Prince George Citizen May 7, 2020

Outdoor market launches season

Ted Clarke Citizen staff

Wilfred Sutherland already had an armful of baked goods by the time he got to Terry Eastman’s stall at the Wilson Square Community Market. it was just about closing time at the market in downtown Prince George Saturday afternoon but Sutherland still had room in his bag for some of Terry’s Fresh Hot Bannock. Hot out of the frying pan, dipped in sugar and cinnamon, it was a taste bud test of willpower for Sutherland and John George, his friend from nak’azdli, not to eat all that bannock on the spot.

Sutherland has two daughters in the city and he wanted them to sample the sweet goodies he bought from the vendors who set up on a warm breezy day in front of the Prince George courthouse for the market’s season-opening first day of business.

Sutherland says he likes to visit openair markets from Prince George to Terrace and he made the drive in Saturday from the nak’azdli Whut’en First nation reserve near Fort St. James. He quipped that he’s been cooped up at home for so long, self-isolating from the pandemic, that the walls were starting to change colour on him, so he figured it was time to leave the house.

“i like anything that’s fresh,” said Sutherland. “This is a different market, i usually go to the one that’s two blocks up and every weekend it’s usually there. But with this (virus) situation going on, it’s a miracle to see this.”

eastman has been a market vendor for 16 years and said business at her stall was a bit slow. Probably due to the fact it was opening day, many shoppers were unaware the market was open for business.

Maria Pennock, president of the Wilson Square community Market, said her group just got the go-ahead from the city last week to open and about nine vendors showed up to sell their baking, honey, meat, vegetable plants, dog treats and, in Pennock’s case, homemade tortilla chips and salsa.

pgcitizen.ca

This year, there are a few restrictions in place to encourage social distancing. All stalls are kept two metres apart and must have a designated entrance and exit for exit for customers. Several sanitizing stations are set up along the sidewalk to encourage hand washing.

“We just actually got permission (to open) as of Wednesday and there was a lot of going back and forth as to if we could or couldn’t,” said Pennock. “People are excited that it’s open. A lot of people were like, ‘We were driving by and we were so happy to see you guys here.’

“This was the first day and everybody wanted to test it out and see. We’ll probably have between 20 and 30 vendors here, depending on if we have to keep doing the two-metre spacing. The washup stations worked out really well.”

Jaunita Dalziel took over her sister Margaret McMorrow’s homemade soup mix stall six years ago when she died of cancer.

She retained most of Margaret’s Soup Factory recipes and calls her business Sister’s Soup company.

She had a steady trickle of customers who, like Sutherland, were looking for an excuse to get outside and be sociable again, even if it meant they had to follow a few new rules.

“i think it went really well,” said Dalziel. “i think a lot of people were conscious about social distancing. They would start to come up to my table and then realize what they were doing and they’d back up a little bit. i think it was very respected. i think people loved getting out. The first day wasn’t screaming busy but i think once the word gets out, we will be.”

The Wilson Square community Market is open on Saturdays during the warmweather months from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.

B.C. has avoided sweden’s death Count

Ted Clarke Citizen staff

Right from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, B.C. made the decision to err on the side of caution, forcing stores, restaurants, recreational facilities and all schools to close, unlike Sweden, which avoided a legislated response, depending on its citizens to voluntarily take precautions to limit the spread of the disease.

That less-invasive approach by Sweden, which kept primary schools, stores and restaurants open, has resulted in more residents developing community (herd) immunity.

But compared to B.c., more Swedes have been infected and with much more deadly effects.

in a country of 10.23 million people, Sweden has had 22,082 cases of coViD-19 and 2,669 residents have died from the virus. compare that B.c. with a population of 5.07 million, which as of today has reported 2,171 cases and 114 deaths.

During a media briefing in Victoria, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the difference in the death count between the two countries is enough to convince her B.c.’s mandatory restrictions on travel, business and social interactions and its public awareness campaign to prevent community transmission of the virus was the right call.

“i’ve been watching Sweden and have been looking at the measures they’ve taken and they’re actually very similar to the measures we’ve taken,” said Henry. “They have limited in-school classroom teaching and limited gatherings and groups and things like that around restaurants and other settings, although they may not be as extreme to the extent that we have here.

“i will say, the case fatality rates and the population fatality rates in Sweden are very, very high, so i think it’s a balancing of how much you value that response. They also have no evidence that we can see yet that they’ve reached the level of community immunity that would be protective from further outbreaks over coming weeks and months.”

Henry said B.c. has done well to keep the limit on the number of cases low and prevent more coViD-19 deaths, despite sharing a border with the United States, one of the worst-affected countries in the pandemic.

Unlike the U.S., none of B.c. hospitals have been overwhelmed by critically-ill patients.

citizen Photo

Wilfred Sutherland, left, flanked by his friend John George, holds some of the bannock terry eastman made Saturday at terry’s Fresh hot Bannock stall in front of the Prince George courthouse at the Wilson Square community Market.

City council cuts back tax hike

Arthur WilliAms Citizen staff

City council approved a 1.75 per cent tax increase during a special council meeting last week, down from the 3.44 per cent increase approved in the initial budget.

For a typical Prince George home, the reduction will mean a savings of $38 compared to the original planned increase. However, it means the city’s portion of property taxes for a typical home in the city will still rise by $39.

“It’s 50.1 per cent of what we started with. We’ve cut the increase in half,” Coun. Garth Frizzell. “It is as low as possible. I’m worried for what happens next year, if we go lower than 1.75 per cent.”

Non-residential properties would see greater savings, thanks to an average 25 per cent reduction in the school tax portion of property taxes offered by the province. A typical light industrial property will see a 0.31 per cent overall property

tax decrease, a typical major industrial property an overall 4.08 per cent decrease and a typical business property will see an overall 6.91 per cent savings.

Coun. Kyle Sampson and Brian Skakun urged their colleagues to consider a tax increase of only 0.88 per cent, but their motion was defeated.

In a report to council, city manager Kathleen Soltis and director of finance Kris Dalio said a deeper reduction in property taxes would mean more layoffs.

“As of April 27th, 98 staff were no longer scheduled for work in their own positions; of the 98, 18 employees had been reassigned to other jobs. At this time, there are also 40 vacant positions that are not being filled,” Soltis wrote in a report.

Further reductions to the tax increase would have required between five and 37 additional layoffs, depending on how much the increase was reduced, her report said.

“We are a service industry. Municipal business is two-thirds labour,” Dalio said.

“The non-labour is so tight. And the nonlabour is the static dollar value we need to run these services. When we talk about reducing expenses, it will impact labour at some point. We’re just too much of a labour-dominant industry.”

Coun. Murry Krause said he wasn’t interested in seeing any further layoffs at the city.

“These people were counting on that income and relying on it,” he said.

Every city department is looking for cost savings to try to offset the approximately $900,000 per month loss of revenue the city is facing, Soltis said.

“My concern is about that $900,000,” Sampson said. “My question is what is our plan to make up that money? Right now we’re talking about the tax levy, but the big elephant in the room is our loss of revenue.”

It’s city administration’s job to “close the gap,” Dalio said.

The reduction of the property tax

increase was part of a suite of measures approved by city council on Thursday night.

Council deferred $24.8 million in capital projects, eliminated city council’s costof-living wage increase, eliminated the 10 per cent penalty on October’s utility bill and postponed the second five per cent penalty on late property taxes from taking effect in September to Oct. 1. If utility bills aren’t paid by Jan. 1, they will be added to the property taxes owing on a property and begin accruing interest.

“This is the kind of a bit of gesture to the citizens that I’ve been asked for,” Coun. Terri McConnachie said. “If you can pay on time, please pay on time. If you can’t, there is a little leeway.”

City council also received information on the possibility of closing the Four Seasons Leisure Pool for the remainder of the year, but opted to wait until provincial public health restrictions are lifted to make a decision on reopening the pool or not.

Pandemic Produces mixed effect on city’s crime stats

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on some - but not all - types of crime committed in the city, according to statistics released by the Prince George RCMP.

In a year-over-year comparison of March 2019 and March 2020, and of April 1-22 to the same period last year, files involving shoplifting took a tumble.

Calls for those incidents stood at 35 for March 2020, down 35.2 per cent from 54 for

the same month last year, while the count for the April period was just nine, down 73.5 per cent from 34 in 2019.

That came as no surprise to RCMP.

“This is to be expected considering the store closures or strictly controlled access of many businesses in the community,” RCMP said in the release.

Property crime overall remained within the range of previously-reported data. There were 798 reports in March, up 17.2 per cent from last year, and 585 for April 1-22, down 7.6 per cent. Break and enters

for both periods stood at 14, up by just one for March and down just two for the April period. At 227 reports, offences involving violence were up 6.6 per cent in March but, dropped 24.3 per cent during April 1-22, and stood at 130 compared to 195 during the same three weeks in 2019.

Domestic assaults were a wash as they rose by three cases to 34 in March but declined by three cases to 30 during April 1-22. RCMP have been busier fielding calls about suspicious circumstances and unwanted persons. Combined, they added

up to 795, a jump of 225 calls or 34.5 per cent over the entire period presented in the report.

As for physical distancing scofflaws, RCMP said the detachment received between one and five calls a day during March 25-April 22. And instead of calling the detachment, RCMP are asking those who see someone failing to abide by a public health order to call city hall at 311, if the act was committed within city limits, or 1-888-COVID-19 (1-888-268-4319), it if occurred outside them.

mArK NiElsEN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Teachers agree to three-year deal

Ted Clarke Citizen staff

B.C. teachers voted 98 per cent in favour of a three-year contract that calls for two per cent wage increases each year, retroactive to July 2019.

Ratification for more than 45,000 teachers in the B.C. Teachers Federation took place over three days of online voting.

The vote drew 31,000 responses, between 70 and 75 per cent of the membership.

“I’m very pleased it has been accepted at the percentage that it was – 98 per cent voting in favour of this deal is great,” said Joanne Hapke, president of the Prince George District Teachers Association.

“We’ve always had high voting returns and it’s wonderful on this deal that it came back so high in favour.”

The mediated agreement between the teachers federation and B.C. Public School Employers’ Association was achieved on March 26.

The new contract, from July 1, 2019-June 30, 2022 will give all teachers a two per cent raise for the next two years, and they will receive a two per cent raise retroactively to cover the first year of the new contract.

In School District 57, Prince George teacher salaries in the current school year range from $46,898 to $89,287.

Teachers on the top tier of the sal-

ary grid in each school district will also receive an additional one per cent increase in 2020.

“That is to address the retention piece, and the recruitment piece will be addressed by an increase for beginning teachers who accept a contract,” said Hapke, who is hopeful the new deal will also help B.C. to address its teacher shortage.

“Every one per cent makes it better, but certainly having a ratified deal that you didn’t have to go on strike to achieve does make it more palatable for teachers to move to our province.

“We’re not in labour unrest and we have a government that chose to work with us, so that is all favourable for anyone considering B.C. as a teaching option.”

There have been no layoffs since schools were closed on March 16 and Hapke said the district continues to hire teachers teaching on call (substitute teachers) for September.

The province also maintained ratios on non-enrolling specialist teachers and support staff (counsellors, teaching assistants, English language learning assistants) in the schools.

Those teacher ratio provisions were stripped by the Liberal provincial government in January 2002 when it legislated a three-year contract for B.C. teachers and werent reinstated until after a Supreme

Court of Canada decision in November 2016.

“We just got the language back and that’s the floor, that’s not the best that we can get for our students,” said Hapke.

“Those ratios were based on language negotiated in 1989 and our needs are greater in 2020. The kids deserve more supports than what our collective agreement allows them.”

The deal also entrenches a mediated process to support future bargaining sessions.

In 2014, when 31,000 of the province’s 41,000 teachers ratified a five-year contract, 86 per cent were in favour of the settlement.

Hapke said typically, in a non-COVID year, the district would know by now how many teachers it needs to hire for the upcoming school year.

Due to the pandemic crisis, that estimating was not done in April, as it usually is, and the PGDTA won’t know those numbers until next week at the earliest.

B.C. teachers have had five weeks to get used to the new reality of online/remote teaching, with no return to students to their classrooms foreseen for at least the next few weeks.

Three Prince George schools are open to younger children of frontline health-care workers and first responders.

Those schools will continue to provide

care from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., staffed by educational assistants to help those students follow learning plans outlined by their teachers.

At-risk students in danger of falling behind academically or dropping out due to such factors as learning disabilities, disciplinary problems, health concerns, or unstable family situations have been returned to their schools this week and that limited migration back to classrooms will continue next week.

Students who require that additional support will be in school for two-hour sessions, twice a week.

“Based on the information we’ve received, classes as we knew it on March 13th will not be returning in the near future,” said Hapke.

“So we’re not going to have 20 to 30 students in every class from 8:30 – 2:30 every day in the near future, that’s not possible. No one is in their schools for 25 hours a week (for classroom instruction) at this time.

“Our district has already opened up the schools to some students, the ones that must be on-site for various reasons, but the majority of students are learning from their homes right now. The teachers are preparing the work and sending the work out to the parents and we are working with parents to help them deliver the curriculum.”

Canfor to reopen two area sawmills

Citizen staff

Canfor will be reopening two area sawmills on May 11, the company said. Its operations in Vanderhoof (Plateau) and in Chetwynd will resume operating at four days a week, as will its Elko sawmill in the Kootenays, while its WynnWood sawmill in the Kootenays will run five days a week.

Ongoing downtime at Houston, Isle Pierre, Polar and Radium is being extended until at least the middle of May. They had been scheduled to reopen May 1. Isle Pierre, Plateau and Houston have been closed since March 30 and Polar and Chetwynd since mid-April. The company recorded an $88.8-million operating loss for the first quarter of 2020.

RCMP Reviewing aleRt PoliCy

Ted Clarke Citizen staff

As spokesperson for the Prince George RCMP detachment, Cpl. Craig Douglass says he’s not in a position to set federal policy for the country’s national police service now facing criticism for not using a cell phone-enabled emergency alert system to warn people of the active shooter who killed 22 Nova Scotians two weeks ago. While there were lessons to be learned about what police services can do to better utilize technology to keep the public informed with immediate information to keep people out of danger, with no national protocol in place, Douglass said he’s unable to comment on why a province-wide alert was not issued by Nova Scotia RCMP.

“If we had an active-shooter situation here we would use whatever resources are available to us,” said Douglass. “Our priority is public safety and we would do everything we possibly could to communicate to people if their lives are in jeopardy.

“Definitely, that (text message emergency alert is) something that could be utilized and we realize that,” he said. “Just like Amber alert… we know it’s there and we know under certain criteria it can be used. Certainly, an active shooter would meet that criteria for an emergency alert, but those decisions make their way to Victoria and Surrey, where our headquarters are.”

The province controls the emergency alert system used to warn the public of natural disasters such as tsunamis or

Local RCMP sergeant remembers slain officer

Ted Clarke Citizen staff

As soon as reports began to surface from the Nova Scotia shooting tragedy that a female RCMP officer had been killed trying to apprehend the suspect, Prince George RCMP Sgt. Charlotte Peters immediately thought of Heidi Stevenson.

Peters’ worst fears were confirmed when she found out the 48-year-old constable and mother of two was among the 22 victims of Canada’s worst mass shooting. Stevenson’s heroic actions likely saved lives when she disabled the gunman by ramming into the mock RCMP cruiser he had used to pull over victims before he shot them.

Peters was at an earlier stage of her six-month training at the RCMP depot in Regina and graduated a few months ahead of Stevenson and they never saw each other after that, but both are native Nova Scotians who stayed in contact with each other through the RCMP’s internal Facebook sites.

“I did meet her in training and she was a bundle of energy and she had a heck of a smile, which is evidenced in a lot of the pictures that have circulated around since she was killed,” said Peters.

“When this whole situation unfolded we heard a member had been killed, and then we heard a female member had been killed, and that’s when I started going through in my head all the female members I knew in Nova Scotia and Heidi Stevenson is the first one who popped into my head. It was a bad coincidence when that was actually who it was.”

Stevenson, 48, was among the last people shot by the gunman during his 13-hour rampage, April 18-19 in rural Nova Scotia. Stevenson was on her way to meeting another RCMP officer, Chad Morrison, in Shufenacadie.

Morrison arrived at the meeting spot first and saw what he assumed was Stevenson police cruiser approaching but it turned out to be Wortman in his mock cruiser, who immediately began firing. Morrison was wounded but managed to drive away and put out a warning on the police radio.

“Heidi, coming along, would have heard this on the radio, so she knew that the next police car she was going to meet was going to be the bad guy,” said Peters. “She took action that would have been based in what she learned in training and tried to use her vehicle in order to push him off the

road. So she rammed him and they ended up going head-on and unfortunately that’s when she was killed.”

A bystander was also shot and killed at the scene and the shooter drove off in his SUV.

It finally ended when the police converged on a gas station in nearby Enfield, N.S., where the gunman was killed.

“It’s beyond belief,” said Peters, a native of Halifax. “It’s a tiny place with lots of big families living all over the province. Lots of people know each other everywhere. This six degrees of separation is probably three or four degrees of separation in Nova Scotia. People know each other and there are so many people who would have been connected to each and every one of those victims. Just unbelievable.”

While mass shootings have become more prevalent in the world, the most sinister aspect of the Nova Scotia incident is the fact the gunman effectively disguised himself as a police officer. For legitimate law-enforcement officers, that is their worst fears realized.

“I think we work really hard to gain the public’s trust and that’s something we can lose quite easily,” said Peters. “I just hope that here in Prince George that people don’t lose faith in us. Certainly if anybody is nervous when approached by a police officer they certainly have that option.”

Stevenson was a 23-year veteran of the force and was well-known publicly as a media spokesperson for the Nova Scotia RCMP.

She started out in general duty and worked in high schools as a school liaison in Cole Harbour, where she met her teacher husband Dean.

Stevenson also worked as a drug identification expert and was a member of the RCMP Musical Ride, a troop of 32 equestrian riders who form a cavalry that performs its intricate riding patterns at ceremonial events across Canada.

“I just remember she was incredibly happy and proud to be at depot being what she wanted to be and that was a police officer,” said Peters. “She was a gifted athlete and she was rugby player and was very successful in the fitness program at depot. She was just a very healthy and positive person.

“Like any one of us, she was giving her life to her job and to the people she was protecting and I think it’s very important to stress the fact she was doing what she was trained to do and she died a hero.”

approaching storms. Most cell phone users in Prince George have received test alerts over the past year or two to ensure the system is working. There’s also an Amber alert service to warn people in the case of a child abduction with descriptions of the people involved and how to contact police.

According to national spokesperson Cpl. Caroline Duval, the RCMP is reviewing how it handled the recent events in rural Nova Scotia and is considering developing a national operational policy which would provide formal protocols on how to use the emergency alert system. While tracking the movements of the gunman during his nearly 13-hour rampage, RCMP used Twitter to issue about a dozen tweets asking people to stay in their homes.

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil

stated the province’s emergency management staff was brought in during that April 18-19 weekend specifically to act on a request of the RCMP to issue an emergency alert, but that request was never made, while the killings continued. A public inquest will determine if and where mistakes were made. The investigation could result in operational changes, as did the 2017 inquiry which determined the RCMP was poorly-equipped to deal with a gunman in Moncton, N.B., who killed three officers and wounded two in a shootout on June 4, 2014. The officers in that case were armed with pistols and shotguns instead of short-barrel carbine rifles, which provide a longer range and greater accuracy. As a result, rapid-fire carbines are now available for use as standard RCMP policy.

MARK NIELSEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The province’s lumber producers will get a three-month deferral on stumpage to help the industry through the COVID-19 pandemic, B.C. forests minister Doug Donaldson said.

Stumpage is the fee operators pay the provincial government to harvest, buy or sell trees from Crown land.

The deferral is expected to add up to $80 million and is meant to help companies but they must begin paying the amount back with interest once the term has ended. Donaldson dismissed concern the move would be open to a challenge from the U.S. lumber industry.

“It’s not a loan, it’s not a grant and interest will be applied to the amounts that’s owing so from our perspective, it cannot be construed in any way as a subsidy,” Donaldson said during a teleconference with provincial media.

To qualify, the recipient must hold one of a tree farm licence, replaceable for-

Stumpage deferred Building permits down

The City of Prince George saw a 20 per cent drop in the value of building permits issued in March, compared to the previous two years, according to a report submitted to city council.

Last month, the city issued building permits with a total estimated value of $8.8 million, down from $11.1 million in 2019 and $11.3 million in 2018. Although the value of permits was down, the number of individual permits issued was up.

The city issued 41 permits last month, compared to 37 in March 2019 and March 2018.

Despite the dip in March, the number of building permits issued in the first quarter of the year was in line with the past two years, and the total value of permits issued

est licence or First Nations’ woodlands licence, be in good financial standing with the province and be following through on its reforesting obligations.

The outbreak put an end to an apparent upswing in the price of softwood lumber exported into the United States as the pace of housing starts weakened. After hovering around the $400 range per 1,000 board feet during November-February, the price stood at $319 as of Thurs., April 30, Donaldson said, adding 45 mills across the province have either curtailed or closed, affecting about 7,000 workers.

Opposition Liberal forests critic John Rustad said the move will help with shortterm cash flow.

“But I question the need to charge interest and why didn’t they do it for six months,” he added. “Both Ontario and Alberta did a six-month stumpage deferral for the forest sector as well as the deferral without interest charge, and so it just doesn’t make sense to me why B.C. wouldn’t be doing the same thing.”

was higher than the first quarters of 2018 and 2019.

From January to the end of March, the city issued 97 permits worth an estimated $31.3 million. In the first quarter of 2019, the city issued 101 permits worth $27.2 million, and in 2018 the city issued 88 permits worth $24.9 million over the same period.

The biggest permit issued by the city in March was for construction of a new industrial building worth an estimated $930,000. In terms of residential construction, the city issued permits for one new triplex worth an estimated $627,000, nine new single-family homes worth a combined $4.4. million and four new mobile homes worth approximately $744,000.

Regional parks open

Citizen staff

The Regional District of Fraser-Fort George opened 10 of 11 regional parks on Friday.

Berman Lake, Cedarside, George Hicks, Harold Mann, John Dahl, Koeneman, Kristian Winther, McMillan Creek, Ness Lake and Wilkins parks all opened for the season on Friday. Giscome-Portage/Huble Homestead is set to open on June 1.

“(The) regional district reminds everyone that for the safety and comfort of all park users and to align with public health guidelines, visitors should keep their time

at the parks short and maintain a minimum distance of six feet away from other users and refrain from contacting gates, fences and other surfaces with their hands,” the district said in a press release. “The regional district is pleased to provide our parks for residents as a place to go and enjoy open spaces, but encourages visitors to be responsible with park use.”

Some areas may be cordoned off because of ground conditions.

The parks are open for day use only, with no overnight camping allowed.

Firefighters patrolling alleys

staff

Prince George Fire Rescue and a local social agency have teamed up to lessen the chances of fires breaking out in the city’s downtown.

PGFR crews are now conducting twicedaily patrols of downtown alleys while members of the Drug and Alcohol Recovery Team are coming in behind to clean up the messes.

It was among the steps city hall highlighted in a statement on what is being done to keep downtown safe and clean during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The firefighters are covering the area

from First Avenue to Sixth Avenue and from Victoria Street to Lower Patricia Boulevard during the mid-morning and the evening. DART has been contracted to provide daily and on-call cleanup services, city hall said. With the pandemic, PGFR is now being called only to the most serious of medical emergencies, leading to a significant reduction in its workload outside its core responsibility of preventing and fighting fires. Also, the Prince George Brain Injured Group has received support from Downtown Prince George to increase the hours worked by the Downtown Clean Team.

Citizen staff

Citizen

UNBC prof offers pandemic primer

Ted Clarke Citizen staff

Pandemics are a hot topic and biomedical anthropologist Lianne Tripp is sharing her knowledge of the history of large-scale outbreaks of infectious disease at UNBC.

Tripp’s online course, which started last week and will wrap up in June, will provide a historical perspective of pandemics and their consequences, touching on the economic devastation and life-changing social and health impacts of COVID-19, what we can learn from it, on how we will recover from it.

“The objective is to get an appreciation of what the epidemic or pandemic experience is in a population in a historical context but also to understand what we are going through today,” said Tripp. “These are historic times. Fifty to 100 years from now, researchers like myself will be studying this pandemic and I think it’s important for students to understand they’re

going through this momentous time. Even though we’re in the midst of it, we don’t know how it’s going to play out and we can still study it and take the information that’s available and have an understanding of our history as it’s unfolding.”

Tripp, an assistant professor at UNBC, earned her doctorate in anthropology at the University of Toronto, gearing her research to the demography and health of small-scale communities. Her studies of marginalized populations in colonial settings in the 19th and 20th centuries focused on the relative isolation of Maltese islands and Gibraltar.

“The reason I like to focus on smaller populations in Gibraltar and Malta is they’re quite contained and it’s easy to track cases,” Tripp said. “You have an island or a peninsula that has strict border measures and this is experience we’re in now is going to be very similar to that. People are somewhat contained, we do have border closures, so we can in some

cases effectively track the disease. We have these numbers and daily reports and that’s unprecedented. I don’t think we’ll ever see anything like that again. It’s a great learning opportunity for students.”

After delving into the history of pandemics and their effects, the second half of the course examines the COVID-19 virus and the ongoing fight to bring it under control. What’s there to be learned from tracking trends in the number of cases and number of deaths? What populations are more at risk and why? And what’s being reported in the media compared to what’s being written by experts in scientific journals?

Tripp will also touch on outbreak science and the use of artificial intelligence and cell phone usage to track the chain of infection and how effective these methods have been in minimizing the spread of the coronavirus.

“Everything that’s being published on COVID is accessible for free so we’re going to be taking advantage of that and looking

at the Canadian context,” said Tripp. “I think Canada is a great place to examine what’s going on because we have variation in provincial mandates as to how to try to minimize the spread of the disease. So we can look at case studies and that’s another aspect I hope students will find interesting.

“Sometimes we’re taking info on cases and deaths and reporting them as being as accurate (but) they are estimates at best. We’re never going to have really true numbers. Even from province to province the way it’s being reported is different, and that’s problematic. We see these graphs comparing province to province or doing it globally as Canada, as a total, versus other countries. We have to bear in mind they may be including probable cases in their estimates or may be estimating infection just based on models. There’s a huge discrepancy in how these numbers are being collected and we do have to keep that in mind when we’re looking at comparisons across the world.”

HigH scHool name decision criticized

Christine hinZMAnn

And Arthur williAMs Citizen staff

Neither the chief of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation nor the vice-chair of the Kelly Road Parent Advisory Committee are happy with the School District 57 board’s decision for the new Hart high school to have the dual name of Shas Ti Secondary and Kelly Road Secondary.

Chief Clayton Pountney said the dual name will divide students and the community for years to come.

“In the coming decades when you have a kid calling the school Shas Ti and everyone else is saying Kelly Road, you will see the fight keep going,” he said. “If they had just went with one we could deal with the aftermath now but this aftermath may last decades.”

Chief Poutney and Lheidli T’enneh elders had made a request to the board on Feb. 25 to name the new school Shas Ti Secondary School. The trustees unanimously voted after that presentation to begin the process of renaming the new $44.3 million school that opens in September to replace the old Kelly Road Secondary.

The request came on the heels of the Lheidli T’enneh hosting its first balhats, the First Nation’s version of a potlatch, in 73 years last November. The Lheidli T’enneh’s relationship with School District 57 was celebrated during the balhats.

“The board of education has betrayed our nation, our students and our members,” Pountney said. “All I can say for sure is that our relationship with SD 57 has been damaged by those board members who changed their vote and it will take a

very long time to heal.”

Like many people on both sides of the high school name issue, including some of the school board trustees, Pountney said the naming process was flawed.

“We’d like to be included from the very beginning,” he said. “That’s one of the main pieces. So when you’re in the planning stages, reach out - this is our territory - and it’s actually kind of rude not to.”

Lotte Andersen, vice chair of the Kelly Road parent advisory committee, said she thinks the name should have remained Kelly Road Secondary School and found the whole process peculiar.

Part of the community engagement process was an online questionnaire.

The survey found 68 per cent of the 2,707 respondents said the new school should keep the name Kelly Road while 13 per cent supported changing the name to Shas Ti, while another 13 per cent agreed to a blended name.

“It’s very odd that when you have a community who has a school that they really really appreciate and have worked hard to make better and create a really wonderful community that the usual democracy and listening to people was just cancelled,” Andersen said.

The dual name doesn’t do anything for reconciliation, she added. If it were a brand new school, not a replacement school then it could begin fresh with an original name so it could build its own history in the community, Andersen said.

“Is it perfect? No. But I believe it recognizes and acknowledges both histories,” school trustee Ron Polillo said.

The decision to give the school two names was an amended version of a

motion put forward by Polillo, which called for the school to be named Kelly Road Shas Ti Secondary.

“I will support this motion because it provides for the greatest number of people in our constituency,” trustee Bob Thompson said. “I worry about the confrontation getting out of hand if one side wins and one side loses.”

Trustees debated four options, which included the dual name, keeping the name Kelly Road but incorporating Lheidli T’enneh culture and history into other parts of the school, naming the school Shas Ti, and naming the school Shas Ti and the school gymnasium after Kelly Road.

The debate lasted more than two hours, with Polillo, Thompson, chairperson Tim Bennett and trustee Sharel Warrington voting in favour, while trustees Trent Derrick, Betty Bekkering and Shuirose Valimohamed voted against it.

“While I 100 per cent believe that Shas Ti needs to be on the building, I worry that this decision... puts a dark cloud over the opening of this new building,” Bennett said. “It’s going to be an opportunity for incredible, 21st-century learning to happen in that building.”

Both Derrick and Bekkering put forward motions which would have named the school exclusively Shas Ti Secondary.

“There is a lot of talk about compromise. Why is it always the First Nations who have to compromise? They’ve been compromising for 150 years,” Derrick said.

“This is not a big ask. We have 42 schools in our district, it’s not to big to have one (with a Lheidli T’enneh name).”

At the beginning of the board meeting, which was conducted via videoconferenc-

ing software and live-streamed online, school district staff read several of the 88 emails submitted by members of the public about the issue.

A total of 57 individuals wrote emails in favour of keeping the Kelly Road name, with some submitting multiple emails on the subject, School District 57 secretarytreasurer Darleen Patterson said. Eleven people wrote emails in favour of the name Shas Ti Secondary School.

“Changing the name is a form of appeasement. The entire process is creating a rift in our community,” an email submitted by 13 people said. “We know Kelly Road has a history and a legacy in the district.”

The email said changing the name won’t do anything meaningful to achieve for reconciliation.

“I’m writing to you to beg you, don’t change the name Kelly Road. Kelly Road is a special school and the name has meaning to us,” Kelly Road alumni Teresa Jordan wrote. “Changing the name feels like you are erasing our memories.”

Not all Kelly Road alumni opposed the change, however. Laura Parent, who graduated in 2017, said she “whole-heartedly supports” the change to Shas Ti.

“I was born and raised in the Hart and attended KRSS for five years. Changing the name of the school does not and will not take away any of my Roadrunner identity from me. I am proud to be a graduate of KRSS, but I would be much more proud to be from an inclusive community. This issue, at it’s core, is about race.”

Those opposed to the name change should think about why they are so uncomfortable with a Lheidli T’enneh name, she wrote.

How to kill the coronavirus

Don’t drink disinfectant. Don’t inject it. Don’t inhale it. Disinfectant is more toxic to you than to the coronavirus, so it is not an effective way to avoid COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Unlike cancer treatment, in which the disease is literally caused by your own cells - so in trying to kill those cells, patients are themselves brought to the edge of deathtreatments for viral diseases are generally not so dangerous.

The best known are vaccines.

In my last column, I discussed the different ways we can detect the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Today, I review some of the ways to kill it.

Well, not kill it. Remember? It’s not actually alive. So I guess we are inactivating or neutralizing it. Anything to stop it from reproducing.

Five hundred years ago, your ancestors believed many interesting things: that life could arise spontaneously from rubbish; that misfortune was caused by witches casting spells; that what happens to you today is significantly influenced by where the planets happened to be in their orbits around the sun on the day you were born.

Ever since the great thinkers of the Enlightenment showed us that the world makes more sense if we look for evidence in nature, however, we have gained greater understanding and control over life’s misfortunes. There are few more powerful examples of this than vaccines, which have essentially banished from humanity the viruses that used to kill roughly one in three children.

Think about that. One in three children.

GUEST COLUMN

Stephen rader

There are a number of ways to make a vaccine, but the basic idea is to present something to your immune system to get it primed so that if the real virus shows up it is ready to attack it. Kind of like a practice run. What would most look like a virus to your immune system? Well, one thing is the virus itself - a so-called live virus vaccinebut obviously that strategy has risks.

One common technique for making a vaccine is to produce lots of virus and then inactivate it somehow. In other words, treat it with heat or chemicals or radiation so that it still looks like a virus to your immune system, but is incapable of reproducing in your body. If the virus can still reproduce a little bit then, it is an attenuated live virus vaccine, like the measles vaccine. If it can’t reproduce at all it is called inactivated, like the newer polio vaccine.

But it is expensive and slow to grow viruses in large quantities.

Modern molecular biology provides interesting alternatives. In my lab, we sometimes need to make a particular protein so we can study what it does. Usually, we put the DNA that encodes that protein (i.e. that has the instructions for a cell to make it) into bacteria. The bacteria make the protein, and we grind them up and take the protein out.

Now imagine that instead of using intact

viruses as a vaccine, we just used the proteins on the outside of the virus. That’s the only part our immune system recognizes anyway, since the rest is buried inside the virus where antibodies and immune cells can’t reach it.

Such viral proteins can be produced in just the same way that we make proteins in my lab: the DNA instructions for making them can be put into bacteria, the proteins extracted, and finally cleaned up and used as a vaccine. But making proteins for use as vaccines is complicated and expensive.

Now there is a more clever way.

Recall that the virus only needs to get its RNA genome into your cells in order to get your cells to make viral proteins. Your body recognizes those proteins as foreign, and mounts an immune response. Thus, instead of using viral proteins as the vaccine, we could use viral RNA.

It turns out that making RNA in large quantities is cheaper and easier than making proteins. This is the basis of the vaccine that Moderna, in Cambridge, Mass., is developing. They are one of the first companies to move into clinical trials of a candidate vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, because they don’t have to produce viruses and inactivate them. They don’t even have to make viral proteins. They just have to make the RNA message for one of those proteins.

We don’t know yet whether it will work, but it is certainly a quick way to a candidate vaccine.

Vaccines rely on stimulating your immune system so that it is prepared when a live virus comes along. Another way to fight viruses is with antiviral compounds,

such as the so-called anti-retrovirals used to combat HIV.

These are small molecules - in other words, chemicals - unlike proteins and RNA and DNA, which are enormous molecules. One big advantage of antiviral compounds is that they can get right into your cells and stop the virus before it kills them.

The problem is that we - mostly - don’t have any way to design such compounds. Most of them are found by brute force, literally testing millions of different chemicals to see whether any of them stop a virus from reproducing. This can take years.

In contrast, Moderna designed and produced its RNA vaccine in weeks.

So what is the end game with COVID-19?

With PCR testing and contact tracing, we can lift many social distancing restrictions, but may have to reimpose them when there is another outbreak. With an antibody test, we can find out who already had COVID-19 and is therefore (hopefully) immune. Those with immunity can safely go back to their regular lives if testing and contact tracing ensures that they aren’t exposed to viruses that they could pass on with their hands. And with a vaccine, if it works, we can protect everyone from the risk of getting COVID-19 in the future.

Fingers crossed that one of these strategies comes to fruition soon, because I’m ready to be done with being on lockdown.

Stay safe.

Stay healthy.

- Stephen Rader is a professor of biochemistry at the University of Northern British Columbia. His laboratory studies how RNA is processed by our cells. He is the founder of the Western Canada RNA Conference.

Words hide truth

In Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell describes a dystopian society in which language is used to control people. In Orwell’s fictional world, vocabulary is constrained and new words are created in order to simplify and manipulate people’s understanding of the world around them. Orwell suggested that the well-known connection between language and worldview could also be used to manage human behaviour. It was only three years ago that I started hearing the word fibre used instead of forest with confusing frequency. This word appears on industry and government websites and it is used regularly by timber company representatives. Last week, Minister Doug Donaldson described the lands he is in charge of as feedstock in my community newspaper. One could be forgiven for thinking that the timber industry, with the province’s help, is attempting to replace the notion of a forest - and everything that word means - with vague abstractions. The term fibre conjures up Metamucil, while feedstock summons the mental image of food for livestock. Why are government and industry employing these euphemisms, rather than just saying forest? The purpose is two-fold: to change how we view these complex living systems and to prevent us from acting to defend them. If forests can be rebranded as stands of consumable objects (which the terms fibre and feedstock achieve), then the work of obtaining social license to destroy them has already been done. If an ecosystem is merely feedstock for a pellet plant, what on Earth else would you do with it? If a tree falls in a fibre, no one will hear it because it doesn’t exist.

Natural forests, including those that have burned or are full of decay fungi, provide food and medicines and mitigate floods. Forests also store and sequester carbon in soil and plant tissues, and old forests are particularly good at this, while beetle-killed forests provide critical structures for wildlife.

The founding belief of modern forest management - that natural forests are a commodity - is among the root causes of declining ecosystem health in B.C. Under this belief system, old growth is in the way of plantations that can provide a predictable flow of wood and revenue. Burned or beetle-killed forests are waste. Paired with corporate control over public lands, the conceit that people can and should manage complex ecosystems has led us to where we are today.

Emerging research confirms that B.C.’s productive old growth forest is all but gone. Companies are being awarded licenses to harvest in remaining primary forests to feed pellet plants. The Council of Forest Industries, whose member companies have levelled most of the economically valuable old growth on the coast and in the interior, are demanding that the province set aside the remainder in a “working forest landbase” (read: available for harvest), according to their Smart Future report.

As a part of their ongoing efforts to ensure continued access to B.C.’s last

primary forests, those in power are trying to reduce these ecosystems to objects so that the public won’t fight for them. We will not abide lies of omission that obscure the truth of what natural forests are and we won’t stop defending them. Natural forests will always be more than fibre or feedstock; and in nature, there is no such thing as waste.

Michelle Connolly, Conservation North Prince George

Planters Problem

What is the B.C. government’s planning policy in bringing thousands of planters from all over Canada to the Northern Interior of B.C. during this horrendous pandemic? There is no testing being done nor would it help in this situation.

We, in the north, have been so careful with physical distancing, hand washing etc. because we are terrified of a virus outbreak in our area where we don’t have enough medical services for ourselves. We certainly don’t have anywhere enough for thousands more. Is this an experiment in herd immunity at our expense?

Our people, be they in the small mill towns, First Nations, farmers, ranchers or loggers have so far done a very good job keeping the virus down to the minimum. I am so angry at our govt. for initiating this endeavour. We are being told that the planters will be closely monitored. Will they be monitoring workers day and night out in the communities where they are staying? Bringing thousands of planters in and not expecting a huge outbreak will be like hitting a bee’s nest with a bat and not expecting to get stung. These planters will not stay in their motel rooms nor will there be anyone monitoring them to be sure they do. They are mostly university students doing what they do in summer - making money for tuition and partying after a hard year’s work. We do not have medical services to help them if they get sick or make us sick. I am quite sure Dr. Bonnie Henry, John Horgan and Adrian Dix, good people as they are, have never been in the north in tree planting season.  Someone in government had better get a grip on reality and think of the ultimate price.

Trisha Smith, Houston

Guardian aGenda

I laughed when I read Trudy Klassen’s column detailing what it was like to live in the culture she was born into. At the end, she exhorts everyone to practice tolerance and kindness in order to combat the concern that someone else (she calls them guardians) who were not elected would be the final arbiters in disagreements. Correct me please if I am wrong but wasn’t Trudy one of a group of people who parked their cars in the parking lot of the school district office and honked their horns in protest so that the school trustees were not able to conduct the business they were elected for? At a time when the trustees were working very hard to ensure that education could be delivered, was that tolerant or kind?

Again, correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t Trudy also one of the people who was

unsuccessful in her bid to become a school trustee? I seem to remember that she home schooled her children so it is unlikely (but of course not impossible) that she or her family had a close tie to the old school name. I am just musing and I may be wrong but it seems to me that perhaps Trudy used this issue to create further dissent and to raise her profile in anticipation of another bid for school board. If that is the case, I certainly hope the people of Prince George will remember her intolerance when it comes to the next election. Does it ever occur to her that the First Nations may look at her as one of those “unelected guardians?”

Sandi Kubert, Prince George let me

be blunt

Hello, users of marijuana. I know that marijuana is legal, and while it’s not my cup of tea, you do you. What I would implore you, however, is please please please dispose of your product properly (joints, edibles, etc.). This is coming from a concerned pet owner.

About two weeks ago, I was talking my dog for awalk and even though he was leashed the entire time, shortly after coming home, he began acting weird. He was lethargic, unsteady on his feet, he looked like he had tremors, and he wasn’t eating or drinking. I took him into the emergency vet, where they gave him activated charcoal to absorb whatever toxins might be in his body since we didn’t know what he could have gotten into. As any pet owner is aware, it only takes them a split second to pick something up and swallow it, even if you did have the eyes of a hawk. We came home and I monitored him. That’s all I could do at that point. It was extremely scary, and being a first time “paw”rent, I thought I was going to lose my best friend.

Then today, a friend sent me a text from a Facebook group from a lady who said that her daughter took her dog to Teapot Mountain and shortly after the hike, her dog had to go to the emergency vet exhibiting the same symptoms as my dog. It was confirmed as marijuana ingestion. To make matters worse, another person arrived at the vet at the same time who had also hiked Teapot and their dog had the same symptoms. Now I didn’t hike Teapot, just my local neighborhood, but it goes to show, it can happen anywhere.

THC is toxic to dogs, and although rarely fatal, can make them sick. Effects can vary depending on the dosage in the product as well as the animal’s size, health, age and so on. Please be responsible and dispose of joints or edibles properly, in the trash. For me, your irresponsibility cost me over $500 at the emergency vet, and I’m sure the cost gets to be a lot more depending how much was ingested and the symptoms that animal was exhibiting. And while I know there are many responsible users, it only takes the select few to sour the milk.

Again, I cannot emphasize this enough. It also goes to tobacco users as well, with all the cigarette buds on the ground, but the dangers of THC in animals is not something that can be ignored. So please think of the animals and throw those buds out

MAILING ADDRESS

properly. We won’t even mention the fact that they could also start fires.

Kim Lawyer, Prince George

shockinG disPlay

I have been shocked at the racism towards Indigenous peoples I have been reading about in Prince George recently, particularly in response to the renaming of Kelly Road school.

Racists in Prince George seem to feel empowered to make hateful and ignorant statements about Indigenous peoples.  I studied at CNC 45 years ago and I am heartbroken that so little has changed. In fact, people are even more vocal about their racist notions than I remember. My husband and I were thinking of relocating there but have changed our minds.

I strongly urge the City of Prince George to combat racist comments on social media with official statements of support for its Indigenous citizens and the surrounding First Nations communities. I also encourage the city to undertake educational initiatives and community meetings to support the message of truth and reconciliation.

Sherry Dahl, Kelowna

krss Passion

My passion for KRSS is obvious, as is my desire for an inclusive, ever-widening friendship circle. It has been good to reconnect with many people, to meet many new people, to see how important KRSS is to all of us, past, present and future. We spoke. It might be misconstrued as “racist”, with similitude to “the final solution” and imparted  as ‘white majority’, which may not be a true assessment of the sentiment of the people who desired to retain the Kelly Road name nor why there were so many impassioned responses.  One truth, acknowledged, with apology, by some members of the school board is that t rustees did not consider or engage the Hart community from the start, nor was a fitful protocol for change in place. I reread the minutes of the Indigenous Education Advisory Committee, dated Feb. 3, 2020. Done. A dual name KRSS Shas Ti completes a crafted plan and yet still calls to question the process. Hopefully this will be addressed, as Chairman Bennett indicated, with improvements to SD57 Board of Trustees policy and procedure.   Enough said, I have been schooled on history and how things get done. Canada is still a wonderful place to live, harmonious with all my friends, from every nation, culture and belief. It is our home.

G.B.

Keryluik, Prince George

Gun Politics

Hey, Justin Trudeau, quit playing politics. You had years to outlaw military guns but it took a tragedy in Nova Scotia to get you out of your convenient closet. Be truthful as to how the killer got the guns. Get off your rear end and do something about the border since the gangs and anybody that needs an illegal gun can just go and get one across the border. Be honest and quit being an opportunist. Warner Bliskis, Prince George

Council.

A division of Glacier Media.

MAILING ADDRESS

MAILING ADDRESS

505 Fourth Ave. Prince George, B.C. V2L 3H2

MAILING ADDRESS

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 250-562-6666 cls@pgcitizen.ca

505 Fourth Ave. Prince George, B.C. V2L 3H2

505 Fourth Ave. Prince George, B.C. V2L 3H2

505 Fourth Ave. Prince George, B.C. V2L 3H2

OFFICE HOURS

OFFICE HOURS

9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 250-562-6666 cls@pgcitizen.ca

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 250-562-6666 cls@pgcitizen.ca

OFFICE HOURS 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday GENERAL

OFFICE HOURS 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday

GENERAL SWITCHBOARD 250-562-2441 info@pgcitizen.ca

8:30 a.m - 3:00 p m Monday to Friday

SHAWN CORNELL, DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING 250-960-2757 scornell@pgcitizen.ca

GENERAL SWITCHBOARD 250-562-2441 info@pgcitizen.ca

GENERAL NEWS news@pgcitizen.ca

GENERAL SWITCHBOARD 250-562-2441 info@pgcitizen.ca GENERAL NEWS news@pgcitizen.ca

GENERAL NEWS news@pgcitizen.ca SPORTS INQUIRIES 250-960-2764 sports@pgcitizen.ca

SPORTS INQUIRIES 250-960-2764 sports@pgcitizen.ca

SPORTS INQUIRIES 250-960-2764 sports@pgcitizen.ca

SHAWN CORNELL, DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING 250-960-2757 scornell@pgcitizen.ca

SHAWN CORNELL, DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING 250-960-2757 scornell@pgcitizen.ca

SHAWN CORNELL, DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING 250-960-2757 scornell@pgcitizen.ca

READER SALES AND SERVICES 250-562-3301 rss@pgcitizen.ca

READER SALES AND SERVICES 250-562-3301 rss@pgcitizen.ca

READER SALES AND SERVICES 250-562-3301 rss@pgcitizen.ca

READER SALES AND SERVICES 250-562-3301 rss@pgcitizen.ca

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@pgcitizen.ca

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@pgcitizen.ca

WEBSITE FEEDBACK digital@glaciermedia.ca

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@pgcitizen.ca

WEBSITE FEEDBACK digital@glaciermedia.ca

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@pgcitizen.ca WEBSITE FEEDBACK digital@glaciermedia.ca

WEBSITE FEEDBACK digital@glaciermedia.ca

PRINCE GEORGE

Member of the National Newsmedia

Try walking in the shoes of others

Afew months ago, we would not have thought that there would be a run on shoes co-created by a public health officer.

I don’t think that little Bonnie dreamed of designing a shoe when she was studying bugs as a little girl but maybe she did. In a time when heroes are needed, but are few and far between, B.C’.s public health officer has become a celebrity simply by being sensible and wearing sensible shoes - with fun colours.

What made her into a person so admired? CBC’s Justin McElroy has shared some insights. He quoted Dr. Bonnie Henry on April 25: “One of the things that I’ve learned around chasing infectious diseases is that they evoke a fear in people that is very different from other types of disasters. A lot of it comes from not understanding and not knowing and not being able to see these things that are causing disease. It struck me as being an important reflection on people’s reactions to things.”

THINKING ALOUD TRUDY KLASSEN

McElroy says: “Understand that, and you can understand why Henry’s message to British Columbians every day has focused on empathy and collective understanding more than restrictions and criticizing. After all, when Henry declared an official health emergency on March 17, she ended her initial statement with a new phrase that has been heard countless times since: this is our time to be kind, to be calm, and to be safe.”

Dr. Henry’s words of wisdom that have helped people stay calm and feel cared for could be applied in other areas.

The fallout of a dual-name decision for Kelly Road Secondary School has created a backlash from both those wanting the

only name to be Shas Ti and those who would have preferred Shas Ti to be added to either the grounds or areas in the new building, with the name of the school left alone. The school board chose a compromise that, unfortunately, succeeded in making very few people very happy.

I think the biggest problem is fear; similar to the fear we feel in this pandemic. Reconciliation was cited as the reason to consider the name change. Some interpret it as something to fear, as if more knowledge and acknowledgement of Indigenous history would detract from their own. Some believe it means that the “white man” should be stateless and live like a refugee on Turtle Island. Both extremes are misinterpreting parts of the UNDRIP and ignoring the declaration that no signatory nation shall make anyone stateless. That means that the “white man,” and any other immigrants, will be staying because most have nowhere else to go.

Things will be said that shouldn’t have

Comfort food brings comfort

Before my brain injury my eating habits were fairly good... not perfect but good. After I was injured, I didn’t feel hungry. This resulted in a 20-pound weight loss. I felt too sick to eat, I would forget to eat and healthy food was just plain boring to me.

There were times I felt so weak from low food intake that I had to force myself to snack here and there. Hard boiled eggs, pepperoni, grapes, potato chips, peanut butter, crackers and candy became my very good friends.

I attended a weekly group at the Brain Injured Group (BIG) called Rebuilding. In these classes, we were taught how to rebuild our lives after brain injury. Eating and nutrition was one of the topics that was covered. I was relieved to discover that after brain injury it is common for the hunger signal to disappear. I had struggled with my eating for months and finally I had an explanation as to why I didn’t feel hunger. On the other hand, some people don’t receive the signal they are full. And in some cases, people can switch back and

forth.

BOGGLED

been said or even thought. But it is important to keep in mind the most important thing about this debate is that we are all in this together. We are neighbours, colleagues, business associates, friends. One of the few complaints in B.C.’s handling of the pandemic is people would like to know more, so take this time to learn more about the issues around the renaming proposal. Read different opinions on how reconciliation can work. Talk with your friend or coworker that disagrees with you. Understand where the other person is coming from. Talk about the things that bother you about the “other side” of the argument calmly and with kindness. As you do this, remember the golden rule which Jesus spoke 2,000 years ago “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Jesus was popular, and still is, but he didn’t wear fancy shoes. He wore leather sandals, without socks, mind you, so perhaps he would be a trendsetter in the frozen north, too.

Through the Rebuilding classes, I learned strategies to help regulate my eating. I set up reminders on my phone to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. There were many times I ignored these reminders, however the alarm established somewhat of a routine.

Taste buds and smell are also affected after brain injury. My sense of taste and smell were significantly affected for a year. I was not used to this because prior to injury I loved eating. To have to force myself to eat was a bizarre concept. I would make meals for my husband but I wouldn’t eat with him.

There are also people I know who experience problems swallowing when eating. This is also a symptom of brain injury. Like I mentioned in a previous article you don’t

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, many people in our community still get up and go to work every day, as they always have, and continue to provide services that benefit us all. For the foreseeable future, I am dedicating Latitude to the inspiring stories of the hardworking citizens of Prince George.

Cecilia Taylor has been a much-loved frontline worker at Save-On-Foods for 13 years.

When asked how the pandemic has affected her life, Cecilia replied, “as with virtually everyone, COVID-19 has had a monumental impact on my life. The area it has hit me the hardest is my work. As an essential service employee my days, and that of my co-workers, are at times fraught with ever changing but necessary procedures. Limiting in-demand items, enforcing social distancing rules while striving to remain calm when customers react negatively to some or all of this is the hardest part.”

DIANE NAKAMURA LATITUDE

realize how the human brain has control over every function in the body. After injury, the signals traveling back and forth during the eating process become confused and faulty.

In January of this year, my taste and smell sensations started to make their presence known again. This process is still unfolding. My eating habits began to improve, however my hunger signal was still weak. I was encouraged by my treatment team to be patient and mindful of the cues my body was giving me. If I got a headache, was dizzy or shaky I would ask myself when was the last time I ate. When I couldn’t answer this question, I knew I had to eat right away. My intake of pepperoni, potato chips and candy decreased. I was so happy to be getting back on track with healthier eating and putting weight on.

Then came COVID-19.

I’m sad to report my unhealthy eating habits have reared its ugly head. Now, I’m addicted to Jell-O. There was one day I was shopping at Save-On Foods and I cleaned them out of their Jell-O supply. Not because I’m a hoarder. Because I eat so

Frontline workers show bravery

my fellow employees, managers and a great number of customers.”

LINDA REMPEL

At the end of a long shift, work stress unfortunately does not end for Cecilia as she has family to think about.

“The home front now more than ever is my soft place to fall. Although I do all I can to leave the germs behind after a long day’s work, I worry a great deal that I could possibly endanger the health of my adult daughter in the event that I get exposed.”

For many of us, the sudden changes and continuous pressure brought on by the pandemic has taken a toll on our mental and emotional wellbeing.

“I have experienced teary moments and daunting stress that leaves me exhausted emotionally, physically and mentally,”

Cecilia said.

“I am, however, buoyed by the fact that there is a lot of support and cohesion with

Cecilia went on to explain how supporting others can be of benefit to our own wellbeing.

“In the face of adversity, I definitely derive comfort and satisfaction in helping customers who are particularly vulnerable or compromised in some way.”

This simply showcases just how amazing Prince Georgians really are.

COVID-19 has a long reach into many layers of our lives down to the core.

To varying degrees, our freedom to make choices, even if it is to protect loved ones or to see family, has been taken away.

“I have two brothers in the same longterm care facility in the Okanagan and I fret constantly that the virus could rear its ugly head,” Cecilia said.

“It’s highly unlikely that I’ll be making my annual summer visit to see them the way things are unfolding. My sister lives in the same city, but she cannot even visit them due to preventative lockdown.”

While we have no choice when it comes

much of it every day, I didn’t want to make many trips to the grocery store - especially during these troubled times. I don’t have a “stop” signal for Jell-O. I believe because of the current lockdown, this has triggered my post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). My mom used to make Jell-O when I was a kid. I’ve gravitated towards the memory of my favourite dessert mom would make when I was sick. There is a connection here about where I’m at physically and emotionally and what brings me comfort is memories of mom and Jell-O. Works like a charm!

For those of you out there with or without brain injury, please don’t beat yourselves up because you haven’t been eating properly. This lockdown has wreaked havoc on all of us. Our sense of safety, comfort and freedom have been drastically altered. I’m consuming volumes of sugar that would make most of you folks gag. But it gets me through the day and I sleep great most nights. The message here is that we are all doing the best we can to survive. Look at me. I’m slowly turning into Jell-O! And for now this is perfectly fine.

to the pandemic, we must choose how we deal with it.

Cecilia digs deeps and reveals how she found her footing with a strength that makes me believe that everything will be OK.

“As I wade through all the uncertainty, anxiety and fear of the unknown, the eternal optimist in me is compelled to search for positivity and inspiration. I like to decompress by doing my art, reading, cooking or watching television. There is much introspection, reflection and soul searching. We absolutely are all in this together and must never lose sight of that. These are unprecedented times for nearly everyone, and I have unwavering faith that we will overcome this.”

Thank you, Cecilia, for your service to our community and for your brave leadership.

If you would like to share how COVID19 has impacted your life or business, I would love to read your comments below or please email me at linda.rempel@ sunlife.com.

Tough lessons from my opa

Like many Germans of my generation, I have had to grapple with an uncomfortable family history. Though I know he came to regret his decision, my grandfather was a member of the Nazi party and was part of the populist movement that brought them to power.

I could make excuses for his decision and try to minimize it, but that would take away from the significance of the lessons from my grandfather.

I recall visiting Germany and having a wonderful time with family and friends. While doing so, certain questions began to haunt me. How could such wonderful people fall for such a horrendous lie? How did genocide happen in such a wonderful place? How many others in this group also struggle with the decisions of their ancestors? I realized that these questions required that I bravely seek the truth, and in doing so I began finding answers.

One of the key lessons I learned is that

LESSONS IN LEARNING

GERRY CHIDIAC

genocide doesn’t just happen. It builds on prejudices that are fanned into flames by the propagation of lies. These lies are built on other emotions, like fear and greed. I know that my grandfather was afraid of the communists taking over hand was thus willing to put his trust in Hitler and the Nazis. Hitler hated both Jews and communists, and saw them as one and the same.

I also learned that genocide did not only happen in Germany. It can happen anywhere one group tells itself it is better than another group. The history of the world is filled with stories of genocide and various stages of genocide are prevalent in many parts of the world today. Studying the Holocaust has made it clear that the

lines between groups of people we once thought were so important are actually just figments of our imaginations; yet many continue to challenge this truth.

In essence, I have sought to know what my grandfather must not have known, that lies of prejudice lead us down a path of destruction. One cannot sacrifice the principles of truth for the illusion of security.

My grandfather also taught me the importance of political freedom, freedom of the press and freedom of expression. Being rather outspoken, in a discussion with a neighbour he reflected on his early support of the Nazis and said, “You know, I think Hitler is worse than the communists would have been.”

For this he lost his job as an elementary school teacher, he was arrested and put in the army. He could have just as easily been sent to a concentration camp.

I never take democratic freedoms for granted. I know how fortunate I am to be able to vote and to freely express my views

with elected officials. I encourage my students to do the same. I cherish diversity, including diversity of opinion, because I know it is vital in avoiding extremism. Some have questioned why I put so much effort into writing a weekly column when it is simply an unpaid community service. The reason why I write is because I can. I have the freedom to express what I am learning in my constant quest for truth. I am grateful to my publishers for carrying my views, and I know how fortunate I am to live in a country where I will not be censored.

There are very few people who have ever had the freedoms Canadians enjoy today. May we always be mindful of this. It is said that history repeats itself until we learn the lessons it is trying to teach us. My grandfather made a mistake and he realized it too late. It is my hope that we have not only learned but that we have the courage to embrace and to teach the lessons of my grandfather’s generation.

Reopening your business after COVID-19

Over the next few days and weeks, businesses across North America and around the world are going to un-shutter their doors and invite their customers back in. However, the world has changed while the economy has been shut down by governments and when you reopen, you may be faced with a new reality. Here are five things you need to consider:

Plan for changes: What is your plan for the days before you open to get ready for

BUSINESS COACH DAVE FULLER

your customers? What is your plan for opening day and what are you going to do in the weeks that follow? You probably are going to need to have some well thought through best, worst and probable scenarios to ensure that you are not

overwhelmed and surprised. Consider that perhaps your customers have changed their buying patterns; that their finances may not be the same as they were previously; that what might have been valuable before is valued no longer.

Engage your team: Figure out who is coming back and who isn’t. Some of your team may have rethought their employment with you. They might think that it’s better to take a vacation at the hands of taxpayers and will not be considering the long-term employment options. There

might be others that you realize just didn’t fit in your business and you are going to sever your relationship. Take whoever you have left, gather them together, with social distancing of course, and encourage them to help you to generate a plan to reopen and reinvigorate your business. Have a safety plan: People have different levels of concern and fear about COVID-19. Some people are downright terrified that they are going to come in contact with someone else that who has the virus

Art is everywhere

There is a 100 per cent probability that, at some point during your day, you will engage with art of some kind. The music you hear, artist. The album cover art (that just shows my age), artist. Building designs, coffee mug designs, brand logos and colours, the ads you see in this paper/on this website. The most heinous and most peaceful of symbols throughout history were and are created by an artist.

How does this label benefit people?

For the Paleocon, borderline alt-right extremists, the starving artists and probably artist in general are one of many poster children for their attack on what they consider the welfare state and how frivolous of these artists to be, well, making art. How terrible of them to tell the truth, to define a culture. How reprehensible of them to exercise the freedom of expression. Kind of like what I am doing here.

Now, before you right wing cons (what an appropriate moniker) get your boxers

ARTS NORTH

MICHAEL KAST

in a bunch, we will swing the pendulum to the left and include the bleeding heart, eco socialist, Stalinist extremists who would hold artists up as beacons of freedom, a representation of the downtrodden. They then would take whatever money the artists did make and give it to someone else. Freedom of expression, they would shout. Bemoaning attacks and restrictions on our expressive freedoms, all the while ranting that any view not aligned with theirs is somehow fascist. Should we, at any time, share an opinion, create an image, use a word, and/or a turn of phrase that might hurt someone’s feelings, the cancel culture kicks in. That whole political correctness thing is enough fodder for an entire column.

It appears nobody is going to emerge unscathed in this one. Except for the centrists. Wishy washy to a degree, but mostly they are about admiring the art or not admiring it, buying it or not buying it and, as Jerry Saltz, the New York Magazine, Pulitzer prize winning critic (yes, there is a Pulitzer prize for failed artists who go on to be critics) says, and I paraphrase; “Art, you either love it, or you don’t.”

Art is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. That is why, during these especially unique and difficult times, it saddens me to see artists selling their artworks at ridiculously low prices. It not only devalues their work; it has the same effect on all creatives.

Artists are grateful for the government’s help. For many, not just artists, it is the difference between having food or not. Hell, it is the ability to have one’s basic human needs met. The pandemic has uncovered the flaws in the system. The government, in implementing the CERB, have shown to many minimum wage earners, what a

Be clear about your next steps

from page 14

and be exposed to certain death. Others believe the whole event was a hoax and they have nothing to fear. Regardless of where you sit in this spectrum, you have some customers and staff that need reassurance that your business has safety protocols in place to reduce their risk. Ensure you do and minimize risks for everyone.

Communicate: Suppliers may be out of stock of items because their supply chain has been disrupted. Talk to them. Your

family too might be confused about what is going on with your business. Be clear and patient with these people because no matter what happens with the business, you will still have family. As owners, we think that everyone should be on the same page as we are, including our staff, our bankers, our family, our customers, landlords, and our suppliers. They can’t read our minds. Slow down and ensure that each of your stakeholder groups understands the requirements of the present situation. Your customers are going to need

to hear from you and you must find ways to educate them and invite them back to your business. You may think you want to cut your marketing costs, but be strategic in this process. Businesses that marketed well in times of recession outperformed their competitors.

Take advantage of help: There are government programs to support you. Take advantage of business programs that will support you. Tap into loans or grants that will ensure your viability. Professional business coaches are offering free,

living wage looks like. Perhaps even what a Universal Basic Income might look like. Yes. Universal Basic Income. A minimum income for everyone.

Of course, the detractors on the right will scream welfare state, those on the left think everything is a good start but “never enough.” Like every system, it has flaws. The pros, however, outweigh the cons. Without having to worry about losing homes, feeding their children or getting swamped in debt, people of all kinds, not just artists, will be free to explore. This will encourage creativity, experimentation, invention and innovation. Some people will choose not to work, that will never change, no matter the system.

Some artists will still starve and sadly, some artists will not succeed. They will still sell their artwork at prices lower than what they are worth. Devaluing the entire market. Some will give it away for “exposure.”

I got news for you, kids; people die from exposure, and yes, starvation.

no-strings-attached business coaching sessions at www.pbcacanada.com. Finally, take time to reach out to your support network of business owners, trusted advisors, and others in your industry to find out what they are doing to re-open and establish how you can support each other. Learn from them and replicate the best of their ideas.

Dave Fuller, MBA, is an awardwinning business coach and the author of the book Profit Yourself Healthy. Email dave@profityourselfhealthy.com

In Loving Memory of Our Jeremy

May 2, 1994

“So Quietly you came and left us”

~Michael McLaughlin

Always in Our Hearts - Luv Mom & Dad

In Loving Memory of Erich Pfister

Nov 5, 1933 to May 8, 2018

You are missed everyday.

Love your loving wife Regina, son Ron and grandchildren Julia & Owen

BURDEN,LORETAK. JANUARY18,1938APRIL30,2007

Mom,ithasbeensolong sinceweheardyourvoice, lookedintoyoureyesor heldyourhand.Timemay lessenthepainanddimthe memories,butyouare alwaysinourhearts.Westill missyouconstantly,but takesolaceinknowingyou arenowwiththeloveof yourlife.HugsandKisses, yourthreedaughtersand theirfamilies.

GOYER,JARREDA.J. MAY6,1998 -MAY6,1999

"HappyBirthday" 22hugsandkissesfor you,Sweetie!! Wewillmissyoualways andloveyouforever.

SAMUEL C.W. AUGER

Sept 3, 1980- May 7, 2010

This is so very hard for a mother and father to have to write. We still have to go on living without you and already ten years have gone by since we heard the horrible news. As I am writing these words, my tears are falling.

You will never be forgotten, we will love and miss you forever.

Your loving parents, Grandma Lillian, brothers Josh, Nathan, Zack and Dakota, sisters Elisha and Chelsie and the rest of your Auger and Poirier family members and friends, way too numerous to mention.

Marjorie Dianna Rombough, went home to God on April 26, 2020 at the age of 72 years. Marjorie is survived by her daughters; Mary Lee, Michaeleen (Marv) and Martha. She will be remembered by her three grandchildren; Bailey, Brandon and Mariah, her brothers and sister as well numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband John. The funeral service for Marjorie was held at Sacred Heart Cathedral. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your choice of charity.

Assman’s Funeral Chapel in care of arrangements.

McDonald, Robert Francis

APR 29, 1945 - MAY 1, 2020

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Robert (Bob) McDonald. Bob was born in St. Paul Minnesota. His family immigrated to Canada in 1963. Bob was an owner operator taxi driver for some 11 years in Prince George. He was an Auxiliary RCMP volunteer in the mid 70’s. Bob worked for the Ministry of Highways at Aleza Lake as an equipment operator maintaining regional and provincial roads. A few years later, he was transferred to Prince George. After the province privatized highways and road maintenance, Bob became an employee of Yellowhead Road and Bridge (YRB) until he retired in 2008. Bob was an active member of the Prince George Amateur Radio Club. His call-sign was VA7VB. He enjoyed retired life and became a member of the Hart Pioneer Centre, Brunswick Senior Centre and ECRA Senior Centre. He would always participate in all the dances and big dinners. Bob is survived by his daughter Tracey.

73’s Bob

REMEMBRANCES

Ronald Bloom

The family of Ronald Bloom are extremely saddened by the loss of our father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and uncle.

He left us peacefully in the early morning of April 30. He has gone to join his wife Mary of 60 years.

Dad will be lovingly remembered for his wit, character and determination. He leaves behind his family to share memories: children: Allison (Bart), Dana, Jason (Julie) and Carter (Diane) grandchildren: Allisa (Greg), Kyle (Jacquie), Ryan (Kelsey), Morgan (Olivia), Victoria, Sophia and Matthew. Great grandchildren: Paxton, Cohen, John and Penelope. siblings: Glen (Barb), Lucille, and Dennis. Niblings: Tracy (Rob) and Darrin. Ron and Mary raised their family on the family farm south of Prince George where they lived for 52 years. He was a man of many talents and could put MacGyver to shame with his creative repairs. He farmed, trapped, hunted and logged in his spare time as well as attended his outside jobs. Many may remember getting a load of “Bloom’s Topsoil” for their garden.

He is predeceased by his wife Mary, parents Oke and Thelma as well as his baby sister Marilyn.

He was born in Stump Lake, Saskatchewan on December 8,1935. He had wished to be returned there for his fmal rest, where a small graveside service will be held.

Thank you to family in Saskatchewan who helped us with the arrangements from a distance. It made a hard time easier. A heartfelt thank you to the staff at Parkside Residence. They showed true affection and compassion to Dad during his stay. Due to the Covidl9 virus, a date for a celebration of Dad’s life will be determined at a later date.

“He was his own person to the end “

July 14, 1941 - April 12, 2020

Predeceased by his parents Ed and Victoria Zschiedrich. Also predeceased by his father-in-law and mother-in-law Don and Pauline McLeod.

If there was one constant in Collin’s life, it was that he was most at home on the rivers he fished and loved in British Columbia. He was a true outdoorsman in every sense of the word, most comfortable and at ease when hunting with his closest friends or casting a fly with his favourite fly rod for steelhead - a fish he became synonymous with. In steelhead circles, he was a pioneer, known for his dry flies prowess, his uncanny success with them and his mastery of the waters he loved. His lodge, Frontier Farwest, was a global gathering place for those pursuing these coveted fish. Getting his clients to land one on a dry fly was a rare feat he shared with many till the day he died. Probably his greatest attribute was bringing people together through his lodge, to pursue a mythical fish. Lifelong friendships developed, grew, and still morph today from the community he created on the banks of the Bulkley River. Those friendships are his greatest gift to all that met through his colourful life; one that is rich in experiences and, like the rivers that pulse through British Columbia, will live on in memory. (written by Steve Schmidt)

Condolences may be offered at www.assmansfuneralchapel.com

Obituaries

Obituaries

Obituaries

In Memoriam

MARJORIE DIANNA ROMBOUGH

SCHADRECH, Collin Harlend

Collin is survived by his wife Cary Nunes; daughters Catherine and Madelyn (Kelly); granddaughters Lauren and Shannon. Also survived by his step-sons Rick and Shaun (Sheena); grandsons Dante and Micah.

In Memoriam

ANGELICA P. ANTONIO

2x58.5

PGC002002

ANTONIO,YolandaP. October30,1952-April22,2020

YolandaAntonio,age67,whowasbornonOctober30, 1952,andlivedinVancouver,BC,passedawaypeacefully afteralongbattlewithcancersurroundedbyherfamily. YolandawasborninthePhilippinesandmovedtoPrince George,Canada,in1998.Shewasalovingwife,mother, grandmother,andfriend.Yolandahadthisuncannyability toaffectothersinapositiveway.Herkindnessandability toforgiveothersistrulyimmeasurable.Shewillbe rememberedbyherfriendsandlovedonesforherloveof traveling,dancing,singing,attendingchurch,andplaying withhergrandchildren.Shelivedafulllifeandwent beyondherbucketlist.

WeareforevergratefultothestaffatSt.Paul’shospital, specificallytheCTUteam,palliativecareteam,surgical unit10Anursesandstaff,socialworkerChuiWong,and Dr.Wiebeforadvocatingandhelpingusfulfillour mother’sendoflifewishesdespitethepandemic.Inlieu offlowers,friendsandlovedonesarewelcometomakea donationtotheBCCancerFoundation.

August 27,1928April 26, 2020

Born in Regina, SK., the 6th of 9 children (plus two cousins who became sisters) to Herbert and Jean Forman.

The first time she saw Ernie Ziemer, she said to her sister Cathy, “That is the man I am going to marry!”, and they married on the first day of summer, June 21st 1947. They were married 65 years until Ernie went on to be with our Lord on Nov. 19, 2012.

They settled in Regina and had their first 9 children there. Dad had a business and Mom managed the books and appointments from home while raising us kids for many years. They moved to Port Alberni, BC and finished off their baker’s dozen, by adding children 10, 11, 12, and 13!

The family moved to Prince George on March 3, 1971, following the Johnston family, who had moved to PG the year before, settling on a 20 acre hobby farm on the Old Summit Lk Rd. The lives of so many people were impacted by the Bible Camp that ran there for over 20 years.

Grace’s descendants total a whopping 232 people, including the 13 children, 54 grandchildren, 107 great grandchildren, and 8 great GREAT grandchildren (plus 1 on the way), along with their spouses and steps.

Grace was Mom/Grandma/Aunty to so many more than her immediate family only. Without a doubt, Mom’s first love was Jesus but she had an amazing ability to love and accept everyone unconditionally. As one grandson said, “such love and acceptance that still called me to a high standard of living.”

Mom was wise, organized, quick witted, and an amazing communicator who loved long conversations. We have been left a legacy of understanding that family is about belonging, and Grandma Grace said “it is called Love”.

We are having a small closed memorial that we will record and post to social media, with plans for a larger gathering to celebrate Grace’s life at a later date. In lieu of flowers, you may want to support a charity that Grace donated to, called KARE Malawi Children’s Home. The link is: http://www.karemw.com/

Our mom will be missed by us all, but we still feel completely surrounded by her great love.

Marie Sumners

Sep 17, 1938 - May 1, 2020

It is with deep sadness we announce that our Mom, Marie SUMNERS passed away May 1st 2020 at the Prince George Hospice House. Mom was born in Kerrobert, Sask., on Sept 17, 1938. She met our Dad in Prince Albert, Sask., they married and together created our loving family. In 1969 Mom and Dad took us on an adventure and we moved to Whitehorse, Yukon. In 1971 we moved and settled in Prince George. Mom was a true homemaker. She baked her own bread and buns, made pies, always had homemade cookies in the jar, and every Monday night dessert was Bachelor Cake with vanilla icing. Mom was very supportive of our sporting events and was always out cheering us on at our ball games. Mom was also an amazing Grandma. Her grandchildren said she was fun, caring, loving and that they loved her laugh. She sang with them. She dropped everything for the opportunity to spend time with them. They always felt her overwhelming love. When Mom became a Great Grandma, she became known as Gran. She was overjoyed at the birth of each one and was very proud of how her family expanded.

Mom was predeceased by her husband, Archie SUMNERS in 1995. She leaves behind; Darcy and his wife Maria Sumners, Darla and her husband Chuck Duncan, Michele and her husband Bert Geofroy, Grandchildren Katie (Mike) VanKoesveld, Alicia Sumners (Shawn), Sheena Geofroy, Daniel (Danielle) Sumners, Dustin Geofroy, Great Grandchildren Brooklyn, Scarlett, Jaron and Kamryn. Mom also had a large extended family who will miss her. Mom enjoyed many plays, concerts and lunches with her nieces Debbie Hemeryk and Tracey Brown who loved spending time with her.

We would like to thank Dr’s Grose, Hamilton, Joss and Closson who provided exceptional care to Mom with such compassion and respect. Dr. Hagen would be proud of how they took care of his long-time patient. Also, many thanks to Dr. Iqbal for his specialized care. The Prince George Hospice House created a peaceful atmosphere for Mom and our family. We will be forever grateful for the support, warmth and wonderful care of their nurses and care aides.

We find comfort knowing Mom is at peace now.

We held her hand and she will hold our hearts forever.

There will be no service at this time.

Celebrate the lives of loved ones with your stories, photographs and tributes on legacy.com/obituaries/nsnews Celebrate the lives of loved ones with your stories, photographs and tributes.

Plumbing

Sump pump $50.00 (250-9627364)

Sawmills

SAWMILL, 48” head rig, hand set, completely rebuilt, $8000 obo plus parts. 250-441-3242

Timber Wanted

FREE Falling of timber over 9’ on farms or large properties Faller, and Arborist evaluation, and chainsaw course. Questions? Please call 604-2405752 or email ritservicesinc@gmail.com RIT Chainsaw Operator training. Hazard assessment, how not to get stuck. Please call 604-2405752 or email ritservicesinc@gmail.com

Yard Services

MAN With Truck, mower, trimmer & chainsaw. Rain or shine. Ready to do your old rubbish and old appliances removal. Also equipped with chainsaw for lot cutting and or firewood. Lawn cutting and weed trimming. Have safety gear, so if you need another crew member for a week or a day whichever, give me a call. Duncan 250552-1937

Need your garden rototilled? For estimate call Brian 250-6498447

PROVITA CARE MANAGEMENT INC

2x83.0

R0011815447

Health Care Aide

Are you a Health Care Aide looking to make a difference in a Residential Care Site?

We have immediate Full Time, Part Time and Casual Positions available at our Prince George location –Simon Fraser Lodge.

We want YOU to join our team today!! We are offering online interviews and an expedited hiring process.

What we will offer you:

• A competitive salary.

• Paid vacation and sick entitlement, as we believe in employees’ well being.

• A benefits package that includes Extended Health & Dental Care (Chiropractor, Physiotherapy, Massage Therapy, etc), Life Insurance, Employee Assistance Program and Out of Country Emergency Care.

• Educational opportunities where we will fund your education, if approved, to help advance your career with us.

• A Talent Management Program where we will grow and develop you into supervisor and managerial roles, if desired.

• Internal opportunities at other locations within our company, since we believe in promoting from within.

• A fun environment with company events and activities. We celebrate site anniversaries, years of service, professional appreciations, staff appreciation events and an annual Holiday party.

What we need from you:

• Graduation from a recognized Resident Care Aide program which includes a Dementia Care component

• Valid BC Care Aide Registration

• A Clear Criminal Record Check

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Northern

fished for 2 years, asking $5000. 250-627-1363

BUSINESS

ANYONE with a drinking problem? Alcoholics Anonymous, www.bcyukonaa.org 250-564-7550

• Valid Food Safe level 1

this

If you are a kind, caring individual who enjoys connecting with and making a difference in the lives of elders – Apply Today at https://provita-external.scouterecruit.net/jobs/PV31 R0011815447

PROVITA CARE MANAGEMENT INC

2x93.0

R0011815448

LPN

Are you a Licensed Practical Nurse looking to make a difference in a Residential Care Site?

We have immediate Full Time, Part Time and Casual Positions available at our Prince George location –Simon Fraser Lodge.

We want YOU to join our team today!! We are offering online interviews and an expedited hiring process. What we will offer you:

• A competitive salary.

• Paid vacation and sick entitlement, as we believe in employees’ well being.

• A benefits package that includes Extended Health & Dental Care (Chiropractor, Physiotherapy, Massage Therapy, etc), Life Insurance, Employee Assistance Program and Out of Country Emergency Care.

• Educational opportunities where we will fund your education, if approved, to help advance your career with us.

• A Talent Management Program where we will grow and develop you into supervisor and managerial roles, if desired.

• Internal opportunities at other locations within our company, since we believe in promoting from within.

• A fun environment with company events and activities. We celebrate site anniversaries, years of service, professional appreciations, staff appreciation events and an annual Holiday party.

What we need from you:

• Current registration as a Licensed Practical Nurse in good standing with BCCNP

• Maintains CPR (Level A)

• Maintains Practicing Full Scope Licensure with the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of British Columbia (CLPNBC).MDS education (Gold Care or Point Click Care)

• Basic computer literacy with word processing, email applications, spreadsheets, and/or database programs and excellent knowledge where applicable of Gold Care and/or Point Click Care, EMAR and MDS.

If you are a kind, caring individual who enjoys connecting with and making a difference in the lives of elders – Apply Today at

Grace Ziemer (Forman)

It was with great regret that citizens of British Columbia in general, and Prince George in particular, learned of the continued existence of this crusty old bugger, commonly credited with cheating the Grim Reaper for too long by decades. Some have speculated that he is “too ornery” to die as neither Heaven nor Hell would have him.

James limped his way through public education as far as grade ten while gaining notoriety in New Jersey as the first pupil in his school to take a hand grenade to class as well as his having precipitated his school’s first bomb scare. When ejected from public school he was shipped to a secluded private institution for the next two years.

After a cameo appearance at Bucknell University, the unrepentant subject conned the U.S. Army into accepting him as a recruit. He was hidden away in the Panama Canal Zone for over two years, causing such dissention and havoc that the United States Army was subsequently ejected from the country altogether.

His chequered trajectory passed him through Florida State University, Pace College, Rider College, the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, the University of Victoria and finally the University of Northern British Columbia apparently without increasing his personal knowledge nor eliciting evidence of any civilising effects.

Having exhausted the patience of academic institutions the subject was reluctantly forced to seek paid employment in occupations too numerous to mention. Finally, in gaol, he met and married a woman too good for him. She has tolerated him continuously for over thirty years to this very day.

During his lifetime, James Loughery, a.k.a. Captain Weird, a.k.a. Uncle Don, infested several nations beside the aforementioned Panama. He inveigled his way as an immigrant into Australia but was returned to the United States without comment within two years. Twice Canada was conned into accepting him as an immigrant, bestowing citizenship upon him on the second try. The United States has since, with neither reluctance nor apology, eliminated him from its roster of citizens at his request.

For more than forty years the subject has resided in Prince George where he left his mark by inhibiting the city’s growth on the mere strength of common knowledge of his residence herein. City Fathers (and Mothers) of Prince George live in hope that news of his demise will someday lift the smog of notoriety from this community and it will henceforth cease to be known as “The Crime Capital of Canada” nor will its police need to patrol in pairs.

When he finally expires, citizens will demand his immediate cremation lest he might just be “faking”. His ashes will be dumped in an undisclosed location to prevent past acquaintances from desecrating the site. R.I.P. James. The world will never, we hope, be the same without you.

Publishers Note: “This ad has been run specifically at Mr. Loughery’s request, word for word. Angry comments may be directed at the author as he is still alive.”

3 ways to keep birds out of your garden

While birdwatching can be an enjoyable hobby, you probably don’t want to see the plants in your yard get eaten by local wildlife. Here are three ways to keep birds out of your garden.

1. USE ALUMINUM FOIL

Most birds dislike the texture and sound of aluminum foil under their feet. Tie strips of it to the branches of your fruit trees and any other plants you want to protect.

2. MAKE A SCARECROW

These figures are as effective in a residential garden as they are in a cornfield. You can make your own or buy one pre-made. A metal scarecrow in the shape of a cat or

owl can double as decoration. Some even have glowing eyes to further deter birds.

3. INSTALL ULTRASONIC REPELLENTS

These devices emit a constant, high-frequency sound that’s imperceptible to humans but can be disorienting to birds. The noise will encourage them to stay clear of your garden. Since the sound doesn’t travel far, you may need more than one to protect a large area.

Alternatively, you can cover your plants with mesh-wire cages that birds can’t get through. The practicality of this approach will depend on the size and number of plants you want to safeguard.

3 benefits of opting for a custom-designed pool

Are you thinking about installing an inground pool? If so, here are three benefits of opting for a custom-designed model rather one that’s a standard size and shape.

1. A DURABLE PRODUCT

Custom-designed pools are particularly durable and water-tight. This is because they’re usually built from a single piece of concrete or similar material. These types of pools are constructed in a way that minimizes the risk for cracks and leaks.

2. A PERFECT FIT

When it comes to the appearance of your new pool, you’re only limited by the size of your property. You can select the dimen-

sions and shape that work best for your lifestyle and backyard.

3. AN ECO-FREINDLY OPTION

A custom-designed pool can be environmentally friendly, provided you choose the appropriate building materials, sanitation method and power source. For example, you can choose a structure made of clay or gravel, a natural filtration system and a solar-powered water heater.

Additionally, if you opt to install a custom-designed pool, you get a feature that blends seamlessly with the rest of your landscape. Indeed, this type of pool will be uniquely suited to your property.

Pests that can be repelled with plants

Did you know there are a variety of plants that naturally repel insects? Here’s how to ward off a few common backyard pests using flowers and herbs.

ANTS

In addition to feeding on sugary fruits and vegetables, ants farm tiny leaf-eating insects called aphids. To repel ants, plant tansy, lemon balm, mint, mug wort or chrysanthemums. Catnip also works well but may attract feline visitors.

MOSQUITOES

To keep these bugs at bay, grow scented plants like lavender, lemon balm, lemon verbena or basil. Mosquitoes also dislike

the smell of citronella geraniums, which can brighten your garden with splashes of pink, red or purple.

JAPANESE BEETLES

These metallic-looking bugs aren’t picky about what they eat, but they’re especially fond of roses, string beans and raspberries. To ward off Japanese beetles, plant tansy, catnip, chives or marigolds. The smell and taste of the leaves on these plants will repel them.

Finally, while flies are relatively harmless, they can be a nuisance. You can ward them off with herbs such as basil, lavender and rosemary.

How to update French doors

French doors are a great way to separate two interior spaces that are visually connected. They’re also ideal for enhancing your view of the outdoors and letting natural light shine into a room. However,

they can sometimes look dated. Here are a few ways to give them an upgrade.

CHANGE THE LOOK

French doors are typically made of wood. If you’ re not a fan of yours, why not paint them? White is a timeless choice, but you can also turn your doors into a focal point by painting them a colour that contrasts with the rest of the room. Alternatively, replace the whole setup with doors that each feature one large pane of glass or have a modern steel frame.

ADOPT A NEW STYLE

While most French doors consist of two doors that swing outwards or inwards, there are different options available. Threeor four-panel French doors, which include two working doors flanked by large windows, are perfect for letting in more light.

Finally, if you love the look of French doors but lack the space for them to swing open, consider sliding or folding options.

Types of wall trim and mouldings

There are a variety of wall trims and mouldings you can use to decorate your home. Here are the main ones:

• Pediment. This decorative moulding is often found above windows and doors. It’s typically round or triangular and can range from simple to very ornate.

• Crown. Also known as a cornice, this type of moulding gets placed at the juncture between a wall and ceiling.

• Wainscotting. Common in older, more formal homes, this is a panel that covers the bottom half or third of a wall. It’s often painted a different colour from the rest of the room to provide contrast.

• Chair rail. This thin, horizontal moulding is usually placed about a third of the way up the wall. Chair rails were once routinely installed to protect walls from the backs of chairs. These days, they typically serve as decoration. They can be used on their own or in combination with wainscotting.

• Picture rail. Similar to a chair rail but usually placed higher on the wall, this type of moulding is used to hang paintings and pictures without nails. It’s ideal for renters and homeowners who don’t want to put holes in the walls.

• Mantel. A mantel or mantelpiece goes above and around a fireplace. It usually includes a wide shelf for displaying art and other objects.

Wall trim can be decorated in a variety of ways, but many people paint it white or a colour that contrasts with the surrounding walls. Alternatively, the colour of the mouldings can be matched to the walls for a more streamlined effect.

3D tiles add texture and interest to your home

Offered in a variety of colours, patterns and textures, 3D tiles are sure to add visual interest to your home. If you’re unfamiliar with this product, here’s what you should know.

LOCATION

3D tiles can be installed in almost any room. Since they’re waterproof, these tiles are ideal in areas that are prone to dampness like bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms.

In particular, shiny and pale 3D tiles capture and reflect light in a way that flat ones can’t. This makes them a great choice for small spaces and rooms that don’t get much natural light.

MATERIALS

3D tiles are made from the same types of materials as flat tiles. Some options are:

• Granite

• Marble

• Ceramic

With so many choices, there’s a 3D tile to suit every room and esthetic.

INSTALLATION

Even the handiest homeowners should think twice before installing their own 3D tiles. This is because the texture makes these tiles difficult to align. It’s best to leave this job to professionals.

4 benefits of drop ceilings

Drop ceilings, also known as suspended ceilings, are so-called because they hang from the structural floor of the room above. Common in basements, here are four reasons to choose this type of ceiling.

1. THEY’RE EASY TO INSTALL

Drop ceilings are so simple to install that many homeowners feel comfortable doing it on their own. It’s also less expensive and creates less dirt and dust than installing drywall.

2. THEY OFFER ACCESS

Drop ceilings provide easy access to the wiring, pipes and ducts above the tiles. You’ll likely find this feature convenient if you ever have a burst pipe, gas leak or other issue.

3. THEY’RE EASY TO REPAIR

Ceiling tiles are inexpensive and easy to replace if they get damaged. They also give you the option to patch a small section rather than redo the entire ceiling.

4. THEY REDUCE NOISE

Drop ceilings can help soundproof a room, depending on the type of tiles you choose. This makes them ideal for basements with entertainment systems.

Although drop ceilings are often considered utilitarian, certain types can be very stylish. From understated white blocks to vintage-looking metal squares, there are many options available.

Landscape redesign: 5 factors to consider

Upgrading your yard can be a major undertaking, and it’s easy to miss a key detail if you’re not careful. Here are five things to consider before you begin.

1. ACCESS

If your upgrade involves moving large objects into your yard, there needs to be a safe access route. Fences, walls and trees can make it difficult or impossible for trucks to deliver supplies. Create a plan before the work starts to avoid delays.

2. SPACE

If you want to install a pool or build a large deck, make sure there’s enough room in your yard for both the structure and the installation crew. Also, verify where property lines are located before placing fences, hedges and trees.

3. REGULATIONS

If your project involves a significant structural change, you may need to obtain a permit from the city. Your landscaping might also have to meet certain requirements such as respecting the maximum

5 natural alternatives to grass

If you’re tired of mowing, watering and fertilizing your lawn, consider replacing your grass. Here are five alternatives that can be used as ground cover.

1. Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia): The golden-tinged leaves of this evergreen perennial prefer direct sunlight over partial shade. Creeping Jenny can withstand being walked on occasionally, and it produces vibrant yellow flowers in June and July.

2. Rupturewort (Herniaria glabra): Perfect for high-traffic areas, this resilient evergreen can tolerate harsh growing conditions and survive with very little water. Rupturewort’s dense leaves thrive in full sun, and its tiny green flowers line the stems in early summer.

3. Creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum): Fragrant and beautiful, this herb is characterized by small leaves and flowers that range from pale pink to bright purple. Tolerant of foot traffic, this plant is a good choice for homes in wooded areas because deer and rabbits won’t eat it.

4. White clover (Trifolium repens): This plant is ideal for regions that get little or no rain because it thrives even du-

5. Bird’s foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus): This adaptable plant can grow in almost any climate, so long as it gets plenty of sun. As summer progresses, its flowers will gradually change from yellow to red.

Since many ground cover species are more delicate than grass, consider creating a stone foot path to avoid stepping on your new lawn.

What type of fruit should you grow?

height for fences and hedges. Contact your municipality before starting any work.

4. SOIL

The consistency of the soil on your property can directly impact the stability of new installations. Heavy rainfall and rapid freezethaw cycles can make the ground unstable. Hire a professional to inspect the yard before you begin construction.

5. UPKEEP Gardens may require frequent care to ensure they don’t become overgrown. Also, keep in mind that maintaining trees involves clearing seeds, leaves and branches. Additionally, many building materials need to be regularly cleaned, painted or stained.

Landscaping projects can revitalize your yard but for best results, they should be planned in advance.

Fruit-bearing trees, shrubs and plants are easy to grow and can add visual interest to your yard with their vibrant foliage and flowers. Here’s what to plant based on various preferences.

IF YOU WANT A HARVEST THIS SUMMER

To enjoy your fruit within a few months, opt for fast-growing plants. A few examples include strawberries, raspberries, ground cherries, cantaloupes and watermelons.

IF YOU WANT LONG-LASTING PRODUCERS

If you’re willing to be patient, plant a perennial tree or shrub that has a long life but only bears fruit after a few years.

Apricot trees and blackberry bushes take about two years to produce fruit. For blueberries, pears and apples, you’ll need to wait three years. Plum trees take six years.

IF YOU WANT UNIQUE BUT DELICIOUS BERRIES

If you want to plant fruit that’s a little out of the ordinary, try black currants, Arctic kiwis or Saskatoon berries. These berries are great for making mouth-watering jams.

Keep in mind that some trees and shrubs only bear fruit if there’s a second plant nearby to pollinate it. If you want to grow apples, for example, you’ll need to plant two trees.

ring hot, dry summers. However, its delicate leaves and small white flowers are easily trampled.

5 low-maintenance perennials perfect for Central Canada

Are you on the lookout for unique foliage and flowers to add to your garden? If so, here are five easy-to-maintain perennials perfectly suited to the climate in Central Canada.

1. Coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea): Also known as echinacea, these drought-tolerant flowers are native to central North America and grow well in sunny locations. Their drooping petals and spiky yellow centres will attract pollinators like bees and butterflies to your garden.

2. Peonies (Paeonia): These springtime flowers thrive in sunny spots with good drainage and come in colours ranging from white and pale pink to vibrant red and purple. The large round blooms will look just as good in a bouquet as they do in your garden.

3. Swamp rose-mallow (Hibiscus moscheu tos): These perennial hibiscuses aren’t the tropical flowers you’re probably more familiar with, but they have a similar appearance and can withstand cold winters. The vibrant pink or red blooms will delight you year after year, so long as they get plenty of sun and moist soil.

4. Hostas (Hosta): If you’re looking for a plant that does

Garlic mustard: a scourge of the East

come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colours. They sprout delicate flowers in mid to late summer and their leaves last all season.

5. Hollyhocks (Alcea): Though they generally take two years to mature, these plants may flower in their first year if planted early enough. You can expect to see pollinators sipping from the white, yellow, pink or red blooms. If planted in the right location and carefully maintained, these perennials will guarantee you a colourful garden for years to come.

Garlic mustard was introduced to North America by European settlers more than 150 years ago. Today, this herb is considered one of the most invasive plant species in the eastern United States and Canada.

WHAT IT IS

Garlic mustard gets its name from the strong garlic smell its leaves emit when crushed. Typically, it grows in forests, where it frequently displaces native plants. However, it can also creep onto residential properties and easily take over lawns and gardens.

This plant is a biennial and takes two years to fully mature and then die. During the first year, it grows clusters of leaves close to the ground. The following year, it develops stalks up to one metre tall.

Garlic mustard also produces flowers and seedpods during the second year. Each plant can create as many as 600 seeds, which are easily dispersed by humans and animals. The seeds can remain dormant for up to five years before germinating.

HOW TO REMOVE IT

If garlic mustard is growing on your property, it’s important to

take action before it overwhelms your yard. Herbicides are effective against garlic mustard but will also kill neighbouring plants. If the infestation is small, it’s best to pull the plants out by hand. To make this task easier, ensure that the ground is damp.

If you have to remove a larger stand, cut the second-year stalks before they produce seeds. Be sure to cut each plant as close to the ground as possible since even a few remaining leaves can create a seedpod.

Once the plants have been extracted, put them in a plastic bag and leave it out in the sun to kill the seeds.

well in the shade, hostas