easier for them — and for me.”

Fr. Rector noted that every 25 years, the Catholic Church observes a Jubilee Year. This year’s theme is Pilgrims of Hope.

“Sacred Heart Cathedral is one of four churches in this region — within the diocese — where people can visit anytime,” he said.

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

Father Rector holds the computer unit that generates and controls the electronic bell tones that are broadcast through a public address system and speakers to produce the bell tones heard from the Sacred Heart Cathedral bell tower on Wednesday, April 30.

More schools need AED units, says superintendent

All SD57 high schools have them, but more can be done to bring them to all schools

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Jameel Aziz knows the consequences when a person’s heart stops beating.

The School District 57 superintendent was a teacher in Kamloops at John Peterson Junior High School in the 1990s when a student suffered cardiac arrest during gym class.

“He was a hockey player, super-fit, but just obviously had some kind of genetic condition — and really, the conversation began then that in places of high activity, we certainly should have defibrillators in place,” said Aziz.

“There was a concerted effort to make sure that they were in high schools, which are used for a lot of community activities — whether it’s adult league volleyball or basketball — as a public service, we wanted to have them in place. We haven’t got to the point where each of our elementary schools has them, and that’s the next step for us.”

All nine School District 57 secondary schools are now equipped with AEDs.

That includes D.P. Todd, Duchess Park, Shas Ti Kelly Road, College Heights and Prince George Secondary, as well as schools in Mackenzie, Valemount and McBride. Two elementary schools in Prince George — Spruceland and Lac des Bois — where students have medical conditions that require it, also have the life-saving machines installed.

In addition, the SD57 board office, maintenance building and John McInnis alternate education site all have AEDs. Funding for those devices came largely as a result of the Advanced Coronary Treatment Foundation securing a $36,000 donation from the RBC Foundation in June 2012. That funding paid for six AEDs, 24 training units, 24 training mannequins and training for 40 teachers to become AED/CPR instructors.

School DIstrict 57 health and safety officer Nadine Neil shows off the automatic external defibrillator (AED) at the school board office on Ferry Avenue.

Cedars Christian School and the three Prince George Catholic elementary schools — St. Mary’s, Sacred Heart and Immaculate Conception — also have AEDs.

Last weekend, at the BC School Trustees Association annual meeting in Vancouver, a motion was passed asking the education ministry to provide funding so every school in the province could have a defibrillator installed.

“Whether that gets any traction with government, I don’t know — but it certainly is on everybody’s radar,” said Aziz.

“All it takes is one incident to regret you didn’t have it in place.”

The young hockey player in Kamloops did not survive.

“I remember the impact on the students and the school community. It was a shock, because here’s this high-level athlete, and you wouldn’t think that kind of thing was going to happen,” said Aziz. “But we’re seeing it more and more — these undiagnosed heart defects or issues that people have — and if a defibrillator can make a

AED/CPR training part of the physical education curriculum for all secondary school students, and he expects that will be formally announced this fall. The North Vancouver and North Okanagan-Shuswap school districts have already adopted the initiative.

In February 2019, South Okanagan Secondary School teachers Steve Podomorow and Mike Russo used an AED and CPR to resuscitate a 13-yearold boy whose heart stopped during gym class.

That came less than a week after the school district announced its plan to install AEDs in all its schools.

In Vancouver, a group of students from Point Grey Secondary School fundraised and petitioned the board for months to install an AED they purchased after a Grade 11 student collapsed and died when his heart stopped during a basketball practice in 2022.

difference, then it’s worth every penny to have it in place.”

In January, the Vancouver School Board voted unanimously to request $250,000 from the province to pay for AEDs in all 107 of its schools. The move followed the lead of several Greater Vancouver districts that began installing the devices in 2019.

“Student voice is really starting to elevate and resonate across the province, so when these things come from students, it’s really hard for us as adults not to listen,” said Aziz. “Clearly there’s a desire to do this — but everybody’s got some tight funds, and a lot of districts have deficits, so they would like the government to fund putting these in place. But short of that, we will have conversations about what we can do to start adding more defibrillators to more sites here.”

There is no government mandate requiring AEDs in schools, but BC appears to be leaning in that direction. Minister of Education and Child Care Lisa Beare has indicated she would support such legislation.

Aziz said the ministry plans to make

While Manitoba and Ontario require AED installation and maintenance in all high-traffic public places, BC currently has no such legal requirement — despite repeated attempts by former Prince George–Valemount MLA Shirley Bond, who tried three times to pass her private member’s Defibrillator Public Access Act.

During her last term as MLA, Bond met with the Vancouver students and was impressed with their determination to get an AED installed in their school.

“I want to commend the students who worked so hard to raise the issue of AEDs in schools after losing a friend. It was an incredible effort for them to raise this issue, not just with the school district — they arranged a meeting with Premier Eby and the minister of education,” said Bond.

“Most people would think that one of the most prominent places where there should be AEDs would be a school. Most cardiac arrests happen in neighbourhoods, so schools are a logical and important place.

“It can literally be the difference between life and death. There is no dollar value you can assign to the loss of a teenager who collapses at a practice.”

JAMEEL AZIZ PHOTO

City adding AEDs paid for through provincial program

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Automatic external defibrillators, also known as AEDs, will soon begin appearing in more locations across Prince George.

In September, then-health minister Adrian Dix announced a $3.5-million pilot project to pay for AED installation, signage and maintenance in Prince George and two other cities.

The City of Prince George has been tasked with identifying where the new machines will be installed, and by late spring, the first AEDs paid for by the provincial initiative will be available for emergency use.

“We haven’t actually put any in place yet, but we are working behind the scenes to identify various locations,” said Andy Beesley, the city’s director of civic facilities and events.

“It’s kind of a multi-phased approach. Groups like the PG Youth Soccer Association, the Public Library — we’re in the process right now of contacting all those groups to find out what they have and what their deficiencies are. Within about two weeks, we’ll work with the Heart and Stroke Foundation to order the units and the cabinets and everything that comes with them, and start installing them.”

An AED is a portable, user-friendly device that provides an electric shock when applied to a patient whose heart has stopped.

“The ones we’re getting can be used on children and adults, and you really can use them without any training,” said Beesley. “The shelf life could be many years — the issue is technology. We’ve got quite a few in the city right now that are several years old, and what they don’t have is the ability to communicate via a Wi-Fi signal.

“The new AEDs the city controls will all communicate with a centralized website that allows us to go on and check the health of the AEDs and see if they need replacing. The other thing it does is it connects to the PulsePoint app that allows anyone to pull that up on their smartphone and see exactly where

Supporters of a $3.5 million province-wide initiative to place automatic external defibrilators (AEDs) in public places to save people who suffer cardiac arrest gathered on Sept. 14, 2024 at Masich Place Stadium. From left are Prince George Mayor Simon Yu, BC Health Minister Adrian Dix, Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond, Robyn Jones-Murrell of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and cardiac arrest survivor Ken Carrusca.

AEDs are located anywhere in the city.”

Each AED will be registered with BC Emergency Health Services, which will have the locations of each unit handy when people call 911 dispatch in an emergency — reducing the time it takes to access one when needed.

In 2021, 8,300 people in BC suffered a cardiac arrest. The Heart and Stroke Foundation estimates more than 60,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year in Canada — one every nine minutes — and only one in 10 patients survive. But survival chances double when cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is combined with use of an AED.

The first phase of the project will determine which city-owned or operated buildings and facilities lack an AED or need a replacement. Beesley said there are about 30 locations in that category.

The second phase will involve businesses and non-city-owned buildings. The city is encouraging those entities to apply. Beesley said that could allow School District 57 to fill in gaps at schools that do not have AEDs. While all secondary schools and independent schools in the district have them, only two Prince George public elementary schools are currently equipped. (See related story on the Citizen website.)

“I can’t speak on behalf of the school district, but it would be something we

would be communicating — to say this program is available,” said Beesley.

The third phase of the program will pay for AED and CPR training. All city employees will receive the training, and Beesley said local businesses will also be eligible to apply.

The program also provides replacement batteries and paddles for each unit, and the city will be responsible for ensuring each remains operational.

The other two cities that qualify for the pilot project have yet to be announced. Beesley said he doesn’t know how much of the $3.5-million budget will be set aside for Prince George.

Former MLA Shirley Bond oversees the Bill Bond Memorial Fund, named after her late husband, which has paid for the installation of dozens of AEDs in Prince George and the Robson Valley over the past four years.

Years before his death from a heart-related issue in June 2020, Bill was involved with Shirley in the Big Bike Ride team event to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Through a partnership with the Prince George Community Foundation — https://www.pgcf.ca/programs/AEDRequest-Bill-Bond-Memorial-Fund — the legacy fund continues to place AEDs in public spaces.

In April, the Prince George Rotary Hospice House and Knox Performance

Centre were the latest recipients. Bond tried unsuccessfully three times, while she was the Prince George–Valemount MLA, to get the Defibrillator Public Access Act private member’s bill passed into law. She vows to continue pushing the province to place AEDs in all public buildings in British Columbia.

“There does need to be greater political will at the provincial level to create a requirement to have AEDs in public spaces, and I’m hopeful the province will continue to look at their role in this,” said Bond.

Bond spoke at the Sept. 14 unveiling of the AED pilot project at Masich Place Stadium, where one of the machines paid for by the Bond Fund is now positioned. She said she looks forward to seeing more of them installed.

“We’ll continue to do our part — but we need a more systematic approach, and that requires AEDs in more public spaces,” said Bond. “We need to be creative on how we work on these kinds of projects, and we need to bring together healthcare workers, Heart and Stroke, elected officials and organizations that deal with the impacts of a loss of life.

“We have an opportunity in Prince George, where we have significant dollars through the pilot project, and I think it’s an important conversation to determine where the highest priorities for AED placement should be.”

May 8, 1982: The sign tells the tale for the Duchess Park Secondary School band, which raised $29,000 to nance a trip to Los Angeles. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY RIC ERNST

May 9, 1966: Donald Prior of Prince George studies the lie of his opponent’s croquet balls in a game played on the lawns of Blenheim Palace in London, England during a break in sightseeing. His opponents, Toni Carstairs and Pat Kanuk, were the ight attendants who ew to London from Vancouver with civic dignitaries from BC and Washington State to celebrate the new Western Arrow airliner service. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

May 9, 2011: Kids take part in a fashion show featuring out ts from Sears during a Mother’s Day celebration at Pine Centre Mall. Manjit Dhaliwal was named Mother of the Year; Debbie Boyko was rst runner-up and Patricia Carr second runner-up. They were chosen from more than 60 entries. Other activities included a mother/daughter lookalike contest. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY DAVID MAH

May 9, 1997: Victoria Clarke and Amber Hodgkiss, both 11, ride the Sizzler at the midway at Exhibition Park, part of the Elks’ celebration of May Days. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN

Wheelin’ Warriors give clinical cancer trial a boost

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Wheelin’ Warriors of the North take on the Workout to Conquer Cancer this month as the cycling group shifts gears towards the new fundraising avenue.

Wheelin’ Warriors raised more than $2 million since 2012 for cancer research before the fundraiser, Tour de Cure, announced its end on Oct. 29, 2024.

The two-day, 200-kilometre ride, which started in Cloverdale and ended in Hope, had seen hundreds of cyclists participate each year.

The event ran for 16 years, raising more than $131 million for cancer research.

Now the Prince George-based Wheelin’ Warriors of the North will take on the BC Cancer Foundation workout challenge where participants commit to moving for a minimum 30 minutes every day for the Month of May to raise a minimum of $5,000.

“The funds raised by our team will support SIMPLIFY-SABR-COMET, an international clinical trial lead from BC Cancer Centre for the North-Prince George,” Karin Piche, team captain said on the donation page.

The Citizen talked to Dr. Rob Olson who is the principal investigator on multiple national and international clinical trials, including the phase III SABR-COMET-3 trial which is a follow-up to the landmark SABR-COMET trial. Olson is a practicing Radiation Oncologist at BC Cancer and Professor at UBC in the Department of Surgery, Division of Radiation Oncology and Developmental Radiotherapeutics. His clinical practice is predominantly focused on head and neck, breast, and oligometastatic cancers (limited number of sites where the cancer has spread in the body).

Olson’s research focus includes patient reported outcomes, health services delivery research (with a focus on rural cancer care delivery), and clinical trials. He is the division head of radiation oncology provincially at UBC, and the first associate head, research, for

the department of surgery at UBC. He supervises graduate students at both UBC and UNBC.

“SABR is a high precision form of radiation that’s not super cutting edge anymore but we did lead a lot of that innovation,” Olson said.

SIMPLIFY-SABR-COMET, an international clinical trial, will test the use of a single dose of Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR), a high-precision therapy that safely delivers higher doses of radiation to the tumour site, while limiting doses to healthy tissues, and is expected to reduce side effects and increase the chance of a complete remission for people with metastatic cancer.

“We call this a basket trial because people in the trial will have breast cancer or lung cancer or kidney cancer and it has spread to anywhere in their body – it just has to be less than five spots,” Olson said. “It’s one treatment versus multiple within a week or a couple of weeks. The reason why that’s important is from the Prince George/ Northern BC lens and also our desire to help all of rural Canada. It will make it less burdensome for people who don’t live near a cancer centre. I guess that’s less of a Prince George problem and more of a Smithers or Terrace problem. From an efficiency point of view, as you’re probably aware, we’re still sending patients down to the States because

will be available at all six BC Cancer centres and at least 15 international sites. The trial will help shape the future of precision radiation therapy internationally and further demonstrate BC Cancer’s global leadership in cancer research and innovation.

“The important thing is I am running the trial from Prince George and all my main staff that run it are living in Prince George and are working in our building,” Olson said.

our radiation treatment wait lists are still pretty long. So this is a way for us to be more efficient so we can see more patients.”

His trial is specifically looking at metastatic cancer, Olson said. Metastatic means the cancer has spread from its primary site to another part of the body.

“But it will also help that patient who has breast cancer or prostate cancer get cured because our waitlists are shorter because our machines are less busy,” Olson explained.

“That’s the idea, to be more efficient and more convenient for patients. I think this is super-interesting from an academic and a patient-centred point of view. Not at all interesting to companies who fund some research because I am essentially advocating to use less resources of theirs. Why would a machine company want to pay for something that means we are more efficient and that’s why we need to fundraise. When you do these really academic trials they are not great money makers. They are patient-centric – what’s the best care? Not how do I make a company more money? So that’s why philanthropy is pretty critical to this trial.”

The research does get some funding that’s not industry related but it’s not part of the Ministry’s mandate to fund clinical trials, Olson added.

The new clinical trial, called SIMPLIFY,

“So people can support an enterprise that is taking place here and the students who are working on the trial are all getting educated in Northern BC and that’s important because we’re building up our research infrastructure, which to be honest sees Northern Health and Northern BC in its infancy stage of it so we’re behind but BC Cancer Foundation is ahead as a provincial organization and this is helping Northern BC become more involved in clinical trials.”

Northern Health is helping with the imaging, Olson added. So it is a partnership.

“I really appreciate what the Wheelin’ Warriors are doing,” Olson said. “They’re great.”

Findings from Dr. Olson’s previous SABR trial, SABR-5, were published last fall with positive results. The trial used up to eight SABR treatments and found side effects from SABR are low and the control of cancer spread is high at 90 per cent at one year. Importantly, it found SABR treatments led to complete remission for some metastatic patients, where existing therapies are only effective at slowing or reducing the tumors.

“SABR destroys cancer cells and cancer DNA at the molecular level,” explains Olson. “Our goal is to provide this revolutionary solution for the most difficult to treat cancers with less toxicity. We are not only attempting to keep toxicity rates low and control rates high, but we are now also focusing on making it more cost-effective and convenient for patients by testing high dose, single treatment SABR. We’re proud to be leading a global movement here in Prince George to make SABR the standard of care.”

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Prince George oncologist Dr. Robert Olson is conducting a clinical trial in Prince George and internationally for better outcomes for metastatic cancer patients.

Local Sports Chase Harrington, Chiefs ready for WHL fnal

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

On Friday night in Medicine Hat, Prince George minor hockey product Chase Harrington will accomplish something that eludes most Western Hockey League players during their junior careers.

Harrington and his Spokane Chiefs teammates are playing in the WHL final. It’s come down to a best-of-seven series against the Medicine Hat Tigers to decide who will hoist the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

The winner earns an all-expenses-paid trip to Rimouski, Que., for the 105th Memorial Cup tournament, May 22 to June 1.

Harrington knows there are hundreds of peers his age who would give anything to be in his shoes heading into the showdown with Gavin McKenna and the Tigers.

“It’s unreal. We have a really close team here and it’s nice to be able to make it this far with this group,” said Harrington. “Obviously we have really good top-end talent, and our depth is really strong as well. We have four lines that can play, three D pairings, and two really good goalies. The way we play together and the skill we have makes us a really good team.

“Just having the opportunity to win a championship is unreal. It’s so special. It’s pretty rare you get to do that, especially against a team like that. They’ve got a lot of top-end talent. I think we’re both high-powered offences with really good power plays. It’ll be a good battle.”

The 17-year-old scored the biggest goal of his life 2:25 into overtime to win Game 2 of the Portland series on April 27 in Spokane. He intercepted a Tyson Jugnauth pass, dragged the puck into open ice, and launched a high wrist shot over the shoulder of Winterhawks goalie Ondrej Stebetak to cap a 6–5 victory.

SNOOK/SPOKANE

Spokane Chiefs left wing Chase Harrington celebrates his overtime goal in Game 2 of the WHL Western Conference final against the Portland Winterhawks April 27, 2025 in Spokane, Wash. The Chiefs went on to win the series 4-0 and will face Medicine Hat in the WHL final starting Friday.

“That was unreal. I just got the puck and shot it and it went in. I was so excited to see all the guys jump off the bench — it was pretty sick,” said Harrington.

“It went in and out so fast I didn’t really see it, then all the boys just started jumping on me.”

The Chiefs (45-20-1-2), who had the WHL’s fourth-best regular-season record,

opened their playoff run with a fivegame series win over the Vancouver Giants, then beat the Victoria Royals in six games before sweeping the Portland Winterhawks in the Western Conference final. They wrapped it up Saturday, giving them six days to prepare for the final.

“Rest is a weapon, so we’ll take this week and enjoy it,” said Harrington.

The Tigers will also benefit from some

needed downtime. They’ve reached the final having lost just one playoff game — that came in Game 3 against the Swift Current Broncos. They’ve since reeled off 10 straight wins, dispatching the Broncos in five, then sweeping the Prince Albert Raiders and Lethbridge Hurricanes.

JAMES

SPOKESMAN-REVIEW PHOTO

Spokane Chiefs winger got his start in PG minor hockey

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

In his rookie season last year, Harrington and the Chiefs were swept in four straight games by the Prince George Cougars — a valuable learning experience for those still with the team.

“It put a chip on our shoulders, for sure,” said Harrington.

Spokane’s dynamic scoring duo — Andrew Cristall and Berkly Catton — have been ferocious finishers in the playoffs, just as they were during the regular season.

Cristall, acquired at the trade deadline from the Kelowna Rockets, has topped off his regular-season scoring title by leading all WHL playoff scorers. With 20 goals and 37 points in 14 games, he’s averaging 2.64 points per game. Catton is just one point behind, with eight goals and 28 assists for 36 points.

“I think (Cristall) is one of the smartest players I’ve ever played with. The way he thinks the game is super special. He’s got great deception and a good release, and that’s why he scores so many goals,” said Harrington, who plays on the Chiefs’ second power-play unit.

“Berkly is obviously a prolific scorer as well. He’s our captain, a good leader, and he leads by example and plays the right way.”

Harrington, a left winger, left Prince George at age 14 to join the Delta Hockey Academy U15 program full time — a move that paid off. He continued to develop and was drafted eighth overall by

It’s a frst: Roller Derby set to slam into the CN Centre

Roller Derby Rocks is coming to the CN Centre on June 14, featuring the home town Rated PG Thrashers going head-to-head in a bout with the North Coast Nightmares of Terrace/Kitimat. It’s the first time the city’s premier sports and entertainment venue has hosted roller derby, a competitive and colourful team sport that combines speed, skill and strength. ‘It’s going to be an incredible experience showcasing our sport in the spectacular CN Centre to both new and existing fans,’ says organizer Lisa ‘Lockdown’ Hogg. Tickets went on sale Tuesday at the TicketsNorth box office at CN Centre. Adult tickets are $25 each and kids 12-and-under get in for $15. You can order online or charge by phone at 1-888-293-6613. The show starts at 7 p.m. and doors will open at 6 p.m.

the Chiefs after his first season at Delta. He played all 68 games this season, scoring 19 goals and 50 points. In the playoffs, he’s been even more productive, tied for fourth in team scoring with 14 points — including six goals — in 15 games.

Harrington has always had the ability to score, and under new head coach

Brad Lauer — a former Edmonton Oil Kings bench boss hired last summer — he’s learned how to become a more complete player.

“With this new coach, it’s just about understanding the full 200 feet. He’s shown us clips that if you play the right way and do the right things, you actually generate more offence,” Harrington said. “Instead of cheating for goals or anything like that, if you play to win, you’ll do well individually too. Just improving those skills has made me a better player.

“It’s always good to get (points), but I’m just trying to focus on putting pucks on net and helping the team win.”

Because of his Oct. 30 birthday, Harrington isn’t eligible for the NHL draft until 2026. But if he keeps progressing at this pace, he’s on track to reach the upper echelon of the draft rankings by this time next year.

All games in the WHL final are available for free live streaming on Victory Plus: https://help.victoryplus.com/ Harrington’s parents, Jennifer and Daryl, plan to be in the crowd at both rinks cheering him on.

Seventeen-year-old Prince George native Chase Harrington has 14 points in 15 playoff games, tied for fourth in team scoring on the WHL final-bound Spokane Chiefs.

Jiu jitsu/grappling tournament coming to PG May 17

Fighters will pay tribute to Travis ‘The Gladiator’ Galbraith

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

On May 17, nearly a year after the death of Prince George mixed martial arts pioneer Travis “The Gladiator” Galbraith, dozens of disciples who followed his jiu jitsu teachings at Northern Capital Judo Club will gather at Shas Ti Kelly Road Secondary School for a one-day tournament.

To commemorate the sixth-annual event for combatants in the open divisions, instead of belts for winning their respective titles they will be competing for gladiator helmets in honour of Galbraith, one of the province’s most successful mixed martial artists.

Galbraith died in a rafting accident on Willow River, 35 kilometres east of Prince George. His body was found after a four-day search on May 28, two days after his 43rd birthday.

In a 10-year career from 2001-2010

Athletes soar during Sub Zero Track Meet

Braeden Cree of Lake City Secondary School in Williams Lake stretches his arms and legs forward to prepare for his landing as he soars through the air in the Men’s 16-17 Long Jump competition Sunday, May 4 at the Sub Zero Track Meet held at Masich Place Stadium.

he competed in virtually every professional MMA organization except UFC. Galbraith fought the likes of Georges St-Pierre and finished with a pro record of 18-7-0.

“He fought in every major league except UFC, Pride, Elite XC, all the

Canadian organizations, until UFC bought them out,” said Karm Manhas. “We have a few different things planned for that, some pageantry for him.”

Last year’s one-day tournament featured close to 170 bouts and will include jacket and non-jacket forms of

submission wrestling. Most matches will end in a submission, such as an armbar or rear-naked chokehold. If there is no submission the match winner will be determined through a points system.

“I used to (showcase) kickboxing but I found it really challenging with the new regulations they put in place, you need a doctor and there’s no doctors available for anything and they also want an ambulance and two drivers there all the time,” said Manhas, owner of Kaiten Mixed Martial Arts.

“We lost half our striking divisions, but the grappling is strong. Actually, jiu jitsu is the fastest-growing martial art in the world and there are tournaments popping up everywhere. Before, we were the only jiu jitsu school in Northern BC, now there’s three other schools (in Prince George).”

Manhas is anxious to show off his youth team, some of whom will be fighting this weekend on an MMA card in Vancouver. The Kaiten team includes Cooper Bond, the 14-year-old grandson of former MLA Shirley Bond and Manhas’s 11-year-old son Akosh.

ASHMAN PHOTO

Hometown favourite Travis Galbraith fights Chris Peak on a first-round submission during the King of the Cage Anarchy MMA fight card in Prince George Feb. 11, 2006 at CN Centre.

Schmidt brings U18 gold back to Prince George

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Cameron Schmidt completed his national team trifecta when Team Canada smoked Sweden 7–0 in Saturday’s IIHF U18 Men’s World Championship final in Texas.

The 18-year-old brought his gold medal back home to Prince George on Sunday to add to his collection of international hockey treasures, which includes gold from the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and the 2022 World Under17 Hockey Challenge.

“It’s awesome. I’ve been able to do it for my third time now, and it’s a great feeling whenever you get to represent your country and bring back gold,” said Schmidt.

The Canadians went into the final having won their previous six games, including a 3–2 overtime win over Czechia in the quarterfinals and a 4–0 semifinal triumph over Slovakia. The win over Sweden gave Canada backto-back U18 titles for the first time in program history.

Canada had lost to Sweden 8–3 in the exhibition round.

“We kind of used that first game as motivation against them, and we were able to come out on top,” said Schmidt. “They had some pretty close chances, but we had Jack Ivankovic in net — he’s

one of the best goalies I’ve ever played with.”

Ivankovic (Brampton Steelheads, OHL) posted back-to-back playoff shutouts for Canada.

Canada grew progressively stronger, bolstered by the addition of Victoria Royals forward Cole Reschny, defenceman Keaton Verhoeff, and Calgary Hitmen forward Ben Kindel, who each missed two tournament games while playing in the WHL playoffs. Reschny scored five times — including the OT winner against Czechia — and added three assists. Kindel finished with a goal and six assists in five games, while Verhoeff had a goal and four assists.

The Canadian roster also featured 16-year-old Prince George Cougars defenceman Carson Carels, who finished with a goal and an assist.

“Being able to come in at that age, as an underager, is pretty cool,” said Schmidt. “I played against him this season and he’s a great D-man. He’s able to play the Canadian way, I guess you could say. Just being able to get to know him, with him and I being from PG, we get to joke around about this place.”

The quicksilver Schmidt scored two goals and had two assists in Canada’s tournament opener, a 9–2 win over Slovakia on April 24 in Allen, Texas. He also picked up an assist in the gold-medal game in Frisco, Texas.

Prince George native Cameron Schmidt stands at the podium, on Saturday, May 3, after Team Canada defeated Sweden 7-0 in the gold-medal final at the IIHF Men’s U18 World Championship in Frisco, Texas.

He was coming off a superb sophomore WHL season in which he led the Vancouver Giants with 40 goals and 78 points. He also topped the team’s playoff scoring with four goals and five assists in the Giants’ five-game opening-round loss to the Spokane Chiefs.

“The team did pretty well, considering the last few years. We ran into Spokane in the first round, which was a tough team to play. But I’m happy with the way our team’s coming along and the young guys we have in the system — it should be fun the next couple of years,” Schmidt said.

Two of Schmidt’s Vancouver teammates — goalie Burke Hood and defenceman Ryan Lin — also made

the Canadian roster for the world tournament.

Schmidt is completing his Grade 12 studies online and plans to remain at home in Prince George until he leaves for Buffalo, N.Y., for the NHL Draft Combine — a weeklong series of medical tests, fitness exercises and interviews with NHL teams to help inform their selections in the draft, set for June 27–28 in Los Angeles.

The five-foot-seven, 157-pound Schmidt is listed as the No. 43 North American skater available for this year’s NHL draft and is ranked No. 56 overall by Elite Prospects. He plans to attend the draft at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.

“The draft has always been a dream — something you want to be part of — so to get this opportunity is pretty special,” said Schmidt, who was picked seventh overall in the WHL Prospects Draft in 2022, just ahead of forward Chase Harrington, another Prince George minor hockey product taken eighth overall by Spokane.

Harrington will be playing for the Chiefs in the WHL final, which starts Friday against the Medicine Hat Tigers.

“Not many people get drafted out of PG, so when you’ve got two guys being able to do what they’ve done in this league, it’s really cool to see — and I’m happy for him,” said Schmidt.

HOCKEY CANADA PHOTO

Team Canada celebrates its gold-medal win at the IIHF Men’s U18 World Championship on Saturday, May 3, 2025 in Frisco, Texas. Left winger Cameron Schmidt is the first player from left in the second row. Prince George Cougars defenceman Carson Carels is also in the photo.

HANDOUT PHOTO

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How to Dethatch Your Lawn: A Step-by-Step Guide to Healthier Grass

A healthy lawn needs more than regular mowing and watering—it also needs proper aeration and thatch control. Thatch is a layer of organic material (like dead grass, roots, and debris) that accumulates between the soil and the grass blades. While a thin layer (less than ½ inch) can be beneficial, helping to retain moisture and insulate roots, too much thatch can suffocate your lawn, blocking water, air, and nutrients from reaching the soil. Here’s how to dethatch your grass and bring your lawn back to life.

Determine If Your Lawn Needs Dethatching.

Not all lawns require dethatching. To check, use a garden trowel or soil probe to dig up a small section of your lawn. Measure the thickness of the thatch layer. If it’s more than half an inch, it’s time to dethatch. Signs of excessive thatch include a spongy feel

underfoot, poor water absorption, and increased pest problems.

Choose the Right Time

The best time to dethatch depends on your grass type. For cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass or fescue, early spring or early fall is ideal. For warm-season grasses like Bermuda or zoysia, late spring to early summer is best, when the grass is actively growing and can quickly recover.

Select a Dethatching Method

There are three main tools for dethatching:

Manual dethatching rake: Best for small lawns and light thatch. This tool has sharp tines that dig into the thatch and pull it up.

Power dethatcher (scarifier): Ideal for medium to large lawns. These machines use rotating blades or tines to lift and remove thatch efficiently. Tow-behind dethatcher: Designed

for large properties, this tool can be attached to a lawn tractor or riding mower.

Mow and Water Your Lawn

Before dethatching, mow your grass to about half its normal height. Lightly water the lawn a day or two beforehand—this softens the soil but avoids making it too soggy, which could cause damage.

Dethatch and Clean Up

Run your chosen dethatching tool across the lawn in parallel passes. Remove the loosened thatch with a rake or lawn sweeper and dispose of it (or compost it if it’s free of chemicals and disease).

Post-Dethatching Care

After dethatching, your lawn may look rough, but don’t worry—it’s a great time to overseed, fertilize, and water thoroughly. This helps the lawn recover and fill in any bare patches.

Proper dethatching can rejuvenate your lawn, leading to thicker, greener, and more resilient grass. Done at the right time and with the right tools, it’s a valuable part of any lawn care routine.