Prince George Citizen October 8, 2020 by Prince George Citizen

PRINCE GEORGE

Paramedic shortage leading to ambulance service gaps

ARTHUR WILLIAMS

Citizen staff

The Prince George region is facing a shortage of paramedics resulting in chronic gaps in ambulance service and long hours for the city’s remaining Emergency Health Services employees.

That’s something University Hospital of Northern B.C. emergency room nurse

Cherrie Cloarec knows all to well.

Her husband has been a paramedic in the city for nine years.

Cloarec said her husband, who she

declined to name, isn’t allowed to speak out about the problems, but said she felt people in the city need to know what is happening.

“It’s very concerning when our community has only two ambulances available,” Cloarec said. “There is just legit no paramedics. For the month of September, in Prince George alone, there (were) 71 shift vacancies, because (BC Emergency Health Services) will not hire local, experienced paramedics into full-time vacancies in their own communities.”

Despite working full-time hours for years,

her husband is still classed as a part-time paramedic and isn’t entitled to sick time or holiday pay, she said.

“There’s been times when he’s been sick, but has said, ‘I guess I have to go to work,’ because he doesn’t have sick time,” Cloarec said. “It’s shameful.”

For her husband to apply for a full-time position, he would have to commit to working in Vancouver or a small, rural community for a minimum of six months, with no guarantee of returning to his home community, she said.

For Our

ARTHUR WILLIAMS

Citizen staff

City council voted Monday night to reopen Rolling Mix Concrete Arena in time for the Prince George Spruce Kings to play in the B.C. Hockey League’s 2020-21 season.

Spruce Kings general manager Mike Hawes and business operations manager Kyle Anderson told city council the team might not survive if forced to miss a season. Outside city hall, several dozen fans held a rally to show their support.

“We’re excited. It’s certainly a step in the right direction,” Hawes said following the 8-1 vote in favour of reopening the team’s home rink. “We’re happy to be able to provide a season to our players, to our fans and to the community.”

Hawes thanked the city staff and city council that worked on bringing the issue before council on Monday. The team considered other options, like the option of sharing CN Centre with the WHL’s Prince George Cougars, but they just weren’t workable.

“The biggest hurdle is the branding. The BCHL will not support a broadcast (of our games) with WHL branding on the ice. They would not support us playing in that facility,” he said.

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

BC Ambulance paramedics load a stabbing victim into an ambulance in September 2015.

or santa.dupreez@princegeorge.ca

Est value of Municipal Permissive exemption per year (2021, 2022, and 2023)

‘THEY ARE LIKE FAMILY’

from page A1

In addition, the team needs to raise $125,000 in revenue from rink-board advertising.

“I don’t know what the costs are of changing rink boards out four times a week – I think it would be substantial,” Hawes said.

Rolling Mix Concrete Arena also hosts the team’s dressing rooms, offices, training spaces and other amenities that couldn’t be easily replaced or relocated, Anderson added.

The team’s first scheduled home game is an exhibition game against the Merritt Centennials on Oct. 25. The BCHL regular season is scheduled to start on Dec. 1, with or without fans in the arenas.

Ahead of Monday’s nights decision, Bonnie Schnepf and her daughters, Tianna and Anataya, organized a rally and petition to show their support for reopening the arena and keeping the Spruce Kings on the ice.

“Prince George is not Prince George without the Spruce Kings,” Schnepf said. “I’ve been a fan since I was 10 years old. We billeted for eight players over the years. They are like family, those boys. The Spruce Kings are etched in our family, and they are part of the community.”

In addition to the rally, the Schnepfs organized an online petition that had received more than 600 signatures in support of reopening the arena. In addition to people from the community, former players and their families from across Canada and

Bonnie Schnepf, centre, and her daughters Tianna (left) and Anataya (right) Schnepf, display copies of the petition they started calling for city council to reopen Rolling Mix Concrete Arena. The Schnepfs organized a rally outside city hall prior to the issue going before city council on Monday night.

the U.S. signed the petition, she said.

In addition to their community involvement, the team generates economic activity in the city and downtown by drawing families and teams to the city, and fans downtown for the games, she said.

The decision to reopen the rink for the 2020-21 season – mid-October to May – is expected to add $250,000 to the city’s current $6.4 million budget shortfall for 2021, city director of finance Kris Dalio said.

Combined with an additional $150,000

VOLUNTEER FOR THE CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE

Make a difference in your community!

The City is seeking the expertise of residents interested in serving on the Prince George Public Library Board.

The Board meets monthly and is responsible for providing library services and programs in Prince George. Their work includes the creation of policies, establishing goals and objectives of the library, and advocating for the library in the greater community.

The City is accepting applications to fill the following positions:

• Five (5) vacancies for a two-year term ending November 30, 2022.

Involvement with council committees, commissions, and boards provides residents the opportunity to contribute to the growth and development of our municipality and to provide input on important civic issues.

All applicants to the Prince George Public Library Board are required to undergo a Criminal Records Check. Information on the Library Board, application forms and details on the application process and Criminal Record Checks are available on the City’s website or may be picked up from the Legislative Services Division, 5th Floor City Hall.

Deadline for Applications: 5:00 p.m. Friday, October 30, 2020

Applications may be completed and submitted online (https://www.princegeorge.ca/ committees), delivered to the Legislative Services Division, 5th Floor City Hall, at the address below, emailed to cityclerk@princegeorge.ca, or faxed to (250) 561-0183.

For any questions or to have an application form mailed to you, please contact the Legislative Services Division at (250) 561-7655 or cityclerk@princegeorge.ca.

Tel. (250) 561-7600 • Fax (250) 612-5605 • 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC V2L 3V9 311@princegeorge.ca

Visit princegeorge.ca for information about City services and operations. You can even subscribe to receive information directly to your inbox. Visit news.princegeorge.ca/subscribe to select the categories that matter to you.

approved by council on Monday to reopen CN Centre for ice use and indoor walking Monday, the city is looking at a $6.8 million shortfall next year, Dalio said – equal to a six per cent increase in property taxes.

At the current rate of cost recovery, city taxpayers are subsidizing 80 to 85 per cent of the cost of running the arenas, Dalio said.

City director of community services and public safety Adam Davey said the extra ice time at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena and CN Centre will be put to use by other user

groups than the Kings and the Cougars.

“Right now you have enough demand for all six sheets of ice (the city owns),” Davey said. “August ice use was 18 per cent higher this year than last year.”

Under the current situation, with only the three rinks at the Kin Arenas open, user groups are only getting about 50 per cent of the normal ice time they would normally use, he said. The existing staff at the Kin Centres will be able to operate the ice surface at the arena, he added.

Coun. Brian Skakun said reopening the arenas will benefit all the user groups, not just the city’s premier teams.

“The Spruce Kings aren’t the sole reason to reopen the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena,” Coun. Brian Skakun said. “It’s a tough time. We need to be there for the community.”

Coun. Garth Frizzell urged city council to remember Monday night when they’re facing difficult budget deliberations, trying to fill a $6.8 million financial hole.

“We’re going to be in a heck of a ride next year,” Frizzell said. “It’s the right thing to do, to use the facilities we have. It’s going to help out all those people. (But) there will be a cost.”

Coun. Murray Krause, the only councillor to vote against reopening the arena, said while opening the arenas will help groups like the Spruce Kings, that help will be paid by the taxpayers of the city.

“Many of the taxpayers are struggling, too. They may have lost their jobs,” Krause said.

“We have to keep them in mind.”

CN Police stress Rail Safety at Crossings

In 2019, British Columbia had 28 Railway Crossing and Trespassing incidents; 7 fatalities and 10 serious injuries.

In the event that you ever find your vehicle or any other vehicle stuck on a railway crossing or on the rails, do the following: immediately have all vehicle occupants, including yourself, exit the vehicle and railway property in a safe manner When you are safely away from the railway tracks, immediately call 911 or the CN Police at 1-800-465-9239 to have rail traffic stopped at your location. Motorists should be aware that public crossings have the railway mile point, location, subdivision and emergency number on every crossing post and signals bungalow. This information is available for the public to report any railway incident on CN tracks and crossings.

In addition, as we return to fall and winter outdoor activities, the CN Police would like to remind everyone that the only safe and legal place to cross train tracks is at a properly designated railway crossing. Don’t forget that all railway yards, tracks, tunnels and bridges are private property and are strictly off limits to the public.

The CN Police Service will be on patrol in your community spreading the safety message through education and enforcement. With fall and winter upon us we need to be more aware of our surroundings; Look, Listen, Live! For more information contact OperationLifesaver.ca

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

SHIFTS GOING UNFILLED

from page A1

“That means leaving your families, causing financial hardship, all to staff Vancouver. In the meantime, communities like Prince George and other northern cities are living at risk with minimal EHS available,” Cloarec said.

“We deserve care in the north, and paramedics deserve equal hiring practices throughout the province.”

Troy Clifford, provincial president of the Ambulance Paramedics of BC – the union which represents paramedics in B.C. – said he couldn’t confirm the 71 vacant shifts in Prince George in September, but there were “significant vacancies” and it would be consistent with the ongoing situation.

“For the month of October in Prince George, we are hearing initial reports that 38 paramedic shifts are vacant. This does not account for additional shortages that may occur as the month progresses,” Clifford said in an email. “Many of our paramedics are having to do forced overtime. In Prince George and other northern communities, we’ve had several months of staffing issues and shortages. Our paramedics are doing long days starting at 6 a.m., and on night shifts – sometimes going all night – back to back. Their fatigue levels are increasing and cannot be sustained.”

Those unfilled shifts mean gaps in ambulance coverage in the region, he said.

“On September 5, Bear Lake, just outside Prince George, had no ambulance cov-

erage. On September 7, we had significant shortages between Prince George, Bear Lake and Mackenzie,” Clifford said. “Paramedics are fatigued and ‘timing out’ (due) to workloads and safety. The ability to respond and paramedic coverage in those communities is and was definitely affected.”

There are systemic issues which are making it hard to recruit and retain skilled paramedics in the province, especially in rural areas, he said.

“We cannot rely on a on-call model where paramedics carry a pager, being paid only $2 per hour until they are called out for a emergency or inter-facility transfer,” Clifford said. “In many smaller rural remote and Indigenous communities, on-call paramedics remain on-call for 24 hours a day. The staffing and workload issues are affecting morale and community coverage.”

Clifford said the union is calling on the province and BC Emergency Health Services to address the issue.

“(However,) for paramedics on the front lines and our patients, help cannot come quickly enough,” Clifford said. “The community of Prince George and surrounding areas need support, funding, and an influx of resources.”

A spokesperson for BC Emergency Health Services said she wasn’t able to fully comment on the situation until after the provincial election on Oct. 24.

Mild fall extends mushroom season

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

If you thought last year was good for mushrooms around Prince George, after one of the coolest, rainiest summers on record, this year might rival 2019 for its fungi feast.

You don’t have to look hard to find them growing on lawns, under trees or even on cow patties. Some are tiny, some are massive, and they display themselves in a kaleidoscope of colours, from lobster red to deep purple. And like humans trying to grow vegetable gardens, slugs are a mushroom’s worst enemy. They eat and destroy them, much like they do our beans, potatoes and marigolds. The rain that seems to come every few days in Prince George brings the moisture that nurtures the fungal spores and mycelium in the soil, but it also makes slugs thrive.

“This was an extraordinary mushroom season, probably on par with the best ones we have ever seen, but the slugs were uninvited guests,” said local mushroom expert Hugues Massicotte, who retired this year from UNBC, where he taught in the Ecosystem Science and Management Program for 26 years.

In north central B.C., the mushroom season usually starts in mid-August and ends by late-September, but with rain the past couple days and a lengthy stretch of unseasonably warm weather coming later this week, mushroom hunters should have much to look forward to well into October. The short mushroom season provides a small window of opportunity for scientists like Massicotte to make new discoveries, like the basketball-sized Ramaria coral mushrooms he located last week growing on a pile of wood chips in the front garden of the UNBC campus.

“In Prince George, you don’t have much time, you have about three weeks to a month to explore, and then the frost comes and you have to wait another year,” he said.

Unlocking the mysteries of mushrooms is a challenge even for Massicotte, who became interested in mycology (the study of fungi) after taking a course that involved collecting mushrooms during his under-

graduate forestry studies at the Université Laval in Quebec city. He earned his graduate degrees at the U. of Guelph, focusing on the interactions between symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi and tree roots and then went on to five-and-a-half years of postdoctoral fungi-related studies in Oregon, Sweden and at UBC.

“Fungi are crucial to any ecosystem on the planet: many will help plants and grass to grow, many are pathogens, and many more still are key to decomposition in all habitats,” he said.

Moist and shady areas at the Otway Nordic Centre, Pidherny Recreation Area, Aleza Lake Forest, Forests For the World, Wilkins Park and The Ancient Forest provide ideal habitats and offer a wide diver-

The Prince George RCMP has expanded the online tool that allows residents to report minor crimes.

The online tool has been available since November 2019, and has been expanded to allow reporting of some traffic complaints, and stolen licences plates and registration decals.

sity of fungi for scientists like Massicotte. When people learn he is a mushroom expert, the question of how to distinguish edible types from the poisonous kind often comes up.

“The joke, when we teach, is you can always eat the mushroom once,” he laughed. “On a more serious note though, when I do a lecture on edibles, I couple it right away with a lecture on the poisonous ones. Mushrooms produce extraordinary compounds that will impact very negatively our body, and can even be lethal. You might consume some and think everything is alright, then, hours to days later you start feeling really bad and it can be too late. Some compounds, like the amanitins, can inhibit critical enzymes in our cells,

To report a crime online, go to http://bc.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/princegeorge/report.

Crimes that can be reported online include:

• Damage or mischief to a vehicle or other property less than $5,000

• A hit-and-run collision to property or a unoccupied vehicle.

• Theft of bicycles or other property worth less than $5,000 (excluding theft of personal identifi-

and the liver and kidneys can go into failure.”

There’s no simple way to distinguish mushrooms that make you sick from the good ones but Massicotte offers one general rule of thumb.

“Often we say when there is a very bright colour, stay away from them,” he said. “You need to be experienced to know the ones that are edible. When you consume those that are identified as ‘safe’, eat just a little amount the first time, because there’s always the possibility you could be allergic.”

Chow Lee, a biochemistry and molecular biology professor at UNBC, has been spearheading with Massicotte and mycologist colleague Keith Egger as well as organic chemists Kerry Reimer and Tina Bott a suite of studies to learn the effect of wild mushrooms on the body’s immune system as well as how mushrooms could be applied to cancer research.

Morel mushrooms and their intense flavor are coveted by chefs all over the world and forests that have been burned by wildfires the previous year are ideal places to look for them. They also show up in ground that’s been disturbed, often in cottonwood forests. Hedgehogs, chanterelles and Lactarius deliciosus (also known as saffron milk cap/red pine mushrooms) can also be found in the Prince George area and are great to eat.

“This year, they’re all over the place,” said Massicotte. “My partner Linda is better than I am at finding them. We love going out walking in the woods but when we find fungal edibles, that’s always a bonus.”

Although Massicotte is no longer teaching, one of his favourite former courses included mycology. He knows that under COVID 19, it would be a huge challenge to refine and upgrade the course with videos and photographs for virtual and remote presentation. He is certain he would miss the ‘real’ daily contacts with his students.

“In the fungi world it’s always the wonderful mushroom specimens that catch people’s imagination, seeing where they grow, and the wonderful diversity that fungi represent. There is no end to their amazing architecture and sometimes they take your breath away.”

cation, like passports or driver’s licences.)

• Lost property, including licence plates or insurance validation decals.

• General driving behaviour reports that are not currently in progress.

The goal of online reporting is to provide a convenient way to report minor crimes, allowing 911 and RCMP call takers to focus on higher-priority calls, a statement by the RCMP said.

Citizen staff

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

Hugues Massicotte points to a basketball-sized ramaria coral mushroom growing in the David Douglas Botanical Garden on the UNBC campus.

CABBIE GUILTY OF HITTING PEDESTRIAN

MARK NIELSEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A taxi driver was found guilty last week of hitting a man who was crossing Victoria Street shortly after he had been released from the drunk tank at the Prince George RCMP detachment.

Facing a count of failing to yield to a pedestrian at a crosswalk under the Motor Vehicle Act, Khalid Ayub Khan chose to take the matter to trial.

The collision occurred at about 3 a.m. on Sept. 15, 2018, at Victoria and Fifth. Khan had been heading north in the right lane

when he struck the man as he made his way east across Victoria and after traffic in the southbound lanes had stopped to let the man cross.

The collision occurred at an “unmarked” crosswalk. In reciting the law on motorists and pedestrians, Provincial Court Judge Michael Brecknell noted in part that a crosswalk can consist of the “lateral lines of a sidewalk on opposite sides of a highway.”

Khan, who self-represented, testified he never saw the man until he had been struck and blamed the accident on the

fact the man was wearing dark clothing combined with poor lighting at the scene and the effects of “negative to positive” contrast as the man moved across the street.

On his allegation of poor lighting, Khan noted that a street light at the spot was cycling on and off and received confirmation of the problem from city hall.

Brecknell disagreed with Khan’s assessment, saying Khan only noticed the blinking light upon returning to the scene during daylight hours after the collision and it’s “not possible to calculate the

impact of one light among many being on or off.” The headlights on Khan’s car were also working properly at the time, Brecknell noted.

Brecknell endorsed Crown prosecution’s position that Khan be fined $145 for the offence, the minimum amount that can be issued, in acknowledgment of Khan’s concern for the victim and the income he lost while the car was in policy custody for a mechanical inspection.

Brecknell also recommended that the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles not issue a driving prohibition to Khan.

RCMP’s side of story outlined in lawsuit over takedown

MARK NIELSEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The actions of a Prince George RCMP officer facing criminal charges from an arrest caught on video were “reasonable and necessary,” according to a response to a civil lawsuit brought against him by one of the men who was apprehended.

Cst. Joshua Grafton’s side of the story about the arrest of Cuyler Richard Aubichon and Nathaniel Lazarus Basil during the early morning of Feb. 18, 2016, have been outlined in a response filed in B.C. Supreme Court.

In July, a lawsuit against Grafton, as well as the Attorney General of Canada and the B.C. Minister of Public Safety and the

Solicitor General, was filed on behalf of Aubichon seeking damages for injuries suffered in the arrest after they were caught in a stolen pickup truck.

According to the response, police had trapped the truck in an alley.

While Basil complied with police instructions, Aubichon did not and instead reversed the truck then drove it forward until it collided with an RCMP vehicle, forcing an officer to jump out of the way.

Grafton and the dog approached the truck on foot, opened the driver’s side door and advised Aubichon that he was under arrest.

Having seen the collision and concerned Aubichon was attempting to evade arrest, Grafton used the dog to extract him from

the truck.

The dog took hold of Aubichon’s left arm and pulled him out and towards Grafton. In the course of being removed, Aubichon fought with the dog, according to the response, until another officer told him to stop resisting.

At that point, the dog released its hold and Aubichon was handcuffed as he was lying prone on the ground.

Aubichon is claiming Grafton “deliberately misused the dog to terrify and caused severe bodily harm” and allowed the dog to continue biting him while he was face down on the ground.

Aubichon also claims Grafton punched and elbowed him and kicked him in the stomach and used a baton on his head

while he was on the ground.

Aubichon and Basil were later sentenced from the incident to one year probation for possessing stolen property over $5,000.

The entire event was caught on video and prompted B.C.’s civilian-based police watchdog, the Independent Investigations Office, to launch an investigation.

Grafton has since been charged with assault, assault with a weapon, and obstruction of justice and, in a separate matter, Cst. Wayne Connell and Cst. Kyle Sharpe have been charged with assault causing bodily harm.

The allegations in both the lawsuit and the criminal cases have not yet been tested in court.

Find your nutritional balance this holiday weekend with products that will help support lean protein digestion and improved enzyme production. Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

The leaves are changing into their beautiful fall colours and the days are becoming shorter. Whatever tasks that need to be done before we say goodbye to summer, remember to take this time to spend a moment with family or a loved one this weekend.

of fullness!

First Nations seek school board seats

MARK NIELSEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Lheidli T’enneh Nation Dayi Clay Pountney and McLeod Lake Indian Band Chief Harley Chingee signed a letter to School District 57 last week, calling for an addition of two Indigenous trustees to the school board.

“The only way our communities can ensure that our students and other Indigenous students are receiving the support they deserve is for our communities to have a trustee making decisions at the board of education table,” Pountney said in a statement.

The designation of trustees for the Robson Valley and Mackenzie was cited as a precedent for the move, which Pountney said would raise the number of trustees on the board to nine. He said the trustees would be elected by their respective band members.

Letters Pountney sent to the school board and to the Ministry of Education in June on the issue went before the school board at its regular public meeting. The letters weren’t raised for discussion.

In the one to the school board, Pountney said the band had received a letter from Education Minister Rob

Tourism contest launched

Citizen staff

Enter a photo or video of yourself and a friend enjoying a moment in Prince George and you could win a staycation package.

That’s the idea behind a contest Tourism Prince George has launched to promote local travel and encourage exploration of the city.

Three packages are on offer and the contest will run until the morning of December 15.

Winners will be randomly selected.

Entries can be submitted at tourismpg. com/staycations

Use the #exploreprincegeorge hashtag for your entry and to be featured on Tourism

Prince George’s social media channels.

Fleming that appears to follow on a similar call by Pountney made in May 2019 for an Indigenous trustee.

In it, he said that while Fleming said he does not have the power to appoint trustees as they are all elected positions, there is nothing preventing the board from having a Lheidli T’enneh members sit at the table during public board meetings on the understanding that they would not have the ability to vote.

Pountney went on to request that the school board appoint two Indigenous advisory board positions - one for LTN and one for MLIB - and then work with the ministry to amend the School Act to make them permanent voting positions or to create two trustee positions similar to those for the Robson Valley and Mackenzie.

In April 2018, Fleming announced the school district will be changed to a ward system for the coming election, with a trustee elected by voters in each of Mackenzie and the Robson Valley. The changes were made after requests by the District of Mackenzie, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and the Village of Valemount.

“These are conversations the board looks forward to having,” school board chiar Tim Bennett said. “We’re

being asked for our support... but ultimately the decision is from the Ministry of Education.”

Students who self-identity as Indigenous normally make up more than 30 per cent of the student population in School District 57, he said.

By contrast, when Mackenzie and the Robson Valley seats were added to the school board in 2018, they represented just 7.2 per cent of the district’s student population.

There may be many more students of Indigenous heritage who haven’t self-identified, Bennett added. The school district is working to answer questions families have about self-identifying, he said, and the district may see higher numbers as Indigenous families and students opt to self-identify as Indigenous.

While the district has recently seen the graduation rates for Indigenous students on the rise, the graduation rate remains well below that of non-Indigenous students, Bennett said.

“Our Indigenous graduation rates have not even hit 70 per cent,” he said. “We have a long way to go to bring those rates up to (the rate for non-Indigenous students), or even higher.”

— With files from Arthur Williams

Suppor ting smiles

Cong ratu lations, Ca rney Hi ll Neighbou rhood Cent re Societ y forreceivi ng ou ra nnua lCom mu nity Givi ng Award. Than k youfor prov id inga secu re,nur tu ri ng andeducational envi ronmentfor ch ildren

Lear nmoreabout th is projec t at fort isbc.com/com mu nitygivi ng.

NOTICE OF CONSIDERATION

What: Regional District Boardconsidering issuance of Temporary Use Permit No. 238

When and Where: 1:30 p.m., Thursday,October 15, 2020 Regional District BoardRoom 155 George Street, Prince George BC

Owner: Avis Cook, Donald and Lynda Grant, Terryand Fiona Cook, Garry and Suzanne Enders, Robert and Elaine Buxton

Agent: Donald Grant

Proposal: The purpose of TemporaryUse 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 anddoes 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

Need moreinfo? Acopyofthe 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-useplanning/current-applications/ or at the Regional District ofﬁce, by appointment only,Monday through Friday,8:00 am to 4:30 pm, between October 1, 2020, and October 15, 2020. The Regional DistrictOfﬁce will be closed on October 12, 2020.Tomakeanappointment contact the Regional District at developmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca or at 250-960-4400

Who can Ispeak to? Daniel Burke, Planner I, 250-960-4400

Spruce beetle outbreak not as bad as mountain pine beetle epidemic

CHRISTINE HINZMANN Citizen staff

Although the current spruce beetle outbreak has affected more than 1.3 million hectares of forest, much of it in the Prince George area during the past six years, the forest damage is still far less than what the mountain pine beetle did.

The mountain pine beetle epidemic has destroyed nine million hectares of forest in the past 20 years.

“We saw that peak in 2004 and it has slowly been tapering off but the mountain pine beetle is still very much around,” Jeanne Robert, the regional forest entomologist for the Omineca and Northeast

region, said.

Last year, the spruce beetle impacted more than 503,799 hectares across the province and more than half of that was in this area.

The Prince George district saw 259,629 hectares of forest destroyed by the spruce beetle while the toal Omineca Region, which includes Prince George, Fort St. James, Mackenzie, and Vanderhoof reported more than 354,000 hectares of damage.

“So you can see the difference in scale what we’re talking about,” Robert said. “It’s a very large outbreak for spruce beetle but it is nothing compared to what we saw for mountain pine beetle.”

It’s important to remember that the

mountain pine beetle, the Douglas fir beetle and the spruce beetle are all naturally occurring disturbances in the ecosystems that we have here, Robert added.

“So this isn’t something that comes in and mows everything down,” Robert added. “These forest ecosystems have evolved with the bark beetles and have some resilience when it comes to an outbreak like this.”

There was a spruce beetle outbreak during the 1980s in the Bowron area southeast of Prince George and more recently significant infestations have occurred in Alaska, the Yukon and other parts of northern B.C.

“So these aren’t crazy, off-the-charts occurrences, in fact we should expect regular outbreaks and we should manage for regular outbreaks of bark beetles as part of the natural process that happens in the ecosystem,” Robert said.

The spruce beetle populations expand and contract over time, which makes it difficult to predict when an outbreak will occur.

There are many natural factors that determine when an outbreak will occur, including spruce tree size and age, and wind throw events where trees are uprooted because of strong winds. That is what has been determined to be the cause for the most recent spruce beetle infestation, Robert added.

“So if there’s a storm and there’s older trees that get blown over then that allows the spruce beetle to get established, get a toe hold and they move to standing healthy trees and that’s exactly what happened to start things off,” Robert said. “We had a big wind throw event north of Prince George and we had another one north of Mackenzie.”

While there are many similarities, there are also significant different between the mountain pine beetle and the spruce beetle.

Both are bark beetles about the size of a grain of rice and they both reproduce actively in a single tree that can result in thousands of beetles.

One key difference is mountain pine beetle has a one-year life cycle where the

spruce beetle is different.

“Sometimes it takes one year, most often two years and it can even take up to three years and it’s really well adapted to a super-cold environment,” Robert said.

Due to their longer life cycle, spruce beetles rarely attack young trees because there is not enough in them to sustain the beetles over their life cycle.

Spruce beetle infestation tends to be slow, intermittent and patchy, Robert added.

“The mountain pine beetle was sort of stopped by a cold-weather line that it then breached and moved into Alberta, which is one of the big things that happened with mountain pine beetle,” Robert explained. “But what’s different with spruce beetle is that it’s already there. Where there is spruce trees, there is the beetle. They are very well adapted to live in very low population levels and in very cold environments.”

Foresters find it difficult to predict what’s going to happen from one year to the next when it comes to the spruce beetle because of its adaptability.

Damage is also hard to see from the air. Pine beetle could be seen as big red swaths from year to year while the spruce beetle’s life cycle varies which means affected trees are not as quickly visible.

“It often takes a good 13 to 18 months after the original attack in a susceptible spruce stand for us to be able to detect it from the air as the tree starts to turn yellow, then red then gray,” Robert said. So detection can be quite challenging from the air and its been determined that ground assessment is best, which leads to treatment during the early stages of established infestations.

“Right now we’re doing ground surveys, we’re doing low level helicopter surveys trying to identify affected areas, get in there have a look to see where the beetle is getting established or where it might be dying down,” Robert said.

Once this information is gathered, it is shared with timber supply area licencees so that work can be done to treat the area. One of the most affective ways to eliminate the infestation is to remove the trees,

SCHOOL WINTER WEATHER POLICY ALTERED

ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff

It will be up to parents to decide if they want to keep their children home when the weather gets cold and roads get bad this winter.

Last Tuesday, the School District 57 board of trustees approved, in principle, changes to the district’s winter weather policy. The new policy will be put in effect while the district conducts 60 days of consultation with stakeholder groups.

“Because our policy is schools will not be closed, we’re leaving it up to parents to decide if they want to keep their child home,” trustee Betty Bekkering said.

Schools will remain open regardless of the weather and school bus service will continue to run, said Bekkering, who chairs the district’s policy and governance committee. Individual bus routes may

be cancelled because of dangerous road conditions.

The district will announce any route cancellations on local radio, the My School Bus Monitor system and school district website as quickly as possible. Under the new policy, if a school bus doesn’t arrive with 15 minutes of its scheduled pickup time, students aren’t expected to wait and can return home or to another safe place to stay, Bekkering said.

“This one minor statement adds a whole lot of clarity for students,” she said. “That gives parents a clear idea of the safety of their child.”

The new policy also provides parents with clarity about what will happen if school attendance is low because of poor weather, she said.

“On days when student attendance is reduced substantially because of cold or

inclement weather conditions or because travel is considered treacherous, regular scheduled instruction may be modified for those students who attend school,” the new policy says. “In advance of the cold weather months, schools should consult with parents and clearly communicate to parents what educational alternatives the school will offer in the event of low attendance caused by excessively cold weather.”

The policy also provides clarity around “in days” – days when students are kept inside during lunch and recess breaks.

“Temperature alone does not warrant an ‘in day’ although the guideline that has been used for quite some time has been -20 C,” the policy says. “Taking into consideration the many factors of inclement weather such as wind, rain, particulate matter, snow and temperature, the principal shall

School bus conduct policy changed

School principals, not school bus drivers, will now be responsible for disciplining students who misbehave while riding the bus, after the School District 57 trustees adopted changes to the district’s bus conduct policy.

Under the new policy, bus drivers are responsible for the supervision of students and will report any misconduct to the student’s principal or the School District

57 transportation administrator.

“Once students board a school bus they become the responsibility of the (school district),” the report to the district board says. “Therefore, the (school district) regards a school bus as an extension of the classroom and all students are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the same standards of behaviour that have been established in the classroom.”

Previously, school bus drivers had the

power to suspend students from riding the bus for misconduct on the bus after issuing a verbal and written warning to the student for minor offences and immediately for more serious offences including fighting, bringing drugs, alcohol or weapons on board or vandalizing the bus. Under the new policy, any disciplinary measures will be imposed by the school principal. Bus drivers can make students change seats and issue verbal warnings but have no

make the decision as to keeping the students indoors.”

All school staff will be expected to attend work as scheduled, and those who can’t must contact their principal or supervisor for further instructions under the new policy. Previously, the district’s policy stated that staff were expected to “make every reasonable effort to travel to work, but should not place themselves at undue risk in attempting to do so.”

The policy change was originally proposed as a minor change to the policy, not requiring consultation from stakeholder groups. Trustee Sharel Warrington proposed an amendment, which was approved, calling for the district to complete the 60 days of consultation.

“I see this as a major revision, personally,” she said. “It’s not because this is a controversial policy, and it is.”

disciplinary powers. However, bus drivers will continue to have the authority to act in cases where student safety is at risk.

“In the event that students cause the bus to become unsafe due to their behaviour, or if there is a suspicion or confirmation or drugs or alcohol consumption, the bus may be returned to the school of origin and students may be dropped off in the care of a school principal or vice-principal,” the new policy says.

Spruce Kings open training camp

TED CLARKE

Citizen staff

After an extended off-season layoff made longer by the pandemic, the Prince George Spruce Kings are back in business.

Twenty skaters and two goaltenders began their on-ice workouts at Kin 2 when training camp began last Thursday night.

The COVID crisis has temporarily forced the Kings out of their usual surroundings at Rolling Mix Arena, which has complicated camp logistics for team staff, but on the ice it’s back to hockey as usual for the team as it prepares for the start of the B.C. Hockey League season in December.

The Kings have a roster loaded with players who already have BCHL resumes. Last year’s team suffered through a major rebuild after a mass migration of players from the 2018-19 team that won the Fred Page Cup league championship and Doyle Cup and advanced to the national junior A final. The Kings endured a losing season in 2019-20 and ended up fifth in the Mainland Division with an 18-32-3-5-0 record before being swept out of the playoffs in the first round by the Trail Smoke Eaters.

“Obviously we’re more of a veteran group and I think the guys that are back learned a lot and they’ve all showed up in really good shape,” said Alex Evin, entering his second season as the Kings’ head coach.

The current roster has eight returning Spruce Kings, including forwards Corey

CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE

Players look on as head coach Alex Evin draws up a drill on a whiteboard on Friday evening at Kin 2 as part of the Prince George Spruce Kings training camp.

Cunningham, Kolton Cousins, Carter Cochrane and Andrew Seaman, defencemen Mason Waite, Colton Cameron and Amran Bhabra, and goalie Carter Woodside.

Kings general manager Mike Hawes was busy this past summer swinging trades and signing players he thinks will add significant firepower and feistiness which the team lacked last season. The new faces include five forwards each with at least two years of BCHL experience, including Austin Spiridakis (Alberni Valley Bulldogs),

Rowen Miller (Powell River Kings), Hunor Torzsok (Merritt Centennials), Darwin Lakoduk (Penticton Vees/Victoria Grizzlies), Christian Buono (Merritt Centennials).

The Kings also acquired offensive-minded defenceman Tanner Main, a native of Ontario who played last year for the Wenatchee Wild and blueliner Zach Gabruch, from the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Woodside, a 19-year-old who took over the starting position in the second half of the season, will fight for time in the crease

with 19-year-old Aaron Trotter, who played last season at Shawnigan Lake School.

The other new players are defencemen Connor Elliott and Ben LeFranc, as well as forwards Max Borovinskiy, Kilian McGregor-Bennett, Nick Rheaume and John Herrington, a former Cariboo Cougar Tier 1 midget. The team has a full complement of six 20-year-olds, the league limit, with Waite, Main, Torzsok, Lakoduk, Buono, Seaman all heading into the final junior season. Waite and Main both possess above-average puck-handling skills and will be looked up to lead offensive rushes.

Three American-born players the Kings recruited won’t be playing in the BCHL this season for reasons directly related to the pandemic. Defenceman Brendan Hill, a Michigan native who played 42 games for the Spruce Kings last year, was turned away at the customs office in Calgary and returned home, while the families of forwards Connor Tait and Alex Krause decided not to risk allowing their sons to cross the border.

The weekend sessions brought the Kings full coaching staff together with Evin joined by his assistants Nick Drazenovic, Jason Garneau and newcomer Lukas Lomicky. Lomicky, a 32-year-old native of the Czech Republic, joined the team in a April after three seasons in the KIJHL with the Revelstoke Grizzlies.

The Kings begin their exhibition season Saturday in Merritt and the same teams meet again Oct. 23 in Merritt.

Dance led to 60 years for Hornings

LSENIORS’ SCENE

KATHY

NADALIN

ong time Prince George residents Bob (Gordon) and Patty Horning will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary in December. Here is their story in a nutshell. Bob Horning, one of four children, was born on a small mixed farm in Turtleford, Sask. in 1937. He arrived in Prince George for the first time in 1952 when he was just 15 years old.

He returned to the family farm until 1956 and at the age of 19 he returned to Prince George, found work in the sawmills, got married, started a family and he has been here ever since.

He met Patty Fleming - his wife of nearly 60 years - at a dance in Nukko Lake. Patty was born in Nelson in 1942. Her family moved to Prince George when she was 10 months old and she too has been here ever since. Patty was raised and went to school up to Grade 8 in the Chief Lake area. From there, she moved closer to Prince George and became a live-in baby sitter for Florence Dawson earning $10 a week. Back then, this was considered a good wage along with good benefits. he held this job until she met and then married Bob Horning.

Bob’s work in the sawmill industry was not easy but he did it. He worked in the bush as a faller and a choker setter. The faller’s job involved cutting down the trees and the choker setter is a logger who wraps a special cable known as a choker around the log so it can be pulled out of the bush to be retrieved by skidders. Time went by and he learned to operate a cat and a skidder.

The injuries that came and passed while

working in the bush were the loss of a finger, a broken leg and many bruises and sprains that healed nicely in his younger years.

Over the years, he worked part-time for Rahn Bros. Logging and Teardrop Holdings. Due to another work-related accident, Bob retired in 2006 after 34 years in the industry.

In 1956, he picked up a part time job as a swamper on the Westcoast Transmission pipeline assisting operators and other crew members with a variety of manual labour-related tasks. Apparently, this was an easier job with better pay as compared to the work in the logging industry.

Patty lost a finger when she worked for Crescent Lake sawmills, a small company owned by her father.

When the children started to arrive, she became a stay-at-home mom and happily and proudly raised their five children;

Brenda (Kelly Solmonson), Bonnie (Ted Harris), Annie (Frank Mocilac), Roberta (Derek Dobrinsky) and Gordon (Lanita) who in turn gave them a blended family of 12 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

She was always willing to volunteer for everything to do with the children.

All through those years Bob and Patty maintained a small farm of their own in the Chief Lake area. Since Bob worked away from the home, it was her job to look after the cows and chickens.

The children grew up and due to Patty’s health issues, the couple sold the farm and moved closer to town in 2006. Living closer to town makes it easy for Bob to play pool at the senior centre while Patty can always be found pulling some of her many baked goods out of her oven as treats for her neighbors, friends and family.

Both Bob and Patty are volunteers at

Patty and Bob Horning in a recent photo, left, and on their wedding day 60 years ago, above.

the Hart Pioneer Senior Centre. They have been volunteering as needed for the centre for nearly 30 years and have met many new friends and interesting people during that time.

Patty laughed as she reflected back to their 50th wedding anniversary and said, “We met at a dance at Nukko Lake. We continued our love of dancing together for all those years so we made sure we attended a dance at Nukko Lake for our 50th anniversary. We finished the celebration by taking a 10-day cruise to Hyder, Alaska and then a trip into the Yukon. Bob said that he did not like all the water and the crowds of people and that 10 days was long enough. He did tell me that in spite of everything he would agree to doing the same trip again in another 50 years.

“We have a great family and we have enjoyed watching our grandchildren grow up. They all have minds of their own and they are all good people – but why not - they all come from good stock.

“When people ask us the secrets to a 60-year marriage we simply explain that no one wants either one of us so we just have to stay together and that is okay by both of us.”

High school students adapt to pandemic changes

KARIM ZOHDY

Special to The Citizen Editor’s note: Karim Zohdy is a Grade 12 student at College Heights Secondary with an interest in writing and journalism. On his own initiative, he reached out to The Citizen in June about internship opportunities. With COVID-19 in mind, we had him shadow a couple of our reporters on assignment during parts of the summer. This is his first news story.

Four weeks into the new school year and area high school students have adjusted to the new COVID-19 pandemic rules. At College Heights Secondary, students wash their hands every morning and wear masks in the hallways.

These halls are much more disciplined this year, since chattering groups don’t form at lunch. This is because of new rules that aim to decrease the likelihood of an

outbreak. Students must either stay in their first class or leave the school during lunch hour.

Everyone has also received safety briefings, outlining the new procedures and educating students on the symptoms of COVID19.

One of the most significant changes has been the transition to a quarterly system, where students take two classes per day instead of four. This system makes it easier to group students into separate learning groups, where specific groups of students take classes together.

Theo Halka, a Grade 12 student at College Heights, likes the new system.

“I actually enjoy having two longer classes per day, compared to the four per day we used to have,” he said. “I find it more productive.”

On the other hand, the learning group system has made student schedules much

less flexible, a change Cooper Chamberlain, another Grade 12 student, doesn’t appreciate.

“To be honest, it gets a bit annoying, but I understand why,” he said. “It could be worse.”

The learning group system also only applies to inside the school. Holka out that, although the “school has done their best given the situation ... everyone just takes their masks off and huddles when they get outside.”

Within the school, College Heights is taking steps to make this year easier for students.

For example, the WIFI reception has improved, which is especially useful since the pandemic makes using school provided laptops difficult, Halka noted.

“We can use our own devices without having any problems, whether it’s to do work or to unwind during a break our

teacher might give us.”

Arrival times have also been staggered to avoid crowding. Younger students arrive at school on time and older students arrive a bit later.

“As a Grade 12 student, I particularly enjoy being able to start school a little later and finish a little earlier,” Halka said.

Overall, students have taken the current situation in stride and classes are running well. Students are finding creative ways to engage with their classmates. For example, the chess club, unable to run in school, has been able to continue online. Important assemblies also take place on Zoom and the learning groups have been able to foster a sense of camaraderie. Despite all of the changes, school has managed to adapt and remain engaging. After such a long time away from school, Halka echoed a common sentiment.

“I’m just really happy to be back.”

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

FIRE THEM ALL? DON’T BE SILLY

The most common reaction to the news that Kathleen Soltis is no longer the city manager has been a call to “clean house.”

That’s the polite version. Others have adopted the Donald Trump slogan “drain the swamp,” while some argue that the entire senior management team at the City of Prince George needs to be shown the door.

It seems the wisdom of the old saying “don’t throw the baby out with the bath water” doesn’t apply to Facebook comment threads.

It was certainly long past time for Soltis to go but that doesn’t mean everybody that reported directly to her also needs to be shown the door.

As anyone who’s ever held a job for more than five minutes knows, good employees and bad employees, good managers and bad managers, work side by side. Often, it is the dedicated workers and fellow managers that prop up poor leaders, disguising

their incompetence. Only a closer look reveals what’s really going on.

Most employees at most employers, including the City of Prince George, are solid, qualified individuals who work hard for their paycheques and take their responsibilities seriously.

Is a housecleaning required among senior leadership at city hall? Frankly, yes, but that effort needs to be done carefully and strategically for the long-term benefit of a lean, efficient municipal government, not for the short-term satisfaction of slashing salaries.

Mayor and council are now in a solid position to implement deep, institutional change, something which Soltis, a 34-year city employee, never seemed willing to deliver.

The first order of business is to task interim city manager Walter Babicz with putting together a plan to streamline the management structure at city hall. Once approved by mayor and council, Babicz would implement that plan, ideally by year-end.

Numerous significant wins would come from that action and the speed in which it’s done.

The directors who are not good leaders are weeded out of the organization.

The positions that do not deliver good value for their cost are eliminated. Note the focus is on the positions, not the people. Doesn’t matter how nice the person filling the chair is if the role is unnecessary.

The talented, up-and-coming employees are given the opportunity to move into new roles of greater responsibility, change the culture and improve their departments.

The process could serve as an audition for city council to assess whether Babicz should become the new city manager.

Even if city council decides to bring in a fresh face to lead the local bureaucracy, that new city manager will benefit from the improvements Babicz implements.

The quick action would demonstrate to local residents the seriousness mayor and council in restoring confidence in local government. The quick action would also send the right message to the Canadian Union of Public Employees heading into bargaining for new contracts later this year. Senior managers will now lead by example when it comes to belt tightening, not by “do as we say, not as we do.”

If Soltis had remained, she would have been a poor choice to lead contract negotiations, since her salary increased by 15 per cent during the same time period where

Be your own news champion

Know any Latin? Probably not –it is a dead language, after all.

But there’s one phrase you may have at least heard of: caveat emptor.

It means, literally, “let the buyer beware.” It’s become a staple of contract law; in short, it means that someone buying something needs to learn about the nature of what they’re buying – that it does what it should and that the seller is actually allowed to sell it.

But in 2020, perhaps we should switch it up for caveat lector – let the reader beware.

That’s because the digital and social media revolutions make it more possible than ever for us as readers to be fooled – with our own habits used against us.

It used to be a very expensive enterprise to reach a mass audience. It took a massive investment in capital and staff to buy presses, radio stations, or TV licences, to run them and to distribute news to the public.

GUEST COLUMN TIM SHOULTS

As a result, the craft of journalism –which began with pamphleteers and partisans spreading “news” that served their interests – had to become more neutral and more objective in order to gain as large an audience as possible.

Yes, the concept of objective journalism, high-minded as it sounds, was an economic decision.

But it had a benefit to the reader: credibility became an asset. Messing with the truth came with a major price tag, which made it too big of a risk to take for most publishers.

But now, when every person has the world’s biggest printing press and world-

wide distribution in their hand, there’s no cost – and next to no risk – to publishing whatever someone wishes, and making it look like a legitimate news source. And it goes well beyond that; the algorithms that rule our digital world can trap you in an echo-chamber of your own reading choices, keeping information from you that might otherwise broaden your horizons, give you context, or change your mind.

That means we, the reading public, must become our own fact-checkers and our own guides through the media landscape –caveat lector.

The first, and most important lesson: know your sources. Look for the name above the headline on your Facebook feed. Do you recognize it? If you don’t, proceed with caution, and look for sources you trust to corroborate what you’ve read.

Thankfully, there are tools that can help you with that. In fact, you’re reading one right now.

CUPE workers received a total of 6.75 per cent in wage hikes. That and the double time she collected in overtime during the 2017 Cariboo wildfires evacuation crisis, as opposed to the time-and-a-half paid to unionized staff, would have left her open to the reasonable argument that if she and her team are worthy of big raises, so are the people beneath them.

Mayor and council are going to have to work hard over the next two years to earn their pay as the city grapples with the effects of the pandemic on its revenue. Carrying on as normal while passing on huge tax increases to local taxpayers and demanding bailout money from the provincial and federal governments is not an option.

Difficult choices need to be made in the months ahead. The departure of Soltis should be the start of that process at city hall.

That work shouldn’t be done with glum faces, however. The hard work required to deliver lasting, meaningful and beneficial change requires talented workers rallying around devoted leaders, with everyone holding each other accountable.

“Fire them all” wouldn’t help in that process, it would hinder it.

— Editor-in-chief Neil Godbout

Whether you’re reading these words on a printed page, a laptop screen or scrolling on a phone, you’re reading them from a community news source – a trusted news source.

What makes you know we can be trusted? Because we still have skin in the game. We are often the only people in the communities we serve who are paid to tell its stories, week in and week out. Our credibility is our strongest asset, and we seek to protect it by reporting the news to the best of our abilities, and by holding ourselves accountable to our readers through bodies like the National NewsMedia Council (mediacouncil.ca for more).

So as you navigate this new digital world, take us along as your guide.

We won’t pretend to be your champion for truth; rather, we’ll help you become your own champion.

— Tim Shoults is the vice president of content and audience development for the Glacier Media Group

MAILING ADDRESS

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

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

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

OFFICE HOURS

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

OFFICE HOURS

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

OFFICE HOURS

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

SHAWN CORNELL, DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING 250-960-2757

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

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

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

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

GENERAL NEWS news@pgcitizen.ca

GENERAL NEWS news@pgcitizen.ca SPORTS

GENERAL NEWS news@pgcitizen.ca

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

SHAWN CORNELL, DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING 250-960-2757

scornell@pgcitizen.ca

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

SHAWN CORNELL, DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING 250-960-2757

scornell@pgcitizen.ca

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

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@pgcitizen.ca

WEBSITE FEEDBACK digital@glaciermedia.ca

PRINCE GEORGE Member of the National Newsmedia Council. A division of Glacier Media.

COLLEEN

Insurance companies prey on vulnerable

Living with a brain injury is an ongoing struggle every moment of every day. Coping with insurance companies can take this struggle over the edge.

When I was mugged in October of 2018, I was assaulted and thrown down on the sidewalk. The back of my head smashed on the concrete. As a result, I have a permanent brain injury and my jaw, neck and shoulders were also damaged during the assault. Despite attempts to return to work, my deficits were so significant that this proved to be an impossible feat.

I jumped through a lot of hoops to be approved for long-term disability benefits through my employer’s insurance company. I parted with thousands of dollars in wages during the transition between medical employment insurance and long-term disability benefits.

When I was approved for Canada Pension Plan Disability benefits, I had a lump

BOGGLED

DIANE NAKAMURA

sum payment deposited into my bank account. This amount was for the time period when I started receiving long-term disability benefits from the insurance company to when I was approved for CPP Disability benefits.

The insurance company demanded I hand over the entire amount to them and if I didn’t, they would cut me off. This money would have made up for my lost wages. The big kicker is I will have to pay income tax on this. I felt this was criminal, considering I had paid into CPP for over 40 years.

I have had numerous testing and assessments done since my injury. This generated many reports, which were distributed to the numerous organizations involved in

my case. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I feel like I’m under a microscope.

The results of my psychological testing were so low in my cognitive abilities that I couldn’t hold down a job at Walmart. My 33-year career in social work came to an abrupt end after my injury, a loss that I continue to grieve deeply.

Last week I received a call from the insurance company requesting an update on my progress. I reported there has been very minimal progress and provided examples. I was aghast when I was asked when I would be returning to work. I stated I had received notification that my employment has been terminated and I no longer had a job to return to.

Then I was asked if I had given thought to work I would be suitable for and what attributes I would bring to a new employer. I was also asked what topics I covered with my therapist. If this isn’t harassment, I don’t know what is. At some point, my

NDP equity mandate a joke

If it’s too good to be true, it usually is. Click-bait. Or bait and switch. Advertise one thing; but provide something different.

The NDP’s equity mandate is an example.

The BC NDP has a two-pronged rule to increase the number of women and anyone from “equity-seeking” groups as candidates: first, any seat left open by a resigning white male must go to a woman, or some other member of an equity-seeking group. Second, when a woman resigns a seat, the candidate must be replaced by a woman candidate. Sounds very progressive but, it is getting in the way of a star candidate, so the NDP brass’s attitude to their own rule is: “Let’s ignore it, because we like our star candidate more.”

The NDP already had an issue with this

THINKING ALOUD

TRUDY KLASSEN

mandate in the last election. That time the problem was in southern B.C. and related to a candidate who didn’t want to reveal his personal details to show how he qualified as part of an equity-seeking group.

This time it’s close to Prince George. The Stikine rididing in the northwestern corner of B.C. has been held by NDP Doug Donaldson since it was created in 2009. Donaldson is not running this time. So, according to the NDP policy, the candidacy should go to a woman or other equity-seeking group.

It’s a bit confusing how everything

happened, but a white male is the new candidate in former NDP MP Nathan Cullen. It seems he is tired of flying across the country, but not of politics, so he has been accepted as the NDP’s candidate. This despite an Indigenous woman, Annita. McPhee, submitting her nomination papers. McPhee is apparently disqualified simply because she is in the way of this star candidate. A white male who wants his way by pretending to be progressive, but isn’t, when it affects him.

McPhee would be no embarrassment to the NDP. She is a three-term president of the Tahltan Central Government and has two degrees. In anyone’s estimation, she seems imminently qualified. She won’t be the candidate, however, because the equity mandate doesn’t exist to restrain those in power, it was written to attract voters

brain shut off and I don’t recall the bulk of the conversation. I do have a vague recollection that I was crying.

This is how private insurance companies treat vulnerable disabled people. I have had many conversations with brain injured folks who have received the same treatment as me. It seems to me that after grabbing CPP Disability lump sum payments, insurance companies work hard to kick people off of their long-term disability benefits.

It wasn’t always like this. Something happened 20 plus years ago that resulted in a partnership between the federal government and private insurance companies. Why pay recipients lump sum payments when it is not for them to keep? Why is the federal government giving insurance companies this money and taxing disabled people like me for money we didn’t receive?

Sniff, sniff.

I smell a rat’s nest.

concerned about equity. This situation is no different than religious leaders who love to make rules for everyone to appear dedicated to holiness. It is no different than the business who advertises they are family-friendly in order to attract the best talent. We all know that too often, these proclamations and rules are no more than false advertising.

The equity mandate is there to pretend that the NDP care more about marginalized people than other political parties. Good people vote NDP because they believe in equity. They think that more government, and therefore more rules, will solve the problems of equity and representation.

The BC NDP’s equity mandate is not about equity. If it was, Cullen would have immediately stepped down when McPhee announced her intention to run.

U.S. election violence fear is real

There was an apocryphal story circulating in the Philippines in the early 1980s of a dinner party conversation between President Ferdinand Marcos and Catholic Bishop Jaime Sin. Marcos said, “I really admire those Americans. They know the results of their presidential elections the day of the election.”

In response, Sin said, “Well how about us Filipinos? We know the results of our elections before they even take place!” It is very interesting how fiction can turn into reality. In 1986, Marcos, after 20 years as dictator of the Philippines, declared that he had defeated Corazon Aquino, winning yet another presidential election. Sin and many other Filipinos did not believe this was the case. What then ensued became known as the People Power Revolution. Millions of Filipinos took to the streets and Marcos responded by sending his well-

LESSONS IN LEARNING

GERRY CHIDIAC

equipped military to quell the protests.

I recall watching the events unfold on my television, fearing a bloodbath. Sin and the other religious leaders called on the population to pray. People marched on the streets, even offering flowers to overwhelmed soldiers. Within days, Marcos and his family were on a plane to Hawaii, where he spent the rest of his life in exile.

It is ironic how the United States could now be facing a situation so similar to what happened in its former colony.

President Donald Trump is already casting doubt on next month’s election. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, many will choose to vote by mail, and though mailin voting is historically one of the most

accurate ways to hold an election, Trump insists the results will not be valid. Trump has also called for service reductions in the postal service and many voting centres will not be used in this election, forcing people to travel significant distances if they want to vote in person. Most of the closed centres are in areas where people would be less likely to vote for Trump.

In his public discourses, Trump has hinted that he will not accept the results of the election unless he wins. Knowing that he no longer has the unquestioning support of the entire military or other law-enforcement agencies, he has hinted encouragement toward white-extremist militias, who are among his most enthusiastic advocates.

While it is possible that Donald Trump will be re-elected as president, it is very unlikely. He did not win the popular vote in 2016 and millions who voted for him then have not been satisfied with his leadership, especially in recent months. It is also quite

probable that many who did not vote in 2016 will participate in this year’s election and vote against Trump. It is beginning to become clear that the only way for Trump to remain in power is either to invalidate the votes of vast numbers of Americans or to simply refuse to leave office. There is a legitimate fear that the 2020 American presidential election will result in violence. Being aware, however, allows one to prepare. Jaime Sin and the Filipino people have shown the world that peaceful transitions can take place despite looming threats of violence. The model they used, of course, is not unique to the Philippines. It is the same principle used by Mohandas Gandhi and the people of the Indian subcontinent to defeat the British Empire. The truth is, we not only know the danger, we know how to effectively respond to it. Passive resistance is not easy and it is not without danger to protesters, but it is the most effective way to bring about enduring political and social change.

How to properly start new employees

Last week I called my local credit union about my bank account. The phone was answered by Phil, whom I had known as a longterm employee of the credit union. Over the years, I would go into the branch on a regular basis and Phil would be serving her customers in a caring manner, greeting people by name and asking about their family members. Phil told me that as a result of COVID-19, she had cut her hours and was working part time. She was on the road to retirement but this was a difficult transition for her after 47 years at the credit union. Forty-seven years in the same organization!!!

According to Statista, an HR support company, the average length of time someone stays at the same job in finance is 105.8 months. Phil has been there 564 months. This means that most credit unions would have replaced Phil 5 times due to normal staff turnover.

BUSINESS COACH

DAVE FULLER

If you haven’t been in the position of hiring and training new staff you might think that there is nothing to it. However, employee orientation is a long-term process that might include a training progression of up to a year. When we bring on a new employee there are a series of steps, we should follow in the first few days including:

Orientation to business: Employees need to know what is the history of the business, the mission or purpose of the organization, what is the job description of this employee and who do they report to? What are their roles and responsibilities? They must be given a tour of the buildings and an explanation of other branches or locations involved and they must be introduced to other employees and shown their

desk, bathrooms, and emergency exits. This all takes time.

Introduction to the company policies and procedures: This should include information concerning dress code, work schedule, opening and closing instructions, lunch times, expense claim procedures, personal salary and benefits, and procedures to follow regarding sick days and holidays. Expect to take at least an hour just to go over your employment documentation to ensure that their employment status is understood by your bookkeeping and payroll staff.

Other: Don’t forget the legal requirements, safety and emergency procedures, as well as technical information about the tools they will need to do their job. Employees need to know about product or service standards, operation manuals and policies around their specific area of work. All these steps should be followed on the first day of onboarding. Expect that you are going to have to allocate additional staff and time to training your new worker over the next several months. Not only will your new employee be working at a limited ca-

Step up, Mr. Wilkinson

An open letter to Andrew Wilkinson:

Greetings. What follows are a series of admonitions and exhortations. They need to be said out loud and in public to ensure that if you don’t read them, someone brings them to your attention; even if that doesn’t occur, with people making like pet ostriches of a naked emperor, my conscience demands I bear witness to the truth. Bonus: I get to say “I told you so” later.

Let’s be clear about something from the start: I don’t like you and I remain skeptical to actively hostile towards the “free enterprise party” you lead. I’m not going to bother with a litany of grievances and policy differences proving your side’s ineptitude versus my brilliance. To save time, we’ll agree to disagree on everything but one point: you are the loyal opposition leader of the third most important province in this country - you had better bloody well start acting like it.

Please save your shock till the end - it is important to state for the record that there are no more secrets after the internet.

pacity, you must allocate a trainer or mentor to shadow and support that person. You must allow additional time and lots of patience for staff reviews, probationary periods, mentorship and oversight. I used to figure that it would take me six months to a year to get any retail employee up to speed. A bank or credit union could take much longer.

The estimated costs of train a new employee is 21 per cent of the annual cost of an employee. Based on this information, Phil has saved her credit union a full year’s salary by staying with her credit union five times longer than the average employee. She deserves a real gold watch when she retires! Hiring and onboarding new employees is a costly matter.

Yet if you can train and treat your employees well so that you have less turnover, your organization will reap considerable rewards.

- Dave Fuller, MBA, is the author of the book Profit Yourself Healthy and an award-winning business coach. Turning over at night? Email dave@profityourselfhealthy.com

Endless problem

I’ve lived in “the hood “and above it for 24 years and in that time nothing has really changed here other than a heavier police presence. If you drive along 20th Avenue from the auto dealerships to Queensway during any hour of the day or night, you are guaranteed to see the homeless, the street walkers, the drug dealers and everything in between lurking somewhere sometimes with one or two people but

RIGHT OF CENTRE

NATHAN GIEDE

Everyone knows you’re handing out the banal “A Thousand Small Sanities” and about as exciting as cold kippers when using a podium. It is also no secret that your party, largely due to its total lack of principles, has empty coffers at headquarters, and that even veteran staff members are being asked to take holidays or unpaid leave to campaign.

Indeed, from the pathetic quality of your social media game and the spurious reasoning of COVID explaining the lack of offices, to the fact veteran campaigners from out of province are rebuilding the most basic infrastructure by hand, the amount going wrong already in this writ period suggests the B.C. NDP could achieve a super majority. My vitriol for your party aside, can we not agree that this would be the worst possible outcome for British

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

more often than not groups as large as 20 or so congregating somewhere.

It’s a daily occurrence to see several people strung out on their drug of choice and there is open drug use going on. I’ve lost count the amount of ODs I’ve seen and the resultant deaths from it, even going to the bathroom in someone’s yard or business. I have been told to call the police many times but they can only do so much. The city ignores the issue completely and if you ask the mayor or most of city council, they give empty promises or pretend not

Columbia and Canada?

Regardless of the preparedness of your political party, you owe the citizens of this province a strong campaign. If there really isn’t enough money to wage a proper war for the other half of B.C., you need to honestly appeal to the voters, asking for small donations and volunteers to set The Most Beautiful Place on Earth back on course. Thus, you may have to exhibit some humility, Mr. Medical Doctor/Queen’s Councilor. I also strongly suggest that you come clean about your background. As an immigrant, you have a story that could appeal to many voters who are currently on the fence. As a man who put himself through two professional degrees, you can sound notes of hope to many who are dismayed by the economic conditions of COVID. Finally, your experience with civil liberties ought to be a source of strength, as freedom of expression has been squeezed in our tribunals.

We all know you’re not a populist or a preacher with a bully pulpit. Be honest and instead have candid stills or short video ads that show personal conversations.

Ironically, a man down south I doubt you have sympathy for has gained a great deal of popularity by being one of the only candidates in history that doesn’t change his accent or costume at every whistle stop. You can take up tropes that suit you much better: don’t try to beat your opponents at their own game.

Lastly, the governing party is vulnerable on several counts, from their handling of COVID to their poorly thought out recovery plan. Don’t listen to pollsters - they haven’t been right since 2016; criticize the government strongly, offer bold solutions to these “unprecedented times,” and capitalize on the fact that the pandemic response was authored when you were in government - the parts that worked anyways. There are dozens more weaknesses to exploit, so use them.

There is very little hope that you and your party will achieve government. Even if you do, I’ll still be one of your greatest detractors. But as it stands, the people of BC are waiting for you, the opposition, to act. Do you want your epitaph to be “he folded” or “he fought the good fight?”

to hear what you ask. This has been the way ever since the Colin Kinsley days and every subsequent mayor and council since then.

It’s gotten to the point those of us that live in the area rarely call police, we expect no help from the city and if one of the street walkers or homeless dies we view it as one less problem in the neighbourhood. It may be callous but it’s reality for us that live within the area.

Not everybody has given up hope or has stopped caring but they are far and few

between. For us it is part of our life and daily routine and an open secret nobody in the city wants to talk about and is rarely reported on by news media and even then it’s often put in a positive spin.

Anybody who doesn’t live in the area always have suggestions but because it doesn’t affect them they say their piece and then are happy to go on their way. For the rest of us we get to live it and deal with it daily.

Dean Soiland Prince George

NDP MAKING A DIFFERENCE, ATKINSON SAYS

ARTHUR WILLIAMS

Citizen staff

District of Mackenzie Mayor Joan Atkinson said she’s not normally one for partisan politics, but her experience over the past 18 months has shown her that an NDP government is the right choice for B.C. and the north.

Atkinson is the NDP candidate in the Prince George-Mackenzie riding in the upcoming provincial election. She was acclaimed mayor of the hard-hit forestry town in 2018, after serving on the Mackenzie district council since 2007 – including four years as deputy mayor.

“We live in a fabulous place, and we really need to keep the momentum going. The NDP government has helped this community,” Atkinson said. “Our community lobbied the Liberal government to have a school board trustee from Mackenzie, and one from the Robson Valley. When the NDP got in in 2017, I met with (Education Minister Rob Fleming) that fall. We had

that changed within five months.”

Atkinson said she’s met with and spoken with Premier John Horgan several times on the forestry issues challenging her community. The indefinite curtailment of the Canfor sawmill and Paper Excellence Canada pulp mill in Mackenzie saw the town of roughly 3,700 people lose more than 650 good-paying jobs. In 2019, the provincial government created the Mackenzie Timber Supply Area Coalition – led by Conifex and including government, industry, labour and

First Nations representatives – to provide input to government on how to revitalize the forest sector in Mackenzie.

“We have come up with a suite of recommendations that we’ll be bringing forward soon,” Atkinson said. “(Horgan) recognized that things weren’t working. He wants to fix it, but he wants to know what’s wrong from the people with boots on the ground.”

While forestry is the major issue in Mackenzie, in Prince George issues around homelessness, addiction and mental health are also front and centre, she said. In the more rural parts of the riding like Bear Lake, she said she’s heard about issues like the lack of high-speed internet service.

“That has to be fixed,” she said. “(And) I think the overall, umbrella issue is COVID-19. People have criticized Premier Horgan for calling this election, but what’s happened in this province has been a model for the world. We need to have a strong government in place. This is going to take a few years to get out of this.”

Atkinson has lived in Mackenzie since 1997, and prior to going into politics full-time worked as a civil servant for the federal government and provincial government, including for the Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Ministry of Citizens’ Services and the court system.

She said she hopes to bring her experience working on the front line of government, delivering services on the local level, to Victoria.

“When Premier Horgan reached out to me and asked if I would run, I had to think about it. It meant giving up the job I’ve enjoyed the most,” she said. “(But) I had to not be a coward and take up the challenge. I do feel strongly supported by Mackenzie, and I want to earn the support of the rest of the riding.”

Atkinson said this won’t be a normal campaign, but she hopes to be able to reach out to voters throughout the riding and in Prince George.

Kerr brings Green ideas to campaign trail

ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff

UNBC student Mackenzie Kerr says its time for the north to have a young MLA with fresh ideas in the legislature.

Kerr is is the B.C. Green Party candidate in the Prince George-Valemount riding. It’s the second election campaign for the 23-year-old forestry student. Kerr ran for the federal Green Party in 2019, earning 9.1 per cent of the vote in the Cariboo-Prince George riding.

“I commend (incumbent MLA Shirley Bond) on all of her incredible work. (But) I think this riding is ready for a candidate who has new ideas and is professional enough to bring it to the legislature,” Kerr said. “I believe we need young people in the legislature... to make sure young people and the future are being considered.”

It’s important to have elected representatives with a variety of backgrounds and life experiences, she said.

“Despite my age, I have a wide variety of

life experiences. I’ve worked in a pulp mill, on a non-profit farm and customer service,” Kerr said. “I’m a renter, I’m a student, and I’m worried about the future.”

Kerr said her focus as an MLA would be on promoting sustainable forestry and local agriculture initiatives, as well as promoting the transition to new, more sustainable economy.

“Local agriculture is something I’m very passionate about, having grown up on a farm and from my involvement in 4-H,” she said. “The opportunities are endless right

now. We need the political will to move us in the right direction, and not just stick with the status quo.”

The Green Party does politics differently, she said. There is no party whip, so Green MLAs are always free to vote for what is best for their communities.

The party’s platform and policies are based on science and expert advice, not ideology, she said.

“I am extremely impressed by the B.C. Greens,” she said. “The Green Party has done a great job of holding the NDP accountable. They made every bill better, that they supported.”

A lot of people have fallen through the cracks during the province’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, she said. The Green Party has put its focus on identifying those people and is looking at how to help them – things like looking at increasing wages for underpaid workers in the healthcare sector and moving to a fully-public model for long-term care to ensure people can access good care regardless of their

income, she said.

Many people have found themselves isolated and lacking connection because of the pandemic.

“I think we need to come up with creative solutions to connect again,” she said.

The pandemic also means this election campaign won’t look like previous campaigns, Kerr said. Her team won’t be doing door-to-door canvassing this year and instead will be focused on phone canvassing and connecting with voters through social media.

Kerr said she plans to hold some small, outdoor campaign events as well, but will be looking at creative ways to reach out and connect with the people of Prince George-Valemount.

“I’m going to reach out to as many people in Prince George-Valemount as I can, and I hope to earn their vote.”

In addition to incumbent Liberal MLA Shirley Bond, Kerr is running against NDP candidate Laura Parent and Libertarian candidate Sean Robson.

Parent running for NDP in PG-Valemount

MARK NIELSEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The New Democratic Party has turned to youth in its attempt to take Prince George-Valemount in this month’s provincial election.

Laura Parent, a 21-year-old political science student at UNBC. Parent said she has been involved in the NDP for about three years and worked as a volunteer on the campaigns for Natalie Fletcher in Prince George-Valemount and Bobby Deepak in Prince George-Mackenzie during the 2017 provincial election. Parent said she took her inspiration from Madeline Lalonde, an equally-youthful woman who ran for the NDP in 2017 against BC Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson in Vancouver-Quilchena.

“She’s been kind of a role model for me

for the past few years and when there was an opening and a shot at being the candidate, I thought I would move forward and put my name in.”

Parent acknowledged her youthful age.

“I’m a little bit new to the political sphere, but I’m excited and I can’t wait to

get started,” Parent said.

She also acknowledged that she will be going up against incumbent B.C. Liberal Shirley Bond, who is seeking her sixth successive term as MLA. She said Bond has served the riding well, “but I hope voters will consider someone who is young and energetic and professional and ready to work hard for the riding.”

Issues near and dear to Parent include accessibilty of services, particularly for seniors and vulnerable people, drawing more services to northern B.C. and developing a sustainable economy in the region.

“Obviously, the forest industry in Prince George is struggling - Prince George and surrounding areas - and that needs to be the utmost in terms of the government’s attention,” Parent said.

“And while I’m so, so pleased to see what they have done so far, I can’t wait to see what a voice from this riding in the legislature would mean and how we could move forward with that.”

Born and raised in Prince George, Parent graduated from Kelly Road Secondary School. Away from school and politics, Parent said she is a scout leader and works primarily with kids ages 8-10.

Parent’s confirmation as the candidate came as Prince George lawyer Jon Duncan said on Facebook that the NDP had denied his bid to become the candidate for the riding because his past views on the switch to no-fault automobile insurance clashed with those of the party. However, Duncan said he will continue to support the NDP.

JOAN ATKINSON

MACKENZIE KERR

LAURA PARENT

MLA CANDIDATE FIELD FINALIZED

Citizen staff

The field of candidates for the B.C. provincial election is now set. The candidates in the three local ridings are as follows:

PRINCE GEORGE/VALEMOUNT

• Shirley Bond, Liberal Party (incumbent seeking re-election)

• Laura Parent, New Democratic Party

• MacKenzie Kerr, Green Party

• Sean Robson, Libertarian PRINCE GEORGE/MACKENZIE

• Mike Morris, Liberal Party (incumbent seeking re-election)

• Joan Atkinson, New Democratic Party

• Catharine Kendall, Green Party

• Dee Kranz, Christian Heritage Party

• Raymond Rodgers, Libertarian

NECHAKO LAKES

• John Rustad, Liberal Party (incumbent seeking re-election)

• Anne Marie Sam, New Democratic Party

• Jon Rempel, Libertarian

• Margo Maley, Independent

• Dan Stuart, Christian Heritage Party

Voting day is Saturday, Oct. 24, and the polls will be open that day from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. (local time).

Voters must cast their ballots in the electoral district in which they reside. If you’re unsure what your electoral district is, call Elections BC at 1-800-661-8683.

All voters have the option to vote in advance from Thursday, Oct. 15-Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 8 a.m.-8 p.m., at any Elections BC advance/general voting place. In Prince

George, advance voting offices are at 4514 Austin Road West, 3400 Hart Highway, 3555 Fifth Ave., 3590 Dufferin Ave., 808 Canada Games Way and 7201 Domano Blvd.

Advance votes will also be accepted at district electoral offices. In Prince George-Mackenzie, the office is at Tabor Plaza, 212-100 South Tabor Blvd. In Prince George-Valemount, it’s at 1511 Third Ave. In Nechako Lakes, it’s at 102 Stewart St. West in Vanderhoof.

Other voting places will only be open on Oct. 24. Go to wheretovote.elections.bc.ca to find all the locations in the city to vote.

Voters will have an assigned voting place on election day but if it is more convenient you can vote at any another voting place within your electoral district. If you vote

Bear awareness campaign underway

Citizen staff

City of Prince George bylaw officers and members of the BC Conservation Officer Service are conducting a door-to-door bear awareness campaign.

Throughout October, bylaw and conservation officers will be visiting homes in the city to educate residents about how to keep their yards free of food sources that attract wildlife – especially bears.

“This year is shaping up to be one of the worst years ever for bear/human interactions in Prince George,” a statement issued by the City of Prince George on Friday said. “Since April 1, about the time bears begin leaving their den in the spring, the (BC Conservation Officer Service) has received more than 1,300 reports of problematic bears in the community – more than 500 in the month of September alone. In comparison, the COS received about 900 such calls in all of 2019.”

The bear patrol teams will be targeting neighbourhoods the day before their scheduled garbage collection.

Garbage cans are a major attractant for bears, as a bear can often get as much food from a single residential garbage can as from a full day of foraging in the wild, the statement issued by the city said.

“The consequences of providing bears with

easy access to unnatural food sources are obvious: more bears, and more bears needing to be put down,” the city statement said. “Food that is more available means bears are more tolerant of other bears and of humans - which is bad for bears and bad for people.”

Under city bylaws, residents are not allowed to put their garbage cart out on the curb until 4 a.m. on collection day. Homeowners who put their garbage can out early can face a $300 fine.

Homeowners who keep wildlife attractants like bird feeders and fruit trees in a way that they are accessible to wildlife can be fined $200.

City residents are urged to:

• Store their garbage cart in a garage or shed, if possible. If not possible, secure the lid using rope, a bungee cord or other device.

• Not grow fruit-bearing trees or plants. If you do, regularly remove any ripe fruit and vegetables.

• Clean outdoor barbecues and grease traps regularly.

• Feed pets indoors.

• Remove bird feeders during the spring to autumn months.

• Rinse all recycling material.

Last year, the city introduced roughly 300 bear-resistant residential garbage carts in the Hart Highlands Croft neighbourhood as part of a pilot project to reduce bear/human conflicts.

in person, bring valid identification which shows your name and home address. Bring your voting card, which will be mailed to your home address. Bring your own pencil or pen to mark the ballot. Voters are also being encouraged to wear a mask to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19.

Another option, especially for those not comfortable with voting in person due to the pandemic, is to mail in your ballot. Vote-by-mail packages are available online at eregister.electionsbc.gov.bc.ca or by calling Elections BC at 1-800-661-8683. Completed vote-by-mail packages must be received by Elections BC before 8 p.m. PT on Oct. 24.

It is recommended to request a vote-bymail package by no later than Oct. 17.

Fire break in works for Pilot Mountain

Citizen staff

Local wildfire crews are to begin work this fall on creating a fuel break around the radio towers on Pilot Mountain.

The work will consist of removing hazardous trees and flammable shrubs, thinning out smaller trees and some mature trees, pruning low-hanging branches to prevent fire from moving into tree tops and piling and burning woody debris and other material from the forest floor.

“This project will create a critical fuel break around emergency communication infrastructure such

as fire repeaters, which are used to enhance radio communications for firefighters in areas with poor coverage,” the B.C. Wildfire Service said in a statement.

“Other factors such as the longterm health and resiliency of the forests and recreational use, were all considered when planning for this project.”

The work will be carried out when crews are not busy suppressing wildfires or undergoing training and the project is expected to last three years. The Pilot Mountain Road may be temporarily closed for public safety.

Pidherny parking lot undergoing expansion

Citizen staff

Work began last week on expansion of the north parking lot at the Pidherny recreation site off Foothills Boulevard.

The project will increase the number of parking spots from 30 to 40, complete with marked spaces. The picnic area as well as the existing fence and boulders that border the lot will be relocated.

The site will remain open to the

UNBC EXTENDS INTERIM PRESIDENT’S TERM

Citizen staff

The UNBC board of governors has extended the term of the university’s interim president, Geoff Payne, by two years.

Payne’s term as interim president was extended to Aug. 31, 2022, while the university will continue its search for a new permanent president. Payne, who was serving as UNBC’s vice president of research and graduate programs, took the helm after former president Daniel Weeks went on medical leave in January and then resigned in February.

“We are fortunate to have a talented individual such as Geoff come forward to take on this leadership position,” UNBC chairperson Aaron Ekman said in a press release. “Under his leadership we are seeing continued progress towards critical university initiatives such as academic re-structuring and ongoing enrolment growth. In addition, Geoff is taking on issues such as equity, diversity and inclusion, the labour relations climate, and focusing on building relationships across our community. Although we face challeng-

es, we have many opportunities in front of us as well, and we are very confident in making this decision.”

The decision to extend Payne’s term will provide the university with “a solidified executive leadership team” during the COVID-19 pandemic, a statement issued by UNBC said.

“I’m humbled by the board’s vote of confidence in me,” Payne said in a press release. “I’m looking forward to continuing the work needed to support the board’s strategic direction. I’m fully committed to helping create an environment that pro-

public during the operation, which is expected to be completed by the middle of October. Parking is also available in the southern lot on Piderny Road, which can be reached via North Nechako Road.

Funding for the project is being provided by Recreation Sites and Trails BC as part of a partnership with the City of Prince George for the management and upkeep of the site.

vides for an outstanding experience for our students, that supports our faculty in their teaching and research endeavours, and that continues to empower our staff to provide exceptional service to our mandate.” Weeks was the university’s fifth president, and was appointed to the position in July 2014 and then reappointed for a second term in August 2018. His departure came after a three-week strike by UNBC’s faculty in November 2019. In January, UNBC professor Peter Jackson presented a notice of motion to UNBC’s senate calling for a non-confidence vote against Weeks.

ARIES

Germs spread quickly at this time of the year. In particular, you should take steps to protect your respiratory system. Flu season will come early for you.

TAURUS

There will be a lot of confusion in the air, but you’ll use the opportunity to speak your mind. You’ll get answers and a fair measure of reassurance about a delicate subject.

GEMINI

Work and money will occupy most of your thoughts this week. You’ll contemplate your professional future and make changes if it doesn’t line up with your goals.

CANCER

You’ll benefit from a shopping spree and possibly a whole new style. Friends will inspire you to follow new trends. You might also discover a new outlook on life as you explore your spirituality.

LEO

There’s a good chance you’ll get that long awaited promotion, which will allow you to balance your work and family life. You’ll also widen your client base and make new connections.

VIRGO

If you have young children, you’ll become more responsible for their care. This won’t prevent you from maintaining an active social life as you’ll participate in more family activities.

LIBRA

A friend or family member will announce a spontaneous trip. You’ll need to be more energetic if you want your social life to thrive. You should also plan to spend more quality time with your partner.

SCORPIO

An unconventional learning experience will leave you feeling inspired. You’ll decipher some disturbing information or understand a message that’s left others perplexed.

SAGITTARIUS

Following a dispute or argument, you’ll be able to restore harmony. You’ll also be much more open to compromise. You’ll finally be able to break a few bad habits.

CAPRICORN

You’ll be more than happy to join in on whatever fun activities your friends propose this week. Your competitive spirit and an urge to get moving will allow you to quickly get back into shape.

AQUARIUS

HOROSCOPES & PUZZLES

HOW TO PLAY:

You’ll be assigned new responsibilities at work that will likely require a wardrobe update. With a fresh look, you’ll feel more confident meeting people and making your presence known.

PISCES

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.

You’ll devote a lot of time and energy to your family this week, and it’ll be hard to get you out of your house. People close to you will count on your generosity, but some might take advantage of it.

ARIES

A few hours of overtime at work this week will temporarily improve your financial situation. This will allow you to dedicate more time to your relationship, which may need some attention.

TAURUS

You’ll be in the right place at the right time to stand out and make a good impression. You’ll be proud of yourself this week. At work, you’ll be rewarded or at least given sincere recognition.

GEMINI

It’ll be hard to get you out of the house. You’ll feel attached to old belongings that are taking up too much space. In the end, you’ll be able to get rid of the clutter.

CANCER

You won’t hold your tongue this week, and you’ll speak up when others remain silent. You’ll need to demonstrate authority as you navigate a complex situation in order to overcome an impasse.

LEO

You’ll likely have to invest considerably in your career this week. You might also purchase a new vehicle to avoid a breakdown and improve your image.

VIRGO

You’ll go out of your way to im press others. At work, you’ll gather a large client base and achieve one of your top ambitions. Your hard work will lead to success.

LIBRA

If you’re looking for the perfect job, you’ll find the inspiration you need to choose the right path. You’ll also benefit from having an active imagination as it will allow you to create a masterpiece.

SCORPIO

If you don’t get moving, your sedentary lifestyle will start to negatively affect your health. You’ll invite friends to exercise as a group to help you stay motivated.

SAGITTARIUS

Whether you’re starting a new career or approaching retirement, this week you’ll try to clearly identify your next steps. If you want your future to meet your expectations, you need to make a plan.

CAPRICORN

A training program will propel your career to new heights. You’ll need a lot of patience to overcome the challenges ahead, but something will inspire you to persevere.

AQUARIUS

You’ll spend a lot of time reflecting on your environment and eventually make significant changes to your surroundings. You’ll need to assess your priorities and determine what’s best for you.

PISCES

Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3x3 box.

You’ll be inclined to say yes to everyone, but this will make it harder to keep your promises. It’s difficult to make a decision without all the necessary information, so make sure you reflect long and hard.

ARIES

As the cool weather sets in, you’ll start dreaming about a tropical vacation. You’ll be able to work extra hours to make it happen. Some travel opportunities will be more tempting than others.

TAURUS

You might finally be able to make a living from your passion. After making significant changes, you’ll follow a new path. A project will strengthen your romantic relationship and perhaps lead to a marriage proposal.

Not windward

GEMINI

You’ll need to maintain an active social life if you want to preserve the connections you have with your friends. You’ll consider moving, if only to give yourself a change of scenery and more space.

CANCER

Feminine pronoun

Flips over

Man’s title

Family member

Legendary Himalayan creature 38. Elaborate melody

You might have to devote more time than you anticipated to a particular project, but you’ll be proud of your perseverance. In particular, you’ll complete something that you kept putting off.

Find out

Defaces

Farm measure

LEO

You’ll treat yourself to several new outfits to improve your selfesteem and help you adjust to new responsibilities at work. A confidence boost will be the secret to your success.

Strange

Housetop

Equal 49. “____ Hard” (Willis

VIRGO

You’ll want to clean your house from top to bottom. Tidying up your living space by getting rid of clutter and unnecessary items will also help clear your mind.

LIBRA

You’ll struggle with communication and travel this week. You’ll have to wait a while to hear back from others, and you might find yourself driving in circles at times.

SCORPIO

You’ll need to put in some extra hours at work. While your family might not like your new schedule, you’ll be glad when your next payment helps you clear a nagging debt.

SAGITTARIUS

If you start a new job or major project, you might face disappointment. Be patient. A candid conversation will help you adjust and get things back to the way you like.

CAPRICORN

After working hard at the office, it’s time to rest and make selfcare a priority. Whether you travel alone, with friends or with your romantic partner, a brief getaway will restore your energy.

AQUARIUS

You’ll be surprised by your sudden popularity. Your intuition will guide you, and you’ll demonstrate your creativity. In fact, you might even complete a work of art.

PISCES

HOW TO PLAY:

Cozy place

Throat part

Prospector’s quest

Gleamed

NBC’s peacock, e.g.

Not theirs

Hunted animal

Clothes presser

Wall component

Mama’s mate

Trucker’s

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.

Each

You’ll feel strapped for time this week. Even if you manage your schedule well, you might still have to wait around for others. This will be a good exercise in the value of patience.

CL ASSIF IEDS

Julia Serup, gone October 13 of 2018, along with her husband, Svend, (earlier in the year). Our mother, mother-inlaw, grandmother, along with our father, father-in-law, grandfather. It was hard to have you go but God had need of you.

Proverbs 13:22:

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children…

Your loving family.

SERUP,JULIAA. NOVEMBER16,1931OCTOBER13,2018

Inlovingmemoryofa cherishedmotherand grandmother. AndIshalldwellinthe HouseoftheLordforever. Timepasses,memories stay,lovedandremembered everyday.

Loveddeeplybychildren, NeilandJudy,Michaeland Hoang,andSheilaandJeff; andgrandchildren,Kyle, Courtney,Brendan, Christian,andFiona.

Joan Currie (Kempster)

Sep 24, 1929Sep 2, 2020

Joan Currie was born on Sept 24, 1929 in Winnipeg, MB. Her family relocated to Prince George, BC where she grew up. She was the eldest child of James & Nova Kempster. She will be forever missed by her siblings; sister Ethel (John), brothers Art, Jim (Verna), Reg (Dorothy) and Ivan (Shirley). She leaves behind daughters Lynn (Lee), Lisa and son John. Predeceased by sons Phillip, Jerry, Jim and Tom. Joan moved to Salmon Arm to be near her daughter Lynn and family. She leaves behind 15 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

She was a woman of faith, a poet and singer. She knew salvation and has been set free. Joan lives forever in our hearts.

A Letter For My Bob,

Like older couples, We used to talk of this sad day Knowing, Hoping It was always Far away. Then with so little warning, no way to see the battles,

Our world turned upside down, our minds and hearts just broken rattles. Some Things You Cannot Stop or Change That Sad Surreal September day. No Tears or Praying Could Re-arrange.

So my Bob, the Viking Spirit that he was, on his own terms gave farewell to his job here on earth that day SEPTEMBER 12th 2020.

He didn’t want a service, a party,or big gathering just the honest actions and what they say. Those who miss him in their hearts: have a beer, play some lotto, buy a stranger with no socks some socks, make a neighbour cupcakes-- Stay true to your own soul. Integrity should be your goal. Work hard. Be kind and good without being proud. Love your spouse and family and do your best to love this crazy land where each of us has come at birth.

Goodbye from Bob Hagen on September 12, 2020.

I miss you. We, his family and friends miss you, and the We is a great many, too many to list here and that stranger who’s day Bob would make a little better, a little richer, a little happier misses Bob too.

I Love you always Bob, from your Bonny Dear.

REMEMBRANCES

May 2nd, 1946 - September 22nd, 2020

Wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, artist and storyteller.

Born and raised in Northern England, Maureen came to Canada as a part of the Catholic Church’s FA program after graduating from the teachers training program at St. Mary’s College in Newcastle upon Tyne. Originally planning to stay for two years, she spent time teaching in Smithers and then Salmo, where she met the love of her life, David. Not long after she and David married, they moved to Prince George where they raised their three daughters.

A truly gentle and creative soul, her life was devoted to her family, her friends and her faith. As an only child, she surrounded herself with many dear friends; a family of choice. She took great joy in all that her daughters accomplished and even greater joy in being an active, engaged grandmother. Her children and grandchildren will have a lifetime of memories of stories read, of games played and of crafts made. In retirement, she and David were also able to finally to travel and enjoy some long dreamed of adventures.

She will be greatly missed by all who knew her and even more so by her husband David; daughters Maria (Doug), Elizabeth (Kevin) and Andrea (Thomas); and grandchildren Nicholas, Norah and Matthew.

A private mass has taken place with plans for a celebration of life at a later date. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Maureen’s name to the Parkinson Society of BC https://www.parkinson.bc.ca/donate/ and condolences can be posted at http://www.hwwallacecbc.com/obituaries/

August 29, 1939October 10, 2020

Predeceased by husband, Morris Pattinson. No service by family’s request.

Her wings were ready but our hearts were not.

BLACK PRESS - CLASSIFIEDS 2x84.0 R0011836659 MOORE, Daniel “Dan” LeVern August 30, 1955 ~ September 30, 2020

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Daniel “Dan” LeVern Moore in Kamloops on September 30, 2020, at the age of 65 years. Dan is survived by his loving wife Karen, son Scott (Andrea), and grandchildren Zoe and Max. Dan was a family man first and foremost, a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He had a strong passion for cooking and all things involving the outdoors. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and hiker.

Donations in memory of Dan may be made to the Canadian Mental Health Association or the BC Cancer Agency

No formal services will be held. Online condolences may be made at www.tvfh.ca

Obituaries

In Memoriam

Maureen Kenward

Betty Ann Pattinson

Survived by her 3 loving children: Debbie (Ormond) Higman, Bruce (Janet) Pattinson and Lance (Emilie); grandchildren: Glen, Crystal and Darcy; greatgrandchildren: Cassidy, Brianna and Jeff.

DUAYNE C. THOMPSON

1948 - 2020

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Duayne on September 13, 2020 at the Hospice House after a well fought battle with cancer, his wife Maureen at his side.

Duayne was an electrician in Prince George for 45 years working out of the IBEW and the last 25 years with Inland Controls where he made many lifelong friends. He was also involved with the North Nechako Karate Club competing and teaching, it was a passion for him. He then found a new sport in golf, he loved all the Aspen Family, his foursome he was out there rain or shine with a big smile.

Predeceased by daughter Ashley. Duayne·is survived by his wife Maureen, children Stacey, Rebecca, Chad; grandchildren Owen, Hannah, Allison, Mylah, Iris and Declan, they were his sunshine; brother Brian, sister Susan, step-dad Al, many family and friends.

I would like to thank his great friend Ken Corrigan who came everyday to see him to the last day and my sister Marylou whom without her I wouldn’t have gotten through. Many thanks as well to the Hospice House for incredible care and compassion for Duayne.

When we were young you took my hand and we ran through life together, but now the time has come my love, you let go of my hand. You will always be with us.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Prince George Hospice House.

If you are interested in joining the Friends’ Board of Directors, please contact us using the same email address.

with a drinking

lem? Alcoholics Anonymous, www.bcyukonaa.org 250-564-7550

Established Franchise Photography Business Serving Northern B.C for over 35 years

Gross Revenues of $150.000 plus annually from seasonal work Lots of opportunity to expand the business. Transition support available to the right buyer

Serious Enquiries Only

Office 250-596-9199 Cell 250-981-1472

Established Franchise Tax Preparation Business Mackenzieservicing and McLeod Lake area for over 30 years.

Gross Revenues of $85,000 to $90,000 Annually and Potential to expand revenues in a growing economy.

Transition support available for the right buyer.

Serious Inquires Only

Office (250)997-9003

Home (250)997-5538 Cell (250)990-0152

BLACK PRESS - CLASSIFIEDS

R0011836550

3.00x42.0-4C

BLACK PRESS - CLASSIFIEDS

R0011835132

3.00x105.0-BW

PG16 / 615595

FINANCE MANAGER

Prince Rupert,

Reporting to the COO, the Finance Manager will organize day-today Accounting procedures, prepare monthly and quarterly reports, process Accounts Payables & manage Accounts Receivables. If you have a background in Accounting or Finance and are looking to be a part of a dynamic team, we would like to meet you.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Preparing funding applications to both Provincial & Federal funding programs

• Tracking project expenses and prepare expense reports

• Managing accounts receivable and payable

• Budgeting & forecasting

• Maintain reports on Financial Metrics, including investments, return on assets, and growth rates

• Manage company liabilities

• Identify and address account discrepancies

• Prepare payroll and process EFT’s

• Report on financial projections

• Liaise with Canada Revenue Agency and work closely with Auditors

SKILLS & INTERESTS

• Proven experience as a Finance Manager or a similar role for at least 5-years

• Hands on experience with Sage 50 Accounting software

• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel

• Good understanding of bookkeeping procedures

• Time management and organization skills

• Must have a minimum of a Bachelors Degree in Finance, Accounting or Economics

HOW TO APPLY

Preference may be given to a Lax Kw’alaams Member or persons with an understanding of Coast Tsimshian culture and practices.

Deadline for applications: October 09, 2020

Apply to: HUMAN RESOURCES

Email resume and cover letters to: hr@laxbdl.com

Must be willing to submit a Criminal Record Check

3.00x133.0-4C

PG11 / PG000031

Join our dynamic sales Team

If you are interested in helping businesses grow and enjoy talking to customers, we’d like to meet you! Key duTies and responsibiliTies

Multi-Media Marketing Executive

• 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

We thank all applicants but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Career Opportunities

160

330’

Furnished Apartments

PREMIUM TRUCK & TRAILER INC.

2x55.0 R0011834426

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.

Teresa Saunders

Dr. Devan Reddy

Richard and Wendy Girard

Douglas Walder

Brian Pearson

Dorothy Reimer

David Flegel

Ron and Annette Parnell

Dave Read

Jan Rose

Dave King

Dorothy Friesen

Gordon Bliss

Barbara Hampe

Chris H.

Linda Wijcik

Susan McCook

Jackie Clements

Roland Green

Sharon & Wayne Armistead

•

TheGreat Trim Debate!

Just recently,I was asked how to determine what finish, tone, and/or colour to be used for wall trim, chair rails or crown moulding. Here’safoolproof, can’t-go-wrong formula:Flatoreggshell finish for walls and semigloss for baseboards, window and door casings, doors and moulding. Flatpaint doesn’t reflect light and is best for hiding bumps and crackson the wall, while semi-gloss paint stands up to traffic, is easy to clean and gives millwork dimension and sheen.

Having said that, some older homes have uased an older fancier and possibly asolid wood moulding whose millworkcertainly deserves to be recogzized. Yes, thereare still some beautifully crafted wood mouldings and trims. It is wonderful to see this craftstill alive and well. Regarding tones and colours, Itook apage from houzz.com,and Isuggest going with the following guidelines;

Choose white if:

Youwant to highlight the subtle undertone of neutral walls

Youwant to breakupbold walls with abreathoffresh air

Youhave simplemoldings you don’t want to highlight

Youwant to leave all the attention on dramatic furnishings

Youaren’t surewhich other color to pick. It’s hardtogowrong with white trim!

Choose neutral if:

Youlove atransitional look (one thatbalances traditional andmodern elements)

Youwant an authentic heritage feel in an older home

Youwant to highlight doors or windows for an architectural look without touching fresh white walls

Choose abold color if:

Youwant to add anew hue without going all-in on the walls

Youwant aquirky, eclectic or uniquelook

Youhave colorful cabinets in akitchen andwant to tie the room together

Pace Realty’sMaintenance Team can help you with your yardand other home maintenance &renovation jobs. Call 250-562-6671 or email us at maintenance@pacerealty.ca today for afree, no hassle quote.

Mary-Jean (MJ) Jacobson loves to talk real estate! She is passionate about helping clients increase the value of the assets. She is aProfessional Property Manager,StrataManager,RealEstate Sales Agent and Licensed Managing Broker.She writes aseries of articles blogs and whitepapers about the real estate and property management industry at ASK MJ.

Refresh your melamine cabinets in five easy steps!

Had enough of your worn-out — and outdated — melamine cabinets? Changing their colour is an affordable way to breathe new life into your kitchen. Before you get started, consider these five essential steps:

1. CLEAN

With the help of a damp soapy sponge, thoroughly wash your melamine cabinets from top to bottom to eliminate grime that’s built up with time. Use an all-purpose degreaser to remove those stubborn oily stains.

2. SAND

Using fine sandpaper (or an electric sander, if you have one), lightly sand down your kitchen cabinets to obtain a nice smooth surface. Next, get rid of the resulting dust with a damp cloth.

3. PREP

Apply a uniform layer of primer to the inside and outside of your cabinets. This step is critical to ensure the paint adheres to the surface. For optimal results, let the basecoat dry for 24 hours (or according to the manufacturer’s recommended time) before moving on to the next step.

4. PAINT

Opt for a type of paint specifically designed for melamine surfaces. Apply at least two generous coats of your colour of choice with a paintbrush and roller. Make sure to let the paint dry completely between coats.

To prevent premature chipping and peeling, seal the deal with a quality varnish once the paint is fully dry. Depending on your preference, choose a varnish with a matte, satin or glossy finish, and apply several coats to better protect your cabinets from early wear.

Here’s to a job well done!

Macramé design: the 70s décor trend is back!

In vogue since the 1970s, macramé is making a remarkable comeback in the interior design world. Today, this traditional practice of braiding and hand-knotting rope to create accessories for the home is being revisited to create trendy bohemian- and vintage-inspired designs.

Whether you make them yourself or scout for them in local artisanal shops, macramé designs are all unique in their own right. Eager to add a touch of macramé to your interior?

Consider these potential creations for inspiration:

• Lampshades • Potholders • Table runners • Pillows

Wall decorations

Hammocks

Hanging baskets

Hanging mirrors

Curtains

Carpets

5. VARNISH

JohN hart peace riVer

chetwyNd

Discover seven qualities of cork flooring

Used to build durable bedroom, living room, dining room, basement and kitchen floors, cork is gaining popularity throughout the home thanks to its numerous advantages over other flooring options. Here are seven characteristics of cork to help inspire your next renovation!

1. DURABLE

Cork is known for its incredible durability. This material is hard to damage, and its porous structure provides excellent shock resistance. Furthermore, cork is flameproof, waterproof, hypoallergenic, antibacterial, antifungal and antistatic—not bad, right?

2. COMFORTABLE

Cork is naturally supple and stretchy. Its cushioned surface is easy on the feet and joints, making it an ideal choice for kitchens and children’s playrooms alike.

3. QUIET

Cork acts as a barrier against noise and vibrations. These insulating properties are especially appreciated by condominium dwellers.

4. ENERGY EFFICIENT

Cork helps maintain a stable room temperature year-round. It doesn’t absorb heat during the stifling summer months and won’t get as cold as hardwood or ceramic when temperatures start to drop.

5. EASY TO CLEAN

As long as it’s protected by a good quality varnish, cork flooring requires very little

maintenance. To keep it looking good as new for as long as possible, all you need to do is regularly vacuum and wash the surface with a damp mop.

6. ECO-FRIENDLY

Cork is sourced from renewable forests and harvested in a way that is safe for the environment. In fact, it’s produced from the bark of cork oak trees, which regenerates with time; this eliminates the need for traditional logging practices (i.e. the tree doesn’t need to be cut down).

7. VERSATILE

Available in a variety of colours and patterns, as tiles or floating planks, cork flooring complements almost every popular style in interior design (modern, rustic, Scandinavian, classic, etc.).

Is your home décor in need of a drastic change?

If you’re a fan of the extravagant 80s, then Memphis design may be just the cure for your drab interior. Read on to discover the secrets of this eccentric décor trend that’s making a big comeback.

WHAT IS MEMPHIS STYLE?

Introduced in 1981 by the renowned designer Ettore Sottsass and his Memphis Group — an Italian design and architecture collective that brought together the decade’s most prominent visionaries — this style is anything but bland. Characterized by bold, colourful furniture and accessories, Memphis-style interiors push the boundaries of eclectic design to create a truly unique aesthetic.

Here are some tips to help you transform your home into a playful space where Memphis design is in the spotlight:

• Choose bright colours that will give your home personality. Opt for canary yellow, electric blue, cotton candy pink, scarlet red and lime green when it comes to your cushions, tables, carpets, lamps and accessories, for example.

• Prioritize stripes, polka dots, abstract designs and zigzags. Choose accessories, furniture and wallpaper with bold patterns and designs.

• Incorporate a variety of geometric shapes: squares, rectangles, circles, polygons, triangles, etc. These details are key elements of the Memphis trend, and they also confer structure and rhythm to your home’s interior.

Dive into the eccentric 80s with Memphis design

• Vary textures and materials to highlight the whimsical quality of Memphis design. Include plastic, wood, marble, metal or decorative laminate to add depth to your décor.

For a home that’s reminiscent of the 80s and Memphis design, choose bold colours and include a variety of shapes, textures and patterns.

Re-introducing velvet!

Noble and sophisticated by nature, velvet has always been considered a stately fabric. This autumn, it’s making its way back into our homes to create an atmosphere best described as cozy chic.

Whether used sparingly or abundantly, velvet always makes a statement. For a beautiful interior that’s in with the times, opt for darker colours like purple, forest green, burgundy or indigo. Remember, the richer the better!

Between couches, armchairs, benches, carpets, curtains and headboards, there are so many ways to add a little (or a lot of) velvety softness to your home this fall!

Black stainless steel appliances

Appliances with a dark stainless steel finish combine elegance and practicality. Are you looking to enhance your kitchen’s appeal with a luxurious new fridge, stove or dishwasher? Read on to find out more about the latest trend in kitchen design!

With their sleek and satiny finish, black stainless steel appliances harmonize well with numerous materials and add a contemporary touch to virtually any style of décor. They’re especially perfect for adding character to modern, industrial and contemporary kitchen designs.

What’s more, many black stainless steel appliances are stain-resistant and therefore camouflage the appearance of unsightly fingerprints (hallelujah!). They’re also very easy to clean: a quick wipe with a dry or damp cloth is enough to restore the surface’s magnificent shine!

It’s

all about the copper!

A versatile metal, copper is widely used in numerous industries (agriculture, transportation, telecommunications, healthcare, architecture, art, design, etc.). Equally popular in interior design, copper is favoured for its authentic character that can be either minimalist or glamorous in style. Read on to find out how to bring this sophisticated metal into your home!

FURNITURE AND ACCESSORIES

Copper (or copper alloy) is used in the manufacturing of countless décor items and

LUSTROUS OR OXIDIZED?

Since copper has a tendency to tarnish with time, your favourite décor items may become discoloured as the years go by. If you like the oldfashioned look of vintage designs — which happen to be in vogue this year — then all the better! However, if you’d prefer to restore your copper accessories’ original lustre, simply sprinkle a lemon wedge with salt and gently rub it against your tarnished items. Rinse well with lukewarm water, and you’re done!

practical household objects. By visiting speciality retailers in your region, you can find light fixtures, mirrors, clocks, potholders, kitchen utensils and office equipment, among a myriad of other items, that feature the metal with varying prominence. In terms of furniture, your options are just as varied. Copper-accented end tables, chairs, shelves and stools, for example, add warmth to any interior. Are you crazy for copper? Opt for copper handles on your bathroom or kitchen cabinets, and install a faucet with a matching finish.

Cottage-style homes: cozy and rustic

With the arrival of fall and its chillier days, the desire to remain bundled up at home often starts to take over. Do you wish to transform your interior into a comfortable and cozy space? Get inspired by cottage-style homes to infuse a touch of rustic appeal and warmth into your décor!

VARIED TEXTURES

To create a cozy nest, opt for throw pillows made of felt, faux fur or wool. Natural fabrics like linen and cotton are equally suitable. Furthermore, choose hardwood furniture and accessories to create a look that’s 100 per cent authentic. When it comes to your walls and floors, don’t hesitate to mix concrete, wood and stone. Finally, pattern-wise, plaid and jacquard are perfect for achieving that cozy cottage feel.

WARM COLOURS

For a soft, soothing atmosphere that will make your home more inviting, opt for neutral shades inspired by nature. Prioritize muted tones like white, beige, light grey, pewter or even black for your walls, accessories and furniture. Additionally, consider including hints of forest green, burnt orange or dark red to add depth to your décor.

SOFT LIGHTING

Indirect lighting — fixtures that direct light upward to bounce off the walls and ceiling (e.g. sconces) — is the key to achieving a cozy ambiance reminiscent of faraway ski chalets. Make sure you install dimmers to be able to adjust the brightness of the room to your liking. You can also add multiple candles — opt for fragrant varieties that smell like pine, cranberry or pumpkin, for example — and scatter strings of lights around your fireplace or windows to bring a festive touch to your interior.

HUNTING TROPHIES

What would an authentic cottage home be without game trophies on display?

How to use chalkboard paint around the home

Adding a coat of chalkboard paint is an easy way to refresh a space and give it personality without breaking the bank. Here are three rooms in the home where you can let your creativity run free!

THE KITCHEN

Apply chalkboard paint to the walls, the refrigerator or the pantry. Feel free to write out the week’s dinner menu, your grocery list, a delicious recipe or an inspiring quote!

THE OFFICE

Are you self-employed or in school?

Chalkboard paint can help you keep your workspace organized. How? Create a giant calendar, record your appointments or make a list of daily tasks, for example.

THE PLAYROOM

Chalkboard paint is ideal if you wish to decorate your children’s playroom in a fun and original way. Paint an entire wall or trace big shapes (clouds, animals, castles, etc.), and let your toddlers colour to their heart’s content!

Choosing the right sideboard for your dining area

A sideboard, or buffet, is a practical piece of furniture used to store or display cutlery, glasses, utensils, tablecloths, etc. Are you on the hunt for the perfect sideboard? Since this type of cabinet often becomes a dining room’s focal point, you need to make a wise choice that takes into consideration your needs and, of course, your style preferences.

SIZE

First and foremost, your buffet must be the right size for your dining area. Avoid buying anything too big if you have limited room. The opposite is equally true: a small sideboard will look lost in a larger space.

CONFIGURATION

Do you intend to store delicate chinaware or decorative objects in your sideboard? In that case, an open model, or one with glass doors, is your best bet. However, if the items you wish to store are more or less appropriate for display, choose a buffet with solid doors or frosted windows instead.

STYLE

Finally, when it comes to the appearance of your buffet, your options are truly limitless! Visit a specialty retai-

ler or an antique shop in your area to find the perfect sideboard for your needs that complements the design of your dining room.

Renovating your kitchen? Consider thermoplastic cabinetry

Are you in the midst of renovating your kitchen? If you’re looking for a durable and attractive material for your kitchen cabinets, thermoplastic is an excellent option to consider. Read on to find out more about this unique synthetic material!

Manufactured from medium-density fibreboard (MDF) panels and covered in a heat-set film, thermoplastic cabinets stand out by their ultra smooth finish and invisible joints. The numerous advantages associated with thermoplastic make it a popular choice among homeowners looking to create a modern and durable kitchen. For example, thermoplastic cabinets are:

• Moisture tolerant

• Available in a variety of finishes (textured, glossy, etc.) and an even greater variety of colours

• Easy to maintain

Decorate your walls with faux animal mounts (deer, moose, bear, bison, etc.) made out of wood, cardboard, metal or plaster for a perfectly rustic look and feel. Low sideboards are a popular choice because they provide ample storage space without crowding the room.

• Very affordable

• Scratchproof