B.C. ELECTION SET FOR OCT. 24
No local NDP candidates announced yet; mail-in ballot option available
ARTHUR WILLIAMS AND MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff
Premier John Horgan announced Monday he had asked Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin to dissolve the legislature and call a general election for Oct. 24.
“I want people to know I have struggled mightily with this decision,” Horgan said. “Our campaign will fully comply with public health directives. I do believe it can be conducted safely.”
Horgan said the provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Elections BC have worked on procedures that will allow B.C. to hold a safe general election. The election comes a year before the province’s legislated election date of Oct. 16, 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic shows no sign it will be over by next year, Horgan said.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything. I know people are uncertain and worried about the future,” he said. “I believe the best way forward is to put the politics behind us.”
Horgan said part of that safety plan will include expanded advance voting opportunities and mail-in ballots.
Locally, Liberal MLAs Shirley Bond (Prince George-Valemount) and Mike Morris (Prince George-Mackenzie) have declared they will be seeking reelection. In the Nechako Lakes riding, Liberal MLA John Rustad confirmed he will seek his fifth consecutive term.
Anne-Marie Sam, who finished second to Rustad in the 2017 election, is the NDP candidate for Nechako Lakes. As of Monday, the BC NDP had yet to determine who will be their candidates for the two Prince George ridings.
“We haven’t chosen one yet, we have a couple of people interested and people working on their nomination package,” said Ron Williams, president of the NDP’s Prince George-Valemount electoral district. “So we’re very close to having candidates, and that’s true in both ridings.”
A spokesperson for the Green Party did not reply to a request for comment as of press time.
In a statement issued on Monday afternoon, B.C. Chief Electoral Officer Anton Boegman said all voters will have the option of voting in person or by mail.
“Our main focus is ensuring a safe and accessible voting process during the pandemic,” Boegman said. “We have been
working with (provincial health officer) Dr. Bonnie Henry’s office to develop our safe voting plans and make sure that voters don’t have to choose between safeguarding their health and exercising their right to vote.”
To vote by mail, voters will need to request a voter package by going online to elections.bc.ca/ovr or by calling 1-800661-8683. The vote-by-mail package will be mailed to the voter with instructions on how to complete and return it.
Voting in person will be available on election day, as well as during the advance voting period between Oct. 15 and Oct. 21.
There will be a total of seven days of advance voting – up from six days in 2017 –and voting places will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voting places will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day as well.
Information on where to vote will be sent to registered voters before the start of the advance voting period, and will be available online.
To register or update your voter informa-
tion, go online to elections.bc.ca/ovr or call 1-800-661-8683.
COVID-19 safety measures will be in place at in-person voting places, including physical distancing requirements, capacity limits, personal protective equipment for election officials, protective barriers, hand sanitizing stations and regular cleaning of frequently-touched surfaces.
Voters will be encouraged to wear a mask at the voting place and will not be asked to remove it to vote. Voters will also be asked to sanitize their hands before and after voting. Voters will also be able to bring their own pen or pencil to mark their ballot.
British Columbians should be disappointed Horgan has called an election in the middle of a pandemic and a year before one is mandated under provincial legislation, Prince George-Valemount incumbent MLA Shirley Bond said Monday in reaction to the election call.
“What British Columbians deserve is an assurance from the health minister, the
education minister, the premier that their number one focus during a pandemic is concentrating on the safety, the health and well being of British Columbians,” Bond said. “That is very difficult to do while you’re on the campaign trail.”
She disputed Horgan’s claim that holding an election now or next October will make little difference because the pandemic will still be with us.
“Let’s be clear, he has no idea what next year will look like from a health care perspective,” Bond said and added provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has made encouraging comments about the possibility of a vaccine by that time.
As it stands, Bond said the number of cases of COVID are on the rise and noted that in calling the election, he broke the New Democratic Party’s agreement with the B.C. Green Party, “which actually made him premier in the first place.”
“He promised he would not call an election without testing the confidence of the House, so that was the number one promise he broke,” Bond said. “And secondly, there is fixed election date legislation in this province. You are required by law to have a fixed election date and Premier Horgan decided that that wasn’t important either.”
She said the B.C. Liberals are ready for an election campaign and that the party has a great slate of candidates headed by a strong leader in Andrew Wilkinson.
Bond said she will focus in health care and noted the NDP’s “last-minute announcement” that a new surgical tower at University Hospital of Northern British Columbia, at a cost of $600-$700 million, is now on the province’s 10-year capital plan.
“I want to make sure that that project moves forward,” she said. “We need to make sure that there is money that will flow to make enhancements at University Hospital of Northern B.C.”
Bond said more training for health care professionals in northern B.C. is also a priority, as is rebuilding the province’s resource-rich economy in a safe and sustainable manner.
She said campaigning in the midst of a pandemic will require some innovation. Large rallies will be out of the question and door knocking will need to be done carefully. Voting will be by mail-in ballot and will require some education, Bond added.
– With files from Ted Clarke, Citizen staff
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO
A voter leaves a polling station in Prince George after casting a ballot in the 2017 provincial election.
WHAT:
COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF ZONING AMENDMENT APPLICATION
City Council consideration of application regarding:
•Proposed amendment to “City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007”
WHEN:
6:00 p.m., Monday, October 5, 2020
WHERE:
Council Chamber sofCity Hall, 2nd Floor,1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC PROPOSAL:
1. “City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007, Amendment BylawNo. 9145, 2020”
Applicant: Elisabeth Pope for A-Tech Performance Transmissions Ltd., Inc. No. BC0679104
Subject Proper ty: 473 3rd Avenue
BylawNo. 9145, 2020 proposes to rezone the subject proper ty from M1: Light Industrial to M4: Transition Industrial. The pur pose of this application is to facilitate a mix of light industrial and office uses on the subject proper ty,orother uses, pur suant to the proposed M4: Transition Industrial zoning designation(s).
The proposed Bylawapplies to the proper ty legally described as Parcel A(Plan 30868), Block 141, District Lot 343, Cariboo District, Plan 1268, as shown outlined in bold black on Location Map #1 below
Location Map #1 473 3rd Avenue
HOWCAN IPROVIDE COMMENT?
Residents are invited to provide comment in writing
Pur suant to Section 464(2) of the Local Government Act,City Council has waived the requirements for Public Hearing to be held respecting the proposed Zoning Amendment BylawNo. 9145, 2020 during the regular Council meeting held on Monday, September 14, 2020.
Accordingly,noPublic Hearings will be held for : •City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007, Amendment BylawNo. 9145, 2020”
Residents are encouraged to provide written comments to Council to be included in the Council meeting agenda package and available for public viewing on the City’s website. Forsubmissions to be included on the agenda for Council’sreviewinadvance of the meeting date, theymust be received by Cor porate Officer no later than Tuesday, September 29, 2020.Submissions received after the noted deadline and before 3:00 p.m. Monday, October 5, 2020,will be provided to Council on the dayofthe meeting for their consideration during the deliberations on the application.
Submissions maybesent by email to citycler k@princegeorge.ca, faxed to (250) 561-0183, mailed or delivered to the address noted below
Please note that written submissions for all applications will for mpar tofthe Council agenda, become public record and are posted on the City’swebsite. By making a written submission you are consenting to the disclosure of anyper sonal infor mation that you provide.
Authority
Personal infor mation is collected under the authority of section 26(g) and disclosed under the authority of section 33.1(1) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). Forinfor mation or questions, contact the City’sFIPPACoordinator at 250-561-7600 or 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC, V2L 3V9.
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
Acopyofthe proposed Bylawand anyrelated documents will be available for reviewbythe public on the City’swebsite www.princegeorge.ca under ‘News and Notices’ beginning September 23, 2020. These documents mayalso be reviewedat Development Ser vices on the 2nd Floor of City Hall on September 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, October 1, 2and 5, 2020,between the hour sof 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
WHO CAN ISPEAK TO?
Formore infor mation, please contact Development Ser vices in per son, by telephone at (250) 561-7611 or by email to devser v@princegeorge.ca.
COVID-19 Resources
The City of Prince George has been in regular conver sation with Nor ther nHealth about the most reliable sources of infor mation on novel coronavir us (COVID-19), and any assistance the City can provide residents and visitor swith reliable infor mation about measures that can be taken to prevent the spread and stayhealthy.
People are advised to takeall necessar yprecautions to prevent exposure such as staying home when sick, disinfecting surfaces, washing their hands, and coughing and sneezing into the crook of their ar ms.
Formore infor mation:
•V isit the BC Centre for Disease Control website
•V isit the BC Transit COVID-19 website
•V isit the BC Ministr yofHealth webpage on Pandemic Preparedness
•V isit the Gover nment of Canada’swebsite on COVID-19
•V isit the HealthlinkBC website
•V isit the WorldHealth Organization website
•Download the BC Ministr yofHealth’sAdvice on Recreational Facilities -March 13, 2020 [PDF]
Nor ther nHealth COVID-19 Update
Nor ther nHealth has launched aCOVID-19 Online Clinic and Infor mation Line to help answer questions and concer ns from Nor ther nB.C. residents. The NH COVID-19 Online Clinic and Infor mation Line can be reached at 1-844-645-7811.
PROVINCE APPROVES SURGERY UPGRADE
TED CLARKE Citizen staff
The provincial government and treasury board have approved a concept plan to build a new surgical suite in Prince George at University Hospital of Northern B.C.
The new building, which will cost $600-700 million, will include upgraded operating rooms, a cardiac care unit and a mental health and addictions unit.
Health Minister Adrian Dix made the announcement Sunday during a virtual news conference, the day before the election call. Dix said the current operating rooms date back to the 1970s and are inadequate, resulting in longer wait times for procedures.
“There was a profound need for an upgrade project at UHNBC, which has become a major hospital in British Columbia - it doesn’t just serve Prince George but of course the whole region,” said Dix.
UHNBC does not currently have the capacity to provide invasive cardiac procedures such as angioplasty to relieve blood vessel blockages, which means those heart patients must travel to Vancouver or Kelowna. Cardiac services as they exist now at the hospital are disbursed in various locations of the building.
“People in the north will know that there was no standalone cardiac services unit and that for many procedures, the invasive interventional kind, people had to travel as a matter of course, sometimes by plan urgently, to southern British Columbia to get the care they needed,” said Dix. Dix said while the population of northern B.C. is expected to grow by just eight per cent over the next 15 years, the number of residents 65 years and older is predicted to rise 66 per cent over that period, which will increase the need for cardiac care.
The current hospital building was built in 1958 and Dix said the treatment of patients with mental health issues and addictions was much different at that time and there have been no significant facility improvements to treat those patients.
“In respect to mental health and addictions, we are significantly below where we need to be in terms of the quality of care and the number of beds applied and assigned to mental health and addictions care in the Northern Health Authority and at UHNBC,” said Dix. “
Dix was unable to determine when construction would begin but said the funding for the project has already been approved in the province’s 10-year capital plan.
“In Terrace we approved the concept plan (for a new Mills Memorial Hospital) in February 2018 and we approved the business plan in May 2019 and we expect to break ground by the end of 2020, so that’ the kind of process we’re talking about,” said Dix.
He said the Liberal announcement of the project in 2017 was “a campaign promise” and did not get to the concept plan stage.
“People have been calling for this for a long time, long before I became minister of health,” Dix said. “There was no concept plan, so there was no proposal from the Northern Health Authority. There’s been a lot of talk about it. I’ve spoken to (Prince George-Valemount MLA) Shirley Bond many times about this because she and I have a good relationship and she’s an advocate for this project as am I, but there was no concept plan. You have to go through the budget process.”
Bond, a former health minister, welcomed the news of Sunday’s announcement, saying the development will be a significant step forward in health care for the region.
“One of the things I’ve worked tirelessly to raise in Victoria, whether it was our government or this government is that we need as many services as possible as close to home as possible, whether it was the cancer centre or cardiac care, the argument I made was always that far too many people have to travel elsewhere to get the services they need and that’s not right and not fair,” said Bond. “Today there was a recognition by this government those services need to be added and I’m really proud I played a part in raising this issue non-stop in Victoria.”
Section of Dominion temporarily closed
A section of Dominion Street downtown will be closed to vehicles for several weeks while crews work on the water and storm sewer connections for the city’s new pool under construction.
Dominion Street will be closed to traffic between Fifth Avenue and Seventh Avenue, but sidewalks on the east side of the street and part of the west side of the street will remain open to pedestrians, a city press release said.
“The project is expected to take about two weeks to complete. Businesses in the area, including the new Hyatt
Place Hotel nearby, have been notified,” the city press release said.
The road closure will impact the No. 5, 10, 15, 46, 47 and 55 bus routes downtown. The bus stop on Dominion Street at Sixth Avenue will be closed for the duration of the work.
“Riders are asked instead to board at the Downtown Exchange located at (Seventh) Avenue and Dominion Street, near the Four Seasons Leisure Pool,” the press release said. “As buses will need to detour, delays are possible so transit customers are asked to take extra time while travelling.”
What: Public Consultation regarding Temporary Use Permit No. 238
Owner: Avis Cook, Donald and Lynda Grant, Terry and Fiona Cook, Garry and Suzanne Enders, Robert and Elaine Buxton
Agent: Donald Grant
Proposal: The purpose of Temporary Use Permit No. 238 is to permit Preliminary Resource Processing use on the subject land for up to athree-year period. Zoning Bylaw No. 2892 defines Preliminary Resource Processing as the crushing, screening, washing, storing, packaging or other processing of rock, sand, gravel, aggregate or soil, originating on the same site and does not include asphalt plants or concrete plants.. The subject property is The Fractional North West ¼OfDistrict Lot 924 Cariboo District Except Plans 2881, 7003, 26144 and H679. The property is located at 31924 Cariboo Hwy
How can Iparticipate and provide comment? Anyone who believes that their interest in land is affected by the proposed Permit shall be afforded areasonable opportunity to submit written comments prior to the Regional District Board considering issuance of the Permit.
Submit written comments: Written comments will be accepted by the Regional District until 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 by: Email: developmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca
Hand/Mail: 155 George Street, Prince George, BC V2L 1P8 Fax: 250-562-8676
Any material received will become public information.
Need moreinfo? Acopy of the proposed Permit and any relevant background materials areavailable for review by the public on the Regional District’swebsite at http:// www.rdffg.bc.ca/services/development/land-use-planning/ current-applications/ or at the Regional District office, by appointment only,Monday through Friday,8:00 am to 4:30 pm, between September 21, 2020, and October 13, 2020. The Regional District Office will be closed on October 12, 2020. To make an appointment contact the Regional District at developmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca or at 250-960-4400
Decision by the Regional District Board: Following the public consultation, the Regional District Boardwill consider issuance of Temporary Use Permit No. 238 on Thursday,October 15, 2020 during the Regional District Boardmeeting which starts at 1:30 p.m. in the Regional District BoardRoom located at 155 George Street, Prince George, BC.
Who can Ispeak
Morris eager to win third term
TED CLARKE Citizen staff
Prince George-Mackenzie Mike Morris is eager to win a third term as an MLA, preferably one with a Liberal government, so he can keep focusing on police reform and forestry issues.
Morris became a politician in 2013 after a 42-year career in the RCMP. He has two sons currently serving in the force and as a former Solicitor General he’s developed a thorough understanding of the problems faced by frontline officers working in the province’s 64 RCMP detachments and 11 independent municipal police forces. He spent nearly six years mapping out a strategy to reform the system to take some of the social work/health care burdens off police so they can focus on fighting crime and looks forward to his chance to putting that plan into action as part of the government.
He envisions an integrated public safety agency that utilizes the resources of health authorities, social services, and housing agencies in a combined effort to work with communities to help them tackle the problems of poverty, addictions and mental issues to keep vulnerable residents out of the criminal justice system.
“My issue is the fact the police have taken over the role of social worker, of heathcare worker, of counselor, and it impacts on the ability to investigate criminal offences,” he said. “When you have a very busy detachment like Prince George
you have some police officer who has 100 criminal files in his folder and he’s trying to investigate properly and he’s also responding to social justice issues which take up about 70 per cent of a police department’s file load.
“I think we need to separate the criminal part from the social justice part so they can concentrate on technically elegant criminal investigations, getting 100 per cent charge approval and 100 per cent convictions. We can address the mental health and addictions issues in a different way. Right now, the filter for all that is in the justice system once they’re charged and they
go to court and I think we need to put that filter in right at the start to stop those 9-1-1 calls from coming in in the first place.”
Morris has prioritized his interest in biodiversity management and sustainable resource development and helping the hardhit forest sector struggling with diminished fibre supply to recover its strength.
“We have 52 million hectares of forested land in British Columbia and just about all of it has been logged in the last 100 years, and that’s had a massive effect on our wildlife populations - all fauna and flora for that matter – and it’s had impacts on water quality and air quality,” he said.
“B.C. adopted a sustainable yield philosophy 75 years ago after the 1945 Royal Commission and we haven’t changed from that. At that time, everybody thought we had trees for lifetimes and we’d never run out. But with technology we’ve developed mills that can consume two million cubic metres of wood a year and we’ve got equipment that can harvest what it took 200 men to do 25 years ago, we can do that in a day with three or four pieces of equipment.”
The 67-year-old former RCMP officer has had three years in his role as opposition critic on Public Safety and Solicitor General since the Liberals lost their grip on government in a non-confidence vote, weeks after winning a slim minority in the 2017 provincial election. Morris won 57.12 per cent of the Prince George-Mackenzie vote in 2017, defeating NDP candidate Bobby Depak (31.65 per cent) and he’s confident
he can hold his seat.
“I’ll never take anything for granted but I have people contacting me all the time indicating their support and we’ll put our best foot forward and see what happens,” Morris said. “I haven’t heard any inkling of who might be running for the NDP or Greens or anybody else, they’ve been quite absent throughout the riding in the last three years.
“(Sitting in opposition) does give you time to reflect and time to see what they’re doing or not doing. It’s easy to criticize but it’s really tough to come up with an alternative. I’ll do my job as a critic but I’m also looking at alternatives so that come election time we’ve got alternatives to put on the plate in front of British Columbians to see whether they like that or not. I’ve had lots of time to do that, particularly with COVID.”
In the short term, Morris is especially focused on COVID-19.
“The pandemic should be front and centre and we’re seeing the numbers increasing. There’s a lot of apprehension amongst the people about increasing their social activities and an election just increases the odds of coming into contact with it. But at the same time, the economy’s in a tailspin and this is a good time for a government to come out and say we’re going to rebuild the economy again. The economic plan they developed (which was announced last Thursday) is basically an empty document.”
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO
Chris and Mike Morris at their home last summer.
Bond running for sixth term as MLA
TED CLARKE
Citizen staff
Facing what she hopes will be her sixth-straight climb to a seat in the B.C. legislature, Shirley Bond declared her candidacy on Saturday, just before Monday’s formal election call. This one will be much different for the 63-year-old incumbent Prince GeorgeMount Robson MLA.
For the first time since she joined the Liberal party to enter provincial politics in 2001, Bond will be trying to defeat a sitting government as a member of the official opposition and she’ll be doing it without her most trusted advisor and most dedicated supporter - her husband Bill – who died of a stroke in June.
“I have never campaigned for anything without Bill by my side, so I’m under no illusions that for me personally this will be new, doing this without my best friend and life partner alongside me,” said Bond. “But I do know in my heart Bill also loved where we live and he would want strong and consistent leadership, someone who’s got a proven track record, so I’ve given it a lot of thought.
“Most people know I work very hard on behalf of my community and my constituents and I think they deserve that, and I hope I can gain their confidence one more time as we face a snap election. It’s going to be very difficult without Bill by my side but I have a great team and I’m going to do
Shirley Bond works the phones for Spirit of the North’s second Annual Spirit Day fundraiser in May 2018.
my best and hopefully the people of Prince George-Valemount will continue to have confidence in me.
Bond brings 16 years of experience as a cabinet minister under two premiers –Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark – and her portfolio runs the gamut, with ministerial stints in health services, education, advanced education, justice, transporta-
Thank yo uF oR RE Cy CLInG ThIS nE WSPaPER .
tion, infrastructure and public safety. In 2011 she became the first female attorney general in B.C. history after carrying the role as deputy premier for nearly six years, from 2004-2009.
“I feel very honoured to have served British Columbians in cabinet and having said that I now also have some opposition experience and that was a new and interesting transition for me, moving to the opposition bench,” said Bond.
“We have a part of the province that is rich in natural resources, it’s rich in people resources and we deserve to be heard and we deserve to receive our equal and fair share and it takes a strong and passionate voice. That’s been my goal for my years of public service and I think I can still offer to do that on behalf of Prince George-Valemount residents.”
Since the NDP and Green Party formed a coalition to defeat the Liberal minority government weeks after the 2017
election, Bond has been part of the shadow cabinet as finance co-critic. Desperate times call for desperate measures and Bond says the parties have largely put aside their political differences during the pandemic to find solutions to the most significant challenge any government has had to face since the Second World War.
“The parties stood up to deal with the pandemic and there has been a lot of cross-party work to make sure our number 1 priority has been dealing with the health care crisis, but we also have to think about the economic health of the province,” Bond said. “We recognize there was a need to provide immediate and longer-term supports for families and small businesses and others in our province, leading to a historic deficit. What we also need to see is a plan for how we’re going to restore confidence and make sure people want to invest and grow their companies and hire people in British Columbia.”
Bond denounced the NDP’s pandemic stimulus plan announced last Thursday, which includes $1.5 billion in spending and $660 million in tax relief for businesses.
“Here we are with businesses hanging on by a thread and what we get is a thinly-veiled campaign document,” she said. “There are some programs that will likely provide benefit, but there are no details about how to apply and how it’s going to be effective. One of the things we asked for was a specific rural B.C. economic strategy and we’ve yet to hear anything about those Bond says an election in the midst of a pandemic is terrible, when people are being urged to avoid gatherings to try to limit the spread of the virus. She said it will make campaigning difficult for all candidates and many voters will have to mail in ballots.
“We have fixed election dates and that is the law in British Columbia, and despite the law and an agreement he’s made with the Green Party to become premier, that can all be set aside just to go to an election in the hopes of gaining a majority government,” Bond said.
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO
Rustad focusing on resource issues
TED CLARKE Citizen staff
John Rustad was just about to drive from his home on Cluculz Lake to his Nechako Lakes constituency office in Vanderhoof Monday morning when Premier John Horgan announced B.C. voters will be going to the polls for a general election on Oct. 24.
Election rules mean the 57-year-old won’t be in his office during the campaign but he certainly hopes to be there for at least the next four years if he retains his MLA seat for his fifth consecutive term in office. As the Liberal candidate for Nechako Lakes, Rustad said the timing of an election call by the NDP government in the midst of a pandemic could not be worse, a full year in advance of an already fixed election date, but he says he and his party are ready to launch their battle to win back the government.
“Right now we’ve got the highest number of cases of COVID-19 per capita than any other province in the country – lots of people are concerned and I’m concerned,” Rustad said. “How do you do door-knocking or any of this stuff without creating risk.
“Personally, I think it’s a foolish time to be holding an election, but having said that, we’re prepared and we’ll be laying out a platform to give people an alternative to how we can help people in British Columbia and get this province economically back on track,” he said. “We’re ready to
John Rustad speaks about the recipients of the community vehicle grants, a program under B.C.’s Highway 16 Transportation Action Plan in March 2017.
take it to them.”
Rustad, the opposition critic on Forestry, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, lambasted the NDP for their three-year term in office since forming a coalition with the Green Party to defeat the Liberal minority government on a non-confidence vote weeks after the May 2017 election.
“Being a politician, the first thing that comes to mind is over $10 billion in new
taxes and $13 billion in new spending and running the province into a deficit even before COVID-19,” said Rustad. “The next thing that comes to mind is our forest sector has lurched from crisis to crisis and we’ve become the highest cost producer. Costs in the Interior have gone up 33 per cent and on the coast they’ve gone up 69 percent. Our sector is very uncompetitive and for a riding like mine and for us throughout the north where forestry is such an important component, that makes us vulnerable.”
Rustad blames the government for raising taxes on forest product producers and adding regulations which he says scare off investors. He pointed to Canfor’s mills in Houston and Vanderhoof and the West Fraser mill in Smithers and the need to retool them to adjust to a reduced supply of beetle-killed trees but says those companies are reluctant to go ahead with those projects because of the high cost of producing lumber.
“Clearly, as a province, if we want the province to recover from COVID-19 and we want families to be healthy, both healthwise and economically, we need to be able to be competitive. Supply is a known issue but it’s the ability to be able to operate competitively that drives fiscal decisions by mills and that drives whether a mill is going to have to take curtailments. The challenge we have now is we’re uncompetitive.”
Rustad said the mining sector has been
Prince George, is your heart in love with your diet?
suffering under the NDP’s watch despite rising global commodity prices. Companies are facing longer delays in obtaining work permits and he said no new mines have opened under the current government.
“The process if you want to do work in the mining field used to be, under us, we were targeting around two months and what industry is telling me now is we’re up around six months just to get a permit to do exploration work or if you need to some other work,” he said.
“It takes years to get a mine built and it takes even more years to get approval. There are mines like the Blackwater mine (south of Vanderhoof) and Kemess Underground (north of Smithers) that could be going ahead right now with construction but they’ve been delayed because there’s no confidence to build in British Columbia. So we have mines getting close to the end of their operating life that could be shutting down and we don’t have these new mines starting construction.”
Rustad was first elected in 2005 when the riding was known as Prince George-Omineca and he’s won three more terms representing Nechako Lakes. In 2017 he captured 54.39 per cent of the vote to defeat NDP candidate Anne Marie Sam (29.81 per cent). Sam is once again running against Rustad for the seat.
“I thought long and hard about this because it’s hard to get things done when you’re in opposition and it can be very frustrating,” he said.
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO
CARRIER SEKANI CHANGES ARCHIVES
MARK NIELSEN
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The organizing of books and materials at the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council’s library and archive is being switched over to a more culturally-appropriate system.
Archivist Kat Louro has been working to replace the Dewey decimal system with one that takes Indigenous issues into account. It was developed in the 1970s by Canadian Kahnawake Mohawk librarian Alec Brian Deer and has grown in popularity.
Although used worldwide, the Dewey system is very Western in its structure.
“What that means is Indigenous information is approached as a thing to be studied through a Western, colonial lens that reinforces the North American representation of First Nations as a past culture rather than a modern, growing peoples,” Louro said.
In contrast, the system Deer developed does a better job of reflecting the issues of the day. Along with sections devoted to the history and culture of specific First Nations, rights and title has its own classification as do particular issues such as missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, pipeline response and the Kemano project.
It also does away with classifying books through an essentially numerical system in favour of one that relies on letters. Users will typically start their search by going to a particular subject category, followed by
a subheading, then the author and year of publication.
“For cataloguing purposes it’s way more flexible and easy for non-librarians and archivists to understand and implement,” Louro said.
Louro said the project began in February 2019 when Sarah Dupont, the head librarian at Xwi7xwa (pronounced wheiwha) Library, a First Nations library at the University of British Columbia, approached her about making the move.
“We started to assess the collection as it stood and then we built a version of the Brian Deer classification system to meet
the needs of the organization and then we created a cataloguing manual to standardize that work and make it accessible for non-librarians and archivists,” Louro said.
From there it has been sifting through roughly 2,500 items. Much of that work is being carried out by students hired with the help of Young Canada Works grants. There are about 500 books, or about a year’s worth of work, to go. The effort has involved its share of judgment calls.
“You could have a resource that could fit under a natural resource collection or lands, rights and titles so there is a bit of independent judgment in terms of what’s
going to make it accessible and visible for communities because researchers look for information in different ways,” Louro said.
She said the Dewey system still has its place in the larger, integrated library systems and work is underway to amend its more troublesome aspects.
“But we have this growing, Indigenous-based system in Canada that’s really being used a lot in B.C. and it works way better for the intent of our library,” Louro said. “It’s not designed for the Western discipline of studies, it’s really about action and the work that Indigenous political organizations are doing right now.”
Man arrested after months on the lam
Citizen staff
A wanted northern B.C. man who escaped from jail in April and was on the lam for months was arrested in Edmonton last month.
Cameron James Low was originally arrested in Prince Rupert in March and charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, breaking and entering,
possession of a weapon and disguise with intent following a home invasion in Prince Rupert, RCMP said The home invasion involved firearms, and two men were seriously injured in the incident.
In April, Low escaped a correction facility in Logan Lake, located west of Kamloops, and remained at large for several months with warrants out for his arrest.
An investigation by Prince Rupert RCMP discovered information that Low might be hiding out in Edmonton. On Aug. 31, at around 10:30 p.m., Low was arrested by the Edmonton Police Service at a location in northwest Edmonton.
Prince Rupert RCMP maintained contact with the Edmonton Police Service to ensure the safe and successful arrest of Low,
the RCMP statement said.
“This investigation highlights the inter-provincial operations of organized crime groups from northern B.C.,” RCMP Const. Chris Askey said in a press release. “The Prince Rupert RCMP remains committed to targeting individuals with ties to organized crime groups to ensure the safety of the public.”
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Kat Louro is the archivist at the Carrier Sekani library and archive.
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Environnement et Changement climatique Canada
Avis public Public Notice
Canadian We ather Radar Network Modernization; We ather Radar Construction in Prince George, British Columbia
Description of the project:
The Government of Canada is modernizing its weather-forecasting infrastructure and will proceed with the replacement of its aging weather radars with new, modern radar systems, by March 2023. This initiative will ensure that Canadians are better informed on changing weather, water, and climate conditions and that they have more lead time to take appropriate actions to protect themselves, their family, and their property from the effects of severe weather
The new Prince George radar will continue to provide coverage for central British Columbia and will consist of a 25-metre open-lattice steel tower with an 11.8-metre diameter radome at the top (sphere covering the antenna), for a total height of approximately 39 metres including lightning protection rods.
Radar location:
The new radar will be located at 33155 Blackwater Road, Baldy Hughes, British Columbia, V2N 6H1, a property leased to NAV CANADA. The geographic coordinates of the proposed radar site are 53°36’55.4” N, 122°57’16.9” W
Public consultation:
The public has 30 days from the date of this notice to provide written comments. The proponent must acknowledge receipt in writing within 14 days and must respond to all questions, comments, or concerns received within 60 days.
Modernisation
du réseau canadien de radars
météorologiques ;
Construction d’un radar météorologique
à Prince George en Colombie-Britannique
Description du projet :
Le gouvernement du Canada modernise son infrastructure de prévisions météorologiques et procédera au remplacement des radars météorologiques vieillissants par de nouveaux systèmes modernes d’ici mars 2023. Cette initiative permettra de mieux informer les Canadiens au sujet des conditions changeantes du temps, des eaux et du climat et de leur donner plus de temps pour prendre les mesures appropriées afin de se mettre à l’abri et de protéger leur famille et leurs biens des effets du temps violent.
Le nouveau radar de Prince George continuera de fournir la couverture radar pour la région du centre de la Colombie-Britannique et comprendra les installations suivantes : un pylône en acier à treillis ouvert de 25 mètres surmonté d’un radôme (sphère contenant l’antenne) de 11,8 mètres de diamètre, pour une hauteur totale d’environ 39 mètres incluant le paratonnerre.
Emplacement du radar :
Le nouveau radar sera situé au 33155, Blackwater Road, Baldy Hughes, (Colombie-Britannique) V2N 6H1, une propriété louée à NAV CANADA. Les coordonnées géographiques du site du projet de radar sont les suivantes 53° 36’ 55,4” N, 122° 57’ 16,9” O
Consultation publique :
À compter de la date du présent avis, le public dispose d’une période de 30 jours pour présenter ses commentaires par écrit. Le promoteur doit accuser réception par écrit dans un délai de 14 jours et répondre dans un délai de 60 jours aux questions, obser vations ou préoccupations communiquées.
For more information:
https://www.canada.ca/en/environmentclimate-change/ser vices/weather-generaltools-resources/radar-over view/modernizingnetwork.html
Proponent’s contact information:
Sylvain Laramée, Director, Canadian Weather Radar Replacement Program Environment and Climate Change Canada
800 De la Gauchetière Street West, Office 7810 Montreal, Quebec H5A 1L9 ec.prrmc-cwrrp.ec@canada.ca
This notice is published in accordance with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada’s Radiocommunica tion and Broadcasting Antenna Systems process (CPC-2-0-03).
Pour de plus amples renseignements : https://www.canada.ca/fr/environnementchangement-climatique/ser vices/conditionsmeteorologiques-ressources-outils-generaux/ apercu-radars/modernisation-reseau.html.
Coordonnées du promoteur :
Sylvain Laramée, Directeur, Programme de remplacement des radars météorologiques canadiens Environnement et Changement climatique Canada
800 rue de la Gauchetière Ouest, bureau 7810, Montréal (Québec) H5A 1L9 ec.prrmc-cwrrp.ec@canada.ca
Cet avis est publié en conformité avec le processus d’Innova tion, Sciences et Déve loppement économique Canada sur les Systèmes d’antennes de radiocommunications et de radiodiffusion (CPC-2-0-03)
COUNCIL CALLS FOR STAFF PAY REPORT
ARTHUR WILLIAMS
Citizen staff
City council requested a report back before the end of the year on how the pay and benefits for the city’s senior staff compares to other similar municipalities.
Coun. Kyle Sampson brought the issue forward to council, saying it’s time for “a good objective look” at how the city compensates its union-exempt staff, particularly the city’s overtime pay policy.
“I’m really keen on this overtime piece,” Sampson said. “This survey won’t be the be-all and end-all. It think it’s extremely important that Prince George do what works for Prince George.”
The city needs to find a compromise that works for staff and for taxpayers, he said. Under the city’s existing policies, the review should already be underway, Samp-
son said.
Under a policy approved by city council in 2011, the city is supposed to conduct “a comprehensive compensation survey” every three years to compare the salaries, benefits, overtime provisions, vacation time and other conditions of employment for the city’s union-exempt staff to similar municipalities.
The last survey was conducted in 2017 and presented to city council in December of that year, city manager Kathleen Soltis said. The survey, conducted by an independent consultant, looked at the 10 largest municipalities in B.C. – the same communities used to compare the city’s compensation for the mayor and city councillors.
“It was in the work plan, but it was put off,” Soltis said.
Those 10 communities are used, because they are the closest comparable employ-
NDIT offers new grants
The Northern Development Initiative Trust is launching six new grant programs for communities and businesses in northern B.C. under the banner of Trust 2020. The six new programs replace the existing Community Halls and Recreation Facilities program and Economic Diversification Infrastructure program, a statement issued by the group said. However, projects which
were eligible under those programs will still be eligible under the new programs, along with projects like playgrounds, dog parks, libraries, public washrooms and main street beautification initiatives.
“Trust 2020 is not only the introduction of new community development programs, updated technology and a refreshed brand, it is also represents our continued commitment to the people and communities
ers, she said.
“Those are the municipalities that will be looking to our staff if they have vacancies to fill,” Soltis said.
The survey depends on the participation of staff at the participating municipalities, she said, with communities grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic municipal staff in those communities were likely “focusing on key, essential work.”
The pandemic could also distort the results, she said. In Prince George, the city eliminated the scheduled cost of living increases for exempt staff for 2020 and 2021, she said.
In addition, Soltis said earlier this year the city changed its policy regarding overtime pay for exempt staff. While previously those staff members were paid double for overtime, now they receive time-and-a-half, in line with the city’s unionized employees.
While city council has final authority of
of northern and central B.C.,” Northern Development CEO Joel McKay said in a press release.
“Northern Development is dedicated to the economic growth of our service region now, and well into the future.”
In addition to the new programs, the organization launched its redesigned website and an online grant application system.
The six new grant programs are the
city budgets, the city manager has responsibility for administrating exempt staff compensation within that budget.
Coun. Brian Skakun said he believes city council should be playing a bigger role in the direct administration of senior staff.
“Some of us on council have been pushing for this conversation for months or years, and it is long overdue,” Skakun said.
“Quite frankly, it’s been quite frustrating.”
Coun. Terri McConnachie said she hopes the report is presented in an open council meeting, for the sake of transparency to the public.
“I do think it’s important we have an accurate comparison to our community and market,” she said. “To be blunt, this is an opportunity to look at the overtime policy.”
Council voted to have the report prepared and brought before them by the last council meeting of the year, on Dec. 21.
Community Places, Cultural Infrastructure, Economic Infrastructure, Main Street Revitalization Planning, Main Street Revitalization Capital and Recreation Infrastructure.
“The board is very pleased with the introduction of all facets of Trust 2020, in particular the new community development programs,” Northern Development board chair Margo Wagner said in a press release.
Citizen staff
Council rejects cannabis store
ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen
staff
A proposal for a cannabis shop on George Street has run into a roadblock at city council.
In a rare four-four tie vote, city council defeated a temporary use permit for a recreational cannabis store proposed by Epik Products Inc. at 356 George St. The city had received 20 letters from local businesses and the public opposing the proposed store, as well as 13 letters of support from nearby businesses.
In his report to council, city general manager of planning and development Ian Wells recommended council reject the application because of proximity to social service providers and another retail cannabis store.
“Overall, we’re concerned about the proliferation of retail cannabis stores in the downtown,” Wells said.
Councillors Garth Frizzell, Terri McConnachie, Kyle Sampson and Brian Skakun supported the proposal, while Mayor Lyn Hall and councillors Cori Ramsay, Frank Everitt and Susan Scott opposed development of another cannabis store downtown. Tie votes are considered to be defeated under the rules of order governing municipal votes.
Coun. Murry Krause did not attend the meeting.
“These ones are tough,” McConnachie said. “We’re not going to solve all the (drug) abuse and issues downtown by just not approving a legal cannabis store.”
Sampson said he was in support of the
proposed temporary use permit because, unlike a permanent rezoning, it would allow council to reconsider the proposal in three years when the permit expired.
In a letter to city council, Epik Products Inc. CEO Dawn Lebel said the store aimed to offer a high-end experience to customers.
“Our store will carry high quality cannabis and a curated collection of paraphernalia and educational materials,” Lebel wrote.
“This will attract higher-end clientele and will not appeal to users of the lower priced street market. Our design plan and business model is set up to contribute to the future look and feel of the downtown.”
Frizzell said ultimately it will be up to the market to determine if so many cannabis stores in one area can survive.
Ramsay said the closest parallel to cannabis stores is liquor stores, and the Liquor & Cannabis Regulation Branch wouldn’t approve a license for a liquor store where there was already one within 60 metres and another 500 metres away. The provincial regulator doesn’t apply similar rules to cannabis retailers, Wells explained.
“How can we add another one?” she said.
“I have concerns about it.”
Hall said he was meeting with a group of downtown stakeholders on Tuesday, and already knew what they’d have to say about having another cannabis retailer downtown.
“I have a concern about the number of cannabis outlets in the downtown,” he said.
Casino raked in $50.9 million
MARK NIELSEN
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Games of chance at Treasure Cove Casino were attractive enough to bring in $50.9 million worth of revenue during the 2019-20 fiscal year, according to a B.C. Lottery Corp. report released this week.
The total amounted to a $101,000 increase over 2018-19 and came in spite of a fiscal year shortened about two weeks by the COVID-19 pandemic. The casino has remained closed since March 16.
Of the total, $45.6 million came from the slot machines, up $127,000, while bingo contributed $3.17 million, down $74,000, and table games accounted for $2.16 million, up $48,000.
The totals were good enough to generate $14.2 million in operator commissions, off by $7,000 from 2018-19.
Among B.C.’s 17 casinos, Treasure Cove was the ninth most lucrative. At $287.2 million, River Rock Casino in Richmond was the top generator, followed by Grand Villa Casino in Burnaby at $231.3 million. Among bingo halls, Treasure Cove remained at the top. Cascades Casino
Langley finished a distance second at $2.1 million.
With all casinos and bingo halls shuttered for six months now, the numbers will be considerably lower for 2020-21 and that’s if they are reopened at all.
Earlier this month, labour union Unifor, which represents workers at four B.C. casinos, called on provincial government to safely reopen casinos and gaming operations across the country.
“There’s just no sound science that justifies re-opening Walmarts, gyms, and restaurants while at the same time keeping the casinos closed,” Unifor president Jerry Dias said. “There’s no logic behind the decision, and it’s placing a perfectly legal sector in jeopardy.”
In a statement, a Ministry of Health spokesperson said B.C. Lottery Corp. has submitted safety plans and they have been review but a firm date for reopening casinos has not been set at this time.
“The priority for government has always been a gradual reopening of the economy and right now the focus continues to be on keeping schools safe as students returned to class last week,” the spokesperson said.
WorkSafeBC
Workers’ Compensation BoardofB.C. Hereby givesnotice of proposedamendmentstothe Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (BCreg.296/97,asamended)
WorkSafeBC is holding apublichearing on proposed amendments to Parts6,8,16, 18,and 21 of the Occupational Health andSafetyRegulation. In lightof theongoing andrapidly evolving COVID –19pandemic andinaneffor ttomaximize social distancing,the public hearingwill be held virtually.
Thevir tual publichearing will be streamed live on September30, 2020,intwo sessions. Thefirst will be from 11 a.m. to 1p.m. andthe second from 3to5p.m.
View thevir tual public hearing liveat ht tps://video.isilive.ca/worksafebc/2020-09-30/
Participating in the Public Hearing Process
We welcomeyourfeedbackonthe proposed amendments.All feedbackreceivedwill be presented to WorkSafeBC’s BoardofDirectors fortheir consideration.
Youcan providefeedbackinthe following ways:
1. Register to speakatthe hearingvia telephone
To register,please call 604.232.7744ortollfreeinB.C. at 1.866.614.7744.One presentationfroman organization or individual willbepermit ted.
If youaren’tabletoregister, please watchthe hearing using theabove linkasthere will be an oppor tunityfor youtocallinatthe endofthe list of pre-registered speakers
2. Submit apre-recorded video
Pre-recorded video submissions up to five minutes in leng th canbesubmit tedand will be played at the Public Hearing
Forfur ther instructionsphone 604.232.7744 or toll free in B.C. at 1.866.614.7744
3. Onlinefeedback
Writ tensubmissions canbemadeonlineuntil 4:30p.m.onFriday, October2,2020via the WorkSafeBC websiteatworksafebc.comorvia e-mail at ohsreg feedback@worksafebc.com.
More information on theproposedamendmentsand howtopar ticipate in thevir tual public hearing canbe foundonWorkSafeBC’swebsite at worksafebc.com.
Rally calls for old-growth protection
ARTHUR
WILLIAMS
Citizen staff
Conservation North held a short rally in front of Mr. PG on Friday afternoon to call for more protection for the province’s primary and old-growth forests.
Conservation North director Michelle Connolly said the new plan the province unveiled for managing primary and old-growth forests doesn’t do enough to protect the important ecosystems.
“There are lots of reasons to protect old-growth forests,” Connolly said. “We’ve
never figured out how to replicate old growth. These forests are really special and irreplaceable.”
When old growth and primary forests are logged and replanted, valuable habitat is lost for many species of birds, insects and mammals like bears and weasels, she said. Fallen and dead standing trees are an important part of a forest ecosystem.
These forests also represent a snapshot of the region’s ecosystem before extensive logging was done, she said. Some of the trees in old-growth spruce forests in the Parsnip and Anzac areas are up to 400
years old, she said.
Those older forests were once the most common type of forest in the northern interior, Connolly said, but now the landscape is dominated by secondary growth forest – forest that has been logged and replanted by people.
“We believe we can have a sustainable economy based on harvesting those secondary-growth forests,” Connolly said.
Looking at community forest management model could be one way to get more value out of those already-disturbed forest stands, she said.
The provincial old-growth forest plan was unveiled earlier this month, along with a report by the Ministry of Forests prepared by forestry experts Garry Merkel and Al Gorley, entitled A New Future for Old Forests. Merkel and Gorley made 14 recommendations, based on significant consultation throughout B.C.
“The panel report is not perfect, but it had those recommendations in it,” Connolly said. “The provincial old-growth plan ignored those recommendations. If they had not ignored that, we would have got some temporary deferrals of logging up here.”
BUSINESS START-UP COMPETITION PLANNED
ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff
A group of five local business leaders are putting their own money on the line to help would-be entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground.
The City of Prince George will be hosting an event, called Titans’ Den, in homage to the popular CBC TV show Dragons’ Den where people can pitch their business ideas to the business leaders and receive up to $5,000 in start-up capital. But unlike the TV show, the local business leaders won’t be buying a stake in the proposed business, city manager of economic development Melissa Barcellos said.
“This is a gift. We’re really fortunate to
have local entrepreneurs willing to put their money toward this,” Barcellos said.
“The only requirement, from us as the city, will be in six months we’ll follow up with the successful pitchers. Ideally, we want to see businesses start up and be successful.”
Unlike the Dragons’ Den TV show, the event won’t be televised or open to the public. The five local business people who have each committed a minimum of $2,500 of their own money to support the best pitches will remain anonymous. They come from a range of business backgrounds, including transportation and warehousing, retail, business consulting, manufacturing and exporting, Barcellos said.
The event will take place on Oct. 29 at the Ramada Hotel downtown, and will follow physical distancing safety measures. There will only be time for a maximum of 12 pitches, so those wanting to sign up should do so as soon as possible, Barcellos said. Those pitching ideas should expect a maximum of $5,000 in support ($1,000 from each of the five business leaders), Barcellos said. But ultimately, it will be up to the participating business leaders to decide how much, if any, of their own money they’re willing to give to support a pitch.
To make a successful pitch, participants should be ready to show knowledge about the business they are entering, outline potential costs and present the steps they
plan to take to develop their business.
“It’s pretty wide open,” Barcellos said. “It could be they have an idea they want to develop. They could be running a side gig and want to take it out of their house. Maybe they need to buy equipment to start their business.”
In addition to the cash, the business leaders may be willing to step forward and offer some mentorship to the successful pitchers, she added.
To register to participate, contact Allan Stroet at 250-561-7582 or by email at allan. stroet@princegeorge.ca. Business leaders who want to participate this year or in future versions of the event can also contact Stroet.
Francois Lake man reels in lotto win
Citizen staff
Avid fisherman Devin Remanda feels like he’s “in a dream” after reeling in a whopping $200,000 from a Casino Royale scratch and win ticket.
The Francois Lake resident was picking up a few items at the Burns Lake Chevron on Yellowhead Highway when he decided to purchase a few scratch and win tickets.
Remanda was in disbelief upon returning to his vehicle and scratching the tickets.
“I realized I had won and decided to scan
the ticket on my BCLC Lotto! app and it showed up a winner,” Remanda recalled. “I didn’t believe it at first, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing on the screen.”
The first to find out the news was his brother and then the rest of his family.
“My mom was so happy that she cried and my father was close to tears.”
Remanda plans to purchase a new pickup truck and put the rest into savings.
$200,000 is the top prize offered on Casino Royale and the odds of winning it are one in 250,000.
LG SHOULD HAVE TOLD HORGAN NO
Premier John Horgan has the right and the authority to ask for a provincial election, even though B.C. voters aren’t supposed to go to the polls until October 2021.
The timing suits him and the NDP, of course. The polls look great, especially in Metro Vancouver, where the NDP could pick up numerous seats. Across the province, many voters are happy, pleasantly surprised or grudgingly satisfied with Team Horgan’s performance since taking power in 2017 and that was before their strong response to the COVID-19.
The B.C. Liberals know this, which is why their leader Andrew Wilkinson, his MLAs, including Shirley Bond, Mike Morris and John Rustad, spent the last several weeks howling about even the hint of an early election.
If the polls showed the B.C. Liberals would sweep back into power if an election were held this fall, they would have argued Horgan doesn’t have the mandate to govern during these unprecedented times and would have demanded an immediate election call. They would have pointed to
New Brunswick as the example of how to safely hold an election in the middle of a pandemic.
The bigger issue, however, is the legality of calling an election in B.C. at this time.
The Horgan government passed legislation three years ago, not only reaffirming fixed provincial election dates, but moving the month from May to October so voters could see the actual financial numbers, not what the party of the day said they were.
Calling an election now is as two-faced hypocrite politics. Horgan’s actions say legislation is the law for hispolitical opponents but mere suggestions to him.
And politicians wonder why people lose faith in politics and democracy.
The premier of the day, however, always has to ask the lieutenant governor, the Queen’s representative, for official permission to dissolve the legislature and call an election. Horgan must remember well what happened when the last premier asked the last lieutenant governor to call an early election.
When the Greens and the NDP joined forces to vote out the B.C. Liberals in a legislative confidence vote in the aftermath of the 2017 election, Christy Clark went to
Judith Guichon and asked her to dissolve the legislature and call another election.
Guichon politely refused and invited Horgan to form government.
That’s the best recent example of the importance of a representative of the monarchy in place to safeguard against politicians who put holding onto power over democracy.
When Horgan went to current LG Janet Austin asking her to call an election, she had the legal and moral authority to tell him to go away and come back in 12 months, holding up the fixed election date legislation as her reason. At the very least, Horgan should have had to give her compelling evidence that the legislation should not be followed. While COVID-19 is a significant crisis, it is neither unprecedented, nor is the work of government unable to continue. Both the B.C. Liberals and the Green have been supportive of the Horgan government’s response to the pandemic.
If Austin had refused Horgan’s request, it would likely have provoked a constitutional crisis. Should the Queen’s representative, appointed by the premier, have the right to say no to an elected government’s desire to go to the polls? Precedent says
no but the precedent hasn’t been tested in court against the fixed election legislation. That would have taken some nerve on Austin’s part. Horgan’s immediate options would have been to take her to court or fire her and appoint a new LG.
But it would have stopped Horgan in his tracks because exercising either option would have been political poison.
The true measure of any politician is restraint. Having the discipline to resist the temptation to use their power to increase their existing power – in this case, from a minority to a majority government – at the expense of their opponents is not a sign of weakness, it’s the hallmark of integrity.
If Horgan and his caucus honestly believe they’ve done a stellar job during their time in office and they are the better choice for British Columbians than Wilkinson and the B.C. Liberals, then they should have little to fear by waiting until next fall and letting voters decide their fate on the date enshrined in law.
Will voters punish Horgan and the NDP for their political gamesmanship? They won’t.
But they should.
— Editor-in-chief Neil Godbout
Lifetime appointments a huge mistake
Given that it is presidential election season in the United States, I am certain that we, the United Empire Loyalists who chose to dissent from radical republican ideas, are tired of hearing about the ongoing travails of our cousins. However, with the death of Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who served on the Supreme Court of these United States for 27 years, it is timely to revisit both the significant differences between our judicial systems, as well as the ramifications of this vacancy.
Notorious RBG was 87 when she left this world, a physical impossibility in our Dominion, where the retirement age for supreme justices in Canada is 75. Without getting into questions around health or soundness of mind, the fact that becoming a member of SCOTUS is a life sentence in turn influences partisan presidents and senators when it comes to nominations.
The stakes are infinitely higher in America than Canada, which explains much of their drama over new justices.
OF CENTRE NATHAN GIEDE
For all its bluster, Congress and the president do not have either tool that is so rarely used here: “the notwithstanding clause” or “the Supremacy of Parliament.” In Canada, elected MPs could actually reject or review nearly any decision made by our robed magistrates. But in America, SCOTUS is the final authority, capable of overturning everything from local ordinances to executive orders. As such, the partisan need for a packed bench intensifies astronomically.
Which brings us to the current psycho-drama in these United States: with the death of the unabashedly liberal Ruth Bader Ginsberg, and the current state of political polarization, all in the midst of the last 40 days before a new president is elected, the reactionary stances on both sides are understandable.
And if one thought the election could not get any more chaotic, what we have
witnessed thus far is likely the tip of the iceberg - politically, all hell will now break loose.
My bias is well known, but to use a different take, let us all acknowledge that if councils, state legislatures, and Congress, in cooperation with their various executives, did their job, the importance of the highest court in the land would diminish. Furthermore, if chief magistrates in both Canada and America stopped twisting laws to fit their own bias - an act fully admitted to by retired or senior members repeatedly - judicial decisions would not become political bombshells.
It is also important to point out that enemies learn from each other’s battle tactics. While SCOTUS always suffered and participated in political chicanery, Americans owe FDR the blame of openly proposing to stack and expand the court to push through an agenda, which eventually resulted in the sudden, newfound support for his New Deal amongst the justices. Such a tactic has been brazenly discussed recently again by leading personalities in the Democratic Party.
Is it any wonder then that Republicans, with their president and majority in the
Senate, would seek to fill RBG’s vacancy before the election in November? Without putting too fine a point on it, people to the right in America, particularly those in flyover country or proudly calling themselves “deplorables,” have learned that it is better to win ugly than lose nobly. That lesson was taught to them by those who sneer and swear at their pro-gun, pro-life, pro-faith stances.
As a final point, those on the left should check the facts before joining the cacophony. RBG’s decisions were not nearly as progressive as many are now claiming. True, she was a virulently pro-choice, pro-gun control, and left-leaning civil libertarian on the balance of her votes but the majority of her decisions affirmed mainstream neoliberal concepts about everything from fossil fuels to statism. In short, corporations likely gained more from her than citizens ever did.
Ultimately, Ginsberg’s legacy will remain a hotly contested topic for years to come. It is my hope that the right and left in America realize that lifelong appointments have no place in an “enlightened republic,” as they only serve to intensify the inevitable vitriol that follows.
MAILING ADDRESS
MAILING ADDRESS
MAILING ADDRESS
MAILING ADDRESS 505 Fourth Ave. Prince George, B.C. V2L 3H2
505 Fourth Ave. Prince George, B.C. V2L 3H2
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 250-562-6666
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 250-562-6666 cls@pgcitizen.ca
OFFICE HOURS
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
cls@pgcitizen.ca
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 250-562-6666 cls@pgcitizen.ca
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING 250-562-6666 cls@pgcitizen.ca
SHAWN CORNELL, DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING 250-960-2757
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m - 3:00 p m , Monday to Friday
GENERAL SWITCHBOARD 250-562-2441 info@pgcitizen.ca
SWITCHBOARD
GENERAL SWITCHBOARD 250-562-2441 info@pgcitizen.ca
GENERAL NEWS news@pgcitizen.ca
GENERAL NEWS news@pgcitizen.ca
GENERAL SWITCHBOARD 250-562-2441 info@pgcitizen.ca GENERAL NEWS news@pgcitizen.ca SPORTS
SPORTS INQUIRIES 250-960-2764 sports@pgcitizen.ca
SPORTS INQUIRIES 250-960-2764 sports@pgcitizen.ca
SHAWN CORNELL, DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING 250-960-2757
SHAWN CORNELL, DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING 250-960-2757
SHAWN CORNELL, DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING 250-960-2757 scornell@pgcitizen.ca
scornell@pgcitizen.ca
scornell@pgcitizen.ca
scornell@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
READER SALES AND SERVICES 250-562-3301 rss@pgcitizen.ca
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@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
WEBSITE FEEDBACK digital@glaciermedia.ca
WEBSITE FEEDBACK digital@glaciermedia.ca
WEBSITE FEEDBACK digital@glaciermedia.ca
RIGHT
COLLEEN
Public school privilege prevails
BCHigh School Student Fees, a sampling from four districts:
$10-21 student activity fee (basically just for being a student)
$30-40 metal or woodworking fee
$10-40 arts fees
$120-145 deposit for scientific calculator
$40-200 for physical education
$20-30 per test for advanced placement exams
$75-125 for graduation celebration (to participate in the cap and gown ceremony)
$300 to $3,000 for team sports programs
If you look at the list above and you aren’t concerned, then you are at least upper-middle class, which is great for you. However, that’s not so great for the families who look at the list and cringe. Those families know that their children are part of their school’s “underclass.” These students do not gain the same benefit from
THINKING ALOUD
TRUDY KLASSEN
their public school education as more welloff students.
The list above should cause us all to take a hard look at what we ask our schools to deliver and for whom. For example: school team sports teach “soft” skills like effective communication, teamwork, dependability, adaptability, conflict resolution, flexibility, leadership and problem-solving. Nearly every school I looked at highlight how their sports programs build these skills.
However, entry into those programs isn’t based on skill, it’s based on your family’s ability to pay. The students who can’t afford the fees for team sports either chose
not to tryout or bear the embarrassment of qualifying for a team but not joining due to the huge fees. If these “soft” skills are required skills for a successful transition to the working world, why aren’t they available to all students, as part of the school budgets?
Interestingly, this year, due to COVID-19, schools are only playing in-house (intramural) sports. It will be intetersting to see what happens if this continues for a few years. If there is no difference in student outcomes, why are we spending precious education dollars on something of no benefit to the students?
If it shows a difference, then why are sport programs only available to better-off students?
I know that school staff try their best to ensure kids don’t fall through the cracks, but by the time students reach high school, students are very aware of how
Art helps heal hurt brains
It is estimated there are 1.5 million people in Canada who have a brain injury. According to Brain Injury Canada, a non-profit research, education and advocacy organization in Ottawa, every year another 160,000 people experience brain injury. There are more people impacted by traumatic brain injury (TBI) than the combined numbers of people diagnosed with breast cancer, spinal cord injury, Multiple Sclerosis and AIDS/HIV.
When I started attending classes at the Brain Injured Group (BIG), one of the first words I learned was neuroplasticity. The simplest definition of neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt to interactions within the environment. When brain injury occurs, neurons are damaged or destroyed. In this context, neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to heal. Healthy neurons can replace neurons that are no longer functional. New pathways are created. The human brain is truly incredible. Unlike a
BOGGLED DIANE NAKAMURA
computer that is built to certain specifications, a healthy human brain regularly upgrades the hardware and the software. There are a number of tools survivors can use to help with neuroplasticity. Some of these tools include adequate rest, a balanced diet, avoiding alcohol and drugs, regular exercise, reading, listening to music/playing a musical instrument and art. BIG received project funding last year to provide art classes to members such as painting and pottery. When COVID arrived, BIG made up art project kits for members to work on at home. Each kit came with all of the materials and instructions. We got to make stencilled greeting cards, decorative boxes, painted a flower pot and planted marigold seeds, painted rocks and two garden ornaments.
My experience engaging in these art projects was therapeutic in many ways. Like many of my peers, brain injury left me with the inability to accomplish many of the tasks I was able to do in the past. This in itself can lead to low self esteem and confidence, self loathing and many sad depressing days. Having these art projects was a huge ray of sunshine. I was proud and happy with myself to be able to create pretty pieces. It did strain my brain and I was exhausted afterwards. But it was definitely worth it.
I had taken various art classes prior to my injury. I enjoyed them, but not to the extent as I did with BIG’s art program. After completing each project I felt like my old self again, being able to experience success, creativity, joy and a sense of accomplishment. With the exception of writing these articles, I hadn’t experienced any of this in almost two years after being injured. I spoke with one of my friends who also took part in the art program. She told me the experience was greatly beneficial for her. Although it strained her brain as
Why America still matters to us
Ivy League philosopher Cornel West has said, “We are witnessing America as a failed social experiment.”
West is not alone in this assessment. Numerous scholars are expressing similar concerns, including University of British Columbia professor Wade Davis who recently published “The Unravelling of America” in Rolling Stone magazine. Are we really seeing the end of the American empire? If we are indeed heading that direction, is there anything we can do about it?
It is important to note that all through history empires have come and gone. The
LESSONS IN LEARNING
GERRY CHIDIAC
Age of Britannia has passed, though Great Britain remains a viable state.
History has been less kind to empires in Rome, Greece, France, Spain and many others.
We need to be concerned about the future of the United States for many reasons. It is Canada’s largest trading partner and remains the centre of the industrialized
much money their family has to spend on “extra” stuff. So they self-select. They choose not to take the class that requires the scientific calculator. They don’t “like” PE to avoid the fee. They won’t even bother with AP exams, because if you are smart enough to take them, you are also smart enough to know your family doesn’t have the money to pay for them.
Instead of celebrating grad with their class, they say: “Hah! Who wants to wear the stupid cap?”
We can challenge this systemic inequality. School sports, arts, graduation, and other programs can be deliveredin a more economical way or sponsorships sought. Team sports could be done cheaper by not going out of town or by seeking sponsorships for uniforms and travel, etc.
Where there is a will, there is a way. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it’s that things can be done differently.
well to complete the projects, the outcome was that she felt uplifted because she had accomplished something beautiful. She said “ I stepped back and thought I actually did that!” She also expressed how calming and peaceful it was to engage in art and how important it was to keep our brains as active as possible. Pre-COVID, attending painting and pottery classes at BIG gave her the opportunity to get out of the house and make new friends. Brain injury and isolation go hand in hand. Having the opportunity to engage in something fun with people who understand where you’re at is priceless.
The BIG art program is temporarily on hold, pending approval for further project funding. Fingers and toes crossed. As a social worker and counsellor for 33 years, I witnessed the therapeutic benefits of art with many of my clients. Now I have a lived experience and utmost appreciation and respect for art and healing. Physically and emotionally I felt significantly better. I wish there was core funding for the art program because it works.
world. If it did indeed fail, who would take its place?
Will we one day be pining for the good old days of the American empire?
In studying history, we notice that it is usually a combination of internal and external factors that cause an empire to decline.
One might think the consolidation of power in the hands of a few and the use of violence would strengthen a state, but the opposite is generally true, at least in the long run. It is the sharing of wealth and power that tends to bring the greatest stability.
Great Britain remains one of the oldest governments in the world because those
in control chose to share their authority. The Magna Carta remains one of the most renowned power-sharing documents in human history, and though they have faced their share of usurpations, the passing of power from the monarchy to the common person (at least ideally) was gradual and largely peaceful.
After the destruction caused by violence and force in the early part of the 20th century, the United Nations passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. This gave us something to strive for and these principles are now the foundation of every stable social democracy, including Canada.
— See TRUMP on page 17
Coping with COVID-19 a challenge
Many of us seniors have been holding our breath as our grandchildren return to school and the fall flu season begins. Hopefully all will remain calm, the children will be safe and the COVID-19 case numbers will stop going up.
Figuring out how going back to school will affect our social bubble with our grandchildren and the level of risk is currently the million-dollar question. We certainly don’t want the grandchildren to link going to school with not being able to see their grandparents.
Knowing that the children are going back to school and interacting with their teachers and other students every day suddenly sounds a bit scary as we try to reassess our bubble.
We have been in the middle of this pandemic for nearly seven months now and for me personally the time has gone
SENIORS’ SCENE
KATHY NADALIN
by quite quickly and I hope it did for you as well.
If you have had the pleasure of a garden this summer, you more than likely have been busy of late wrapping up the garden and getting ready for winter.
Autumn remains close to normal and is once again beautiful with warm sunny days, cool nights and colourful trees. We need to take stock and enjoy each and every day as it comes
In Prince George, we were robbed out of a nice summer however, we have been fortunate and we haven’t been hit by a killing frost – just yet – and we are nearly through the month of September. It makes you wonder what our winter is going to be
like. I anticipate brisk, cold and sunny days and more than likely lots of snow that will fall in the wrong place and someone will have to move it.
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and believe it or not we still have many things to be thankful for especially here in Canada. We don’t know – at this point in time - what our new normal is going to look like as we wait for a reliable vaccine to become available, a vaccine that will hopefully put an end to this pandemic and the daily loss of thousands of lives around the world and especially in North America. In the meantime, we need to keep our faith, stay calm and stay safe.
I don’t have a people story for you this week but here are the September birthdays and wedding anniversaries that I know about.
September birthdays: Christine Hinzmann, Alberto Sultano, Eva Werlberger, John Werlberger, Clarence Wigmore, Claude Bussieres, Roberta Barnes, Rae
McIntyre, Jeannette Rogers, Ernesteen McNeil, Colin Blair, Alan Thorp, Joellen Burgess, Velma Wortman, Karin Burke, Mike Bundock, Len Shankel, Jason Shankel, Ernie Myers, Vern Wright, Bill Palmer, Mike Padalec, May Campbell, Ray Lougheed, Anita Robertson, Bill MacIver, Roberta Johansen, Gerda Korolek, Marie Trew, Dee Neukomm, Linton Walker, Russell Padalec, Kelly Ashton, Betty Anne Brittons, Marcella Dunbar, Ken Royston, Brian Kelly, Diane Bock, Celestina Johnson, Esko Karlson, Benita Karlson, Larry Anderson, Dale Ziegler, Tony Mulder, Susan Fowler, Emilia Cote, Luana Jang, Marjorie Lee and Dick Byl.
Anniversaries: 65 years for George and Hilda Lippke, 65 years for Bob and Marvina Nikkel, 61 years for Arnold and Leona (Buchi) Nyberg, 55 years for Dave and Doreen Erickson, 54 years for Roland and Barbara Chartrand, 54 years for Wilfred and Rosel Vogt, 47 years for Denis and Shirley Dunkley and 44 years for Brian and Bev Kelly.
A poke up the nose and the wait
Got tested for COVID-19 last Thursday morning. Went home for lunch on Tuesday not feeling great but brushing it off as the smoke in the air, even though the far greater quantities during the wildfires of 2017 and 2018 only left me with the occasional sore throat and watery eyes.
By late afternoon Tuesday, however, I was lying in bed exhausted, with a fierce headache and feeling like I had been backed over by a semi.
Slept 10 hours that night after a hot bath and didn’t feel much better the next day but had a good appetite and no problem breathing. Worked from home for the morning and met with the other managers in the afternoon on a previously scheduled conference call. I was told to stay at home and not come back into the office until I had my brain jabbed by someone wearing a face shield and a medical gown.
It’s not actually a brain jab.
It’s more like waterboarding. Well, no, it’s not that, either.
It’s more like doing a handstand in a pool and the chlorinated water runs into the back of your nose and throat, bringing the pressure of the water and that uncomfortable, unwanted intrusion into your sinuses.
NIGHT SHIFT
NEIL GODBOUT
I’m hardly the first to be tested, of course. More than 460,000 British Columbians had already been tested at least once for COVID-19, with 7,800 positive cases, which works out to a positive rate of about 1.7 per cent.
We’re so much more sophisticated about the testing process here in Prince George. If you’ve been watching the national news and think you have to physically line up for hours outside or in your car (and then get turned away because testing is finished for the day), that’s not what happens here.
Your wait happens in the comfort of your own home.
After confirming I should be tested when I completed the online self-assessment (bc. thrive.health), I called the Northern Health Online Clinic and Info Line at 1-844-6457811 and was told there was a long wait ahead and calls were taken in order they were placed.
One hour and 45 minutes of listening to Cirque Du Soleil-style elevator music through the speaker of my cell phone while alternating between games of Wordscapes (1,574 levels completed since March!) and seeing what was happening on Twitter, a live person came on the line.
She asked me a series of questions –name, address, date of birth, personal health number, symptoms and so on – and then said I would get a call from someone the next day for an appointment.
That call came at 1020 Thursday for an 1120 appointment. I was told to go to the primary care clinic at Parkwood and wait in my vehicle until I received a call asking me to come to the door.
More Wordscapes, more Twitter and then at 1135, the call came.
I was led into an examining room where I was left alone for 10 seconds before the examiner with the gown and the face shield came in. After a conversation less than a minute long about what was about to happen and what it might feel like (some people’s eyes water, some people gasp, gag and/or choke, some even wave their arms around so just close your eyes and relax, I was told), the world’s longest Q-tip was pulled out of a sterile container.
I tilted my head straight back as far as it would go.
Before I really had time to process how weird and uncomfortable it felt, the sensation was gone.
Through watery eyes, I accepted an information sheet, the door opened and I left, having been inside less than three minutes.
When I got home, I signed up for the feature to be notified by text if my test was negative. If the phone rings, you’re positive.
The text arrived Sunday morning.
Just like wearing a mask at the store, the whole thing was a little uncomfortable but an easy precaution to take to protect myself, my family and my colleagues. So if you’ve got cold and/or flu like symptoms, do the right thing. Stay home, take the online assessment (or phone your family doctor) and, if necessary, make the call and get tested. Don’t self-diagnose and don’t put others at risk because you’re stubborn or can’t be bothered to take the time.
The chances of getting COVID-19 are hundreds of thousands of times better than winning big money with a lottery ticket so play the odds, just in case.
Trump is the result, not the cause
— from page 16
What is the lesson in this for the United States of America?
Throughout their history they have faced numerous threats and leaders have responded with wisdom to steady the ship of state.
In the 1930s, for example, the Great Depression caused tremendous unrest and the Franklin Roosevelt government initiated the New Deal. This gave rise to
a country that was able to outproduce any other, and thus contributed greatly to victory in the Second World War. The rise of corporatism in the United States since the Reagan era has resulted in almost unbelievable income disparity and a decline in standard of living for much of the population. Today, the US is far behind the social democracies of the world with regard to education and the health of its population.
Many blame Donald Trump for this current state of affairs but the truth is he is not the cause of the crumbling of the American state, he is the result.
Are we seeing the end of the American Empire?
West tells us that the choice in the 2020 presidential election is between disaster and catastrophe, and he may be right.
One can only hope that our neighbours to the south will recognize the dire condi-
tion of their nation and that their leaders will have the moral fortitude of Abraham Lincoln, as well as the wisdom of Franklin Roosevelt.
If America can prioritize the well-being of the common person and return to the ideals under which their nation was established, they will weather this storm and the world will be better because of their efforts.
May we send them our good wishes.
That’s science in that bowl of Cheerios!
One of my favorite breakfast cereals growing up was Cheerios. When General Mills brought out Honey Nut Cheerios, I thought breakfast couldn’t get any better than that. And on top of their nutritional value and crunchy sweetness, Cheerios are supposed to help lower cholesterol. What more could you want from breakfast?
Well, have you ever heard of the Cheerio Effect? It is an interesting physics phenomenon you can engage with every morning if you like.
We all know Cheerios are naturally buoyant. They are light and crunchy and filled with air pockets so they naturally float on the surface. If you place a single Cheerio in the middle of a bowl of milk, it will happily rest there until it becomes too waterlogged and sinks to the bottom.
But what happens if you place two Cheerio rings into a bowl of milk? If you haven’t ever tried this, feel free to go ahead. I’ll wait.
Two rings will attract each other. They somehow get pulled together. Indeed, add a few more rings and they will form a raft with a hexagonal structure. Too many rings in a breakfast bowl will result in some migrating to the edge of the liquid. But in a large flat dish, you can create interesting floating rafts of Cheerios. And when you are done, you can even eat your experiment! Not something I can say about every physics lab.
So what is happening? Is this something only Cheerio rings do? No. Paper clips, thumb tacks, plastic disks, and even dimes can be made to float on the surface of water with a little care. And they aggregate into floating rafts in much the same way Cheerios do. (Go ahead and try it. I’ll wait.)
Many of these objects, such as paper clips, are actually denser than water. They should sink but they don’t because of
It was the winter of 1987 and my start-up company Winewear Fashions had cash flow problems. In fact, not only could I not take wages, but I hadn’t been able to pay bills for several months without putting cash into the business. I took a job on the side selling books door to door in Vancouver to pay for my room and board and fuel costs. Owning the business made it appear as if I was successful, but the reality was somewhat different. Not only was I troubled that sales had stagnated, but I was severely burned out and was worried about how I was going to pay my shareholders back who had put up their money to invest in my vision of this fantastic product and company. It seemed that in that winter, time stood still and I doubted my ability to survive.
Time has stood still for me a number of times in my business career when I have been in the middle of intense struggle.
surface tension.
RELATIVITY
Water is a very unusual liquid. It is made up molecules containing two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen (hence, its chemical formula of H-2-O) arranged in a v-shape. In addition with the hydrogen atoms at the top of the ‘V’, there are two lone pairs of electrons dangling from the oxygen at the bottom of the molecule giving an overall tetrahedral shape.
Molecules of water join with one another through the interaction a hydrogen atom on one water molecule being attracted to a lone pair of electrons on another water molecule. This interaction is called a ‘hydrogen bond’ and it is one of the most truly marvelous interactions in all of nature. It isn’t as strong as the H-O bond inside a water molecule but the O-H --- O interaction is strong enough to keep water in a liquid state until 100 degrees Celsius. It also keeps water molecules on the surface of a bowl of water from escaping easily. Each surface water molecule is only hydrogen bonded on one side – the side pointing into the bulk of the water – and as a consequence, engages in a tight mesh with the other water molecules around it. The energy holding these molecules together on the surface is called surface tension and it means water molecules form a skin-like layer preventing other objects from sinking through. It is surface tension which keeps a paper clip afloat. The molecules of water don’t want to let go of the other water molecules around them to allow the paper clip to intrude.
This is part of the reason for the Cheerio effect. By clustering the rings on the sur-
When we go through tough times, what might have been weeks, months or maybe even years of trouble and turmoil seem to go on forever. Those times are burned into our memories as periods of penetrating pain and as we endure them, the days seem unending. Nights can almost be longer than the days with interrupted or broken sleep, tossing and turning with minds that don’t shut off.
Right now, business owners and leaders are being faced with incredible challenges that they have never been forced to deal with. In the past several months I have worked with business owners who are struggling with flat or declining sales, people problems including their worries
Individual Cheerios are drawn together in a bowl of milk in a scientific phenom
enon known as the Cheerio Effect.
face of the milk (which is mostly water), you cause less disruption to the surface and lower the energy of the system. The water molecules essentially kick the Cheerios out of the way. But it is not the only reason for the Cheerio Effect. Gravity also comes into play.
Each Cheerio ring generates a dimple on the surface – a little well in which it floats. Approaching Cheerios fall to the bottom of each other’s well due to gravity. And a recent study has shown each ring actually tips producing a deeper well and enhancing the effect. This was observed by using Cheerio-sized plastic disks with magnets on them and then trying to separate the
disks. By slowly applying a magnetic field, physicists were able to measure the forces involved demonstrating there is more than just surface tension involved. While this is something to contemplate over a bowl of breakfast cereal, is there a point to studying these interaction? Yes. Scientists and engineers are building nano-scale objects and robots for a wide variety of purposes and the forces involved in surface tension have a profound effect on their behaviour. At the other extreme, Cheerios floating in milk have been used as a model by astrophysicists to understand the formation of galaxies.
All from a bowl of breakfast cereal.
about laying off employees and in some cases not being able to find people who want to work. Some leaders are feeling overwhelmed because they don’t have any plans to deal with their challenges while others must delay their plans to exit their businesses. Add the challenges of remote work, accountability issues, and cash flow issues and it is not surprising that many business leaders feel that time is standing still.
In times like this we need to remember we cannot do it alone. We need to engage our teams, ask for help from our families and put trust in our faith. Hopefully, things will improve but some organizations will not make it and if yours is one of those, you need to realize that the failure of your business does not mean you have failed as a person. This can be hard to grasp for leaders who have put their heart and soul into all that they do.
When our businesses don’t work, due to an unpredictable economy, we need to work and think differently. Stepping out of
the weeds of the business can be difficult, yet unless we change our perspective, we are going to continue to work in the same way and get the same results. We have to put serious energy into looking at what is working for us and what is not and make a decision to adjust our strategies. Some of those strategies might include options that we have never considered before.
When we are in the middle of what we were wishing for, but it is not as we dreamed it would be, the mental anguish can be intense.
We need to remember that time isn’t standing still and we will get through this, just as we have with challenges in the past. The outcome might not be exactly as we hoped but, in some cases, different might even be better.
Don’t give up hope.
- Dave Fuller, MBA, is an award-winning business coach who has faced adversity and has written a book called Profit Yourself Healthy. Time standing still for you? Email dave@pivotleader.com
COVID PAUSES SCHOOL SPORTS
TED CLARKE Citizen staff
High school athletes hoping to get back to playing their favourite fall sports have been hamstrung by the pandemic, resulting in the cancellation of all inter-school competitions.
Some intramural play in soccer and volleyball is happening or about to get underway in Prince George schools but even that has been limited by B.C. School Sports, which is operating under Stage 2 protocols (the second-most restrictive), as ordered by the provincial health authority.
For Todd Kuc, the senior boys volleyball coach at Kelly Road/Shas Ti Secondary School, there’s no way he can get his team together in the shiny hardcourt gymnasium of his newly-opened school.
“Schools don’t play schools right now, and even in your school you can only go with your learning cohorts to practice,” said Kuc. “Right now we have three learning cohorts in Grade 11 and 12 (about 90 students in each) and they are practicing together, guys and girls, in three separate groups.”
Athletes are allowed to play sports together without the use of masks but only within their own cohorts. Students remain segregated throughout the school day in their own learning cohorts and can associate with other students and teachers
without masks while keeping one metre apart from each other. If a student or teacher from another cohort comes into the classroom or whenever students are moving in hallways or through common areas, masks are required.
Kuc said if schools were under the same rules as sports clubs, as long as there’s no
more than 50 people in one gathering, they would be allowed to play with each other. But the rules state different cohorts must remain two metres apart, which would be impossible to maintain in a team sport. He said student athletes could get around the rule that bans mixing of cohorts if they wore masks during their
Kings prepare for preseason
Citizen staff
Although the start of the B.C. Hockey League season has been delayed until December, teams are already getting ready to tackle an extended exhibition schedule.
That begins next weekend for the BCHL’s four Okanagan-based teams.
The Prince George Spruce Kings start Oct. 10 in Merritt, the first of two meetings between the teams next month in the Nicola Valley.
They also meet Oct. 23 in Merritt.
The Centennials will travel north to face the Spruce Kings on Sunday, Oct. 25 and again on Saturday, Nov. 7. Those games will be played without fans present at Kin 1, with the Spruce Kings home arena, Rolling Mix Concrete Arena, still shuttered due to the pandemic.
The Spruce Kings are the only BCHL team whose home arena is still closed.
To reduce costs, the Kings will have single-game roadtrips and won’t be staying overnight until their November trip to the Kootenays. They’ll stay two nights that weekend in Cranbrook to face the expansion Bucks, Nov. 13-14, then visit Trail on Nov. 15. The Kings also play Nov. 21 in Merritt.
The Spruce Kings players report for office fitness tests on Monday, Sept. 28. The league has imposed a limit of 30 players each for training camps and the Kings have decided to open its extended training camp for just their 25 rostered players. Ice sessions will begin at the Kin Centre on Thursday, Oct. 1.
“Some teams had the option to start Sept. 8 but we’re running some development camps for minor hockey kids (after school and on weekends) with our coaches running them and we chose do that for the
month of September instead of starting early,” said Spruce Kings general manager Mike Hawes.
All exhibition games in the 18-team league will be played without fans. That starts next Friday with Penticton traveling to Salmon Arm and Vernon at West Kelowna. Cohorts of no more than four teams will continue to play each other throughout the exhibition season.
“We believe it’s important to have our players playing meaningful games during this extended period before the start of our regular season, in order to stay engaged and game-ready leading into December,” said BCHL executive director Steven Cocker. “Our teams are working within the guidelines to provide our players with a high level of development on and off the ice.”
The league announced a month ago it
activities. But until rules change and BCSS moves to Stage 3 of its return-to-play plan school sports will remain at a virtual standstill.
Some schools are beginning cross country running practices, which take place outdoors where physical distancing is easily maintained, but no competitions will be happening this fall.
While some of the bigger high schools have as many as 120 students, Kelly Road/ Shas Ti cohorts for Grades 8, 9 and 10 have just 30 students, and that makes it even more difficult to find enough athletes within one of those cohorts for after-school volleyball practices.
The Prince George high school football league has been canceled.
Athletes in contact sports such as football and rugby are allowed to practice within their own cohorts, but football line play is not allowed and scrums in rugby are also forbidden.
School coaches and phys ed teachers are trying to think up creative ways to get their student-athletes involved in organized activities that won’t flout the provincial guidelines.
PGSS athletic director Jasen Florell said he’s about to unveil a volleyball intramural program this week and hopes there will be enough interest in the school to form at least two teams for each gender.
will go ahead with a reduced schedule for its 2020-21 season, beginning the first week of December. The BCHL had asked the provincial health office to approve a plan to have league games played in front of 25 per cent arena capacities but that’s highly unlikely, as least until the province moves to Phase 4 of its reopening plan. The loss of ticket revenue has forced teams to charge monthly player fees, which will begin with the start of training camps.
“We’re working diligently to try to get government funding and also every team is working to get sponsorships and if we can generate revenue we should be able to lower those fees to the parents as we go along,” said Hawes. “If Viasport gets to Phase 4 and they allow some fans in the buildings we can generate revenue through ticket sales and that will eliminate or heavily reduce the player fees.”
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO
PGSS Polars player Nina Gajic attempts to put to shot on net against the North Peace Grizzlies at Kelly Road Secondary during the Kelly Road Sr. Girls Invitational basketball tournament in January.
CL ASSIF IEDS
Fondly Remembering ROBERT ZENON FEDORKIW
July 8, 1947 September 16, 2012
~Forever in our hearts~ RYLL, ERIC / CAROLYN
In Loving Memory
1x35.0
R0011833062 of our Son & Brother Shayne Edward George Ryll
Dec. 2/64 - Sept. 28/87
Forever in our hearts
Dad, Carolyn and Gina R0011833062
HEATHER CHAFE (Nee Whyte)
It’s been 3 years. You were a lovely lady, Heather Sadly missed ~The Family~
Lela Marvis Harvey passed away peacefully on September 6, 2020 at the age of 89.
Lela is survived by her daughter Darlene Koehmstedt, son Ron (Janice) Akerley, stepdaughter Sue (Elmer) Gunderson, stepsons Doug (Janet) Harvey, Glen (Rose) Harvey, eleven grandchildren: Dale, TaraLea, Chelsea, Mathew, Jordan, Devin, Tara, Landon, Amanda, Jessie and Greg; five great grandchildren; Kaylib, Shaden, Keira, Ryder and Olivia, one sister Donna Seward.
The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers of Parkside care home for their kindness, caring and compassion over the past 4 years.
David Allan Ross
It is with great sadness that the family of David Allan Ross advise of his sudden, unexpected death on 13 September at the Rotary House Hospice. Dave had been managing to live well with the recurrence of his lung cancer until this sudden deterioration in his health. He leaves his beloved family, many friends and acquaintances who will miss him greatly.
Dave always mentioned the importance of having had two careers that he took immense joy and satisfaction from, his career in radio broadcasting and then his gardening career. Through the years he made many special friends in those jobs. His great delight in talking with and interacting with them will be well remembered.
Dave also recently had the opportunity to reconnect with old high school friends and he cherished the time and memories that he shared with them over the last year.
Dave wanted to specifically thank his doctor of many years, Dr G. Fraser and his staff whom he held in the highest regard and the staff and doctors of the B.C Cancer Centre for the North for their expertise, kindness, empathy and concern for his health and well-being.
The doctor and staff at Rotary House Hospice were excellent in their care and support for Dave on his last day.
To Laurie, thank you for being such a special friend and support to Dave and for staying with him to the end.
There will be no funeral service at this time but friends are invited to participate in a celebration of his life in their own way or to make donations to the Hospice or the Cancer Agency if they so choose.
We will miss him forever. Rest in peace.
REMEMBRANCES
Feb 22 , 1933Sept 4, 2020
It is with great sadness that we share with you the passing of our father and grandfather Robert E. White known as ‘Bob’ at the age of 87. Bob was a proud member of the Legion for 65 years. His memory for detail and his life’s events were as incredible as the stories he shared . Bob was survived by daughter Colleen (Shane) sons Terry (Sherrie) , Kevin , grandsons Corbin (Kurumi), Joel (Olivia), great-grandchildren Ellie and Weston, sister Eleanor (Joe), numerous nieces and nephews.
Bob was pre-deceased by his wife Audrey . Prince George was his home for several years and where family memories and numerous friendships were formed .
We would like to thank Dr. Dodo and the palliative care unit at the Nanaimo hospital for their care and compassion . A special thank you to our cousin Wendy for her support and the ‘White’ family recipes he enjoyed. No service by request
May the Sunshine of Comfort
Dispel the Clouds of despair
April 29, 1941September 9, 2020
Marshall was born in Mundar, Alberta and passed away in Prince George, British Columbia.
Marshall leaves behind his loving wife Angela, step-son Michael, furry companions Sadie, Max and Cyrus, sisters Sylvia, Bonnie (Dorian), sisterin-law Shirley (Klaus), brother-in-law Joe (Jenn), nieces and nephews Susan, Jamie, Robert, Laura, Richard, Eric and Renata as well as many friends he has met along this journey.
Special thank you to Father Gilbert.
No service by request.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the SPCA in Marshall’s name would be appreciated.
“Rest in peace until we meet again”.
Condolences may be offered at www.AssmansFuneralChapel.com
Lela Marvis Harvey
Robert E. White (Bob)
Marshall E. Sharun
Robert Osborne Anderson
January 28, 1920September 8, 2020
Robert Anderson passed away in Prince George on September 8, 2020. Robert was born in Prince George on January 28, 1920. He has been retired for a number of years after a career in various businesses in Vanderhoof, Squamish and Mackenzie, BC. Robert served in the RCAF in the Second World War and that formed the background for his love of flying. After the war, he became a game warden based in Vanderhoof. Robert was a long term member of the Masonic Lodge. In addition her served as a school trustee in Vanderhoof and was a member of the Rotary Club. Robert in his younger years was an avid hockey player and later curling. He coached minor hockey league.
Robert is survived by his daughter Marilyn LeFevre and son James Anderson, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Robert is predeceased by his wife Dorothy (Hewlett), their son Barry, sister Dorothy Lamb and brother James.
SEUMAS EDWARD BISSETT
Oct 4, 1998Sep 9, 2020
October 4, 1998 at 12:04 a.m.
Seumas entered the world full of wonder. Tragically he lost his life September 9, 2020 to an as yet unknown cause that occurred September 2, 2020. A gentle, shy young man with a blustery exterior he was always on the side of the under-dog. The smile in his eyes could light up a room and it was often said his heart was bigger than his body. Seumas possessed a whirlwind of talents, emotions, opinions, diverse hobbies, and an intense love of learning. You always knew where you stood with him, he was never afraid to tell you what he thought, but he was always ready to forgive with his whole heart. We are reminiscing already about his burly bear hugs and how he could make us laugh until we cried. Although he is asleep in death right now I know with all my heart there is a time coming soon when our Creator Jehovah “will wipe out every tear from their (our) eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4
Seumas is survived by the love of his life Dureeka whom he loved fully in the short time they shared; as well as Dureeka’s mom Chris and her husband DeWayne and grandmother Heather. Along with Seumas’ mom Allison, his step-father Marc, his older brother Sandy (Shylah), and his younger sister Addi. Also his maternal grandparents Bernie & Lil, aunt Beth (uncle Noel), cousin Dawson, uncle Corey (aunt Kristina), uncle Dustin (aunt Sherry-Ann) cousins Vaugh and Ivan and his uncle Glen and aunt Karen. Additionally survived by his older step-brothers; Patrick and Eric (Emily) and cousins, Oskar, Geir and Nora; as well as his grand-maman Natalie, aunts; Joanne, Denise, Sonia (uncle Clarke), and uncle Yves. He is also survived by his father Stuart and paternal grand-mother Shirley, his paternal great aunt Norma and sons Brandon, Todd and Ryan, his paternal aunt Michelle and cousins; Ethan and Brodie and their families.
REMEMBRANCES
Obituaries
Ann Dekker
After a full and life well lived we are saddened to announce the passing of our Mom, Oma, Great Oma, Ann Dekker at the age of 94 on September 09, 2020. She was predeceased by our Dad, John Dekker.
Mom was born in Amsterdam and immigrated to Canada after the war and settled with her family in Prince George in 1961. Mom was always active and the family took up skiing and mom eventually became a proud part owner of Northern Ski and Outdoor Equipment. She spent many happy years working there.
Mom was a real people person, kind, generous, strong and had a terrific sense of humour.
She will be missed by many, but especially “the coffee ladies” who met daily for decades and provided endless fun and support. Heartfelt thank you to all of those ladies.
She is survived by Cindy, Jan and Ernie, grandchildren: Jeremy, Jenna and Ryan, Tara and Colin, Lisa, and one great granddaughter who bears her middle names - Emma Maria. She is also survived by one brother in Holland and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mom was a long time member of the Elder Citizens Recreation Association ( ECRA) and any donations in her memory will be gratefully accepted at 1692 10 th Avenue Prince George BC, V2L 3S4.
BRION JAMES LEWIS FRIESEN (C.S.)
February 12, 1983September 16, 2020
Brion passed away suddenly at University Hospital of Northern BC on September 16th 2020. Brion was a loving husband to Miranda Woolley of Prince George, a loving father to Kayleb Friesen of Grand Prairie Alberta and step son Evan Woolley of Prince George.
Brion joins his mother Glenda Jean Friesen (Chatham, Ontario), grandfather Melvin James Friesen (St. Catharine’s, Ontario), grandfather Glen Leeson (Little Current, Ontario) in heaven.
He is survived by his father Douglas Friesen (Chatham, Ontario), sister Sarah Friesen (London, Ontario) and foster sister Lee Ann Boland (Brantford, Ontario).
Brion was loved and will be sadly missed by his grandmother Madeline Friesen (St. Catharine’s, Ontario), grandmother Edna Leeson (Little Current Ontario), father and mother in law Randy and Pam Woolley (Prince George). Heartbroken at the loss of Brion are many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Brion loved the importance of family and spending time in the outdoors. He gained the distinction of Chief Scout from the Governor General of Canada. Brion was a dedicated and a valued employee with Excel Transport of Prince George. He will be missed but never forgotten. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society or charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Special thanks to the Paramedics of B.C., Ambulance, Fire Rescue, the emergency staff of UHNBC and Dr. Ian Schokking for their valiant efforts.
Joyce Walper
August 8, 1930September 15, 2020
We are very sad to announce the passing of our Mom and Nanny. She was very blessed to have 90 years of special memories to carry with her. Family was everything.
She is survived by son Norman (Kathy), daughters Bev, Diane (Tony), Nancy (Gord), Gladys (Mike), 11 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, sister in laws Joyce Phipps, Betty (Stewart) Hanson, numerous nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by husband of 54 years Leonard, son in law Bob, her parents, brothers Art (Mary), Frank (Kathy), Eric and in laws Lil (Milt), Norma (Ross) and Bill (Audrey).
Mom (Joyce) was born in Saskatoon and lived in rural Saskatchewan for 39 years. We moved to Prince George In 1969. She became Nanny to many as her family grew with grandchildren, great grandchildren, her childcare families and many special friends.
We would like to thank YMCA Recreation and Simon Fraser Lodge, her home for the last few years. Hospice you were wonderful. Donations to Hospice in her name would be welcomed. There will be a private Family Service.
Jesus loves me this I know.
LANA KROTENKO
2x69.0
PGC002060
Krotenko,Elizabeth September9,2020
ElizabethKrotenko(neeDeszcz)passedawayon September9,2020,attheageof87.Elsiewas predeceasedbyherparents,FrankandMaryDeszcz; brother,MaxDeszcz(Mary);sister,LorriBenson(Carl); andhusband,Jim.Sheleavesbehindherson,Blair (Veronika);daughter,Lana;grandchildren,Vanessa(Matt Baum)andMiranda(StevenKoch);andfourgreatgrandchildren. ElsiewasborninPrinceGeorgein1933andraisedin Penny,BC.ShemovedbacktoPrinceGeorgetoattend highschoolandmarriedJimKrotenkoin1961.Elsie enjoyedcompetingwithherfive-pinbowlingleagueand watchingtheCanucks,BlueJays&curlingontv,butwas mosthappyjustrelaxingathomewithhercrossword puzzles.SheworkedintheofficeatLakelandMillsfor over20years,whereshemadeseverallifelongfriends. ElsieandJimenjoyedtheirretirementyearstravellingin theRVacrossCanadaandtheUS.AfterJim’spassingin 2016,shemovedtoNorthVancouvertobeclosertoher daughterLana.Shewillbemissedbyherfriendsand family.
CremationtotakeplaceinNorthVancouver,herashes willbeinternedintheMemorialParkMausoleumin PrinceGeorgeatalaterdate.Inlieuofflowers,donations totheBCCancerFoundationorBCSPCAareappreciated.
Celebrate the lives of loved ones with your stories, photographs and tributes
Terrence (Terry) Dale Hall
July 14, 1940September 12, 2020
It is with great sadness that the family of Terry Hall announces his passing after a long battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis on Saturday, September 12, 2020. Terry died with his loving wife and life partner, Andrea, by his side.
He will be dearly missed by his sons, Matthew Hall (Dustie), Jason Hall (Nadine), Adam Hall and John Barker (Jenine) who Terry considered a part of the family.
He will also be forever missed by his six grandchildren, Adam Bock (Jennifer), Lacey Cleave (Clayton), Justin Hall, Gwendolyn Hall, Coleton Hall, and Katelynn Hall and his great grandchildren, Zack and Ryan Bock, Vance and Casey Cleave and Jordyn and Jacob Hall. Terry taught them all that the greatest place on earth was out at Grandpa’s Lake (McLeod Lake).
Terry was born in Kenora, Ontario to his parents Lila Edwards and Bill Hall who have predeceased him. Terry was also predeceased by his first wife Gwendolyn Hall in 1975.
Terry is survived by his brothers, Bud Hall (Carole), Gary Hall and sisters, Shelley Dufault and Sharleen Morton. He will be remembered by his nieces, Jana-Rae and Melanie and nephew Jaime and his many friends and relatives in Ontario, PEI and British Columbia.
Terry travelled from Ontario to BC in the summer of 1966 where he started working for Canfor Pulp and Paper and then for Peter and Eileen Heinze at Chieftain Autoparts. He also pursued his own businesses - Hall’s Hot Dog Wagon, Select Food Service Office Coffee Supplier.
He then found his “dream” job when he opened Whiskers Bay at McLeod Lake. It needed a lot of work but he loved being up at the lake and running the campground and the café and at the end of the day sitting around a campfire meeting people and playing music.
We will miss Terry forever but are lucky to have the wonderful memories of him playing and singing country music and performing his original songs with his friends. He really enjoyed playing Santa at Wayne and Ulla’s house at Christmassome years he needed a pillow but other years he found he didn’t need a pillow enhancement. He loved going to the meat draws at the Legion especially seeing the look on Ulla’s face if he could win even one more draw than her.
Terry would say he had a happy life. He loved fishing and hunting with his sons and his friends, boating on McLeod Lake, spending time with his dogs, first with Drifter, then with Hershey. He loved sitting on his deck at Whiskers Bay either alone or with Andrea or friends and taking in the beautiful McLeod Lake sunsets.
He considered himself a lucky man to be able to enjoy these simple pleasures of life.
Terry was very appreciative of the care and support he received through his long illness from Dr. Lauri McCoy and Dr. Sharla Olson as well as the Nurses and Home Care Workers.
Thank you for everything.
Selby Gordon Ebert
1941 - 2020
With great sadness and a heavy heart, I announce that Dad passed away peacefully.
He will be forever missed by his daughter Debs (Tim), son in-law Calvin, grandchildren Mike (Antony) of Calgary, Jayme of Prince George, Will (Aria) of Nanaimo and many dear friends. Dad completed his 4-year apprenticeship with Finning Tractor & Equipment Company Limited in 1966. He achieved his credentials and certification for Heavy Duty Mechanic. He worked for Finning from 1962 through 1999.
I remember we lived in Mackenzie, BC from 1966 to the summer of 1969 when we moved back to Prince George. Dad belonged to the Finning Employees Association, helped organize and attended many events. He belonged to the Elks Club in Prince George and will be remembered by many for selling tickets. He eventually moved to Nanaimo in 1987 and from there worked many other places.
Dad retired from Finning and started his own company in 1999 and continued to work for many years.
He has been a long-time member of the Finning Retirees Association. He volunteered for many years at the Nanaimo Seniors Village. Dad loved helping people, travelling, equipment shows, car shows, snowmobiling, wine tours and tasting, good food and good friends.
There will be no formal service. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to The Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Memories and Condolences can be shared with the family at www.firstmemorialnanaimo.com.
VICTORIA ARMSTRONG 2x91.8 PGC002062
ARMSTRONG,BeverlyAnn April1,1938-September8,2020
ARMSTRONG,BeverlyAnnbornApril1,1938,in McLennan,AlbertapassedawaypeacefullyonSeptember 8,2020,inPrinceRupert,BritishColumbia. Beverlywaspredeceasedbyherhusband,Ken;mother, Emily;step-father,Arne;father,Clive;son,Tim;daughter, Barb;son-in-law,Mike;andgrandson,Tom.Sheis survivedbyherbrothers,KeithandStan(Bonnie);son, Ken(Vicki);daughter-in-law,Cecilia;aswellaseight grandchildren,and11great-grandchildren.
BeverlymarriedKennethThomasArmstronginDawson Creekin1955,andsoonaftertheystartedtheirfamily.In 1964,theymovedtoPrinceGeorge,wheretheyboughta pieceofpropertyandbuilttheirfamilyhome.In1990, theymovedtoGibsons,wheretheylivedforacoupleof yearsandeventuallymovedbacktoPrinceGeorge.After herhusband’sdeathin2000,BeverlymovedtoSmithers tobeclosertoherdaughter.Shelivedthereforafew yearsandthenduetomedicalissues,shemovedto PrinceRupertwherehertwosonsandtheirfamilieslive. Forthelast11years,shehasbeenaresidentatthe AcropolisManor.
Beverlywillbesadlymissedandlovedbyallherfamily andfriends.
Thefamilywouldliketothankthedoctors,nurses,and care-workersattheAcropolisManorforallyourkindness andcaring.Thefamilywouldalsoliketothankthe FergusonFuneralHomeinPrinceRupertandAssman’s FuneralChapelinPrinceGeorgefortheirhelpinmaking thenecessaryarrangements.
AgravesideservicewasheldonSeptember21,2020,at theMemorialParkCemeteryinPrinceGeorge.Inlieuof flowers,donationsmaybemadetotheAlzheimerSociety ofBC(www.alzheimer.ca;1-800-667-3742).Dueto Covid-19,acelebrationoflifewillbeheldatalaterdate.
Legal Notice
In the Matter of the Repairer’s Lien Act, Premium Truck & Trailer Inc. 1015 Great Street, Prince George, BC V2N 2K8 claims a Repairer’s Lien Act against the following person for work done and materials supplied in the repair of a 2012 Freightliner Truck Tractor, VIN # 1FURGNDR0CDBN3124 registered to Blize & Son Trucking Ltd. of Quesnel, BC. If the repairs of $34847.19 are not paid in full on or before the date stated the vehicle will be sold by private sale at 1015 Great Street, Prince George, BC. Date of Sale 5:00 pm – October 12, 2020.
Apply now: fish and wildlife grants available
We are now accepting grant applications and are encouraging proposed projects for our North Columbia sub-region, which is bordered by Revelstoke, Golden, and Valemount.
• Projects must align with our Columbia Region action plans.
• Read our grant info kit and FAQs.
• Join our online grant info session: Thursday, October 1, 2020, 1 p.m.–2:30 p.m. PDT. RSVP to fwcp@bchydro.com.
• Grant applications are due by 5 p.m. PDT on Friday, October 30, 2020.
Let’s talk
Contact our Columbia Region manager, Crystal Klym, at crystal.klym@bchydro.com or 250-365-4591 to discuss your project idea and grant application.
fwcp.ca/apply-for-funding/
FOUR RIVERS CO-OPERATIVE
2x105.0 R0011834272
Fo ur Rivers Co-o pe rative
Notice of the 75th Annual General Meeting
Monday, October 19, 2020 Virtual (online) Meeting: 7:00pm
Register by contacting our administration office by Monday, October 12, 2020 at: Tel: (250) 567-4414 or TF: (877) 567-4414 or email agm@vhfcoop.com
To Consider:
Review 2019 Financial Statements
Directors’ Reports
Management Reports
R0011833710 The Fish & Wildlife Compensation Program is a partnership between
Hydro, the Province of B.C., Fisheries and Oceans Canada, First Nations, and public stakeholders to conserve and enhance fish and wildlife in watersheds impacted by BC Hydro dams.
Pursuant to Section 645 of the Local Government Act, the following properties, land and improvements, will be offered for sale by public auction to be held at the Council Chambers, District of Mackenzie, 1 Mackenzie Blvd., Mackenzie, B.C. on Monday, September 28, 2020 at 10:00 a.m., unless the delinquent taxes and applicable interest are paid in full.
18473, DL
The minimum bid is the upset price, that is, the current taxes and penalties, arrears and delinquent taxes and interest, 5% tax sale costs and Land Title Office transfer fees. Any person upon being declared the successful bidder must provide their name and address and immediately pay by cash, debit, or certified cheque the amount of the successful bid amount. Failure to pay this amount will result in the property being offered for sale again.
The District of Mackenzie makes no representation express or implied as to the condition or quality of the properties being offered for sale. Prospective purchasers are urged to make all necessary inquiries to applicable government departments and in the case of strata lots to the strata corporation, to determine the existence of any bylaws, restrictions, charges or other conditions which may affect the value or suitability of the properties.
The purchase of a tax sale property that is not redeemed is subject to tax under the Property Transfer Act on the fair market value of the property at the end of the one-year redemption period. Kerri
Election of Directors: Vanderhoof/Burns Lake/Prince George 2 three-year terms 1 two-year term Terrace
1 three-year term
Special Resolutions regarding the following: Four Rivers Co-operative support of the Co-operative Retailing System Registered head office of Four Rivers Co-operative
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
Interested in letting your name stand for the Board of Directors of Four Rivers Co-operative? Directors participate jointly, with a total of nine Directors in planning and controlling the affairs of the co -operative, guided by Co-operative Bylaws and Policies, so that it effectively moves toward achieving the objectives of the Co-operative. Nomination packages can be picked up at the Admin Office, Prince George, Quesnel Agro/C -Store, Houston or Terrace Branches. Nomination forms must be received by the administration office no later than 5:30pm on October 5, 2020 as per rule 79 (2) of the Four Rivers Co-operative rules.
is
Are you ready to return to work? Get ahead of the competition: We can help!
NAK’AZDLI WHUT’EN JOB POSTING
Bus Driver Bussing Coordinator
We are seeking an experienced and responsible individual to provide bussing coordination and bus driving. The Bus Driver Bussing Coordinator shall also book maintenance and repairs, provide training to other drivers on routes and process, track required maintenance, and insurance renewal dates. The Bus Driver Bussing Coordinator shall work with the DOT to ensure maintenance needs are met.
Duties & Responsibilities:
• Performing pre/post- trip vehicle inspections to ensure optimal vehicle safety.
• Transport students to/ from school and activities on time.
• Coordinate the bussing routes and schedules of other bus drivers.
• Provide training to other drivers on routes and process.
• Monitor two-way radio and cell phone communications.
• Maintain an accurate record log book detailing passengers name, time of departure, destination, time of arrival and time of return.
• Verify the maintenance of the bus including cleanliness, check-ups, oil checks and gas refills and to report any operating difficulties that may arise.
• Book maintenance and repairs, track required maintenance, and insurance renewal dates.
• Follow all traffic laws and posted speed limits.
• Be an advocate for health and safety, ensuring a clean and safe working environment.
• Conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections in accordance with BC Motor Vehicle Act, BC Air Brake Manual, National Safety Code and BC Professionals Drivers Manual.
• Maintain a professional and polite demeanor with passengers at all times.
• Undertake other duties as may be requested.
Preferred Qualifications:
• Completion of Grade 12 plus 3 years related driving experience.
• Possess a Current First Aid Certificate or equivalent
• Successfully pass all pertinent vision and health requirements required by ICBC
• Provide a clear Driver Abstract for the last 5 years
• Provide a clear Criminal Record and Vulnerable Sectors Check
• Possess a valid BC Class 1 Drivers license with air brake endorsement.
Interested applicants may send their cover letter and resume to the above address or email to: executiveassistant@nakazdli.ca
Closing Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2020 @ 4:00 pm
Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted
In accordance with the Nak’azdli Whut’en Preferential Hiring Policy and pursuant to Section 16 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, preference will be given to persons of Aboriginal Ancestry. Candidates of Aboriginal Ancestry who wish to qualify for preferential consideration must self-identify.
we’re HIrING
If you are interested in helping businesses grow and enjoy talking to customers, we’d like to meet you!
Multi-Media Marketing Executive
Key duTies and responsibiliTies
• Communicating with clients to understand their needs and explain product value.
• Building relationships with clients, based on trust and respect.
• Collaborating with internal departments to facilitate client need fulfillment.
• Maintaining updated knowledge of company products and services.
• Resolving complaints and preventing additional issues by improving processes.
• Identifying industry trends.
• Acting as a client advocate with a focus on improving the buyer experience.
• Ability to clearly articulate the benefits of print and digital marketing strategies.
• Successfully deliver compelling presentations.
• Ability to secure and grow business.
• Contribute to the success and growth of the sales team.
• Understand and keep current on best practices as it relates to digital marketing and advertising.
• Understand the current and competitive landscape and be able to appropriately position our services relative to competitors.
• Achieve monthly, quarterly and annual targets.
educaTion, QualificaTions and sKills
• Outstanding relationship building.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication.
• Adaptability and strong problem solving.
• Ability to build rapport and collaborate with clients and others within the company
• Understanding of consumer behaviors and industry trends.
• Extensive, accurate product knowledge
• Effective time management.
• Detail oriented and ability to multi-task.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Diplomacy; effective listening and public speaking skills.
• Personable, understanding, objective, fair and honest.
• A background in print advertising, website development, SEO, SEM, social media, video and/or brand identity, Google AdWords, analytics certification would be an asset.
• Bachelor’s degree in sales, communications, or related field would be an asset.
Please forward your interest to njohnson@pgcitizen.ca
Nancy Johnson, Director of Advertising by 5pm on September 25th
No calls please, only those shortlisted will be contacted
Apartments / Condos-For
Is your ROOF “top of mind”?
by
Themost overlooked yet one of the most important features of your home,your biggest investment, is theroof.This multi-partinstalment of ASK MJ offers you tips to consider as youmaintainyourroof.Even though your asphlat roof is gauranteedfor 15 years it is recommendedthathomeowners inspectthe roof twice a year.Whether by physically getting on theroof or by adrone, these inspectionscan spot something beforeitbecomesanordeal.
TopRoofingTips to Remember
Ensurethe roof is builttobreathe.Without proper ventilation, heat and moisture can cause sheathing and rafting to rot, roof materialstobuckle and insulation to lose effectiveness. This will causeyour overall roofingsystem to be ineffective.
Include insulation. Thebest way to achieve appropriate ventilation and good airflow is through proper insulation. To protect ahousefromheatgain or loss, it’s ideal to include agap-free layer of insulation on theattic floor and avapor retarder under the insulation next to the ceiling to stop moisturefromrising into the attic. Having open, vented spacesthatallowair to pass freely with at least one inch between the insulation androof sheathing is alsoideal
Check for attic aftermath. In additiontohaving awell insulated attic, it’s agood ideatocheck for water stains and weak shingles after aheavy storm.
Safeguardagainst streaking. Makesuretopay close attention to the color of your roof. Roof areas, generally the northernpart, exposed to shade during long periods of time in humidity will eventually become streakedwith mold, algae or even fungus. And if left unchecked, will eventually deterioratethe roofing material shortening the life of the roof, which could lead to leaksand other signs of trouble.
(MJ)
Donna
How to brighten up your basement
Basements, by nature, tend to be dark. A window might let in a bit of natural light, but there are many other ways to make your basement brighter. Here are a few.
COLOURS
Light colours are your greatest allies when it comes to brightening a space. Opt for shades of white, beige or pale grey, and paint the whole room the same colour (ceiling, walls, doors and frames). This will make the area look bigger, and therefore, brighter. Use pale flooring to further enhance the illusion of space.
MATERIALS
Furniture with a shiny finish, such as leather sofas or plastic chairs, reflects light and diffuses it throughout the room. Transparent materials like glass and plexiglass can have the same effect. You could also add a layer of epoxy-based varnish to your floor to make it ultra-lustrous and give your basement extra sparkle.
ACCESSORIES
If you’re looking to increase your basement’s brightness, adding light sources is a surefire solution. Use multiple embedded and hanging lights to eliminate as many dark spots as possible. This will help you create a warm and inviting environment. Finally, reflective accessories (mirrors, chrome decorations, etc.) are the perfect way to complete a well-lit room.
Sensible advice for setting up your wine cellar
Are you a wine lover? Do you want to create a space in which to store your favourite bottles? Before getting started, you should know that many elements must be considered in order to preserve your best vintages. Here are five recommendations for setting up the perfect wine cellar.
1. MAINTAIN AN OPTIMAL TEMPERATURE
Your wine cellar shouldn’t be too cold or too hot. Ideally, the temperature should be between 11 and 14 °C. Otherwise, your wine runs the risk of premature aging.
2. MANAGE HUMIDITY LEVELS
The ideal humidity level for a wine cellar is usually between 60 and 80 per cent. If it’s too high, the corks could get mouldy; too low, and the wine’s quality could be affected.
3. AVOID STRONG LIGHTING
Since wine is very sensitive to light, it’s best to store it in a dark place. Choose a low-intensity light source for when you need to see what you’re doing.
4. OPT FOR INDIVIDUAL COMPARTMENTS
To avoid having to move your bottles around too frequently, store them horizontally in individual compartments. Wine doesn’t respond well to being moved around, so storing each bottle in its own compartment is the best way to preserve its flavour.
5. KEEP STRONG SMELLS AWAY
Remember that wine breathes. Avoid storing or using strong-smelling products in your cellar, because the smells could eventually get through the cork and alter the taste of the wine.
MarcotteLaw Corporation has been ensuring smooth real estate transac tions forovertwo decades.When youare buying or selling,we’re heretohelp save youtime, risk, and money.
Five reasons to leave housecleaning to the pros
For many families, housework is a recurring source of arguments. Thankfully, there’s a simple and efficient solution! Here are five good reasons to leave your housework to the experts:
1. It’s cheaper than you think. You don’t need to be a millionaire to afford having someone clean your space for a few hours a week or a month. Do some research and you’ll likely find that many businesses offer affordable rates.
2. You’ll be able to spend more time on what really matters to you. Your family, your work, your hobbies — it’s up to you!
Vacuuming, washing the windows, cleaning the bathroom, ironing — housecleaning businesses can free you from unpleasant, time-consuming chores.
3. The work will be done properly. Professional residential cleaners and housekeepers have the right knowledge, tools and products to make your home shine.
4. You’ll contribute to job creation. By hiring someone to take care of the chores that you don’t have the time or inclination to do, you are literally helping them earn a living.
5. You’ll develop a new relationship. If you’re home while your cleaner is working, you’ll probably end up chatting with them. Who knows, you might discover that you have things in common.
John harT
MLS #R2472389
This nicely updated3-suite multi-family home on alarge lot is stepsaway from the river and Paddlewheel Park. These units have been updatedin the past5years, with newer hot watertank. This large lot with 2sheds makes foragreat outside space.
This nicely updatedmain floor includes newflooring in the living room,bathroom, bedroom, hall, and kitchen and newpaint. Twobedrooms up and one down. Outside basement entry makes this basement easily suite-able 905 La Salle
masterwith awalk-in closet and ensuitetomatch.The flex room in the basement could easily be made intoa4th bedroom and the bath has all of the hook up forashower.
What to look for in your next toaster
Toast, bagels or crumpets — what do you eat in the morning? Here are a few criteria to consider in order to find the toaster that best meets your needs:
1. Power. Of course, a 1,000-watt toaster will heat faster than a 750-watt one, but appliances with the same amount of power will offer different results depending on the positioning of the elements. Don’t just rely on the number of watts to judge the quality of the toaster.
2. Slots. If you love bagels or thick slices of toast, opt for a toaster with wide slots (more than 3 centimetres). If you’re a fan of country-style bread, choose a long slot toaster (24 centimetres or more). Do you have a large family? Consider a four-slice toaster, but keep in mind that it will take up more counter space.
3. Features. Most toasters come with a bagel setting to toast one side more than the other. Some models also offer defrosting and reheating functions. These features are certainly practical, but they aren’t essential — you could simply adjust the heat level instead.
4. Crumb tray. Make sure the crumb tray can be removed and replaced easily and that it’s deep enough that you won’t have to empty it after every single use.
5. Material. Slots with metal sides can get very hot to the touch. Be careful!
How to choose a laundry
hamper
An essential part of everyone’s laundry routine, today’s clothes hamper isn’t just functional — it’s decorative, too. If you’re in the market for a new laundry hamper, here’s some advice to help you make the right choice.
FUNCTION
Obviously, the ideal size depends on your needs. A hamper with a 50-litre volume usually works well for 3 people. Do you like to save time? A model with compartments will allow you to separate whites, darks and delicates as you go. Do you need to carry your hamper around? Choose one with handles or wheels.
FORM
A wicker basket for a touch of Zen, a stainless-steel hamper for a modern touch, a classic wooden chest, a hamper made of coloured plastic to brighten up the room — there are so many options to choose from.
What basket works best with your decor?
Simplify your life with self-priming paint
Elaine Kienzle
250 96 0-8769
elaine@elainekienzle.com aine@elain
Do you have a room to repaint? Are you looking for a quick, hassle-free way to achieve high-quality results? Self-priming paint might just be the answer.
This ingenious product lets you skip the step of applying a base coat, or primer, to seal and prepare the surface you want to paint. The only drawback of self-priming paint is that it’s slightly more expensive than standard paint. That being said, the benefit definitely justifies the cost.
ONE COAT OR TWO?
Although some all-in-one products promise perfect coverage in only one coat, experts still recommend applying two. Keep in mind that, for optimal results, two thin coats are better than a single thick one.
Visit your local hardware, paint or home renovation store to find the perfect self-priming paint to brighten up your home. Happy painting!
Arare find! An extremely well maintained, fully finished townhome that has the perfect end unit location where you can enjoy evening sunsets &views of trees in Westgate Park. An added bonus to the double garage is the RV parking spot (max 30’allowed). Features: spacious open floor plan; ahuge kitchen any cook will love; laundry on main; master bdrm suite with 3pce ens; fabulous great room over the gar plus afully finished daylight basement. This could be the lifestyle choice for you! See MLSR2466060 to view the video.
What colours go with earth tones?
Colours that combine tones of orange and brown are always popular in interior design, particularly during the fall. Evoking falling leaves and sunsets, these rich hues are nostalgic, romantic and exotic. To highlight furniture or accessories that feature such earthy shades, get inspired by these suggestions.
COOL HUES
To give your decor a fun and dynamic effect, add touches of cool colours amid the warm, earthy tones. Green plants, turquoise pillows, a purple rug — have fun creating eye-catching contrast.
NEUTRAL TONES
To enhance architectural or decorative elements with burnt earth tones, you can also use shades of white (cream, ivory), beige
(sand) or grey (stone, steel) on the walls, curtains, floors or bedding. This type of palette creates an elegant, refined look.
METALLIC NOTES
Is there anything more chic and timeless than a noble metal? To complement an earth-toned decor, opt for decorative objects (mirrors, tables, vases, lights, etc.) with a metallic finish.
The best choices are:
• Gold (yellow or rose)
• Silver
• Bronze
• Copper
• Brass
Rust, sienna, paprika, brick, cinnamon, terracotta — brownish-orange shades match almost anything!
Bathtub materials at a glance
Sinking into a tub of warm, lightly scented water is definitely one of the best ways to relax after a long day. Are you in the market for the pefect bathtub? In addition to choosing the type of tub and faucet, you’ll need to think about the material you want your bathtub to be made of. Here’s an overview of a few popular options.
ENAMELLED STEEL
Covered with a layer of porcelain, this material is affordable and requires very little upkeep. It’s resistant to scratching, rust and fading.
ACRYLIC
Lightweight and easy to clean, acrylic is good at maintaining an ideal water temperature. A good choice for those who love long baths!
FIBREGLASS
This material is similar to acrylic in many ways but is slightly less expensive. Its thickness varies from model to model.
CAST IRON
This high-end material that calls to mind classic clawfoot bathtubs has exceptional longevity. It retains heat well and doesn’t chip.
STONE
Stone bathtubs are built from carefully carved and polished river stones. They have low porosity, they’re easy to maintain, and each one is completely unique.
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
An array of synthetic materials with many useful qualities (superior watertightness, smooth finish, vast colour selection, etc.) are available for modern bathtubs.
How to prevent window condensation
Are your windows often fogged up in the winter? In addition to blocking your view of the outdoors, condensation reduces the amount of sunlight that comes into your home. The result? You have to heat and light up your space more. Hello, epic energy bills! Furthermore, condensation can damage window frames and cause numerous problems such as rust and mould.
How can this be remedied? To reduce or eliminate your condensation problems,
make sure that the ventilation in your kitchen and bathroom is as efficient as possible. You can also maximize air circulation by opening your blinds or curtains as often as possible. Try to maintain your indoor humidity levels at around 35 to 50 per cent. Don’t forget that some habits, like hanging wet clothes in the house to dry, can contribute to higher humidity levels.
Finally, if your windows are old, the best solution is to replace them with new ones.
