Prince George Free Press, November 29, 2013 by Black Press Media Group

FRIDAYNOVEMBER29

CITY: CUPE upset with increase to city manager’s budget

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City survey under fire Taxpayers polled about employee wages amidst contract talks Ashley MacDonald-Venis Special to the Free Press City council held its first 2014 budget meeting last night without hitting any road bumps along the way. The first order of business was the results of a recent city-wide survey. Due to the city’s current negotiations with CUPE, the survey included questions designed to gauge the public’s opinion of the current wages of unionized staff. “Forty-five per cent of the respondents agreed with the city’s proposal, 29 per cent indicated support for the union’s proposal … Fifteen per cent indicated support for neither the city or the union’s proposal,” said Kathleen Soltis, director of corporate services. Coun. Brian Skakun questioned the reasoning behind the inclusion of the wage question and suggested it was intended for public relations. “[One] of the questions [was] ‘Do you think CUPE members are paid too much?’ and I think it has really inflamed things,” said Skakun. “I get updates that tell me that CUPE members are the highest paid in the province. I get phone calls from people that were contacted for the survey with a lot of concerns that these questions were going out, especially during difficult negotiations. I can appreciate that we want to know what people think of our city workers, but I think the timing is bad.” Three-hundred-one people were polled in Prince George by the city. They were asked a variety of questions from the most important issues in the budget to their short-term expectations for the economy. “Wages are 40 per cent of our budget, so it’s an opportunity to find out a few things about [current wages of CUPE staff ],” said Soltis. “Should we use the survey again, we would intend to use core questions related to budget and use the opportunity to ask questions that were pertinent at the time.” Eighteen per cent of people agreed that road maintenance with the most important budget issue for them, followed by taxes and utility fees at 10 per cent. The majority of people surveyed (26 per cent) voted to have a two to three per cent increase in taxes with no cuts to services. In terms of increases, the city manager’s office budget will grow to $1.8 million from $1.2 million in 2013. Among the reasons for the funding changes cited by the city manager Beth James were: transfer of the communications division from corporate services to city manager (three full time employees) plus the operating dollars for that department; the addition of a corporate officer position; elimination of a vacant administration position; transfer of the off-leash dog budget to community services; the addition of the 2014 election budget; transfer of the executive coordinator position; and the conclusion of “Communities That Care” funding. The second half of the meeting was dedicated to listening to presentations from Initiatives Prince George, the Prince George Public Library and Tourism Prince George, all of which had their budgets approved with no increases for 2014.

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Woman killed in house fire The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a woman who died following a house fire in Prince George on Saturday. Dead is Janice Cole, aged 73, from Prince George. Cole lived alone in a house on Leland Road about 10 kilometres west of Prince George’s downtown core. In the early evening hours of Nov. 23, neighbours noticed that the house was on fire and called 911. After the Prince George Fire and Rescue Service extinguished the blaze, Cole was found deceased at the scene. The BC Coroners Service, fire officials and RCMP are continuing to investigate this death. No evidence of foul play has been found.

INSIDE TODAY: Voices........................................P14 Community..............................P20 Datebook.................................P26 Boomers and Beyond..........P29 Hart News................................P30 Teresa MALLAM/Free Press Hannah Nishnick hands out cups of hot chocolate Wednesday night at the annual Light Up Ceremony at the Prince George Civic Centre.

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Written by Alan Janes NOVEMBER 21 DECEMBER 11 Buddy Holly’s hit songs come alive in the world’s most successful rock ‘n’ roll musical. By arrangement with Alan Janes

Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

Friday, November 29, 2013

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Manager’s hike upsets union A 38 per cent increase in the city manager’s budget has CUPE seeing red. Contract talks between CUPE locals 1048 and 399 broke down earlier this year with the stumbling block being wages and one of the first items before council at Wednesday’s budget meeting was a request to increase city manager Beth James’ budget from $1.3 million to $1.8 million. Most of that increase is for senior administration wages … three communications staff and a new deputy corporate officer. “At a time when the city is calling for fiscal responsibility a huge increase like this seems unprecedented,” said Janet Bigelow, local 1048 president, in a press release. “For 11 months now, we’ve been told that there is no money for wage increases for the 500 employees who deliver important pubic services to residents every day, but city doesn’t have difficulty finding the money for other priorities.” City manager Beth James explained at the budget meeting that some of the increase, about $380,000, will be offset by a reduction in the corporate services budget, which previously funded the communications staff. She also told council that the initial search for a director of communications, which is a new position, has been difficult. It was originally posted in August and a suitable candidate was not found so city has now hired a head-hunting firm to find the right person. The city has also posted a communications specialist job. The budget, approved Wednesday, allows for three full time equivalent positions in the communications department and James told council if they get the right person in director of communications role, the third position may not be needed. However, council approved the budget for three. “We’ve seen the city create new management positions, and our mayor and her handpicked city manager have just gone on an expensive trip to China,” said Bigelow.

Last week the city issued a ‘final offer’ to the union, which forces city employees to vote on

a proposed collective agreement. Voting started yesterday and will conclude today. The Labour

Relations Board will issue the results once the vote is complete. Both locals could file their 72-

hour strike notices, as their strike mandates don’t expire until early December.

Sparkly stuff

Teresa MALLAM/Free Press Aiden Conn, 3, adds more sparkles to the table decoration he’s making for his mom Rebecca in the Christmas kids’ crafts corner atth 20th annual Festival of Trees on Saturday.

Police dog finds Prince George youngster was sleeping, not really missing A recent report of a missing child ended happily with the help of one of the Prince George RCMP’s service dogs. Late one evening police received a report of a missing five-year-old boy who had not been seen in an hour. When officers arrived, the mother of the child advised that she had searched the house before calling police. No less than three police officers conducted their own search of the house to ensure the

boy wasn’t overlooked. Police service dog Astro and his handler were called in to assist. After conducting a perimeter search of the property and determining that no one had left the residence, the experienced service dog handler requested to search inside the house. Astro was redeployed to search the house. When Astro entered the boy’s room, he immediately started giving indications to

his handler that someone was in the room. Astro then focused on a six-drawer dresser and stuck his head inside one of the drawers. Still not seeing any part of the boy, the officer began to remove the drawers in the dresser. It seems the boy had climbed into the dresser and fallen asleep under the drawers. Officers on the scene had previously moved the dresser to look behind it, but had no idea the boy was there.

At the time the boy was found, RCMP were in the process of calling out additional resources to assist. “Our police service dogs are a crucial part of the service we provide to our community,” said Cpl. Craig Douglass, spokesperson for the Prince George RCMP, in a press release. “Their unique abilities cannot be duplicated and their results are often amazing. Astro is very good at playing hide and seek.”

Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

Friday, November 29, 2013

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Community Alert WA N T E D

Donald Justin BAKER 170 cm or 5’7” 68 kg or 150 lbs.

Crime Stoppers is asking the public’s assistance in locating the following person who is wanted on a British Columbia wide warrant. As of 0900 hrs this 27th day of November 2013, Donald Justin BAKER (B: 1994-08-26) is wanted on a British Columbia wide warrant for OBSTRUCTING A PEACE OFFICER and BREACH OF UNDERTAKING. BAKER is described as a First Nations male, 170 cm or 5’ 7” tall and weighs 68 kg or 150 lbs. BAKER has black hair and brown eyes. BAKER should be considered violent.

WA N T E D

Peter Edward CARIFELLE 180 cm or 5’11” 73 kg or 161 lbs.

Courts get variety of cases In Prince George Provincial Court Sept. 23: Christina S.E. Croft was sentenced to nine months in jail, put on probation for 18 months, ordered to give a DNA sample and is prohibited from owning a firearm for five years for assault causing bodily harm. Croft was given a similar sentence for assault with a weapon. On an assault charge, she was sentenced to 45 days in jail and put on probation for 18 months. Gordon L. Goheen was sentenced to nine months in jail, put on probation for 18 months, ordered to give a DNA sample, and is prohibited from owning a firearm for five years for assault with a weapon. Goheen was given a similar sentence for assault. Morley W. Janczyn was fined $2,000 and ordered to pay a $300 victim surcharge for driving without due care and attention.

Gateway gears up

Teresa MALLAM/Free Press City employee Ian Hoag puts up colourful and seasonal Christmas banners along Victoria Street on Thursday.

Jacob J. Vandermine was fined $500 and ordered to pay a $75 victim surcharge for theft of property valued less than $5,000. Mario M. Pierre was sentenced to 30 days in jail for failing to comply

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with a probation order. Pierre was also sentenced to 30 days in jail and put on probation for nine months for theft of property valued less than $5,000. In Prince George Provincial Court Sept. 24: Donald G. Bell was ordered to post a $500 bond to keep the peace for one year. Charlene A. John was sentenced to one day in jail for resisting a peace officer. John was also given one day in jail on each of two counts of failing to comply with the conditions of an undertaking or recognizance.

Crime Stoppers is asking the public’s assistance in locating the following person who is wanted on a British Columbia wide warrant. As of 0900 hrs this 27th day of November 2013, Peter Edward CARIFELLE (B: 1961-02-08) is wanted on a British Columbia warrant for FRAUD UNDER $5000 and TRAFFICKING IN STOLEN PROPERTY OVER $5000. CARIFELLE is described as a Métis male, 180 cm or 5’ 11” tall and weighs 73 kg or 161 lbs. CARIFELLE has brown hair and brown eyes. CARIFELLE should be considered violent.

WA N T E D

Cade Timothy BELANGER 180 cm or 5’1” 75 kg or 166 lbs.

Crime Stoppers is asking the public’s assistance in locating the following person who is wanted on a British Columbia wide warrant. As of 0900 hrs this 27th day of November 2013, Cade Timothy BELANGER (B: 1966-05-03) is wanted on a British Columbia wide warrant for two counts of THEFT UNDER $5000. BELANGER is described as a Caucasian male, 180 cm or 5’11” tall and weighs 75 kg or 166 lbs. BELANGER has blonde hair and blue eyes. EVANS should be considered violent.

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Vernon L.M. Knott was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay a $50 victim surcharge for failing to comply with a probation order. Knott was also sentenced to 118 days in jail, put on probation for two years, ordered to give a DNA sample, and is prohibited from owning a firearm for 10 years for assault. Matthew R.S. Lozon was sentenced to one day in jail for failing to comply with a probation order. Nicole Nawosad was fined $100 and ordered to pay a $15 surcharge for breach of probation and given a similar sentence on each of two counts of failing to comply with the conditions of an undertaking or recognizance. In Prince George Provincial Court Sept. 25: Daniel K. Andrew was given a six-month conditional sentence and put on probation for one year for theft of property less than $5,000. Rick J. Aubichon was fined $500, ordered to pay a $75 victim surcharge, and is prohibited from driving for one year for driving while prohibited.

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Ronald R. Erickson was fined $500 and ordered to pay a $75 victim surcharge for possession of a controlled substance. Jason A. Hall was sentenced to one day in jail and ordered to pay a $50 victim surcharge for failing to comply with the conditions of an undertaking or recognizance. Gino N. Michell was sentenced to one day in jail, put on probation for three years, ordered to provide a DNA sample and is prohibited from owning a firearm for 10 years for assault with a weapon. Michell was also sentenced to one day in jail and put on probation for thee years for possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Michell was sentenced to 27 days in jail for failing to comply with the conditions of an undertaking or recognizance. Michell was also given a day in jail for assaulting a peace officer. Colen J. Wilson was fined $2,000, ordered to pay a $300 victim surcharge, and is prohibited from driving for two years for causing bodily harm by criminal negligence (street racing). Herman H. Poole was sentenced to 173 days in jail and given a lifetime firearms ban for assault causing bodily harm. In Prince George Provincial Court September 26: Ashley M. Boyes was fined $1,200 and ordered to pay a $180 victim surcharge for driving without due care and attention.

Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

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Explorations take school in new path Allan Wishart allanw@pgfreepress.com The Explorations are over at Heather Park Elementary – at least for a week or so. “I’m pretty pleased about this,” principal Steve Fleck said of the program, which completed its first six-week session on Nov. 21. “We wanted to take advantage of the size of the facility to offer some unique programs. “Explorations is one of those.” He says they looked at the class sizes they were dealing with in Grades 4 to 7, and realized there were students having problems in core areas, such as mathematics and language arts, who fell into what he calls “the grey area.” “They are having problems, but they’re not in one of the groupings where there is special funding available. Every teacher needs to move along with the curriculum, and some of the students fall a little behind.” So the school administration got permission from the district to introduce a pilot program. “The students who needed the extra help were identified by their teachers,” Fleck said. “We were able to set up smaller classes, usually with fewer than 15 students, so they could get that extra help they needed.” Grade 4 and 5 students took part in Explorations for 90 minutes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, while Grade

6 and 7 students did the same in the afternoons. Tanya Goodwin was one of the teachers for the first Explorations session for the students getting extra instruction. “The one comment I keep hearing is, ‘We can write so much in here.’ That’s all they’re doing in here, writing. “It’s a more-intensive class. There are only 11 students, so I can spend time with each of them three or four times in each class. In a regular class, where you have about 30 students, you can’t do that.” With the end of the first Explorations session, the students Goodwin has been working with for the past six weeks will be heading back to regular language arts classes. “They have a lot of confidence in themselves now. Some of them came in with low self-esteem, because they knew they weren’t keeping up in class. “Now, they know they can do it.” Fleck said there are actually a low number of students requiring remedial assistance, which means they had to come with ways to keep the rest of the students occupied for that 90 minutes. “There are 60 students from Grades 4 to 7 who are receiving the extra, dedicated lessons,” he said. “The other students have a choice of some really neat sessions they can take. We have a woodshop, from when this was a middle school, and we have a teacher who is qualified to teach there, so she has ben working with a group of students on

Allan WISHART/Free Press Heather Park Elementary teacher Peter Marchlewitz joins students in a game of Zooloretto during a session of Explorations, a pilot program at the school.

woodmaking projects. “We have another class where the teacher’s husband is with the RCMP in forensics, so those students have been solving crimes.” Some of the students don’t even stay in the school for those 90 minutes. “The school district and the city are in the first year of a partnership where we can use each other’s facilities. The one thing is it can’t be for something like a hockey academy. It has to be part of the school program, open to everyone.” So with the Elksentre right across the road from the school, some of the students are spending their Explorations

time at the rink. “That’s the one choice that is different,” Fleck said. “Those students will be in hockey through all three of the Explorations sessions.” The second session of Explorations starts Dec. 3. Fleck said it will follow the same basic format. “There will be some students who will be receiving the dedicated extra time in language arts or math. The other students, including some of the ones who had extra lessons in the first session, will be able to choose what they want to do in the next six weeks.” So far, the pilot program is going well.

“We knew it wouldn’t be perfect,” Fleck said. “We’re still making some changes on the go. I’m hearing a lot of positives from the teachers. They find the students are motivated, because they get to make choices for what they want to do, which is something they don’t normally get the chance to do at this age. They also get the chance to be with students they might not otherwise be with. “There’s also some motivation for the teachers, because it gives them a chance to offer sessions they enjoy, which wouldn’t be part of the usual curriculum.”

Pinnancle Energy takes two top awards for export of pellet products Pinnacle Renewable Energy has captured two BC Export Awards. The company claimed the Exporter of the Year award and the Premier’s Award for Job Creation at the awards gala in Vancouver last week. The company was founded more than 20 years ago by the Swaan family of Quesnel and is the longest established pellet producer in western Canada. Today, the company operates six pellet plants across B.C. with a production capacity well over one million tons annually. All Pinnacle plants operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are located in an arc centered on Prince George, with Burns Lake and Houston on the western arm and Meadowbank, Quesnel, Williams Lake and Armstrong going south through the Cariboo. Pinnacle exports to a variety of investment grade customers in Asia and Europe. In the last 15 months Pinnacle has or will secure 100 per

cent of its existing productive capacity until 2020 at industry leading prices. These contracts have a total value of approximately $2 billion which will be supplied by their six pellet mills throughout northern B.C. What’s even more impressive is that the raw materials used to produce pellets (wood fibre residuals) were considered waste only a few years ago and are now used to produce a critical renewable source of energy for some of the largest electrical generating facilities in the UK, Japan, Italy and other countries for both commercial and residential consumers, while at the same time providing an important source of revenue to the B.C. forest industry and an increasingly important employer for many B.C. communities. The BC Export Awards celebrate industry excellence with nine sector awards and three individual awards,

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including the Leadership Award, International Business Studies Award and the Exporter of the

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established for each award to select the top three finalists for all nine sectors.

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Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

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Delta hotel coming soon Bill Phillips editor@pgfreepress.com

Mayor Shari Green likes the fact that the city skyline will soon include two cranes … one working on the Wood Innovation and Design Centre, the other on the $35 million Delta Prince George hotel. “Prince George is changing for the better, and we are thrilled to welcome our newest corporate citizen, the Delta Prince George,” Green said as the official groundbreaking was held Monday. About 50 people braved the cool wind for the sod-turning featuring, along with Green, Delta Hotels’ president and CEO Ken Greene, Clint Dahl of River City Hotel Management Corp., MLAs Shirley Bond and Mike Morris, and

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Bill PHILLIPS/Free Press Delta Hotels president and CEO Ken Greene (left), Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dominic Frederick, Mayor Shari Green, Jobs Minister Shirley Bond, Prince George-Mackenzie MLA MIke Morris, and Clint Dahl of River City Hotel Management Corp. officially break ground on the new Delta Hotel under construction in downtown Prince George.

Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dominic Frederick. “This project, right here, we couldn’t be more proud of,” Greene said. “It will create more than 100 jobs … This project really represents all the things that Delta’s doing. We are transforming our brand to be the best, four-star, full-service, upscale hotel in all of Canada.” He said the hotel will embody the new design of all Delta hotels in that all 170 rooms will be technologically enabled. It will have a full-service restaurant and lounge, a fitness centre, heated indoor pool, 7,000 square feet of meeting space including a 4,000 square foot ballroom. “All the ingredients for success are here,” he said. Delta Prince George is owned and being developed by River City Hotel Management Corporation, and will be managed by Delta Hotels and Resorts. Over 15 months of construction, there

will be an average of 120 construction jobs. Dahl said the project, which got its start about three years ago, took a lot of grit and determination. “It’s going to be an awesome thing for 2015 to showcase (the city’s) 100th anniversary,” said Dahl. “… This is a significant private investment into the heart of Prince George that speaks volumes to the confidence the proponents have in our city and the region.” Delta Hotels and Resorts currently has nine properties in British Columbia and 42 properties across Canada. The hotel development marks somewhat of a resurgence of hotels in Prince George in the past few years with the Ramada Inn and Coast Inn of the North both undergoing extensive renovations and the Sandman Signature Suites hotel opening on Highway 16.

RD looks at medical marijuana rules The Fraser-Fort George Regional District board will be considering the development of an agricultural plan as part of the 2014 budget process. Agricultural Land Use Committee Chair Director Beckett is recommending the development of a plan that documents the state of agriculture, identifies opportunities to strengthen farming, discovers practical solutions to challenges that impede the viability of farming, and ultimately secures the long-term viability and prosperity for the agricultural sector. The board approved to consider the initiative as part of the 2014 budget.

Medical marijuana The regional district board is asking for land use bylaws to regulate the location of certified medical marijuana production manufacturing facilities to agricultural and industrial areas. The current ALR regulations and agricultural use provisions in Zoning Bylaw No. 833 allow agricultural use in most areas of the Regional District with minimal control by the regional district and without public input. Amending the regional district’s land use regulations will enable consideration of new proposals by the regional board. Reaching over 62,000 Readers every issue!

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Man charged in three attacks The Prince George RCMP have a man in custody and are continuing to investigate three violent attacks in the last two months. On September 28, at approximately 9:30 a.m., the Prince George RCMP received a report of an assault with a weapon that had just occurred in a residence on Athlone Avenue. Police attended and found a man bleeding from the head as a result of being struck by a man with a blunt object. The man was taken to the University Hospital of Northern BC for treatment and has since recovered. The suspect was not located. This is believed to be a targeted attack. Just before 6 a.m. on Saturday, November 23, the Prince George RCMP responded to a report of an assault with a weapon at a residence on Fraser Crescent. Officers found a man and a woman suffering

from the effects of a noxious substance, most likely bear spray. The suspect had fled before police arrival. A considerable amount of cocaine, believed to belong to the suspect, was located and seized. Investigators believe all three persons were known to each other and the attack followed a disagreement. At approximately 1:40 p.m. the same day, the Prince George RCMP responded to a

report of a attempted robbery in the parking lot of a gas station on Fifth Avenue. A male suspect attempted to rob an adult male victim of his cellphone by brandishing a can of bear spray as well as threatening to stab him. The suspect fled the scene, but was apprehended by police a short time later. He was in possession of bear spray. It does not appear that the suspect and victim are known

to each other. Provincial Crown counsel has approved a number of charges against Christopher Ryan Russell, a 25-year-old Prince George man originally from Red Deer, Alberta. The following charges relate to all three investigations: Attempted robbery, aggravated assault, two counts of assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, assault, uttering threats, obstructing

YOUR CITY MATTERS November 29, 2013

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#13/082 Accounting Coordinator Closing Date: December 18, 2013 #13/083 Head Transcriptionist Closing Date: December 16, 2013

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a peace officer, two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, three counts of break and enter to commit an indictable offence, unlawfully in a dwelling house, and two counts of possession of ammunition while prohibited. Russell appeared in court and has been remanded in custody at least until his next court appearance scheduled for December 11.

Real Estate Services Public Notice pursuant to section 26(3) of the Community Charter. The City of Prince George intends to sell to Landi Products Ltd. fee simple title to land legally described as (PID 029-160-138) Parcel D (being a consolidation of Lots 1-5, Block 164, Plan 1268 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; see CA3341712) Block 164 District Lot 343 Cariboo District Plan 1268, for a sale price of $525,000.00. Ian Wells Director of Planning & Development City of Prince George

INVITATION TO BID Invitation to Tender:

National Jersey Day Friday, November 29, 2013 Is a national day to show your love and support for sport by wearing a jersey, team or club uniform to school, work or play. From municipal council chambers to office buildings and classrooms across the nation, we envision a sea of Canadians wearing their hearts on their sleeves on national Jersey Day. Show your support for sport! Sports Day in Canada Saturday, November 30, 2013 Sports Day in Canada is a celebration of sport across the country. Come out to participate in any of the great activities being offered in Prince George. For more information visit: http://princegeorge.ca/cityliving/recreation/ youthprograms/Pages/Default.aspx

â&#x20AC;˘ Been selected at a juried show to have his/ her work displayed in a Provincial, Western Canadian, National level or within a designated geographic area as recognized by the sponsoring organization; OR â&#x20AC;˘ Been awarded a scholarship within a specific field or art to attend a school of National or Western Canadian recognition; OR â&#x20AC;˘ Won a zone or regional competition or have been selected by a sponsoring organization to represent Prince George at a Provincial competition; OR â&#x20AC;˘ Won a Provincial competition and have gone on to participate in a Western Canadian, National competition or competition within a designated geographic area as recognized by the sponsoring organization; OR â&#x20AC;˘ Won the right or been selected to represent the City, the Province, and/or Canada at an international competition. On occasion, those activities that are considered to be in pursuit of excellence are eligible for funding. Applications are now available at the Community Services Department in City Hall or on the City web site www.princegeorge.ca/cityhall/grants/travel. Applications must be submitted after the travel has occurred and are reviewed in June and December of each year. For more information call 250-561-7646.

T13-31 Sound System Kin 1 Closing Date: December 5, 2013 For information concerning City of Prince George bidding opportunities visit BC Bid @ www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca

1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC V2L 3V9 Tel. (250) 561-7600 Fax (250) 612-5605 www.princegeorge.ca â&#x20AC;˘ ServiceCentre@city.pg.bc.ca

Friday, November 29, 2013

Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

Hoban opens city office Hoban Equipment Ltd., the contractor that recently completed the Highway 97 Sintich Road to Old Cariboo Highway project, is opening an office in the city. On November 15, Hoban Equipment Ltd. moved into its northern operations office located at 9064 Milwaukee Way. The new office will accommodate recent organizational growth and enable the company to continue to maintain superior service to its expanding clientele in northern British Columbia. “Everyone at Hoban is pleased to have our main operations office headquartered in Prince George,” said William Hoban, vice president of operations, in a press release. “The new location will allow our company to

better facilitate projects, with a state of the art shop and facility, that will help reduce equipment downtime and increase the speed in which we can mobilize to our projects across western Canada.” The new office is currently in the process of hiring additional staff that will eventually be home to project support staff, estimators, surveyors, quality control, project management and a fully serviced shop and rebuild facility, but most importantly, the new operation is driven by HEL’s commitment to better serve its clients, Hoban said. “The new office will bring our team together allowing a more collaborative approach to the project management process,” he said.

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Cougar fans

Allan WISHART/Free Press Ty Edmonds and other members of the Prince George Cougars joined minor hockey players Monday as they participated in their Skateathon fundraiser.

National Fitness Day called for A B.C. Senator and MP are calling for the first Saturday in June to be proclaimed National Health and Fitness Day, to help reverse what they call an “epidemic of obesity” among young people. Senator Nancy Greene Raine introduced a bill in response to statistics that show one out of three Canadian children are overweight or obese, and only 12 per cent get enough physical activity. Canada’s Public Health Agency calculates that health care for obesity-related cardiovascular and diabetes treatment already costs $7 billion a year. The bill encourages local governments and private organizations to hold community events to promote fitness. West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast MP John Weston began working on the idea three years ago, and he said 68 communities have signed on so far. “Our goal is to increase the number of municipal governments that proclaim National Health and Fitness Day to 300 by June of 2014,” Weston said. India, China Check Out LNG Chinese petrochemical giant Sino-

pec, another Japanese player and an unidentified Indian company are joining the international move to explore liquefied natural gas exports from northern B.C., says Rich Coleman, B.C.’s minister for natural gas development. Sinopec, ranked the fifth largest global company in 2011, is looking for LNG imports equivalent to the output of the world’s second largest LNG terminal, Coleman told reporters as Premier Christy Clark began a trade trip to Asia. Another new player is Idemitsu Kosan Co., the second largest petroleum refiner in Japan, which is applying for a federal export permit in a partnership with Calgary-based AltaGas called Triton LNG. China National Overseas Oil Company and its new subsidiary Nexen has put up a non-refundable deposit of $12 million toward purchase of provincial land on the north side of Grassy Point near Prince Rupert, Coleman said. Another unidentified company has shown interest in the south side of Grassy Point.

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Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

Friday, November 29, 2013

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Hydro rates set to rise in April Average residential bill expected to go up by $8 Tom Fletcher Black Press VICTORIA – The first of a series of BC Hydro rate increases takes effect in April 2014, adding $8 a month to the average residential power bill. Rate increases of nine per cent next year and six per cent in 2015 are the highest of a series of increases over five years announced Monday by Energy Minister Bill Bennett. The B.C. Utilities Commission will be directed to set rate increases that total up to 28 per cent over the next five years, then determine

what rates are needed for the following five years, Bennett said. Commercial rates are going up the same amount. Bennett acknowledged that rate increases are being kept low by using a “rate smoothing” account that defers more than $1 billion of the utility’s debt. That account won’t begin to be paid down until after 2020. BC Hydro CEO Charles Reid said the latest rate increases are driven mainly by a large increase in capital spending, including seismic refits of old dams at Campbell River and Ruskin, turbine expansions at two Kootenay power dams,

and other upgrades. BC Hydro’s “big build” era of 1973 to 1982 produced rate increases totalling 113 per cent. BC Hydro cited an annual survey by Hydro Quebec that shows BC Hydro customers currently pay the third lowest rates in North America. Montreal and Winnipeg customers pay less, and Seattle and Miami residents pay slightly more. NDP energy critic John Horgan said Bennett avoided the impact of private power purchases on BC Hydro’s rate increases. “We’re going to have increased debt for the next five years,” Horgan said. “They’re going to continue to take a divi-

dend from a company that can’t afford to pay one, and the consequences for people are going to be higher costs.” Bennett said the 10-year plan calls for the government to “wean itself off ” dividends from the utility, but the five years of reductions don’t start until 2018. The government has instructed BC Hydro to shut down the gas-fired Burrard Thermal generating station in Port Moody by 2016, saving an estimated $14 million a year. The forecast electricity surplus over the 10-year plan allows that, but the facility will continue to be staffed for its grid stability function, Reid said.

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Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

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Friday, November 29, 2013

Budget balanced

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Province still showing slight surplus Tom Fletcher Black Press VICTORIA – With half of the fiscal year in the books, the B.C. government is clinging to a small surplus that was promised in this spring’s election. Finance Minister Mike de Jong presented the province’s second quarter budget update Wednesday, projecting that the fiscal year will end in March with a surplus of $165 million. That’s up $29 million from the September budget update. Corporate tax revenue is higher than expected, making up for personal tax revenue that was $284 million less than forecast. Part of the decline in personal income tax is due to employment,

which de Jong said was disappointingly “flat lined” so far in 2013. He said unemployment has “dropped modestly” and full-time employment has grown, but the province has work to do to meet its jobs plan goal. NDP finance critic Mike Farnworth said the heavily advertised jobs plan is a flop, and the unemployment rate is down largely because 12,500 people have left B.C. to seek work since the plan was launched two years ago. “Just look at the job numbers,” Farnworth said. “By their own admission, they’re pathetic.” Another revenue loss for the B.C. treasury is provincial sales tax revenue, which is running $100 million below the budget forecast for the year. De Jong said

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one factor in that is that not all businesses have registered to collect and remit the PST since the province cancelled the harmonized sales tax last March. More than 102,000 businesses have applied to register for the PST, and the finance ministry is continuing to assist businesses with seminars and one-on-one consultations on switching over. De Jong said finance ministry staff have given businesses time to adjust and comply, but the grace period is ending. “As we move into 2014, we’re going to expect people to fulfil their obligations and remit PST that they are obliged to, and officials will be pursuing that with the diligence that you would expect,” de Jong said.

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Teresa MALLAM/Free Press Ernie Nahachewski, sales consultant with Wood Wheaton, and artist Ken Ferris, who works with Ducks Unlimited, put their skills to use decorating a truck deck with bows of...well, bows. No, they didn’t use the drill on the bow, that was used to fasten the sides together for a safe hayride during Wednesday’s Light Up Festivities at the Civic Centre.

Failing to comply results in time in jail In Prince George Provincial Court Sept. 27: Kevin M. Hamilton was put on probation for six months for failing to comply with a probation order. Travis L. Simmons was sentenced to eight days in jail and ordered to pay a $50 victim surcharge for failing to comply with the conditions of an undertaking or recognizance. In Provincial Court in Prince George on Sept. 30: James R. Klein was found guilty of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, received a conditional sentence of six months, was placed on probation for one year and assessed a victim surcharge of $100. Matthew R.S. Lozon was found guilty of failing to comply with a probation order, sentenced to one day in jail, fined $300 and assessed a victim surcharge of $45. Miranda McCook was found guilty of failing

to comply with a condition of an undertaking or recognizance and sentenced to three days in jail. Jordan M. Cahoose was found guilty of uttering threats and failing to comply with a condition of an undertaking or recognizance and sentenced to 33 days in jail. Cahoose was also found guilty of failing to comply with a condition of an undertaking and a second count of failing to comply with a condition of an undertaking or recognizance and sentenced to one day in jail. In Provincial Court in Prince George on Oct. 1: Ryan C. George was found guilty of theft of property with a value less than $5,000, sentenced to 89 days in jail and placed on probation for 12 months. George was also found guilty of failing to comply with a probation order, sentenced to 59 days in jail and placed on probation for one year. Tanner G. Willburn was found guilty of three counts of failing to comply with a probation order and sentenced to 41 days in jail.

Celebrate A Life Annual Memorial A time to celebrate and reﬂect on those we love Music, readings and candle lighting to honour our loved ones Thursday, December 12th, 2013 at 7:00pm St Giles Presbyterian Church 1500 Edmonton Street FREE of charge

Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

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Prince George - NEWS - Free Press

Friday, November 29, 2013

Red Nose takes to streets Allan Wishart allanw@pgfreepress.com

Allan WISHART/Free Press Operation Red Nose volunteers Karen, left, and Warren Toombs and Andrea Johnson make sure the online registration form is ready for people attending the Spruce Kings game on Saturday.

Last year, more than 100 communities across Canada offered Operation Red Nose, and more than $1.5 million was donated. In Prince George, the service is organized by the Rotary Club of Prince George Nechako, ICBC and the RCMP. “We have more than 200 volunteers already,” Johnson says, “but we would like to get up closer to 300, especially for New Year’s Eve, which is always the busiest night.” Anyone wishing to volunteer can go to ornpg. com and fill out the online form and Criminal Record Check.

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It starts tonight. The 15th year of Operation Red Nose in Prince George takes to the streets this weekend, and spokesperson Andrea Johnson says they’re ready to go. “We’ll have between 10 and 15 teams out this weekend,” she says. “We’re not sure how busy it will be, but we’ll also have the teams going around to the different pubs and clubs, reminding people about the service.” Operation Red Nose is a free, donation-based service which gets you and your vehicle home safely. It operates between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights between now and Christmas, as well as on New Year’s Eve. Johnson says there are some pieces of information callers to 250-962-RIDE (7433) will be asked for. “The phone operator will probably first confirm that you do have a vehicle with you,” she says. “Then they’ll ask for the first and last names of the person we’re picking up, where we’ll be picking you up, and a phone number we can call you at.” Most of the time, a cellphone number is what they’re looking for, and there are a couple of reasons the team likes to have the number. First, if they’re having trouble finding the address, they can call and get more directions. Second, if it’s not a very nice night out, they can call you back just before they arrive so you don’t have to spend extra time waiting outside. “We’ll also want the name of the person making the request, because sometimes it will be a staffer at a bar or the host of a party calling for someone else. We need to know where the final drop-off point is, and the make, model and colour of the vehicle, because it makes it easier for our team to find the vehicle to start with and when we’re travelling.” Then there are a few questions about the vehicle itself, such as whether it’s a standard or an automatic, how many people will be making the trip, and how many seatbelts the vehicle has. “Sometimes there is additional information which can be handy for our team to have ahead of time. For instance, if we are going to be dropping a couple of people off at another address before we make the final stop, or if the vehicle is parked some distance from where the caller is calling from.”

Friday, November 29, 2013

BILL PHILLIPS | 250.564.0005 | editor@pgfreepress.com | www.pgfreepress.com

Julia Tassie, 3, get a lift from her father, Andrew, so she can get a better view of the annual Light Up Ceremony at PG Civic Centre. The event included hayrides, hot chocolate and a visit from Santa.

Teresa MALLAM/ Free Press

No debate for new city position Without a word of debate Wednesday, city This position is different than the recentlycouncil approved hiring another high-level created executive coordinator to the mayor and administrator. city manager position which was filled interWith Beth James putting forward a 38 per nally by Tanya Spooner. cent increase to her city manager’s budget Which brings us back to the communications ($1.3 million to $1.8 million), council debate department. focused on the communications department, Gone are Lori Tidsbury and Chris Bone, so which accounts for a good portion of that the communications work has now landed on increase. Spooner’s desk. That likely will be taken off her However, also included in that increase is desk when James fills the three communications the creation of a new “deputy corporate offipositions council approved for her Wednesday. cer” position that, by the sounds of it, will be a It could take a while. The city posted for the second in command at city hall. No comment, WRITER’S BLOCK new director of communications position in the BILLPHILLIPS summer but has been unable to find the right no debate, just a rubber stamp from councillors who got elected with a mandate to cut the candidate. James told council that she has now fat at city hall. There was no mention of what this person employed the services of a head-hunting firm to help the will be doing or how much they will be paid, but one can city find the right person. Once again, no mention of how easily assume it will be a six-figure salary. much this will cost.

She said she wants to take the time to find just the right person. Anyone who has done some hiring and rushed to get someone into place that they knew wasn’t the right person for the job knows taking your time is the right thing to do. And the director of communications job is definitely one of those positions that you want to get the right person for. It’s already a much-maligned position in the community and nobody’s even been hired yet. The role comes with built-in animosity from the community, so someone fresh out of PR school isn’t going to cut it. The city has posted for a communications specialist as well, so two of the three communications positions likely will soon be filled. James said if she gets the right person in the director of communications role, she might not have to fill the third communications job. I suspect the third position will be filled shortly after the new director of communications is hired.

Battling utilities hits breaking point The utilities people are wearing me down. you won’t have a big lump sum to pay at the I think I’m now at the breaking pencils end of the year.” point. It’s okay, though, Telus did give me a I suspect the bean counters at B.C. Hydro nice purple pen at the mall the have calculated that if they get other day – and a pamphlet on the money up front from a their programming. customer, times thousands of Thanks for that. customers, they will actually I got my B.C. Hydro bill have that “big lump sum” in Monday. Nice way to start their own pockets rather than the week. I am on the “equal mine. payment plan” so that I can alLast summer, during the legedly have some control over reconciliation month Hydro my finances. So imagine my raised my bill from $20 to $23. surprise when the bill was for I looked up the definition of $26 instead of the usual $23. reconciliation – the act of causI phoned to ask why. ing two people or groups to TEA WITH TERESA “Well, we do a review every become friendly again after an TERESAMALLAM argument or disagreement. Well quarter and adjust your bill according to usage.” clearly that is not going to hapI thought that was why I was on an equal pen. I’m still mad at Hydro because I now payment plan. have to pay an extra $6 a month that I had “Well, we’re just tying to help you out so not planned on. Yes, I follow the news, and I

know that over the next few years the Hydro rates go up 28 per cent (some financial analysts say 52 per cent over 10 years). So there is no kiss and make up for me. Just another six dollars I won’t have for important things like my Starbucks coffee. Next battle. Shaw. So my six months trial rate ($45) for three services, phone, T.V. and internet, has ended and I got a bill for over $100. Something had to give. I need the phone, I want my T.V. for entertainment. Home computer, sorry, but you have to go. I phone Shaw. I listen to bad music. “How may I help you?” I say I want to stop my Internet service, I am transferred to another department. More bad music. Finally, I am able to book a date for Shaw to remove their modem and then I ask how much the new bill will be. I am told it will be about the same. Huh? “Basically, it’s because of the way it’s all

bundled. You aren’t really going to be saving anything because the cost of your phone will go up. You’ve been getting a special rate on that for the past two months because of the bundles.” So I ask to speak to the supervisor. More bad music. “Yes, how can I help you today? I explain that frankly the new bill is too high, that I have to cut back. I let them know Telus is courting me with a great deal and lots of free stuff. I didn’t tell them about the purple pen but I should have. The truth is I just came off a fight with Telus too, over my cellphone and a three-year contract. So now I’m just a little war weary from battling with utilities. I have no strength. The only thing I can do now is turn down the heat, raise carrier pigeons, “bundle up” to keep warm, and turn off all the lights. I don’t need TV – I can always rent movies. War movies.

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Prince George - VOICES - Free Press

Friday, November 29, 2013

So Much Stuff

Teresa MALLAM/Free Press Joshua Fowlie, 4, had to get a lift from mom Carol to get a better view of the eatable attractions in the gingerbread village. The display is part of the 20th annual Festival of Trees and is located in the lobby of the Civic Centre.

Desperately seeking inspiration absolutely nothing to do with my inspirational problems, that story is based on the real-life story of Deacon William Brodie, a wellrespected councillor of Edinburgh, who was also a burglar. Or I sometimes wish I could write music the way some people do – in their sleep (and yes, I know some of my stuff reads like it was written in my sleep). I can think of a couple of fairly well-known cases of musicians dreaming up great hits. Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones woke up one morning with a melody running through his head, grabbed the guitar beside the bed, turned on his portable tape recorder, played the guitar part he had dreamt, then went back to sleep. He woke up the next morning, played it for Mick Jagger and the rest of the band, and that was the basis for (I Can’t Get No) Satis-

faction, one of their biggest hits. Interestingly enough, the other well-documented story of a sleep-inspired song is from another British Invasion band: The Beatles. Paul McCartney woke up one morning with a melody running through his head, wrote it down, then spent the next few days playing it for the other guys in the band and other friends, asking where they had heard it before, because he couldn’t believe he had dreamt that good a melody. The title they slapped on it until they got the lyrics done was Scrambled Eggs, but you probably know it better as Yesterday, one of the most-covered songs in history. Why can’t I ever get inspired that way to write a column? Why am I reduced to writing about how other people had their great inspirations?

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is easy. Just stare at the piece of Inspiration. paper until beads of blood form Where does it come on your forehead” (and yes, I from? Why can’t I have heard that same quote, or summon it up whenclose variations, ever I need attributed to many it (like right other columnists. now)? Is It seems to be a there a way universal sentito improve ment, although I your chances can’t imagine why). of getting inI sometimes spired? (If so, wish I could be like can I learn other writers, like how so I can Robert Louis Stetry it – like venson. Apparently right about ALLAN’S AMBLINGS he had a nightmare now.) ALLANWISHART once, and woke up There screaming. When are times his wife asked what was wrong, when I sit down at he told her he had had a nightthe keyboard, and the mare, then immediately got up words flow easily for my column. (They don’t and started writing. The result? The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll always make a lot of and Mr. Hyde. sense, but they flow By the way, and apropos of easily.) Other times, I sit down at the keyboard, nothing comes right away, so I walk away for a while, maybe type up another story, then come back, and the words flow easily. (See previous parenthetical comment.) Then there are other times where none of those tricks work. I don’t have a solid idea for a column, I don’t really have enough Random Ramblings for a column, I don’t even have enough Blacktop Blockheads for a column (hard to believe, I know). So then what do I do? Well, I could follow the words of advice of Gene Fowler: “Writing

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LNG - 78 child poverty - 10

ere are some of the provincial government’s news release headlines this week: “Bank of China chooses Vancouver for Canadian trade finance operations,” “Province remains on track to balance budget,” “B.C. and China endorse partnerships,” “Water regulation changes streamline permitting process,” “10 Year Plan Means Predictable Rates as BC Hydro Invests in System (which of course means sizable rate hikes).” Not surprisingly, there was no press release issued from rose-coloured glasses folks in Victoria responding to news that, yet again, B.C. has the worst child poverty rates in Canada. Child poverty, if we are to believe the rhetoric, will, along with all our other woes, disappear if only we can get the liquefied natural gas flowing. Just for fun, we conducted a search of the government news release database comparing LNG to poverty. With 2,232 government news releases sitting on our mail server, a search of the word ‘poverty’ revealed 10 news releases. One of those was a happy birthday wish for Aga Khan, mentioning his fight against poverty and, in fairness, one was last spring’s announcement of a pilot poverty reduction strategy here in Prince George. The same press release database revealed 78 news releases containing the words ‘liquefied natural gas.’ Kind of telling as to where the mindset of the government is. Part of the problem, of course, is the mindset in Victoria that poverty would disappear if only everyone had a job. That just isn’t true. Poverty is a much more complex issue than simply finding jobs for people. And, as we here in Prince George bemoan our most dangerous city moniker, it seems lost on the powers that be that fighting poverty is a key aspect of fighting crime. So, once again, the latest figures show B.C. is the worst in Canada. The 2011 numbers from Statistics Canada say that: B.C. had a child poverty rate of 18.6 per cent, using the before-tax low income cutoffs of Statistics Canada as the measure of poverty. B.C. had the worst poverty rate of any province for children living in single-mother families (49.8 per cent) and the worst rate of any province for children living in two-parent families (14 per cent). British Columbia’s poverty rate for children under six years of age, at 20.7 per cent, is eight percentage points higher than the Canadian average. And, B.C. also had the most unequal distribution of income among rich and poor families with children. First Call – B.C. Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition calls the poverty rates “shameful” and is calling for the province to, like many other provinces, develop a comprehensive provincial poverty reduction strategy with a goal of reducing B.C.’s child poverty rate to seven per cent, or lower, by 2020. As for those government news releases – there is one that actually talks about the province’s child poverty rates. It was issued in December, 2012, likely in response to last year’s poverty report card and proudly proclaims: “The B.C. child poverty rate is at its second-lowest level since 1980.”

Bigger issues than Ford The news media, over the past several weeks, has been For example, the hundreds of women who have disapfilled with stories, speculations, comments and analysis with peared is a national disgrace we should all be ashamed of. either the Canadian Senate or Mayor Rob Ford of Toronto Adding to our shame is the fact that the overwhelming in the starring role. Perhaps they find it interesting, but for majority of the missing women are of aboriginal descent. most of us it reached a point where any further reference to A fair question is why the politicians are basically ignorRob Ford or the disgraced Senators creates nausea. ing the problem of this magnitude. Instead of trying to score Rob Ford may be an addict who needs help and points in question period over a so-called somewhat of a foulmouthed individual. On the Senate scandal, why are the leaders of the opplus side, his administration has made positive position not continually raising the question of gains for the taxpayers of the city. There was not why there is so little action on what is truly seeven a whisper of any suggestion that he and his rious matter? Is it because the vast majority of fingers were in the city cashbox. The old guard the missing women are of aboriginal heritage? political establishment, ably abetted by the media, Is it because they frequently come from that has successfully made him the target of a witch portion of society that is generally impoverhunt. The media should be ashamed of how easily ished? Is it because they are women, not men? they can be manipulated. Have we not learned anything from the There are few, if any, who have much sympathy Pickton murders right here in British Cofor the plight of the three disgraced senators. lumbia? The ongoing disappearance of the They were doing their best to milk the political marginalized women who were his victims ONSIDE system for as much cream as they could get. It VICBOWMAN was ignored by most. That allowed Pickton to is yet to be decided if their actions were illegal. continue murdering one woman after another. Their actions were definitely unethical. If, in the fullness of The question must be asked, are we doing the same thing on time, they get sent off to jail, so be it. They are no different a national level when it comes to ending these crimes? than you or I. If they broke the law, appropriate punishment Every one of those missing women is someone’s daughter, will be applied. niece or friend. They all had others who loved and cared There are some who feel sorry for Nigel Wright. It is true about them. Take a moment and pause. Think about those that he is out of pocket by some $95,000 and is presently out in your world who have meaning to you and how you would of work. While we can applaud his stated desire for the taxfeel if one of them was victim. Think about the grief you payers of Canada not be out of pocket, he still participated would carry if you were in their situation. in a scheme to hide what was actually happening. There is a In a civilized society, sanctity of life is not negotiable. price to be paid for that kind of devious behavior. Every individual deserves the same attention and respect in Both situations can best be described in that old term of the eyes of the law and society as a whole. being a “tempest in a teacup.” There are many more serious There is no place for stipulations that may differentiate issues that all of us should be concerned about. one person from another. circulation@pgfreepress.com | 250-564-0504

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Gun defence indefensible Editor: When I read the front page story in the November 22 Free Press headed “Gun Owner Defended” I had to do a quick check on what paper I was reading. I thought I had somehow received a right-wing U.S. paper rather than the Free Press. Sheldon Clare’s defence of the illegal importation of all of this vast array of fully automatic armament, hand guns and ammunition sounds like the rantings of one of our southern neighbours defending their first amendment rights to bear arms.

Yes Sheldon, there is no victim - yet. But if you had your way and the importation of these types of weapons became common place there soon would be. The all too common massacres that we read about happening in the U.S. would soon be part of our scene too. I hope the charges brought against the importer are successful and the penalty is stiff enough to act as a deterrent to others considering bringing these things into our country. John Warner Prince George

Game for gaming law change Editor: The comments of Victor Bowman regarding the administration of lotteries were timely and to the point. When different levels of government took over the administration of lotteries, gaming, and the issuing of private gambling franchises, not only did it make criminals of the church group having a draw for a quilt, but, a valuable resource was lost for the raising of funds by the service clubs of B.C. For example in Prince George there was a bingo game almost every night of the week at the facilities owned by these service clubs, and groups. The Elks raised money for hard of hearing children with their Purple Cross Fund. The Legion raised money for track meets, Cadets, and other youth activities. The Holy Name Society also raised money for their charitable works, as did Rotary, the Lions, Kinsmen, JC’s, and others. Sadly, some of these groups are having trouble attracting new members. One wonders if there has been a decrease in membership of the above organizations because the ability to raise funds in order to do good works is diminished This work was all done by volunteer labour at the sponsor’s banquet hall, parish hall, etc. These volunteers were willing to donate their time and energy because there was a positive and visible result. There was no skim, after heat and lights were paid, all the remaining moneys raised went to the respective charities. The operation of (club) charities was done by volunteers, there was no paid bureaucracy, no “Minister of Gaming and Lotteries” and no political appointees to draw large salaries. The money went directly to the charities, none was channelled to General Revenue, the funds stayed, and were administered, in the communities where they were raised. It’s time our gaming laws were reviewed. David Johnston Prince George

Arts centre another grandiose scheme Editor: Re: Performing arts centre. We have had a long succession of tax-and-spend city councils that seem addicted to large, expensive building projects, the latest being the RCMP building that still has to be paid for. Coun. Albert Koehler has ferreted out, and revealed in the Free Press article “Can taxes go down,” on July 12, that from 2001 to 2013 taxes have increased by about 50 per cent. There is a need for city hall to keep spending in line and disregard building a performing arts centre when we

have a number of excellent venues available that can be used instead, such as the Playhouse and Vanier Hall, which get used very little and stand empty most of the time. There is a need to attend to the aging infrastructure of water and sewer pipes and the paving of more roads. We do not need a grandiose performing arts centre costing almost the same as the Taj Mahal police station. The Prince George taxpayers are tired of being ransomed by city council’s grand schemes. Julia Serup Prince George

Being on the MEND in Prince George Dr. Tom Warshawski Special to the Free Press As the New Year approaches, it’s a great time for families to think about making healthy changes such as choosing more nutritional foods and being more physically active. The lifestyles we learn at a young age often help to form our habits later in life. Statistics show that obese children have an 80 per cent or higher probability of becoming obese adults. Adults who have unhealthy weights are at increased risk of heart disease, cancers, strokes and type 2 diabetes. In Canada, approximately 30 per cent of children and youth are either overweight or obese, that’s up from 15 per cent in 1978. Two major contributors are lack of exercise and poor eating habits. Only seven per cent of five- to 11-year-olds are meeting the Canadian physical activity guidelines for children and youth, while 31 per cent are spending more than two hours a day in front of a TV or computer screen. What’s more, only half of children across the country eat more than five fruit and vegetables per day. That’s why efforts are underway across the province, including in your community, to help families live a healthy

lifestyle. MEND, which stands for “Mind, Exercise, Nutrition… Do it!”, is a free local program that gives kids and parents the tips and tools they need to live a healthy lifestyle and maintain a healthy weight. The program was developed and tested by leading experts in child nutrition, child behaviour and exercise in the United Kingdom and adapted to align with Canadian dietary and policy guidelines. The 10-week program, aimed at children ages five to 13, is currently registering new participants for January across British Columbia, including in Prince George. MEND offers children and their parents or caregivers group sessions that incorporate a fun mix of interactive family activities, practical demonstrations, games, tips about healthy foods, label reading, and portion sizes and tools for adopting an overall healthier lifestyle. More than 130 children and their parents or caregiver have participated or are registered in BC’s MEND programs to date. Kids who attended previous MEND programs have increased their physical activity and cut back their screen time. They’re also eating more fruits and vegetables and less sugar, thanks to a better understanding of the importance of good nutrition. Parents also report an improvement in their child’s self-esteem after participating in the MEND

program. Shapedown BC is another proven program that is available for children whose families may require a more comprehensive approach in working towards a healthy weight. A multi-disciplinary team provides physical, psycho-social and medical support to help families achieve their healthy living goals. Shapedown BC is provided in Vancouver at BC Children’s Hospital, Island Health in Nanaimo, Interior Health in Kamloops, Northern Health in Prince George and Fraser Health in Surrey. A physician referral is required. All parents want their children to live a healthy lifestyle in order to grow up strong and confident. MEND and ShapedownBC empower families and children to have fun, be healthy and get active. Dr. Tom Warshawski is a pediatrician and Chair of the Childhood Obesity Foundation, which is one of the partners behind MEND and ShapedownBC, alongside the Province of British Columbia, BC Recreation and Parks Association and the YMCA of Greater Vancouver. MEND and ShapedownBC support Healthy Families BC, the government’s public-health strategy that focuses on leadership, prevention and health improvement for British Columbian families and their communities.

Friday, November 29, 2013

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India and China check out liqueﬁed natural gas exports from northern B.C. Chinese petrochemical giant Sinopec, another Japanese player and an unidentified Indian company are joining the international move to explore liquefied natural gas exports from northern B.C., says Rich Coleman, B.C.’s minister for natural gas development. Sinopec, ranked the fifth largest global company in 2011, is looking for LNG imports equivalent to the output of the world’s second largest LNG terminal, Coleman told reporters as Premier Christy Clark began a trade trip to Asia.

Another new player is Idemitsu Kosan Co., the second largest petroleum refiner in Japan, which is applying for a federal export permit in a partnership with Calgary-based AltaGas called Triton LNG. China National Overseas Oil Company and its new subsidiary Nexen has put up a non-refundable deposit of $12 million toward purchase of provincial land on the north side of Grassy Point near Prince Rupert, Coleman said. Another unidentified company has shown interest in the south

side of Grassy Point. The new proposals add to a lineup of international investment proposed by Petronas, Chevron, Shell, British Gas and others, which are expected to make final investment decisions in 2014. Coleman said the tax rate for LNG producers is to be presented to companies by the end of November, but it may not be public until the B.C. government table its budget in February.

VIASPORT CELEBRATES SPORTS DAY IN CANADA: NOVEMBER 30, 2013

Try a new sport for Sports Day in Canada! In the week leading up to RBC Sports Day in Canada on November 30, communities across British Columbia are hosting a variety of events for citizens to learn about and participate in a new sport. In honour of Sports Day, ViaSport wants to inspire B.C. to explore more than 60 provincial sport organizations and hundreds of clubs that deliver sport for all ages and abilities in our communities, all year round! No matter your age, skill level or where you call home, sport is your connection to friends, fun, learning and a general sense of wellness in your everyday life. There are opportunities for everyone through sport, whether you’re a beginner, advanced or adaptive athlete, a child or senior, or perhaps someone who isn’t sure where to begin. ViaSport is your easy connection to the resources you need to get started.

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Play ViaSport The power of sport can invigorate communities like no other event or activity can, and ViaSport is passionately committed to the ongoing development of sport and opportunities for physical activity in every community across British Columbia. In time for Sports Day in Canada, ViaSport is launching the Play ViaSport online resource, your one-stop connection to trying out the diverse menu of sport available in British Columbia. Play ViaSport is your link to over 60 provincial sport organizations and their affiliated clubs who work together to deliver regular sport programming in communities throughout our province. What are you waiting for? Now’s your chance to Play ViaSport!

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Friday, November 29, 2013

NH to offer HIV test on admission DR. SUSAN MACDONALD Northern Health Chief Medical Officer

December 1, 2013 marks World AIDS Day, the day that we annually honour those living with HIV, and commemorate those we’ve lost to AIDS. It’s also a time to salute Northern Health’s community partners who work so diligently to support persons living with HIV/AIDS. They include Positive Living North, Northern BC First Nations HIV/AIDS Coalition, Central Interior Native Health Society, the Cedar Project, and the Northern HIV and Health Education Society. These organizations, and the world at large, have seen great changes since the first reported AIDS cases in the mid-1980s. Admittedly, many people still react with fear, shock and stigma when the topic of HIV/ AIDS comes up. But due to great medical advances in HIV treatment, HIV is now considered a manageable chronic disease – not an automatic death sentence. This year, Northern Health is marking World AIDS Day by introducing a new health care initiative that complements our current strategies to reduce the spread of HIV throughout northern B.C. The initiative – which will see medical staff offer HIV testing as part of regular hospital care – will be introduced at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. beginning Monday, December 2. This new

initiative is being undertaken in efforts to reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS through effective screening and early detection, and to provide timely access to high-quality and safe HIV/AIDS care and treatment. All patients over age 14 admitted to hospital will be offered an HIV test as part of their admission blood work. As with all medical interventions, every patient has the right to refuse an HIV test. This initiative is expected to be implemented in other Northern Health acute care facilities through 2014. Why are we introducing routine HIV testing in hospitals? It’s because HIV is an important health issue with 300 to 400 new diagnoses made in B.C. every year. The number of new infections is not declining – and people are not being diagnosed early enough. Sixty per cent of HIV patients are diagnosed after they should already be on treatment. Evidence also shows that 25 per cent of people living with HIV are not aware of their status. The routine offering of HIV testing has already proven successful in the Lower Mainland where Vancouver Coastal Health introduced the initiative in October 2011. Up to 94 per cent of Lower Mainland patients who are offered an HIV test as part of routine hospital care say ‘Yes’, because they appreciate knowing that they’re not being singled out to take the test. Knowing your HIV status is so important for your health care. As health care provid-

ers, knowing our patients’ HIV status affects how we treat infections, cancers and even which vaccinations to consider. If you are tested and are diagnosed with HIV, you should begin treatment as early as possible. Why? Because early HIV treatment prolongs and improves people’s lives. People on HIV medications can now have healthy lives, relationships, and children. The routine offering of HIV testing initiative is funded by BC’s Ministry of Health. It’s part of the From Hope to Health: Towards an AIDS-free Generation initiative, formerly known as the STOP HIV/AIDS pilot project. Many of you are familiar with Northern Health’s STOP HIV/AIDS education and awareness campaign; one of our main goals was and is to normalize HIV testing, by urging everyone who was sexually active or using injection drugs to make the time to get an HIV test. We’re hoping that our new routine offering of HIV testing initiative will finally take us to that next step, where HIV testing becomes the norm in health care, not the exception. But we need your help. Talk to your friends and family and encourage everyone to take an HIV test. Explain that routine HIV testing of all patients reduces stigma and improves early detection. As we approach World AIDS Day, help us work towards an AIDS-free generation. Help us spread the word about HIV — not

the disease. For more information, visit www.hiv101.ca World AIDS Day Events In Prince George: World AIDS Day Candlelight Vigil and Dinner: • Date: Friday, November 29, 2013 • Time: 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. • Place: The Fire Pit Cultural Drop-In Centre – 1120 - 3rd Ave., Prince George Blood, Sweat, Tears & Laughter project — Play Creation Workshop, sponsored by Prince George and District Community Arts Council. This workshop is directed towards youth in and around Prince George and will engage them on their thoughts, feelings and stories concerning HIV/AIDS. These shared stories will be used by the local youth theatre group, Street Spirits, to generate a play entitled, Blood, Sweat, Tears & Laughter. The play will be filmed and turned into a resource for agencies who also wish to engage in HIV/AIDS research through theatre. Workshop: • Date: Saturday, November 30, 3013 • Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. • Place: 1148 - 7th Ave., across from Prince George City Hall Play performance: • Date: Sunday, December 1, 2013 • Time: 7:30 p.m. • Place: ArtSpace, 1685 - Third Ave (above Books & Company).

Miworth Community Hall, Longworth Community Hall and Tabor Lake Community Park Property Use Agreements The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George intends to proceed with final passage and adoption of the following bylaws at its meeting of December 19, 2013: 1. Miworth Community Hall Property Use Agreement Authorization Bylaw No. 2861, 2013 2. Longworth Community Hall and Recreational Property Use Agreement Authorization Bylaw No. 2862, 2013 3. Tabor Lake Community Park Property Use Agreement Authorization Bylaw No. 2863, 2013

Allan WISHART/Free Press Students from all levels of the Montessori program in Prince George walked from Knox United Church to the Civic Centre on Friday to mark the Universal Day of the Child. They made a presentation to representatives of the city and the school board.

Open YEAR-ROUND

Bylaw No. 2861 will authorize the Regional District to enter into a 5-year agreement with the Miworth Community Association for use of the Community Hall and property located adjacent to Wilkins Regional Park, Prince George, BC, in Electoral Area C. The property is described as Part of Remainder of Block A of District Lot 2165, Cariboo District, PID 015-137-961. Bylaw No. 2862 will authorize the Regional District to enter into a 5-year agreement with the Longworth Recreation Commission for use of the Community Hall and property located at the intersection of Upper Fraser and Longworth Roads, Longworth, BC, in Electoral Area F. The property is described as District Lot 10255, Cariboo District, PID 017-928-249. Bylaw No. 2863 will authorize the Regional District to enter into a 5-year agreement with the Tabor Lake Recreation Commission for use of the Community Park property located on Stanley Road off Giscome Road, Prince George, BC, in Electoral Area D. The property is described as Lot 1, District Lot 2174, Cariboo District Plan 25428, PID 007-754-132.

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In consideration of the entitlements given, the Regional District will receive a nominal sum of $1.00 each from the Miworth Community Association, the Longworth Recreation Commission, and the Tabor Lake Recreation Commission for the specified term of the agreements. Copies of Bylaw Nos. 2861, 2862 and 2863, 2013 are available for viewing at:

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http://tinyurl.com/RDFFG-MCH-BL-2861 http://tinyurl.com/RDFFG-LCH-BL2862 http://tinyurl.com/RDFFG-TLCP-BL-2863 or in hard copy at the Regional District Service Centre at 155 George Street, Prince George, BC during regular business hours. Persons wishing to file a written submission in respect of these bylaws should do so not later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2013. C. Paton Service Centre Representative

Open year-round at 1074 Sixth Avenue & May to October at the Courthouse 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. every Saturday

155 George Street, Prince George, BC V2L 1P8 Telephone: (250) 960-4400, Toll Free 1-800-667-1959 Fax (250) 563-7520, Web: www.rdffg.bc.ca

Friday, November 29, 2013

TERESA MALLAM | 250.564.0005 | arts@pgfreepress.com | www.pgfreepress.com

World of beauty opens up Prince George, she opened Anu Beauty Salon, a home-based business where clients are welcomed into their home so they can feel relaxed and comfortable. It’s like going to a friend’s house for tea – Ravi and Anu first laid eyes on each and yes, they have that too. other in what, here in Canada, might be As the business grows – in July they got a called a “speed date.” “We got to talk for just five minutes,” said new laser machine suited to treating a wide variety of skin conditions in both men and Shanzas (Ravi) Husain, who grew up in women – they continue to learn what’s new Rajasthan, India and later moved to New and exciting in the world of beauty. Delhi. He and Anupama Sexema met and The couple also has two children raised fell in love in India. While it all began as an arranged date, they felt an instant attraction in the local community, a son who is away at university and a daughter in school in and personal connection to each other and Prince George. needed no coaxing to take the next step. Anu says her flexible hours are good for They wed in a beautiful traditional her as a busy mother and entrepreneur and, ceremony in India – the bride had several “magical” wardrobe changes with colourful as well, they benefit her clients so they can work it into busy daily schedules. sparkling saris and matching accessories. “I have 25 years of experience in beauty The couple came to Canada in 2006 and products and as an esthetician in India lived for three years in Vancouver where and Canada. My main focus in opening Una updated her training and received her my business was to move away from the esthetician certification from Cosmetology clinical feel of a stereotypical beauty salon Industry Association of British Columbia. and create a place where everyone feels at In January 2009, after relocating to home, where our customers are not just clients but our friends.” The aim is to keep prices affordable and offer appointment times that fit in with people’s busy work and school schedules, she said. Anu Beauty Salon services include laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation, skin tightening, rosacea, foot fungus and acne treatments, threading, henna, manicure, pedicure, waxing, micro-dermabrasion, eyelash extensions, spa care and relaxing facials. For his part, Ravi who works in the business and, with his wife, is certified in high-performance laser system, says he’s fulfilled many of his dreams since arriving in Canada. “I never thought I’d get my Masters of Business Administration,” he said noting he got his degree from UNBC. (His thesis was on corporation boards of India being blocked by caste.) For more information on Anu Beauty Salon visit www.anubeauTeresa MALLAM/Free Press tysalon.ca or call 250-596-7200. Anupama Saxema shows how laser technology The Free Press does not endorse Teresa MALLAM/Free Press can be used to treat everything from your head any specific skin care products, Anu Saxema demonstrates eyebrow threading on client Jeanna Madsen at Anu to your toe – or her husband Ravi’s toe. treatment or laser equipment. Beauty Salon, a family run, home-based business.

Teresa Mallam arts@pgfreepress.com

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Friday, November 29, 2013

Making a home at gallery Exhibition opens at Rustad Galleria on December 5 A new exhibition opens at Rustad Galleria on Dec. 5. Prince George artist Susan Barton-Tait will be featured with a collection of works called Home Making. “The exhibition is a culmination of new and existing work that examines the realm of domesticity and in particular Barton-Tait’s experience of this as a young mother and wife in Winnipeg in the 1970s,” says Two Rivers Gallery assistant curator, Maeve Hanna. “She has created sculptures out of hand-made paper of the walls of the house she

lived in in Winnipeg.” Barton-Tait has also built models of the house from the same hand-made paper. “They will hang throughout the Galleria, completely altering the space. Projected over these sculptures will be a series of videos examining the kind of activities involved in the domestic life of a wife and mother. The videos are kind of humorous in their repetition, which also renders the meaning of the activities quite benign.” The new exhibit, Home Making, officially opens Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. with an artist’s tour and talk.

Steve Miller in April Courtesy of Two Rivers Gallery A series of videos, which include these stills, will be part of Home Making, a new exhibit by local artist Susan Barton-Tait, which opens Dec. 5 in the Rustad Galleria at Two Rivers Gallery.

CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR “Give Your Loved One that Special Gift, this Christmas” Photo submitted As part of their 2014 World Tour, the Steve Miller band will hit five Canadian cities and Prince George is one of their few stops. They play the CN Centre on April 9, 2014. This is also the Steve Miller Band’s first Canadian tour in more than 20 years. Tickets go on sale today (Friday) at all Ticketmaster locations.

Come and enjoy the festive spirit at the Prince George Chateau! Saturday December 7th, 2013 | 10:00am – 4:00pm

Dec 5, 2013 2011 Go Volunteer!

Over 30 tables, local vendors, hourly door prizes.

Tables still available call: 250.564.0202

International Volunteer Day offers an opportunity for volunteer organizations and individual volunteers to make visible their contributions - at local, national and international levels - to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. United Nations Member States have pledged to meet the following goals by the year 2015. 1. Eradicate extreme poverty & hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality & empower women 4. Reduce child mortality 5. Improve maternal health 6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria & other diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability 8. Develop a global partnership for development

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For more information on International Volunteer Day visit www.worldvolunteerweb.org For local information on volunteering in our community, contact Volunteer Prince George at 250-564-0224 or visit www.volunteerpg.com

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Prince George - COMMUNITY - Free Press

Friday, November 29, 2013

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Thompson writes about Dying to Live Teresa Mallam arts@pgfreepress.com Her near-death experience in October 1994 has enriched her life, says Prince George author Susan Berger Thompson. “It truly was an ‘a-ha’ moment,” she told the Free Press on Monday. When she woke up in a hospital bed after barely surviving a brain aneurysm, she’d already spent several days slipping in and out of consciousness. Her children were her lifeline, she said,

and her soul mate “Liam”, who had kept a journal during her medical crisis helped Thompson learn about and piece together what had transpired in all those “lost” days. “I was having headaches and I remember arriving for my appointment at my optometrist’s office.” She collapsed on the floor, after passing out, she said. Although she doesn’t remember any of it, she was told she was rushed to Prince George Regional Hospital (now UHNBC), then airlifted to Vancouver General Hospital where she underwent sur-

For news and updates, check us out online at www.rdffg.bc.ca 155 George Street, Prince George, BC V2L 1P8 Telephone: (250) 960-4400, Toll Free 1-800-667-1959 Fax (250) 563-7520, Web: www.rdffg.bc.ca

Sunday, December 1, 2013, is World AIDS Day

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gery to save her life. out my last days, not Then began her being happy in my life. long recovery, and the So I decided to make process of getting her changes.” life back to a “sense of One of those changes normalcy” began. was the painful but for It was a very difficult her the right decision and frustrating time for to end her relationship her, she admits. with Liam, she said. And it left its scars “Every day that I get – both physical and up, I choose to be happy. emotional. She writes: I truly enjoy my day. “Standing in front of “I don’t believe that the mirror one day, I was other people make you disturbed by my image. I unhappy, it wasn’t his was bone skinny and my (Liam’s) fault that I was legs had atrophied. To unhappy. I loved him facilitate surgery, much but I learned to love me of my lovely long hair more.” had been shaved off the Along the way, she back of my head. In the had learned not to hospital Liam had taken worry, so Thompson was pictures of the tongueable to ward off fears she shaped sutured flap on could have another anthe back of my head.” eurysm, allowing her to Twenty years later, live her life more freely. Teresa MALLAM/Free Press and now a grandmother “I’ve never been a Susan Berger Thompson with Heartmind worrier. There’s no point of five, two in Surrey, Wisdom, an anthology of Inspiring Women, three in Prince George, in which the Prince George author has a worrying about things Thompson celebrated chapter about her near death experience and that might happen, I her 39th birthday in only worry about things how it profoundly changed her life. 1994 by being allowed if they’re actually hapto leave hospital and return home to her family in pening.” Prince George. She truly treasures her life, now, Her positive, upbeat attitude surprises some she says, and feels fortunate to get a second chance, people, she writes: which is why she wanted to share her experience “When people learn of my ruptured brain with others. aneurysm, they often comment that it must have Her story is found in a chapter titled Dying been very difficult for me. My reply is always that I to Live included in an anthology of 21 stories in wasn’t even aware that I nearly died; however it was Heartmind Wisdom. The stories are written by sev- extremely difficult for my love ones. eral different authors who share their experiences “People also say things such as that must have about how friendship, family and spiritual belief been the worst thing that ever happened to you. have helped them to have enriched lives. In response, I smile and say, ‘No, almost dying was Thompson said she is grateful for the insight. one of the best things that ever happened to me. It “I wanted to share with people that no matter gave me a much needed kick in the butt to change how badly you feel, it (the situation) does pass. my life’.” With all the stories, there are ideas in the book Thompson said in her story that she learned to that you can use to help you get through difficult count her blessings and, through study and reflections, began to really appreciate the little things things in your life. The publication helped me and she’d previously taken for granted. it helped me to help other people.” “I hung onto such blessings as sliding into bed When a friend in Surrey suggested that she between freshly laundered sheets – and the amazfollow up on a request for authors for a group ing fresh feeling of towelling off after a shower. collection (Heartmind Wisdom, Collection No. 1, When something annoying happened, I learned an anthology of inspiring wisdom from those who to laugh it off, instead of dwelling on it. Over time have been there,) Thompson agreed it would be a I realized that what happens to us throughout life good place to start. isn’t as important as how we interpret events – the After all, she had the wisdom of a lifetime. power we give to the good and the bad.” “Afterwards I kept thinking that if I had stayed Next she plans to write a book of poetry and dead, is that the way I would have wanted to live after that, a book. LICENSED “It will be sort of semi-autobiographical,” she says, smiling. Heartmind Wisdom, an anthology containing the inspirational story by author Susan OR Berger Thompson, is published by Balboa • Fantastic Food! Press. • Banquet Room (120 capacity) For more informa• Dance Floor tion please visit www. • Hosted Bar kindnessiskey.com. • Centrally Located

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Friday, November 29, 2013

Buddy brings back the 1950s Teresa Mallam arts@pgfreepress.com Theatre North West has a smash hit on its hands with Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story, directed by Samantha MacDonald. Buddy, written by Alan James, is filled with great vocals, marvellous music, memorable scenes and perfect mix of humour and drama. It has an authentic set – so real you feel like a time machine has pulled you back into the 1950s. Suddenly... you are there. Clever choreographer Judy Russell, who added her own brand of magic to Buddy, calls it a “musical biography.” I like that the show truly showcases the exceptional “triple threat” talents of its cast and highlights the expertise of its backstage crew. In their creative hands, the show also tells the poignant story of American singersongwriter Buddy Holly, a rock and roll pioneer, whose whole career lasted less than two years but who left us with incredible, enduring music. The show’s run has been extended to Dec. 15 – for good reason. Audiences will rave on about this one for a long time and although MacDonald told us she would not “rave on” about the production on opening night, she can now. Most people I talked with afterwards said Buddy is the best TNW show ever – and the most fun. The audience interacts and people seem to really like that. Buddy made them feel they were part of an exciting rock n’ roll concert. Buddy is a big challenge for any theatre company to take on because it takes tremendous talent, several actors, and seamless scenes. But I think TNW got it just right. The set was awesome. Growing up, my older brother Chris was a D.J. for our local radio station and I remember the reel to reels and vast collection of rock 45s

ent levels for a small radio station, a recording studio, Holly’s digs, Apollo Theatre and performing stage. Perfect. Toronto-based actor Fraser Elsdon as Buddy Holly is a case of clever casting. It may be “so easy to fall in love,” but it’s not so easy to play a legend. Elsdon has played Holly before to high acclaim. And lucky for him, in physical appearance alone, he makes a believable Buddy. But he has so much more to offer. He aced songs like Peggy Sue, Rave On, Oh Boy, That’ll Be The Day (over 20 songs in all.) Indeed, his entire performance, from delivery of Holly’s music, to the high energy and personal magnetism he brings to this TNW production is brilliant. Jory Rossiter of Toronto as The Big Bopper (and HiPockets Duncan) gave us the “runaway” favourite solo spot with the people in my row on Saturday night. They rocked to his music, singing with Teresa MALLAM/Free Press him the words they Buddy Holly (Fraser Elsdon) tunes his guitar in a rehearsal scene knew to Chantilly from Theatre North West’s production of Buddy – The Buddy Holly Lace and they broke Story. The hit musical runs until Dec. 15 at TNW in the Parkhill Centre. into gales of laughing Tickets are at Books and Company. over his Big Bopper character’s saucy, skirtand albums – including Buddy went into the set by scenic Holly songs. So I can apprecidesigner Hans Saefkow. It has a chasing antics. Rossiter is a powerhouse performer. ate the thought and work that dollhouse design with differ-

The applause-o-meter did go off the scale though, when another Toronto actor, Oscar Moreno as Ritchie Valens (he also plays KDAV engineer and DJ at Apollo), burst onto the stage to give an absolutely electrifying, heart stopping performance of La Bamba. As they say, Moreno has moves I’ve never seen before – and he worked it for this middle-aged mama and for most of the delighted women around me. Toronto actor Evangelia Kambites as Apollo singer has a terrific voice and stage presence. Christina Cuglietta is assistant musical director and she portrays Holly’s wife Maria Elena – and I’m pretty sure she plays keyboard (her own) so another multi talent. Other cast members put in some very dynamic acting and musical performances such as “The Crickets” band members Niki Sullivan (Tom Keenan), drummer Jerry JI Allison/Dion (Nigel McKinnis), and upright bass player Joe B. Mauldin (Curtis Abriel). Most of Buddy’s 12 talented actors have taken on with gusto several roles – Calgary actor Joe Slabe is Norman Petty, Murray Deutch, Decca producer, etc. and Prince George performer Zarrah Holvick portrays Peggy Sue, a Hayrider, a jingle singer, Shirley, and a Snowbird. Theatre North West’s Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story by Alan James is at TNW, Parkhill Centre until Dec. 15 (matinee only on Sundays). Tickets are available at Books and Company or order by phone at 250-614-0039.

“Griswold” Our Pet of the week is Griswold. Griswold is a 7 year old neutered male. He is looking for just the right home. He is very laid back, and loves a good chin scratch. He would rather be lying on a couch in a sunbeam rather than at the shelter.

If Griswold sounds like your type of cat, contact the BC SPCA at 250-562-5511 or visit us at: 4011 Lansdowne Road • northcariboo@spca.bc.ca

Going on Vacation without your pets? Remember to: call your vet, provide them with your pet-sitters information ensure all vaccines are up to date ensure you have supplied enough food (and medication if applicable) for the duration of your absence

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Prince George - COMMUNITY - Free Press

Friday, November 29, 2013

REAPS Rewards

Allan WISHART/Free Press REAPS volunteers Corinna Knapton, left, and Lisa Connor sort through some of the toys donated on Saturday for the group’s toy drive. This year 14 agencies, representing children ages 0 to 18, registered to receive donations.

Logger’s daughter writes Loggers’ Daughter novel

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The landscape and history of the northern interior plays a large part in a new novel, Loggers’ Daughters, the debut novel (Oolichan Books) of British Columbia writer Maureen Brownlee. In a press release from Oolichan Books, publishing assistant Carolyn Nikodym says Brownless is a logger’s daughter who writes about what she knows – and what she knows is British Columbia, particularly the forested slopes of the Rocky Mountain trench and the logging. “This is a novel about people at the periphery,” says Brownless, “about families who spent their working lives surviving the boom and bust cycles of the forest industry.” Set in 1983, the characters are buoyed and fractured by the tumult of the times: women’s libbers are marching, anarchists are plotting, timber supply is dwindling, and loggers are being forced further and further from their homes. Author Andreas Schroeder calls it an “epic novel” that will “surely become a Canadian classic.” Spanning the province from the streets of Vancouver and the halls of UNBC to a frozen haul road near Fort Nelson, Nikodym says Logger’s Daughters is a novel about change. Changing times, changing circumstances, changing people. “It is also the story of one specific, memorable logging family, four siblings born or an alcoholic father and a melodramatic mother. When Myra Brennan dies without leaving a will, her adult children are thrust into a divisive conflict. Negotiating a mutually acceptable solution is complicated by their history of avoiding joint decision-making. Unfortunately, there’s no easy way out this time.” Brownlee has lived and worked in several B.C. communities. A former journalist, her writing education has included workshops at Island Mountain School of Arts in Wells, Fernie Writers Conference and Sage Hill Writing experience in Saskatchewan. She studied Creative Writing through UNBC’s Open University and now lives on a farm near Valemount. Maureen Brownlee will be reading from her novel at Books and Company on Third Avenue on Wednesday, Dec. 4 starting at 7 p.m. For more information contact publisher Randal Macnair at 250-423-7461.

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Contest Rules: To enter you must be 19 years of age or older • Winner must pay licensing and insurance. • The Prince George Free Press reserves the right to put up to 10,000 kms on the vehicle for promotional purposes. • Prize must be accepted as awarded. • Finalist agree to be photographed and/or videoed for promotional purposes and to allow the Free Press to use their name or image as requested. Contest is not open to the employees of the Prince George Free Press or their immediate families, or any individuals registering at their place of employment. • Chances of being drawn as a weekly finalist are approximately one in 200, depending on the number of entries per business. (Businesses with more traffic will likely have more entries) • Chances of being drawn as a semi finalist from the weekly finalists are one in 20 • Chances of having a key that starts the vehicle are one in 24.

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Artist Mo Hamilton with some of her works at the annual Artisans’ Fair at Two Rivers Gallery on Saturday. The weekend event allowed visitors to sample Christmas season treats and see all kinds of talent from the local arts community.

The Canadian Diabetes Association invites Prince George residents to stop in and check out “Everything Diabetes.” At this event, residents can drop by the Kiwanis Centre and spin the association’s Diabetes GPS wheel to win a prize. Residents can also stop by one of the many tables to pick-up new tools and resources to help manage diabetes, find out if they are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, check out the Ness Lake Family Camp for families with kids with type 1 diabetes, learn more about Team Diabetes, and more. A Pharmasave pharmacist will also be on-site providing flu shots for those who still have not had one. The event goes this Saturday, November 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kiwanis Centre, 490 Quebec Street. This free event is for the general public, people with diabetes, people at risk for type 2 diabetes, and those who just want to learn more. In recognition of Diabetes Awareness Month, the Canadian Diabetes Association wants to know Who Are You Fighting For? Share your story or start a fundraiser at fightingdiabetes.ca between now and November 30, 2013, and you could win a grand prize of a 15” MacBook Pro or a $3,000 VISA shopping spree, courtesy of Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. Your words could make a difference for the more than nine million Canadians with diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Help a Family This Christmas

St. Vincent DePaul is seeking families or corporations to help bring Christmas to over 200 families in need by way of a food hamper and small gifts for the children.

To donate, please call our hotline at 250-640-0000 or email: svdpchristmaspg@gmail.com

Friday, November 29, 2013

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www.pgfreepress.com Friday A Show for Cause, Nov. 29, 7 p.m., Prince George Playhouse, proceeds to victims of super-typhoon Haiyan in Philippines. Whist, Dec. 6, 7 p.m., Hart Pioneer Centre. H&H Market, FridaySunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 3955 Hart Highway. Read-to-me Storytime, Fridays, 10-10:45 a.m., South Fort George Family Resource Centre, 1200 La Salle. Information: 250-614-0684.

Saturday Garage Sale for a Cause, Nov. 30, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Mary’s Curch gym, proceeds to victims of supertyphoon Haiyan in Philippines. Drug awareness and youth seminar, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 Nov. 30, 2 p.m., Sikh Temple, 443 S. Kelly St. Information: Manhas 250-964-4626. Sponsored by IndoCanadian Seniors Society. Open house, Nov. 30, 3-5 p.m., Islamic Centre, Fifth and Foothills. Christmas turkey dinner, Dec. 7, 5 p.m., Elder Citizens

“GIVE A LITTLE… GAIN A LOT!” Canadian Diabetes AssociationNov 30 “Everything Diabetes” - at Kiwanis Centre, 490 Quebec St from 10 am to 3 pm. Boyanne 250-561-9284 Blackburn Community Association ASAP Do you appreciate the Blackburn Community Centre? The board of directors has openings for President and other positions. Autumn 250-963-3292 Canadian Red Cross Looking for washers to clean Health Loans equipment. Daniel 250-564-6566 Junior Achievement BC Looking for volunteers from the business community to help deliver our free business and ﬁnancial literacy programs in schools for grades 5-12. Amy 250-617-7776 For information on volunteering with more than 100 non-proﬁt organizations in Prince George, contact Volunteer Prince George

250-564-0224 www.volunteerpg.com

Recreation Centre, 1692 10th Ave. Tickets at centre. Nechako Public Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 5100 North Nechako Rd. A Butler’s Market, Saturdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., 1156 Fourth Ave.

Sunday Pancake breakfast, Dec. 1, 9 a.m., Hart Pioneer Centre. Christmas turkey dinner, Dec. 8, 5 p.m., Elder Citizens Recreation Centre, 1692 10th Ave. Tickets at centre. Nechako Public Market, Sundays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 5100 North Nechako Rd. A Butler’s Market, Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., 1156 Fourth Ave.

Monday Canasta, Dec. 2, 7 p.m., Hart Pioneer Centre. Seniors Tea, Dec. 2, 4-7 p.m., Coast In of the North, hosted by Shirley Bond. Tai Chi, Mondays, 1:30 p.m., Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, 3701 Rainbow Dr.

Cariboo Toastmasters meet Mondays, 7:309:30 p.m., Ramada Hotel, - 444 George St. Information: caribootoastmasters. com or Laura (250) 9613477. Northern Twister Square Dance Club meets Mondays, 7 p.m., Knox United Church basement. Information: Gys 250- 563-4828 or Reta 250-962-2740.

Tuesday Bridge, Tuesdays, 1 p.m., Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, 3701 Rainbow Dr.

Center City Toastmasters meet Tuesday, noon, City Hall Annex. Information: 9164. toastmastersclubs.org. Prince George Quilters Guild meets fourth Tuesday of the month, Connaught Youth Centre, 1491 17th Ave. Registration 6:30 p.m., meeting 7 p.m. Infor-

mation: Echo 250-6120499. Buddhist meditation class, Tuesdays, 7:158:45 p.m., 320 Vancouver St. Information: 250-962-6876 or www. tilopa.org. Spruce Capital Toastmasters meet Tuesdays, 7:25 p.m., 102-1566 7th Ave. Information: Tom 250562-3402.

A U T O B O D Y LT D .

Community Builder

Sweet Adelines women’s four-part chorus meets Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m., Studio 2880. New members welcome. Information: Kathy 250563-5170.

Hospital retirees meet, first Tuesday of the month, 9 a.m., Prince George Golf Club. Information 250-5637497 or 250-563-2885.

Wednesday P.G. COPD Support Group meets Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m., AIMHI gymnasium, 950 Kerry St. Information: www. pgcopdsupportgroup.ca. Bingo, Wednesdays, 1-3 p.m., Spruce Capital Senior Recreation Centre, 3701 Rainbow Dr. Whist, Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Senior Activity Centre, 425 Brunswick St. Hart Toastmasters, Wednesdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m., Hart Pioneer Centre. Information: harttoastmasters.ca CNC Retirees meet fourth Wednesday, 9 a.m., D’Lanos. Information: Lois 250563-6928. Army Cadet Rangers free youth program, meets Wednesdays, 6:30-9:30 p.m., Connaught Youth Centre. Information: Sondra 250-963-9462 or Andrew 250-981-8270.

Thursday Metis Elders Craft group, Thursday, 10 a.m.-noon, Prince George Metis Elders Society office, 117 – 1600 Third Ave. (Prince George Native Friendship Centre). Little Artists, Thursdays, 10:3011:30 a.m., South Fort George Family Resource Centre, 1200 La Salle. Information: 250-614-

Van Bien Elementary principal Debbie Kaban, left, and community co-ordinator John Giannisis prepare to help Knights of Columbus members Kathy Labonte, Al Fougher, Lou LeFebvre, Suzanne LeFebvre, Dick Myen, Robert Litalien and Joe Haddock distribute winter coats to students in need at the school. This is the second year the Knights have donated coats to local schools, and they will be helping out students at four schools this year.

Proud to recognize those who give in our community.

A U T O B O D Y LT D . 2065 - 1st Ave. • 250-563-0883 www.csninc.ca 0684. Prince George Grassroots Cribbage Club registration, 6:30 p.m. play 6:45 p.m., Thursdays, 3701 Rainbow Dr. Information: Gerda 250564-8561.

Tai chi, Thursdays, 7-9 p.m., Knox United Church, 1448 Fifth Ave. Information: Lister 250964-3849 or listerchen@ shaw.ca. DayBreakers Toastmasters meets Thursday, 7-8 a.m., UHNBC Conference Room 1. Information: Heather 250-649-9591. BC Civil Liberties Union meets second Thursday of the month, 6 p.m., 1575 Fifth Ave. Plaza 400 Toastmaster Club meets Thursday, noon, Aleza room, fourth floor, Plaza 400 building, 1011 4th Ave. Information: 6252. toastmastersclubs.org/ or 250-564-5191. Prince George Toastmasters meet Thursdays, 7:15 p.m., AiMHi, 950 Kerry St. Information: pgtoastmasters.com,

Thank You Prince George For Voting Us Best Auto Body Shop!

Joyce 250-964-0961.

2551.

Old Time Fiddlers jam, Thursday, 7-10 p.m. Elder Citizens Rec Centre, 1692 10th Ave. ECRA Forever Young Chorus meet Thursdays, 12:45 p.m., ECRA, 1692 10th Ave.

Singles and friends, social group of people of all ages and diverse backgrounds, meets Wednesdays, 7 p.m., A&W on 20th Avenue.

Support Groups Thursday Tops (take off pounds sensibly) 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Knox United Church,1448 Fifth Ave. Information: 250-5646336 (days), 250-9644851 (evenings). Rainbows grief and loss program for ages 5-15, registering for the fall session. No charge. Information: Catherine 250-563-2551. Tea Time for the Soul. Would you like someone to listen to you? Come, listen, and share while enjoying a cup of tea. Mondays from 3 to 5 p.m. at Forest Expo House, 1506 Ferry Ave. No cost. For more information, Jesse or Catherine at 250-563-

Wednesday Tops (take off pounds sensibly) noon, AiMHi, 950 Kerry St. Information: Diane 250-964-6072. Learning Circle Literacy Program works with adult learners and families on literacy, numeracy and computing skills. Information: 250564-3568 ext. 228, or literacy@pgnfc.com. Do you worry about the way you eat? Overeaters Anonymous may have the answers. Monday, 7:30 p.m., hospital, Room 421. Call Tanya 250-613-2823. Power Play, for children from newborns to five years old, Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Tuesdays, 1:303:30 p.m., South Fort George Family Resource Centre, 1200 La Salle

Best Auto Body Shop

Ave. Information: 250614-9449.

NorthBreast Passage Dragon Boat Society meets first Thursday of the month, 7 p.m., Chronic Disease Management Room, UHNBC. Information: Anita 250-563-2949 or Betty 250-962-7985. Royal Purple meets meets second and fourth Mondays, 7:30 p.m. Information: Dianne 250-596-0125 or Jeanette 250-563-9362. Wednesday evening Tops (take off pounds sensibly), Spruceland Baptist Church, 1901 Ogilvie St. Information: Leona 250-962-8802. Prince George Genealogical Society meets the third Tuesday of the month, St. Giles Presbyterian Church, 1500 Edmonton St. Prince George Stroke Survivors Group meets Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Elder Citizens Recreation Association, 1692 10th Ave. Information: Julia 250-563-3819, Roland 250-562-1747.

The Community Datebook provides free community event listings every Friday. Submissions are accepted in written form only – dropped off, mailed or emailed – No Phone Calls please. Datebook runs as space allows, there is no guarantee of publication. Mail to 1773 South Lyon St., Prince George BC V2N 1T3. E-mail datebook@pgfreepress.com

Prince George - COMMUNITY - Free Press

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Friday, November 29, 2013

Operatic penguins play Festival them dressed in formal

Teresa Mallam attire, tux and bow tie, arts@pgfreepress.com all enjoying an opera Long before the movie Happy Feet, Patricia Murray and her family had a passion for penguins. So when Murray, a professional baker and business owner for In Good Taste Catering and Cakes, rolled up her sleeves to begin work on their gingerbread creation for the 20th annual Festival of Trees, the theme was already decided. A Night at the Opera has inch-high fondant penguins sitting in a theatre house, some of

performance. Details are important. The main pieces are made of gingerbread, there is a red (fondant) carpet, blue “velvet” drapes, an opera singer on stage with red roses and even a penguin with opera glasses on the balcony. One couple is snuggled up with an egg between them on the seat. This is their third year making penguin scenes for the Spirit of the North fundraiser and it is always a labour of love for the participants: Murray, her daughter

Maegan Champagne and Murray’s granddaughter Kyal Champagne, age seven, and her daughter-in- law, Jennifer Findlay. “My family is very talented,” says Murray, proudly. “Kyal did the drawings of the opera house which took her about one half hour, and Maegan and Jennifer made all the little figurines. I’m the family baker.” The penguin figurines are made with fondant, the gingerbread “walls” are made from organic ingredients. It took two batches of gingerbread (it has to be cut when it’s warm) and lots of

Teresa MALLAM/Free Press Close-up view of the penguin with opera glasses figurine found in A Night at the Opera gingerbread display at the Festival of Trees. Each figurine is made of fondant.

imaginative creativity to create the heart-warming scene. Penguins have become a family tradition, she says. “For whatever reason, all my children love penguins. I don’t know why, they just love them. I’m not sure how it got started – the only thing I can think of is years ago we were in a very bad car accident, and my second son, Paul, who was five (he’s 43 now) had a lot of injuries and he was in hospital. We found a toy penguin – which was hard to find at that time – and we clipped it to his buzzer so when he needed a nurse, it would be right there for him.” Working on a fun family project helps the family stay connected. “Our lives are very busy. My daughter’s a hairdresser. My granddaughter is busy with school. I take time off my own business (organic catering and natural health) for a few days while we do this. “I find it’s just an awesome way for us to spend time together and the rest of our family gets so excited about it too. They hadn’t gone to Festival of Trees before, so it really brings our whole family together.”

of the Month

Carrier of the Month receives $25 Gift Certiﬁcate

on display as a silent auction item in the Prince George Civic Centre lobby during the 20th anniversary of the Festival of Trees. The event runs until Dec. 1 and is a fundraiser for Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation with special events like the Jingle Bell Dance, gift shoppe, designer trees, wreaths and a children’s craft area.

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had a lot of fun with that one too,” said Murray. “We did Whimsical Winter the year before with a sliding hill and ice fishing hole, the lines were made with pulled sugar and there was an igloo with a polar bear. Of course it was all penguins too because we do penguins every year.” A Night at the Opera is one of several gingerbread creations

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Murray expects the family will soon be thinking about next year’s whimsical creation for the 21st annual Festival of Trees and what the new theme for their silent auction item will be. One thing for sure, it will feature penguins. “Last year we did a hockey team with all penguins – with polar bears for goalies. We

YOU ROCK!

Carrier

Carrier of the Month receives $25 Gift Certiﬁcate

Teresa MALLAM/Free Press A Night at the Opera gingerbread display made by Patricia Murray, In Good Taste Catering and Cakes and her family. It is one of several creative gingerbread creations at this year’s Festival of Trees.

Carrier of the Month Receives Free 12” Two-Topper Pizza and 12 Piece Wing Meal. Value $25

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Friday, November 29, 2013

Prince George - COMMUNITY - Free Press

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Integris gets Phoenix cooking Allan Wishart allanw@pgfreepress.com The large table at the Phoenix Transition House bore testimony to the capabilities of the cooks and the new kitchen at the facility. “Everything matches for once,” Sharon Hurd, a member of the board of the Phoenix Transition Society, exclaimed. “It looks great, and it was so badly needed.” Hurd joined other board members, staff and staff from Integris Credit Union at the house on Friday afternoon for the opening of the new kitchen.

“Integris has been pivotal in us being able to expand our services,” Hurd said. “I think we’ve been with them since they opened in Prince George.” The roots of the new kitchen were planted during digging for another project. “A couple of years ago,” Hurd said, “their staff put up a privacy fence for us. While they were here, (executive director) Karen Underhill asked them to come in and see the kitchen.” Integris engagement and communications manager Dan Wingham said his first reaction to seeing the kitchen then was, “astonishment.” “It was unbelievable how they could serve the number of women and children they did with that

7th Annual

Northern Lights Festival

Allan WISHART/Free Press Members of the Phoenix Transition Society board join staff from Phoenix Transition House and Integris Credit Union in the new kitchen at the house.

kitchen. It became our top priority.” The Integris advisory council pitched in $10,000 and Wingham convinced the board to donate another $15,000, but it became clear that wouldn’t do the trick. “Then I found out about a group in Saskatchewan, Concentra Financial, who provide $10,000 grants to credit unions for community projects. “I sent in an application, and we got a grant.”

Hurd said the house, which serves as a home for women and children in abusive relationships, has a different feel with the new kitchen. “They gave us money for a new fridge, dishwasher, flooring and other things. The women who are here and the staff each have their own area of the kitchen now, so if a woman has a particular food she wants to use, she can store in their fridge with her name on it.”

What’s Happening in P.G. Islamic Center Open House The Prince George Islamic Center, 4668 Fifth Ave., is hosting an open house for all the community on Saturday, Nov. 30 from 3 to 5 p.m., which includes a brief presentation about Islam (3 p.m.) followed by a tour of the building, Q and A session and light refreshments. PGIC Dress Code: all adult visitors and children above 12 are requested to observe modest, conservative clothing, arms, legs covered (long skirts or trousers). In prayer area, female visitors are asked to cover their heads as a show of respect to sacred place of worship and other worshippers.

Nov 27th–Jan 1st Tour the lights atop Connaught Hill 5–10PM $10 cash/car load at the gate more details at

www.tourismpg.com

Holiday Festival on Ice World ice skating champions are coming to Prince George’s CN Centre on Sunday, Dec. 8. Holiday Festival on Ice show starts at 7:30 p.m. featuring Kurt Browning, Elvis Stojko, Jeffrey Buttle, Joannie Rochette, Shawn Saw-

yer and Sinead and John Kerr. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets or charge by phone at 1-855-985-5000. Chili Blanket The Northern Women’s Forum hosts the 11th annual winter Chili Blanket Event on Dec. 14. They will be distributing hot chili, buns, hot chocolate and warm clothing with a goal to raise public awareness about poverty and homelessness in our community. The event runs from noon to 2 p.m. on the steps of the Prince George courthouse. Participants can access food and clothing, all are welcome. Come out and support those most disadvantaged in our community. There will be donation boxes to collect winter clothing and blankets at the CNC library, the UNBC School of Social Work and the Northern Women’s Centre located at UNBC. For more information contact Jan at 250-564-7880.

Movie Listings FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29

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Complete listing details at

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Prince George Free Press

Friday, November 29, 2013

Wellness

and Health &

d n o y e B

A guide to healthier living!

Province looking for seniors’ advocate The province is launching an open competition to recruit

B.C.’s first seniors’ advocate, Health Minister Terry Lake

announced this week. “We want to find the best

Ready to roll

person for the job, someone who will give seniors a strong voice in British Columbia,” said Lake, in a press release. “The Public Service Agency will lead a national executive search to find the right person to develop this important role.” As with most executive competitions, candidates will be screened and interviewed for suitability, with the successful candidate being appointed through Orderin-Council. The competition will close on Dec. 13, 2013. “This role is important to British Columbians, especially our nearly 700,000 seniors and the people who care for them,” said Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health for Seniors, Linda Larson. “We need to get it right,

and that is why we have initiated a Canada-wide search to find the very best person to advocate for B.C. seniors.” The seniors’ advocate will work collaboratively with seniors, families, policy makers, service providers and others to identify solutions to systemic issues and make recommendations to government to improve the welfare of seniors. Establishing a seniors’ advocate was a commitment made in government’s Seniors Action Plan released on Feb. 14, 2012. Following public consultations across the province, government introduced Bill 10, the Seniors Advocate Act, to allow the creation of the Office of a Seniors’ Advocate, which passed on March 14, 2013.

Teresa MALLAM/Free Press Canfor Coffee Group toy painters Joann Eikum, Aileen Snow, Carol Kozak, Dorthy Russel, Ann McLeod, Hazel Arthur, Linda Horwath and Diana Wiseman (missing is DIck Abbott and Velma Senner) at the Hart Pioneer Centre on Monday. The painters and toy makers from the Canfor retirees group make every Christmas brighter for children in Prince George and around the region.

I know I shouldn’t worry about generosity Lola-Dawn Fennell Prince George Council of Seniors ‘Tis the season of peace, good will, and giftgiving. ‘Tis also the season that I suffer serious personal doubts. Let me explain. The first winter that I worked for the P.G. Council of Seniors, then-President Bev Christensen told me I would be responsible for supplying 100 or so local low-income and lonely seniors with Christmas hampers. Oh, and there was zero budget for that project as well as zero volunteers to help with it. Yikes! Mission Impossible, but somehow, the donations rolled in and the volunteers appeared, and we put together and delivered the required number of hampers. So you would think I learned, right? You would think that I faced each Christmas hamper season with complete optimism, right? Wrong! I know P.G.ers are generous, and I know generous P.G.ers make many of our programs and projects possible year after year, But . . . there is that wobbly week or two that I suffer serious doubts about enough generosity. Every year at this time I struggle to believe enough non-perishable food and grocery store gift cards will come in to cope with that great big stack of hamper requests. I picture empty grocery bags. I imagine disappointed seniors, and I start reciting the doubtful litany of what if. Now that I’ve admitted my doubts to you, you’re going to drop by our Seniors Resource Centre at 721 Victoria St. real soon with your Christmas hamper donations – aren’t you? Hamper deliver day is Monday, Dec. 23, and that date is barreling at us faster than a speeding locomotive! I would really appreciate having these doubts erased long before then.

TREAT YOUR FEET

This Holiday Season

In other Seniors Resource Centre news, don’t forget our first ever Christmas Craft and Bake Sale on Saturday, Dec. 7. Great opportunity to get your last-minute shopping done. You can drop off your hamper donations and ask about our 50/50 raffle tickets at the same time. The raffle draw will be held Christmas Eve and promises to make someone very happy. Do you like discussing the books you read with others? We have room for a few more readers in our “Shelf Life: Seniors Talk Books” group. If you’re looking for a great book to read over the coming holidays, or for something new in 2014, give our office a call 250-564-5888. Have you tried Skype? The Seniors Resource Centre is hoping to offer Skype classes for Seniors early in 2014. If this sounds like something you would like to try, give us a call. Since this is my last column before Christmas, here’s wishing you and yours all the peace and joy of the Season. I’ll be over these wobbly doubts next column. I hope. Oh, I really do hope! Lola-Dawn Fennell is a young-at-heart grandmother, UNBC graduate, and general manager of the Prince George Council of Seniors.

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Prince George - COMMUNITY - Free Press

Friday, November 29, 2013

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Hart

Community News

Wooden it be nice to help with toys? Skip Cleave Special to Free Press This year, as we have been since 1994, we have been diligently working to manufacture wooden toys to

donate to local and regional charities. The group meets every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hart Pioneer Centre. This year’s production should top 500 wooden toys consisting of race cars, monster trucks, police cars,

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Teresa MALLAM/Free Press Toy maker Joe Plenk of the Canfor Coffee group with some of the hundreds of painted toys ready for Christmas distribution to children in need in Prince George and around the region.

6707 Dagg Rd. Prince George, BC T: 250-962-9666 | F: 250-962-8450 | www.homehardware.ca Hours of Operation Mon-Fri 9-9 | Sat 9-6 | Sun + Holidays 10-6

baby cribs, pull toys and more. There are dump trucks provided by Bill’s Cedar and Garden Products, and table and chair sets and rocking horses made by our own Joe Plenk. We will be delivering toys this year to 100 Mile House, Quesnel, Fort St. James, Houston, Vanderhoof and to various locations

throughout Prince George. To make this project the success that it is, we thank Canfor Pulp for supplying us with the materials required to make these toys, the Hart Pioneer Centre for the use of their premises to design and assemble them, and also thank the seniors who donate their time for painting and final

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touches. Special thanks also goes out to General Paint for their donation of paint and to Tip Top Electric for their electrical assistance when it was needed. More volunteers will be needed next year so production can be increased to meet the demand that will be there.

Prince George - COMMUNITY - Free Press

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Hart Community News

That’s My Cue

Friday, November 29, 2013

s ’ l A g i B

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2/ Teresa MALLAM/Free Press It’s Art Carter’s turn to take a shot during a friendly pool game with his friends at the Hart Pioneer Centre on Monday.

Sunday breakfast This Sunday is December 1. It is also the first Sunday of the month and it’s time again for our Sunday breakfast buffet at the Hart Pioneer Centre. If you have never attended the breakfast buffet you’re missing out on a treat. The buffet includes pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausages, hash browns, toast, coffee, tea, juice, all you need for a great breakfast.

The best thing is you don’t have to be a member to attend, it is open to the public and you can feed a family of four for less than $30. The Hart Pioneer Centre hall is located at 6986 Hart Highway Service Road, just north of the lights at Austin Road, and a short 10-minute drive from the corner of Fifth Avenue and Highway 97.

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Prince George - COMMUNITY - Free Press

Friday, November 29, 2013

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Christmas Traditions...

Make meeting the wonderful business people of our city one of your new Christmas traditions. Supporting your neighbours will put joy in your heart, a smile on everyone’s face and some special new gifts under your tree.

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Christmas is the perfect time of year for spoiling ourselves and getting dressed up to the nines. So how about giving the same royal treatment to an often neglected element of the dining room — after all, what could be more welcoming than a beautifully dressed table? First of all, a tablecloth is always preferable to placemats if you’re hosting a formal event. A cloth has the advantage of covering the entire surface of the table, protecting it from any spills, which are inevitable during dinner parties. Using a padded tablecloth underlay ensures extra protection and keeps the tablecloth in place. A tablecloth should never reach the floor, as people might trip over it or set a chair leg on it. It should fall at least 20 cm down each side of the table. It is also important to choose a cloth of the same shape as the table (round, oval, square, or rectangular). Forget about floral patterns if you want to create an elegant look. Choose a plain colour or an understated pattern instead. White and cream are the classic choices, but if your dishes are in the same tones, show them off to advantage with a golden brown or silvery grey toned tablecloth. One thing goes without saying: the tablecloth should be of good quality, made of fine cotton or linen. As for table napkins, they should be both esthetic and practical. Ensure they are soft to the touch and big enough to stay put on your guests’ laps.

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drivewayBC.ca |

Friday, November 29, 2013

Welcome to the driver’s seat

Driveway goes Hollywood!

Zack Spencer reveals what turned his head week with a visit to the glitzy 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show, Alexandra Straub looks at what’s cool, Bob McHugh goes green and Keith Morgan sneaks a peek at a racy compact concept. Check out the full script at drivewayBC.ca

LA-LA Land auto extravaganza LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Auto Show is full of eye-popping sights and some even include cars! It’s not difficult to have your head turned but it is a challenge to pick one’s top picks but I’m for the challenge. Nissan GT-R Nismo Nissan stole the show with not only one of the fastest cars in the world but the fastest man in the world. Olympic gold medalist and world record holder Usain Bolt was on hand as Nissan’s Director of Excitement. Usain was clearly taken with the new GT-R Nismo, there were also promises to get him one to replace his gold coloured GT-R. Power has been pumped up to 600hp taking this new Nismo version to 100 km/h in just two seconds. Look for the new GT-R in the spring of 2014. I suspect Usain will get his a bit earlier. Chevrolet Colorado The mid-size pickup truck market has been all but abandoned by the domestic automakers over the last few years leaving this category entirely to Toyota and Nissan with the Tacoma and Frontier trucks. Wait until next year and the choice will include the all-new Colorado from Chevrolet. Building off the success of the all-new full-size Silverado, the engineers have taken the same approach to this new truck. On the economy front, eventually there will be three engines to choose from. Out of gate, there is the base 2.5L 4-cylinder engine or a 3.6L V6. Subaru WRX Fans of the Subaru WRX will be very excited about the arrival of an all-new car but maybe a bit disappointed that this production model

doesn’t look very much little the sleek and sexy concept that was unveiled earlier this year. It should prove to be a capable car thanks to an all-new direct injection 2.0L 4-cylinder putting out 268hp and matched to the first 6-speed in the WRX. Subaru Legacy Concept A head Zack Spencer turning design that my sources tell me looks a lot like the production car. The metallic, almost chrome looking paint, certainly helps to make the car pop but the bold front grille and macho stance could very well be included in the final version. Lincoln MKC Lincoln has a long and distinguished history as an American premium brand but over the last few decades, it has been an extension of existing Ford products using different badging and trim. There is now a long-term plan to resurrect the Lincoln brand with all-new vehicle that use some Ford components but are developed separately from the main Ford line of products. The compact crossover MKC shares a platform with the Ford Escape but has been designed and engineered to be a very different car. The design, other than the trademark Lincoln grille is very European and the back wrap-around hatch is maybe Audi-inspired. Standard in Canada will be all-wheel-drive and adaptive suspension, matched to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

For as long as Alexandra Straub recalls, I’ve been writing about cars for over 25 years and I’m a long-term member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). My auto background is mainly in the service side of the industry as I’ve always had a keen interest in knowing how things work. Especially those oily, greasy parts that make the wheels go around. My Àrst car was an early sixties Triumph Herald Coupe (web example photo) that was traded-in to a dealership where I worked as an apprentice auto drivewayBC.ca

BMW 4 Series Cabriolet BMW has changed its naming: the 3 Series is now the sedan only while the coupe and convertible version are now called 4 Series. The all-new cabriolet is wider and features a new three-piece retractable hardtop and for the first time X-Drive AWD is now available on the convertible models. Interior refinements include a new neck warmer to that blows a steady stream of warm air on the front passengers neck and shoulders, helping to elongate the convertible season. Porsche Macan This small SUV is based on the same platform as the Audi Q5. This lower, sleeker and much more aggressive Macan will attract a lot of attention based purely on looks. Porsche made it very clear that this is not juts a Porsche in name but also in performance. Look for the Macan coming next year. Jaguar F-Type Jaguar made a big splash with the Jaguar F-Type convertible this year and next year we look forward to the coupe version, a dynamite looking coupe with a stunning silhouette and improved dynamics thanks to a stiffer body. The body of the car is built with extensive use of aluminum to produce the stiffest Jaguar ever made. This is one heart-pounding coupe I cannot wait to try.

mechanic, back in Dublin, Ireland. It spent more time off the road, being repaired, than on the road, during my time as its owner. A Herald had the same chassis and a similar powertrain as the much nicer looking Triumph SpitÀ re, which was sold in North America. At the BC Automobile Association I initially worked as a mobile Vehicle Inspector in the Vehicle Inspection Service. The vehicle was an AMC Gremlin and it was painted to look like a cut-away or skeleton view of the car’s mechanical bits. A small car with a big

Question OF THE WEEK:

Do you worry about the reliability of a car bought privately? ? Go to drivewayBC.ca QUESTION OF THE WEEK!

to submit your answer.

Safety Tip: As road conditions become more challenging by the week, it becomes even more important to be attentive behind the wheel. If you need to make a call or send a text or email, pull over to the roadside, or use those highway rest stops to take a break. It can also help you avoid feeling fatigued.

Find more online at

drivewayBC.ca

zack.spencer@ddrivewayBC.ca

gas-guzzling engine, a Gremlin was an odd choice of vehicle for that job and the paint job just added to its weirdness, yet Currently I enjoy serving on the AJAC Technology Awards panel and have also been involved in the promotion of trade skills training for young people in BC. When time permits, I still like to get my hands dirty and give my son a helping hand with, his pride and joy, a 1966 Ford Thunderbird coupe. bob.mchugh@drivewaybc.ca

Bob McHugh

Friday, November 29, 2013

Prince George Free Press

www.pgfreepress.com

driveway

Coolest Cars: Ever Some cars just ooze cool, especially those with a high price tag, sexy good looks and the “right” people driving them. Here are four of the coolest classics of all time along with the film and music legends who drove them and pushed their cool factor over the top: 1. 1964 Aston Martin DB5: James Bond’s longstanding association with this iconic British GT began in 1964, in “Gold Finger: “007: You’ll be using this Aston Martin DB5, with modifications.” Whether you love the gadgets like the machine guns and ejector seat or you’re just a fan of its classic Italian styling by Touring Superleggera and chrome wire wheels, the DB5 has more cool in the air of its tires than the entire first season of “Mad Men.”

1964 Aston Martin DB5

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1955 Porsche 550 Spyder: James Dean was a budding race car driver of some talent. He ordered what was then Porsche’s fastest dual-purpose (race/ street) car available, and after wrapping “Giant,” had famed customizer Dean Jeffries paint in script on the car “Little Bastard.” Whether that was a reference to the car itself, or a reference made to Dean by studio head Jack Warner isn’t clear. What is clear is that Dean tragically perished in the car on his way to a race in Salinas, Calif., at the age of 24, remaining forever young and sparing fans from a Brando-esque decline. Dean and the 550 were the originators of the

Rob Sass

cool ethos “live fast, die young and leave a goodlooking corpse.” 3. 1968 Ford Mustang GT 390: Combine a Highland Green 1968 Mustang GT 390 Fastback, Steve “The King of Cool” McQueen and “Bullitt,” which contains perhaps the greatest chase scene ever committed to celluloid -- it just doesn’t get any cooler than this. 4. 1957 Continental Mark II: The Continental MK II of 1956-57 wasn’t branded a Lincoln. Continental was a division unto itself for those years, and to this day it remains America’s best attempt at building a car of Rolls-Royce or Bentley calibre. At 10 grand, it was double the cost of the average Cadillac and so much hand labor went into the car that Ford estimates they lost $1,000 on each one. The Mark II’s spot in the iconography of cool comes from its association with the Rat Pack during its Vegas/Palm Springs glory years. Rob Sass is the vicepresident of content for Hagerty Insurance. Hagerty is the world’s leading specialist provider of classic car and boat insurance. Learn more at hagerty.ca

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If you have $1.1 million burning a hole in your jeans pocket then this could be the car for you. The Youabian Puma has been all the talk this past week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The bulbous shaped, fourseat convertible is a massive 6.15 metres long, 2.24 metres wide and stands 1.8 metres tall, sitting atop a 4.15-metre wheelbase. It’s larger than a big Bentley Mulsanne. It rides

on 20-inch chrome wheels huge 44-inch (111 cms) tires. The Los Angeles-based manufacturer says the car was “conceptualized for those individuals who dare to be different than the ordinary.” Power comes from a 7.0-litre V8, generating 505 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Keith Morgan

Friday, November 29, 2013

Prince George Free Press

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driveway

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All of these sensor-based technologies make driving safer today and they could also be considered as building blocks for a more comprehensive automated driving system.

’’

Bob McHugh

uses ultrasonic sensors. Using similar sensor and automated vehicle control technology, Ford engineers are also working on an advanced obstacle avoidance system. The concept vehicle detects slow-moving or stationary obstacles in the same lane ahead and warn the driver. If the driver fails to steer or brake, the system automatically brake and steer the Edge around the object. “Democratized technology” is an expression used frequently by Ford engineers. It’s about making leading-edge technologies, which traditionally took a long time to trickle-down from expensive luxury vehicles, available on popular, affordable vehicles much sooner, or even ahead of luxury class competition.

Ford’s current Active Park Assist system is already available on 12 models. This system automatically guides the vehicle into a parallel parking spot, while the driver controls the gas and brake pedals. A Lane-Keeping system is available on 11 Ford models today. This uses a forwardfacing camera to scan the road surface for lane markings. The system evaluates if the vehicle is drifting out of its lane and alerts the driver by vibrating the steering wheel. If the driver does not respond, the system provides steering torque to nudge the vehicle back toward the centre of the lane. Adaptive cruise control and collision warning with brake support is available on 10 Ford models. The system uses radar to detect moving vehicles immediately ahead and modifies cruising speed if necessary. Blind Spot Information System Available on 13 Ford models. Radar sensors in the rear corners monitor the spaces next to and just behind the vehicle. On the road, these sensors trigger a warning light in the mirror when there is another vehicle in the driver’s blind spot. All of these sensor-based technologies make driving safer today and they could also be considered as building blocks for a more comprehensive automated driving system. bob.mchugh@drivewaybc.ca

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Prince George - COMMUNITY - Free Press

Friday, November 29, 2013

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CAREERS & OPPORTUNITIES

FIND the staff you need... Now! Call 250-564-0005 Deadlines for Friday issue: 1:00 p.m. Tuesday

250.564.0005 | www.pgfreepress.com

Job fair goes online Second local session proves to be successful The 16 employers who took part in the second Prince George Online Job Fair hosted by Initiatives Prince George (IPG) on November 19 had no shortage of potential candidates to fill their job openings. The web portal created for the Online Job Fair was viewed by 1,900 people and each company’s virtual booth received an average of 322 visitors. A total of 766 applications were submitted by job seekers, working out to an average of 47 per employer. “We are very excited about the initial results of the second Prince George Online Job Fair,” said Melissa Barcellos, Economic Development Officer for Initiatives Prince George. “We don’t yet have information available about hires made as the hiring process takes some time, but we are looking forward to connecting with participating employers in the coming days to discuss their results.” The second Online Job Fair attracted 38 per cent more participants and resulted in 71 per cent more applications being submitted than during the first Online Job Fair, which was held on June 4. This increase could be the result of changing the web portal to make it more user-

friendly and giving participants the option to view participating employers and job openings before the job fair started. The two Online Job Fairs held during 2013 were designed to connect local employers with potential employees living in Metro Vancouver without the travel costs associated with taking part in traditional job fairs. While promotion of the job fair was targeted at new Canadians living in Metro Vancouver who are underemployed or unemployed, local residents were also welcome to participate. The idea to hold Online Job Fairs to assist Prince George employers in filling their immediate need for skilled employees stemmed from a workshop with employers during a day-long Prince George and Region Forum on Immigrant Employment in December 2012 that was cohosted by the Immigrant Employment Council of BC (IEC-BC), IPG and the Prince George Chamber of Commerce. According to IEC-BC, the majority of the 40,000 immigrants who settle in British Columbia each year remain in Metro Vancouver, representing an untapped resource for employers in Prince George.

COASTAL SHELLFISH CORPORATION Controller Coastal ShellĮsh CorporaƟon is a fast-paced, young business operaƟng on the North Coast with a central oĸce in Prince Rupert. The business is a partnership with the Coastal First NaƟons, the Metlakatla NaƟon and a Chinese shellĮsh aquaculture company. Coastal ShellĮsh is undertaking a major expansion to become BC’s largest, fully integrated shellĮsh company with a hatchery already established in Prince Rupert and shellĮsh farms under development in the Prince Rupert region. The company is looking for an experienced Controller to be responsible for all accounƟng funcƟons, reporƟng to the CEO. Candidates for this posiƟon should be extremely well organized, have excellent computer skills and prior experience as a senior level controller.

IPG received a $60,200 grant through the Employer Innovation Fund that is overseen by IEC-BC to help cover the costs of the Online Job Fair. This funding is made possible through the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.

We are looking for a

Welder/Fabricator An experienced Fabricator for our Àngerjoint and reman operations is required immediately. Production experience in planer mills, Àngerjointing or remanufacturing operations together with milling machine experience will be a deÀnite asset. Part-time and Contract positions also available.

JOIN THE AXIS TEAM IN PRINCE GEORGE! If you are passionate about working with youth at risk or youth with developmental disabilities and want to make a difference in their lives, consider joining our team in the following openings: • Full Time Residence Workers(3 – 24 hour shifts per week) • Casual Residence Workers (24 hour shifts; as needed) • Therapeutic Caregivers (caregiving in your own home) • Respite Caregivers (caregiving in your own home or primary caregivers home)

The successful person(s) must be familiar and comfortable with behavioural strategies,be a positive role model and mentor who supports youth in being as independent as possible. For further information refer to our website www.axis.bc.ca under job opportunities, North Central Branch. Fax resume to Brenda Wagner (250) 851-2977 or email: brenda.wagner@axis.bc.ca.

ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVE DESCRIPTION We are seeking a team player with a professional attitude to work and learn in a fast paced, business environment.

QUALIFICATIONS The ideal candidate must be motivated and take the initiative to sell multiple media products, including on-line advertising and special products, work with existing customers and develop new customers. Strong interpersonal skills and a strong knowledge of sales and marketing are required. Above average communication skills, valid driver’s licence and a reliable vehicle are necessary.

Please email or fax a resume and cover leƩer before December 16th to:

Ron Drillen, General Manager Prince George Free Press 1773 South Lyon Street Prince George, B.C., V2N 1T3, Canada Tel: (250) 564-0005 #115

Brink Forest Products Ltd. 2023 River Road Prince George, BC V2L 5S8 Att’n: Shawn Grattan Ph: (250) 564-0412 Fax: (250) 564-0796 E-mail: shawngrattan@brink.bc.ca Visit our website at www.brink.bc.ca

PRINCE GEORGE NATIVE FRIENDSHIP CENTRE Our People make a difference in the community The Prince George Native Friendship Centre, a visionary non-proﬁt society, has been serving the needs of the entire community for the past 43 years. We are seeking candidates for the following position(s) within our organization

HEALTH DEPARTMENT: Support Worker – Full Time Support Worker – Full Time/Term Closing date: December 2, 2013 SMOKEHOUSE KITCHEN PROGRAM: Catering Assistant – Casual Closing date: December 4, 2013 NATIVE HEALING CENTRE: Adult Counsellor – Full time Closing date: December 13, 2013 A hard copy listing the roles, responsibilities and qualiﬁcations of the position are available from the Prince George Native Friendship Centre’s web site at www.pgnfc.com (click on Join Our Team / Careers).

If a rewarding challenge resonates with you, contact us today. Submit your cover letter and resume by e-mail to: publisher@pgfreepress.com

No travel and work right down town, the company also offers an excellent beneÀt and competitive compensation package. We thank all applicants and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply to:

ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT: Janitor – Full Time Closing date: December 3, 2013

PRINCE GEORGE FREE PRESS

Only those candidates with relevant qualiĮcaƟons and experience will be contacted for an interview.

Coastal ShellĮsh CorporaƟon 206 – 100 McBride Street Prince Rupert, BC V8J 3E8 Fax (250) 622-0747 sam.bowman@coastalshellĮsh.com

Brink Forest Products is an integrated lumber remanufacturing plant located in Prince George, BC producing a range of structural, industrial and value-added wood products destined for local and international markets.

To apply, submit a resume, cover letter and three (3) references detailing which position you are applying for, to: Prince George Native Friendship Centre 1600 Third Avenue Prince George, BC V2L 3G6 Fax: (250) 563-0924 E-mail: employment@pgnfc.com AberdeenPublishing.com 778-754-5722

Applications will be accepted until dates noted on postings, no telephone inquiries please. We thank all applicants, however, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

Prince George - COMMUNITY - Free Press

www.pgfreepress.com

Friday, November 29, 2013

250.564.0005

INDEX IN BRIEF

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FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS CHILDREN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE GUIDE - PERSONAL BUSINESS SERVICES PETS / LIVESTOCK ITEMS FOR SALE / WANTED REAL ESTATE RENTALS TRANSPORTATION MARINE LEGALS

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ADVERTISE in the LARGEST OUTDOOR PUBLICATION IN BC The 2014-2016 BC Hunting Regulations Synopsis The most effective way to reach an incredible number of BC Sportsmen & women. Two year edition- terriﬁc presence for your business.

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ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Do you think you may have a problem with Alcohol? Alcohol Anonymous, Box 1257, Prince George, BC V2L 4V5 Call 250-564-7550

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Personals

NECHAKO RESERVOIR UPDATE

A+ Massage gives you complete stress release with a total body comfort massage. (250)617-5283

Business Opportunities

Career Opportunities

27 November 2013 Reservoir Elevation: 851.26 m (2792.85 ft.) SLS Discharge: 34.03 m3/s Visit website www.waterofﬁce.ec.gc.ca for up to date real-time ﬂow information for the Nechako River. Contact Rio Tinto Alcan at 250-5675105 for more information. A recording of this notice is available 24-hours in Vanderhoof at 250567-5812

Travel

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Obituaries

Patrick Norman Wilson – Sept. 30/38 to Nov.25/13 Passed away peacefully after a long battle with cancer, with his children by his side. Loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. No funeral service will be held.

Build Your Career With Us

ur QUALITY CONTROL SUPERVISOR Lavington Division, Lavington , BC With Us Tolko /ndustries >td. is a forest products company with markeƟng, resource management and manufacturing operaƟons throughout Western Canada. career with Tolko means working in an environment that encourages personal and professional development. We oīer a workplace where everyone plays an essenƟal role in the success of our Company and where individual eīorts are acknowledged. For more informaƟon visit www.tolko.com. POSITION OVERVIEW: The Quality Control Supervisor provides leadership, direcƟon and supervision for all aspects of the lumber manufacturing process while insƟlling Tolko͛s operaƟng values in the areas of safety, Ƌuality, cost control and producƟon. ZesponsibiliƟes include organiǌing all operaƟng aspects of drying and Įnishing lumber products according to customer Ƌuality speciĮcaƟons, establishing and maintaining a program of product Ƌuality standards, the maintenance and development of Ƌuality control tesƟng procedures and the development and maintenance of machine center opƟmiǌaƟon. QUALIFICATIONS: ͻ ducated in Work^afeBC and K,^ and rules and regulaƟons. ͻ Three to Įve years related supervisory experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment ͻ Wost-secondary educaƟon in forestry, business, engineering or related Įeld ͻ ^trong knowledge of system tesƟng best pracƟces and methodologies ͻ ^uperior computer applicaƟon skills

Font in Ɵtle: Calibri Bold 10 pt values, a challenging environment, and conƟnuous Kur tradiƟon of excellence is built on strong company development. To explore current career opportuniƟes and become a part of our community, apply at Font in Text: Calibri 10 pt www.tolko.com today. ApplicaƟons will ďe accepteĚ unƟl Decemďer ϭ, ϮϬϭϯ. We thank all candidates for their interest; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

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Career Opportunities

NOW HIRING

Full Time Sales People Apply in person with resume to: Visions Electronics #142-6333 Southridge Ave., Prince George, B.C

EQUIPMENT PARTS PERSON

Are you interested in excelling in a fast paced, challenging environment? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you. A well established Prince George truck & equipment dealer is currently seeking EQUIPMENT PARTS PERSON to join our team. • This position pays $30.92 per hour for a Journeyman; all other Overtime is paid at double time. • Full dental and medical packages as well as an RRSP plan in place. • Long term commitment, including a training and career development program. If you are a team player with a good work ethic, please forward resume to:

Jeff Morrison, Parts Manager 1995 Quinn Street Prince George, BC V2N 2X2 Fax: 250-562-6288 or by email: jmorrison@inland-group.com

FULL TIME SERVICE WRITER

A well established Prince George Truck Dealer is now accepting applications for one position: FULL TIME SERVICE WRITER The successful candidate delivers exemplary customer service by writing effective service logs, tracking repairs, identifying parts required and allocating time for repairs. The successful candidate must be willing to work steady afternoons from 2pm-10pm. Must also be a team player with a strong work ethic and possess excellent communication skills. This position offers an excellent remuneration and extensive benefits package. Please forward resume to:

Chris Cisecki, Service Manager 1995 Quinn Street Prince George, BC V2N 2X2 Fax: 250-562-2914 email: ccisecki@inland-group.com

www.tolko.com

The Classiﬁeds Attract Buyers.

Looking to sell your used car, television, sofa, baseball card collection or anything else under the sun? Place an ad in the Free Press Classiﬁeds and reach over 63,000 readers! It’s a fast, easy and proﬁtable way to get rid of unwanted merchandise.

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Prince George - COMMUNITY - Free Press

Friday, November 29, 2013

Employment

Drivers/Courier/ Trucking

Education/Trade Schools

FT Class 1 driver for highway haul. Fax resume 250-5639559 Phone 250-563-5950

Food Safety is EVERYBODY’S Business

Van Kam’s Group of Companies requires Highway linehaul Owner Operators based in our Prince George terminal for runs throughout BC and Alberta. Applicants must have winter and mountain, driving experince/training. We offer above average rates and an excellent employee beneﬁts package.

Financial Services

Telephone Services

Misc. for Sale

For Sale By Owner

DISCONNECTED PHONE? National Teleconnect Home Phone Service. No One Refused! Low Monthly Rate! Calling Features and Unlimited Long Distance Available. Call National Teleconnect Today! 1-866-443-4408. www.nationalteleconnect.com.

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For Sale by Owner $90,000 2007 SRI Custom Built Modular 14x70. Like new cond., wellmaintained, open ﬂoor plan; lots of cupboard space incl a pantry cupboard. 3 bdrm, 2 full bathroom. Includes 6 appliances; fridge, stove, new dishwasher, OTR, microwave, stacking W/D. Can be moved from lot-generous discount for mine workers who wish to move the unit. Call Cal or Anita 250-564-9689.

AiMHi Building 950 Kerry St.

Services

Legal Services

Sat. Dec 7th

Alterations/ Dressmaking

FoodSafe Level 1 Wed. Nov 27th

IMSS Building 1270 2nd Ave.

Wed. Dec 18th AiMHi Building 950 Kerry St.

Diane Rosebrugh & Dick Rosebrugh, B.Ed.

Only those of interest will be contacted.

ABC Foodsafe School

Classes Run 8:30–5:00pm

Group Rates Available

www.abcfoodsafe.com info@abcfoodsafe.com

250-563-2585

Help Wanted Bookkeeper needed by our ﬁrm. Any job experience can apply. We need a person that’s computer literate and has good typing skills. Salary is $3075 monthly. Email at ryanwells430@gmail.com if interested. Drivers needed.Class 5. Minimum 5 years exp. Must be able to drive standard. Call Keys Please 250-613-0203 after 1pm Steady/PT to vacuum, wipe & wash cars. Apply to Hands on Car Wash, 1956 3rd Ave

Career Opportunities

Career Opportunities Schaffer Residence at The Hart 7780 Hart Highway Prince George BC

SENIORS RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITY 21 BEDS Looking for Experienced Staff Positions available: Part Time and Casual

• Long Term Care Aides Send Resumes: Email: manager@schafferresidences.com Attention: Ms. Debbie Schofield (Manager) 7780 Hart Hwy, Prince George, BC V2K 3B3 Tel: 250-962-9840 Fax: 250-962-9848 www.schafferresidences.com

Trades, Technical

Real Estate

IF YOU own a home or real estate, Alpine Credits can lend you money: It’s That Simple. Your Credit / Age / Income is not an issue. 1.800.587.2161.

Now accepting registration:

Fax: 250-563-2572

Merchandise for Sale

Trades, Technical

To join our team of professional drivers, email a resume, current driver’s abstract & details of your truck to: careers@vankam.com Call: 604-968-5488 Fax: 604-587-9889

Van-Kam is committed to Employment Equity and Environmental Responsibility.

Services

Class 4 Engineer is required for Colonial Farms. Competitive Wages with Full Beneﬁts. Drop Resume between 8am & 2pm. 3830 Okanagan Street, Armstrong. (250)546-3008 HEAVY EQUIPMENT Technicians required for work in Fort McMurray. If you are interested in a balanced schedule, competitive wages and beneﬁts please send your resume to: hr@gladiatorequipment.com or fax to 1-780-986-7051.

Northern Health announces a 5yr expiry date as of July 29, 2013.

Keeping Food Safe

HIGHWAY OWNER OPERATORS $3500 SIGNING BONUS

Services

Employment

www.pgfreepress.com

Trades, Technical

INCOME TAX PROBLEMS? Have you been audited, reassessed or disallowed certain claims by Canada Revenue Agency? Call Bob Allen @ 250-542-0295 35yrs. Income Tax experience, 8.5yrs. with Revenue Canada. Email: r.gallen@shaw.ca C- 250-938-1944

FOUR SISTERS SEWING 250-564-4985

CRIMINAL RECORD? Don’t let it block employment, travel, education, professional, certiﬁcation, adoption property rental opportunities. For peace of mind & a free consultation call 1-800-347-2540.

Health Products

Medical Health

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Psychics

Landscaping

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Fall YARD CLEAN-UP Garbage Removal & Gutter Cleaning (250)961-3612 or (250)964-4758 res PAL’S MAINTENANCE

Financial Services

Painting & Decorating

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Paint Special 3 Rooms $589 incl. prem qlty paint, your color choices, 2 coats, ﬁlled nail holes. Ceiling & trim extra. Free Est. HB Tech Painting 250-649-6285

Misc. for Sale

Snowclearing Tractor with Snowblower Driveway snow clearing 250-614-4600 ﬁreguy6668@hotmail.com

Misc. for Sale

TARPS! TARPS! “BEST PRICES IN TOWN!”

BLUE TARPS 10X8 weave (Medium Duty) STARTING AT $2.19

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Looking For

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Merchandise for Sale

Auctions

STEEL BUILDINGS/metal buildings 60% off! 20x28, 30x40, 40x62, 45x90, 50x120, 60x150, 80x100 sell for balance owed! Call 1-800-4572206 or visit us online at: www.crownsteelbuildings.ca STEEL BUILDING. “The big year end clear out!” 20x22 $4,259. 25x24 $4,684. 30x34 $6,895. 35x36 $9,190. 40x48 $12,526. 47x70 $17,200. One end wall included. Pioneer Steel 1-800-668-5422. www.pioneersteel.ca

Misc. Wanted Local Coin Collector Buying Collections, Olympic Gold & Silver Coins etc 778-281-0030

$200 & Under

Real Estate

(1) new Bridgestone LT 265 75R/16 on steel rim $150 (4) Grand Spirit 205 70R/15 $200 (2) V-Steel Bridgestone LT245 75R/16 $200 (4) Good Year Wranglers 245 75R/16 2 @ $150 2 @ $50 (250)613-6455

For Sale By Owner 2 bed/2 bath Condo underground parking with security gate. Killoren Cres. $140,00 OBO 250-612-9648 or 250612-0145

Rentals Apt/Condo for Rent

Midtowne

• 1 & 2 bedroom apartments available • Close to hospital & downtown • Rent includes heat, hot water • Elevator to undercover parking • Fridge, stove, quality carpets, drapes • Laundry on each ﬂoor • No pets

To Rent Call:

250-561-1447 Pine Grove Apts Clean 1 & 2 bdrm apts Student & other incentives No Dogs

Phone 250-563-2221

Classiﬁed Word Ad

BEST BUY 20 words/3 issues

Your 20 word or less private party (for sale items only) classiﬁed ad will be delivered to over 28,000 homes and businesses in three consecutive issues of the Prince George Free Press.

For more info please call Shari or Penny

250-564-0005 email: classads@pgfreepress.com

Prince George - COMMUNITY - Free Press

www.pgfreepress.com

Rentals

Transportation

Apt/Condo for Rent

Duplex / 4 Plex

Scrap Car Removal

HARDWOOD MANOR 1575 Queensway Bachelor, 1 & 2 bdrm Suites Heat/hot water included

Entirely furnished 4 - 2 bdrm Col.Hts.Aprv’d hotel alternative Ideal for corporate crew. No smoke/pets. 250-960-0861 msg

Adult Oriented/Students welcome Incentives for long-term students

Misc for Rent

Call (250)561-1446

For Seniors 55+

Commercial/ Industrial

2 - bdrm suite All utilities included except phone & internet. Call Theresa 250-962-5570

Friday, November 29, 2013

X CROSSWORD

FREE SCRAP CAR REMOVAL

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 690

ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 426

within 15 km

P&R 250-963-3435 Email: prﬂeet@telus.net MEMBER OF AUTOMOTIVE RECYCLER’S

Majestic Management (1981) Ltd. CE • OFFI ERCIAL M • COM IL A • RET Space available for rent For all your rental needs Call 562-8343 or 562-RENT

Shared Accommodation

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC.

2 bdrm apt to share with mature person. Smoker OK. St Laurant Manor 250-640-0986

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Suites, Lower 1 bdrm bsmt for quite mature working person or student. NS, NP, utilities incl., cable, wireless internet, washer/dryer. Separate entrance, small car or no car. $650/mo available Dec 1st 250-552-3070

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“DO’IN IT RIGHT”

Wrecker/Used Parts USED TIRES Cars & Trucks $25 & up

Most Sizes Available 15270 Hwy 97 South 250.963.3435

MOST COMPLETE COVERAGE

20 words,$ 3 issues

Your 20 word or less private party (for sale items only) classiﬁed ad will be delivered to over 28,000 homes and businesses in three consecutive issues of the Prince George Free Press.

For more info please call Shari or Penny

250.564.0005

email: classads@pgfreepress.com DEADLINES: For Friday’s paper -1 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Prince George - SPORTS - Free Press

Friday, November 29, 2013

www.pgfreepress.com

Spruce Kings give fans reason to hope 29 down! 29 to go! in offensively but more importantly Yes, the Prince George Spruce have helped keep the puck out of Kings have reached the midway their net. point of their 58-game BCHL reguIn goal, Alex Murray and Jesse lar season schedule. Jenks have split the duties, To this end, here is and both have been solid my halftime report: with stats in the upper half The Spruce Kings of the league. The 20-yearentered Wednesday’s old Murray has played home game against more games; however, Langley in first place that’s partly because Jenks earning at least a left the team for a short pepoint in 14 of their riod to play goal for Team previous 15 games. Canada West helping them Do the long sufferto a bronze medal at the ing P.G. fans really World Junior A Challenge HART BEAT have something to in Nova Scotia. HARTLEYMILLER cheer for? It certainly Their special teams seems that way. haven’t been overwhelming The Spruce Kings roster does not with the power play 14th out of 16 boast marquee names, huge point and the penalty kill sixth; however, producers, big-time defencemen that can be misleading since the or the one elite goalie; but they Spruce Kings have demonstrated a have been winning close games propensity for scoring with the man with strong efforts in all areas. Yes, advantage at the right time (e.g. consistency has been the key for the Staley’s game winner to snap 3-3 Kings. A strong “team” game has tie on the powerplay at 12:37 of the allowed the Spruce Kings to chalthird in Saturday’s 4-3 victory over lenge not only for top spot in their Salmon Arm). division, but the entire league. Much of the Spruce Kings success 19 year old Chad Staley has been has come in winning tight games. More than half (10) of their victories the team’s best forward, in the top have been by one goal. For a team five in league scoring averaging that has won twice as many regulamore than a point per game, although none of his teammates are in tion games as they have lost, the Spruce Kings have not been domithe top 30. This is a prime example nant, albeit effective with a plus 14 of other than one player, scoring by goal differential. committee. Conversely, Powell River tops On defence, four players have not the Island Division at plus 41 while missed a game. 20 year old ChrisPenticton is first in the Interior at tian Weidauer is close to a point per plus 27. game while the others have chipped

PG TRACK & FIELD CLUB Presents the 2013 recipients of the Al Rivas / Angela Kohut Memorial Bursary

Although this will change as the season moves forward, the Spruce Kings have only two players committed to college: Mitch Eden and Michael Iovanna. This is a strong indication that scouts haven’t been wowed by individual play. Penticton, on the other hand, has 11 players on its roster that are college bound and Vernon has 10. A strength of the Spruce Kings has been their depth. On Nov. 8-10, they earned five out of a possible six points while on an Interior road trip to Trail, Vernon and Salmon Allan WISHART/Free Press Arm despite missing six Spruce Kings, in white, and Salmon Arm Silverbacks players kept it regulars, five of them on close-checking at the Coliseum on Saturday, with the Spruce Kings edging a 4-3 win. the injured list. Meanwhile, in ary 10 trade deadline. There’s still four months to conjunction with the team success, though ticket determine whether the 2013-14 Spruce Kings are prices have increased and there seems to be less legitimate contenders or pretenders. free passes available, attendance has been steady and comparable to the past couple of seasons. P.G. From The Quote Rack: is averaging 1,148 fans a game to the Coliseum, Report: Some Packers weren’t aware of ties and fourth best in the BCHL and about 100 more than expected a second overtime against Minnesota. But the league average. they did give their game ball to Donovan McNabb. It’s safe to suggest coach Dave Dupas is getContributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tating the maximum from his team and GM Mike hoe, California Hawes has made moves to bring the Kings back to respectability. Playing in the weaker Mainland Derrick Rose is out for the season. And Bulls fans Division compared to the Interior is a bonus. are asking Cubs fans about borrowing their ‘Wait Playoffs are a certainty and that is where the until next year” T-shirts. final grade and the only one that counts will be Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, Califorresolved. It’s been approximately 10 years since nia (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com) the Spruce Kings have won a round in the postseason. They are long overdue. P.G. will meet a The Grey Cup game had a surprise guest as Tom team in the division semi-final with an inferior Hanks turned up to cheer on the Hamilton Ti-Cats record, so they will enter as favourites which is a with friend Martin Short. Asked what it was like switch from prior years. to be in Regina Hanks channeled his inner Forrest An A- is a fair mark; however, it will be much Gump: “Life is like a box of Pilsner…” more difficult to maintain this high evaluation as the second half of the season begins and winning The City of Vancouver has outlawed doorknobs. teams strengthen their roster prior to the Janu“We are going to a more eco-friendly “push door” solution that is easier to open without hands, takes less time and, most important, will give BC Lions players practice blocking.” O UP T Comedy writer Derek Wilken of Calgary

M R A W

Y T I L A QU

Emma Balazs Middle Distance Idaho University

Zach Matyas Middle Distance CNC

The PG Track & Field Club is pleased to provide annual bursaries to our young athletes who are looking to pursue their education. Emma and Zach both received a few hundred dollars to assist with their post-secondary studies this fall. Al Rivas was an honour student and championship sprinter with the Club who died tragically and mysteriously in 1989 at the age of 18. Angela Kohut was a young track star with the Club who died as a result of a suspected E-Coli related illness in the summer of 1998. She was 19.

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CT GASFITTING SERVICES LTD. *Timely registration required for 10 year parts limited warranty. Limited warranty period is 5 years for parts if not registered within 90 days of installation. Jurisdictions where warranty benefits cannot be conditioned on registration will receive the registered limited warranty periods. If a compressor, coil, or heat exchanger fails due to defect during the applicable No Hassle Replacement limited warranty time period, a one-time replacement with a comparable Tempstar unit will be provided. Please see warranty certificate for further details and restrictions. AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. Many models are ENERGY STAR© qualified. Ask your contractor for details or visit www.energystar.gov

250-564-6331 tempstar.com

And in case you missed it: Alabama has fired a coach who gave a player named Ha Ha Clinton Dix a loan. Dix is still on the team, which means this time Ha Ha got the last laugh. Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va. (jokesbyjim. blogspot.com/) Hartley Miller is the sports director for radio stations 94X and the Wolf@97fm. He also writes for hqprincegeorge.com. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to hmiller@94xfm.com. Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller

www.pgfreepress.com

Prince George - SPORTS - Free Press

Friday, November 29, 2013

Bantam females tops in Kamloops It was a great weekend to be in Kamloops if you were a member of the WIC Bantam Female Cougars. The Prince George team went undefeated to win the Kamloops Tier 1 tournament, downing TriCities in the final. The round-robin portion of the eight-team event saw Prince George beat Tri-Cities 4-2. McKenzie Muir had two goals, while Mya Ziemer and Megan Goetken had the others. Olivia Johnson, who played net in all five games, posted a 4-0 shutout against Kelowna, with Muir getting another pair of goals ad Jordan Shanks and Kenna Derkson the others. The final round-robin game saw the Cougars edge Vernon 3-2. Muir kept her goal-scoring streak alive by getting one, while Shanks and Katie Young had the others. The semi-final saw Prince George take on Williams Lake, and Muir was back to getting two goals a game, as the Cougars won 4-2. Derkson and Sophie Davis had the other goals. The final was a rematch of the opener against Tri-Cities, and while the score wasn’t quite the same, the result was, as the Cougars claimed the crown with a 3-1 win. Muir, Ziemer and Jordan McMillan did the scoring. Coaches Grant Zimmerman, Judy Young and John McMillan and manager Mabel Lloyd were very proud of the full-team effort. “We had success because the girls really came together as a team,” they said in a press release. “We got some big girls from our younger players, and our team leaders did their job throughout the tournament.”

Photo submitted The WIC Bantam Female Cougars are more than happy to show where they placed at a tournament in Kamloops on the weekend. The Cougars won five straight games to take the title.

Rockets prove too much for Cariboo Cougars It was not a great start to a tough stretch for this weekend, playing the Vancouver Northwest the Cariboo Cougars. Giants. The BC Major Midget Hockey League team played the first two of six straight road games against the league’s best teams on the weekend, and dropped a pair of close HOW TO PLAY: games in Kelowna to the Okanagan Rockets. Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 x 3 box contains the Saturday’s game saw numbers 1 through 9 only once. the first-place Rockets Each 3 x 3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few win 5-2, breaking a numbers to get you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 2-2 tie with a power1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3 x 3 box. play goal in the second Answer can be found in classifieds. PUZZLE NO. 426 period and adding two goals in the third to wrap things up. Jesse Roach and Isaiah Berra scored for the Cougars. On Sunday, Bryan Allbee had two goals and an assist, but the Cougars again came up agonizingly close, losing 6-4. Dallas Goodwin got the Cougars out to an early lead, but the Rockets scored twice before the first period was over. Allbee and Steven Jandric scored in the second period, but the Rockets got three of their own to be up 5-3 after two, Allbee made it a one-goal game in the third, but the Rockets scored into the empty net to seal the deal. Jeremy Matte was in goal for both games for the Cougars. The Cougars are on the Lower Mainland

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Prince George - SPORTS - Free Press

Friday, November 29, 2013

www.pgfreepress.com

Tier 1 Midgets keep rolling Allan Wishart allanw@pgfreepress.com It’s been a November to remember for the Prince George Midget Tier 1 Cougars – and it actually started in October. “We’ve won four tournaments in a row now,” manager Brian Hards said, after the Cougars downed Kelowna 6-4 on Sunday at Kin 2 to claim their own event. “We won in Kamloops, Kelowna, Vernon and now here.” With their record on the season sitting at 25 wins, two losses and one tie (28-3-1 including preseason games), it would be easy for the Cougars to rest on their laurels. That’s not going to happen, says Hards. “in the first half of the season so far, we were beating teams fairly handily. In the last two tournaments, the games have been closer, but we always have an answer at the end.” The team is well-rounded, but does have a preference for up-tempo games. “We’re a mall, fast, offensive team< Hards says. “We have solid goaltending and defence, but we have a lot of offence.” What makes it tough for opposing teams is not being able to just line up their checking line against the Cougars’ best line. They don’t really have one. “A lot of teams only have two good lines. We have four we can roll over continuously.” That has a couple of benefits throughout the game and near the end. “If the other team is trying to match lines, we don’t worry about it,” says Hards. “We just keep sending our lines out in order. “If we do decide to shorten the lines a bit late

Allan WISHART/Free Press Prince George Tier 1 Midget Cougars goalie Jamie Ferguson reaches for a loose puck in a game against Vernon on Saturday at Kin 2. The Cougars hosted, and won, an eight-team tournament.

in the game, the top guys are more rested as well, because they haven’t been out as much as the other team’s top players.” This past weekend’s tournament was the last time the Midget Tier 1 Cougars will see home ice in a game situation until the new year. “This weekend, we’re down in the Okanagan for some league games. We play Pursuit of Excellence

on Friday and then a pair against Kamloops on Saturday and Sunday.” Then they have two more tournaments on the road in December, so they’ll only be on Prince George ice for practices. “We’re going to end up playing between 65 and 70 games this year,” Hards says. “That’s more than a lot of other teams.”

Biathletes do well in season-opening races

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Local biathletes got their first taste of action on the weekend in Canmore, Alta. Six members of the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club made the trip, and joined three Prince George biathletes who train in Canmore. The event was the North American Cup Race 1, with sprint races on both Saturday and Sunday. Sprint races vary in length from six km for Senior Boys and Girls to 12 km for Senior Men and Women. Each race consisted of three ski loops and two rounds of shooting. More than 200 athletes from across North America competed, and the locals more than held their own. Sarah Beaudry, who trains in

Canmore, finished second in the Junior Women race Saturday, then won on Sunday. Matt Neumann, who also trains in Canmore, finished second in Senior Men on Saturday and third on Sunday, while Arthur Roots, the third Prince George biathlete who trains in Canmore, was 11th in Junior Men on Saturday and 10th on Sunday. Four of the racers who travelled from Prince George competed in the Senior Boys event, their first international competition. Josiah Fisher finished fifth on Saturday and ninth on Sunday, Bobby Kreitz was 11th and 10th, Logan Sherba was 17th each day, and Mark Hartley was 22nd on Saturday.

Emily Dickson, competing in Youth Women, was fourth on Saturday and second on Sunday, while Claire Lapointe, in Senior Girl, was sixth on Saturday and third on Sunday. Coaches Pierre Beaudry and Bryan Dickson accompanied the biathletes. The team remained in Canmore for training this week, and will compete in the second North American Cup event this weekend. After that, the next major event is the first BC Cup race, to be held at Whistler on Dec. 14 and 15, before hitting their home course at Otway for the Western Nationals and BC Cup 2 races on Feb. 1 and 2. This will also be the test event for the Canada Winter Games.

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Swanson heads south for new role Allan Wishart allanw@pgfreepress.com Jim Swanson sees a lot of similarities between the WCL and the WHL. “Both leagues have the same level of proximity to the top level in their sports,” says Swanson, a longtime Prince George baseball supporter who is now the general manager of the Victoria HarbourCats of the West Coast League (WCL). “There were 57 WCL players drafted by Major

League Baseball in 2013.” The announcement of Swanson’a appointment to the Victoria job came last week, and he says it was about two months ago that he heard about the opening. “I looked into the situation there when I heard about it. There aren’t too many baseball jobs in Canada that are full time, especially for guy who’s 45.” A lot of people Swanson knows through baseball are in the Victoria area, and, “a lot of people in Victoria wanted me to take the job. They thought it was a good

Setting It Up

fit.” “Some teams might The West Coast have three to five players League is a 12back from one season to team, summer the next. It places a real league for collegepremium on recruiting.” age players, and That’s something he uses wooden bats. is already working on, That last aspect, since he jumped right Swanson says, is into the new role. one of the most “I attended the league important ones. meetings on Friday, and “Scouts want to now I’m working on see how batters and HARBOURCATS our Christmas packJIM SWANSON ages. There are so many pitchers do in a league with wooden bats, because things to do, from filling staff that’s what they use in the majors. positions, to making upgrades at In college, they use metal the park, to recruiting and signing bats, and it makes a real difplayers. ference to the game. “It’s a two-month league, but it’s “This way, they can apa year-round job.” proximate the big-league Swanson had been one of the experience, and see how the people involved with the World player might fit in.” Baseball Challenge in Prince Because it’s a college-age George, but he says the organizaprogram which sees a lot of tion will continue t do well. players drafted each year, “People like me and Sean Rice Swanson says the WCL has a may have been the faces people lot of turnover. associated with the tournament,

but there is a real great group of people doing a lot of work behind the scenes. That’s how a lot of them like it. They don’t want to be doing the interviews and everything. I never had a problem with that part.” Swanson stepped down as chair of the tournament at the AGM earlier this year. “I’d been the chair since we started in 2007, and I just felt it was time for someone new with some new ideas.” He’ll keep an eye on the WBC from Victoria, and hopes he cane get back for at least some of the next tournament, probably in 2015. For now, though, he is working on putting together a HarbourCats team for this year, and settling into Victoria. “(Wife) Lori and the kids will be relocating to Victoria. We just don’t have a timetable yet, because I’m just starting to look for a house here.”

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November 25th to December 6th Allan WISHART/Free Press DP Todd players get set for an attack against Duchess Park in the championship game of the Grade 8 boys district volleyball tournament on Saturday at PGSS. DP Todd won the match and the city championship, downing Duchess in two straight sets.

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Little things trip up Wolves Allan Wishart allanw@pgfreepress.com It’s becoming a recurring theme for the basketball teams at UNBC this season, in both good times and bad. “The small details are important,” women’s coach Sergey Shchepotkin said after his team dropped a pair of games at home on the weekend. “We have to keep our focus for the full 40 minutes.” The Timberwolves dropped a 76-69 decision to Brandon on Friday, then fell 93-68 to Regina on Saturday. Brandon’s win was their first in league play in the last three seasons. “We knew they were going to be better than last year,” Shchepotkin said of the Bobcats. “We tried our best, but we were really frustrated by their defence in the third quarter,” a quarter which saw the Bobcats outscore the Wolves 27-8. Mavia Nijjer, a rookie with UNBC, led the attack Friday with 20 points, while Jen Bruce had 17 and Mercedes VanKoughnett added 13. VanKoughnett was injured in the game, and sat out Saturday’s game. Shchepotkin said it wasn’t clear if she would be available this weekend when the Wolves travel

to Kelowna to play UBC-Okanagan. “Mercedes hopes to be back this weekend, I hope she will be back, but it’s up to the doctors. If they don’t feel she’s ready to play, she won’t play.” The Wolves played UBCO in the preseason and beat them by two points. Shchepotkin is expecting this weekend’s games to be just as close. “They are a pretty good team, very athletic.” The doubleheader will be UNBC’s last Canada West action until January, but they will be travelling to California for a tournament just after Christmas. “We will be playing five or six games in a few days,” Shchepotkin said. “Because we are coming so far, they said they would make sure we got in

Allan WISHART/Free Press UNBC’s Mercedes VanKoughnett goes in for a shot against the Brandon Bobcats in action Saturday at the Northern Sport Centre.

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a lot of games.” The men’s team is also heading to California for games right after Christmas. Coach Todd Jordan said they won’t even see each other until they get there. “We’ll just be going straight from wherever we are to California. The guys need a few days off to be with their families at Christ-

mas, so they’ll be training on their own for that time.” The men split their weekend games, edging Brandon 85-81 on Friday before dropping a 74-73 decision to Regina. “I was really happy with the way we played on Friday,” Jordan said. “It was a well-earned win. “We played reasonably hard on Saturday, but we still have some issues on defence. Regina is a

good team, but they shouldn’t score 49 points in a half like they did in the second half on Saturday.” Saturday’s game was also a case of the little things. “We were three-for-17 from three-point range,” Jordan said. “We had a lot of shots go in and out. You have those kinds of days, and then you have days where everything is dropping.”

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Off to a national event Allan Wishart allanw@pgfreepress.com Justin Hampole will probably be looking up to a lot of his competitors next week at the Skate Canada Challenge in Regina. That’s not because Hampole, who skates out of the Northern BC Centre for Skating, is in awe of his fellow skaters in the PreNovice Men event. It’s basically because Justin just turned 12, and Pre-Novice Men is for skaters 16 and under, which means a lot of them will be taller than him. “I’m used to going up against older skaters,” Hampole says, sitting in a change room at the Elksentre before a practice this week. “It’s the youngest age level they have, and it’s what I competed in at Sectionals.” Placing fourth at Sectionals in Richmond earlier this month got Justin the chance to go to the national event, the first time in 10 years a Prince George skater has done so. “I’ve been skating for about five years,” Justin says. “Some days I would come to the rink with my family for public skating and we would get here early. There would be figure skaters on

the ice and I thought it looked like fun. I saw it on TV too, and it looked like a lot of fun.” Then, reality sort of set in. “When I started, I thought, ‘This ice is so slippery’. I couldn’t believe how effortless the pros made it look. But right from the start, I liked it, so I stuck with it.” In Regina next week, Justin will skate two different programs, a short and a long. “The short program is two minutes and 30 seconds, and the long one is three minutes and 10 seconds. They can deduct points if you’re not right on the time.” Each of the programs also has a number of elements, including jumps and spins, which must be included. “My coaches made sure I could connect to the music we were using for my programs. I can really connect with them, which makes it easier to skate to them.” While he has had the long program for about a year, the short program is relatively new, since he started it just after SummerSkate, about four months ago. Although going to the Skate Canada Challenge is something new for Justin, the arena might not be. “I’m pretty sure we’ll be at the

Co-Operators, and I’ve skated there before.” Centre for Skating director of skating Rory Allen says the trip to nationals is a step in a plan they have set up for Justin. “We were gearing up to this with the 2015 Canada Winter Games in mind,” Allen says. “It’s part of the plan for the development of the athlete.” He expects Allan WISHART/Free Press Justin to skate This is the pose Justin Hampole of the well in Regina, Northern B.C. Centre for Skating will be striking the first week of December, but says the results aren’t the when he competes at the Skate Canada most important Challenge in Regina. thing. the Centre for Skating. “This is an experience thing “This isn’t a one-room schoolfor Justin. If he can finish in the house, where one coach has to top half of his event, that would coach all the aspects. We have be great. There will probably be coaches here who specialize in 35 to 40 skaters in that event. certain kinds of spins. “It’s fantastic for him to get the “What we could use is more opportunity so young. He still ice time, both in numbers of has time to develop at this level.” arenas and in longer seasons.” Allen says Justin’s qualification The Skate Canada Challenge speaks to the work of the staff at runs Dec. 4 to 8 in Regina.

Get a feel for para-badminton this weekend at CNC Allan Wishart allanw@pgfreepress.com Lisa Davison is getting coaches, but doesn’t have players. “I’m getting interest from coaches around the region,” says the organizer of this weekend’s introduction to para-badminton, “but I’m lacking in athletes who can compete.” Para-badminton is a form of the sport designed for people with a physical disability, and if you haven’t heard of it, you’re not alone, Davison says. “It’s almost brand-new to Canada. I think there’s one other group in the Maritimes who have organized, but nothing in the west.” Para-badminto has separate categories for people in wheelchairs, those with prosthetic legs, and those with prosthetic arms, but it goes further than that. “There are different classes for people in wheelchairs who can turn their shoulders and those who cannot. The divisions players are put in are quite strict.” For the event this weekend at the College of New Caledonia, Davison is offering ablebodied people to opportunity to try playing

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Kings’ games staying close Last three matches determined by only one goal - two wins, one loss Prince George Spruce Kings games should come with a warning: Not for the faint-hearted. In the past week, the Kings have played three games, and all three were decided by one goal. The only one Prince George lost was Wednesday, when they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Langley Rivermen. The win pushed the Rivermen past the Spruce Kings into top spot in the Mainland Division of the BCHL, a spot the Kings had taken over with a 4-3 win in Langley on Nov. 21. The Spruce Kings then made the long trip back to Prince George to face the Salmon Arm SilverBacks on Saturday, and beat them 4-3. In Wednesday’s game, Langley goalie Brock Crossthwaite was the star, turning aside 32 of 33 shots the Spruce Kings had. Jesse Jenks was almost as good at the other end, blocking 19 of 21 Langley shots. The teams battled through a scoreless first period before Langley’s Jakob Reichert scored late in the second. The Rivermen pushed the lead to 2-0 in the first minute of the third period on a goal from Will Cook. Braiden Epp got the Kings on the board with just over two minutes to play, but, despite pulling Jenks with a minute to go, Prince George couldn’t find the equalizer. Up next for the Spruce Kings are the Powell River Kings, who will be at the Coliseum for the season’s first Sunday afternoon game. The puck drops at 3 p.m. The Spruce Kings then hit the road for a split doubleheader in Coquitlam, as they play the Express Allan WISHART/Free Press on Wednesday and Friday. After that, it’s back to the Chad Staley of the Spruce Kings keeps Langley’s Austen Bietenbeck away from the puck in action Wednesday Coliseum for a pair of games with the Chilliwack evening at the Coliseum. The Rivermen edged the Kings 2-1 to move back into first place in the Mainland Division of the BCHL. Chiefs on Dec. 14 and 15.

Shorthanded Cougars have Giant obstacles to overcome on weekend Allan Wishart allanw@pgfreepress.com There is no truth to the rumour the Prince George Cougars participating in the Minor Hockey Skateathon earlier this week were trying to recruit players. But it may have been close. “We’re banged up right now,” coach Mark Holick said Tuesday. “We’re looking at 14 skaters at practice today. We’ve got eight guys out today, and we might get two or three back for the weekend.” One skater who may not have been at practice on Tuesday, but should be playing this weekend against the Vancouver Giants

is Aaron Macklin. The Cougars acquired the 1995-born forward from the Kamloops Blazers in exchange for 1996-born Carson Bolduc. “Aaron is a big body,” Holick said. “He’s played well against us, and if he can play big, use that size, he’ll be a help for us. We don’t have a lot of size up front. “It was an easy call, since we’re giving up a guy who isn’t here with us.” When the Giants skate into CN Centre for games tonight (Friday) and Saturday, there may be more riding on the outcomes than normal late-November games. “The playoffs are staring you right in the face.” Holick said. Going into the games, the Giants hold down the eighth and final West-

ern Conference playoff spot, three points in front of the Cougars. “This is a chance for some of the guys who don’t normally get a lot of ice time to stand up and be counted.” Holick says fans at the weekend games shouldn’t be too surprised by any line combinations the Cougars put out. “With the guys who are out, we’re all over the map with our lines. The veterans, the guys like (Todd) Fiddler, (Klarc) Wilson, (Chase) Witala, they have to be their best this weekend. They have to show that leadership and keep the young guys in the game.” The Cougars picked up one win during a three-game swing in Alberta last weekend, thumping Edmonton 8-3 in between losses to Calgary and Red Deer.

“We played a lot better Friday (in Edmonton) than on Thursday (against Calgary),” Holick said. “Then we just didn’t have enough left on Saturday (in Red Deer). Three games in three days, we made a couple of silly mistakes, and they beat us.” Christmas Campaign The home games this weekend kick off the Cougars’ annual Christmas Campaign of giving fans the chance to help the less fortunate in the community. At the Friday game, donations for the Prince George Council of Seniors Christmas Hampers will be collected. Saturday, fans are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Salvation Army Toy Drive.

TONIGHT - 7:00pm • Nov. 29 • REMATCH - 7:00pm Sat. Nov. 30 ight

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