Prince George Citizen January 23, 2020

Trombone Tune

Man guilty of Drug, gun CriMes

Mark NIELSEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Prince George man who was the subject of an RCMP surveillance operation was found guilty of 14 drug- and firearms-related counts.

Ricky Allan Frederickson was arrested on June 1, 2017, a day after RCMP began to shadow him. He was seen driving around the city in a large SUV and meeting up with people and stopping at locations known to police while also periodically returning to his 400-block Gillett Street home.

Police had also determined he was moving into an 800-block Johnson Street home, apparently because he had been evicted from the Gillett Street one due to

the damage found in the suite.

Police moved in on Frederickson after they saw a woman stop at the Gillett Street home, leaving the door of her pickup truck open as she ran inside, to make what appeared to be a quick drug purchase. When she was pulled over, RCMP found needles and a flap of heroin in a glasses case in her purse, making Frederickson valid for arrest on a count of possessing a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. Frederickson, meanwhile, had gone to a 1900-block Maple Street home. He stayed there for two hours and upon leaving was arrested.

In the SUV, RCMP found a satchel containing large quantities of drugs, cash

and Frederickson’s wallet, along with a deconstructed taser, knives, a baton and a digital scale with drug residue on it. A lease agreement for the Johnson Street home with Frederickson’s name on it, and keys to the home, were also found in the SUV.

In the master bedroom of the Johnson Street home, RCMP found a handful of firearms and a lock box that, upon being unlocked by one of the keys found in the SUV, was found to be holding more drugs. Other than a bed, there was not much left in the Gillett Street home. However, RCMP did find ammunition and digital scales holding residue from a variety of drugs in various locations.

See JUDGE on page 4

More area kids in poverty, report says

Lori CULBERT/Postmedia

Mark NIELSEN/Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Nearly one in five children living in the Fraser-Fort George Regional District live in poverty, according to a report released last week.

First Call: B.C. Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition says 3,860 children, or about 19 per cent of those living in the FFGRD, live below the after-tax lowincome measure or 50 per cent of the adjusted median household income.

The proportion is about on par with the provincial average but up from 17 per cent reported two years ago. The numbers issued Tuesday are from 2017 Statistics Canada data - the most recent available.

It also says 52 per cent of children in lone-parent families in the FFGRD are under the mark, compared to 51 per cent for the province as a whole while seven per cent of children in two-parent families are in that situation, compared to 11 per cent for the province as a whole. The poverty rate for all those living in the FFGRD stood at 15 per cent, compared to 18 per cent for the province.

In an interview, First Call provincial coordinator Adrienne Montani said the provincial NDP deserves credit for pledging to cut child poverty in half by 2024 but it will have to act with far more urgency in order to meet that target.

Montani said she remains “cautiously optimistic” for two reasons.

One is a pledge to fund the child opportunity benefit, which will provide tax-free monthly payment to families with children, pegged to a parent’s income, starting Oct. 1. The second is how quickly the NDP will continue its investment in affordable child care.

In turn, Social Development and Poverty Reduction Ministry Shane Simpson said child poverty numbers have come down in recent years, largely due to a benefit plan introduced by the federal Liberals in 2016.

See CITY on page 4

P rince G eor G ecitizen

Citizen Photo by James Doyle

Guest trombonist Brian Wendel plays during the Prince George Symphony Orchestra’s Songs, Stories & Serenades concert on Saturday night at Vanier Hall.

weapons charges

net more jail time inside edge

Mark NIELSEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The subject of a rooftop arrest in October was sentenced Friday to a further 15 months in jail.

Johnny James Boys, 26, was wanted for failing to appear in court on allegations of break and enter and weapons possession from two incidents in June 2019 when RCMP were alerted on Oct. 24, 2019 that he was seen in the London Hotel in the 1400 block of Third Avenue. Boys was seen climbing out the window and onto an adjacent roof. Police found him hiding in a a ventilation shaft. Boys was sentenced to 30 days in jail on counts of willfully resisting or obstructing a peace officer and mischief $5,000 or under for damaging the roof's vent. Boys suffered bigger consequences for the first of the two June incidents. He was sentenced to a consecutive term of 18 months, less credit of five months for time in custody prior to sentencing, for possessing a firearm without a licence. That stemmed from a June 4 incident when RCMP came across a stolen pickup truck with an incorrect licence plate for that type of vehicle and some bikes in the back at a gas station on Fifth Avenue. It sped away when RCMP turned on their

lights and police elected not to pursue it. But about 20 minutes later, police received a report of a suspicious vehicle on Gillett Street. A witness saw a man pull the truck over, throw some items over a fence and then take off. Police found Boys riding a bike while carrying two bags and accompanied by a pit bull dog.

Upon seeing police, Boys dropped one of the bags and in it, RCMP found a .22-calibre semiautomatic rifle with its stock removed and a full 10-round magazine inserted into it, although without any bullets in the chamber.

Two days later, Boys was released on $2,000 bail, but on June 18 at about 4 a.m. an alarm company alerted police to the discovery of someone inside the compound of a towing company in the 1500 block of Foley Crescent. Police arrived to find Boys at the site. It appeared he was trying to retrieve some items from the pickup truck. About three weeks later, Boys was released on $1,000 bail.

On Friday, he was sentenced to an additional 30 days in jail for trespassing and the term came on top of the 13 months from the June 4 arrest and the 30 days for the Oct. 24 arrest. Boys was also sentenced to 18 months probation, issued a 10-year firearms prohibition and assessed $300 in victim surcharges.

of the Quesnel Figure Skating Club skates in the STAR 5 U13 Women Free Program on Saturday afternoon in Kin 1 while competing in the 2020 CNCR Regional Championships. For more photos from the figure skating, as well as the Kelly Road senior boys basketball tournament, visit pgcitizen.ca

Banner year for local construction

Construction in Prince George reached finished well ahead of the previous year's record-setting pace, yearend building permit numbers show. Over the course of 2019, 611 permits for $223.1 million worth of work were

issued, shattering the records set in 2018 when 515 permits for $186.6 million were issued. By the end of October, the 2018 total had been eclipsed and another $29.3 million over 70 permits was added over November and December.

The total value includes another record-breaking number: $206.4 million

Home PriCes rose in 2019

T he average price of a single-family home in Prince George rose by 5.9 per cent in 2019, according to statistics released by the BC Northern Real Estate Board.

A total of 922 single-family homes were sold across Prince George during 2019, with an average price of $371,443.

By comparison, the average singlefamily home sold for $350,713 in 2018 and $319,167 in 2017.

The total number of single-family homes sold in 2018 was 917, and 1,020 houses sold in 2017.

House values varied significantly by

area, with the median price for a singlefamily home in College Heights coming in $429,900. In the Hart the median house price was $377,500.

In the bowl west of Highway 97, the median house price came in at $335,000 last year.

East of Highway 97, the median price was $280,000. In total, 1,417 properties of all types worth $491.7 million were sold in the city in 2019, up from 1,400 properties of all types worth $444.9 million in 2018.

Across northern B.C. the total of property sales stayed flat at approximately $1.5 billion, however the total number of properties sold declined.

of private sector investment, which is about 93 per cent of the total permit values for the year.

Strikingly, the number of new multifamily permits more than doubled from 33 in 2018 to 72 in 2019 and added up to $52.4 million worth of work, well up from $21.7 million the year previous.

Single-family homes accounted for $72.4 million on 138 permits, down from $77.8 million on 139 permits during 2018. A few of the year’s most-valuable permits include the student housing development at 1404 Patricia Blvd. ($13 million) and the Horizon North hotel at 585 Dominion St. ($11.34 million).

Citizen Photo by James Doyle Katelynn Grant

Citizen staff

Citizen staff

Judge reJects testimony

— from page 1

Drugs found include nearly 118 grams of methamphetamine, 58 grams of cocaine and 27 grams of heroin laced with fentanyl. Cash found in the satchel added up to more $11,885 plus $220 in counterfeit bills

The firearms found were a SKS 7.62-calibre semi-automatic rifle. a .22-calibre semi-automatic pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun and a sawed-off shotgun with the serial number removed.

In finding Frederickson guilty, provincial court judge Cassandra Malfair noted that ammunition seized at both homes was capable of being fired from the guns. Documents with Frederickson’s name on them, including a criminal record, were found in the Johnson Street home while there was no evidence that anyone else lived in either home, she also noted.

Much of defence counsel’s case hinged on testimony from a friend of Frederickson’s who claimed another man who died about two months after the arrest owned the guns and drugs. He was also the registered owner of the SUV. However, Malfair found several inconsistencies in the woman’s testimony leading her to conclude she had been coached on what to say.

Even if she had believed the woman’s testimony, Malfair said she still would have found Frederickson jointly possessed the weapons and, in the process, violated a lifetime prohibition against possessing firearms.

In all, he was found guilty of 11 offences related to the guns and of three counts of possessing a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking.

Sentencing will occur at a later date.

City committee looking at poverty

— from page 1

Simpson said he is confident the benefit will bring a major drop in poverty rates affordable child care in the province continues to expand, but growth is hampered by needing to train more early childhood education teachers and getting enough physical spaces open.

The NDP’s reduction plan has also committed to boosting the minimum wage over the next two years and increasing welfare and disability rates. But Montani argued the government needs to speed up these changes, calling the current rates “unconscionable.”

The numbers are based on the after-tax low income measure - or 50 per cent of the region’s median household income.

Governments typically use a market basket measure but First Call said it’s a faulty measure.

Also last week, the city’s select committee on poverty reduction held its third meeting since it was formed to develop a response to the NDP’s plan, dubbed TogetherBC. Made up of about a dozen members representing various social agencies as well as the school district and Northern Health, they focussed on increasing the stock of affordable housing.

Suggestions raised included continuing the city’s tax exemption program for multiple-family housing, providing incentives to encourage secondary suites and encouraging affordable housing in areas where seniors feel safe.

Cold brings out the latitude

ILATITUDE

LINDA REMPEL

’m so grateful to have survived that record-breaking bitter cold last week. Grateful that family, friends and pets are safe, and that we made it through. When it is that cold, the stakes are at a whole new level: our very survival. Wood heat, a 20-year old North American vehicle and patience made all the difference. I feel like we are all getting better at cold. It almost seems like it is business as usual as our great city fixes water main breaks and clears the snow. Heating companies go over and above to help folks with boiler problems, and unbelievably, a cat missing for eight months finally comes home. 44.4 degrees below zero must have been a convincing argument. I’m not sure if we have always been good at coping with cold weather. Perhaps acceptance grows with age and experience makes us calmer. But I remember a few stories not so long ago of peril and survival.

One story was about fifteen years ago when my husband was heading home one frigid -35 C night after finishing his midnight shift at St. Pat’s. We had just had a baby and lived in a cabin about 30 minutes from town.

When he didn’t arrive when he should have, I began making calls. He was nowhere to be found. After an hour, I started to panic. Should I bring in more wood? Call the neighbours? Finally, I

decided to call the RCMP. The person on the other end of the line joked “he’s out having beers with his buddies.” I argued that there was absolutely no way that was true. After a second call, they still wouldn’t take me seriously as I pleaded for them to check the highway. I think they did end up sending a car eventually, but the sexism of that response still bothers me to this day.

Meanwhile, my husband was about halfway home when his vintage truck said goodbye to this world with a seized engine right on the highway. Visibility was very low with blowing snow and no one would stop. He was not dressed that well for the cold.

In desperation, he looked around and headed for the first house he saw.

There was a diesel truck running in the driveway, so he knew someone had to be home. It is a whole other story that he was able to make a call, a miracle really. Somehow, he managed to connect with a friend who headed out straight away to rescue him.

But when his friend arrived with a near empty gas tank, the two of them had to drive all the way back to town for a fill-up, and then turn back around and head home. In the end, three hours late in minus 35, and he survived!

There is something special about Prince George. Our latitude gives us a little bit of everything. It is not always comfortable, and sometime very scary, but the challenges often bring us together as a community as we soldier on through the seasons. This resonates with me because I know I am a part of something beautiful: full of heart, still becoming.

bylaw dispute plan adopted

Mark NIELSEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Fraser-Fort George Regional District directors took a step last week towards signing onto a provincial system for resolving disputes over minor bylaw infractions.

Under the bylaw notice adjudication system, an FFGRD bylaw enforcement officer would have the authority to issue tickets carrying fines of up to $500 for alleged infractions.

In turn, those who dispute the tickets would be able to take their issues to a provincially-appointed adjudicator.

As it stands, the FFGRD seeks voluntary compliance from residents as a first step in dealing with alleged bylaw infractions.

If that cannot be obtained, the matter is taken to court.

According to a staff report to directors, giving the officer the power to issue a ticket and the receiver to take it to an adjudicator would act as “intermediate enforcement tool” between voluntary compliance and going to court.

Hearings would be held twice a year and the adjudicator would be appointed by the province’s deputy attorney general.

At a cost of $4,000 per year, the system is seen as less costly than turning to the court.

“The bylaw notice adjudication system is a simple, fair and cost effective system for dealing with bylaw infractions,” staff say in the report.

Currently, over 90 municipalities and regional districts - including the City of Prince George - are using the system, which was created in 2003 through provincial legislation as an alternative.

Last Thursday, staff was directed to ask the B.C. Attorney General to add the FFGRD to that list, a process expected to take about three months.

Robbie Burns fundraiser Saturday

Citizen staff

The third annual Robbie Burns Night celebration takes place Saturday night at the Exploration Place at 6:30 p.m. as a fundraiser for the Prince George Symphony Orchestra.

The traditional piping in the haggis will take place featuring renowned piper Marvin Hawke.

There will be a roast beef buffet dinner with neeps and tatties (turnips and potatoes) along with other vegetables to follow and the haggis will be on offer for those who would like to try the infamous Scottish dish.

"For the last couple of years the emphasis was on ceremony in the Scottish Robbie Burns tradition and were a little

bit stuffy and we're calling this one Robbie Burns Unstuffed," Teresa Saunders, general manager of the PGSO said.

"So it's a party and it's just meant to be a wonderful and fun evening while at the same time raising money for the PGSO."

There will be the hilarious toast to Robbie Burns, the Scottish people's poet, a live auction and 50/50 draw.

Then the real action begins with a variation of the Highlander Games including mini contests of skill and silliness, including many from the Scottish tradition.

"There's going to be a mini pool tournament, putting in the Scottish style and a Scotch sampling booth in the middle of it all," Saunders said. "There's a card tour-

nament and haggis toss and a tabletop curling tournament."

Burns Bucks can be purchased in the games room, which will allow guests to play all evening.

There will be a live band playing throughout the night for those wishing to dance.

"Come out and enjoy this Robbie Burns Night out with a new twist," Saunders said.

There is a complimentary shuttle ride home from 9:30 to midnight.

Tickets are $80 per person or $560 for a table of eight.

Tickets are available until Thursday at www.pgso.com or at the office at 288015th Ave. or call 250-562-0800.

Cannabis grow-op going to salmon Valley

Citizen staff

Aquest to establish a small-scale cannabis growing operation in Salmon Valley has won approval from the FraserFort George Regional District.

Directors voted unanimously last week in favour of adopting a zoning amendment to house a micro-cannabis growing and production facility on a site of up to one hectare on a roughly 16-hectare property at 27000 Hart Highway.

Because the FFGRD's zoning bylaw does not allow operations on rural properties smaller than 259 hectares, an amendment was needed. However, it was also noted that an amendment to the official community plan was not needed because the property's zoning supports agricultural use, including cultivating and harvesting cannabis.

A public hearing on the matter, held in October, drew just three people and lasted six minutes. During the meeting, applicant Ariane Gollub agreed to work with the Salmon Valley Volunteer Fire Department to develop a pre-incident plan once the operation is running.

The operation will be subject to setbacks of not closer than 60 metres from the rear or side lot lines and not closer than 30 metres from the front lot line.

Magic show set for cN ceNtre

Christine hinZMAnn Citizen staff

One of the five magicians who will be performing during the Champions of Magic show coming to CN Centre on Sunday said he knows live performance inspires children because that's how he came to do what he does.

Richard Young, one half of the U.K. illusionist team Young and Strange, said he was 10 years old when he saw David Copperfield and knew magic was what he wanted to do.

To avoid the pitfalls of just being another act, Richard Young and Sam Strange knew they'd have to take a unique turn to create a successful show. When a magician friend put them in front of a mirror

and told them to take a hard look - one's tall and thin, the other short and not thin - they knew it had to be magic with a strong comedic twist to it.

"I think that's why we've done so well and why people seem to like what we do - I think we're honest and true to who we are," Young said.

Young said he and Strange give a nod to the classic illusions but there's always something else that goes along with it.

"You can't just saw a girl in half any more, unless it's parody of a bygone era," Young said. "So if you're winking to the fact that magicians just used to do that, it will work but you just have to modernize it a little bit because you just can't do that any more."

Local artist chosen for Ducks Unlimited portfolio

CitiZen stAff

T he work of a Prince George artist is among that featured in Ducks Unlimited Canada’s 2020 National Art Portfolio.

Ken Ferris’s painting Morning Solitude captures a trio of northern pintails resting peacefully along the shoreline as the morning sun rises.

It is one of just four pieces selected from hundreds of submissions. It also earned him the title of DUC’s 2020 Waterfowl Stamp and Print Artist.

“Ken Ferris is not only an outstanding artist, he is also one of Ducks Unlimited Canada’s greatest ambassadors,” said

Michaela Bell, DUC’s national manager of retail operations.

Ferris has had a lifelong interest in art and nature. In 1978, he quit his full-time job at a retail store to become a full-time wildlife artist. His painting will be made into a special print and stamp set, which will be auctioned through DUC’s fundraising initiatives.

Money raised supports DUC’s wetland conservation projects, scientific research and education programs.

DUC's Prince George banquets are set for April 4 and Oct. 23. For more information, visit www.ducks.ca/nap

Young said when you think about it, those classic illusions really are amazing and then there's the twist.

"All the boxes are glass," he said of his version of the illusion. "So you see the girl being sawn in half."

Every form of entertainment has to evolve to appeal to today's audience, he added.

Young and Strange have created a twist on the classic developed by Houdini and his wife Bess called Metamorphosis. Bess was tied up and locked in a trunk while Houdini stood on top of it. They magically switched places as Houdini threw a sheet over himself.

"So Sam and I have really gone to town on this illusion," Young said. "We looked

at this illusion with a fresh pair of eyes and modernized it and put an interesting spin on it with a surprise. We brainstormed it all and it's very ambitious. We literally invented a new magic principle to pull off the surprise."

The show features five different magicians including specialties like close-up magic, escape art, mind reading and the innovative illusionists Young and Strange.

Young said it was important to make the show as accessible as possible so tickets start at $20.

"Kids need to be inspired and seeing a live show is one of the best ways for it to happen," he said.

Tickets at www.ticketsnorth.ca.

MongoMo keeps breaking records

Ted Clarke Citizen staff

Heading into the twilight of her UNBC Timberwolves career with just six regular-season games left in her final season of eligibility, there’s no shortage of material to stoke Maria Mongomo’s sense of accomplishment.

When that final game rolls around, , she will top UNBC’s Canada West career charts in points, assists, steals and three-pointers and will rank second in rebounds and free throws. In a two-game series sweep of the UBC-Okanagan Heat in Kelowna over the weekend, Mongomo became the T-wolves’ all-time leading scorer, passing Vasiliki Louka, and also breaking Mercedes vanKoughnett’s career assists record.

But there’s one statistic that stands alone for Mongomo as the most meaningful. As long as she’s been with her team, she’s never missed a start in 86 games.

“I haven’t missed any games and I would say what I am most proud of is not stopping and continuing to the end,” said the 24-year-old Mongomo, who will graduate with a psychology degree.

Three years ago, she was hobbled by a knee injury but played through it. This season, she hurt her Achilles tendon in the preseason and still hasn’t fully recovered her speed and leaping ability.

Despite that, Mongomo scored a season-high 35 points Friday in a 104-54 win over the Heat and put up 30 points, 16 rebounds and five assists in the rematch Saturday, a 72-70 T-wolves’ victory. She now has 1,547 points and 192 assists in her career, with six games left on the schedule.

“My ankle has bothered me from the beginning but now I am better but I’m still recovering,” Mongomo said. “I got tendonitis in the preseason and it got worse. I was going to physio but the treatment requires me to not play, and

I want to play. Basketball is like that sometimes, you get injured and you have to work with what you have.”

Through 14 games, she’s averaged 18.8 points (fourth in Canada West) and 9.3 rebounds (fourth in the conference). She has 47 steals (second) and is averaging 2.4 steals heading into a weekend set against the Brandon Bobcats this weekend at the Northern Sport Centre.

Scoring points and setting up teammates is fun for Mongomo but she derives her greatest joy from stopping opponents cold in their tracks.

“I really love defending, it’s the best part of basketball,” she said.

The speedy guard joined the T-wolves in 2015 after head coach Sergey Shchepotkin spotted her while she was playing club basketball in her native Spain. Averaging 31.3 minutes per game that first season, Mongomo scored 17.5 points per game and was leading the T-wolves in virtually every individual category when she ran into problems with the expiration of her student visa, which forced her to return to Spain. That foul-up in paperwork was the only interruption in Mongomo’s university career. Despite missing eight games she was an obvious

choice for the 2015-16 CIS All-Rookie team, the first Timberwolf ever to win a national season award.

A native of Las Palmas, Spain, on the Canary Islands 150 miles off the northwest coast of Africa, Mongomo was eight years old when she made the switch from track and field to basketball, a game she could play outdoors year-round.

The T-wolves have made the playoffs in each of the past three seasons and last year defeated Trinity Western in the first round for their first-ever Canada West playoff win. That game and the T-wolves’ defeat of the previously unbeaten the Regina Cougars two seasons ago when Regina was gearing up to host the national championship rank as the biggest wins so far in Mongomo’s career.

The team records she set will follow her to into the next phase of her basketball career when she goes looking for pro opportunities but for now she’s more concerned with getting the T-wolves into a playoff position. Now 5-9, with six games left, the 12th-place T-wolves need to put together a winning streak to put a lock on a playoff spot. “We still have lots of the season to go through and hopefully it gets better,” she said.

Citizen Photo by James Doyle

UNBC Timberwolves guard Maria Mongomo drives to the net against University of the Fraser Valley Cascades defender Jessica Parker earlier this month at the Northern Sport Centre.

Gov't pot fails sniff test

NIGHT SHIFT

NEIL GODBOUT

Both in one-on-one conversation and by following social media discussions, it seems the legal cannabis sold at government-approved stores is both too expensive and, even more importantly, of inferior quality than what's available on the street or through online mail-order vendors.

Price was always going to be an issue. There's simply no way for legal weed to compete against the black market on cost after having to go through heavily regulated production, distribution and sales channels.

The only way the government will ever be able to corner the cannabis is to win on quality and, by extension, safety. People are willing to pay more for a superior product that they don't have to worry about whether it will hurt them because it's been spiked with God knows what. Store-bought cigarettes and alcohol are proof of that.

When top brands become established with consistently reliable quality and easy availability, the black market all but disappears.

Sure, you can buy moonshine and smokes on the sly for cheaper but why bother? Too much work.

Yet that's still not on the horizon when it comes to cannabis because the anecdotal verdict on government pot is that it's mostly second-rate crap that fails both the taste and smoothness tests.

And when there is good stuff, there's not nearly enough of it to meet demand.

As a result, regular users seem to have mostly stuck with their pre-legalization suppliers, whether that's "a guy I know" or the well-stocked private online distributors, who sell not just a wide variety of smoke but also a full menu of edibles and oils.

In B.C. and across Canada, provincial governments have not seen the sales (and the revenues into the public coffers) that they expected.

It's business at its most basic. At the moment, there's simply not enough incentive for the majority of consumers to switch.

Until the government-approved producers are able to gain the size and production efficiency advantage that lets them produce quality cannabis to satisfy mass market demand cheaper than what the black market can offer, legal sales won't be the first choice of many shoppers.

The whole point of ending marijuana prohibition was to corner the market in order to make the supply safer and to divert the proceeds away from organized crime and into the hands of governments. The cynical would refer to government as just another form of organized crime but at least governments build hospitals, schools, roads and bridges and pay teachers, doctors, nurses and people to pick up the garbage, keep the water flowing and clear the streets of snow.

That final goal, and the benefits it would provide to consumers and the general public, remains a pipe dream years away from becoming reality.

OPINION

The Ambrose AdvAnTAge

Conservative Party of Canada members were in a tizzy last week after La Presse reported that Rona Ambrose wouldn’t be running in the leadership campaign to succeed Andrew Scheer.

Ambrose was the interim leader of the party after Stephen Harper resigned when he lost to Justin Trudeau and the Liberals won an unexpected majority government in the 2015 federal election.

She was named interim leader on the condition that she wouldn’t run for the leadership, a condition more than a few Conservative MPs and card-carrying Tories around the country regretted by the time the leadership came to a vote in May 2017.

In the 18 months she led the party, Ambrose emerged as a star in the House of Commons, uniting the Conservative caucus and skillfully skewering Trudeau and his rookie government for every misstep.

As a former cabinet minister, she en-

joyed the support of the Harper loyalists while also pushing out a kindler, gentler vision of Canadian conservatism than her predecessor.

Meanwhile, the Conservative leadership race devolved into a burning hot mess of not ready for prime-time players (including the eventual winner Andrew Scheer) boring everyone to death while Kevin O’Leary, Kellie Leitch and Maxime Bernier made headlines with their Donald Trump impersonations.

Scheer won the leadership on the 13th (!) ballot at the leadership convention, narrowly defeating Bernier who had the most votes in every round prior to that deciding vote.

Scheer’s ascension into leadership was a classic Pyrrhic victory because he inherited a bitterly divided party that had put its ugliest qualities on full display during the leadership campaign.

That damage played more of a factor than Trudeau’s numerous self-inflicted wounds in the minds of Canadian voters, who reluctantly chose to give the Liberals a second term (albeit a minority) this past fall.

Scheer’s campaign performance was brutal and he did little to attract discern-

ing moderate voters in Central Canada. He couldn’t even win in Ontario, a province that had enthusiastically placed Doug Ford in the premier’s chair a year earlier.

Election night wasn’t even over before Scheer’s political obituary was being written and the Ambrose whispers started.

After Scheer became leader in 2017, Ambrose resigned her seat in the House of Commons and went into private life, joining a Washington-based think tank, taking part in a NAFTA advisory and spearheading the non-profit She Leads Foundation, which encourages greater involvement of women in public leadership roles.

Oh, the irony.

Ambrose said nothing publicly to dispel the La Presse story, while the National Post fired out its own story a day later, insisting through unnamed sources that she has not made a final decision on whether she will run or not.

Both stories seem incredibly convenient, designed to keep her name at the forefront of the leadership conversation as part of a “will she or won’t she?” narrative.

Invitation to a truck rally

The 17th Annual BC Natural Resources Forum is happening here in Prince George from Jan. 28 to 30.

The forum has the usual slate of dignitaries speaking to the various issues of the day.

These folks work (in a manner of speaking) behind-the-scenes as supports to our local natural resource industries.

The forum website states that the forum produces over $2.5 million in economic benefits to Northern B.C. This is very nice, but what’s in it for the average person who is frustrated by the lineups at downtown coffee shops?

A free event is happening the morning of Wednesday, Jan. 29 - the second annual Resource Roll-in and Rally!

Show up at the Civic Centre to cheer on those men and women who have worked tirelessly in the snow and cold.

Come cheer on the resource workers

who work outside to extract, process, and deliver raw materials like logs and minerals for production to their destinations, almost no matter what the weather is.

These men and women left their cozy homes not only to provide their families with food and shelter, but also to provide raw materials for manufacturing and export so that our mills, manufacturing, and mining processes, could continue.

Others braved the cold to deliver fuel, to repair broken-down vehicles, or to deliver supplies to make manufacturing possible.

Then there is the farmer or rancher who simply does what they need to do to keep their animals warm.

Unlike city snow removal crews, there is no such thing as shutting the machine off and doing only indoor work.

Tiger torches and tarps, or more modern oil-heating devices, are utilized to heat engines to starting point, and off they go to feed their animals, no matter that the mercury has dipped below visibility.

Come cheer on the men and women who keep us warm, fed, and deliver the jet fuel so some can occasionally escape our long winters.

The mobile phone, the laptop, the electricity, the chair, the couch, Netflix, everything around you that keeps you informed, fed, and comfortable, is owed to these hard-working men and women.

Any and all truck owners and operators are invited to participate in the Roll-In.

Mailing address

505 Fourth ave. Prince George, B.c V2L 3h2

OffiCe hOurs

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The attention the La Presse story received, along with who reacted and how they reacted to the news, provided her with valuable information about the extent of her party and public support, as well as who might stand in her way.

The Post story reported that she hasn’t been making calls about forming a leadership team.

Why would she?

All of the reporting indicates the important people are calling her, urging her to run and pledging their endorsement.

It sets the stage for her actual announcement, when it will look like she has made a “tough” decision, based on a groundswell of support from across Canada, to come out of her happy retirement to serve her party and her country.

If all of this really is carefully choreographed political maneuvering to sweep Ambrose to a first-ballot victory at the Conservative leadership convention, Trudeau and the federal Liberals are in for a rough second term that will conclude with a reckoning with voters in the fall of 2023.

— Editor-in-chief Neil Godbout

It begins on Boundary Road at 9 a.m. Then at 10 a.m., they will “Roll-In” to downtown to the Civic Centre.

They expect to arrive at the Civic Centre before 11:30 a.m.

The rally speeches are taking place just before the Natural Resource Forum keynote speech is delivered (inside) by Premier John Horgan, so our honks and cheers of support for resources may be heard by him.

It would be great if he would show his support by coming out to say a few words of thanks to the men and women who keep us, and everyone in Vancouver and Victoria, warm.

But even if he doesn’t, it is a great opportunity to acknowledge our resource workers.

Hope to see you Wednesday, Jan. 29, either on Boundary Road at 9 a.m. for the Roll-In, or at 11:30 AM at the Civic Centre for the rally.

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Q

THIS week’S queSTIon:

“How are you coping with the cold?”

The hearty resident of Prince George answered best with “what cold weather? It’s winter!” that took 57 per cent and 339 votes.

“Extra blankets and warm beverages” was the next most popular answer with 28 per cent and 165 votes while “wishing climate change would happen faster” took 10 percent and 58 votes.

Trailing was “booking a holiday to Mexico” with five per cent and 31 votes.

There was a total of 593 votes. Remember this is not a scientific poll.

nexT week’S queSTIon:

“Did the Supreme Court make the right decision to reject B.C.’s appeal in the Trans Mountain pipeline case?”

How to vote: To answer go online to our website: www.pgcitizen.ca

Clues emerge on how life started

One of the most fundamentally important unanswered questions for science is the origin of life.

We have a good understanding of the biochemical mechanisms involved in living cells and have been able to generate cellular creatures using minimal DNA. An artificial bacteria employing 473 genes has been generated by scientists at the J. Craig Venter Institute, which is comparable to the 525 genes found in Mycoplasma genitalium. But having generated a bacteria, how do we get to more sophisticated or complex organisms?

Life, as we know it, has three major stems: bacteria, archaea and eukaryotes. Bacteria and archaea are sometimes lumped together as prokaryotes as they have no nuclei, lysosomes, mitochondria or skeletons. They are the most ancient of all organisms and the most plentiful. Indeed, if an alien race visited our planet in search of the dominant life form, bacteria and archaea would win.

Two billion years ago, something happened. Complex cells emerged as eukaryotes arrived on the scene. All complex life – which includes pretty much anything living you can see – derive from a common ancestor. We know this because all of these cells share common genetics, produce specific proteins and, in many instances, function in the same way. Mutations have happened in complex

RELATIVITY

TODD WHITCOMBE

multicellular structures but there is a surprisingly large number of genes which can be found in every single organism. How did life shift from single-celled bacteria and archaea to eukaryotes?

There are a number of hypotheses but work on one class of organisms may yield some answers. A new species, called Prometheoarcheum syntrophicum, appears to be a transitional form between the two stems, as reported in Nature. While our cells are stuffed with a multitude of containers such the nucleus which holds DNA and the fuel cells called mitochondria, Prometheoarcheum lacks these structures but still contain the genetic code for the proteins which are utilized for their construction. It is a bit like finding a pile of wood, shingles, wallboard, nails, and such only to discover they are not being used to build a house but to construct a car. The essential eukaryotic proteins are present but not being used in the way we would expect.

In 2015, Thijs Ettema of Uppsala University and his colleagues were able

to scoop DNA fragments from Arctic Ocean sediments which appeared to be transitional between a species of archaea and eukaryotes. Ettema named their source Asgard archaea as Asgard was the traditional home of the Norse Gods. This same DNA was then discovered in a river in North Carolina, a hot spring in New Zealand, and various other places but the organisms themselves remained elusive.

In 2006, Masaru K. Nobu, a microbiologist at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan, and his colleagues collected sediment samples for the Pacific Ocean. They were attempting to isolate microbes capable of eating methane, which would be useful for cleaning up landfills.

They kept their samples in a methanerich environment at the temperature and pressures found on the sea floor. The mud contained many different microbes but by 2015 the researchers had isolated an interesting new species of archaea which turned out to be one of the Asgard archaea discovered by Ettema. The research team then undertook the task of cultivating and characterizing the new species. They have now been able to ascertain its genetic heritage.

It took 12 years to get to where they now have a stable species which can be observed with a microscope. And under the microscope, it is a strange beast. The

If I ever get hIt by a bus...

Frequently I ask my clients what would happen if you got hit by a bus ,and in all honesty, I mean it hypothetically. I want to know if they have plans for their business, how they would take care of their family, what would be the result if they couldn’t work for a while. Often when I am asking this, I think about it myself, what would happen to me if I got hit by a bus, would my family be okay?

Last week, I got hit by a bus. I was going through an intersection and got T-boned by a city transit bus. My daughter, who was in the passenger seat, alerted me to the fact that there was a bus coming, I looked to my left and a bus was bearing down on the SUV. Some people say your life flashes before your eyes when you think you are going to die, and while I saw the bus as big as a wall approaching my window and the vehicle before the impact, there was no flash so I guessed that I was probably alright. The bus hit us hard, spinning us and pushing us out of its path as it cleared the intersection. Thank God, the kids in the car and myself were uninjured, except for a few bruises and a slight concussion.

The SUV wasn’t as lucky.

So why am I telling you this?

Going back centuries in most religions and cultures is the idea that if you focus on something in prayer or meditation, it can manifest itself. There are numerous, books, articles and movies including The Secret that discuss the idea that your brain will try to achieve those things that you give attention to. There is science that shows that there is part of the brain called the reticular activating system which has neurons that fire when you stimulate it with repetitive stimuli or habitation. This part of your brain gives you more of what you are looking for. So, for example if you are always focused on doom and gloom, your brain will help you find more of that which you search for. If you are focused and stimulated by happiness, or love, money,

success, pain, or failure, your brain will look for opportunities to present you with those things.

Now you might not believe that. You may think that what I am telling you is just BS. Think for a moment what happens when you buy a new car.

Let’s say you were thinking about buying a truck and end up on a car lot and buy a Ford F150. You might not have noticed F150s before you bought it, you were just thinking that you needed a truck, but now you have a brand new Ford F 150. What happens when you drive through your community? Your brain alerts you to all the Ford 150s that are like yours. Where as you might not have noticed them before, now they appear to be everywhere.

The same thing can happen when we use words. How many times have you heard people say “he is a pain in the neck” or “so and so makes me ill." Continue focusing on that person and you might just end up with a pain in the neck or being ill. From 28 years in the health food industry and talking to customers day in and day out, I came to the realiza-

microbe starts life as a tiny sphere but sprouts long branching tentacles and releases methane-covered bubbles. Even more surprising is the lack of the internal structures expected based on its genetic make-up. It appears to truly be a transitional step between the two domains. Before the discovery of Prometheoarcheum, many researchers suspected the missing link was a predator which consumed smaller microbes to supply its internal organ structure. For example, we know mitochondria have their own DNA and are essentially symbiotic organisms found in every one of our cells. But with Prometheoarcheum, there is some evidence to suggest a slow assimilation of other microbes rather than a wholesale takeover. As a consequence, Nobu’s team have proposed a new mechanism in which cells live in clusters, eating each other’s waste and supplying needed nutrients before the eventual merger. In modern parlance, they live together before finally getting married. We still don’t have all of the pieces in the long complex struggle from chemical compounds to modern elephants but some of the links are becoming clearer. Continued research on Promethearcheum may finally allow us to bridge the gap from prokaryotes to eukaryotes. Eventually we might be able to answer the question of how life began.

tion that the biggest reason for illness is stress. Much of this stress is a result of what is going on in our mind. When we focus on trouble, we find it and when we can’t deal with it productively, our body starts to say “no.”

We often end up ill.

Words are powerful, we can use them to build people up, but too often they are used to inflict pain. We know how the words of others have affected our lives. Words and phrases that seem harmless, like “he is a pain in the neck” or “So and so makes me ill” may not be so harmless. Saying things like “If I ever get hit by a bus” or “If I get run over by a car” could be dangerous to your health and even put your life in danger. Think carefully about what you are saying and consider whether those words that come out of your mouth are something that you want to be manifested. Your brain has funny ways of helping you fulfill your dreams.

— Dave Fuller MBA, is an awardwinning business coach that got hit by a bus. Dave is the author of the book Profit Yourself Healthy. Manifest an email to dave@profityourselfhealthy.com

TruThful acTs anchor True friendships

Everybody wants to have friends. When growing up I often heard “if you want to have friends, you have to be a friend.” To me, that statement always left more questions than answers.

I was recently reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey with my students, and I quite honestly came upon the best explanation of how to be not only a friend but how to work effectively with others.

Covey explains that with every person we meet, we have a “relationship bank account.” It is similar to a savings account in that we can make deposits and withdrawals and we can be in the red or in the black with any person. While each of us is unique, there are certain rules we can follow to be on good terms with our neighbours.

The first topic Covey discusses is the importance of keeping our promises. If we say we will do something, we need to follow through. People do not want to be with those they cannot trust.

The next type of deposit is to do small acts of kindness. We do these without expecting anything in return. It doesn’t have to be anything big; it could be something as simple as a compliment. People like others who are kind and doing nice things for others is also a great way to feel good ourselves.

The third type of deposit is far too often overlooked. It is simply to be loyal. When someone tells us a secret, we need to keep it a secret. Nothing destroys relationships like gossip. Covey points out that when we do participate in gossip, everyone who hears us is thinking, “wow, if he talks about that person like this when he’s not around, what’s he say-

ing about when I’m not around?” There is also something unseen that damages our relationship with the person we talk about. We know deep inside we’ve said something we shouldn’t have, and they almost seem to know too.

Of course, all discussions about others are not gossip. I tell my students that when I talk to their parents I am not gossiping; we’re discussing strategies for them to be more effective students. In fact, I’d be happy if students were present to hear our discussions. The bottom line is “strong minds talk about ideas; weak minds talk about people.”

The next type of deposit is to simply listen. We all long to be heard without judgment. Maybe this is why we love our pets so much. They are simply present in our lives. It is even more wonderful to have a friend who listens with an open mind, who really hears us.

None of us are perfect. We all need to say we’re sorry from time to time. Nothing infuriates us more than the person who remains arrogant and defensive. If we can honestly be sorry and work to re-

build after our mistakes, and if the other person can truly forgive, our relationships will be healthy and long-lasting. The final point Covey makes is to set clear expectations. This ties in with the first point of keeping promises, but it goes further. We need to know what we can expect from others and they from us, whether it is a family member or a coworker. The classic challenge in our close friendships is when one person is interested in romance and the other simply wants to be friends. This is a boundary that needs to be clearly understood and always respected.

Human relationships are complex. Some people will be difficult to get along with no matter what we do and not everyone will like us. One can always choose to be good to others and follow simple principles, however. If I am a good friend, I will always have friends.

— Gerry Chidiac is a champion for social enlightenment, inspiring others to find their greatness in making the world a better place. For more of his writings, go to www.gerrychidiac.com

seniors

Lacrosse runs through scott famiLy

GSENIORS’ SCENE

KATHY NADALIN

len (Moose) Scott was born in Kamloops in 1946. His mother died when he was very young and his father moved many times to follow work opportunities. His father was working in Vancouver when he remarried so Glen grew up and was schooled in Vancouver.

At the age of 18, Glen wanted to be independent so he a got part-time job in the warehouse at Woodward’s on Cambie Street. When the company offered him a full-time job in the food department in their new two-year-old store in Prince George, he grabbed the opportunity and move here in 1969. He has been here ever since.

One year later, Grant MacInnis offered him a job with Nechako Beverages as a driver. He delivered their products all over Prince George until one day he was offered a job as a bouncer in a local beer parlour located at the Inn of the North. He was hired because of his strength and size and his ability to help maintain order while making sure everyone was safe and having a good time. The popular beer parlour was dubbed “The Barn” because of its western theme. The Barn could accommodate over 300 patrons and it was usually packed.

During this time, local radio station CJCI 620 AM had their broadcasting office located in the penthouse on the top floor of the Coast Inn. Glen would talk sports with all the patrons who came in for a beverage after their sports event, get the scores and phone them up to the radio station. This was the only accurate way that CJCI could get the sports scores so quickly following the games. It wasn’t long and they hired Glen full time as the sports director and broadcaster.

Glen worked at the radio station for eight years and during that time he met radio station traffic/receptionist Patricia Dutka. Her job was to arrange and schedule all the radio station commercials and deal with anything else that appeared on her desk.

Patricia was born in Horsefly/Williams Lake in 1958. Her father worked for her uncle Bill Kordyban at his sawmill in Horsefly. In 1961, when the mill burned down the family relocated in Prince George.

]Patricia explained, “My work experience took me to the radio station where I met Glen. We got married in 1976. Glen picked the wedding date to match Grey Cup weekend so he would always be reminded of our anniversary.”

Glen’s passion was working in sales so he went to work for Pitney Bowes and sold office equipment and postage meters from 1978-87. From the very start, he was always in the sales leader’s group, which meant that he won a free trip for two every year for the next nine years.

In 1987, he worked for Investors Financial Group and quickly moved into financial planning.

In 1990, he went to work in the sales department for the P.G. This Week/Buy and Sell newspaper until he retired in 2013 due to health issues that he still battles today.

Glen and Patricia have three children; Tammy (Mike), Lisa (Albert) and Christopher (Annie) and a blended family of nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.They have both always been willing to volunteer and give back to their community.

Over the years, Pat volunteered with anything to do with their children. She coached Pee Wees and Little League baseball and remains involved with the St. George’s Ukrainian Catholic Church. She believes that you should try to give back rather than being on the receiving end of things.

One of my first questions to Glen was why the nickname Moose. Glen explained it like this: “I played lacrosse for eight years for the Labatt’s Blue lacrosse team. CJCI radio announcer Don Prentice always claimed that I did not run around opposing team members but instead I ran over them like a big moose. The nickname stuck and now my friends just refer to me as Glen Moose Scott. In those eight years I tallied seven goals, 19 assists and I had 792 minutes in penalties.”

In 2014, Glen was inducted into the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame. He continues to serve as the commissioner of the Prince George Senior Lacrosse Association, a position he has held for the past 30 years.

Glen and Ron Edgar co-founded the

Alcan Cup Canadian Senior C Lacrosse championship 13 years ago. The event is now known as the Treasure Cove Casino Senior C Invitational.

Glen’s love of lacrosse is shared by his family. Patricia is a scorekeeper, their son was a senior lacrosse goalie and is now the assistant senior league commissioner, three grandsons play senior lacrosse and their second oldest daughter is president of the Quesnel Lacrosse Association. He was elected as the vice president of administration for the BCLA for eight years and served on Prince George city council for two terms.

He was a member of the Kinsmen Club, the Junior Chamber of Commerce and he was the track announcer at the PGARA Speedway Park for 18 years.

He organizes the annual Steve ElliottElvis Elite - Gospel Concert with the net proceeds going to the Kordyban Lodge. Glen is known as Mr. Lacrosse but insists that he could not do the things he does without the help of many others.

In just a few days, Glen will be celebrating his birthday and I just want to say: ‘Happy birthday, Moose.”

Citizen Photo by James Doyle

Glen "Moose" Scott and his wife Patricia pose for a photo at their home.

Wintering ducks get helping hands

Christine hinZMAnn Citizen staff

When chickadees attack, you know they’re hungry.

That’s what happened when it was 40 below last week and Paul Cailleaux and Brock Bailey crossed the bridge to feed the ducks at Cottonwood Island Park as they winter in Prince George.

“We were attacked by song birds because nobody was feeding them,” Cailleaux laughed. The little birds flocked to land on his and Bailey’s arms on the coldest day and the chickadees were dis-

appointed to discover that duck food and chickadee food are very different things.

So, of course, like the kind-hearted people they are, Cailleaux and Bailey bought bird seed more compatible to the chickadee’s delicate digestive system than the barley and cracked corn that’s used to feed the ducks every day.

Every day no matter what the temperature, Cailleaux and Bailey feed the ducks so they can maintain their body weight to survive the harshest part of the winter.

At first there were about 600 mallard ducks and Cailleaux and Bailey, who have been friends for more than 25 years

and have fed the ducks for about five years now, decided to wait them out to see if some of them would fly south for the winter. When they went to start feeding the ducks right after the new year, the volunteer pair discovered there were about 300 ducks that decided they would take their chances here.

The ducks were taking their time to come get the feed Sunday morning.

There was a lot of people in the park on the first warm day Prince George has seen in a while. Bailey would like to remind everyone to please not let their dogs chase the ducks as they are trying to avoid any extra expenditure of energy.

“The ducks will walk over to the feed rather than fly because they don’t want to waste the energy,” Bailey added.

Bailey explained how the dominant birds will always eat first and it only takes a couple of them to make tracks towards the feed and because they’re herd birds, the rest will soon follow.

Bailey makes sure he spreads the feed so that the females and the few wood ducks that are with the mallards are able

to feed, too. If the feed isn’t spread out, the males will chase all the others away.

Cailleaux and Bailey, who are members of Ducks Unlimited Canada, an organization that conserves wetlands and other natural spaces for waterfowl, wildlife, and people, volunteer their time and pay for the food that feeds the ducks.

Those 300 ducks need at least three 20 kg bags of food every day and Bailey and Cailleaux have both invested about $200 each so far and as others have donated food, they are hoping more will help out and donate to the cause through Spruce Capital Feeds where people can buy bags of whole barley and cracked corn and then Cailleaux or Bailey will pick up the bags as needed. The ducks will be fed right up until the end of February, Bailey said. So there’s still a ways to go before the the volunteer pair are done this chore.

“We really appreciate anything people can do to help us. The more people can help out the easier it is for us,” he said.

To donate visit Spruce Capital Feeds at 1694 Quinn St. South.

Citizen photos by James Doyle Brock Bailey, right, and Paul Cailleaux pose for a photo at Cottonwood Island Park on Sunday morning.

Airport trAffic dowN

Citizen staff

Nearly two per cent fewer passengers passed through the Prince George Airport in 2019, compared to the previous year, according to information released by the Prince George Airport Authority.

The number of people flying in or out of the Prince George Airport dropped to 496,714 in 2019, compared with 506,486 in 2018.

“The regional economy is impacting our passenger activity, however we remain optimistic heading into 2020,” airport authority president and CEO Gordon Duke said.

“Comparable airports across Canada saw similar decreases in their passen-

ger numbers in 2019 as airlines had to rework their networks to make up for the grounding of the Boeing 737 Max aircraft earlier in the year, which meant aircraft availability was stretched thin to make up for it.”

One of the highlights of 2019 was Pacific Coastal Airlines adding a second daily flight to Victoria, along with the addition of Sunday service. Air North also announced weekly scheduled service to Whitehorse, Kelowna and Vancouver.

The airport authority spent $11 million on capital improvements at the airport last year, will be upgrading the public announcement and HVAC systems in the airport terminal, and expanding taxi parking in 2020.

Resource forum returns next week

Citizen staff

The B.C. Natural Resources Forum returns to Prince George Civic and Conference Centre Jan. 28-30.

The 17th annual event will feature a lineup of high-profile speakers including Premier John Horgan, a slate of provincial cabinet ministers, industry leaders, and First Nations and local government representatives, as well as an industry trade show.

Sarah Weber, president and CEO of event organizers C3 Alliance Corp., said she expects attendance to be strong.

“We’re tracking about 10 per cent ahead of last year (for registrations),” Weber said.

“And again our trade show is fully sold with 74 exhibitors.”

Last year, more than 1,100 delegates attended the three-day event.

This year’s forum will include the unveiling of a provincial first: a B.C. natural resources survey, Weber said.

The forum organizers partnered with the B.C. Chamber of Commerce to conduct the survey.

The results will be released during the forum.

“We want to track the pulse of the natural resources sector,” Weber said.

The theme of the event is Strengthening B.C.’s Competitive Advantage.

“It’s really getting back to what is so special about B.C.’s natural resources sector,” Weber said.

For more information, go online to bcnaturalresourcesforum.com

AROUND TOWN COMMUNITY CALENDAR

KICK Up YEr HEElS!

Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Ramada Hotel, 444 George St., there is a Coldsnap 2020 kickoff featuring a bluegrass-style dance party showcasing Big Fancy from BC, The Eliza Doyle Band from Saskatchewan and Foghorn Stringband from Oregon. These bands promise to provide a full blast, boot-stompin’ hoe-down. Visit www.coldsnapfestival.com

KIwaNIS alEfEST

Friday and Saturday, the Kiwanis AleFest, the annual Northern BC craft beer festival, will feature three tasting sessions at the Two Rivers Gallery, while there are brew masters dinners at the Ramada and Coast Hotel. For more information and tickets visit kiwanisalefest.ca

HIp-HOp HappENIN’

Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Ramada Hotel, 444 George St., Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Kimmortal, and Rebecca Andrea & Rich Mac, are showcased as part of the Coldsnap music festival. These musicians are masters of using music to discuss themes of race, gender, identity and community building with unparalleled energy that leave audiences dancing. Visit www.coldsnapfestival.com

HIpHOp aT OMINECa: KIMMOrTal

Saturday t noon at the Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St., Kimmortal is presenting a workshop showcasing their signature animated delivery and spirited lyrics that makes an impact with their live performances. Their flow, storytelling, animations, point of view and their unmistakable voice will make this up close and personal presentation one to remember. This is a free event offered as part of the Coldsnap Festival. Visit www. coldsnapfestival.com and click on ice jams.

arOUNd THE fIrEpIT

Saturday at 2 p.m. a the Firepit Cultural Drop-In Centre, 1120 Third Ave., Positive Living North invites one and all to enjoy a gathering with the Eliza Doyle Band. A communal fire has traditionally brought people together for songs and story telling which build communication and understanding among all people. This is a free event offered as part of the Coldsnap Festival. Visit www.coldsnapfestival.com and click on ice jams.

TapESTrY

SINGErS

fUNdraISEr

Saturday at 6:15 p.m. at the Hart Com-

munity Centre, 4900 West Austin Rd., the Tapestry Singers are holding a silent auction and dinner to fundraise for their trip to the Con Brio Whistler Music Festival in April. The senior choir will perform three sets while there is dinner and door prizes, along with the silent auction. All proceeds go to the choir. Tickets are $50. For more information contact Carolyn Duerksen at 250-964-8184 or email carolynduerksen@hotmail.com

rObbIE bUrNS NIGHT

Saturday from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Exploration Place, 333 Becott Pl., the Prince George Symphony Orchestra presents Robbie Burns Night dinner. This is the symphony’s third annual event that promises a new take on entertainment to have guests laughing, toasting and dancing to fiddle and drum. Tickets are $100 each. Visit www.pgso.com

CHaMpIONS Of MaGIC

Sunday at 6 p.m. at CN Centre, 2187 Ospika Blvd., direct from London’s West End comes a spectacular show featuring several different acts showcasing the Champions Of Magic. Tickets start at only $19.50 plus service charges at TicketsNorth.ca

THE frEEdOM SINGEr

Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at the Trinity United Church (Downtown), 1448 Fifth Ave., there will be an hour of artistic and thought-provoking music with Khari Wendell McClelland and his partners The Sojourners, to acknowledge the prelude to Black History Month. Khari will discuss his project The Freedom Singer, which recreates the music that fugitive slaves carried on their journey north into Canada. This is a free event offered as part of the Coldsnap Festival. Visit www.coldsnapfestival.com and click on ice jams.

SUNdaY fUll Of SOUl

Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at the P.G. Playhouse, 2626 Recplace Dr., The Sojourners, Khari Wendell McClelland, and Nova Voce will be featured during a magical evening of soaring voices. Nova Voce is fresh off a first place win at the 2019 National Music Festival, and Khari Wendell McClelland and the Sojourners draw deep inspiration from their AfricanAmerican history to sing uplifting songs of joy and freedom and deliver rousing messages of social justice and civil rights. This show is part of the Coldsnap music festival. For more information and tickets visit www.coldsnapfestival.com

COldSNap fOr KIdS

Sunday at 2 p.m. at the PG Playhouse, 2626 Recplace Dr., The Oot ‘N Oots, are entertainers geared for the whole family who create a feeling of community, joy, and understanding through their free-

spirited art. This is a free event offered as part of the Coldsnap Festival. Visit www.coldsnapfestival.com

aCOUSTIC GrOOVES

Monday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Prince George Legion, 1116 6th Ave., David Schulte, Theresa Michelle Mohr, KERN and The Ebbs will provide perform as part of the Coldsnap music festival. Pay-what-you-can ticket price.

raffI faIr

Monday, Jan. 27 at 1:30 p.m. at the Bob Harkins Branch, Prince George Public Library, 888 Canada Games Way, celebrate literacy and families at the library. Enjoy stations and activities themed around classic Raffi songs such as Baby Beluga, Bananaphone, and Down by the Bay. Free drop in, for 0-9 yrs. Contact: 250563-9251 | ask@pgpl.ca

SCHOOl brEaK aCTIVITIES

Monday, Jan. 27 check out the City of Prince George School Break Flyer at

www.princegeorge.ca/schoolbreaks to find out about fun activities children can enjoy on their day off from school.

THE TrIalS Of CaTO

Tuesday, Jan. 28 from 1 to 2 p.m. the Senior Citizens Activity Centre, 425 Brunswick St., brings an afternoon with Trials of Cato. This is a free event offered as part of the Coldsnap Festival. Visit www.coldsnapfestival.com

aUdIO TraINING wOrKSHOp

Wednesday, Jan. 29, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sound Factory, 1621 South Nicholson St., the Sound Factory and Stephen Darke present an audio training workshop. We are encouraging participation from female identifying, trans, non-binary and two-spirit individuals, who are less represented in this aspect of the music industry. This workshop is presented with funding assistance from MusicBC/CreativeBC and is sponsored by Sound Factory. The workshop is free but advance registration is required and space is limited. To register onliine, visit www.coldsnapfestival.com

Francey headlines songwriters show

Christine hinZMAnn Citizen staff

Multi Juno award winning singer-songwriter David Francey is headlining the Sensational Songwriters showcase during the Coldsnap Music Festival at the Playhouse on Jan. 30.

Sharing the stage is Twin Flames, a duo singing in English, Inuktitut and French and Limelight Quest winner Sam Holden from Vanderhoof.

Born in Ayrshire, Scotland, to parents who were factory workers, Francey moved to Canada at 12 years old.

As Francey spent decades working in Canadian rail yards, construction sites and in the bush of the Yukon, he'd always be creating his songs in his head as he worked. Francey is known as a folk singer who documents the working person's life. His first album Torn Screen Door was released in 1999 and was a Canadian hit.

teen Artwork sought for exhibit A&E

CitiZen stAff

There's a call for submissions going out to teen artists in Grades 8 to 12 to submit work created in any medium for the Teen Art Showcase presented by the Community Arts Council and the Prince George Public Library.

Deadline is Feb. 1 and the art will be on display from Feb. 3 to 29 at the Bob Harkins branch of the library.

Each artist can submit one piece ready for exhibition and are asked to determine if they'd like to sell their piece.

Submissions need to be delivered to

Now, 11 albums, three Junos and several other awards later, he's making his way to the Prince George Coldsnap stage.

Francey, known for his emotion-evoking lyrics and blood-stirring melodies, talks about the process.

"I get the lyric and melody at the same time and if I'm moved I write," he said.

"I don't write from a standing position, if my heart's not moved one way or the other - happiness, sadness, anger, whatever it is - joy - then nothing happens."

Francey's latest video posted on his website is for his song Rain and it's about losing his best friend way too soon.

"We had big plans for a fun retirement," Francey said. "We used to work carpentry together."

One of the most poignant lyrics in the song is 'heart breaks like a window pane.'

"It was my friend's passing that really set that up," Francey explained. "I wanted to do him justice and I love him to this

day. It's been many years but not a day goes by that I don't think of him. I just wanted to write something that is a wee bit of tribute."

Now the audience knows Rain's back story and can listen to the performance at the Playhouse with an insightful perspective.

Francey said he'll perform a variety of songs on Jan. 30.

"I never ever just play what the new record is, I always delve way back and pick up whatever I feel like playing," Francey said. "Some people have been fans for a long time because the records are quite old now, right? But the songs I think are just as vital as the day I wrote them or I wouldn't sing them. As long as they're ringing for me I figure they'll ring for the audience and there's a lot of people who like to hear the songs I've written in the past and sing along with them. I like to take that into consideration as well as

then sings my soul

singing some new songs as well."

Francey remembers Prince George fondly and recalls a time in his youth when he hitched a ride from Prince Rupert to P.G. and because the driver was so erratic it gave him a new appreciation for the town.

"I'd never been so happy to see a place in my life," Francey laughed. "Ah, the crazy things we do in our youth. So I'm looking forward to the Coldsnap Festival and being part of it. At first I thought Prince George in February? But why not Prince George in February? If you let the weather stop you, you'll sit in your house and do nothing so why not get out and enjoy what the town has to offer? And I've been checking it out and it looks like a helluva lineup."

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Playhouse on Thursday, Jan. 30. Tickets for all the Coldsnap shows can be found at www.coldsnapfestival.com.

Studio 2880, 2880-15th Ave., Friday, Jan. 31 or Saturday, Feb. 1 from 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Cash prizes to be awarded in the following categories: most original, best use of materials, people’s choice, best overall and social commentary.

The prizes will be awarded at a celebration for the artists on Saturday, Feb. 29 at Bob Harkins Branch.

The Teen Art Showcase was made possible with support from the Friends of the Library and the Kiwanis Club of Prince George.

Canada day ConCert

Coming to Cn Centre

The biggest rock show ever held on Canada Day in Prince George is coming to CN Centre this July 1.

The Saints and Sinners Tour brings together four legendary bands including Big Wreck, Headstones, Moist and The Tea Party.

The nationwide trek kicks off on June 26 in Penticton and heads east across Canada before culminating in St. John’s on July 30.

Tickets start at $49 (plus s/cs). Reserved seating, general admission floor (19-plus only).

Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. at TicketsNorth.ca

Citizen Photo by James Doyle Steve Elliott performs on stage at First Baptist Church on Saturday night during the Ninth Annual How Great Thou Art Elvis Elite Gospel Concert.

Citizen staff

Proof in the Buffett Pudding

After half a lifetime, I finally made it to Halifax to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ill-fated explosion that killed my grandfather in 1917.

On arrival, we drove straight to the sketchy old neighbourhood my dad was born in, expecting catharsis.

We hadn’t even come to a full stop, when, right under the street signpost marking the spot, a drug deal was going down.

The dealer stink-eyed me (he thought menacingly) but the family history ferry couldn’t have arranged a more fitting welcome wagon.

I burst out laughing, which put the him off-balance.

I couldn’t get him to pose for the family album, but he was polite enough to scoot out of the way so I could get the street sign in the selfie, with the neighbourhood over my shoulder, a milli-particle of my DNA poking up through the pavement in a dandelion.

I had an ancestor at the first Canadian Thanksgiving, a nephew who was the subject of an FBI manhunt, a great-greatgreat uncle who purportedly rode with Billy the Kid and another nephew named Jack Ryan.

I’ve got an uncle who was once the No. 2 man at a massive Canadian corporation, a first cousin who was an ambassador to China and a genius nephew working at a hotshot engineering firm in New York City.

My mother-in-law published a fascinating autobiography.

And, oh, I won six blue ribbons in the Eastview Elementary Sports Day in 1970.

IT’S ONLY MONEY

MARK RYAN

But none of this is might be statistically interesting.

With something like 250 cousins and nieces and nephews, there’s going to be things to be embarrassed about and things to boast about.

And, as the kids say: “Cool story bro, but isn’t this a financial column?”

Investing is a bit like a baseball postgame show.

We love to examine statistics, performance, extrapolating something useful from it — like a career, or a thoughtful gauging of risk and opportunity against the temperament of the client.

The debate in financial academia is whether market performance is behaviourally predictable or more like a severely drunken man’s hobble homeward — a random walk down Wall Street, as famously coined by Princeton economist Burton Gordon Malkiel.

His Efficient Market Hypothesis purported that the market adjusts to data quickly and emotionlessly enough to make strategies based on financial analysis border on impotent.

Exchange Traded Funds more or less grew off the eraser shavings of this concept.

The other school of thought, championed by Warren Buffet and others, retorts that people who use all three full

names might be pretentious theorists who made more money selling their concepts than investing in them. Both Malkiel and Buffett were born during the Depression and obtained university educations.

Both started young in the world of finance, although Malkiel delved deeper into the theory while Buffett got busy investing.

In fairness, Malkiel added value to the discussion, but both of them can’t be right.

Both are very wealthy men today but there’s a difference.

It’s difficult to know precisely how welloff, but estimates suggest that Malkiel’s net worth today is about 1/1,000th of

Buffett’s $88 Billion.

I think I could live on a small chunk of Warren’s wallet, but in terms of whose theory holds more water, we don’t need any new math.

Analysis complete.

— Mark Ryan is an Investment Advisor with RBC Dominion Securities Inc. (Member–Canadian Investor Protection Fund), and these are Mark’s views, and not those of RBC Dominion Securities. This article is for information purposes only.

Please consult with a professional advisor before taking any action based on information in this article. See Mark’s website at: http://dir.rbcinvestments.com/mark.ryan

Mohawks TeaM honoured

As one of the original Prince George Mohawks, Dave Bellamy literally cut his teeth playing intermediate hockey when he was only 16. Hockey in those days was a lot more violent than it is now. On-ice brawls were regular occurrences and for Bellamy it was quite a jump from high school hockey at PGSS to playing with and against men, some of whom were 25 years his senior.

“It varied right from 16 to probably 35 or 40 years old, and I lost some teeth right off the bat… from a hockey stick,” said Bellamy. “It was a pretty good whack across the mouth.”

Bellamy, a ‘Hawk mainstay for eight seasons from 1957-65, provoked that hickory swat with an audacious act of thievery against Walter Richardson of the Williams Lake Stampeders.

Richardson was about 10 years older and they didn’t drop the gloves but they never liked each other after that incident.

“We had some good russells in the corner,” said Bellamy, now 78. “I wouldn’t say I was tough but I didn’t mind getting in the mix of things. I was a good skater and I was hard to knock down. I was one of the faster guys in the league at that time. I could score a few goals and I was a very strong penalty killer.”

Bellamy has been thinking about old times with the Mohawks ever since the Spruce Kings decided to honour the memory of the team with a special ceremony between periods of the game Friday at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena against the Langley Rivermen. The Kings wore throwback Mohawk jerseys which are being auctioned online through the team’s social media channels.

“It’s such a storied franchise,” said Kings general manager Mike Hawes. “They used to fill the Coliseum back then and it was an exciting brand of hockey. We’re going to honour a team that really helped establish what the hockey com-

munity is in Prince George.”

The Mohawks formed in 1957 as a player-owned team headed by player/ coach Ernie Rucks, who skated for the Penticton Vees when they won the world championship in 1955. They became the Mohawks at the suggestion of Carl Lilley, the father of ‘Hawks player Bruce Lilley, who had the winning entry in a name-the-team contest. The Mohawks were part of the four-team North Central Interior Hockey Association (later known as the Cariboo Hockey League), with the Quesnel Kangaroos, Vanderhoof Bears and Williams Lake Stampeders.

The Mohawks were a powerhouse in the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s playing in the renamed Cariboo Hockey League for most of their history. They reached their peak in the ‘70s when they won five Coy Cup provincial championships and went on to win the Hardy Cup national intermediate championship on home ice in 1978.

Pat Keough came to Prince George in 1976 as a 21-year-old right winger from

Sydney, N.S., joining a ‘Hawks team that had lost the Hardy Cup final the previous spring to the Embrun (Ont.) Panthers in the fifth game of a best-of-five series played at the Coliseum.

Back then, the Mohawks were the biggest draw in town and were looked upon as the ultimate goal for local players who came up through the junior ranks with the Spruce Kings.

In the 1978 playoffs, the Mohawks rolled to the Cariboo Hockey League title and stayed home to beat the North Shore in the Coy Cup series and topped them again in the Western Canadian championship for the Edmonton Journal Cup to advance to the Hardy Cup, this time against the Campbellton Tigers of New Brunswick.

The Tigers won the first game of the best-of-five final 6-4 but the ‘Hawks won Game 2 8-4 and took a fight-filled Game 3 6-3 in overtime (the teams played a 10-minute OT period). By then it was obvious the teams didn’t like each other

and at times the series resembled a reallife version of the movie Slap Shot. The scoreless first period of Game 3 had 25 penalties called and took 55 minutes to complete.

“Their mayor was mad because he thought we were too physical for them,” said Keough. “He wasn’t very happy with the way the refereeing was going.” Tigers coach Jerry “Red” Ouellette said at the time he got a misleading scouting report on the Mohawks. “We’ve got a lot of guys wearing the marks of Prince George lumber,” said Ouellette. “They said Prince George was a skating team that kept it clean. We got a bunch of bull from the people we talked to.”

Campbellton took a 3-0 lead in the second period and the ‘Hawks tied it in the third period on a goal from Garth Green to force overtime. The Tigers tried to protest that Green used an illegal stick but the officials ruled their call for a measurement came too late after the goal. Keough scored two of the overtime goals and Dwight Bailey fired in the other one to cinch the victory.

The teams stuck to hockey in the series-deciding Game 4, which ended in a 9-1 Mohawks victory and a full house of about 2,200 erupted as ‘Hawks captain Gord Merritt hoisted the Hardy Cup. As national champions, the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association sent the Mohawks to Japan for a 10-day, six-game tour in February 1979.

They played Russia, the Japanese national team and several club teams from Japan, playing in front of crowds of 10,000 and national TV audiences in the millions.

Among the Mohawks alumni who attended the reception Friday at RMCA were Bellamy, Keough, Merritt, Orv Claffey, Fenton Gale, Dave Wasnick, Dave Wood, Leo Manning, John Clarke, Glen Johnson, Phil Roy, John Engbrecht, Brian Toll, Glen Yelland, Pierre Bergeron and Keough’s son David, now president of the Spruce Kings.

Ted Clarke Citizen staff

Citizen Photo by James Doyle

Alumni from the Prince George Mohawks were recognized in the first intermission of the Prince George Spruce KIngs game on Friday night.

Citizen Photo by James Doyle Prince George Spruce Kings forward Preston Brodziak looks to make a play on Friday night at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena. The team wore Mohawks jerseys in tribute to the legendary Prince George hockey team.

Ruth Suvee June 19 1949 - January 12 2020

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, kookum, sister and aunty. Ruth touched many lives in her professional and personal life. She was a role model, teacher, counselor, and friend to many. Ruth loved her family and friends dearly. Ruth lived life to the fullest. She was adventurous and fearless until she was diagnosed with brain cancer in August of 2019. Ruth was always the life of the party and continued to make her family and friends laugh right to the end of her life. Ruth went peacefully to the other side to dance with her family in the spirit world.

Ruth is predeceased by her grandmother Sweetheart, parents Dick and Sophia, and her brothers Ralph and Harvey. She is survived by her son Les and granddaughter Amber, siblings Mary, Larry, Linda(Jerry) Jo, Ron (Heather),Lorraine and Slim and her nieces and nephews, Ramona, Dave, Clayton , Renee, Ron jr ( Amber), Jerry jr, Bobbi (Adrian),Aron, Jessica (Jason),Tracy, Jamie, Ralph (Tanya), and Danielle. Ruth was also a kookum to all her great nieces and nephews.

Thank you to the doctors and nurses at UHNBC Prince George. Special thanks to the staff at the Prince George Rotary Hospice House for the amazing care you provided in her last days. The family would like to thank Ruth’s life long friends Loretta, Janice, and Olive for the support and care you provided to Ruth and the family during her illness.

There will be a Celebration of Life and Potluck luncheon on Saturday February 8th at 1:00 Blackburn Community Hall in Prince George , BC, 2451 S Blackburn rd.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Prince George Rotary Hospice House.

John Widdrington Matfin was born August 29, 1940 in Gateshead, England and passed away peacefully January 9, 2020 at the age of 79.

“Jack” was predeceased by his daughter Karen, survived by his loving wife Gloria, son David (Lorraine), Daughters Amanda (Kent), Rhonda (Cliff), and Denise (Willy), grandchildren Faith, Chloe, Cayden, Callie, Chris, Tyler, and Katie as well as numerous brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews whom reside in England.

Jack came to Canada from England in his early 20’s. Him and Gloria met at a young age through mutual friends, it was love at first sight. They were married January 25th, 1975 and never looked back. Jack worked at Northwood Pulp Mill for most of his career, retiring in 2002 after a health setback.

For those that knew him, he was a strong and proud man. He had a love like no other for his family and was always there to offer an ear, guidance or help.

He was diagnosed with cancer in the fall of 2017 with a short time frame to live. He outlived and outlasted everyone’s expectations and he made many more amazing memories that we will forever cherish in our hearts.

There will be no service. In the spring there will be a small celebration of life to spread Jack’s ashes the way he wanted them to be.

CARMELA VRANJES

It is with heavy hearts we announce the sudden passing of Carmela Vranjes (Sabatino) on January 9th, 2020. Carmela is predeceased by her husband of nearly 40 years, Peter Vranjes, her parents Giuseppina and Stefano Sabatino. She is survived by her son Michael (Terri), Grandchildren Evelyn, Natalie and Owen, her brothers Paolo, Rocco (Marilyn) and Domenico (Karen) as well as her cherished sister Mecolata (Allan) and numerous nieces and nephews. All Relatives and Friends are invited to the Funeral Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1088 Gillett Street on Saturday January 25, 2020 at 10:00 AM with a reception to follow at the Bon Voyage Banquet Hall at 4366 Hwy 16 W Prince George at 12:30 PM.

DINELLE

Philip Joseph Louis April 15, 1926January 12, 2020

With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Philip Joseph Louis Dinelle on January 12th, 2020 at the age of 93 years. A loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and great great grandfather, he spent his life devoted to the well-being of his family. After 67 years of marriage, he is now reunited with his late beloved wife Jeannine.

He is predeceased by his wife Jeannine, as well as his sons Ron, Bryan, Larry and Mark.

He is survived by his daughters Sharon Robinson and Carol (Brian) DeWinter and his son Roger as well as his daughters in law Doreen (Ron) and Giselle (Mark). He is also survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren.

There will be a mass and a Celebration of his Life later in the Spring. The date, time and location will be announced when this event is planned.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Sandra (Sandi) Jean Gunderson at the age of 62. She passed away on Saturday the 11th of January, 2020 at home surrounded by her family.

Sandi is survived by her daughters Erin (Monty), Jessica (Matt), Ashley (Eric), her grandchildren Morgan (Cody), Karley, Graydon, Lincoln, Charlotte and Olivia, her brothers Kenny (Michelle), Glenn (Sharon), her sisters Charlotte (Ron), Loretta (Larry), Linda, Maddy, Debbie (Danny), Barb (Rod), her sister-in-law Huetta and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Sandi was predeceased by her loving husband Dave, her mother Barbara, her father Vernon, her dad Robert, her sister Sue, her brother Leroy, her brother-in-law Harv and nieces Danielle and Amanda.

Sandi came from a large, loving family of 11 children. She was well known for her kind nature, giant heart and her innate need to put everyone else before herself. She made everyone feel that they were part of the family and made sure that their bellies were full. Her favorite time of year was Christmas, and travelling to Alberta to play canasta with her sisters, which was the only time you would see her sassy side come out.

Sandi and her late husband Dave spent 32 devoted years together, nearly 25 of those were spent co managing the Sandman Inn Hotel in Prince George. Together they worked exceptionally hard and took great pride in their careers.

Sandi’s greatest passion in life was her family and her animals and she spent each day making sure they knew it.

She will be dearly missed

Sandra Jean Gunderson

Logging Contractors

Sawmills

John Jacob Alexander Sylvester Keefe

3.00x146.0-4C

September 14, 1927 - January 11, 2020

PG23 / 615595

John Keefe was born at Hospital Point on the Southside of Francois Lake on September 14, 1927. John was the 5th of 6 living children born to Francois Lake pioneers, John and Alice Keefe. The Keefe family owned and operated a ranch, hotel, general store and sawmill in the early 1900’s just east of today’s Keefe’s Landing Park. John’s family moved to the Northside of Francois Lake in 1937. They took over Jake Henkel’s farm on the hill overlooking the Ferry Landing. John had a close relationship with Jake as a grandfather, friend and mentor.

Sports and motorcycles were a big part of John’s youth. Baseball, skiing, badminton, curling, and fishing were prominent with many continuing well into his senior years. The motorcycle was parked after a close call that cost him his teeth. As a young man, just starting his career with the Forest Service, John was working in Burns Lake when he met the love of his life, Eunice Patterson. They were married December 15, 1951 in Eunice’s hometown of St. John New Brunswick. After the wedding, a short but colourful assignment in Bella Coola was full of adventure including a horseback honeymoon with the survey crew on “the hill”. Next was a temporary move to Vancouver for John to attend Ranger School. Upon Graduation, they were stationed in Terrace, then Hixon, followed by Houston and finally Prince George where they resided for over 20 years. John and Eunice had four daughters between 1953 and 1960.

In 1972, John left the BC Forest Service and began teaching in the Forest Technology diploma program at the College of New Caledonia (CNC). While at CNC, he completed a diploma in Public Administration from the University of Victoria, and a teaching certificate through UBC/BC College of Teachers. To this day former students reach out and comment on the impact John made in their lives.

John and Eunice purchased a small 58 acre property on Francois Lake in 1958, and this property was a second home to their family. John retired in 1982 and they moved from Prince George to “the lake” where he lived out his dream of rebuilding their summer home and the endless aspects of working a small hobby farm. The lake property continued to be a special place for their 11 grandchildren who loved nothing more than visiting nana and grandpa there. Eunice passed away in 2005 creating a huge loss to John and the rest of his family. John continued to live at Francois Lake until 2015, when he moved into assisted living in Burns Lake. He passed away on January 11, 2020 at 92 years of age.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

John has been described by some as a “cat with 9 lives” and it is true that his life had many adventures with events that were or could have been near death experiences. As a family, we knew him to be somewhat shy, independent, resourceful, a “Jack of All Trades”, but also as a father who adored our mother and had a love of family that sustained him. John is survived by his 4 daughters and 11 grandchildren; Jocelyn (Mike), Ingrid & Hayley; Diane (Fred), Jake, Luke, Bonnie; Barbara (Doug), Alexandra, Elizabeth, Gillian; and Ingrid (Tim), Lauren, Kate, Tommy; 11 great grandchildren (Arla, Emmet, Norah, Heath, Jane, Flint, Sienna, Iris, Cea, Milo & Esme); his sister Virginia O’Meara, his brother Ralph Keefe, and many nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his wife Eunice and his sisters Marion Mummery, Edith Bond and Josephine Neave. John, Uncle John, dad, grandpa you are missed and remembered with much love! A memorial service will be held at the Francois Lake Hall on Saturday, February 22, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.

R0011789183

Grow with us.

3.00x70.0-4C

PG23 / 615595

Millar Western is a progressive forest company offering diverse, rewarding careers in great Alberta communities, with excellent advancement opportunities and a healthy work-life balance.

Millar Western is a progressive forest company offering diverse, rewarding careers in great Alberta communities, with excellent advancement opportunities and a healthy work-life balance.

Wood Products Controller

R0011787499

Site QC & Optimization Specialist

Site QC & Optimization Specialist

Millar Western’s Fox Creek Wood Products Division is seeking a Site QC & Optimization Specialist. He or she will be responsible for maintaining mechanical and process control optimization systems to ensure products meet high quality standards while maximizing value and resource utilization; improving site performance through quality control procedures, machine center efficiency, log processing and recovery, lumber quality and mill conversion factors. Ideal candidate will have lumber mill experience, lumber grading ticket, commitment to safety, strong troubleshooting abilities, electrical and mechanical aptitude, understanding of scanning, optimization, processing systems, and relevant software, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. More information can be found on our website.

Millar Western’s Whitecourt Wood Products Division is seeking a Wood Products Controller. This position will be an integral part of the senior leadership team, contributing financial and business expertise and shaping company goals and direction. Responsibilities include oversight and preparation of budgets and operating plans, financial analysis, forecasting, development of mill and woodlands accounting teams, and implementation of accounting best practices in line with corporate financial strategies. The ideal candidate will have an accounting designation and several years of progressively senior, forestry-related experience. A track record in continuous improvement and performance management is essential. Experience with SAP or a similar ERP is an asset. Applicants should have strong leadership, interpersonal and communication skills. More information can be found on our website.

Application deadline: February 2, 2020

Application deadline: February 2, 2020

Send your resume and cover letter, citing position in subject line, to: careers@millarwestern.com

Send your resume and cover letter, citing position in subject line, to: careers@millarwestern.com

Visit MillarWestern.com a resourceful company.

BLACK PRESS - CLASSIFIEDS

R0011786462

Director of Works and Services

3.00x112.0-BW

PG23 / 615595

Millar Western’s Fox Creek Wood Products Division is seeking a Site QC & Optimization Specialist. He or she will be responsible for maintaining mechanical and process control optimization systems to ensure products meet high quality standards while maximizing value and resource utilization; improving site performance through quality control procedures, machine center efficiency, log processing and recovery, lumber quality and mill conversion factors Ideal candidate will have lumber mill experience, lumber grading ticket, commitment to safety, strong troubleshooting abilities, electrical and mechanical aptitude, understanding of scanning, optimization, processing systems, and relevant software, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. More information can be found on our website.

The Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine (RDKS) is seeking an individual for the position of Director of Works and Services. This full-time position offers a competitive salary and a full range of benefits based in Terrace, BC.

Application deadline: February 2, 2020

Send your resume and cover letter, citing position in subject line, to: careers@millarwestern.com Visit MillarWestern.com a resourceful company.

The region is vibrant with a rich cultural history. Terrace is a community with a regional population of about 18,000 people situated alongside the Skeena River in northwestern BC. It is the retail, business and medical hub for the region with immense outdoor recreational opportunities, such as skiing, fishing, golfing and hiking, along with a diverse arts and culture community. This area offers quality advanced education opportunities with both the Coast Mountain College and a satellite campus of the University of Northern BC.

The Regional District provides a variety of local government services to an area of 100,000km² in northwestern British Columbia. Services range from rural land use planning to community water systems, fire protection, library services, solid waste services, recreation facilities and programs. The Region is undergoing a period of growth with increasing demands for new services.

The Director of Works and Services will be a senior management team member, reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer. This individual will be a proactive visionary, highly professional with proven leadership skills and ability to adapt and lead change using superior interpersonal skills along with excellent verbal and written communication skills. The position will be responsible for a full range of capital projects and field operations. The individual will oversee the Senior Engineer, Utilities Manager, and Solid Waste Manager while determining priorities, ensuring operational requirements are met, engaging stakeholders, preparing annual budgets, and working effectively with RDKS staff and contractors.

The preferred candidate will possess the following education and competencies:

• A minimum of 5 years senior management experience in the operation of local government services, including water, wastewater and solid waste services;

• A minimum of 5 years related experience in construction and project management of local government infrastructure projects;

• A valid Class 5 BC Driver’s License.

The Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine wishes to thank you for your interest and advises that only candidates under active consideration will be contacted.

Interested individuals are requested to submit their letter of application and resume by mail, or email to the Regional District of Kitimat- Stikine by 4:00pm on Monday, February 3, 2020

BLACK PRESS - CLASSIFIEDS

Grow with us.

3.00x70.0-4C

Millar Western is a progressive forest company offering diverse, rewarding careers in great Alberta communities, with excellent advancement

Millar Western is a progressive forest company offering diverse, rewarding careers in great Alberta communities, with excellent advancement opportunities and a healthy work-life balance.

Wood Products Controller

Wood Products Controller

Millar Western’s Whitecourt Wood Products Division is seeking a Wood Products Controller. This position will be an integral part of the senior leadership team, contributing financial and business expertise and shaping company goals and direction. Responsibilities include oversight and preparation of budgets and operating plans, financial analysis, forecasting, development of mill and woodlands accounting teams, and implementation of accounting best practices in line with corporate financial strategies. The ideal candidate will have an accounting designation and several years of progressively senior, forestry-related experience. A track record in continuous improvement and performance management is essential. Experience with SAP or a similar ERP is an asset. Applicants should have strong leadership, interpersonal and communication skills. More information can be found on our website.

development of mill and woodlands accounting teams, and implementation of accounting best practices in line with corporate financial strategies. The ideal candidate will have an accounting designation and several years of progressively senior, forestry-related experience. A track record in continuous improvement and performance management is essential. Experience with SAP or a similar ERP is an asset. Applicants should have strong leadership, interpersonal and communication skills. More information can be found on our website.

Application deadline: February 2, 2020 Send your resume and cover letter, citing position in subject line, to: careers@millarwestern.com

Application deadline: February 2, 2020

Send your resume and cover letter, citing position in subject line, to: careers@millarwestern.com

Visit MillarWestern.com a resourceful company.

Millar Western’s Whitecourt Wood Products Division is seeking a Wood Products Controller. This position will be an integral part of the senior leadership team, contributing financial and business expertise and shaping company goals and direction. Responsibilities include oversight and preparation of budgets and operating plans, financial analysis, forecasting, development of mill and woodlands accounting teams, and implementation of accounting best practices in line with corporate financial strategies. The ideal candidate will have an accounting designation and several years of progressively senior, forestry-related experience. A track record in continuous improvement and performance management is essential. Experience with SAP or a similar ERP is an asset. Applicants should have strong leadership, interpersonal and

Managing afederalelection as areturning officer is as rewarding as it is challenging.The skills you bring to this paid position(withavariable workschedule) helpmake electionday possible in yourcommunity. Your hardwork to uphold thedemocraticprocess will give Canadian electors theopportunity to shape thefutureofour country.

R0011787499

Cemetery and Pre Need Funeral Sales

We are a JD Powers Presidential Level company. Assman’s Funeral Chapel, First Memorial Funeral Services, Lakewood Chapel, Fraserview Crematorium have been serving Prince George since 1936.

Have you ever experienced the planning of an untimely passing of a loved one or heard of someone that has? We are looking for someone that has compassion, the yearning to help families and educate them on the benefits of pre planning. Our industry is not for the faint of heart but for those who want to assist families and alleviate stress when the circle of protection is completed ahead of time.

IF YOU HAVE:

A will to succeed with good communication and computer skills

Ability to work independently in a team structure Previous sales experience (an asset, not required)

Flexible work schedule

Valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle

WE OFFER:

* Full benefits package including Medical, Dental, and Vision Care. Industry leading training program including our own online University.

*Job Type: Full-time

If interested please email your resume to: vanessa.burmamastroianni@dignitymemorial.com

The Court Bailiff offers for sale by tender bid, interest in the following goods of the Judgment Debtor(s): M.G. LOGGING & SONS LTD., pursuant to a Writ of Seizure and Sale, Registry No. 19 5308.

Caterpillar Log Picker S/N: 98Z/004712 John Deere 748 Skidder S/N: DW748GX574244 Hitachi Forester P.I.N: FF0CG6P200031 c/w Waratah S/N: 232 206

Item(s) can be viewed at our Ottawa St and 3rd Ave compound in Prince George. Go to www.northcentralbailiffs.bc.ca to view photographs. Closing date February 07, 2020. Highest or any other bid not necessarily accepted. Bidders are solely responsible for determining the make, model, year of manufacture, condition, quantities, sets and or usefulness of all items for tender. All items are sold on an “as is, where is” basis with no warranty given or implied. As vehicles have not been inspected, we are declaring that they may not be suitable for transportation and may not be compliant with the motor vehicle act. Sale is subject to cancellation or adjournment without notice. Terms of sale: Immediate payment in full by bank draft or cash only upon acceptance of successful bid. Call (250) 564-4900 for details.

APPLICATION FOR PRIVATE BILLS

NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, applications for Private Bills must be filed with the Clerk of the House not later than February 25, 2020.

Applications for Private Bills must conform to the Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly, copies of which may be obtained from the Office of the Clerk, Room 221, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4.

Kate Ryan-Lloyd

Acting Clerk of the Legislative Assembly