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CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

NEWS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Non-profits pitch new ‘Hope and Healing Network’ Call for collaboration, not competition, to address safety issues COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

A pair of residents pitched Prince George’s standing committee on public safety on creating a network of local non-profits to reduce competition and improve outcomes at a Thursday, Dec. 18 meeting. The proposal came from Amelia Merrick, a former dean at the College of New Caledonia, and Daniel Roy, head of harm reduction for a group known as Northern Peer Guardians. Merrick said that between 2016 and 2023, Prince George saw a 400 per cent increase in the number of deaths involving people experiencing homelessness. From 2024 to 2025, she said, downtown Prince George registered a 266 per cent increase in the number of fires reported to them. Between 2020 and 2024, Merrick said, the city saw a 10 per cent increase in the severity of violent crime, as well as a 21 per cent reduction in the severity of non-violent crime. There are 183 non-profits in town, Merrick said, but there are around 30 who work to collectively improve the lives of people and businesses in the downtown core. Combined, she said publicly available data suggests they received around $182 million in funding from all three levels of government and employ around 3,000 people. Because of the way non-profits and societies are structured, Merrick said they are overloaded with more work than they can feasibly get done. Many of them don’t have the resources to get training for their staff, or have the funding but are overmanaged. These organizations, she said, are disincentivized from speaking up about problems they see — especially in the downtown core — because they are afraid of having their funding cut. She said that frequently, these

CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK

Amelia Merrick (left) and Daniel Roy (second from left) present to Prince George’s Standing Committee on Public Safety about their idea for a PG Hope and Healing Network on Thursday, Dec. 18.

organizations are pitted against each other for limited staff, funding and other opportunities. “It puts them as enemies rather than collaborators, and we know that means people end up on the streets. They fall through the cracks,” Merrick said. “They light fires and it’s not safe. People are not operating as rational actors.” To help bring local organizations together and working toward common goals, Merrick and Roy proposed creating something called the PG Hope and Healing Network. Merrick said these organizations would be brought together under a shared code of conduct and common approach for key procedures, such as restricted access to facilities. Roy told a story about a friend of his who has been in recovery from drug use for about a decade. While dealing with relationship problems, he said she left her children with friends and went to stay at a shelter. When she arrived, she found out she was on a limited-access list from when she was still in active addiction. “So though she’s an active, contributing member of our community, she was not able to access this shelter for safety because of something that happened,

say, 12 years ago,” Roy said. “There is another well-known facility in Prince George that has over 80 people on their limited-access list.” Merrick explained that meant they can’t sleep at those facilities, so instead they’re in streets, alleys, doorways and other places. This happens sometimes, Roy said, because these facilities and agencies are hiring people without training or don’t have the ability to train their staff. To help the proposed network come together and form a common set of procedures for issues like these, Merrick suggested that members be offered permissive property tax exemptions from the city. After the presentation, Mayor Simon Yu said he liked their approach because frequently, solutions pitched at higher levels of government don’t fit the needs of individual communities, while their idea was Prince George-centric. In the upcoming budget talks in January, Yu said the city will have further discussions about 24-7 bylaw services patrols, but in the long term he doesn’t think downtown issues can be solved by policing alone. Coun. Trudy Klassen asked how the committee and council could look at

‘It puts them as enemies rather than collaborators, and we know that means people end up on the streets.” implementing Merrick’s suggestions for permissive property tax exemptions. Director of administrative services Eric Depenau said that currently, interested parties apply for exemptions in June of each year. Staff and council then go through a list of applicants, see which are eligible and then have to pass a bylaw implementing the successful ones. He suggested that a starting point could be to see which of the 30 non-profits referenced by Merrick could be eligible for exemptions, which of them own the property they operate on and then determine the potential financial implications. Klassen moved for the matter to be referred to a future city council meeting so it could direct staff to take a deeper look into how the tax exemptions could be implemented. It passed unanimously.

NEWS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

Province backtracks on pipeline assessment changes

Fears had been raised that the move would shift the tax burden to local homeowners COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

BC Assessment has decided against proceeding with proposed changes to how pipelines are valued in 2026, a spokesperson for the organization confirmed to The Citizen by email on Thursday, Dec. 18. At the Nov. 21 meeting of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George’s board of directors, chief administrative officer Chris Calder told elected officials that there are pipelines in six of the district’s seven rural electoral areas. The areas with pipelines were projected to lose between 16 and 30 per cent of the assessed value of utility class properties, leading to a two per cent overall drop in the overall assessed value of properties across the entire regional district. Projected to be hardest hit were electoral areas G (Crooked River-Parsnip) and H (Robson Valley-Canoe) Calder said property owners in the City of Prince George would likely have to help make up a large share of the lost revenues from the pipelines. On Wednesday, Dec. 17, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District — one of the first local governments to raise concerns over the proposed changes — announced that it had been informed by BC Assessment that it would no longer pursue the valuation changes for pipeline in 2026. On Thursday, Dec. 18, BC Assessment senior communications advisor Tim Morrison confirmed to The Citizen that the changes aren’t proceeding. “BC Assessment can now confirm that the valuation model used to determine the regulated rates for pipelines will not change for the upcoming 2026 Assessment Roll Year,” Morrison said. “BC Assessment will be working with the taxing jurisdictions to ensure they are informed of this decision and the corresponding impacts to the taxable assessment values in their

communities.” In a statement sent by email, provincial Finance Minister Brenda Bailey said she supported the decision. “I know communities have been worried about the proposed changes on pipeline valuations from BC Assessment,” Bailey said. “Any risk of a big tax burden shifting to residents and small businesses is something I take seriously. After further consideration and my discussions with BC Assessment, I can now confirm that BC Assessment’s regulated rates valuation model for pipelines will not change for the upcoming 2026 Assessment Roll Year — a decision I support.” One of the people most vocally opposed to the proposed changes at the regional district’s November board meeting was Director Dannielle Alan (Robson Valley-Canoe). In a Dec. 18 phone interview, she told The Citizen that she was surprised that the changes had even been proposed in the first place and on such short notice given the “dire financial implications for most regional governments in British Columbia.” “So it does not surprise me that they, after rolling this out and then hearing the backlash, backed away from this for this year.” Alan highlighted that BC Assessment only said they were not pursuing the changes for 2026 but made no promises for future years. “The wording on that was so specific that I fully anticipate that they will be trying to bring this back in 2027,” Alan said. “But the impact of it will not be less devastating just by putting it off a year and the impact won’t be less devastating because we have a little bit of time to prepare. It doesn’t matter when these people are going to have to pay more taxes … they expect ordinary people, ordinary taxpayers ordinary property owners, small businesses, seniors to pick up

HANDOUT PHOTO

BC Assessment confirms pipeline assessment changes that could have led to higher costs for Prince George taxpayers won’t be happening.

the tab for these pipelines.” Another director who expressed concern with the changes was Mayor Owen Torgerson of the Village of Valemount. At the Nov. 23 meeting, he said that with the Trans Mountain pipeline seeking to expand its oil-carrying capacity, its property value should increase and not decrease. In an email, he said Valemount was pleased with the decision. “Being beside Trans Mountain lines 1 and 2, within the Regional District Fraser-Fort George and neighbours to the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, this is a win for those governing bodies, albeit perhaps temporarily,” Torgerson said. “However, we have confidence the federally-owned expansion project will not seek to further impact communities through requisition reduction.” Also reached by phone, Calder said the district was “thrilled” to see the decision paused for 2026. “That will have a positive effect on assessments and what the financial picture looks like for us,” Calder said. “Knowing that there won’t be this downloading of taxations to residents from the shifting of assessment between (property) classes is very helpful. I think

this makes it more of a normal budget.” Keeping the status quo means that the district is looking at an increase in the assessed value of utility class properties, he said. Like Alan, he said the district is still concerned that the pipeline changes will be pursued in a future year. Calder added that the change in course shows that the boards and councils from regional districts and municipalities were effective in their advocacy and they can affect change if they work together. In a statement, BC Conservative finance critic Peter Milobar called the move good news for local governments and taxpayers. “It did not happen by accident,” Milobar said. “Local governments spoke up, regional districts pushed back, and Conservatives put real pressure on the NDP after exposing a proposed assessment change that would have blown holes in municipal budgets and shifted the burden onto homeowners and small businesses.” He called on the provincial government to stop making backroom decisions that destabilize local finances and have consequences for communities.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

BC Transit to add services in January

NEWS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Santa Claus makes his rounds at UHNBC

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Route 5 Victoria will now run on Sunday, BC Transit and the City of Prince George have announced. The change, effective Jan. 4, reflects an increase in demand, as do other changes happening at the same time. Route 5 runs from downtown to Pine Centre Mall and connecting UHNBC, the CN Centre and Duchess Park Secondary School. As part of this service expansion, there will also be more frequent weekend trips on the following routes: • Route 15 UNBC/Downtown • Route 88 Westgate • Route 89 Hart The service expansions are made possible through increased funding from local governments and provinces, BC Transit states. School trips on routes 12, 15, 55, 96 and 97, on hold right now because of the Christmas break, will also be reinstated in the new year as students head back to school. For more information, visit www. bctransit.com/prince-george/

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Santa takes a moment to visit with Patrick Forfar, 10-weeks-old, and his mom Tawna in their room in UHNBC paediatrics Thursday, Dec 18. St. Nick toured the ward and met with children, families and staff.

City now accepting letters of interest for non-profit grants MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

The City of Prince George is now accepting letters of intent for its limited-duration two-year operating grants. The grant is for registered non-profits and will provide funding for overall operating costs for up to two years, with allocations of up to 30 per cent of an organization’s operating budget, to a maximum of $30,000. Currently, the city has $131,576 available for the 2026 limited-duration two-year operating grant stream and is looking to share it among five to eight

organizations. Funding will be prioritized for organizations that align with the grant’s focus areas: a safe, healthy and clean community, and equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. Letters of interest will be accepted until Jan. 15. The city notes that while priority will be given to those that fit the priorities listed above, organizations not directly aligned are still welcome to apply. The city has also provided new eligibility requirements aimed at supporting smaller not-for-profits to build local

capacity and ensure a more equitable and diverse delivery of community services. Starting in 2026, the eligibility criteria listed below will apply: • Must have an operating budget of less than $250,000 • Must directly impact more than 100 residents annually through programs or services • Must offer ongoing programming • Must demonstrate partnership with at least one other organization on an ongoing basis • Must not have a low-cost or subsidized lease agreement in place

with the city Must not have a standing grant agreement The city notes the myPG Community grant, Quick Response Micro grant, SportPG Hosting grant and Capacity Building grant will also be available for applications in January 2026. Non-profits in Prince George include seniors centres, volunteer organizations, Indigenous services and mental health supports, among many others. More details about the grant program, eligibility and application deadlines are available on the City of Prince George website. •

NEWS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

Giddens ruling out BC Conservatives leadership bid MLA says he’ll wait for the field to fill out before endorsing COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Prospective candidates for the next permanent leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia have started throwing their hats in the ring, but Prince George-Mackenzie Conservative MLA Kiel Giddens won’t be one of them. In a post made to his social media accounts on the morning of Thursday, Dec. 18, Giddens said that while he’s been asked whether he’s considering a leadership bid in the race to replace the recently ousted John Rustad, he won’t be pursuing one. “I’d probably be a long shot for the job at this point in my career, but I’m genuinely grateful for the support, especially from friends and neighbours here at home in Prince George,” Giddens said.

“After some thought, and a few honest conversations, I’ve decided that I won’t be running. My kids are still very young, and right now they need their dad more than anything. Public service matters deeply to me, but family always comes first. I also want to stay focused on the issues that matter most to the people of Prince George-Mackenzie.” Reached by phone later that day, Giddens said that with the party having yet to release rules for the leadership race yet, he’s still waiting for the field to fill out before endorsing anyone. “It can’t just be about someone who knows how to attack the NDP on social media, it’s got to be someone who really has a good grasp of governing, of public policy, that they have the courage to do the right things to get the province back on track,” Giddens said. “I also want to see someone who doesn’t forget about the north … someone who actually has the intelligence and, really, the character to actually be the premier of this province.” Over Rustad’s tenure as leader, it appeared as though deepening cracks

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Kiel Giddens speaks at an event last February.

were forming between the different entities within the BC Conservative’s big tent. Both moderates like Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Elenore Sturko and more ardent social conservatives like Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Dallas Brodie had

been ejected from caucus, leading three other MLAs to leave in solidarity. Giddens said that Rustad had done “an amazing thing” to bring the party together as it finished just three seats shy of the NDP in the 2024 election. “But we need to do more, obviously, and that’s what I think the next leader is going to be tasked with,” Giddens said. “If a party wants to win in this province, they have to be a big tent, they have to gain the support of as many British Columbians as possible who are wanting a change in direction.” One of the factors in Rustad losing his leadership was a letter sent to the party’s board of directors alerting them that a majority of caucus members had asserted they no longer had confidence in his leadership. The names of those MLAs were not disclosed. Giddens said caucus business is confidential and he didn’t want to get into who did or did not sign that letter, “but at the same time there was obviously a clear majority that wanted change and we were hearing from many British Columbians on that.”

City issued almost $9.3 million worth of building permits in November COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

The City of Prince George issued 29 building permits worth nearly $9.3 million in November 2025, according to a report delivered at the Monday, Dec. 15 city council meeting. Of that total, 22 permits were for single-family detached homes representing

14 new units. They were worth a combined $4,796,877. There were also six commercial, industrial and investment permits worth a combined $2,480,995. That included three permits for commercial building alterations worth $1,142,995 and two institutional building alterations worth $1,275,000. One multi-family housing

development with 20 units was issued a permit, representing a construction value of $2 million. Also issued were development permits for 1720 Queensway and 2552 McTavish Rd. Combined, all the permits issued in November were worth $9,277,872. That’s less than the 40 permits worth $13,998,826 issued in November 2024. However, when it comes to

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year-to-date statistics, Prince George was ahead at the end of November in 2025 compared to 2024. Between January and November this year, the city had issued 401 permits worth a combined $287,791,641 and representing 640 new housing units. During that same period in 2024, Prince George had issued 386 permits worth a combined $260,807,464.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

NEWS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Council will consider delegations to Ottawa, Victoria The question is whether to pay for travel with economic development funds COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Prince George city council voted to include a discussion in its 2026 budget deliberations on whether to use economic development funds to send members of its Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs on lobbying trips to Victoria and Ottawa at its Monday, Dec. 15 meeting. In October, the city amended the committee’s terms of reference to include economic development as part of its mandate. In recent years, the committee has typically sent a delegation made up of its members and some city employees to Victoria to lobby the provincial government on various items. After the terms of reference were changed, the committee approved a request to council for $16,000 from the city’s economic development advocacy budget so that it could send a second delegation to Victoria and delegation to Ottawa in 2026. A report committee chair Coun. Garth Frizzell wrote for the Dec. 15 meeting estimated the cost for four members to be a part of each delegation would be about $2,000 per person. However, Frizzell noted that funds to send staff along with the delegations have already been allocated. Because this item did not meet the deadline to be included in the 2026 budget book, Frizzell wanted the full discussion over allocating the advocacy funds towards delegation expenses to be forwarded to January deliberations by council. During 2025 budget talks, council decided to re-allocate half of the annual $40,000 economic development advocacy budget to increase council’s annual expense and travel budgets going forward, leaving $20,000. Discussing the request at the Dec. 15

meeting, Coun. Tim Bennett asked if trips to Ottawa and Victoria have the same cost as suggested by the committee’s request, saying that a quick internet search indicated much higher costs for flights from Prince George to Ottawa than Victoria. Frizzell said that not all committee members participate in all the delegations and that the cost estimates represent an “up to” figure rather than a final estimate. Any additional expenses would come from individual councillors’ expense budgets. Coun. Trudy Klassen asked whether the funds could be used to send councillors to other economic development events should the delegations not use up the entire amount be requested. Director of finance and IT services Kris Dalio said that without an adjustment to the remuneration bylaw, councillors would not be allowed to spend beyond their yearly expense limit except for the members of the intergovernmental affairs committee going to delegations. He also explained that after some reorganization, the committee’s budget was moved under the budget for the communications department and that the request would not represent new funding, but a reallocation of existing funding. Coun. Ron Polillo said he believed previous delegations to Victoria had been successful and had led to big announcements from the provincial government. Expanding on Polillo’s thoughts, Frizzell added that while the brief meetings with senior members of government at events like the Union of BC Municipalities’ annual convention, they’re typically only 15 minutes long and the delegations allow for longer encounters. “The return on investment for one trip has been big, so this next year we want to get down to Victoria a second time and we want to get out to Ottawa and hit some of those federal issues too,” Frizzell said. Coun. Cori Ramsay, the current president of the UBCM, said that she knows a lot of mayors who make advocacy trips

CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK

Coun. Garth Frizzell discusses a request to use $16,000 worth of economic development advocacy funds to send a second delegation from the Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs to Victoria and a delegation to Ottawa in 2026.

regarding specific items to both Ottawa and Victoria. However, she said a lot of preparation and briefing materials are developed for their visits and she thinks Prince George needs to up its game on that front. Mayor Simon Yu said his thoughts were different than those previously expressed. The advocacy funds, he said, are set aside for mayor and council to engage in economic development advocacy, not the intergovernmental affairs committee. “The money is there for all of us to use for economic development, so now we take this money out and (it’s) only going to intergovernmental affairs for a very specific trip to Ottawa, to Victoria at $2,000 a pop,” Yu said. He argued that the $16,000 dollars are needed to improve the economic situation of the city’s residents through use by individual councillors and said he would have difficulty supporting the motion. Normally, he said, he pays out of his own pocket to advance economic development items because he doesn’t want to spend residents’ money without having something concrete to show as a return on investment. Coun. Tim Bennett said that there was already an attempt to reallocate the remaining economic development funds to council’s expense limit during 2025 budget talks, which was defeated. If the

$16,000 is reallocated for delegations, he said he hoped that it would still be used for economic development. Coun. Brian Skakun said that the original $40,000 economic development budget for council dates back to Shari Green’s term as mayor from 2011 to 2014. He said he felt that each councillor’s $10,000 budget for travel and expenses is sufficient and he wouldn’t support the motion. Dalio said that it was originally $25,000 a year for the mayor and $15,000 for council and he believed it was amalgamated under Green’s council. “I believe the last time it was substantially used was for a trip to China to promote a sister cities relationship with one of the cities in China,” Dalio said. “It really hasn’t been used much since Shari Green’s council. Probably less than $1,000 a year.” In the last six years, he said council had spent just over $3,000 of the economic development funds. Coun. Trudy Klassen asked how this money would be accessed if the motion was defeated. Dalio said it would be under the mayor’s purview, with assistance from the city manager’s office. Coun. Kyle Sampson said he didn’t disagree with the need for economic development advocacy, but he’s concerned that the funds have sat mostly unused for years because there’s no framework for them to be distributed. Sampson and Yu had a lengthy back and forth about whether the mayor’s office should control the funds or if there should be a framework so that councillors can request them.

Vote summary

Council refers a discussion to 2026 budget deliberations over using $16,000 from the economic development advocacy to send delegations from the Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Relations to Ottawa and Victoria. • In favour: Ramsay, Polillo, Scott, Frizzell and Sampson • Against: Skakun, Yu, Klassen and Bennett Result: approved 5 to 4.

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

NEWS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

New subdivision planned for top of Cranbrook Hill COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

A first round of approvals was granted to a proposed housing development on Cranbrook Hill at Prince George city council’s Monday, Dec. 15 regular meeting. On behalf of D.C. McLeod Developments Inc., L&M Engineering is applying for the rezoning of a 21.1-hectare portion of 5310 Russman Rd. from AF: Agriculture and Forestry to AR2: Rural Residential, another 4.4-hectare portion from AF to AG: Greenbelt and a final 2.4-hectare portion from AG to AR2. Also being requested is a change of land use designation for the 21.1-hectare portion of the property from Rural Resource to Rural. The parts of the parcel not subject to the rezoning and OCP applications will remain zoned as AG: Greenbelt and designated with a future land use of

Rural Resource. The whole 47.8-hectare property is located just off Cranbrook Hill Road. A report written by city staff for the meeting said that the developer is looking to build a residential subdivision with no more than 12 lots on the property. It also said that the property owner is willing to establish two restrictive covenants before the rezoning bylaw receives final approval. The first would prohibit development on the parts of the parcel zoned AG: Greenbelt while the second would limit the number of lots for subdivision to 12. City staff recommend that final reading of that bylaw be withheld until the covenants are registered. Because of the requested changes to the OCP, the city must hold a public hearing on the application before third and fourth readings of the bylaw can be considered.

City appoints key officials for 2026 municipal election Costs will be shared with SD57 as Prince George voters go to the polls in October COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

With BC’s 2026 local elections about 10 months away, Prince George city council appointed key officials to run the proceedings at its Monday, Dec. 17 meeting. Ethan Anderson, the city’s manager of legislative services and corporate officer, was unanimously approved as Prince George’s chief election officer for 2026. Deputy corporate officer Leslie Kellett and supervisor of information for privacy and record management Joan

Switzer, were unanimously approved as deputy chief election officers. As previously reported by The Citizen, director of finance and IT services Kris Dalio told the Standing Committee on Finance and Audit at its Dec. 3 meeting that while the city has been setting aside $35,000 a year since the 2022 election to pay for the 2026 election, an additional $46,300 will be needed in next year’s budget to pay for forecasted expenses. Anderson told the committee that cost estimate includes cost sharing with School District 57, which will hold an election at the same time for its board of education. The official nomination period for candidates for the 2026 local elections is between Sept. 1 and 11, 2026. Prince George voters elect a mayor and councillors on Saturday, Oct. 17.

has slopes of zero to 10 per cent in the western portion and some greater than 45 per cent with some ravines in the eastern portion. It also noted that there are no existing community water or sewer infrastructure on site and the development will have to include the construction of private infrastructure to meet requirements. An accompanying geotechnical assessment for the future subdivision prepared by SoilTech Consulting Ltd. discusses the setbacks needed to keep construction on the site far enough away from the slopes. CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE

The property shown with a thick black outline is the proposed site of a 12-lot subdivision on Cranbrook Hill at 5310 Russman Rd. Foothills Boulevard is on the right.

A servicing suitability assessment prepared by L&M Engineering from this past March noted that the property

Merry

Vote summary

Council approves eight recommendations relating to the proposed development of 5310 Russman Rd. including the first two readings of rezoning and OCP amendment bylaws and the holding of a future public hearing. Result: All approved unanimously.

Christmas

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

OPINION

A Christmas look back at all the positives of 2025 KENNEDY GORDON Citizen Managing Editor

It’s often said that bad news makes the biggest headlines. “If it bleeds, it leads,” goes the old newspaper saying. Fires, crime, political shenanigans and the daily churn of conflict can dominate the news and, at times, shape how we see ourselves. But as Christmas approaches — a season that naturally invites good cheer — it’s worth pausing to look back at the many positive news stories that have also filled our pages this year. They may not always attract the same kind of attention as disaster or controversy, but they tell the deeper story of who we are in Prince George. Here’s a good example: As the residents of the Boardwalk Apartments gathered outside to watch their building burn in June, gripped by chaos and fear, when they were suddenly displaced and the future looked uncertain, something remarkable happened. Neighbours showed up with food and coffee and opened their doors to people who had just lost everything. In those tense hours and long days afterward, generosity replaced panic, and community stepped in where disaster struck. It was a good reminder that compassion often rises fastest when circumstances are at their worst. Throughout the year, that same spirit has been visible in the tireless efforts of volunteers working to raise funds for local charities and causes. Countless

CITIZEN PHOTO BY MICHAEL KAST

Christmas spirit: People decorate this College Heights tree every year, including with lights. It’s located behind Polaris Montessori Elementary School in the park where three paths meet.

hours were given freely by people who simply wanted to help others. Their work was matched by the support of local businesses that donated prizes, sponsorships and space, and by members of the public who dug into their pockets. These stories may not always carry dramatic headlines, but their impact is real and lasting. Then there are the GoFundMe campaigns that quietly changed lives. When illness struck, when accidents happened, when families faced sudden loss or financial hardship, the community responded with clicks, shares and donations. The year opened with community spirit on full display as nearly 180 brave souls charged into Ness Lake for the annual Polar Bear Dip, raising smiles and spirits despite the winter chill to

fund kids going to camp. As spring and summer followed, crowds gathered again for classic car admiration at the Father’s Day Classics in the Park Show and Shine, while runners and walkers turned out in droves for the beloved Spank the Banks. Prince George also found itself in the national spotlight. The Amazing Race Canada rolled into town, showcasing local landmarks and community pride to viewers across the country, and when the show aired later that year, a Prince George team was in the mix (and came in second — congratulations to siblings Grace Dove and Joe Syme). Closer to home, a long-lost mountain hiking trail began a new chapter as restoration efforts breathed life back into a once-forgotten outdoor gem. There was good fortune, too. One

resident celebrated a life-changing $5-million lottery win, while another made headlines at the World Series of Poker, proving local talent can shine on the world stage. And someone local won a million-dollar home lottery that helped raised much-needed funds for the Prince George Hospice Society. Acts of generosity rounded out the year. A retired doctor used woodworking to support relief efforts in Ukraine, while seniors at Willow River celebrated a much-needed new roof thanks to community collaboration. Let’s not forget sports. Week after week, crowds turned out to cheer on local teams, schools and athletes. We proudly served as the host for the BC Special Olympics where our volunteers welcomed athletes, coaches, and families from across the province. We aren’t suddenly pretending that bad things don’t happen, or that difficult stories should be ignored. They matter, and they deserve attention. But so do moments of kindness, resilience and generosity. As we celebrate Christmas, perhaps the greatest gift we can give ourselves is a commitment to carry that spirit forward — not just in December, but yearround, to stay positive even when life throws its worst at us. And to remember that beyond the headlines, Prince George continues to show, again and again, that good news is never far away and that we live in an amazing community. Merry Christmas! editor@pgcitizen.ca

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PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

OPINION

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

A public inquiry is overdue as BC’s forests run out Former MLA says minister’s comments confirm the crisis MIKE MORRIS Guest Columnist

I was going through my news feeds recently and found this Canadian Press story written by Brenna Owen about a large 1,000-year-old cedar tree that was harvested on Vancouver Island. It wasn’t the headline that caught my attention — although I am gravely concerned over the continued harvesting of the scant remaining areas of primary forests — but it was the forest minister’s comments that jumped out at me. In response to a question about the lack of economically available fibre in BC, he said, “It has nothing to do with government policy, it has nothing to do with reconciliation.” “It has everything to do with the fact that the trees aren’t there. They will come back, they will grow back. But they are not here right now.” Finally, an admission from government that the trees aren’t there. Why then did he and his entourage take a very expensive trip around the world trying to expand a market knowing we had no timber available? Everyone, including industry itself, has been aware of this for years. Why else would they be taking their money and investing in other global jurisdictions? I first became aware of this crisis in 2014 after then-premier Christy Clark appointed me parliamentary secretary to the forest minister to review the state of biodiversity loss across the province. I was shocked at what I found. I presented my findings to the Council of Forest Industries in 2015. BC was overharvesting at an unsustainable rate and, because of legislative changes supporting an industry-led, market-driven forestry strategy, government could no

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Former MLA Mike Morris outlines what BC has to do as the forest industry collapses in a guest column today.

longer effectively intervene. I warned that industry needed to reduce its annual cut to at least half of what it had been cutting over the previous decade or face the consequences of drastic mill closures within the next eight to 10 years. And here we are today. Most of our mills are closed, with more to come, thousands of families affected, and the minister saying the trees are gone. Irrefutable evidence that we have not been practising sustainable forestry. The minister says the trees aren’t here right now, but they will grow back. Yes, they do grow back, but that takes decades — centuries if we consider these new trees are not only replacing trees that were several centuries old, but also need to restore the hydrological integrity of our watersheds. They need to restore the loss of biodiversity. BC has had several public inquiries on forestry over the past century. The first reported in 1910, the second in 1945, the third in 1955 and the last in 1976. The 1945 inquiry recommended the sustained yield policy, projected to maintain forest growth and ensure a perpetual supply of wood and the stability of forest-dependent communities. The report also recognized the importance of forest cover that provides direct and indirect benefits in addition to the mere growing of wood, but made the conscious decision to exclude that value-added benefit, stating that “this

was not an essential ingredient to be applied to the term sustainable yield.” The belief at the time was that it would be impossible to log all the trees in BC. One must remember that this public inquiry started its process in 1943, influenced by 1930s logging and manufacturing processes, decades before clearcut logging practices started in the mid-1960s. And therein began the strategy that focused solely on the mere growing of wood. The sustained yield strategy eventually morphed into the sustainable forest management strategy still practised today but, as demonstrated, was not sustainable by any stretch of the imagination. UBC research shows it was wrong to exclude these other values. Clearcutting is now linked to the increased frequency, magnitude and duration of flood events, increased drought durations and landslides like we saw blocking the Chilcotin River. Lives have been lost, billions of dollars in infrastructure losses have occurred, billions more in economic losses have impacted all British Columbians, yet clearcutting practices are still authorized by government. The last public inquiry into forestry occurred 50 years ago, in 1976. During that inquiry, the commissioner noted that, “The old-growth timber on which our industry has been built was often of exceptionally high quality, capable

of manufacture into products that command premium prices in world markets. As this stock is depleted (and it is appropriate to refer to it as stock, since it is not reproducible within any meaningful planning horizon), much of the special advantage this province’s timber has enjoyed will be lost.” Over the past half century since the last public inquiry, the changes to forestry have been exponential. Highly technical mills with outputs never dreamed about in 1976, logging equipment eliminating the need for people to work on the ground, and logging trucks carrying triple the capacity have all led to high-intensity forest harvesting. That 1976 prediction has become reality. BC has lost its special advantage. We need to look at this self-inflicted pause in forestry as an opportunity to assess what we have left and develop science-based strategies to move forward, building a truly sustainable forest sector. But how do we do this when such a disparate array of opinions between groups obscures the reality on the ground, and when the validity of the annual allowable cut determinations (AAC twice sustainable rate) is under question? This can only be done effectively under the authority that comes with a public inquiry. Not to find fault, but to truly find out what forests we have left, the condition of our watersheds, the current state of fish and wildlife populations and their habitat, and to identify all the values of a complete forest. Once this diagnosis is done, the term sustainability must be properly defined to include all values of a forest and become the foundation for determining a way forward. Mike Morris was the MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie from 2013 to 2024. He served as parliamentary secretary to the forest minister and as public safety minister.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

OPINION Prince George city council rejects funding for seniors’ centres

Prince George city council rejects funding for seniors’ centres

Harry Dennis Backlin: Obituary

I can’t wait for the next civic elections. I have never been so disappointed or, in some cases, downright disgusted by the decision-making of this council. Five thousand dollars to have a meeting is nothing, apparently — while $17,000 (basically only three times that) cannot be allocated to help five different seniors centres make it through their fiscal year. Unbelievable. Of course, look for better solutions for the future. They need help now — many seniors rely on these centres, especially in these difficult times. Kathy Ahr

Prince George city council rejects funding for seniors’ centres Sampson’s approach is more focused on personal positioning than on achieving meaningful outcomes. The emphasis on introducing a separate notice of motion, rather than working collaboratively with the mayor for immediate assistance for seniors, gives the impression that optics are being prioritized over the needs of the community and spreading a little Christmas cheer.

So, instead of giving it to the seniors now (well, a few weeks away after all the unnecessary bureaucratic red tape), we are now spending $5,000 of it to host yet another useless PR event where photo-op Sampson can look like he cares about seniors.

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This was one of the few motions the mayor put forward that would actually make a difference here and now. It should go without saying that they look for ways to support the seniors centres down the road and long term and not require a $5,000 expense of money they could be using now instead for refreshments and photo ops, and possibly yet another committee to discuss the various possibilities of helping the seniors centres. Vote accordingly next year, people.

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Harry excelled at being a commercial realtor, only retiring his real estate licence in June of this year, at 96 years young, after being with Royal LePage Aspire Realty since 2018. His work colleague and very dear friend David Black would take turns buying each other lunch every day from the seniors centre. David was instrumental in the last few years in helping Harry continue with his real estate career. Harry wasn’t the best with technology, and David would help him with setting up a computer to take his courses and often helped with Harry’s cellphone (which was an oldschool flip phone) and his hearing aids. David took very good care of Harry, along with others at the office, including Darcy, Michelle and Meghann. He was the most special man. Royal LePage Aspire put on a Ukrainian Christmas, in which Harry loved having the perogies and telling his stories. Harry had an amazing group of very close friends at Royal LePage Aspire, as well as at the other real estate brokerages in Prince

George. My Uncle Harry, from Sandy Lake, Man., was a kind, generous, likeable man — a guy you’d want in your circle. He was a savvy businessman: professional, tenacious, knowledgeable and influential. Harry excelled as a “finder, minder and grinder.” He got the “work ethic seed” at an early age, delivering papers in the small town where he grew up. Many famous paperboys. He studied medicine, education and law at university. He was a brilliant man. Harry lost his only son, Neil, to cancer at 34 years old. Harry was beyond devastated. He was so proud of Neil, a pilot, environmental engineer and fitness medalist. Whenever I’d meet someone from Prince George, I’d say, “Do you know Harry Backlin?” Most people did. I was very proud of Harry. Harry was predeceased by his father, Dan; mother, Ann; brother, Archie; sister, Joyce; and wife, Maybell. Harry is survived by his sister, Nadia Isaacson. Suzanne Isaacson

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

OPINION Northern Health issues measles warning for Prince George

Letter to the editor: We have it pretty good when it comes to snowplowing

As the medical profession has long predicted, the fallout is now beginning. Unfortunately, it is the younger generation who will bear the brunt of the impact from decisions made by their parents. No doubt many will later point fingers and expect medical solutions to problems created by declining immunization rates. Yes, vaccines can cause adverse reactions, including severe outcomes, but these occur at a rate of roughly one per million people vaccinated. In contrast, measles causes serious complications in about one in 1,000 cases, and death in about one in 1,000 infections in Canada (far higher in lowincome nations). The question is: do we accept the extremely rare risks associated with vaccinations, or the far greater risks posed by widespread infection? For the current generation, the genie is already out of the bottle — through no fault of their own. Perham

Good snow removal is seen as a way to attract people here. It helps counter fears of the Great White North. That’s one theory that’s been bandied about. We had a referendum on driveway clearing and snow removal. We get what we vote for and occasionally what we pay for. We’ve seen an increase in freeze-thaw cycles, which makes road and sidewalk sanding a nightmare. It damages roads, increases repair costs and shortens infrastructure life. As a child, I don’t recall having to sand or salt a driveway. I now have to do it regularly. Lou Maurice Letter to the editor: We have it pretty good when it comes to snowplowing Snow removal crews have been doing a good job, but since city councillors are talking about cutting back on snow removal, how about we cut back on cleaning their roads first and then we will see how they like the savings. BCRacer

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

LETTERS tothe EDITOR Pay transparency opens book on what city workers make

The City of Prince George’s 2024 Pay Transparency Report meets the requirements of British Columbia’s Pay Transparency Act by presenting median wage and overtime outcomes by gender. This information provides only a partial picture of how compensation outcomes are produced, despite ready access to more detailed data. When the Pay Transparency Report is read alongside the city’s Financial Information Statement, clearer patterns emerge. Unionized roles operate within negotiated wage grids that limit variation in base pay. Although overtime can significantly increase total earnings, particularly through seniority-based call-out provisions, base wages in these roles remain relatively consistent. Differences in earnings are therefore more closely tied to access to overtime than to discretionary wage setting. The greatest wage variation appears in non-unionized roles. These include management exempt, professional, and senior administrative positions where compensation is set through individual contracts and internal adjustments rather than collective bargaining. The city’s own data shows a wide range of base pay within this group, from modest professional salaries to senior executive compensation that exceeds most other roles. Wage growth in these positions is also more flexible and less constrained. Workforce composition further shapes these outcomes. City data shows that women occupy only 12 per cent of the highest paid roles. This concentration at the top directly affects median wage outcomes across the organization. While the Pay Transparency Report presents aggregate figures, it does not explain how job classification, representation, and compensation practices

interact to produce them. Overtime data reinforces the importance of structure. Women are less likely to receive overtime pay and work fewer overtime hours overall. Audit information indicates that overtime in unionized roles is distributed through seniority-based systems, which tend to favor the employees with the most seniority. Given the composition of the workforce, these systems can perpetuate earnings differences without reflecting differences in performance or base pay. Pay transparency is not about assigning blame or setting groups against one another. Its purpose is to help the public understand how compensation systems distribute opportunity and reward. Providing clearer, role-based context would allow residents to better assess whether those systems are working as intended. City administration and Council have an opportunity to strengthen transparency by pairing required reporting with accessible explanations of compensation structures. Publicly funded compensation is not private. Clearer context would support informed discussion, strengthen public trust, and help reduce the gaps that history has left behind. Tammy McLeod Prince George

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

City crews work to fix a damaged sewer line at 20th and Larch Street in this 2024 file photo.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

NEWS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Northern organized crime unit will be based in PG COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Prince George will be the headquarters of a new eight-officer police unit targeting organized crime across Northern BC in the new year. Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger made the announcement, flanked by members of city council and officers from the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of BC (CFSEU-BC), at city hall on Tuesday, Dec. 16. “I know that BC’s north has been experiencing a rise in criminal activity linked to the toxic drug trade, understandably creating fear, uncertainty and frustration,” Krieger said. “In recent years, we’ve seen organized crime groups expanding drug trafficking and operations, moving weapons along major corridors and targeting remote communities throughout Northern BC.” Called the North District Uniform Gang Enforcement Team (ND-UGET), the unit will work with police detachments in rural and remote communities in the BC RCMP’s North District. It’s the largest of the four RCMP districts in the province, spanning from Haida Gwaii in the west to the Alberta border in the east and from the Yukon and Alaska borders in the north to 100 Mile House in the south. Krieger said hiring for the unit would begin in January, though the site it will be based out of has yet to be chosen. However, she said that Prince George was chosen as the headquarters because of its status as a hub city and gateway to the province’s north. Between 2020 and 2025, Krieger said, the CFSEU-BC’s province-wide UGET team had been dispatched to 28 times, including six times in the first nine months of 2025. “With today’s announcement, northern communities in our province will now have dedicated access to these specialized, highly trained resources working closer to home and focused on the unique challenges of Prince George and the northern region,” she said. “The Northern District UGET will

CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK

Provincial Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger announces a new eight-officer policing unit tackling organized crime in Northern BC during a media conference on the second floor of Prince George City Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

strengthen partnerships with local police, First Nations leadership and community organizations by ensuring organized crime has fewer places to operate and fewer opportunities to cause harm.” She said the costs for the northern unit will come from the CFSEU’s budget, which receives more than $100 million in annual funding from the province. Asked what else the province is doing to improve public safety and address street disorder in Prince George, Krieger said the city has accessed more than $900,000 in funding from the Special Investigation and Targeted Enforcement program — which addresses repeat violent offenders — as well as funding from the Community Safety and Targeted Enforcement Program (C-STEP) Speaking after Krieger was Manny Mann, the commanding officer of the CFSEU-BC. He said Northern BC has unique public safety challenges like “a vast geography, major transportation routes and organized crime groups actively looking to extend their operations.” “Organized crime groups continue to traffic drugs, transport weapons and move criminal proceeds through northern communities, so establishing a dedicated team in the north will allow us to maintain a visible and sustained presence with stronger community connections and respond more quickly to emerging threats.”

Across the whole province in 2025, he said, his unit has made 272 arrests, seized 166 weapons including 25 firearms and seized more than $113,000 worth of criminal proceeds. The other CFSEU-BC members present with Mann were from various RCMP detachments, the Delta Police Department and the Vancouver Police Department. Mann said they had been in Prince George since the previous Sunday, Dec. 14. He told reporters that members of the eight-officer unit will be specialists in gang suppression, arms interdiction and intelligence-driven enforcement. Having a unit in the north, he said, would allow for more flexible deployment of officers rather than having to deploy members up from the Lower Mainland. Mayor Simon Yu thanked the province for investing in the team, saying that the city has been clear in the community’s need for strong tools and more visible enforcement to improve public safety. “This announcement reflects the importance of collaboration between the province, law enforcement and local governments to disrupt organized crime, protect communities and support the officers on the front line doing this critical work,” Yu said. Yu also mentioned the importance of improving local safety with major

provincial and federal economic projects like BC Hydro’s north coast transmission line coming through the area. Earlier in the month, Yu told The Citizen that he had been briefed by representatives from Public Safety Canada on security risks associated with those major projects. Present at the announcement was Sheldon Clare, the Conservative MLA for Prince George-North Cariboo. He told The Citizen that it was a good first step on tackling organized crime but there’s still work to be done. “It doesn’t, of course, deal with the addictions and fentanyl crisis and I think the government needs to take steps to ensure that it is stopping the enabling of drug use and dealing with that problem, which is really the origin of what a lot of people are seeing.” “Certainly, organized crime is a big problem and it drives a lot of illegal and illicit economic activity that needs to be dealt with directly and I think this is a good step to handle that sort of problem.” He added that it’s important that ordinary people not be targeted by any firearms control measures, but instead criminal activity involving weapons. Clare said he’d also like to see some deeds and action rather than words on Premier David Eby’s September promise to bring an involuntary care site for mental health and addictions to Prince George.

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

NEWS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

City to investigate joining RCMP’s auxiliary program The volunteer peace officers wear uniforms but are unarmed COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Prince George city council approved a proposal by two of its members to consider having the city join the RCMP Auxiliary Program at its Monday, Dec. 15 meeting. The idea came from councillors Cori Ramsay and Kyle Sampson, who said in a report that since April 2024, the RCMP have offered three tiers of auxiliary policing to communities in British Columbia. “Auxiliaries are uniformed, unarmed community volunteers who are appointed by the Province of BC as peace officers once screening, medical and training requirements have been completed,” the councillors’ report stated. “Auxiliaries perform 180 hours per year of public safety services and programs in their respective communities, under the direct supervision of RCMP regular members.” The report also stated that the province is covering the costs for implementing the program in communities, including training, uniforms and medical expenses though ongoing operational costs are the responsibility of local governments. Many of the city’s peer municipalities who contract the RCMP for policing services, the report stated, either have already implemented a local auxiliary program or are in the process of establishing one. Those include Chilliwack, Kelowna, Langley Township, Kamloops, the District of North Vancouver and Coquitlam. The City of Nanaimo has a municipal police force that operates a community policing volunteer program. Their motion requested that their colleagues approve a request to have city staff prepare a report on the potential benefits and drawbacks of bringing a Tier 3 auxiliary program to the city for

council to decide later. Tier 3 programs are the most involved, with auxiliary officers working a minimum of 180 hours per year under the direct supervision of a regular officer and assisting with general patrols, attending to calls, check stops, scene security, neighbourhood watch programs, disaster assistance, traffic patrols and patrols on foot and bicycles. Officers in Tier 3 wear a grey duty shirt, blue trousers, a navy baseball cap or toque, a high-visibility vest, soft body armour, a fluorescent yellow patrol jacket, slash-resistant gloves and carry a baton and handcuffs. To establish an auxiliary program, a local government must make a request through its local RCMP detachment. Speaking to her colleagues, Ramsay said the city had an auxiliary program in the past and said the idea was worth pursuing as the province is covering the startup costs. “I think this is a viable solution for us to also throw into the mix,” Ramsay said of investigating this program among other public safety approaches. Sampson said he wanted to emphasize that he and Ramsay weren’t asking for commitment that night, just to start the consideration process. Coun. Garth Frizzell asked director of administrative services Eric Depenau for his initial thoughts on the project. He said that as the auxiliaries are volunteers, it wouldn’t add to the city’s labour costs. He added that the current Citizens on Patrol program essentially functions as a Tier 1 auxiliary program. With the RCMP coming before council in January to discuss the service’s 2026 budget request, Depenau suggested that would be a good time to ask about how it could be implemented locally. Frizzell said he thought the proposal was a no-brainer and would support the motion. Ramsay added that the auxiliaries can’t act as replacements for regular officers, but the program would add extra boots on the ground. Coun. Ron Polillo said he’s been an advocate for Prince George to

RCMP PHOTO

RCMP auxiliaries wear uniforms that clearly define their status.

implement an auxiliary program since he got on council and was completely in favour of the program. He said bringing the program back should have been discussed earlier than that night. Coun. Brian Skakun said he felt that if the local RCMP wanted the program to be implemented, they would have brought it up. He said that those who sign up for the program could be liable for criminal and civil legal issues and might need WorkSafe BC insurance. However, he said he would support the motion. Coun. Trudy Klassen asked Depenau whether considering the auxiliary

program would prevent the consideration of implementing a community safety officer program. Depenau said it wouldn’t. Coun. Tim Bennett asked for confirmation that ongoing operational costs would have to be footed by the city. Ramsay said the specifics on the RCMP’s website were unclear to her and hoped that staff could clear that up should the motion pass and they prepare the report. Mayor Simon Yu said that council needs to keep in mind that the city has a huge footprint and there could be challenges in implementing auxiliaries into the local detachment’s operations.

Vote summary

Council directs administration to return a report on the RCMP auxiliary program and consider a formal submission to join through the Prince George detachment. Result: Approved unanimously.

BOB ZIMMER MP

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

NEWS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Manslaughter sentencing delayed by late Gladue report Dakota Keewatin was convicted in August of shooting a man BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The BC. Supreme Court sentencing of a man convicted in August of manslaughter has been delayed indefinitely. Two days were scheduled in the first week of January for Crown and defence lawyers to make their submissions about the length of Dakota Rayn Keewatin’s jail term. Minimum sentence for manslaughter involving a firearm is four years. But, Justice Ward Branch was told Dec. 15 that a court-ordered report on the Indigenous offender’s personal history, called a Gladue Report, is outstanding and Keewatin’s defence lawyer does not know when it will be completed. “As of today’s date, neither myself nor my friend from the Crown office have seen that report,” said Jason LeBlond. “And when inquiries were made about the progress on that report, I think in general, we were informed that there’s

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

A man found guilty of manslaughter was originally charged with second-degree murder after the March 7, 2023 home invasion robbery.

been problems completing the report, possibly problems communicating with Mr. Keewatin.” Branch set Jan. 5 as a scheduling hearing. Keewatin was convicted Aug. 19 of manslaughter after a judge ruled he fatally shot a man more than two years ago. Keewatin, 32, had been charged with

second-degree murder after the March 7, 2023 home invasion robbery at the Connaught Hill apartments in Prince George. Keewatin did not testify at his trial which ended in early May, but reconvened in late June for closing arguments. The case is under a ban on publication of information about the victim’s identity.

Justice Ronald Tindale ruled that Keewatin sought to cause the man harm, but not death. “In my view, there was no time for the accused’s passion to cool,” Tindale said. “Based on the circumstances of this case, a culpable homicide of [the victim], which would otherwise be second degree murder, can be reduced to manslaughter because the accused committed the offence in the heat of passion caused by a sudden provocation.” It was the second trial in 2025 involving Keewatin in which self defence was considered. On March 3, Keewatin and another man, Kerridge Andrew Lowley, were acquitted for the Aug. 11, 2022 aggravated assault and break-and-enter at the Econo Lodge City Centre. Keewatin disarmed a man wielding a machete, then used the machete on the man. The victim required emergency surgery to repair a nearly severed right arm and gashes to the right hand and knee. Justice John Gibb-Carsley said it was “not unreasonable for Keewatin to defend himself by going on the offensive and attempting to neutralize what was a hostile threat to him.”

Drug dealer found guilty after 4,000 pills found in baggie BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A BC Supreme Court judge found Williams Lake’s Jasbir Singh Pawar guilty Dec. 15 of a seventh count of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking. Justice Julianne Lamb ruled that nearly 4,000 pills in two Ziploc bags that RCMP officers seized from Pawar’s residence four-and-a-half years ago contained fentanyl and that they were intended for sale. Pawar had claimed that the pills were oxycodone painkillers for his personal use. “Mr. Pawar admitted that he had purchased the 3,973 white pills discovered in his bedroom on May 13, 2021, he was aware the white pills were in his

bedroom, and I am satisfied the white pills were in his control,” Lamb said in an oral ruling. “Further, I’m satisfied the Crown has proven Mr. Pawar had requisite knowledge to prove possession.” Pawar admitted he did not know what the pills contained and that he purchased them from somewhere other than a pharmacy. He had difficulty remembering when he purchased the white pills, undermining the reliability of his evidence, the judge said. Health Canada tested a random pill from each bag and found they contained fentanyl. Lamb accepted expert RCMP evidence that counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl are a recognized street drug. Also, counterfeit pills made

to look like pharmaceuticals are a method of concealment. Lamb was satisfied that Pawar “was at least willfully blind as to whether the white pills contained fentanyl.” “The Crown has proven Mr. Pawar had the fentanyl in his possession for the purpose of trafficking, based on the quantity of fentanyl pills found in Mr. Pawar’s bedroom,” Lamb said. “As noted, I rejected Mr. Pawar’s evidence that he purchased the white pills for his personal use, and his evidence does not raise a reasonable doubt about his intention to sell the fentanyl pills.” Lamb said that, at the conclusion of Pawar’s trial, he did not contest conviction on six counts of possessing cocaine, MDMA, fentanyl,

methamphetamine and cannabis for the purpose of trafficking. The only issue left for Lamb to decide was the fentanyl charge. During a May 13, 2021 RCMP traffic stop at a Husky gas station in Williams Lake, officers discovered 279.9 grams of cocaine in Pawar’s vehicle. The next day, May 14, 2021, RCMP officers conducted a search of Pawar’s bedroom and found 527.9 grams of cocaine, 4.84 kilograms of dried marijuana, 21.4 grams of MDMA, 83.6 grams of methamphetamine and 204.6 grams of psilocybin. They also found cash, phones and common drug-dealing paraphernalia, such as a scale and score sheet. The case was adjourned to March 2 to schedule sentencing.

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

NEWS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

Council votes to petition Parliament for bail reform COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Prince George city council voted to pursue a petition on public safety through the House of Commons with the help of a local MP at a meeting on Monday, Dec. 15. A report written by director of administrative services Eric Depenau ahead of the meeting said that ongoing issues in the downtown area including street disorder, mental health and criminal justice challenges are something that local governments like the city have a limited authority to address. The main tool council has at its disposal, Depenau said, is to support recent calls to the federal government to implement bail reform, increase penalties for repeat offenders and institute stricter sentences for violent crimes. For that reason, Depenau advocated for submitting a petition to the Attorney General and minister of justice

through the House of Commons’ online portal asking for changes to the Criminal Code of Canada, the appointment of more judges and prosecutors to reduce court backlogs, an increase in support for Crown counsel and an increase to funding for provincial correctional services. The report said that a petition must first have between five and 10 initial supporters before being submitted and council is recommended to be the first signatories. Then the submitter must choose the length of time that the petition is open for signatures between 30 and 120 days. A member of Parliament must sign on to authorize the online publication of the petition. Mayor Simon Yu said Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty has agreed to support it. Then the petition will be examined by the clerk of petitions and vetted, with a French copy being produced and being

RCMP seize firearms and drugs MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

RCMP stepped up enforcement efforts this weekend, making four arrests and seizing drugs, weapons and other items. The first seizure occurred on Dec. 12, when RCMP officers executed two Controlled Drugs and Substances Act warrants at homes on the 200-block of McIntyre Crescent. Inside, investigators seized ammunition, drug trafficking paraphernalia, various weapons and a small quantity of suspected methamphetamine. No arrests were made during that investigation. Later the same day, officers executed a warrant at a home on the 1300 block of Pearson Avenue as part of a stolen property investigation. RCMP found a firearm, a small quantity of suspected illegal drugs and two stolen motorcycles. No arrests were made in that investigation.

The following day, officers were told about two people sleeping in a vehicle on Third Avenue. After investigating, police seized various weapons, a replica firearm, illegal cigarettes, more than $1,000 in cash, drug trafficking paraphernalia and nearly 10 grams of suspected fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine. The driver was issued a 24-hour driving prohibition. Both people were released pending laboratory results and charge approval by the BC Prosecution Service. RCMP ended the weekend with an arrest on Dec. 14 after a traffic stop on Highway 97 North near Fifth Avenue. Officers found the driver of a rental vehicle in possession of body armour, and he was arrested. He was released at the scene with a future court date, and the vehicle was returned to the rental car company. The investigations are ongoing, RCMP report.

posted online if it meets requirements and the supporters are validated. If the petition gets 500 signatures, the clerk will issue the supporting MP with a certificate that they can then present to the House of Commons. Should it fail to meet the threshold, it would still be online but would not be presented in the House. Two motions were presented to council, one approving the draft petition and another naming Yu as the petitioner and the rest of council as supporters. Discussing the item during the meeting, Coun. Cori Ramsay asked whether it would be quicker and easier to run a paper petition as it would require only 25 valid signatures in order to be tabled in the House of Commons. She also wondered whether the language of the petition should be updated given recent bail reforms tabled but not yet approved by Parliament. Specifically, she said changes to reverse onus mentioned in the petition have

already been ruled out by the federal government. Coun. Garth Frizzell said he would support it being put online and for the city to run a campaign to generate support and signatures for the petition. Coun. Ron Polillo asked whether there could be both a paper and online petition at the same time. Depenau said they would have to choose one or the other. Coun. Trudy Klassen said she felt it would be simpler to run the e-petition and said it would be a “sad day” if they couldn’t come up with 500 signatures.

Vote summary

Council approves the submission of a petition on public safety to the House of Commons worded similarly to the draft presented on Dec. 15. Council approves Mayor Simon Yu as the petitioner and members of council sign on as supporters of the petition. Result: both approved unanimously.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

NEWS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Four years in jail for sexual interference, sexual assault The case involved a 47-year-old man and a teenaged girl BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The 47-year-old Prince George man guilty of having sex with a girl under age 16 at his basement suite more than five years ago was sentenced Dec. 17 to four years in jail. BC Supreme Court Justice Michael Stephens credited Joseph Alexander Child with 53 days time served, for a net sentence of a little more than 46 months. Stephens had originally planned to give his sentencing reasons on Dec. 18, but came back late afternoon on Dec. 17 because Child’s lawyer, James Macdonnell, had a scheduling conflict. Stephens also added Child to the national sex offender registry for 20 years and banned him for 10 years from visiting any place, such as a park, pool or recreation centre, where children under 16 may be present or be in a

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

A man who sexually assaulted a girl under 16 will spend four years behind bars and will have his name added to the national sex offender registry.

position of authority over anyone under 16. After a trial in July, a jury found Child guilty of sexual assault and sexual interference. The Crown proceeded only on the more-serious sexual interference charge because an offender cannot be double-punished for the same crime.

During the sentencing hearing, Crown prosecutor Rodney Withall asked Stephens to jail Child for six years. He emphasized a 2020 Supreme Court of Canada ruling that requires tougher punishments for sex crimes against children because the victims may be more likely to engage in sexual violence

against children themselves when they reach adulthood. Macdonnell proposed five years of home confinement or one year in jail plus three years probation. He said his client was guilty of a “one-off event” that took place during 15 minutes within a 24-hour period. Earlier on Dec. 17, at the end of his sentencing hearing, Child told Stephens that he took responsibility for his conviction and had full remorse and empathy for all involved. He said he has spent time working on his sobriety and consulted with a pastor to improve himself. “Not a day goes by that I don’t think or wish that I could turn back the clock and make a choice to go left instead of right,” Child said. While a pre-sentencing report said Child was a low risk to reoffend, Withall told the court that the report also said Child was “not accepting responsibility, and appears to have gained little insight into how these offences harm children and society as a whole.” Instead, Withall said Child blamed the offence on his escalating substance abuse, lack of job and loss of home.

City to have bylaw officers swear oaths in near future COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

The City of Prince George will soon have its bylaw officers swear an oath to align with provincial legislation, the Standing Committee on Public Safety heard at its Thursday, Dec. 18 meeting. During the meeting, committee members received a briefing from director of administrative services Eric Depenau on the province’s ongoing review of the Police Act and what its consequences might be for municipalities. A special committee was formed in 2020 to implement police-related reforms, delivering an all-party report featuring 11 recommendations in 2022. Since then, the province has been reviewing those recommendations and

how they should be implemented with local governments. At this September’s Union of BC Municipalities convention in Victoria, the UBCM announced that the second phase of the review had concluded and the provincial cabinet was considering its next steps. While the final outcome of that review is still unknown, Depenau noted to the committee that back in May, the BC Legislature amended the Police Act to state that anyone exercising powers or performs duties under it — which includes police officers, bylaw enforcement officers, members of boards or committees, the provincial director of law enforcement services and people employed by the director — to take an oath or affirmation. That oath, Depenau’s report said,

swears the person to allegiance to King Charles III and his successors and to faithfully and impartially perform their duties. Prince George has not previously required its bylaw officers to swear oaths, but Depenau said it would introduce one into the onboarding process for new officers and require existing officers to do so as well. At previous meetings of the committee, there had been discussions of implementing community safety officers to supplement existing police and bylaw officers in Prince George. Depenau said that in reviewing the Police Act and the Community Charter, both bylaw officers and community safety officers appear to operate under the same framework and there is little difference between them.

On the city’s work plan, he said, are plans to draft a bylaw to more clearly define the bylaw enforcement officer position and bring it to council for consideration. As was discussed at the Dec. 15 city council meeting, there is also an ongoing review on implementing 24-7 service from bylaw officers. On top of that, Depenau said that the city is reviewing issuing bylaw officers with badges as a form of additional identification and review job descriptions to see if there are tiered policing activities that bylaw officers are entitled to carry out but are not currently exercising in Prince George. More information on how to use bylaw resources to operate overnight will be available during January budget deliberations, he said.

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

NEWS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

Witnesses describe Pine Centre Mall bear spray attack MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

RCMP are asking witnesses to come forward following an incident involving a bear spray attack at the Pine Centre Mall food court. Just before 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 15, RCMP reported that a youth used bear spray in the mall’s food court and then fled. This occurred after a group of five youths were reportedly involved in an altercation. “The three were just young guys,” witness Mackenzie Nicolas Matheson told The Citizen. “They looked welldressed and all the rest. The other guy had a knife and mace, was wearing a long jacket and a hoodie over his head and a balaclava on his face ... The three guys were chasing this guy around in the mall. They were chasing them all around the Santa area, screaming something. I don’t even remember what

they were screaming because it was just so frantic at the time. Then the guy ran past us about four feet and sprayed the bear mace up in the air ... “He was literally running from these guys and he kept turning around and showing his weapon and showing that he had something in his pocket but not pulling anything out. I think when he got to the point where it was make or break, he took out the pepper spray and shot it in the air. It was just like a fire hose going off. It was terrible.” She added that the scene in Pine Centre was frantic following the attack. “This lady was walking with her cane and she was obviously trying to hustle a little bit to get out of there,” said Matheson. “She was covering her face. It was terrible. My first thought was the kids and these older people who are probably going to be struggling. The food court was pretty busy. There were a lot of people and everybody scrambled. Nobody went in one direction;

Player blames ‘sticker shock’ for theft of expensive hockey bag BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Prince George man who pleaded guilty to theft under $5,000 blamed sticker shock for shoplifting a goalie bag while he was on a road trip to a hockey tournament in Kelowna early this year. In Provincial Court on Dec. 17, Cory Lee Heer, 50, was fined $250 and ordered to pay $280 restitution after stealing from Chevy’s Source for Sports on Feb. 1. Heer had visited the sporting goods retailer with his two children and was caught on store surveillance video taking the $280 item. Kelowna RCMP arrested him five hours later at a nearby restaurant and booked him for theft under $5,000. Store management initially told an RCMP officer that they did not want

Heer charged, but would accept the item returned the next day in saleable condition or full payment. Heer did not comply, so the case was referred to Crown and a warrant was issued for the logging truck driver’s arrest. Defence lawyer Connor Carleton said Heer was embarrassed by his actions and prepared to suffer the consequences. “I asked him what was going through his head at the time,” Carleton told Nadon. “Basically, it was the incredulity with the price of the hockey bag. Obviously doesn’t justify it in any explanation, in a meaningful way. But it did strike me as a very expensive bag.” Nadon agreed to the joint Crown and defence sentencing proposal and gave Heer a six-month deadline to pay the fine, restitution and $37.50 victim fine surcharge.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

RCMP are investigating after bear spray was reportedly used at Pine Centre Mall.

everybody went in every direction. When we pulled out of the back of the mall, all the workers were in the back of the mall with water bottles, trying to get

their eyes clear and their throats clear. It was terrible.” Matheson and her family remained uninjured, aside from sore throats following the attack. While she is thankful nobody was seriously injured, she remains concerned for any children or seniors who may have been at the food court during that time. “It was probably pretty traumatic for some little kids and I’m hoping the elderly people are good,” said Matheson. “It was so random and it was so quick. You didn’t even have time to be prepared to do anything. It was screaming for a matter of half a minute and then the spray and everybody scrambling. It was so quick.” RCMP have begun an investigation and are asking anyone who witnessed the attack or saw the youth flee in the parking lot to contact the non-emergency line at 250-561-3300.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

BUSINESS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Council eyes next steps for downtown business safety Under consideration is a taxpayer-funded security patrol COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Prince George city council held off on asking local businesses whether they want a tax-funded downtown overnight security patrol at its Monday, Dec. 15 meeting as it continues to gauge the appetite for such a measure and other options to improve public safety. At the meeting, director of administrative services Eric Depenau gave a report on potential options to shore up overnight security in the downtown commercial zone, which is generally located between First Avenue to the north, Queensway to the east, Patricia Boulevard and 15th Avenue to the south and Vancouver Street to the west. Depenau said that implementing changes involving the city’s resources would be best implemented in upcoming budget deliberations in January. This could include creating a local area service-funded security patrol, which would be funded through a tax levied directly on benefiting businesses in the commercial zone. A local area service could be created by having interested businesses submit a petition to the city under section 212 of BC’s Community Charter and then having at least 50 per cent of property owners representing 50 per cent or more of the assessed value of land in the affected area that would benefit from the service sign a petition. The city could also implement a local area service by having council create an initiative through section 213 of the Community Charter. Like the alternative approval process for municipal spending, beneficiaries of the local area service would have the option of signing a counter-petition. If 50 per cent or more of property owners representing 50 per cent or more of the affected area voice opposition, the creation of the local area service would

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHRISTINE DALGLEISH

City bylaw enforcement officers make their rounds in downtown Prince George in this file photo. Council has discussed tax-funded overnight security patrols, but held off on making a decision.

be blocked. The city’s Standing Committee on Public Safety discussed the idea of local area service-funded patrols back at its March 18 meeting. Some members aired concern over additional costs being placed on the shoulders of downtown businesses while Downtown Prince George president Eoin Foley said he felt it would be the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to provide those businesses with peace of mind. During a March 27 visit to Prince George, provincial Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services Terry Yung said business improvement areas shouldn’t have to spend the majority of their budgets on security. At the last council meeting before the Union of BC Municipalities annual convention in September, a motion was passed calling on council to lobby the province for $400,000 in funding to establish overnight security patrols. This motion happened shortly after the fire that destroyed CrossRoads Brewing and Distillery’s downtown location on George Street.

Mayor Simon Yu told The Citizen after the convention wrapped up that the province wanted to see more details and a solid proposal before it would make a funding decision. Other options floated in Depenau’s report included council deciding to directly fund security patrols in the downtown core funded by general taxation or undertaking other initiatives like 24-hour bylaw services, seasonal overtime patrols, funding closed-circuit tv projects, funding additional daytime and nighttime drop-in services and funding crime prevention through environmental design projects. Presenting to council, Depenau also referenced the city’s potentially bringing in an RCMP auxiliary officer program as was discussed earlier in the evening as another consideration. Mayor Simon Yu said that it might be premature to decide on expanding bylaw officers’ shift hours or introducing a local area service while the city also investigates the possibility of establishing an RCMP auxiliary officer program through the local detachment. He advocated for council to look to explore Depenau’s suggested other

options and not make a decision that night. Coun. Cori Ramsay said she would support the launch of a local area service petition and having business owners express their interest in establishing a security patrol, though she added that she would like to see whether an RCMP auxiliary program would alleviate some of those pressures. Coun. Brian Skakun brought up that he had challenged Downtown Prince George to survey their members on their appetite to bring in a local area service back in March and again over the summer and had yet to hear back. He suggested that a decision be postponed until council hears back from the business improvement area on their members’ desire for a local area service, saying that could be discussed at the Dec. 18 meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Safety. City manager Walter Babicz said if council voted to receive the report for information, it wouldn’t prevent the item from coming back for further discussion at a later meeting. Coun. Garth Frizzell asked whether administration will present possible public safety-related budget enhancements during January’s 2026 budget deliberations. Director of finance and IT services Kris Dalio said three related enhancements were discussed at the Standing Committee on Finance and Audit’s Dec. 3 meeting: hiring four police support services staff at a combined cost of $398,476, hiring 12 firefighters at a combined cost of $1,588,248 and hiring four bylaw officers at a combined cost of $459,276. Coun. Tim Bennett said he wasn’t necessarily opposed to a local area service, but he’d spoken to businesses and they are looking to see what support council can provide them with for the time being.

Vote summary

Council receives the report on security options for the downtown commercial zone for information. Result: approved unanimously.

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

BUSINESS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

Class-action lawsuit against PG airport remains aloft BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Prince George Airport Authority Inc. and two others in BC have failed in their appeal of a retired Nova Scotia pilot’s proposed class-action lawsuit. Brian Roy filed his original notice of civil claim on March 25, 2019. He alleges 20 airports are wrongly charging the “passenger tax” on airline employees and their family members who use an employee travel pass. Roy also accused the airports of concealing their governing agreements. Last March, a BC Supreme Court judge allowed Roy to add BC resident Benjamin Scott as a plaintiff to satisfy rules requiring a BC plaintiff. Prince George, Vancouver Airport Authority and Victoria Airport Authority unsuccessfully sought to have the claim thrown out. The decision by the appeal court, from Justices Susan Griffin, Janet

Winteringham and Andrew Mayer, said the three airports’ interpretation of the Class Proceedings Act “is not supported by the words of the section, the context of the legislation, nor the objectives of the legislation.” They also ruled that the lower court judge, Lisa Warren, did not err. “The BC plaintiff, Mr. Scott, is not precluded from seeking certification of the action as a class action by the mere fact that there was an earlier plaintiff who filed the claim,” said the appeal decision. The tribunal said the law permits non-BC residents to be included in class actions. “There is nothing to be gained by punishing all class members and requiring abandonment of a class action, just because the action happens to be started by someone who does not meet the requirements for bringing a certification application but this deficiency is subsequently corrected,” the decision said.

Engineer suspended 3 months BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Smithers professional engineer was suspended for three months and ordered to pay legal and investigative costs after admitting to breaching the Engineers and Geoscientists B.C. (EGBC) bylaws and code of ethics. Eerik Matthew Lilles of Bulkley Valley Engineering Services admitted in a Nov. 20 consent order that, between June 2017 and March 2019, he demonstrated unprofessional conduct related to the design, construction and repair of a sewerage system. EGBC issued a citation in March and amended it in September. The order said that Lilles opined in a letter to property owners that a system at a property did not pose an immediate environmental or health risk, without documenting or recording the basis for or reasons in support of that opinion. He admitted failing to conduct an

adequate site and soil evaluation. Nor did he adequately design a sewerage system or ensure that it was constructed, installed and/or commissioned in a manner consistent with the standard practice manual and/or specified alternative practice. Lilles also failed to seek opinion of a geotechnical engineer or hydrologist before finalizing a design and failed to file documents to the Northern Health Authority about a potential hazard caused by the sewerage system The suspension began Dec. 1. Before the end of his suspension, Lilles must provide notice to EGBC that he paid for and passed an online seminar and webinar and three courses. A year after the end of the suspension, he must undergo an EGBC practice review at his own expense, focusing on sewage-related engineering services. Lilles must also pay $18,500 toward EGBC’s legal and investigative costs. Lilles originally registered in 2007.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

A lawsuit against the Prince George Airport Authority claims it’s one of 20 airports charging an illegal “passenger tax” on employees and their families who use travel passes.

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

BUSINESS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Hart Hwy. trucking company’s expansion bid rejected COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

A Prince George-based logging and trucking company’s application to the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George board of directors to expand operations on a plot of land inside the Agricultural Land Reserve was overwhelmingly rejected at a Thursday, Dec. 11 meeting. Edgewater Solutions Ltd. wants to expand the maximum allowable area for non-farm use on 16745 Hart Highway — located roughly halfway between the City of Prince George and Salmon Valley — from one to three hectares. Property owners must apply for permission to use land within the Agricultural Land Reserve for non-farm purposes. A report written by district staff said that in 2014, the board of directors gave conditional approval for a logging and trucking operation to operate on the subject property. “The use was deemed consistent with the OCP’s rural/service industrial policies because the operation was expected to stay small in scale and have only limited impact on the cultivated portion of the property,” the report said. “The 2014 conditional non-farm approval limits the total area used for buildings, storage and parking to one hectare of land surrounding the shop, limits the maximum floor area of buildings to 500m2, and requires the use to be operated in conjunction with an established residence.” Currently, the total building floor area at the site is 443 square metres, the part of the property used for parking and storage exceeds one hectare and the mobile home residence at the site is uninhabited. If the ALR non-farm use is approved, staff said that require both a zoning amendment and an amendment to the Salmon River-Lakes Official Community Plan. Attached to the meeting agenda was a copy of an application to the Agricultural Land Commission from Edgewater Solutions dated Oct. 27, 2025.

RDFFG HANDOUT

The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George board of directors declined to forward an application to the Agricultural Land Commission to increase the non-farm use area at 16745 Hart Highway (bordered in yellow) north of Prince George at its Thursday, Dec. 11 meeting.

Owner Steve Wilson wrote that he needs the non-farm use area “expanded slightly in order to keep workers and equipment away from one another so that work can be completely safely.” “To be clear, it is my position that my non-farm activities are most often performed working within the one-hectare threshold of the current bylaw, but from time to time, we have to move a tractor or baler or swather into the one-hectare area for maintenance and thus, other trucks or machines get moved outside the one-hectare area.” He added that before he initially acquired the property, the company was unable to find an available industrial property within the City of Prince George that was big enough to accommodate a small fleet of logging trucks. Today, there are no suitable properties for purchase in the Prince George area. In exchange for receiving permission to expand his non-farm use area, Wilson said he would be willing to donate an amount of land zoned for industrial, commercial and investment to be used as farmland. The exact location and size of the land he proposed to donate is redacted from the document. Also included with the meeting agenda was a letter from land use planners with the provincial Ministry of

Agriculture and Food with early comments on the application. “Expanding non-farm use activities on ALR parcels instead of non-ALR parcels can cause a speculative pressure on other agricultural parcels, increase the surrounding land values of farmland, and add to a cumulative negative impact on the region’s agricultural sector,” that letter said. “Given the nature of the proposed use, it is unlikely this application will benefit the agricultural sector in the region.” Though regional district staff did not take a definitive stance in their comments on the application, they ended their report by saying “It may be reasonable to deny this application from proceeding to the ALC because expanding non-farm uses in the ALR is inconsistent with the agricultural objectives of the OCP and the Agricultural Land Commission Act.” There were also three letters from nearby residents expressing concerns over the potential approval of the application. Dirk Henrich and Traute Schuirmann said they own the adjacent property, which is used for agricultural income, and they strongly oppose the application. They said that before Edgewater acquired the subject property, the previous owner operated a small,

family-owned company with two or three logging trucks under a temporary permit. During that time, they said the family stayed within the allowed limits and kept the area clean. “Since Edgewater took possession, the property has turned into a largescale operation, with a lot of heavy equipment crowding the space,” they said. “It’s now an unsightly and messy area, and it looks like they have already expanded over the allowed perimeters.” They also expressed concern with increase noise pollution, chance of accidents with vehicles entering and exiting Highway 97 and setting a precedent that will lead to more agricultural land being turned into commercial land in the area. “Part of the field of the property in question is also used as an airstrip,” they alleged. “This summer and fall we noticed an airplane cruising in low altitude over our property.” The second letter was from Alex Schuirmann and was substantially similar to the previous letter, but with different wording. The third letter was from Jim Schalin, who also opposed the application. He expressed concerns over approval leading to more commercial entities purchasing farmland for there uses and the potential increase in area property values as a result. “I am in favour of a commercial/agricultural operation but there needs to be some type of control to the size of the commercial operation in relation to agriculture,” Schalin wrote. “Some ideas might be: agriculture being the primary source of income, the owner/ operator being a resident on the property.” When it came time for the board to discuss the proposal, Director Victor Mobley (Salmon River-Lakes) said that while they could forward it to the ALC, they already know it would be rejected, especially as the already-allowed non-farm use has been exceeded. All directors voted against forwarding the application to the ALC except for Director Gene Runtz (Village of McBride).

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

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he Prince George Humane Society provides sanctuary, advanced medical care, and unwavering hope for animals in need. However, a crucial detail often goes unnoticed by the public: this lifesaving work is sustained not by large government grants but by the thoughtful, personal generosity of local donors. With the festive season in full swing, it’s essential to clarify the realities of their funding and the indispensable role community support continues to play. A common point of confusion arose when PGHS was awarded the contract to operate the City of Prince George Animal Shelter. Many assumed this implied their funding needs were met. In reality, this contract was limited to basic operating costs at the Community Animal Shelter on Lansdowne Road, with the amount spread over five years rather than allocated annually. While this support is essential for keeping the

shelter’s doors open, it covers only the foundation. The heart of the operation—the lifesaving medical interventions, emergency surgeries, specialized treatments, and steady flow of medical supplies—relies entirely on compassionate donations from the public. Every transfusion, X-ray, and stitch is funded not by the city, but by the community. Additionally, while the PGHS operates from a building historically used by the BC SPCA, the former is a fully autonomous local charity with no affiliation to the provincial organization and receives no financial support from them. This independence ensures that every dollar donated for animal care in Prince George remains within the city, managed by a local team dedicated to this region’s needs. The ripple effect of a donation to PGHS extends beyond kennel walls, reaching directly into the homes of local pet owners through their Keeping

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

COMMUNITY

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Top fundraiser Vicky Lockyer of Nelly’s Pub accepts the Top Fundraiser trophy Wednesday, Dec. 10 from volunteers and contest organizers Brian Leslie (left) and Phil Ramage (right) for pub owners Stewart (far left) and Sheryl Malgunas (far right) after coming up with the idea to make a traditional Jigg’s Dinner with proceeds going to the 100 Hampers for 100 Families event held at Nelly’s Pub. Nelly’s won the contest, raising more than $4,500, with the funds going towards purchase and distribution of food hampers to support families in need over the twoweek Christmas break. CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Meals on Wheels gets boost from Prince George Ford CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Prince George Ford donated $40,000 to the Prince George Council of Seniors Meals on Wheels program on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, helping to offset the cost of providing nutritionally balanced meals to seniors in need. The local Meals on Wheels program is the number one provider in British Columbia that served more than 16,000 meals last year. The program currently has 162 clients. “We’ve supported the Meals on Wheels program for about four years now and we’ve met with the Council of Seniors staff about the need, taken a tour of the facility and we are aware of the growth in the seniors population and the increase of what’s needed, so to help when we can is an important thing to do,” Chris Wall, general manager at Prince George Ford, said about the donation. “The Council of Seniors does a lot for a lot of people.” When Andrew Agbenin took on the duties as Wheels on Meals coordinator in late 2024 there were 46 seniors in need on the waiting list. Just a few short months later Agbenin was able to meet the demand and quickly expanded the program to offer the service not only

continue to grow. Betty Bekkering, Prince George Council of Seniors board chair, reflected on what she thinks is the reason there is such a big demand for services for seniors. Back in the early 2000s when Prince George residents retired many would move south to enjoy a less wintry climate, Bekkering explained, but nowadays that isn’t an option for those on a fixed income so they stay in Prince George where demand for seniors services has increased with the population. CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHRISTINE DALGLEISH “Now we have 16,000 plus seniors Prince George Ford donated $40,000 to the Meals on Wheels program provided in Prince George so what’s happened by the Prince George Council of Seniors to seniors in need. From left is Malhar with that is the services available to Kendurkar, executive director of the Prince George Council of Seniors (PGCOS); Garth Miller, PG Ford sales; Cheryl Riddle, PG Ford controller, Betty Bekkering, seniors have not kept up with demand,” PGCOS board chair; Chris Wall, PG Ford general manager, Andrew Agbenin, Bekkering said. Meals on Wheels coordinator, and Terry Bodner, Better at Home coordinator at “The Council of Seniors has really PGCOS. been on a treadmill trying to keep in the bowl area of Prince George but George Ford it helps us keep the prothe services going. The number of also to the North Nechako area and into gram running and the meal cost affordpeople that walk in here every day is parts of College Heights. able despite the rising cost of food,” unbelievable.” “We hit a milestone recently where Kendurkar said. “Thank you so much Kendkurkar said last year there were we served 106 meals in one day about PG Ford. Your donation is incredible.” 15,617 visitors who came to the Countwo weeks ago and it was roast beef,” The Meals on Wheels program cil’s Seniors Resource Centre. Malhar Kendurkar, executive director provides the much-needed service that “That’s the highest number we have of the Prince George Council of Seniors, offers affordable, nutritious, hot midday ever had because the need is so great.” said. meals, which are more the size of a big For more information about the In the rented kitchen facility in downdinner, delivered to each client’s door. programs available at the Prince George town Prince George they have a staff of Agbenin has managed to recruit Council of Seniors, especially the Meals two people making the magic happen, volunteer drivers to deliver all the on Meals program, visit https://www. the chef and the sous chef. meals but there’s always room for more pgcos.ca/ or visit 1330 Fifth Avenue or “So with the donation from Prince people to help out so the program can call 250-564-5888.

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Vehicle dealerships raise $100K for Spirit of the North Donation will go to a new endobronchial ultrasound system

This is a huge piece of equipment for Northern BC — not just for UHNBC, but for the surrounding region that we serve.”

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Two local car dealerships are feeling the holiday spirit early this year and have donated nearly $100,000 to the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation. Prince George Ford and Prince George Subaru donated $60,000 and $30,000, respectively, to Spirit of the North to help fund the Ronald McDonald Family Room and a new Endobronchial Ultrasound Diagnostic System (EBUS) at UHNBC. An EBUS is medical technology used to visualize and sample tissue from a patient’s airways and is primarily used to diagnose lung cancer. Currently, PG does not have this service, requiring northern patients to travel to the Lower Mainland to get a diagnosis. The Citizen spoke to Chris Wall, PG Ford general manager, at the cheque presentation Thursday, Dec. 11 about why he chose to support this cause. “I think there are so many people in Prince George and in the northern part of our province that don’t have access to the same resources as the southern part where there’s more population,” said Wall. “We’re just trying to bring that up into the Prince George area … We all directly see some of these things with our staff and family and friends and the impact that it can have on people in our lives, so if we can make it easier on them inside of our community rather than having to go elsewhere, that makes a big difference.” Aimee Cassie, CEO of the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation, said the funding from these two dealerships has almost put them over the finish line for their end-of-year fundraising goals. “This is a huge piece of equipment for Northern BC — not just for UHNBC, but for the surrounding region that we serve, ” said Cassie.

SUBARU PRINCE GEORGE PHOTO

From left, Johns Francis, Nathan Wium, Scott Hall, John Beck, Aimee Cassie, Chris Wall, Dean Petersen and Austin Varchol of Subaru Prince George and Spirit of the North gather in Prince George, BC, on Thursday, Dec. 11. The group gathered to mark the dealership’s donations to the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER

From left, Jennifer Bourcier, Chris Wall, Aimee Cassie, Cheryl Engel and Cheryl Riddle of Spirit of the North and PG Ford gather on Thursday, Dec. 11 to mark the dealership’s donation to the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation.

“Bringing it here is going to mean a lot to our community, a lot to our patients. I’m really excited to bring it here, and this helps get this equipment over the line. It’s a $600,000 piece of equipment that we’re sending anywhere from five to ten patients per week down to the Lower Mainland for this procedure. Having it here in northern BC is a big piece for us.” Cassie has seen what a lack of critical

equipment like this can have on a community and emphasized the large impact this can have on locals during some of the most stressful times of their lives. “We’ve talked to a number of patients who have had to travel down south, ” said Cassie. “One of the primary focuses of Spirit of the North is to bring these services to northern BC that would not otherwise

be here. When we talk with patients who have had to travel down to the Lower Mainland, they talk about the added stress, the added financial burden — I mean, those are big contributing factors for so many patients. To be able to keep them here, keep them in the North for these essential diagnostic procedures — it’s massive. When we’re talking with patients who have had to travel, they just illustrate for us the reason why we need to do everything we can to bring diagnostic equipment, stronger diagnostic equipment, to UHNBC.” Cassie also extended her thanks to both dealerships and said that Spirit of the North would not be able to do this work without such support. “It’s hard to put into words, ” said Cassie. “It truly is the reason that we can bring these pieces of equipment to the North — because of champions like Prince George Ford that step up, like Prince George Subaru that step up and say, we see value in this piece of equipment, we want to support the patients of the North, and this is how we can support. I don’t think that thank you will ever be enough. I think it means so much to our local patients, it means so much to the surrounding region, and we are just eternally grateful for their incredible support.” Cassie noted that Spirit of the North has two physicians lined up to use the equipment and is doing its final confirmations with Northern Health to confirm that the EBUS is coming and will now work to transport the equipment out North.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

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Filmmakers hone skills with STORYHIVE worskhops Scenes from Healing with Resilience were shot in Prince George CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

“Our path will always change upon reflection.” “You are your ancestors’ biggest dream.” These are the truths of Stephanie Holmes’s life. Holmes is an Indigenous filmmaker from Prince George who took part in the Telus STORYHIVE Empowered Filmmaker program, where she and Kristen Bob were provided guidance during the creation of the short film Healing with Resilience about their work to preserve cultural traditions and inspire resilience in their community. Holmes, who now lives in Vancouver, returned to Prince George to be present in nature as she showcased her intentions throughout the short film. The Telus STORYHIVE Empowered Filmmaker program is an inclusive, Indigenous-focused opportunity that provides training, equipment and mentorship to Indigenous communities across BC and Alberta. During May and June 2025, lead instructor and professional filmmaker Farhan Umedaly travelled to 100 Mile House, Williams Lake and Prince George, as well as Fort McMurray and Lethbridge, Alta., to deliver five-day intensive filmmaking workshops. These sessions equipped new and emerging filmmakers with the skills and confidence to tell their stories on screen — and most participants started with no prior experience. Each workshop wrapped up with a community film festival celebration, complete with awards, camera giveaways and a showcase of local talent. “I am just so in awe of everything that STORYHIVE does, especially with the Empowered Filmmaker program, giving so many Indigenous people the space and capacity to share our stories,” Holmes said. “It’s just amazing what

TELUS STORYHIVE PHOTO

Stephanie Holmes and Kristen Bob are two Indigenous filmmakers who participated in the Telus Storyhive Empowered Filmmaker program where they created the short film Healing With Resilience that features Prince George locations.

they’re doing.” Holmes is from the Tl’azt’en Nation, which translates to “people at the edge of the bay,” just outside Fort St. James. Holmes has been living in the Lower Mainland for the last 25 years and lived in Prince George during her early years. “Throughout my life, I have had struggles and have had the ability and supports to move through those struggles,” Holmes said. “I went back to school to learn why our communities and people are struggling the way they do. For example, I didn’t know about residential schools until I was in my first year of post-secondary and I had my first child already. At that time in our communities, our grandparents, aunties and uncles were still not talking about it openly. So after learning what I did, I knew that I needed to do more and learn more about the struggles that our people have faced and continue to face.” Holmes said she worked in the Downtown Eastside in mental health for eight years, which gave her significant insight. At the same time, she was going to school to attain her bachelor’s degree in Indigenous holistic wellness and addictions. After that, she was a wellness worker but eventually had to

move on from that job. “I am a very proactive person and need to be doing something meaningful and creative, and I didn’t have that freedom to do that in the few roles I had before coming to the Indian Residential School Survivors Society (IRSSS),” Holmes said. The society is a provincial organization that provides essential services to residential school survivors and families experiencing intergenerational trauma. “My role within this organization has changed a few times during the last three years to meet the needs of our survivors, so we did have this great opportunity and funding from Parks Canada to create a podcast series in 2024.” Holmes was the lead for that project, where they hired youth hosts to have candid conversations with survivors of residential and day schools, focusing on their healing, including intergenerational healing, and their hopes for the future. “So it’s a really beautiful series that’s called Woven Spirit: Threads of Wisdom,” Holmes said. “I’ve been keeping an eye on Telus STORYHIVE and what they’ve been

doing, and I’ve been really curious about their programs for a long time. Being in the world that I’m in now with the IRSSS, I was able to bring the idea of attending and participating in the Empowered Filmmakers workshop to gain the skills and knowledge to be able to share more stories through the organization.” Holmes will focus on stories of survivors and intergenerational survivors. “I’m really trying to change the narrative to intergenerational healing because, yes, we all have trauma and everybody’s different, and everybody has overcome their trauma in different ways, so I really want to showcase that,” Holmes said. She brought the idea of attending the workshop to co-worker Kristen Bob, who was excited about gaining the knowledge as well, Holmes said. “It’s a very intensive workshop and we needed to find the story we wanted to tell in that moment, and there were so many stories we could have told. But I think during our brainstorming conversations it kept coming down to resilience and what that looked like in our communities and in our families, and why it’s such an important part of Indigenous life,” Holmes said. The workshop was transformational for Holmes, she added. The hardest part was trying to narrow it down to a short film. “We just had so much to say, but after having the idea that this is just the beginning and this is just the start of the journey, then we were able to relax a bit and have a little bit more fun. I thought we’d have to say this and this and this, and it would have to be an hour long and we’d have to finish a whole documentary. But once I understood it needed to only be about 10 minutes long, then it was about calming it down a little bit,” Holmes said. “We have big dreams and we needed to start somewhere, and I’m really glad that we had the space and the capacity and the support from Telus STORYHIVE to do this.” SEE ‘LOCATIONS’ ON NEXT PAGE

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Pancakes and a visit with Santa RIGHT: Lauchlin MacDonald, 2, gives Santa his best smile as he’s asked if he has been naughty or nice at the Blackburn Community Pancake Breakfast at Blackburn Hall Sunday, Dec. 14. BELOW: Evelyn Hood, 6, explains her Christmas list to Santa. Families got an early start on the season at the community celebration. CITIZEN PHOTOS BY CHUCK NISBETT

Locations showcase the area and reflect its resilience CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Lead instructor and professional filmmaker Farhan Umedaly was amazing to work with, Holmes added. “We were able to connect with him right away and we could just tell he was there to support us in anything we needed,” she said. Holmes and Bob decided on the locations for the short film because they wanted to showcase the land and the water, and the film highlights the best of nature in Prince George. “Land and water are so essential to who we are,” Holmes said.

“Water is our biggest medicine and water is life, so we knew we were going to incorporate that into the entirety of our project. Some of the downtown Prince George shots weren’t very far from where the workshop was being held and showcased beautiful buildings and spaces like Innovation Park, which is used by people from all walks of life, so we knew the space would be relatable to everybody.” During filming, Holmes and Bob shot at Moore’s Meadow, Cottonwood Island Park and downtown Prince George, showcasing the city and reflecting its resilience through adversity.

At the end of the workshop, Holmes and Bob received the emerging talent award for the film and were given a gift card and other prizes. “So we’ve purchased the equipment so that we can start creating short videos for our organization, and we’re still deciding what the messaging for our future films will be,” Holmes said. Holmes and Bob will also use their new-found skills for video podcasts that will continue the series created in 2024, focusing on how people live their lives through intergenerational healing. “Those will be uplifting, positive

stories of our community, which is so essential and important to share because we have overcome so much throughout our lives and now it’s time that we have powerful, positive storytelling in our communities,” Holmes said. To see Healing with Resilience, visit www.youtube.com/ HealingwithResilience This short film is one of 36 Indigenous-led projects produced during the STORYHIVE Empowered Filmmakers program that launched recently on TELUS Optik TV channel 9, Stream+ and STORYHIVE’s YouTube channel.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

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This pet rescuer gives older animals a new leash on life TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

On a beautiful sunny morning, Sandra Wyatt took advantage of the late fall weather to take her dogs for a walk. She needed five leashes, and all but one of the dogs at the end of those collars — four Chihuahuas and one Papillon — has a story about how they were rescued from some kind of trauma before they found a loving home. “They’ve all been abused except one, Jazz, who’s a therapy dog for the pediatrics ward,” said Wyatt, who worked 28 years at University Hospital of Northern BC (formerly known as Prince George Regional Hospital) in pediatrics as a child life specialist. Jazz, the oldest of Wyatt’s canine pack, is 14. She’s got a heart condition, but she’s great with kids, and Wyatt still brings her to the hospital regularly to cheer up kids attending the clinics. She uses play time to connect with the kids and make them more comfortable with their hospital surroundings. At Halloween, she’ll dress Jazz up in a costume, and during Northern Fan Con in May she turns her into a Star Wars character. “The kids love it,” said Wyatt. “She just makes them feel more comfortable, so I take her when they come in. She’s been trained, but she’s 14 now, so she won’t have long. She’s been going there for 13 years. A lot of these dogs are older. The youngest, Chloe, is nine.” Chloe, a Chihuahua, came from Mexico and suffered a broken jaw when the original owner hit her with a baseball bat — her punishment for sleeping on the kids’ clothes. Annie, a 10-year-old Chihuahua, was put up for adoption after she was thrown through a window at her former home just outside Prince George. “They’ve all got special needs,” said Wyatt. “They don’t live long because they’re seniors. I had one only for a week. “With many rescues, seniors don’t get picked first because people want a younger dog, but I only do seniors. (Annie) came right to my door, and the adoption fee includes the flight. They fly

CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE

In 45 years of providing homes for abandoned and abused animals, Sandra Wyatt figures she’s rescued 952 dogs.

with a flight angel, with somebody on board, so you have to wait until somebody’s coming back (to Canada). “Cathy and Peter live in Edmonton, so she flew back with them and stayed there a week. He is from Prince George and his mom resides here, and he visits her every month, so he brought Chloe right to my door.” Charlie, a 14-year-old Papillon, came from a home where the owners had medical issues and could no longer care for her. Ringo, a 10-year-old Chihuahua, has lived with Wyatt since September. He was found abandoned in Mexico. “The owners moved and just left him tied up at the house,” said Wyatt. “He

got sick and he lost weight.” Wyatt finds the dogs through an agency in the United Kingdom run by a mother and daughter who specialize in finding small dogs. In Prince George, there are three agencies that put prospective owners in touch with rescued animals — BC SPCA North Cariboo Branch, Prince George Humane Society and Prince George Animal Rescue. Originally from Nottingham, England, Wyatt has been rescuing dogs for 45 years, and in that time she figures she’s provided a home for 952 dogs. Most are from Canada but some come from other countries. “I didn’t have any family, so these are my family,” said Wyatt.

“I do it because I can, and they need someone to give them a second, third or fourth chance, so why not me. You can’t rescue them all — there’s just too many in the world. You rescue one, and then after that you rescue the next one if you can.” And what do all those critters give back to her? “Vet bills,” laughed Wyatt. “Once you’ve got them over whatever their anxiety or abuse was, they give you lots of love and attention. They’re always there, and they all sleep in the same bed, except for Ringo, who sleeps on the couch in the bedroom because that’s where he’s most comfortable. It all works.”

Throwback Thursday: Week of December 25

Dec. 24, 1969: Jackie and Deanna Robertson were on the front page of the Christmas Eve edition of The Citizen along with a message from the paper wishing readers a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY DAVE MILNE

Dec. 24, 1982: It was a magic front-page moment for Adam Weaver, 5, and his brother Jason, 2, who had recently moved to Prince George from Australia and were enjoying their first white Christmas. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY BROCK GABLE

Dec. 24, 2015: Sawyer Seinen’s visit with Santa at the Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum filled the front page of The Citizen’s Christmas Eve edition. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE

Dec. 27, 1995: The presents had been opened the leftovers were in the fridge, so how did local kids spend their Christmas vacation? Backyard hockey: Mitchell Black was photographed diving for the puck to keep it away from Ward Pateman (left) and Ward Newman (right). Bill Newman built backyard rink on Limestone Crescent to keep his son and his friends busy. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN

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It takes determination (and laughter) to fight cancer Couple travels from remote Ocean Falls to stay at Kordyban Lodge in Prince George CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Every three minutes, a person in Canada hears the words ‘you have cancer.’ Just two years ago, James Miller heard those fateful words and was given a year to live if he didn’t start treatment for AL amyloidosis right away. Amyloidosis is a rare disease characterized by a buildup of abnormal amyloid deposits in the body. Amyloid deposits can build up in the heart, brain, kidneys, spleen and other parts of the body. James, along with the love of his life, Gladys — his words — had to come to Prince George for treatment from their remote hometown of Ocean Falls, about 88 km northwest of Bella Coola, which is accessible only by boat or float plane. James said that after a trip to England to see family and friends in the spring of 2023, he developed double pneumonia and was treated by his local doctor. During followup, the general practitioner noticed something unusual in a test result and determined James needed more care. The doctor sent him to Campbell River for a kidney biopsy. “Then I had a bone marrow test and the doctor said I had a very, very rare blood disease and it was in stage two, and I said, so what does that mean exactly, and they said I needed treatment immediately and they said ‘you could be dead in a year if you leave it alone,’ and that wasn’t the option I was looking for, so I asked what I had to do.” Within a three-week period, it was organized for James and Gladys to come to Prince George to the BC Cancer Centre for the North and stay at Kordyban Lodge during the meticulously planned two-year treatment plan, which started with a six-month stay. “It was like walking into a five-star hotel,” James, now 87, said about first setting foot in Kordyban Lodge. “From then on, everything was going

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHRISTINE DALGLEISH

Volunteer Judy Schinkel, left, cancer patient James Miller and wife Gladys, are seen here at Kordyban Lodge where they stay during James’ cancer treatment. Through government support and donations their lengthy stay at the Lodge only cost a nominal fee, making cancer treatment accessible for those who come from afar.

well. The treatment was going well, living here felt like home. The people that were staying here — we got to know them well, they got to know us well.” James said he and Gladys received help organizing everything, including getting connected with Hope Air for travel to and from Prince George, as well as assistance with their lodge stay through Cancer Travel and Accommodation Services, offering them one less thing to worry about during the fight of their lives. “And I’m not going to give up — it’s just another journey,” James said. “It’s difficult to describe, but it’s been a wonderful experience. I found that looking around me, people were worse off than me, and I just tried to help them through it.” James said that helping others

somehow helped him deal with his circumstances more easily. “It gave me more strength,” he added. “And years later, we still keep in contact with people we met when we first came here,” Gladys said. James thanked everyone involved as they gratefully accepted support through the Cancer Travel and Accommodation Services (CTAAS) program, which provided them with a comforting stay in Prince George, just a few minutes’ walk from the Cancer Centre for the North. Through fundraising efforts by the Canadian Cancer Society, the Millers’ stay at Kordyban Lodge is free for James, the patient, and only $30 a night for Gladys, easing the financial burden of cancer treatment.

“We want to thank the donators,” Gladys said. “There are Canadian Cancer Society ads on TV that I see and they say ‘every moment is a gift,’ and that is so true.” “And I can’t say enough about our general practitioner who figured this whole thing out,” James said. “We’re very lucky we had him because I don’t think anybody else would’ve clicked into what was going on, because it ended up being a very rare disease. Even the specialists said if it hadn’t been for him, I would’ve been sailing on to stage whatever and there would’ve been no recovery from that at all.” “And the specialists have been fantastic, too,” Gladys said with a smile. James is 18 months into a two-year treatment plan that saw him undergo six months of intensive treatment followed by once-a-month treatment. “So far, we are getting reports that they are getting better results than they expected — so that’s good news,” James said. “It’s not going to beat me, and we make sure to laugh every single day because that’s important for healing. I’m still my exuberant self, and it’s been a really enlightening journey and I don’t want to leave this life. I enjoy my wife, I enjoy my life, and it’s important to me to help other people, especially in this particular circumstance we’re in, because I think I’ve got a better understanding of it now.” James and Gladys agreed that the staff at both the Cancer Centre for the North and Kordyban Lodge have been wonderful. “This is our home away from home,” Gladys said. “We look forward to coming here — and isn’t that a crazy thing to say?” James said with a laugh. Sitting with Gladys and James was longtime volunteer Judy Schinkel, who started donating her time at Kordyban Lodge soon after she recovered from kidney cancer treatment and has spent the past two decades doing a lot of listening at the lodge, she said. SEE ‘CANCER’ ON NEXT PAGE

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

SEED planted, inspiring future health care professionals FURQANA KHAN Northern Health

Northern Health’s (NH) Student Practice Education Team — in collaboration with School District 57, the College of New Caledonia, the University of Northern BC, Northern Health Volunteer Services and NH Recruitment — wrapped up the Seek, Experience, Explore, Discover (SEED) program last month and is getting ready to welcome new cohorts in 2026. This program is an important initiative designed to give local high school students a firsthand look at careers in health care. After a successful pilot in February 2025, which welcomed eight students from Duchess Park Secondary School, the program officially launched its first full cohort in November 2025. Participation more than doubled, with 16 students from College Heights Secondary School and one student from School District 57’s Alternate Community

NORTHERN HEALTH PHOTO

The SEED program cohort students pose with Northern Health president and CEO Ciro Panessa.

Programs. Observation shifts ran from Nov. 4 to Nov. 19, culminating in a wrap-up session on Nov. 26, where both groups of students came together (21 in total) to celebrate their journey. Students toured University Hospital of Northern British Columbia, gaining

Cancer patients and loved ones find support and more at Kordyban CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE “It’s so important for guests to feel at home here,” Schinkel said. Schinkel prompted Gladys and James to share the story about James’ big bowl. Every morning during their six-month stay at Kordyban Lodge, Gladys would get James a bowl of porridge. James loved it so much he would always ask for a second helping, she said. When chef Mitch noticed the constant requests for more, he decided to upgrade James to a small mixing bowl filled with what he loved. “And that was his bowl for the rest of his stay,” Gladys said with a laugh. “People would pass by the table and think ‘that’s huge!’ and they were right!” James recalled with a chuckle. “It’s very important for them to

experience joy and laughter during their stay here,” Schinkel said, nodding. “And it’s important for us to assist them in getting what they need, and if that brings joy to their stay here, then that’s even better, because when you’re in treatment for cancer, every little bit of laughter and joy is a step toward recovery, and that’s part of the journey.” From Jan. 1 to Nov. 30, 2025, there were 588 clients who stayed at Kordyban Lodge for a total of about 7,770 nights, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. The Canadian Cancer Society is asking people to consider making a holiday donation to fund programs that make treatment possible for people like James and Gladys. Donations to the Canadian Cancer Society can be made online at cancer. ca.

insight into hospital operations and the roles of allied health and nursing teams. During career observation days, they shadowed professionals in departments and facilities including ambulatory care, surgery, Jubilee Lodge (long-term care), respiratory therapy, radiology,

psychiatry and rehabilitation. Mentors shared their expertise, answered questions and provided a realistic view of what different health care careers look like in practice. Students shared their feelings of surprise at “how invested some of the workers are” and at the realization that “there are more jobs than you think.” One student shared that a big takeaway for them was that “it is OK to change careers, health care is very versatile.” The SEED program strengthens relationships between NH and its community partners, while creating high-quality job-shadowing experiences that help recruit the next generation of health care professionals. “This experience proved to be both enjoyable and insightful,” shared NH CEO Ciro Panessa. “There were a lot of great questions. I am optimistic about the future and hope to see these students officially join the NH team one day soon.”

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NORTHERN HEALTH PHOTO

Local volunteers work to knit new purple caps for babies across the North. The caps are part of an initiative to raise awareness of ‘purple crying,’ a period that sees some babies crying more when they’re between two weeks and two months old.

Click for Babies is making its return to Prince George MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

A well-loved, volunteer-organized and volunteer-run program will return to the Northern Health region for its second year, following its pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will run from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28 and will provide two-monthold infants in the region with a handmade purple knitted or crocheted cap, along with valuable information for parents. The program connects local knitting and crocheting volunteers with new parents across the North to raise awareness of “purple crying,” a period when babies from two weeks to two months old experience consistent crying. Medical health officer Diana Bark, who works closely with Northern Health on infant health, explains: “I should talk about the purple acronym because it is a helpful mnemonic for folks,” said Bark. “P stands for peak of crying. It’s a reminder for parents and caregivers that the baby will cry more and more starting at two weeks, but mostly in the second month of age, so it does taper off. “U is for unexpected — crying can come and go and you don’t really know why. “R stands for resist soothing — the baby may not stop crying even if you try different things.

NORTHERN HEALTH PHOTO

Alyssa Parsons holds her son, Lakeland Parsons, who is wearing a cap donated by local crafters last year.

“P stands for pain-like face; your baby might look like they’re in pain when they’re crying, even when they’re not. “L stands for long lasting. It’s a reminder for caregivers and parents that crying can be quite prolonged, as much as five hours a day or more, and then finally E stands for evening — the baby may cry more in the late afternoon and evening. I think one part of the program is just understanding the nature of crying, that it’s healthy for babies to cry a lot in their first months of life.” Parents and caregivers who receive the purple caps will also be provided with standard education and resources from Northern Health staff about dealing with this often frustrating period. They will be instructed on soothing

methods for both their children and themselves, as well as preventing head injuries and more. “Some of the actions parents and caregivers can take are to carry and comfort and to walk and talk with the infant,” said Bark. “Knowing that it’s also okay to walk away if you can put the baby in a safe place. Walk away, collect yourself, take a few minutes to calm yourself. But of course, the important thing is that it’s never okay to shake an infant.” Bark emphasized that this program is about more than just educating parents. “For this public campaign, it’s about engaging the broader community,” said Bark. “There are folks beyond the

immediate circle, like the parents and caregivers, who also may be involved in the care for the infant. So that’s why it’s important to spread the word with those even beyond the immediate circle of family. The way we’re trying to do this is by getting folks involved in communities. We’ve had local crafters donate their handmade hats and I think it’s just a really heartwarming way to get people talking about what can be a difficult topic.” So far, local volunteers have provided Northern Health with a total of 80 caps, along with 1,000 more donated by Northern Health provincial partners — all before the program has even begun. To help prepare for this winter’s campaign, Northern Health hosted a work bee in Prince George last November with volunteers, families and healthcare providers, who helped ensure the packages were safe and packaged with information on the program. “Nothing is more important than your health,” said Kacie, a local volunteer. “While volunteering for this campaign, I could picture who would receive the information, and it was very emotional because we could see how serious it is. We can help parents see the warning signs, so they get support. That can be life-changing.” If you are interested in volunteering for this program, send an email to HealthyStart@northernhealth.ca

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Local Sports

SPORTS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

Vees make their WHL presence known to Cougars Teams meet for first time since Penticton made jump to WHL TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

In the first-ever hockey game between the Prince George Cougars and Penticton Vees, history was made Wednesday night at South Okanagan Events Centre and it was not kind to the Cougars. The expansion Vees, who made the shift this season to the Western Hockey League from the BC Hockey League, scored four unanswered goals to defeat the Cougars 5-2. Brady Birnie scored three goals to move Penticton (16-9-4-3) within five points of catching the Cougars (22-9-0-0) for the BC Division lead. Birnie gave the Vees a 3-2 lead in the second period and fired in two more in the third to complete a natural hat trick. His first of the game, the eventual gamewinner, was a strange one, and it came with Cougars Riley Ashe serving a hooking penalty. Birnie let go a shot from the left circle just as Cougars forward Aiden Foster got the blade of his stick in the way. The puck deflected straight up high into the air on the deflection and was lost in the rafters until it landed behind Cougar goaltender Alexander Levshyn and trickled in. The shots were even at 12 in the second period, but the Vees dominated the faceoff circle, building a 34-12 edge through 40 minutes and they controlled the puck through much of the period. Birnie continued his assault of the Cougar net in the third period and was rewarded with his ninth and 10th goals. The Vees were on the power play when he got the puck on the left side and wristed it in through a screen in front of Levshyn 6:27 into the period. Less than a minute later, former Cougar centre

CHERIE MORGAN PHOTO

Cougars forward Cole Peardon leads the way toward the Vees’ net in Penticton on Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Matteo Danis got a shot through the slot and Birnie was there to blast in the rebound for a 5-2 lead. “I thought we had a really good first period and did a lot of things right and I thought the two goals they scored we gave them,” said associate coach Jim Playfair. “I thought we made poor defending reads and they were able to score on those two decisions. “The lucky one that deflected high in the air and everybody lost it found its way into the net to make it 3-2. So coming into the third period we felt we had played very consistent. But then our defence really fell down and fell apart. Our young guys were really exposed and I thought we made lazy mental mistakes and that cost us the hockey game tonight.”

Playfair offered no excuses for the fact he had three rookies on the blueline playing against a veteran-stacked Vees lineup. “They complain when they’re not playing so when they’re playing they’ve got to do the job,” he said. “It’s not a game for the weak of heart. It’s a mindset where we expect to be a top team and if you want to get in the lineup and play you’ve got to deliver and do what you’re supposed to do and I thought, especially in that third period, our group collectively wasn’t very good, but I really felt our defending details, our hard-to-play-against mindset from our defencemen was nonexistent and they got some easy goals.” Ethan McCallum, in his third start since coming to Penticton in a trade from the Saskatoon Blades, made 30

saves and was solid all game with his rebound control to earn his second win as a Vee. Brittan Astead and Ryden Evers had the other goals for Penticton. Foster and Shaun Rios were the Cougar goalscorers. In the first of six meetings between the teams this season, the Vees drew first blood seven minutes in. Brittan Astead went forehand-backhand with a slick finishing move to put the puck in under the crossbar. The Cougars and their league-leading power play struck just past the midway mark of the period to tie it up. Bauer Dumanski let go a one-timer from the right circle and the rebound came out to Foster, who batted it in for his eighth goal. SEE ‘COUGARS’ ON NEXT PAGE

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

SPORTS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Tickets still available for Spruce Kings house lottery Up for grabs is an $865K home in Aberdeen Glen TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Last-minute Christmas shoppers looking for a well-received stocking stuffer discovered a way to make someone’s future bright while also supporting the community-owned Prince George Spruce Kings. The Spruce Kings Show Home Lottery is in full swing as the junior A hockey team’s biggest annual fundraiser. Tickets have been on sale since Oct. 15 and the grand prize is a fully furnished house in the Aberdeen Glen subdivision at 2922 Links Dr., valued at $865,000. The four-bedroom, three-bathroom house, built by Hopson Construction, comes with a two-car garage and enclosed work area. The draw date is April 17, 2026 at noon. Tickets are priced at $125 each or you

can buy one of 1,500 packages of three tickets for $300. The draw for the first early-bird prize, a $3,000 gift card package from local businesses, was held Dec. 17. A second early-bird prize, $2,000 in home renovations, will be drawn on March 26. The Spruce Kings have also launched their Mega 50-50 Lottery and the total for Jackpot No. 1, to be drawn Feb. 20, 2026, is already up to $131,375. The winner takes half. Jackpot No. 2 will be drawn May, 29, 2026. Tickets are $25 each of five for $100. Show Home Lottery and 50-50 tickets are for sale at the Spruce Kings office at Kopar Memorial Arena. Or you buy them after you’ve toured the house at 2922 Links Dr., from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday. Tickets are also available online https://tickets.sprucekingsshowhome. ca/. Proceeds raised from the Show Home Lottery and Mega 50-50 draw provide more than half the operating costs for Spruce Kings so they can compete in the BC Hockey League.

SPRUCE KINGS PHOTO

One lucky ticket-holder will win this fully furnished $865,000 house at 2922 Links Dr. in the Aberdeen Glen subdivision. It’s the grand prize in the Spruce Kings Show Home Lottery.

Cougars on Christmas break until Dec. 27-28 return CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Rios, picked up on waivers by the Cougars Nov. 26 from the Wenatchee Wild, notched his first goal in eight games as a Cougar. He corralled a bouncing puck on a cross-ice pass from Foster and from a sharp angle his high shot sailed in over the glove of goaltender Ethan McCallum. In the final minute before the break, the Vees won an offensive-zone faceoff and pointman Nolan Stevenson dragged the puck away from Rios to get a shot away, and Evers pounced on the rebound for his team-leading 21st of the season. Evers also had two assists. Vees defenceman Nolan Stevenson collected three assists. Rookie defenceman Eli Johnson, 17, assisted on both Prince George goals, the first WHL

points for the Regina native. Special teams were a factor. The Vees went 2-for-3 on the power play and held the league’s top power play to just one goal on five chances. In a game played after this issue of The Citizen went to print, the Cougars took on the first-overall Silvertips Friday in Everett, the last game for both teams before the Christmas break. “It looked like we went home for Christmas after the second period,” said Playfair. “So I think we’ve already had our mental day off of hockey prior to Christmas so we owe it to ourselves, we owe it to the goaltender and we owe it to the organization to come out in Everett and put our best foot forward and find a way to get two points out of the game. This is a huge game for us going into a tough building.”

The Cats return to CN Centre Dec. 27-28 when they host the Victoria Royals. The break is shorter than it is for most teams and Playfair is OK with that. “That’s really good for us because we’ve got a good thing going here (they were 9-1 going into Penticton) and if guys go home and have a short break they’ll come back and get right back into it,” he said. “A long break wouldn’t be good for us. We’ll find days later on in the season to give guys a couple days to rest.” LOOSE PUCKS: Both teams were missing key players. Goaltender Josh Ravensbergen and defenceman Carson Carels were representing the Cougars at Canada’s world junior camp in Ontario. The Cats were also without the services of their leading scorer, with right winger Terik Parascak sidelined with an upper-body injury he sustained Dec.

7 in a game in Victoria. Vees starting goaltender Andrew Reyelts, the WHL goaltender of the month in October, and right winger Jacob Kvasnicka, both Minnesota natives, were with Team USA, the host team of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, Dec. 26–Jan. 5 in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. … Prince George native Josh Albinati worked the game as one of the referees. His brother Nick is a WHL linesman … Danis, 20, acquired from the Cougars over the summer in the WHL expansion draft, was held to one assist. He had a six-point game Dec. 1 in Portland with four goals and two assists in the Vees’ 8-1 win over the Winterhawks … Carels played for Canada Wednesday in a 2-1 pre-tournament win over Sweden, drawing duty on the penalty kill. Brady Martin had both Canadian goals. Carter George made 19 saves in goal.

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

SPORTS

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

Bichon carries heavy heart into snowcross World Cup He’s dedicating his season to his late mother, Trish TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

World Cup snowboard cross racer Evan Bichon competes in a sport in which a split-second in qualifying is all it takes to keep you out of the race the following day. It happened to him Friday in Cervinia, Italy, where his qualifying time was fourtenths of a second too slow to make the top-32 cut in the men’s individual race. Instead of racing, the 27-year-old Mackenzie native joined the cheering section on the sidelines of the World Cup course, watching his Canadian teammates in Saturday’s race. Bichon ended up 41st in a field of 68. Colby Graham of Prince George, 24, was even closer to making the grade, finishing 39th — 28-hundredths of a second below the cut. “It was a really tight race throughout the whole field, from first to the bottom,” said Bichon, who returned to Canada Monday afternoon. “It’s always tough to miss a race but it’s tougher to miss the first one for sure. Colby and I had similar times with a similar result, to be close but not make it in.” Conditions in Cervinia were ideal for the races, with lots of snow and blue skies. Eliot Grondin of Sainte-Marie, Que., the reigning world champion and defending Crystal Globe points champion, was the top Canadian, finishing seventh. Liam Moffatt of Truro, N.S., was 16th. Brothers Jonas and Aidan Chollet of France were 1-2 on the podium, while Adam Lambert of Australia took bronze. Lea Casta of France won the women’s race, while Michela Moioli of Italy and Josie Baff of Australia won silver and bronze, respectively. No Canadian women made the top-16 cut for the women’s race. Audrey McMainiman of St-Ambroise-de-Kildare, Que., finished 19th.

EVAN BICHON/INSTAGRAM PHOTO

Evan Bichon competes in one of his FIS World Cup snowboard cross qualifying-round races on Friday, Dec. 12 in Cervinia, Italy.

This is Bichon’s fourth season on the senior team and he began the season with a bang, finishing first in both South American Cup races in Corrazon, Chile, Sept. 25-26. China was good to him on his most recent visit, when Bichon ended up 11th in a race Feb. 2, 2025, in Beidahu, his top World Cup finish last season. His career best came on Canadian snow March 23, 2024, when he finished fourth in MontSt-Anne, a week after he placed seventh in Montafon, Austria. With the Olympics looming in Milano-Cortina, Italy, in February, there are three and possibly four berths available to the Canadian men. Grondin has one of them already locked up. Canada’s women are also guaranteed three spots. With World Cup races in Isola, France, and Gudauri, Georgia, originally set for January now cancelled, that leaves the two sprint (shorter course) races in

Dongbeiya, China (Jan. 16-18), as the last-chance Olympic team qualifier. Male Olympic qualifiers must be ranked in the top 32 to be considered for a quota spot, while the women have to be in the top 16. Bichon is ranked 27th in the world, while Graham is 65th on the list. Meryeta O’Dine, 28, a two-time bronze medalist at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, broke a bone in her ankle about a month ago at a training camp in Pitzal, Switzerland, that forced her to miss the Cervinia race, but Bichon says don’t count her out of making another Olympic bid. “Her season’s not over, I could easily see her coming back for the Olympics,” he said. This past month has been a difficult time for Bichon. He was at the Swiss camp Nov. 14 when he got the news his mom, Trish, succumbed to cancer, six

months after she was diagnosed. Trish, a former College of New Caledonia employee whose procurement work helped establish the Career Technical Centre for high school students to complete their first year of college studies, was living in North Vancouver at the time of her death. “She was a huge part of developing snowboard athletes in northern BC — she was my biggest fan and supporter,” said Bichon. “That makes the season all the more important. It already was the most important season of my life, but I’m carrying a little bit more into Trish Bichon it now.” Growing up close to Powder King Ski Resort, Evan’s dad, Ryan, taught him his first snowboard lessons at age 5 and he got into snowboard cross by the time he was 11. Trish brought the RBC RIDERS to northern BC and that encouraged a group of young athletes to get involved in a series of races at Big White (Kelowna), Smithers, Mackenzie and Prince George, at Tabor Mountain. “She kind of helped start the grassroots events in the north, she had a hand in starting all the RBC RIDERS events, and for people who started racing in the north those events were the gateway to racing any kind of snowboarding,” said Bichon. “She and my first coach, Bill Laing, helped run the Northern Edge Snowboard Club (in Mackenzie), the first program I was ever part of. The way we all got into snowboard cross was we heard it was happening at Big White and we drove eight or nine hours. She drove me or anybody else who wanted to go and we’d have four or five people in the car sometimes.” Bichon will stick close to North Vancouver, where he plans to do his gym workouts over the Christmas break, and then he’ll get back to on-hill training with the Canadian team at Whistler Jan. 1-10, before they leave for China.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

COMMUNITY

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Physics, fun and fair play: Kids study Science of Sport Travelling program visits schools with a series of hands-on learning activities MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

A program designed to teach students about both sports and the science behind them has finished its Prince George tour and will now head to Quesnel. Science World’s On the Road team brought its new program, the Science of Sport, to Prince George elementary schools from Dec. 8 to Dec. 12. It also made a special presentation at the Exploration Place on Dec. 7. The program aims to teach four core elements using hands-on demonstrations and lessons, while keeping kids engaged with high-energy experiments and activities: • Fun and fair play: Explores the physics of movement, as well as rules and ethics in sports • Physics and materials of sport: Investigates the properties of sports equipment, from the design of a soccer ball to the bounce of different balls • Human health: Demonstrates the value of exercise for physical and mental health by exploring how muscles, lungs and the heart function • Technology: Showcases how scientific advancements and engineering have evolved sports over time, including prosthetic running blades and clap skates Pineview Elementary was the final stop on the Science of Sport Prince George tour. Science facilitators demonstrated the physics of various sports objects — and some not-so-sporting objects — tested lung capacity and explained what makes certain sporting technologies work. Student favourites included a leaf-blower launcher that propelled various objects, which students then rated for performance, as well as the

CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER

Mariela Shuley lauches balls with a leaf blower during the Science of Sport event at Pineview Elementary School on Friday, Dec 12. Below, Teacher Rebecca Pinko demonstrates her lung capacity as compared to a student.

slingshotting of a rubber chicken and Mr. PG across the gymnasium. The latter sparked a massive wave of student chants of support following its attempted launch across the Pineview gym. Teacher Rebecca Pinko also took part in the presentation, demonstrating the difference in lung capacity between an adult and a child. “I thought it was funny,” Pinko said. “All the kids just voluntold me, which I thought was hilarious. The demonstration wanted me to blow up the lung model and I was like, ‘I have asthma, I don’t know if this is going to go well,’ but it ended up going exactly how it needed to, so it was good.” She also spoke about the benefits programs like this can have for students. “I think that it’s a really great way to draw the two subjects — science and sport — together and really open things up for kids who might not be as into academics,” Pinko said. “When you draw in that sport aspect, or really draw kids’ interests, then learning happens so easily. I think it really expands their perspective, which is really important. That’s what education is all about — learning new things and expanding perspectives.” One of the science facilitators said

their time in Prince George was memorable, with strong engagement from students across the city. “It was really wonderful,” said Mariela Shuley. “We had some great experiences all throughout Prince George. Seeing how special the region’s mascot is to everybody — people are always really happy to see Mr. PG, which is fun. We’ve had really wonderful feedback from students. When we finish the

show, we almost always get comments like, ‘These are the sports that you missed talking about.’ They’re really engaging with what they love, which is really fun.” Shuley also praised local teachers for their interactions with students. “This whole weekend in Prince George and the surrounding areas has been really fun, and we’ve noticed that the kids’ behaviour has been really great pretty much across the board,” she said. “The teachers in this region are so kind. Watching how they interact with their students has been really nice to see — they’re patient and respectful in the way they ask for attention, and that’s really wonderful.” Another facilitator noted a memorable moment during the Exploration Place presentation. “It was very fun,” said Gabrielle Parent. “We almost broke a dinosaur skeleton, but we didn’t, so I’m happy about that. It was our first show of the week, so it was a nice way to warm up. We had really engaged young kids — some from homeschool, some from the community.” Facilitators also noted that their programs extend beyond traditional classroom settings. “Our program mainly exists for learning centres and schools,” Shuley said. “Science World has a pretty recognizable name throughout BC, so when we come to a community for schools, we often get requests from libraries, malls and other spaces. It’s an engaging, science-based presentation, and sometimes adults can learn just as much as kids, or at least be reminded of things they already know. When we have the opportunity to go to less traditional learning environments, like homeschools or places such as the Gateway Learning Centre, it’s a great way to reach every part of the learning community.” Following its final Prince George presentation, the Science World team headed to Quesnel, where it will delivered shows at local schools before the Christmas break.

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Puck drops Jan. 31 for Sirens Cup charity game TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

The Prince George Fire Rescue Firefighters have won two of the three Sirens Cup charity hockey games and as defending champions will try to repeat their success when they take on the Prince George RCMP in the fourth annual event, Jan. 31 at Kopar Memorial Arena. “Hopefully we can keep taking our trophy home,” quipped firefighter Jason Geddes, at a Thursday morning gathering at the rink to raise awareness about the game. Regardless of the outcome, everybody wins, with proceeds evenly split between the Cops for Cancer Tour de North and the Prince George Firefighters Charitable Society. The Prince George Spruce Kings have taken on the task of organizing the game and fans who attend can donate to a 50/50 draw, chuck-a-puck contest and fill-the-boot campaign. All profits from concession will also go to the charities. Last year the firefighters defeated the police 5-3. Cpl. Aaron Penner, the RCMP’s 43-year-old goaltender, wasn’t about to divulge the secrets of his gameplan but he did bring one of his team’s most formidable weapons to the news conference. Twenty-one-year-old Ezra Chan, a defenceman who played four seasons of junior B hockey from 2020-24 as a defenceman for the Sicamous Eagles and also had a cup of coffee with the BCHL’s Salmon Arm Silverbacks was recruited this year to the Prince George RCMP detachment and has great potential to raise the team’s pedigree considerably. “I know (the firefighters) think they own it but this cup’s gone back and forth each year and I think this year we’ve got a really good chance of taking it back,” said Penner. “We’ve all been training, we’re focused and we’re going to give it 110

SPORTS

per cent out there. But at the end of the day it’s a real pleasure playing against them. They’re pros, whether it be working on the street or a charity game like this, it gives the public a chance for us to showcase a different side of us. “Charity’s the real winner at the end of the day but don’t get me wrong, we’re going to be giving our best and they’ve got a game coming to them. We don’t get a chance to practice very often but we’ll come together for this. I think we’ll bring a lot of grit, grind, determination and heart.” The PG Firefighters play twice a week amongst themselves and Denver McCullough, the 40-year-old team captain, says those regular ice times does give them a bit of an advantage. But he wasn’t about to make any bold predictions to fan the flames and give the RCMP any press clippings to use as a rallying cry on game day. “We’ve had kind of the same group that’s been playing for quite a while so we have a little chemistry,” said McCullough. “Everybody gets along and we know who we have, so we’ve got to reach deep in the bullpen and we’ll be relying on everybody to do their part, we’ve got a balanced team. We’ve got a couple ringers but I don’t want to tell them because the RCMP are standing over there.” Last year’s event raised nearly $10,000. “The winner out of this is definitely the charity,” said McCullough. ‘This game has brought camaraderie, we work every day with the police and we’re super-honoured to be part of it and have them on our side. It has been a great thing for the city of Prince George to have both organizations come together in an event like this. Tickets are $5 each, available at the Spruce Kings office or online at www. showpass.com/pgsirenscup2026/. They’ll also be sold at the Kopar box office on game day Saturday, Jan 31. Puck drop is at 4:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

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Life Events

Honouring

Kurt Vanderlans

Shortly after a new day began on December 9, 2025, Kurt left us. We will be remembered by his living wife, Brenda Lee, his son Kurt, family, many friends, along with people he touched in his life. A gathering will be held in the spring to celebrate his life.

Avis Cassidy

September 25, 1927 - November 29, 2025 It is with deeply saddened hearts that the family of Avis Cassidy announce her passing. Avis passed away peacefully on November 29th, 2025 at the age of 98. She is survived and greatly missed by her daughter Shirley Vhal, granddaughters Melody (Dan) Kidd and Shay Vhal, great granddaughters Latika Kidd, McKenna Kidd and Cordelia Vhal, sister Faith Horning, niece Deryl (Earl) Henderson and many other nieces, nephews and friends. As per Avis’ request, there will be no service.

Honouring

those who have touched our lives email: frontdesk@pgcitizen.ca or call 250.562.2441

Linda Jane Sawicky It is with profound sadness that I announce the passing of my wife of 56 years and the mother of Craig and Jennifer Sawicky. After suffering the ravages of Lyme disease for 20 years, as well as cancer and recent strokes, Linda succumbed on Cy Fortin December 13, -2025 at home with her February 23, 1939 October 13, 2025 family at her side. She was my coach and mentor, my moral compass, and my best friend. She was a cheerleader for her children, and she will be sorely missed by her family. We are fortunate to have wonderful, life-long memories of our travels as a family. As a couple we traveled extensively on trips that were meticulously planned and organized by Linda. She was grateful for all the friends and acquaintances she had and in the latter years eagerly corresponded with all through her I-pad. She did not seek attention in life and took pride in helping her children become wonderful adults. In life, she was very uncomfortable with funerals, and requested that her friends be notified of her passing and wished to be remembered individually by her friends after her passing. She was a great supporter of diabetic research and of the Palliative Care Society. Linda requested cremation and hoped that some of her ashes might be spread in Africa, her favourite destination. She specifically wanted us to thank all of the wonderful nurses and care-aids in Prince George that worked in Home Care and who worked privately. She considered them all friends. Our family is grateful for the kind and compassionate care that was provided to Linda and to us.

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February 23, 1939 - October 13, 2025

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Classifieds

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

Booking deadline: Friday noon Approval deadline: Monday at noon

frontdesk@pgcitizen.ca 250.562.2441

LEGAL NOTICE:

GENERAL LABOURER / GRAIN HANDLER $50.29/hr. starting 2026 Prince Rupert Grain Ltd. (PRG) operates a state-of-the-art grain shipping facility on Ridley Island in Prince Rupert. The terminal receives grain by rail and processes, sorts and stores grain for loading onto ships bound for markets worldwide. Minimum Grade 12 Diploma, GED or equivalent industrial experience. ● Must be capable of lifting and stacking 50lbs without assistance. ● Class 5 Driver’s License. ●

To anyone related to DUDDY, DORISLILLIAN about the trailer MHR#029787, , 1973, GLENDALE, located at #89 - 3730 LANDSDOWNE ROAD., PRINCE GEORGE, BC. 0868732 B.C. Ltd., the owner of Sunrise Valley MH Park, 251-3381 Cambie St., Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 4R3 (604-248-7505), will dispose the above-mentioned trailer unless the person being notified takes possession of the property and establishes a right of possession of it within 30 days from the date the notice is served on that person.

Experienced Locomotive Operators / Conductors.

●

Grain Terminal Operations Experience. Completion of OH&S training courses such as OFA Level 3,

Has an employment opportunity for a

PRG provides an excellent compensation package. Currently, this position is paid 50.29/hr, in addition pension, benefits plan, training, and career development opportunities are available. Prince Rupert Grain Ltd. is an equal opportunity employer. Submit your resume electronically on our website: https://prgrain.ca/human-resources.

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Only applicants under consideration will be contacted to proceed through the hiring process. Closing Date: January 15, 2026

BEHAVIOURAL CONSULTANT located in Smithers, BC Compensation: $43.62 - $53.06/hr This is a temporary, full-time position for a leave coverage to start March 1, 2026 until May 31, 2027 with the possibility of extension. For full job description visit https://nwcdc.ca/news/#careers or to apply email Kerri Bassett, Executive Director at hr@nwcdc.ca

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

* On Jan. 6, 1996, snow began blanketing Washington, D.C., and the eastern seaboard in a blizzard that killed 154 people and ended up costing more than a billion dollars in damages before it ended.

On Jan. 5, 1914, Henry Ford made the welcome announcement that an • On Nov. 11, 1831, Nat Turner, he was doubling hiseducated assembly-line American slave and minister who believedpay. thatHowever, he’d been chosen by employees’ there was God to leadnot-so-welcome his people into catch freedom, a perhaps -was in Jerusalem, Virginia, homehanged inspections to check for alcohol for leading a revolt with 75 followers consumption and untidy living quarters.

through Southampton County, killing about 60 white people. • On Nov. 12, 1969, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh revealed the extent of the U.S. Army’s charges against 1st Lt. William L. Calley at My Lai, Vietnam, in a cable picked up by more than say-the ARIES (March 2130 tonewspapers, April 19) With ing that “The Army says he [Calley] new year’s opportunities almost within deliberately murdered at leastaspects 109 reach, the Arian’s courageous Vietnamese civilians during a searchare raring to go. And don’t be surprised and-destroy mission in March 1968, ifina alotViet of people follow theknown zodiac’s Cong stronghold as most trusted leader. ‘Pinkville.’” • On Nov. 13, 1979, Philadelphia TAURUS (April 20 toDawkins May 20)leaped Change 76ers center Darryl overahead Kansas Bill is lies forCity the Kings brave forward Bovine who Robinzine for a off memorable slam dunk ready to shuck the tried-and-true that fiberglass backto try shattered somethingthe new. But appearances board. His equallyCheck memorable comcan be deceptive. it all out ment on the move, which was not his before anything. last andyou the charge sound ofinto which spectators likened to a bomb going off: “It wasn’t GEMINI (Maything 21 to 20)itThis really a safe toJune do, but was week a promises a peekthing into to what Darryl Dawkins do.”the new year holds for14, the1882, GEMINI Twins, both • On Nov. outlaw Frank Leslie shot and killed Bilin“Buckskin” love and careers. Family matters ly “The Kid” Claiborne, had pubcontinue to be a factor who in decisions licly challenged him, in Tombstone, you’re going to be facing. Arizona. • On Nov. 15, 1984, Baby Fae, a month old infant who received the world’s first baboon heart transplant, died at California’s Loma Linda University 20 days after the operation. Three other people had received animal heart transplants, but none survived longer than a few days. • On Nov. 16, 2001, British author J.K. Rowling’s most famous and beloved creation, the bespectacled boy wizard Harry Potter (played by Daniel Radcliffe in his first major role), made his silver-screen debut in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” which went on to become one of the highestgrossing movies in history. • On Nov. 17, 1903, the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party split into two factions: the majority Bolsheviks and minority Mensheviks. The Bolsheviks went on to become the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

* On Jan. 7, 1891, future novelist and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston was born in Notasulga, Alabama. Though she would eventually publish more books than any other Black woman in America, by the time she died in 1960 she’d failed to gain a mainstream audience and was poor and alone in a

welfare hotel. Today she is considered one of the most important Black writers in American history. * On Jan. 8, 1963, LEOnardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, was exhibited for the first time in the U.S. at Washington, D.C.’s National Gallery of Art. More than 2,000 dignitaries, including President John F. Kennedy, came out to view it. The exhibit opened to the public the following day. * On Jan. 9, 1984, Angelo Buono, one of the Hillside Stranglers, was

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

sentenced to life in prison for his role in the rape, torture and murder of 10 young women in Los Angeles. His cousin and partner in crime, Kenneth Bianchi, testified against Buono to escape the death penalty himself.

* On Jan. 10, 1863, the London Tube, the world’s first urban underground railway, opened. Since its first tunnel ran under the River Thames and had no ventilation, it was always filled with smoke.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) As you move into the new year, travel aspects grow stronger, and you might find yourself making decisions about a destination and a traveling companion sooner than you’d expected.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) As you contemplate the new year’s potential, you might want to talk things over with people who are or have been where you want to go. Their experience and advice can be helpful.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) The new year could find you indulging in one or more of the hobbies you’ve always wanted to take up. And don’t be surprised if they ultimately direct you toward a new career.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) The new year holds both glitter and gold. This means LEOs and LEOnas should begin getting the facts they’ll need to separate the real thing from the sham in order to make important decisions next year.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Someone close to you might feel you have no more room for him or her in your life. This calls for immediate reassurance of your love so you can start the new year on a high note.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) The artistic Aquarian should find more opportunities in the new year. You might even make some potentially helpful contacts as you gather to ring in the year 2009.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) The coming year will bring more people into your life. Some situations might not work out as well as others. But overall, everyone earns something, and that’s always a good thing.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) The new year offers challenges for Pisceans who want to make better use of the skills they now have and learn new ones. Personal relationships show stronger positive aspects.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A good way to start the new year might be to arrange for a visit to someone you haven’t seen in a long time. You might also want to pick up that project you put off a while back.

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Homes & Living

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

Volunteering during the holidays Volunteering during the holidays is a meaningful way to give back while embracing the true spirit of the season. As many people celebrate with family, food, and gifts, others may be facing loneliness, food insecurity, or financial challenges. Donating your time and skills can make a real difference in your community and help spread warmth and kindness when it’s needed most. There are many ways to volunteer during the holiday season, making it easy to find an opportunity that fits your interests and availability. Food banks, soup kitchens, and community meal programs often need extra help to prepare, package, and serve meals. Shelters and outreach organizations may look for volunteers to assist with clothing drives, gift sorting, or holiday events. Even a few hours can ease the workload for staff and ensure services

run smoothly during their busiest time of year. Volunteering also offers a chance to build stronger connections within your community. Working alongside others fosters a sense of belonging and shared purpose. For families, volunteering together can be a powerful way to teach children about empathy, gratitude, and helping those in need. Many organizations welcome group participation, making it a great alternative or addition to traditional holiday activities. Beyond helping others, volunteering can be personally rewarding. It often brings a sense of perspective, reminding us of what truly matters. Many volunteers report feeling less stress and greater fulfillment during the holidays, knowing they are contributing to something positive. Acts of service

can help balance the commercial pressures of the season and bring deeper meaning to holiday traditions. Planning ahead is important, as volunteer spots can fill quickly around the holidays. Reach out to local charities early, complete any required training, and confirm schedules in advance. If in-person volunteering isn’t possible, consider donating online, organizing a small fundraiser, or supporting local nonprofits through advocacy and awareness. Whether you give your time once or make it an annual tradition, volunteering during the holidays helps strengthen communities and creates moments of hope and joy. Small acts of kindness can leave a lasting impact— long after the decorations come down and the season comes to an end.

SNOW REMOVAL:

ENERGY REALTY

Residential • Apartments • Commercial • Industrial No site is too big or too small. We have the equipment to get the job done! Snowplowing • Haul Away • Hand Shoveling • Sanding

RANCHER IN SEYMOUR SUBDIVISION! Executive Home - minutes walk from UHNBC

On a quiet cul-de-sac, this updated home has 4 BR, 2.5 BA, a spacious living area and backs onto greenbelt. You need to see this home to truly appreciate it! 1768 EDMONTON ST MLS# R3065695

OFFERED AT

$699,900 CONTACT ME TODAY!

DON GOWAN 778.349.4026

don.gowan@century21.ca

Landscaping Ltd. Russ Hill • 250.563.7062

Landscaping Company

Favourite Landscaping Company

Voted Prince George’s best Landscaping Company for the past five years!

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2025

250-562-6228 Mike Hurrell Realtor® P.R.E.C. Managing Broker 250-981-3100 10 yrs MLS Sales Award Winner 2007, 2009-2022

LAND FOR SALE

Matt Petkau Realtor® 250-617-8179

MLS# R3054738

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

out .95% FULL SERVICE MLS LISTING* Check full listing SERVICE information FREE FULL AT A at MARKET FAIR PRICE MaxSave.ca EVALUATION ®

*No extra costs, No upfront fees - Full Service MLS Listing at just 1.95% of sale price if Buyer unrepresented OR represented by Listing Realtor Subject to Minimum of $6,495 OR 2.95% if buyer represented by another Realtor subject to minimum of $7,495.

Zaviery Dodd Realtor® 250-649-8097

MLS# R3046873

Grace Purdey Realtor® 250-612-2238

Amit Luthra Realtor® 250-981-9090

MLS# R3050510

Joy Paul Realtor® 778-681-8474

MLS# R3000292

LOT B MIWORTH RD., R3029674 $119,900

MLS# R3053625

D SOLCT IN O 824 GILLET ST., $359,900

MLS# R3054343

D SOLCT IN O 686 DOUGLAS ST., $360,000

MLS# R3061187

D SOLCT IN O

#115-4393 COWART RD., $620,000 MLS# C8073032

393 CARNEY ST., $1,100,000

Western Properties

***All Lots fully City Serviced, 0% Financing available O.A.C for Licensed Builders, Cash Discounts available.*** Located on Western Rd.

2845 VISTA RIDGE DR.- City Services OLD - $159,900 SR3049220 LOT 2 COLUMBIA RD - 4.15 AC R3029704 - $395,000

Linda Stacey Property Manager 250-562-6228

2440 - 15TH AVE., $224,900 MLS# R3046088

10315 GLENMARY RD $395,000 MLS# C8068791

D SOL V O IN N

7346 BEAR RD $389,900 MLS# C8073664

8487 PETER RD. $289,900

#11-5164 HART HWY $299,900

7586 LOYOLA PL, $339,900

MLS# R3051667

MLS# R3036882

MLS# R3043869

288 N. NICHOLSON ST., $424,900

7170 GUELPH PL. $449,900 MLS# R3020075

169 AITKEN CRES $419,000 MLS# R3071827

9147 NORTH KELLY RD. $526,888 MLS# R3041191

MLS# R3044388

7788 THOMPSON DR., $580,000 MLS# R3061922

D SOLCT IN O

7546 ST. PATRICK AVE., $609,900

Lot 1, $219,900 - 1.2 Acres R2837615 Lot 2, $219,900 - 1.13 Acres R2837574 Lot 3, $219,900 - 1.06 Acres R2837575 Lot 4, $219,900 - 1.06 Acres R2837578 Lot 5, $219,900 - 1.06 Acres R2837583 Lot 6, $219,900 - 1.06 Acres R2837586 Lot 7, $199,900 - 1.06 Acres R2837601 Lot 8, $189,900 $174,900 R2837609 Lot 9, $219,900 - 1.06 Acres R2837613 Lot 10, $219,900 - 1.06 Acres R2837615

SOLD SOLD

SOLD

MLS# R2985052

FOR SALE 16685 CHIEF LAKE RD $849,900

1917 SPRUCE ST., $659,000

18745 TROUT RD., $740,000

2502 LAURENTIAN PL., $769,900

MLS# R3006202

MLS# C8073638

MLS# R3062657

MLS# C8072664

LOTS 1 & 2 VIVIAN LK RD $1,288,888

PG Motor Court 867 17TH AVE., $1,350,000

3900 15MILE RD., $1,407,700

4900 W AUSTIN RD $2,499,900

42 RESIDENTIAL LOTS STARTING AT $250,000

PRE-REGISTER AT www.TynerRidgeEstates.ca