Prince George Citizen January 2, 2020 by Prince George Citizen

Thursday January 2, 2020

The year in phoTos

George

Kings goaltender Logan Neaton raises the Doyle Cup after the Kings clinched the title wth a 4-2 win over the Brooks Bandits in May at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena. For more of 2019 in photos, see pages 10 and 11. For a story on the incredible year for the Spruce Kings, our choice for sports story of the year, see page 20.

Citizen Photo by James Doyle

Prince

Spruce

Homeless still a concern in Portland

Mark NielseN Citizen staff

Editor’s note: A dozen people from Prince George, including city councillors and Citizen reporter Mark Nielsen went to Portland, Oregon in October 2008 to learn how that city was dealing with the homeless and downtown revitalization. With the city’s downtown task force set to get to work in the new year, here are Mark’s stories from that trip.

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Portland’s Housing First strategy may have found longterm housing for 1,500 homeless people in just two years, but there is plenty of work still to be done.

Walk along Waterfront Park, which hugs the banks of the Willamette River, and it doesn’t take long before you’ll pass by at least a few homeless people occupying the benches or sleeping on the grass as cyclists and runners speed by.

Jeremy Bloomer remains one of those on the outside looking in and is frustrated by the trouble he’s encountered trying to get a hand up.

The 38-year-old former resident of Salt Lake City, Utah, readily concedes he’s on the street because he made some bad choices beginning at age 21, when he started doing drugs.

Although he still smokes marijuana, Bloomer said he quit doing methamphetamine about three years ago when he “just got tired of chasing it.”

Ironically, Bloomer says, the decision to stop may be one of the reasons why he’s not been able to get any help beyond the soup kitchens and hand outs of second-hand clothing.

“You have to be an alcoholic, you have

to be a drug addict, you have to be somebody in recovery,” he claimed as he stood across the street from one of the city’s Housing First developments.

Adding to his troubles, Bloomer has a part-time job but he’s paid under the table. In other words, he doesn’t receive a stable source of income with which to cover his share of the subsidized rent.

“The government wants you to have that cheque, otherwise they just think you’re a bad risk,” he said.

He’s married -- his wife, whom he did not name, is an alcoholic -- and he has two children who remain with relatives back in Salt Lake City.

While he sleeps under bridges and in alcoves, she spends her nights in a shelter for women. They came close to securing an apartment through the city’s program.

But he ran into a procedural problem when he was unable to produce proper identification.

Bloomer said he was given an extra two months to get a birth certificate, and managed to get one with about a week to spare.

“And they answered that they entered my deadline in the computer wrong and gave me only two weeks,” he said. “So now, if I want housing again, I have to wait another two years.”

There’s now also the matter of his dog, an affable pit bull mix named Sid Vicious, which he rescued about a year ago and for whom he has a strong emotional attachment.

“I can’t get rid of my dog,” he said. “There are some places that will take dogs but most of them won’t, so I just

continue to live out here on the streets until another opportunity arises or until I can find another full-time job during the week that gets me some more money.”

Bloomer said he’s never heard of Housing First but said it might be a good idea. His advice to those developing a strategy for homelessness in Prince George is to make sure the voice of the homeless is heard on the planning committees.

“You need some people to represent the homeless that are actually homeless,” he said. “You can’t just look at a book or at a graph.

The aim of Portland’s Housing First strategy is to “end homlessness” but there is a proviso in the city’s 10-year plan -- that those who prefer to remain homeless are left alone.

James Kofi, 59, could be considered one of them.

“I love it,” said Kofi shortly after he crawled underneath his blanket for a nap on a park lawn along the west bank of the Willamette River.

Despite the lack of shelter, Kofi said it’s still a better life than dealing with the stress, worry and discipline of trying to make ends meet.

“I used to get a room for $300 but no more, a room now is $400, $500 ... you have to work every day to maintain that properly and I’m tired,” he said. “So in this case, I sleep over here and work when I can.

“I had a car, a 528 BMW and all that jazz, but the point is, you’ve got to keep working and then the money that you earn, you don’t save, it goes to rent, electricity, gas bill and then you keep working and I’m tired.”

Portland’s downtown sees dramatic jump in pedestrian traffic

Mark

NielseN Citizen staff

PORTLAND, ORE. -- From paying for stepped-up security patrols to establishing a daytime gathering place for the homeless, downtown Portland merchants have put their money into schemes and strategies to ensure their patrons come away from the area feeling they would like to come back.

They may not be the only reason pedestrian traffic jumped 25 per cent during the 2007 Christmas shopping season, but the measures were a factor, according to Megan Doern and Norm Sharp of the Portland Business Alliance.

Sharp, a retired police officer who

directs the PBA’s Downtown Clean and Safe initiative, proudly notes crime has dropped 30 per cent in the 213-block area in the three years since a 13-person security patrol was introduced via a volunteer tax levy paid by downtown property owners to act as an additional set of eyes and ears for the Portland police department.

“That’s a significant drop,” he said.

Another move was to enact an ordinance against panhandling and sitting on the sidewalks about a year and a half ago.

“There are some rough people that come through town sometimes and it allows police officers to come up and engage them and it can lead to further conversations about their behaviour and what they’re doing and sometimes it even leads to finding out if there’s a warrant for their arrest,” Doern said.

Coinciding with the enactment, downtown business owners helped finance a day-access service centre for people out on the street -- like in Prince George,

emergency shelters in Portland are open only during the night.

The centre houses a washer and dryer, television and some medical, mental health and other social services.

“Especially in the winter months, there are 70 to 80 people there at a time,” Doern said.

For those caught committing minor crimes downtown, a community court is now up and running where the judge metes out community service time for acts of vandalism and public drunkenness.

The sentences are usually spent cleaning up graffiti tags or working in a soup kitchen.

And for first-time shoplifters, there is now the option of a theft accountability class where they learn from business operators about the consequences of their actions.

“There’s a very, very low recidivism rate out of this class,” Sharp said. “There is, I think, a less than one per cent return customers.”

Public bathrooms, sometimes a topic of conversation in Prince George, are located throughout the downtown including a 24-hour one at city hall, while there are also plans for another one in the Old Town area closer to the Willamette River, where there tends to be more homeless people.

The PBA is also involved in the city’s Housing First program, which has found stable housing for more than 1,500 homeless in two years.

Through a social agency, it has hired a contingent of homeless now off the streets to clean graffiti off the walls.

Asked what Downtown Prince George should concentrate on, Doern said the improved security has reduced crime and pushed the number of people who feel downtown is a safe place to 97 per cent, according to a recent survey.

“That’s where we’ve seen a lot of success,” she said. “If people feel safe and they know it’s clean, they’ll come down and they’ll shop.”

mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca

A police officer on patrol on a bicycle stops to talk to a group of homeless people near a park in Portland, Oregon.

Outreach workers key to homeless reforms

Mark NielseN Citizen staff

PORTLAND, ORE. -- It’s shortly before 10 p.m. on a brisk fall night and Lio Alaatatoa and Quinn Colling, two outreach workers who specialize in establishing contact with the homeless are underneath one of the many bridges crossing the Willamette River into Portland’s downtown.

About a half-dozen “campers” scattered among the pillars of what’s a parking lot in the daytime emerge from underneath sleeping bags and blankets and make their way over to the back of a van where the two are passing out cups of soup and blankets.

The mood is upbeat and the two are repaid with appreciative smiles and heartfelt thanks. It’s the same sort of response all the way along as they drive from spot to spot looking for those who are still awake and in need of a little help. Making sure everyone is comfortable as they nestle into doorways and alcoves for a night’s sleep is not their only job. In fact, it’s a rare occasion when they’re able to bear such gifts.

Alaatatoa and Colling work for JOIN, a social agency whose motto is “connecting the street to a home” and on most nights

they carry nothing more than business cards and search for homeless who may make good candidates for an alphabet soup of programs designed to make them productive members of society. Throughout the tour, Alaatatoa and Colling stress the importance of establishing a relationship and developing a level of trust. Shortly after we stop at the foot of some towering pillars where the

Citizen file photo Ed Blackburn, executive director of Central City Concern, the largest provider of social housing in Portland, stands in front of the Richard L. Harris building, home to 180 units of single room occumpancy housing and a health centre.

shortcomings that got them into trouble in the first place.

In general terms, Alaatatoa and Colling like the idea, but also stress there are those who don’t make it and contend it’s not for everyone. The conversation turns to a perplexing character we encountered earlier, an elderly gentleman who on paper would make a perfect candidate for the program.

same bridge begins to soar over the river, Alaatatoa, an avuncular, soft-spoken Samoan may have found a prospect.

A woman in her 20s who’s been sleeping out the street for about a week but still carrying a cheery demeanour expresses her joy at getting an extra blanket to survive the looming cold. Like Alaatoa, she possesses a Polynesian complexion and asks if he’s from Hawaii – a rapport has begun.

While roots may be important to the woman, what matters to Alaatoa is that she says she’s been going to a temp agency during the day in search of a job. He gives her a business card and urges her to show up at the JOIN office the next day.

Within a couple hours Alaatoa and Colling have completed their drive and although they could go home now, they’re kind enough to take me over to an all-night diner where we talk about the “housing first” approach to dealing with the homeless, where people on the streets are put into stable accommodation before work on their other issues begins.

So far, the approach has been reasonably successful – about 80 per cent of the 1,500 or so homeless who’ve been put into housing over the program’s first two years remain indoors and working on the

An alcoholic who’s had his share of visits to the hospital, he had recently recovered from a broken ankle suffered when he fell after drinking too much. It’s estimated that the 10 per cent of homeless who are considered chronic -- defined as someone with a disabling condition who’s been out on the street for more than a year -- consume 50 per cent of the total resources spent on the homeless they cycle through the social services system, hospitals, corrections, and emergency services.

Under the housing first model, housing is not contingent on compliance with services – instead, participants only have to live up to a standard lease agreement and are provided with the services and supports that are necessary to help them do so successfully.

But he simply does not want to go inside for for a grocery list of reasons, a fear of failure and a reluctance to enter “low barrier” housing where he’d be placed with other alcoholics and drug addicts prime among them.

“You need to listen to the homeless themselves because they know best what they need,” Alaatoa emphasized.

The next morning at the offices of Central City Concern, the largest provider of non-profit housing in Portland, executive director Ed Blackburn agrees.

“There is not one thing that works for everyone,” he said, and went on to note that CCC provides a eight different types of housing, ranging from so-called “wet” or “low barrier” housing where addicts are not required to quit their habits, to alcohol and drug-free housing for families.

Even so, there’s a handful who are simply too troublesome.

— See ‘THERE’S NO’ on page 7

Homeless advocates target families

Mark NielseN Citizen staff

PORTLAND, ORE. -- As someone who’s worked with the homeless for more than 20 years now, Erika Silver speaks in glowing terms about the city’s Housing First strategy.

Rather than making housing the endpoint, the approach emphasizes getting the homeless into stable accommodation and then providing the services to deal with their problems and make them productive members of society.

“It’s just a better use of resources,” said Silver, a program director at Human Solutions, a social agency about a 20-minute drive southwest of downtown Portland.

“Until somebody feels secure, knowing where they’re going to sleep at night, knowing that they’re going to have food, knowing that they’re going to be warm, knowing that they can take a shower, knowing that they can do their laundry, it’s really hard to think about anything else, like getting a job or maybe getting into mental health services or alcohol or drug treatment.”

If there is a message Silver would like to send to the contingent from Prince George now in Portland to get a look at the strategy, it’s that homelessness is not just a downtown problem -- families with

young children make up a significant portion of people without a roof over their heads.

What’s more, Silver believes Housing First is particularly well-adapted to meeting the needs of those families.

“One of the big things we find with families is that with kids, it’s so traumatic for them to have to change schools,” she said. ‘If a family is homeless and if they’re staying with maybe their auntie over here, their grandma over there, their friend or their cousin, and they’re moving around ... everytime kids move they lose about three or four months academically.

“Think about it, different school, different teachers, different kids, different books, different classes, a whole different culture within that school, it’s kind of hard. And when your family is homeless anyway, you don’t feel that sense of security.”

Like Silver, Andrea Pena has nothing but good things to say about the pro-

gram, which she credits for getting her and her five-year-old son back on their feet after she resorted to sleeping in her car and in shelters to escape an abusive relationship about two-and-a-half years ago.

“It was affecting my son tremendously,” she said. “He was having a hard time, like me.”

From moving fees to rent to getting back into school -- and, of course, finding a home -- her needs were met through the program. Pena eventually landed a job as a receptionist at Human Solutions and has since been promoted and her son was enrolled in a Head Start program for children with emotional health issues.

“It helps you to be self sufficient, it helps you to build your self esteem,” Pena said.

Human Solutions maintains about 540 units of affordable housing.

Pride of place is Lincoln Woods, a combination of brightly-coloured vinyl-sided townhouses and apartments surrounding

a spacious courtyard with a playground -- it looks a lot like the Elizabeth Fry complex next to Rainbow Park near Ospika and Fifth.

In the past, such projects have traditionally been aimed at those earning between 30 and 60 per cent of median income, Housing First concentrates on those in the 0 to 30 per cent range who otherwise would be languishing in shelters and under bridges and living from day-to-day.

Although it has met and exceeded targets -- housing for more than 15,000 people was found in two years -- but there’s plenty of work left if the city hopes to meet its goal of ending homelessness in a decade. If Prince George was to do anything, Silver said, it should be to institute a Housing First program before things get out of hand.

“It’s so much better and so much cheaper if you’re able to, with families, stop them from becoming homeless to begin with,” she said adding there are so many people, from seniors to singles, living from hand to mouth and just a paycheque away from ending up on the streets.

“There was a woman, she was working a job, she has three kids and she was managing just fine using her car to get back and forth to work and taking her kids to wherever they needed to be and then somebody steals her car, She reports it to police, she’s able to get the car back the next day but she had to pay $291 to get the car out of the impound lot and then she could pay her rent,” Silver said. “We were so glad we were able to help her because for that little amount of money (she remained in a home).”

Portland strategy aims to end homelessness

Mark NielseN Citizen staff

PORTLAND, ORE. -- End homelessness in 10 years?

It may sound a little lofty, but that’s exactly what the City of Portland and Multnomah County have in mind. In 2005 they launched a strategy to end homelessness by 2015.

Homelessness was a relatively rare phenomenon until the 1980s, when many economic and social changes converged to cause its dramatic rise. By 2005, about 4,000 people slept in streets, in cars or in shelters across Portland on any given night and nearly 17,000 had suffered bouts of homeless over the

previous year.

The vast majority were “transitional” homeless, individuals and families forced out onto the streets by economic circumstances for a short term.

But an estimated 20 per cent were “episodic” who went through multiple episodes or “chronic,” defined as those who experienced homelessness for a year or longer.

What’s more, they put a strain on the city’s policing and health systems not to mention create a nuisance for shoppers and other passersby, particularly in the downtown Portland where most of them tended to congregate.

It was estimated that a chronically homeless person cost about $40,440 a year in public resources and if moved into permanent supportive housing, the cost would fall to $28,118.

Figures like that sparked a nationwide push for more housing and cities across the U.S. began to develop 10-year plans to secure funding, primarily from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in the name of providing the homeless stable housing first and then work on the issues that put them onto the streets and into the emergency shelters in the first place.

So far, Portland’s effort has not only met but greatly exceeded expectations.

By the end of 2007, homes had been found for 1,286 chronically homeless and 1,681 families, meeting 135 per cent and

224 per cent of the targets respectively. What’s more, 1,008 units of supportive housing had been either opened or in the development pipeline -- nearly halfway towards the goal of 2,200 by 2015.

The pace continued for the first half of 2008, but Sally Erickson, manager of the city’s homeless program, is starting to worry.

Speaking to a contingent from Prince George currently in this city of 570,000 people to look at the effort, Erickson said rental assistance combined with a high vacancy rate was a big reason for the success so far.

It waws not long ago, she said, when landlord were putting balloons on their for rent signs and offering a month’s free rent to attract tenants to their buildings. But now the vacancy rate has dropped to three per cent and rent has increased, particularly in the fashionable Pearl District on the northwest edge of the downtown, where warehouses have been converted into lofts, condominiums and trendy restaurants. Added to Erickson’s concerns, with the a mortgage-led recession emerging in the U.S., the number of homeless can only get larger at least over the short term.

However, with enough support from the federal government in particular, Erickson remains hopeful that lofty goal of ending homelessness by 2015 will be reached.

Erika Silver, right, a program director for a Portland social agency, helps people like Andrea Pena, left, get off the street and find long-term housing.

‘There’s no perfect approach to this’

— from page 4

“They tend to be very difficult, they tend to drive other residents crazy, they give staff a constant bad time and they cross the line and can be evicted,” Blackburn said. “You work with them and work with them and staff are exhausted and say o.k., that’s it, bye.

“There’s no perfect approach to this but you can significantly reduce the number of people on the street by providing housing,” he said, noting about 400 people who’ve averaged 8.5 years of homelessness have been housed by CCC in the last three years.

He also urges social service providers to “throw out the parameters” and include both harm reduction and recovery approaches in their programs.

“Look at the person’s needs, what they want and what they are motivated to do,” Blackburn said and added that mixing those who want to quit their habits with those who don’t is a recipe for trouble.

“It’s more cost effective to customize your housing alternatives,” he said.

Under a plan to end homeless in a decade, the City of Portland and Multnomah County intends to establish 2,200 units of permanent supportive housing by 2015 -- 1,600 for chronically homeless single adults and 600 for homeless families with special needs.

About half of these units, 1,200, are expected to be found through new construction or acquisition and rehabili-

tation of existing buildings and the other 1,000 from existing units -- both affordable and private market -- through rent subsidies and services.

CCC owns 19 properties, totaling 1,300 units of housing.

Pride of place goes to the 11-storey Richard L. Harris building, named after Blackburn’s predecessor at CCC, that towers over a nearby park that used to be frequented by drug dealers but is now reasonably trouble free.

It not only holds 180 units of dorm-like single-room occupancy housing but a one-stop medical centre is housed on the building’s first two floors.

Similar to the Central Interior Native Health Centre in Prince George, it offers a wide range of health services including acupuncture, which Blackburn said is helpful in easing the cravings addicts are trying to overcome.

Blackburn’s emphasis on providing a wide range of options was a message not lost on Mayor Colin Kinsley who toured CCC projects during last week’s trip to the city of 570,000.

“The continuum of care is so very important,” Kinsley said. “I’ve heard about it, and I’ve now actually seen it in action. Get them into a bed and get the process started.”

Coun. Murry Krause had similar comments.

“It really is about the individual and the issues they have,” he said.

SPORTS

TriaThleTe fighTs off lyme disease

Ted Clarke Citizen staff

Angela Naeth doesn’t play baseball but it would not be a stretch to call her the queen of the curveball.

The past two years of her life as a world-class professional triathlete have been hit with a devastating series of pitches that threatened to end her career but she stubbornly refused to step out of the batter’s box and has returned to the top of her game.

Her triumph over the torturous effects of Lyme disease, which at one point left her virtually unable to walk, was confirmed Sept. 29 when the 37-year-old from Prince George won the Little Debbie Chattanooga Ironman in Tennessee, qualifying Naeth for next year’s Ironman world championships in Kona, Hawaii.

Naeth’s symptoms first cropped up late in 2017. She was feeling overly fatigued, had headaches, anxiety and depression and couldn’t seem to shake her intense leg pain. The pain was in her bones and it got so bad she thought she had broken a femur and her hips.

She went through MRIs and other medical procedures and a test for Lyme disease came back negative. Believing it was a virus, Naeth was told by one of her doctors to take a year off.

A few months later in April 2018 she went to the doctor who had fixed her foot injury and he referred Naeth to a Lyme disease specialist.

After a series of tests it was confirmed she had the tick-borne disease, which also gave her bartonella and babesia coinfections.

“I must have gotten bitten by a tick at some point, I do remember scratching something off the back of my head,” Naeth said.

She was put on heavy does of antibiotics and her symptoms eventually disappeared. She returned to racing and in 2018 had five podium finishes in Ironman and 70.3 (half-Ironman) races and won the Lobsterman and Boston triathlons, which led into the Ironman world championship in Kona, Hawaii.

“I felt great, I placed eighth in Kona, honestly, the most fulfilling race of my career,” Naeth said.

In January she went to a training camp in Florida and felt her symptoms coming back.

“Sometimes what happens with Lyme is the bacteria gets in your system and it’s sometimes not known if you get rid of it all,” she said. “So when you go through stressful periods there’s a chance for Lyme to build back up and it will take over your system again and basically that’s what happened.”

She was put on another intense round of antibiotic treatments. One of the drugs affected her blood pressure and in lateMay she fainted while training, fell and broke her wrist. It was not a clean break and required emergency surgery, but two weeks later a doctor in Colorado determined she needed another operation to fully repair the break.

Forced to wear a bar to immobilize her arm, Naeth missed most of the summer race season and still hadn’t qualified for Kona.

She raced in Denmark at Ironman Copenhagen in August and finished fourth but needed to place at least third to earn her qualifying spot.

However, her Chattanooga win means she will get to race in Kona next December.

“It’s just a sigh of relief in a sense that now I have a full year to get ready for this race and do the best I can,” she said. “It was an amazing experience (in 2018) and I’d be happy just starting again so I’m super-excited about being there and trying to give it my all.

“The great thing about this sport is you can be a professional for a long time. I started in my late-20s and you really have an avenue to make a living and have fun with it.”

Naeth’s first world championship in 2015 came less than two weeks after tearing a tendon in her foot. She was in sixth place after the 3.9-kilometre swim and 180 km bike when her injury forced to pull out of the race heading into the 42.2 km run.

Her eighth-place finish in 2018 marked the third time in her 12-year pro career she’s broken the nine-hour Ironman barrier. She first accomplished that in 2014 in her first win at Chattanooga and also dropped below nine hours in 2015 in Texas while winning the North American championship.

Naeth’s battle with infection is an ongoing process. She went back to her doctor a month ago and found out the bartonella infection is still present.

“Ticks can carry eight-to-10 different types of bacteria and give them to their hosts, and so many people go undiagnosed,” she said. “You could have headaches and someone treats you for headaches or you could have sore legs and someone treats you for fibromialgia or even (multiple sclerosis), it’s not something that’s well-understood.

“The biggest thing is to be your own self-advocate. Always get more than one opinion, get a second and third opinion and figure out all you can with it.

The standard medical system does not know about Lyme. So if you have symptoms that are odd, look into finding a Lyme literate medical doctor because those guys have gone above and beyond

in terms of the science and diving into the infections themselves.”

Naeth and her boyfriend/coach, Tim Snow, have home bases in Massachusetts and Colorado.

They came to Prince George for the holidays to spend a week with her parents, Kim and Don, and sister Miranda. The family is already making plans to head to Penticton in August to watch Naeth race in the Subaru Ironman, which returns to the Okanagan after seven years based at Whistler.

Naeth, a Prince George Secondary School graduate, has started her own triathlon team - I Race Like a Girl - and now coaches more than 300 triathletes around the world.

She travels around North America putting on instructional camps and offers online training programs and challenges to build a supportive network for female triathletes, which she found lacking in her own life while she was making the climb to the top of the world ranks.

“I would love to coach triathletes in Prince George,” said Naeth.

She can be reached through her websites iracelikeagirl.com or angelanaeth.com.

Robin Rudd, Chattanooga Times Free Press angela Naeth of Prince george breaks the tape at the finish while winning the little debbie Chattanooga ironman triathlon, sept. 29 in Chattanooga, Tenn. Naeth overcame a two-year struggle with injuries and lyme disease to qualify for the 2020 ironman world championships in Kona, hawaii next december.

Building levels smash record

Citizen staff

The value of all building permits issued this year from Jan. 1- Nov. 30 reached an unprecedented $217,348,799, with the month of December yet to be added to the total. That’s up from $182,318,492 in 2018, and $115,737,323 in 2017.

“The part about this being a record amount of building permits being pulled is starting to get really repetitive, year after year after year we’re seeing increases,” said city councillor Garth Frizzell. “The interesting part that you see in this one is that the institutional (permits issued) is low and the multi-family dwellings is skyrocketing. This is a good-news story about private investment in Prince George and it’s a record again, just remarkable.”

In November, 54 permits worth $23,587,389 were filed. Sixteen of those were for multi-family homes, worth $16,050,000, and 12 were for single-fami-

ly dwellings totaling $5,086,704.

Along with new construction, Frizzell says the city continues to demolish derelict buildings that are visually unappealing and are known to attract prolific offenders and reduce neighbouring property values.

Fueled by the steady building boom, hotel space has jumped significantly the past two years.

The Marriott Courtyard, which opening in May 2018, added 174 hotel rooms to the city’s inventory. A $15 million Delta hotel project being built by Mundi Hotel Enterprises Inc., on Sixth Avenue between Quebec and Dominion streets, will give the city an additional 95 rooms. Mundi also purchased the former Connaught Motor Inn at Victoria Street and Patricia Boulevard and has reopened the renovated rooms as North Star Inn and Suites.

Petrochemical plant takes step

forward

Mark nieLsen Citizen staff

The “starting pistol’s now been fired” on the next step in the process of securing provincial government approval to build a $2.8-billion ethylene plant in the BCR industrial site.

That’s how West Coast Olefins Ltd. CEO Ken James put it Dec. 20 in reference to a so-called Section 11 Order issued Dec. 10 by the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office.

The order outlines the formal scope, procedures and methods for a review. Steps will in include a public consultation period as well as a review by a working group, the EAO and the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation.

It follows on the submission in September of a 143-page project description. It provides the basis on which to decide the specific steps needed to get regulatory approval.

Feedstock for the plant would come from Enbridge’s natural gas pipeline via a recovery system made up of an extraction plant adjacent to the pipeline and connected to a separation plant at the BCR.

That requires approval from the province’s Oil and Gas Commission. An application will be submitted once negotiations on where to place the extraction plant have been completed, James said. Meanwhile, a meeting was held this week in Prince George with potential

investors.

“Local support and local money obviously sends a strong signal,” James said. “Right now it’s pre-marketing. We’re going to get into formal marketing in the new year.”

WCOL hopes to have the approval process wrapped up in time to make an investment decision in December 2020.

According to the submission to the EAO, the ethylene plant would account for as much as $2.8 billion worth of construction and, on the current schedule, the work would last from spring 2021 to summer 2023 and generate 2,000 to 3,000 jobs at its peak.

Once completed, it would employ 140 to 180 employees directly and 25 to 50 contract employees during commercial operation, and have an initial lifespan of about 25 years.

Ethylene from the plant will be supplied to adjacent ethylene derivatives plant at the BCR to produce polyethylene - essentially plastic in pellet form - and possibly mono-ethylene glycol - used as antifreeze and heat transfer fluid - for export to Asia.

“Fifty per cent of the world market for ethylene glycol and polyethylene are Asia and they’re the fastest growing markets so they’re going to make up a larger and larger proportion as the future unfolds,” James said. “And Prince George offers the lowest-cost production site in North America.”

The Pomeroy Inn & Suites, a 124-room hotel complex at 2700 Recplace Drive, also opened this year. Best Western Plus, a four-storey 93-unit hotel off Highway 16 near the Westgate subdivision, is nearing completion and is expected to open sometime early in the new year.

West Coast Hospitality Group is adding 42 new rooms to its 82-room Treasure Cove Hotel, while the adjacent Treasure Cove Casino is building a $3 million show lounge.

“The new hotel space has allowed us to put a bid in for the Sustainable Communities Conference, the preeminent municipal environment conference in Canada,” Frizzell said. “It’s held every two years and if we win it it’s because we’ve expanded the hotel space. The last time we bid for it they said we couldn’t accommodate the number of people who are coming.”

In October, ground was broken for the new UNBC student housing complex at 1404 Patricia Blvd., across from the Prince George Public Library, where work to construct a new library entrance is also underway. The Park House condominiums, a 151-unit $37 million project next to city hall is also well into construction

and when complete it will increase the residential population downtown.

“We’re building for growth in the city and we’re seeing the growth coming in,” said Frizzell. “There’s lots of good news on the horizon.”

Garth Frizzell

2019 in photos

Citizen photos by James Doyle

Top photo, Margaret Griffiths, right, and Brian Janecke share a Pulled Pork Toscana from Betulla Burning’s booth at the Canadian Western Bank Taste Pavilion during Downtown Summerfest.

Right photo, The College Heights Cougars hoist the Matt Pearce Memorial Trophy at Masich Place Stadium after defeating the Nechako Valley Vikings to become P.G. Bowl champs.

Bottom right, The crew from Misty Mountain BBQ used a little showmanship to sauce ribs on Sunday afternoon at Pacific Western Brewing on the last day of PG Ribfest.

Bottom left, Kelsey Abraham performed a Sneak Up dance at Canada Games Plaza as part of Heatwave 2019 Celebrate Cultures festivities.

2019 in photos

Right, Quinn Koehler raced around the track at Rolling Mix Supertrak BMX Park during the Supertrak BMX Ride for Life.

Second right, Carolina Kostner performed during Rock the Rink at CN Centre.

Bottom right, Lochlan Young, left, flipped Koen Heitman at the Prince George Judo Club during a demonstration.

Bottom left, Helix performed on stage at Exhibition Park during the third and final day of Cariboo Rocks The North. Middlses left, Natasha Jang made her way up the second of three routes at OVERhang Climbing Gym in the women’s final of the Crush Fest Bouldering Competition.

Top left, Craig Blanchard caught some air during a bike at the Crossroads

Biking, Paddling, and Fishing Festival.

OPINION

PATCHING UP CONFEDERATION

Homeless part of our city

ANIGHT SHIFT

NEIL GODBOUT

“happy-fault” pervades our country. On the one hand, the division caused by Justin Trudeau has finally forced an honest discussion about the cracks in our Confederation. On the other hand, due to our prime minister’s lack of deft and the rage he inspires across the country, the risk of a permanent fracture, de facto or de jure, is dangerously high. Canadians now stand before a growing abyss - will we close the gap or let gravity pull us down onto the rocks below?

Editor’s note: this editorial first appeared in the March 15, 2018 edition of The Citizen.

Regardless of whether one agrees or disagrees with Tiffany May’s letter (“Homeless people ruining city for all”), she has done Prince George a great service by sparking thought and discussion about homelessness.

Her tone is harsh, her criticism of the RCMP unwarranted and her depiction of the homeless trivial and largely inaccurate but her frustration is real, misplaced or not. She is also not alone in her anger and fear.

To be candid, I believe this country is worth saving. What I mean by “this country” is not clear even to yours truly, but in broad strokes, I don’t want the geography to change, though that is not to say the borders ought to remain the same as they are now within this landmass. As to questions of history and culture, whatever our imperfections, what we have to be grateful for far outweighs the events to regret: those who died to preserve our Dominion did not do so in vain.

No Canadian is an island. Our heritage of

These are common feelings, not just in Prince George but in people around the world, and that anger and fear is fueling wars, revolutions, protests, political movements and conspiracy theories. Discrimination and hatred, as well as social change and community engagement, are also happening as a result, some times in the same places at the same time.

The interesting thing about being a political candidate at 22 is not that people ask you questions about international affairs when they spot you at the bar but the fact that your age is the topic of every conversation.

THINKING ALOUD

TRUDY KLASSEN

Mumilaaq Qaqqaq, 25, was the youngest MP elected in the 2019 federal election for Nunavut. She recently tweeted “would you be asking the oldest MP how they feel about being the oldest MP?”

I have been reflecting on the experience a lot and thought if there are any other young women out there interested in running for office, I should share my experience with them.

In recent history, we have had Rob Ford elected as mayor of Toronto. Then, casting himself as standing up for the little guy, Donald Trump was elected to lead the world’s superpower. Then Canadians in Ontario did one better than Rob Ford and elected his even more inelegant brother Doug, not as mayor, but as Premier of Canada’s biggest province. Now, in the UK, Boris Johnson wins a huge mandate to push through with Brexit.

I had the absolute honour of being the Green Party of Canada candidate for Cariboo-Prince George in the most recent federal election. We grew our portion of the vote by almost 170 per cent from 2015 and I couldn’t be more grateful for every person who cast their vote for me.

Against the advice of the political elite, again and again, Westerners entered the ballot box and voted for the non-conformist candidate. The masses in the UK have de-

RIGHT OF CENTRE NATHAN GIEDE

Likewise, homelessness is a global problem, in countries and cities rich and poor.

Regardless of where they are in the world, poverty, violence, addiction, mental illness and trauma – alone or in combination – drives people into the streets, as it has for thousands of years, from the formation of the very first cities.

Not only has wealth, technology and social progress not stopped it, there is a strong argument to be made that it has only made it worse, deepening the disconnect between those with and those without.

That is how big and complicated an issue homelessness is and there is no simple solution or everyone would be doing it.

That doesn’t mean, however, that nothing can be done.

liberty requires defence and our democratic institutions require renovation if we are to prosper as a nation. This was an open secret from Confederation onwards, as the founding documents and dealings prove. But throughout the post-war period, particularly since the Canada Act of 1982, our country has been on a collision course, as successive governments picked winners and losers, finally enshrining them in law. A fatal tilt towards regionalism, legislation by activist judges and a cowardly Parliament have fostered a Canada devoid of leadership. We cannot build metal tubes on our own land for our resources; we prosecute those recommissioning ships to supply our Royal Navy; we send cash overseas, while the cupboard is bare for veterans, fur trappers, families, or seniors; and what little we redistribute is taken

Tiffany states in her letter that she prays for the homeless. It should be noted that many local churches and religious groups make helping the homeless and the working poor their top priority, devoting time, money and effort to the cause. Without their work, more people would be suffering and that pain would be felt much deeper in the community. Ten years ago, Citizen reporter Mark Nielsen joined a group of Prince George city councillors and community leaders on a fact-finding mission to Portland, Ore., a city that has

tHe rise of tHe

SENSIBLE SOLUTIONS

from long suffering regions and given to those now in surplus.

made serious headway on homelessness with its Housing First strategy.

The program took more than 1,500 homeless people off the streets in two years, finding people a place to live and then providing the necessary support, such as counselling and life-skills training, to keep that roof over their heads.

If all of that sounds expensive, it is but it’s still cheaper than the status quo. Portland officials told Nielsen that a chronically homeless person costs $40,000 per year in community services but just $28,000 when moved into social housing.

Meanwhile, downtown merchants paid for private security patrols to augment an increased police presence, which made the city centre safer for merchants, residents and the homeless. Downtown crime dropped by 30 per cent and pedestrian traffic increased by 25 per cent as a result.

There are dozens more issues, but the final indictment was self-inflicted by the Supreme Court. tephen Harper’s nominee was turned down by current justices and all of Harper’s temporary solutions to our constitutional contradictions were ruled out of order. Thus, the robed magistrates signed their own eviction notice, for if patching or repairing a crumbling foundation is unthinkable, then demolishing the entire structure is the only option left. While lacking in the dramatic sense, a hack is available to us. Quebec has never signed the Constitution, which begs the question if it was ever legitimate. Rather than amend the broken document that only adds to our ills daily, the rest of Canada ought to rescind their signatures with a simple majority vote. I have no doubt our oligarchs in Ottawa will scream bloody murder, but as an ornery outsider once said, “they are entitled to their opinion - now let them enforce it.”

Many will declare such talk inflammatory, perhaps even an incitement to

As Portland shows, community partnerships between the private and public sector, between police and social agencies, between health providers and aid groups, all backed with government support and funding is essential.

So is the attitude that the homeless are real people with real problems that can’t be fixed overnight with a one-size-fits-all solution.

TOO YOUNG ISN’T AN EXCUSE

Treating them with the dignity and re-

violence. I can only respond that our current social and political contract is a sham - no one with any integrity can defend it without caveat. No wonder nationalism and patriotism are prohibited words - they point to what is lacking under our noses: a country that makes any semblance of sense. Add to this the innumerable, unsustainable promises of every party, and who can believe this farce?

spect everyone likes to receive goes much further than detached pity and prayers. If cities and countries actually got serious about the old platitude about the true measure of a people’s worth is how they treat the poorest and most vulnerable members of society, perhaps things would be better.

Focussing on the plight of the homeless and the working poor doesn’t mean Prince George can’t work towards nice things to have, like arts and cultural events, beautiful parks, great roads, excellent schools and world-class health care. Not only can those things happen simultaneously, positive change drives further benefits that are good for everyone.

Cost is less the issue than commitment and patience, as well as the temptation to yank away government money at the first sign of improvements.

Again, I declare this country worth saving and the people in it worthy of “peace, order, and good government.” The last has long left us - I can only promise the other two will follow without serious course correction and that will reap civil unrest, sown decades past. But while there is still enough light to redraft our documents by, let us meet in good faith. Whatever the result, at least we attempted to keep the more than 150-year-old dream of Canada alive.

I am happy to suggest what those solutions might look like in later columns. Until then, we can only hope and pray the weak bonds holding us together endure the current tensions.

Anger and fear are useful emotions if they spark the desire to stop complaining, stop blaming others, stop saying that somebody should do something and start facing the problem head-on, start identifying solutions and start taking action. Thanks for your letter, Tiffany. Now let’s all get to work.

— Editor-in-chief Neil Godbout

non-conformists

MACKENZIE KERR

cided they would rather “go-it-alone” than live under an obscure form of “government-by-the-elite” in the European Union. Americans will very likely elect belligerent Trump again. Even Andrew Scheer, without a clear Conservative vision for Canada, but symbolizing the embattled “everyman” image, succeeded in gaining the popular vote.

Why is this? What is going on?

Voters seem to have a sustained public repudiation of the political elite and their politically correct ideas. Public distrust of government is high.

I’m not sure that I’ve fully processed the experience yet, but I’ll give it my best shot. If you want to be a candidate it’s helpful to know a little bit about everything and ideally be able to communicate your position in 60 seconds or less. Although I was able to do this, it was frustrating because talking about solutions to missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls deserves far more than 60 seconds.

Here’s the real secret though: I didn’t know a little bit about everything before the election.

You learn as you go, you get blindsided with questions about Huawei and Antifa, you stumble on your words, debrief in the car on the way home and are more prepared for next time. That’s how it goes. You realize pretty quickly that even sitting politicians go through this and it makes everything OK.

for looking for a way to strike back. When the government, when the “establishment” is not only seen but felt, to be serving their own or obscure interests over the interests of those they serve, the voter has one tool left.

The voter is never wrong, not because they choose only the best candidate, but because they collectively choose who they want to govern on their behalf.

I am under no illusion that those who vote for the non-conformist are voting for something.

(I shook a lot of hands) and say they are proud of me and agree with what I’m saying. The number of messages I received from people sharing that they have never voted Green before but were this time was incredible and made it all worthwhile.

they are hoping to have some influence. At the very least, they are voting for someone that will make the establishment’s lives as difficult as the “establishment” has made theirs.

The fact that these non-conformist leaders are generally right-of-centre is a reflection of the right’s greater sense of individual freedoms. The voter is not so eager to embrace a lower standard of living, higher taxes, ever more government red-tape to satisfy nebulous concerns or “expert” advice for daily living.

When your work is attacked; as in the oil and gas sector, undefended; as in the logging sector, your taxes increased to pay for increasingly high salaries for government employees far above the private sector averages, when your plans to house your parents are denied on your rural property; as in Bill 52; the public cannot be blamed

I learned a lot about prioritizing my time and energy for those that deserve it and trying not to let those that are rude get to me. I learned how easy it is to get distracted by the little things and worry about things that are unimportant. Sometimes you get caught up on the social media numbers or the nasty emails but then you have dinner at your parent’s house and try to explain to your younger siblings what you are running for again and everything is OK.

If we tell ourselves that we can only run if we are experts at everything, no one would ever do it.

I believe people are voting against something they see as very bad. The very bad they see is the increasing size and influence of a non-responsive government The average voter, the silent majority, feels disenfranchised. By voting for someone not afraid to make waves, someone willing to brashly throw themselves into the thick of difficult battles with the “establishment,”

When you’re the candidate, you have to make sure you aren’t just in a Green, or blue or red or orange bubble. You have to go outside your comfort zone and have great conversations with people you disagree with. There is always a place for your supporters and the people who just want to keep you going but there is almost nothing more important than taking constructive criticism seriously.

Therefore, entering the privacy of the ballot box, away from the lectures of the “politically-correct evangelists,” the silent majority make their voice heard.

Some of the most memorable moments occurred after the main events themselves. After debates or meet and greets, people would come up to me and shake my hand

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The silent majority is busy working, busy volunteering, busy raising their kids and grandkids, too busy to protest or troll online, but they do vote.

— Mackenzie Kerr is a UNBC forestry student.

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Accents And difficult conversAtions

Over the years, I’ve found that being authentic is one of the most important qualities I need to display with my students. From time to time, this requires me to admit that I am wrong.

I once corrected a student who was putting on a stereotypical Indigenous accent. His reply was, “I’m part Indigenous, this is my culture, so it is OK.”

To this I quipped, “Well, I’m half-German, so do you hear me speaking with a silly German accent?” He retorted, “Yes Mr. Chidiac. Sometimes you do.”

I could have tried to make an argument saying that what I was doing was more socially acceptable, but I knew that my student was right. I replied, “Fair enough. I won’t speak with a German accent anymore and you don’t speak with an Indigenous accent.”

My student agreed, and that was the end of the issue. Our society has taken up the banner in fighting certain examples of racism. For example, Justin Trudeau caused an international scandal when pictures of him dressed up as “blackface”

LESSONS IN LEARNING

GERRY CHIDIAC

and “brownface” surfaced during the last federal election. Yet there are many other issues we rarely discuss.

In my social justice class, I choose to focus on certain topics, including the impact of residential schools in Canada, the Congo crisis, the Armenian genocide and the Holocaust. From time to time I am challenged by my students on this, and I honestly reply, “I can’t cover everything in this class. I choose these topics because they are of interest to me and I use them as examples to illustrate the points we are making about social justice and genocide. They are certainly not the only examples I could use.”

I then encourage my students to research topics they are passionate about

Just start walking

Last night at a Christmas gathering, we raised a glass to a friend recently lost. Someone who has had a profound influence on how we live today in Prince George.

This loss shows just how fast time passes and how truly short life is.

We reminisced about our friend’s intensity and drive, not only as a builder, but as a leader.

Influenced by M. Scott Peck’s The Road Less Travelled, it was his vision and fierce determination in the mid 1990s that led 10 other adults with 19 children combined to purchase a quarter section of land and build an intentional community.

Only a man of integrity and heart could have accomplished such a feat. The community stands to this day in Prince George, a city that affords dreams coming to fruition.

As we remembered our friend, stories were shared that showcased his talent, work ethic and zest for life. It was due to his superhuman efforts that buildings shot up one by one on our commonly owned land.

His philosophy “to just start walking” was premium fuel for the effort.

Someone told how they would lay awake at night, probably because they’ve studied physics for years, trying to configure how logs should be placed to build a cabin. Without skipping a beat, this man would say, “what do you mean? Just do it like this.”

And that is exactly what they did. Two others spoke of how they were discussing how to move a heavy beam by hand.

Strategies and measurements were being carefully considered when he suddenly appeared, grabbed one end of the beam and said, “this is how you get it moved, you pick it up and start walking.”

There were other tales of humorous mishaps and falls exhibiting his strength and agility as he conquered projects one by one.

“He’ll make an excellent framer” is what our friend said to himself when he met a long time community member and

and present their findings to the class. This becomes an important component of my program. There are far too many social justice issues that are largely ignored, and any violation of human rights is a crime committed against all of us.

University of Toronto psychology professor Jordan Peterson stirred up a great deal of controversy, and also gained a great deal of support, by challenging proposed legislation which was intended to defend minority rights. In his opinion, this was an infringement on academic freedom and freedom of speech.

Perhaps Peterson’s most poignant argument was made during an interview with Cathy Newman on Chanel 4 in the United Kingdom. In reply to Newman’s challenges, he pointed out that though her questioning made him uncomfortable it was her job as a journalist to scrutinize his views. In the same way, it is his job as an academic to always seek the truth, regardless of public opinion.

Peterson’s point is that we cannot limit free speech or academic freedom for the

LATITUDE

LINDA REMPEL

social worker for the very first time and in fact he did. The funny thing is, a decade later our friend in turn became an excellent social worker. The irony makes me smile.

Many of us agree that in the history of our community, the building of the houses was a special time of unity. All the struggle and a common goal brought lives together to produce something quite incredible. Something bigger than ourselves.

This was the reason we decided to have an outdoor wedding on that snowy day in May, in the centre meadow of the property. I remember tents, dramatic fires, music, potluck and a wedding cake decorated with replicas of each building in celebration of our community. It was a cherished moment in time that cemented many relationships and irrevocably broke others.

It is a common thread in all of us to be accepted, to belong, and to find ways to devote our lives to something meaningful.

I was hopeful that intentional community was the answer.

Sadly, it was not.

If I am honest, our intentional community is still an unfolding experiment that has brought people together in deeply meaningful and lifelong friendships, while at the same time caused a great deal of pain and division.

Perhaps it would be more accurate and to the point if we had called it intentional relationships.

Our friend who has left us was bold and brave.

He had the courage to do more than just seek; over and over he chose to “just start walking.”

We were fortunate to have walked with him for a time.

sake of being inoffensive. All topics must be up for discussion.

Following this line of argument, my student was right to question why I would think it was OK to imitate one ethnic accent and not another. It is indeed a double standard, and though it made me uncomfortable, it needed to be discussed. I knew that I could not defend my actions and still be authentic.

Authenticity requires me to constantly seek balance. If it is wrong to make certain statements against one gender, it is wrong to make similar statements about another gender. If it is wrong to generalize the followers of one religion, it is wrong to generalize the followers of another religion. The truth is we are all equal, but this does not mean we are all the same. As humans, we can be horribly cruel to one another, yet there is something within us that revolts against any injustice and calls for true authenticity. May we always have the freedom to ask the difficult questions and the courage to seek the difficult answers.

Major court cases in 2019

Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff

Tears flowed in February when a Tachie woman was sentenced for fatally stabbing her on-again, off-again boyfriend in a confrontation fueled by drugs and alcohol.

Originally charged with second-degree murder, Annie Jean Anatole had pleaded guilty to the lesser included count of manslaughter in the death of Ryan Pierre on the Tachie reserve north of Fort St. James during an early morning in July 2016.

“I truly am remorseful for the death of Ryan,” Anatole said as she read a prepared statement during a hearing at the Prince George courthouse.

“I never could have dreamed of anything like this happening to him or to anybody. It hurts my heart to feel that I not only did I lose someone that I dearly loved but so did his family. I’m very sorry

from the bottom of my heart.”

In the first major sentencing of 2019 at the Prince George courthouse, she was sentenced to four years in jail followed by three years probation. Less credit for time served, she had 50 days remaining in her time behind bars.

In March, a new trial was ordered for Kayne Sabbe Penner, a Vanderhoof man who had been sentenced in 2017 to four years in prison for the December 2012 shooting death of his fiancee, April Johnson.

The B.C. Court of Appeal court found B.C. Supreme Court Justice Paul Pearlman’s charge to the jury was “inconsistent and confusing” with regard to the elements of the two charges Kayne Sabbe Penner was facing.

As well as finding him guilty of careless use of the firearm, the jury also found him guilty of the more serious count of manslaughter - and it was on that charge

that Penner was sentenced.

Later the same month, Smitty Ralph Bent was sentenced to a further three years and three-and-a-half months in prison for shooting a man in September 2017 who confronted him and a fellow culprit caught sneaking onto a neighbour’s property.

The man suffered a “through-andthrough bullet wound” that punctured his right lung and splintered his shoulder blade.

He nearly bled to death and ended up hospital for over a week.

As of February, when a sentencing hearing was held, the victim still had trouble with his breathing and use of one of his arms, the court was told. However, he declined to provide a formal victim impact statement.

Also in March, Jesse Cote was sentenced to a further two years and two months in prison for stabbing his boyfriend during a drug-fueled argument in March 2018 while the two were driving to Prince George.

If the victim had not waved down a passing vehicle along Highway 97 near Salmon Valley and got the occupants to call for help, he likely would have died, the court was told.

In sentencing Cote, provincial court judge Michael Gray told Cote that while an argument had preceded the stabbing, the attack was unprovoked.

Gray also noted that Cote has been diagnosed with a form of psychosis yet failed to take steps to get help, despite that being a condition of his bail from a prior incident

“You were responsible for your conduct,” Gray told Cote.

In June, Michael Campbell-Alexander was sentenced to three more years in prison for opening fire in October 2017 on an adversary in the driveway of a Tamarack Street drug house.

Video from a security camera showed Campbell-Alexander sneaking out from another door as Cody Aubrey Lornsten was leaving the home and then pulling the trigger on a .22-calibre pistol.

The video showed flashes of gunfire as Lornsten returned fire with a shotgun and then escaped despite a wound to his leg.

However, his dog, who was on a leash was killed. Campbell-Alexander, meanwhile, was hit in the ankle with buckshot.

He originally faced seven charges, including attempted murder, but eventually pleaded guilty to five, including discharging a firearm with intent to wound and killing an animal.

In November 2018, Lornsten was sentenced to a further two-and-a-half years for possessing the shotgun.

In July, a then-64-year-old woman, Debra Velma Penttila, was sentenced to two years in jail for stealing more than $350,000 from her employer while working as an office manager in Prince George.

Between November 2004 and February 2011, she used her co-signing authority to alter 166 cheques adding up to $362,740 to make them payable to herself, then spent the money on gambling, the court heard.

The fraud lasted until year-end accounts had to be reconciled in early 2011 and Penttila realized she could no longer cover up the fraud.

In October, one of the final loose ends in the June 2018 death of a College of New Caledonia student as she tried to jaywalk across Highway 97 was tied up when the driver of the pickup truck that hit her was found not guilty of driving while impaired.

Witness testimony established that Michelle Dac was observing the speed limit just before the accident and had no chance of stopping when Kaur ran out from in front of a van stopped in the right lane.

Matters were complicated when Dac guzzled a mix of cooler and vodka to try to calm herself down after the collision.

After watching video surveillance taken at the liquor store where Dac made her purchases right before the accident, provincial court judge Peter McDermick said concluded she seemed steady on her feet and found there was reasonable doubt as to whether she was impaired.

Also in October, Ivan Christopher Skin was sentenced to nearly six years in prison for a violent December 2017 invasion of 2100-block Redwood Street home.

During a trial, victims said three people wearing masks burst into their 2100-block Redwood Street home, one carrying a bat and a can of mace and another carrying a gun and all yelling at the occupants to stay down and not look at the attackers.

The trio made off with a video game machine, cash and cellphones after going through the home over the course of 1520 minutes.

At least two of the occupants were hit in the head and one was pistol whipped, creating a cut that required special stitching and left a scar, the court heard.

Testimony regarding Skin’s “squeaky man voice” and the discovery across the street of a bag holding a hat linked to Skin through DNA testing put him at the scene.

Co-accused Vincent Williams and Theresa Marie Charlie were acquitted in June of all charges due to a lack of evidence.

Following perhaps the biggest trial of the year, Perry Andrew Charlie was found guilty in November of seconddegree murder in the drug-related shootings deaths of two men and serious wounding of a third nearly three years ago.

He will join co-accused Seaver Tye Miller and Joshua Steven West in sentencing in 2020 on the same count while Aaron Ryan Moore was sentenced to five years on two counts of criminal negligence causing death.

Less credit for time served, he had 282 days remaining.

Much of the verdict hinged on testimony a man who drove the four to the scene and of his friend, who had come along for the ride.

Defence counsel’s case depended heavily on some apparent confusion when one of the two identified Charlie from a police photo pack.

David Laurin Franks and Thomas Burt Reed, as well as Reed’s Shih Tzu dog, Molly were killed in a hail of gun fire after Franks parked his car at a pullout on Foothills Boulevard near North Nechako Road to carry out a drug deal.

Bradley William Knight, who dove onto the back seat floor, was the sole survivor.

PiPeLiNe CoNtroverSy eSCaLateS

Mark NielseN Citizen staff

A long-simmering dispute between the builders of a natural gas pipeline and those who oppose it came to a head in 2019.

While most of the First Nations along the Coastal GasLink pipeline have been in favour of the project, there remained one group of holdouts and for years they had been operating a checkpoint near a bridge crossing the Morice River south of Houston.

On a cold day in January, RCMP were called in to enforce a temporary courtordered injunction against the blockade and arrested nine people. If you hadn’t heard of the Unist’ot’en before that day, you probably had afterwards as the event vaulted the name to national prominence.

It is a house within the Wetsuwet’en form of traditional governance and while the First Nation’s five elected band councils are in favour of the project, most of the First Nation’s hereditary chiefs support the Unist’ot’en, who are against letting the pipeline run through their territory. Moreover, the hereditary chiefs also claim that the band councils’ authority ends at the edges of their respective reserves while they have authority over the rest of the Wetsuwet’en traditional territory.

The stakes are high. Coastal GasLink is a $6.6-billion project that is to deliver natural gas from the B.C. Peace to the $40-billion LNG Canada facility in Kitimat, 670 kilometres away.

January to show solidarity with their fight against a LNG pipeline.

Benefit agreements have been reached with 20 First Nations along the route, including the five Wet’suwet’en elected bands, adding up to $338 million over 25 years. And contracts on the project adding up to $620 million have been awarded to First Nations and a further $400 million to other companies.

In June, lawyers for Coastal GasLink’s owner, TC Energy, argued for extending

the injunction to the end of 2021. They called rerouting that particular section of the project an impossibility because it’s the best path through the project’s most difficult section.

And while a decision on that application remains pending, the company won a dispute on another front. In July, the National Energy Board said it will not be putting the project to a review, reject-

ing a submission from Smithers-based environmentalist Mike Sawyer that it is part of an interprovincial system. TC Energy appears confident the court will side with extending the injunction. In December, deliveries of pipeline were made, starting with the Chetwynd and Kitimat areas. However, as of November, none of the route south of Houston had been cleared.

City ShowS reSiLieNCe iN dowNtUrN

A litany of curtailments and shutdowns dominated the headlines as the Interior’s forest sector suffered the consequences of the pine beetle epidemic, the softwood tariff and low demand for Canadian lumber.

The situation was quickly turned into a political football as the New Democrats accused the Liberals of failing to plan for the inevitable and, in turn, the Liberals accusing the NDP of being slow to act. Heightening the acrimony, the NDP quietly delayed $25 million worth of projects from the Rural Dividend Fund, a keystone of the Liberals’ economic support program for the province’s small communities, and put it towards a $69-million support package for displaced sawmill workers.

The step did not go over well with the Opposition but drew support from the United Steelworkers Local 1-2017 presi-

dent Brian O’Rourke who matched the volume on behalf of his members, many of whom are aging and more than ready to take a buyout being offered under the program.

Small communities have been hit hard as their major employers invoked lengthy curtailments or outright shutdowns. In an effort to bring the town’s plight into the spotlight, a rally in Mackenzie during the summer drew about 1,000 people and speakers from across B.C.’s political spectrum. Fort St. James, meanwhile, was put in a holding pattern as the town awaits construction of a new sawmill after Hampton Affiliates took over tenure previously held by Conifex. And Canfor’s supermills in Vanderhoof and Houston were reduced to four days a week while West Fraser operations in Quesnel took similar hits.

The list goes on, but when it comes

to Prince George, those chickens have barely come home to roost. Although rising, the city’s unemployment rate still remains below the historic average of seven per cent - testimony to the resilience of a much more diversified local economy. And the value of construction, as measured through the building permit process, reached a new record with two months left to go in the year.

From a sawmill and pulpmill town, Prince George has grown into more of a service centre for the region, making it better equipped to weather through the busts that follow the booms.

Of course, it helps that with the exception of one local sawmill, Canfor’s Isle Pierre, operations in and around Prince George have generally been chugging along albeit with a few unpaid vacations along the way.

All that said, there is no doubt the sec-

tor is going through a transition. Perhaps the biggest predictor of things to come came in the form of a report from the Council of Forest Industries. One of its overarching themes is that the products the B.C. forestry sector churns out need to move up the value chain.

The report came out in September and about the same time local value-added lumber producer John Brink committed $1 million over 10 years to the trades and technology program at College of New Caledonia. During a speech at an event to announced the gift, Brink said there is still a future in forestry and noted his company is in the process of expanding operations in Prince George, Vanderhoof and Houston.

“What we are doing is saying we understand the challenges that we have today but we believe that the future looks bright going forward,” Brink said.

Citizen file photo Supporters of Unist’ot’en camp braved -24 C weather outside of the Prince Greorge Law Courts in

Strikes hit city in November

Mark NielseN Citizen staff

Call November the month of the Prince George trike.

For three weeks, about 180 members of the University of Northern British Columbia Faculty Association walked picket lines at the main entrance to the campus and around the Wood Innovation and Design Centre.

At an energetic rally held the day before it began, UNBC FA president Stephen Rader said that while professors could look forward to generous increases in their salaries, “almost nothing” was being offered to those who support their work, “the lab instructors, the librarians and the other members of our union.”

He also said the aim was to “set the

foundation for UNBC’s success for decades to come.”

“We are all going to feel the pain of this, but students in 10 or 20 or 30 years will be grateful that we have laid the foundation for a university that is strong and is built on the basis of respect,” he said.

With that in mind, the strike began Nov. 7, putting students in a state of high anxiety. Many participated in rallies in support of their instructors but most appeared to bide their time, catching up on their readings and assignments as much as they could while waiting for the action to end.

On Nov. 29, it finally did. But things are far from settled.

The Faculty Association filed a com-

plaint with the Labour Relations Board alleging bad faith bargaining. The union’s members are also refusing to perform duties beyond holding lectures and working with students.

In mid-December, the sides agree to take their differences to a process in which an arbitrator selects between the parties’ best and final offers and without the ability to ‘split the difference’ between the two.

As for the semester, classes were extended 10 days and there were no final exams.

As if that was not enough, some 185 CN Rail conductors, trainmen and yard workers in Prince George were part of a week-long nationwide strike in search of better working conditions.

Police kePt busy in 2019

Mark NielseN Citizen staff

Prince George RCMP were kept hopping over the course of 2019.

Here’s a look at some of the more memorable and odder moments:

- In March, RCMP seized $1 million worth of cash and cannabis from a home in the city.

Police said a search of the propertythe address was not provided - uncovered more than 55 kilograms (121 pounds) of dried cannabis, a significant amount of other forms of cannabis products and more than $550,000 in cash.

Several firearms and ammunition were also seized.

“This is a substantial seizure resulting from the investigation of persons previously not known to police,” said Insp. Shaun Wright in a statement.

“Our officers will continue to target those persons that do not abide by Canadian law, including the Cannabis Act.”

A man and a woman were arrested but later released without charge, pending the completion of the investigation and charge approval from the federal prosecution service.

- Two men - one of them well known to police - were the subject of a high-profile takedown in June.

Jamie Hal Hammerstrom and John Robert Barton Craig were arrested when a vehicle linked to a theft of a gun and ammunition from a Chief Lake home earlier in the day was spotted by police. They were apprehended in the vicinity of Highway 97 and Noranda Road.

An RCMP officer fired off a round in the act and the area was subsequently closed for several hours to allow investi-

gators to gather evidence. Hammerstrom, in particular, has long been regarded as a prolific offender by police.

Both remain in custody with their cases scheduled to go to trial in July.

- A Prince George man remains in custody on suspicous of making and distributing child pornography.

Shawn Robert Dick was arrested in July and charged with one count each of sexual assault, sexual interference, administering a stupifying drug and voyeurism, Prince George RCMP said.

RCMP said the charges are result of receiving a report earlier in the month in which a girl was identified as the victim.

- In October, RCMP made a rooftop arrest of a man wanted on several outstanding charges.

Johnny James Boys was apprehended

Four homicides during past year

Mark NielseN Citizen staff

It did not take long for the first homicide of the year to be recorded in the Prince George area.

On Jan. 16, the body of a 40-year-old local man was found in a ditch along West Lake Estates Road, off Blackwater Road, south of the city.

Police were called to the scene about three hours after volunteer firefighters were called out to deal with an aban-

doned vehicle that had been set ablaze on Chilako Station Road in the Beaverly area and RCMP suspected a link between the two.

The victim’s name was not released.

Roughly five months later, on May 11, a 48-year-old man who was in an electricpowered wheelchair died from injuries suffered in a hit and run on Victoria Street between 15th and 17th Avenues.

Police later located the suspect vehicle, a dark-coloured 2012 Jeep Grand Chero-

kee SUV with extensive damage on the passenger side. However, the vehicle was found abandoned and no arrests have been made.

On June 24, the remains of Brent Allan Fulljames, 32, were found in the Miworth area and police considered the death suspicious.

Fulljames, whose criminal record included sentences for firearms and drug-related offences, had been missing since May 20.

A show of force was made at one point when about 150 gathered in front of Mr. PG and received honks of support from passing drivers.

As negotiators worked to hammer out a deal in Montreal, one local employee shared his story with the Citizen of long hours on the rail.

Nathan Briggs, a conductor who runs trains along the east-west line from Smithers to McBride, talked about his 10-to-12-hour shifts and round trips of 30-to-40 hours two or three times a week.

To the relief of everyone involved, a tentative settlement was reached on Nov. 29 and was to be presented to members for ratification over the next one or two months.

after police showed up at a 1400-block 3rd Ave. apartment.

Shortly after knocking on the door of a second-floor unit, Boys was seen climbing out the window and onto an adjacent roof. Police followed and found him hiding in a a ventilation shaft on another roof.

Boys remained in custody as of Dec. 17.

- In December, a downtown boutique was the victim of a brazen break in when a thief broke in through the store’s ceiling to make off with cash from the till.

Butterfly Threads co-owners Jacquie Clarke and Robyn Shergill said they have had problems in the past with vagrants hanging out in the alley behind the store and doing drugs and camping on the 555 George Street building’s rooftop.

Then, on Oct. 5, Gregory Wale was found dead in his home, less than a day after getting into a fight at the corner of 20th Avenue and Redwood Street. Wale was taken to hospital with serious injuries but left on his own accord shortly afterwards, RCMP said.

Police issued photos of two men suspected of playing a role in the fight, but so far no arrests have been made.

Investigations remain open on all four cases.

SPORTS Dream playoff run captivateD city

Ted Clarke Citizen staff

The first championship team in the Prince George Spruce Kings’ B.C. Hockey League history captivated the city last spring like no other Kings team that came before them, packing sellout crowds into the cozy confines of Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.

Hockey fever lasted well into May as the Spruce Kings dominated their BCHL opponents and reeled in the Fred Page Cup and Doyle Cup trophies to advance all the way to the national junior A hockey championship final.

It was a dream season that fell just one win short of perfection.

“We had tremendous hockey players and we had such great young men and the defining factor was how well they got,” said Kings general manager Mike Hawes. “They all bought in to what we were doing and we never had one player who came to us at any point in the year to complain about icetime. They accepted their roles, played hard and were great kids off the ice and it just gelled.”

That Kings team - the story of the year in Prince George sports - was no overnight sensation. It took three years to assemble that mix of talent, grit and brotherhood, and for that group of players to learn what it takes to win in the playoffs.

The seed was planted in 2017 when the Kings gave the Wenatchee Wild a scare in the first round of playoffs, rebounding from a 3-0 series deficit and coming within a couple last-minute goals from extending that series to the limit.

In 2018, after winning their first regular season division title, the Kings gutted out two seven-game series wins, and a five-game conference championship before losing to the Wild in a five-game final, their first since joining the BCHL in 1996.

Last season, armed with a veteran crew which included defencemen Layton Ahac, Dylan Anhorn, Jay Keranen, Liam Watson-Brawn; forwards Ben Poisson, Ben Brar, Patrick Cozzi, Dustin Manz and Nolan Welsh; and goalie Logan Neaton, the Kings were obvious favourites to advance to the Fred Page Cup final again and they dominated the playoffs like no other BCHL team had before them, winning 16 games and losing just one. They followed that with a six-game Doyle

Cup regional championship win over the Brooks Bandits, but the Bandits got their revenge with a one-goal win in the national final in Brooks.

“We beat some pretty good teams last year, I wouldn’t say handily, but when you go 16-1 in the playoffs, it’s never been done before and probably will never be done again,” said Hawes.

“It just goes to show the calibre of the players we had and the people we had on the ice. I’ve been in junior hockey long enough to know there are challenges we have here in Prince George that other teams in our league don’t have - to bring players in and recruiting and geography and the amount of time we spend on the bus and convincing kids to come and convincing parents it’s a good place to be. A few years ago we turned that corner and don’t have that problem anymore, but it took a lot of hard work to get that. ”

The Spruce Kings had won PeaceCariboo and Rocky Mountain junior league titles but never a BCHL title. Now in his 16th season with the Spruce Kings, Hawes admitted he doubted that would ever happen, knowing there’s no player draft to help recruit the best available players to a city whose closest opponent is six hours away.

“To be honest, if you’d asked me that five years ago I probably would have said

no,” said Hawes.

“Part of our thought process then was, let’s put competitive teams on the ice that are entertaining and keep the doors open,” he said.

“A few years ago it got to the point where I started thinking, what do we need to do to take it to the next level. We turned the corner I think when we brought Chad Van Diemen in as the coach and had a couple good seasons there and then we rolled Adam (Maglio) in as coach. The organization really took off from a player development standpoint and with the college commitments that we started to get, people took notice and I knew we had something special.”

As a community-owned team, the Kings have always enjoyed a strong fanbase and that was never more apparent than in the playoffs, where people lined up hundreds deep to get their tickets before they sold out.

“The hockey people in the community who have been coming to our games for 25 years or longer and buying our show home tickets for that length of time, they know where that money’s going and it helps us have success and move players along,” said Hawes.

“You can’t say enough about the community and the support we get. It takes a community to raise the Spruce Kings

organization to where it is.”

There was no shortage of exceptional local athletes whose accomplishments in their chosen sports warranted consideration for story-of-the-year status.

World-class professional triathlete Angela Naeth triumphed in her two-year fight with injuries and Lyme disease. In September, the 37-year-old Naeth won Ironman Chatttanooga in Tennessee to qualify for the world Ironman championship next December in Hawaii, where she will try to improve on her eight-place finish from 2018. She is the Citizen’s choice as our comeback athlete of the year. (See story page 8).

Marathoner Jacqui Pettersen’s determination to try break the three-hour barrier going the 42.2-kilometre distance almost came to fruition in October, where the 48-year-old neurologist clocked 3:01 at the Berlin Marathon. Her time was good enough to qualify Pettersen for the age group world championships in April in London. She’s also locked up a spot in the Tokyo Marathon, March 1, the only one of world’s Big Six marathons Pettersen has yet to race.

Pro baseball first baseman/outfielder Jared Young continued his climb to the major leagues in April when the Chicago Cubs promoted Young to the double-A Southern League Tennessee Smokies. The Cubs’ minor league player of the year in 2018 hit .235 in 123 games for the Smokies and went on to play in the Arizona Fall League for the Mesa Solar Sox, among a group of 180 minor league ballplayers selected for the AFL. Motocross racer Jess Pettis started the year racing stadium events in the United States and by early February as a rookie on the AMA Supercross circuit he posted five top-12 finishes before an injury in practice sidelined him.

The 22-year-old still had a cracked wrist when he started the Rockstar Energy Triple Crown MX tour as the defending 250cc points champion and still managed to finish second overall in the national points standings.

Prince George lost two of its sports legends in 2019. Fred Doig, the “father of lacrosse” who brought the sport to the city in the early 1960s, died at age 91 on June 11 after a lengthy illness. Jack Meda, a former Canadian heavyweight boxing champion, died at age 73 on Sept. 22 of a heart attack.

Citizen file photo

the prince George Spruce Kings won the 2019 Doyle cup wth a 4-2 win over the Brooks Bandits in may.

AROUND TOWN COMMUNITY CALENDAR

New Years Boogie

Thursday, Jan. 2 from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Bob Harkins Branch, Prince George Public Library, 888 Canada Games Way, welcome the New Year with a library dance party. Disco balls, glow sticks, and great beats. Put on your dancing shoes and celebrate 2020. For 0-9 yrs. Contact: 250-563-9251 | ask@ pgpl.ca

awaY From Home

Saturday, Jan. 4 from 7 to 9 p.m. at ArtSpace, above Books & Co. 1685 Third Ave., Away From Home: A Musical Cabaret performed by Margaret Rose is an evening of songs and storytelling about living away from home. Accompanied by the talented Peter Stevenson and with guest appearance by Jim Sayle, on fiddle. Doors at 7, show starts at 7:30. Tickets in advance at Books & Co. are $15 or $20 at the door. Contact: 250-981-0231 | Mkeery@sd57.bc.ca

BegiNNer cross couNtrY ski lessoNs

Monday, Jan. 6 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at

8141 Otway Rd., Caledonia Nordic Ski Club offers free beginner cross country ski lesson for seniors (55+). Half price ski rentals and trail fees. Register at 250564-3809 | office@caledonianordic. com.

ukulele Jam sessioNs

Tuesday, Jan. 7 and every Tuesday until May 5 from 7 to 8 p.m. at Bob Harkins Branch, Prince George Public Library, 888 Canada Games Way, everyone is welcome to the Ukulele Jam Sessions for Adults. This is a monthly ukulele jam session for absolute beginners or those just wanting to work on their skills. Use one of our ukuleles or bring your own. Free drop in. Contact: 250-563-9251 | ask@pgpl.

BegiNNer sNow sHoe lessoNs

Wednesday, Jan. 8 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Otway Nordic Centre, 8141 Otway Rd., the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club offers free snow snowshoe lesson for seniors (55+). Half price snow shoe rentals and trail fee. Register at 250-564-3809 | office@ caledonianordic.com

HeartBeat meetiNgs

On the third Monday of the month at the Foundry, 1148 Seventh Ave., at 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. for youth between 12 and 24 and for adults at 6:45 to 8 p.m., there

is a peer support group meeting offering empathy, encouragement and direction for those who have lost a loved one by suicide. If the door is locked, please knock. For more information contact Sandra Galletti at galletti@telus.net or call 250-961-9330.

acapella cHorus

Every Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Studio 2880-15th Ave, back entrance, the White Spruce City Acapella Chorus is looking for women of all ages to tuneup and re-energize their passion for singing. Everyone is welcome for fun, laughter and friendship. For more information call Pam 250-562-9855.

meNtal HealtH meetiNgs

The first and third Wednesday of every month at 11:15 a.m. at 1139 Sixth Ave., the Prince George Mental Health Consumer Council welcomes the public to regular meetings. For more information call Sherry at 250-562-1839.

caNtata siNgers

Every Wednesday from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at , St. Michael & All Angels Anglican Church, 1505 Fifth Ave., the Prince George Cantata Singers, a group of about 60 voices (ranging in age from 17 on up), come together each week to sing in harmony for musical performance. The choir performs about two to four major concerts per year, divided into two ses-

sions from Sept. to Dec. and Jan. to June. Event fee is $90 per session.

FridaY NigHt mics

Every Friday at 7 p.m. Books & Co., 1685 Third Ave., in Cafe Voltaire, hosts an open mic night for all musicians local or just passing through. The weekly event features great music, audience engagement, tasty beverages and treats while intermission finds people browsing through book shelves filled with contributions from local authors as well as best sellers. For more information visit www. booksandcompany.ca.

scraBBle suNdaYs

Every Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Books & Co., 1685 Third Ave., in Cafe Voltaire there is Scrabble Sunday every weekend. Bring friends, family or yourself and your scrabble board. Contact: 250-563-6637 | orderbooks@shaw.ca

wordplaY opeN stage

Third Thursday of every month Books & Co., 1685 Third Ave., hosts Wordplay Open Stage Night in Cafe Voltaire from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. This event is geared for poets and storytellers, aspiring, published or professional. Bring original work, take the stage and share with a creative reading.

Science’s big leaps in last 10 years

It often feels as if the pace of modern life has led to a much more hectic world. This is true in the sciences as well as everyday living. Major breakthroughs abound and the 2010s demonstrate this vividly.

The last decade has seen several major advances in physics. One of the world’s largest scientific instruments was brought online. The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN consists of a 27-kilometre tunnel housing hundreds of superconducting magnets capable of carrying pulses of protons at speeds approaching the speed of light. It smashes the particles together with enough energy to release the particles governing the forces of nature. Specifically, the LHC was searching for the Higgs Boson and in 2012, the ATLAS detector provided evidence of the particle for the first time. The Higgs Boson is part of the mechanism which gives rise to mass.

In 2016, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO)

detected the distant collision of two black holes by observing the rippling distortions the collision produced in spacetime. The instrument validated Einstein’s theory of gravity and has opened up a whole new area of gravitational wave astronomy. It has been joined by the Virgo observatory in Italy and a LIGO observatory is planned for India. We have now detected over 50 gravitational wave events generated by either colliding black holes or neutron stars.

This year, we got the first glimpse of a black hole. By utilizing radio telescopes in different parts of the world, astronomers were able to piece together an image of the supermassive black hole and its shadow in the centre of the galaxy M87. The results confirm the calculations of German physicist Karl Schwarzschild building on Einstein’s theory of general relativity. Furthermore, it provides additional evidence that there may be a black hole at the centre of the Milky Way. Yes, we may all be circling our way around a giant cosmic drain!

But the past decade hasn’t been just about physics. Computing has advanced by leaps and bounds. Quantum computing may be on the verge of becoming a reality. At the heart of these machines is quantum entanglement – the idea that once two sub-atomic particles engaged in a quantum state with one another,

they remain entangled permanently. This means multiple q-bits reflect each other’s state in a way which allows for values other than just zero and one. In effect, instead of having binary computation, it is a probability computer. The resulting machine is capable of doing certain calculations very much faster than ordinary machines and brings us one step closer to truly thinking machines as the human brain employs much of the same architecture albeit not at a quantum level.

Another major advance in computing has been AI and machine-learning. For good or for bad, computational power has been brought to bear on a wide variety of problems which were once thought to be the purview of humans. For example, AIs are as good as – if not better – at reading mammograms and detecting the early traces of breast cancer. AIs are also able to analyze the cutting pattern for logs in a saw mill at a speed no human can match. There are numerous AI programs now capable of beating humans at chess and more recently the world champion at go. And we have AIs able to drive cars.

The past decade has also seen major advances in biology and biochemistry. We are now able to sequence the genome of any living creature – and we are learning much about the relationship between genes and their manifestation in physical

characteristics. Not as much as the hype would have us believe.

For example, there is no single gene governing intelligence or athleticism. But the source of some genetic diseases have been identified. And the development of CRISPR-Cas9 holds out the promise of being able to alter the DNA of afflicted individuals.

Gene editing is not without its risks. Inherent dangers arise from the possibility of unexpected consequences. An attempt to fix one gene might result in the unanticipated modification of another. But rewriting the human genome has already been attempted and we will now have to wait to see the results.

Perhaps the most dominant scientific endeavours of the past decade have been around climate change. We now know the models scientists have been developing for the past 50 years have been validated. Their predictions of 20 years ago have been shown to be consistent with the modern world. Further research over the past decade is refining the models and bringing us a better understanding of the potential future we face.

Unfortunately, in the past decade, the science has not had the impact on the politics of the planet. Perhaps the next decade will see us finally get on with addressing the problems before we pass the tipping point.

It is with great sorrow that we announce that Colleen passed away on December 16, 2019 after a long fight with cancer. She is survived by her husband Al Hall, her sons Jason Douglas and Adam Hall, grandsons Tyler, Dallas, and William Hall. In addition, she is survived by numerous brothers, sisters, nieces,nephews and best friends Betty Wong and Anna Cardinal. She is predeceased by her father, mother and two brothers.

She will be sadly missed but never forgotten.

Norman Sawyer

Norm passed away peacefully on December 18, 2019 at the age of 77. He is survived by his loving wife Diane, son Tony (Ann) Kelley Sawyer, Tony (Joanne), Sean Bacchus, Natashia (Truman) Spring, grandkids

Jade, Alexina, Konner & Alexander, sisters Muriel Yorke & Evelyn Weir, nieces and nephews We are grateful for the years we were blessed to have you in our lives. You will forever be in our hearts. Norm was an accountant and retired from Netherlands in 1998. He spent many happy days at his cabin on Fraser Lake.

A celebration of life will be held on the May long weekend, 2020, at his cabin at Fraser Lake when we will spread his ashes. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the PG Hospice Society.

Doreen Ramsay

March 30, 1931December 9, 2019

The family of Doreen Ramsay are very sad to say goodbye to Our Mom / Gramma

Doreen passed away peacefully at PG Hospice house in the early morning of Dec 9th. We are all missing her deeply.

Born March 30, 1931 , Earned her angel wings December 9, 2019

Predeceased by husband David.

Survived by sons, David, Don (Linda), Doug (Faye), Rick (Sylvia), daughter, Lynn (Danny)all of their children, and grand children.

Thank you to PG Hospice house for taking such wonderful care of our mom/gramma in her final days and making it as comfortable as possible for her and her family.

There will be no service by request.

REMEMBRANCES

Popovich

March 23, 1931December 10, 2019

Vivian Popovich passed away on December 10, 2019. She is predeceased by her husband Lawrence, sisters Gloria (Jimmy) Zimmaro, Josephine (Clive) Black and Geraldine (Paul) Weglin. She is also predeceased by her brother-in-law Harold Mahy, nieces Lorelie Black and Jo-Anne Cole (and her husband Darwin). Vivian is survived by her sister Rosemarie Mahy, sister-in-law Helen (Del) Blackstock. She was an aunt, great aunt and great-great aunt and was also known as “auntie” to many of her friend’s children. The smell of perked coffee, treats on the table and great chats will fondly be remembered by her dear friends. Family dinners were legendary and left lasting memories for those who loved her. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Heather, Chris, Doreen and Rosanne for their devotion to her care. Special thanks to Dr. Cabbage and the staff at Simon Fraser Lodge for their professional care, compassion and support. Prayers will be held January 3, 2020 at Assmans Funeral Chapel at 7:00 pm. Funeral service to be held January 4, 2020 at 11:00 AM at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Margaret (Peggy) Beatrice Hotvedt

December 12, 1939December 12, 2019

It is with deep sadness we announce the sudden passing of Peggy Hotvedt of Prince George B.C.

Born December 12, 1939 in Prince George, B.C.eldest daughter to Lloyd and Florence Clifford.

Peggy was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Dennis (Jake) Clifford, Peter Clifford, sister Karen Kiss.

She is survived by her loving husband Reg Hotvedt, her brother’s Kent and Lorne Clifford. Sisters Bambi & Pat

Daughters Laurie Larson, Maureen & Barry Innes, Lisa Hotvedt & Zoltan Nagy

Sons Peter & Gloria Larson, Stacy Larson

Grandchildren: Deanna (Pete), Gabe, Kurt (Stephanie) Chase, Kirsti, Harlan, Kelsea, Brooke, and Kaelynn

Greatgrandchildren: Marli, Erik, Kaylie, Tyson, Jake, Tyler, Faith, Dalen, Jocelynn, Jermiah and Hudson as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family!

A Celebration of Life to follow in May

Maria Melo Branco

(February 25,1943December 15,2019)

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Maria Melo Branco, our beloved mother, grandmother, and friend.

Maria passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of her family at Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, BC on December 15, 2019 at the age of 76.

She is survived by her daughter, Deborah, son Luis (Kathy), her granddaughters Amaya, Zaida, and Iylah, all of whom she loved dearly, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Maria was predeceased by her husband, Luis Branco, her brother, Manuel Botelho, and by her parents, Beatriz and Joao Botelho.

Maria was born in Agua Retorta, Azores where she met the love of her life, Luis Branco. She immigrated to Canada in 1967. Together, Luis and Maria started a family in Prince George, BC where they raised their two children. Family was a significant part of her life to the end and she cherished every moment she spent with her children and grandchildren.

Maria will always be remembered as a warm, loving, and caring person who touched the lives of many. We will always treasure her honesty, incredible sense of humor, and infectious laugh.

We would like to sincerely thank our family and friends for the overwhelming support we have received during this difficult time. A special thanks to her doctors at Royal Columbian Hospital and to her home care support network for taking care of mom.

Prayer services will be held on Friday, December 27, 2019 at 7:00 pm at Sacred Heart Cathedral and Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, December 28, 2019 at 10:30 am at Sacred Heart Cathedral.

Life is not forever - Love is. We will miss you, Mom.

PrinceGeorge. Comejointhefamilyas wesurprise(hopefully) Dadonhisbirthday. Therewillbealight lunchwithcake at12:30pm. Nogifts,please. 250-563-3355(Sandi) sturner@shaw.ca

March 6, 1979 - December 29, 2013

Jason, our main Man, we are really missing your wonderful smile and humour at this special time of year. Yet, your Loving Spirit continues to shine on all year long. Thank you, Sunshine, our memories of you never cease to bring us all smiles. Take care Spud-man, look after Mom, your little Brother, and the whole Gang there with you.

Colleen Ann Douglas

Vivian

Deus Lhe Deia o Eterno Descanco

Obituaries

JASON ROSS MIDDLETON

In Memoriam

Obituaries

WET’SUWET’EN FIRST NATION

(Formerly Broman Lake Band) PO Box 760, Burns Lake, BC V0J 1E0

Phone: (250) 698-7307 Fax: (250) 698-7480

JOB POSTING

Email:wfnchief@lakescom.net

JOB POSTING

POSITION TITLE: General Manager

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: The General Manager will be responsible for day-today operation of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation Administration Office, Headstart Program, and other affiliated programs and services under the direction of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation Chief or designate.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: The General Manager will be responsible for day -today operation of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation Administration Office, Headstart Program, and other affiliated programs and services under the direction of the Wet ’suwet’en First Nation Chief or designate.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Human Resources Management including, conducting staff meetings, personnel management, training and orientating new staff, drafting contracts, managing timesheets and payroll, administrating performance reviews, and solving disputes. Conduct teambuilding workshops and activities and providing guidance and mentorship to staff.

RN’s and LPN’s

Casual Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses needed for in home 1:1 pediatric respite care for medically fragile children in your area.

Offering union wages, paid training and full support.

For full details and to apply visit www.resourceability.ca

• Supervise all programs and services administered by WFN including assisting program managers, coordinators, and staff in preparing reports and writing proposals. Encourage staff to develop their programs to fulfill and exceed our responsibilities to membership, including out of community members.

• Ensure policy and procedures are followed by staff, council and chain of command

• Ensure all budgets are being followed and financial statements are prepared monthly and work closely with the Finance Officer. Ensuring all required reporting to Aboriginal Affairs Northern Development Canada (AANDC) and organizations that provide services and programs to WFN.

• Supervise all programs and services administered by WFN including assisting program managers, coordinators, and s taff in preparing reports and writing proposals. Encourage staff to develop their programs to fulfill and exceed our responsibilities to membership, including out of community members.

• Promote Wet’suwet’en culture, language and values in our programs and services.

• Ensure policy and procedures are followed by staff, council and chain of command

• Respond to and listen to community members’ concerns and advocate on their behalf by giving them direction and ensuring their concerns are dealt with appropriately and respectfully.

• Prepare media releases and assist Chief and Council with communications with other First Nations, Hereditary Governments and Non-Wet’suwet’en Governments.

• Attend Finance Council Meetings, Community Members Meetings and other meetings as required.

• Ensure all budgets are being followed and financial statements are prepared monthly and work closely with the Finance Officer. Ensuring all required reporting to Aboriginal Affairs Northern Development Canada (AAND C) and organizations that provide services and programs to WFN.

• Review all incoming mail and direct to appropriate person with direction for follow up.

• Conduct short and long term strategic planning for WFN

• Promote Wet’suwet’en culture, language and values in our programs and services.

• Draft a work plan with deliveries and deadlines

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

• Knowledge of Wet’suwet’en governance, history, culture and traditional values, mandatory.

• Respond to and listen to community members’ concerns and advocate on their behalf by giving them direction and ensuring their concerns are dealt with appropriately and respectfully.

• Knowledge of Wet’suwet’en (Carrier) language an asset.

• Prepare media releases and assist Chief and Council with communications with other First Nations, Hereditary Governments and Non-Wet’suwet’en Governments.

• A minimum of 5 years combination of education, skills and experience in Business Administration, Human Resource Management, Financial Management, Proposal Writing and Fundraising.

• Attend Finance Council Meetings, Community Members Meetings and other meetings as required.

• Demonstrated experience in CMHC and AANDC housing/Infrastructure policies and procedures and other AANDC programs and services.

• Review all incoming mail and direct to appropriate person with direction for follow up.

• Knowledge of UNDRIP, Indigenous Rights and Titles as well as thorough understanding of methods of decolonization, self-determination and Indigenous governance.

• Conduct short and long term strategic planning for WFN

Wearelookingfortwoexperiencedjourneyman plumberstojoinourserviceteam;weofferacompetitive benefitspackage.Ifthisopportunityissomethingyou wouldbeinterestedin,pleaseemailyourresumetoBrett atoffice@mayfairinc.comoraccounts@mayfairinc.com.

Maintenance Planner

Babine Forest Products is currently searching for a full time Maintenance Planner to join our Burns Lake operation.

The successful candidate will have strong communication, mathematic, organization and problem solving skills. Red Seal certification in industrial mechanics (Millwright) is preferred. Good hand-eye coordination and a strong understanding of mechanical and engineering concepts are required. You should be detail oriented with an ability to meet deadlines and oversee teams, and have advanced knowledge of Microsoft applications (specifically Excel). Understanding basic financial concepts (estimating and budgeting) would be an asset.

• Draft a work plan with deliveries and deadlines

• Excellent interpersonal and team management skills; problem solving skills, conflict resolution

• Experience in community development and governance/organizational reform and the ability to provide progressive policy advice to the Chief, Council, Community Members and Staff.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

• A proven track of record of financial accountability and transparency.

• Can demonstrate them to be respected by the indigenous community, participate in community events and potlatches.

• Knowledge of Wet’suwet’en governance, history, culture and traditional values, mandatory.

• Knowledge of Wet’suwet’en (Carrier) language an asset.

• Ability to write business reports, press releases, presentations and other documents.

• Ability to maintain high level of confidentiality.

WAGE RANGE: Wages to commensurate with education and experience.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday, January 10, 2020

Please submit cover letter and updated resume with (3) written references pertaining to the General Manager to the address below:

ATTENTION: Chief Maureen Luggi

WET’SUWET’EN FIRST NATION #21 Tom Drive PO Box 760 Burns Lake, BC V0J 1E0 Fax: (250) 698-7480

Email: wfnchief@lakescom.net

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE ONLY THOSE THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE NOTIFIED

Core responsibilities include: creating maintenance schedules for all plant equipment, determining tools and supplies needed for each piece of equipment, maintaining spare parts inventory, developing maintenance and training manuals, estimating labour and parts costs for industrial equipment.

Babine Forest Products, working jointly with First Nations, provides equal opportunity for employment including First Nation status privileges. All applicants will receive consideration for employment. We offer competitive compensation, benefits and the potential for career advancement.

Resumes will be accepted until January 3, 2020. We wish to thank all those who apply; however only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Please forward your resume to:

Anne Currie, Human Resources Assistant Babine Forest Products Limited 503-291-5591 (Confidential Fax) #HRCanada@hamptonlumber.com

Babine Forest Products Limited, Burns Lake BC

R0011776818

& Acreages for

Contest starts: October 3, 2019 Contest closes: February 5, 2020 at 5:00pm

Entrants further grant the Prince George Citizen the right to use and publish their proper name online and in print, or any other media, in connection with the Contest.

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into. Prize must be accepted as awarded.

All entries must be received by 5pm February 5, 2020.

General rules:

No purchase necessary. Maximum one original newspaper entry per participating advertiser location will be accepted. Contestants must reside in BC and must be 19 years of age. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.

Prince George Citizen reserves the right to restrict the local winners to only persons whose primary residence is within a 100 mile radius of the affiliate’s’ office.

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The Contest and all of the related pages, contents and code are copyright of the Prince George Citizen - Glacier Ventures and/or participating advertisers. Copying or unauthorized use of any copyrighted materials, trademarks or any other intellectual property without the express written consent of its owner is strictly prohibited.

Each winner, by acceptance of the prize, agrees to release all Sponsors, and their parent and subsidiary companies, their officers, directors, employees, agents, shareholders, affiliates, suppliers, distributors, and advertising agencies from all liability, claims, or actions of any kind whatsoever for injuries, damages, or losses to persons and property which may be sustained in connection with the receipt, ownership, or use of the prize.

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Contest entrants agree to abide by the terms of these Official Rules and by the decisions of the contest commissioners, which are final on all matters pertaining to the contest.

Winner must provide name/names of those able to leave on the trip the night of the draw, Thursday, February 13, 2020. Must be in attendance to win.

This contest is officially sponsored by Prince George Citizen and the 20 participating advertisers.

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