GET YOUR POPPY Bruce Gabriel picks out a poppy in front of the cenotaph in front of city hall to open the Royal Candian Legion’s 2020 Poppy Campaign. Poppies are available at Costco, HSBC, London Drugs, Michael’s, People’s Jewelers, Princess Auto, Shoppers Drug Mart, Starbucks, the Source, Tim Horton’s, Via Rail, and Walmart.
TED CLARKE
Citizen staff
A Prince George business that for 25 years has provided display equipment and expertise for setting up trade shows, special events and weddings has been crippled by the pandemic and provincial rules that ban large
public gatherings are putting its longtime survival in jeopardy.
COVID-19 has reduced business to a trickle and the company’s customers who depend on visual displays and people traffic to market their goods and services are worried about what will happen if Central Display & Tents can no longer absorb
the mounting losses and is forced to shut down permanently
Sheldon White, Central Display’s operations manager, said he was forced to lay off seven employees in mid-March when the economy came to a virtual standstill with the COVID-19 outbreak.
See MAKE MASKS MANDATORY on page 6
B.C.’s next new gold mines could be in production as early 2022 and promise to breathe life back into B.C.’s historic Barkerville region.
Drill results published last month confirm high grades of gold for the Cariboo Gold project, which is not so much a single gold mine, but a district with multiple potential mines.
Mickey Fulp, publisher of the Mercenary Geologist, said the drill results published last week are “same old, same old” – which is to say “fabulous.”
“This Cariboo Gold project, it’s got six million ounces of gold and it’s growing. This is the best project in Canada, no doubt in my mind. This is Canada’s next big gold belt, and it certainly is B.C.’s next mine. There is nothing else on the horizon in B.C. as far as gold goes, that will be profitable in the near term.”
The developers expects to have its Bonanza Ledge mine near Wells in production in 2021’s first quarter. For Cow Mountain, it expects to have full permits in 2022, “followed by a short construction period given the significant infrastructure already at site.”
The infrastructure includes a functioning mill that was operated in 2018 during bulk sampling
The capital cost of the project is estimated at roughly $458 million, about $70 million of which has already been spent. The project will employ about 1,500 workers during construction and 500 to 600 miners once the two mines are in operation.
WHAT:
Public Hearings regarding:
•Proposed amendments to “City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007”
City Council consideration of applications regarding:
•Proposed “City of Prince George 1912 20th Avenue Road Closure BylawNo. 9099, 2020”
•Proposed “City of Prince George 2217 Regents Crescent Road Closure Bylaw No. 9147, 2020”
•Proposed amendments to “City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007”
•TemporaryUse Permit Application No. TU000065
•Cannabis Licensing Application No.’s CN000016, CN000015 and CN000014
•Liquor Licensing Application No. LL100171
WHEN:
Monday, November 9, 2020
WHERE:
Council ChambersofCity Hall, 2nd Floor,1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC
PROPOSALS:
1. “City of Prince George 1912 20th Avenue Road Closure BylawNo. 9099, 2020”
Applicant: City of Prince George
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Pursuant to section 40 of the Community Charter,the City of Prince George intends to close an approximate 113.3 m² (square metres) portion of road as shown on reference Plan EPP104768 dedicated on Plan 1268, adjacent to the properties legally described as Parcel 1, Plan BCP24383, Cariboo District and Lots 3, 4, 17, 18, all of Block 329, Plan 1268, Cariboo District and remove the road dedication, as shown outlined in bold black on Location Map #1 below.
The purpose of the road closure is to enable the sale of the closed road area to the adjacent property owner Gustafson’sAutomobile Co. Ltd. The proposed closure and sale provides the property owner the ability to consolidate the closed road area with their adjacent property
Location Map #1 1912 20th Avenue Road Closure
2. “City of Prince George 2217 Regents Crescent Road Closure BylawNo. 9147, 2020”
Applicant: City of Prince George
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Pursuant to section 40 of the Community Charter, the City of Prince George intends to close an approximate 554.7 m² (square metres) portion of lane dedicated on Plan 1409, as shown on Reference Plan EPP104229 adjacent to the property
legally described as The Common Property Strata Plan PGS345 and remove the lane dedication, as shown outlined in bold black on Location Map #2 below.
The purpose of the road closure is to enable the sale of the closed road area to the adjacent property owner.The proposed closure and sale provides the property owner the ability to consolidate the closed road area with their adjacent property
Location Map #2 2217 Regents Crescent Road Closure
3. “City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007, Amendment BylawNo. 9123, 2020”
Applicants: L&M Engineering Ltd. for Rock ‘N’ Roll Aggregates Ltd., Inc. No. 0406286 and T.R. Projects Ltd., Inc. No. BC0729296
Subject Properties: 5001 North NechakoRoad, 2599 North NechakoRoad and 4439 Craig Drive
Time: 6:00 p.m.
BylawNo. 9123, 2020 proposes to rezone the subject properties as follows:
a. that Lot 1, District Lot 4050, Cariboo District, Plan 25854, Except Plan EPP89775, be rezoned from AF: Agriculture and Forestryand U1: Minor Utility to AG:Greenbelt, C3: Neighbourhood Commercial, RM3: Multiple Residential and RS2: Single Residential;
b. that District Lot 4051, Cariboo District, Except: Firstly; Plan B3724, Secondly; Plan 22731, Thirdly; Plan BCP4770, Fourthly; Plan BCP4772, Fifthly; Plan BCP20972, be rezoned from AF: Agriculture and Forestry, AG:Greenbelt, P1: Parksand Recreation and U1: Minor Utility to AG:Greenbelt, P1: Parksand Recreation, RM1: Multiple Residential, RS2: Single Residential and RT1: Two-Unit Residential; and
c. that Block A(Plan B3724), District Lot 4051, Cariboo District, Except Plan 22731 be rezoned from AF: Agriculture and Forestryand AG:Greenbelt to AG:Greenbelt, RM1: Multiple Residential and RS2: Single Residential.
all as shown outlined in bold black on Location Map #3 below
The purpose of this application is to facilitate afuture subdivision consisting of a residential neighbourhood with amix of housing forms, neighbourhood commercial areas and greenbelt areas on the subject properties, or other uses, pursuant to the AG:Greenbelt, C3: Neighbourhood Commercial, RM3: Multiple Residential, RS2: Single Residential, P1: Parksand Recreation, RM1: Multiple Residential and RT1: Two-Unit Residential zoning designation(s).
4. TemporaryUse Permit No. TU000065
Applicant: Epik Products Inc. (Larissa Dawn Lebel) for Healx Medical Corporation Inc., Inc. No. BC1163648
Subject Property: 356 George Street
Time: 6:00 p.m.
The purpose of the proposed permit is to allow Retail, Cannabis use on the subject property.The proposed retail sale of cannabis will be located in an existing building on the subject property.The applicant has successfully completed the required financial integrity checks and security screenings for anon-medical cannabis retail store by the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch. In accordance with the Local Government Act, temporaryuse permits can allow ause not permitted by azoning bylaw. These permits mayonly be issued for amaximum of three (3) yearsand mayberenewedonce for an additional three (3) years.
The proposed TemporaryUse Permit applies to the property legally described as Lot 5, Block 135, District Lot 343, Cariboo District, Plan 1268, as shown outlined in bold black on the Location and Zoning Map #4 below
4.1. Cannabis License Application No. CN000016
The applicant has applied to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch for aCannabis License for anon-medical retail cannabis store on the subject property.The applicant has successfully completed the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch financial integrity check and security screening for anon-medical cannabis retail store.
The proposed hoursofoperation are: MondaytoSunday: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
The proposed Cannabis License applies to the property legally described as Lot 5, Block 135, District Lot 343, Cariboo District, Plan 1268, as shown outlined in bold black on Location and Zoning Map #4 below
Notice of City Council’sdecision with respect to the license application will be forwarded to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch for their reviewand final determination.
Location and Zoning Map #4 356 George Street
5. Liquor License Application No. LL100171
Applicant: Nancy O’sRestaurant Group Inc., Inc. No. BC0973651
Subject Properties: 1261 -1267 3rd Avenue
Time: 6:00 p.m.
The applicant has applied to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch for an extension of the liquor primaryservice area located in an existing building on the subject properties.
The purpose of the application is to facilitate additional patron seating area, which will allow an increase in occupancy from 84 patrons to 141 patrons.
The existing Liquor PrimaryLicense wasapproved for liquor service from Mondayto Sunday, between the hoursof9:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. No changes are proposed to the hoursofliquor service.
The proposed Liquor License applies to the properties legally described as Lot 5, Block 133, District Lot 343, Cariboo District, Plan 1268, as shown outlined in bold black on Location Map #5 below
Notice of City Council’sdecision will be forwarded to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch for their reviewand final determination on this application.
Location Map #5 1261 –1267 3rd Avenue
6. “City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007, Amendment BylawNo. 9139, 2020”
Applicant: Grasshopper Retail Inc. for Commonwealth Campus Corporation, Inc. No. BC0877533
Subject Properties: 409 –445 George Street
Time: 7:00 p.m.
BylawNo. 9139, 2020 proposes to rezone the subject properties from C1: Downtown to C1c: Downtown.
The purpose of this application is to facilitate the continued operation of Retail, Cannabis as aprincipal use in the existing building on the subject properties, or other uses, pursuant to the proposed C1c: Downtown zoning designation(s).
The proposed Bylawapplies to the properties legally described as Lots 1, 2, 3and 4, Block 150, District Lot 343, Cariboo District, Plan 1268, as shown outlined in bold black on Location Map #6 below
Location Map #6 409 –445 George Street
7. “City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007, Amendment BylawNo. 9153, 2020”
Applicant: Access Engineering Consultants Ltd. for Tabor View Holdings Ltd., Inc. No. BC0624469
Subject Property: 6055 MontereyRoad
Time: 7:00 p.m.
BylawNo. 9153, 2020 proposes to rezone the subject property from C6l: Highway Commercial to C6lc: Highway Commercial.
The purpose of this application is to facilitate the sale of retail cannabis in an existing building on the subject property,orother uses, pursuant to the proposed C6lc: Highway Commercial zoning designation(s).
7.1 Cannabis License Application No. CN000015
The applicant has applied to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch for a Cannabis License for anon-medical retail cannabis store on the subject property The proposed cannabis retail store will be located within aportion of an existing building on the subject property that is currently operating as aretail liquor store. The applicant has successfully completed the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch financial integrity check and security screening for anon-medical cannabis retail store.
The proposed hoursofservice are:
MondaytoSunday: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Notice of City Council’sdecision will be forwarded to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch for their reviewand final determination on this application.
The proposed Bylawand Cannabis License apply to the property legally described as Parcel B(S35060), District Lot 4039, Cariboo District, Plan 28088, as shown outlined in bold black on the Location Map #7 below
Map #7
8. “City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007, Amendment BylawNo. 9149, 2020”
Applicant: Access Engineering Consultants Ltd. for Brookwood Properties Inc., Inc. No. 762283
Subject Property: 2626 Vance Road
Time: 7:00 p.m.
BylawNo. 9149, 2020 proposes to rezone the subject property from C6l: Highway Commercial to C6lc: Highway Commercial.
The purpose of this application is to facilitate the sale of retail cannabis in an existing building on the subject property,orother uses, pursuant to the proposed C6lc: Highway Commercial zoning designation(s).
8.1 Cannabis License Application No. CN000014
The applicant has applied to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch for aCannabis License for anon-medical retail cannabis store on the subject property.The proposed cannabis retail store will be located within an existing building on the subject property. The applicant has successfully completed the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch financial integrity check and security screening for anon-medical cannabis retail store. The proposed hoursofservice are:
MondaytoSunday: 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Notice of City Council’s decision will be forwarded to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch for their reviewand final determination on this application.
The proposed Bylawand Cannabis Application apply to the property legally described as Lot A, District Lot 1432, Cariboo District, Plan 26796, as shown outlined in bold black on the Location Map #8 below
Location Map #8 2626 Vance Road
Residents are invited to provide comment in writing,bytelephone or in person.
Residents are encouraged to provide written comments to Council to be included in the Council meeting agenda package and available for public viewing on the City’swebsite.
Forsubmissions to be included on the agenda for Council’sreviewinadvance of the meeting date, theymust be received by the Corporate Officer no later than 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 3, 2020.Submissions received after the noted deadline and before 3:00 p.m. Monday, November 9, 2020, will be provided to Council on the dayofthe meeting for their consideration during deliberations on the application.
Submissions maybesent by email to cityclerk@princegeorge.ca, faxed to (250) 561-0183, mailed or delivered to: Attention: Corporate Officer,5th Floor City Hall, 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC V2L 3V9.
As aresult of the COVID-19 pandemic, City Council at their meeting held April 6, 2020 passed aresolution to discontinue Informal Hearings for certain Bylaws and applications where such hearings are not legally required to be held. Pursuant to Section 464(2) of the Local Government Act,City Council at their meeting held October 5, 2020, passed aresolution to waive the requirement for aPublic Hearing in relation to proposed BylawNo. 9123, 2020.
Residents wishing to provide comments to Council on the following Bylaws and applications, maydoso, by submitting written correspondence:
•“City of Prince George 1912 20th Avenue Road Closure BylawNo. 9099, 2020”;
•“City of Prince George 2217 Regents Crescent Road Closure BylawNo. 9147, 2020”;
•“City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007, Amendment BylawNo. 9139, 2020”;
•“City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007, Amendment BylawNo. 9123, 2020”;
•TemporaryUse Permit Application TU000065;
•Cannabis Licensing Application No. CN000016;
•Liquor License Application No. LL100171;
•Cannabis Licensing Application No. CN000015;
•“City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007, Amendment BylawNo. 9153, 2020”;
•Cannabis Licensing Application No. CN000014; and
•“City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007, Amendment BylawNo. 9149, 2020”.
Please note that written submissions for all applications will formpartofthe Council agenda, become public record and are posted on the City’swebsite. By making a written submission you are consenting to the disclosure of anypersonal information that you provide.
Submissions by telephone
In an efforttoprovide the public with options to speak to Council on aPublic Hearing application(s) and in accordance with Ministerial Order No. M192, the City now offers participation remotely via telephone during Public Hearings.
Telephone submissions mayonly be received during Formal Public Hearings. Residents are invited to participate by telephone for the following application(s):
•“City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007, Amendment BylawNo. 9139, 2020”
•“City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007, Amendment BylawNo. 9153, 2020”; and
•“City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007, Amendment BylawNo. 9149, 2020.
Residents can pre-register to speak to the proposed Bylaw(s) live via telephone. Preregistration will be open from 8:30 a.m., Thursday, November 5, 2020 to Monday, November 9, 2020 at 12:00 p.m.Topre-register to speak to Council via phone, visit our website www.princegeorge.ca/publichearings to complete an online registration formorcall 311. If you miss pre-registering,please watch the online live meeting broadcast as there will be an opportunity for you to call in for alimited period of time.
Submissions in person
Residents who wish to speak in person can do so during the Public Hearing in Council Chambersonthe 2nd Floor of City Hall at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 9, 2020.
The City of Prince George follows the ordersofthe Provincial Health Officer and guidelines regarding the size of gatherings and physical distancing.Where Public Hearings are required to be held, measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of membersofthe public attending the Public Hearing to provide comments.
City of Prince George open Council meetings are public and maybetelevised, streamed live by webcast, recorded and archived on the City’swebsite for viewing by the public. By attending an open Council meeting or making asubmission at aPublic Hearing you are consenting to the disclosure of anypersonal information that you provide.
Authority
Personal information is collected under the authority of section 26(g) and disclosed under the authority of section 33.1(1) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). Forinformation or questions, contact the City’sFIPPACoordinator at (250)561-7600 or 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC, V2L 3V9.
Formore detailed information on providing submissions to Council, please visit www.princegeorge.ca/publichearings.
Acopyofthe proposed Bylaws, applications and anyrelated documents will be available for reviewbythe public on the City’swebsite www.princegeorge.ca under ‘News and Notices’ beginning October 28, 2020.These documents mayalso be reviewedat the Development Services office on the 2nd Floor of City Hall on October 28, 29, 30, November 2, 3, 4, 5, 6and 9, 2020,between the hoursof 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Formore information, please contact Development Services in person, by telephone at (250)561-7611 or by email to devserv@princegeorge.ca.
Formore information with regards to Road Closures, please contact Real Estate Services, by telephone at (250)561-7611 or by email to realestate@princegeorge.ca.
The City of Prince George has been in regular conversation with NorthernHealth about the most reliable sources of information on novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and any assistance the City can provide residents and visitorswith reliable information about measures that can be taken to prevent the spread and stayhealthy.
People are advised to takeall necessaryprecautions to prevent exposure such as staying home when sick, disinfecting surfaces, washing their hands, and coughing and sneezing into the crook of their arms.
Formore information:
•Visit the BC Centre for Disease Control website
•Visit the BC Transit COVID-19 website
•Visit the BC MinistryofHealth webpage on Pandemic Preparedness
•Visit the Government of Canada’swebsite on COVID-19
•Visit the HealthlinkBC website
•Visit the WorldHealth Organization website
•Download the BC MinistryofHealth’sAdvice on Recreational Facilities -March 13, 2020 [PDF]
NorthernHealth COVID-19 Update
NorthernHealth has launched aCOVID-19 Online Clinic and Information Line to help answer questions and concerns from NorthernB.C. residents. The NH COVID-19 Online Clinic and Information Line can be reached at 1-844-645-7811.
The company maintains a fleet of leased trucks used to service other B.C communities as well as the overhead costs of its downtown warehouse used to store display equipment. Those fixed costs, between $10,000 and $15,000 per month, continue to mount with no way to generate revenue because the business hinges on in-person visitors to large-scale events that have all either been canceled or postponed.
“Obviously the event industry is hurt pretty hard, the government basically tells you you’re not allowed to make money but expects you to pay your bills and there’s real help to do it,” said White. “There’s loans and stuff but what will that really solve? When you’re an event company, what do you do? I think it’s appalling the government doesn’t see the damage that’s being done.
“There (are other) tent companies but we’re the only company that does special presentations and conventions and exhibitions north of Kelowna and we affect 25 communities in the north if we’re not here The government, provincially and federally, I don’t think they comprehend the impact that COVID is having on businesses that are in these niche markets. The reality is, we’re facing some hard decisions.”
The BC Northern Exhibition summer fair, the B.C. Natural Resources Forum, the Council of Forest Industries (COFI) convention, and the Northern BC Home and
Sheldon White, operations manager of Central Display & Tents, worries about the future of his company to provide displays for trade shows and public events if provincial pandemic restrictions on gatherings persist into spring. He says it’s time for the province to make wearing of masks in all public places mandatory
Garden Show are among the larger-scale events which could face skyrocketing costs without a local contractor to enable their displays.
“They provide the building blocks for an event where you’re expecting 12,000 or 15,000 people,” said Terri McConnachie, executive officer of the Canadian Homebuilders Association – Northern BC.
“The annual home show, without Central Display, that show doesn’t spring off the pavement, there’s no other business
alternative that is local, they are an integral part of our team. They do all of our pipe and drape (displays), they help all of our vendors with their electrical needs and If you have to hiring a company to come in from out of town for certain there’s going to be travel and accommodation expenses.”
There’s also pre-planning that goes into hosting an event and McConnachie says that requires the contractor to be there for site visits in advance to work with clients on floor plans and display layouts.
“They do everything, they help with compliance and fire safety plans, city bylaws and expectations and they help us with crowd management in terms of layout of our event and they provide us with our maps - everything we need to make the event safe,” she said
Owned locally by Jack and Paulette Ryder, Central Display is known for its in-kind donations to not-for-profit organizations and helps set up displays for the Canadian Cancer Society, Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation and Northern FanCon It serves annual events from as far south as Armstrong to as far north as Fort Nelson and is the go-to contractor for two annual events in Chetwynd – the Chetwynd Chamber of Commerce Trade Show in March or April and the Chetwynd International
Chain Saw Carving Championships in June
“Losing them would have a huge effect, especially for us,” said Chetwynd Chamber executive director Naomi Larsen “Our spring trade show is our biggest event each year and to have them come in and do our setup is huge and we don’t have anybody else to do that We’d have to go to (alternate contractor from) either Edmonton or Vancouver and that would make our costs astronomical. That would definitely have a huge financial impact on us.”
White says if the current restrictions on events remain in effect next spring there’s a strong likelihood Central Display won’t able to withstand the losses.
“You can’t keep throwing good money at a bad problem,” he said. “Every avenue I go down to try to generate revenue for Central Display, the bureaucracy interferes.
The latest hurdle they’ve encountered is a rule that in any community market at least half of the vendors have to be food-related.
If that requirement is not met, the market would be classed as an event and subject to limits of no more than 50 people at a time and a forced one-hour closure every other hour for disinfecting of the building. That threatened to scuttle the Kelly Road Craft Fair that Central Display is planning for the next seven weekends at the Hart Community Centre leading up to Christmas, but White said there should be enough food vendors to allow it to happen, with rules on physically distancing and masks to be strictly enforced.
White has his own ideas on how the pandemic should be handled in B C. and he has a message for provincial health officer Dr Bonnie Henry.
“Make masks mandatory and we should be over this by now,” said White. “You can’t have the public fighting with businesses saying, ’Why do I have to wear a mask here and I don’t have to wear a mask there.’ A business can’t enforce certain policies as much as they want to without the government backing them and if the government’s not backing them it’s a problem.
“Anybody who thinks that walking into SuperStore you’re safe from COVID-19, you’ve got another think coming If you’re in crowds, wear a mask. If your doctor tells you to wear a mask because it might help me, who am I to question it?”
Northern Health reported its first COVID-19 exposure at a long-term care home on Monday
A single staff member at Rotary Manor in Dawson Creek tested positive for COVID-19, according to a bulletin released by Northern Health on Monday
“At this time, there is no evidence of transmission of illness among staff or residents within the Rotary Manor facility,” the Northern Health statement said. “As a precaution, (Northern Health) medical health officers have declared a facility outbreak, based on the criteria for declaring an outbreak in long-term care settings. In this case, it is a single lab-confirmed case in a staff member, who worked during their potential infectious period.”
Public health officials are working with the staff at 115-bed facility to identify anyone who may have been exposed, and has taken additional steps to protect the health of residents and staff and the facility
Extra cleaning and infection control is in place, staff and resident movement in the facility is being limited, and there is a temporary suspension of social visits, but essential visits are still being allowed.
All the extra measures will be in place until at least Nov 8, which is 14 days after the potential exposure, the Northern Health statement said.
The announcement comes on the same day as deputy provincial health officer Dr. Réka Gustafson announced 10 new cases in the Northern Health region since the last update on Friday The total number of cases in the north since the start of the
pandemic increased to 422.
Throughout B.C., 1,120 new cases were reported on Monday Public health officials were monitoring 2,945 active cases in B.C., and 6,448 people who may have been exposed, she said
The number of active cases in northern B.C. wasn’t provided, but on Friday the B.C. Centre for Disease Control reported 34 active cases in the Northern Health region. No patients were hospitalized with COVID-19 in the north.
Six new COVID-19-related deaths were reported in the province on Monday, bringing B.C.’s death toll from the pandemic up to 269, Gustafson said.
Ninety people in B.C. were hospitalized with COVID-19, she said, including 19 in intensive care.
“The numbers are concerning for all of
us,” Gustafson said. “At this moment we have a concerning number of new infections.”
The majority of new infections can be linked to known cases and exposures, rather than casual exposure in the community, Gustafson said. Large gatherings in private homes have contributed a significant number of new cases, which is why the province ordered limits on the size of gatherings.
While places like restaurants and other venues have COVID-19 safety plans, few homeowners have the measures in place to safety host a large gathering, she said.
“We are in a significant new phase of the pandemic,” Health Minister Adrian Dix said. “The COVID-19 tide is rising. I ask everyone... to recommit themselves to the task.”
The City of Prince George is now asking everyone to wear non-medical masks inside civic facilities.
The newest building at the College of New Caledonia has been renamed in honour of Finning Canada following a donation of $500,000 worth of equipment from the company towards the college’s heavy duty mechanics program.
It is now known as the Finning Heavy Mechanical Trades Training Facility.
“We’re very grateful for Finning’s contin-
ued support and investment in the success of CNC students,” said CNC president Dr Dennis Johnson. “
Finning’s contribution includes equipment for CNC’s heavy mechanical trades program, ranging from toolbox sets and engines, to transmissions, pumps, and axles.
CNC and Finning have had an on-going relationship since the college first purchased equipment from them for its trades
programs in 2013 When CNC broke ground on its heavy mechanics building in 2015, the two entered an agreement to have Finning’s name adorn a computer lab in the new facility.
Over the years, Finning has also provided CNC instructors with educational opportunities, funded annual awards for students, and sponsored the college’s skills competition.
Starting Tuesday, signs were being placed at the entrances of civic facilities, along with hand sanitizer and disposable masks.
“Since the pandemic began, the city has followed the advice from (provincial health officer Dr Bonnie Henry) and implemented her orders and recommendations,” Mayor Lyn Hall said in a press release. “We appreciate that physical distancing isn’t always possible in the facilities that we have opened, and so we are following her advice in regards to masks and communicating an expectation that everyone in our facilities should wear a mask if they can’t keep their distance from one another.”
The new expectation regarding masks applies to visitors and staff at the city’s facilities.
An early morning fire Sunday destroyed a house on Rondane Crescent near Tabor Lake.
Tracy Calogheros and her husband woke up just before 6 a.m. Sunday to the sound of flames consuming the house, which at the time had two occupants, Steve and Deborah Mamic, and their dog, who all made it to safety unharmed.
“I’ve never seen anything burn that fast,” said alogheros. “We went out of the house at three minutes to six and by eight minutes after six the whole thing was fully engulfed
“It’s situated just across the backyard from where our bedroom is and I could hear this strange, ominous whooshing sound. I turned to John and said ‘that can’t be wind’ and he looked out the window and could see the flames.”
Tracy called 9-1-1 while John rushed to meet the couple coming out of their back door.
The Tabor Lake Volunteer Fire Department showed up a few minutes later but by that time the fire was too far advanced to save the house.
“It’s gone, there’s nothing left standing,” said Tracy “The heat and the height of the flames, it felt to me like watching that Island Lake forest fire in 2018 going again, it was that same intensity and so fast.”
David Mothus, a neighbour who lives five houses away, spoke to Deborah Mamic, who told him she was awake when the fire
Firefighters from the Ferndale/Tabor Volunteer Fire Department try to contain the raging flames that destroyed a home on Rondane Crescent early Sunday morning.
broke out. She told Mothus she suspects the cause of the fire was a Halloween jack o’lantern which had a small candle in it
“That’s the only thing she could think of this morning, I felt so bad for them, but nobody got hurt,” Mothus said. “They’re lucky She happened to be up doing some cleaning first thing in the morning and she saw the orange (flames) in the house and within seconds smoke had filled the house.
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So she screamed for her husband and if she wasn’t up cleaning they probably would have died because they would have had smoke inhalation and not made it out. They’re lucky.”
Mothus has started a Go Fund Me page to help the couple recover from the fire, which had already raised more than $5,000 by Monday
“I talked to them and I knew they had
insurance but that takes a bit of time,” said Mothus. “I wasn’t thinking they would need money but with all the stress we already have in the world it’s just a way of saying your neighbours care about you.”
Eighteen firefighters from three volunteer halls responded to the fire. Bryant Kemble, chief of the Ferndale Tabor Lake Volunteer Fire Department, said the initial attack crew focused on the neighbouring house to try to contain the blaze
“We responded with two trucks and we had Pineview and Shell-Glen come for water support,” said Kemble. “When we got here we sprayed foam on the neighbours’ house right away because it was like a shower with the wind blowing and the sparks falling on it, so we put the bulk of our energy into that the first 20 minutes we were on scene. The house next door is maybe 60 feet away.”
At 3 p.m. Sunday, nine hours after he arrived, Kemble was still at the house trying to extinguish the final embers.
“We just had an excavator here cleaning up so we can put the remainder out because (the house) fell into itself,” he said. “All that’s left standing are the studs inside. I’ve got a 30 (foot) by 40 (foot) hole here with a wood basement and that’s not helping matters either Kemble was unable to give any details on the suspected cause but said nobody was injured.
“The owners went to town with the RCMP to the hospital to be checked, but they both got out,” he said.
TED CLARKE
Citizen staff
Candy Cruise, the city’s drive-thru Halloween night treat collecting extravaganza, went way beyond the expectations of the event’s organizers.
Nearly 22,500 servings of candy were handed out to as many as 3,000 ghouls, goblins, princesses and pirates (and their parents) who lined up in their vehicles at 10 hub locations to take part in the community event - a pandemic-inspired alternative to going door-to-door for Halloween apples.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better result from our inaugural event,” said Dave Horton, Candy Cruise creator and event manager “It takes a community of people to pull something like this off. Huge numbers of volunteers, overwhelming numbers of patrons, but most of all it is the positive impact left on the community that excites me the most. Parents and families have been through so much lately, and to provide a bit of reprieve for families to get out and have fun together is something that this community is going to remember for years.”
were problem-solving on the fly and keeping people safe.”
Horton said the lineup to get into the BCR Site hub for the Candy Cruise was close to a kilometre long and some drivers turned around and decided instead to go door-to-door in neighbourhoods with their kids rather than wait.
The longest lineups (about 45 minutes) were in the initial stages of the 4:30-9 p.m. event.
A few lessons were learned in the inaugural Candy Cruise and Horton said he would definitely find alternate hub locations to avoid the congestion which slowed the procession of vehicles, especially at Canadian Tire and Halloween Alley/Best Buy.
“It wasn’t perfect, and I appreciate the frankness of people,” said Horton.
“For the vast majority, I’m hearing overthe-top, very humbling positive comments.”
The event involved 65 partner organizations, including 10 churches, and they provided more than $50,000 worth of candy and other treats. Some groups set up multiple booths at different sites.
“Nobody has ever served candy in this way and at the start of it our vendors were figuring out how to serve safely and how to serve two cars at the same time. They
The cruise raised more than $5,500 in donations to help cover the costs Any remaining funds will be shared equally among the Child Development Centre, Ness Lake Bible Camp and Big Brothers Big Sisters Northern BC. The leftover candy will be distributed by the St. Vincent de Paul Society
Horton says he is prepared to do the cruise again next Halloween, if that’s what the city wants.
“I will continue to look for ways to serve the community to make it a better place and if this is desired for next year then I’m interested in doing it again,” Horton said.
MARK NIELSEN
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris is among those opposed to a plan by Canfor to continue spraying glyphosate-based herbicides on area forests for the next five years.
A 30-day comment period on the company’s proposal to renew its pest management plan for sites under the company’s jurisdiction in the Prince George Forest District ends Nov 10. Comments can be sent to pg.pmpinfo@canfor.com
“I think it’s misguided in my view,” Morris said Thursday. “I think the public has spoken quite loudly over a number of years now about their concern over glyphosate. I think it reflects a myopic view of professional foresters and licencees in how they approach the forests. They don’t look at all values, they’re only looking at conifers and there is far more value in a forest than just our conifers.”
Forest companies use the chemical to kill aspen and other broadleaf plants in areas that have been logged and replanted with trees of commercial value. Opponents have raised concerns about the effects of the chemical on wildlife and the health of forests in general.
In a letter sent out to area trappers, Canfor says the plan will come into force from the date a pesticide use permit has been confirmed by the Ministry of Environment
But James Steidle of Stop the Spray B.C., says there is little that can be done to stop Canfor’s quest to renew the plan. He said registering concerns during the comment period is a “meaningless exercise” because the company’s only obligation is
take reasonable efforts to consult those affected starting at least 45 days before the chemical is applied.
“The only thing we can do to stop this is to get the government to change the outdated legislation and regulations requiring conifer monocrop reforestation,” Steidle said in an email. “If we allowed more deciduous in our forests for fire-resistance, biodiversity, and wildlife, not to mention more diversified economic potential, the need to spray and brush would be seriously reduced if not eliminated.”
Steidle said Canfor is targeting “vast regions” of forests arcing from the north to the southeast of Prince George and the plan would authorize the company to spray each of its cutblocks within the area up to two times.
Morris said he hopes to introduce a private member’s bill against the practice during the next sitting of the legislature, pending support from the rest of B.C. Liberal caucus. With the exception of those within the forest industry, Morris said he has not heard any expressions of support for the use of glyphosate and maintained there are practical alternatives.
“You can brush by hand and let those broadleaf plants grow,” Morris said. “It may slow down the process for the conifers for maybe eight or 10 years or so, but eventually nature provides the way forward for conifers to grow properly.”
In an email, Canfor spokesperson Michelle Ward said that while the company is seeking to renew the plan, it is also significantly reducing its use of herbicide by increasing use of manual brushing and other practices.
Natural resource industries have been forced to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic and so has the BC Natural Resources Forum.
The annual event typically draws hundreds of industry and government leaders to the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre for several days of networking and presentations
The 18th iteration of the event will be happening Jan 26-28, 2021, but will be moving to an entirely online format
“We are excited to embrace the opportunities offered by modern technology,” BC Natural Resources Forum communications manager Claire Perusse said in an email. “Our digital platform will enable participants to share knowledge, new research findings, innovative practices, and case studies. The virtual program will include live webinars, panel discussions, presentations, and interactive Q&A sessions.”
Forum organizers are evaluating a number of online platforms, with the goal of finding one which will make the forum as interactive as possible, Perusse said.
“We are working on ways to encourage engaging discussion that will allow for the sharing of ideas, including networking sessions, virtual meeting rooms, interactive Q&A sessions, and, within the platform, community chat boards,” she said.
“Given that there will be no travel requirements for this year’s forum, there will be few limits on the number of participants we can welcome. Therefore, we are hoping to engage more participants and attract a wider range of high-profile speakers from across Canada in this discussion.”
The event will feature shorter sessions, spread out over three days – a schedule better suited for the online format, she added.
Even though the event is being held online, the event will still have a Prince George connection.
“We are inviting our community to join us for a unique experience to discover innovative ways to network, collaborate and exchange ideas on building and maintaining a resilient natural resource sector amid a challenging and uncertain economic environment,” Perusse said. “Prince George has a fantastic amount of event logistics and delivery talent, and we are continuing contact with the local businesses in Prince George ” For more information, go online to www BCNaturalResourcesForum.com.
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
With about 30 friends and colleagues looking on, two benches in memory of the late Dave Mah were unveiled last week at the entrance to CN Centre.
Mah, a longtime Prince George Citizen photographer, died from a form of lung cancer in May 2016. He was 55 years old.
He has been remembered as both a great photographer and simply someone who was a well-liked by many. Those sentiments continued to be echoed during the ceremony.
“He was a friend to everybody who met him,” said Jason Peters, who worked alongside Mah for many years at the Citizen “On a personal level and on a professional level, it was impossible to meet Dave and not come away with a smile on your face. He was just one of those people.”
Citizen alumni Glen “Moose” Scott came up with the idea of benches at CN Centre because it was where Mah spent many of his nights. Others, notably Peters and Chuck Nisbett, a former Citizen photographer and pressman, rallied to the cause.
A fundraising campaign began in July. About 100 people donated and nearly double the amount needed was raised.
As a result, representatives of the Canadian Cancer Society and the BC Cancer Centre for the North to accept cheques worth $2,062.76 for each of their organizations.
Jason Peters, left, and Chuck Nesbitt, right, pose for a photo in front of CN Centre during a ceremony to unveil two benches in honour of their late friend David Mah.
“He was a guy who always stayed until he got the best possible shot he could get, whether it was at a birthday party, an anniversary, an event here at CN Centre, a photo of a police incident,” Peters said Nisbett first crossed paths with Mah when was working at the old Prince George
This Week, which had been a training ground for many Citizen photographers, reporters and sales people
“The first thing he did was he came up to me and said ‘are you the guy from the Citizen?’ and I said ‘yes,’” Nisbett said. “And he said ‘good, show me what it’s all about,
teach me everything you’ve got,’ and that’s the way he was right to the very end.
“After 25 years of shooting at PG This Week and the Citizen, he was still trying new ways of doing things and trying to get that ultimate picture that told the whole story. And he did it all without being brash and jumping in front of people and bullying his way through. He did it by making friends with everybody. he just won everyone over.”
Longtime Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond said she, her husband Bill and Mah spent “virtually every weekend together,” as they went from event to event and they developed a close friendship over the years.
Among her most cherished mementos is a photo of the Bonds and Mah with the torch from the Canada Winter Games. It was taken after Mah, despite going through chemotherapy while staying with his parents in Calgary, had returned to Prince George in February 2015 to take photos of the event
Mah was also familiar to Mayor Lyn Hall, who expressed accolades for his ability behind the camera and his personality.
“Plain and simply put, he was just a nice guy, just an absolute nice guy and he was always interested in what you were doing,” Hall said “Even when he was busy, it was a quick ‘hello, how are you doing? How’s the family?’”
Mah “won’t be forgotten,” Hall said.
Citizen staff
Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer was one of only seven Members of Parliament to vote Wednesday against a federal bill to outlaw the discredited practice of conversion therapy.
The bill would criminalize the practice of forcing children or adults to undergo therapy aimed at altering their sexual orientation or gender identity.
The bill passed easily by a vote of 308-7 but exposed divisions within Conservative ranks.
Conservative leader Erin O’Toole voted in favour of the bill, as did most Conservative MPs, including Conservative Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty.
Former leader Andrew Scheer was
among those who simply did not show up for the vote.
O’Toole allowed his MPs a free vote on the issue as part of his bargain with social conservatives that helped him secure the Conservative leadership in August.
In a statement Thursday morning, Zimmer stressed his opposition is about the wording of the bill, not about conversion therapy
“Make no mistake, I am opposed to the practice of conversion therapy However, I am concerned that the current wording of Bill C-6 leaves open the possibility that voluntary conversations between individuals and their parents, family members, pastors, teachers, or their counsellors may be criminalized,” the statement said.
See MP WANTS on page 12
Glacier Media
The COVID-19 pandemic may have added delays and costs to one big energy project – Site C dam – but three others appear to have recovered quickly from a brief workforce contraction.
LNG Canada, Coastal GasLink and Trans Mountain were able to ramp back up construction over the summer after a brief dip in workforce numbers, and achieve some key milestones.
As of the end of August, the four big energy megaprojects in B.C employed roughly 12,500 workers.
That includes 4,600 at Site C dam, 2,849
for the Coastal GasLink pipeline and 3,000 with LNG Canada.
Trans Mountain employed 6,000 workers in B.C. and Alberta on its pipeline twinning project. Trans Mountain does not break those numbers down by province, but does report that one-third of those jobs –2,000 – were held by British Columbians.
To date, the project has awarded 120 contracts to B.C. contractors and suppliers valued at $2 billion.
The first spread of the pipeline in the Edmonton area is 90 per cent complete, in terms of pipe in the ground. The second spread, which runs to the B.C. border, is 20 per cent complete. About 30 per cent of the work to expand the Westridge marine
terminal and Burnaby terminal is done.
In April, all of the big projects scaled back their workforces to varying degrees, due to worries about the pandemic.
Coastal GasLink reports that, as of the end of August, all work camps along the various sections of the pipeline were operational, about 75 per cent of the right-ofway is cleared, and pipe has started going into the ground along some spreads.
The one section that has not progressed significantly in terms of clearing, grading or pipe installation is the 78-kilometre section that cuts through Wet’suwet’en territory –the scene of blockades in 2019 and early in 2020. Only 15 per cent of the 78-kilometre spread is cleared.
from page 10
“Freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of association are fundamental in our Charter of Rights and Freedoms and I believe the current language of this legislation is an encroachment on those foundational principles. I will be watching to see if this language is changed when the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights reviews the legislation before it comes back to the House of Commons for a third and final vote.”
Other Conservative MPs who voted
against the bill raised different issues.
During debate on the bill earlier this week, former leadership contender Derek Sloan went so far as to suggest it would outlaw prayer. Sloan has previously said the bill amounts to child abuse.
Others supported the bill for now but made their reservations crystal clear.
“With the best of faith, I vote in favour of sending this flawed bill to committee,” said Saskatchewan MP Cathay Wagantall as she registered her virtual vote.
By contrast, all Liberal, Bloc Quebecois, New Democrat, Green and independent
MPs who took part in the vote supported the bill A number of Liberal MPs made a point of announcing that they were “proudly” voting in favour.
The NDP questioned the validity of votes that came with “qualifiers,” prompting Speaker Anthony Rota to remind MPs that when voting virtually, they are supposed to say simply whether they are for or against the motion, with no other comment.
The bill would ban conversion therapy for minors and outlaw forcing an adult to undergo conversion therapy against their will. It would also ban removing a minor
As for the LNG Canada plant and export terminal in Kitimat, the project has hit “some pretty critical milestones,” said Susannah Pierce, director of corporate affairs for LNG Canada.
In August, roughly 3,000 workers were employed on the project in Kitimat, about 800 of whom were locals. Approximately $2.2 billion in local and Indigenous contracts have been awarded.
“Things, despite the pandemic, are going well,” Pierce said. “So we’re feeling pretty positive about it.”
It’s expected that about 1,000 workers will be added by the end of this year, with peak construction starting near the end of 2021.
from Canada for the purpose of undergoing conversion therapy abroad and make it illegal to profit from providing the therapy or to advertise an offer to provide it.
The practice has been widely discredited as cruel and traumatic.
The Canadian Psychological Association says there is no scientific evidence that conversion therapy works but plenty of evidence that it causes harm to LGBTQ individuals, including anxiety, depression, negative self-image, feelings of personal failure, difficulty sustaining relationships and sexual dysfunction.
Three people face Criminal Code charges in connection with a collision last week on Highway 97 involving a stolen pickup truck and an ambulance which left several people injured.
Jocelyn Rae Wood of Chetwynd, 34, had been charged with the dangerous operation of a conveyance (vehicle), refusal to provide a breath sample, failure to stop after an accident, and possession of property obtained by crime of over $5,000.
The BC Prosecution Service has also charged 31-year-old Brittany Ann Bisenberger of Chetwynd and 26-year-old Dallas Raymond Garbitt of Moberly Lake with possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 After appearing in court, Wood was released on documents to re-attend
court on Dec 8 Bisenberger and Garbitt were also released and are scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 25.
The collision happened at about 11:15 a.m. Wednesday just north of the Simon Fraser Bridge and resulted in partial closure of the highway to the intersection with Highway 16 for several hours.
The stolen pickup was driven out of the ditch and hit a median along the highway before ramming into the southbound ambulance, which was carrying two patients. The ambulance then struck another pickup truck towing a trailer.
The three culprits fled the scene on foot and were soon apprehended with the help of an RCMP handler and dog.
Several people suffered injuries, although none were life-threatening.
Glacier Media
Cargo capacity at the Port of Prince Rupert is planned to double by 2040 under a newly released land use plan.
Between 2018 and 2019, the port saw significant jumps in cargoes in most areas except canola and wood products. Some 29.9 million tonnes of cargo moved through Prince Rupert in 2019 – 12 per cent more than 2018 and a record port volume.
“Container shipments are critical to fu-
ture growth at the Port of Prince Rupert,” the plan said. “Containers are an efficient and standardized method for shipping goods of all types to markets around the world. Container shipping began at Fairview Terminal in 2007 and has consistently grown ever since, spurring a terminal expansion that was completed in 2017.”
The year also saw the AltaGas’ Ridley Island Propane Export Terminal come online and growth in Ridley Terminals’ coal handling where cargo levels were up 18 per
cent over the previous year Thermal coal rose 46 per cent while petroleum coke rose nine per cent and thermal coal dropped three per cent. In 2019, several infrastructure projects supporting growth and diversification at the Port of Prince Rupert were announced, including the Ridley Island Export Logistics Park, the Zanardi Bridge and Causeway Project, and the Metlakatla Import Logistics Park.
An anticipated $2 billion in capital expansion projects starting in 2020 was expected
to support further cargo growth, including DP World’s Fairview Terminal expansion project that will bring the terminal’s capacity up to 1.8 million TEUs by 2022; the Vopak Pacific Terminal project, which is currently under environmental assessment and expects to make a final investment decision in 2020; as well as Pembina’s $175 million Prince Rupert Export Terminal which was deferred in March due to a downturn in gas prices and pandemic impacts.
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Just inside the sliding doors of the Kin Centre atrium, defenceman Richard Larmand aimed his hand-held sensor at the forehead of each player on the Rusty Nuts oldtimers hockey team as we walked into the rink
It’s part of the deal when you want to play the game during a pandemic.
“Any brainwave activity detected?” I quipped as Larmand aimed at my noggin and relayed my body temperature reading to Dave Bellamy, the Rusty Nuts grand poohbah, who recorded it on a sheet.
“None whatsoever,” responded Larmand.
Mask in place over my nose and mouth, my glasses fogged up from my own breath, I dragged my equipment into the dressing room in the rush to get my gear on for the game.
Most of the guys arrive already dressed in their jocks, shinpads and hockey pants but unlike the vast majority of my teammates who have retired from the workforce, I was coming directly from work at the Citizen office.
So I had some catching up to do to make sure I had plenty of time for the on-ice warmups before the game began.
COVID restrictions have changed what hockey teams are allowed to do and one of the most significant adjustments is the length of time players can spend at the rink.
We’re supposed to arrive not more than 15 minutes before our icetime begins and have to leave within 15 minutes of our games ending That gives arena staff time to disinfect high-touch surfaces and the dressing rooms before the next group comes in.
We still have post-game discussions about missed wide-open shots, malfunction-at-the-junction collisions and backseat-of-the-pants saves by goalies looking the other way
The laughs, jokes and insults still fly around the room but there’s just less time for that.
The showers are off-limits and change room benches are taped off to keep players physically distanced.
We have a few more hoops to jump through but it’s well worth the hassle “I feel comfortable when I come in here, they’re doing a good job,” said Nuts right winger Kevin Keeping. “It gets me out of the house. You’ve got to do something and this is a good social thing.”
Every player has signed Rusty Nuts/ Canadian Amateur Rec Hockey Association participation agreements and waivers outlining the risks of playing.
There’s a requirement to notify a team ambassador if any COVID symptoms develop or if a player comes into contact with somebody who has the virus. If anybody visits one of the higher-risk COVID hotspots in Canada, that player must self-isolate for 14 days after returning to Prince George.
To minimize the risk, players are also told not to play in any other league
The Nuts have been divided into three cohorts of nine skaters and a goalie for
each team and unless we’re playing as a spare for somebody who can’t make their scheduled icetime we are encouraged to stay apart from the other team’s players whenever possible.
That means no body contact on the ice (there’s no bodychecking allowed in oldtimers hockey even in pre-pandemic times) and players have to stay a sticklength apart from each other at all times.
“The game’s different, guys are backing off, trying to keep their distance on the ice, so it’s not the same game but it’s still a good social event,” said 64-year-old defenceman Gord Flewelling.
“There’s no arena in the province that I’ve seen on the news where they’ve had any problems. We’re not turning a blind eye to what’s going on, we’re just trying to be very cautious and aware of our surroundings.”
While waiting for line changes, two forwards and a defenceman per team sit in the players’ bench and the third forward has to sit in the penalty box
There are no face-offs and the team that gets scored on starts the next rush with the puck.
Players are not allowed to chase after loose pucks in the crease and have to stay beyond the 2.44-metre ringette crease in front of the net.
That’s been the most difficult rule change to get used for most of the players Other than, that it’s hockey as usual once the game is on.
“We managed to put together what we
“I feel comfortable when I come in here, they’re doing a good job,” said Nuts right winger Kevin Keeping. “It gets me out of the house. You’ve got to do something and this is a good social thing.”
thought would be best for our (55-plus) age group and we wanted to err on the side of caution,” said Bellamy, 79, whose health has kept him on the sidelines for the past couple years. “We’ve all been practicing that - stay at home unless it’s necessary to go out - so we’re kind of worried about expanding our bubble. But this is a real healthy sport and I’m definitely missing it myself.”
Bellamy surveyed all the players who were on the Nuts’ team list last season and not one of them knew anybody personally who has had COVID.
“That was one positive sign to keep pressing on,” said Bellamy, a former Mohawk Oldtimer who first formed the Rusty Nuts in 1986 for a tournament in Vernon.
Before COVID, the Nuts had a list of 38 players who got together three mornings per week for games.
The pandemic has limited it to 27 skaters and three goalies
temperature checked by
before their game at the Kin Centre last week. The pandemic has brought on a new reality when teams return to the rink and provincial health regulations are being enforced to keep players and their families safe.
Only a few players decided not risk coming back for hockey and those who aren’t on the teams and still want to play are on a substitute list
Just to get to the stage where a return to play was possible required extensive paperwork and research of the strict guidelines outlined by the provincial health authority, City of Prince George and viaSport. Bellamy put together a seven-player committee and elected an ambassador for each of the three cohorts who acts as a team captain to collect ice fees and registration forms and make sure all the rules are being followed.
The Nuts range in age from 57 to 73. Seniors are more adversely affected by COVID-19 and many of the players and their wives are concerned about the increasing their risk of exposure even in small gatherings at the rink.
“My wife (Marian) is nervous, because she has a sinus problem and if I bring home trouble that’s not good,” said Bellamy “I’ve got to say I’m a bit nervous too, because of age.”
In the event one player tests positive, the Rusty Nuts would shut down their games for two weeks and require testing for everyone before they resume playing.
“If I was overly concerned I probably wouldn’t be here,” said the 71-year-old Larmand. “You have to do something, you can’t just sit around. We still have to be as careful as we can be and if something happens we’ll deal with it. I think everything is actually working our quite well.”
Many residents have taken to social media to express their outrage over Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer’s vote on Wednesday in the House of Commons against the bill to ban conversion therapy.
Unfortunately, most of the comments simply insult Zimmer’s intelligence and morality, an easy thing to do when people are appalled by the conduct of their elected leaders (and I stand guilty as charged for past offences in general and past editorials about Zimmer in particular).
Nobody changes their opinion when they are insulted, of course So let’s try a different tack. The following makes a case that Zimmer’s opposition to the conversion therapy bill is wrong because it violates the conservative ideals he holds dear as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada.
It’s important to stress that Zimmer has made it clear he opposes the disgraceful and discredited practice of using therapeutic practices in an attempt to alter someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Rather, he’s concerned about the wording of the bill, because it may violate the Charter rights of individuals to even
discuss conversion therapy and what it entails.
Well, that’s interesting - a sitting Conservative MP worrying about someone’s Charter rights.
Brought into law by Pierre Trudeau’s government as part of the Constitution in 1982 under howls of protest from traditional conservatives, the Charter dramatically increased individual rights and the power of the courts.
The Supreme Court of Canada struck down Canada’s abortion law in 1988 because that law violated the Charter
Zimmer stated that he believes the conversion therapy bill as currently worded “is an encroachment” on freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of association enshrined in the Charter.
Politically, that is a very liberal stance to take, based on a very progressive interpretation of the Charter.
Traditional conservatism finds the Charter’s freedoms excessive because there should be clear legal limits on speech, religious practices and assembly, as well as on individuals to behave in a manner in the interests of the broader community, as defined by the government.
Traditional liberalism embraces individual freedoms because it elevates those freedoms above the powers of the government
to limit them. Only when someone is using their Charter freedoms to cause harm to others can the law intervene and then only in a very limited way.
Normally, traditional conservatives would embrace the federal government using its authority to forbid a practice that has been rejected by professional associations because there is no evidence it works and plenty of evidence it causes great harm.
Normally, traditional liberals would be reluctant to set limits on the freedom of individuals to explore alternative forms of therapy, regardless of how offensive it may be to broader society or how much it may challenge therapeutic convention
In other words, Zimmer’s opposition of the conversion therapy bill as worded is based on liberal ideals, not conservative ones.
This isn’t the first time Zimmer has embraced liberalism.
His view on guns is extremely liberal because he has stated repeatedly that the rights and freedoms of individual gun owners trumps the authority of government to set limits on the buying and owning of firearms.
But wait Then aren’t modern liberals betraying liberalism?
This is where conservatives often mis-
Miles Thomas is shooting off from the hip and blowing off steam in making propaganda comments.
Miles has not done any research in regards to his comments, which I have done my research on.
Miles says that the B.C. Liberal government tore up government contracts. The reason the B.C. Liberals revised government labour contracts is because B.C. NDP premier at the time, Ujjal Dosanjh, approved wage rates that were unrealistic to a taxpayer point of view
He did this because he knew he would lose the upcoming provincial election. The contracts were not torn up. They were revised
Ujjal had 6 months left in his mandate before having to call a provincial election. At the time, he hired Elizabeth Cull as his office assistant on a contract.
She would not agree to a six-month con-
tract, so Ujjal gave her a one year contract at $120,00 for one year
What a waste of taxpayer dollars when Dosanjh only had 6 months left in his mandate.
Miles says that all government infrastructure contracts were awarded to the Christian Labour Association of Alberta. Totally false.
All infrastructure contracts are open to bids and the lowest bid always is awarded the contract.
Former premier Glen Clark and management of B.C Ferries went to Australia to have a meeting with Holyman, the world leader in building catamaran ferries.
Holyman told Clark that these type of ferries are not to be used in B.C. waters.
Holyman told Clark to prove the point was to lease one catamaran ferry from Holyman and to do trial runs in B.C.
Clark did not listen to that advice and went on to build the fast cat ferries. Welders in B.C. shipyards were quitting their jobs to go and work building fast cat ferries.
They knew that the jobs would only last for three years, but the reason they quit their jobs, is because Glen Clark was paying them $52 per hour, which was $20 a hour more than the shipyards union rate was.
Miles says that the NDP got the ball rolling on LNG. It was the B.C. Liberals that did the leg work and the NDP continued with the process because the B.C. Liberal government were now in opposition.
On July 24, 2015 John Horgan while in opposition is quoted saying that LNG is wrong for B.C.
Miles says that the NDP is bringing back the Community Benefits program that Glen Clark started in his term of office.
take the words and intentions of liberals. While gun ownership worries liberals, they recognize individuals have the right to own them but there should be careful limits set by government on that freedom. The disagreement isn’t about the guns; it’s about what the limits on ownership should be.
While liberals find the idea of conversion therapy abhorrent, no true liberal would want a government ban on talking about it because of the infringement on freedom of speech. What liberals oppose is the forced application of conversion therapy on children and adults
And even if Zimmer rejects the arguments above, there is a practical, conservative reason for him to support the conversion therapy ban bill. The government has the authority to pass laws and should exercise that authority for the benefit of all Canadians. If individual Canadians feel any law violates their Charter rights, they are free to legally challenge that law and no Member of Parliament should interfere with that process.
Based on conservative principles of government authority and individual rights, it should be easy for Zimmer to enthusiastically support the bill to ban conversion therapy when it returns to the House of Commons for third and final reading - Editor-in-chief Neil Godbout
This plan is very expensive to the taxpayers.
The former B.C Social Credit government built the Coquihalla highway which was constructed through solid mountain rock.
The Glen Clark NDP built the inland island highway that was land clearing and bridge building.
The inland island highway cost $50 million more than the Coquihalla highway because of the Community Benefits program
Two projects already approved by John Horgan is highway construction out of Revelstoke, which is now costing $22 million more than the original cost and the Pattullo bridge at $100 million more than original cost because of the Community Benefits program Unbelievable.
Joe Sawchuk, Duncan
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DIANE NAKAMURA
ontrary to popular belief, you don’t need to hit your head to develop a brain injury.
Seven years ago local resident Cody Stump was working as a longshoreman in Vancouver Then suddenly, he started having migraine headaches and extreme fatigue, to the point where he was sleeping up to 14 hours a day
“A buddy of mine took me to the hospital.” Cody recalls. “I had an MRI done and when the doctor saw the results he told me I needed surgery right away The doctor said he was amazed I walked into the hospital and was still standing.”
The outcome of the MRI clearly showed Cody had cryptococal meningitis. This form of meningitis is contracted by exposure to soil tainted with bird droppings. How he came across this fungus cannot be confirmed.
Once this fungus enters the body, it attacks the brain. Cody showed me a picture of his MRI scan.
I saw a very disturbing image of a white mass (the fungus) that had burrowed a hole in Cody’s brain
After his brain surgery, Cody spent 47 days recovering in the hospital. When he was discharged, he went to live with a friend and began trying to make sense of his new normal.
He had lost his job, was plagued by debilitating migraines, poor short-term
memory, hypersensitivity to smells, noise and lights and severe anxiety At the time, his future looked pretty bleak.
“My doctor told me there was a brain specialist in Prince George.” Cody said. “So I moved up here to be closer to family.”
Cody found it was important for his mental health and self-esteem to keep busy. He spent time at his aunt’s place, helping her
look after her pigs and chickens. Then he started doing chalk art with his nephewson sidewalks and exterior walls. Cody said he was a decent artist during high school but hadn’t done any type of art since then. Many of his chalk drawings are of popular animated characters.
“My nephews really enjoyed my chalk art.” Cody said. “And it was nice for me to
see something come together with having a disability.”
Then, last month Cody came across an article I had written about the value of art in healing brain injury. A bulb lit up for him.
“This was the missing piece of my jigsaw puzzle.” said Cody. “I didn’t have any therapy or rehab for my brain injury I came up with my own therapy through art.”
Cody does chalk drawings in parks and is often joined by strangers who are fascinated with his work. In addition to chalk art, Cody makes beautiful jewelry and ornaments with rope. This young man’s creative talents are truly remarkable and inspiring.
Very recently, Cody was asked if he wanted to participate in a program at the college. BIG (Brain Injured Group) partnered with the college and developed a program to teach brain-injured students about basic automotives, carpentry and catering. Cody eagerly accepted this opportunity.
“This is helping me expand my capabilities and self confidence.” Cody said.” BIG is amazing I looked for help when I was living in Vancouver and none of the places came close to what BIG does.” He also credits his family and friends for providing him with support and encouragement.
When one has a brain injury, finding connection, meaning and purpose is extremely difficult. What most people would consider to be small and ordinary can be huge to a brain-injured survivor
When a light bulb goes on, it casts hope and direction.
Cody is a shining example of overcoming adversity and moving forward in life. His inner light brightens the path for everyone who comes into contact with him
When teaching history, it is rare that an issue more than 100 years old becomes a current events lesson, but that is what happened as I began teaching about the Armenian genocide.
The Ottoman Empire is responsible for the death of one and a half million Armenians, primarily under the cover of the First World War. The empire collapsed after they lost the war and the new state of Turkey took up the task of denying any wrongdoing.
Today, Turkey stands as a virtual child caught with their hand in a cookie jar saying, “I didn’t do anything.” Every reputable genocide scholar recognizes what happened to the Armenians in the early part of the 20th century as genocide, as does every reputable state.
Turkey has even gone to the extent of making it illegal to discuss what happened to the Armenians as genocide.
Denial of past genocides, however, is a precursor of future genocides. Adolf Hitler, whose German army was complicit in the crimes of the Ottomans, purportedly asked his generals before invading Poland, “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of
the Armenians?”
Over the last several years, Turkey’s ally Azerbaijan, a dictatorship that also denies the Armenian genocide, has been using oil revenue to build its military. They have been supplied by Turkey and several other countries with questionable human rights records.
Azerbaijan recently invaded its neighbour, the Armenian Republic of Artsakh, also known by its Soviet era name Nagorno-Karabakh. The Republic of Armenia, which also borders Azerbaijan, is allied with Artsakh but does not have anywhere near the military power of Turkey or even Azerbaijan.
No side is innocent in a military conflict, so I assumed that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was exaggerating when he said, “Why has Turkey returned to the South Caucasus 100 years later? To continue the Armenian genocide.”
My opinion changed as I began researching the conflict. The not-for-profit website, Genocide Watch, whom I’ve always found to be a very objective source for information, has declared a “Genocide Emergency Alert” in reference to Azerbaijan’s invasion of Artsakh.
The world proclaimed “never again” after we became aware of the Holocaust. In order to achieve this, Genocide Watch recommends the following:
- The U.N. Security Council should demand that Azerbaijan stop all offensive attacks in Artsakh.
- The U.N. Security Council should impose an embargo on sale of arms to Azerbaijan.
- A U.N. Peacekeeping Force should be positioned to stop attacks by Azerbaijan against Artsakh
- World leaders should condemn hate speech and genocide denial by the Azerbaijani regime.
- American and Russian leaders should broker an effective peace agreement between Azerbaijan, Artsakh and Armenia.
- All sides should honour a genuine cease fire to protect civilians from this genocidal national, ethnic and religious war.
There is hope for a peaceful resolution to this conflict and the prevention of genocide. Russia is historically an ally of Armenia and Turkey has been souring its relationship with several other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council in recent months. This could be a historic moment of effective U.N. intervention, as long as the world’s largest arms producers (most of whom are ironically among the permanent members of the Security Council) can prioritize the well-being of people above their opportunity to gain further profits
It is important to remember the role of a country like Canada in this issue. We are a respected member of the United Nations and a strong ally of several of the major players in this conflict.
We are also in the midst of a global pandemic and are heading into the winter months. Putting the health of the people in the South Caucuses at risk puts us all at risk. Diseases are known to spread and mutate rapidly in refugee camps and diseases do not recognize international boundaries. The Armenian genocide is as real today as it was 100 years ago and the time to end it is now.
TRUDY KLASSEN
really wanted this column to be about potatoes and their importance in my family. After all, my grandparents’ family nickname was “Eitchocken Boyas,” meaning “Potato Bergens.” However, since I am gifted, or cursed, with an advocate’s brain, my train of thought went from potatoes to poppies.
Mid-October is a bit early for snow I had been counting on another two weeks of grass and crisp leaves on the ground.
Mother Nature had other ideas, so I hurried to dig my potatoes. My fingers were freezing, even with new leather gloves. I put on a pair of wool socks to warm my freezing toes inside my rubber boots
As I dug, snowflakes fell on my beautiful, fresh, whole potatoes. My thoughts turned to those who had dug rotten potatoes out of frozen dirt in Stalin’s Russia They dug under the cover of darkness, hoping to remain unseen by the soldiers guarding the confiscated piles of their harvested grain and vegetables Despite my own “hardship,” I knew that I had much to be thankful for.
That reminded me of those who fought wars in the freezing cold so that I could dig my potatoes and think my own thoughts, in peace. That brought me to think about my family’s history
There are no war heroes in my family tree, only dead pacifists. My people’s legends are of men and women who were burned at the stake or stuffed into sacks filled with rocks and tossed into rivers. Faced with the choice to die, fight or flee,
were part of a team of 14 volunteers that distributed poppies to locations around Prince George on the first day of the Royal Canadian Legion’s 2020 Poppy Campaign.
my people fled from their ancestral homeland in Northern Germany
They fled to Russia, when Catherine the Great invited them to immigrate there in the 1700s. She promised freedom to practice their religion and, as part of that, excused them from military service.
After establishing themselves and their farms successfully, the Russian government reneged on Catherine’s agreement with the Mennonite immigrants and began to require military service Again, my ancestors were those that chose to leave rather than fight, die, or compromise their faith Leaving Russia before things got really bad meant they were not among those who scrabbled for rotting potatoes in the frozen dirt of Stalin’s Russia.
My ancestors settled in Saskatchewan, north of Saskatoon, in the 1890s. Agriculture was their preferred way of life, so they learned to farm in the short summers and
to survive the harsh winters of Canada
My family’s nickname maybe came from their ability to grow potatoes, but more likely because they were so poor, they had nothing else to eat.
So I dug out my potatoes in peace because my pacifist ancestors were willing to start over, at least twice, in a hundred years.
It is a peace maintained by many, by those that work to remind us of the importance of our freedoms and those who have served the militaries of the free world, in whatever way, since then. Despite being pacifists, many of my extended family honour that sacrifice by wearing poppies
Which brings me to a Remembrance Day PSA. This year, Remembrance Day ceremonies will be very different, with the Canadian Legion recommending people commemorate from home, and not to attend ceremonies in person.
The official period to wear poppies is the last Friday of October to Nov. 11, so make sure you get yours. The Legion says poppies will be available at Costco, HSBC, London Drugs, Michael’s, People’s Jewelers, Princess Auto, Shoppers Drug Mart, Starbucks, the Source, Tim Horton’s, Via Rail, and Walmart. Get your poppy, take a photo of yourself wearing it and post it on your social media with the hashtag #GetYourPoppy
There is also a Place a Poppy in a Window Lest We Forget group encouraging people to put poppies in their windows, similar to putting hearts in our windows at the beginning of the pandemic. To buy beautiful poppy merchandise, go to the Legion’s webstore at poppy.ca. Buy a poppy to support our veterans. #GetYourPoppy.
Wear a poppy. Lest we forget.
Ifeel old. For the second time in a month I have pulled a muscle in my back leaving me sore, stiff and walking like an old man. Yet I am truly blessed that to date, my life has been one filled with good health with the exception of injuries and concussions derived from my life of activity and the odd case of burnout. It seems that only in pain do we appreciate wellness and those who are not well will give almost anything to be restored to health. The pursuit of wellness, whether it be physical, mental or spiritual, underpins our need to feel whole. As humans it is often difficult to find balance in our lives. However, without wellness, or at least a recognition and acceptance of what we are, this balance is almost always elusive.
Balancing money is also difficult for many people. As the psychologist Maslow
pointed out in his writings, as humans we are motivated to work to fulfill our basic needs. Yet each generation has a different relationship with money. My grandmother who lived through the “Dirty Thirties” felt the need to scrimp and save to ensure there was money for that rainy day Her relationship with money was different from that of her children, my generation, and that of my children. Entrepreneurs have a different relationship with money than those working for big business or government because there is no safety net for retirement other than savings. As a result, business owners and often their employees, realize that they need savings to ensure a livelihood after retirement, if retirement is to be a reality. In many western countries the retirement age has
been moved from 65 to 68 to ensure that there are benefits for retirees. However, compound the thought of retirement with staggering personal and corporate debt loads and one can understand the lack of balance.
So how does all this affect any pursuit of happiness? Simply by the fact that true happiness shouldn’t be derived from a healthy body or a healthy bank account. In 2008, I had the opportunity to travel to remote parts of Uganda which had been ravaged by years of warfare and atrocities. There was little money, many health issues as a result of an insufficient access to clean water, and absolutely no safety nets to cover retirement. In fact, as I realized, if you could find a good income with work beyond your plot of land you were often counted as one of the lucky ones. Yet everywhere I travelled the people seemed happy. Their happiness as I discovered seemed rooted in their relationships rather than their worldly possessions. They experienced a different concept than the one put forward by a corporate and
government mentality that is driven by consumption of expendable goods and the promotion of the conceptualization that relationships promote disease and that human interaction at work and in public should be banned and shamed.
Perhaps the lesson we need to learn today, in the wake of recent economic difficulties is that while the pursuit of money doesn’t lead to happiness the lack of money is admittedly very stressful; that the cost of isolation and fear might be much higher and even more deadly to the population than the physical illness caused by this current pandemic and that the economic crisis forced by lockdowns is having an impact on health and happiness as well as money The sooner that we recognize we need common sense in a pandemic response and not more restrictions, the sooner our population can resume its pursuit of happiness
- Dave Fuller, MBA is an award-winning business coach and the author of the book Profit Yourself Healthy Feel this article isn’t balanced? Email dave@pivotleader.com
KATHY NADALIN
oreen (Stone) McFarlane, one of four children was born in Vermillion, Alta in 1933. She was raised on a farm and attended the local country school then completed Grade 12 in Vermillion.
After high school, she took the threeyear nurses training program at the Royal Alexander Hospital in Edmonton. She first worked as a general duty nurse in small hospitals throughout Alberta.
She was surprised to receive a phone call with an offer of a job in Alert Bay which is on Cormorant Island just beyond the northern tip of Vancouver Island. Unbeknownst to her, the only means of transportation to the island at the time was by boat. Doreen said, “Alert Bay was small and isolated, and when I finally arrived - seasick and tired - at the old military hospital, it was a bit of a shock. Regardless, I received a good education in more ways than one. It was quite the experience to say the least.”
In 1959, she started her operating room nursing career in Lloydminster, Sask. She got married in 1960 and separated in 1974.
Doreen raised their two children Roxanne and Colleen on her own. She now has
six grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
In 1964, the family moved to Vancouver. Doreen worked at the Burnaby General Hospital in the emergency department and the operating room; then on to Nanaimo for work in the operating room there.
The family arrived in Prince George in 1969 and Doreen worked as a casual in the operating room at the Prince George Regional Hospital.
She was offered a job with straight days at the office of Dr. Dahlstrom and she took it. She enjoyed the work and the interaction with all the people.
Doreen said, “In the mid 70’s, our
hospital was already on the cutting edge which means that they had the latest and greatest equipment. I was invited to take part in setting up the first ambulatory care unit and outpatient department which was designed to relieve the emergency and operating rooms of minor surgeries. I was more than pleased to take this on and I became the first outpatient head nurse.
“New programs expanded the unit to include chemotherapy treatment. I took my training at the B.C. cancer hospital in Vancouver to become the first oncology nurse in Prince George. This was useful when in 2016 I participated in a carcinoid cancer research program at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton.
“The number of patients needing cancer treatment increased and we had to move to a larger area on the third floor of the hospital. We did not have a budget for furniture but Dr Ewert and I found what we needed in the education wing so we just ‘borrowed’ what we needed.
“In the early 80’, I became a member of the hospital expansion planning committee to expand the emergency and the ambulatory departments ”
New equipment was purchased for urodynamic studies and Doreen was sent to Galveston, Texas, to be trained to educate the staff in the operation of this equipment.
She was the co-ordinator for the first Admitting, Discharge and Transfer (ADT) computer installation at the hospital even though she protested that she did not know anything about computers. Follow-
ing this project, she was appointed to the position of head nurse in the operating room and the day care surgery unit.
Four years later and along with other head nurses from the Vancouver hospital she was part of the team to make decisions in regards to purchasing the newest disposable drapes for operating rooms.
She was part of many interesting hospital teams and projects that are just too numerous to list here in this column. Doreen retired at the age of 63.
She has been a member of the Prince George Golf and Curling Club for many years and still golfs once a week with her golfing pals. She has enjoyed international travel over the years including a nursing mission trip to Bolivia in 2002.
In 1995, she started the ongoing breakfast club for all the PGRH retirees, including a yearly Christmas celebration.
Her volunteer work over the years included being a volunteer representative for the BC Nurses Union and serving as secretary for 20 years for the White Cane group affiliated with the Canadian Council of the Blind.
Doreen said, “I was an active member of First Baptist Church and the Artist’s Co-op until this Covid-19 thing came along. Now I am just trying - like everyone else - to wait it out.
“During my career I met many great people and I made long-lasting friendships along the way. I have been very blessed with good friends and a great family who are always there to support me when I need them.”
“Giant steps are what you take … walking on the moon.” Or so sang the Police in 1979. Of course, now they might sing “splashing on the moon.”
Not really
Last week, NASA confirmed for the first time the presence of water on the sunlit lunar surface. Measurements made aboard NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) provided definitive evidence for water molecules in Clavius Crater, one of the largest craters visible of the moon’s face. The concentration of water ranges from 100 part per million to 412 parts per million – or, on average, about 800 mL per cubic metre of surface soil. That’s 10 times drier than the Sahara Desert.
Not enough to really create a splash but free water, nonetheless, and it is an important discovery.
The scientific possibility the moon might harbour liquid water dates back to the early 1960s, prior to the first manned missions. Unlike Earth, the moon has only a slight tilt with respect to its orbit and consequently sunlight cannot penetrate deep into the bowls of the craters near its north and south poles. The interiors of these craters are in constant shadow with surface temperatures well below zero
Scientists believed these craters would act as cold traps.
Any water entering one of these regions would freeze solid resulting in small quantities of water ice. And over the billions of years, large pockets of water ice could have formed.
Water is capable of forming hydrates with minerals, such as silicates and zeolites. Indeed, many of the minerals found on Earth and even some that have been identified on Mars are hydrated species. In addition, water can dissociate to form hydroxyl radicals, which can result in basic minerals such as lime. But free water requires a slightly different chemistry.
On Earth, the origin of our water is still an open question. One theory argues water was an essential component of the planetesimals, which collided with each other to eventually generate our planet. Recent evidence of the isotopic signature of water found in enstatite chondrite meteors, formed in the inner solar system, support this point of view
But other researchers argue the Hadean Eon – the time when the surface of the planet was still molten rock as a consequence of the collisions of the planetesimals – would have been too hot for the Earth to have retained this early water. They argue our oceans arrive later in the planet’s life as comets from the outer solar system, where water ice is much more readily available, brought water to Earth’s surface during late stage bombardment.
The moon, of course, suffered these same bombardments. Looking up at night, we can see the remnants of comets and other space debris that crashed into the surface in the many craters and scars, marring the moon’s face. Billions of years ago, a massive water bearing comet might have crashed into the moon, resulting in the Clavius Crater and a legacy of water left behind
Of course the moon’s gravity – only onesixth of Earth’s – was not enough to hold onto most gaseous molecules. Any free water on the moon’s surface would have boiled away, so we do not find puddles for splashing in as we walk on the moon. But the moon’s weak gravity and thin atmosphere could still provide a mechanism for the transport of water molecules from the sunlit side to the poles where water ice could form. And simulations suggest any crevice of crack protected from direct
sunlight – even on the sunny side of the moon – could possibly serve as a hiding place for frozen water
Over the past 50 years, since the first moon landing, various missions have been launched to detect water ice on the moon. The first direct evidence was provided by the Appollo-14 ALSEP Suprathermal Ion Detector Experiment, which captured bursts of water ions near the landing site in 1971 In 1978, Soviet scientists published a paper claiming to have detected water in rocks (hydrated minerals) returned to Earth by the Luna 24 probe. In 1994, the Clementine probe used bistatic radar to probe the dark regions of the Moon’s south pole The echoes of these waves were detected using the Deep Space Network on Earth and were consistent with an icy surface. And India’s ISRO spacecraft Chandrayaan-1 released a lunar impact probe into Shackleton Crater in 2008 and found water ice in the subsurface debris kicked up by the impact.
But the SOFIA measurements provide the first definite evidence of water ice across the entire surface of the Moon. Of course, we need more observations if we are to generate a water map of the Moon but the results are hopeful.
If water ice can be found on the moon, a moon base might not be far behind. And then maybe one day, we will be splashing on the moon.
22. Petite
Halfway
Timespan 25. Woos
26. She-sheep 28. Animosity 29. your request 31. Above, to bards 32. Fling 34. Risk
35. Gem weights 37. Travoltaet al.
38. Earliest
Forest-floor plant
Region
Celebrity
Dunces
Thought
Poverty
urchin
ACROSS
False front
Hole punches
Pigeon’s call
Berserk
Parcel
Lodge
Be in debt
Present!
Hoover
Poor mark
Healer
Partly open
“____ and Away”
Estate house
Steak type
Band
Fruit juice
Looked at
Compass point
Toll
Talk back
Source 18. Downfall 20. Discontinued 21. Switch positions 22. Mr. Boggs 23. Earn 26. Moray, e.g. 27. Tatter 30. Golf club
Handicrafts
Corrosive
Lots
Father, e.g.
Portents
Cushy
Add to
Adjust
Nomad
Parasites
Coaster
Genuine
e.g.
Fill in the grid so thatevery row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers1through 9only once.
Each3x3 box is outlined with adarker line. You already have afew numbers to get you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 1through 9inthe same line, column or 3x3 box
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Poppiesare available at Costco,HSBC,London Drugs, Michael’s, People’s Jewelers, PrincessAuto, Shoppers Drug Mart, Starbucks, the Source, TimHorton’s, ViaRail, andWalmart. To buy beautiful poppymerchandise, visitthe Legion’swebstore at poppy.ca.
The
‘Freedomisnever free’ author unknown. We will remember.
Teresa Saunders
Dr.Devan Reddy
Richard and WendyGirard
DouglasWalder
Brian Pearson
Dorothy Reimer
David Flegel
Ronand AnnetteParnell
DaveRead
JanRose
DaveKing
Dorothy Friesen
Gordon Bliss
BarbaraHampe
Chris H
LindaWijcik
Susan McCook
JackieClements
Roland Green
Sharon &Wayne Armistead
October 30, 1982June 7, 2016
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ERIC HOLMSTROM
JULY 5, 1947NOV. 7, 2019
It has been one year since you passed
You were the light of our lives
The memories you have left are so precious and we miss you everyday.
Rest In Peace
Love Ingrid, Deana, Greg and extended families
1941 - 2020
It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of Virginia (Ginny) Archibald. She has lost the battle with ovarian cancer. She went to be with our Lord on September 22, 2020. She was 79 years old. She will be missed and remembered by her husband of sixty years, Fred Archibald, her daughter, Terry Meyer (Eddie) and her sons, Grant (Feli), Greg (Leti) and Trevor (Michelle). She will also be missed and remembered by the grandchildren. In accordance with her wishes, there will be no service held. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to cancer research or your favorite charity.
Edmond Corey Beauchamp passed away after a month long battle with multiple medical conditions that affected his brain and heart. He finally went to be with the Lord after his love of his life Shana Rivers seen him one last time. Corey was pre-deceased by his dad John (mosquito) Beauchamp & sister Connie Beauchamp. He survived mostly by himself but also by his wife Shana, children, Cole (Shay), Crystal, Cuyler, Cody , Caden, Connor, Carter his sister Corina Beauchamp, and mother Linda Sowik. Services will be held at Assmans funeral home on Saturday November 7th from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m. in lieu of flowers please send donations for the family to help pay for extra funeral costs.
Mary Darlene McCullough
September 4, 1948September 18, 2020
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Mary Darlene McCullough. Mary was born in Edson, Alberta. She waged a long battle with diabetes and heart disease. She leaves behind her loving husband Cliff and son Wayne (Charlene) McCullough and grand-daughter Lily McCullough whom she loved dearly. She is also survived by her twin brother Michael (Barbara) Kilba, Aaron (Jenny) Kilba and Randy (Doris) Kilba and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Reuben and Helen Kilba, and brothers Dennis (Carolanne) Kilba and Jack (Carol) Kilba.
A memorial service was held on September 18th, 2020 at Assman’s Funeral Chapel in Prince George.
It is with heavily saddened hearts the family of the late John E. White announce his passing on October 26, 2020.
His loving and deeply devoted wife and two of many sons held his hands in theirs during his final moments.
He is survived by his wife Tanya, his boys Brodie, Ryan, Trace, Orrin, Garrett, Donovan, Sheldon, Jason, and Dan and all their respective families. His two siblings; brother Richard and sister Carol as well as many nieces and nephews.
He is pre-deceased by both his parents Reginald and Selina, and one of his boys, Kayden.
A service of remembrance will take place at Assman’s Funeral Home on November 14, 2020 at 1 pm.
Please confirm your attendance by calling 250961-7104 as seating is limited to accompany Covid rules.
A Celebration of Life will follow the service.
Dec 15, 1934Oct 28, 2020
Hugo Riske passed away peacefully at the Prince George Hospice on October 28th, 2020. Hugo was born on Dec 15, 1934 in Borodino, Romania to Else and Otto Riske. He was a loving husband, dedicated father, and an incredible and fun-loving Opa. Hugo is survived by his incredibly patient and loving wife Ursula who was the love of his life for 60 years. Daughters Barbara (Andre) and Melanie (Todd), granddaughters Alicia and Violet, sister (Clara) and many many beloved family and friends. Hugo is preceded by his siblings Hilde, Erwin and recent loss of Ilse.
Hugo “The Cat” enjoyed many, many things. Among those were soccer, tennis, telling jokes, his birds, Iron Working and meeting the guys at the Westwood Pub on Saturdays for a beer, seeing his soccer crew at the food court for coffee, dancing on the occasional table and, above all, his family. He was a frequent spectator at any and all Prince George soccer events and was a passionate and skilled player. His love of soccer was only surpassed by his love of comedy and telling jokes. These two interests were often combined with great success. Hugo never missed an opportunity to tell a joke, no matter the circumstances or audience. If you knew him, you also knew this.
He died knowing that Dumb and Dumber was the best movie ever made and that his family and friends loved him fiercely. To know him was to love him. Rest in peace, Daddo. We love you beyond all measure and the hole in our hearts without you is as vast as the universe.
the lives of loved ones with your stories, photographs and tributes on legacy.com/obituaries/nsnews Celebrate the lives of loved ones with your stories, photographs and tributes.
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Annual General Meeting of Sacred Heart Senior Citizens’ Society, and FGM Housing Cooperative will be held on Sunday, Nov 15, 2020 at 1 pm at Fort George Manor, 1870 Gorse St, Prince George, BC All members and interested people are encouraged and welcome to attend. Wearing a mask is mandatory.
Only written inquiries by the above date will be responded to. Information about the proposal can be
How to write a classified ad that works.
Writing an effective classified ad is easy when you use these time-tested principles.
Writing an effective classified ad is easy when you use these time-tested principles.
• Use a keyword. Start your ad with the item for sale, ser vice offered or the job title.
• Use a keyword. Start your ad with the item for sale, ser vice offered or the job title.
• Be descriptive. Give customers a reason to respond. Advertisers have found that the more information you provide, the better the response.
• Be descriptive. Give customers a reason to respond. Advertisers have found that the more information you provide, the better the response.
• Limit abbreviations Use only standard abbreviations to avoid confusion and misinterpretations.
• Limit abbreviations Use only standard abbreviations to avoid confusion and misinterpretations.
• Include price. Always include price of the item for sale.
• Include price. Always include price of the item for sale.
• How to respond. Always include a phone number (with area code) and/or street and email address.
• How to respond. Always include a phone number (with area code) and/or street and email address.
To place your ad call: 604-630-3300
To advertise, call 250-562-6666 or email cls@pgcitizen.ca
To place your ad call: 604-630-3300
Old wooden pallets are typically recycled or thrown away once they’ve outlived their usefulness in the shipping industry. However, repurposing the wood from these pallets has become an increasingly popular trend, especially when it comes to home renovation and interior design.
The wood from pallets can be used to make almost anything. Common recycled creations include tables, shelving units, decorative objects, wood flooring, garden structures, temporary shelters and tree houses for children. Depending on your needs, the pallet can be stripped of its individual boards or used as a whole. What’s more, the wood from pallets can be painted, stained or varnished.
Big industrial companies and hardware stores will fre quently throw their wood pallets away or leave them near recycling containers. So with a little resourcefulness, you’ll be able
to supply yourself with building materials free of charge. If this isn’t an option, you can always negotiate a fair price with your local hardware store.
You’re only limited by your creativity when it comes to upcycling wooden pallets. They can be sawed, glued, nailed, screwed, stapled, sanded, framed, water treated and burned — by design, of course. They style well with various types of wood, different metals and other building materials. And with little cost and effort, you can give old wooden pallets a new lease on life while upgrading your home decor.
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More and more people have taken to incorporating a bit of nature into the decor of their homes, and with good reason. Plants provide a nice touch of colour, create a relaxing atmosphere and help to purify the air in your house. So by fashionably using plants and flowers as decorative accessories, you’ll be able to breathe new life into your home.
Making the inside of your home come to life couldn’t be easier. Simply arrange a cluster of assorted plants along a stretch of wall — in your living room or bathroom,
for example — that has a window. Position a low and sturdy table beneath the window and garnish it with an array of exotic plants varying in size and species. You can also place your flora on nested tables or shelves at different levels to create a stunning visual effect.
No indoor garden would be complete without kokedema. A Japanese variant of the bonsai, this art form involves wrapping your plant’s roots in soil, moss and string. By hanging these charming little gardens from your ceiling, you’ll be able to create a spectacular tableau of greenery virtually anywhere in your home.
Keep in mind that certain plants don’t get along well with others when planning the layout of your indoor garden. You can always consult a horticulturalist if you’re having trouble deciding on which plants to use.
The chlorophytum (or spider plant), ficus, ivy, bowstring hemp, philodendron and gerbera are all species that require minimal upkeep and have air-purifying qualities. These types of plants help rid the air of carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, benzene and formalin.
The key to a memorable evening amongst family or friends is conversation. Whether it’s to recount your day, make plans for the future or simply for an intimate tête-à-tête, a lounge is the perfect place for light-hearted, witty or existential exchanges. Outfitting your home with a cozy lounge will go a long way in keeping the conversation going.
THE ESSENTIALS
Comfort should be the main priority when designing a lounge. To make the most of your relaxing environment, you’ll need:
• Comfortable couches and armchairs — a sectional sofa is a great choice.
• Cushions of various shapes & styles.
• Ottomans or footrests.
• A large rug (patterned, shag, etc.).
• One or more low tables.
• Large throws for those chilly evenings.
• Decorative plants
• Muted light sources, such as pendant or recessed lights with dimmer switches, accent lamps, LED strip lights, candles and tea-lights.
• A gas or electric fireplace for a warm ambiance.
CHOOSING
To brighten your lounge, interior designers usually recommend warm colours like red, orange or yellow. These hues will make the space feel more welcoming and are guaranteed to help enliven the conversation. Subtle colours such as ivory, beige and steel grey can also be used to de corate your lounge, as long as they’re paired with colourful accessories and decor.
Warm colours, soft lighting and comfy couches will make any lounge a cozy retreat!
Upcycling has become one of the biggest trends in home decor, and rightly so. Repurposing old or discarded materials is a great and easy way to create unique decorative furnishings — like accent tables — for your house. Here are a few ideas to get those creative juices flowing.
OLD IS NEW
Rustic is very trendy right now, so why not make some rural-inspired accent tables for your home? Polishing the ends of a decent-sized log or attaching a tray to an old metal milk can could produce fantastic results in very little time. Need more ideas? Try using an old wooden chair to support a flower vase or display your various knick-knacks. You could even replicate the timeless charm of a tree swing by hanging a shelf or two with some old rope.
UNTAPPED POTENTIAL
Don’t give or throw your old books away. Instead, try stacking them between two shelves to make the perfect place for the books you’re reading now. You could also convert those old milk, wine or apple crates in your garage into stylish accent tables. Simply paint and mount the boxes together to create a vintage accent suitable for mo dern decor.
GIVE NEW PURPOSE TO OLD OBJECTS
Old unused stools are the perfect place to put out some books or magazines. Or, you could try stacking old honeycomb clay or cement blocks to make a quick and solid table for your lamp. You can even add some tapered table legs to your grandmother’s old luggage to make an inexpensive yet unique piece of furniture. The possibilities are endless; all you need is a little bit of time and imagination!
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Rose gold, also known as pink gold, has gone from being a distinctive element of jewellery to one of the most sought-after decorative metals in home design. The soft and warm atmosphere it creates makes it the perfect way to add a touch of class and elegance to your home. That’s why it’s one of the most alluring and often-used metallic shades when it comes to interior decorating.
Rose gold soared in popularity thanks to its use in some of the biggest fashion shows in the world. This timeless hue is now being used to outfit an increasing array of decorative household objects: lamps, trays, vases and even garbage cans. Rose gold is also making its way into home furnishings and wall panelling. It pairs well with a variety of materials including wood, silver and copper. Its graceful and gentle colour can add a hint of luxury to any room.
Rose gold’s main virtue is that it complements any decor and suits any style. However, this metal should be used as a finishing touch; only a few light traces are needed to create a refined allure. Overusing its enticing lustre with too many accessories can have the opposite effect, making your room or decor appear somewhat tawdry and inelegant.
design style.
We’re rarely short on ideas when it comes to decorating our homes. But sometimes, knowing where to start can be a little daunting. Maybe you’re looking to update your new home with a look you’ll love, refresh the style of your current house or even stage it to help it sell faster. Regardless of your needs, an interior decorator will be able to provide you with sound advice while respecting your tastes and budget.
There are no defined standards when it comes to interior decorating. Designs and trends change over time, varying from person to person and home to home. Interior decorators are skilled when it comes to blending styles and colours, and are experts at finding those decorative items that make all the difference. They also have a wealth of knowledge about the different fabrics and materials that work well together. They’ll bring a unique and modern touch to your home while adhering to your own personal preferences and tastes.
AN EYE FOR DESIGN
An interior decorator will be able to help you every step of the way as you redesign your home. They’ll analyze the different options available to you and suggest the best possible choices for your current needs. Whether it’s establishing a budget, choosing colours and materials, or following up on orders, a decorator will oversee each step in the process to ensure you’re completely satisfied with the end result.
As the leaves start to change colour and fall to the ground, many gardeners start to feel rueful at the dull sight of flowerbeds past their prime. There’s hope, though, for gardeners reluctant to put away the secateurs and gardening gloves, even in the lower-number hardiness zones. With some planning and planting, you can develop late-blooming flowerbeds that promise continuing colour well past the end of summer.
1. Chelone lyonii , or turtlehead. Li kes dampness and produces colourful, slope-headed blossoms.
2. Chrysanthemum. If you’re planting in the fall, get them in the ground fast, mulch them and keep them damp.
3. Eupatorium purpureum , or Joe Pye weed. Although you see it growing wild along roadsides, newer varieties are tamer and smaller.
4. Helenium autumnale , or sneezeweed. Although the plant doesn’t look like much through the summer, you’ll be rewarded with fantastic blooms in early fall.
5. Asters. These tough star-shaped flowers keep the blooming season alive right into the fall.
6. Coneflowers. New cultivars promise pretty scents and colours.
SHRUBS FOR A GOLDEN SHOW
Add some deep reds and golds to your
fall palette with shrubs that yield late flowers or brilliant foliage. Try witch hazel, Solomon’s seal, ninebark or Crispa, an elm cultivar. Even if you’re not set up to have a fall-blooming garden this year, it’s a fine time to start planning for spring. Fall is the best time to plant many shrubs and bulbs for next year.
If you like to talk gardening with your friends and neighbours, you’re probably hearing more about cultivating fall crops than ever before . Although gardeners in the more hardy zones south of us have always done it, the trend towards planting for a fall harvest has been creeping north in the last few years. With some careful planning and tending, you can enjoy tasty vegetables later than you might have thought possible.
A successful fall growth depends on the hard frost records for your area, and the lengths you’re willing to go to
in order to protect your plants from early frosts. If, like most Canadians, you live along the U.S. border corridor, you are probably in a hardiness zone of three, four or five. In these conditions, there are a few vegetables you might be able to keep growing past Thanksgiving if you protect them properly. If you’re on the milder West Coast, you may be able to grow certain veggies through till November, if the weather cooperates.
Some veggies are naturally more resilient than others. Among the hardiest are the following:
• Carrots
• Cold-hardy herbs such as chives (the hardiest), French tarragon, lovage, mint and parsley
• Hardy varieties of collards
• Heavily mulched turnips
• Lettuces and mache, in a cold frame or low tunnel, till mid to late fall
• Parsnips
• Savoy-type cabbages
• Some leek varieties
• Spinach grown in cold frames
The best way to experiment is to try several varieties and see which ones survive. You could also talk to experienced gardeners and local farmers to see how they push the limits of the season.
