Prince Gorge Citizen - Thursday, April 23, 2026

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End of a great run

Five Cougars say goodbye to Prince George after a crushing playoff exit

Departing Cougars Terik Parascak (left), Dawson Seitz, Bauer Dumanski, Kooper Gizowski and Joshua Ravensbergen gather for a photo at CN Centre on Monday, April 19, the day after the Cougars were eliminated from the WHL playoffs with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Penticton Vees in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinal series. All five have now played their last game for the Cougars.

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City modernizes some services with new online tools

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

The City of Prince George has recently revealed more mapping tools and application portals to help improve services at the city.

Three of these tools were recently unveiled in March 2026, within a week of each other. These tools include an online cemetery navigation tool released on March 23, an online traffic disruptions map launched on March 31, and a land-use online application portal released the following day on April 1.

These tools now allow people to find loved ones at the city’s gravesites more easily with a searchable online map, view causes and locations of traffic disruptions on city roads, and apply for land-use applications while uploading and storing required documents more easily.

City IT manager Luke Reid said the nearly back-to-back releases are part of ongoing initiatives.

“It’s just all part of our ongoing digital transformation initiatives,” said Reid.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve service, make them more accessible, and just make them better for us and for everybody else who’s using them.”

Reid said some of the tools began as internal systems that were later expanded for public use.

“We’re just seeing the payoff of a lot of investment in our infrastructure, and working with our teams,” he said.

He also said the new tools were developed based on suggestions from both city staff and members of the public.

“It’s usually not us that initiates these big changes,” Reid said. “People come and say, ‘Hey, wouldn’t it be cool for us to be able to provide a cemetery map or provide a traffic disruption map?’ Then we just work with them to make it a reality, having spent our time and efforts building up all the tools to make that happen.”

One of the most important aspects of the traffic disruptions map, Reid said, is that it feeds information into other platforms and benefits residents without

them necessarily noticing.

“One of the cool things about the traffic disruptions is that it also automatically pushes those closures into Waze and Apple and Google Maps for when people are navigating,” he said. “People may already be benefiting and not knowing.”

He said the IT tools and infrastructure that support these services represent roughly a decade of investment in city

systems.

“Not that these tools are taking 10 years to build,” he said. “Once you actually get the tools in place … it only took us a few weeks to a month to get the cemetery map together. Same with the traffic disruptions map. It’s all the tools behind it that take a long time.”

He said the city has spent years upgrading mapping systems, improving tools and building internal capacity to

maintain them.

“We’ve worked on making the actual mapping tools we use a little bit more powerful, keeping them up to date, upgrading them, and building our team up to be able to maintain those systems. That’s the infrastructure that I’m talking about.”

Reid said he is pleased with the push toward more accessible services for residents.

“In government, it can be a little bit difficult to get things moving forward and modernized,” he said.

“It’s just finding that capacity and desire to improve services. Then that’s really the driving thing. Everybody wants to always be doing something better for the public.”

He added that the tools depend on collaboration across departments.

“We don’t make these tools in a vacuum,” Reid said. “They take a lot of effort and a lot of planning and, you know, people being ready to change and do bigger, better things. We need that from the rest of the organization and they provide it.”

The IT team has already received feedback on the new tools, and Reid said the cemetery map has already helped improve data accuracy.

“Sometimes our data can become inaccurate,” he said. “Now that we have a visual representation of where everyone’s loved ones are in the cemetery, we’re getting people actually reporting to us when we have something wrong, so we can fix our data. That might seem like there are problems, but we’re really happy because we can actually fix the information.”

Although the three tools released in March are among the biggest this year, Reid said more modernization projects are planned.

“There’s always a push for more projects,” he said. “These are probably some of the bigger ones that are going to get completed this year … There’s always going to be more projects that we’re working on. We’re always trying to just keep things modern and up to date, and we get different drivers for that.”

CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER

Luke Reid, IT manager for the City of Prince George, talks about ways the city is improving services by developing new ways for people to access them online.

CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE IMAGE

A screenshot shows the Memorial Park Cemetery on the city’s new online map. The map features a search feature to help find individual burial plots.

Privacy concerns raised as CNC asks to track bears

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

The City of Prince George is considering a request from the College of New Caledonia’s research forest department to install trail cameras to monitor wildlife on municipal property.

A letter from project planner Zach Fleck was discussed at city council’s meeting on Monday, April 13.

He said a limited deployment of trail cameras on city property was being sought as part of a research project titled Wild Neighbours: Supporting Coexistence with Wildlife in Urban Areas.

“The video monitoring component of the proposed research has strong potential to improve understanding of urban bear movement corridors and inform strategies to reduce human-bear conflict on city property,” the letter said.

If the project receives approval from council, Fleck said, research wouldn’t begin earlier than May 1.

Before any cameras are set up, he said the project would work on a set of protocols to manage privacy, camera deployment and data management with the city as well as any other review or approval processes that Prince George requires.

While discussing the letter, Coun. Cori Ramsay asked if the matter could be referred to staff so they could investigate any potential issues with privacy or

liability.

Corporate officer Ethan Anderson said he had spoken to Fleck and while he thought the project was doing an admirable job of putting as many privacy protections in place as possible, there will still be some risks regardless of that.

“They did wish that I emphasize to council that the project doesn’t go forward without this key aspect of this,” Anderson said.

Ramsay wondered if signs could be erected near the cameras letting passersby know that they could be recorded.

That was one of the suggestions made by the project, Anderson said, as well as encrypting the SD cards used to record the footage.

Council voted unanimously to request a report from administration on the potential privacy risks of allowing the project to go forward.

Vote summary

Motion: Council directs administration to prepare a report on the potential privacy risks of allowing a CNC project to install trail cameras on city-owned property as part of a study on humanbear conflicts and urban bear movement corridors.

Result: Approved unanimously.

Turn to Page 29 for a story about researchers asking for the public’s help in another bear study.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY MICHAEL KAST

A bear moves along a trail in College Heights on Saturday, May 10, 2025. The College of New Caledonia wants to study how bears use city-owned trails.

Doherty, Zimmer adjustng to new Carney majority

Both local MPs are critical of the way the Liberals pulled it off

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

In the wake of three byelection victories on Monday, April 13 that saw the Liberal Party of Canada move from a minority to majority government, Prince George’s two Conservative MPs say they still believe their leader, Pierre Poilievre, is the right man for the job.

After the April 28, 2025 federal election, the Liberals had 169 seats in the House of Commons, three shy of the 172 needed for a majority.

Though Liberal MPs Bill Blair and Chrystia Freeland resigned to take other jobs and Terrebonne MP Tatiana Auguste’s win was annulled by the Supreme Court, the Grits reclaimed all three seats in Monday’s byelections.

That wouldn’t have been enough to tip the scales by themselves, but this Parliament has also seen four former Conservative MPs — Chris d’Entremont, Michael Ma, Matt Jeneroux and Marilyn Gladu — as well as former NDP MP for Nunavut Lori Idlout cross the floor to give the Liberals 174 seats in the House and a slim majority.

It’s the first time in Canadian history that a government has received a majority due to floor crossing.

Speaking with The Citizen the day after the byelections, Cariboo-Prince George Conservative MP Todd Doherty and Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies Conservative MP Bob Zimmer both expressed a desire for something to be done about future floor crossers.

Zimmer said while the mainstream media was portraying the byelections results as the Liberals being elected to a majority, his party sees it more as gaining a majority through backroom deals.

“People that were voted in as a Conservative have chosen to go to the Liberals for whatever reasons and it’s something I can’t wrap my head around but, nevertheless, it’s done and that’s

the way the prime minister thinks it’s cool to do that,” Zimmer said.

“I guess that’s his prerogative … we’re just going to get focused on being a strong opposition and looking down the road to winning the next election.”

While that election might be further into the future than was originally thought, Zimmer said he thinks Canadians will realize that Prime Minister Mark Carney won’t deliver on his promises.

Doherty expressed similar thoughts, also characterizing the floor crossings as backroom deals and saying he wouldn’t pay those MPs much attention.

“I’d rather focus on those who are still within our ranks and they’re (the floor crossers) the ones that have to answer to their electors,” Doherty said. “I think that’s probably the point that’s missed all the time when we’re talking about floor crossing, ultimately their electors elected them under a Conservative banner, or in the case of MP Idlout under

the NDP banner, so ultimately they have to answer to the electors back home.”

Both men said they’d like to look at legislation that would require aspiring floor crossers to sit as independents until they run under the new party’s banner during the next federal election or resign their seat and run for the new party in a byelection.

While Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has drawn scrutiny over the loss of four MPs during this Parliament, both Zimmer and Doherty said they are still loyal to both him and the party.

Zimmer said Poilievre is still extremely popular despite what he characterized as “Liberal pundits” calling for him to step down.

“I think, looking at him (Poilievre) in their rearview mirror, they’re incredibly concerned about him and facing him in another three years because Carney will not have Trump to run against in that particular election,” Zimmer said.

He touted Poilievre’s popularity with

young Canadians and his recent appearance on popular podcasts like The Joe Rogan Experience.

Doherty said he didn’t think the floor crossings had as much to do with Poilievre as much as everyone wants to portray the situation that way. Rather, it’s the actions of self-serving MPs.

“He is amongst the hardest working members of Parliament and leaders that we’ve had,” Doherty said of Poilievre. I’m committed to our team and our team’s being led by Pierre Poilievre.”

On April 3, The Toronto Star reported that Poilievre had sent members of his shadow cabinet letters asking them to justify their continuations as critics.

As both Zimmer and Doherty are a part of the shadow cabinet as the critics for arctic and northern affairs and mental health and suicide prevention respectively, The Citizen asked whether this was true.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer (left) and Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty address an open house at their downtown Prince George constituency office in late 2024.

Conservatve MPs stay loyal to Poilievre afer rocky year

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Zimmer was tight-lipped.

“I won’t speak to anything, especially confidential emails that we have or don’t have,” he said. I’ll just say I’ve worked extremely hard in my portfolio and I know Pierre appreciates people that work hard. I’ll leave it at that.”

Doherty essentially confirmed that report but said it was nothing out of the ordinary.

Every person with a job gets a performance review and it’s no different as a member of Parliament.

“This is no different under Pierre as it has been under other leaders,” Doherty said.

“We’re asked to talk about our portfolio, things that we would like to put forward. New policies, new ideas in the event that an election is called … that happens on a regular basis. So what The Toronto Star is reporting on is no

different than what we’ve done every six to eight months.”

Recently, an online petition submitted by the City of Prince George and sponsored by Doherty ended its signing period with 971 signatures, more than the 500 needed to garner an official response from the federal government.

The petition called for increased bail requirements for repeat offenders, for more judges and prosecutors to be appointed and more resources for Crown counsel and provincial correctional centres.

Doherty said he planned on officially submitting the petition to the government in the House of Commons on Monday, June 15 when a delegation from Prince George city council is scheduled to visit Ottawa.

“Policing is the No. 1 cost of our municipalities and their coffers are empty,” Doherty said.

“There’s nothing more that they can

do with respect to policing and trying to make inroads. We don’t need another building burnt down or a street corner with drugs and paraphernalia on it … we want to make sure that the government is doIng whatever they can to change the policies so that we don’t have this revolving door where the criminals are caught and then within hours they’re back out creating more problems for businesses, for citizens of Prince George.”

When the 2025 federal election was called, a private member’s bill of Doherty’s that would have increased penalties for assaults against healthcare providers and first responders died in the Senate before receiving royal assent.

Senators have since picked up the bill in the current Parliament and Doherty said his party is sponsoring it in the House of Commons to get it past the finish line.

Back in February, Zimmer’s riding

experienced tragedy when a shooter killed eight people in Tumbler Ridge and injured 27 others, including several at the community’s secondary school.

Zimmer said he and BC Conservative Senator Yonah Martin travelled to the community earlier in April to present signed books of condolences to victims’ families.

“It was really nice and they sure appreciated it,” Zimmer said. He asked that people continue to pray for the community and for survivor Maya Gebala, a 12-year-old who has received extensive treatment at BC Children’s Hospital after being shot in the head.

In Prince George, Zimmer said, his constituents are concerned over the state of the forestry industry and its impact here, and he would work to encourage the prime minister to seek a lumber agreement with the United States.

Franco-Nord adding child care program

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Prince George’s only francophone elementary school is gearing up for renovations early next year that will see existing classrooms renovated into child-care spaces for 33 kids ranging from newborns to five-year-olds.

In March 2025, the provincial government announced $62 million in funding to create 750 new child-care spaces across BC.

Included on the list of funding recipients was School District 93 — the Conseil scolaire francophone de la Colombie-Britannique — which manages all the public francophone schools across the province, to create 33 spaces in Penticton and another 33 spaces at École Franco-Nord at 2641 Ellison Dr. in Prince George.

École Franco-Nord offers French-language education for kids from kindergarten to Grade 7, with high school students moving to Duchess Park Secondary School.

On April 2 of this year, School District 93 put a call out for construction management firms to renovate existing classrooms on the school’s ground floor into child-care spaces.

By email, a spokesperson for SD93 said the project would create eight spaces for kids aged zero to three years old and 25 spaces for kids aged three to five years old.

While the daycare will be located at the school, it will be managed by the Fédération des parents francophones de la Colombie-Britannique, a provincial organization aimed at supporting francophone parents in the province.

The spaces at the daycare will be offered to francophone families whose children are eligible to attend École Franco-Nord.

It’s expected to be ready by the first half of 2027. The spokesperson said the cost of the project cannot be disclosed yet as it is still in the tendering stage.

SD57 will use surplus to cover defcit

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

School District 57 will need to use a surplus from the 2025-26 school year to cover a projected deficit in the operating budget for the 2026-27 school year, trustees heard at a Tuesday, April 14 board of education meeting.

Meeting in the library of Mackenzie Secondary School, district administration gave a presentation on the draft budget for the next school year as it currently stands.

While the budget could be adjusted following ongoing public consultation, preliminary figures show estimated revenues of $181,295,926 and expenses of $181,825,470 in 2026-27.

That would leave the school district with a $529,544 deficit for the school year, but administration is proposing to use $799,544 in surplus funds from the 2025-26 school year to cover the shortfall and pay for $270,000 worth of tangible capital assets.

Part of the decline in revenues is due to continued projected decreases in enrolment.

School District 57 saw enrolment decline in 2025-26 after reaching a peak the previous year and is expecting to see fewer students through at least 2028-29, according to presentation slides shown at the April 14 meeting.

In 2026-27, secretary-treasurer Lynda Minnabarriet said the preliminary budget has been developed with an estimated decrease of about 150 students across the district.

Supt. Jameel Aziz warned that fewer students may not necessarily result in lower costs.

“Losing 100 students across the district doesn’t necessarily mean that we’re going to have any less classrooms,” Aziz said. “It literally could be one student amongst 100 classrooms across our school district.”

He said that if a school loses enough students to require fewer classrooms, it might require fewer teachers or educational assistants, but the costs of maintaining, cleaning and providing other services for those schools won’t decrease.

While that scenario could result in the elimination of those positions, Aziz said those personnel will move to others.

“I do want to be clear that there are no district-initiated reductions that have been included in the preliminary budget and we don’t anticipate that there will be that need,” Aziz said.

“But schools obviously have the flexibility and need to look at what their own service needs are and they may make reductions based on their school lens, which is necessarily different than the district lens.”

Aziz also warned of an increase in expenses resulting from rising fuel costs, not just for district-owned vehicles but knock-on effects on projects, services and utilities being procured.

However, the superintendent said that SD57 is probably in a better spot than many other districts in BC. He said he had spoken to representatives from other districts facing more significant

deficits and are looking at programming reductions.

Some extra expenses in benefits and salaries will come from a new four-year collective agreement between the provincial government and BC Teachers’ Federation that was ratified by both sides earlier this year.

During a Feb. 24 meeting of the committee of the whole, where partner organizations could provide early budget feedback, Prince George District Teachers’ Association president Katherine Trepanier requested the restoration of a joint mentorship program between her union and the district that had been discontinued in the 2021-22 school year.

Aziz said he’d had some preliminary discussions with Trepanier about putting something back into place. He noted that the previous program had been well liked, but “the fact that people like something doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s effective.”

“And so I would want to have some measures and instruments in place to make sure that the goal of teacher mentorship is actually being met,” Aziz said. “But I think now that we are finished with provincial bargaining and we know that the ministry is not providing dollars for new teacher mentorship, it really is important that we invest in our own.”

The vast majority — 88.1 per cent — of the preliminary 2026-27 operating budget is made up of salaries and benefits for staff at almost $160.2 million.

The remaining 11.9 per cent and around $21.6 million is from services and supplies like transportation, professional development, rentals and lessons, insurance, utilities and more.

Until April 22, the public can send in feedback to the school district on the 2026-27 budget through sd57.bc.ca.

On April 28, district staff will summarize the public feedback for trustees in a meeting of the committee of the whole.

Then, trustees will vote on whether to approve the budget at their next meeting on Tuesday, May 12.

School districts must submit their budgets to the Ministry of Education by Wednesday, June 3.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK

School District 57’s board of education meets at 2100 Ferry Ave. in this Jan. 13 photo. The board held its latest meeting in Mackenzie.

the projects being funded by

School board approves 2026-27 capital budget

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

School District 57’s board of education passed a capital budget for the 2026-27 school year that will see the district get almost $2.2 million from the provincial government for minor capital projects during a meeting in Mackenzie on Tuesday, April 14.

Included with the meeting agenda was a letter from Deputy Infrastructure Minister Bobbi Plecas dated March 27, which included a list of nine minor capital projects to be completed by March 31, 2027.

Those projects included:

• $675,000 for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrades at Prince George Secondary School

• $550,000 for HVAC upgrades at Buckhorn Elementary

• $450,000 for HVAC upgrades at College Heights Secondary

• $400,000 for roofing upgrades at D.P. Todd Secondary

• $37,545 for equipment and infrastructure to support traditional food gathering and preparation at Nusdeh Yoh Elementary

• $29,030 for kitchen equipment and infrastructure upgrades at Buckhorn Elementary

• $21,330 for kitchen equipment and infrastructure upgrades at Vanway Elementary

• $9,550 for kitchen equipment and infrastructure upgrades at Quinson Elementary

• $5,150 for kitchen equipment and infrastructure upgrades at McBride Secondary

Combined, the total value of the

capital projects equals $2,177,605.

At the meeting, which was held in the library of Mackenzie Secondary School and livestreamed, trustees unanimously approved all three readings for the 202627 capital budget bylaw, which included these projects.

Even though she voted in favour of the capital budget, Trustee Rachael Weber expressed concern that no projects for Mackenzie schools were included on the list of capital projects and wanted clarification on whether any had been submitted for approval.

The Citizen reported in June 2025 that the district’s capital plan submission for 2026-27 included a request for $195,000 to install a playground for intermediate students at Morfee Elementary School in Mackenzie.

Supt. Jameel Aziz told Weber that he didn’t have details on hand to answer her questions, but that the capital submissions were based on need rather than strictly on the basis on equitable distribution between the various com munities within the district.

Not included for 2026-27’s capital plan is the replacement of D.P. Todd Sec ondary, which the board has requested funding for multiple times in recent years.

In the next few months, the board will have to finalize capital requests for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 school years.

The deadline for child-care capital requests and minor capital requests through the annual facility grant program for the 2026-27 school year is May 15, the deadline for major capital projects for the 2027-28 school year is June 30 and the deadline for minor capital projects for the 2027-28 school year is Sept. 29.

Among

the new SD57 capital budget is $400,000 for roofing upgrades at D.P. Todd Secondary School.

Break the Blaze makes wildfre preventon fun

KENNEDY GORDON Citizen Managing Editor

It’s finally spring — real spring, not calendar spring — and we’re starting to be able to enjoy the outdoors again.

But that means it’s almost wildfire season.

If the past several years are any example, we may get off “lucky” with nothing more than two or three months of hazy air. Or it could be worse — fires could encroach on our city.

As we saw two years ago in Jasper, Lillooet in 2021 and Fort McMurray in 2016, urban pockets nestled in thousands of square kilometres of wilderness have a combination of forested landscapes and residential spaces that create a specific vulnerability.

We’re fortunate that BC has forest firefighting experts standing by to leap into action once the flames start to spread. But there are also things property owners in PG can do.

A new local initiative, Break the Blaze, is urging residents to get proactive, reduce the risk and work together to safeguard their community.

GOVERNMENT OF BC IMAGE

While it’s important to make sure your property is protected against the spread of wildfire, it’s also crucial to keep an emergency bag ready in case of an evacuation.

Launched by the Prince George branch of the Canadian International Council (CIC) and spearheaded by its Community Resilience Working Group, Break the Blaze is a friendly competitive event that challenges neighbourhoods to prepare for the worst, but in a fun way.

Running from May 1 to June 11, it invites residents to work together on wildfire safety measures while

We

the fnancial

competing for prizes, such as cash and gift certificates.

This mission to incentivize community spirit is exactly what we need to build a culture of preparedness.

It’s up to private homeowners to

Kennedy Gordon Managing Editor

reduce the risks that exist around their houses.

This is where Break the Blaze comes in: by encouraging small but effective actions like raking leaves, moving firewood away from the home and clearing debris from rooftops, owners can make their properties significantly more fire-resistant.

But Break the Blaze isn’t just about cleaning up your yard (which you’re probably already doing). It’s about building a sense of collective responsibility.

It’s a call to action for people who want to take charge and help drive their community’s efforts toward wildfire safety.

Plus — it’s fun.

Every week, new tasks will be announced, with rewards for those who complete them first.

Neighbourhoods are also invited to appoint volunteer captains. They’ll rally their friends, family and neighbours to complete the weekly challenges.

One of the first captains to sign on is Cole Paciejewsk, who brings years of experience with the BC Wildfire Service and Prince George Fire Rescue, and now runs a fire mitigation company. He knows what he’s doing. That kind of localized, action-oriented approach is what makes Break the Blaze stand out.

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support of the government of Canada.

Nous reconnaissons l’appui fnancier du gouvernement du Canada.

How to start building a beter future for Prince George

ALBERT KOEHLER Guest Columnist

How to get Prince George and the region back on track and our economy humming again — that is the question.

Here are several recommendations aimed at preventing further decline in our economy and promoting positive change to reverse the current trend.

To restore Prince George’s strength, a new Board of Initiatives for Prince George should be established, much like the one of 10 years ago, with members who are well aligned with the recommendations outlined below. The board would report to city council, with copies to the chair of the regional district, as well as to the premier and our MLAs.

The board of 10 members would focus on innovation and economic issues.

Except for the mayor, all members should be non-politicians.

I recommend that the initiative to establish such a board come from the mayor and the CEO of the Prince George Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT).

All members of this newly created board should be positive minded and well familiar with our city and the Central Interior. Entrepreneurial experience is necessary.

CNC, UNBC and the BC government must agree to offer tuition-free studies at UNBC and CNC for the first five years

What would happen if UNBC offered free tuition? Albert Koehler explores that idea in a guest column today.

of studies, which should be promoted nationwide.

If the BC government cannot or does not want to take on the financial burden, we in Prince George must fundraise and convince NDIT to get involved. Unfortunately, educational costs have skyrocketed and are hindering economic development.

Please remember that 27 years ago, UNBC was founded with the motto “In the North, for the North.” Education is

the best investment for the future.

CNC, UNBC and the City of Prince George should jointly promote their interests, as was done with the city council’s former education committee.

Committee members also included leaders of our educational institutions.

Wait times for surgeries and specialized health-care treatments must be eliminated.

This will require time and targeted financial efforts, as well as

educating more physicians and medical specialists.

Denmark provides an example: its publicly funded health-care system— similar to ours—ensures that a general physician is assigned to every registered citizen, and wait times are largely eliminated.

Taxes in Prince George and nearby regions should remain lower than in other areas of BC, and this advantage should be actively promoted.

Taxes should never exceed inflation. Individuals and corporations will take note and may relocate.

We need to significantly reduce crime in our city so residents can regain a sense of safety and Prince George can once again be a safe community.

At the same time, more affordable housing must be made available.

Followup on, and implementation of, these suggestions should improve our economy and reduce unemployment. The economy would strengthen again, corporations would invest in the Central Interior and Prince George, and the region could become a centre of economic growth in BC.

More young people would choose to attend our post-secondary institutions and potentially find employment in Prince George after completing their studies.

An educated society is a better society.

Albert Koehler, PhD, P.Eng., is a former city councillor.

Neighbourhoods are encouraged to work together

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Instead of relying on top-down mandates or lengthy classroom sessions, it taps into the collective power of people to take ownership of their safety.

Along with the competition, another key takeaway from Break the Blaze is the importance of being prepared for an emergency evacuation.

In the event that a wildfire nears PG and we have to flee with little warning, having a well-packed go-bag ready is critical. Longtime residents, know this, of course, but it’s worth reminding the community every spring.

Essential items like medication, identification, important documents and basic supplies (clothes, toiletries, chargers) should be ready to grab at a

moment’s notice.

It may feel like we have no control over the forces of nature. And, to a degree, we don’t.

But we can be ready. As wildfire season approaches, it’s crucial that we not only understand the risks but also take steps to reduce them.

Break the Blaze is a great opportunity to do that.

To join the competition, sign up for updates or even become a neighbourhood captain, visit the Break the BlazeFacebook group at facebook. com/groups/breaktheblaze. For more information, email Sean Simmons at cic. princegeorge@gmail.com.

Let’s take action, protect our homes and help our community be ready for wildfire season.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

OPINION

Downtown washrooms put on hold until next city budget

Everyone knows these washrooms will be destroyed in months, if not weeks.

Don’t believe me? Go look at the bathrooms provided at Cottonwood, LC Gunn Park — pretty much anywhere there are public washrooms. They are trashed, and we all know why. And with fewer people choosing to spend their time downtown, why is this an issue now? It used to be a healthy, bustling downtown area, and somehow public washrooms were not needed or seriously discussed. Now that it’s a ghost town, we need public washrooms?

I don’t have a problem finding washrooms downtown either, because I am usually a paying patron at one of the establishments.

The people pushing this have an ulterior motive. It’s not about providing the “public” with washrooms, or a demand for washrooms. It’s about giving homeless people another luxury they won’t respect, because they have a “right” to public washrooms. Zangief

Violence like Prince George incident are a reality for paramedics

I’ve seen violence against paramedics and firefighters firsthand, which usually involves them administering Narcan to a person who has overdosed on opioids.

Users can become extremely violent if taken out of their high too fast, which is why Narcan, where possible, is metered out in a controlled fashion to reduce the likelihood of a user becoming violent when their high is interrupted.

It is very real and occurs more often than people want to believe. I don’t blame first responders for waiting for backup or police, because it’s dangerous for them now.

Dearth

Violence like Prince George incident are a reality for paramedics

Just another way quality of life has deteriorated. Crime and violent crime have escalated dramatically in the past 10 years.

Personally I think if paramedics’ safety can’t be ensured while responding to drug overdose calls, then they should have the right to refuse unsafe work.

And as for people randomly throwing objects through an ambulance window. Well, prison is probably too good for them. I don’t really see a place in society for people like that.

As we slide further into recession and waste our limited resources on these people, when do we hit a breaking point and simply refuse?

Zangief

Editorial: Random violence should never be ‘just part of the job’

There is no question that violence against first responders is increasing — nurses, doctors, paramedics, firefighters, police and other medical professionals — and it is not acceptable for them to be assaulted. I was an industrial first responder for many years at my workplace, and I experienced firsthand violence against first responders by fellow workers.

Now take that into the real world, with first responders having to deal with overdoses, psychotic episodes, substance abuse and so on daily. Most people are unaware of how often this happens, and when it does, they are generally shocked because they live in

a sheltered world and can’t believe it would happen here. Sorry to say, it does — and daily. People often blame politicians, but politicians listen to the people. If you want change, look in the mirror — that person staring back at you is where change starts. Don’t be a Disney princess — be part of the solution.

Dearth

Prince George MPs stay loyal to Poilievre after Liberals transition to majority

In my opinion, making backroom deals and using floor crossings to achieve a majority government is pretty undemocratic. Lots of people in those ridings are probably wondering why they even bothered voting.

Something should absolutely be done to stop this in the future.

I am cautiously optimistic about Carney, and I think he’s a huge improvement over his predecessor, but this does not reflect well on his character. Now that he wields a majority government, I suppose we will experience firsthand what he really stands for.

I’ll never understand how quality of life has plummeted in every aspect for Canadians across the country, and people still enthusiastically support the Liberal party. I don’t really see what they have done to earn that support. What has improved?

Everything in this country was objectively better for everyone while Stephen Harper was prime minister — and not by a little bit. And for everyone who is critical of Pierre, he is untested.

Zangief

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Crime Stoppers holding spring Shred It event on Saturday

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Northern BC Crime Stoppers is bringing back its Drive Thru Spring Community Shred It for a 10th year.

People can bring documents to the Prince George Secondary School (PGSS) parking lot at 2901 Griffiths Ave on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. -2 p.m.

For a minimum donation of $10 per bag or box, your documents will be taken from your vehicle and shredded by Shred-it Mobile Shredding Services. Shredding services are open to members of the public and will not be available to business owners.

For a $5 donation, you can also grab a burger from Mr. Mike’s, which will be hosting a community barbecue from 11 a.m.- 1:30 p.m. at PGSS.

Ron Polillo, vice-president of Northern BC Crime Stoppers, told The Citizen that this event is an important opportunity to get rid of sensitive documents, which, if in the wrong hands, could lead to identity theft.

He also said that the program runs in both April and September, with approximately 200-300 pounds of documents being shredded at each event.

“We’ve got it down to a science. People drive up, donate, drive around. You don’t have to get out of your car,” said Polillo. “We grab the bags and boxes right from your car and then we put them in the bins and then from the bin we go right into the truck and it’s shredded instantly right there.”

This program has seen major success over the years and has even led to other Crime Stoppers Programs in the province hosting similar events.

Polillo estimates that over the years, more than $75,000 has been raised to fund Northern BC Crimestoppers. These funds will go towards tip line staff, advertising, awareness campaigns and the everyday needs of the program.

Defbrillator missing from Masich Place

There’s no point in stealing them as they have no resale value, says Shirley Bond

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

Masich Place Stadium is left without a lifesaving medical device following the disappearance of an automated external defibrillator (AED).

A concerned person posted about the theft on the Facebook group Enough Already! Prince George Voters For Positive Change, which garnered support and anger from users.

Shirley Bond, the former MLA for Prince George-Valemount who has championed the installation of AEDs following her husband Bill Bond’s death, commented in response to the original post about the theft.

“It is heartbreaking,” Bond wrote. “This is not the first time and yes, they are expensive. It is one of the ones we placed in public spaces as part of my husband Billy’s memorial fund. There is no “resale” value; it is a medical device.”

The machine was located in a climate-controlled cabinet. The cord that controls the heating element is also missing.

Originally installed in 2021, the AED was placed there thanks to the Bill Bond Memorial Fund, which supports the installation of AEDs in area public places.

Bond told The Citizen she was disappointed in the theft but that the risk of having it in a public place is worth the reward of potentially saving lives.

“They’re simple to use and we need to place them in high-risk and high-traffic areas. We’re going to do our best and I understand the risk of having it on a fence at Masich Place. But I also understand the risk of not having one that’s readily accessible there,” she said

She also explained that these devices are easy to use in an emergency and that its important that they are easy

to access, making their placement in high-traffic areas like the stadium even more important.

The City of Prince George, in a statement sent to The Citizen, noted that this is the fourth time the AED has gone missing from the stadium, and noted that it will be replaced at no cost to the city, thanks to the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s AED program.

Bond said the city has already been in contact with her.

“The city has been really exceptional to work with from the beginning of this project,” said Bond. “We’re going to talk about where the optimal place is to actually put it, making sure we’re assessing whether it’s at that same spot or if we need to consider another location at the track.”

These devices cost thousands, with climate-controlled ones like the one in Masich costing even more.

However, Bond noted that the devices, when stolen, have been returned, something she is hopeful will happen again.

“We have had one returned in the past when someone realized they found it and realized that, there’s no resale value in it and that it’s a tool that you use. We’re still going to continue to hope that someone finds it and returns

it,” she said.

The fund has helped place AEDs in places like Robson Valley, Valemount, Mount Robson and McBride, as well as locations in Prince George like schools and seniors’ centres.

Bond, during her time as an MLA, also introduced the Defibrillator Public Access Act in 2024, which requires AEDs to be available in public places.

She said that she will continue to work with her AED partners to place units across the North despite this setback.

“We’re co-ordinating the placement of AEDs in the city and we are going to see far more placed over the next number of months and years as we work together with the city, Heart and Stroke and my husband’s legacy fund,” she said

According to the BC Government, only one in 10 people survives an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, with the chances of surviving doubling when using an AED.

To donate to the Bill Bond Memorial Fund, visit this link: pgcf.ca/fund/ Bill-Bond-Memorial-Fund-2

To apply to get an AED installed in your workplace or in a local area: www.pgcf.ca/programs/ AED-Request-Bill-Bond-Memorial-Fund

CITIZEN PHOTO BY MATTHEW HILLIER

The AED in Masich Place Stadium is missing from its cabinet, as seen on Wednesday, April 15. The devices are used to assist people having coronary distress.

Five-year jail sentence for woman who killed partner

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A five-year jail sentence — one year more than the mandatory minimum — was imposed on a woman convicted of manslaughter with a firearm.

Lona Lynette Cole, 53, learned her fate in BC Supreme Court in Quesnel on April 9, almost a year after Justice Marguerite Church found her guilty of killing her intimate partner, Robert Douglas, with a single shot from a Winchester rifle at his rural home on July 6, 2020.

Cole had been charged with second-degree murder of the 58-year-old, but Church had reasonable doubt because she lacked intent and planning. She found her guilty of the lesser and included offence after determining there was a reasonable inference that Cole was either unaware the rifle was loaded or believed it was unloaded when she pulled the trigger at Douglas’s chest.

Church also banned Cole from possessing a firearm for 10 years after her jail sentence and ordered her to provide a DNA sample.

Sentencing had been scheduled for last November, but was adjourned to April for submissions and so that Cole’s lawyer could challenge the constitutionality of the mandatory minimum

Court proceedings in Quesnel are held in the Provincial Government Building in the community south of Prince George.

sentence. That application was withdrawn and sentencing proceeded. Cole had no prior criminal record or outstanding charges. She also had no grudge with Douglas. Instead, Church said she “rather loved him and respected him. In the aftermath of Mr. Douglas’s shooting, Miss Cole sought help by calling 911, she expressed her remorse and she was cooperative with investigators.”

Church said no evidence was put before her about how Cole came to possess the rifle. The Crown suggested she took it from Douglas to prevent

self-harm because he was in the midst of a mental health crisis, heavily intoxicated and expressing thoughts of suicide.

“The unlawful act itself appears to have been impulsive and without deliberation, forethought or planning,” Church said.

Church rejected the defence’s argument that “this case falls closer to near accident than near murder.” However, she agreed with the Crown that Cole’s misconception about the rifle being unloaded did not equate to a finding that she did not know the risk of pulling

the trigger.

“Miss Cole’s moral blameworthiness is high, but it is attenuated by her degree of intoxication at the time of the offence and her background and circumstances,” Church said.

A Gladue letter from last August, by Andrea Smith of BC First Nations Justice Council, said Cole is Indigenous and has ancestral ties to one of the First Nations under the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, although she does not know which community she is specifically connected to.

Cole suffers from severe alcoholism and moderate substance abuse. While she has not directly addressed those disorders since attending treatment in 2023, Church said she is willing to engage in programming and support while serving her sentence.

“During her statement to the court, she expressed her sincere remorse and her acceptance of the fact that Robert Douglas’s children can never forgive her,” Church said. “It was clear from her statement that she, too, grieved the loss of Mr. Douglas.”

A victim impact statement from Douglas’s son expressed “profound and overwhelming grief” about the sudden death. James described an “emotional roller-coaster of shock, anger, sadness, rage and anxiety.”

Bestality convicton lands man behind bars for six months

This story contains details some readers may nd disturbing

BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Six months in jail, followed by 18 months’ probation, for a Prince George man who pleaded guilty to bestiality.

On April 16 in Prince George provincial court, Judge Cassandra Malfair also ordered Curtis Steven Saunderson, born in 1979, to be listed for 20 years on the national sex offender registry and banned him for life from possessing

or residing in the same premises as an animal.

“This type of conduct calls for strong denunciatory sentences in order to discourage the abuse of animals,” Malfair said, agreeing to the joint Crown and defence sentencing proposal.

Police with a search warrant obtained a two-minute, 45-second video shot by Saunderson of Elizabeth Anne MacLeod having sexual intercourse with the family dog on May 22, 2023.

MacLeod, born in 1976, pleaded guilty to the bestiality charge in November 2024. Her next court date is April 23. Saunderson pleaded guilty on April 2, 2025.

“Animals are very helpless, they are

very vulnerable, they depend completely on their owners,” Malfair said.

“Of course, they can’t communicate if they are abused or mistreated by their owners.”

When Saunderson pleaded guilty last year, his lawyer, Mitchell Houg, emphasized that Saunderson encouraged the sex act, but did not engage in the act itself.

During sentencing, Malfair said that, at one point, Saunderson was seen in the video pushing the dog’s buttocks to encourage the continued act. Saunderson said he was intoxicated by drugs and that affected his judgment on the day, so Malfair also prohibited him from

possessing alcohol or drugs, except for prescribed medication.

Malfair noted that Saunderson had no prior criminal record and took responsibility by pleading guilty.

Saunderson said in court that he was sorry for the harm caused to the dog and the shame to his family.

“I am very regretful of all my actions and the incident that happened. I still, unfortunately, cannot say how it came about. I was under the influence,” Saunderson said.

Saunderson had also been charged with causing unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal, but the Crown stayed that charge.

Another delay in mayor’s engineering discipline hearing

BOB MACKIN Citizen Staff

Mayor Simon Yu’s discipline hearing before the Engineers and Geoscientists Association of BC (EGBC) has been delayed again.

EGBC notified The Citizen on April 20 that the scheduled May 4-8 has been postponed at Yu’s request.

“The hearing has been adjourned and will be rescheduled to a new date,” said EGBC spokesperson Dave Pinton. “Once set, we will notify interested parties, and our website will be updated to reflect the new date.”

The hearing was originally slated to begin last July in Vancouver, but

postponed to December and then delayed indefinitely until EGBC announced the May dates in March.

EGBC cited Yu in September of 2024 for alleged professional misconduct.

EGBC accused Yu of professional misconduct, contrary to the Professional

Governance Act, and for breaching the EGBC bylaws and code of ethics.

Yu, a structural engineer who was registered in 1990, denies the allegations and has vowed to “vigorously defend” himself.

The case is about Yu’s support for a

building permit application in 2021 to the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako for an addition to an existing cabin at Cluculz Lake.

EGBC said Yu did not have sufficient geotechnical engineering expertise to deem a retaining wall and slope safe. He is also accused of failing to keep records of his work on the project.

The 2022-elected Yu’s company is Simon and Co. Structural Engineers. His registration shows an Oct. 1-10, 2023 suspension for failure to comply with reporting requirements.

In June 2025, Yu told The Citizen that “any geotechnical engineer or structural engineer should be able to design a simple little wall like that based on the knowledge they have received in university.

“I have done third-, fourth- and fifthyear university (courses) on geotechnical studies.”

Oct. 17 is municipal election day in Prince George.

Prince George Mayor Simon Yu, seen in his office on the fifth floor of city hall on Monday, March 23, has been accused of professional misconduct in his capacity as a professional engineer.

Salmon Valley man threatened, assaulted police ofcer

BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Salmon Valley man found guilty of assaulting, threatening and obstructing a police officer was sentenced to a conditional discharge and one-year probation April 14 in Prince George provincial court.

Lance Kyle Albert Zurowski, born in 1976, was charged with the Jan. 7, 2024, offences after a wellness check on a woman living with Zurowski went awry. In his oral verdict, Judge Martin Nadon said the woman’s son contacted Prince George RCMP because she could not be reached after four days and there was also no response from Zurowski. When police asked, the son denied

Zurowski is violent, but was uncertain whether he still had any hunting rifles. An officer was dispatched to Zurowski’s property at 1:50 p.m. on the day of the incident and arrived a half-hour later in uniform, driving a marked RCMP vehicle.

Zurowski tried to deny the officer entry. The officer described Zurowski as

agitated and yelling, telling him to leave the house, to the point of threatening “to f— you up.”

Zurowski resisted arrest and called 911 to accuse the officer of breaking into his residence.

While the officer tried to subdue Zurowski, Zurowski continued to yell and kick him.

“Eventually, the officer was able to turn him over and apply handcuffs,” Nadon said. “Kyle refused to walk to the police cruiser, and so the officer had to prop him up and drag him by his feet to the car.”

Zurowski was kept overnight in jail and released on bail the next day.

Nadon said he could not accept Zurowski’s evidence. He said the woman is profoundly hard of hearing and unlikely to have heard much of what went on because she was not wearing hearing aids when the officer came to the door.

For instance, both Zurowski and the woman “testified that she went to the door and that the officer pushed her out of the way to get to Kyle,” Nadon said. “I find that that simply did not happen.”

Nadon ruled that the warrantless search was justified in the circumstances because of the officer’s concern for the woman’s safety, and it did not last any longer than required for him to determine she was OK.

Nadon also said Zurowski’s mood in court during testimony “became elevated when talking about the police and the government,” and his demeanour

and actions were consistent with what the police officer described. The judge referred to Zurowski throughout proceedings by his first name.

“Kyle has filed some pseudo-legal documents demanding payment of billions of dollars and other relief,” Nadon said. “I will not spend any time on that. Those applications are dismissed.”

Nadon said that he did consider jail time for Zurowski, but decided not to.

Crown prosecutor Astitwa Thapa said Zurowski told him he is Indigenous, living with a disability and taking care of a disabled partner who is also Indigenous. Thapa unsuccessfully proposed a suspended sentence, maintaining that a criminal record is appropriate for such an offence.

“The accused’s conduct is unacceptable,” Thapa said.

“Police officers have a difficult job. They often put themselves in harm’s way to protect the community. They work diligently to preserve a just, peaceful and safe society.”

A conditional discharge, however, means Zurowski will not have a record for the incident, should he fulfil probation conditions.

Nadon said Zurowski had learned a lesson and would behave differently in the future. He also acknowledged the man’s strong views and distrust of the court system, which were not the reason for the charges.

“You will get a fair hearing, you will be listened to and that’s really all you can hope for,” Nadon said.

A man who tried to deny a police officer entry to his home, even calling 911 on him, before violently resisting arrest was give probation and a conditional discharge.

Man found guilty of assaultng toddler under his care

Court sees the video a suspicious mom found after checking nanny cam

BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A 33-year-old male was sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to choking and kicking a child in the face.

In an April 7 sentencing verdict, Provincial Court Judge Tamera Golinsky said the offender, known by the initials K.J.M. due to a publication ban, assaulted the 28-month-old boy while living with the child’s mother last June and acting as caregiver and stepparent.

The Crown wanted a year in jail plus probation, while K.J.M.’s lawyer asked for a conditional sentence order of two

years less a day, to be served in the community.

Golinsky’s decision, which withheld the place of the hearing, said the mother discovered the assaults when she noticed a scrape on her son’s shoulder and reviewed the nanny cam footage.

In the first incident, on June 13, 2025, K.J.M. opened a door, stepped into the room and used his foot to kick and move the child away from the door.

He pushed his hand onto the child’s neck, pressing him into the carpet.

“The child can be heard crying while crawling back to sit at the closed door,” Golinsky said.

“The video ends there.”

Two days later, on June 15, 2025, the child was seated alone on a bed, dressed in a diaper and crying.

“When K.J.M. opened the door, the toddler flinched,” Golinsky said.

“K.J.M. took a couple steps into

RCMP seize weapons, drugs

The RCMP used a warrant to search a home on the

the room and up to the bedside. He immediately squared his stance and then kicked the child once in the face or forehead with his bare foot, causing the child to fall onto his back.

He yelled something at the child, then stormed out of the room and closed the door behind him.

The child continued to lie there on his back and can be heard crying until the video ends a few seconds later.”

K.J.M. began using cocaine at age 28 due to peer pressure and used crack cocaine when he was 30.

He attended a Prince George treatment centre from December 2021 to January 2022 and moved to another treatment centre, in the Lower Mainland, in 2022.

But he left that facility after a month instead of fulfilling a two-year commitment.

He reverted to drug use when he began a relationship with the victim’s mother in 2023.

The child can be heard crying while crawling back to sit at the closed door. The video ends there.”

“He reports that he last used substances right after these incidents, and his current partner believes he has not been using during their relationship,” Golinsky said.

The judge said mitigating factors include the guilty plea, lack of criminal record, the spontaneous nature of the assaults, K.J.M.’s Indigenous heritage and the legacy of a traumatic brain injury from an ATV crash at age 20.

Golinsky officially sentenced K.J.M. to six months in jail on each charge, but he will serve the sentence concurrently.

of

Avenue on Monday, April 6, which led to the seizure of firearms, ammunition, body armour and drugs. The case is under investigation.

RCMP forced to give up search of seized laptop, phone

Child pornography case investigators wanted more time with the devices, but judge refused

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A BC Supreme Court judge in Prince George denied police more time to probe a laptop and mobile phone seized last spring during a child pornography investigation.

Justice Ronald Tindale ruled orally April 10 that he was not satisfied that “complexity of this investigation warrants further detention” for another year.

Court heard that the Prince George RCMP Special Victims Unit received seven child pornography investigation packages from the BC Integrated Child Exploitation Unit about the uploading and sharing of suspected child sexual abuse and exploitation material.

Police executed a search warrant on March 20, 2025, at a residence and seized several items, including a Google Pixel cell phone and Microsoft laptop.

The RCMP requested a contractor

download and extract data from the seized devices, but the contractor said it required what cybersecurity experts call “brute force” to gain access to the Google device.

The contractor said brute force could be supported on the model within a year.

Last June, Judge David Simpkin granted further detention of the seized items until March 20.

Data was extracted from other devices and no evidence found.

“In my view, this is a case of wishful thinking, that the data from the Google Pixel cell phone will be able to be accessed imminently or even in the next year,” Tindale said.

“There’s no evidence that the required technological development will occur and, therefore, there’s no estimate for completion of the extraction of the data.”

As for the laptop, Tindale said there was no relevant evidence on the device and the RCMP do not need it for their investigation.

Accused tries to have judge removed from handgun trial

BOB MACKIN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Prince George man sentenced April 2 to time served for possessing a loaded handgun failed to disqualify the judge on his case, The Citizen has learned.

Prince George RCMP officers were called to Grama’s Inn on April 4, 2024, to investigate a complaint about a man and woman entering an empty suite without authorization. When officers arrived, Jamie Hal Hammerstrom, 47, tried to flee, but his jacket fell off in a struggle. Police subdued him, searched the jacket and found a loaded Glock 9 mm handgun.

Hammerstrom’s sentence includes a

lifetime ban on possessing firearms.

Charges of carrying a concealed weapon and obstructing a peace officer were stayed.

Provincial Court Judge Cassandra Malfair’s oral reasons from Nov. 17, 2025, published on April 14, denied Hammerstrom’s application that said she was unfit to preside. Hammerstrom took issue with Malfair’s prior role as the Crown prosecutor of firearms charges against him 12 years earlier. Malfair became a judge in 2017. The Crown opposed the application, and Malfair noted that Hammerstrom waited until mid-trial to raise objections. However, Hammerstrom did not allege actual bias and did not point to any evidence “which might give rise to

apprehension of bias,” Malfair said.

Malfair said a judge must ignore everything about someone who is accused, “other than what is properly before them in the matter over which they are presiding.”

Malfair decided Hammerstrom failed to meet the legal test for disqualification, so she dismissed the application.

“A reasonable and informed person, viewing the matter realistically and practically, would not think it is more likely than not that I would consciously or unconsciously not judge this matter fairly only because I prosecuted Mr. Hammerstrom on an unrelated matter 12 years ago,” Malfair said.

Hammerstrom’s trial began in February 2025. In separate applications,

he unsuccessfully claimed the RCMP breached his constitutional rights against unreasonable search and seizure and arbitrary arrest.

In July, Hammerstrom fired his lawyer. As a self-represented defendant, he sought a mistrial and wanted to start over in BC Supreme Court. He found a new lawyer in October and brought the disqualification application.

In a March-filed lawsuit against the RCMP and Grama’s Inn, Hammerstrom seeks unspecified damages for injuries suffered during the arrest.

Hammerstrom wants compensation for what he said are serious injuries and mental trauma, as well as “money for broken teeth, brain injuries, nerve damage to my spine and sciatica.”

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

A Google Pixel cell phone and Microsoft laptop seized by RCMP during the search of a home on March 20, 2025, court heard as the police service asked for more time to search the devices.

Botle depot owners sue insurance company afer fre

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The company that operates the Nechako Bottle Depot is suing insurers for breach of contract after they denied it coverage for last fall’s fire.

A fire around 5 a.m. on Sept. 28, 2025, destroyed the depot’s First Avenue location. No one was injured. Two months later, the depot reopened at a new location, 2895 Gunn Rd.

Number Eighty-Eight Holdings Ltd. filed a statement of claim on April 13 in BC Supreme Court in Prince George against Lloyd’s Underwriters, brokerage Navacord Insurance Services BC Inc. and Mike Meszaros, a commercial insurance broker and agent with Navacord.

Based on the insurance policy since 2021, Number Eighty-Eight claims that Lloyd’s agreed to a commercial insurance policy that covers the depot’s building, contents, equipment,

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replacement cost, property extensions, profits and business interruption.

“Lloyd’s has breached the said insurance contract in that they have wrongfully refused to provide the plaintiff with coverage in accordance with the terms of the insurance policy and have failed to indemnify the plaintiff for loss and/or damages arising from the fire loss,” the claim alleges.

“At all material times, the defendant, Lloyd’s, owed the plaintiff a duty to act in good faith.”

Additionally, the company accuses Navacord and Meszaros of professional negligence.

The lawsuit said that, through its lawyer, Lloyd’s advised Number EightyEight on Dec. 22, 2025, that it would not cover the fire losses.

“It is Underwriters’ position that you made a material misrepresentation by omission on your application for insurance by failing to disclose your handling of hazardous and flammable materials

What’s left of the Nechako Bottle Depot on First Avenue is seen from the air on Monday, Sept. 29.

and substances at the Nechako Bottle Depot,” the letter said.

The plaintiff said Lloyd’s had previously “engaged in conduct amounting to representations, suggesting that coverage under the insurance policy for the fire loss was confirmed.”

It also said Lloyd’s was aware that it was making efforts to resume business at a new location pending resolution

of issues around the fire, including the insurance claim.

“As a result of the breach of contract of the defendant, Lloyd’s, and/or the breach of fiduciary duty or breach of contract of the defendants, Mike Meszaros and Navacord, the defendant, Lloyd’s, has failed to indemnify the plaintiff for its loss and/or damage under the insurance policy and the plaintiff has suffered damages and loss,” said the claim, filed by Number EightyEight’s lawyer Justin Haines.

Number Eighty-Eight is seeking indemnity against Lloyd’s for all losses, damages for breach of contract against Lloyd’s, a declaration that the insurance policy is in full force and effect, punitive and/or bad faith damages and general damages, special damages and income loss against Meszaros and Navacord, plus costs and interest.

None of the allegations has been tested in court. Number Eighty-Eight awaits a response from the defendants.

China Cup reopens in new Parkwood Place locaton

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

The China Cup Buffet is back in business.

The largest Chinese food buffet restaurant in the city reopened March 25 in a new location at Parkwood Mall not far from the space where it fed hungry Prince George residents for 18 years.

The new family-owned restaurant at 146-1600 15th Ave. is about half the size of the former China Cup location, and part-owner Pong Cheung is proud of his downscaled business. The new restaurant has a capacity for 170 customers but is currently configured with seating for 150.

A brand-new kitchen, high-efficiency HVAC system and state-of-the-art lighting will save on utility bills, and all those improvements would have been cost-prohibitive in the old location.

China Cup Buffet part-owner Pong Cheung gathers with Lin, left, and Kit, two of his most loyal staff members at the Parkwood Place restaurant, which reopened in a new location on March 25.

“Just for the economy, it was too big, I think it’s more manageable now,” Cheung said. “It’s more sustainable for the future.”

China Cup still offers more than 30 entrée choices for its customers, including spicy prawns, sweet-and-sour pork, honey garlic chicken wings, chow mein, chopped mixed vegetables, steamed mussels and deep-fried fish made fresh constantly. Traditional Chinese choices are complemented with Western-style roast beef, ham and potatoes, soups, salads, sushi, fresh fruit and dessert items to fill all-you-can-eat appetites. They also offer roast turkey at traditional holidays — Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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“We tried to come up with new stuff but we want to stay with the more popular dishes that people like the most,” Cheung said. “Kids love the ice cream, Jell-O and poutine.”

Cheung is part of the ownership and management group that bought China Cup nearly four years ago and also works as one of the chefs.

Raymond Yu, still one of the majority owners with Cheung, opened the China Cup restaurant near Spruceland Mall and operated it for several years. When Mama Panda’s closed in 2002, Yu and his brother Ricky took the opportunity to take over the 300-seat Parkwood Mall location and opened it as China Cup Buffet. Their family thought it was a risky venture, but they made it a thriving business for nearly two decades until the downturn of the city’s forest economy began affecting the business and it became much harder to fill those restaurant seats.

Cheung came to Prince George from Hong Kong 16 years ago to attend UNBC

and the College of New Caledonia to study business and finance, and he worked in his uncles’ restaurant to help pay his way through school.

“I was here for school at first and then I helped out with deliveries or anything in the kitchen,” Cheung said. “I used to just do the prep in the kitchen or refill the buffet or cleaning, I’ve done everything. I learned hands-on, I’ve learned from each chef.

“It was good coming here for school, my uncles were here and I had all that support. I didn’t think of owning anything here, but it turned out I met my wife and decided to stay and now we have two kids.”

Cheung bought shares in the restaurant in 2019 when Ricky Yu became the majority owner of Great Wall.

As any restaurant owner would agree, staffing is a constant challenge.

“For us in restaurants, we always have the same issue coming up, is the staffing, especially for the kitchen,” he said. “People who are really skillful, they leave after a while, and people who are not good don’t stay around either. It’s really tough to find people to do the work.”

Loyal customers will see familiar faces working at China Cup. Despite a nearly three-month break to get the new restaurant going, Cheung has retained 10 employees who worked at the former location, some in the kitchen and some as part of the reception, serving and cleaning staff in the dining area. Two of the staff — Kit and Lin (Auntie) — have been with China Cup since Day 1 and are like family.

One of the biggest fans of their food offered to build China Cup’s new website and post on social media to announce the reopening in March.

Coming soon to China Cup is Monday-to-Friday bento box service for grab-and-go customers who do not have much time to wait for lunch. They will have their choice of three or four dishes from an eight-item food cart near the front desk to make a quick meal for takeout or dine-in.

China Cup also offers a full menu for dine-in or takeout service.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE

Albertans ofer few details in RDFFG pipeline pitch

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

Representatives from the Alberta government made it clear to the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George’s board of directors on Thursday, April 16 that not much has been set in stone yet for its proposed oil pipeline to the BC coast.

In turn, Fraser-Fort George directors made it clear that they’d like to see clear economic benefits should the project come through their neck of the woods.

Last November, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith signed a memorandum of understanding that had their governments pledge to work together to facilitate a privately built pipeline carrying bitumen to British Columbia for export.

They agreed that a proposal for building that pipeline would be submitted to the federal Major Projects Office by July 1, 2026.

Addressing the board of directors on April 16, Ron Poole and Allie Meeres clarified that this proposal was not a fully formed application.

Instead, their visit is the first step in engaging local governments and First Nations whose territories the pipeline could end up passing through.

“There is no defined route, we know there’s no proponent, all these things have to be filtered out,” Poole told the board.

“I think the idea is because the Province of Alberta is doing the submission, they want to make sure it’s as open as possible before they do that.”

Poole, a former chief administrative officer for several BC communities including the City of Terrace, said the Alberta government is committed to managing potential environmental risks, including oil spills and damage to wildlife habitat.

After the presentation, Director Brian Skakun (City of Prince George) asked about what kind of partnership is going on between the BC and Alberta governments for this project. Poole said that’s one of the topics that still needs to be

moved forward.

Director Art Kaehn (Woodpecker-Hixon) asked whether an alternate route from Alberta to Hudson Bay was being considered. Poole said that’s not something he’s privy to, but nothing is fixed in place yet.

Kaehn later brought up the tension between regional districts and BC Assessment over proposed changes that would see the value of pipeline land be decreased by 16 to 30 per cent.

BC Assessment and the province put those changes on hold late last year after outcry from across the province.

“That’s where a little bit of a partnership with Alberta might be good,” Kaehn said. “We’d like to see the assessments remain high and we hope that this proposal would include potential property taxation.”

What’s the potential economic benefit for regions like ours from the pipeline, Director Kyle Sampson (City of Prince George) asked the presenters.

“I guess what I’m asking is, what are they offering?” Sampson said.

“At this point they’re not offering anything, I think they’re just letting you know that this proposal is going through,” Poole responded.

Meeres suggested that it would be helpful for their project to know what the regional district had liked and disliked when previous projects like this one had come through.

“It would be really helpful to know good things and bad things that past proponents have done and what you’d liked to see this project do, how you’d like to see them approach your com munities, how you’d like to see your communities benefit,” Meeres said.

“That would be really helpful, that information can then be included in the submission to the Major Projects Office.”

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Director Simon Yu (City of Prince George) asked how the submission to the Major Projects Office might streamline the approval process for the pipeline. Meeres said there would be more information available on that front if and when the project is designated as a project of national interest.

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Alberta government consultants Ron Poole (left) and Allie Meeres talk to the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George board of directors at 155 George St. in Prince George, BC about a proposed BC-Alberta pipeline on Thursday, April 16.

Mackenzie fghts end of northern homeowners’ beneft

COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff

As District of Mackenzie residents face an eight per cent increase to their property taxes this year, their municipal council is one of several voices calling for the provincial government not to end a rural and northern home owners’ benefit in 2027.

All BC homeowners are eligible for a $570 benefit to help offset their municipal property taxes.

Rural and northern residents, including those in Prince George and Mackenzie, have been eligible for an additional $200 benefit.

However, this benefit was instituted to offset extra costs caused by BC’s consumer carbon tax and now that the tax has been repealed, the province is set to phase out the benefit for 2027.

At its Monday, April 13 meeting, Prince George city council passed a motion to submit a resolution to the Union of BC Municipalities for consideration that would call on the province not to end the benefit.

About 180 kilometres further north, their colleagues on Mackenzie council started their advocacy over the issue back in March.

Speaking to The Citizen while attending a Regional District of Fraser-Fort George board of directors meeting on Thursday, April 17, Mayor Joan Atkinson said her council initially passed a motion to submit a similar resolution for consideration at next month’s annual general meeting of the North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA), hosted by the City of Prince George at the Civic Centre from May 20 to 22.

However, the NCLGA informed Mackenzie that the City of Prince Rupert and the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako had already submitted a similar resolution. Because of that, Atkinson said her council changed course and decided to endorse the pre-existing resolution.

Atkinson said the removal of the benefit would be hard on Mackenzie residents as the community has seen a large decrease in taxes from industrial

properties in recent years.

“We still have to plow our roads and provide protection services, run our rec centres, our public works department,” Atkinson said. “They’re already being burdened by extra taxes because of what has happened with our industry.”

She said this decline started about 20 years ago when the BC Liberal government of the day ended appurtenancy, a policy that required companies to process wood close to where the trees were being cut down.

As mills have closed in Mackenzie, their owners have been able to apply for a closure allowance from BC Assessment, which lowers the value of the property and by extension, the property tax being paid to the district.

Prince George city council voted last month to endorse sending a resolution to NCLGA members calling for the end of the closure allowance. While Atkinson said her council has yet to discuss that topic, it’s something they could speak in favour of on the floor of the AGM.

While her council is eying an eight per cent tax increase this year, that doesn’t mean the district hasn’t looked for savings.

being laid at their feet.

“When you put it together with all the other hits that the District of Mackenzie has taken … we’re getting awfully close to a 20 per cent property tax increase in just two years,” Wright said.

“It’s not from any new big project the District of Mackenzie has done, it’s from the downfall in the forest industry, which we have very little agency over and provincial decision like this.”

Wright said he’s on the board of the NCLGA and a co-chair of the organization’s resolutions committee.

He said he’s hopeful that communities like Mackenzie, Prince Rupert and Prince George coming together can work together on resolutions like this to effect change.

For example, Atkinson said they made the hard decision to close the Mackenzie Recreation Centre on Sundays from April 1 to the end of September.

“We couldn’t do it in the winter in hockey season,” Atkinson said. “Our staff looked at what was the best way to have the least impact on the community and I recognize that it’s not the best for many people.”

Coun. Jesse Wright, who announced last September that he will run to be Mackenzie’s next mayor, said in an April 17 phone interview that this year’s eight per cent tax hike in the district comes after an 11 per cent bump in 2025.

He said that if the district hadn’t made cutbacks like reducing hours at the rec centre and decreasing grants to non-profits, Mackenzie likely would have had to boost taxes by 28 per cent last year.

Not only would that not have been fair to residents, but he figures council “would have been run out of town with fire and pitchforks.”

Though the loss of the $200 benefit might not hurt Mackenzie residents as much as property owners in communities with higher property values, it would compound the financial burden

While Wright said he knows the provincial coffers are also in rough shape, the province is also looking to put through major projects in the north like liquified natural gas, the North Coast Transmission Line as well as the already built Site C Dam.

If the north is supporting all this industry, taking away the benefit for its residents feels like an undue penalty.

Another resolution Mackenzie is proposing for consideration by NCLGA members would call on BC Assessment to put data centres and bitcoin mines in a higher category of industrial property.

“Right now, in Mackenzie, they’re being put in ‘business, other’ which is the lowest category of industrial property tax and we feel that’s not adequately reflecting the impact that they’re having on the community, that they should be placed in ‘light industry’ or ‘major industry,’” he said.

This, he said, is not a criticism of data centre company IREN, which operates a facility in Mackenzie. Instead, it is a concern about the entire sector.

IREN also operates a data centre in Prince George and Canal Flats and BC as well as others in Oklahoma and Texas. Despite the financial difficulties her community has faced, Atkinson said there are some promising projects being worked on in Mackenzie.

SEE ‘IREN’ ON NEXT PAGE

CITIZEN PHOTO BY COLIN SLARK

Mackenzie Mayor Joan Atkinson stands in front of a topographical map of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George in the lobby of the regional district’s offices at 155 George St. in Prince George, BC on Thursday, April 16.

Hefy fne for huntng outside designated territory

BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A guide outfitter who took a hunting client outside of his employer’s permitted territory was fined $1,000 April 15 in Prince George provincial court and ordered to pay $29,000 to a charity.

Franck Rene Besseat, 56, was working as an assistant guide on Sept. 28, 2022, near McBride for a visiting American hunter, who paid at least US$20,000 for the guided trip and US$2,200 for a gratuity. After inflation, the sum is now worth $31,171 in Canadian funds.

At the end of a multi-day trip, Besseat and the hunter entered another guide outfitter’s territory. While there, Besseat helped the hunter locate a mountain goat and assisted him in post-harvest activities, including field processing and packing the animal’s carcass out.

Judge David Simpkin said the tip offered a “distinct financial incentive” to Besseat, a French citizen who moved to

A guide outfitter has been punished financially after leading a client into another guide’s territory near McBride in 2022.

Calgary in 2007.

“The hunts themselves are very expensive, but if the guide is going to

IREN looks to expand in area

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

She said IREN is looking to expand its operations and triple its number of local employees, Atkinson said.

Last October, the old Paper Excellence mill in Mackenzie was purchased by an Ontario-based company called BMI Group.

“What that’s going to look like at the end of the day has yet to be determined, but it’s good to see that it now has an owner that’s interested in developing and sees the potential,” Atkinson said.

Then, last November, Calgary-based Expander Energy announced it had signed a letter of intent with East Fraser Fibre Co. to potentially purchase its former Mackenzie mill site and acquire wood waste to be transformed into sustainable aviation fuel.

“The final decision hasn’t been made,” Atkinson said. “There is of course lots of hoops to jump through, but it’s at least

something that we can look forward to and that there’s a potential for that industrial site.”

In March, Atkinson announced that she would not run for re-election after serving almost six full terms on Mackenzie council as both councillor and mayor.

She said she would continue to focus on the forest industry in her last six months in office.

“One of my top priorities is to secure more fibre to our community forest, because they provide us dividends every year,” Atkinson said.

“It’s a partnership between the McLeod Lake Indian Band and the District of Mackenzie and as we see our industrial tax base shrink, it’s good to have that money from the community forest every year.”

The community forest model, she said, fosters much better stewardship because it’s locally owned and operated.

you can certainly see, as a result, why the sentences for this kind of offence are so high, why the sentences aim to take away any financial reward that anybody has made out of the illegal hunt.”

Simpkin agreed with the joint Crown and defence sentencing proposal. The $29,000 payment will be made to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation as part of a joint sentencing proposal. He set an April 29 deadline to pay that into the court, along with the $1,000 fine and $150 victim surcharge.

Simpkin said that hunters who pay guides do so without any guarantee. Lucky or not, they must always comply with the rules.

make that kind of tip, you can certainly see why someone might be persuaded to break the rules,” Simpkin said. “And

Simpkin said the case involved a complicated police investigation that required court approval to obtain GPS devices in order to determine locations. Ultimately, Besseat was caught and, “to his credit,” pleaded guilty. Court heard that Besseat has voluntarily given up his guiding licence.

TOYS • COMICS • GAMES

COMMUNITY

What’s happening in PG

Earth Day with REAPS goes Friday, April 24 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Prince George Public Library, main branch. The Recycling & Environmental Action Planning Society will present a special Earth Day program. Learn about the wonders of the earth, plant a seed and make and earth-themed craft.

Pottery Paint Night in the Greenhouse goes Saturday, April 25 at 6 p.m. at Hunniford Gardens, 8845 Aquarius Rd. Join Three Mad Potters for a delightful evening to paint an unglazed pottery mug. Once completed, mugs will be taken back to the Three Mad Potters studio to finish the glazing process and fire them in the kiln. In two to four weeks the mug will be available for pick-up. Ticket includes all pottery supplies, a pop, water or, juice, and a four inch tropical plant to take home. Cost is $110 plus tax. Call 250-967-4325 to reserve your spot or visit www.hunniford-gardens.shoplightspeed.com/2026pottery-paint-night-saturday-april-25

REAPS Annual General Meeting goes Saturday, April 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the hall at St. Michael’s Anglican Church, 1505 Fifth Avenue in downtown Prince George. There will be a year in review and the guest speaker will be Jennifer Cote of Moose Mushrooms and Mud presenting on local mushrooms and where to find them and how to use them. For more information visit www. reaps.org.

Drive Thru Spring Community Shred It event goes Saturday April 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Prince George Secondary School parking lot, 2901 Griffiths Avenue. This event is presented by Northern BC Crime Stoppers and offers the opportunity to shred personal or important documents to prevent victims of identity theft. Donation of minimum $10 per bag or box and is not meant for business owners. For another $5 donation you can enjoy a tasty Mr. Mike’s burger from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Spring Fling Bazaar goes Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, 3701 Rainbow Drive. Presented by the Prince George

Michael Cera (left), Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Jonah Hill appear in a scene from the 2007 comedy Superbad. Mintz-Plasse, who played the iconic character McLovin in the film, is one of the guests at Northern Fancon this year.

Royal Purple this event sees lunch offered as well as sales of crafts with lots of vendors, a bake sale and draws. Apple pie and apple crisp will be available for sale but only in limited numbers. Vendor and crafter tables can be rented for $35 each. For more information email m_schram@hotmail.com

Junk in the Trunk Sale goes Saturday, April 25 and Sunday April 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Pineview Community Hall, 6470 Bendixon Road and is presented by the Pineview Rec Commission. There are spaces available to rent inside the hall and in the parking lot. Sell gently used items or come and shop for treasures you never knew you needed. There will be a lunch concession available for cash only from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Future Junk in the Trunk sales are planned for May 23, June 20, July 19, August 22 and September 19. For more information call Judy at 250-963-9723 or the PRC office at 250-963-8214.

Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast goes Saturday, April 25 from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Coast Prince George Hotel. This is an annual gathering for the Mayor and other city leaders, believers, and members of our community to come together in the Spirit of Jesus Christ in order to foster greater unity and provide space to encourage and pray for those who lead our city. Promoting and building community with community support and encouragement.

Ticket are $35 each by calling Linda at 250-649-9094.

Conservatory of Music Piano Recital goes Sunday, April 26 at 3 p.m. at Trinity United Church, 3555 Fifth Ave. (behind Spruceland Mall). Chiao-Rou Liu is a pianist and educator, whose work bridges performance, pedagogy, and musician wellness. Originally from Taiwan, ChiaoRou is currently pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at the University of Arizona, with a minor in Musician Wellness and Injury Prevention. The performance will feature works by Scarlatti, Brahms, Debussy, and Glass, offering a journey across contrasting styles and eras of the piano repertoire. Admission is by donation to the Conservatory’s Scholarship and Bursary Funds.

Spring Fever Water Colour Classes

Cherry Blossums and Chicks goes Mondays including April 27, May 4, 11 and 18 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Studio 2880 at the Upstairs Workshop Zone, 2880-15th Ave. These classes are geared for beginners to intermediate artists who wish to gain some insight with instructor Wendy Framst. To register visit www. studio2880.com/programs/art-classes/ springfeverwatercolour

Open Mic Street Jam goes Tuesday, April 28 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St. Come catch some words spoken at the Open Mic Street Jam. All levels and styles of

poetry welcomed. There are 10 slots of spoken word poetry, three poems each and/or five minutes long. Sign-up sheet opens 10 minutes before 6 p.m. and there is a bonus open mic of five slots for all other artistry, including musicians, comedians, miming, magicians, etc. We’ve got positive vibrations and ideas brewing for this monthly addition of open mics. It’s going to be lively. Suitable for all ages. Cash donation at the door, performers get in free.

Northern FanCon 2026 goes Friday, May 1 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 3 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Northern FanCon is Northern BC’s premier pop culture expo, bringing together fans, creators, and special guests for an unforgettable weekend of fandom, creativity, and community. There are celebrity meet and greets, professional photo ops and autographs, engaging panels, behind the scenes stories from film, television, gaming, anime, and comics, plus a vibrant show floor filled with artists, creators, and specialty vendors. For more information visit www.ticketsnorth.ca/event/ northern-fancon-2026.

Teen Art Showcase goes until May 1 at the Bob Harkins branch of the Prince George Public Library. Awards reception is set for Saturday, May 2. Teens between 13 and 18 have their work on display at the library for all to enjoy.

Chris Gaskin Old & New, Past Favourites goes Friday, May 1 and The New Act goes Saturday, May 2 at the Prince George Playhouse, 2626 Recplace Drive. Gaskin was born and raised in Prince George and is returning as one of Canada’s best comedians. May 1 show features Mike McGuire and Sara Jones while May 2 show features Brian Majore and Kylie Lewis Holt. Gaskin has been featured on Just For Laughs, SiriusXM, and CBC, and has worked with brands like BMW, Porsche, and Yuk Yuk’s. For more information and tickets visit www. chrisgaskin.net/old-and-new

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COLUMBIA TRISTAR PHOTO

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Yes, She’ll Love it Pre-Mother’s Day Sale goes Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Coast Hotel Ballroom, 770 Brunswick St. Presented by the Vendor Vault this a curated, high-energy shopping experience designed to help you find the gift that makes Mom light up. There will be an incredible lineup of local makers, bakers, creators, and small businesses bringing thoughtful, unique, and beautifully made gifts.

Mother’s Day Tea goes Saturday, May 2 at 1 p.m. at the Prince George Italian Club, 1209 Fifth Ave. Celebrate Mamma’s special day by indulging in delicious sandwiches, scones, cupcakes and biscotti with tea or coffee. Tickets are only $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Purchase tickets by e-transfer at pgitalianclub1@gmail.com. Deadline Wednesday, April 29.

Twenty Years of Song goes Saturday, May 2 at Knox Performance Centre, 1445 Fifth Avenue. Nove Voce has become one of BC’s and the nation’s best community choirs. They have travelled to concerts and competitions everywhere from Gothenburg Sweden to Powell River, representing Prince George and making friends along the way. Join them for this celebration where they will perform favourite pieces from all 20 years, featuring artists like Alanis Morissette, famous works by Mozart and commissioned pieces written specifically for Nove Voce. Jose Delgado Guevara will join on violin,

Casey Clark-Cretien on percussion and Maureen Nielsen on piano. Tickets are $25 at www.eventbrite.ca/e/ twenty-years-of-song-tickets

Allen Dobb with Moranz and Fremlin goes Saturday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. at ArtSpace above Books & Co, 1685 Third Ave. Bluegrass duo Moranz and Fremlin join up with Vancouver Island singer/songwriter Allen Dobb to celebrate the release of their respective new albums Williwaw

The Afterlife Sessions. This all-acous tic double-bill concert with brilliant musicianship, stories, and songs is not to be missed. Tickets are $30 each at Books & Co or online at www. skippingstonemusic.ticketspice.com/ allen-dobb-with-moranz-and-fremlin Seniors Paint Club until May 21 from noon to 2 p.m. at Studio 2880-15th Ave in the Jack Bryan Room. These sessions are geared for those 55+ to learn new art techniques. Take up painting with your friends and enjoy an afternoon creating art. On April 9 the theme is Waterfalls, April 23 the Abandoned Cabin in the Moun tains, April 30 Happy Sunflowers, May 7 Campfire Stories, May 14 Calm Water and May 21 is Big Red (a tractor). Each session is $25 and includes supplies.

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.

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

STOMP!

TICKETS

Available THROUGH EVENTBRITE

To register visit www.studio2880.com/ programs/art-classes/seniorspaintclub 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 lat est projects to share, vent frustrations,

Featuring: GARRETT GREGORY

With special guests: THE MOON DOGS

All proceeds to support

PRINCE GEORGE CIVIC CENTRE R tar lub rince Ge rge nt n KITCHEN UPGRADES at RONALD McDONALD HOUSE - UHNBC, Prince George

Celebratng spring in full colour at The Citzen

Our Easter Colouring Contest was a big hit, so we’ve decorated a wall of our of!ces with many of the entries. Look for more colouring contests in the future!

Actve Start program helps litle ones develop skills

Special Olympics offers family-friendly activity sessions

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Special Olympics BC Prince George has done it again.

Expanding upon their program for athletes of all ages and skill levels the Special Olympics Prince George group now offers Active Start, a family-centred activity program, geared for children with intellectual disabilities between the ages of two and six.

Through the Active Start program, children learn basic motor skills such as walking, running, jumping and throwing in a fun and safe environment.

The local program has been running since September where families come together every Saturday morning at the AiMHi gym for some fun.

Peter Goudal, regional program coordinator for Special Olympics BC Prince George, managed to recruit several volunteers, including students from the university’s physiotherapy department, to help lead the program.

“I took the training program after the Summer Games and as soon as the program started I joined the other volunteers to work with the two to sixyear-olds,” Shirley Bond said.

“It certainly was a goal for the Special Olympics Summer Games to have a legacy and there’s always been a hope to create a program for children who are two to 11 years old so that they can actually see a future in Special Olympics. I think one of the things we’re most excited about is that we have two programs running now, Active Start for two to six year olds and FUNdamentals for young people who are seven to 11 years old. The coaches are so excited. We have a lot of young coaches, university students and others who stepped up after the Summer Games to allow us to introduce parents to the Special Olympics program and it’s probably as much a benefit to parents to be able to be together to create community and to

see the potential in the program and in their young person.

Bond spoke about the many benefits Active Start has provided to the children participating and it’s not all about the physical skills they have learned.

“Last week one of our little members of Active Start made a birthday card for another little girl in the program and she could not wait for her friend to come to the program and that was a really special moment, not just for the two little girls but for everyone here,” Bond shared.

“So the children are excited and it’s also a place for grandparents and parents to come and chat with one another

see Jackson in a place where he and his peers can be together to learn new skills and enjoy each other’s company.

“Raising a child with special needs can be very isolating,” Christina Zotich, grandmother to a participant, said.

“We believe there is kinship to be found in being around people who are going through similar experiences, and the Active Start program offers a space for this to take place. It has provided a sense of community for our family, but most importantly for our daughter, son in-law, and granddaughter. The program volunteers are dedicated, warm and supportive. We would encourage everyone who is parenting a child with special needs to come out for the hour of fun activities, games, songs, and building connections.”

Peter’s daughter, Josie and son, Dominic, volunteer with the program.

“We’ve seen so much development,” Josie said.

“To begin with some of the kids couldn’t walk very well and now they’re doing more walking and there’s development of sounds so we’ve definitely seen the progress over the last few months and that’s so special. We’ve seen friendships develop, too, which is just as important.”

UNBC student Madiera was very happy to hear about the opportunity to volunteer with Active Start.

so it’s about creating community and starting early.”

Cora-Lee Poehnell, mom to five-yearold Jackson, said they really enjoy Active Start.

“It’s helped with his skills and right now they are working on jumping and he’s really good at throwing now and hitting balls and things like that,” Poehnell said.

“And it’s really good for him socially and it’s really good to see how all of the children have developed over the last few months. They’ve got a really great bunch of coaches that work so well with everyone.”

Jackson’s Oma said she’s so happy to

“I want to work with children and I think supporting things like this is so important, especially because I know how fundamental early childhood development and programs like this are to young children so if I could contribute towards it I thought it was a great idea,” Madiera said.

“In September I will be starting my last year at the university and ideally I was really hoping to work in healthcare, specifically with children in PT (physical therapy) so truly I am still exploring my options so volunteering here just helped me see what I like and this is wonderful.”

For more information about Special Olympics BC Prince George and how to get involved either as a participant or volunteer visit www.facebook.com/ specialolympicsbc/princegeorge

PETER GOUDAL PHOTO

Madiera, a volunteer, is seen here with one of the participants during Special Olympics BC Prince George Active Start program at AiMHi gym on Saturday, April 11.

Why Prince George deserves singers like Jonelle Sills

ELI KLASNER Guest Columnist

In recent weeks, there has been renewed discussion about the role of cultural infrastructure in mid-sized cities — what it is, how it is funded, and whether it can be sustained.

But a more fundamental question is worth asking:

What happens when a community chooses to invest in it?

In Prince George, the answer is clear. When venues are maintained, instruments are cared for, and programming is taken seriously, something remarkable becomes possible: artists of the highest calibre come here — and audiences respond.

The upcoming recital by Canadian soprano Jonelle Sills at the Prince George Playhouse is a powerful example.

Sills is not simply an emerging artist. She is a performer at a pivotal moment in her career, stepping into major roles on some of the country’s most respected stages, including her upcoming performance as Mimì in Vancouver Opera’s La Bohème.

Her voice — recognized for its clarity, strength, and emotional depth — places her among the most compelling vocal artists of her generation.

Opportunities to hear artists at this stage, before they become fixtures on the international circuit, are increasingly rare.

For Prince George audiences, this recital may represent a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience one of Canada’s most exciting and rapidly

rising classical artists in an intimate setting.

Moments like this do not happen by accident.

They depend on infrastructure—on places like the Prince George Playhouse, one of the city’s most important cultural assets.

They depend on instruments like the

restored Bechstein grand piano, which allows artists to perform at the level their work demands.

And they depend on audiences — audiences that expect, and respond to, excellence.

Prince George has long demonstrated that it is not only capable of hosting high-level performance, but that it

demands it. Its audiences are discerning, engaged, and willing to support ambitious programming when it is presented with care.

That is why artists like Jonelle Sills come here.

This recital is part of a broader resurgence in performing arts programming in Prince George.

Since the inaugural performance at the Knox Performance Centre in 2023 by internationally acclaimed pianist Angela Hewitt, the city has once again begun to attract a roster of distinguished artists—reaffirming its place on the touring map for classical performers.

The upcoming performance at the Playhouse stands as both a culmination of recent efforts and a clear signal of what lies ahead.

It is also a reminder of what is at stake.

Without sustained investment in venues, instruments, and programming, opportunities like this become less frequent. With that investment, they become possible—and expected.

For those considering attending, the message is simple: do not wait. Performances of this calibre, in a venue of this scale, do not remain available for long.

Prince George has built the conditions for excellence.

This concert is the result.

And for one evening, audiences will have the opportunity to experience something rare: a performance at the highest level, by an artist whose trajectory is only just beginning.

Tickets are available at: https://studio-2880.tickit.ca/events/30410-a-nightat-the-opera-jonelle-sills-with-tina-chang

JESSICA WITTMANN/PAOLA PRESTINI PHOTO

Juno-nominated soprano Jonelle Sills, seen here in Silent Light at the Banff Centre, will bring A Night at the Opera at the Prince George Playhouse on May 9, with special guest Tina Chang.

Explore thousands of years of Prince George geology

Landscapes Through Time

is a three-day conference at UNBC with eld trips

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Ever wonder why those chunks of the highway between Prince George and Quesnel are vulnerable to landslides, especially around that giant S curve at Cottonwood River Hill that took years to fix?

What about how the land looks permanently windswept in Moore’s Meadow like a giant glacier slipped on through?

And what about that giant rock formation that Foothills Boulevard butts up against?

Here’s a chance to get the inside scoop on the geology, geomorphology and geohazards of North-Central BC, including those right in the heart of Prince George.

The very first Landscapes Through Time Geoconference takes place Monday, April 27 to Wednesday, April 29 and everyone is invited to take a trip up the hill to UNBC to start the adventure.

There will be a full day of talks at the university on Monday, a free dinner if you register early enough and the day ends with a talk by a world-renowned expert followed up by field trips Tuesday and Wednesday that take you right to the source of environmental earth science discoveries.

The keynote speaker, John J. Clague, is one of the nation’s leading authorities in Quaternary, which is the youngest geological period, characterized by ice ages and the evolution of modern humans.

Clague specializes in environmental earth sciences with more than 50 years of experience in his field. The hour-long talk is free to the public with no need to register and takes place at the Canfor Theatre at UNBC on Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m.

Brendan Miller, a UNBC research soil

The curving texture that runs underneath and to the right of UNBC in this aerial LIDAR image are beach lines from glacial Lake Fraser.

scientist that works for the Ministry of Forests, will be offering field trips focused on his research on a glacial lake that once existed in this region where he will offer his insight into what happened when the lake drained so quickly it forever changed the landscape of the northern and central parts of the province.

Miller said he relocated to Prince George in 2009 for his job to find gravel for the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.

Then in 2015 Miller moved into his current position with the Ministry of Forests where he provides expertise in terrain interpretation and natural hazard and risk analysis at regional and provincial levels.

“The value in doing this sort of work is that it touches on a lot of different aspects of our interaction with the natural landscape,” Miller said.

The Prince George area underwent rapid transformation about 11,500 years ago during and immediately after the draining of glacial Lake Fraser. This lake flooded the Central Interior between McBride and Fraser Lake, and south to William Lake, and had an area of about 7,500 square kilometres and a volume of about 500 cubic kilometres.

The lake drained within a few weeks to months, which initiated a period of rapid landscape transformation that lasted about a century, Miller explained on the Landscapes Through Time website.

“The soils that are associated with these lakes is tremendously unstable and we often see landslides associated

with them and there’s been houses lost in areas as a result of building on what we call lacustrine soils, which are glacial lakebed soils, basically,” Miller said.

“So when we’re developing roads or developing forestry operations we have to be cognizant of where those lake beds are so what I’ve done is gone around and mapped shorelines around the area.”

Through Miller’s education and research he understands things like there is a gravel deposit where a stream comes into a lake.

“And gravel has a major effect on the economic development of an area,” Miller noted.

“Gravel can be very expensive if you have to truck it and if it’s right on your doorstep it’s very cheap.”

Agriculturally speaking, Miller also said that where the glacial lake beds are located is where agriculture occurs.

“And with mining development there must be an understanding on the redistribution of materials during the glacial period,” Miller said.

“One of the greatest examples of that happened in the Northwest Territories where there was a systematic process of finding diamond-bearing rocks and they basically traced it back to the source and started an industry in the 1980s as a result of that and it’s just in its twilight right now. So all this paleogeographic reconstruction has tremendous implications towards various aspects of the society we live in, including forest health.”.

Different levels of earth provide different levels of water retention and

nutrient regimes that will determine what vegetation can exist in certain areas, Miller added.

“So what I am doing is creating maps that others can build off of for their specific needs,” Miller said.

Around the table with Miller during this interview were the event organizers, including Mike Nash, a Prince George-based backcountry explorer and author, who was compelled to say something about Miller’s research.

“I read the papers you’ve written about the area including the rapid draining of glacial Lake Fraser and the huge impact it has had on the topography of this city,” Nash said to Miller.

“I live up in the Hart and I walk in the bush around our place quite a lot and I became aware of all these things that I called amphitheatres, unknowingly calling them that, and then read your work and they are called amphitheatres, which were caused by the rapid draining of this lake that stretched from Vanderhoof out to the Willow River, north to Summit Lake and south to Williams Lake. That has had a huge impact on this town and we’d like the public to hear about all this as well.”

Adam Hawkins, a physical geography assistant professor at UNBC, said that’s why the university is hosting the event.

“It’s kind of like anything in the natural sciences,” Hawkins said. “Once you become aware of something you then pay attention to it. A goal of this conference is to raise awareness of what we have around us and hopefully that changes people’s perspective so the next time they are driving around or hiking around the area, they look at the landscape differently than they did before.”

Miller will be leading field trips during the conference to showcase the hows and whys of the landscape in the area. The Landslides and Geology field trip will take about eight hours and starts on Tuesday, April 28 at 9 a.m.

For details about the schedule of talks, the free conference dinner, to register for the conference and sign up for the field trips visit landscapesthroughtime2026.squarespace.com/

Does a bear poop in the woods? Yes, and in the city, too

MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff

The College of New Caledonia (CNC) is seeking to scoop up some valuable data on urban bears’ activity for an important wildlife research project.

CNC is asking people to help clean up after urban bears and send the droppings to the college for examination.

“Pick it up just like you would dog poop,” said Vanessa Fetterly, senior researcher with CNC Research Forest. “We only need a small amount, about the size of a golf ball, and the fresher, the better.”

The project, now in its second year, is expanding through a partnership with the Calgary Zoo, adding the ability to provide scientific comparisons to better understand bear behaviour and stress levels.

CNC stated that the project saw strong support in its first year, with more than 66 people contributing more than 130 samples from places like College Heights, downtown, Moore’s Meadow and Ginter’s Meadow.

“We were thrilled with the level of engagement from the community last year,” said Fetterly. “Every sample helps us better understand where bears are spending time, whether those interactions are positive or negative, and how we can make Prince George safer for both people and wildlife.”

Analyzing the samples allows researchers to determine whether bears are male or female, assess their stress levels and identify patterns in their urban behaviour.

Calgary Zoo, the samples and information on bear habits can then be compared with samples from wild bears, with the zoo’s captive bears living in a lower-stress environment.

“If bears in the city are experiencing higher stress, it can influence behaviour and increase the risk of negative encounters,” said Fetterly.

CNC stated that the ultimate goal of this project is to identify areas in and around the city with high bear activity and understand what may be attracting them to these areas in order to develop better strategies to deal with them.

“Being bear-smart makes our community safer,” added Fetterly. “This project

is a unique way for people to directly contribute to that.”

There are two ways for those interested to participate if they find a suitable sample that they wish to donate.

Take a photo: Take a photo of it and text it, along with the general location, to 778-349-4813, and the research team will collect the sample.

Personal delivery: Collect the sample with a bag and drop it off at the designated “bear poop fridge,” which is located beside the geodome greenhouse near the ATCO trailer at CNC’s Prince George campus.

Those who decide to turn in a sample are asked to:

• Take a photo of the sample before collecting

• Collect a small amount (golf-ball size is plenty)

• Label the bag with the date and general location (street name only)

• Store samples in a freezer or cooler if they can’t be delivered right away

If you happen to capture images of the bears doing their business on a trail or security camera, send those images in as well.

Samples will be accepted until bears begin their hibernation in late October.

JOYCE MURRAY PHOTO

A bear explores a Prince George neighbourhood in this 2023 photo. Researchers from the College of New Caledonia are working with the Calgary Zoo on a study of bear droppings, and they’re asking people to scoop it up and drop it off if they see any.

Curious about art? New artst in town hosts workshops

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

She’s only been here a few weeks and she’s already making an impact on the art community in Prince George, offering up her Curious Art Workshop series through Studio 2880.

Anne Beauchemin, a painter and author originally from Quebec, moved to Vancouver in 2014 and recently came north to Prince George, with her family, where the pace is more her speed.

She moved around a lot in the Lower Mainland trying to find her spot, she explained.

“But as the years went by Vancouver got darker,” she said. “I am from a small village and grew up in the forest by the water and to raise my kids in an environment that is a little bit more relaxed and nature-oriented is important to me so we made the move and it just kind of started flowing.”

When she was little and people would ask her what she wanted to be when she grew up she said she knew she wanted to be a writer, something she’s done all her life.

“And then when I was in Vancouver, before I got sober in September 2015, I tried watercolour,” Beauchemin said.

“It was a very dark time in my life and there was not a lot of joy. I drew one night and I realized that I was really enjoying it and it was bringing me peace and a moment of calm and then I just kept on with the watercolours. For a long time I would say I kept doing it because it was my break in the chaos when I was making art and I felt like that was where I was supposed to be even when my circumstances were very challenging.”

Beauchemin was quick to admit she had never been to school for art. She did try to go to Langara for fine arts last year but it wasn’t for her. She wasn’t into the technical side of art. She just wanted to make it. She quit really quickly because she didn’t want to be a technical artist, she said. She wanted to paint using emotion, expressing herself in her own unique way.

“I just want to use the colours that

catch my eye in the moment so I put them on my palette and just start having fun,” Beauchemin said.

“So I did watercolours for a long time and then when I was in White Rock in 2022 or 2023, I had a friend who brought over a yard of canvas and some pastels and he told me to just start drawing on it. It was bigger and it was a lot more fun than just my little water colours and then I started buying my canvas by the yard.”

Beauchemin tried to explain the process that saw her art ascend into what it is today.

From her darker place she chose to move toward the light that was her art, her meditative state when she creates is showcased in the process she has captured in accelerated videos where, through her own creativity, discovered blind contouring and one-line drawing as her happy place.

And yes, she admits she believed she invented those techniques, she explained with a cheeky grin, only to have a “learn-ed artiste” provide her the vocabulary that identified those wellknown techniques.

“They were like, ‘yeah, it’s blind contour and one-line drawing and you study them in school,’” Beauchemin said, laughing at herself.

But when Beauchemin does it, it’s not

In the spirit of adventure, Beauchemin has thrown herself into the art community and will be participating in Art Battle, which sees artists compete in 20-minute rounds of artmaking until a winner is declared by the audience members, who move around participants as they create their work.

The Community Arts Council of Prince George & District hosts the annual event, which takes place at Knox Performance Centre, 1445 Fifth Ave., on Friday, April 24 at 7 p.m.

“I’m a little bit nervous about it,” Beauchemin said.

The practical side is what she is exploring right now, trying to figure out how fast her paint will dry so she can build upon her foundation.

a learned technique. It looks like more of a calling. You can see the joyful energy on the canvas, you can feel her intention to communicate through her art and it’s breathtaking — honestly, I spent a lot of time holding my breath watching her seconds-long videos on her Facebook page that show her creating her work.

For someone who ponders word choice and frets over sentence structure for a living the freedom that Beauchemin expresses in her boldly enlivened artwork is enviable and inspiring.

Now she mostly works in acrylics, pastels and acrylic pens and at times she even uses a little spatula thingy, too.

Beauchemin, with her lovely accent, pronounces ‘spatula’ as ‘spa-toolah’ which is so much nicer than the traditional noise we make when we say that word. She makes it sound like a lovely flower and so now I will be adopting her way of saying it as it’s just so much more gentle.

Beauchemin conveys that artwork is not a job for her but rather a necessity.

“When I paint I really get in the zone,” Beauchemin said.

“When it has to come out, it has to come out, so it can take between two and eight hours to finish a piece depending on the size of it and if it feels like it’s done.”

“I do a lot of blind contour so I am thinking of bringing a mirror and just doing my face,” Beauchemin said. She explained that’s how she started and adding to the challenge is one-line drawing.

“It creates a nice movement to it,” Beauchemin said about the process. Beauchemin wants to share the joy of art with Prince George residents not just through the Art Battle showcase and has decided to host her Curious Art Workshop series every Tuesday in May and June.

“During each class we will start by doing five or 10 minutes of guided meditation to really clear the mind,” Beauchemin said.

The workshops will be more about interaction with others in the class and how the art relates to the experience and there’s even a sharing circle at the end of each workshop, she added.

“So I don’t think this is for people who want to be technical with art,” Beauchemin said.

“I think it’s more perfect for people who are looking for something that will bring them community. It’s a time to discover your own way through art.”

For all the details and to register visit www.studio2880.com/programs/ art-classes

And to get a glimpse of Beauchemin’s process in 58 seconds or less visit www. facebook.com/anne.beauchemin

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Anne Beauchemin, an artist new to Prince George, is presenting her Curious Art Workshop series at Studio 2880 in May and June.

April 26, 1962: Buster Black (left), Lloyd Florell, coach Ed Konkin and Bud Bargy headed to Spruce City Field for a practice. The members of the Tilers were getting ready for the new softball season. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY ROY FUJIKAWA

April 27, 1998: Peter Blake was among the entertainers at the BC Festival of the Arts of ce in Redwood Square as plans were outlined for the six-day festival, which was being planned for May 19-24 that year. Six hundred people volunteered. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN

April 26, 1977: Caroline Emery enjoyed 30 C sunshine on the beach at Bear Lake, which still had ice on it, in a front-page photo that highlighted Prince George’s version of spring weather. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY DOUG WELLER

April 26, 2013: Fans cheered on American hard rockers Motley Crue at the CN Centre the night before. Singerr Vince Neil, drummer Tommy Lee and a pair of backup vocalists were featured on The Citizen’s front page. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN

Mélanie’s Way ofers memory-making experiences

Husband’s charity works to bring joy to cancer patients and their loved ones

CHRISTINE DALGEISH Citizen Staff

It hasn’t always been easy for Rob Chalmers but through his grief he’s making it better for others.

Chalmers lost his beloved, blunt, lived-life-to-the-max wife who was all about making memories for those she would leave behind way too early.

Mélanie died of metastatic breast cancer in 2015 at 39 years old but has left a lasting legacy that carries on to this day, which Chalmers is bringing home to Prince George for those who are experiencing a similar plight as the woman he loved.

The charity is called Mélanie’s Way and it helps younger women with metastatic or relapsed cancer by creating personalized experiences — wishes — that bring them and their loved ones joy, providing lasting memories to those left behind.

This year the organization will fulfill its 100th wish and Chalmers wanted to bring his fundraising efforts from Toronto where he lives now back home to Prince George. He still has a strong connection to the city as his mom still lives here and he’s raising awareness for the cause during Wishing on a Northern Star with Mélanie’s Way, an event that takes place on Saturday, May 2 at The Exploration Place at 2 p.m.

Chalmers left Prince George after he graduated high school to pursue his post-secondary education out East and then he found work in Ontario and has lived there ever since.

“I’m the only member of my family that lives on the wrong side of the Rockies,” Chalmers quipped.

The biggest inspiration for creating this type of charity was Mélanie always living life to the fullest, he said.

“Long before she was sick, Mélanie always sought out peak experiences and didn’t really accept not being

satisfied — she didn’t buy into that idea of living in drudgery for 40 years and then having a happy retirement and then when she got sick that just accelerated things,” Chalmers said.

“She obviously did all the things she needed to do to fight cancer but what she focused on most was the times she wasn’t in the hospital getting treatment and she was out just soaking it up.”

In her last year of life Mélanie visited 20 countries, Chalmers said.

“She just really went for it and the whole time she wrote about it in a really open and candid way and shared that very publicly with people,” Chalmers said.

“And it inspired a lot of folks and when I was reading her journal after she passed it was really clear that she was deliberately leaving her loved ones with memories because she knew we weren’t going to have a lifetime of memories with her.”

Chalmers said it feels odd to say but they had an advantage.

“We had a house to sell, we had a retirement fund to liquidate so she could spend that money and do those things and a lot of people who get the same terrible luck health-wise that she had don’t have those resources so while Mélanie’s Way can’t give them

Mél did so it’s about creating these peak experiences so your loved ones have a moment of joy to share with you while you’re here and once you’ve passed it leaves them with a memory. It’s wildly variant but I think the two things that drive it are personal choice — like hey, I’ve always wanted to go to Iceland or like we sent a woman home to Vietnam last year because she hadn’t been back to see her family in years. So we do stuff like that.”

Wishing on a Northern Star with Mélanie’s Way that takes place on Saturday, May 2 at The Exploration Place, 333 Becott Place, at 2 p.m.

everything Mél had, we can enable them to do one thing,’ Chalmers said.

The charity serves people who are 18 and older because Make A Wish will provide them with a wish if they are younger.

“And at the time of the request you have to be under the age of 45,” Chalmers said.

“That’s really about Mél. She was 36 when she was diagnosed and 39 when she passed. The other side of it honestly is that we’re a small grassroots charity, we’re all volunteers and we don’t have unlimited resources and we have to somehow constrain the population that we serve. If someone gave us $10 million tomorrow we would certainly serve a broader population.”

Chalmers said when his group of volunteers started Mélanie’s Way it took them a year to make that first wish happen.

“And now we pretty reliably do 10 to 15 a year,” Chalmers said.

Wishes are only defined by the recipients, Chalmers said.

“For us it’s all about shared experiences with loved ones and so we don’t take on household expenses or things like that — there are other charities that do stuff like that so we’re all about what

“So we’re going to be in the Gaia Gallery and the idea of the event isn’t super formal,” Chalmers said. “We just want people to gather, mill about, talk to each other and hopefully it feels a bit like a community. Then we’re going to take about half an hour for storytelling, talk about we do at Mélanie’s Way and just be there for about an hour after so people can ask questions. There is no charge for the event.”

People can choose to donate when they register.

“But we like people to have a chance to hear our story and then they can decide how they want to contribute and support,” Chalmers said.

“During the event there might be tears but there will be lots of laughter, too, because we have some really good stories about Mél being very blunt. So hopefully people will have fun and I hope some of them are inspired to support us, either with a donation or volunteering or they might be inspired to do something else and that’s cool, too. They might say that story inspires me to raise money for children’s literacy or sports — it doesn’t matter what it is — whatever is going to give more meaning in your life, you should do it.”

For all the details, to register so they know how many people are coming because there are refreshments or to make a donation online if you are unable to attend in person visit https:// www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/melaniesway/events/wishing-on-a-northernstar-with-melanies-way/

MELANIES WAY/FACEBOOK PHOTO

Mélanie’s Way founder Rob Chalmers and his late wife Mélanie are seen on an adventure in a family photo.

Advance care planning: If not you, who? If not now, when?

AMY GIESE Northern Health

April 16 was Advance Care Planning (ACP) Day in Canada, a national day dedicated to encouraging people to think, talk and share their wishes for future health and personal care.

This annual event reminds Canadians that planning ahead is not only practical — it’s a gift to our future selves and the people we love.

Despite widespread agreement that advance care planning is important, national data shows that while 80 per cent of Canadians believe planning for future health care matters, only 17 per cent have documented their wishes (CHPCA, 2024).

ACP Day exists as a reminder, prompting meaningful conversations and providing accessible tools to help people get started.

What is advance care planning?

Advance care planning is the process of thinking about and sharing your personal values, beliefs and preferences for future health care decisions.

It involves having open conversations with your family, close friends and health care providers so they understand what kinds of treatments you would want — or not want — if you were ever unable to speak for yourself.

When you record your wishes, you’re creating an advance care plan. This plan is a written or recorded summary that helps guide your substitute decision-maker if a health care provider asks them to make decisions on your behalf.

The Canadian Hospice Association outlines five key steps to the ACP process: think, learn, decide, talk and record.

These steps are intended to be dynamic and should be revisited any time an individual’s health, values, wishes or beliefs change. The five steps are outlined below:

• Think — about what is most important to you — your values, wishes and beliefs

• Learn — about your overall health. This may include current conditions you want to better understand.

• Decide — on your substitute decision-maker(s), one or more people who are willing and able to speak for you if you cannot speak for yourself

• Talk — about your values, beliefs and wishes with your substitute decision-maker(s), family, friends and health care providers

• Record — your values, wishes and beliefs in your Advance Care Planning Guide, in a letter, poem, video or audio recording ACP is not just about forms. At its heart, it is about understanding what matters most to you, such as quality of life, comfort, independence, spiritual or cultural values, and ensuring those priorities guide care decisions if your health changes.

Who is advance care planning for?

If you are over 19 years of age and capable of making your own decisions, ACP is for you.

You do not need to be sick, elderly or nearing the end of life to benefit from ACP. Early planning — while you are capable of making decisions — allows you to think clearly, ask questions and communicate your wishes without pressure.

ACP is especially helpful for people who:

• Live with chronic or serious illness

• Support a family member with health challenges

• Want to reduce uncertainty for loved ones

• Value having control over future health decisions

Whether you’re young, healthy, managing a chronic condition or supporting someone who is, the best time to plan is now.

Because when life changes suddenly, it’s not the paperwork that brings peace — it’s knowing your loved ones are prepared to speak on your behalf with confidence and clarity.

Where do I start?

There are multiple resources available for those who want to start their ACP.

The BC government’s advance care planning guide is titled My Voice: Expressing My Wishes for Future Health Care Treatment

You can use it to learn more about advance care planning and make your own plan that will serve as your voice in the future.

You can find the guidenook online at www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/people/ seniors/health-safety/pdf/myvoice-advancecareplanningguide.pdf

The First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) has also created an advance care planning guide: Your Care, Your Choices.

The guide was adapted with input from various BC First Nations people and health care providers.

There are workbook-style pages for you to record your decisions, along with

copies of provincial legal forms to help you get started. It’s online at www.fnha. ca/WellnessSite/WellnessDocuments/ FNHA-Your-Care-Your-Choices-Planningin-Advance-for-Medical-Care.pdf

Taking part in ACP

Participating in advance care planning does not require completing everything at once.

Even a single conversation is a meaningful step.

We recommend starting small:

• Choose one person you trust and talk about what matters to you

• Identify who you would want as your substitute decision-maker

• Explore free resources at advancecareplanning.ca

• Begin writing down your wishes, knowing they can evolve over time

ACP Day reminds us that the best time to begin is now, while you can clearly speak for yourself.

Local Sports Goaltending fuelled Cougars’ successes in 2025-26

Ravensbergen was key to the team’s successful season

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

A day after his season with the Prince George Cougars ended in bitter disappointment with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Penticton Vees in Game 6 of the WHL Western Conference semifinal series, Josh Ravensbergen faced the media as he gathered with his teammates to clean out their dressing-room stalls at CN Centre.

No words can adequately explain why the Cougars were unable to hold their 2-0 lead heading into the third period or why the Vees were able to overcome a 2-0 series deficit and steal their thunder with four consecutive wins, all but one in comeback fashion.

One certainty is how valuable Ravensbergen was to the Cats this season and in the playoffs. Starting with a six-game series win over the Spokane Chiefs and ending with Sunday’s crushing defeat by the Vees, Ravensbergen stopped 368 of the 401 shots he faced in those 12 playoff games. Without him, the Cougars might not have advanced to the second round.

The 19-year-old from North Vancouver will take the next step in his path to the pros when he heads off to school next fall to play for the Michigan State Spartans.

“It’s definitely weird. Coming into this league, you never think about going to school, but now I am,” said the six-footfive Ravensbergen.

Drafted in the first round in 2025 by the San Jose Sharks, Ravensbergen posted his best numbers in three seasons in the league, finishing with a 2.51 goals-against average, a .919 save percentage and a 32-13-0-0 record. He mirrored that in the playoffs with a 2.71

GAA and a .918 save rate.

Ravensbergen is the winningest goaltender in the Cougars’ 32-year Prince George history, with 91 regular-season wins and 17 in the playoffs over a threeyear span. He joined the Cougars out of the Vancouver Northwest Hawks major midget program and, as one of the WHL’s top rookies in 2023-24, went 26-4-1 with six shutouts. As a rookie, he took the Cougars to the third round of the playoffs, which ended with a double-overtime 2-1 loss to Portland in Game 6 at CN Centre on May 6, 2024.

Sunday’s sudden-death ending was just as painful.

“You have a 2-0 lead going into the third, you feel you should be able to close it out and maybe there’s another save I could have made to help the guys out, but unfortunately it didn’t happen and now we’re packing,” said Ravensbergen, one of the fan favourites in Cougarville.

“It’s so much fun to play in this building when it’s packed. You can feel the energy in PG — everyone’s there for you. It’s something really cool hearing the chants. I had goosebumps a couple of times in the playoffs. I’m really

thankful for all the fans who supported us and supported me. I can’t say ‘thank you’ enough.”

Parascak turning pro

In addition to losing Ravensbergen and overagers Bauer Dumanski, Kooper Gizowski and Dawson Seitz, the departure of 19-year-old Terik Parascak leaves a deep hole. Pro hockey is calling the Washington Capitals first-rounder, picked 17th overall in 2024, and by this time next week he’ll likely be off to Pennsylvania to join the Hershey Bears, the Capitals’ AHL affiliate, in time for the first round of the playoffs.

Parascak was probably the Cougars’ most consistent and dangerous forward in the playoffs. He had numerous breakaways, was key on both special teams, which were among the WHL’s best, and finished with seven goals and 10 assists in 12 games, one point off linemate Brock Souch’s league-leading total. That followed a 33-goal, 79-point season in 61 games as the Cougars’ top scorer.

But he would trade all of that for a different series outcome — and maybe a redo of the third period Sunday and

another shot at the Vees in Game 7.

“I thought that was probably one of our best games of the series. We dominated the shots, we dominated the play for 40 minutes completely and just gave them too much in the third. They got their looks and they put them in,” said Parascak.

He leaves Prince George as the second all-time scorer in franchise history with 104 goals, 162 assists and 266 points in 192 games, averaging 1.39 points per game. He also played 32 playoff games and recorded 17 goals and 41 points.

“I feel like I came in here as just an average hockey player and didn’t really have many expectations. I was able to take the opportunity they gave me and run with it and turn it into a dream — a chance to play pro hockey. I’m so grateful for this city and everything this organization has done for me,” said Parascak.

The Cougars had a lot of turnover last year, but head coach and GM Mark Lamb found more than capable replacements to create depth at all positions and help the team overachieve.

“My first two years here we definitely had a lot more skill. On paper, you’d see us as a team that could compete, and our team on paper this year, you might not think we’re a No. 3 seed fighting for a division title and taking it to six games in Round 2,” said Parascak. “But it was just how hard everyone worked and how committed everyone was to this group. We had the best goalie in the CHL to backstop us — just so much work ethic and character in this group.”

Lamb’s trades were crucial

Winger Seitz joined the Cougars at the trade deadline in January from the Wenatchee Wild and brought championship pedigree from his time with the Edmonton Oil Kings during their run to the 2022 WHL title.

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CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Cougars goalie Josh Ravensbergen blocks a shot from Vees forward Diego Johnson while forward Brock Souch checks the attacking player in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinal series at CN Centre Wednesday, April 15.

Key members of the team moving on afer playof loss

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He wrapped up his five-season WHL career with nine goals and 10 assists in 48 games and a flood of good memories from his four-month stint as a Cougar.

“This is one of the best places to play in the league,” said Seitz. “Before I came here, I had only heard good things. Everybody likes it, it’s so professional, it’s really classy and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of it. This is an organization that’s been really good for a long time.”

Seitz will move on to U Sports next season with Mount Royal University, close to his Medicine Hat hometown.

Gizowski has several offers to consider after a breakout season with the Cougars in which he scored 32 goals and 72 points while playing all but one regular-season game. Not bad for a WHL castoff who was put on waivers by the Lethbridge Hurricanes last summer and signed by Lamb.

“It’s never easy when it’s your last junior season. Once playoffs start, you know it’s your last chance to go all the way, and the worst part isn’t ending junior — it’s knowing what this team could have done and coming up short. That’s the worst feeling,” said Gizowski.

“It’s hard not knowing if you’ll have a team to play for. You expect something will happen and someone will take a chance on you, and that’s what Mark did in Prince George. Obviously it worked out. I had one of my best seasons in junior hockey and that’s the way you want it to end.”

Souch could be bound for NCAA

Souch is age-eligible to return to Prince George, but he’s committed to St. Cloud State University and, unless he defers, he’ll play NCAA Division 1 hockey next season. He’s also listed 158th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting and could be selected in the June draft. He had six goals and 18 points and led the WHL in playoff scoring following Sunday’s loss. He was second in team scoring during the season with 28 goals and 73 points. Souch joined the Cougars after his

WHL rights were acquired by Lamb from Regina for a fifth-round pick and, like Gizowski, he blossomed into a top player after arriving from the Okotoks Oilers (BCHL).

“I came in and didn’t know many guys, and everyone was so welcoming. To play the role I did on this team was pretty cool and I’m thankful for it,” said Souch. “This place is awesome. It’s one of the best places to play. The fans are unbelievable and everyone in the room is unbelievable.”

The Cougars’ imports — defenceman Arsenii Anisimov, winger Dmitri Yakutsenak and goaltender Alexander Levshyn — were major contributors to the team’s success and, with each eligible to return, don’t be surprised if the Cougars pass on participating in the CHL import draft.

Cats captain leaves five-year legacy Dumanski, 21, was the Cougars’ top shutdown defenceman through most of his five-year career and this season he also displayed his ability to create offence, more than doubling his production from the previous year with nine goals and 39 points in 60 games. As good as he was on the ice, he was the obvious choice as team captain.

Whether it’s in the pros or at the university level, Dumanski has plenty of hockey left, and he credits the Cougars’ coaching staff — specifically Lamb and associate coach Jim Playfair — for accelerating his development.

“This was the most team-like group I’ve played on in a long time and it was an honour to lead them and go to battle with them,” said Dumanski. “It’s easy to play when everyone has the same goal and it led to a good amount of success.

“I had to step up and I was glad I could help in any way to help the team win. They put a lot of responsibility on me.”

During Dumanski’s time with the Cougars, he saw the club become a preferred destination for players. In earlier years, empty seats at CN Centre often outnumbered occupied ones by a 3-1 ratio. Now, the team is among the best draws in the league.

Vaughan emerges as blueline force

One 19-year-old the Cougars hope will return as an overager next season is defenceman Corbin Vaughan.

He improved his skating and developed into a capable puckhandler whose physical play and willingness to bodycheck made him a difficult opponent.

Vaughan put aside a history of suspensions and learned how to play within the rules.

More important than the 19 points he recorded was the fact he played all but seven games, missing time only due to a hand injury early in the season.

“It’s not always about the points, but taking on more minutes and meaningful shifts was great,” said Vaughan. “All our defencemen were awesome this year. The group back there really helped each other.

“I think I took a lot of steps in the right direction, just sticking with it. It was hard at times to find a new game,

but having good summers and working hard helped me.”

For Carels, the best is yet to come

As for Carson Carels, projected as a top-five NHL draft pick, there appears to be no ceiling. A world junior player and part of Canada’s bronze-medal team at 17, he continues to improve against elite competition. In his second WHL season, the Manitoba product scored 20 goals and tied Souch for second in team scoring with 73 points, playing a major role in making the Cougars contenders.

“I think the reason we made it this far is everyone is so tight and close — like a family — and every day we looked forward to coming to the rink, and I’ll remember that forever,” said Carels. “It’s something teams struggle to find, but it came very naturally to us.

“It’s going to be a big summer for me with the draft. I don’t know where it will take me, but hopefully it’s back here and we can keep moving forward.”

Spruce Kings chop down Chiefs to open playof series

BCHL’s Three Stars of the Week all play for Prince George

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

A trio of Prince George Spruce Kings completed a three-star trifecta this week.

Forwards Ryan Wachtel, Carter Hesselgrave and Marcus Lougheed have been selected the BCHL’s Napa Auto Parts Three Stars of the Week.

Wachtel drew first-star honors after he scored the series-winning goal in Game 7 of the Coastal East Division semifinal series against the Langley Rivermen Tuesday, April 14 in Prince George.

The 19-year-old Rumson, N.J. native, committed to Princeton University, collected three goals and two assists in three games and had eight playoff points in nine games, one shy of the team lead.

Wachtel scored two goals and had one assist in the Kings 7-2 win over the Chilliwack Chiefs in Game 2 of the Coastal East final on Saturday, April 17 at Kopar Memorial Arena.

Hesselgrave, the second star of the week, also had a five-point week with two goals and three assists as the Spruce Kings jumped to a 2-0 series lead after winning both weekend games in Prince George.

The Quesnel native drew an assist in the Kings’ 4-1 win over the Langley Rivermen in Game 7 in Langley, before registering a goal and a helper in each of the first two playoff games against the Chilliwack.

After going down 2-0 in Game 1,

Spruce Kings forward Michael Denney takes a shot from the side of the crease, beating Chiefs goalie David Di Girolamo to finish the scoring at 7-2 in Game 2 of their second-round playoff series at Kopar Memorial Arena on Saturday, April 18.

Hesselgrave triggered the Spruce Kings comeback with a second-period goal and had an assist on the tying goal on the way to a 3-2 win.

Hesselgrave also notched the gamewinner in Game 7 against Langley. He’s tied for fourth in playoff scoring in the BCHL with nine points in nine games.

Lougheed, named the BCHL’s third star of the week, picked up five points during the week with a goal and four assists.

The 21-year-old from Collingwood, Ont., collected his second goal of the playoffs with the insurance goal in Game 7 against the Rivermen, his second of the playoffs.

He started the Chilliwack series with an assist in Game 1, a 3-2 Kings victory on Fridy, April 17, then drew three assists the following night in Game 2.

Lougheed has nine points in nine playoff games.

All stats are as of the end of Game 2 of the series on Saturday, April 18.

When this issue of The Citizen went to press, the Spruce Kings were leading the Chilliwack Chiefs two games to none in their bestof-seven second-round BCHL playoff series

Visit pgcitizen.ca for full game coverage

forward Jack Plandowski’s

Honourable mentions

• Prince George Spruce Kings goalie

Colin Reay: 2GP – 2W – .944 SV percentage – 1.50 GAA

• Salmon Arm Silverbacks goalie Daniel Dirracolo: 2GP – 2W – .938 SV percentage – 1.33 GAA

goes

• Brooks Bandits defenceman Dante Siciliano: 2GP – 2G – 1A – 3PTS

• Nanaimo Clippers F Samuel Boisvert: 2GP – 2G – 1A – 3PTS

• Salmon Arm Silverbacks F Keifer Miller: 2GP – 2G – 1A – 3PTS

Wachtel

Hesselgrave

Lougheed

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Chiefs

shot

off the right pad of Spruce Kings goalie Ryder Green during Saturday’s game.

Stll some uncertainty as Kodiaks head into season

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

It might not be business as usual for the BC Football Conference when they open the junior football season this July, but the league is confident the Prince George Kodiaks will be operating as the league’s seventh franchise for a fifth season.

The Kodiaks announced on Saturday, April 11 that the team has met the requirements of the league and has its approval to assemble a team for the 10-game 2026 season.

That came after months of turmoil that led to the abrupt firing of head coach and director of football operations Jamie Boreham and later resignation of its board of directors over questions of the team’s uncertain financial situation.

“It’s been an unusual set of circumstances but it’s obviously not our first time going through a board change, a coaching change, it’s just been a little bit more public than most of the time these things happen,” said BCFC president Tyler McLaren.

“I know the current board is working hard and the response back from inside the community had been very positive,” he said. “A lot of outreach has come to the new board and new people involved to say, ‘How can we help and how can we get involved.’ Now it looks we’ll all be good to go and the focus can switch to getting the players and the coaches back and getting things moving.

“The feedback we’ve got is there was a lot of players, both recruits and returning players just waiting for an answer one way or another from us that hopefully will start the snowball effect of returning players and new players committing themselves.”

Since Boreham’s dismissal in February the Kodiaks have abolished the dual position of head coach and director of football operations and are now in the process of deciding on who will coach the team this season.

Boreham signed a five-year contract in December 2022 and has two years left on that deal. Last year, in October,

Boreham was named the BCFC and Canadian Junior Football Conference coach of the year in 2025, after he guided the Kodiaks to a 5-4-1 record and the team’s first-ever playoff berth.

The Kodiaks have identified two potential candidates. One is Boreham and the other is Kodiaks assistant head coach/general manager Ryan Bellamy, who, if hired, would fill the position on an interim basis. The board has indicated its preference to reinstate Boreham as head coach.

With the team’s spring camp now less than a month away, running May 8-10, the Kodiaks originally set a deadline of April 3 to decide on who gets the coaching job.

With such a tight timeframe, McLaren admits not having a coach already in place is a concern. The Kodiaks have already had six players with junior eligibility leave for university teams.

“Most of the staff, from what we were told, is going to stay in place,” said McLaren. “There might have been a few new people coming on board if Jamie were to be back in ’26, but other than it’s almost a case of just replacing the guy at the top.

“Jamie’s credentials speak for themselves and if it turns out Ryan is there it will be on an interim basis while they do an expanded search to get somebody long-term there for many years ahead.”

The new Kodiaks board, formed on March 25 at the team’s annual general meeting, also includes president Nicolas

what he’s been able to do. Any which way it breaks, it’s what’s best to keep football alive.”

Weeks after Boreham was fired, believed to be due to financial reasons, Kodiaks executive members — president Craig Briere, vice-president Ken Newell and treasurer Chipman Purdey — resigned on March 6, followed shortly after by the other six board members.

Briere arranged a promissory note for $426,235 with an unidentified lender through his company, Growth Hospitality Group, to gradually allow the Kodiaks to earn money to pay off the team’s debt.

Fricke, vice-presidents Jake Eberle and Bryan Bucci, treasurer Gene Bellamy, secretary Charlotte Roy and directors Shawna Eberle, Cheryl Wilson, Tera Drost, Ethan Ready, Logan Devauld and Stephen Riding.

Fricke, the Kodiaks’ spokesperson, was out of cell range on a camping trip out of the country and was unavailable for comment about the team’s current situation.

Ryan Bellamy said the Kodiaks board is still in discussions with Boreham but says there is no news to report about the team’s coaching future.

“Nothing’s changed yet, I think they’ll have it figured out pretty quickly but I don’t know an exact date, but I know it’s the top priority to figure out,” said Bellamy. “They’re still talking with Jamie to see what’s there for pathways.”

Whether it’s Boreham or Bellamy calling the shots, Bellamy says he’ll do whatever it takes to keep the team operating.

“I’ve said many times I enjoy coaching with Jamie, he’s a friend of mine, so if it works to bring Jamie back I’m superhappy about it,” said Bellamy. “If it ends up where I’m to go forward it’s because that’s what the team needs financially right now. That’s where we sit.

“I love football and Iove football in this town and I want it to be something that stays here for everybody and everything. I know what Jamie brings to the team. Jamie’s a great resource for the team and what he’s brought here and

The not-for-profit club is carrying a $436,703 debt, most of which was used to buy equipment and jerseys for the team when they joined the BCFC in 2022. The Kodiaks also rang up a $23,333 operating deficit in 2025. The debt is obviously a concern to the league but not enough to convince the league’s governors and team executives to force the Kodiaks to fold the franchise.

“(The Kodiaks) need to figure out exactly what that looks like, and that’s what they’re working on behind the scenes, but it’s definitely something to be aware of,” said McLaren. “In these times with expenses going up and sponsorship and support getting harder and harder everywhere, not just in our league, that’s a problem everybody’s having to deal with.”

The BCFC had its annual general meeting April 10-12 in Vancouver and the Kodiaks were represented by Ryan Bellamy and Jake and Shawna Eberle. The league is currently working out details of its 2026 schedule and each team presented possible dates for home games.

The Kodiaks will play home-and-home games with Okanagan Sun, Langley Rams and Valley Huskers (Chilliwack) and will face the Kamloops Broncos three times. Prince George will make one trip to Vancouver Island to play the Nanaimo-based Raiders, and will host the Westshore Rebels at Masich Place Stadium.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

PG Kodiaks wide receiver Myron Brown races into the endzone with Kamloops Broncos linebacker Mitch Landry in pursuit at Masich Place Stadium Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025.

Injury forces New York Mets’ Jared Young into surgery

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

New York Mets infielder/outfielder-designated hitter Jared Young had to undergo surgery last week to repair a torn miniscus on his right knee.

The 30-year-old Prince George native was placed on the injured list Wednesday and has not played since April 12. It’s expected he will miss between six and eight weeks.

The injury is a cruel blow for Young,

who was off to the best start of his major league career.

In 20 at-bats he was hitting .350 with a .391 on-base percentage and .841 OPS (on-base plus slugging). The lefthanded hitter recorded seven hits and drove in two runs with two walks and

just three strikeouts.

Young started two games at first base and one at left field and was contributing stellar defence for the Mets.

“There not only was going to be playing time for him, but he was giving us some good at-bats from the left side. It’s a big blow, but guys will step up,” said Mets manager Carlos Mendoza.

Young is in his second season with New York after starting his pro career with the Chicago Cubs organization in 2017, playing largely in the minors.

He later signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and played at triple-A Louisville until he got an opportunity at mid-season to go to Korea to play for the Doosan Bears.

He returned to play for the Mets’ triple-A Syracuse team in 2024 before moving back up to the majors in 2025.

The Mets were already without outfielders Juan Soto (right calf strain) and Mike Tauchman (meniscus) and infielder Jorge Polanco has been playing through an Achilles injury.

New lacrosse Posse improves to 4-2 in exhibiton play

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

The word is getting around the province: the Prince George Posse has proven itself a junior B1 lacrosse contender.

The Posse went south over the weekend for its first exhibition games against opponents from the Thompson-Okanagan Lacrosse League and won those games handily.

Prince George started with a 12-6 win over the Kamloops Venom on Saturday, April 18, then went to Vernon and defeated the North Okanagan Reapers 14-8 on Sunday, April 19.

Jayden Larmand stoked the Posse offence with four goals in the game in Kamloops. Brady MacKay and Hunter Moleski each fired two goals and three

assists and Caleb Bond also had a twogoal game.

Kael Frederick and Nolan Vansickle split the goaltending duties, combining to make 28 saves.

In Sunday’s game, MacKay finished with three goals and six assists, Moleski had two goals and four assists, Garrett Sakamoto and Logan Hauk each scored three times and Larmand collected two goals.

“Our power play was really clicking this weekend,” said GM Jamie Bellamy. “We were working a lot of cross-crease passes, moving the ball really fast. All four of Jayden Larmand’s goals in the Kamloops game were power-play goals. When you can be effective on the power play you’re going to win some games.”

Vansickle went the distance in goal for Prince George in Vernon. His save total

was not available.

The weekend wins left the Posse with a 4-2 record in exhibition play, strengthening the team’s case for inclusion in the B1 provincial championship this summer.

“We actually had one of the BC Lacrosse Association reps there and he said we’re definitely a B1 team, he just has to figure out the pathway of getting into there now,” said Bellamy. “He said we’re at that calibre, it’s just a matter of everyone getting to that consensus. The meeting is at the end of May. Obviously the proof is in the pudding, we’ve proved we can win at that level so it’s just a matter of the decision and coming up with the logistics to make it happen.”

The Posse posted its first wins the previous weekend, beating Ridge Meadows Burrards on April 11 and Delta

Islanders on April 12.

The Scamp Transport Posse will also the play the Devils, the defending Prince George Senior Lacrosse Association champions, May 23 and June 13.

Bellamy says Williams Lake has also started a junior B team, the Bighorns, and they will meet the Posse in Prince George for exhibitions sometime over the next couple months

The PGSLA season starts Friday, May 1 with the Devils taking on the Beswick Hildebrandt Lund (BHL) Bandits.

“It’s just the Devils, Bandits and Assault in the senior league this year because Mackenzie’s out,” said Bellamy. “But the three teams will be very competitive and they’ll all be flooded with talent because the junior players are staying home. It will be good quality ball.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO

The Prince George Posse junior B lacrosse team lines up for an exhibition game April 4 in Port Coquitlam. The Posse won its exhibition games in Kamloops on Saturday, April 18 and Kelowna on Sunday, April 19 to improve to 4-2 this season.

Life Events

In Memory

Norma Mae Spiers

September 3, 1947- April 14, 2025

What we once enjoyed and loved, we can never lose. For all that we loved deeply becomes part of us. Rest in peace. Vern, Jack, Brenda & family

Vernon

Glass

July 17, 1936 - April 3, 2026

Vern Glass, age 89, passed away peacefully at home on April 3, 2026.

He was born in Prince Rupert, growing up in Smithers before moving to Victoria as a teenager to join the Navy. He eventually pursued a career as a Steam ngineer, spending tme in ort Mellon before moving to Prince George and a new job with Prince George Pulp & Paper, where he worked in the steam plant as a Supervisor untl his retrement.

Vern spent many hours with his model trains, building an ever expanding model railroad in his basement. He enjoyed the detail involved in paintng cars, engines and scenery. The highlight was building his parents home in Smithers in perfect detailrecognizable to everyone!

He loved to travel in requirement and enjoyed many long cruises with Brigite, favourites included ntarctca, the ma on, frica and ustralia while many winters were enjoyed spending tme in Me ico.

ern is survived by his loving wife Brigite, four daughters, nine grandchildren an four great grandchildren.

He will be missed more than words can express. His family was his pride and joy!

Patrick Joseph Caden

May 12, 1978 - April 26, 2021

Missed every single day and loved forever With endless love from your family

Roger Gordon Pearson

October 26, 1940 - December 19, 2025

Roger Gordon Pearson was born October 26, 1940 to James Alec Gordon Pearson and Ellen Corrine (McLeod) in Camrose, Alberta.

As a young man he was very mechanically inclined but afer an accident when he was 20 he struggled with most actvites for many years. He could be found walking all over Prince George especially going to his brain injury meetngs that he faithfully atended.

He passed away peacefully on December 19, 2025 leaving brother Jim (Rae) and their children Summer (Darin Recchi) & family, Cambie (Sunny Sidhu) & family, and Hunter; and sister Lila (John Foley) and their children Blaine (Karen) & family and Diane (Michael Koehn) & family.

If desired, a donaton can be made in Roger’s name to the Prince George Brain Injured Group Society or a

Our dear Neil, you have gone from our sight & our touch, but not from our hearts and our memories. Our world has not been the same without you. You are missed each day.

In Loving Memory of Neil

In Loving Memory of Neil Husband

Husband

June 25, 1963

June 25, 1963

April 26, 2016

April 26, 2016

Love you always, your wife Mary xxoo

Love you always, your wife Mary

Your children, Andrew, Victoria & Nicholas

Your children, Andrew, Victoria & Nicholas

Charles Dale Dickie

1949 - 2026

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dale at the age of 76, due to a brief illness in Campbell River Hospital.

Dale was a log loader operator in the Interior, Northern, BC and on Vancouver Island.

Dale is survived by loving wife Debbie, brother Terry (Thelma), daughters Michelle (Dean) Hartley, Colleen Dickie, Jeanete (Greg) Lock, Leanne (Neal) Lewis, Christne Cote. 7 grandchildren & twin great granddaughters. Numerous nieces & nephews.

There will be a Celebraton of Life on June 20, 2026 at the Eagles Hall in Campbell River, BC at 2:00 pm.

Grant Embree Read January 15, 1960 - March 30, 2026

He was a loving husband, the youngest son, a brother to fve siblings, a devoted father and a proud grandfather. Grant is survived by his mother, Elenore Read, wife, Charlene and children, Kayla Read (Jesse), Rebecca Forbes (Kenton) Mitchell Read (Jayden) and grand children (Natalie, Liam and Kinsley). He is predeceased by his father, Jim Read. He was master woodworker and cabinet maker, having owned and operated Central Interior Woodworks for over 30 years. He was a devoted family man and leaves behind a family that loved him deeply and will miss him every day. He was a man of many words and enjoyed a good cofee talk, so we welcome you to join us on May 2nd at 2:00 PM for a Celebraton of Life at the Evangelical Free Church, 4590 5th Ave, in Prince George. Please note, there are stairs to the basement.

Charles Dale Dickie 1949 - 2 26

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dale at the age of 76, due to a brief illness in Campbell River Hospital.

Dale was a log loader operator in the Interior, Northern, BC and on Vancouver Island.

Dale is survived by loving wife Debbie, brother Terry (Thelma), daughters Michelle (Dean) Hartley, Colleen Dickie, Jeanete (Greg) Lock, Leanne (Neal) Lewis, Christne Cote. grandchildren twin great granddaughters. Numerous nieces nephews.

There will be a Celebraton of Life on June 2 , 2 26 at the agles Hall in Campbell River, BC at 2 pm.

Jean Elaine Nycholat

September 14, 1932 – March 18, 2026

Jean’s birth was the only good thing that happened in 1932,” said her father, born in Lajord Sk to Helmer H. Hanson (1882–1968) and Mother Mina (Mogan) Hanson (1888–1976). She grew up alongside her brother Cliford (1914–1999) and sister Beatrice (1921–2011), driving a horse and buggy to school and living by coal oil lamp.

Afer fnishing school, Jean pursued nursing at Luther College in Regina, graduatng in 1954.

Feeling a spirit of adventure, she boarded the steamship Hikawa Maru from Vancouver Harbour in 1960 with three of her best friends, sailing to Hawaii to work as nurses at the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. She kept a grass skirt in a steamer trunk from that adventure well into the 1980s “just in case she needed one.

Returning to Canada, Jean completed a public health degree at UBC in 1962. She met her future husband, Peter Nycholat, in 1964 in Prince George, and together they became among the frst full-tme residents of Mackenzie, BC, proudly joining the “66 Club.” For many years she served as Commissioner of Births, Deaths, and Marriages performing civil weddings and laughingly saying she “ted many loose knots.” Jean was also a prolifc kniter, producing countless afghans, sweaters, quilts, and hundreds of knited slippers.

In 1993, Jean and Peter relocated to Prince George, becoming devoted grandparents Baba and Gido to Josh and Jessica. Her fnal days were flled with love, as family and friends gathered to say their goodbyes. Her granddaughter Jessica read aloud from a family book of poems in her fnal hour, holding her hand and telling her how loved she was as Baba passed on Jessica’s own birthday. Jean is remembered as adventurous, funny, and endlessly generous. Her quilts, her stories, and her laughter were gifs to all who knew her.

She is survived by her beloved husband Peter Nycholat, age 95; son Steven and daughterin-law Mary; grandchildren Josh (Nathan), and Jessica (Tom); niece Myrna and Gavin Pugh; niece Candi and Bill Parliament; and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and beloved friends. She was predeceased by her daughter Linda in 2009

A Celebraton of Life will be held on August 2nd 1:00 pm at the home of her son, Steve Nycholat. All who knew and loved Jean are welcome to atend. To our most beloved “Baba” Jean, you were loved will be deeply missed.

Philip Newcombe

September 11, 1949 - April 26, 2024

Remembering Phil, a much missed husband and greatly loved Dad. Today and tomorrow our whole lives through, we will always love and cherish you. Isobel, Kate and Babs XXX

Mary Ann Margaret (Weber) Murphy May 31, 1926 - February 5, 2026

So close but not quite! We relinquish Margaret with sadness and yet so much grattude for her e tra-long, and well-lived life.

She was born in southern Saskatchewan, raised in central B. C.; married and had two sons in the lower mainland moved back to anderhoof in 1960, where their daughter completed their family.

n 19 they made their fnal move to Prince George where Spud died and Mom carried on on; spending the last years at Riverbend, enjoying a new phase of life, in additon to enjoying and nurturing her large growing family. She is now survived by four more generatons to grow and pass on her love of life.

Afer spending January in hospital, we transferred to Hospice where she was lovingly cared for, for the last two weeks. Thank ou one and all, staf, friends, and family for the tremendous love and care expressed!

amily will have a private remembrance. See full obit at Citzen online

Classifeds

NORTH CENTRAL BAILIFFS LTD. www.northcentralbailifs.bc.ca

The urt a ofers FOR SALE BY TENDER, the interest of Aspen & Tensasen Jones, the Judgment Debtors, in the following goods (including but not limited to selling the business as a going concern/turn key):

Engine Hoist & “King” Milling and Drilling Machine

To View contact North Central Bailifs Ltd. 250-491-1033. Sale is subject to cancellaton or adjournment without notce. Sealed bids will be accepted on the unit untl May 8th 2026. Goods to be sold as is where is. Bidder takes responsibility to ensure they are satsfed with the descripton of unit/goods being sold. North Central Bailifs Ltd. is not responsible for determining the correct descripton. Terms of sale: Immediate full payment upon successful bid, plus sales tax. n rt entra a a

North Central Bailifs Ltd.

Court Bailif

Cassandra Etnger

Heavy Duty Mechanics needed for Dryland Sort located 5 minutes from Nanaimo, BC. Cat 980’s, assortment of 568 sized Juicers. Non-union, full bene t package, competitive wages. Email resume to aljaqcontracting@shaw.ca

LAND ACT: NOTICE OF INTENTION TO APPLY FOR DISPOSITIONS OF CROWN LAND

Take notce that Back to Earth Soil Remediaton Inc., from Prince George, BC, has applied to the inistry of ater, Land and esource Stewardship, mineca egion, for: A License of Occupaton for Industrial purposes situated on ro incial Crown land located northeast of est Lake, BC, described part of district lot 4004 and part of district lot 40, except right of way plan h43, cariboo district containing 3 . 3 hectares, more or less. The Land ile for this applicaton is 7407832

Woodlot Licence Plan - Woodlot Licence 1548

Notce is hereby gi en, pursuant to Secton 1 of the oodlot lanning and ractces egulaton, that a oodlot Licence lan has been prepared for oodlotLicence 154 held by ibre arms Inc.

This oodlot Licence is located west, south and east of rince George. If appro ed by the inistry of orests, this plan may apply for a term of 10 years from the date of appro al.

This oodlot Licence lan is a ailable for public re iew and comment by from pril 20, 202 to une 1, 202 . ny wri en comments on the plan should be mailed to:

S. . orrest and ssoc. Ltd., 2113 gil ie St. S., nit 201, rince George, BC, V2N 1 2. lease contact Sco orrest, , at sforrest pgonline.com or 250-9 1-4 0 to book an appointment to re iew and/or discuss the plan.

ri en comments concerning these applicatons should be directed to Lauren Wheeler, uthori atons Specialist, inistry of ater, Land and esource Stewardship, mineca egion at 5th loor 499 George Street, rince George, BC V2L 1 5, or lauren.wheeler@gov.bc.ca

Comments will be recei ed by inistry of ater, Land and esource Stewardship, mineca egion up to May 24 2026. inistry of ater, Land and esource Stewardship, mineca egion may not be able to consider comments recei ed a er this date. lease isit the website at htps://comment.nrs.gov.bc.ca for more informaton.

Be ad ised that any response to this ad ertsement will be considered part of the public record. ccess to these records re uires the submission of a reedom of Informaton ( i) re uest.

Visit htp://www.gov.hc.ca/freedomofnformaton to learn more about i submissions.

hard copy showing the locaton and extent of the applicaton areas may be ac uired by emailing the uthori atons Specialist named abo e.

U-Haul Storage Center Prince George claims a Landlords Contractual Lien against the following persons goods in storage at 7087 Bear Rd, Prince George, BC V2N 5N7 Tel: (236) 383-2009. Aucton is subject to cancellaton at any tme without notce.

2361-63 Sonya Joyce 81 French Crescent, Takla Landing, Britsh Columbia

THANK YOU PRINCE GEORGE

3268-70 Nikolas Unruh 6908 Helm Drive, Prince George, Britsh Columbia

2279 Loriann Stoelwinder 25264 Wapat CTR, county of Grande prairie no. 1 Alberta

1084-86 Shawn Vauclair A2833 Alexander CRK, Prince George, Britsh Columbia

2362 1218 OSMAN SAID 283 Conventory OTTAWA Ontario

ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING

Monday, May 11, 2026

4:30pm to 6:30pm

Tuesday, May 7, 2024 4:30pm - 6:30pm The Exploration Place 333 Becott Place Prince George, BC

Please join us for the presentation of the 2023 Annual Report and Operational Review. This meeting will also include a Community Consultation Committee meeting.

PRIVATE BANKING, WITHOUT THE BANK

Central BC Railway & Forestry Museum 850 River Road, Prince George. Please oin us or t e presentaton o t e nnual eport and peratonal evie is meetng ill also include a ommunity onsultaton ommitee meetng

We help you get the best rates from the best lenders, so you can buy your dream home or save money on your current mortgage.

A sale will take place online at www.bid13.com startng at 11 am on Friday, April 30th, 2026, tll 11 am on Sunday, May 3rd, 2026. Winners will be contacted by email at the end of the aucton. Room contents are personal/household goods unless noted otherwise. Bids will be for the entre contents of each locker unit. Aucton is subject to cancellaton at any tme without notce.

Account Mgr. Trainee

Join a Growing Leader in Wealth Management

Commonwealth Financial is seeking a driven, high-calibre professional to join our expanding team. This is a unique opportunity to build a career in private banking, providing exceptonal service to our wonderful clientele.

The Role:

Following a comprehensive training period, you will be responsible for atractng and managing client relatonships. You will provide holistc fnancial solutons, including mortgages, investment strategies, and life insurance.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Self-Starter: You thrive with minimal supervision and possess an entrepreneurial spirit.

• Problem Solver: You excel at navigatng complex fnancial needs with creatve solutons.

• Time Manager: You are highly organized and capable of balancing multple priorites.

• Quick Learner: You are prepared to complete a rigorous 6-month course of study to obtain professional licensing.

Qualifcatons:

• Proven experience in fnancial services is a distnct advantage.

• Strong interpersonal and networking skills.

• A commitment to maintaining the highest regulatory and ethical standards.

Please deliver your resume and covering leter in person to:

Commonwealth Building 575 Victoria Street Prince George, BC V2L 2K2 (250) 960-2233

C BY G V that the 2026 nnual General eetng of the members of Prince George Golf and Curling Club Ltd. will be held as follows:

DATE OF MEETING: hursday, the 5th day of ay 2026

TIME OF MEETING: at :00 P. .

Founder PRINCE GEORGE GOLF AND CURLING CLUB LTD. NOTICE OF 2026 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

LOCATION OF MEETING: the meetng will be held at the Club ouse of the Prince George Golf and Curling Club, 260 ecplace r. Prince George, B.C.

he purpose of the meetng is as follows:

. o receive and consider the report of the irectors to the members and the consolidated fnancial statements of the Limited Company for the 2-month period ended ovember30, 2025 and the auditors report thereon

2. o elect directors for the ensuing year (either by single resoluton or separate votes, as determined at the meetng)

3. o appoint auditors for the ensuing year, and authorize the irectors to fx the remuneraton of same . o transact such other business as may properly come before the meetng, or any ad ournment or ad ournments thereof.

in the City of Prince George, B.C. this th, day of pril 2026. BY F B F C

P C G G G LF C L G CL B L .

Per: an artn, P

became the first American woman to receive a patent, for her strawand-silk weaving technique to create hats. The patent was signed by President James Madison.

• On Nov. 11, 1831, Nat Turner, an American slave and educated minister who believed that he’d been chosen by God to lead his people into freedom, was hanged in Jerusalem, Virginia, for leading a revolt with 75 followers through Southampton County, killing about 60 white people.

* On May 4, 1929, Edda van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston, the daughter of an English banker and a Dutch baroness who for decades has been better known to her many film fans as the actress Audrey Hepburn, was born near Brussels, Belgium.

* On May 5, 1809, Mary Kies

• On Nov. 12, 1969, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh revealed the extent of the U.S. Army’s charges against 1st Lt. William L. Calley at My Lai, Vietnam, in a cable picked up by more than 30 newspapers, saying that “The Army says he [Calley] deliberately murdered at least 109 Vietnamese civilians during a searchand-destroy mission in March 1968, in a Viet Cong stronghold known as ‘Pinkville.’”

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Impatence is stll somewhat of a problem. But a sign of progress should soothe the anxious ARIES heart. Meanwhile, invest some of the waitng tme in preparing for a change ahead.

* On May 6, 1994, former Arkansas state clerk Paula Jones filed suit against President Bill Clinton in the federal court in Little Rock, Arkansas, asking for $700,000 in damages. The case was just one of four major scandals that combined to threaten Clinton’s second term.

* On May 7, 1984, seven chemical companies, including Dow and

Monsanto, agreed to pay $180 million to thousands of Vietnam veterans who’d been exposed to the chemical herbicide Agent Orange during the war. Lawyers for both sides announced the surprise out-of-court settlement on the day jury selection was set to begin.

* On May 8, 2010, “Golden Girl” Betty White became the oldest host of TV’s “Saturday Night Live.” She landed the job in part due to the hundreds of thousands of her fans signing on to a Facebook campaign rallying for the honor.

* On May 9, 1970, President Richard Nixon made an impromptu visit to a group of anti-war protesters at the Lincoln Memorial -- an event that his chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman, dubbed “the weirdest day so far” of Nixon’s presidency, going on to record in a diary entry, “I am concerned about his condition. ... He has had very little sleep for a long time and his judgment, temper and mood suffer badly as a result.”

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22)

• On Nov. 13, 1979, Philadelphia 76ers center Darryl Dawkins leaped over Kansas City Kings forward Bill Robinzine for a memorable slam dunk that shattered the fiberglass backboard. His equally memorable comment on the move, which was not his last and the sound of which spectators likened to a bomb going off: “It wasn’t really a safe thing to do, but it was a Darryl Dawkins thing to do.”

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Moon Children who are facing an important workplace decision are being encouraged to use their perceptveness to see through any atempt to win them over with a supercharge of fawning and fatery.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Bovines tend to excel at solving problems, not creatng them. But you risk doing just this if you’re slow to respond to a tmely situaton. If necessary, seek advice from someone you trust.

• On Nov. 14, 1882, outlaw Frank “Buckskin” Leslie shot and killed Billy “The Kid” Claiborne, who had publicly challenged him, in Tombstone, Arizona.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) The GEMINI Twin might need to do more than a routne check of both a job-linked and home-based situaton. Dig deeper for more data on both fronts to avoid unwanted surprises later.

• On Nov. 15, 1984, Baby Fae, a month old infant who received the world’s first baboon heart transplant, died at California’s Loma Linda University 20 days after the operation. Three other people had received animal heart transplants, but none survived longer than a few days.

• On Nov. 16, 2001, British author J.K. Rowling’s most famous and beloved creation, the bespectacled boy wizard Harry Potter (played by Daniel Radcliffe in his first major role), made his silver-screen debut in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” which went on to become one of the highestgrossing movies in history.

• On Nov. 17, 1903, the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party split into two factions: the majority Bolsheviks and minority Mensheviks. The Bolsheviks went on to become the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

© 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Good news catapults LEOs and LEOnas into reconsidering a deferred decision. But tme has moved on, and it’s a good idea to recheck your plans and make adjustments where necessary.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) The week favors relatonships, both personal and professional. Take the tme to look for and immediately repair any vulnerable areas that were caused by unresolved misunderstandings.

A friend’s problems bring out your protectve instncts. Be careful to keep a balance between meetng the obligatons of friendship without being overwhelmed by them.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) The temptaton to take an extreme positon on an issue is strong, but moderaton is favored both in personal and professional dealings. Move toward fnding areas of agreement.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Getng another boss or teacher? Try to see the person behind the image. It will help you adjust more easily to the changes that new authority fgures inevitably bring.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Much as you might dislike the idea, keep an open mind about using the assistance of a third party to help resolve problems that threaten to unravel an important agreement.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Music helps restore the Aquarian’s spiritual energies this week. Take someone you care about to a concert of your musical choice. Also, expect news about a workplace mater.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) A challenge that seems easy enough at frst could take an unexpected turn that might test your resolve. Decide if you should stay with it or if it’s beter to move in another directon.

Homes & Living

Its time for Spring cleanup

Spring is the perfect time to refresh your home and property after a long winter. A thorough spring cleanup not only improves curb appeal but also helps prevent costly repairs and creates a healthier living environment. With a bit of planning and effort, you can tackle the season’s tasks efficiently and set yourself up for the months ahead.

Start outdoors by assessing any damage caused by snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. Clear debris such as fallen branches, leaves, and litter from your yard, garden beds, and gutters. Cleaning out gutters and downspouts is especially important, as blockages can lead to water damage when spring rains arrive. Inspect your roof for missing shingles and check walkways and driveways for cracks that may have worsened over the winter. Next, turn your attention to landscaping. Rake your lawn to remove dead grass and encourage new growth, and consider aerating compacted soil to improve drainage. Trim back shrubs and trees, removing any dead or damaged branches. Early

spring is also an ideal time to plan and prepare garden beds, adding fresh soil or compost to give plants a strong start.

Outdoor structures and surfaces also benefit from a good cleaning. Pressure wash decks, patios, siding, and fences to remove dirt, mildew, and salt residue. Inspect decks for loose boards or nails and make any necessary repairs to ensure safety. Bringing out outdoor furniture and giving it a wipedown makes your space ready for warmer days.

Indoors, spring cleanup is a chance to declutter and deep clean. Open windows to let in fresh air and reduce stale indoor pollutants. Dust surfaces, wash windows, and clean carpets or floors thoroughly. Pay attention to often-overlooked areas like baseboards, light fixtures, and behind appliances. It’s also a good time to replace furnace filters and test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Finally, take the opportunity to organize. Sort through closets, storage areas, and garages, setting aside items to donate or discard. A more organized

space not only feels better but also makes everyday tasks easier.

By breaking spring cleanup into manageable steps, you can transform your home and yard into a clean, welcoming space. The effort you put in now will pay off with a more enjoyable and stressfree season ahead.