Prince George Citizen, Thursday June 4, 2026

THURSDAY, June 4, 2026

Relay for Life returns

MATTHEW HILLIER

Citizen Staff

Several University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) students have joined together to bring back the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Prince George.

The event is set to take place at Masich Place Stadium in Prince George on the weekend of June 27 and 28, the first time it will be held in the city in three years. At the height of its success in 2017, the Prince George relay was the Canadian Cancer Society’s top-ranked fundraiser in the country for four consecutive years.

However, a venue change and the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the event, and it has not been held since 2023.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE UNBC students are reviving what was once the most successful cancer fundraiser in Canada

Members of the UNBC planning committee for the Relay for Life include, from left, Eden Collyer, Anthony Lee, Amanosi Okpodi, Zoe Younghusband, Victoria Bleecker, Sanjana Arkman and Shaurya Kumar. The students are reviving the relay after three years.

More volunteers needed before relay returns June 27-28

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

The Relay for Life is the Canadian Cancer Society’s signature fundraising event.

Held in communities across the country, the event sees teams walking or running laps around a track in a relay format, often for 24 straight hours.

The idea to restart the relay first came from UNBC student and Relay for Life committee co-director Victoria Bleecker, who lost her grandfather to metastatic cancer in 2024 and had fond memories of the event.

“On a whim, I decided to send a message to the Canadian Cancer Society saying I had a deep desire to bring the event back to Prince George, and to my surprise, they replied and were really excited about the opportunity,” Bleecker said. “I started contacting people, and we brought together a committee. I think all of us have been touched by cancer in one way or another.”

Committee co-director Zoe Younghusband has also been personally affected by cancer and wanted the opportunity to give back to the community and those impacted.

“I was reached out to by Victoria Bleecker, and when she gave me the opportunity to help revive the relay, it was really hard to say no,” Younghusband said. “My grandmother passed away from stage 5 cancer, and my grandfather also came to Prince George from Prince Rupert to receive treatment at the Kordyban Lodge. It hits pretty close to home for me.”

UNBC student and committee member Anthony Lee said he joined out of a desire to do more.

“I joined when I saw a school email saying the Relay for Life was coming back, and I took this opportunity because in high school we also had the relay, but I never took on as big a role as I wished I had. This gave me the opportunity to get involved with such an impactful event, bring the community together and spread awareness of cancer research,” Lee said.

Another committee member, Amanosi Okpodi, also has fond memories of

Back in its heyday the Prince George 24-Hour Relay for Life raised more than $500,000 during one event for the Canadian Cancer Society. Here is the Survivors lap to honour those who beat cancer during the 2015 24-Hour Relay for Life at Masich Place Stadium.

attending the relay and wanted to give back.

“The first event I ever went to after moving to Prince George was the Relay for Life event,” Okpodi said. “My dad actually had a stand for work and was giving out pamphlets there, and I was just there playing with other kids. Last year, my friend Zoe reached out and asked if I wanted to be part of the team, and I thought it was a great opportunity to give back to the community and support those going through cancer treatment.”

More than a dozen UNBC students sit on the committee, and despite full course loads and other commitments, they have made significant progress in bringing the event back.

“The initial planning stage started last June,” Bleecker said. “Major planning

started in September, and we’ve been planning ever since. It’s been pretty much non-stop, ramping up over the last couple of months before the event.”

About 200 participants across various teams have already signed up, and the committee hopes that number will grow.

So far, participants and teams have raised nearly $20,000 for cancer research.

However, volunteers are still needed, Younghusband said.

“We have about 400 shifts that need to be covered. Volunteers can be entered into a $200 gift card giveaway of their choice, and for every eight hours volunteered, they get a free meal,” she said.

Younghusband also said the top team and top individual fundraiser

will receive trophies and encouraged continued fundraising efforts.

Bleecker said the success of the event shows what students can accomplish when they set their minds to something.

“I think it just goes to show that age is just a number,” she said.

“When people have a goal in mind, there’s really nothing that can stop it from happening. We’ve been persistent and have persevered through barriers, and I’m very thankful for the team and all the hard work they’ve put in.”

For more information or to donate or join, visit: support.cancer.ca/site/ TR/RelayForLife/RFL_NW_even_?fr_ id=30932&pg=entry&s_locale=en_CA

To sign up to volunteer for the event, visit: volunteerpg.com/listings/set-upvolunteers-prince-george-relay-for-life/

Legion welcomes plan to dedicate city crosswalks

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Prince George city council unanimously approved, at its May 25 public meeting, three commemorative crosswalks to honour Canadian soldiers who died in defence of the country, and by the end of this year residents will see the red, white and black crossings permanently painted.

The project was spearheaded by the Royal Canadian Legion, and Branch 43 president Ken Pendergast said he hopes it will not only preserve the memory of veterans but also remind younger generations of their contributions.

“We want to have more recognition for all of those veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom in Canada, but the other side of it is it’s an educational thing,” Pendergast said.

“It’s 80-odd years since the Second World War, as well as a number of occurrences since that time, but the average younger generation may not fully recognize the contributions those people made for us 80 years ago.”

One crosswalk will span Ospika Boulevard at the access road leading to CN Centre, an area that once housed a military base during the Second World War.

A second crosswalk will be at the intersection of George Street and Sixth Avenue, which leads to the Veterans Plaza cenotaph. The third, at Dagg Road and Glenview Drive, is near Corporal Darren Fitzpatrick Bravery Park, named after the Prince George soldier who died in 2010 from injuries sustained while serving with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.

Pendergast said the contractor hired to paint the crosswalks will use a template depicting a soldier in black silhouette at either end of the crossing, above the words “Lest we forget.” Canada’s national symbol, the maple leaf, will also be included in the design. The rest of the crossing will feature alternating red and white stripes.

He said he expects the crosswalks will stir national pride and keep the contributions of soldiers in the public mind year-round, not only on Remembrance Day in November.

“When you look at those crosswalks, you’ll see in some cases it’s a maple leaf or a soldier as part of the crosswalk, as well as the red and white paint. It stands out significantly and it causes people to reflect on their contributions,” Pendergast said.

“It’s part of the bigger package we’ve been talking about for a few years within Branch 43 in Prince George. We’d also like to see the section of road access from the Civic Centre down to the cenotaph renamed something like Veterans Way. There are other cities, Valemount comes to mind, where on the main street they’ve got banners that signify all the fallen veterans in those skirmishes we’ve gone through over the years. It’s really impressive, and we hope we can do that somewhere in Prince George.”

Poppies, worn prominently during the lead-up to Remembrance Day in Canada, will not be used in the crossings, as they are a symbol not meant to be walked upon.

The initial $24,000 cost of the project will be covered under the 2026 road operating budget, according to a city report. The white paint needed for the project would cost $2,000 in total for all crosswalks: $750 each for the Ospika and Dagg crossings and $500 for the George crossing.

The black and red colours will be applied using high-durability cold plastic paint, with total estimated costs of $15,500 to $17,000 for the Ospika crosswalk, $4,500 for the Dagg crosswalk and $4,000 for the George crosswalk.

The city estimates the paint will need to be reapplied every three to five years.

Pendergast is hopeful one or two of the crosswalks will be painted before Friday, July 17, the 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Legion. With files from Colin Slark

JUNE OF 2026

The Exploraton Place bounces back into the black

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Late last year, the organization that operates The Exploration Place projected that a year after running a cash surplus of nearly $100,000, it was likely to report a surplus of about the same amount in 2025.

With the final financial statements for 2025 finalized, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George’s board of directors heard at its Thursday, May 14 meeting that the end result was even better than expected.

An audited statement for the Fraser-Fort George Museum Society presented at that meeting showed that it ran a surplus of $161,395 in 2025.

On top of that, the society, which operates the museum and science centre, is ahead of schedule in paying down its debts.

In April 2024, the regional district approved a $500,000 loan to keep The Exploration Place afloat after financial challenges that arose during the COVID19 pandemic.

The society’s quarterly grant payments are being reduced by $31,115.44 to pay the regional district back and those payments are scheduled to continue into 2029.

As part of that loan agreement, the society committed to having its line of credit with the Royal Bank of Canada paid down to certain balances by specific dates.

There were some initial challenges on that front. When the society’s 2024 financial statements were discussed by the regional district’s board in April 2025, the line of credit was at a balance of $200,000 when it was supposed to be no greater than $175,000.

By Dec. 31, 2025, the line of credit was supposed to have a balance of $125,000 or less.

The statements show a balance of $55,000, $70,000 below the target.

In a Monday, May 25 phone interview, Exploration Place executive director Alyssa Leier said that the line of credit was fully paid off as of March 31, thanks to that greater-than-expected surplus

from 2025.

Another portion of the surplus was used to create a reserve account so that funds can be drawn from it instead of the line of credit if an unexpected expense arises.

“It was a really busy year and I think I owe a huge amount of thank-yous to my management and my staff,” Leier said.

“At the very beginning of 2025, we sat down and looked at where we were and right away, two focuses came to us. One was to listen and respond to visitor feedback and two was to reduce expenses and improve revenues and I think we did a really good job of that.”

That reduction of expenses was partially achieved through layoffs. Leier told the regional district board in April 2025 that staffing had been reduced by 44 per cent.

“That is the most exciting part of 2026 so far,” Leier said on May 25. “Rather than reducing our staff, we’ve actually been looking at bringing more staff on and that’s really exciting for the team because we worked really hard and I think my entire team was at capacity.”

In the second half of 2025, the museum saw a bit of a return to form as much of the building’s upper floor was renovated to have hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) fixtures aimed at kids.

Leier said that in large part due to the new Explorations Gallery as well as some of the travelling exhibits installed

right now and who should actually be responsible for these costs, because we are not-for-profit and we are making headway and paying off our debt,” Leier said.

“This is not something that we can take on as a charity. We definitely need help from the city as this is a city asset run by The Exploration Place.”

She added that The Exploration Place understands the importance of the site to the Lheidli T’enneh and will make sure it communicates with the First Nation and follows all the rules in pursuing the repairs.

on the museum’s ground floor, it has essentially seen its number of memberships and admissions double

“With that happening, it just puts us in a better place financially as well,” Leier said.

She thanked the community for its support for the Exploration Place over the last year, which has made a “true difference in our financials.”

Right before the Victoria Day long weekend, the Exploration Place announced that the Little Prince miniature train would not be opening for the season as is tradition due to necessary repairs and maintenance.

Another blow came on May 25: operations on Canada’s smallest fully licensed passenger rail line would be paused indefinitely due to deterioration and infrastructure concerns along the track that weren’t identified until the ground thawed after winter.

In a media release sent out on that date, The Exploration Place reported that the track’s location at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park — the former site of a Lheidli T’enneh First Nation village — means that archeological work has to be done before the ground can be disturbed.

Leier told The Citizen that a rough estimate for three days of archeological work is about $10,000. If something important is discovered during that work, the cost could be even higher.

“That’s a conversation that we’re having with the city (of Prince George)

While The Exploration Place reaches out to sponsors to help fund the train’s operations every year, Leier said securing the permission to undertake the work is a bigger problem than the funding.

“Until we have the permission to properly do the work, we don’t even know exactly what it looks like … so I’m a little bit reluctant to reach out to organizations in town unless I know the work can be done,” she said.

The museum will share more information with the public once it’s available, Leier said.

Over the last couple of years, there’s been a bit of a standoff between the city and The Exploration Place over the future of the train.

The shelter that the train is stored in is leaky and provides poor protection for the machine and a bad work environment for staff.

The City of Prince George wants a long-term operating agreement with the museum for the Little Prince before it funds a new shelter and the museum wants a new shelter before it commits to a long-term operating agreement.

Discussions over the sustainable future operation of the train are still ongoing, Leier said.

Currently, The Exploration Place has a travelling exhibit called Dinosaurs of BC. It will be replaced with a space-themed exhibit this fall, Leier said.

She said a “really special announcement” would be forthcoming on the details of the space exhibit, but she couldn’t share them yet.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK

Exploration Place manager of community engagement Steve Carras and executive director Alyssa Leier show off the recently opened explorations gallery on the museum’s second floor last Nov. 24.

7-Eleven store at Ospika and Fifh closes for good

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

The signs have been taken down, the shelves are empty and Prince George has lost another convenience store.

The 7-Eleven store across from the fire hall at Fifth Avenue and Ospika Boulevard closed permanently on Tuesday, May 26.

The store, which anchored the shopping plaza at 490 Ospika Blvd., had been selling its grocery items for several days at reduced prices to clear out its stock before it was shut down.

In April, 7-Eleven’s parent company, Japan-based Seven&i Holdings Co. Ltd., announced its plan to close 645 stores between March 1, 2026 and Feb. 28, 2027.

The company operates 86,000 stores in 19 countries and has 13,000 stores in Canada and the United States. Targeting its underperforming stores for closure, it has closed more stores than it has opened for the past five years.

The Citizen reached out to the 7-Eleven’s regional office in Surrey but did not receive a response.

The shutdown of the Fifth and Ospika store leaves just one convenience store — the Shell gas bar at Fifth Avenue and Tabor Boulevard — to serve the neighbourhood. That Shell store is 1.5 kilometres to the west.

For residents of the area, the closest food store is the Save-On-Foods supermarket at Spruceland Mall, which is just less than a kilometre east of the 7-Eleven.

The latest closure comes nearly four years after 7-Eleven closed its two downtown Prince George stores. The 1720 Queensway location was closed in June 2022, followed in November 2022 by the closure of the 1588 20th Ave. convenience store/gas bar.

At the time of its closure, Chris Vigil, a 7-Eleven Canada district manager, said the Queensway store was a constant headache for staff and customers who felt threatened by people who stole from store shelves and loitered in the parking

The 7-Eleven convenience store at the corner of Ospika Boulevard and Fifth Avenue closed last week.

lot, where they consumed their drugs and alcohol. It got to the point where many of his customers were afraid to go to the store and were avoiding it.

The Queensway store lease expired and Vigil said the company based its decision not to renew because of the problems caused by a small percentage of “undesirables” who frequented the store, which 7-Eleven Canada operated for more than 25 years.

Vigil, who is no longer with the company, said the 7-Eleven store at 1588 20th Ave. faced similar problems with drug/alcohol use, shoplifting and people threatening the security of employees and customers.

There are now just three 7-Eleven stores open in Prince George. One is along Highway 97 at 3333 15th Ave., one is near the airport at 2945 Highway 16 E. and the other is in the Hart area at 3688 Austin Rd.

The city once had dozens of convenience stores, including the Mac’s chain.

The largest local chain was Mr. G’s, started in 1970 by Shoppers Foods Wholesale founders Bill Sherba and Larry Hyette. They called their first store, on Austin Road, AM-PM. An American chain of the same name forced the Prince George owners to change the name to Mr. G’s.

In 1972 they opened a second store in the Tabor Plaza at First Avenue and Tabor Blvd., and the Mr. G’s chain grew as large as 12 stores, including the Fifth and Ospika location.

All but two of the Mr. G’s were sold to 7-Eleven in October 2015. The remaining two were sold privately.

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LOCAL JOURNALISM

DIGITAL REACH

Doherty’s new bill aims to protect health-care workers

Bill S-233 would mean tougher penalties for violent crimes against health workers

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Cariboo-Prince George Conservative MP Todd Doherty’s new bill, which is aimed at protecting health-care workers from violence, passed second reading in the House of Commons on Wednesday, May 27.

“We have facilities in our country that are being deemed unsafe, and the unions are telling nurses and healthcare workers not to report to work because the facility they work in has been grey-listed because it’s too dangerous,” he said. “That is unacceptable.”

Bill S-233 is intended to amend the Criminal Code to require courts to consider it an aggravating circumstance when sentencing an individual who assaults a health-care worker or first responder on duty.

An aggravating circumstance serves as a factor for judges to consider when determining an offender’s culpability and often results in harsher sentences.

For example, current aggravating circumstances considered by Canadian courts include offences committed against vulnerable groups (children, seniors and people with disabilities) or offences involving the use of a weapon.

Bill S-233 is the successor to Doherty’s private member’s Bill C-321 from the 44th Parliament.

Bill C-321 passed the House of Commons and the Senate but did not receive royal assent.

Doherty told The Citizen he was happy S-233 passed second reading, especially after Bill C-321 failed to become law.

“It’s a bittersweet moment for me,” he said. “Obviously, this should already be legislation. My Bill C-321 passed all stages in both the House and the Senate. But sadly, due to the dissolution of Parliament, it fell off the Order Paper.”

He also expressed disappointment

Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty speaks in the House of Commons in this image taken from a Government of Canada video feed. Doherty’s push to bring in stronger penalties for people who commit violence against health-care workers has moved one step closer to becoming law.

that the bill has taken so long to reach this stage and that first responders he invited to the gallery last fall did not get the opportunity to see it pass.

Bill S-233 will now proceed to committee for further study. However, Doherty is frustrated because he believes the bill has already been sufficiently reviewed during its original iteration as Bill C-321.

“I’m hopeful that the committee will see a way to speed this along for us because it doesn’t need to be studied.

It’s already been studied,” said Doherty.

“The original Bill C-321 came out of the 2019 Health Committee report, Violence Against Health Care Workers and First Responders. That’s where it was born. It was studied in the last Parliament at all levels. Amendments were made by parties to get it to the point where we could all pass it unanimously. It could be law today.”

Doherty also emphasized that he has received support for the bill from all sides.

“I get Liberal MPs on the side who say they’re frustrated that it’s still here and they hope they can help,” he said. “Obviously, our side is 100 per cent behind us. The NDP appears to be 100 per cent behind us. Everybody else,

except for the Liberal House leaders, seems to want this passed,” he said.

Doherty said he wants to see the bill passed regardless of whose name is on it or which party is behind it.

“We’ve done everything. I pleaded with them to the point where I said, ‘I don’t care if it’s me who asks for unanimous consent to pass this bill at all stages.’ A Liberal can stand up and ask for it. Let’s just get this done. It doesn’t have to have my name on it. Let’s just get this done and stop playing politics with people’s lives because that’s truly what we’re doing,” he said.

With violence against health-care workers becoming a growing concern across the North, Cariboo-Prince George Conservative MP Todd Doherty said he was motivated to draft new legislation after hearing from a healthcare worker.

“My bill was born out of a message on Facebook Messenger, where a paramedic — somebody I didn’t know — shared their story of being thrown down stairs and stomped on, and having their ankles and arms broken,” he said.

“That’s where C-321 was born.”

He added that since he began pushing

for his original bill, he has heard from first responders facing violence in many forms.

“It’s shocking every time you hear about the different codes that mean a nurse is being violently attacked, and you cannot open social media or online media without hearing stories of yet another health-care facility that has been grey-listed, or a nurse who has been punched, kicked, spat on or sexually assaulted, or a paramedic who has been stabbed with needles or knives, or targeted while on the job. It’s just unbelievable,” he said.

Doherty hopes that if the bill is passed, stronger sentences will be imposed on those who commit violence against health-care workers.

“We have such catch-and-release and soft-on-crime policies, and it’s wreaking havoc on our communities and impacting those who put on their uniforms every day,” said Doherty.

“They serve our communities, keep us safe and keep us healthy. We need to make sure we’re doing what we can. It is impacting recruitment and retention, and it’s impacting our health-care facilities that are there to protect us and keep us healthy.”

CNC mobile dental program receives federal funding

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

The College of New Caledonia (CNC) is planning to expand access to dental care across Northern BC thanks to newly received provincial funding.

CNC has received funding through the Oral Health Access Fund, a federal initiative led by Health Canada. This initiative is part of the broader Canadian Dental Care Plan.

The plan aims to expand access to dental care in Canada by supporting projects that reduce barriers to essential dental services for targeted populations.

In a press release, CNC stated that it hopes to reduce these barriers with seven fully portable dental clinics designed to bring essential dental care to community spaces across Northern BC. Through the funding, CNC purchased the equipment in October, with delivery to the college completed at the end of

March 2026.

The equipment includes compact and transportable suction and water systems, drills, essential tools, and seating for both patients and dentists.

The newly acquired equipment will allow dental care to be delivered in more remote Northern communities and can be set up in towns without traditional dental offices.

Through this program, CNC hopes to reduce long travel times and lower the cost of care for patients across Northern BC, especially Northern seniors who may struggle with mobility or financial barriers.

“This project reflects CNC’s commitment to both student learning and community care,” said Diane Horita, dental hygiene faculty member and program coordinator at CNC. “By bringing dental services directly into long-term care settings, we’re creating meaningful hands-on learning opportunities for our students while helping improve access

to care for seniors and underserved populations across Northern BC.”

CNC dental students and faculty have already demonstrated the effectiveness of the program. Between February and April 2026, second-year dental hygiene students used the mobile equipment to deliver on-site care to 23 residents at Simon Fraser Lodge. The care was

provided free of charge to residents, many of whom face barriers to routine dental services.

Students also gained hands-on clinical experience, with each completing approximately 15 hours of placement at the lodge.

“Our residents truly enjoyed welcoming the students and taking part in this program. It’s a wonderful way to support their oral health while also providing valuable social interaction,” said Dominique Dodge, assistant director of care at Simon Fraser Lodge. “Programs like this make a real difference, particularly for residents who may not otherwise have easy access to dental care.”

The program between CNC and Simon Fraser Lodge will continue until March 2028, with final reporting underway for the first year.

CNC stated in a media release that it anticipates ongoing opportunities to expand dental care into additional

OPINION

Protecton, not politcs, should be Parliament’s priority

KENNEDY GORDON Citizen Managing Editor

A few years ago, one of our local MPs heard about a paramedic who’d been beaten, thrown down a flight of stairs and stomped, leaving their arms and ankles broken, while trying to do their job and help someone.

Now he says the current Parliament has the opportunity to protect Canada’s health-care workers and first responders from that kind of violence on the job.

Let’s hope it doesn’t collapse like last time.

Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty’s Bill S-233, which would require courts to consider assaults against health-care workers and first responders as an aggravating factor during sentencing, has now passed second reading in the House of Commons. The legislation is straightforward, practical and long overdue. In fact, it should already be law.

Its predecessor, Doherty’s Bill C-321, successfully cleared every hurdle. It was studied, discussed, defended and amended through parliamentary review. It passed both the House of Commons and the Senate.

But then it failed, not because lawmakers disagreed with its purpose, not because it was flawed, but because of Ottawa politics.

Parliament was dissolved before C-321 could be given royal assent and become law. In other words, its merits

didn’t matter.

Sometimes good legislation becomes collateral damage in the political process.

We can’t let that happen again.

Across the country, violence against health-care workers has become an increasingly alarming reality. Nurses are being punched, kicked, spat on and sexually assaulted while caring for patients. Paramedics are being threatened, attacked and injured while responding to emergencies. Some health-care facilities have even been deemed unsafe enough to be “grey-listed,” with unions warning workers not to report to work because of the risks they face.

These are people we rely on during our most vulnerable moments. They keep emergency rooms operating, respond to life-threatening crises and care for our loved ones when they are sick or injured.

But they’re being hurt by the same people they’re sworn to help. Nobody should accept this as normal.

The consequences extend beyond the victims. The violence they face is contributing to burnout, hurting recruitment and creating retention challenges, all of which puts additional strain on a system that’s already struggling.

Protecting health-care workers also protects that system itself.

Right and wrong may seem black and white, but that isn’t always the case in politics. Opposing parties often disagree about criminal justice policies.

But Bill S-233 isn’t some sweeping

JASON RENFROW PHOTO

MP Todd Doherty’s last attempt to toughen legal penalties for people who hurt health-care workers didn’t make it to law, so his latest effort has to.

ideological proposal. It doesn’t create new offences. It doesn’t call for new government spending. It doesn’t impose any new administrative burdens. It simply recognizes that assaults against people providing emergency care and public safety services deserve special consideration during sentencing, and that people who hurt health workers deserve stiffer sentences.

Common sense.

Doherty has acknowledged that support for S-233 extends well beyond partisan lines, which is what happened before. The bill’s earlier version was refined through cooperation among

multiple parties before passing unanimously.

That kind of consensus has become increasingly rare in modern politics, which makes it all the more important to seize the moment when it occurs.

Canadians have seen this kind of cross-party cooperation succeed before, and from the same MP.

Doherty’s campaign to establish Canada’s 988 suicide prevention hotline which earned support from parliamentarians on both sides of the House. The result was a simple, accessible service that has already helped hundreds of thousands of Canadians connect with mental health support during moments of crisis.

During that process, politicians focused on solving a problem instead of scoring political points. We need more of that.

Every layer of government from federal to municipal (including our city council) should have their eyes on this process. As our nation faces compounding challenges with addiction, affordable housing and rises in cost of living it is time for our politicians to put partisanism and self-interest aside.

With Bill S-233 now heading into the home stretch, Parliament has the opportunity to send a clear message to people who care for and protect Canadians every day: your safety matters, your service is valued and violence against you will be treated as the serious crime that it is.

Get it done, Ottawa.

We acknowledge the fnancial support of the government of Canada. Nous reconnaissons l’appui fnancier du gouvernement du Canada.

Kennedy Gordon Managing Editor

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OPINION

Editorial: There’s no such thing as ‘busloads of homeless people’

This is just another of many reasons why it’s important to have a credible news source like The Citizen that actually follows up and investigates before putting something in writing.

Keep up the good work! Haakon Sullivan

Editorial: There’s no such thing as ‘busloads of homeless people’

It’s important to recognize that Prince George serves as a regional hub not only for industry but also for non-profit and social services.

Many communities across Northern BC do not offer the same level of support, and Prince George should be commended for the services it provides. While this brings challenges, it should also be a point of pride that Prince George supports individuals across the North who may be struggling, while continuing to advocate for needed improvements.

When communities in Northern BC lack certain resources, it is natural for residents to seek support in Prince George. It would also be helpful to include a comparison of services available in other communities, such as Fraser Lake and Mackenzie, to better contextualize this role.

D Goods

Council rejects call to release unredacted CN Centre report

Both motions appear more like political manoeuvring and election optics than a genuine transparency crisis. The report has existed since 2023, yet concerns about the redacted cost breakdown only suddenly became “urgent” days before the deadline. Why wait until the final stretch of the borrowing process to raise the issue?

Redacting some sensitive financial information is not unusual in these circumstances, provided it does not materially hamper public oversight. The total project budget is already available. The city could have provided broader examples or ranges to improve transparency without compromising procurement, but that is another issue.

The timing of this debate therefore looks more political than procedural. One side gets to campaign on “transparency,” while the other campaigns on “protecting taxpayers.” Regardless, projects of this scale rarely come in at the original estimate, so taxpayers will likely end up paying more in the long run anyway.

Perham

Conservatory’s saxophone teacher featured in faculty showcase

Great story and a great instrument.

The legendary tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins passed away last week at the age of 97.

A younger contemporary of the legendary John Coltrane and Charlie “Bird” Parker, most will be familiar with his wistful, beautiful solo on the Rolling Stones’ 1980 hit song Waiting on a Friend.

R.I.P., Sonny, and carry on the success, Ms. Francis!

BGeez

Local businesses looking to collaborate, not compete Partnerships like these are essential for reaching and growing shared audiences. Better promotion of Civic Core events would go a long way, and bringing in collaborators like MadLoon could help draw new crowds and energy.

It’s great to see the PG Citizen consistently highlighting arts and culture through its “What’s Happening in PG” posts. And finally, late-night food downtown! The quality and creativity in PG’s food, drink and music scene are genuinely impressive. There’s a lot here to be proud of in Prince George.

D Goods

Vanderhoof inventor’s wild re- ghting machine heads to Hawaii

Wow, that’s super cool and great news for firefighting. Also nice to see a local guy and company doing well among all the bad news and downsizing.

John E Trukkr

Prince George of cially adopts food charter

I think promoting and developing local food and farming is a great idea, and I generally try to buy local, but you have to ask why this has deteriorated over time in the first place. I believe there used to be a pretty big chicken farm here, for example, and it closed its doors. Why?

Local food production is great, but if it costs substantially more to produce and buy, is it practical?

One thing all levels of government could do to increase food security and develop local food production is get out of the way of small farms and businesses.

I am sure there are many taxes and layers of red tape local producers are burdened with. Remove taxes from locally produced food so it is more viable and attractive to produce and purchase.

I am not sure I agree that everyone has a right to food security. If it’s everyone’s right, then no one should have to buy it. Otherwise, it’s an additional tax on taxpayers who are already bled dry. Zangief

Kerry-Lynne Findlay chosen as new Conservatve leader

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

After backing the winning horse in the recently concluded BC Conservative leadership race, Prince George-North Cariboo Tory MLA Sheldon Clare had a succinct summary of how he was feeling: “elated, tired and happy.”

On Saturday, May 30, former Conservative MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay earned 51 per cent of available points on the fourth and final ballot of the contest to prevail over political scientist Caroline Elliott, who got 49 per cent of available points.

Round 1 saw the race’s only incumbent MLA, Peter Milobar of Kamloops Centre, eliminated with just 10.5 per cent of available points.

Round 2 saw businessman Yuri Fulmer eliminated with 13.9 per cent of the points while former BC Liberal cabinet minister Iain Black was edged out with 30 per cent of points in the penultimate Round 3.

Findlay will now be tasked with getting BC’s Official Opposition back on track after John Rustad’s tenure ended late last year after months of caucus turmoil and the loss of five MLAs from the Tory benches.

After his own attempt to join the leadership race was stymied by what he called deficiencies in his application, Clare was the only one of the three Prince George MLAs to endorse Findlay.

Reached for his thoughts on the morning of Monday, June 1, Clare was effusive in his praise for Findlay, calling her “the right person in the right place at the right time.”

“I’ve known Kerry-Lynne for over 15 years,” Clare said. “I was (National Firearms Association) president several years ago and I met with her on occasion. I found her well briefed, quite well informed with a clear and significant interest in the file.

“Her resume is excellent, her experience as a litigator — from well before she became a politician — is also quite a bonus. I almost hesitate to say it, but we need a few more lawyers in the party.”

Expanding on that last point, Clare

said that Findlay understands some of the complex legal issues that the party caucus will come up against, including the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA).

He said that Findlay has experience with questions of property rights and First Nations, having been a part of a successful court case against Musqueam First Nation over a rent increase imposed on leaseholders on land it owned back in 1999.

DRIPA became a point of tension between the various leadership candidates during the race’s last debate. Findlay accused Milobar, who is married to an Indigenous woman, of being unable to effectively fight against DRIPA due to conflict-of-interest rules.

That comment drew criticism from right-of-centre figures like Cariboo-Prince George Conservative MP Todd Doherty, who said on his X account that Findlay’s comments were “abhorrent.”

In an interview with The Citizen on May 13, Milobar said it was disappointing to have his family weaponized

know that Kerry-Lynne is far from an extremist.”

On that front, Clare’s colleague and Prince George-Mackenzie Conservative MLA Kiel Giddens agreed. Giddens endorsed Milobar in the race.

“This is the playbook from the NDP,” Giddens said.

“They try to create distraction and false narratives for the public. They did this in the 2024 election as well. It’s all to distract from their record of mismanagement in government. We have the worst deficit in our province’s history. We have over 40,000 job losses in this year alone.”

Since Findlay’s victory, Giddens said, she and Milobar have spoken about the matter and are keen to move forward together.

He said there are important upcoming public policy conversations on the reconciliation file, especially after the NDP have spent the last several years setting reconciliation back.

against him in the middle of a leadership race.

In a BC NDP media release issued shortly after the result of the leadership race was announced, the province’s ruling party called Findlay’s campaign racist, calling the debate comment “a direct racist attack on Peter Milobar.”

The NDP also said that Findlay’s win meant that “the pro-Trump wing of the BC Conservatives have seized control of the party.”

Asked about the situation since Milobar is an active member of the party’s caucus, Clare said he wasn’t concerned about division.

“I think that we have a very strong and united caucus,” Clare said. “I think our team is very keen to get on with the work of beating the NDP and I think that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”

He also said the NDP’s characterization of Findlay was ridiculous.

“I think that anytime the left doesn’t like you, they start throwing labels at you, they call you names, they criticize everything they can find to criticize,” Clare said. They overexaggerate. I

“They’ve created more division with Indigenous communities and we need to find another path at the end of the day,” Giddens said.

Though his candidate didn’t win, Giddens said the energy of 1,200 people at the leadership convention was exciting and he’s looking forward to getting to know his new leader better.

One of the first opportunities to do so was during a caucus meeting held the day after the leadership convention.

Under John Rustad and interim leader Trevor Halford, both Giddens and Clare served in the party’s shadow cabinet. Both men expressed an interest in serving the party in whatever role is needed of them.

Clare said he had invited government MLAs to visit Quesnel’s annual Billy Barker Days from July 16 to 19 to get a look at infrastructure that needs repairs while Giddens said in his role as labour critic, he was looking into a recent Business Council of BC report that suggested this province has the worst youth unemployment rate in Canada at 16.6 per cent.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY BOB MACKIN

New BC Conservative Party Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay celebrates her victory at Rocky Mountaineer Station in Vancouver, BC on Saturday, May 30.

Current and former politcians weigh in on race results

CONTINUED

FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

The Citizen also spoke with former interim opposition and BC Liberal leader Shirley Bond, who said that while Findlay signed up enough new members and provided a message that resonated with enough people to win, her victory also creates some space in the centre of BC’s political spectrum.

“A lot of people who are more centrist voters, either centre-left or centre-right, are asking themselves where they have a fit in the political spectrum in British Columbia,” Bond said.

This, she said, presents an opportunity for the BC Conservatives to show that they have a big enough tent to keep their coalition together and present “a credible and forceful opposition and challenge David Eby for the leadership of this province.”

However, she said that with BC’s polarized political situation, it also provides room for the premier to make decisions that move him closer to the centre.

This situation could also provide some energy to those groups trying to create a closer-to-centre political party after BC United decided not to contest the 2024 provincial election.

“I think what will be interesting to watch is where those voters who feel like they have a more centrist view, where do they feel that they can go and provide their support?” Bond said. “I think that’s really where you’re going to see both parties working to try to make some gains.”

When a leader inherits a caucus, Bond said, it can create extra work. The final round of the leadership race showed a difference of two per cent between Findlay and Elliott, the runner-up. Then there’s the previous tension between Findlay and Milobar.

“There’s clearly some work to be done in terms of unifying, first of all the caucus, and then being able to demonstrate to British Columbians that they have a unified, forward-looking party that looks like government in waiting,” Bond said.

“Obviously, Peter Milobar remains in caucus and he will play a pivotal role in determining the unity of the caucus. Secondly, Kerry-Lynne Findlay needs a seat in the Legislature so that she can begin to develop that role as the Leader of the Official Opposition. “And the third piece that obviously has to be considered is what about those independent conservatives who either left or were asked to leave the caucus?”

Seeing Jordan Kealy, the Peace River North MLA who left caucus after fellow MLA Dallas Brodie was ejected from caucus, on stage at the convention, “was a pretty strong signal about what he is feeling,” Bond said.

However, Bond cautioned that there may be some strong feelings among the Conservative caucus towards the five

MLAs that left or were kicked out that Findlay will have to navigate.

Bond said when she became interim leader of the opposition in November 2020, she was told by a political veterans that it’s one of the toughest jobs in politics.

“You’re not there to make bold pronouncements,” she said. “You’re basically there to clear the deck for the new leader.”

She said she thought interim Conservative leader Trevor Halford did the job his caucus expected of him and seemed to cultivate a great deal of support from that caucus.

“He’s going to be one of those key people in the BC Conservative caucus and party that looks to build that coalition and create that kind of unified party that is going to be necessary to win the next election.”

The Citizen reached out to Prince George-Valemount Conservative MLA Rosalyn Bird for comment on the result of the leadership race but she was travelling.

Findlay was top choice for PG Conservatves from start of votng

CITIZEN STAFF

Voting data from the Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership election reveals how votes shifted across Prince George’s three electoral districts before former federal cabinet minister Kerry-Lynne Findlay won. The round-by-round breakdown for the Prince George ridings shows that Findlay had a consistent regional lead from the first round through to the final hmatchup against Caroline Elliott.

Prince George-Mackenzie

• Round 1: Kerry-Lynne Findlay received 98 votes, Caroline Elliott received 51, Iain Black received 44, Yuri Fulmer received 27 and Peter Milobar received 26

• Round 2: Following the elimination of Milobar, Black rose to 62 votes and Elliott rose to 56. Findlay received 99 votes while

Fulmer remained at 27

• Round 3: After Fulmer was eliminated, Findlay rose to 113 votes, Black rose to 67 and Elliott rose to 59

• Round 4 (final): Following the elimination of Black, Findlay won the riding with 135 votes to Elliott’s 84

Prince George-North Cariboo

• Round 1: Findlay received 111 votes, Elliott received 57, Milobar received 32, Black received 24 and Fulmer received 19

• Round 2: Following Milobar’s elimination, Elliott rose to 66 votes and Black rose to 35. Findlay rose to 113 votes while Fulmer rose to 21

• Round 3: After Fulmer’s elimination, Findlay rose to 121 votes, Elliott rose to 70 and Black rose to 42

• Round 4 (final): Following Black’s

elimination, Findlay finished with 132 votes to Elliott’s 83

Prince George-Valemount

• Round 1: Findlay received 79 votes, Elliott received 35, Fulmer received 33, Black received 32 and Milobar received 10

• Round 2: After Milobar’s elimination, Black and Elliott each held 38 votes. Findlay rose to 80 votes while Fulmer remained at 33

• Round 3: Once Fulmer was out, Findlay rose to 87 votes and Black rose to 46. Elliott remained at 38 votes

• Round 4 (final): Following Black’s elimination, Findlay won the riding with 97 votes to Elliott’s 58

Provincial totals

• Round 1: Findlay received 2,806.42 points (30.5 per cent), Elliott received 2,374.14 points

(25.8 per cent), Iain Black received 1,865.82 points (20.3 per cent), Yuri Fulmer received 1,193.27 points (13.0 per cent) and Peter Milobar received 971.34 points (10.5 per cent)

• Round 2: After the elimination of Milobar, Findlay rose to 2,961.53 points (32.2 per cent), Elliott rose to 2,638.74 points (28.6 per cent), Black rose to 2,328.21 points (25.3 per cent) and Fulmer rose to 1,282.52 points (13.9 per cent)

• Round 3: Following the elimination of Fulmer, Findlay rose to 3,559.78 points (38.6 per cent), Elliott rose to 2,883.71 points (31.3 per cent) and Black rose to 2,767.51 points (30.0 per cent)

• Round 4 (final): Once Black was out, Findlay won the leadership with 4,696.51 points (51.0 per cent) to Elliott’s 4,514.49 points (49.0 per cent)

Bond

Loose licence plate leads to probaton, driving ban

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A 40-year-old woman pleaded guilty May 27 to refusing to provide a breath sample for alcohol testing and driving without a valid driver’s licence.

In Prince George provincial court, Judge Charles Hutchinson agreed with Crown and defence lawyers that Natasha Lynn Paul should be fined $2,000 on the refusal charge, payable within two years, banned from driving for one year and placed on probation for one year. She had originally been charged with driving while prohibited but pleaded guilty to the lesser included offence of driving without a licence.

Hutchinson fined her $500 and imposed a one-year driving ban on that charge.

On July 12, 2025, a witness reported Paul driving on the wrong side of the road. Her vehicle, a 2021 blue Honda Civic, had front-end damage. The

witness said he stopped to check on Paul and believed she was either impaired or in medical distress, so he called police.

An officer pulled her over without incident. Paul fumbled with her wallet and provided photo identification after first handing the officer her bank card. Her speech was slurred and her eyes were watery. She registered a fail on a roadside screening device and was taken to the detachment for further testing.

Paul tried nine times to provide a breath sample before the officer arrested her for refusal.

On Oct. 9, 2025, an officer saw Paul driving the same vehicle in downtown Prince George and noticed the licence plate was hanging by one screw.

The officer confirmed the vehicle was registered to Paul, who was prohibited from driving under the Motor Vehicle Act.

Paul identified herself and admitted

she did not have a valid licence. She was arrested without incident and released at the scene on an undertaking.

Hutchinson said the admission of guilt was a significant mitigating factor that saved court time.

Paul had a limited record of driving

violations and no prior Criminal Code convictions for driving offences. Paul, who is Indigenous, suffered childhood trauma after being taken from her alcoholic parents to live with her aunt.

She obtained a health-care assistant certificate from Thompson Rivers University in 2019 and worked for three years in home support as a community health-care worker.

She also obtained a Class 1 licence and drove truck for companies based in Prince George but struggled after her aunt died. In 2025, she attended residential treatment in Abbotsford but left after less than a month to care for her ill mother.

Hutchinson suggested Paul take advantage of counselling while on probation.

“It’s clear that Miss Paul is somebody who has, in the past, been able to overcome some struggles and has the potential to do so in the future,” Hutchinson said.

Drugs and alcohol played role in woman’s crimes: Crown

BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A woman who pleaded guilty to breaking and entering and stealing a truck was sentenced on Monday, June 1 to house arrest for four months and curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for another four months.

Court heard that Angela Marcia Littlechild, born 1999, broke into a house and stole clothes on Jan. 14, 2025.

She also jumped into a man’s work vehicle and drove off on June 25, 2025, court heard.

Littlechild pleaded guilty to breaking and entering to commit an indictable offence and theft of a motor vehicle.

She had spent 93 days in custody, for which she received 140 days credit under the time-and-a-half system used by courts.

Crown prosecutor Astitwa Thapa said that Littlechild is “doing well” at the Vision Quest treatment centre in Surrey and she made a “fairly early” guilty plea.

“It is clear that drugs and alcohol played a role in this case,” Thapa told the court.

Littlechild told the court that “I’m doing really good” and has been sober for five months.

Judge Martin Nadon agreed to the joint Crown and defence proposal for a 12-month conditional sentence order with home confinement.

“She was struggling with the drug addiction at the time,” said Nadon during the sentencing.

Nadon said it is important to the court and society that “you get off drugs, so that we don’t have to deal with this kind of behaviour anymore.”

COTTONBRO STUDIOS PHOTO

Prince George RCMP pulled over a motorist after realizing that she was banned from driving.

A Prince George man will spend 18 months under house arrest before being put on a curfew for six months after being found guilty of possessing fentanyl and other drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

House arrest and curfew for ‘dial-a-dope’ drug dealer

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A 29-year-old Prince George man caught possessing cocaine, fentanyl and fentanyl-bromazolam for the purpose of trafficking in 2022 was sentenced to 18 months of house arrest and six months under a 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.

BC Supreme Court Justice Scott Morishita’s Dec. 18 Kelowna judgment in the case of Tyler Alexander Paterson was published May 28.

Paterson was found guilty on the first day of trial, July 25, 2025.

Morishita sentenced Paterson to concurrent terms of home confinement on the three counts. He will also serve three years of probation.

His arrest came on Oct. 10, 2022, at an Esso station in Vernon after an RCMP officer was called about an alleged assault by a woman on an attendant. The officer pulled over Paterson’s vehicle, which contained a female passenger, after it exited the car wash. The officer spotted a plastic bag on the driver’s seat, arrested Paterson and searched the vehicle.

The officer found 27.07 grams of cocaine in 52 packages, 21.71 grams of fentanyl in 12 packages and 1.78 grams of fentanyl and bromazolam in six packages.

Morishita said Paterson’s 2020 conviction for possession for the purpose of trafficking was an aggravating factor, along with the fact he was involved in

J

a dial-a-dope operation and that one of the drugs trafficked was fentanyl, “a particularly deadly drug that has had a devastating impact on the community.”

“In support of this finding, I note the manner in which the drugs were packaged (i.e., a number of small bags individually packed) and the other items seized in the vehicle, including the notebook containing records consistent with street-level drug trafficking, cash and the three mobile phones,” Mor ishita said.

On the mitigating side, Paterson grew up with physical and emotional abuse and was exposed to drugs and alcohol at an early age. He has been addicted for most of his adult life and suffers from several psychological and mental-health conditions. To his credit, he has sought rehabilitation, including attending Nar cotics Anonymous meetings, receiving counselling and taking medication for anxiety and depression.

“Mr. Paterson has also been sober for about the last year and a half,” Mor ishita said.

The judge also said Paterson started working for Pulse Mechanical as a labourer, although he was laid off due to a temporary project delay.

“(Company owner) Mr. Nabseth provided a letter of support where he indicates that Mr. Paterson was a good worker and that their intention for him is to start as an apprentice plumber should he wish to pursue that option,” Morishita said.

J J

Life in prison, no parole, for man who killed wife and son

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

An Indigenous man who killed his wife and one of his sons with a shotgun two years ago in Tsay Keh Dene was sentenced May 26 to life in prison with no parole for at least 10 years.

Orlan Marcel Dennis, 46, pleaded guilty in April 2025 in BC Supreme Court to two charges of second-degree murder stemming from the April 9, 2024, killings.

He failed in a March application to rescind the guilty pleas after claiming he did not understand they carried a minimum 10-year prison sentence.

At the Prince George sentencing hearing, Justice Simon Coval called the killings “horrific” and said Dennis “inflicted the worst form of violence on an Indigenous woman and young man.”

On April 9, 2024, RCMP officers were called after a report of shots fired and injuries.

Dennis had been drinking alcohol at his mother’s home, across the street from where he lived with his wife, Darlene Dennis, and sons Dorian and Marshall.

After dinner, he argued with his

Orlan Marcel Dennis, 46, pleaded guilty in April 2025 to two charges of second-degree murder stemming from the April 9, 2024, killings.

brother and went home. Around 10 p.m., he argued with Darlene and took a shotgun from a gun safe. He fatally shot her and then fatally shot Dorian as he was coming up the stairs.

Marshall fled to his grandmother’s house. She called 9-1-1 at 10:04 p.m.

When officers arrived around 10:30 p.m., Dennis ran with a gun to another house.

The North District Emergency Response Team arrived and negotiations failed.

At 5:40 a.m. on April 10, 2024, Dennis was forced out by tear gas and shot in the hip and arm. He was treated in Prince George for non-life-threatening injuries.

Dennis had worked as a plumber on band buildings, boiler rooms and water systems.

He met Darlene in their teens and they had five children together. Three of them provided victim impact statements to the court, describing “devastating pain and suffering for themselves and the family, as a whole, from these horrific events,” Coval said.

An Indigenous sentencing report chronicled Dennis’s history of violence and substance abuse.

His parents were residential school survivors and he suffered abuse as a child, entering foster care when he was seven. He also lived with depression and anxiety and abused drugs and

alcohol. His brother died violently, while his sister and cousin both died from drug overdoses.

Dennis’s criminal record includes two assaults against Darlene and one against a daughter.

“He deprived his children of a mother and a brother, he deprived Dorian’s partner of a husband and their son of a father,” Coval said.

“The surviving members of his family continue to suffer terribly from these horrific acts.”

The last word, Coval said, went to one of Dennis’s daughters. She wrote that she “hopes to find true forgiveness someday, just not today.”

Coval said Dennis’s guilty pleas spared the family a trial and spared Marshall from having to testify.

He accepted the joint Crown and defence proposal for concurrent life sentences with no parole eligibility for at least 10 years.

“To achieve parole, Mr. Dennis would have to prove to the Parole Board of Canada that he no longer represents an undue risk to society,” Coval said. “If released on parole, he will be required to abide by strict conditions, or else return to prison.”

Man, 78, sent to jail for sexually abusing young relatve

BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A 73-year-old man was sentenced on May 28 to 18 months in jail for touching his step-granddaughter for a sexual purpose, beginning when she was 10. Provincial Court Judge Charles Hutchinson also ordered the man to serve 18 months on probation, banned him from possessing weapons for life and added him to the national sexual offender registry for 20 years.

Information that could identify the victim is banned from publication. Hutchinson agreed with the Crown sentencing proposal, rather than the man’s defence lawyer, who asked for a 12-month incarceration and two years

probation, and suggested he be referred to forensic psychiatric services.

Between August 2021 and September 2024, the man committed the crimes against the girl, who stayed at his house monthly.

They would sleep in the same bedroom at night, in the same bed. On more than one occasion, he caused his genitals to touch her. The girl eventually told her stepmother that she did not want to visit anymore.

The man was charged in May 2025, arrested the next month and released on an undertaking. He did not have a criminal record, but pleaded guilty early. Hutchinson considered that a mitigating circumstance. A psychological risk assessment found him to be a very

low risk to reoffend.

However, the aggravating factors outweighed mitigating. The victim was vulnerable and lived with a learning disability and the man was in a position of trust, in the role of a grandfather, even if not biologically related.

“While the effect of an early plea and expression of remorse are not ignored, the repeated violation of the personal autonomy of a young, vulnerable female by a trusted male role model in her life warrants a sentence of incarceration,” Hutchinson said.

A statement from the girl read in court said she will never be able to trust men again.

She said “grandpa” would favour her over the other grandchildren, buying her

gifts and candy and taking her to shop alone. He would call her at school repeatedly and become angry if she did not answer her phone. She described feeling confused, because “he could get angry so easily, but also acted so lovingly.”

“The harm can never be undone, but my hope is to speak up on behalf of other victims and for myself, so this doesn’t happen anymore,” she wrote.

When Hutchinson gave the man a chance to speak in court, he said he was “extremely sorry that this had to happen.”

“I must deeply apologize for my lack of control and for my harm to the child and family, and my failure to live up to what a grandparent should actually do,” he said.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Sentencing set for atempted arson at legion, shelter

He lit res outside two buildings last year, court heard

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A man charged with lighting a fire outside the Royal Canadian Legion and Active Support Against Poverty shelter in Prince George last year was found not guilty of arson in relation to an inhabited property on May 28.

Provincial court Judge Cassandra Malfair did, however, find Shane Daniel Coulas guilty of attempted arson. He had originally been charged with arson causing damage to property, but at the conclusion of the trial, the Crown conceded the damage was minimal.

Malfair said there was no direct evidence of Coulas’s intent and that the Crown’s case on intent was

circumstantial.

Malfair said Coulas, born in 1997, and his co-accused started a fire in the yard of the Legion building on Oct. 9, 2025, beside a wall adjoining the shelter.

“The fire was lit at around 8 o’clock in the morning and was observed by an employee working in the offices above the Legion,” Malfair said. “She called the fire department, which quickly attended and extinguished the fire before it could cause any damage.”

The employee arrived at work and saw two males wearing face coverings and hoodies on the sidewalk. One of them was Coulas, who was shoving items through a fence.

The woman proceeded to the second-floor office.

Five minutes later, she smelled burning plastic, looked out the window and saw the two men lighting a purse on fire on the ground inside the fence.

“Once the purse was on fire, the men

Arsonist’s pre-sentence report sparks another CrossRoads delay

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The BC Supreme Court sentencing of CrossRoads Brewing and Distillery arsonist Richard Alex Gordon Titchener has been delayed two more weeks after Crown and defence lawyers read the man’s pre-sentencing report and psychological-social assessment.

On Monday, June 1, prosecutor Rodney Withall asked for and received adjournment for the scheduling hearing to June 15.

“We need to discuss the content of these reports, particularly Mr. Titchener’s account of the events, and whether that is consistent with the plea and the direction that we’re going,” Withall told Justice Scott Morishita.

“That’s all I’d like to say on the record at this point.”

Titchener’s lawyer, Georges Rivard,

shoved lumber through the fence, some of which they stacked on top of the burning purse,” Malfair said.

“Once the lumber caught fire, the men rode away on bikes. One was holding what appeared to be a red duotang.”

The men were arrested around the corner behind the shelter.

Coulas was found with a backpack containing a butane torch and fuel. He had a piece of lumber in his hand, along with a folding knife and a red notebook.

At the time, he was subject to a probation order from November 2024 that prohibited him from carrying knives outside his residence except for the purpose of eating food.

Malfair said Coulas did not contest lighting the fire but denied causing damage.

He claimed his intent was to burn the purse in order to conceal his participation in another crime.

Malfair ruled that Coulas intended to start a fire that he knew could cause damage by scorching or burning the exterior of the Legion and shelter. She said he took “significant preparatory steps,” bringing a butane torch and a can of fuel that he used to light the fire.

He also had flammable lumber and, once the fire was established, left the scene without taking steps to extinguish it.

“I find the Crown has proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Mr. Coulas attempted to cause damage to property by fire, and he had the requisite intent,” she said.

Malfair also found that he breached the probation order by possessing a knife.

Sentencing was adjourned to July 22.

Meanwhile, co-accused Roddy Jody Levi Joseph’s next court appearance is June 2.

said “both reports are kind of conflicting each other on one specific aspect, with regard to the reckless or intent.”

The law for arson to property states that: “Every person who intentionally or recklessly caus-es damage by fire or explosion to property that is not wholly owned by that person is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years.”

Titchener pleaded guilty as charged on Jan. 12 to lighting the fire that destroyed CrossRoads in downtown Prince George on Sept. 5, 2025.

In January, the court heard that video evidence led to Titchener’s guilty plea.

Specifically, the nearby Keg Restaurant’s surveillance camera in the back alley captured images of Titchener igniting cardboard and causing the blaze.

NORTHERN ANGEL SUMMIT

FINALE JUNE 26, 2026

Salmon Valley groups take farmers’ insttute to court

BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Three community groups in Salmon Valley are taking the Superintendent of Farmers Institutes to BC Supreme Court over the operations and oversight of the Salmon River Farmers Institute (SRFI).

Salmon Valley Community Farmers Institute, Salmon Valley Community Association and Salmon Valley Gymkhana Club filed a petition May 27 in the Prince George registry, calling the SRFI a “closed organization” controlled by one family since at least 2009.

“The SRFI has systematically refused to accept membership applications from Salmon Valley community members. Complaints about this practice have been received by government since 2009 and continued through 2026.

The SRFI has not followed the requirements set out in the Act,” said the petition.

Members of the gymkhana club are affected by the SRFI’s refusal to permit access to the Salmon Valley Community Centre hall, built in 1974.

A curling rink was added in the mid-1980s.

The petitioners want a judge to set aside the superintendent’s decision to approve the SRFI’s January 2025 bylaw amendment and February 2026 bylaws, and to declare that neither the amendment nor the bylaws are consistent with the spirit of the Farmers and Women’s Institutes Act.

They say the superintendent lacked jurisdiction to approve the changes.

The superintendent, they maintain, “breached the duty of procedural fairness by approving bylaw amendments that directly and adversely affected those persons’ membership rights, without notice to or participation by those persons.”

The trio wants a judge to order the superintendent to provide a “genuine, accessible and independently initiated process by which community

The SRFI has systematically refused to accept membership from Salmon Valley community members.”

members may apply for and obtain membership in the (SRFI) in accordance with the spirit of the Act within 30 days.”

They point to the superintendent taking no meaningful action on complaints for more than 16 years and cite correspondence with a former Prince George-Mackenzie MLA.

Former superintendent Chris Zabek wrote to Mike Morris’s constituency assistant in February 2023 that the “act does not provide the province with the authority to direct or control how an institute operates or the decisions it makes.”

In September of that year, Morris asked the minister of agriculture and food to consider revising legislation to ensure farmers institute directors are held accountable. The minister told Morris that the “legislation does not empower government to force an institute to make certain decisions or take specific actions.”

“The superintendent’s supervisory conduct from 2009 to 2026 follows a consistent pattern: receive complaint, decline to intervene, refer the community to civil action. Where the superintendent did finally act in approving the January 2025 amendment and the February 2026 bylaws — that action was affirmatively adverse to the community members the Act was designed to serve. The superintendent used the only supervisory power that was exercised to entrench and legitimize the SRFI’s non-compliance.”

None of the allegations has been tested in court.

Tourism PG and partners hoping to improve accessibility

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Tourism PG has partnered with Downtown Prince George and Spinal Cord Injury BC to bring a new initiative to help bring accessibility improvements to local businesses.

In a media release, Tourism PG announced the launch of the Simple Solutions for National Accessibility Week initiative along with a Downtown Accessibility Grant.

This initiative plans to help downtown businesses improve their accessibility by helping to identify and implement practical accessibility improvements for visitors and locals.

“This initiative is about creating a more inclusive and welcoming downtown experience while supporting businesses with practical tools and guidance,” said Scott McWalter, executive director of Tourism Prince George. “Small improvements can make a

meaningful difference for both residents and visitors, helping build a community that is accessible for everyone.”

Downtown businesses will be offered free on-site accessibility consultations led by the Access BC team from Spinal Cord Injury BC.

These consultations will focus on providing achievable and impactful ways businesses can improve site

Woman suing cannabis store alleges trip and fall

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

An employee of the Kitsumkalum Band is suing a Smithers-based marijuana dispensary chain in BC Supreme Court after allegedly suffering injuries at its Houston store.

Lennette Rose Desjarlais filed the personal injury lawsuit May 13 in the Prince George registry against Rural Leaf Ltd., 1354633 BC Ltd., and business partners Mikel Brandor Abbot, Peter Llewellyn Greene and Alfred Tiutei Schafer.

Desjarlais claims she entered the store Jan. 23 to shop, but tripped and fell after exiting near a doorway and adjoining ramp.

According to the court filing, Desjarlais suffered a serious injury to her right knee that required immediate surgery, along with bruises, swelling

and abrasions. The lawsuit alleges she continues to suffer pain, reduced mobility and loss of enjoyment of life.

None of the allegations has been proven in court. The defendants have 30 days from the filing date to respond.

Desjarlais alleges the store and its owners failed to properly design, build, maintain and repair the doorway and ramp. She also claims they failed to properly instruct employees or maintenance contractors to ensure the area was safe and free of hazards.

The lawsuit, filed by lawyer Justin Haines, claims Desjarlais will require ongoing healthcare and may incur retraining expenses.

She is seeking damages for past and future wage loss or loss of opportunity, future care costs, homemaking capacity, special damages, court costs and interest.

accessibility or services for disabled individuals.

Suggested improvements may include:

• Improved signage and wayfinding

• Entryway and service accessibility adjustments

• Mobility and navigation solutions

• Customer service accessibility tips and best practices

As well, through support from a Tourism PG Microgrant, improvements identified as having the greatest potential impact will be funded and implemented at local businesses.

“The Simple Solution Initiative is an excellent example of how small steps go a long way towards sustainable communities. Many of these solutions are simple, but the impact of use is large,” said Nancy Harris, Spinal Cord Injury BC’s regional development liaison and Access BC lead.

Participating businesses will also be entered to win a free Virtual Tour digital asset, donated by Jody Wall Photography.

The program will run through to the end of June 2026.

For more information or to enter your business for a consultation, contact Emily Wiebe, Access BC coordinator, Spinal Cord Injury BC by phone at 250563-6942 ext. 4 or by email at ewiebe@ sci-bc.ca

DARREN RIGO PHOTO

Tourism PG, along with partners Downtown Prince George and Spinal Cord Injury BC are offering free consulting services to businesses looking to improve their accessibility.

Blackwater Mine produces gleaming returns in Q1

Operation 160 km southwest of Prince George nets income of $129.7 million

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

During the first three months of this year, Artemis Gold Inc., owner of the Blackwater Mine, 160 kilometres southwest of Prince George, produced 61,923 ounces of gold and sold 60,517 ounces on the commodities market.

As for the 1,406 unsold ounces, Artemis chief executive officer Dale Andres isn’t about to divulge where that gold is stored. That’s a closely guarded secret. It certainly doesn’t require much storage space. One ounce of gold is about the size of a sugar cube.

One thing is certain: it won’t be difficult to sell. With prices near an all-time high, investors continue to covet gold as a hedge against inflation and global economic uncertainty.

By the numbers, Blackwater marketed 3,782 pounds, or 1,719 kilograms, of gold in the first quarter of 2026, generating total revenue of $315.4 million — positively gleaming results for the Vancouver-based company.

“I think what Artemis has done at the Blackwater mine is a great example for the industry,” said Andres, who replaced Stephen Dean as chief executive officer in June 2025.

“I think the way we’ve engaged on a local and regional basis for jobs and economic benefit, the staged-development approach, and obviously we’ve hit the market well in terms of timing on the gold price, but also the way we’ve been able to continue to grow, not just start up the mine but accelerate future development.

“Blackwater is growing to be one of the top three gold mines in all of Canada and to have that in central BC, with the benefits for the local region and the success we’ve had in our first year and expect to continue to have, I think it’s a great example for the province and the whole country.”

Of the 60,517 ounces Artemis sold, 32,173 ounces went into hedge markets.

That included 25,173 ounces delivered into the mandatory hedge program at an average price of CDN$2,825 per ounce and 7,000 ounces delivered into the discretionary hedge supply at an average realized price of CDN$3,350 per ounce.

Another 4,914 ounces were delivered into the Gold Stream for investors at a deeply discounted price.

At the high end of the scale, the remaining 28,344 ounces of gold produced in the first quarter were sold on the spot market, attracting an average realized price of US$4,795 per ounce and generating $135.9 million in revenue.

With spot prices forecast to break the $5,000 barrier in 2026, Blackwater appears poised to continue benefiting as it proceeds with expansion plans that will triple mining capacity by the end of 2028.

Blackwater is considered one of the world’s lowest-cost, highest-margin gold mines, and the recovery rate — the amount of gold captured compared with the amount lost in tailings — reached a record 90.6 per cent in the first quarter.

“Things are rolling really well,” Andres said. “We think there’s potential to keep making improvements as the year progresses. We’ve got a big year planned. We’re targeting production of between 265,000 and 290,000 ounces of

gold. It’s a big step in our first full year of production.”

In 2025, Blackwater produced 192,808 ounces of gold.

The all-in sustaining cost of producing that gold at the open-pit mine is US$1,095 per ounce, among the lowest in the industry. After production costs were paid, adjusted net income for the first three months of 2026 was $129.7 million.

By the end of this year, Blackwater will complete its Phase 1A expansion, which will increase throughput — the amount of ore processed — by 33 per cent, raising capacity to eight million tonnes per annum by 2027.

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ARTEMIS GOLD INC. PHOTO

This drone shot taken in May 2026 shows the open-pit Blackwater Mine located 160 kilometres southwest of Prince George. The company produced 61,923 ounces of gold and sold 60,517 ounces on the commodities market in the first three months of the year.

BUSINESS

Artemis Gold expects to triple producton by 2028

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The Expanded Phase 2 (EP2) project, a $1.44-billion initiative funded by operating cash flow, will nearly triple capacity to 21 million tonnes per annum. Major construction is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of this year. When completed in the third quarter of 2028, EP2 will increase annual gold production from the projected 265,000290,000 ounces in 2026 to 500,000 ounces, a level Artemis forecasts can be sustained for at least 10 years.

A KPMG study commissioned by Artemis estimated the expansion will generate $26.9 billion in economic activity in BC over the mine’s projected 20-year life. The project is also expected to generate nearly $4 billion in provincial government revenue — about $200 million annually — and $2.7 billion in federal revenue.

“It was always going to be a staged-development approach for the Blackwater mine and we’ve tweaked that a little bit,” Andres said.

“Definitely the plan was always to get the mine up and running, cash flowing, and then stage the development. But higher gold prices have definitely helped us accelerate expansion faster than outlined in the original feasibility study.”

Expected to create an additional 1,500 construction jobs and 300 operational jobs, EP2 is on the BC government’s priority major projects list, with more than $2 billion in mineral tax revenue anticipated over the life of the mine. The mine currently employs 900 direct employees and contractors. That number is expected to grow to 1,200 permanent jobs. Andres said 75 per cent of the current workforce is from BC and 40 per cent comes from the local region.

“I think we’re benefiting from some of the downturn in the forestry sector that’s hit our local districts hard, and I think it’s great that we’re able to hire qualified skilled employees, including tradespeople,” Andres said. “But we’re

going to be growing quite a bit, so we’ll continue to focus on our local region and our provincial workforce to attract those employees. That’s a major focus for us.”

All that construction activity will require skilled tradespeople. The study estimates Blackwater will create more than 3,500 full-time-equivalent jobs — direct, indirect and induced through household spending — every year.

EP2 is already fully permitted, but Andres said minor permits will still be required and are expected to be expedited because of the project’s high-priority status. The expansion will also require significant electrical capacity, and Andres said discussions with BC Hydro are already underway.

Now that the snow has melted, Blackwater is investing $5 million in exploration this year, targeting 30 prospective sites that could reveal undiscovered deposits within trucking distance of the mine. Artemis has budgeted $10 million-$15 million for exploration over the next 10 years.

“This year we’re focused on drilling deeper than the current deposit and we’re actually finishing a few holes that are longer than 1,000 metres,” Andres said. “We’re looking for expansion at depth, and that’s our focus for the first half of the year. We’re just about to get back into the broader district, where we think there’s lots of potential as well.”

Blackwater’s measured and indicated resource estimate stands at 11.7 million ounces of gold and 122.4 million ounces of silver.

Silver sales in the first quarter of 2026 totalled 137,371 ounces, of which 10,650 ounces were sold on the spot market and 126,721 ounces were delivered into the Silver Stream. Although silver prices have risen to US$76 per ounce, the $7.335 million in silver revenue represented less than five per cent of Blackwater’s total revenue.

“We produce more ounces of silver than gold, but from a value perspective, 95 per cent of the value comes from gold,” Andres said.

Province, feds funding rural high-speed internet in BC

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Hixon, Valemount, Buckhorn and Stoner are among communities earmarked to receive high-speed internet access in the next few years through a program being jointly funded by the provincial and federal governments.

In a Thursday, May 29 announcement in Prince George, federal Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger and BC Minister of Citizens’ Services Diana Gibson announced a

total of $236 million in funding provided jointly by their governments for eight projects that will extend high-speed service to more than 13,000 households.

Another $7.8 million is being provided by the federal government alone to extend services to more than 1,000 BC households.

One joint federal-provincial project being carried out by TELUS will extend fibre internet service to 4,492 customers including some in communities in the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George like Reid Lake, Buckhorn, Ferndale,

Stoner, Hixon, Nukko Lake, Red Rock, Mud River, Foreman and Woodpecker by March 2029 at a total cost of $73,479,037.

Another project solely funded by the federal government will see $2,288,324 go to CityWest Cable and Telephone Corp. to extend fibre services to 294 customers in Tête Jaune Cache, Cedarside and Valemount. Its estimated completion date is March 2027.

A media release sent out by the federal government said its goal is to provide high-speed internet access to 100 per

cent of Canadian households by 2030. For the project, high-speed is defined as download speeds of at least 50 megabits per second and 10 megabits per second for uploads.

“High-speed internet isn’t a luxury; it’s essential and foundational infrastructure,” Belanger said in the release. “For Canada’s rural, remote and northern communities, having a reliable connection can make all the difference in being able to access vital virtual health care, work online or just keep in touch with loved ones.”

Vanderhoof HVAC upgrades could cost taxpayers nothing

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

A construction retrofit project in one of Vanderhoof’s civic buildings may have the majority of its funding covered thanks to community connections.

Three rooftop HVAC units at the District of Vanderhoof Municipal Hall needed to be replaced with units that can handle modern winters.

That process was outlined by William Wedel, CAO of the District of Vanderhoof, and Benjamin Bigelow, a climate action adaptation and mitigation specialist at Inland Control and Services, in Prince George on Friday, May 22.

They were visiting the College of New Caledonia for an event called Northern Energy Efficiency Showcase: Understanding the real options in Northern BC, which was presented by the Community Energy Association.

This event brought together more than a dozen community leaders, engineers, builders and students who had a shared interest in renewable energy and construction.

Wedel explained that issues were found during an energy audit, paid for and conducted by the Building Owners and Managers Association of British Columbia.

The audit found that closing doors in the municipal hall could cut rooms off from the system.

As well, it was found that many employees utilized space heaters, increasing the building’s environmental impact.

Bigelow said that ignoring or pushing back these upgrades can often lead to more costs in the future as well.

“Buildings might not be equipped for the summer or the winters of 2026 when they were designed for the summers and winters of 1974 or 1980,” said Bigelow.

“Getting the funding to replace these expensive aging infrastructure that has phased out technology in it that you can no longer access can become a real burden for budget cycles. We want to try and lift that up and reduce your operating costs so that it becomes a no-brainer where you’re saving money moving forward for the next 20 years,

whereas a direct replacement would have no impact on that.”

Wedel explained that the upgrades for the HVAC system were costly, amounting to nearly $175,000.

However, thanks to work done with Inland Controls, Pacific Northern Gas (PNG) the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and BOMABC, a sizeable portion of these funds may be provided to the fund through grants and rebates.

“We’ve got a Federation of Canadian Municipalities grant, which is going to potentially cover a considerable portion of that,” said Wedel. “It’s approximately about $140,000. $32,000 is remaining and PNG may cover up to about $9,000 per unit, so that’s about $27,000 and we’re still waiting to hear if there are some rebates that we may be able to actually get back from BC Hydro as

well.”

Wedel estimated that if the District of Vanderhoof plays its cards right, the upgrades could potentially cost its taxpayers nothing.

Bigelow explained that Inland Control has been working closely with the district to move forward with funding for grants and rebates.

He noted that it is important for projects like this to succeed, as it can help change the mindset for future sustainability efforts.

“Sustainability initiatives tend to get the bad rap of why are they so expensive,” said Bigelow. People often ask ‘Why do we need to do this?’ But by shifting our mindset, we can actually make it profitable and turn it into a case of why aren’t we doing this and we can’t afford not to do this.”

Wedel added that the district is planning on doing more upgrades in the future in a similar vein to the ones taking place in the municipal hall.

“We have projects that we’ve been working on with our arena about heat recovery and things like that,” said Wedel. “Everything we’ve been doing is working in the same vein. Our other locations are not as old so we have a very new public works facility. We have our visitor and tourist centre, which is fairly new as well, so those ones are not quite ready for those upgrades at this time.”

BENJAMIN BIGELOW PHOTO

The Municipal Hall of the District of Vanderhoof may soon see nearly zero-cost upgrades to three of its rooftop HVAC units.

REGIONAL

Pilot distracted by phone before fatal helicopter crash

Transportation Safety Board makes its ruling in deadly Smithers Airport incident

BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The pilot of a helicopter that went out of control at Smithers Airport three years ago and killed one person was distracted by his smartphone and sped through sections of the air operator’s checklist to expedite maintenance ground-run operations, according to a report released May 27.

“In doing so, important steps in the checklist were not completed, leaving the right anti-torque pedal in a fully forward position, which went undetected for the third maintenance ground-run operation,” said the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) investigation into the May 6, 2023, crash.

A Mustang Helicopters Inc. Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B3 was undergoing maintenance ground-run operations with a pilot on board.

Two maintenance staff members were standing on the ground near the left cargo door.

The report said the pilot told maintenance staff he was listening to his smartphone with a Bluetooth earbud in his left ear.

“He was monitoring the score of a live sporting event while sitting in the pilot’s seat. It could not be determined whether the cellphone was being interacted with or viewed by the pilot immediately before the occurrence,” the report said.

“Mustang had not developed procedures or policies regarding the use of personal electronic devices on the flight deck, nor were they required to.”

Because flight was not intended, the pilot did not secure his safety belt as

required in the pre-start section of the Mustang checklist.

During the third operation, the pilot increased engine power from idle to flight idle.

At 9:10 a.m., when it reached flight idle, the helicopter suddenly rotated to the right.

The pilot moved the control to idle, turned off the fuel and applied the rotor brake.

The helicopter rotated 540 degrees and the tail rotor struck both maintenance staff members multiple times before coming to rest. The worker who survived suffered serious injuries.

“The pilot was uninjured. The helicopter received minor damage,” the report said.

TSB investigators focused on the helicopter’s hydraulic system, maintenance ground-run operations and the expectations of the team conducting the operation.

They found that when the engine was started a third time, the right antitorque pedal was fully forward and the pilot’s feet were either lightly resting on the bottom of the pedals or not on them at all. When engine power increased, a significant yaw force was exerted on the helicopter.

“Given the position of the pilot’s feet, the pilot’s response to the yaw force was insufficient to prevent the helicopter from beginning to rotate quickly to the right,” the board determined, according to the report.

Since the crash, the TSB said Mustang Helicopters has changed its maintenance procedures so the aircraft maintenance engineer is inside the helicopter during maintenance groundrun operations.

The company purchased wireless communication systems for the pilot and engineer, introduced a new anti-distraction policy, reviewed and revised internal hazard assessments, and created a new standard operating procedure for ground runs and flight checks.

BC Timber Sales Prince George

INVITATION TO COMMENT – FOREST OPERATIONS MAP

The public is invited to review and comment on the BC Timber Sales Prince George (BCTS TPG) Forest Operations Map, showing proposed road construction and cut block development under Forest Stewardship Plan #24 within Forest Development Units in the Mackenzie Forest District, Prince George District and Headwater District. The map will be valid for the operating period from July 15, 2026 – July 15, 2029. During the operating period, the Timber Sales Manager may invite applications for Timber Sale Licenses for the harvesting of cut blocks shown on the map and apply for road permits to construct roads shown on the map.

The map is available for public review and comment online, at: fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects

The map is also available for in-person review and comment by appointment at the BCTS TPG o ce, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at:

BC Timber Sales Prince George 2000 Ospika Blvd S Prince George, B.C., V2N 4W5 Telephone: 205 614-7400

Comments will be accepted from June 15 – July 14, 2026. Comments may be submitted online at fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ public/projects, emailed to tpg.ref@gov.bc.ca, delivered inperson to the address above during business hours, or mailed to the address above to the attention of Jonathan Taylor.

If you have questions or require assistance, please contact: Jonathan Taylor, Planning O cer, by phone: 250 649-4366, or email: tpg.ref@gov.bc.ca

What’s happening in PG

Galaxy Prince George Psychic & Crystal Fair goes Friday, May 29 from 2 to 10 p.m., Saturday, May 30 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday, May 31 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Ramada, 444 George St. Some of Canada’s top psychics, mediums, astrologers, rune readers, healers, tea leaf and palm readers and an aura photo booth will be available. Beautiful crystals and handmade jewelry for sale. Lots of door prizes. Tickets are $10 and good for the whole event. Children 12 and under are free. For tickets visit www.eventbrite. ca/e/galaxy-prince-george-psychic-crystal-fair-tickets

Prince George Metal Fest goes Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30 each night from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Legion 43 PG, 101-1116 Sixth Avenue. This event features Cocaine Moustache, Quietus, Shattered Throne, Crucible of Scorn, Lich of Willow River on Friday and on Saturday Terrifier, Mvlgrave WMD, Deveined, Dead Horse Hill and Infectious will be featured. Tickets are $35 a night or $60 for both night when purchased together at Grow King or the Legion.

WALKPG 2026 Outdoor Festival goes Saturday, May 30 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Cottonwood Island Park. This free, family-friendly event brings together community members, local organizations, and Indigenous knowledge-holders for a day of outdoor learning, cultural connection, and environmental engagement. With activities ranging from land-based learning experiences to interactive workshops, including the popular bike-powered smoothie station, WALK PG offers something for all ages. Come join us in celebrating community, nature, and shared learning. For more information visit wildabout.ca

Great Northern Chili Cook Off goes Saturday, May 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Prince George Playhouse, 2626 Recplace Drive. Celebrating 50 years of the Prince George Potter’s Guild. People are invited to support the local potters and decide who has the best chili and you get to keep your handmade bowl.

registering a team of four for only $40, which includes a sausage and bun. The PG Italian Club has been representing and sharing the rich Italian culture and traditions with the entire Prince George Community and are reviving the annual bocce tournament to welcome the community to this fun-filled event. No experience is necessary. The fun is in the learning. Space is limited. Send your registration and payment by May 31 to pgitalianclub1@gmail.com.

Tenth Annual Community Chinook Salmon Send Off goes Sunday, May 31 at 11 a.m. at 1384 River Rd and is presented by Spruce City Wildlife Association. This is a free, family-friendly event that sees the release of Chinook salmon fry down the famous Fry Slide. Enjoy a free hot dog and drink. Check out community organizations’ booths. Spend time outdoors celebrating conservation and community.

$25 per person. Organizers are looking for teams to participate in the cookoff. For more information email specialevents@pgpotters.ca

Family Taekwondo Travel Team

Burger Fundraiser goes Saturday, May 30 at 6 p.m. at Brixx Brewery, 2005 Cariboo Highway beside the Treasure Cove Casino. This is a private event making it family-friendly, so bring the kids, invite your friends and come enjoy a great evening together. There will also be a 50/50 draw and a silent auction. All proceeds will help athletes travel to Spain this September to compete at World Cup. Tickets are $40 and include a delicious burger meal and a drink. Tickets are available online at www.checkout. square.site/BurgerFundraiser

Forever Young Chorus presents Songs of the Land, Songs of the Sea on Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31 at 2 p.m. at the Elder Citizens Recreation

Association, 1692 Tenth Ave. Tickets are $12 each on sale at ECRA starting on May 4.

Legends Live! Presents 100 Candles in the Wind – Happy Birthday, Marilyn! A Musical Tribute on Saturday, May 30 at 7 p.m. at Theatre NorthWest, 36-556 North Nechako Rd. It’s Marilyn’s 100th Birthday, the Queen of the Golden Age of Hollywood and she’d like to celebrate with her famous friends. Kat Fullerton stars as Almost Marilyn, Lily McMillan as Authentically Adele and Cory Hicks as Somewhat Sinatra and Elton Enough. Tickets are at the Theatre Northwest box office or online at www. ci.ovationtix.com/legendslive

PG Italian Centre’s Bocce Tournament goes Saturday, June 6 at 10 a.m. at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park at the 17th Avenue and Elm Street entrance. Celebrate Italian Heritage month in June and have some fun by

Prince George Conservatory of Music showcase event goes Sunday, May 31 at 3 p.m. at Trinity United Church, 3555 Fifth Ave. This is the final faculty concert of the season, which is devoted entirely to music chosen by our faculty and special guests, featuring saxophone, harp, flute, piano, violin, and viola. From beloved classics to hidden gems, this concert celebrates the music the artists love most. Admission is pay-what-you-can.

Local Food Systems goes Thursday, June 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Environmental Education and Resource Centre Compost Demonstration Garden at UNBC. Get to know what is available around Prince George as local food systems connect farmers, processors and consumers within a specific geographic region to improve economic, environmental, and social health. These systems reduce transportation distances, support regional economies, provide fresher, high-quality food and often utilize sustainable or organic practices, including farmers’ markets and community pop up markets.

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CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Reuben Down watches his son Logan’s careful release of Chinook salmon fry onto a water slide carrying them to the Nechako River as his grandmother Marcie looks on in this 2024 photo. The 10th annual Community Chinook Salmon Send Off goes Sunday, May 31 at 11 a.m. at 1384 River Rd.

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Chilliwack: The Farewell Show goes Saturday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. at CN Centre with special guests Doug and the Slugs. Canada’s legendary rock band Chilliwack is hitting the road and coming to Prince George one last time in their 56-year history. Chilliwack has given Northern BC rock fans countless memories. Joining Chilliwack is one of the most distinctive and entertaining Canadian bands from the last 40 years, Doug and the Slugs, with their upbeat musical style, musicianship and offbeat stage antics. For more information and tickets visit www.ticketsnorth.ca/event/ chilliwacks-farewell-show

Prince George Kidney Walk goes Sunday, June 7 at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park. Walk to raise awareness and support for kidney health. Together we can make a difference in the lives of those affected by kidney disease and their care providers. Kidney Walks are a vital lifeline, fueling real-time support, life-saving research and strong advocacy for everyone affected by kidney disease. The mission goes beyond survival and looks toward a future where every person living with kidney disease can truly thrive. For more information visit www.kidneywalk.com/ princegeorge

Prince George Secondary School Class of 76 Reunion goes Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27 at the Coast Prince George Hotel, 770 Brunswick Street. There is a walk through at the secondary school, followed by a meet and greet on Friday night at 5 p.m. at the Coast and then on Saturday there is a dinner and dance starting at 5 p.m. Deadline to register is Sunday, June 7. For more information email pgssclassof76@gmail.com or visit https://www. pgssreunions.ca/

Once Upon a Voice… Terry Fator, Pure Imagination goes Thursday, June 11 at CN Centre. Legendary Las Vegas headliner and winner of America’s Got Talent – Terry Fator comes to Prince George for the first time. This show is

90 minutes of impressions, comedy and ventriloquism that has made Terry and his characters a must-see for fans across the North America. For tickets visit www.ticketsnorth.ca/event/ terry-fator/cncentre

The Dudley Summer Social goes Friday, June 12 from 8 p.m. to midnight at 5787 Albert Place. Whether you’re looking to meet a special someone or just want an excuse to get out with friends or dance this is the night for you!

The night will be packed with a live DJ, games, prizes, happy hour specials and more. Cover charge is $10.

Cruising PG goes every Wednesday and is presented by the Carefree Society, providing accessible and inclusive transportation services in Prince George and area. Cruising PG is a great way to get out of the house, enjoy the city and socialize without a long commitment. Pick up typically begins at 1 p.m. Recommended rate is $20. Book early as space is limited. To reserve a seat call 250-562-1397 or email book@ carefreesociety.org

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

Myeloma Support Group goes every third Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Commonwealth Financial, 575 Victoria St. Everyone is welcome who has been diagnosed, those who are caregivers, family members and friends. Wheelchair accessible parking at the back of the building. For more information call Viv Lougheed at 250-981-2618.

Parkinson Support Group meetings are the first Saturday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, 3701 Rainbow Drive. Meetings are informal and are for sharing information about slowing down the progression of PD. There are guest speakers, special

events and biweekly exercise sessions and positive social interaction. Use lower parking lot beside ball diamond to access the seniors centre.

Chronic Condition Support Group takes place the first Tuesday of every month from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Nechako Branch of the Prince George Public Library, 6547 John Hart Hwy. This is a free drop-in community social group where people with any chronic condition can come together to socialize, connect and learn from each other.

Curious Art Workshop goes Tuesdays until June 23 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Studio 2880, Upstairs Workshop Zone, 2880 15th Ave. This series of workshops are filled with art, mindfulness, letting go of control and building community, and of course, fun! Participants will explore watercolours with instructor Anne Beauchemin who is new to Prince George. For more

information and to register visit www. studio2880.com/programs/art-classes/ curiousartworkshop

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

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

Prince George air cadet graduates with fying colours

Kael Frederick has excelled over seven years in the program

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

If the cockpits for training aircraft used by the Royal Canadian Air Cadets were a little roomier, Kael Frederick might well be on his way to earning his pilot’s licence.

But at six-foot-four and 215 pounds, Frederick is a few inches too tall and a few pounds too heavy to meet aviation safety and design standards. As a result, he is not eligible for the glider pilot or power pilot scholarships available to cadets who join the Prince George 396 Squadron.

Raised on Top Gun video games introduced at home by his older brother, Frederick completed ground-school instruction with the cadets and became a skilled gamer, practising as a fighter pilot on the three-screen virtual reality simulator at squadron headquarters at Connaught Youth Centre. His flight training ended there.

“I was never able to do it because don’t fit in flights,” Frederick said. “You go from a glider and then you can go for your pilot’s licence, but I’m too big to fit into a glider. The maximum height is about six feet and the maximum weight is 200 pounds.

“I wanted to be Top Gun: Maverick but unfortunately they don’t make F-18s in Frederick size. They only make them in regular-people size.”

While his physical size kept him grounded as a pilot, it did not prevent Frederick from soaring to the top of his class as the senior leader of 67 cadets in the local squadron.

Over seven years in the air cadet program, the 18-year-old warrant officer first class has excelled in leadership, community service, public speaking, marksmanship, survival skills and sports. He progressed from learning those skills from senior cadets and instructors to becoming a

leader himself.

“Cadets teaches you about the air force. We teach the kids about basic community service, about respecting people in authority and respecting people in general, and I don’t know where I’d be today if didn’t have the cadet program,” Frederick said. “This has taught me so much.”

Cadets are marked on attendance, drill participation, appearance, posture and conduct during parades.

Frederick said the friendships formed during cadet activities, field exercises and survival camps at Bobtail Lake kept him engaged, along with events such as bowling and archery nights.

“One of the emcees tonight, Cameron Stillwell, he is by far the best friend I’ve made through the cadet program. trust that man with my life. We made it through a global pandemic together and we’re tighter than ever,” he said.

“Rebuilding after COVID was a stretch because all the seniors we had going into shutdown we lost due to age-outs. When we came back we were hurting for seniors and proper training. Myself and Stillwell and Griffin Reusch, who was two years older, were called the Three Amigos. We were all close and did everything together, and they’re the reasons I probably stuck with the program.”

Frederick served as chief in command on Tuesday, May 26, at the squadron’s 78th annual ceremonial review at Connaught Youth Centre, leading cadets in drill and inspection in front of family and friends before the summer break.

There is no returning for Frederick, who turns 19 in July and will age out of the program, leaving behind a legacy as a model cadet. He briefly considered a career in the Canadian Armed Forces

but said cadets is as far as he intends to go.

“I’ve had people on poppy campaign confuse me for an active service member, and I make sure to quickly correct them,” he said. “I’m not in the armed forces, I’m merely a boy scout in uniform.”

The ceremony marked a final salute to Frederick’s cadet career. With his parents Gwen and Gary in attendance, he received two of the squadron’s most prestigious awards: Top Cadet and the Lord Strathcona Trust Fund Medal.

Frederick was 12 in the summer of 2019 when his parents enrolled him in the program. Through a family connection with Capt. Dale Evasin, now deputy commanding officer of 396 Squadron, Frederick joined cadets with an interest in aviation.

“That first night as a cadet I was

ABOVE: Gwen Frederick pins the top cadet medal on the uniform of her son, Warrant Officer First Class Kael Frederick, while his father Gary holds the certificate presented to Kael during the 78th Annual Ceremonial Review of the Royal Air Cadets Prince George 396 Squadron at Connaught Youth Centre on Tuesday, May 26, 2026.

LEFT: The Royal Air Cadets Prince George 396 Squadron stands at attention during the review.

terrified,” he said. “I didn’t know anybody, and that night I started friendships that will last me the rest of my life.”

He nearly completed his first year before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020. The program shifted online for two years, with enrolment dropping to fewer than 30 cadets. Numbers have since rebounded significantly.

Gary Frederick said the program helped shape his son into a disciplined and confident young adult.

“After the first year you could see it was valuable for his development to stay and participate, and here he is today leading the show — it’s pretty remarkable, we’re pretty proud of him,” he said.

“When he first started, he took public speaking, and to see him up in front of the Remembrance Day ceremony to read the oath, it’s awesome. The cadet

development, the programs they offer and the leaders they have here, I’d recommend it to anybody. It’ll make him a solid adult.”

Squadron commanding officer Deb Crossan said Frederick exceeded expectations.

“He’s a very well-rounded young man and I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes in the future. He’s got a very bright future ahead of him,” she said. “I’ve known him since he was 12. The first time they come into the program they’re scared, they don’t know what to do, and Warrant Officer Frederick was just like that.

“He has become a very confident individual who has excelled in all his cadet years and he’s really earned the awards he got tonight.”

The Lord Strathcona Medal also recognizes athletic achievement. Frederick excelled in air rifle marksmanship,

becoming one of the squadron’s top sharpshooters.

Sports have long been part of his life. He played volleyball, became a referee like his father, and attended Shas Ti Kelly Road Secondary School.

His brother Kyle played junior A lacrosse and had to leave Prince George to compete in Delta due to the absence of a local junior program.

Kael now has an opportunity to play for the Prince George Posse junior B team and hopes to reach the professional ranks in the National Lacrosse League.

He also completed Level 1 carpentry training but has since taken work as a dairy clerk at Save-On-Foods.

At the ceremonial review, Warrant Officer Second Class Taylor Olsen received the Royal Canadian Legion Cadet Medal of Excellence for outstanding involvement in training and community service.

In his remarks, Legion Branch 43 president Ken Pendergast praised cadets for supporting the annual poppy campaign. The air cadets, along with 2618 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps and 158 Grizzly Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps, volunteer annually to sell poppies.

“Last year we collected $87,000 from the people of Prince George, and that may be a record for our community,” Pendergast said.

“Without the support of the cadet community we wouldn’t have achieved that success.”

The air cadet program runs Tuesday evenings from September to May for youth aged 12 to under 19. There is no fee; costs are covered by the Department of National Defence. For more information go to the website.

Living kidney donor shares her journey of generosity

Daughter donates to help mother 22 years after rst transplant

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Often when someone is in need of a transplant, family members are not a match. Fortunately, the opposite was true for one mother-daughter duo.

“My mom developed kidney disease when she was pregnant with me,” Tanya Work explained.

“So the type of kidney disease she has is not hereditary. My mom had measles when she was a little kid and it damaged her immune system, and then when she was a teenager she had strep throat a lot. Doctors figured it was a strain of strep throat that ended up damaging her kidneys and led to the transplant.”

It was not her first transplant, Work added.

Her mother, Faye, had her first kidney transplant in 2001.

“The person who donated to her then was her sister-in-law — not her sister — my Auntie Denise. She and her husband Allan used to own the Roll-A-Dome in town and everybody knew them,” Tanya said.

“So Mom had that kidney for 22 years and then I donated in 2023,” she said. “For the first 20 years or so, that first kidney did my mom well.”

Warning signs emerged in 2019 as Faye’s kidney function began to decline.

To determine whether she was a match for her mother, Tanya underwent a year of testing, including an interview with a social worker to ensure she fully understood what donation involved, she said.

“So it was a lot of testing, and the fact that my mom had two perfect matches in 20 years was pretty remarkable,” Tanya said.

Born and raised in Prince George, Tanya moved to Calgary at age 21, and her parents later followed her when she started her family.

“So we were all living in Calgary and took part in an event called Kidney

March, which is a 100-kilometre walk over three days,” she said.

“In doing that, we got to know a whole bunch of kidney-related people — donors and recipients — so we were a big part of the kidney community. Because of that and all these other connections I’d made, I told my mom that if she didn’t want me to donate my kidney to her, I would donate to someone else. Either way, a kidney was coming out of me. I told my mom, ‘Either you take it or I am donating it to a stranger.’”

Knowing major surgery carries risks, Tanya said she understood that was the only way her mother — “kind, considerate, caring” — would accept the donation.

“And it worked to make that threat, because she knew I meant it,” Tanya said.

Through her involvement in the Calgary kidney community and her work with the Kidney Foundation of Canada, Tanya had heard firsthand how difficult it is to wait for a donor, and the toll it takes on patients and families. She said she was committed to donating regardless.

She was working at the foundation when she became a donor, and said the organization supported her through the process, including topping up her salary during the six-week recovery period when living donors cannot work.

The government provides short-term disability benefits, but they do not cover full wages. The Kidney Foundation of Canada has encouraged employers to top up income so financial loss is not a barrier to donation, Tanya said.

“The foundation topped up my wages so I wasn’t out any money, because you still have to pay your bills and your mortgage and stuff after you donate,” she said.

The transplant took place in February 2023. The family moved back to Prince George in June 2023, as there is extended family in the region and in Fort St. James, and Tanya’s daughter was beginning nursing studies in Prince George.

Tanya, who now works at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), said her recovery was smooth and she continues to feel well.

“Except for the scar, I wouldn’t know my kidney isn’t there anymore,” she said.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Tanya Work, left, donated a kidney to her mom, Faye, in 2023. She will be participating in the Prince George Kidney Walk at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park on Saturday, June 7 at 10 a.m.

Short flm Breakthrough nominated for four Leo Awards

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Prince George filmmaker Norm Coyne knew his short film Breakthrough was a high-quality production.

Now the proof is in the pudding. Breakthrough has been nominated for four Leo Awards, which celebrate excellence in BC film and television.

All four nominations are in the short drama category: best visual effects (Kenji Rodriguez), best production design (Madison Stenner, Jason ArkellBoles, Cai Holm and Ava La Pena), best costume design (Allisa Swanson), and best make-up (Theresa Lund and Graden van Erklens).

Filmed in and around Prince George in March 2024, the film is set during the Second World War. The story centres on two soldiers on opposite sides who meet during the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944, the final German offensive on the Western Front.

Dug into the Ardennes Forest, the American 106th Infantry Division faces a devastating counter-attack by the German army.

In the aftermath, a wounded Jewish-American soldier and a young German soldier form an unlikely friendship while trapped together in a foxhole. The film explores the tense connection that

Kidney Walk happening

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

“I joke with my mom that I gave her the good kidney because her kidney function is better than mine — mine’s good, but hers is better.”

Before the 2023 transplant, Faye’s kidney function had declined significantly, and she had been on dialysis for eight months.

“And now her numbers are all great and she’s not showing any signs of rejection — so that’s all good,” Tanya said.

The annual Kidney Walk takes place Sunday, June 7 at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park, with registration at 10 a.m. and the walk beginning at 11 a.m. The Kidney Foundation uses the event to raise awareness and funds, and to remind those with kidney disease that they are not alone.

“We joined the Kidney Walk in Prince George last year for the first time and we’re building our relationships here like we did in Calgary,” Tanya said.

Sunday

“It’s really important to raise those funds during the Kidney Walk, and we know that firsthand. When my mom had her first transplant she was in Prince George and had to live in Vancouver for three months afterwards, and the Kidney Foundation was able to help with the costs. That’s just one example of where the money we raise during the walk goes. It especially helps patients up north when they have to stay down south. It’s also really important to raise awareness about kidney disease. A lot of people don’t even think about it, and it’s a silent killer because you could be at stage four kidney disease and not have a single symptom — and that’s kind of scary, so raising awareness is really important.”

Tanya said anyone considering becoming a living donor who wants to talk can reach out to her on Facebook.

For more information about the Prince George Kidney Walk and to donate or join her team, visit https:// kidney.bcywalks26/TanyaWork

develops between the two men and how their bond transcends the brutality of war.

The production of Breakthrough was supported by Rocky Mountain Rangers honorary colonel Tom Newell, own er-operator of Kopar Administration Employment Agency in Prince George and the film’s executive producer.

Soldiers from the Rocky Mountain Rangers B Company, a reserve unit of the Canadian Army, were enlisted to bring authenticity and community collaboration to the project.

X-Files actor William B. Davis also appears in the film.

Breakthrough was written, produced by and stars Michael John Fuller, whose work on the project exemplifies the growing strength of filmmaking talent emerging from northern BC.

Now based in Kelowna, Coyne, a co-founder of Barker Street Cinema, continues to support independent productions and regional filmmaking across BC.

“These nominations are a huge achievement for everyone involved,” Coyne said. “Prince George has an incredible creative community, and

KAZHA CULLEN PHOTO

Actors Michael John Fuller, right, and Aaron Haegert shoot a scene from Breakthrough in Prince George in March 2024. The Norm Coyne-produced short film has been nominated for four Leo Awards.

Therapeutc Riding Associaton hostng open house

Visitors are invited to Taba Creek on Saturday to see what it’s all about

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen

Staff

The Prince George Therapeutic Riding Association is hosting an open house on Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Taba Creek, a farm west of the city. The group provides therapeutic and recreational horseback riding experiences for children and adults with disabilities. The program is designed to highlight the unique abilities of each rider, complementing other forms of treatment for individuals with physical, mental or emotional disabilities.

The association was started in 1992 by a group of five parents of children with special needs.

Barb Warkentine Cruise is one of the founding members and has a son, Brett, with special needs. She has continued volunteering with the association for the past 34 years.

Warkentine Cruise said the association provides three eight-week riding sessions a year at Taba Creek.

“So this session we have about 20 students, and this summer we’ll have between 50 and 60 students,” she said.

“Everyone from age three to 95 rides. We’ve had a couple of dementia patients who used to ride when they were younger, and their family members wanted them to be engaged.”

Warkentine Cruise said the group was started because, when Brett was young, options for continued physiotherapy were virtually non-existent once children reached school age.

“So we found someone who decided to take us on, and we went out to a little farm on the Blackwater, and the kids were getting some exercise and having fun. That’s how it started. Over the years, some of the children passed away, but Brett always enjoyed riding. It was always one of the highlights of his life, so I have stayed on. I basically do all the

fundraising and continue to try to find instructors and volunteers.”

Warkentine Cruise said there are no restrictions on who can access the program.

“This is for everybody,” she said.

“This is for those with mental illness, this is for people in crisis — in the past, children have come when they lost a parent — so we’ve tried to keep it accessible for everybody.”

An important aspect of the program is maintaining the specially trained horses that can be trusted with vulnerable riders.

“I think people forget that these horses have a job,” Warkentine Cruise said.

Like humans, they also need time for fun. Last year, the therapy horses participated in the Renaissance Faire,

where people were surprised to learn about the association and the role the horses play in supporting participants.

Annual operating costs are about $30,000, and Warkentine Cruise organizes fundraising efforts to meet demand.

The biggest fundraiser is a gala held Oct. 17. In the meantime, the association will host a photo opportunity at the Renaissance Faire on July 25 and 26, where people can get a picture taken with a miniature horse for a $5 donation. There will also be a barbecue fundraiser at Art Knapp’s on June 20 and 21.

“And on top of that I write a lot of grant applications,” Warkentine Cruise said.

“This year I am trying to be out there a little more because people in town

still don’t know about us, and that’s why we decided to have the open house on Saturday. We want to invite new kids and new families and just have a fun day. There will be a barbecue and some of the kids will be riding so people can see what the program is about. There will be an information booth and games to win small prizes, and one of the trails will be fixed up so people can walk it and see what the kids do on the horses to expand their sensory skills.”

The Prince George Therapeutic Riding Association open house runs Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Taba Creek, 10460 Highway 16 West. Everyone is welcome.

For more information about the association, visit https://therapeuticridingpg.com/news-events

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Brett Warkentine is seen here during one of his many Prince George Therapeutic Riding Association sessions way back in 2016. Brett still participates now and his mother, Barb, a founding member of the association, is part of the organizing committee that will host an open house on Saturday, June 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Taba Creek, a farm west of the city.

Chilliwack ready to Fly at Night at CN Centre Saturday

Gone, Gone, Gone: The Prince George stop is part of one last tour for the classic BC rockers

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen

Staff

The Gone, Gone, Gone, Farewell to Friends Tour of the legendary Canadian rock band Chilliwack comes to CN Centre on Saturday, June 6.

Frontman Bill Henderson has seen many changes during his lifetime in the music industry, including his more than half a century with Chilliwack, but one thing that hasn’t changed is his voice.

When asked about his upcoming show, he reflected on how he has managed to maintain his vocal abilities at 81 years old.

“Well, I’m doing my best,” Henderson said.

“I’m not always happy with it but I manage to pull it off sometimes. Definitely an important part of it is my daughter, Camille, who is a vocal coach. She has been working with me for a few years and she’s helped me work

around the aging stuff, where you just become weaker and how to deal with it. So I’m working on that all the time and I basically try to not just sing every day but do exercises every day to try to hold it all together. My band is great — they are just incredible as they are always supporting me and they know that sometimes, because I’m pretty old now, my mind goes to places that it shouldn’t be going to in that moment — that are inappropriate — and they’re generally laughing when that happens and manage to cue me with a ‘no, no, no, no, we’re over here, Bill,’ and that’s really cool.”

Henderson took a moment to reflect on his career and the impact his music has had on Canadians during their formative years.

“It’s wonderful and I’ve come to realize what we’re doing because I’ve reflected on it a lot. The thing about music is it can lift you out of a lot of stressful things and also help deal

with that stress, and it’s really a way of finding yourself, and it was that for me,” Henderson said.

“As a little kid I needed it and I didn’t know that at the time but that’s where it went. So to have people come to your show where essentially you started this because it made you feel good and to see them all feel good is the best, you know? It’s fantastic.”

Over a lifelong career like Henderson’s, there is often one thing that stands out from the experience.

“We all have that level of enjoyment potential in us and some of us become bitter and some of us become bitter temporarily — and sometimes temporary could mean for several years — but sometimes it’s a short thing. Those things happen because we all get stressed out but there is a willingness in us to have a great time and move forward with that kind of spirit and that’s a really cool thing. I like that very much.”

Initially, the goodbye tour was supposed to end at the end of 2025, but Henderson decided to continue because of the positivity that live performance brings.

“So I thought maybe I should stick with this for a while,” Henderson said with a laugh.

“This has been a good life, you know. Music has been a good life for me.”

And what’s next?

“I’ll try to keep going,” Henderson said.

“It might end up me doing solo things where I won’t play for so long, shorter periods of time. I’m still writing a little bit and maybe I’ll get back into that in a bigger way. I’m not sure, but I still want to sit down with my guitar and play, and when you start to find it — there’s a point where you’re playing and you’re going ‘it’s OK, it’s all right’ and you just keep playing and playing and then it starts to open up and it becomes very easy to play and very easy to do really cool stuff. When that happens I just feel good and, between that and the great family that I have for support, I’ll just keep on goin’.”

Henderson said when people come to the concert on June 6 they should expect a great time.

“We’re not afraid to play the hits — we play them and we enjoy them — and we put a lot of energy into them. They’re great tunes, good arrangements, but we also reach back into the early days of the band like the late 60s and early 70s. It was a different world then and we played differently. I love what happened back then so we touch on some of that stuff and get into the jams and the stuff that we used to get into, so that’s fun too.”

There will also be a couple of new tunes performed, Henderson added. “It’s going to be a great time.”

Chilliwack plays at CN Centre on Saturday, June 6 at 7:30 p.m. with special guest Doug and the Slugs. For more information and tickets visit https://www.ticketsnorth.ca/event/ chilliwacks-farewell-show/

QUINN BENDER PHOTO

Chilliwack frontman Bill Henderson is seen here mid-performance just like he will be at CN Centre Saturday, June 6 during the legendary Canadian band’s Gone, Gone, Gone, Farewell to Friends Tour.

Mrs. Perison has a classroom full of Kindness Ninjas

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Positively channeling her grief after losing her beloved husband Edward, Cynthia LeBrun chose to take to the streets of downtown Prince George to give back, where she is mostly known as “Grandma.”

“I wanted to heal myself by helping others — does that make sense?” LeBrun asked.

It sure does.

“Another part of this is that I was just amazed at the heartfelt love the homeless people give me — the hugs, the big smiles and the gratitude they show — so many thank yous,” LeBrun said.

“You just feel happy that you are helping in such a profound way people who are in such great need. I think the biggest need is love and acceptance. If people could just smile and say ‘I see you as a person’ — that’s so important.”

LeBrun said she always tries to make a personal connection as she presents a hot meal every Sunday afternoon to people living in the downtown core.

“Hands dirty or not, I will touch people and I just want to share the energy of someone who cares for them,” LeBrun said. “I chose Sundays because Saturdays and Sundays are the hungriest days for them. For those who don’t live in a shelter, it’s their only hot meal for the whole week, and they really look forward to seeing me. They are smiling as they greet me and they call me Grandma — not all of them, but quite a few.”

On the menu are favourites she can cook in her slow cooker, like chili, and each serving comes with a bun. Sometimes she makes pulled barbecue pork with a bun, and because she has had so many requests, she is making bannock for the first time for this week’s meal, along with a slice of baked ham.

She keeps count of how many people she feeds by the number of buns that disappear — 48 is the maximum because buns come in packs of 12 and she always buys four.

And every week that slow cooker is empty.

“Empty and scraped,” LeBrun said.

“It’s common knowledge there’s violence and robbery. They can’t be with their spouse, and when it’s not safe they’d rather sleep on the street. And oh my gosh — it’s cold,” LeBrun said.

“And who wouldn’t start a fire if it means your life because it’s 20 below? A lot of the homeless are broken human beings who are unable to get themselves out of the situation they’re in. It’s likely because of poor choices, and once you’re stuck in that rut of addiction it’s so difficult to get out without someone helping them. In the meantime, let’s help them and smile and give them some hope because a lot of them just don’t have any.”

LeBrun has a strong connection to Cedars Christian Elementary School, and her mission to feed the homeless came up for discussion one day after a Grade 1/2 student was overheard including the homeless in her morning school prayers.

“Oh, last time I did the pulled pork I had a bun left, but the slow cooker was empty. One man came up and asked for the bun, and I rubbed the edge of the pot with it and he was happy with that.”

LeBrun said she reached out to The Citizen to talk about what is happening because she understands the compassion fatigue in Prince George.

“I just want people in Prince George to see the homeless people in a different light,” LeBrun said.

“There are a lot of people who have sympathy towards the homeless, but there are also a lot of people who are angry about the situation. They want them to move and to stop lighting all those fires. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out those fires are set for one of two reasons: they are either trying to get warm or someone who is mentally unbalanced wants to start a fire. Those people need to be off the street.”

LeBrun said most people are just trying to get warm, and when people say the homeless need to go to a shelter, they do not realize that at times those shelters are not safe.

It was LeBrun’s daughter, Jessica, the vice-principal of the elementary school, who heard the student and shared that her mother feeds the homeless every Sunday.

“Then the class decided they were going to be kindness ninjas — they are so adorable — they made headbands with their names on them and they sneak around the school and do kind acts,” LeBrun said.

She said some of the children crawl on their bellies into their buddy class to secretly deliver treats to fellow students.

“It’s all so sweet,” LeBrun said.

“So they decided they wanted to raise money for the homeless that Mrs. LeBrun helps on Sundays. The teacher said they would not be allowed to fundraise, but instead it would be an exercise in self-sacrifice and they would have to do chores to earn the money. They set a goal of $150 and met it, and in the end I believe they raised $259. The chores were hard — one child cleaned the cat litter box seven times and another hauled wood on a farm. It was very hard work and they are all so proud.”

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CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHRISTINE DALGLEISH

Cedars Christian school’s Grade 1/2 class put together blessings bags for the homeless in downtown Prince George. Zachary Marcotte, second from left, cleaned up his living room and Addison Bernal, beside Zachary, cleaned out her grandparents’ chicken coop to earn the money for the cause.

Children flled ‘blessing bags’ to help homeless people

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

The students donated the money to LeBrun, who will now buy items for the homeless such as crackers and cookies.

“I will bring the items into the classroom on Friday and each child will get a freezer bag and they will go ‘shopping’ and pick what they want to give to a homeless person. They each made a card they will include in the blessing bag,” LeBrun said.

“When I go and give out the bags on Sunday I will take a video of each person receiving a bag and then I will come back to the school and show the children so they understand the impact of their actions in a concrete way.”

In the Cedars Christian School Grade 1-2 class on May 30, the teacher and student teacher helped LeBrun organize treats on pint-sized tables so the 21 students could assemble their blessing bags for the homeless.

Carly Perison is the Grade 1-2 teacher and has been at Cedars for three years. She brought the Kindness Ninjas mission into her classroom.

“Our goal is to spread kindness around the school and into the community,” Perison said.

“We take notes to our big buddies and leave messages of appreciation for the admin team. This year I wanted to extend it into the community in a way that informs the children without ruining their innocence. When Mrs. Akehurst heard one of my students praying for people downtown to have clean water and food, she told me about the work Cynthia is doing, and that sparked the idea for this cause.”

After taking the Kindness Ninjas pledge, the children wrote notes home to request chores to raise money, Perison said.

“They brought in $2, $5 and $10 at a time doing things like cleaning litter boxes, raking leaves, stacking firewood, helping at Granny’s farm, cleaning cars and emptying dishwashers,” Perison said.

“They blew past their goal and reached $259.”

Perison said she is proud of her students.

“It was all their work, their drive and their empathy. They knew where the money was going and were so enthusiastic. It was completely about someone else,” she said.

“It wasn’t about them. It was about

coming together to help others. They are so proud of themselves. I know $259 doesn’t sound like much, but when you are six and raising it a toonie at a time, it is a lot. Seeing the food Cynthia has purchased helps them understand the impact.”

Addison Bernal, a Grade 1 student, said she was happy to participate.

“I am really happy to be in Mrs. Perison’s class this year because I am able to be a Kindness Ninja,” Addison said.

She described the chores she did to earn money.

“I went to my granny’s house for a sleepover and brushed her dog because he was losing his puppy hair. She has chickens so I cleaned their coop and picked their eggs. I used a shovel and put the dirty stuff into a wheelbarrow with my grandad and we dumped it in the garbage.”

Zachary Marcotte, also in Grade 1, said he cleaned his home to contribute.

“I cleaned the living room because my little sister was making a crazy mess and I had to put the toys back in the bookshelf,” Zachary said.

After the bags were assembled, it was announced there were 35 blessing bags

for LeBrun to distribute on Sunday, and the class cheered.

Their teacher praised them.

“I hope you understand that all of this food was bought by you,” Perison said.

“Every litter box you cleaned, every piece of wood you stacked, every leaf you raked, every dishwasher you emptied earned the money. It is your empathy and kindness that made this possible.”

“This is going to be the best present they get all year,” LeBrun said, smiling at the children.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHRISTINE DALGLEISH

Kids from Cedars Christian school’s Grade 1-2 class show off their blessings bags, which will be donated to the homeless in downtown Prince George that contained sweets and savories that were bought with money raised by the students who did chores.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHRISTINE DALGEISH Students wrote postcards of positivity that would go into blessings bags for the homeless in downtown Prince George.

Throwback Thursday: Week of June 4

June 2, 1972: Shirly Prince, 12, used a makeshift raft to get through her front yard after extensive ooding on Cottonwood Island. The Princes and other families living in the now-vanished neighbourhood were later evacuated. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY DAVE MILNE

June 7, 2013: Students from Pinewood Elementary School’s Grade 7 class, led by teacher Vivian Olsen, set up displays for the school’s art show, featuring work from kids in all grades. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN

June 6, 1983: Tantara Dance Theatre’s Lisa Maides (left) and Denise Leveridge were among the far-reaching performers at the of cial opening of the Kiwanis Bowl at what was then called Fort George Park. The stage took more than a year to complete. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY BROCK GABLE

June 4, 1999: New Citizen subscriber Erik Helgason, left, was given his prize — a new computer system — by thenCitizen reader sales district manager Ed Shea after winning a draw for new subscribers. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY DAVE MILNE

Natonal recogniton for Prince George pediatrician

Dr. Kristin Miller honored for excellence in community care

SHAR MCRORY

Northern Health

Northern Health is proud to celebrate Dr. Kirsten Miller, a Prince Georgebased paediatrician who has been named a recipient of the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) Distinguished Community Paediatrician Award 2026.

National recognition

The national award recognizes paediatricians who have made outstanding contributions to the health and well-being of children and youth in community-based settings across Canada. It honours clinical excellence, leadership, advocacy, and a deep commitment to improving care for children and families.

This recognition reflects not only her clinical excellence, but her lasting impact on paediatric care in rural and northern Canada.

Miller has also been recognized through several previous prestigious awards, including the Dr. Judith Hall Award for excellence in research, policy development, and community involvement from the BC Pediatrics Society, and the Outstanding Healthcare Professional Award from Diabetes Canada.

Community paediatric leadership

For more than two decades in community paediatrics, Miller has focused most of her work in Northern and rural BC. Since 2005, she has practised at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC), providing care to children and youth from across the region. She exemplifies what it means to deliver exceptional care in northern and rural communities. Her leadership, compassion and commitment have had a profound impact on patients, families and health-care providers throughout Northern BC.

Dr. Kirsten Miller, Prince George based pediatrician has been named a recipient of the

Distinguished Community Paediatrician Award 2026.

Service to the North

Miller is widely recognized for her ability to deliver high-quality paediatric care in complex rural settings. Working far from tertiary care centres, she regularly manages seriously ill children while coordinating transfers — ensuring families receive timely and compassionate care close to home whenever possible.

She has also been a consistent presence in remote communities, providing outreach clinics in locations like Haida Gwaii and supporting care delivery across the North through locum work and virtual consultation.

Leadership and innovation

In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Miller has played a key leadership role in strengthening paediatric services across BC.

She is the medical lead for the NH

Child and Youth Service Network, where she helps coordinate regional programs, outreach services and physician support for underserved communities.

At a provincial level, she co-founded Sustaining Paediatrics in Rural and Underserved Communities (SPRUCe), a network focused on improving access to care through education, mentorship and innovative models for rural service delivery. Through this work, she continues to support providers and build capacity across the province.

Miller is also involved in initiatives such as Child Health Advice in Real Time Electronically (CHARLiE), which provides real-time paediatric expertise to clinicians working in rural and remote settings.

Mentorship and advocacy

A clinical associate professor with the

University of British Columbia, Miller is a passionate educator and mentor. She has helped shape the next generation of paediatricians through teaching, rural training opportunities and hands-on mentorship.

Her work includes contributions to the UBC Paediatrics Community Impact Residency Stream, designed to prepare physicians for careers in rural and regional communities.

Miller is also a strong advocate for vulnerable children and families.

She has spent more than 15 years supporting child maltreatment care, contributing to protocols and training to improve child safety and outcomes.

She practices culturally safe care and health equity, and participates in provincial committees focused on Indigenous-specific anti-racism in health care.

NORTHERN HEALTH PHOTO

Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS)

Local Sports PGYSA hostng 37 teams for a weekend of soccer

Players coming from Kitimat, Smithers and Dawson Creek, among other communities

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

The Prince George Youth Soccer Association (PGYSA) is bringing together 37 teams from across the region to compete at the Northern Cup and participate in the Northern Jamboree.

The two soccer events will be held from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 7 at the PG Soccer/Rotary Fields.

In addition, PGYSA is adding a record-breaking 26 of its own teams, bringing the total to 63 teams playing on Prince George fields.

The Northern Cup will feature teams from the Cariboo Youth Soccer Association and the Northern Interior Soccer Association competing for a spot at the July provincial championships in the U-14 to U-18 divisions.

The U-13 division will also have the opportunity to earn tournament standings at the cup.

Visiting teams include clubs from Dawson Creek, Kitimat, Smithers, 100 Mile House and others.

For younger players from U-9 to U-12, PGYSA will host the Northern Jamboree.

The Jamboree brings together youth teams to develop skills, teamwork and connections across the North. The focus is on participation and development, and no scores or standings are recorded.

Kollin Spencer, vice-president of PGYSA, said the events have been running for three years.

“It’s grown exponentially over the last few years,” said Spencer. “There’s been really positive feedback from the coaches, the clubs and the parents. It’s

A U-14 player fends off the opposing team during last year’s Northern Jamboree. The weekend of soccer is about to return to Prince George

really good for PG and we have a lot of momentum. I think it’s headed in the right direction.”

Spencer said one of PGYSA’s goals was to use Prince George’s role as a northern hub to provide venues for players of all ages, and he said that effort has paid off.

“We originally said, well, let’s do it all in Prince George — we’re the northern hub after all. Then we started looking at what we can get for the younger kids. A lot of them have siblings that coach younger teams.

“We just threw it together the first year and received a lot of positive feedback. Then we really focused last year on putting some time and effort

into reaching out to the clubs a little earlier, and I think those younger teams doubled in size, and we’re growing again this year.”

Spencer has played a major role in organizing the events alongside PGYSA director Jennifer Schulz and technical coach Joanee Bray.

He added that for many northern teams, especially in rural communities, these tournaments are among the only opportunities to compete in larger events, helping significantly develop their skills.

“It gives the younger teams something to play for where they don’t get many opportunities up in the North, and we make it affordable. We’ve

got kids as young as eight years old playing in these tournaments, and for some of them it’s their first opportunity to really play competitive soccer at the grassroots level. It’s pretty neat seeing the little ones out there,” said Spencer.

He added that the tournaments also benefit the city’s economy, bringing coaches, players and families to Prince George from across the North.

“Players get to go hang out in the hotels for the out-of-town clubs and go visit the pools or the parks and see things to do around Prince George,” said Spencer.

JAIMEE PEETERS PHOTO

Soccer grows from 500 players to 1,400 in a few years

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

“Tourism Prince George has played a good role in the last couple of years. They’ve provided us with good info packages for the out-of-town clubs and we’ve had some sponsors step in and offer deals to try to promote Prince George as a whole as well.”

Spencer is also optimistic about Prince George’s standing at the Northern Cup and hopes to see local teams represented at the provincial championships.

“We have a few of our teams that have a direct path to provincials, with nobody standing in their way,” said Spencer.

“We do have some pools made and there should be some competitive games, and all those take place at the adult fields next door. We’d really like people to come check it out and cheer on our Prince George teams for sure.”

He added that younger players often show noticeable improvement over the course of the Jamboree.

“Anytime we can bring them together, you do see even from the start of the tournament to the end of the tournament, big growth in their gameplay,” said Spencer. “It’s pretty fun to be a part of it and honestly, half the fun is seeing the kids getting their freezies and hanging out on the sidelines and cheering the other teams on, or the older kids.”

Spencer said he is proud of PGYSA teams’ performances this soccer season and highlighted the continued growth of the program.

He also noted that soccer in Prince George is increasingly being unified under a shared structure.

“We have been working hand in hand with the UNBC Timberwolves and Timberwolves FC, which is their junior program,” said Spencer. “We’re all under one roof now, and it’s really united the soccer community in Prince George as a whole. We’ve taken PGYSA from 500 members to pushing 1,400 in the matter of three or four years, so it’s really growing in this town positively.”

long weekend.

Two Chilliwack players sign on with UNBC Timberwolves

CITIZEN STAFF

The UNBC Timberwolves women’s soccer program has secured another addition to its future roster, announcing the commitment of forward Quinn Bradley for the 2026 season and beyond.

A native of Chilliwack, Bradley joins the Timberwolves from LUSA Soccer Club and GW Graham Secondary School. Known for her technical ability and competitive mindset, she arrives with a strong soccer background and a reputation as an intelligent attacking player.

Bradley has been involved in the sport since the age of six and was recognized as the LUSA U17 Female Player of the Year.

Off the field, she plans to pursue a business degree at UNBC.

“I love soccer because of the competitiveness, but also the relationships

and friendships that you gain from the sport,” said Bradley, who has attended several UNBC identification camps in recent years, in a press release.

“What impressed me most about UNBC was the facilities, the student-athletes, and the atmosphere of the university.”

The welcoming culture of the Timberwolves program, along with family ties to the university, played a significant role in her decision.

Bradley’s older sister, Abigayle, has spent the past two seasons with the Timberwolves as a midfielder, making the opportunity to reunite on the pitch an important factor in Quinn’s choice to move north.

Another key influence was her familiarity with Timberwolves head coach Neil Sedgwick.

“Quinn has impressed throughout the recruiting process with her technical ability and adaptability,” said Sedgwick.

“Like her sister Abby, Quinn brings strong values and a clear focus on personal growth. She will be a valuable addition as we continue to build out this like-minded and development-focused roster.”

She’s the second Chilliwack player to sign on with the Timberwolves recently.

Earlier in May, the team signed fullback Emma Ristau, a graduating student from GW Graham Secondar.

She competed with Coastal FC at the club level and helped the GW Graham Grizzlies earn a silver medal at the BC High School Provincial Championships. Coastal FC was also recognized as Team of the Year earlier this year.

An honours student, Ristau plans to study Biomedical Studies at UNBC and hopes to pursue a career as an anesthesiologist. Following a campus visit in November 2025, she cited the university’s supportive team culture, strong academic offerings, and small class sizes as key factors in her decision.

Sedgwick praised Ristau’s commitment to development and her growth over the past year, noting she will be a valuable addition both on and off the field.

Known for her attacking mindset from the backline, Ristau is preparing for the speed and physicality of Canada West competition.

The PGYSA U14 team competes in the Slurpee Cup in Kamloops on the May

Bradley

Ristau

Cats’ top draf pick looks forward to playing for PG

The North Vancouver native, 15, says he’s ‘super excited’

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

William Thompson’s future as a forward with the Prince George Cougars is coming into focus.

The Cougars announced Tuesday they’ve signed the 15-year-old North Vancouver native to a Western Hockey League Scholarship and Development Agreement.

He was the first player chosen by the Cougars in this year’s WHL Prospects Draft, picked in the second round, 41st overall.

“I’m super excited to join such a great organization,” said the six-foot-one, 162pound Thompson.

“The coaching staff and general manager (Mark Lamb) reached out after the draft. I’m excited to meet the guys and

get to work.”

In 50 games this past season as captain of the North Shore Warriors U15 Prep team Thompson averaged a point per game with 23 goals and 27 assists.

“Will is a big body and a responsible two-way player,” said Bob Simmonds, the Cougars’ director of player personnel.

“His defensive game is just as strong as his offensive ability. He has excellent detail for a young player and a lot of upside.”

Thompson also produced in the playoffs with three goals and four assists in three games and was called up to the Warriors U17 team for a three-game playoff stint in which he had a goal and two assists.

“We were surprised he was still available at 41,” said scouting director Leland Mack.

“He’s a talented two-way centre with size who fits well into our draft class. We’re excited to see him at training camp.”

Spruce Kings adding Romanian-German defenceman

Meanwhile, Ozbej Rep is moving on

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

The Prince George Spruce Kings have once again tapped the European hockey talent market, signing Romanian-born defenceman Cristian Achim for next season.

Listed at six-foot-four, 194 pounds, the 2007-born Achim has played most of his hockey career in Germany as a dual Romanian-German citizen.

“I chose Prince George because of the incredible player development — it is the perfect next step for my career,” said Achim.

“My goal is to impact the game both defensively and offensively. This is also a huge opportunity that can help me represent Germany. I can’t wait to

win for Prince George.”

Achim, a native of Bucharest, Romania, played the past two seasons for the EV Landshut U20 Cannibals and in 74 games he scored 12 goals and had 35 assists for 47 points. In 12 playoff games over two seasons with the U20 team he put up five goals and eight assists.

He also played eight games of pro hockey this season for the Erding Gladiators.

“Cristian is an elite level defenceman who can excel in all areas,” said Spruce Kings general manager Mike Hawes.

“Through our due diligence process Cristian checked all the boxes that we look for in a Spruce Kings player.”

The Spruce Kings also announced this week that graduating defenceman Ozbej Rep — a native of Slovenia — has committed to Stonehill College and its NCAA Division 1 program based in Easton, Mass.

Rep came to Prince George last season for his final year of junior eligibility after two years of junior hockey in Sweden and made a profound impact as the BC Hockey League’s top point-producing defenceman. In 54 games he collected six goals and 52 points. His 46 assists tied Brad Fast (1998-99) for the second-most in a season for a Spruce Kings defenceman, second only to the 59 assists current team president David Keough recorded in 1999-2000.

Rep went on to win the BCHL defenceman-of-the-year award and was named to the league’s first all-star team, having played for Team Coastal in the BCHL All-Star Game.

“I am proud to announce my

commitment to Stonehill,” said Rep. “Playing with Prince George and being surrounded by great staff, billets, and teammates provided me the opportunity to grow my game over the last year. I’m super excited to get started and can’t wait for the future at Stonehill.”

Rep helped the Spruce Kings lock up first place in the Coastal East Division and was a key playoff performer with two goals and six assists in 18 playoff games as the Kings advanced to the third round.

“When Oz made the decision to join us last summer, he had certain goals that he wanted to obtain when coming to Prince George,” said Spruce Kings head coach Brad Tesink. “His commitment to Stonehill College is the final chapter for him this year that included First Team All Star and defenceman of the year awards.

“We as an organization are thrilled to watch him continued his hockey journey at the D1 level at Stonehill.”

PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS PHOTO

William Thompson signs a WHL contract with the Prince George Cougars, the team that selected him in the second round of the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft.

Achim

Carson Carels might end up back with Cougars afer all

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

There are 317 kilometres of highway between Cypress River, Man., the hometown of Carson Carels, and Grand Forks, N.D., where he’s signed to play hockey next season for the University of North Dakota.

That shaves about 20 hours of steady driving time to connect from his current home on the farm in southern Manitoba to Prince George, Carel’s hockey home for the past two seasons with the Cougars.

If his new NCAA address comes into play next season that 2 1/2-hour trip will make it a lot easier for his parents, Ryan and Stacy, and the rest of the Carels clan to make the trip across the border to watch his games playing defence for the Fighting Hawks.

But there’s still a remote chance Prince George fans could see Carels back for another season in the WHL. It all depends on which NHL team picks him in next month’s draft and where that team decides would be best for his development.

Ranked as a top-six-overall pick on most draft lists, Carels is sure to be among the first handful of players chosen at the first-round draft proceedings Buffalo, N.Y. on June 26.

It was announced May 18 that Carels has committed to North Dakota for next season, coming off a spectacular 17-year-old season with the Cougars in which he scored 20 goals and had 73 points in just 58 games and maintained a point-per-game pace in the playoffs with a goals and nine assists.

It may seem inevitable that he’ll be joining his Cougars teammate Bauer Dumanski on that North Dakota team this fall.

But Carels says if he signs this year with the NHL team that drafts him that could still mean he will be wearing a Cougar jersey again in 2026-27.

“With the draft still so undetermined there a chance I could sign and be back there (in Prince George), so you never really know, it’s just a waiting game honestly,” said Carels.

A CHL-NHL agreement specifies that signed NHL players aged 18 or 19 who do not make the active roster and play fewer than 10 NHL games must be returned to their junior team. They aren’t allowed to play on any other pro team.

“If I sign with them and have an NHL contract then I’ll play the games they allow me or try to make the NHL and obviously if I don’t work out in the NHL I’ll be sent back to Prince George and play there and have another great season with the team and try to bring it back to PG and go for it,” Carels said.

As a Cougars fan favourite, Carels led the team into the playoffs seeded third in the Western Conference. After dispatching the Spokane Chiefs in a seven-game opening round series the Cougars’ season ended with a six-game series loss to the Penticton Vees.

If he doesn’t return for a third season he says he’ll miss the thrill of stepping

out onto the ice at a sold-out CN Centre to feel the chills running down his spine.

The Cougars ranked second in the WHL for attendance during their 13-game playoff run and the fans made the rink an exciting place to be.

“I think that’s why Prince George is probably the best hockey town in the WHL,” Carels said. “Just all the fans support us and know who we are and it’s just a great fan base. It’s a professional environment and it has that small-town vibe too.

“I don’t know where it will take me to next year but I hope it’s somewhere I’m appreciated as much as I was in Prince George,” he said. “I’d be more than happy to go back and do it for those fans and those people again.”

The Victoria Royals lost five players to the NCAA during the off-season in 2025, including forward Cole Reschny (picked by the Calgary Flames 18th overall in the 2025 NHL draft) and

defenceman Keaton Verhoeff (projected as a top-three draft pick this year). Both bolted to North Dakota. The Royals also were powerless to stop defenceman Justin Kipkie (Arizona State) and forwards Teydon Trembecky (Michigan Tech) and Nate Misskey (UMass-Lowell) from signing with NCAA teams.

“That’s the new life we’re living, it really sucks,” said Cougars head coach and general manager Mark Lamb. “I have no idea what’s going to happen, nobody does. When you don’t have anything in your control you just have to play it out and let things happen and hope for the best.”

Players who sign an entry-level NHL contract are ineligible to play in the NCAA, and that’s what the Cougars are hoping will happen with Carels. At least then they’ll have a shot at getting him back.

SUZANNE PADDOCK/BALDUR-GLENBORO GAZETTE

Carson Carels has committed to the University of North Dakota for next season but the NHL team that drafts him in June could decide to return him to Prince George for another season in the WHL with the Cougars.

Carels’ season hinges on which NHL team drafs him

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

“If he’s going to school he can’t attend an NHL camp,” said Lamb. “What we need is a team that thinks he can play in the NHL right now and wants to see. Give him the nine games, that type of thing. Other than that, that’s when the schools come in. They don’t sign a contract, so they can’t play pro.”

Carels was picked 15th overall by the Cougars in the WHL Prospects Draft and fit in right away when he joined the Cougars full-time from Pilot Mound Academy in Manitoba just before the playoffs in 2024. He played regular shifts as the Cougars advanced to the Western Conference championship, which

they lost in six games to Portland.

He thrived under coaching of Lamb and Jim Playfair who have been mouding him into a hard-hitting two-way defenceman.

“It was all the little habits (Playfair) wanted to focus on, it wasn’t anything I was doing wrong or anything, it was just reminders and obviously he taught me the game and take care of my end zone and it helped be who I am as player today,” said Carels.

“Mark, too, has helped me in so many ways. He has so much experience and I earned so much from him. You can’t get any better than those guys.”

Carels leaps off the charts for his ability to make quick decisions to find open ice and thread bullet passes to open

forwards and he’s known for closing ground quickly in the defensive zone to defuse scoring chances.

Carels, who turns 18 on June 23, finished high school a year early and is ready to step into the general studies program at North Dakota. With Dumanski, the former Cougar captain, also heading there, Carels won’t have to go looking for a roommate.

“If I do end up going there I’ll be with my best bud and my roomie and I can imagine we’re going to room together again and keep growing that connection,” he said.

“It’ll be real exciting and I’m really proud of him, to play hockey and get an education at such a good school.”

Carels, his brother and three sisters

live on a 2,000-acre farm near Cypress River with 500 head of cattle to look after and now is calving season so there no shortage of chores to do. Aside from the NHL draft he’s also looking forward to attending Canada’s world junior camp that starts July 28 in Windsor, Ont. As a 17-year-old playing in a 19-year-old tournament, Carels helped Canada win the bronze medal at this year’s championship in Minnesota.

“I’ll be with my age group this year so I’ll obviously have a bigger role with the team and we’ll try our best to bring home the gold and kind of start getting on that winning streak for Canada,” he said.

Carels said he won’t be attending the draft in Buffalo.

season.

Texan forward Carson Janko could be headed to the CN Centre

Agreement.

From Texas to Prince George, Carson Janko is one step closer to playing in the Western Hockey League.

The Prince George Cougars announced on Friday, May 29 they’ve signed the 2010-born forward to a WHL Scholarship and Development

Picked in eighth overall in the 2024 US Priority Draft, Janko played this past season for the Dallas Stars 16U triple-A team and in 50 games he scored 10 goals and 24 assists.

He also played for the Stars in the Tier 1 Elite U16 and collected three goals and five assists in 16 regular season games, followed by a goal and three assists in

four playoff games.

Listed at five-foot-10 and at 146 pounds, Janko is a native of Highland, Texas.

“Carson signing a development agreement is a big step and a testament to where our organization is at,” said Bob Simmonds, the Cougars’ director of player personnel.

“Carson comes out of the Dallas Jr.

Stars program and brings a lot of potential. We are excited to welcome him back to training camp and expect him to continue building on a strong season.”

Prince George Cougars defenceman Carson Carels, shown in action at CN Centre against the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Nov. 21, 2025, has committed to University of North Dakota for next season, but there’s a chance he could return to Prince George for his third WHL

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Janko

Fastball’s Brokenbow Blazers capture Calgary Stomp

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Armed with three seasoned Argentinians and couple of slick Saskatchewan imports, the Brokenbow Blazers of Prince George ruled the roost at the Calgary Stomp men’s fastball tournament this past weekend.

The Blazers went undefeated, winning all five of their games.

Brokenbow started a 9-4 win over the Calgary Jays, then beat the Calgary Ravens 11-2 and Calgary Pirates 11-1 to emerge as the top seed heading into the playoff round. They defeated the Pirates 10-3 and then wrapped the tournament with an extra-inning 8-7 win over the Delisle (Sask.) Pride. Troy Premack of Prince Albert, a a former Pride player who was the MVP when Delisle won the 2024 Canadian U23 championship, scored the winning run in the final on Sunday, May 31.

Preymack and Ron Cote of Regina

were added to the Blazers roster last week and both were major contributors. Preymack went 2-0 on the weekend and Cote came through with several key hits with runners on base to finish the tournament with nine runs batted in.

Argeninians Fausto Siviero Balbi, Valentino Siviero Balbi and Francesco Nassivera have adopted Prince George addresses for fastball season. All are seasoned veterans who provide stellar defence, speed on the basepaths and power at the plate for the Blazers and that was evident in the weekend tournament, hosted by the Calgary Industrial Fastball Association. Fausto Siviero Balbi collected five home runs and five doubles.

“There’s probably about 30 international players in BC right now,” said Blazers manager Sheldon Bjorklund. “The (Prince George) River Kings have two or three New Zealand players.” Valentino has bolstered a Blazer pitching staff that includes Preymack,

Norm Linton and Issiah Mahil.

The other Blazer players are Cameron Jeffries, Colby Jeffries, Cody Umpherville, Brennan Hammell and Lyndon Creyke.

Brokenbow went 1-4 to start the season May 15-18 at the May Days tournament in Kelowna, an event that drew the defending International Softball Congress world-champion Hill United Chiefs.

The Blazers will be at the STK Invitational in Kamloops this weekend with the Prince George River Kings and four other clubs, a tournament that starts on Friday. The River Kings placed second at a tournament in Westbank this past weekend.

Players on both teams play during the week locally in the Spruce City Men’s Fastball Association. The league staged its Icebreaker tournament May 22-24 at Spruce City Stadium and the Lheidli Tenneh Reds defeated Falcon Contracting 2-0 in the final.

The Reds and Falcons are part of a seven-team Spruce City league which also includes the prince George Hitmen, Prince George Giants, Prince George Grays, Vanderhoof Rippers and Saik’uz Tigers.

Prince George will host the John Cho Cup tournament at several city fields, June 26-29. That event will include 21 men’s teams, 10 U23 teams and nine women’s teams.

Bjorklund said the league has been working with the city to try to get bleachers built at all the ball diamonds used for the John Cho Cup. A priority project for the Spruce City league is to get lights installed at Ron Wylie Field, adjacent to Spruce City Stadium.

“I’ve been told by Softball Canada if we get two parks with lights we would be eligible to host national events again,” said Bjorklund. “We should do an under-23 tournament because we have bunch of young guys in the league again.”

The Brokenbow Blazers of Prince George, with three Argentinian players in the fold, won the Calgary Stomp men’s fastball tournament on Sunday, May 31 in Calgary.

Life Events

In Loving Memory

James “Jim” Phillips

February 7, 1942 - June 10, 2025 loved you untl the end of your life and will love and miss you untl the end of mine.

Love, Lorraine

Terry John Wozney

November 24, 1966 - May 15, 2026

It is with greatest sadness that the family of Terry Wozney announce his passing on May 15, 2026.

Terry was a familiar face in the local automotve scene, serving the community for many years as a skilled tre technician at Auto Magic in Prince George. He took immense pride in his work. He was a MOPAR enthusiast through and through. His passion for Dodge Rams was easy to see.

When not working on his own vehicles, he was most certainly in the company of his beloved pets who were his constant loyal shadows. They provided him with endless joy and companionship throughout his life. Known for his gentle soul, Terry was a lover of all creatures. His compassion knew no bounds, he’d rather relocate a spider than to cause it harm.

Terry is survived by his sisters Judi Tinning, Carol Slater (Roy), and Cindy Wozney (Tod) and nieces & nephews

Also lef to mourn are dogs; Jesse, Johnny, and Cash. Cats; Willie, Jazz, and Dolly, plus the horses Raven and Spirit.

Terry would be elated if donatons were made to the BC Cancer Centre or The PG Humane Society Celebraton of Life to follow.

“Do a burnout!”

Christopher John Boyle

November 3, 1940 - May 27, 2026

Christopher Boyle died May 27th at the Kelowna Hospice surrounded by his three loving children. Chris was born in Wa ord, ngland November , 1940 to dith and Arthur Boyle. Childhood was not easy for Chris, he lost his father in WWII, watched his older brother Michael contend with polio and a ended boarding school at a young age. Books and art brought him joy. He lived with his ncle Bruin and Aunt dith during his teenage years, excelling at school and enjoying art, cars and the odd bi er.

He greatly en oyed tme in Holland where he gained a new brother, Jan Tolsma, before moving to London to a end teaching college. As a young teacher in secondary school he caught the eye of his female students, one of which invited her sister to sports day to see Mr Boyle. The rest is history as Chris met the love of his life that day, Georgina oot. ager for new opportunites, he moved to Canada in 196 . Shortly afer his arrival, he made the bold move of proposing to Georgie by telegram They married soon afer in Prince George and happily raised their family surrounded by a community of other new immigrants. Chris was actvely involved in Amway and Rotary whilst making his mark as a school administrator.

pon retring, Chris and Georgie moved to Peachland. There they made many wonderful new friends and Chris en oyed writng, paintng and a new Rotary community. However, the highlight of this chapter was being a Grandad. His

generous contributor to all school fundraisers. Sadly, retrement took a detour when Georgie was diagnosed with cancer. Chris spent 8 years lovingly caring for her untl her death in 2016. As a widow Chris once again enjoyed travelling as he tried to track down his Irish roots in Connemara and reconnected with college friends including Anne who he married in 2018.

Chris is lovingly remembered by his 3 children: Jonathon (Julie), Stephen (Lindsey) and Caithlin (Sean) and grandchildren Tadhg (Taryn), Ronan, Oliver, sla, Abbie, George and Maddie. He is also survived by Anne who provided him with companionship in his later years.

The family would like to e press our appreciaton to Dr Bystrom for his years of care along with the amazing sta at the Kelowna Hospice House who ensured Chris nal month was peaceful. We are also very grateful to his wonderful friends who visited him so regularly. It brought us comfort to know you were there when we couldn’t be.

Chris’ Funeral Mass will take place on Thursday June 4 at 11 am at Our Lady of Lourdes in West Kelowna with a wake to follow at the Peachland Art Gallery from 12 0 to 4. or those unable to a end who would like to watch the funeral it is being livestreamed at Our Lady of Lourdes ParishYouTube

n lieu of owers, donatons to the Kelowna

Annie Marie Stevenson May 2, 1939 - May 21, 2026

With profound sadness we announce the passing of our beloved mother Annie Marie (Ann) Stevenson who passed away suddenly (afer a short illness) on May 21, 2026. Born May 2nd,1939 in Lashburn, Saskatchewan to Gustof and Clara Moll.

She leaves behind to mourn her children Brad (Gail) and Laureen (Norm). Her grandchild Keenen and great grandchildren Nixon and Luna. Her brother Wes (Mary Jean), nieces, nephews and dear friends. She was pre-deceased by her husband Royce, her parents, Gustof and Clara Moll, her siblings Marlene, Robert, and Willie and In-laws; James and Mildred Stevenson.

Ann married Royce Stevenson in 1957. From Saskatchewan, they travelled and worked in Calgary, Edmonton, Texada Island, Jordan River and Stewart, BC. They setled in Prince George in the early 70s. Once the children were in their teen years, Ann went onto to work at the Lakewood Dental ofce. She had fond memories of her colleagues and meetng and serving clients.

Ann was a jewel of a lady. She loved her family wholly and it is them that were the centre of her life. She doted on them and always made them feel cherished and loved. She made every event special and memorable. Always good natured, she was kind and thoughtul to all she met and impressed upon them her care and atenton. Everyone will remember her yummy meals, deserts and cookies. Ofen you would leave with a meal for tomorrow with desert.

Ann had several hobbies. She enjoyed writng in her journals, notng milestones that she shared. She kept beautful gardens of fowers and vegetables that she would share with family, neighbours and friends. Ann had an appreciaton, curiosity and love for treasures of days gone by. She had a most impressive collecton of oil lamps, depression glass , potery and other curios. She liked to treasure hunt by going to garage sales, auctons and antque stores. She enjoyed the stories of the objects and researched their origin and details. She enjoyed road trips and camping.

She will be sorely missed.

Life is forever changed without her.

Frances Stewart

Frances Stewart (nee Marie Françoise Pauline Lessard) 80, of Prince George, BC was born March 4, 1945 in Westlock, Alberta and passed away September 24, 2025.

rances worked her entre career at the Royal Bank of Canada. She loved helping others, reading, gardening, playing cards, crosswords, fowers and dancing.

Fran is survived by her children, Lance (Chauntel), Harley (Tammy), Becki (Jason), 6 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.

Clara Mae Graham

October 19, 1932 - May 18, 2026

Clara Mae Graham, born in Orange Cove, California, passed away peacefully on May 18, 2026, at the age of 93. Clara lived a full and vibrant life centered around family and friendship.

Clara enjoyed music, dancing, and her daily phone calls with her sister. You could always count on her to have a fresh pot of co ee ready to share with her friends who stopped by and an opinion to share — all while being the best-dressed grandma around. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Graham, her longtme partner, ob ohansen, and her daughter, Cathy Powell.

She is survived by her son, Charles Nance (Ava); her grandchildren, Leah Adams, Michelle Powell, and ritney oseph ( erry) her sister, Shirley Dawson and her dear friends, Chris Roze (Valerie), Rocky ohansen (Pippa), and obbie ohansen, who were like family to her.

Her strength and love for music and life will forever remain in the hearts of her family and friends. May her memory live on every tme a piano plays.

Maxine Ada Wilson

August 8, 1926 - May 14, 2026

With deep love and reverence, we announce the passing of our beloved matriarch, Maxine Ada Wilson, on May 14, 2026, at the age of 99, just shy of her 100th birthday.

Born on August 8, 1926 in Maymont Saskatchewan, Maxine moved to Prince George in 1946 were she met her husband Andrew Wilson.

Maxine was predeceased by her husband Andrew Wilson in 1986. She will be lovingly remembered by her children: Norman (Linda) Wilson, Jean Wilson, Allan (Lynn) Wilson and Helen (Ingo) Schlick. A grandmother, and great-grandmother and great great grandmother. er life was a beautful refecton of kindness and strength qualites that touched everyone she met.

Maxine found joy in simple pleasures: baking, making preserves, canning, curling, and cheering for the Blue Jays. She found joy in family gatherings, lively card games, and country music that strred her soul. er home was always warm and welcoming, lled with laughter, good food, and love. She had a gif for making everyone feel special, and her sparkling spirit will be remembered by all who knew her.

A proud resident of Prince George, Maxine gave her tme and heart to her community. She was actve in local clubs and charites, always ready to lend a hand or share a smile. Her legacy lives on in the generatons she nurtured and the countless lives she touched.

Special thank you to Parkside Care Home for the comfort and care they provided.

A elebraton of Life will take place on une , 202 , at 12 00 oon. at the lder it ens ecreaton Associaton, 1 2 10th Avenue, Prince George, . ., with a light lunch to follow.

The ilson and Schlick family e tends heartelt thanks for the outpouring of love, prayers, and kindness.

Classifeds

Booking deadline: Friday noon

Approval deadline: Monday at noon

frontdesk@pgcitizen.ca

250.562.2441

The Court Bailif ofers FOR SALE BY TENDER, the interest of TRL TRANSPORT LTD., the udgment Debtors, in the following goods.

1 Pallet Jack Snap-on Pro-link Ultra Diagnostc tool GM Tech 2 Diagnostc tool Sthl BR700 Backpack Blower

To iew contact North Central Bailifs Ltd. 250-491-1033. Sale is sub ect to cancellaton or ad ournment without notce. Sealed bids will be accepted on the unit untl JUNE 18, 2026. Goods to be sold as is where is. Bidder takes responsibility to ensure they are satsfed with the descripton of unit/goods being sold. North Central Bailifs Ltd. is not responsible for determining the correct descripton. Terms of sale: mmediate full payment upon successful bid, plus sales tax. www.northcentralbailifs.bc.ca

North Central Bailifs Ltd. Court Bailif enna Melnychuk

Take Notce: O’Brien Developments Ltd. has fled with the Ministry of Mining under to Secton 10(1) of the Mines Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 293, a proposed mine plan together with a program for the protecton and reclamaton of the land and water courses related to the proposed: Westgate Pit

Located at: 6600 Broddy Road

Lot A, Plan PGP11295, District Lot 1600, Cariboo Land District, Except Plan PGP14120

A copy of the permit applicaton, including supportng documentaton is available for public viewing at: Prince George Mines Ofce - Suite 350 - 1011 4th Avenue.

Any person afected by or interested in this program is to make writen representaton, within 30 days of this post date, to mmd-princegeorge@gov.bc.ca with a copy of your leter to the Chief Permitng Ofcer, c/ o NorthEast Region Prince George Mines Ofce.

- 1011 4th Avenue, or

mmd-princegeorge@gov.bc.ca

Applicaton informaton

NOTICE OF AGM

Prince George ct to oc et Annual General Meetng

June 25, 2026 6pm 770 2nd Ave, PG

Get Notced

Add Colour for FREE to your Classifed ad to stand out from the crowd.

FOR SALE

RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER

2016 Rubicon 2100 Dutchman Toy Hauler Trailer RV. lo hardl sed. e laced two a eries a d fo r l res. ara teed roof re laceme t. cl des ma e tra items. Price $29,000 Phone or text 250-617-0628 for appointment.

FREE PALLETS

Pallets for pick-up every Thursday. Call 250.562.2441 for availability.

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Homes & Living

Preparing your backyard for a successful home sale

When homeowners prepare to sell their property, much of the attention is often focused on kitchens, bathrooms, and curb appeal.

However, in today’s real estate market, outdoor living space has become a major selling feature. A well-maintained and inviting backyard can significantly influence a buyer’s perception of a property and, in some cases, even increase its value.

Whether your backyard is large or small, taking the time to enhance its appearance can help create a positive first impression and encourage buyers to envision themselves enjoying the space. Here are several practical tips to help prepare your backyard before listing your home.

Start with a Thorough Cleanup

The first step is often the simplest. Remove any clutter, including unused gardening supplies, children’s toys, old patio furniture, and miscellaneous items that may have accumulated over time.

Buyers want to see the potential of the space, not the current owner’s storage habits.

Rake leaves, pull weeds, trim overgrown shrubs, and remove dead plants. A tidy backyard immediately appears larger, more functional, and better maintained.

Focus on Lawn Care

A healthy lawn can dramatically improve the appearance of an outdoor space. Mow the grass regularly, edge sidewalks and

garden beds, and address any brown or patchy areas. If time permits, over seeding or applying fertilizer several weeks before listing can help create a lush, green lawn.

For properties where maintaining grass has been difficult, consider alternatives such as fresh mulch, decorative stone, or droughtresistant landscaping to create a clean and attractive look.

Refresh Garden Beds

Flower beds and landscaping can add colour and character to a backyard. Fresh mulch is one of the most affordable upgrades available and instantly gives garden beds a cared-for appearance.

Planting seasonal flowers near patios, walkways, or outdoor

seating areas can also create visual interest.

Choose low-maintenance plants that look healthy and vibrant rather than elaborate gardens that may intimidate prospective buyers.

Repair and Refresh Outdoor Structures

Inspect fences, decks, gates, sheds, and pergolas for signs of wear.

Loose boards, peeling paint, broken latches, and damaged fencing can raise concerns about overall property maintenance.

Simple repairs and a fresh coat of paint or stain can make older structures look significantly newer.

Pressure washing decks, patios, and walkways can also remove years of dirt and grime, instantly improving the backyard’s appearance.

Create Outdoor Living Spaces

Today’s buyers often view backyards as extensions of the home. Creating defined outdoor living areas can help buyers imagine how they would use the space.

Arrange patio furniture to create a comfortable seating area. Add outdoor cushions, a dining set, or a small conversation space around a fire pit if appropriate.

Even modest backyards can benefit from thoughtful staging that demonstrates functionality.

The goal is not to create a luxury resort but rather to showcase the backyard as a place for relaxation, entertaining, and family enjoyment.

Pay Attention to Privacy

Privacy is a feature many buyers value. If neighbouring properties overlook the yard, consider simple improvements such as trimming hedges, repairing fencing, or adding attractive screening plants.

You don’t need to completely block every sightline, but creating a sense of seclusion can make the space feel more comfortable and appealing.

Improve Lighting

Outdoor lighting often gets overlooked during the selling process. Yet proper lighting can highlight landscaping features and create a welcoming atmosphere for evening showings.

Solar pathway lights, string lights, or updated fixtures near

entrances and patios are relatively inexpensive additions that can enhance the overall presentation of the property.

Remove Signs of Pets

While pet owners may love their animals, not every buyer shares that enthusiasm.

Before showings, remove pet toys, food dishes, and visible waste. Repair any damaged lawn areas caused by pets and address lingering odours.

A clean, neutral backyard allows buyers to focus on the property itself rather than the current occupants.

Highlight Special Features

If your backyard includes desirable amenities such as a hot tub, garden shed, outdoor kitchen, fire pit, or raised garden beds, ensure they are clean, functional, and presented attractively.

Rather than allowing these features to blend into the background, make them focal points that demonstrate the

lifestyle benefits of the property.

Think Like a Buyer

Perhaps the most important tip is to walk through your backyard as if you were seeing it for the first time. Consider what catches your eye and what might raise concerns. Buyers are often evaluating maintenance requirements, usability, and overall enjoyment. By presenting a clean, wellmaintained, and welcoming outdoor space, you increase the likelihood that potential buyers will form a positive emotional connection with the property.

Property & Strata Management Melanie Lupul Aspire Realty