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Council candidates square off TED CLARKE

Citizen Staff

After having three of his downtown Prince George buildings burnt down, council candidate Dan McLaren has seen enough. He wants council to make it a priority to tackle crime, vagrancy and poverty in the city core and wants a seat at city hall to have a direct role in finding solutions. On Sunday, Sept. 27, at an all-candidates forum at Vanier Hall, McLaren was asked if he supports using city tax money to fund social programs for residents. As McLaren pointed out, that is already happening. He pointed to a city report that showed $26 million in costs had been downloaded from senior levels of government to the municipality since 2020, much of it to pay for social services. “When Colin Kinsley was the mayor of Prince George, we had 98 police officers. Today, we have an authorized strength of 157. At $258,000 per member, I

CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE

Tucker Krause, 20, the youngest of 18 candidates for Prince George city council, addresses the crowd at a public forum at Vanier Hall on Sunday, Sept. 27. The event was organized by the North Central Labour Council.

think about what that costs us,” said McLaren. “If you talk to the average firefighter and ask how much time they spend going to overdoses, they’ll tell you anywhere from 30 to 50 per cent of their shift. There are tens of millions of dollars everybody in this room is presently paying to clean up the mess that was created by our provincial government. I remind you, 10 years ago, the province of British Columbia declared an opioid emergency. They have done nothing

and we are having to pay for it.” On evidence-based harm reduction strategies and what should be done differently, candidate John Zurowski said council needs to continue pressing the province to provide involuntary care to treat people addicted to substances. “That doesn’t fall under the mandate of city council,” said Zurowski. “The province has to be encouraged to get with it and open up involuntary care and create a model so there’s co-operation with the social service agencies,

so that things are streaming well. Nobody should be left out, including the homeless.” Incumbent Brian Skakun told the forum that BC’s harm reduction policies work and prevent overdoses, but acknowledged that non-profit organizations downtown lack the resources to deal with problems associated with people struggling with addictions showing up on their doorsteps.

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Candidates take questions on taxes, crime, transparency CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

“We have evidence right now it is working in some cases and people’s lives are changed,” said Skakun. “I think so far we’ve lost probably 50 lives to overdoses. Last year I think it was close to 80. “Without harm reduction, we probably would have lost more people. But I think the non-profits need more support from the government with all these types of programs.” McLaren disagreed with Skakun and said he is convinced the province’s harm reduction policy and prescribed safer-supply alternatives to illicit opioids are not fixing the problem. He said involuntary care and forced confinement to break the cycle of addiction are needed. “Prince George has the highest death count with opioids in British Columbia,” said McLaren. “We have 100 beds at Baldy Hughes, a long-term residential drug and alcohol treatment centre for men, and only 20 are funded. I have an office at 331 George St., across from the needle exchange, and I could spend hours explaining the daily evidence why harm reduction didn’t work. “I think we need to move to the Alberta-based model, fully fund the empty beds at Baldy Hughes and work towards getting people healthy instead of finding ways to continue their misery.” Tim Bennett, one of five incumbent council candidates, along with Skakun, Trudy Klassen, Cori Ramsay and Ron Polillo, said close to 40 per cent of the city’s operating budget is spent on protective services — police, firefighters and bylaw enforcement — but said there is work to be done connecting with other agencies to prevent duplication of services. Ramsay cited examples of the public library and recreational programs the city funds that are beneficial to the community. “We get to decide how our taxes are used and we do budget engagement with residents in order to learn what you want prioritized, and I’m here to champion that,” said Ramsay, who also

CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE

Shawn Bartolon addresses the crowd at the city council all-candidates forum at Vanier Hall on Sunday, Sept. 27.

cited the supportive housing unit at Third Avenue and London Street. “Without the land of those housing units coming on board, we wouldn’t have been able to close the (Moccasin Flats) encampment,” Ramsay said. “We did use city taxes. We can’t wait all the time for the province to step in, and there’s a level of balance that needs to be sorted out.” On the question of holding the line on tax increases, candidate Shawn Bortolon said there is no clear-cut answer. “Holding at zero per cent means that we will have cuts somewhere else, probably to jobs, which I would preferably hold against, or to increase fees on services and utilities, which is another consideration,” said Bortolon. “We have to look at revenue streams that are coming in, where we can be creative with fundraising and where we can be creative accessing alternative revenue.” Klassen said the city has to find a way to reduce taxes, which have steadily escalated at two or three times the rate of inflation in recent years, a pocketbook pinch that is especially hurting pensioners. “We do it by taking a thorough review of how we’re spending our money and reducing the cost of the work we’re doing, especially if you look at the cost of the civic core plan,” said Klassen. “It’s projected to cost us an additional $38

million per year. We can’t afford that. We have to look at different ways of doing this.” James Steidle, a Prince George Secondary School metal shop teacher who holds a master’s degree in public policy, pointed out that the city’s operating budget this fiscal year has increased to $185 million, close to $32 million more than three years ago, and taxpayers are footing the bill. “I’d love to hold our taxes,” said Steidle. “The city can’t run deficits, so our taxes have gone up 27 per cent in the past four years. This is unsustainable.” He said the province is clawing back its property-tax support and plans to phase out the $200 Northern and Homeowner Benefit by the 2027 tax year. “That’s $6.4 million that’s basically been downloaded to the taxpayers of Prince George, so we need more help from the province,” Steidle said. On the topic of balancing fiscal responsibility with fair wages, safe working conditions and the city’s ability to recruit and retain employees, Nicole Fraser, a former city planner, said not having a workplace in which employees feel safe raising job-related concerns negatively affects productivity among city staff. “If we take care of the psychological safety and well-being of employees, that is where we’ll see a lot of financial savings realized,” said Fraser. “Because at

the end of the day, if you have workers you can’t retain and recruit because they feel unsafe to come forward if they have a complaint and they don’t feel protected, that is going to have consequences for things like permits.” Retired firefighter Dan Pears said he has seen firsthand some of his colleagues in Prince George Fire Rescue suffering from PTSD and knows how crucial it is to have psychological supports in place for everybody who needs them. “That’s a cost you can’t cut,” said Pears. “Fair wages is an essential thing too. That will get us better work quality and safer conditions and support apprenticeships and things like that.” Bruce Wayne said the city needs to adopt a whistleblower policy and allow anonymous reporting from staff so they feel able to speak up about workplace conditions and point out any injustices without fear of reprisal. Candidates were asked what they could do to make Prince George a better place. Polillo said improving public safety is paramount and that infrastructure investment in civic facilities is also key. He also highlighted the need for a better transit system that is accessible and inclusive to serve residents with special needs. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

All 18 council candidates take part in labour council event CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Zukowski said the city has to get a handle on excessive spending and that once the city starts saving tax revenue, that will help reduce the financial stress residents are now feeling. Candidates were asked when they would support discussing an issue at an in-camera meeting without public disclosure and what responsibility council has to make that information public once confidentiality is no longer necessary. Bob Radloff, a former city public works director, said municipalities are governed by provincial regulations and restrictions on publicly disclosing matters related to labour, land and laws, and councillors must respect that obligation, which he supports. “In terms of making information public after a closed session, that is not allowed,” said Radloff. “We would want to respect confidentiality of decisions

made by council.” Skakun, who has served on council for 18 years, said he has had “way too many” closed meetings, especially over the past four years, that he felt should have been open to the public. He wants council to be more transparent. Bennett pointed to the dubious honour given to Prince George when the Canadian Association of Journalists named the city the winner of its 2022 Code of Silence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Government Secrecy. The award stemmed from the George Street Parkade cost overrun that nearly tripled the price to $34 million. “In 2022 there were 40 in-camera meetings that year,” said Bennett. “This year to date we’re at 17. We’ve taken that challenge that was thrust upon us around confidentiality and we’re doing more business and we’re reporting more, whether it’s quarterly or

semi-annually.” As Fraser pointed out, the BC ombudsperson issued a guide for best practices that recommends open meetings as a best practice for local governments, but nearly 13 per cent of all complaints the ombudsperson received were about local governments. “Without transparency there’s no trust,” said Fraser. “We’ve all seen the headline over the parkade. The trust has been shattered.” On the topic of what initiatives council can bring to address the increasing problem of food insecurity and affordability for Prince George residents, Anthony Okechukwu, an economist, said that starts by forming alliances with local farmers. “It’s very simple. We need to support our farmers, so food is available for everybody,” said Okechukwu. “We need to start creating policies that will support the people that actually produce food.”

Tucker Krause, a 20-year-old UNBC economics student, spoke about his plan to work with other councillors and not against them and bring “next-generation” representation to council to give more people his age a reason to remain in the city. All 18 council candidates, including Jesi Janjua, Trenton Laarz and Rajender Parmar, participated in the forum, organized by the North Central Labour Council and moderated by council vice-president Candis Johnson. A video recording of the council forum, as well as the mayoral and school trustee forums that preceded it on Sunday, will be posted on the NCLC Facebook page. The municipal election will be held Saturday, Oct. 17. Advanced voting will be available Oct. 7, 8, 14 and 15 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre.

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NEWS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Decision on Civic Core Plan postponed until after election Council will now consider options at its Monday, Nov. 30 meeting COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Prince George city council has decided to leave a decision about possible directions to take for the Civic Core Plan to the next council. Back in December 2024, council directed staff to investigate developing an arena with up to 4,500 seats to replace Kopar Memorial Arena as well as a nearby performing arts centre. This past June, consulting firm Colliers Canada presented on the likely timeline for developing a business case for the plan. At council’s Wednesday, Sept. 23 meeting, Colliers returned with an update, presenting four possible options and asked council to identify which it wanted investigated further. • Option A would see a new 2,000-seat arena built on the gravel lot that used to house the Four Seasons Memorial Pool with an 800-seat theatre and concert hall and an additional 200-seat theatre built where Kopar Memorial Arena currently sits. • Option B would see the same facilities of the same size be built, but their locations would be swapped. Colliers said this would require a plan to accommodate the Prince George Spruce Kings as Kopar Memorial Arena is demolished and replaced. • Option C is the option directed by council in December 2024. It would have a 4,500-seat arena built where the Four Seasons Pool used to be as well as an 800-seat performing arts centre and a 200-seat theatre where Kopar Memorial Arena is currently. Colliers noted that an arena of this size would be too large for

CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK

The gallery in council chambers on the second floor of Prince George City Hall was fuller than normal on Wednesday, Sept. 23 as the Civic Core Plan was up for discussion.

the BCHL, the league in which the Spruce Kings play and too small for the WHL, the league in which the Prince George Cougars play. Option D is the same as Option C, except it would see a 6,000-seat arena — large enough for the WHL and believed to be big enough to accommodate all events and concerts currently held at the CN Centre. Presenting remotely, Erin Lloyd of Colliers noted that the lots across Seventh Avenue from Kopar Memorial Arena that used to house the Knights Inn is too small for either a new arena or a performing arts building. For that reason, “former Knights Inn lands are being evaluated separately for private sector development opportunities.” Lloyd said a new 6,000-seat arena could also attract some shows and concerts that currently skip Prince George. Given the state of Kopar Memorial Arena, the report said a contingency plan is needed in case it has to be closed early. For the performing arts centre, Lloyd said the idea is to build a venue that could be either a theatre or an arts centre with 500 floor seats and 300 balcony seats. The 200-seat theatre would be a smaller, black box theatre. Going forward, the report said

more review is needed for the potential impacts on the floodplain, parking demands, facility programming, alignment with the new civic facilities master plan, funding viability and funding opportunities and anchor tenant and user group capacity for partnerships. Lloyd said more consultation with user groups and potential anchor tenants is still needed. Ultimately, Colliers recommended that the city order further development on options B and D. The report also noted that there is no current interest from the hotel market in developing in the downtown core at this time, but there is moderate demand for multi-family housing. The former Knights Inn site, the report said, could accommodate a three-to-six-storey apartment building. Also noted was that a high vacancy rate for retail space in the downtown could impact opportunities for mixeduse developments and that there is currently insufficient demand to warrant the development of a major expansion of convention spaces. “However, flexible meeting and breakout session spaces are in demand and are necessary to continue to host some of the larger conventions, as well as capture additional large conventions,” the report said. Lloyd said Colliers plans to return

to council in November to present a feasibility study, business case, roadmap and project delivery funding options. This would take place under Prince George’s next council with local elections scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17. After the presentation, Coun. Cori Ramsay said council has received a lot of feedback from groups like the Spruce Kings, Prince George Symphony Orchestra, the Community Arts Council and much more through roundtables, surveys and other opportunities. She said it was the right time to make a decision, setting up the delivery of more information for the next council. Ramsay put a motion on the floor endorsing options A and D as she felt there would be less disruption to ice arena users. However, she also adjusted Option A to include an 800-seat concert hall, 350-seat theatre and 250-seat black box theatre, which is what local arts groups want. Coun. Trudy Klassen said the ongoing election campaign is a good time to hear from the public, noting how many people were in the gallery for the meeting. With the large number of expenses forecast in the civic facilities master plan, she said the city needs to proceed carefully. She said council should delay the decision until after the election, which would also allow for more public consultation, moving for consideration to be postponed until Nov. 30. This motion passed narrowly, ending discussion. After that motion passed, most people sitting in the gallery left the room. Vote summary Motion: Council delays consideration of the Civic Core business case until its Monday, Nov. 30 meeting. Result: Approved 5 to 4 In favour: Polillo, Skakun, Yu, Klassen and Bennett Against: Frizzell, Ramsay, Sampson and Scott

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

NEWS

Council discusses future of arenas, pools, library A new civic facilities master plan projects a need for $45 million a year in spending from 2027 to 2046 COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Prince George city council expressed shock at the projected price tag attached to maintaining and renewing civic facilities over the next 20 years at its Wednesday, Sept. 23, meeting. Presented at the meeting was an updated civic facilities master plan developed by consulting firm AECOM. The plan contains assessments of many of the city’s key buildings and facilities, including the Civic Centre, Canfor Leisure Pool, Two Rivers Gallery, Prince George City Hall, Kopar Memorial Arena, the Prince George Playhouse, Studio 2880, the Prince George Public Library’s Bob Harkins Branch and what it will take to maintain them between 2027 and 2046. During that timeframe, AECOM projects the city will need to invest $892 million in these facilities, an average of about $45 million per year. That’s a significant jump from the average investment of about $12.2 million per year the city made between 2021 and 2025 and the projected average of $18.5 million per year between 2026 and 2030. Expenditures between 2021 and 2025 were offset by about $8.2 million in annual revenue from facilities. AECOM said 18 of the 56 facilities in the master plan “are reaching a stage where significant change is needed.” “Targeted upgrades may extend

the useful life of some facilities, while others may be better suited to redevelopment or divestment.” Facilities recommended for replacement or divestment include the animal shelter on Lansdowne Road, the animal barns at Exhibition Place, the Connaught Youth Centre, the livestock arena at Exhibition Place, the gymnastics facility at Exhibition Place, the Prince George Playhouse, South Fort George Recreation Centre, Studio 2880, Abra-Kid-Abra Daycare, 1310 Third Ave., the 18th Avenue Parks Administration Building, the Search and Rescue building at 4057 Hart Highway and the Plaza Parkade at 585 Queensway. Introducing a presentation on the report during the Wednesday, Sept. 23, meeting, director of civic facilities Andy Beesley said that despite the big figures being discussed, he saw the report as showing a positive path forward. He emphasized to council that staff were not asking it to make any decisions that night. Instead, Beesley said the information would be broken into more digestible chunks in the future and could be used to help with future decision-making. Representing AECOM was Chris Lombard, an asset management leader with the company. He said the report touched on the facilities’ lifecycles, capacities and functional or operational challenges, as well as how to address them over the 20-year timeframe. He said AECOM has been working with the city to assess the condition of its facilities since 2016. Combined, Lombard said the 56 facilities cover 1.7 million square feet and have a replacement value of $787 million. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Actions will be taken in five-year ‘chunks’ over 20 years

CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK

A new civic facilities master plan projects a need for $45 million a year in spending from 2027 to 2046.

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

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He said the city needs to balance several factors when making future decisions about facilities, including maintaining service continuity, identifying needs before projects start, planning connected facilities together, protecting safety and operations at existing facilities while new plans are developed, aligning investment choices with facilities’ future directions, maintaining flexibility and considering partnerships and alternative delivery models. For each facility, Lombard said AECOM assigned actions to be taken in five-year chunks over the 20-year timeframe. However, the figures in the report are estimates and will need to be further refined over time. The 56 facilities were divided into several categories: • Maintain, which continues regular operations through maintenance and minor repairs • Renew, which identifies facilities needing major upgrades to extend their lifespan • Redevelop, for facilities that

need renovation, expansion or reconfiguration • Replacement, for facilities that need total replacement • Divestment, for facilities in which the city should no longer invest. A roadmap section estimates how much should be invested in each facility over the next 20 years for maintenance, replacement, renovation or disposal. Facilities estimated to require significant spending include: • $39 million for the Connaught Youth Centre (replacement) • $58 million for the Conference and Civic Centre (renewal) • $22 million for the Bob Harkins Branch (renewal) • $18 million for the Two Rivers Gallery (maintenance) • $97 million for the Prince George Aquatic Centre (renewal) • $33 million for Kin Three (redevelopment) CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

Facilities master plan also includes future of fire halls CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE •

$67 million for Kopar Memorial Arena (replacement) • $25 million for the Second Avenue Parkade (maintenance) • $14 million for the Canfor Leisure Pool (renewal) • $68 million for the CN Centre (renewal) • $37 million for Prince George City Hall • $34 million for Fire Hall No. 1 (redevelopment) • $81 million for the Prince George RCMP detachment (maintenance) After the presentation, Mayor Simon Yu asked Lombard whether the report projected population growth in Prince George. Lombard said AECOM consulted with city staff to determine future needs based primarily on the current population, while recognizing there could be some growth. Coun. Trudy Klassen said she was concerned about the city’s ability to pay for the investment and that it would lead to some tough decisions, though the information would help with those decisions. Coun. Susan Scott said she liked that the report identified needs before projects started, as many people don’t realize how the process works. She also said she liked the suggestion of alternative delivery methods and partnerships because the city has to be efficient with its limited resources. Coun. Brian Skakun said user groups have been very concerned about the state of facilities at Exhibition Place and might be worried about the recommendation to divest them. Beesley said staff haven’t conducted consultation yet, but that could happen as the report comes back in smaller pieces. He also pointed out that divestment could mean finding new owners, but that would take some work to determine.

Skakun also asked for details on the RCMP detachment and Fire Hall #1, given that they are relatively new buildings. Lombard said the RCMP detachment has already reached capacity and is utilized 24-7. There have also been discussions about a satellite facility, he said. As for the fire hall, Lombard said space requirements were not adequately addressed during the planning stage and Prince George Fire Rescue is already running out of room to store equipment. Coun. Cori Ramsay said she compared this report with the previous iteration in 2019 and found some drastic differences between the two. For example, she showed an example from the 2019 report containing more comprehensive information on the condition of each facility. Kristy Bobbie, the city’s manager of asset management and capital planning, said the additional information can be included when staff make their next report on the subject in January. Ramsay also asked about the 2019 report’s conclusion that $77 million would need to be spent over the subsequent decade on civic facilities and how that increased to an estimate of $45 million a year in spending in just seven years. In 2019, Bobbie said, the report included figures for renewal of buildings under a certain threshold for their condition scores. It also didn’t account for maintenance. She said the new report covers those factors as well as inflation. Coun. Tim Bennett said he applauded the report for presenting straightforward facts, but, like Skakun, was surprised by the estimated maintenance costs for the RCMP detachment. He also said he’s concerned about the estimated $19 million in maintenance for the George Street Parkade, given that it is new as well. Coun. Garth Frizzell said he

compared the report with the fiveyear capital plan council approved earlier this year and found that a lot of it aligned, though the magnitude in the master plan is much higher. He also noted that the only mentions of land acquisition in the report were about historical elements. Lombard said they were focused more on the facilities themselves, but things such as land will eventually have to be addressed. Director of finance and IT services Kris Dalio said staff have been trying to educate council about the need to reinvest in facilities for quite some time, especially since the general infrastructure reinvestment levy was instituted in 2018. He added that capital projects have faced significant inflationary pressures and, because a lot of the city’s facilities and infrastructure were built at the same time, the bill is coming due all at once. Coun. Ron Polillo said the numbers

in the report scared him but highlighted the city’s need to reinvest. He added that the city should have been paying more attention to infrastructure two or three decades previously. Coun. Kyle Sampson wondered why some recent facilities weren’t futureproofed and said it showed that the city needs to imagine future uses and needs when planning future projects. He said his biggest takeaway was that it will force the city to think differently going forward. With Fire Hall #1, he said it could mean creating a fire training centre or building a fifth fire hall rather than expanding it, as one example. Beesley said that if council doesn’t act in the case of some more degraded buildings, the building will essentially make the decision for them. Ramsay put a motion on the floor requesting that additional detail be included with the next presentation. It passed unanimously.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

Volunteer to be on the Library Board • There are 4 vacancies for a 2-year term • Term: December 1, 2026 to November 30, 2026 For information about what the board does visit www.pgpl.ca/board For information about how to apply visit www.princegeorge.ca/committees. Deadline to Apply: 5:00 p.m., Thursday, October 29, 2026 Questions? Contact Legislative Services 250.561.7655 5th Floor, City Hall, 1100 Patricia Blvd. legislativeservices@princegeorge.ca 110 Patricia Blvd., | p.250.561.7600 (311) | www.princegeorge.ca

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

OPINION

Start of hockey season gives all of us reason to cheer KENNEDY GORDON Citizen Managing Editor

With two elections approaching in the weeks ahead, uncertainty swirling south of the border and with the annual Christmas rush bearing down on us, it’s understandable that people are feeling like they could use a break. Fortunately, Prince George has not one, but two great ways to do that. The Prince George Spruce Kings and Prince George Cougars give this city something that is increasingly precious: a reason to gather, cheer, debate line combinations and power plays and take pride in something happening right here at home. The Spruce Kings just demonstrated what home ice can mean. Kopar Memorial Arena may be old. Its ice surface is short, and its board unforgiving with none of the give found in newer rinks. Visiting teams might not particularly enjoy playing there. But the Spruce Kings do. And, judging by a home-opening weekend that saw them dispatch both the West Kelowna Warriors and Salmon Arm Silverbacks, so do their fans. There was speed, physical play, special-teams success and, most importantly, the unmistakable energy that comes when a local team gives its community something to cheer about. The Cougars offer the same opportunity on a larger stage. Their young players are chasing pro hockey dreams, developing in front of local fans and carrying the name

CITIZRN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Silverbacks goalie Kasey Fuson blocks the shot of Spruce Kings defenseman Max Davidson at Kopar Arena on Saturday, Sept. 26.

of Prince George with them wherever they play. Aiden Foster is a particularly good example. The 19-year-old returned from a stint with the Tampa Bay Lightning organization having learned from NHL players and coaches, including Prince George-raised head coach Jon Cooper. Now he’s back wearing a Cougars jersey, bringing those experiences home. That is the beauty of local hockey. It connects the big world to our little corner of it. But here’s the bigger point: We should try to bring some of that enthusiasm beyond the rink. Prince George has two elections coming

up. Let’s focus on the one we knew was coming: The Oct. 17 vote for mayor, council, school board and regional directors. Local government has an enormous influence on everyday life — roads, recreation, neighbourhoods, taxes, public spaces and the services people encounter every day. Yet municipal elections traditionally attract far fewer voters than provincial or federal contests (except, perhaps, when a snap election falls just days after the municipal vote in BC, and people aren’t all that interested). That’s a problem, particularly when we routinely demonstrate that we care deeply

about the place we call home. We fill the stands to cheer for the Cougars and Spruce Kings. We debate goals, trades and coaching decisions. We wear the jerseys. We celebrate the wins and sigh over the losses. So why not invest some of that energy in choosing the decisions makers for our city? Nobody needs to turn municipal politics into another source of stress. Quite the opposite. We make it simple: learn who’s running, find out what they stand for, consider how their positions affect the city, make your choices and cast a ballot. We’ve even put together another special supplement (PG Votes) this week with candidate information including coverage of all three of our forums. You’ll find it easy to see where candidates stand on our local issues. Then get back to the rink. There’s plenty to worry about these days, as we mentioned earlier. The weather is cooling off. Events beyond our borders can leave us wondering what comes next. Christmas will be here before we know it. So let’s take the opportunity to enjoy something uncomplicated: a Saturday night at Kopar, a Spruce Kings game, a loud crowd and the satisfaction of supporting people who represent Prince George. And while we’re at it, let’s remember that supporting our community doesn’t end when the final horn sounds. Bring the same local pride to the ballot box. Cheer loudly. Show up. And vote.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

OPINION

Decision on Civic Core Plan postponed until after election

The demolition of the city-owned Knights Inn is part of the long-term plan for Civic Core revitalization.

Alucard There needs to be some serious questions brought up that maybe I missed. Where will the parking be for these venues if both are booked for events? How will the PAC pay for its upkeep? What’s the demand for one? Why can’t the playhouse be used, the building that had to be renovated? What’s the demand for a new arena, and who will the new users be? Is there a better cost structure for it to maintain itself? Why do all these venues need more taxpayer funding after 10 years? Who’s in charge of looking after city-owned assets, and why can’t they seem to budget for them to manage themselves without needing more taxpayer funds? Imagine a city council that doesn’t need to massively increase taxes year after year. Susan Jensen My two bits. For me, I have no problem seeing this immensely big project put over until the election is done. That way, the newly elected council can be involved in the process. I also feel administration and some council members should have thought about this. Why the rush before the election? Yes, why the rush? D Goods Option D would be fantastic! A downtown arena/event venue for the Cougars and concerts would bring more people downtown, support hotels and small businesses, and help create a safer downtown with increased foot traffic. We want reasons to go downtown! It’s more economical to have public eyes on the street

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and benefits in Prince George. How many will be forced to move elsewhere to find work? The census for Prince George five years ago was 76,708. The new census will be released in February 2027. This civic core dream is looking for a pile of money from a small population base. Renoguy24

who spend money at restaurants than constantly increase pay for a police presence that won’t really resolve the issue. A giant, windowless arena on Canada Games Way would hurt the pedestrian experience. The arena should stay off to the side along Patricia Boulevard, where Kopar currently sits. HJMSPG Well, this council has squandered the opportunity to do an actual referendum on municipal voting day for this very topic. There would have been no significant extra costs other than another piece of paper to be printed for the voting package, but no, citizens get little chance to express their opinions in any formal way. The Alternate Approval Process is a weak and lethargic alternative used to avoid the costs of doing an official referendum during the non-election cycle, but the council whiffed on the ball by ignoring the more concrete option of including it on the already scheduled municipal election day. Had we been given the opportunity, we could have had a clear vote on citizens’ opinions

regarding this long-drawn-out mess of a discussion on the civic core plan. I am not impressed at all at this missed opportunity to get residents’ input once and for all. Council discusses future of civic facilities Maniwaki Twenty years at $45 million a year? As it stands right now, our property tax, water, sewer and garbage costs go up each year, and the city is about to add another tax: the storm sewer tax. What will an added tax to cover an additional $45 million cost the taxpayer? I noticed no one on council mentioned anything about the good-paying union jobs that will be lost when the pulp mill closes, or the fact Brink Forest Products has closed or Excel is laying off 90 per cent of its workforce, and the trickle-down effect that could happen to other businesses that supply products to the closed businesses. These closures could possibly put 400 to 500 people out of work, and it’s not likely they will find jobs paying the good union rate

Every $40 million borrowed will cost as much as $72 million by the time it is paid off. The estimates above are over $500 million, and all these buildings were erected in my lifetime! The mismanagement is utterly mind-boggling. It is stunning that commercial buildings younger than my home are requiring exterior surfaces to be replaced so soon. What sort of materials are being used? We know the costs were high when these structures went up, yet we are talking tens of millions in maintenance, numbers that sound more like new-building costs to the average person. When you go to the polls in October, keep in mind the incumbents for mayor and council who have been happy to use the Alternate Approval Process to sneak in spending they probably knew would never get referendum approval. Vote accordingly. Along the same lines, in school board voting, be aware of those who supported the 28 per cent raise and realize that 28 per cent also applies to the extra pay the chairperson and vice-chair receive.

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Council candidate Rajendar Parmar wants a better PG MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Rajendar Parmar, operator of Immigration Consulting Limited, is one of 18 candidates for Prince George city council in this fall’s municipal election. Parmar also serves as vice-president of the Immigrant and Multicultural Society, and previously worked for more than two decades as a civil engineer in India and Africa. Parmar and his family have been Prince George residents since 2010. During an interview with The Citizen, he explained that he hopes to live in Prince George for the rest of his life and wants to see the city he has grown to love change for the better. “The things that matter the most are health care, safety and accountability, not only of the bureaucracy, but the council members as well. That’s what I would recommend,” said Parmar. Regarding safety and healthcare, Parmar said that too often many are

left to slip through the cracks and that better mental health supports should be in place before these mental health problems cause people to end up on the streets. “Health care doesn’t mean just healthcare, it includes mental health as well,” said Parmar. “... We need to see how to bring them to the mainstream and get them dignified work so that they can earn their livelihoods and be safer.” Another key priority for Parmar for his election is to focus on infrastructure. “Whatever infrastructure we’ve got, we need to evaluate it,” said Parmar. “Spending millions and billions again and again make no sense to me … I will not stop with community centres or the CN Centre. We should apply the same ideas to residential houses as well. I would recommend that every 10 years, we review houses and talk to the households about what they need. A person sitting in a room cannot decide how people want to live.” Parmar also expressed frustration at

the length of time it takes for building permitting, even for seemingly minor projects and wants to advocate for improvements. “If you want just a little amendment to your house, just a deck, just a door to your basement or something small, that takes months,” said Parmar. He proposed that the way permits are handled at city hall should be reclassified “We can classify the permits by value. If a thing takes five minutes, why not be given permission by the end of the day? Why wait three weeks or one month? If it’s a million-dollar project, then it’s different. But if it’s a simple one-page drawing, and you are taking months to approve that. It doesn’t make sense to me. I’m an engineer. I feel bad for people who apply for permits in summer, they get them in winter and then you can’t dig your ground,” said Parmar. Parmar also added that he is concerned about the hospital helipad not

being included in the plans for the upcoming acute care tower and hopes to advocate for its inclusion if elected. As well, he expressed conParmar cern that young people are not attracted to Prince George and hopes to fix this if elected so that the next generation will remain in the city. “The next generation, they are worried about their kids because they need better schooling, better college, better everything here. Only with these things can we attract them back here … We need to connect with them. There’s a negative migration from here. Young people move away from town and they never come back,” said Parmar. Election day is Saturday, Oct. 17.

NDP has PG-Valemount candidate for provincial election COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

The BC NDP announced its first Prince George-area candidate for the upcoming provincial election in a Saturday, Sept. 26 media release. Carol Bourque will be on the ballot for the government against incumbent Conservative Rosalyn Bird when voters head to the polls on Saturday, Oct. 24. According to information provided by the party, Bourque “is a seasoned public-sector professional with over 30 years of service, including 14 years in health information management with problem solving.” Bourque is Indigenous and was born and raised in Prince George. In 2018, her bio said, she brought the Tampon Tuesday campaign to Prince George in 2018, which helped “collect essential menstrual products for women in need.”

“I’m stepping forward because our communities deserve practical solutions, honest leadership and a health-care system that works for everyone,” Bourque was quoted as saying in the release. “I’ve spent my career inside the system — now I’m ready to help fix it. Together, we can build a future that is safer, healthier and grounded in respect.” Bourque is the first candidate to be nominated outside of the Conservative incumbents in the three Prince George constituencies. On top of Bird, Kiel Giddens is running for re-election in Prince George-Mackenzie and Sheldon Clare is on the ballot in Prince George-North Cariboo. In Nechako Lakes, the BC NDP nominated Municipality of Fraser Lake employee and member of the UNBC board of directors Jesse Gervais to run in that constituency.

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Carol Bourque was announced as the BC NDP’s candidate for Prince George-Valemount in the upcoming provincial election.

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Erica McLean running for another term on school board CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Erica McLean was first elected to the School District 57 board of education in 2022 and was appointed as vice-chair soon after. Now she’s looking to return for a second term. “I have been doing a lot of reflecting over the past month and I remember coming to this role like ‘OK, I have been a part of non-profit boards’ but I look back at that now and I think I had a lot of experience in education but I had a lot to learn,” she said in a Thursday, Sept. 18 interview. McLean said looking through the governance lens was something she had to learn to do. She served on three non-profit boards in the past, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, then was invited to the table for the Cariboo Action Training Society (Camp Trapping) and then Engage Sport North, but they were all very different from the SD57 board, she noted. “The scope and the responsibilities

that come with the trustee position was a lot more so it was a very big learning experience, especially during the first two years,” McLean said. “But with that I look at it as I come to the end of my term and I come with so much gratitude because I did receive the most votes in that election in 2022.” Last year, McLean put her name in the running for a seat on the board for the BC School Trustees Association and was elected. “I saw it as an opportunity as a northern voice and as an Indigenous woman,” McLean said. “I feel that responsibility to be a representative and I have learned an incredible amount during that time.” If re-elected, McLean is looking forward to continuing to improve student learning outcomes. “As we work through our annual strategic plan and we hear those reports on those small incremental improvements to student success. I would love the opportunity to see more of that. We

have amazing education leaders in our school district and what they’ve done has really helped create a space for student voice, student leaders to share McLean what they are seeing and what the opportunities are and it’s exciting.” As the vice-chair, McLean said it was a great opportunity to work on creating the systems and structures for the board to function well, to support the senior team and build that space for initiatives to grow. “So, absolutely thinking about exploring different initiatives and different opportunities for the future if reelected,” McLean said. Trustee Antrim brought forward a motion earlier this year to explore a sport program or sport focus, she added. “There was a lot of debate around the

table, which was really good,” McLean said. “And I voted in support of this so basically as a board we were able to communicate that this was a priority for us. I will always advocate for sport and wellness for young people so I am very grateful for Trustee Antrim for bringing that forward and I look forward to carrying on the conversation to further support student wellness.” McLean said she wanted to emphasize her gratitude for being elected in 2022. “I came into this not knowing what to expect and just with the narrative that someone had said ‘your voice is needed here,’ and that was all I needed to hear because I said ‘OK, let’s do this,’” McLean said. “I really like to think that I have grown so much in this role over the last four years locally with our district and also at the provincial level so I would be grateful to be elected again. I have a lot of energy to give to this role.” Election day is Saturday, Oct. 17.

Regional district developing new emergency planning MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Directors of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George have awarded a contract for the development of public notification and evacuation route plans for the regional district to Ember Leaf Consulting Inc. for $180,000, excluding GST. The contract was awarded during the Sept. 24 meeting of the Regional District’s Public Safety and Emergency Management Standing Committee. The Regional District’s Request For Proposal was responded to by seven contractors. A report presented to directors and received for information shows that the RFP was issued requesting consulting services for the development of public notification and evacuation route plans for the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and participating project partners. These

include the District of Mackenzie, Simpcw First Nation, Village of Valemount, and Village of McBride. During an April meeting, directors approved a grant application for the 2026 Public Notification and Evacuation Route Planning stream of the Union of BC Municipalities’ Community Emergency Preparedness Fund. This fund helps improve districts’ evacuation plans by improving evacuation route planning and public notifications. The fund allows for grants of up to $40,000 per applicant. A report attached to the grant approval request showcases that this can be done through collaborative planning work and the preparation of maps and spatial data to help visualize information more effectively. As well, this program on the scale of the regional district allows Indigenous governments and municipal governments

to pool resources more effectively and improve planning by ensuring that work and plans are not duplicated and cost-effective strategies are utilized. Work carried out under the RFP to develop public notification and evacuation route plans will be funded by the UBCM grant mentioned above. In total, UBCM has allocated a total of $200,000 for the development of these improvements for the regional district and project partners. During the meeting, Director Dannielle Alan of Electoral Area H (Robson Valley-Canoe) requested more information, as the district already has a public alert system that goes out to residents’ phones and asked if the project planned to interconnect systems and agencies from different electoral areas. Colby Molcak, manager of emergency preparedness, who presented the report, explained that work will be done to

connect systems, plans and operations from different electoral areas without compromising the already existing systems. “It will totally work for interoperability with everybody, though the one piece that we didn’t want to do was just force everybody onto the same system,” he said. “Not sure exactly how it’s going to work because this will be our first time working through a full-scale public notification plan, but the plan is that everybody will have templates that are the same language that comes out during emergency events, but Common Alerting Protocol will have the option to just choose the system that they want to use. For us, we use Connect Rocket for the Village of Valemount; they use Voyent Alert. So different systems, but the same language, the same templates that we’ll use to make things whole for an emergency.”

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Balanced education budget a priority for Craig Brennan CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Craig Brennan, School District 57’s current board chair, is seeking to serve another term as a trustee. Brennan spent 40 years as an educator, principal and administrator within SD57 and his focus in the past and for the future, if reelected, is greater student learning outcomes and continuing to successfully manage the balanced budget. “When we first looked at the budget in the school district — the budget is the budget — so you get bums in seats equals money — and there are other streams — but that is what you have initially,” Brennan said. “So you look at the ratio of what you spend on staff and what you spend on, for lack of a better word, stuff. Those are your two expenses and the ratio was just wrong and so we adjusted the ratio to where it should be with a super-experienced

secretarytreasurer Lynda Minnabarriet and she’s like ‘if we do this, watch what happens’ and so we did that and sure enough now we’ve got Brennan a two per cent contingency fund for emergencies now inside the budget and it’s balanced.” Brennan said that’s when you see schools getting painted and parking lot maintenance getting done. He said he almost didn’t run again in this election but he said he got bullied into it. “People said the work is not done and they’re right,” Brennan said. “Erica (McLean, SD57 vice-chair) was one of those people and said ‘can we not just go one more term to push it forward?’ And we have done such good work. I am really proud of what we’ve done. I am pleased but ultimately I am not satisfied and

that’s not a reflection on anybody doing a bad job. It just hasn’t gone far enough. So that’s the mission for this next four years — if elected — let’s get it really deep down into the school level where it really impacts the students because the governance is way up here.” Brennan raised his hand over his head. “In the classrooms is where it matters,” Brennan said. “The work that needs to be done now will positively impact student learning and student outcomes – that’s the mission. There are results awaiting us that could be better. We know where we are lacking and we know where we are putting out energy in the coming years and that is really on focusing on student learning.” The SD57 board will focus on its strategic plan, which was outlined at its Tuesday, Sept. 22 meeting. “It will guide the district for the next five years,” Brennan said. “So this strategic plan will look very different from other strategic plans as it is very student focused,

very learning focused and very easy to understand and operationalize. I am very proud of the work we have done.” After looking at the five-year plan that sets the stage, then they look forward to the annual work plan. “During the months ahead we work through all of the steps that are required for us to essentially do three things,” Brennan said. “Managing our senior team, specifically the superintendent, who is our one employee, continuing work on policy and bylaw development. We’ve almost finished it. We were hoping to finish by the end of the first term and it’s a massive project. Some of the policies predated when I started working for the school district and that was in 1981. Absolutely continue to make sure the decisions made are for the students and that the budget is balanced. So that is where a lot of our energy will be put in the next four years.” Election day is Saturday, Oct 17.

SD57 seeks $1.9M for school upgrades and equipment MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Members of the Board of Education for School District 57 (SD57) approved its 2027-28 minor capital program submission to the Ministry of Education and Child Care during a board meeting held Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026. The minor capital program provides funding for small-scale, short-duration infrastructure repairs, replacements or additions. This includes equipment replacements and facility enhancements that extend the useful life of existing school assets. The minor capital program provides funding for projects through the Carbon Neutral Capital Program (CNCP), Playground Equipment Program (PEP) and School Enhancement Program (SEP). It’s worth noting that each program

has specific project criteria that must be considered when BC school districts apply for funding through the program. SD57 requested $400,000 in PEP funding, $400,000 in CNCP funding and $1,115,000 in SEP funding, for a grand total of $1,915,000.

College Heights Secondary • Project type: HVAC (CNCP) • Project description: Heating plant renewal tied to SEP project • Funding requested: $400,000 Hixon Elementary • Project type: Replacement (PEP) Project description: Playground equipment is approaching the end of its life cycle • Funding requested: $200,000 Morfee Elementary • Project type: New (PEP) • Project description: New

playground equipment required for primary students • Funding requested: $200,000

College Heights Secondary • Project type: HVAC (SEP) • Project description: Heating plant renewal. Project tied to CNCP funding. • Funding requested: $275,000 Ron Brent Elementary • Project type: Roofing (SEP) • Project description: Renew roofing sections 1-5 • Funding requested: $450,000 Heather Park Elementary • Project type: Exterior wall systems (SEP) • Project Description: Replace stucco wall panels

• Funding requested: $100,000

Spruceland Traditional • Project type: Exterior wall systems (SEP) • Project description: Replace exterior building windows • Funding requested: $160,000 Malaspina Elementary • Project type: Exterior wall systems (SEP) • Project description: Replace exterior building windows • Funding requested: $130,000. “I have to note that there’s no guarantee that all these asks will be approved,” said Brett Apolczer, director of facility services at SD57. “Last year, we had about $2.1 million. The ministry has advised us that this year will probably be closer to about $1.5 million to $1.6 million.”

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Dillman calls for community connection for SD57 youth MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Laurie Dillman, co-owner of Go Team Professional Training, is running for School District 57’s board of education in this year’s municipal election. She said her lengthy career as a trainer and teacher, her volunteer experience and her experience as a board director for the Prince George Chamber of Commerce from 2016 to 2021 are valuable leadership experiences that would make her perfect for the role. Dillman said she wants to see more experiential learning and community connection for students at SD57 and sees these as gaps that desperately need to be filled if more students want to succeed. “I’m really worried that we’re not connecting youth to the greater community, and I’m worried about what happens after they graduate,” said Dillman. “Experiential learning opportunities. Why aren’t we doing more of those? We’re doing such a great job at what we’re doing in our community, with Adventures in Health Care. Why aren’t we doing more programs like these?” She added that she has seen more and more students feel lost after graduation and that these issues can be fixed by providing programs that provide valuable insights into the work that goes on in the north into SD57 schools. “In a perfect world, we would be looking to create our community for us by us. We would be raising up the kids in our community to solve problems that we have within our community. Enticing folks to come to our community is a lot harder and more expensive than working with the folks that are in our community,” said Dillman. “A for us by us system where we’re leveraging, from age 11, experiential learning opportunities where kids get to go out and job shadow for a day

based on a main question. What problems do you want to solve in the world when you grow up?” Dillman also advocated for a community-cenDillman tred approach to raising funds for repairs or a replacement of D.P. Todd Secondary School, saying that relying on capital funding is not the only way to fill SD57 coffers. “Can we fundraise as a community to upgrade that school?” asked Dillman. “I learned how things are dictated. Whether we can create our own capital project where we can raise funds and we can do those things for our own community, the answer to that is yes … Prince George is a pretty supportive community when it comes to things that really matter, and I think education is the heartbeat of our community.” Regarding SD57’s recent downturn in enrolment, Dillman said keeping connected to families in the regions that the district serves is important to consider and that the more families that feel a sense of belonging to SD57 communities will make them reconsider alternative education options like private education or homeschooling Dillman also touted her skills as a team-builder and said that if elected, she wants to help build an efficient, smart and co-ordinated school board. “I believe in efficiencies. I don’t believe in meetings that need to go on forever and ever,” said Dillman. “You need to get the information, you need to make tough decisions and you need to base them on a collective agreement on it. That’s the beauty of community. That’s the beauty of teams. You don’t have to do it alone. Let’s find inefficiencies and let’s make this team ours.” Election day is Saturday, Oct 17.

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Jake Skakun enters politics with campaign for SD57 His priorities are career prep and student mental health MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Jake Skakun is looking to add a fresh face and a fresh perspective to the School District 57 (SD57) board of education. Skakun has thrown his hat into the ring for a seat as a school board trustee. He cited his volunteer experience and community outreach as to what helped him gain insight and experience in leadership roles. Skakun is also attending the College of New Caledonia to study social work, which he said has helped shape how he looks at SD57 schools. He is also the son of long-serving city councillor Brian Skakun. During an interview with The Citizen, he said that his campaign is running on three core pillars.

“My platform comes down to three core priorities,” said Skakun. “The first would be expanding practical life skills and career pathways, such Skakun as getting new students introduced to dual credit and hands-on programs earlier so they have a real head start. Second would be prioritizing student mental health and proper classroom support. My third would be classroom-first accountability, so resources actually go to classrooms first, not to admin fees.” He added that to see better mental health support, more support staff are needed at SD57. “We need way more educational assistants. I know it’s supposed to be one per 15 students or something like that. That’s definitely not enough,” said Skakun. As well, the reason mental health

is a pillar for Skakun is his belief that students are unable to learn if they are experiencing issues related to mental health, and that more needs to be done to ensure that students suffering have easier access to supports. The recent downturn in enrolment in SD57 schools due to losses to private schools or homeschooling is also concerning to Skakun. “We need incentives to keep them interested in school. We need to create some interesting new programs or start some new clubs. There has to be something that would encourage kids to come back to school,” said Skakun. He cited that his own high school experience was lacking in special interest classes or clubs, which highlighted this issue for him. “In high school, all we had was woodworking. That just wasn’t enough,” said Skakun. “If we want to get kids interested in the real world, we gotta find the things that make them interested,” said Skakun.

He also shares that he wants to see career pathways explored for students sooner rather than later. “In Ontario, in Grades nine and ten, that’s when they start looking for career pathways for the students instead of Grades 11 and 12. It just makes a lot more sense to start in Grade eight and nine to figure out what career you actually want to do. I think it would be a benefit if we could do that and also expand our dual credit programs,” said Skakun. As well, Skakun has noted the decline in student enrolment and is in support of plans to shutter SD57 schools with low population and move them to larger centres when needed. “It’s just an inevitability that they’re gonna close down unless there’s some job growth that would bring them back,” said Skakun. “It’s definitely a good idea to just create one big centre where they can all just congregate.” Election Day is Saturday, Oct. 17.

Community comes through for Parkinson Support Group CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

There are 500 pairs of purple socks out in the community representing the support offered to the Parkinson Support Group right here in Prince George. People were invited to gather to hear the announcement that the Purple Parkinson Socks campaign was a success that raised $10,000 for the local group to facilitate exercise classes on a weekly basis. “It is so wonderful as we go into our fall session knowing we are now set up for weekly exercise sessions throughout the winter instead of every two or three weeks so now we all know that Thursday at 1 o’clock is our exercise session,” Gina Beddome, longtime Parkinson Support Group volunteer, said. “It’s just remarkable what it does for the morale of our support group

members. It keeps them in shape and keeps them moving and again it’s through the support of the community our members know they are not alone.” Vernon Winder, lead of the local support group, said that Selen Alpay coming forward last year to say he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s has helped take the stigma for those who are living with Parkinson’s. “Our local support group has almost tripled in number,” Winder said. “We are a much bigger family now.” “When people see Selen with it they realize they don’t have to keep it hidden anymore,” Beddome added. “They now feel they can come out and deal with it in public and the support of other people going through the same thing helps.” Selen and Anita Alpay, owners of the local Canadian Tire, funded the creation of the socks so that 100 per cent of the

proceeds could be donated to the local group, Scott McWalter, Tourism PG executive director, said. “So thank you Selen and Anita,” McWalter said. “And thank you Scott for the brilliant idea and Selen and Anita for once again coming through and supporting the group,” Beddome added. “And thank you to those who bought the socks — that’s 500 people,” Selen Alpay said. Kendalle Scheck, visitor counsellor lead at Tourism PG, designed the socks offering a retro Mr. PG head on the purple sock with a grey border featuring the tulip, which is the symbol of Parkinson’s disease, the other design featured the ever-popular Mr. PG with his foot propped up on a log. “We wanted people to have a choice of socks,” Scheck said. This was a very rushed process that

saw Scheck take on the challenge at the end of July. “At first we didn’t know if we’d have one style or two but we liked the idea of people being able to choose a favourite so we decided to do two styles,” Scheck said. “Kandalle actually sent us four designs and they were all so good it was hard to narrow them down to two,” McWalter said. “But Prince George loves to meet those fundraising goals. That’s when people really rally and they did it again for the local Parkinson Support Group.” “The socks were created through a partnership between Canadian Tire, Tourism Prince George, and Parkinson Prince George, combining community pride with Parkinson’s awareness and fundraising,” Shirley Bond, volunteer with the Prince George Parkinson Support Group, said in a recent press release.

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School board unveils five-year strategic plan SD57 outlines its strategy for 41 schools and 13,000 students MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Members of the board of education at School District 57 (SD57) have received the next five-year strategic plan. The new plan was presented to SD57 board of education members by Roots and Rivers Consulting during the Tuesday, Sept. 22, school board meeting. Roots and Rivers have previously helped with the development of the strategic plan and are reported to be experts in school district strategic planning and community engagement. The plan is broken into four strategic priorities and goals with their own objectives to be accomplished in the next five years. The four priorities and objectives, are listed below:

Excellence for Every Learner

Objectives: • Improve literacy and numeracy results • Connect every learner with timely and appropriate support based on their needs • Strengthen equitable access to courses and resources, as well as specialist services across SD57 schools • Advance achievement and graduation rates for underserved populations • Expand pathways to post-secondary and career options

Reconciliation in Action

Objectives: • Reflect reconciliation in district decision-making, policies and practices • Report transparently on progress toward reconciliation commitments • Deepen relations and work

•

collaboratively with the Indigenous Education Council and other Indigenous partners Strengthen culturally land-based and language experiences

Well-being and Belonging

Objectives: • Strengthen student well-being through early intervention, education and prevention • Prioritize mental health support • Foster welcoming, safe, and inclusive district spaces • Deepen relationships with families and caregivers as partners in learning

Thriving Organization Culture

Objectives: • Support staff growth, professionalism and learning at every district level • Provide leadership that is visible and present • Engage meaningfully with the learning community to inform continuous improvement • Report transparently and publicly on progress toward district commitments The four pillars above and their objectives were based on research conducted by Roots & Rivers Consulting and SD57. The research utilized internal surveys, community surveys, interviews with local institutions and focus groups. A community survey was noted during the presentation as particularly helpful, with a total of 896 respondents. Those who responded came from diverse backgrounds, including parents and caregivers, SD57 support staff, teachers, students and community partners. The research aimed to determine what was working well at SD57 and what needed improvement. A section on future opportunities to explore was also included. Regarding areas for improvement,

the research identified staff support as a key priority. The plan notes that across all engagements and demographics, there were calls for more education assistants, counsellors and specialist staff. The strategic plan stated that the gap between SD57 policy and practice was “wide and visible.” The report states that every focus group identified instances where some version of Individualized Education Programs was not followed, the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Policy was not defended when challenged and reconciliation commitments were not felt. Participants in the research also showed that trust in leadership differed across groups, with patterns emerging in which some groups welcomed change while others described the current approach as “colonial and impersonal.” In addition, some pointed to high turnover

rates as a root cause of issues with leadership. Mental health was also identified as an area for improvement. The issue was named by every student-facing group as the single highest-leverage investment. School counsellors were reported to be absorbed by crisis work, while prevention, social-emotional learning and population-level resilience were also reported to be highly under-resourced. Lastly, the report states that rural communities are structurally underserved. Representatives from rural communities commented that “the district treats rural schools as overflow rather than as primary sites.” Examples included leadership changes without consultation, the soccer field being cut twice a year so students can’t play, and resources being withdrawn under a banner of “equity.” CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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Board hears good news about SD57 student literacy CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE On the brighter side, the report states that extracurricular and enrichment opportunities were the top-rated strength among every role represented in the community survey, with students naming it at nearly twice the rate of any other strength, at 47.5 per cent. SD57’s literacy work was also praised. Its early literacy work, including screeners, school-wide support systems and literacy pilots, has created excitement among teachers and SD57 leadership. Indigenous education was also reported to have made meaningful progress. The establishment of the Indigenous Education Council in 2022 was acknowledged by focus groups and community partners as a structural advancement.

Family communication and post-secondary pathways were also praised as areas of improvement. Community partners specifically named the district magazine as highly effective, while the post-secondary partnership with the College of New Caledonia and University of Northern British Columbia was identified as an underused strategic asset. The report also outlined opportunities to explore. These are: • Replicate the literacy model for numeracy • Explore alternative strategies for transparency and engagement • Coordinate pathways with key educational and community partners • Reframe rural investment as a stabilizing strategy • Embed student voice

UNTIL OCTOBER 11

CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER

SD57 superintendent Jameel Aziz (left), board of education chair Craig Brennan and vice-chair Erica McLean listen to a presentation on the new SD57 five-year strategic plan on Tuesday, Sept. 22.

structurally The research report also outlined external factors that were found to be shaping both SD57 and the development of the strategic plan. These include provincial fiscal pressure, Central BC labour market realities, the social shift and impact of AI, and the current community culture, with multiple research participants naming Prince George’s culture of discrimination in the broader community as an active force shaping the context in which SD57 operates. Roots and Rivers Consulting CEO Annelies Tjebbes, who presented the plan to the Board of Education, outlined how the plan would be implemented. “This fall, we’re socializing the plan. We’ll be onboarding the new board trustees to the plan and making sure they feel accountable to execute and implement it as well, connecting with senior leadership and staff to see them really taking it up, and we’ll also be doing sessions with VPs and principals to help them translate this down to school plans,” said Tjebbes during her report. “We’ll be developing an implementation plan and tools and practices with which we will quarterly report on and prioritize so that we’re not feeling like we have to take it on all at once, but that we can size the cadence to deliver on the plan. Then in the winter and

spring, we’ll be moving towards developing school-level plans, really supporting this to trickle down from the boardroom to the classroom.” Craig Brennan, School District 57’s board chair, shared with The Citizen following Tuesday’s board meeting that he was impressed with the new plan and noted that it was an improvement over the 2021-26 plan. “It’s more readily accessible for schools and for parents and for students and everyone,” said Brennan. “I think what we’re going to do this time is to take this strategic plan and be able to leave it in many documents. For example, some of the policy documents, the student code of conduct we’re working on, and we are trying to fit it into the same sort of format. We’re starting to develop consistency as we move along. It’s essentially a model or a guide for us.” He added that the success of the plan would be based on student outcomes over the next five years. “Ultimately, we want to improve our student results. There are two parts to that. With the student learning, we want to see our scores going up, and then outcomes for students. We want to make sure the students are getting to the places that they need to go. That’s the purpose of the plan, and that’s how we’re gonna measure its effectiveness,” said Brennan. While this was the board’s last meeting before a new board takes its place, Brennan hopes the new board uses the strategic plan as a guide. “Whoever forms this next board, I just hope they continue that great work that we started because the strategic plan now is that guiding light, it’s a directional thing that, if the board ties itself to that work and really follows some of the discipline that we’ve put in around budgeting, it’s gonna be in really good shape for a long time,” said Brennan.

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Second-degree murder conviction sticks after failed appeal Joseph Bernhart Simpson was convicted in 2024 BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Quesnel man convicted in 2024 of second degree murder failed to have his case overturned on appeal. Joseph Bernhart Simpson was charged with second degree murder and interfering with human remains for strangling a 33-year-old woman to death, cutting up her body and hiding the parts in the basement of the Willow Inn, where he lived as a resident manager. The woman was last seen alive on

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surveillance video on Dec. 29, 2021. Simpson admitted she died when he choked her, but said it was accidental because it happened during a consensual sex act. Justice Terry Schultes did not believe him. According to the Wednesday, Sept. 16 BC Court of Appeal decision, Simpson challenged the conviction under the belief that the Crown should have “directly confronted him about his assertion that he could not remember details surrounding the choking because he was intoxicated.” In the unanimous decision 3-0 decision, Justice Janet Winteringham wrote that Schultes did not err. “The overall nature of the cross-examination clearly revealed the Crown’s theory—that the appellant was not to be believed,

Burglar caught on video twice in same day They were his 27th and 28th B&E convictions BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A serial break-and-enter offender pleaded guilty Monday, Sept. 21 in Prince George Provincial Court to two burglaries on the same day. On Aug. 4, 2025, Allan Douglas Nigh was caught on surveillance cameras at two separate locations on Victoria Street in downtown Prince George. Nigh forcibly entered an office, causing pry damage to a door, but a broken window was believed to be the point of entry, according to Crown prosecutor Astitwa Thapa. Several drawers and cupboards were

searched, but nothing appeared to have been stolen. In the second incident, Nigh forced open doors to a building and accessed the coffee shop area before leaving. Nigh is in custody. The case was adjourned to Sept. 28 to fix a date for sentencing. Last March, Nigh was sentenced to 18 months in jail for break and enter charges from two Aug. 11, 2025 incidents. At the time, those were his 27th and 28th such convictions. Because of time served, Nigh had 233 days remaining in jail. During that sentencing hearing, Thapa said downtown businesses are “absolutely furious and outraged by the relentless wave of break and enters and vandalism that’s plaguing the community.”

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

A prisoner transport vehicle waits outside the downtown courthouse.

including regarding his claim of intoxication,” said the decision. At the start of the trial, Simpson pleaded guilty to interfering with human remains, but maintained the not guilty plea to second degree murder. In his first statement to police on Jan. 5, 2022, while not a suspect, Simpson told police he met the woman and her spouse eight months earlier. The spouse died in November 2021 and she asked him to help fill out forms for the spouses pension.

He told police he picked her up in Williams Lake and brought her to the Willow Inn in Quesnel where he was the resident manager. Simpson was arrested Jan. 13, 2022. During the trial, surveillance video from the Willow Inn showed Simpson and the victim arriving at the motel at 1:41 a.m. on Dec. 29, 2021. The last image of the victim was at 4:18 p.m. Surveillance video also showed Simpson withdraw $1,000 from the victim’s bank account on three occasions after the last sighting of the victim.

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Crown wants jail for man after string of violent crimes BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A man who pleaded guilty earlier this year to a violent April 24, 2025 incident that began on Beaver Forest Road should be jailed for three years, according to a Crown prosecutor. In Prince George Provincial Court on Sept. 24, Alex Dawson asked Judge David Simpkin to order Clinton Jay Baraniuk to spend two-and-a-half years in jail for robbery and six months, consecutively, for wilfully resisting or obstructing a police officer. As it was a carjacking, Dawson said denunciation and deterrence must be emphasized over all other sentencing principles. “He has a prior conditional sentence order that was collapsed, and even though it was collapsed, it did not

deter him from further offending,” Dawson said. “Given his history, there is little to suggest he will comply with the conditional sentence order, and the safety of the community cannot be protected.” Around 7 p.m. on April 24, 2025 a witness reported a male had crashed a vehicle into a washed-out roadway, leaving the vehicle partially submerged underwater. Baraniuk, exhibiting signs of being on stimulants, ran to a nearby truck and brandished a yellow X-acto knife. He climbed onto the truck, broke the driver’s side window and stole the vehicle. An officer discovered the truck stuck alongside the Fraser River, in the sandy foreshore. When officers slowly approached and told Baraniuk that he was under arrest, he swore at them and said “you’ll have to kill me.” Baraniuk refused to drop the knife

and threatened to fight the officers. An officer approached the driver’s side door and deployed pepper spray at Baraniuk, who attempted to escape from the passenger side. He stopped when he noticed a police service dog. He “began gesturing wildly” and said he was not going back to prison. Baraniuk was sprayed again and retreated to the back seat where he was arrested and taken to custody. Defence lawyer Connor Carleton said his client should serve a two-year conditional sentence in the community. Baraniuk, 37, has worked in construction and trades, but has been in treatment for the past 16 months. Carleton mentioned Baraniuk was convicted in 2024 of an incident that took place on April 26, 2023 in which he was shot six times by emergency

response team members in Prince George. He spent several months in hospital recovering. “Mr. Baraniuk has had some extremely well-earned hard lessons, I would say, in relation to how important it is that he addresses addiction issues over the last few years,” Carleton said. A report from the civilian-led Independent Investigations Office cleared the RCMP of wrongdoing after officers tasered and then shot knife-wielding Baraniuk at close range after he did not respond to verbal warnings to drop his weapon. “At that point, the officers were facing a threat of death or grievous bodily harm, and their deployment of lethal force was justifiable,” said the IIO report. The sentencing hearing is set to continue.

Jail, three years probation in child pornography case

Jeremie Longhurst has been added to the national sex offender registry BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Prince George man who pleaded guilty to a charge of accessing child sexual abuse and exploitation material was sentenced to 16 months in jail to be followed by three years on probation. In a Sept. 2 decision, released Sept. 18, Provincial Court Judge Michael Brecknell, also added Jeremie Longhurst, 27, to the national sex offender registry for 20 years. The Crown sought a 12-to-18 month jail sentence and three years on probation. Longhurst’s defence lawyer wanted an 18-to-24 month home confinement sentence and probation of two to three years. A six-to-ninemonth jail sentence was proposed as an alternative. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, based in Alexandria,

Va., received a report on in February 2023 that Longhurst had downloaded suspected child pornography. The information was forwarded to the Prince George RCMP, which obtained a production order and subscriber information. Officers searched Longhurst’s residence in May 2023 and seized his smartphone. It contained 583 images — 388 of them unique — and 166 videos totalling four hours, 42 minutes and 13 seconds of adults sexually exploiting children. Some of the victims appeared to be infants. One of the videos shows an adult male sexually abusing a girl between the ages of nine and 12. A girl, between the ages of 10 and 13, is bound to a bed and blindfolded in a two-minute video. With a trial looming, Longhurst pleaded guilty in March 2025. Sentencing was delayed, in-part, when Longhurst missed a forensic risk assessment appointment. Longhurst, who was 24 when he committed the crime, was born and raised in Prince George. His mother is a retired police officer.

Brecknell said Longhurst had been charged in 2019 with possessing, transmitting and accessing child pornography, but the Crown stayed proceedings in 2022. “Neither the Crown nor defence counsel were able to offer any information about the circumstances of Mr. Longhurst’s arrest, his bail compliance, the reasons for the numerous court appearances or the reasons for the stay of proceedings,” Brecknell said. Longhurst told the author of a psychological and psychiatric assessment about the 2019 charges, but did not provide details. “He briefly attended group therapy for addictions during that time but he was the only participant addicted to pornography and he did not feel comfortable discussing his situation,” Brecknell said. Brecknell noted that Longhurst was deemed a moderate risk to reoffend and said the number of images and videos Longhurst accessed and the extreme content of some of them — depicting sadism or bestiality — were aggravating His age, employment history, prosocial lifestyle and submission to

counselling were mitigating factors. Most importantly, his guilty plea, remorse and shame. Brecknell said Longhurst has lost friendships, but not employment or family support. Brecknell recommended Longhurst be jailed at the Ford Mountain Correctional Centre in Chilliwack, which specializes in rehabilitative programming for sex offenders. Brecknell also said he should continue virtual treatment with a specialist. For three years after his release from jail, Longhurst is banned from visiting any venue where those under age 16 are likely to gather, except in the presence of his parents or another adult who has seen a copy of the court order. He must also not have authority over anyone under 16 or communicate with anyone under 16, unless they are a family member. He may possess a single mobile phone in his name only, but is barred from accessing the Internet to communicate with anyone under 16 or to access social media sites, forums and chatrooms. He must also not possess or access any pornographic material.

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

Argument over sports gambling lands man in courtroom Williams Lake man was found guilty of assault with a weapon BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The lawyer for a man found guilty of beating a woman in Williams Lake during an argument about sports gambling more than three years ago said on Sept. 18 in BC Supreme Court that the conviction should be overturned and a new trial ordered. Kyle Eric Warman, born in 1984, was convicted on July 17, 2025 in Provincial Court of assault causing bodily harm and assault with a weapon. He received a six-month conditional sentence, 18 months probation and a five-year ban on possessing firearms. Defence lawyer Jeff Maxwell said Judge Sabena Thompson preferred the victim’s testimony and erred by

not providing sufficient reasons for her assessment of credibility. Maxwell said she also erred by relying on “unfounded stereotypes as to how a typical gambler would behave.” “The position of the appellant is that the law is clear, that a negative assessment of credibility grounded in stereotyping constitutes an error of law,” Maxwell told Justice Steven Wilson. Crown prosecutor Alexandra Pace said Warman and the woman were in a relationship for almost seven years. His paycheques were deposited in her account so she could manage their finances and limit his sports betting. A dispute erupted over his gambling in May 2023, when Warman was drinking. She started to roll a marijuana joint to calm her nerves. Warman lost a bet and asked for more money, but she refused, out of concern for their rent and groceries budget.

She testified that they pushed each other before he punched her, grabbed her mobile phone and smashed it on the floor. They traded more punches, until he grabbed her hair and repeatedly struck her in the mouth with the broken phone. She fell on the floor and he stomped and kicked her ribs and legs. When he threatened to kill her, she gave up the password to the phone. Maxwell said Warman testified he threw the phone in frustration when the woman stopped him from gambling and it accidentally hit her in the face before the woman assaulted him. “He had to bring her to the ground in a bear hug to prevent any further assault,” Maxwell said. Warman resumed gambling later that night or the next day and won about $16,000, a fact he revealed during the trial. Maxwell said the woman admitted

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under cross-examination that she did not provide text messages alleging Warman hit her to police or Crown counsel because Crown counsel told her the messages would be hard to prove and likely postpone the trial. In reply, Pace said the appeal should be dismissed because the judge’s reasons were “well-grounded in the evidence and detailed, and that the appellant has not identified any error of law in the reasons.” Pace pointed to significant inconsistencies in Warman’s evidence, such as times and dates. He testified that he set a limit on his gambling, but did not have any money in his bank account and relied on the woman to maintain the budget. “Mr. Warman’s insistence that he does not have a problem with gambling flies in the face of his own evidence,” Pace said in court. Wilson reserved decision on the appeal.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

REGIONAL

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Next-generation 911 now operating in regional district MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Fraser-Fort George 911 successfully migrated regional fire dispatch services to new next-generation 911 emergency services Wednesday, Sept. 9. Next Generation 911 (NG911) is a nationwide implementation mandated by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). The goal of the ongoing nationwide project is to modernize aging analog 911 infrastructure to a new Internet Protocol-based system capable of handling various forms of communication. Residents of the district are not expected to notice any changes to their services, with the transition having been planned and researched for years. An Internet Protocol-based system (IP) is a device or service that uses Internet protocols to send and receive data packets across a network. Directors at the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George heard a report on the upgraded services during a Thursday, Sept. 24, Public Safety and Emergency Management Committee meeting. The report was presented by Melanie Perrin, senior manager of public safety, and Marty Dupas, 911 communications program manager. “This migration marks the beginning of our next generation 911 journey. While this migration is a huge milestone, this represents seven years of work thus far,” said Perrin. During the report, Dupas outlined how the system has been working since its Sept. 9 implementation. “What is next for Fraser-Fort George 911?” Dupas said. “Currently, we’re working on system stabilization. Post-network migration on Sept. 9, there are always discoveries made through these onboardings, and as we learn, we’ll continue to make the tweaks to ensure that the system is stable and continues to be improved. Our hypercare approach is to ensure that all 911 network-related issues continue to be the first priority across the organization and that our personnel are ready to

REGIONAL DISTRICT OF FRASER-FORT GEORGE PHOTO

A Regional District of Fraser-Fort-George Fire Dispatcher sits at her desk ready for calls. An upgraded 911 system is now operating in the regional district, which provides the service to other communities in BC.

respond to many issues.” With the new IP-based systems, constant upgrades are possible. In the future, those using 911 services can expect the ability to send texts to dispatchers, real-time pinpoint locations for callers to be made available to emergency responders, the ability to anticipate some emergencies and more reliable and interconnected systems. During the report, Dupas outlined the timeline for when people in the district can expect some of these upgraded services. “What is the reality of next-generation 911 in the next five years?” Dupas said. “Real-time text — we’re looking at that in 2028 to 2029 for a call that’s already established a voice connection. People can’t just text to 911; they have to establish the voice call first. Geospatial routing and device-based location are estimated in 2030, and the beginnings of additional data repositories and incident data sharing via emergency incident data object are post-2030.” The report also noted that current work involves helping BC Fire Dispatch partners with their continued work

toward emergency services IP network migration and beginning readiness planning and preparations for real-time text, among other initiatives. “Next Gen 911 introduces new technology infrastructure, cybersecurity requirements, operational processes, training and service expectations that extend well beyond the traditional 911 environment. Local governments are responsible for ensuring that their facilities, systems, staffing, policies and emergency communications capabilities are prepared to meet these evolving requirements,” said Perrin. However, the report mentioned some drawbacks to the new system, including the potential for 911 call transmission over copper wire to face interruptions or theft; new networks potentially lacking the necessary stability, particularly during new feature implementation or bug fixes; and cybersecurity risks, including hacking and denial-of-service attacks. “There’s no network that is immune to these kinds of incidents. So for us, we need to ensure that we have our

disaster preparedness and recovery planning, business continuity planning, continuity of operations procedures, network monitoring, network penetration, and resilience, reliability and resiliency testing. It represents a never-ending personnel and fiscal commitment,” said Dupas. The regional district board was pleased with the work done to implement and upgrade the system and expressed satisfaction that the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George was one of the first in the area to receive the upgrades. The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George provides 911/fire dispatch services to: • Regional District of Fraser-Fort George • Cariboo Regional District • Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako • Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine, excluding Electoral Areas A, D and F • Regional District of Central Kootenay • City of Nelson

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

REGIONAL

Wife of Quesnel mayor ordered to pay legal costs Pat Morton sued the Union of BC Indian Chiefs BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The BC Supreme Court judge who dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed by the wife of Quesnel mayor Ron Paull last spring ruled Tuesday, Sept. 22 that the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) is entitled to full indemnity costs. Pat Morton sued the UBCIC in 2025, citing an April 2, 2024 complaint letter and the events that followed. The UBCIC had objected to former Mount Royal University professor Frances Widdowson speaking at a Quesnel city council meeting. Widdowson contributed to a book called Grave Error: How the Media Misled Us (and the Truth About Residential Schools). Morton purchased copies and distributed them to several people in what the UBCIC called “blatant disregard for the impact this would have on residential school survivors and their families.” On April 30, Justice Jasmin Ahmad ruled that the public interest in preserv-

ing UBCIC’s right to express its views outweighed whatever harm Morton may have incurred. In the ruling on costs, Ahmad said

Morton did not respond to the UBCIC offer last December proposing she pay a $20,000 settlement to end the dispute after one day of the trial. According to Ahmad, Morton opposed paying the full indemnity by disagreeing with the judge’s findings, misunderstanding the purpose of the Protection of Public Participation Act and claiming financial hardship with insufficient proof. On the unproven defence of financial hardship, Ahmad wrote that Morton provided an unsworn statement that included “Canada Pension and Old Age Pension.” The property she jointly owns with Paull is free and clear of mortgages and assessed at $695,000. Ahmad called it disingenuous for Morton to assert that she was not participating in public debate. Morton made her opinion known by posting on Facebook, distributing the book and commenting at a city council meeting in the context of a nationwide debate over residential school history prompted by the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission report. “Moreover, given the significant volume and nature of the online commentary following the March 19 meeting and the attendance and charged atmosphere at the April 2 meeting, it is difficult to accept that Ms. Morton was not aware of the ’public debate’ surrounding the issue when she filed the defamation claim,” Ahmad wrote. The Grave Error book at the centre of the dispute questions the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the widely reported 2021 claim that the remains of 215 children were found at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. The Tk’emlups te Secwepemc First Nation later clarified that ground-penetrating radar detected 200 “anomalies.” More than five years later, the site has not been excavated.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

REGIONAL

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Monument honours fallen CVSE officer A permanent memorial honouring Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement officer Toni Kristinsson has been installed at a Highway 5 rest area near the site where he died in the line of duty more than 11 years ago. Kristinsson was killed on Feb. 1 2015, when his patrol vehicle collided with a commercial transport truck near Valemount while he was driving home from his shift. He was the first CVSE peace officer to be killed while on duty. A ceremony was held to unveil the monument on Sept. 3. LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE PHOTO BY KEVIN GIBSON

Valemount mayor, council acclaimed; McBride ballot set KEVIN GIBSON

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

McBride voters will choose among four candidates for mayor and eight candidates for council in October, while the Robson Valley-Canoe electoral area also has a race for regional district director. In Valemount, the mayoral and council candidates appear set to be elected by acclamation. Incumbent Mayor Owen Torgerson will serve another four years, this time with new councillors Rachel Fraser, Donna Hamilton, Zachary Ruttiman and Shanon Manahan. In McBride, incumbent Mayor Gene Runtz is seeking another term against Erik Antypov, Joe Kolida and Cody Yetter. Kolida currently serves on McBride council and is giving up his council seat to run for mayor. He is also challenging incumbent Dannielle Alan for the Electoral Area H directorship on the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George board. Eight candidates are competing for four McBride council positions: Jasper Bender, Tina Bennett, Glen Frear, Sharon Glover, Cassandra Johnson, Meagan

Ryan, Rick Schafer and Kat Vickery. Bennett and Frear are current councillors seeking re-election. Coun. Pietro Caputo is not among the declared candidates.

RDFFG Electoral Area H

Alan and Kolida are the two declared candidates for director of Electoral Area H, also known as Robson Valley -Canoe. Alan is seeking another term as the area’s representative on the Regional District board. Kolida’s appearance in both races means his name will be on the McBride mayoral ballot and the Area H director ballot. The two offices represent different jurisdictions: McBride’s mayor represents residents within the Village, while the Area H director represents rural communities and properties outside the incorporated municipalities. According to Hilary Erasmus, manager of communications for the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, the regional district consulted with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, which informed it that a candidate is allowed to hold both positions. The ministry confirmed that Kolida may run for and hold both positions

because the Village and Regional District are separate local governments. Provincial law only prohibits a candidate from seeking two elected offices within the same local government. “As a municipality and a regional district are two separate local governments, a person can run as a candidate for office in both,” Erasmus said. Alan welcomed the number of people who had allowed their names to stand throughout the valley. “It’s exciting to see a full slate of candidates for our valley,” Alan told The Goat. “Congratulations to Mayor Torgerson and his new council, and I look forward to seeing the results in McBride.” Valemount’s candidates will not be formally elected by acclamation until the withdrawal deadline has passed.

Thompson Headwaters

Lee Onslow is the only declared candidate for director of Electoral Area B, also known as Thompson Headwaters, on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. Onslow is the incumbent and appears set to be elected by acclamation once the candidate withdrawal deadline has passed.

School trustees

Incumbent Bob Thompson and Valemount resident Lianne Abbott are running for the Robson Valley trustee position on the School District 57 board. In School District 73, Bronwen Bird is the only declared candidate for the Barriere trustee position, which includes the District of Barriere and Thompson-Nicola Regional District Electoral Area O, also known as Lower North Thompson. Bird appears set to be elected by acclamation after the withdrawal deadline.

Voting information

General voting day across BC is Saturday, Oct. 17. McBride’s advance voting opportunity will be held Wednesday, Oct. 7, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the council chambers at the Robson Centre, 100 Robson Centre – Main Street. General voting will take place at the same location Saturday, Oct. 17, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Official regional district results are scheduled to be determined Tuesday, Oct. 20. This article originally appeared in The Rocky Mountain Goat.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

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2026 GENERAL LOCAL ELECTION

Notice of election by voting Public notice is hereby given to the electors of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and Bear Lake Local Community that an election by voting will be held on Saturday October 17, 2026 to elect one Director for Electoral Area A, D, F, G and H, and four Commissioners for Bear Lake Local Community Commission. The following persons are the candidates for each office:

Director, Electoral Area A (Salmon River-Lakes)

Director, Electoral Area G (Crooked River-Parsnip)

Surname

• One to be elected AUSTMAN MOBLEY

Usual name

Greg Victor

Residential municipality/electoral area

Prince George, BC Prince George, BC

• One to be elected KIRK SZUCSKO

Usual name

Jerrilyn David

Residential municipality/electoral area

Prince George, BC Mackenzie, BC

Director, Electoral Area D (Tabor Lake-Stone Creek)

Director, Electoral Area H (Robson Valley-Canoe)

Surname

• One to be elected BROUGHTON BUKSA SCHINKEL SCHULTZ SLUMP VERKAIK

Usual name

Scott Book Ken Darrel Perry Robert

Residential municipality/electoral area

Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC Prince George, BC

Director, Electoral Area F (Willow River-Upper Fraser Valley) • One to be elected Surname

BOSIAK BRANDNER OLSON JAMIESON ROSITANO

Usual name

Kathleen Caroline Gary Joe

Residential municipality/electoral area

Prince George, BC Willow River, BC (Electoral Area F) Prince George, BC Giscome, BC (Electoral Area F)

• One to be elected ALAN KOLIDA

Usual name

Dannielle Joe

Residential municipality/electoral area

McBride, BC McBride, BC

Commissioner, Bear Lake Local Community • Four to be elected Surname

FRANKLIN GIESBRECHT HEBERT KENDALL MCCUTCHEON

Usual name

Herb Barbara Jennifer Thomas Ella

Residential municipality/electoral area

Bear Lake, BC (Electoral Area G) Bear Lake, BC (Electoral Area G) Bear Lake, BC (Electoral Area G) Bear Lake, BC (Electoral Area G) Bear Lake, BC (Electoral Area G)

General voting day and voting locations

General voting day will be open to qualified electors of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and the Bear Lake Local Community on Saturday October 17, 2026 between 8 am and 8 pm at the following locations:

Electoral Area A

• Ness Lake Community Hall, 9770 Lakeside Drive, Ness Lake • Nukko Lake Elementary School, 23955 Chief Lake Road, Nukko Lake • Shas Ti Kelly Road Secondary School, 7405 Kelly Road , Prince George

Electoral Area D

• Pineview Elementary School, 8515 Old Cariboo Highway, Prince George • Blackburn Elementary School, 2222 South Blackburn Road, Prince George • Buckhorn Elementary School, 5190 Buckhorn Lake Road, Prince George

Electoral Area F

• Sinclair Mills Community Hall, 37832 Upper Fraser Road, Prince George • Ferndale Community Hall, 3595 Upper Fraser Rd, Prince George • Willow River Community Hall, 55 Willow Street, Willow River

Electoral Area G

• Bear Lake Community Hall, 461 Hart Lake Road, Bear Lake • Mackenzie Recreation Centre, 400 Skeena Drive, Mackenzie

Electoral Area H

• Valemount Community Hall, 101 Gorse Street, Valemount • Robson Valley Community Centre, 441 Columbia Street, McBride

Bear Lake Local Community

• Bear Lake Community Hall, 461 Hart Lake Road, Bear Lake

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Additional general voting opportunities

Additional voting opportunities on general voting day will be open to qualified electors of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George on Saturday October 17, 2026 between 2 pm and 6 pm at the following location:

Electoral Area H

• Dunster Community Hall, 7085 Read Road, Dunster

Advance voting opportunities

Advance voting opportunities will be open to qualified electors of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and the Bear Lake Local Community on Wednesday October 7, 2026 between 8 am and 8 pm at the following locations:

Electoral Area A, D and F

• Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, 155 George Street, Prince George

Electoral Area G

• Bear Lake Community Hall, 461 Hart Lake Road, Bear Lake • District of Mackenzie, 1 Mackenzie Boulevard, Mackenzie

Electoral Area H

• Robson Valley Community Centre, 441 Columbia Street, McBride • Valemount Community Hall, 101 Gorse Street, Valemount

Bear Lake Local Community

• Bear Lake Community Hall, 461 Hart Lake Road, Bear Lake

Elector registration

There is no need to pre-register to vote as registration of all electors for these elections will take place at the time of voting. You will be required to make a declaration that you meet the requirements to be registered as set out below:

Resident electors

To register as a resident elector you must: • be 18 years of age or older on general voting day (October 17, 2026) • be a Canadian citizen • be a resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately before the day of registration • be a resident of the electoral area on the day of registration • not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election and not otherwise disqualified by law

Non-resident property electors

To register as a non-resident property elector you must: • be 18 years of age or older on general voting day (October 17, 2026) • be a Canadian citizen • be a resident of British Columbia for at least six months immediately before the day of registration (at time of voting) • be a registered owner of real property in the electoral area for at least 30 days immediately before the day of registration (at time of voting) • not be entitled to register as a resident elector • not be disqualified under the Local Government Act or any other enactment from voting in an election and not otherwise disqualified by law

In addition, for non-resident property electors: • the only persons who are registered owners of the property, either as joint tenants or tenants in common, are individuals who are not holding the property in trust for a corporation or another trust • if more than one person is registered owner of the property, only one of those individuals may, with the written consent of the majority of the owners, register as a non-resident property elector • consent forms are available at rdffg.ca/Election, at voting locations or by contacting the Chief Election Officer at 250-960-4400 or election@rdffg.bc.ca Resident electors at the time of registration will be required to produce two pieces of identification (at least one with a signature). Picture identification is not necessary. The identification must prove both residency and identity.

Non-resident property electors at the time of registration will be required to produce two pieces of identification (at least one with a signature) to prove identity, proof that they are entitled to register in relation to the property and, if there is more than one owner of the property, written consent from the majority of the property owners. A list of acceptable identification is at rdffg.ca/Election.

Mail ballot voting

Mail ballot voting is available to eligible resident and non-resident property electors. Mail ballot application forms are available online at rdffg.ca/Election, in person at the Regional District office at 155 George Street, Prince George, Monday to Friday between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, or by contacting the Chief Election Officer at 250-960-4400 or election@rdffg.bc.ca. Applications to vote by mail must be received by Thursday October 15, 2026 at 4:30 pm.

Maureen Connelly, Chief Election Officer | rdffg.ca/Election | 250-960-4400

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

COMMUNITY

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

What’s happening in PG Performing Arts Series goes Oct. 2 and 3 at 7 p.m. at the Prince George Playhouse and features Wake of Vultures: Seeing Double and Walking at Night by Myself. This is an experiential performance using eight-channel surround sound, projection, and two Asian female performers. This is an unabashedly hypnotic and spooky audiovisual show, a study in form and rhythm evoking confusion and the uncanny. It’s a psychological horror where the plot unfolds through visual interference patterns occurring between the costumes and projection, in tandem with live-performed surround sound design and choreography, creating a performance that transcends from the spectacular to the phenomenological: from seeing to experiencing. For more information and tickets visit https://studio-2880.tickit.ca/ events/34868-seeing-double-walking-atnight-by-myself-oct-2 41st annual Business Excellence Awards goes Saturday, Oct. 3 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre, 808 Canada Games Way. There will be 12 awards presented to outstanding businesses in recognition of their work, including customer service, entertainment and attractions, environmental impact, food and beverage, not for profit and community service and lifetime achievement. For more information and for tickets visit https://www.pgchamber. bc.ca/39th-business-excellence-awards Spur Crazy at the Saturday Night Dance goes Saturday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Prince George & District Senior Citizens Activity Centre Society, 425 Brunswick St. Dance to country and western, east coast swing, polkas and waltzes. Line dance during band breaks. There will be good music and good fun. $20 at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m. Everyone 19+ is welcome to attend. Cash bar, door prizes and a 50/50 draw. First Annual Duck Derby – Racing for Conservation goes Saturday, Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. at Cottonwood Island Park. All purchased ducks will be released into the Nechako River at the mouth

WAKE OF VULTURES/FACEBOOK PHOTO

Wake of Vultures: Seeing Double and Walking at Night by Myself, an experiential performance using eight-channel surround sound, projection and two performers happens Oct. 2 and 3 at 7 p.m. at the Prince George Playhouse.

of the newly restored Cottonwood Island Side Channel. The ducks will race downstream through the side channel toward the finish line, where a specially designed collection system will funnel them into the Winners Tube. The first three ducks into the Winners Tube will win. First place is $20,000, second place is $10,000 and third place is $5,000. But one lucky duck will be secretly selected before the race and

if that duck comes in first the ticket holder will win an additional $50,000. For more information and to purchase tickets for $25 each visit https://scwa. bc.ca/2026-duck-derby/ Broadway and Booze goes Saturday, Oct. 10 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Knox Performance Centre, 1448 Fifth Ave., and is presented by Nove Voce Choral Society, who are partnering again with the fabulous Tofino Distillery for a night

of tasting and great Broadway tunes. Tofino Craft Distilleries will be the featured liquor with six of their award winning spirits, including Espresso Vodka and Rose Hibiscus Gin. Nove Voce will offer entertainment between rounds with great broadway tunes from new and classic shows. This is a 19+ only event. The ticket price includes six half-ounce liquor samples with mix provided. No liquor will be sold separately. For more information and tickets visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/ broadway-and-booze-tickets Primetime Goes Big Time at the CN Centre and goes Friday, October 16 at 6 p.m. Professional wrestling returns to the CN Centre. Wrestlers will be on hand selling their merchandise and meeting fans during the show. For more information and tickets visit www.ticketsnorth.ca/event/ primetime-goes-big-time Craft Fair, Bake Sale, Book Sale, Yarn Sale goes Saturday, Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Elder Citizens’ Recreation Association, 1692 Tenth Ave. So basically it’s an everything sale and the association is accepting vendors who would like to claim a table for $25 each. For more information call 250-561-9381. October Junk Journal Night goes Friday, Oct. 23 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Spruce Capital Seniors, 3701 Rainbow Dr. Presented by Love Starts Today, the theme will be Halloween. Anyone who dresses up or brings an item to display will get a free ticket for the night’s draw. Magazines, ink and stamps, paper punches and pens, pencils, markers and adhesives available for everyone to use. Workshop costs $25 for adults and fee for children ages 6-18 is their age +$2. Children five and under are free to enjoy the evening with their parent or guardian. Prices include a seat, a Junk Journal Page, and your choice of pre-made themed bag to assist you with your journal. For more information and to reserve your spot email lovestartstoday@gmail.com CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

NOVE VOCE/FACEBOOK PHOTO

Broadway and Booze, with music by Nova Voce Choral Society, happens Saturday, Oct. 10 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Knox Performance Centre.

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Discovery Day at UNBC goes Friday, Oct. 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Prince George Campus. Whether you’re planning your post-secondary future, considering a career change, or just curious about campus life, Discovery Day is the perfect opportunity to experience UNBC firsthand. There will be guided campus tours, interactive learning activities, faculty meetand-greets, Indigenous spaces and student services. Information on more than 70 degree programs. There will be prizes, snacks, music, and more. Free admission and free parking. Backyard Ultra Lite goes Sunday, Oct. 25 at 9 a.m. at the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club, 8141 Otway Road. This is a fundraiser for the club’s race teams and sees athletes take on two classes recreation in solo and relay teams and Almost an Ultra – last runner standing

competition. For more information and to register visit zone4.ca/register. asp?id=41936&lan=1&cartlevel=1 DP Todd Craft Fair goes Saturday, Oct. 24 and Sunday, Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at DP Todd Secondary School, 4444 Hill Avenue. There are more than 100 vendors featuring their homemade local goods for sale. Get started on holiday shopping early. Halloween at the Prince George Legion goes Friday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. featuring the Chevys. This will be a Rockabilly Spooktacular event featuring Dennis Smith, standup bass/ vocals; Brad Martin, drums/vocals; and Tim Yule, guitar/vocals.Halloween at the Prince George Legion goes Friday, Oct. 30 at 8 p.m. featuring the Chevys. Canadian Cancer Society is looking for Wheels of Hope drivers who make a significant impact on the lives of those battling cancer. By providing crucial transportation to

treatment appointments volunteers offer not only a ride but also a supportive presence. This role involves flexible scheduling, confirming travel arrangements, ensuring client safety while adhering to CCS policies. CCS will provide training as volunteers join a dedicated team of more than 1600 drivers. Commit to a minimum of half a day to one day per week and be part of a mission to support and uplift those in need. For more information contact Wheels of Hope at 1-800-9393333 or email volunteer@cancer.ca or visit www.cancer.ca//living-with-cancer/how-we-can-help/cancer-travel-and-accommodation-services-bc 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. 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 community social group where people with any chronic condition can come together to socialize, connect and learn from each other. This is a free drop-in event. Trivia Night at Nancy O’s goes every other Wednesday at 8 p.m., 1261 Third Ave. There are three rounds per game, each round has five themed questions and five music questions. There’s something for everyone. The winning team gets a custom Nancy O’s Trivia trophy and a round of drinks, their photo on the wall that goes into the winners’ book after two weeks. Those caught cheating will be publicly shamed and labelled as cheaters — good wholesome fun. Book a spot by calling ahead at 250562-8066. 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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

COMMUNITY

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Altered Forever: New book is about surviving tragedy Sandee Bartsch will hold a launch at Books & Co. on Oct. 3 CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Sandee Bartsch is Altered Forever, and now she’s used that as the title of a book she’s written a book about it. She decided to create a book combining her art journaling and the written word five years ago, when she turned 60, reflecting on a decade of tragic circumstances that plagued her 50s. “At 50, I was diagnosed with throat cancer, at 52 I lost my mom to lung cancer, at 54 I lost my father to suicide, at 55 my only son suddenly passed away, at 57 there was a serious car accident in the United States, at 59 I survived a global pandemic,” Bartsch said. After her bout with throat cancer, her inner voice kept telling her she needed to turn to art to help her heal. “But I didn’t listen to that inner voice because I had all this self-doubt — I’m not an artist, I can’t draw,” Bartsch said. She eventually started exploring her creative side, and it’s now a big part of her life. “Now when it comes to thinking about life and having a sense of purpose — I was always searching for that — what’s the meaning of life, why are we here? I was always such a big searcher, and then when I came out of my cancer bed it was so simple — your life comes down to love and regret. Did you love the people you love? Did they know you loved them? And what are your regrets? And then it occurred to me that I needed to write a book, and for five years it haunted me, and so I finally wrote the book.” Bartsch said she knows we are all here for a reason. “If we all use our gifts in some way, perhaps we can then help someone else,” Bartsch said. “I know that somebody out there is waiting for this book. This could be someone’s survival guide. You never know. My dream for this book is that there is one person out there who comes

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHRISTINE DALGLEISH

Sandee Bartsch has been Altered Forever and wrote a book about it. There is a book signing on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Books & Co. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

out of reading it with hope because they are going through their own dark night of the soul. I want them to know that when they are altered forever, it does not mean their story is over.” Bartsch takes it one step further and takes a deep breath. “When people have been altered forever in the ways that I have been altered forever, you never feel like you are going to be the same again,” Bartsch said in one long sigh. “Even when you are injured, you’re worried that you are never going to be normal again — you can’t help but think that this is going to ruin your life because you know you can’t go back because you’re never the same person. But how do you go forward? And for some people — and I know from my own experience — you’re isolated, you’re alone, a lot of your friends leave you, and you’re sitting in the dark and you don’t know how to get through it.” To help along the way, Bartsch wrote a little piece about it called Borrow My Lantern. “You can borrow my lantern and it will shine enough for you to take those first few steps through your dark night of the soul, through your journey, but you’ll have my lantern with you,” Bartsch

explained. “Then when you’re bright again and your light is shining and you see someone else in the dark going through it, you can say, ‘Here, borrow my lantern.’ And so that is my next stage. And I thought this was going to be it, but there’s more.” Turning Borrow My Lantern into a social movement is her next project. The process of writing the book did not come easily, Bartsch said. After doing some writing, Bartsch realized she wasn’t quite getting it when it came to setting the scene and expressing herself the way she wanted to, so she took a year-long course on how to tell her story. “It’s a real art to get readers to experience something with you,” Bartsch said. “So I did take a whole year out to concentrate on being a better writer.” Bartsch, in her wisdom, gathered people around her to support the project. She asked people to read her book at every stage. Bartsch called them beta readers — everyday people who give feedback before the work is published. Her book isn’t a typical read. “It’s diary entries, art and art journaling, it’s writing — it’s everything,” Bartsch said. While trying to figure out an art technique and being brave enough to reach

out to an artist who was really good at it, Bartsch made a friend. Over the last two years, while trying to put the book together, she discovered her new friend, whose nickname is Bug, could help with formatting the book. “And if she couldn’t do this, this book would not exist,” Bartsch said. “And now we’re best friends. She’s my soul sister!” Then it was time for Bartsch to take me through the book, page by page. The first pages are colourful and bright and are flipped through quickly. There is a playfulness to it as Bartsch asks whether the reader is ready to delve deeper. “This is your warning!” Bartsch said. That’s when the stories start. There are 22 pieces interwoven with her artwork. “Sometimes words can’t express my feelings and my art will just do it for me in a stronger way,” Bartsch said. “I try to bring people into the experience. I think that’s what art does.” We flip through stories, journal entries, poems, photos and artwork that all flow together across 280 pages in full colour. “So this is all raw and real — I have no secrets after this,” Bartsch said as we sat side by side. “Oh! There are seven secrets in here. Secrets that I have never told anyone but my husband. They are kind of tucked into the book, so you have to hunt for them.” The first part of the book is about the trials, Bartsch added. “And then the second part is the transformation and how I got out of the situation and how the joy kept coming. I talk about my idea about grief and joy. So I will tell you a little secret. To become at peace with being altered forever, you have to know that joy and grief live simultaneously together, and that’s how it’s always going to be, and that’s OK. And if you can come to terms with that, I think it will be a huge part of your healing.” Altered Forever is out now and can be found on Amazon and at Books & Co. There will be a book signing on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Books & Co., 1685 Third Ave.

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

Wildlife society facing new animal rescue restrictions The province cites concerns over chronic wasting disease MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Northern Lights Wildlife Society (NLWS) says it has been prevented from rescuing animals following intervention by provincial biologists. NLWS is an animal rescue based in Smithers that focuses on rescuing injured and orphaned wildlife in BC before releasing them back into the wild. In a statement, NLWS said that as of May, intake for rescued hoofed animals and other wildlife, including deer fawns, moose calves and bears, in the Omineca region would require direct approval from the Omineca Region Fish & Wildlife section head. In addition, according to NLWS staff, Conservation Officers could no longer provide rescue approval themselves. This means requests involving orphaned wildlife rescues must be handled by email through the section head during regular business hours, approximately 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. NLWS executive director Angelika Langen told The Citizen about the events that led to the change in the rescue’s permitting. “After a rescue of a fawn in the Omineca region, we received an email that we are no longer allowed to do so unless we get personal authorization from the Fish & Wildlife section head,” Langen said. “I contacted them and said, ‘Hey, how is this going to work?’ He informed me that we can no longer work with Conservation Officers, which we have done for the last 30-plus years. “They were just an extension of the Fish & Wildlife branch and could give permission when a biologist was not available. That was rescinded by the section head and we could only deal with him during work hours. There was no coverage in the evenings or on holidays and weekends.” Langen said the change has greatly

affected the rescue, noting that rescues often do not occur during business hours and that the restrictions have almost curtailed operations since May. “It’s very complicated because rescues happen any time, most of the time on weekends when people are out and about and see things, often after hours,” Langen said. “When a young animal is orphaned due to a vehicle accident or is on the side of the road, it becomes really important to be able to react as quickly as possible, which was absolutely and totally stopped.” Langen was told the restriction was placed because of concerns over chronic wasting disease (CWD). CWD is a fatal and contagious neurological illness that affects the brain and nervous system of deer, elk, moose and caribou. The disease wastes away a deer’s body while also inducing behavioural changes, including lethargy, drooping ears, repetitive behaviours and a lack of fear around humans. It has often been referred to as turning deer into “zombies.” While Langen understands the concerns surrounding the disease, she expressed skepticism that it is a concern in the Omineca region. “We do realize that this is a very serious disease, but we cannot really get on board with the decision,” Langen said. “There has been no actual proof of this disease existing in the region, to the best of our knowledge. CWD has only been confirmed in a few areas in the Kootenays. So that’s a long way from the Omineca.” So far, according to Langen, the vast majority of rescue requests have been refused by the province. “Further requests that we put in were denied,” Langen said. “Several moose calves and fawns were left out to die. Some of them had a really slow death over a long period of time that we had to witness through the people observing it, which was very distressing for all parties involved. “Then this fall, when we asked for permission to rescue two bear cubs that had been orphaned due to a vehicle accident, we again got a no for

NORTHERN LIGHTS WILDLIFE SOCIETY PHOTO

The bear cub seen here was one of two cubs orphaned after their mother was hit by a vehicle. NWLS staff say they were refused the opportunity to rescue the cubs by the province.

these cubs as well.” Langen said the reason given was that the cubs were considered healthy enough to survive on their own. However, she is concerned the cubs could become accustomed to humans and seek food in urban areas if they are not rescued within a short time frame. She also said she and the rescue have been left with many unanswered questions. “The head has absolutely refused to answer my question regarding what we’re supposed to do with smaller mammals,” Langen said. “Do we have to phone him for every squirrel or hare or fox baby that comes our way now? He hasn’t responded to that at all, so I don’t know what to do with that either.” Beyond affecting wildlife, Langen said people in the region may start losing faith in the rescue if it is repeatedly unable to respond to animals in distress. “I’m the one that always answers the phone,” Langen said. “People are calling me and saying that an animal has a broken leg, and I have to tell them we’re not allowed to come. We could fix it, we could do something about it, but we’re not allowed, and they don’t understand, and rightfully so. “We are starting to sound like we were just making up excuses, and people were getting pretty angry with us.” She added that the restrictions could also be dangerous for wildlife because

concerned Northerners may interact with injured animals if NLWS cannot provide a timely rescue, potentially causing the animals to become accustomed to humans. “Nobody’s going to walk away from Bambi if it lies there with a broken leg and not help it,” Langen said. “It’s just a reality. The same goes for squirrels and hares and everything else. “These animals need specialized milk, they need specialized care, they need to be kept in a certain way so they don’t get habituated and can be released, which is what our profession is. The general public just doesn’t have that knowledge. “Being left without the opportunity to work with us, they will try the best they can, which is not best for wild animals.” The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, in a statement sent to The Citizen, refuted claims that wildlife rehabilitation and release in the area have been prohibited. “There is no blanket prohibition for the rehabilitation and release of wildlife from the Prince George area,” the statement reads. “Northern Lights Wildlife Society continues to hold a valid Wildlife Act permit, including for the Omineca area.” The ministry clarified its position on updates to NLWS permits requiring regional oversight. “Updates were made in May to the NLWS permit to emphasize the need for regional oversight of ungulate transfer within the region, considering potential disease transfer and ongoing concerns around chronic wasting disease in BC,” the statement reads. “We also clarified existing regulations requiring ministry approvals for capture of bear cubs, but this does not indicate a blanket rejection of bear rehabilitation work, only that it requires expert review and a caseby-case decision for each individual situation.” NLWS said it has hired a lawyer and filed a suit in environmental appeal court, which Langen noted can take up to two years.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN L.O.C.F.

Throwback Thursday: Week of October 1

October 3, 1977: The first official snowfall, 2.6 cm, was recorded this year on Sunday, Oct. 2, 1977. Ken Kienzle took his dog for a walk through the woods in the West Beaverly area to experience the beginning of another PG winter. Citizen File Photo by Dave Milne.

October 4, 1965: Prince George Saddle Club members helped round up cattle freed by juvenile pranksters from their pen at the CNR yards on First Avenue. Citizen File Photo by Looy Photo.

October 1, 1982: Caught in the Ferry Avenue traffic at the 5 p.m. rush, this coyote became a roadrunner. Citizen File Photo by Dave Milne.

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October 1, 2004: A wild robin, rescued and raised by Stacy Derosier, flew the coop just in time to rejoin fly south before the winter. Citizen File Photo.

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PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Local Sports

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

Spruce Kings sharp in weekend home opener TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

It’s old and outdated, with a short ice surface and boards with absolutely no give to them. Maybe that’s why visiting teams don’t especially like playing hockey games at Kopar Memorial Arena. But for the Prince George Spruce Kings it’s home and they love their rink and the people it attracts. The Spruce Kings made the most of their familiar surroundings on their home-opening weekend and sent a pair of previously undefeated BCHL opponents home licking their wounds. On Saturday, Sept. 26, Prince George (3-1-0-0) moved into a tie with Chilliwack for first place in the Coastal East standings with a 4-2 win over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in front of a Kopar crowd of 809. Michael Denney scored a pair, including a game-winning shorthanded goal midway through the third period, to lock up the win. Into an empty net Rhett Tubello and Ryan Wachtel, also scored for the Spruce Kings. Jack Toogood and Ethan Facchina were the Salmon Arm scorers. Cody Arnold notched his first victory of the season in goal for Prince George, blocking 28 of 30 shots. Kasey Fuson took the loss at the other end of the ice, after he made 22 saves. Toogood opened the scoring on a Silverbacks power play early in the game and Tubello answered in the 13th minute, banging in a loose puck from close range after his slot shot was deflected. Strong forechecking in the Salmon Arm end led to the Kings go-ahead goal. Denney shot high off the glass but the puck bounced onto his stick in the lot and he found the net with the only goal

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Spruce Kings goalie Cody Arnold sweeps the shot of Silverbacks forward Jared Rothman to the side of the net as Kings defenseman Noah Smith moves in to check at Kopar Arena Saturday, Sept. 26.

of the second period. The Kings were killing a penalty when Wachtel went rink length with the puck and beat Fuson cleanly with a shot from the slot. The Silverbacks made it interesting when Facchina scored with 42 seconds left, with Fuson on the bench. But not long after that, Wachtel stripped the puck at the Silverbacks blueline and found the open net. The win over the Silverbacks came a day after the Kings trounced the West Kelowna Warriors 8-3 on Friday, Sept. 25. The Spruce Kings will be back at Kopar this weekend for games Saturday, Oct. 3 (6 p.m.) and Sunday, Oct. 4 (2 p.m.) against the Cowichan Valley Capitals.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Spruce Kings right winger Trent Gates controls the puck as Silverbacks centre Ethan Facchina challenges at Kopar Arena Saturday, Sept. 26

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

SPORTS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Cougars happy to have Aiden Foster back from Tampa

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Aiden Foster (top row, second from left) poses with his Tampa Bay Lightning development camp teammates after they won the 3-on-3 tournament in July in Tampa, Fla. After two weeks at the Lightning training camp Foster returned to thePrince George Cougars on Monday, Sept. 21. TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Aiden Foster is getting to know the lay of the land in Tampa Bay. He just got back from two weeks in Florida, where it’s always warm, the sun shines practically every day and that white beach sand is so fine it squeaks when you walk on it. But Foster wasn’t there for a vacation. He was there to try to impress the Tampa Bay Lightning brass he intends to be working for once his time is done as a junior hockey forward with the Prince George Cougars. The Lightning recognized his potential after he put up 11 goals and 20 points in 2024-25, his second season in the WHL, and used their fourth round, 127th overall pick to select him in the 2025 NHL draft. Foster attended Tampa’s development camp in July both years since the draft and has gone through two rookie camp/prospects showcase events

that lead into the main camp, and he’s gotten to know some of the Lightning mainstays. “Second time around, for sure more confidence, I know all the staff down there and just went in and tried to do my thing and do the best I could,” said Foster, part of the winning team in each of the past two Lightning 3-on-3 tournaments at development camps. “It’s pretty cool to have the name on the trophy with those guys.” So what was it like hanging around the Lightning dressing room with the likes of veterans Nkita Kucherov, Brayden Point, Victor Hedman, and taking shots on goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy? “The first time around you can’t even believe it that you’re in the room with those kind of players you grew up watching,” said Foster, expected to suit up for Saturday’s game (6:05 p.m. in Kent, Wash.) against the Seattle Thunderbirds. “But I like that once you get there they’re so open and it’s just business-like. Everything is really

structured, so going down there you get lots out of it. “The best part is seeing everyone’s strong, everyone’s competitive and they’re all there working for a job at the end of the day. Battling against those is a good eye-opener, just trying to learn those things and use in junior and set myself apart in that aspect of the game.” Foster and the Lightning rookies played two games at the Prospects Showcase in North Carolina, Sept. 13-15, facing the Carolina Hurricanes and Nashville Predators. He then played in two training camp scrimmages with Bolts’ veterans. Former Cougar winger Jansen Harkins, 29, has moved on from Anaheim and signed this summer with the Lightning as he heads into his 10th NHL season. “I didn’t know him and he came up and introduced himself, so that was pretty cool to hear some stories from him back in the day (with the Cougars) and tell him some new things what it

looks like now,” said Foster. Then, of course, there’s the most prominent PG connection, head coach Jon Cooper. The reigning NHL coach of the year, who was born and raised in Prince George, is about to begin his 14th season behind the Lightning bench. “Coop, hearing him talk it just makes you want to play for him, he’s such a great guy, in general and his coaching is unbelievable,” said Foster. “Just hearing him talk about the game and how he sees it, it’s really unreal. Everyone down there just loves him.” Listed as six-foot-four, 190 pounds, Foster did a lot of growing on the ice last season with the Cougars patrolling the left wing. After a 14-goal, 35-point season that included 113 minutes of sinbin time he made his physical presence especially felt in the playoffs and contributed two goals and four assists in 10 games. His high hit on Penticton Vees defenceman Callum Stone meant Foster had to sit out the last two games of the playoffs and the Cats certainly missed him and that banging, crashing style and his speed on the wing leading incursions into enemy territory. “I feel like, with my body now, I’m a way more mature player, in my 19-yearold year I’ve played a lot of games now and I know how this league is and how it will be and it’s just more about what I can do to put ourselves over the top with our team and try to be that leader,” said Foster, a native of Lloydminster, Alta. “It’s nice to see the new faces and learn about all the guys together and it seems like a really good group and I’m excited to get on the road with them and get playing.“For me it’s just my 200foot game, I want to be the best player every time I’m on the ice. I feel I can kind of slow down the game this year and play my game and just be non-stop on teams and make them not want to play against myself or the team.” There’s always an adjustment period for junior hockey players coming back from an NHL camp and Foster knows what that involves. SEE ‘WHEAT KINGS’ ON NEXT PAGE

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

SPORTS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

Corbin Vaughan named new captain of the Cougars TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

He’s already known around Prince George Cougars’ circles as ‘The Sherriff.’ Now Corbin Vaughan has a new designation that will further cement his reputation for laying down the law. The Cougars have named the hard-hitting 20-year-old defenceman as team captain on Friday, Sept. 25. Born in Kelowna and raised in Merritt, the six-foot-one, 212-pound blueliner joined the Cougars in trade from Regina on Dec. 8, 2024. He becomes the 32nd captain in the team’s 33-year Prince George history. Aiden Foster, Lee Shurgot and Arsenii Anisimov were named the team’s alternate captains. “It has been a great ride here in PG,” said Vaughan. “The culture and the people in this organization have probably helped me the most to take this step in my leadership and have made me who I am today around the rink.” Vaughan succeeds Bauer Dumanski (2025-26), Riley Heidt (2024-25), Hudson Thornton (2023-24), Ethan Samson (2022-23), Jonny Hooker (2021-22), Jack Sander (2020-21), Josh Maser (2019-20), Josh Curtis (2018-19), Dennis Cholowski (2017-18), Sam Ruopp (2014-17), Troy Bourke (2013-14), Dan Gibb and Brock

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Wenatchee Wild forward Levi Benson loses his edge as he tries to sweep the puck around Cougars defenseman Corbin Vaughan at CN Centre Saturday, March 14. Vaughan has been selected as the Cougars captain for 2026-27.

Hirsche (2012-13), Brett Connolly (2010-11), Garrett Thiessen (2009-10), Art Bidlevski (2009-10), Cameron Cepek and Dana Tyrell (2008-09), Greg Gardner

(2007-08), Eric Hunter (2006-07), Myles Zimmer (2004-06), Chris Falloon (2003-04), Blake Robson (2002-03), Dan Hamhuis (2001-02), Justin Cox (2000-01),

Tyler Bouck (1998-2000), Andrew Luciuk (1997-98), Brad Mehalko (1996-97), Geoff Lynch (1995-96), and Clayton Catellier and Rob Butz (1994-95) as captain.

Wheat Kings face Cougars at CN Centre Friday night CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE “Coming back, you have to try not to do too much, you just have to keep it simple and get into it right from the start and do the little things and the chances will come,” he said. After three full seasons of junior hockey with the Cougars playing on successful teams in each of those years, Foster has blossomed into the type of player pro hockey coaches like to have on their team. Cougars head coach and general manager Mark Lamb has him playing on line

with Townes Kozicky and Jett Lajoie. Lajoie just returned from the Winnipeg Jets’ rookie camp, his hometown NHL team, while Kozicky has been one of the Cougars top players all through training camp. The new-look Cougars have seven rookies and a new goalie, 18-year-old Peyton Shore, and Foster returned to a team that split its opening weekend at home against the Penticton Vees. The Cats beat the Vees 4-1 in first game on Sept. 18 but the rematch was a complete reversal with Penticton winning 5-1 on Sept. 19. The Cougars power play was good in

both the games, scoring three times in six chances combined, against the Vees and having Foster adds another aspect that leads to scoring goals. “He’s is a hard-nosed player that everybody knows and he’s a good player,” said Lamb. “He’s got a lot of skill and talent and everyone looks at the penalty minutes and toughness, which we need, but he’s a player who’s hard to play against and everybody knows he’s on the ice when he’s playing for us. “He’s a 19-year-old and he’s been around here a long time. Him and Jett came in as 16-year-olds and they’re

experienced veterans now.” Kozicky drew two assists on opening weekend and was one of the Cougars standouts, as was winger Tre Peck, who scored two goals in his first WHL game, and Lee Shurgot, who had a goal and two assists. The Cougars will look to Russian defenceman Artemii Anisimov to kickstart the offence. Back from the Vancouver Canucks’ rookie camp, he had a pair of assists in the season opener. The Cougars were on the road last weekend. They host the Brandon Wheat Kings at the CN Centre on Friday, Oct. 2.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

SPORTS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

PG Kodiaks buck Broncos in 78-18 win Prince George Kodiaks wide receiver Andrew Brown scrambles to make his way through the Kamloops Bronco’s defense and escape back Levi Koenig at Masich Place Stadium Saturday, Sept. 26. The Kodiaks won their final home game of the season 78-18 over the Broncos, bringing the BCFC team to a 3-6 record. The Kodiaks played the game in their special Lheidli T’enney uniforms in advance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Next up for the Kodiaks is a road trip as they play their final game of the season against the Valley Huskers in Chilliwack on Saturday, Oct. 3. CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Another frustrating finish for UHNBC Timberwolves men DAN O’CONNOR UHNBC Athletics

The UNBC Timberwolves suffered another heartbreaking result Sunday afternoon, conceding in the final moments of regulation in a 1-0 loss to the Lethbridge Pronghorns. Bronson Schlichter scored the lone goal of the match in the 90th minute, giving Lethbridge (4-2-1) all three points and leaving UNBC (0-4-4) empty-handed despite another strong performance. Callum Cuthbert made four saves in the UNBC goal, while Kosta Adzic turned in a notable performance in the midfield and was named the Mr. Mike’s Player of the Game. Looking to spark the Timberwolves’ attack, head coach Steve Simonson made four changes to his starting lineup, inserting Mehdi Bounaaja,

Trevor Scott, Charlie Beauvais and Kaiden Young. The quartet immediately provided a positive presence as UNBC generated several promising opportunities in the opening half. The T-Wolves came closest to breaking the deadlock when Beauvais connected with a header in the 19th minute, but Lethbridge goalkeeper Tegan Romaine made the save. Romaine was called upon again in the final minute of the half, denying another UNBC header, this time from Young. At the other end, Cuthbert made his first stop of the afternoon in the fourth minute, turning aside a shot from Xander McIntyre. It proved to be Lethbridge’s lone shot on target in the opening 45 minutes, with the Pronghorns sending four additional attempts wide. The second half saw the game open

up considerably. Lethbridge nearly broke through in the 67th minute when Jose Castaneda fired a shot from the right side of the box that beat Cuthbert but struck the post. Moments later, the Pronghorns threatened again off a set piece, with Alessio Gusciglio rising to connect on a header. Cuthbert made a tremendous diving stop to his left, keeping the match scoreless. UNBC also received strong contributions from a pair of rookies in the second half, with Ryder Rusman and Nick Couchman providing valuable minutes off the bench. Rusman was particularly dangerous late, using his combination of speed, strength and finesse to create problems for the Lethbridge defence. But just as it appeared the Timberwolves were destined to earn another hard-fought point on the road,

heartbreak struck. A turnover in the UNBC defensive third in the 90th minute sparked a dangerous Lethbridge sequence along the right wing. Gusciglio delivered a perfectly weighted ball into the box, where Schlichter got just enough of a touch to redirect it across the goal line and give the Pronghorns a 1-0 victory. The result marks another frustrating finish for the Timberwolves, who once again found themselves in a match that felt within their grasp. UNBC will now return home for a pair of Alberta opponents next weekend. The Timberwolves will host the University of Alberta at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2 at Masich Place Stadium as part of the annual SD 57 School Game, before welcoming Mount Royal University to Prince George for a 2:30 p.m. Sunday showdown.

SPORTS

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

Concussion ends Jared Young’s amazing Mets season TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Jared Young’s brilliant season as the New York Mets’ every-day first baseman has come to a premature end. The Mets placed the 31-year-old Prince George native in the seven-day concussion injury list and with only one week left in the schedule he won’t return to the field this season. Young was injured in the sixth inning of the game Thursday, Sept. 17 in New York against the Philadelphia Phillies. Justin Crawford connected on a slow roller along the first base line and Mets pitcher Nolan McLean appeared about to field the ball but hesitated and Young stretched out to get the ball with his right throwing hand while trying to keep his foot on the bag. McLean resumed running and tried to leap over Young but caught him squarely on the side of his head with his knee. Young was knocked unconscious and slumped to the dirt face-first while medical staff rushed to the scene. He was taken off the field on a stretcher and gave the crowd a thumbs-up gesture as he was taken to hospital, where he remained overnight. A CT scan revealed there was no brain bleeding and had full use of his legs and arms but Young was having concussion-like symptoms with headaches and some short-term memory loss. He had no memory of what happened to him on the field. “It was a terrifying moment on a

JOHN JONES PHOTO

New York Mets first baseman Jared Young was stretchered off the field in New York on Thursday, Sept. 17 after he suffered a concussion when he was kneed in the head by Mets pitcher Nolan McLean while fielding a ball against the Philadelphia Phillies.

baseball field,” Mets interim manager Andy Green told the Associated Press. “Took him a while to come to. It was a really scary collision. “He’s had a CT scan. Results have come back negative,” Green said. “So, in that sense, it’s very positive. Still experiencing real concussion symptoms right now but has full use of his extremities and feels at this point in time like we’ve avoided the scariest outcomes.

“Very optimistic about recovery and continuing to play going forward,” he said. “There’s no concerns in that space.” Young was having his best major league season and has been one of the bright spots for the Mets in an otherwise disappointing season. Young missed six weeks in late-April and May after having left knee surgery to repair torn meniscus. Young’s .266 batting average through

103 games ranks third on the team and he leads all Mets with a .303 batting average with runners in scoring position. He had nine home runs, 82 hits and 29 extra-base hits while posting a .759 OPS. He walked 25 times, had just 63 strikeouts and batted in 39 runs, also scoring 46 runs. He was also solid as a fielder, making just five errors in 559 total chances in 84 games at first base.

PG Sports Hall of Fame announces Rising Stars winners TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

On Saturday, Oct. 24, at the 14th Prince George Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre, 15 young Prince George athletes will be recognized for their sports achievements as winners of the Rising Star Award. The list of 2026 Rising Stars includes:

• • • • • • • • • •

Hunter McCarthy (wrestling) Thunder Innis (boxing) Carla Van Zyl (judo) Moira Green (biathlon) Priya Hamel (powerlifting) Macyn Unger (volleyball) Anika Hollybow (karate) Kennedy Moore (artistic swimming); Nicolas Scarpino (track and field); Kasieobi Udumaga (track and

field) Chase Harrington (hockey); Decker Passey (rodeo); Keira Gordon (rugby); Kionae Roberts (track and field); Sawyer Roberts (volleyball/ basketball) The Rising Star awards will be presented on the night the Hall will induct its class of 2026, which includes: • Gerry Peckham (curling) • • • • •

• • •

Mary Potskin (softball) Keith Sullivan (ringette) Tuomas Ukonmaanaho (track and field) • Kris Yip (cycling) Their induction at the ceremony on Oct. 24 will bring the total to 88 individuals and two teams in the PGSHF. Tickets for the 2026 induction banquet are $70 each, and are available for sale online.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

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ACROSS 1 Hot tub 4 Gore and Pacino 7 Poet Teasdale 11 Sod 13 Architect I.M. -14 Sty cry 15 Play opener 16 Up to

17 -- Minor (bear constellation) 18 Bas-relief medium 20 Leave out 22 Grass shack 24 Paper fastener 28 Mosque tower 32 Florida game fish 33 Optimist’s credo

34 Apprehend 36 Pharmaceutical 37 Transmits 39 Baking potatoes 41 Orders of pancakes 43 “Don’t Start Now” singer Lipa 44 Intimate 46 Tactics

50 “Star Wars” knight 53 Resistance unit 55 “East of Eden” twin 56 At the summit of 57 Pint-sized 58 Belafonte song 59 Orange veggies 60 Matching pair 61 Arced tennis shot

DOWN 1 Men-only 2 Brownish purple 3 -- and crafts 4 Likely 5 Floral rings 6 Sari fabrics 7 Light lunch order 8 Televise

9 ICU pros 10 Rap sheet letters 12 Popular British dish 19 Owned by us 21 The “I” of TGIF 23 Sawbuck 25 Skin opening 26 Lummox 27 Heart charts (Abbr.)

28 Avoid 29 “Rhyme Pays” rapper 30 “Peter Pan” pooch 31 Roofing goo 35 Future flower 38 Enjoy Vail 40 “How’s it goin’?” 42 Bamboozles 45 Biblical pronoun

47 Exam format 48 Vacillate 49 Elitist 50 Comic Leno 51 JFK info 52 -- Perignon 54 Bumped into

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PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Life Events Donald F Phillips

Sharron Joan Dezell

June 7, 1939 - October 6, 2022 A daughter, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and a friend to many. Loved and missed greatly by her family. We try to live as she would have wished but her absence leaves a great gap in our lives.

February 13, 1944 - September 22, 2026 With great sadness, we announce the passing of Don Phillips at age 82. Survived by wife of 53 years Louise, son Cameron (Christie), daughter April (Darren), grandchildren Hayden, Zach, Olivia, Joshua, Eli and Mateo. Siblings Sylvia, Gordon, Ed, Joe and Diane, and many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by infant daughter Amanda Kristal, sister Margaret, brothers Ray and Albert. He was deeply loved and will be greatly missed. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday October 17th, 2026 at 2pm at Trinity United Church. Reception to follow.

Donald Charles Fillion

April 2, 1944 - September 12, 2026 We are sad to announce the passing of Don, while comforted by his wife Shirley the morning of September 12th, 2026 at Gateway Lodge. We would like to thank the staff at Gateway Complex Care unit for their exceptional care and compassion for Don. Don was born in Meadow Lake SK, and came to Prince George at 16 where he met his wife, Shirley. They moved around BC for work, but finally returned to Prince George to retire. He is survived by his wife Shirley, son Daniel (Bonnie) Fillion, granddaughter Kristina. Daughter Kelly-Ann (Greg) Jago, granddaughters Karling (Aaron) Laidlaw, Olivia (Russell) Swan. Great Grandchildren Ayla, Kadence, Penelope, Delilah, Wendell & Miles. Brother Leonard (Kelly)Fillion Predeceased by his Parents Norbert & Josephine Fillion, twin Brother Daniel (Deborah) Fillion, grandniece Tanishia Fillion, & sister Arlene (Frank) Hebert. A Celebration of Life will be held October 3rd, 2026 at Hart Pioneer Centre, 1:00 – 3:00PM.

James Douglas Greenshields April 23, 1945 - September 13, 2026

James Douglas Greenshields (Doug), age 81, of Prince George, British Columbia, passed away on September 13, 2026. Born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Doug later lived in Port Renfrew, British Columbia. He worked as a logger before opening Island Chainsaw and Equipment in Duncan, BC. Doug was predeceased by his parents, Lester and Beatrice Greenshields, and his sister, Carol Ann Stiles. He loved fishing, reading, Chinese food, thrift shopping, and garage sales, always searching for a good bargain. His greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren. Doug will be lovingly remembered by his children, Gina (Tyler), Hayden (Theresa), Roy (Angeli), and Keith; and by his grandchildren, Emma, Abigail, Maria, Milania, Sophia, Molly, Brooklyn, Phallon, Timber, and Michaela.

Anthony George Clifton Smith January 15, 1946 - September 15, 2026 It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the passing of a most beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. Tony was a truly happy, caring and loving man who brought joy, laughter and warmth to each and every day. He will forever be remembered for his good humour, his ability to always find a way to make us laugh and the gift for always finding the positive side; even in difficult moments. He was an amazing support and you would always find him cheering you on. The precious memories we shared will be treasured by us all. Losing him leaves a hole in our hearts that words cannot begin to describe. Our father and mother shared a lifetime of love, friendship, laughter, challenges and precious memories. We will forever cherish our time with him and continue to share the jokes that only he himself would laugh at; affectionately known as a “Papa Joke”. He was incredibly proud of his children and grandchildren and all that they accomplished. Their success, milestones and watching them grow into the people they have become brought him so much happiness and pride. His family was one of the greatest joys of his life, just as he always will be, the greatest joy of ours. We have chosen to have a private family cremation, with a Celebration of Life planned for spring 2027. This will be an opportunity for all of his friends, family and those who knew and loved him to come together, share memories and celebrate his amazing life.

Celebrate those special moments

“Bye for now, Dad.” Forever loved and never forgotten. email: frontdesk@pgcitizen.ca or call 250.562.2441

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PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

LIFE EVENTS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

those who have touched our lives

Joseph “George” Moyan

frontdesk@pgcitizen.ca or call 250.562.2441

August 3, 1950 - September 6, 2026 He was born in Paradise Hill, Saskatchewan on August 3, 1950 and passed away on September 6, 2026 in Prince George, BC. George is survived by his loving wife Brenda Moyan; sons Virgil Moyan and Shawn Fors (Dianna); grandchildren Jocelyn Fors, Lucas Moyan and Logan Moyan; sisters Darlene Swiderski, Marlene Settee (George) Baba and numerous other relatives and friends; too many to mention.

Celebration of Life

Edward James Griffth

March 28, 1931 - June 9, 2026 There will be a celebration of the life of Edward James Griffith on October 2, 2026 at 11:30am at the Bon Voyage.

Predeceased by his grandfather Jean Baptiste Lagimodiere; grandmother Caroline Lagimodiere; mother Rose Anne Pinkerton; father William Moyan; step father Robert Pinkerton; sisters Josephine Moyan and Agnes Kaska; brothers Lawrence Moyan, John Moyan, Charlie Moyan and Gary Pinkerton; niece Willow Moyan and many nieces; nephews John Moyan Junior(Agnes), Rick Moyan (Lorraine) and cousins. George fought a hard battle with cancer and is now at peace. There will be a Celebration of Life at a later date.

Honouring

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

Travis Alexander Betke

May 22, 1996 - August 31, 2026 It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Travis Alexander Betke of Prince George, B.C., at the age of 30. Survived by mother Michelle Anderson (Dwayne); father Jeff Betke (Marquita); brothers David Turner (Krystie and Ivy), Brandon Betke (Raven), Corey Dean, and Ethan Anderson; grandparents Rose Reimer, Art Betke, and Dorothy Betke. Quiet, intelligent, funny, and endlessly curious, Travis loved science, gaming, horror movies, and fascinating facts. He was deeply loved and will be missed beyond words. A celebration of Travis’s life will be announced at a later date.

David Michael Alexander Bacon BACON, David Michael Alexander, beloved brother, uncle, great-uncle and friend, passed away peacefully on September 9, 2026 in Victoria, BC. David was predeceased by his parents George and Daisy, and by his siblings John, Joan, Tiny, Lilian, Heather and George. He will be greatly missed by sister Jordan (Nick), nephews Bob, Jason (Jennifer), and Jeff (Richenda), nieces Jennifer (David) and Kristal (Daron), and greatnieces and great-nephews. Dave was a self-reliant spirit with great compassion toward others; he was always involved with unhoused people, wherever he lived, and often informally visited with them, bringing breakfast and coffee. Dave loved his independence, sports, music and, above all, his family and friends, and offered friendship, enthusiasm and companionship. Thanks to First Memorial and thanks especially to the doctors and staff of the Campbell River Hospital and the Royal Jubilee Hospital for their care of Dave. A private memorial will be held at a later date.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

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PLEASE MINES ACT NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR 2010 Ford F150RECYCLE A PERMIT APPROVING THE Lariat Loaded PROPOSED AMENDED THIS $1500 MINE PLAN AND RECLAMATION PROGRAM FOR SAND AND GRAVEL EXTRACTION AREA 778-693-2608 NEWSPAPER FOR SALE

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Take notice that Sheldon Mayert of PG ROCK AND GRAVEL LTD. has filed with the Chief Permitting Officer pursuant to Part 10.2.1 of the Health and Safety Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia, a proposed mine plan together with a program for the protection and reclamation of the land and watercourses related to the property Zoot’s Pit located at 5027 Sandberg Rd (PID 012-102539) / 5050 Sandberg Rd (PID 023-519-801) in Prince George, BC. A copy of the permit application, including supporting documentation, is available for public viewing at: Prince George & District Senior Citizens Activity Centre Society, 425 Brunswick St, Prince George, BC, and Bob Harkins Branch 888 Canada Games Way, Prince George, BC, V2L 5T6, and Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals, No. 350, 1011 - 4th Ave, Prince George, BC, V2L 3H9. Any person affected by or interested in this program has 30 days to make a written representation to the Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals, c/o 350, 1011 - 4th Avenue, Prince George, BC, V2L 3H9 or email: mmd-princegeorge@gov.bc.ca

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Application information and instructions for submitting comments to the Ministry are also available on the Mines Public Engagement Portal at: www.gov.bc.ca/minesengagement

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PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

* On Oct. 12, 1990, South Dakota became first7,state rename • Onthe Sept. 1776,tothe American Columbus Daycraft “Native submersible TurtleAmerican attemptedDay,” to in honor thebomb initialtoinhabitants of attach aoftime the hull of Brittheish Americas. Two years later, the Admiral Richard Howe’s flagship, cityEagle, of Berkeley, California, be in New York Harbor,would marking thethe first call “Indigenous Peoples’ firsttouse of ita submarine in warfare. Day.”

• On Sept. 8, 1664, Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant surrendered New Amsterdam, the capital of New Netherland, to an English naval squadron under Colonel Richard Nicolls. Stuyvesant hoped to resist the English but wasn’t a popular ruler, and his ARIES (March 21 totheir April 19) Although subjects refused support. New practical situations to to Amsterdam’s namecontinue was changed dominate this week, there’s time for the New York in honor of the Duke of Lamb to indulge in the fun things in life York, who organized its capture. -- like maybe taking a special someone • Ona Sept. 1939, moviegoers at the out for great9,evening! Fox Theater in Riverside, California, were treated unexpected TAURUS (Aprilto20anto May 20) screenThis week favors relationships. Take time renew ing of Margaret Mitchell’s “Gonetowith old the ones and shown make by time go where Wind,” theto theater mannewager friends can be found. Onproduca more as a second feature while practical note, about a er David O. expect Selznicknews observed their business deal. reactions from the back of the theater. The movie was released a few months GEMINI later. (May 21 to June 20) You should be seeing some progress on a new • On Sept. 10, 1960,Meanwhile, Hurricane Donworkplace situation. family na struck the Florida Keys as a attention, Categomatters might demand more 4 storm. The hurricane andryyou’ll want todevastating set aside time to deal withultimately them. killed more than 350 people along its full path, including more than 150 in Puerto Rico and the mainland United States, and the name “Donna” was later retired. • On Sept. 11, 1971, teen idol Donny Osmond earned his first solo No. 1 hit with “Go Away Little Girl.” For years afterward, the singer admitted he would “apologize for my career, for all of the cheesy music I was a part of,” but eventually came to terms with it and said to himself that the music “was great for what it was, people loved it, it was incredibly successful — why should I feel bad?” • On Sept. 12, 1952, residents of Flatwoods, West Virginia, while investigating a possible UFO crash, encountered a creature they described as 10 feet tall with glowing eyes and claw-like hands. Skeptics, however, dismissed their “monster” as likely an owl. • On Sept. 13, 2007, the United Nations adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which defined the rights of Indigenous peoples to their respective ways of life and prohibited discrimination against

* On Oct. 13, 1925, groundbreaking stand-up comedian Lenny Bruce, whose freewheeling and profanitylaced routines on taboo topics notably attacked societal conventions and occasionally resulted in arrests, was born in Mineola, New York. * On Oct. 14, 1892, “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” by Arthur Conan Doyle was published. The book was the first collection of Holmes stories, which had been published in magazines since 1887. Its titular detective was partly inspired by Dr. Joseph Bell, whom Conan Doyle had

met at the University of Edinburgh when he studied medicine there. * On Oct. 15, 2024, researchers announced seven new species of tree frogs in Madagascar whose high-pitched whistling calls were reminiscent of sound effects from the sci-fi series “Star Trek,” prompting the monikers Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, Archer, Burnham and Pike. * On Oct. 16, 1906, German shoemaker Wilhelm Voight, who already had a long criminal record, embarrassed the German army by impersonating an officer and leading an entire squad of soldiers to the

town of Kopenik, where they helped him steal 4,000 marks from the mayor’s office. * On Oct. 17, 1974, President Gerald Ford explained to Congress that he had chosen to pardon Richard Nixon, rather than allow Congress to pursue legal action against him, claiming that a long, drawn-out trial would have further polarized the public -- a decision that was condemned by many and may have helped cost Ford a victory in the presidential election of 1976.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A relationship might suddenly present some challenges that you never expected. After talking things out, you might want to consider taking some time to assess what you’ve learned.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A business matter that unexpectedly turns into a personal situation could create complications. It’s best to resolve the matter now before too much harm can be done.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Patience pays off as a onceoverwhelming work situation continues to become easier to handle on a one-byone basis. Look for positive news from a colleague.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) A disappointing response to a request might dampen the Lion’s spirits. But you might want to ask what the reasoning is behind it. What you learn can be of great importance in a future undertaking.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Emotions can run high when they involve personal matters that no one really wants to talk about. But this could be a good time to create the means to a workable outcome.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) It might be a good idea to take more time to reassess your next move in working out a complex situation. You could benefit from a new perspective on the matter.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A once-volatile situation should be settled by now, giving you a chance to refocus on a project that you’ve been planning for. Look for an interested party to rally to your support.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A positive response to a workplace request could lead the way to other long-sought-out changes. Congratulations! A personal situation also takes a welcome turn.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You might want to consider making time to discuss a change of plans with everyone concerned. Be prepared to explain your actions. Also, be prepared to listen to alternatives.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

Homes & Living

Winterizing Your Garden: Preparing Your Outdoor Space for the Cold Months

As summer fades into fall and temperatures begin to drop, your garden needs a little attention before winter arrives. Winterizing your garden is more than simply putting away the lawn furniture. A few hours of preparation can help protect plants, soil, tools and outdoor structures from freezing temperatures, snow and moisture while making it easier to get your garden growing again in spring. Whether you have a large backyard garden, a few flower beds or a collection of containers on a patio, fall is the ideal time to prepare your outdoor space for winter.

diseases and pests carrying over into the next growing season. Healthy plant material can often be added to a compost pile, but avoid composting plants that show signs of serious disease or infestation. These should be disposed of according to local guidelines. You do not necessarily have to remove every fallen leaf. A layer of healthy leaves can provide habitat for beneficial insects and organic matter for the soil. However, thick layers of leaves covering grass or delicate plants can trap moisture and contribute to disease. Rake or redistribute leaves where necessary.

Clean Up Garden Beds Start by giving your garden a thorough cleanup. Remove dead annual flowers, spent vegetable plants and diseased foliage. Clearing away unhealthy plant material can reduce the chance of

Protect Perennial Plants Many perennial plants are naturally equipped to survive winter, but some benefit from additional protection. Once the ground begins to cool, add a layer of mulch around perennial flowers, shrubs

and other vulnerable plants. Materials such as shredded leaves, straw, bark mulch or compost can help insulate the soil and protect plant roots from rapid temperature changes. Apply mulch around the base of plants without piling it directly against stems or trunks. In colder areas, some tender perennials may require additional protection. Depending on the plant, this could include wrapping, covering or moving it indoors. Check the specific winter requirements of plants in your garden, since some varieties are much more coldsensitive than others. Plant Spring-Blooming Bulbs Fall is also an excellent time to plant many spring-flowering bulbs. Tulips, daffodils, crocuses and other bulbs need a period of cold temperatures to complete their natural growth cycle.

Choose a well-drained location and plant bulbs at the recommended depth and spacing. Generally, bulbs should be planted with the pointed end facing upward, although exact planting instructions vary. After planting, water the area thoroughly if the soil is dry. A light layer of mulch can help protect the bulbs from temperature fluctuations while allowing them to emerge naturally in spring. Give Trees and Shrubs Some Attention Young trees and shrubs may need extra protection during winter, particularly if they were planted recently. Make sure the soil around them is adequately moist before the ground freezes. Plants can lose moisture during winter, especially during periods of wind or when the ground is frozen and roots cannot absorb water. continued on next page

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PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN continued from last page

Protect young tree trunks from damage caused by rodents or other animals if they are common in your area. Tree guards or appropriate protective materials can help prevent animals from chewing on the bark. Avoid excessive pruning in the fall unless it is necessary to remove dead, damaged or diseased branches. Heavy pruning can encourage new growth at a time when plants should be preparing for dormancy. Major pruning needs vary by plant, so research the appropriate timing for each species. Prepare Your Lawn Your lawn also benefits from some fall preparation. Continue mowing while grass is actively growing, gradually lowering the mowing height toward the end of the season without cutting the grass excessively short. Remove excessive leaves so they do not form a thick, smothering layer over the lawn. Mulching leaves with a mower can sometimes return valuable organic matter to the soil, provided the layer is not so heavy that it blocks sunlight and air. Fall can also be a good time to address compacted soil and bare patches. Depending on your lawn type and local conditions, aeration, overseeding and appropriate fertilization may help improve its condition before winter. Protect Garden Containers Plants growing in containers are generally more vulnerable to winter temperatures than plants growing directly in the ground. The roots inside a container have less insulation from freezing temperatures. If you have potted plants that are not winter-hardy, move them indoors, into a greenhouse or another protected location. Before bringing plants inside, inspect them carefully for insects and disease. For hardy outdoor containers, move pots to a sheltered location where possible. Terracotta and ceramic containers can crack when water freezes and expands inside them. Consider moving vulnerable containers into a garage or shed, or use containers designed to withstand freezing conditions. Empty containers that will not be used over winter and clean them before storing them. Drain and Store Garden Hoses One of the simplest but most important winterizing jobs is preparing your

garden hose and watering equipment. Disconnect hoses from outdoor faucets and drain all remaining water. Water left inside hoses, sprinklers or other equipment can freeze and expand, potentially causing cracks or other damage. Coil hoses loosely and store them in a dry, protected location. If your outdoor water system has shut-off valves, follow the manufacturer’s or plumber’s recommendations for draining and protecting the system. Do not assume that simply turning off the faucet will completely protect outdoor plumbing. Clean and Store Garden Tools Before putting your tools away for the season, give them a thorough cleaning. Remove soil from shovels, spades, rakes, hoes and other equipment. Dry metal surfaces to reduce the risk of rust. Sharpen pruning shears, loppers and other cutting tools so they are ready for spring. Applying a light coat of appropriate oil to metal surfaces can provide additional protection during storage. Inspect tool handles for cracks or damage and replace or repair anything that could become unsafe. Store tools in a dry location and keep sharp equipment safely organized. Prepare Your Compost Fall provides plenty of material for a compost pile, including leaves, grass clippings and healthy garden debris. Turning these materials into compost can provide valuable organic matter for next year’s garden. Keep your compost pile balanced by combining carbon-rich materials, such as dry leaves, with nitrogen-rich materials, such as green plant material. Avoid adding diseased plants, invasive weeds that contain viable seeds, meat or other materials that are inappropriate for your composting system. A properly maintained compost pile can continue to break down during cooler weather, although the process will slow as temperatures fall. Protect Garden Structures Do not forget about the structures and equipment surrounding your garden. Inspect fences, raised beds, trellises, gates and garden sheds for damage. Repair loose boards, broken supports and other problems before winter storms arrive. Snow and ice can place additional weight on structures, while strong winds can turn small weaknesses into significant damage.

If you have a greenhouse, cold frame or similar structure, check for cracks, leaks and damaged panels. Clean gutters and drainage areas so melting snow and rain can move away from the garden rather than collecting around foundations or plant roots. Consider Winter Wildlife Winter can be a difficult season for birds and other wildlife. If you enjoy attracting birds to your garden, clean and inspect feeders before winter and keep them stocked appropriately. However, remember that wildlife management varies by location. Bird feeders can sometimes attract rodents and other unwanted animals, so keep feeding areas clean and store seed securely. You can also leave certain plants standing through winter. Seed heads from some flowers provide food for birds, while hollow stems and other plant structures can provide shelter for insects. Instead of clearing every plant from the garden, consider which materials can safely remain until spring. Water Before the Ground Freezes One final watering can be particularly helpful for many trees, shrubs and perennials. Plants may continue to lose moisture through their leaves and stems even after temperatures become cool. Water deeply during dry periods in late fall, particularly around newly planted trees and shrubs. The goal is to ensure

plants enter winter adequately hydrated, rather than leaving soil constantly saturated. Avoid watering when the ground is frozen or when temperatures are expected to remain below freezing. Make a Spring Plan Winterizing your garden is also an opportunity to think about the next growing season. Take notes about which plants performed well, which struggled and where you would like to make changes. A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way Winter can be hard on gardens, but thoughtful preparation can minimize damage and make spring cleanup much easier. Cleaning beds, protecting vulnerable plants, caring for trees and shrubs, storing equipment and preparing soil all contribute to a healthier outdoor space. Take your time rather than trying to complete everything in one weekend. Start with the tasks that protect plants and equipment from freezing weather, then work through the remaining cleanup and maintenance jobs as time allows. When spring finally arrives, the effort you put into winterizing your garden can pay off. Instead of facing a neglected and damaged outdoor space, you can begin the new growing season with healthy plants, organized tools and a garden that is ready to grow.

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