Prince George Citizen November 26, 2020

Actor craves connection

CHRISTINE HINZMANN

Citizen staff

When live entertainment came to a sudden stop because of the pandemic, it hit the audience hard.

Still harder hit were those people in the industry making their living providing that entertainment.

And don’t forget the actors who thrive on entertaining because for some the old

adage ‘all the world’s a stage’ is true and they miss it.

For Denis Senecal, who takes on the starring role of Kris Kringle for the Judy Russell Presents stage reading of the heartwarming Christmas class Miracle on 34th Street next month, this is more than just a performance.

This is what he loves doing, how he thrives and what makes gives him a sense of belonging.

“You know that feeling when you walk into your childhood home and your mom’s there and you sit down at the table and you just feel like you’re home?” Senecal asked. “When you feel like a kid again and you’re warm and you’re taken care of? For me that’s what it feels like being on stage.”

See INTERESTING on page 6

BOND NAMED INTERIM LEADER

Postmedia

B.C. Liberal MLAs have picked former cabinet minister Shirley Bond as their interim leader, replacing Andrew Wilkinson as the party seeks to stabilize itself after last month’s election losses.

Bond, the five-term MLA from Prince George, has served as deputy premier, transportation minister, attorney general and in several other high-profile cabinet posts. The job is temporary and she forgoes running as a candidate in the future race for a permanent leader.

“I appreciate the confidence and trust my colleagues have placed in me as we work together to hold John Horgan and the NDP government to account in the coming months,” Bond said in a news release.

Her first task will be to prepare the 28-member Liberal caucus to be the official Opposition when Premier John Horgan recalls the house on Dec. 7.

Bond will lead the party after the Liberals lost 13 seats in last month’s election to the NDP. The party has ordered an independent review into its worst showing in decades. The party has also said it has put in place an impartial team of advisers to set up a full leadership race at an undetermined point in the future.

See SHE HAS on page 3

CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE

Denis Senecal takes on the role of Kris Kringle for the stage reading of Miracle on 34th Street at Theatre NorthWest in December. Claire McCaffrey, 10, left, and Valen von den Steinen, 11, will share the role of Susan.

WHAT:

Public Hearing regarding:

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

•Amendments to “City of Prince Official Community Plan BylawNo. 8383, 2011” AND “City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007”

WHEN:

7:00 p.m., Monday, December 7, 2020

WHERE:

Council ChambersofCity Hall, 2nd Floor,1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC PROPOSALS:

1. “City of Prince George OfficialCommunity PlanBylawNo. 8383,2020, Amendment BylawNo. 9154,2020” AND “City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007, Amendment BylawNo. 9155, 2020”

Applicants: L&M Engineering Ltd.for GiuliuInvestments Ltd., Inc. No. BC0660654and Duk Hong Kim and Myung Soon Kim

Subject Properties:9800and 9912 Sintich Road

The applications propose to amend the Official Community Plan and rezone the subject properties located at 9800 and 9912 Sintich Road to facilitate arealignment of the lot lines of each of the subject properties and ensure consistency with the zoning boundaries and property uses.

1.1 Official Community Plan (OCP) Amendment BylawNo. 9154, 2020

BylawNo. 9154, 2020 proposes to amend “City of Prince George Official Community Plan BylawNo. 8383, 2011” as follows:

a. That “Schedule B-6: Future Land Use”, be amended by re-designating The North East ¼ofDistrict Lot 750, Cariboo District, Except Plans 15470, 16630, 18608, 18991, 20076, 23849, PGP36675, PGP42228 and EPP73945 from Rural Resource to Rural Resource, Business District and Service Commercial; and

b. That “Schedule B-6: Future Land Use”, be amended by re-designating Lot A, District Lot 750, Cariboo District, Plan 23849 from Business District and Service Commercial to Business District, Service Commercial and Rural Resource.

1.2 City of Prince George Zoning Amendment BylawNo. 9155, 2020

BylawNo. 9155, 2020 proposes to amend “City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007” as follows:

a. That The North East ¼District Lot 750, Cariboo District, Except Plans 15470, 16630, 18608, 18991, 20076, 23849 PGP36675, PGP42228 and EPP73945, be rezoned from RM9: Manufactured Home Park to RM9: Manufactured Home Park and C6lc: Highway Commercial; and

b. That Lot A, District Lot 750, Cariboo District, Plan 23849, be rezoned from C6lc: Highway Commercial to C6lc: Highway Commercial and RM9: Manufactured Home Park

The proposed Bylaws apply to the properties legally described as:

•The North East ¼ofDistrict Lot 750, Cariboo District, Except Plans 15470, 16630, 18608, 18991, 20076, 23849, PGP36675, PGP42228, EPP73945; and

•Lot A, District Lot 750, Cariboo District, Plan 23849; all outlined in bold black on Location Map #1 below

Location Map#1 9800 and9912 Sintich Road

HOWCAN IPROVIDE COMMENT?

Residents are invited to provide comment in writing,bytelephone or in person. Submissions in writing

Residents are encouraged to provide written comments to Council to be included in the Council meeting agenda package and available for public viewing on the City’s website.

Forsubmissions to be included on the agenda for Council’sreviewinadvance of the meeting date, theymust be received by the Corporate Officer no later than 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, December 1, 2020.Submissions received after the noted deadline and before 3:00 p.m. Monday, December 7, 2020,will be provided to Council on the dayof the 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 the address noted below.

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.

Residents can pre-register to speak to the proposed Bylaws live via telephone. Pre-registration will be open from 8:30 a.m., Thursday, December 3, 2020 to Monday, December 7, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. To pre-register to speak to Council via telephone, visit our website www.princegeorge.ca/publichearings to complete an online registration or call 311. If you miss pre-registering,please watch the online live meeting broadcast as there will be an opportunity for your 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, December 7, 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.

NEED MORE INFORMATION?

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 November 25, 2020.These documents mayalso be reviewedatthe Development Services office on the 2nd Floor of City Hall on November 25, 26, 27, 30, December 1, 2, 3, 4and 7, 2020, between the hoursof 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

WHO CAN ISPEAK TO?

Formore information, please contact Development Services in person, by telephone at (250)561-7611 or by email to devserv@princegeorge.ca.

Forquestions related to Public Hearing participation and procedures, please contact the Legislative Services Division by telephone (250)561-7793 or by email to cityclerk@princegeorge.ca.

Bylaw officers close market

TED CLARKE

Citizen staff

City bylaw enforcement officers issued a warning Saturday for the Hart Community Centre Winter Market to shut down or possibly face fines for not observing the latest provincial health restrictions on crowd gatherings.

Alice Sigurdson, who organizes the market, said two bylaw officers paid a visit to the front door just before the 4 p.m. closing time to inform her that she and each of the 28 vendors risked $2,300 fines if they chose to reopen of Sunday for the second day of the market.

“They just said that this gathering had too many people in it,” said Sigurdson. “They said Dr. Henry said that no gathering can have more than six people. I said that I got certified by Northern Health, but he said, ‘No, that doesn’t matter,’ and if you do it tomorrow, the cops could come and each of us could be charged $2,300, plus the hall.”

Sigurdson was also told to provide contact tracing as one of the required rules. She insisted the bylaw officer speak directly to the vendors and they all gathered to hear the warning of the potential for fines.

“Nobody can afford that, so people just pulled out,” Sigurdson said. “They all were just stunned. I said it was an essential market but he said all markets are closed down. I had our kitchen open and food for sale and I thought we had it well under control I don’t know what I did wrong.”

The Winter Market is classed as a community market, rather than a craft fair, but Sigurdson said she did not have the documents with her at the hall to show bylaw officers it had been approved by Northern Health as a market.

More than half the vendors present Saturday were selling baked goods and other types of food and as food vendors they are considered an essential service, bound by the rules of farmer’s markets which were updated to reflect the provincewide order on Thursday requiring masks in all public places

Shoppers check out a vendor’s booth earlier this month at the Hart Community Centre’s Winter Market.

Merri MacLaughlin traveled from 150 Mile House to sell hand-made tea towels and clothing and she was back at the community centre Sunday morning to pack up for the three-hour trip home, having lost a potentially profitable day selling her wares.

“The licence Alice got up there was for a market, not a craft fair,” said MacLaughlin. “The bylaw officer said it was a social event and craft fairs aren’t allowed. She went to Northern Health and was told it was OK as long as we had 50 per cent food.

“Somebody must have tattled, and they decided it was a craft fair They kept saying ‘craft fair, craft fair, craft fair.’”

MacLaughlin’s 79-year-old husband has health issues and she’s seen other markets in Prince George and won’t participate in them because she says the vendors are packed too closely together and she considers them unsafe. But because of the spacious setup and how the rules were enforced, she had no such concerns about the Hart Winter Market.

A total of 405 people attended the market in the six hours it was open Saturday (10 a.m. -4 p.m.) in what was the

third consecutive weekend for the Winter Market. Crowd sizes in markets are limited to a maximum of 50 people at any one time and Sigurdson said there was someone at the door constantly monitoring the numbers. The mask order was observed and enforced, as it was the previous two weekends, when it wasn’t mandatory.

Sheldon White, whose company, Central Display & Tents, developed the floor plan and set up curtained booths for the market vendors to display their goods while allowing for physical distancing, is livid the bylaw officers issued their warning without offering Sigurdson any recourse.

“The City of Prince George just shut down a Northern Health-approved market without letting the organizer show proof it was approved, and it was approved on Friday by Northern Health to continue because it’s classed as an essential service,” said White. “Although the bylaw officers were doing what they feel they are required to since the Thursday announcement, there were inaccurately educated prior to their shifts. The result in this misinformation is the shutdown of an ap-

proved market with irreversible damages to the operators These operators were just doing what they were allowed to do.”

The provincial health office announced Thursday afternoon it was stepping up restrictions to fight a rising tide of COVID-19 cases and all community events in B.C were cancelled until Dec. 7. But community markets, because they sell essentials, don’t have the same restrictions as events. White spoke with a Northern Health officer on Friday who did point out the need to modify the market’s floor plan to allow a greater percentage of food vendors, and two non-food vendors had to be excluded

An email message from Northern Health to White two weeks ago confirmed the following guidelines:

“Due to your exemption as a community market, you will be able to have more than 50 people attend the event. Please calculate and determine the maximum number of people that can comfortably fit in the community center. People of the same group and party can be within 2 meters of each other. Other groups & parties must be able comfortably space 2 meters apart. You can flow in and out people like the grocery stores. You do not have to wait 1 hour in between each guest.”

White says what transpired Saturday stems from a lack of communication between Northern Health and the city bylaw enforcement office, which enforces health orders He also pointed out there was no formal option provided to Sigurdson to dispute the claim she was contravening the order.

Winter Market organizers and vendors are hopeful the problem can be sorted out in time for this weekend The hall is booked for the market each weekend leading up to Christmas

“I predict that the Hart Community Market will be open this coming weekend and will be more successful than ever,” said White. “I believe in this market and I believe it is the safest one of its kind in Prince George and all others should try to meet the standards that are set by the Hart Community Market.”

‘She has an incredible amount of experience’

from page 1

Bond replaces Wilkinson, who abruptly quit through a post to his Facebook page on Saturday. Wilkinson has not taken any questions on his leadership in the campaign since election day, Oct. 24.

At first, he indicated he would stay on as leader until a permanent successor was chosen.

However that decision, made without consulting caucus, caused fierce criticism inside and outside the party. Wilkinson was also accused of being a sexist and bullying leader.

Horgan posted a congratulatory message to Bond on social media.

“As an MLA since 2001, she has an incredible amount of experience,” he tweeted. “Looking forward to working with her in her role as leader of the opposition to support British Columbians through the pandemic and beyond.”

CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE/LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

IS ON NOW!

Take Advantage of GreatDeals!

BUSINESS LEADERS, WORKERS WELCOME MASK MANDATE

ARTHUR WILLIAMS AND MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff

The announcement that the province will be requiring all staff and customers to wear masks in indoor public and retail spaces was welcome news for one local business owner.

Trent Derrick is the owner of Rocky Mountain Chocolate Derrick said he and his staff have frequently received pushback and abuse from customers not happy with the store’s COVID-19 safety plan.

“We’ve had people yell at our staff. We’ve had people yell at us,” Derrick said. “For awhile, it was happening once or twice a day It has slowed down to once or twice a week now.”

While the store didn’t require customers to wear masks previously, they had strict limits on how many customers were allowed inside and social distancing requirements, he said.

Those rules were the most frequent cause of conflicts, he added.

While Derrick said he and his staff have never felt physically threatened or unsafe because of one of those encounters, several of his staff were left feeling upset and emotionally shaken by the incidents. The incidents prompted Derrick to offer his staff training on how to deal with hostile customers and stressful situations.

The provincial order will hopefully reduce conflicts with customers, he said.

“This is exactly what we’ve been waiting for, to make it mandatory, to enforce that message and ensure that people know that and this is a positive step forward in our fight against COVID-19.”

The order also might make those who are at higher risk feel more comfortable to go out and do their shopping in person again, he added.

Henry asked – but did not order – people to refrain from non-essential travel.

Corrigall said he doubts that will have much of an effect on people from surrounding communities coming into Prince George to shop.

He said they might have to come into Prince George to purchase essential items they can’t get at home.

“I think it’s good news. It brings consistency from business to business,”

Derrick said. “As small businesses, and all businesses, we’re just trying to follow the rules. We’re all under the same stress. Just be kind.”

Prince George Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Corrigall also welcomed Henry’s order making masks mandatory.

“This is exactly what we’ve been waiting for, to make it mandatory, to enforce that message and ensure that people know that and this is a positive step forward in our fight against COVID-19,” he said.

Corrigall said the measure will help contain the spread of the virus and also protects merchants from having “one of those challenging conversations, where somebody may not want to wear a mask.

“It is now mandated, it is now required. There are face shields if you can’t wear a mask – if you’ve got a medical exemption, then a face shield covers that portion, so these are all positive steps forward.”

He said the step gives store managers and staff the authority to refuse service to someone who is being challenging on the matter

Corrigall urged retailers to comply with the order, rather than serve someone who is not wearing a mask or face shield.

“In the long run, it’s to their benefit,” he said. “The faster that this (the pandemic) gets addressed, the faster things return to normal, the faster people can be entering their stores in large numbers.”

“If there’s a mask mandate in place, people are respectful of the mask mandate, they’re washing their hands, they’re being respectful of others, there shouldn’t be a problem with somebody from Vanderhoof or Fort St. James or McBride coming to Prince George to do their shopping,” he said. “You can’t stop people from getting their necessities or celebrating their holidays.”

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1518 president Kim Novak thanked Henry for keeping frontline grocery and retail workers safe.

The union represents thousands of grocery store and retail workers in Prince George and across B.C.

Novak urged British Columbians to follow the rules without complaint.

“This much needed public safety measure, which Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth will roll out in the coming week, will go a long way towards keeping frontline grocery and retail workers safe,” Novak said in an emailed statement. “These workers are doing an incredible service for their communities, keeping everyone supplied during a pandemic, and they deserve strong health and safety protections and recognition for the work they are doing.”

A survey of 2,000 B.C. retail workers, released by the union earlier this week, showed 61 per cent of workers polled felt unsafe at work during the pandemic. More than 90 per cent said they felt unsafe from COVID-19 at least some of the time

More than 82 per cent said they interacted with unmasked customers daily and 95 per cent said it happens at least once a week.

“We cannot be responsible to enforce (mask-wearing) in the store and be subject to harassment and abuse by customers,” one survey respondent said.

Crisis line desperate for volunteers

MARK NIELSEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Northern B.C. Crisis Centre could use some help when it comes to helping others.

In the time since the novel coronavirus pandemic took hold, the centre has seen a 25-per-cent increase in calls to its phone lines from people feeling anxious, depressed and suicidal.

The jump has translated into about 600 calls per month from people in the Northern Health region plus a further 400-500 calls per month the centre fields from the national suicide prevention line.

“Things really ticked up in March and they haven’t really stopped. We’ve been very busy,” Sandra Boulianne, the centre’s executive director, said.

She said there have been similar upticks in the past, such as during the two major wildfire seasons, but nothing as sustained as this.

Adding to the trouble, Boulianne said the centre is short-staffed.

The centre works on a hybrid model with trained volunteers taking calls during the days and evenings and paid staff working the overnight shift.

The roster of volunteers has waivered between 25 and 30. Ideally, Boulianne said the count should be over 40. As it stands, the centre’s call answer rate averages about 70 per cent.

“So we’re missing 30 per cent of our calls,” Boulianne said “It’s not good.”

Moreover, the volunteers are typically university students looking for some practical experience while pursuing their degrees. While she welcomes them, Boulianne said she would like to have a broader representation of the community not only because they may be able to better relate to some of the callers but they may last longer than the two to three years a student typically does.

“Sometimes it feels like we’re training people as fast as we’re losing people,” she said.

Retired folks and stay-at-home mothers with some spare time are among the kinds of people Boulianne said she is seeking, adding the centre also has a youth-servingyouth line.

Newcomers go through 70 hours of training, delivered online, and once completed, they’re asked to put in one four-hour shift per week, either from home or at the centre.

“It’s difficult work but it’s very rewarding,” Boullianne said.

She added that she joined the centre after earning a social work degree as a mature student at UNBC and had intended to stay for just two years. That was eight years ago.

“I can honestly say I’ve fallen in love with the work,” Boullianne said “I love the

Gang task force nabs drugs

B.C.’s gang enforcement task force seized drugs, weapons and cash during an anti-gang blitz in the region.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C.’s Uniform Gang Enforcement Team was in Prince George and Quesnel from Nov 12 to Nov 14, to support local efforts to combat gang violence.

“During these shifts, UGET officers conducted many checks of persons known to be involved in criminal activity and in doing so seized large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl, along with thousands of dollars in cash, and numerous weapons including two firearms,” an RCMP statement said.

Between the two cities, the unit stopped

130 vehicles, checked 160 people and seized more than two-dozen weapons. Weapons seized included two firearms, ammunition, a crossbow, a machete, two conducted-energy weapons, brass knuckles, three batons, bear spray, a hatchet, two replica pistols and a dozen knives.

Officers also seized $10,000 in cash.

“Violence is fuelled by the drug trade,” the RCMP statement said. “Regardless of these positive results, the residents of Prince George and our neighbours in Quesnel need to stay vigilant and report incidents to the police as soon as possible. Violent offenders show no regard for public safety and the public plays a crucial role in making our communities safe.”

authenticity of people when they’re calling anonymously and confidentially and I love the skills that we use to help people open up.”

On the bright side, the centre was one of 10 across B.C. to receive a $10,000 from Pacific Blue Cross. Boulianne said it has made a difference to the non-profit which relies largely on funding from Northern Health and the United Way of Northern B.C

“We’re very, very grateful,” she said.

Pacific Blue Cross provided the funding after a survey indicated two-thirds of British Columbians predict their mental health will deteriorate in the coming months

“We know that those who engage early support through crisis lines, are less likely to require acute care later,” said Jim Iker, Chair of the Pacific Blue Cross Health Foundation. “With BC now facing its second wave of the pandemic, supporting our community and our health care system has never been more critical.”

Boulianne attributed a significant amount of the jump in calls to people stuck in quarantine or other forms of isolation brought on by the virus. For some, it’s also meant they have been unable to access face-to-face counselling in a timely manner and just need someone to talk to while they’re waiting.

“The beautiful thing about crisis lines is you can talk to somebody right away,” Boulianne said. “We are not counsellors

“We’re missing 30 per cent of our calls. It’s not good. Sometimes it feels like we’re training people as fast as we’re losing people. It’s difficult work but it’s very rewarding,”

because our service is anonymous and we don’t have a therapeutic relationship with our callers but we’re able to diffuse a situation in the moment.”

Even if the centre needs more volunteers, Boulianne said those in need of help should still call.

“You don’t need to be suicidal to call a crisis line,” she said. “We take any kind of distress call. If anything is worrying or distressing an individual, we want to be there to support them and so, no issue is too small,” she said.

“It’s really anything, all the way from social isolation and loneliness to suicidal ideation and everything in between.”

Those interested in volunteering can get more information at crisis-centre.ca. If you need help, call 1-888-562-1214. There is also a suicide prevention line at 1-800-SUICIDE and youth crisis line at 1-888564-8336.

Performers adapt to pandemic life

CHRISTINE HINZMANN

Citizen staff

The Prince George Symphony Orchestra is doing it.

Theatre NorthWest is doing it

Gypsy Entertainment Group is doing it.

Providing live entertainment during a pandemic comes with plenty of challenges but it seems that the face of live entertainment is smiling in Prince George.

The Prince George Symphony Orchestra (PGSO) had their Autumn Revival Bringing Back the Joy of Live Music, fall season featuring four concerts sponsored with a free venue at the Prestige Treasure Cove Hotel.

The approach was to do theatre in the round where the smaller orchestra sat in the middle of the ballroom while tables for up to four people who were from the same pod were placed six feet apart.

“That’s been our motto - we’re going to go forward until we can’t,” Teresa Saunders, general manager for the PGSO, said.

“These live concerts have been very well received by people who are just so grateful to have live music back in their lives and who have a place to go outside their homes to do something enjoyable and in a sense something social as they are with other people.”

Theatre NorthWest has hosted an extensive series of stage readings where both the audience and the actors on stage are at least six feet apart at all times.

Although Theatre NorthWest has not been able to present plays during COVID

because of the restrictions brought about by the pandemic, the professional theatre has offered their facility to those who wanted to present stage readings.

“When we were thinking about what theatre and the performing arts looks like for us in the COVID and post-COVID world we realized that certainly in the short term we are not in a position to be putting on any of our performances for several reasons not least of which it’s not financially viable to put a full-scale performance on for 50 people,” Marnie Hamagami, TNW’s general manager, said.

That was when the theatre decided to host stage readings instead.

“A lot of the works that have been selected to be performed are works that Theatre NorthWest would never do not because they’re not good works but because Theatre NorthWest has a specific mandate and those works fall outside of that mandate,” Hamagami said.

Their mandate includes doing contemporary works with an emphasis on Canadian content. There’s also how the space works to accommodate actors and their audience while following pandemic protocols.

“There’s a lot of people in our community who are not ready to come out and that’s fine and that’s important to recognize,” Hamagami said. “On the other hand there are large groups of people who are excited to have an event to attend. We’re working hard to make sure they are safe when they come to us - as safe as it’s pos-

sible for use to make them by following all the protocols.”

Theatre NorthWest will always be in compliance with health orders and will continue to offer stage readings as long as they can, Hamagami added.

The stage readings have had such a positive response Hamagami believes this might be something TNW offers to the community even post-COVID as it allows local actors and playwrights to showcase their talents on a smaller scale, making more productions like these possible with a lot less pressure than a full production.

Derek Andrews of Gypsy Entertainment Group started providing live comedy at the Rockford ballroom during the pandemic along with his partner Dominic Oliveira.

There are seven local comedians along with headliners that are brought in from around the province that follow the protocols set in place

“We were wanting to get more people out and actually have some normalization because obviously we do have rules and restrictions but we thought we could still follow those while offering some entertainment and that’s why we’re doing this,” Andrews said.

It’s all COVID compliant, he added

People can see a show in the Rockford ballroom and follow the protocols of a maximum of six to a table, six feet apart and are served food and drink by Rockford staff.

“So people can come in, sit down, watch

the show, get served, get up and go home,” Andrews said.

“We can only do this until we can’t. And when we can’t do it any more we’ll shut it down. We’ll keep going following all the restrictions for as long as we can.”

Right now there’s not much financial gain and Andrews said there are other reasons they’re providing live entertainment.

“People are so grateful,” Andrews said. “People come up to us after the show to say thank you or send us messages that say they think it’s fantastic that we’re doing this, that they’ve been stuck at home and it was nice to come out in a safe environment and have a laugh and be able to eat and drink.”

Gypsy Entertainment Group has also hosted fundraisers over the last six months they’ve been in operation. They’ve fundraised for the BC Children’s Hospital, the Prince George Hospice Society as well as a woman who needed support through a difficult time. Andrews said they’ll keep helping the community as needed.

“Mental health is a huge thing right now, if you look at the overdose numbers - there’s a lot of stuff going on pertaining to people just being isolated and not being able to have those connections and not being able to have those interactions they usually have with family and friends,” he said. “It’s pretty serious stuff right now and if we can keep going and we’re not making any money and we’re helping people then that’s fantastic.”

‘INTERESTING CHALLENGE’

from page 1

And he is forever grateful to audience members, to Selen Alpay, owner of the local Canadian Tire store, who has sponsored the show that’s make it all possible and to Judy Russell to be willing to do the project in the first place.

thought it was the little piece - the angeland I said ‘sure, I can do that, that’s great - fantastic!’ And then when I got the script I was like ‘what!?!? This is a big part. What’s going on?’ I just wanted to be involved and that’s when I was shocked. I didn’t know what it was but I am super stoked now.”

Senecal said he has so much respect for Russell as a director

“It’s so crazy that someone would come along and sponsor this - we’re so lucky and blessed to have someone like that around,” Senecal said emotionally “Mr Alpay, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

Senecal came to Prince George last year for a work promotion. He’s a provincial government employee.

He’s lived in many places in western Canada, is an avid hunter, fisher, camper, hiker and entertainer who has extensive experience as a sports announcer, loves singing, as well as a talent for acting and musical theatre he discovered when he was in his mid-30s.

“So when I came to Prince George and I was auditioning for Judy Russell earlier in the year I was so excited because that’s how you get to meet the people in a community like Prince George - you join the clubs and you get invested in what’s going on and it’s such a rich culture here - I was so amazed. And then COVID hit and so I was surprised when Judy asked me to do this.”

Senecal had never seen the movie Miracle on 34th Street.

“So I thought Judy was talking about It’s A Wonderful Life,” Senecal laughed. “So when she asked me to do Kris Kringle I

“Judy is so supportive and such a good director,” he said. “Judy knows motivation and understands how to get somebody into the right head space and how to feel the real heart of the story and the heart of the character.”

Stage readings are different than regular acting where not only are you focused on the spoken word but how you move on stage and interact physically with fellow actors, Senecal explained.

“It’s almost like voice acting,” Senecal said about stage reading. “The focus is on how you get everything out of the character just by reading. So that’s been a truly interesting challenge.”

The show will be held at Theatre NorthWest as part of their stage reading series.

Doors will open 45 minutes before the performance. Patrons will be seated by an usher upon arrival to ensure proper social distancing.

Dates are Dec. 11,12, 13 and 18, 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

For more information about safety protocols call 250-563-6969, ext. 304 or email boxoffice@theatrenorthwest.com and for tickets visit www.theatrenorthwest.com.

Local teachers call for mandatory masks in schools

TED CLARKE

Citizen staff

The head of the union that represents nearly 1,000 Prince George teachers is wondering why schools were exempt from a new provincial heath order issued last week requiring mask to be worn indoors in public places.

Joanne Hapke, president of the Prince George District Teachers’ Association, says it’s in the best interests of educators, students and parents to make mask-wearing mandatory in schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Three Prince George schools have each had at least one positive test confirmed over the past three months since the school year began. School officials acted promptly and there was no transmission of the virus in either of those cases. But with winter fast approaching, people will be staying indoors to escape the cold and Hapke is concerned schools will be more prone to outbreaks and she believes masks would help lessen the risk.

“We’re disappointed, we deserve the same protections that community members get, that other businesses get,” said Hapke. “To have people coming into their place to be protected, we deserve that in schools. People are saying COVID isn’t in our schools, that people bring it into our schools, and that is correct. We have people entering and we should have the minimum protection that is available and that’s a mask.”

Students, teachers and staff at schools in other provinces are mandated to wear masks but Hapke said that rule only applies in B.C. schools where mixing of student cohorts occurs and physical distancing is not possible. Administrators and individuals who do not belong to a cohort are required to wear a mask when it is not possible to maintain a two-metre distance, whether in common areas or classrooms.

“In high schools, my understanding was if you’re in a hallway at all, you’re supposed to be wearing a mask,” Hapke said. “What we are allowed to do is model good mask-wearing behaviour, but I don’t know if all teachers are wearing masks. If everybody did only what they had to do, so we’re not shopping in malls and if we have to go and get something, go get it and leave, and wear a mask while you’re there. If the community stepped up, we can potentially keep COVID out of the schools.”

The province has reported that of the first 22,000 cases, 540 were connected to a B.C. school. According to School District 57 administrators, only 12 cases have resulted from an exposure at a school. The district says its schools are four times safer than the general community

“There is abundant evidence that schools are safe,” School District 57 chair Trent Derrick said. “Students and staff within schools are safe. It is clear our health authority-approved safety plans and

protocols are working. The cleaning and hygiene protocols we have in place in our schools work.”

SD 57 policy makes masks mandatory in secondary schools. People are not allowed to enter schools without a mask and have to wear one when they walk the hallways or congregate in common areas. There are structured times during the day when students can take off their masks. In elementary schools, masks are required in certain situations and optional at other times.

SD 57 superintendent Anita Richardson says the mental well-being of students and what they gain from attending classes helps mitigate the negative effects of extended lockdowns, closures and reduced services brought on by the pandemic.

“Children and youth have been disproportionately impacted by the controls the province has put in place,” said Richardson. “Their mental health is a serious concern and it is important schools remain safe and open in order to maintain some sense of normalcy.”

Reduced class sizes are being used in other districts as a way combat the rising threat of the pandemic. In COVID hotspots such as the Fraser Valley, where outbreaks forced three schools to close last week, the B.C. Teachers Federation has asked the province to cut class sizes in half, to 15 students per classroom, as the Vancouver school district has already done.

Of the three Prince George schools in which positive cases were recorded, two of those happened in the past month in elementary schools. Ron Brent had a positive case two weeks ago and Van Bien had its first case confirmed last week. In October, Prince George Secondary School became the first local school on the COVID list.

“If we even got what we were looking for – 50 per cent capacity – we would need to create a schedule, so the students would not be receiving full face-to-face instruction,” said Hapke. “So there would potentially have to be a remote learning opportunity for them as well to make it happen. If we were presented that as a problem, we would find the solution. Especially in the Lower Mainland, where the outbreaks are really severe right now, the BCTF would like to have that (reduced class sizes) for all school districts But specifically right now, that’s where the hotspot is, let’s address that right now.”

After the first COVID exposure in a Prince George school happened Oct. 2 at PGSS, Hapke said the lines of communication between health officials and school staff have dramatically improved.

“It just seems I’m not being contacted the same way as after the PGSS case, where I was inundated with concerns and phone calls, and now it’s not the same,” said Hapke. “I’m hopeful that Northern Health was reflecting on their practice or people are just sharing a little bit more information.”

WorkSafeBC

Workers’ Compensation BoardofB.C. Hereby givesnotice of proposedamendmentstothe OccupationalHealthandSafetyRegulation (BCreg.296/97,asamended)

WorkSafeBC is holding apublichearing on proposed amendments to Parts6,8,16, 18,and 21 of the Occupational Health andSafetyRegulation. In lightof theongoing andrapidly evolving COVID –19pandemic andinanefforttomaximize social distancing,the public hearingwill be held virtually.

Thevirtual publichearing will be streamed liveon December10, 2020,intwo sessions. Thefirst will be from 11 a.m. to 1p.m. andthe second from 3to5p.m.

View thevirtual public hearing liveat https://video.isilive.ca/worksafebc/2020-12-10/

Participating in the Public Hearing Process

We welcomeyourfeedbackonthe proposed amendments.All feedbackreceivedwill be presented to WorkSafeBC’s BoardofDirectors fortheir consideration.

Youcan providefeedbackinthe following ways:

1. Register to speakatthe hearingvia telephone To register,please call 604.232.7744ortollfreeinB.C. at 1.866.614.7744.One presentationfroman organization or individual will be permitted.

If youaren’tabletoregister, please watchthe hearing using theabove link as therewill be an opportunityfor youtocallinatthe endofthe list of pre-registered speakers

2. Submit apre-recorded video

Pre-recorded video submissions up to five minutes in length canbesubmittedand will be played at the PublicHearing

Forfurther instructionsphone 604.232.7744 or toll free in B.C. at 1.866.614.7744

3. Onlinefeedback

Writtensubmissions canbemadeonlineuntil 4:30p.m.onMonday, December14, 2020 viathe WorkSafeBC websiteatworksafebc.comorvia e-mail at ohsregfeedback@worksafebc.com

More information on theproposedamendmentsand howtoparticipate in thevirtual public hearing canbe foundonWorkSafeBC’swebsite at worksafebc.com.

Notice of proposedamendments to the Occupational HealthandSafetyRegulationandNoticeofPublic Hearingspursuant to sections 110and 113ofthe WorkersCompensation Act of British Columbia.

IN THE SHOOTING ZONE

The Cariboo Cougars played an intersquad game on Sunday in Kin 1. The team is unable to play regularly scheduled games due to COVID travel restrictions.

D-man Moberg joins Spruce Kings

Defensemen Cole Moberg will be dressing for a Prince George hockey team, just not the one he’s used to.

The Cougars have agreed to loan the 20-year-old North Vancouver product to the Spruce Kings. Moberg is a seventh-round draft pick for the Chicago Blackhawks and notched 13 goals and 24 assists in 58 games for the Cats last season

“We are excited to add Cole Moberg to the lineup on loan from the Cougars until Dec 20,” Spruce Kings general manager Mike Hawes said in a press release.

The addition of Moberg will help fill a gap in the Spruce King’s blueline, after Tanner Main suffered a broken leg, Hawes said. Main is expected to be out of action for 12 weeks.

“This helps us fill the vacancy created by Tanner’s absence and adds a veteran, proven player to our team,” Hawes said

“Cole is a dynamic player who will provide a lot of ability, experience and leadership to the group ”

Moberg was the top offence defenseman for the Cougars last season and second overall in scoring.

Last week, the Spruce Kings also announced the commitment of forward Linden Makow for the 2021-22 season. Makow, from Vanderhoof, currently suits up with the Cariboo Cougars in the B.C. Major Midget League.

“We are excited that Linden has chosen to be a Spruce King. He plays the game hard and has a ton of ability,” Hawes said. “That combined with the fact that he’s a great young man makes him a great addition to our team.”

Makow played with the U-16 Cariboo Cougars in the 2019-20 season, where he finished with 23 goals and 14 assists in 26 games.

Kings land Ont. forward

Simon Labelle’s talent for playing hockey is taking him places.

Labelle has been added to the Prince George Spruce Kings roster after the BCHL team struck a deal with the New Jersey Junior Titans of the North American Hockey League to acquire his rights in a deal for future considerations.

Labelle, an 18-year-old forward from Ottawa, already has two junior seasons on his resume with the Rockland Nationals of the Central Canada Hockey League. In 102 games, he collected 39 goals and 49 assists for 88 points.

Last season he had 24 goals and 51 points in 54 games with the Nationals and was selected for the CCHL Academic All-Star Team. He’s committed to Colgate University starting in 2021.

In the B.C. Hockey League this season, if you want to play you’ve got to pay. Teams have been forced to charge their players monthly fees during these pandemic times, knowing their usual main source of revenue - game ticket sales – is not available to them due to a provincial health order which forbids crowd gatherings

That’s motivated a group of former players in the league who make up the BCHL Alumni Association to do what they can to reduce those player fees. They’ve set up a GoFundMe page that’s just started collecting money from private donors to assist the players.

“We understand the difficulty that this pandemic has caused everyone, especially financially,” said BCHL Alumni Association member and former Victoria Grizzlies forward Madison Dias.

“BCHL players and their families are in a tough situation trying to make ends meet, while also trying to give their sons the best opportunity to further their hockey careers. That’s why we’ve set up a GoFundMe where people can donate money to directly help these players in this difficult time.”

The goal is to raise $50,000.

Dias, a former Victoria Grizzlies forward who played three seasons in the BCHL (2008-11) before starting a four-year career playing at Cornell University, is one of the driving forces of the Alumni Association.

“The BCHL was so important for me in my development as a hockey player and for me securing an education at Cornell, which has allowed me to explore opportunities beyond hockey after my playing career was done,” said Dias.

“We all want to give back to league and to the players in those communities that supported us over the years and we thought this would be a great way to accomplish that.”

Smile

“Simon is a very talented player with a ton of speed who will provide some offense to our forward group. We’re excited to add him to our team, said Spruce Kings general manager Mike Hawes, in a team release.

Labelle left New Jersey and will be quarantining at his home in Ottawa before he travels to Prince George.

Other members behind the fundraising initiative include former Cowichan Valley Capital/University of Notre Dame defenceman Shayne Taker; ex-Victoria/Salmon Arm Silverbacks forward Derek Lee (2006-09), who played at the University of Wisconsin; and defenceman Jake Baker (Merritt Centennials, Nanaimo Clippers, Victoria, Trail Smoke Eaters, 2009-11), who moved on to Northern Michigan University. Baker currently serves as the BCHL’s co-ordinator of financial services and events.

The GoFundMe page is at gofundme. com/f/bchl-player-relief/donate

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CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE/LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

Caledonia club takes on ski touring approach

TED CLARKE

Citizen staff

When Jim Burbee thinks about all the improvements he’s overseen as a director of the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club over the past two decades to build a world-class nordic skiing facility at Otway Nordic Centre, the list is long.

The big–ticket items – the Rotary Lodge, the biathlon range, the two technical buildings, the maintenance equipment shop - were necessary to allow the club to host large-scale events like the 2005 Canadian Cross-Country Championship, 2015 Canada Winter Games and the 2019 World Para Nordic Championships.

Trail improvements were also required and Burbee, the club’s former director of competitions, had a hand in that as well, using his forestry background to design Race Maze, a series of interconnected and homologated trails built on 70 hectares of private land granted to the club in a landswap arrangement orchestrated by the provincial government. The club used private donations from the Rickbiel family to install lighting on the trails and combined grants and the World Para-Nordics legacy fund to invest in snowmaking equipment.

But something in the back of Burbee’s mind told him there was a segment of the city’s cross-country community which haven’t been served by what Otway has to offer. They are the backcountry skiers, whose ski touring roots in the club date back its beginnings in 1957, when it was formed The backcountry crowd made their own trails in the woods at Tabor Mountain and the former Okanagan Helicopters site, while the alpine/nordic segment of the club broke off to form the Hickory Wing Ski Club in January 1959.

Eventually, nordic skiing found a permanent home along Otway Road in time for the 1984-85 season with the opening the nordic centre at its current site, and in 1987 Hickory Wing became the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club

“There’s still an element of our club that wore knickers and wool socks and leather boots and so we thought we should look at

that contingent of our membership,” said Burbee, now the Caledonia club’s director at large.

So Burbee took matters into his own hands and organized a project to build the Ridgerunner trail, a narrow two-kilometre path built to attract skiers who like the challenge of ski touring. He went out daily for a month in the spring on his snowshoes to mark the course with flagging tape and during the summer he and his crew went out with a bulldozer to clear the way Logs harvested for the new trail were sold to raise money for the club’s cross-country and biathlon racing programs.

“It’s a very scenic trail and it’s going to be fun to ski,” said Burbee. “We threw it out there as a touring trail and we’re going to test it and see what people like. We’ll do some grooming options and see what people prefer. Some people are saying just leave it, we’ll ski on it with just pure snow, and other people are saying we only want classic and some people say they want to skate and classic.”

Ridgerunner connects the Top Dog trail with the Lynx trail that runs down a steep hill into the Northern Lights trail. Caledonia club trails manager Mike Palangio describes the new trail as “rustic,” and because of the elevation changes it’s definitely not for beginners.

“It’s not as wide (five or six metres) as the rest of our trails,” said Palangio. “There’s a lot of elevation ups and downs and some big turns and it’s a nice jaunt into the woods. It’s more intermediate to advanced level.”

It overlooks the Nechako River and it could be the start of backcountry trail development at Otway. The club has plans for a 15 km network of ski touring trails along Cranbrook Hill as part of its 312-hectare territory. The undeveloped land on the ridge extends as far west at the Greenway Trail and eventually Burbee would like to see touring trails built that far. A touring trail network would lend itself to a 30-kilometre point-to-point loppet race route. An online survey of club members found 97 per cent were in favour of the longer loppet route idea.

BCHL delays season start

The Prince George Spruce Kings will not be opening their 27th B.C. Hockey League season on the first weekend of December, as originally planned.

New provincial health orders issued last week forbid team travel until midnight Dec. 7 and the league’s Return To Play Task Force has recommended pushing back the start date from Dec. 2 to Dec. 8.

“If the (provincial health office) extends their current restrictions beyond Dec. 7, we have the option of moving the start date to after the holidays, but it is our intention to begin play once the current order expires”, said BCHL commissioner Chris Hebb.

“Our objective from the beginning, when we worked out our COVID-19 Safety Plan

with the PHO, was to allow our players to have a season, but we want to make sure it is under the safest conditions possible.”

The Spruce Kings were set to host the Merritt Centennials at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena, Dec. 4-5. The Kings and Cents were supposed to meet Saturday in Merritt in the final preseason game for both teams. The remainder of the exhibition season has been cancelled and the league is working on a revised schedule.

“Should the season start be delayed past Dec. 8, the players that choose to go home for the holidays will be required to adhere to travel guidelines, including going into isolation for 14 days prior to joining their team,” said BCHL executive director Steven Cocker

CKPG team gets fuzzy for Movember

CHRISTINE HINZMANN

Citizen staff

Jumping into a half frozen lake at the end of the month is their reward for raising more than $10,000 during Movember, a movement that raises funds and awareness for men’s health.

A group of nine men at CKPG are growing moustaches, walking or running 60 km and jumping into West Lake next weekend to do their part to address issues like mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Prince George Team is one of the top fundraisers in Canada for teams with less than 10 people.

So far they’ve raised more than $11,000. Stay tuned for what the team will do to celebrate if they reach $15,000.

“We’ve all done Movember individually in the past,” news anchor Jesse McGowan said.

“Two years ago when I was doing sports here I decided to do it and I raised $1,000 and I thought that was pretty great. This year we thought since there’s a lot of guys in the newsroom and we’re all willing to grow moustaches that we could use our modest platform in town to raise money for a good cause.”

Exploring the other team member’s inspiration, things got personal Ethan Ready talked about something he had never addressed with the team before as he stood alongside his masked coworkers including McGowan, Matt Fetinko, and Jeromy Corrigan.

“For myself - this is actually the first time I’ve told anyone here - I’ve struggled with depression ever since high school,” Ready said. “When I moved to Prince George from Woodstock, Ontario, that first two

Here are five of the nine members on the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Movember team who have already raised more than $10,000 for men’s health.

From left front is Jeromy Corrigan, left back is Matt Fetinko, Jesse McGowan is front and centre, beside him in the back is Caden Fanshaw and on the right is Ethan Ready

weeks of living in Prince George - many of us have gone through that - it was a very tough period of time living out of a hotel room for that two weeks with no social life or anything so when we were talking about Movember and when I saw men’s mental health was a huge portion of the campaign it definitely hit a personal point It’s one of those things where I think if it’s not you then there’s bound to be someone you know - just like cancer - there’s bound to be someone you know who’s struggling with depression.”

Without missing a beat Matt Fetinko quickly jumped in to support his coworker.

“I think we’re getting to the point where we’re moving past the old school ‘toxic masculinity’ kind of thing where it’s not OK for a man to talk about these sorts of things I grew up in Nova Scotia where a lot of people back there are still very old school but we’re getting to a point now where obviously it’s important to talk about these sorts of things. Half of the Movember campaign is raising funds but the other half is about getting the discus-

PGSO HAS SEASON PLANS IN PLACE

CHRISTINE HINZMANN

Citizen staff

Coming off a successful, if altered, fall season, the Prince George Symphony Orchestra is preparing for its return on Jan. 30 when they launch their spring series of concerts, Celebrating the Joy of Live Music, to mark their 50th anniversary.

There will be five classic concerts from Jan. 30 to May 30.

There are four shows performed over two days for each concert, which accommodates smaller audiences that are in accordance with current pandemic guidelines.

“Michael Hall will conduct three of those concerts and our core musicians with invited musicians and strings will perform the other two,” Teresa Saunders, PGSO general manager, said.

There will be a Kinderconcert and a family concert called Peter and the Wolf held later in the season.

“So it’s a full spring season,” Saunders said. “We’ll be busy that’s for sure.”

The non-profit organization will use the same format as they did for the fall season, where patrons attended the show using the theatre in the round style that sees the

sion of men’s health out there and being able to get comfortable enough to talk about things and that’s pretty much half the battle.”

Ready said the mental health aspect of the Movember campaign has been in place since 2012

“The fact that it’s kind of flown under the radar for many people just shows how much mental health has been on the back burner and now that it’s been brought forth I think it’s helping more people talk about it,” Ready said. “And that’s certainly a good thing.”

Along with McGowan, Ready, Fetinko and Corrigan, the rest of the team includes Alex Kassies, Greg Fry, Caden Fanshaw, Kevin Gemmel and Julien Fournier, a former coworker who wanted to participate, too.

The Movember movement that raises funds and awareness for men’s health, including mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer is best known for its facial hair challenge where men are encouraged to grow a moustache, but there are other aspects as well including to walk or run 60 km during November to honour the 60 men lost to suicide each hour every hour across the world or host virtual events to inspire and encourage others.

There are 9.9 million men in the world living with prostate cancer and testicular cancer is the most common cancer among men between the ages of 15 and 39.

Mental health and suicide prevention is top of mind right now especially as the pandemic’s protocols and safety guidelines make staying connected a challenge.

Prince George residents are invited to support the cause by being part of the CKPG team’s initiative by visiting https:// ca.movember.com/team/2299159.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Conductor Michael Hall leads the Prince George Symphony Orchestra as they perform Franz Lehar’s Merry Widow Waltz in May 2019 during the main stage concert series held before the pandemic. This season live music is presented in a different way with smaller orchestras and smaller audiences to keep everyone safe.

orchestra in the middle of the ballroom at the Prestige Treasure Cove Hotel.

Seating is at bistro tables for up to four people from the same pod that are spaced six feet apart

Patrons will purchase their tickets in

advance and as they gain entry into the casino floor, they sanitize their hands while wearing masks. Guests then drop their tickets into a basket and access a program if they wish from another basket. Patrons are asked to purchase beverages before

they enter the ballroom where they will be escorted to assigned seats

Once seated, guests can then remove their masks, partake in refreshments already at the table, along with their chosen beverages and enjoy the show. At the end of the show, members of the audience are asked to don masks once again as they exit the building.

A survey the PGSO conducted of those who attended the shows in the fall found 99 per cent who felt completely safe and would repeat the experience. Some even said they prefer the more intimate setting and were happy to enjoy live music once again.

The Prestige Treasure Cove Hotel has sponsored the entire season by providing the venue at no cost to the non-profit organization.

“We seem to have a bit of a template that has worked very well for us and we’ll just carry on with that until the end of the season unless the whole thing opens up at the end of May and we might try something else but I think not,” Saunders said. “I think this is how this particular 50th anniversary season is going to go.”

For more information about the upcoming season visit www.pgso.com

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

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Rose successful across artistic genres

CHRISTINE HINZMANN

Citizen staff

When Keilani Elizabeth Rose, actor, writer, producer, model, dancer, and DJ, starts talking about her ongoing projects during this world-changing time, she’s hurried, breathless and ever so grateful.

Rose grew up in Prince George, taking her performance training with Enchainement Dance Centre under Judy Russell’s experienced guidance.

“I don’t think there are words that can express just how important and how impactful it was for me to be able to grow up in the way that I did in Prince George, which I like to call Lheidli T’enneh now,”

Rose said

“A lot of my development as an artist, a woman and an intersectional being right now is bringing me back to my roots, which of course is Lheidli T’enneh/Prince

George and having such a supportive community that was there for me and my mom and my sisters I know that I am lucky I am so so lucky and I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today without those homegrown, small town values that were instilled when you get to grow up in a place like that.”

Rose said her mom, Nani Belle Browne, did a beautiful job of making sure she and her two sisters, KeAloha and Tiare, were introduced to all the right aspects of the community, including leaders like Judy Russell and her beloved late mother Bunny Murray.

“They are like family to me,” Rose said. “In the back of my mind, in the front of my mind and in front of my intentions is always making my family proud, making my community proud and always bringing it back to the roots of that.”

Rose thinks of her childhood often and how the people in the community impacted her life.

“And it gets me,” Rose said. “When I thought about how to answer your question I started tearing up.”

Her most recent project is a web series called Flimsy, a comedy that Rose stars in, created and produced, all during quarantine and through the magic of Zoom.

“It’s screened at some international film festivals and won some awards already,” Rose said “So it’s exciting that it’s already getting recognition.”

Filming was completed by the end of July.

“So it’s already getting a nice little festival tour right out of the gate,” Rose said.

The series is about two struggling artists. One wants to be a DJ and the other an actress.

“We just follow these two best friends and roommates in their journey, chasing after their dreams and seeing all the stumbles and falls along the way,” she said.

The series stars Chelsey Reist, who is in The 100, a popular Netflix series, and Grace Dove, another born and raised Prince George actor who is best known for her role in The Revenant, starring opposite

With everyone in isolation in their homes, there was a lot of guidance given when it came to technically pulling Flimsy together as the actors looked like they were together but were scattered around the world. So lighting and props and camera angles were all lessons to be learned

“We all have a new appreciation for the crews on every set we’ve ever been on,” Rose said.

Most recently seen in The Color Rose, Once Upon a Time, Lucifer, The Magicians and Woodland, Rose’s next project is a movie called BREATHE that starts filming

in December and will be adding a mentorship program for Indigenous youth.

Cody Kearsley, best known for his role in Riverdale, can most recently be seen starring in a movie with Bruce Willis called Breach.

“I really admire Cody’s artistry and the way he likes to tell stories and the way he likes to collaborate - it’s very open,” Rose said. “So when he asked me to come on board with this there were two things that were so close to my heart and that is it’s a story about battling addiction and I do have people in my life that I love very dearly that battle with that every day so it’s something that I feel like we get the opportunity now to show up, talk about it, to inspire people to be a support system and step up and be brilliant in the face of it and that’s the story.”

It’s important for Rose that as an Indigenous woman she was asked to play the lead role in the film.

After the first read-through, Rose was asked for feedback.

“It’s really great to be part of the creative process with Cody, it’s such a dialogue back and forth about how we can improve this or how we can highlight that and what else do we want to bring to the table in the story - what other voices can we amplify and so for me when I read it immediately it brings me to the generational effects of colonization and how it really has impacted specifically the Indigenous community,” Rose said.

Message

Teegee re-elected BCAFN regional chief

Terry Teegee has been re-elected regional chief of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations for another three years.

The former chief of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council defeated challenger Cheryl Casimer Taylor Behn-Tsakoza of the Fort Nelson First Nation was elected the female youth representative.

Two positions to the board of directors were awarded to Chief Brian Assu, We Wai Kai and Chief Rosanne Casimir, Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc last month by acclamation.

The BCAFN represents 204 First Nations in the province

Kaehn

stays on as regional district chair

Art Kaehn has been re-elected as chairperson of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George.

Kaehn, the director for Electoral Area E (Hixon-Woodpecker) has served as chairperson since 2007.

Director Lara Beckett was elected vice-chairperson, a position she’s held for the last two years. Beckett represents Electoral Area C (Chilako River-Nechako). Both Kaehn and Beckett were elected by acclimation.

The district’s board of directors elects a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among its members every year, for a oneyear term.

All visitors to City of Prince George civic facilities are required to wear a mask, following a new order issued by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry last week.

In addition, no spectators are allowed at any indoor or outdoor events, including at the city’s arenas and the Prince George

Aquatic Centre

“Employees and visitors who are not wearing masks will be denied entry and/ or asked to leave the facility,” a statement issued by the city said. “This order does not apply to visitors with medical exemptions or those who are under the age of two years.”

Leonardo DiCaprio.

KELIANI ELIZABETH ROSE

TERRY TEEGEE

CITY COUNCIL TIGHTENS SPENDING OVERSIGHT

ARTHUR WILLIAMS

Citizen staff

Starting on Jan. 1, city council will have greater control over cost overruns on the city’s capital projects.

Currently the city manager has the authority to make cumulative budget amendments in a calendar year of up to five per cent of the city’s total operating budget – roughly $7.5 million for the 2020 budget.

Once changes approved by city council come into effect in 2021, the city manager will require city council to authorize any capital project that goes more than five per cent, or more than $100,000, over budget.

City director of finance Kris Dalio said the new policy is in line with what many other B.C. municipalities do. Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, New Westminster and Saanich all allow their city managers to approve cost overruns, with limits ranging between $100,000 and $200,000, according to a report presented to council.

The inclusion of a maximum percentage was an attempt to “scale the right amount to the size of the projects,” Dalio said.

Going up to $100,000 over budget on a

$50,000 project would trigger a report to council, while going up to $100,000 over budget on a $2 million project would not

Introducing the changes starting next year would prevent acting city manager Walter Babicz from having to retroactively seek council approval for projects that were done this year, Dalio said.

The issue of capital project cost overruns came to a head, earlier this year.

In June, city council was told the new firehall being built on Massey Drive was $2 million over budget. Then in September, council was informed the underground parkade being built at George Street and Sixth Avenue was $5.3 million over budget.

“I believe what was in place wasn’t working,” Coun. Kyle Sampson said. “(But) it is important that staff have some wiggle room. It’s not the job of council to micromanage projects.”

Council also approved a change to allow unspent funds allocated to projects that have already started to be carried forward. Unspent funds for projects which haven’t started yet will be brought to the city’s finance and audit committee for review

City hall shuffles departments

MARK NIELSEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Trying to make sense of the shakeup at city hall?

It’s a bit of a puzzle, but a comparison of the old and new organizational chartsaided by a memo from acting city manager Walter Babicz that was leaked to CKPGprovides a certain amount of clarity

In essence, one half of a department has been scrapped and another has taken on a significantly bigger workload under a COVID-induced revamping at city hall

The infrastructure and services department is being eliminated and replaced, in part, with a new civic operations department that will take on five divisions largely related to the public works side of its predecessor: transportation and technical services, project delivery (previously named infrastructure delivery), parks and solid waste, roads and fleet, and utilities. With the move, the old department’s general manager, Dave Dyer, has retired and public works director Gina Layte Liston and infrastructure services director Adam Homes are no longer on the payroll. In turn, the planning and develop-

ment department has been renamed the planning, development and infrastructure services department and has taken on two divisions previously under infrastructure and services - asset management and infrastructure and planning and engineering.

The environmental services division, previously part of infrastructure and services, has been reduced and split between civic operations through its utilities division, and the development services division within the planning, development and infrastructure services department.

The bylaw services division, meanwhile, has been moved to the community services and public safety department from planning, development and infrastructure services department, while the financial services department has taken on financial management for both the community services and public safety department and the old infrastructure services department.

Babicz has said the changes were made to reduce costs due to the pandemic.

Exactly how much savings they will deliver will be known as part of a bigger presentation staff will make to council’s finance and audit committee meeting on Dec 7.

Pacific Northern Gasisproposing to reactivate capacity on the Western TransmissionGas Line, enabling the delivery of increasednatural gas volumesto meetthe supplyrequired for newindustrialcustomers. ThePNG Reactivate Capacity Project will restore portions of the systemcurrentlynot in use, upgrade other componentsand add additional compression

PNG will be submitting aCertificate of Public Convenience and Necessity application for approval by itsregulator, the British ColumbiaUtilities Commission (BCUC). The application for theapproximately$60-million projectisexpectedtobe filed thiswinter, with aBCUC decisioninsummer 2021. Construction will begin in fall2021 with completion in spring of 2024.

Project information, including adetailed projectoverview and opportunities to provide inputand feedbackonthe proposed project, is now availableonPNG’swebsiteat www.png.ca/projects/recap

PNG will be holding asecond virtual Community Information Session to provide furtherdetails on the project and to answer any questions. Please joinusbyusing the information below:

November 30, 2020 6:30 PM -7:30 PM

Correction Notice

In the circular beginning Friday,November20, 2020, the7 ft. Pre-Lit Flocked Slim Tree for $129.99 (Tree #157) on page 1 indicates to be on sale andinstock. Unfortunately,weare experiencing shipping delays and some of our stores will not have this in stock until alater date and we will be unable to offer rain checks.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

Audio: 1-888-300-0053

ConferenceID: 8745556

Presentation at: www.png.ca/projects/recap

If youhavequestions about theproposed PNG Reactivate Capacity Project, please attend avirtual Community Information Session, or contact us at 1-888-709-7304 or ReCapProject@png.ca XX

Curling club marks 100 years

TED CLARKE

Citizen staff

The Prince George Curling Club formed on Oct. 14, 1920, just five months after the end of the Spanish flu pandemic that infected an estimated 500 million people over two years and killed as many as 100 million.

Vice-president Thomson Ogg collected $100 donations from prominent citizens to build a two-sheet facility which opened that year on Dec. 10 on the banks of the Nechako River at Third Avenue on the city park site now occupied by the Hands On Car Wash. “Splendid Standard Curling Rink Is Now Completed” read the Citizen headline that day. The building was 160 feet long and 33 feet wide and the rink was flooded on a honeycombed sawdust base to resist frost heaving.

The length of the season was at the mercy of Mother Nature’s whims until January 1956, when the club moved to the Roll-A-Dome site, which offered 10 sheets of artificially-chilled ice. The current club facility opened in 1973, giving the city an additional eight sheets.

Since 1926, the Kelly Cup has been the season-ending bonspiel at the club In its heyday, until curling participation began to fade at the turn of the century, the club’s marquee event attracted teams from all over Western Canada to Prince George. Entry fees and equipment sales during the weekend would regularly swell the club coffers by $40,000.

Local jeweler John Kelly commissioned the 42-inch tall trophy and it replaced the Simon Cigar Cup originally presented to the men’s champions from 1920-25.

Bud Burbee’s first crack at the Kelly Cup men’s curling infamy happened in 1975, when he was called up from the Prince George teachers’ league to form a rink and complete the draw for a 128-team lineup.

Back then, with more than 500 curlers entered, it took five days to determine a champion in what remains the 100-year-old Prince George Golf and Curling Club’s most prestigious annual event. Burbee knew he was out of his league as a last-minute fill-in and the task became even more onerous when he learned who would have to face in the opening draw

It was none other than Kevin “Duke” Smale, a two-time B.C. provincial men’s champion skip whose team of third Pete Sherba, second Pat Carr and lead Bob McDonald finished second at the Brier six years earlier.

So it was David versus Goliath when Burbee, in only his second season of curling, stepped onto the ice with his rookie crew

“I wasn’t even a skip, and we showed up for our first game, never having played together and I looked at the draw and we had Kevin Smale,” said Burbee. “He’s just gone to the Brier (in 1969 and 1971) and he just stayed up in the bar and only came down to throw when it was his turn to throw. He didn’t give us any credence at all.”

That would soon change.

“We got going fairly well and scored a five-ender in the middle of the game and

it came down to, we were tied coming home,” Burbee said. “I didn’t have last rock and there was a guard in front and I drew around that and got to the top eight and Kevin got in and drew around it to the button for the win.

“That was worth the entry fee, because he was the best curler in Western Canada. To come that close - we were all rookies and I think they underestimated us so much and didn’t bear down. But for us, that was a real thrill.”

Burbee, an elementary school principal, got his start curling Friday afternoons when the 18-sheet curling club hosted hordes of teachers for league games in the main building and the auxiliary rink in what is now known the Roll-A-Dome.

The club was a magnet for singles and young married couples and their weekly social event started with the games on the ice and ended in the lounge over drinks, dinner and sometimes dancing

Burbee jumped up to the men’s league and refined his game playing with the likes of Ted Moffat and Jim Horswell. He and Moffat went to the men’s provincials in 1989 and won the Kelly Cup A-event twice but never claimed the big trophy Burbee also played third for Horswell’s team that reached the final of 1994 senior Canadian championship in Moose Jaw, reeling off eight straight wins after a 1-3 start before losing the title to New Brunswick on a measured point.

Sherba won the Kelly Cup twice, once with Smale in 1969 and once skipping his own rink in 1971. Tobacco and liquor companies were prominent sponsors and it wasn’t usual to see curlers on the ice smoking and drinking during their games.

The banquets were legendary, with live bands, exotic dancers and beer-chugging activities that lasted late into the night.

“It’s not like today, where you made sure you didn’t drink or anything like that, in them days it didn’t matter,” said Sherba. “We’d stay up all night sometimes and have to play the next morning. Now, if you want to win, you’ve got to behave yourself until after the thing’s over. That was a time when the Kelly Cup was a big deal.”

Horswell, an English immigrant who first learned to curl with Carr in Pouce Coupe, reached the Kelly Cup final just once in his career, losing in 1976 to Barry Naimark of Vancouver Horswell, who was living in Houston at the time, had a two-point lead coming home but Naimark, whose team included Carr former Prince George curler Fred Kapphahn, scored three with his last shot for the comeback win.

“In those days they were 12-end games and it was a big entry in the Kelly Cup,” said Horswell. “We ended up curling 11 or 12 games.

“There were enough teams they had to have an all-night draw through the qualifying events. The games would go all night and it was an endurance test. There were huge parties at the Kelly Cup and you’d be lucky to survive it. You had to keep up to the drinking, and it was sweeping with the straw brooms. We were pretty beat up by the end of it.”

Don McDermid, general manager of the Prince George Golf and Curling Club, shows off some of the many trophies the club has presented to curling teams in its 100-year history. The centrepiece is the 42-inch tall Kelly Cup, curling’s largest trophy, the big prize in the club’s annual men’s bonspiel.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS/CITIZEN FILE PHOTOS

Corn brooms and Charlie Chaplin mustaches were in vogue when the 1936 Kelly Cup champions, Johnny Burnes, Harold Assman, Tom Tibbet and Al Johnson posed for this photo with the big trophy

Kisses all around - the wives showed their appreciation after Kevin Smale and his Prince George Golf and Curling Club rink won the B.C. men’s curling championship in Kimberley in February 1969. In front row, from left, are Karin and Kevin Smale, Pete and Sylvia Sherba, while in back row, from left are Joyce and Pat Carr and Bob and Lois McDonald.

‘There was nothing else to do in Prince

George’

eight games a week

from page 14

The Smale rink’s surprising run at the Brier title in 1969 captivated the city They went 9-1 that year taking on the best in the country, their only loss to Calgary’s Ron Northcott, who went 10-0. The boys from P.G. were the second team ever to go 9-1 in the men’s national tournament and not win or tie for the title and they came home to a hero’s welcome on March 10, 1969 at Prince George Airport, where a crowd of about 1,000 people met their plane.

“Just fantastic,” Smale told Citizen sports editor Bob Groves “We kind of thought there would be a few people out but not this many It’s just a great feeling.”

Smale and Sherba began curling together in 1967 and won the Interior title that season – the first of many times they qualified for the provincials.

Considering his work ethic and dedication to practice it was no fluke Sherba became one of the top curlers in the country by the late ‘60s and early ‘70s. Originally from Vernon, he was living in Burns Lake and working as an electrical contractor in 1960 when the town built its curling rink He offered to wire the building if he was provided the materials and he decided that year to try to learn how to play the game. The following year Sherba moved to Prince George and his team won four tournaments.

“That’s all we did, there was nothing else to do in Prince George,” laughed the now 86-year-old Sherba. “We had a league that had about eight teams that were real good ones, including ourselves. Every weekend we’d go to little tournaments and have five or six games. I’d probably average about

A band of pipers joined about a thousand curling fans gathered at Prince George Airport on March 10, 1969 to greet Kevin Smale’s Prince George Golf and Curling Club rink after they finished second at the 1969 MacDonald Brier in Oshawa, Ont. Karin Smale leads her husband Kevin down the stairs from the plane ahead of Sylvia Sherba and her husband Pete.

“When you played as much as we did, it’s automatic that you’re going to make a good shot. That’s the reason we were winning. We played more than anybody else, and practiced besides, four or five times a week.”

There was no need for Sherba to join a gym when he was curling so often.

”With curling, those rocks are heavy,” said Sherba. “They’re 40 pounds, and you have to be a pretty strong guy and with all our throwing we’d get pretty tired out.”

Over the years, the curling club has hosted a number of championship events, including the Canadian senior men’s and women’s (1987), Scotties Tournament of Hearts (1994 and 2000), Safeway Select men’s provincial (2008), Road To The Roar Olympic qualifier (2009), B.C. Scotties (2014) and Canada Winter Games (2015) In March, the club was all set to stage the 2020 World Women’s Curling Championship at CN Centre when the pandemic broke out. It was cancelled one day before it was to begin.

The club has produced its share of champions, including: Frank Labounty (n eight-time provincial wheelchair curling champion who won the national title in 2015); Diane Dalio (1994 provincial women’s); Dennis Graber (2012 provincial senior men’s); Patti Knezevic (1993 provincial junior, 2015 provincial Scotties); Bill Lim (2018 men’s 55-plus Canadian champion) and the Fewster sisters, Jen Rusnell and Kristen Pilote (2019 provincial women’s). Gerry Peckham, Wilf’s son, moved to Ottawa to become the high-performance director of Curling Canada, a position he currently holds.

WHY YOU SHOULD BUY LOCAL

More than ever, in todays digitally disrupted world and in the middle of a worldwide pandemic, we all need to consider what our priorities are as individuals, families and communities, within our global economy. We all cherish the quality of life that our wonderful area provides but it is in jeopardy.

GUEST EDITORIAL PETER KVARNSTROM

ties, parks and paths.

The local businesses in our community employ thousands of us, including many of your neighbors and friends. They provide personal service and advice, and go the extra mile to get you what you want.

in our community? Will they be supporting the arts and culture scene and youth sports?

These same businesses pay substantial property taxes and local fees that fund community programming, recreation facili-

When you are considering how you can individually support our wonderful community, let it start with a real commitment to supporting those that support us all. It is the local businesses that support every charity, every youth and most adult sports team, that hire our young folks and encourage them to stay local.

Next time you call up a web page for an online retailer with your credit card in hand, take a moment to think about the signal you are sending.

Is that “Amazing” online retailer going to contribute to our community? Will they be paying taxes to support our quality of life? Will they be providing jobs and careers

Spread the wealth around

It is not a crime, nor should it be, to profit off a business model that meets the needs of its customers, and in Amazon’s case, it is certainly the right service at the right time.

Amazon sells convenience. We like convenience.

We make changes in habits for greater convenience It’s sort of an evolutionary survival mechanism.

However, swiping right to buy on your Amazon app may be the easiest, but does it always deliver the most affordable, best selection, or quality products?

Can we rethink this new habit?

Can we spread the wealth around, without using oppressive laws?

It might mean avoiding the shiny new

THINKING ALOUD TRUDY KLASSEN

thing, which glistens with deceptive shine. I decided to avoid buying from Amazon over the last several weeks.

For gifts that needed to be shipped, I ordered online from other, smaller retailers. The first gift I ordered from Hudson’s Bay It worked very well; in order to meet the $100 free shipping threshold, I added a Christmas gift.

Another birthday gift was ordered online from Shoppers Drug Mart.

They were offering free shipping over $50. Both orders arrived in less than a

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, Director of Residential School History and Dialogue at UBC was interviewed October 22nd on CBC’ Radio West regarding the fact that 63% of the 7000 children in care in British Columbia are indigenous. The CBC interviewer was drawing a parallel to the residential school system. Turpel-Lafond puts forward a woke narrative that this is “another wave of same circumstances where the impact of colonial laws and practices which are deeply anchored in racism, and children have been removed from families and communities.” She later

adds “that policy’s which have been in place have been informed by socially problematic attitudes that indigenous families cannot take care of their own children.”

I would ask Turpel-Lafond - a former judge - where is the specific compelling evidence for this claim - for there is none.

Turpel-Lafond in her woke analysis has engaged in putting forward a false reality. She would have us believe that over the past six or seven decades, everyone who has worked with or in the child welfare system has been racist in their motivation and practice; this would include, but not limited to the courts, health, education, foster parents, academia and the schools

The answers are clear. Without a strong local business community, this will not be the type of community that many of us will want to call home. Do your part and support local businesses by buying local. Don’t be fooled with saving a few pennies with online retailers that just take our hard earned money out of our community and into the coffers of their shareholders, likely in a different country.

Buy local or bye-bye local.

- Peter Kvarnstrom, interim publisher

week. In both cases, I didn’t worry about the quality being second-rate, as I would have with Amazon.

I also needed a few things for reorganizing a closet. I checked Amazon first in that case, because I figured I wouldn’t find it locally, but they didn’t have it in the size I needed. I went to my local Home Hardware, in the Hart, and they had exactly what I needed, at a price that was good.

Then last week I popped into Michael’s, a store I don’t often shop at, to look for something I couldn’t find on Amazon either A bonus as my cashier was an acquaintance I hadn’t seen for some time. We had a lovely little catch up visit while she checked my items.

At Books and Company, I felt a bit apologetic because I had just bought a set of books I found at Amazon for half the price

Books and Co could have ordered and sold. However, I did find another item I was looking for and found a gift perfect for my Mom, both at very good prices, too. As I was chatting about this to the cashier, she asked for updated contact information to enter me in their draw for $200. That was fun, and certainly a richer experience than swiping right on my Amazon app

My Amazon-avoidance experiment yielded surprising results. The online shopping at other retailers was nearly as convenient, but with better selection and pricing. The local shopping had comparable prices and better selection I also got to see and chat briefly with an acquaintance.

To sum up, there is a place for huge companies like Amazon, but it doesn’t deserve to have first place when thinking of where to buy

of social work. This might also include Ms Turpel-Lafond who was a provincial court judge in Saskatchewan and likely adjudicated child welfare cases.

Turpel-Lafond’s unfounded narrative and her call for zero indigenous children to be in care is dangerous. When the public or extended family expresses a concern for the safety and well being of a child, that child has a right to a through, professional and objective assessment of risk. For Ms Turpel-Lafond priority to be numbers rather than the child’s right to safety and protection is dangerous and profoundly wrong. I can guarantee you indigenous children will be hurt by this standard. Has Ms

Turpel-Lafond already forgotten Matthew Vaudreuil and the Gove Commission, or the Giesbrecht inquiry in Manitoba?

Judge Giesbrecht is very instructive here both to Turpel-Lafond and to the CBC writing “ playing the system racist game leads to permanent racial and ethnic division.” A travesty that I would ask Ms Turpel-Lafond to direct her attention to is the structure and efficacy of frontline services provided to families in need; a patchwork of poorly funded, disintegrated programs with a low standard of expectation for success. This network a consequence of political indifference and neglect.

Rolf van Driesum, Prince George

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The problem with plastics

In 1869, a New York firm put up a $10,000 prize for anyone who could make a synthetic version of ivory. The popularity of billiards and pool was suffering from a shortage of the ivory used to make the balls. The firm wanted an alternative.

The first synthetic polymeric organic compound – what we now call plastic –was generated by an apothecary, John Wesley Hyatt. He treated gun cotton (generated by reacting cotton with sulphuric and nitric acid) with alcohol and camphor The resulting sticky mass was allowed to harden, generating a substance he called celluloid

This new compound could be molded into just about any shape imaginable. It could be coloured and made to look like natural substances such as tortoise shell, horn, linen, and ivory. And the invention of celluloid helped to protect elephants and tortoises, possibly saving both from extinction.

In 1907, Leo Baekeland generated the first truly synthetic polymer from a mixture of phenol and formaldehyde. Bakelite was a thermosetting plastic, which means it could be shaped by heating. Baekeland had originally been searching for a way to replace shellac used in the new electrical industry but bakelite was more than

RELATIVITY

TODD WHITCOMBE

just a good insulator It was durable, heat resistant once set, and ideal for mass production so it was marketed as the material with a thousand uses.

Over the next 50 years, numerous other synthetic organic polymers were created – polystyrene in 1929, polyester in 1930, polyvinylchloride and polyethylene in 1933, and nylon in 1935. Plexiglass, which has risen to prominence in the past nine months, was invented by Otto Röhm in 1933 and found utility as a shatter-proof alternative to glass during the Second World War.

So it is perhaps not too surprising that we entered the plastic age in the 1950s. Here was a material which was inexpensive to produce, safe and sanitary, easily manufactured, and could be molded into a myriad of shapes and uses. As Mr. McGuire says, in the Graduate (1968): “There’s a great future in plastics. Think about it. Will you think about it?” to which Ben replies: “Yes, I will.”

But the plastic age quickly lost its lustre. From humble beginnings of only two million tonnes per year in 1950, the

industry grew to eight million tonnes per year in 1960 and 360 million tonnes per year today However, in the 1960s, oceanographers and marine biologists were already reporting the presence of plastic in the oceans. Floating debris and birds with ingested plastic pieces in their stomachs were recorded all over the world.

Plastic also became synonymous with cheap, flimsy, and fake. It was associated with toys and cheap disposable items. The term became symbolic of conformity in society.

Its very reason for existing – its versatility, utility, and inexpensiveness – had become a detriment. After all, no one thought anything about throwing away a plastic straw or set of utensils.

Being organic polymers, most plastics are sourced from the petroleum industry. Ethylene and propylene – which are used to make the two most abundant plastics, polyethylene and polypropylene – are directly available from natural gas and the other light fractions of the oil industry. Other compounds, such as nylon and PET, require chemical modification but the source material comes from a refinery.

This adds another millstone around plastic’s neck as they are all generated from a non-renewable resource with the process producing significant quantities of carbon dioxide. So, as the amount of plastic debris in our environment has grown over the

New dog on the block

If you haven’t noticed, puppies are at a premium since the start of COVID-19. This has driven the prices of dogs way up but also there are a whole new breed of dog owners and dog parks filled with young pups. COVID-19 has changed the business landscape as well. Traditional business models have had to adapt or fail and new businesses are popping up to fill demand for home delivery, online shopping, and a rash of other businesses that have thrived in place of those that are dying.

Young pups and business start-ups tend to look at things differently than old dogs and established businesses. New pups are excited to be alive, they jump and play and bite things they shouldn’t and generally cause trouble. Young businesses usually don’t know the lay of the land either, their owners try new things, dig up new business and can cause a disruption to business models. Sometimes they force old dogs to learn new tricks.

People spending same for Christmas as last year, online poll results show

past 50 years, a new term has been coined: plastic pollution.

Plastic pollution comes in many forms. Fishing nets that have broken free of their moorings and float through the ocean entangling sea life, referred to as ghost nets, are perhaps the most visible form in the oceans but there is much more Everything from plastic bags, straws, cups, running shoes, those plastic rings used to hold together six packs of beer and pop, and microplastic pieces have been found floating in the seas much to the detriment of animal life.

It is estimated 10 million tonnes of mismanaged plastic waste finds its way into our oceans each year Furthermore, a pair of recent reports in Science came to the conclusion that if we keep on our business as usual path, the number will creep up to somewhere around 80 million tonnes per year by 2040.

And that is just the oceans. It is actually much harder to measure plastic pollution in the terrestrial environment but it has been estimated to be three times that found in the oceans or 30 million tonnes per year

Plastics are not all bad. For example, the use of plastics in cars is a big factor in increased fuel efficiency But there is little doubt if we keep on the business as usual path, plastics will cause irreparable harm to our ecosystem.

BUSINESS COACH

DAVE FULLER

Skip the Dishes (Grubhub in the U.S.) had started before COVID-19 by almost a decade in Saskatchewan but could be considered a new kid on the block and definitely marked its territory through 2020 Its business model suggests to restaurants that they will take care of deliveries for them and offers a variety of pickup services to people who would like to get a meal from their favorite restaurants but don’t want the hassle of ordering directly or eating in. Disruptive because it has found a model to take over the food delivery business. Disturbing because Skip charges 25-30 per cent of the cost of the food to the restaurant who have traditionally only had 25-30 per cent to cover their costs. Innovative with their ability to reach consumers.

Uber, another young pup who is definite-

During the last online poll The Citizen asked “How much money are you planning to spend on Christmas gifts this year?”

The good news is “Same as last year,” was the most popular answer with 38 per cent and 317 votes, the less-than-good news is the next popular answer was “less that last year because it was a tough year,”

ly training the masses to use its service instead of taxis, has quickly started digging holes in lawns that aren’t theirs. Uber announced last week that they are generating more income from deliveries of boxes than they are from delivering people!

But there are some old dogs learning new tricks as well Disney is suffering because their people parks are shuttered in some regions but has reinvented themselves in competition to Netflix with their own subscription channels. Amazon, who wants to be the only dog on the block, having chewed some holes into the retail trade, has a substantial tail wagging in the online entertainment business as well.

Oh, and what about all that poop on the sidewalk, who is going to clean that up?

COVID-19 has wiped out some hotel owners and disseminated the cruise ship industry. There are some European countries like Spain, Italy and Greece that are facing financial crisis due to a lack of tourism, and a whole rash of poor people who have lost their jobs as a result of lockdowns due to COVID-19 restrictions. But like dog doodoo on the sidewalk, we are tending to

with 30 per cent and 249 votes.

“Family has agreed on no gifts except for the kids,” came in with 26 per cent and 213 votes and trickling in last was “more than last year because we need more holiday cheer,” with six per cent and 46 votes

There were 825 votes. Remember this is not a scientific poll.

The next question The Citizen is asking

step around the subject or kicking it to the curb because we don’t want to deal with it. Someone else will clean that up or pick it up with a 20 million dollar bill. There is a time for everything including letting some dogs die a natural death. Businesses too need to either be revitalized and learn new tricks or close down and let new young blood take over the block This is happening on main streets around the world right now Some small businesses are closing down, never to reopen, while a new generation of entrepreneurs are training and learning things never dreamed of by an older generation. Dogs tend to live longer on average than new businesses. According to the Business Desk Reference, the average life of a business is 8.5 years while the average dog will live 10-12 years. In other words, there will always be new dogs on the block but they might be there longer than the new business that pops up on your lawn.

- Dave Fuller, MBA is an award-winning business coach and the author of the book Profit Yourself Healthy. Want to pee on this column? Email dave@pivotleader.com

our readers is “Are you in support of Dr Henry’s new measures on mandatory masks and community gatherings?”

To make your vote count visit the main page of our website

The poll is on the right near the top for desktop computer users while mobile users have to scroll post all the stories to get to the poll.

Public health needs everyone

Asking people to put something on their bodies to help protect themselves and others from a deadly disease isn’t new.

And it didn’t go over well then, either.

In the early 1980s, when AIDS was first identified, some public health officials, like a young Michael Osterholm, pleaded with gay men who regularly had sex with multiple partners to use condoms. The request was received with outrage, charges of homophobia and demands he and other doctors do their jobs and come up with treatments and a vaccine, instead of targeting homosexual lifestyles

Only as time went on and AIDS ravaged the gay community did acceptance and change finally come. Public health doctors weren’t asking gay men to stop having sex, they were asking them to put a condom on while doing it to reduce their risk of getting sick. Transmission did decline as more gay men adopted condoms.

Osterholm tells that tale in his book

Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs to explain how he acquired the nickname Bad News Mike in his home state of Minnesota. A straight-talking Midwest-

NIGHT SHIFT

NEIL GODBOUT

erner, then and now, Osterholm pulls no punches telling people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear.

In Deadliest Enemy, published in 2017, Osterholm said the next global pandemic was right around the corner and it could come in a variety of forms, from a new, deadly flu to the resurgence of a mosquito-spread disease like yellow fever, to Ebola or Zika or… a novel coronavirus.

In Osterholm’s world, rolling out a COVID-19 vaccine in 2021 is just the first of many essential jobs that need to be done in the years ahead For starters, he and many others in his field are convinced a new global influenza pandemic is inevitable.

In their scenarios, the disease would have a fatality rate of 10 per cent and people would die quickly after showing symptoms, but not before they’ve spread it

by simply breathing on others. In our connected world, global spread would happen so fast that closing borders would be like locking the door after thieves have looted your house.

Worst of all, it would, like the 1918 H1N1 pandemic that killed tens of millions of people in the aftermath of the First World War, hit young, healthy adults the hardest. Their young and healthy immune systems respond so quickly and effectively to the invading virus that they create a cytokine storm, where defending cells flood airways and trigger organ failure.

There is a solution, one well-known and promoted by epidemiologists for decades.

There needs to be a massive, international collaborative effort that would require possibly trillions of dollars and take up to 10 years or more to create a universal flu vaccine, that could protect humans from all influenza strains.

And even if influenza was taken off the table, Osterholm and others see public health dangers everywhere, from bioterrorism and the overuse of antibiotics, both in medicine and in agriculture, to vulnerable supply chains for essential medical equipment and generic drugs produced

exclusively in India or China and the lack of research to create new antibiotics and vaccines.

Plus, don’t forget about the ongoing unwillingness of people to change their behaviours to protect themselves and others

More working from home.

More meetings conducted online, instead of in-person

Far less business and tourism travel, especially internationally

Far less running to the doctor with a runny nose and a sore threat, demanding a prescription for antibiotics

Far more government and private sector spending on health research and stockpiling medical supplies (and less on military?).

Far more public adoption of voluntary public health orders.

Mandatory childhood and adult vaccinations.

Mandatory health screenings at border crossings, airports, hospitals and longterm care facilities.

It’s not just up to the doctors We have to change our ways and do our part to protect ourselves and our loved ones

But will we?

Arriving somewhere (but not here)

Well, here we are smack dab in the middle of the second phase of this historic and scary coronavirus. I can’t help wondering what the third phase will look like. I prefer to think positively so I am hoping it will be all about vaccinations, recovery and restart plans.

All in all, here in British Columbia things have not gone as badly as they could have nor did they go as well as they should have

Dr Anthony Fauci thinks that we will probably never shake hands again like we did in the past. Nothing will be back to normal because many people did not outlive the virus, businesses that were thriving one year ago will be gone forever and one way or another we have all been affected by this pandemic.

I don’t think we should have to add the year of 2020 to our age because we didn’t use it. Not only that, I want to apologize to the year 2019 for any complaints I may have made about it.

I went to my Google mentor and asked about what was in store for us in the future

There was lots of information about AI or artificial intelligence, which is superior intelligence demonstrated by machines as compared to our human natural intelligence. The prediction is that in less than 10 years computers will become more intelligent than humans. I am thinking that I will need to update my computer

From there my search moved on to health care and the subject of the Tricorder X; to keep it as simple as I can here is what l learned on this very controversial subject.

SENIORS’ SCENE

KATHY NADALIN

About eight years ago, the Qualcomm Foundation, the global leader in incentivized prize competitions, launched the Qualcomm Tricorder X Prize that set off a competition within global scientific and medical communities to create a devicewith a promised purse prize of $10 million to the first successful team - to build a medical tricorder intended to work with a phone to do a retina scan, take a blood sample and a breath sample with the capability to diagnose 15 different medical conditions. The device must be lightweight and have a consumer-friendly interface.

Apparently, two finalist teams are now in the consumer testing stage of the competition. All of this is based on a medical tricorder seen in the TV show Star Trek from 50 years ago

To make a long story short, I have to say I am not really surprised with any of this because, not even in my wildest dreams, have I ever imagined myself entering a bank, wearing a mask and asking for money – even if it is my own money.

***

November birthdays that I know about: Nell Glass turns 100, Lucille Dunn turns 100, Eva Buchi (93), Noreen Rustad, Jim Rustad, Shirley Bond, Rita Svatos, Mary Kordyban, Ginny Jenkins, Lorraine Anderson, Ann O’Shea, Karen Loehndorf, Maurice Mingay, Ken Royston, Bev Kelly, Maureen Braun, Jeanette Hawkenson,

See NADALIN COLUMN on page 19

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Nell Glass recently celebrated her 100th birthday with family members.

DR. HENRY’S BIG PROBLEMS

It can’t be easy to be Dr. Bonnie Henry.

Her responsibilities are much like that of an army general.

Her decisions have life-and-death consequences. Everyone is looking to her to issue the orders that will win the war. She has to make the best decisions possible with incomplete information and her plans don’t always survive contact with the enemy. Like a good general, she’s willing and able to change her mind, and her plans, to adapt to the circumstances. Also like a general, she has the legal authority to demand compliance to her orders but, in the end, her effectiveness is heavily dependent on the willingness of her soldiers (that would be us) to do what is asked of them, even if they don’t see or understand the whole picture.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down earlier this year, Henry has clearly prided herself on her bedside manner – the calm, soothing voice of calm, urging everyone to accept her diagnosis and follow her advice as best they can to keep themselves and their loved ones safe. For the most part, her approach – both her style and her public health choiceshave largely worked.

Up until this month, B.C. has been a

poster child on effective public health management of the pandemic, both within and outside of Canada.

Like all public health experts, she knew there would be a second wave to this pandemic. Like all public health experts, she knew this winter would be hard and would test our – and her – resolve.

But Dr Henry has broken from many public health officials in some ways and continues to stand apart.

As late as Monday, she was resisting the growing calls for a province-wide mandatory mask order in all public indoor spaces. She was recommending it with as much kind and gentle motherly muster as she could but she didn’t put any bite behind her bark until Thursday, when those recommendations turned into orders.

For many B.C. residents, it was a “what took you so long?” moment.

Mandatory mask orders have been in place in many other jurisdictions in Canada and around the world for months now.

The anti-mask crowd like to point out that cases are soaring everywhere, therefore proving that masks are ineffective.

From a public health (and common sense) standpoint, the proper perspective should be how much worse would cases be in those places if mandatory mask wear-

ing hadn’t been in effect. Masks, like the annual flu shot, have a limited effect but are still better than nothing at all and work best in conjunction with other efforts, like regular hand washing, physical distancing and staying home when symptoms appear, instead of going out and sharing with others.

So it’s not wrong to wonder how much lower the current surge of cases, hospitalizations and deaths in B.C. would have been if Dr. Henry had made masks mandatory in September, when the kids went back to school and the population moved indoors with the cooler weather.

Normally in public health, it’s better to do more in advance and have to rationalize those choices than to have to explain later, when things aren’t going well, why more aggressive action wasn’t taken earlier. That’s especially the case when that action – in this case, wearing a mask in public settings – is, like wearing a seatbelt when getting into a car, easily done by individuals, with no negative side effects.

That’s not the only area where Dr. Henry has separated herself from many in her field.

She continues to refuse to share detailed community transmission data with the public, even though that information

is readily available in other provinces and countries. Furthermore, as the CBC reported earlier this month, she stopped sharing data with the Public Health Agency of Canada on the occupational status of B.C. residents who test positive because of concerns the data was too sensitive and PHAC was sharing the information out of context.

This is significant because that data would reveal how many B.C. health-care workers and nursing home staff have acquired COVID and, more importantly, where they work, information that is also publicly available in other provinces.

While these are significant concerns, they are also incidental.

Her core public health advice was – and continues to be – sound.

Urging B.C. residents to tighten up their social gatherings, work from home if possible and limit their visits to stores and other public places for essentials only is what we need right now.

The vaccines are near but until they have been widely distributed to a majority of residents, the war against COVID-19 isn’t over yet.

Dr. Henry remains the steady general we can all trust to defeat this enemy.

- Editor-in-chief Neil Godbout

Words that stand the test of time

When studying historical documents, it is quite fascinating to observe that regardless of how a statement was received at the time it was delivered, messages of truth, integrity and greatness endure through the ages.

My French class and I recently examined two speeches of note that were made on June 30, 1960, the day when the Congo won its independence.

King Baudouin of Belgium delivered an address stating how his predecessor King Leopold II began a great work, liberating the Congolese from slavery and how the Belgians had done such an amazing job developing their colony He warned the people not to be too hasty to replace the structures in place and implied that the Belgians would be there to continue to help run the new state.

It was, quite frankly, a paternalistic narrative, steeped in colonialist mythology and outright lies. It would be naïve to believe that Baudouin was ignorant to the fact that Leopold II had claimed the Congo

LESSONS IN LEARNING

GERRY CHIDIAC

Free State as his personal plantation and was responsible for millions of deaths.

Baudouin was followed by the first Prime Minister of the Congo, Patrice Lumumba, who delivered a largely impromptu speech. Though it was called a “venomous attack” by Time magazine, one is left to wonder if the writer of these words even understood French.

Lumumba’s words are as rich, honest and contemporary today as when they were first spoken. He pointed out that there was no freedom and no justice under the Belgians Congolese were beaten, insulted and forced to do backbreaking work. They were forbidden to go to the same cinemas and restaurants, they were not adequately paid and they were expected to use the formal “vous” when speaking to white people while being addressed

***

Darrell Rutledge, Carron Dunn, Robin Wright, Helen Eberherr, Ed Parent, Gale Russell, Maureen Suter, Ken Dahl, Margaret Toyata, Andrea Palombo, Myrna Lemke, Barbara Fairservice, Pat Collicutt, Dolly Girard, Bill Smith, Agnes Lavale, Lindsay Hick, John Sunley, Fred Schaefer, Bill Heather, Marlene Arndt, Neil Hunter, Janice Rivers and Christine Nicholson.

November anniversaries that I know about: 58 years for Elmer and Maureen Braun, 54 years for Vern and Verna Wright, 52 years for Roland and Edna Rouleau, 50 years for Roy and Heather Potts and 44 years for Larry and Kelly Flath.

***

December birthdays that I know about: Chuck Chin, Bill Bosnich, Wendy Foresterling, Elaine Swaykoski, Adrian Girard, Marion Valle, Edith Kosheiff, George Weinand,

with the informal “tu” in return

It may be difficult for those who have not spent time in the Congo to understand the depth of these inequalities When I lived in the capital Kinshasa in the 1990s, a city the Belgians had the audacity to name Leopoldville, I was shocked when my Congolese friends pointed out the parts of the city Africans could not enter without a pass during colonial times. I was confused when some of my colleagues would not address me as “tu” even when I asked them to, or when people expressed surprise as I performed manual tasks

Perhaps these points in his discourse could have been forgiven had Lumumba not been an idealist. He made it clear that foreigners were welcome, but he asked for a cooperation that would be financially beneficial to the citizens of the Congo. Lumumba also believed in a pan-African vision and called on the people of his country to live together in peace.

During this period of the Cold War, Lumumba’s most egregious thought in the eyes of capitalist powers was his willingness to work together in a spirit of mutual

Sandra Rees, Wendy Girard, John Husberg, Erika Harder, Judy Schlesier, Ingrit Gohl, Dirce Pandolfo, Marg McLachlan, Wilfred Vogt, Terry Burgess, Shirley Byman, Alcide Gauthier, Elaine Sokolowski, Belen Pankonin, Robert (Archie) Nicholson, Lucy Young, John Warner, Faye Sibley, Joan Watt, Shirley Michaud, Bob Michaud, Maureen Bricker, Carol Haugland, Doris Banzer, Margaret Leveridge, Esther Monroe, Catherine Halladay, Fred Bagg, Nora Larsen and Molly Rustad turns 99

respect with anyone who was willing to do so, even the Soviets.

Within months of his inauguration as prime minister, Lumumba was a hunted man. The Belgians stoked the flames of tribalism, as colonial powers so often did, and dashed Congolese hopes of a unified country. Lumumba was arrested and murdered in a cooperative effort between Congolese factions, Belgians and Americans on January 17, 1961

To their credit, Belgium apologized for their part in this murder in 2002. They have also recently begun the process of reconciliation with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and there is a growing sentiment in the country to support fair reparations.

Patrice Lumumba was not a simple idealist. He was a visionary. He recognized the truth of an unjust world and saw how it could be better

Even 60 years after his death, we can see the world he dreamed of, a world that honours the martyrs who died at the hands of Western colonialism, the kind of world we so drastically need to build today

***

December anniversaries that I know about: 66 years for Eldie and Georgina Ward, 64 years for Don and Marion Vaale, 64 years for Alcide and Margaret Gauthier, 63 years for Charlie and Joyce Burkitt, 59 years for Malcolm and Elaine Lamb, 58 years for John and Eva Werlberger, 58 years for Roy and Shirley Green, 54 years for Mario and Emma Mauro, 53 years for Bill and Shirley Smith and 37 years for Armand and Gert LeFebvre.

HORO SC OPES &P UZ ZLES

Unlatch

Vincent Gogh

“____ That Tune”

Loathe

Large number

Road bend

Monet, for one

Trophies

Anxiety

Golfer’s helper

Printers’ concerns

PUZZLE NO. 793

Kind of tradition

HOW TO PLAY:

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers1through 9only once.

Sound organs

Slap

History

March 27. Certain tires

Flightless birds 30. Locale

Hearty soup

Arrive 11. Recognized

Each 3x3 box is outlinedwith 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.

Stevie Wonder’s instrument

Not ons

Adhesive

Advanced, as money

Inclined walkway

Less tense 36. Despise

Dove’scry

Age

Lacking water

Healthy Living

New orders are in place to help everyone in BC significantly reduce their social interactions and to stop COVID-19 from spreading in our province.

The following orders and direction are in effect:

•Mandatory mask mandate for workers and customers in indoor public and retail spaces –and in workplace common areas

•Noevents or social gatherings with anyone outside your household or core bubble (if you live alone)

•COVID-19 travel advisory in BC: essential travel only

•Spin classes, hot yoga, and high intensity interval training are suspended

•Nospectators –and no travel outside your community –for sports games

Learn more: https://gov.bc.ca/covid19restrictions

New orders mandate mask wearing in all indoor public and retail settings —likegrocery stores and coffee shops. Masks are also mandatory in workplace areas likeshared work spaces, kitchens, and elevators.

Learn more: https://gov.bc.ca/COVID19restrictions

Be kind. Be calm. Be safe.

Festival of Trees

NOVEMBER 27TH

DECEMBER6

Dedicated Molecular Diagnostic Lab

The creation of adedicated molecular labatUHNBC will allowincreasedtesting capacity forCOVID-19 and influenza. Turn around time fortest results will improvesignificantly and allowfront line clinicians to make important treatment decisions rapidlyand ultimatelyprovide the best care possible to patients in the North.

Randall (Randy)Dumont, MD,FRCP(C) Pathologist -UniversityHospitalofNorthern B.C.

Through the Spirit of the North HealthcareFoundation we areexcited to offer Donors the opportunitytosupportbetterhealth outcomes forpatients right hereathome in the North where we ive, work and play This year we have chosen to work collaborativelywith Northern Health and our physician Lead,Dr. Randy Dumont, to support funding the expansion of molecular diagnostics at UHNBC and the purchaseofnew molecular testing platforms and creation of a dedicated molecular lab. This will allow increasedtesting capacityfor COVID-19 and influenza and provide morerapid test results to help frontline clinicians makeimportant treatment and management decisions thatultimately will provide the best possiblecaretopatients in the Region. Increasing capacitywillalsoallow assistancetosmaller sites throughout the North with testing when needed to allowfor amorerapid turnaround time rather than shipping the specimens out to be tested in the LowerMainland.

Molecular diagnostics is arapidlyexpanding fieldand is considered the gold standard of testing,providing more rapid and accurate results than traditionalmethods such as cultures, microscopy, etc. In the future, this servicecould potentially be expanded to allowmolecular testing of infections such as HIV,diarrheal illnesses, malaria, as well as many other infectious diseases.

We hope youfeel as excited as we do about funding this newand innovativeaddition to thecontinuum of care forresidents of the North. We inviteyou to supportthis by making adonation at www.spiritofthenorth.ca

HOURS: Monday-Friday8:30am

CL ASSIF IEDS

In loving memory of Elroy Joseph Sovic

June 3, 1942November 13, 2020

A loving, kind and happy heart left this world, on his own terms and at his own home, surrounded by his loving family on November 13, 2020 at the age of 78.

Elroy was pre-deceased by his father Joseph, his mother Leona, his wife Susanne and his daughter Nola. Elroy is survived by his loving partner Barbara Robin, his sons Quentin (Manon) and Jeremy (Jennifer) and five grandchildren, Kelsey, Parker, Leah, Alexxa and Naomi, his sisters, Shirley and Linda and his brother, Ronald. Elroy leaves behind numerous family members and friends including his lifelong friends, Gilbert (Giff) and Marjorie Rahier.

Elroy Joseph Sovic was a long-time resident of Prince George, having moved to the city with his parents and siblings as a young boy in the early 1950’s. Prince George was a wonderful place to grow up, full of freedom and possibilities and Elroy quickly formed friendships that lasted a lifetime. He started work in the forest industry when he was only 12, cutting ties at Telachick, setting chokers and working at Ferguson Lake Sawmills for the late Ivor Killy. Over time Elroy became the Logging Superintendent for Lakeland Mills Ltd. where he was highly regarded for his people skills and road building knowledge. He was employed at Lakeland until his retirement in 2007

In his early 20’s Elroy began travelling to Europe and discovered Sieges, Spain, returning to the seaside community every spring during breakup for several years. His adventures from his life and travels were the fuel for many entertaining stories.

Elroy met the love of his life, Susanne Gordon, in the early 1970’s and they were married in 1977. They were a team to be reckoned with, raising their children at their home on 2nd Avenue. Elroy loved being a father, uncle and grandfather. Every spring breakup, he and Susanne took their children to Disneyland, Arizona, Mexico, Hawaii, Florida and many places in between. Often, their niece, Natasha, would be included in their travels. Elroy always had the ability to see the good in almost everything. He was an eternal optimist. We will miss his love of life, his boisterous laugh and wonderful sense of humour.

In respect of Elroy’s wishes there will be no service. His remains will be laid to rest with his parents in the Prince George Cemetery. God Bless Us All.

In lieu of flowers donations to the Wheelin’ Warriors of the North (Quentin Gordon), Ride to Conquer Cancer, would be greatly appreciated.

Condolences may be offered at www.AssmansFuneralChapel.com

REMEMBRANCES

Obituaries

March 7, 1937November 18, 2020

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beautiful, sweet mother, grandmother, sister and friend.

Predeceased by her husband Jack, parents Rudy and Bertha, brother Harvey and daughter Kathy. She leaves to grieve, her children; Heather (Monty), Leanna (Rick), Cindy, Dale (Anita), her brother Ray (Debbie) and sister Irma, as well as 13 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Eileen grew up on a farm in Manitoba and left as a teen to attend business college in Winnipeg. Shortly after completing her schooling she met her husband Jack. Her and Jack set off on an adventure to B.C. shortly after they wed. They first lived in Vanderhoof, then Prince George, before bringing up their children in the small town of Hixon. For over 30 years they lived in Hixon where Eileen looked after the books for Jack’s trucking business, and was postmaster of the Hixon post office for over 15 years. Once Jack and Eileen retired, they moved back to Prince George.

Eileen’s start on the farm helped shape her into the hard working and caring person that she was. She always had a big garden, big family dinners and a big heart. Eileen loved music and enjoyed many years as an active member of the Prince George Elder Citizens Recreation Centre, where she enjoyed singing with the Rainbow and Gospel Singers. She played a plethora of instruments as well as sang, bringing joy and pleasure to all who listened. She will be remembered for her music, which she passed onto her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Eileen taught and shared with us many things, one of which was her immense love and devotion to her family. She leaves a special place in our hearts, forever and for always with love.

A small private burial will take place on Friday November 27th. A celebration of life will take place in the spring at a date to be announced.

March 27, 1933November 12, 2020

Ray was born in Montreal, Quebec and passed away peacefully at the Rotary Hospice House Prince George, B.C. Many thanks to the staff of Hospice House, UHNBC, Northern Health for their care, compassion and kindness. Ray was married to Rose Benson (nee Skinner) and June Benson (nee Rose). Loving father to Andrew, Richard (deceased) and Christopher as well numerous grandchildren. He was a graduate of Concordia University and held the title of Manager of Benefits Compensation (Petro Canada) until his retirement. Many thanks to his relatives whom Ray was able to reconnect with; Kandy, Joann, David, Tim and Kim. They were able to enlighten and fulfill his life until his passing. Ray was a very kind, generous and patient man, who always had time for all. To know Ray was a privilege and a blessing. He will be sorely missed. A small family get together will be held in his honor.

Jim Sadowsky

1939 - 2020

It is with great sadness that our family announces the death of Jim Sadowsky, loving husband to Elizabeth and loving father to Sandy and David.

Born March 25, 1939 in Winnipeg, Jim came to BC for a career in the Pulp & Paper Industry. Starting off at the BCFP Crofton operations, Jim shortly thereafter moved to the Rayonier facility in Woodfibre, and soon found his way to the Northwood facility in Prince George in 1966.

Jim passed at home. He was a great cook, gardener, golfer, bowler, volunteer, car enthusiast and dog walker. And much more. Always supporting us in everything we did. There will be no service by request. In lieu of flowers or cards, donations to the SPCA would be appreciated or, just enjoy your life to the fullest. We miss you Dad.

Eileen Storozinski

RAYMOND LEO BENSON

Darcy Dion Prevost

Oct 29, 1966 - Nov 14, 2020

With heavy hearts we announce, on Nov.14/20, Darcy Dion Prevost, born Oct. 29/66, went to be with our Lord.

Leaving behind, three lovely children, Cory, Vanessa and Chaniel, sister Michelle, his mother Mary and numerous relatives and friends.

Darcy was born and raised in Prince George and worked in various fields including Gold’s Gym, construction, trucking, sawmills and odd jobs as they came along.

Darcy is now free of pain...

Celebration of life to be announced at a later date.

JORDAN BACON

BACON,JohnP.

2x48.8

July30,1937-November5,2020

PGC002079

Itiswithdeepsadnessthatthefamilyannouncesthe passingofJohn,belovedbrother,uncleandgreat-uncle. Johnwaspredeceasedbyhisparents,GeorgeArthur BaconandDaisyAgnesBacon;hissisters,Joan,Tiny, Lillian,andHeather;andbyhisbrother,George.

John,akindandunselfishman,wasalwaysreadywitha joke,tolendahelpinghandandadvice,andtocarefor othersaroundhim.Hewasanavidsportsfanandaman ofmanyhats(especiallyhis49-ers),frombasscellistto autoandairplanemechanictoprospectorand,inthe latterpartofhiscareer,involvedintheenvironmental restorationofmines.

Hewillbegreatlymissedbysiblings,DaveandJordan (Nick);nephews,Bob,Jason(Jennifer),andJeff (Richenda);nieces,Jennifer(David)andKristal(Daron); andgreat-niecesandgreat-nephews.

ManythankstoDr.GrantWooldridgeandthestaffofthe InternalMedicineunitofUniversityHospitalofNorthern BC.

Amemorialwillbeheldatalaterdate.

Debra Anne Zsombor

Debra Anne Zsombor of Prince George, BC passed away from cancer on November 18, 2020. Her obituary can be read by clicking on the following link: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/prin ce-george-bc/debra-zsombor-9910757

REMEMBRANCES

WO James (Jim) Morgan Sr., CD with clasp, RCAF (Ret’d)

26Oct29 - 12Nov20

In the early hours of Thursday, November 12, 2020, James (Jim) Allan Morgan Sr. escaped his earthly confines and joined the two loves of his life, Mickey and Fern, as well as his sisters, Evelyn, Norma and Dorothy. His children, along with several grandchildren, were both blessed and honoured to have cared for him in the months prior to his passing. Dad went peacefully, in his sleep, in his own home, with his children by his side. He had just turned 91 at the end of October.

Dad was born and raised in East Vancouver but completed high school in Grand Forks, BC. In 1948, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force as an Instrumentation Technician and survived the integration of the RCAF, Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Army into the Canadian Armed Forces in the 1960s. He retired with 31 years under his belt as a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, in 1979, holding the rank of Warrant Officer. Awarded the Canadian Decoration with clasp for his time in the service, he left the military just a few months short of being awarded his 2nd clasp

Dad survived seven airplane mishaps during his flying career, an explosion while replenishing the pilot’s oxygen supply on a jet fighter, being shot at during the FLQ crisis, a botched dental surgery in which he nearly bled to death and two major car crashes, neither of which were his fault. And to top it off, he survived raising five children at the same time.

He married Mickey in May of 1951, a year into the Korean War. Two days later, he joined his squadron at McChord Field, a United States Air Force base south of Tacoma, Washington. He did not return for six months. Thus, began a nomadic lifestyle that would see him travel to such places as the U.S., England, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, and across Canada, twice.

Jim raised three sons and two daughters, who gave him ten grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. He and Mickey were together for 37 years before Mickey passed in 1988.

It was love over the first cup of coffee, thanks to a local matchmaker, when Fern entered Jim’s life. Their adoration for each other was very evident and they married in 1996. Fern brought humour, practicality and a sense of adventure into the relationship which complimented Dad’s outlook on life. Unfortunately, Fern passed in 2015.

Dad loved working with kids and devoted 40+ years to the Boy Scouts, retiring from Scouting in the BC/Yukon Northern Area as a member of the District Service Team, and District Commissioner for the Fort George Nechako District. He was awarded the Medal of Merit for his lifetime of dedication to the movement by then Lt. Governor of Alberta, the Honourable Frank Lynch-Stanton.

Having instructed many courses in the military, it was a small step to becoming a civilian instructor and range officer with 396 City of Prince George Air Cadet Squadron.

Dad’s service to the community included providing more than 3000 hours of time with the Hart Highway CPAC office as a member of the Community Crime Prevention Program. He donated blood for over 40 years. Being an avid reader, he and his wife, Mickey, became adult literacy tutors at CNC.

Dad loved camping, fishing, canoeing, berry picking, his garden, crossword puzzles, Cribbage games and of course, reading. As he got older his love for PB & J sandwiches and KD or “crap-mac-a-bone”, as he called it, became legendary.

However, Dad saved his greatest love for his children, grand-children and great-grandchildren. His “Woody” woodpecker imitations, his ability to turn a normal white handkerchief into a mouse that would run up his arm would have them amazed and laughing. He taught some of them how to shoot, others to pan for gold, how to carve wood and soapstone and showed them that love takes many different forms.

Dad was always more concerned about our wellbeing rather than his own. When Dad became aware that he was palliative, he told us, “Don’t worry about it, none of us get out alive!”

Dad is survived by his brothers, Walter (Myra) and Harry (Colette), his children Jim Jr. (Val), Walter (Jean), Morris (Naty), Cathy (Nick) and Alice (Rick) and his faithful canine companion, Mitzi.

Through the years, the neighbours within the cul-de-sac contributed greatly to his wellbeing where Dad enjoyed the block parties and comraderie within the community. We would like to extend a special thanks to Bonnie, his housekeeper and confidant, whose caring efforts reflected her friendship with Dad.

A special thank you, and our gratitude, goes out to Northern Health’s Rapid Response Team, Palliative Nursing Team and Home Care Team for the outstanding care and compassion given to Dad.

Jim, Dad, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa, Brother, Uncle, Boss, Co-worker, or Friend, whatever you called him, is resting easy and in peace. In Scouting terms, he has “Gone Home”.

Referencing, ‘High Flight’, the official poem of the RCAF written by John Gillespie Magee in 1941, Dad has “slipped the surly bonds of Earth” to “touch the face of God”.

A Celebration of Life ceremony will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation to either Wounded Warriors Canada (www.woundedwarriors.ca) or The War Amps of Canada (www.waramps.ca) would be appreciated.

BLACK PRESS - CLASSIFIEDS

R0011836551

3.00x42.0-4C

PG16 / 615595

School Bus Driver

Location: Prince George, BC

Diversified Transportation – BC Operations is currently seeking dedicated and safetyminded School Bus Drivers to join our team. This is an essential role that offers job security, a flexible schedule and allows you to make a difference on the front line by transporting our children to school safely

The health and safety of our employees and passengers have always been our top priority In response to COVID-19, we have implemented additional safety protocols which can be viewed at www.diversifiedbus.ca

Why You Should Choose Diversified BC

We offer free personalized training, competitive wages, bonuses, and flexibility within your personal life.

• Part-time hours - per fect for a stay-at-home parent, entrepreneur, or retiree!

• Competitive wages

• Opportunity for advancement

• Employee recognition programs

Hours of Work

Monday to Friday – no mandator y nights or weekend work

Split shifts

Job Description

As a School Bus Driver, you will work a split shift, driving approximately 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon. You will be assigned a route that falls between the hours of 6:30 am - 9:30 am in the morning and between 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm in the afternoon. Spare drivers must be comfortable with navigation as they can cover any route. A good knowledge of the surrounding area is essential.

Requirements

• Valid Class 5 driver’s license (FREE Class 2 training provided)

• Clean driver’s abstract with a safe driving record

• Clear criminal record and vulnerable sector search

The interested candidate may apply by submitting a completed resume by email to bernardd@pwt.ca or by fax 780-449-7198, attention to Bernard D.

R0011843490

3.00x98.0-BW PG16 / 615595

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.

• Be descriptive. Give customers a reason to respond. Advertisers have found that the more information you provide, the better the response.

• 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.

• 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.

a classified ad that works. To advertise, call

To place your ad call: 604-630-3300

To place your ad call: 604-630-3300

or email cls@pgcitizen.ca

Sports Utilities & 4X4s

2012 RAM 1500 4X4 short box, loaded, maroon. Extended 7 yr 160k warranty. 21,000 kms, too much to list. Equity. $39,000 owing. Take over payments. 250301.0221, 250-967-4268

Trucks & Vans

2006 F450 XL Super Duty Flat

Deck. Brand new heavy duty transmission and brand new motor. Call Mike 250-564-3734

2006 DODGE Cummins diesel, 4x4, 4 dr, Lb, auto, 2 owner, receipts since new, no accidents, 107K, $27,900 obo. 596-5434

1998 FORD F250 Diesel w/ plow. Exc. cond. $10,000. 250-3980720

1977 FORD 1 ton, renovated, $2500. 250-306-2292

2010 FORD F150 SUPERCAB 4X4

163,000 KMS, 3 MONTH WARRANTY, 5.4 V-8 Auto, with Tow pkg, POWER WINDOWS & LOCKS, TILT STEERING, AC, Headache Rack, RHINO LINING Asking $15,900 Stock # F1737 4x4 HEAVEN TRUCK SALES DEALER # D40178 Call 250-640-0996

REAL ESTATE

Apartments / Condos-For

Duplexes for Sale

Land Act:

Notice of Application for a Disposition of Crown Land

Take notice that Claw Mountain Outfitters LLP, has applied to the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD), Omineca Region, for a License of Occupation for Adventure Tourism situated on Provincial Crown land located within Guide Territory Certificate 701193.

FLNRORD invites comments on this application, the Lands File is 7404972. Comments concerning this application should be directed to the Land Officer at 250649-4303. Comments will be received by the Ministry of Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) until January 5th, 2021. FLNRORD may not consider comments received after this date. Please visit the Applications, Comments and Reasons for Decision Database website at http://comment.nrs.gov.bc.ca/ for more information.”

Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. For information, contact the Freedom of Information Advisor at FLNRORDs’ office in the Omineca Region of British Columbia.

Between, LIPUS, PATRICK JOHN or anyone related, with a trailer MHR#040029, 1974 WINDSOR Serial #SABSK1524S, Unit 86-3730 Landsdowne Road, Prince George V2N 2S5 and 0868732 BC Ltd., 435 W 48th Ave, Vancouver, B.C. V5Y 2Z3 (604-248-7551). I, 0868732 BC Ltd., will dispose the above mentioned trailer unless the person being notified takes possession of the property establishes a right of possession of it within 30 days from the date the notice is served on that person.

Woodlot Licence Plan Woodlot Licence #1559

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to section 17 of the Woodlot Licence Planning and Practices Regulation, that a woodlot licence plan has been prepared for Woodlot #1559 held by Surewood Forestry Ltd. This Woodlot Licence is located north of Prince George and east of Bear Lake. If approved by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, this plan may apply for a term of 10 years from the date of approval.

The Woodlot Licence Plan is available for public review and comment by contacting Surewood Forestry Ltd., during regular business hours between November 19th and December 18, 2020. Any written comments on the plan should be mailed to:

Surewood Forestry Ltd., 9091 Hilltop Road, Prince George B.C., V2N 6J8. Please phone (250) 640-0822 to book an appointment with Dale Likes, RPF to view or discuss the plan.

Legal/Public Notices

Legal/Public Notices

Ice Melt and Your Concrete

Most concrete damage is aresult of the natural effects of freeze-thaw cycles, not achemical attack by an ice melter.Moistureseeps into the surfacepores and cracksinthe concrete,and as it changes to ice,expands and puts pressureonsurrounding surfaces.

Rob Desmarais, Randi Bitner & Rylee Schlamp

Stress on weaker areasinthe concrete may result in cracking or surfacedeterioration. Using an ice melter increases the number of freeze-thaw cycles,and the potential for damage to concrete. However, the hazardsand riskofinjury associated withslippery surfaces must be weighedagainst this.

Properly air-entrainedconcrete designed for cold weather climates (as recommended by the Portland CementAssociation) has anetwork of tiny air pockets thatallow it to accommodate freeze-thawcycles.Poor quality surfaces may not withstand the stress associated withthesecycles.

Ice melterisnot recommended on thefollowing surfaces;concrete thatisless than 1yearold, masonry (stone or brick), precast concrete (steps or paving stones),stone or concrete surfaces that arechipped, cracked, spalledorhave exposedaggregate.

Hereare somerecommendations forreducingthe risk of damage to concrete:

• Applyice melter at recommended rates

• Use apush type or hand held ice melterspreader An ice melter withanenvironmentally inert dyemarkercan make it easier to prevent over-application

• Use an ice melter withextended refreezing protection

• Removeslushand water beforerefreezing occurs

• Avoid using icemeltonnon air-entrained concrete or other vulnerablesurfaces

• Applya commercial strengthsealer when dry

• If you areunsure of the quality of yourconcrete or the suitability of using an ice melteronyour surface; use sand for traction only, to reducethe risk of slipsand falls.

Freeze-Thaw Cycle

Freeze:Layerofice on concrete surface

Thaw: Thawed ice (water)fills surface pores and cracks

Refreeze: Expansion caused by refreezing canresult in additional damage

Pace Realty’sMaintenance Team can help you

Donna

How to choose a stand mixer

Practical and often stylish, a stand mixer is a must-have kitchen gadget for all amateur bakers and cooks. Depending on the selected attachment, you can use your mixer to make cake batter, bread dough, fresh pasta and even your own sausages.

If you’re in the market for your own mixer, but don’t know which one to choose, consider the following:

SIZE

Take into account how often you make cakes, breads and other baked goods and the volume of the batches you make. At the

very least, the mixing bowl should be big enough to hold a recipe for one layer cake or loaf of bread.

POWER

It’s important to know that the number of watts isn’t representative of the machine’s power. Rather, wattage indicates the amount of power that’s used by the machine. Look instead towards factors like capacity and where the motor is installed. Higher-end mixers tend to have the motor on top where the accessories go and not in the stand.

ACCESSORIES

Other than the basic accessories (whisk, flat beater and dough hook) ask yourself if you’ll want to make foods that require extra accessories, like homemade pasta. If so, choose a mixer that has attachments for these things.

SPEED SETTINGS

To get the most use out of your stand mixer and make the greatest number of recipes, experts recommend machines have at least five speeds.

STYLE

Because mixers generally adorn your counter permanently, make sure you choose one that matches your kitchen’s decor.

Garbage disposal units: types and features

Modern garbage disposal units can grind larger amounts of food waste in short amounts of time. They’re also safer, quieter and less smelly than their predecessors. Here’s a closer look at contemporary food disposers.

TYPES

There are two basic types of garbage disposal units — continuous feed and batch feed.

• Continuous feed: This is the most popular type of disposal unit. It allows food to be pulverized quickly, which minimizes the risk of blockages. Waste is reduced to tiny pieces that go directly down the drain.

• Batch feed

This type of food disposer needs to be covered with a specially fitted lid before it goes to work. While it’s less common, it’s a safer choice, making it ideal for people with young children at home.

FEATURES

Newer garbage disposal units are insulated to reduce their signature grinding sound. Certain models also come with a shield to alleviate unpleasant smells.

GO FOR GOLD.

Must-do maintenance for your heating appliances

Using a heating appliance that isn’t connected to your home’s central heating system always presents a certain amount of risk. To be both safe and warm this winter, make sure to maintain your heating appliance. Not only will you rest easy, but the appliance itself will work more efficiently.

WOOD-BURNING OVEN OR FIREPLACE

Get your chimney inspected and swept once a year. Always remove ashes once you’re done with the fire and keep the glass and walls of the unit clean.

WOOD PELLET STOVE

Use high quality pellets — they leave less ash than inexpensive brands — and always empty the ash trap before it gets full. Keep the burner, glass and exterior of the stove clean and free of dust.

NATURAL GAS OR PROPANE STOVE

When it comes to these appliances, yearly inspections are a must. However, when combustible gases are involved, it’s best not to attempt to do maintenance or repairs yourself: always hire a professional.

PORTABLE HEATER

Before using it for the first time of the season, and then periodically over the winter, wipe the heater with a damp cloth; just be sure it’s un plugged and cool to the touch. If there’s a filter, keep it clean.

Spotlight on exotic woods

Exotic woods such as teak, rosewood, mahogany, ebony and others are perennially in demand due to their beauty and durability. If you’re thinking of using one type or another for your floors or furniture, here’s what you need to know.

SOLID WOOD AND VENEERS

The distinctive grain and veining of exotic species make attractive and long lasting floors and furniture. However, solid pieces of these types of wood can be very expensive. If you want the beauty without the high price tag, look to veneers; thin layers of your chosen wood glued to planks of particleboard or similar types of materials.

MOISTURE LEVELS

this is one of the hardest woods in the world, making it a good choice for floors. Over time, its colour changes from salmon red to deep reddish-brown.

Because wood is a living material, it’s sensitive to varying temperature and humidity levels in the environment. To avoid it swelling and shrinking every time the weather changes, look for wood that has a humidity level of around eight per cent. It’s best to work with reputable businesses that you can be sure will sell you high quality products.

DISCOVER EXOTIC WOOD

Here are some of the less commonly known exotic wood species available:

• Jatoba: also known as Brazilian cherry,

• Ipe: this dense wood is incredibly durable and good for outdoor projects like patios or furniture. Its colour ranges from reddish to olive brown, and can be very light or very dark, depending on the piece.

• Padauk: This African wood is rot-resistant, making it another good choice for outdoor projects. Because of its beautiful red to deep reddish-brown colour, it’s also used for specialty objects like musical instruments.

• Purpleheart: also called amaranth, this wood starts out pale grey, and turns a dark eggplant hue when exposed to natural light. It’s a good choice for furniture and accent pieces.

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Ravi Kant. Ravi Kant’s dedication and passion for real estate will result in excellent servicefromstart to finish. Buying or Selling? Contact Ravi!

Should you add skylights to your home?

Skylights are ideal for lighting rooms naturally, especially if your home doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight. Here are four reasons to consider installing skylights:

1. Natural light. Skylights allow more light to reach your home’s interior, even in places that aren’t located near windows. This boosts your overall quality of life since exposure to natural light has been shown to improve your mood and productivity.

2. Energy efficiency. Because they let in so much light, skylights keep you from having to turn on the lights as often, which reduces your electricity bills. Plus, vented skylights can be opened to allow air to circulate, which can help with cooling your home during the summer. And if you invest in Energy Star certified skylights, you may be eligible for a tax credit.

3. Increased home value. Skylights also offer a good return on investment. They increase your home’s market value by adding esthetic flair to the exterior, brightening up the interior and improving your home’s energy efficiency.

4. Extended space. Skylights make spaces feel more open and spacious. They’re a great choice for rooms like bathrooms, which can feel cramped without windows. Plus, skylights won’t compromise your privacy the way regular windows do.

Keep in mind that’s it’s important to work with a professional when having skylights installed so you don’t end up losing heat or having moisture leak in through the ceiling. A roofing professional will be able to recommend the best skylight products for your needs.

How to upcycle fireplace ash

After snuffing out the embers in your fireplace, you safely store the ashes outside in a metal container. But then what? Instead of sending them to the local landfill, put them to good use around the house. First, make sure the ashes are completely cool and then employ them in one of the following ways:

TO DE-ICE

Sprinkle ash on the ice covering your balcony, stairs and driveway. In moderate conditions, it works as well as rock salt for melting snow and providing traction. It’s a more affordable and eco-friendly option.

TO CLEAN UP

Ash works well to polish silver and copper and to clean windows. All you need to do is dip a clean, damp cloth in some ash and scrub. Make sure there’s no trace of dirt or sand to avoid streaking your glass.

TO GARDEN

Just like lime, wood ash works well to neutralize the acidity of soil. Use it only once a year and sparingly — no more than one third of a cup per square metre on your flowerbed, vegetable

patch or lawn.

Pro tip: measure the pH of the soil before adding ash. If it’s higher than 7, it doesn’t need to be neutralized.

Only use ash from wood that hasn’t been treated or painted and never burn pressed wood or particleboard in your fireplace.

Kienzle

Makethis your pride of place! An excellent location in Inver Mobile Estates features aspacious yard, storage shed, trees at the back and is only minutes to downtown. This sunny &bright 924sqftplus porch, 1987 mobile has an inviting floorplan with open front end LR, eating area &kitchen; vaulted ceiling; 2bdrms plus aden/dining area or 3rd bdrm; &4piece bath. Incl appliances. Park rules allow one dog or one cat, subject to approval. Padrent of $485.00 incl City utilities. Windows were replaced previously; some upg rades that still need to be done are reflected in the price of $63,000

Tips for buying energy-efficient APPLIANCES

In addition to being eco-friendly, energy-efficient appliances can save you money on your utility bills. Here are some tips for choosing the best energy-efficient appliances for your home.

Look at the labels

Most large appliances sold in Canada are required to have a black-and-white EnerGuide label. This sticker displays the appliance’s annual energy consumption and indicates how it performs relative to other models in its class. Always consult the EnerGuide label to learn more about the appliance before you buy it.

You should also look for the Energy Star logo, which indicates that the product meets strict standards for energy efficiency.

Consider the size

It’s often important to determine what size you need your appliances to be, especially when it comes to HVAC systems. If your unit is too small for your house, it will operate at peak capacity for long pe -

riods of time, which isn’t energy efficient. An oversized appliance isn’t ideal either, as it costs more up front and is more expensive to operate.

Size is also an important factor when buying refrigerators, washers, dryers, furnaces and boilers.

Make a “smart” purchase

Smart appliances are products you can sync up with a smart phone or home energy management system. This provides you with greater control over the way the appliance operates as well as real-time data about its energy usage.

In addition, many smart appliances, such as refrigerators, laundry machines and HVAC systems, can be programmed to operate when electricity rates are lowest, saving you money.

Finally, once you’ve selected your new appliance, make sure to get it installed by the right professional. A faulty installation can impede your appliance’s energy efficiency and even cause it to break down.

The four hottest flooring trends to try

Are you fed up with your home’s outdated floors? Or maybe you find them hard to maintain? Every year, flooring products become more innovative, beautiful and durable. Here are four of today’s best options.

1. FAUX WOOD

You’re probably already familiar with laminate flooring that looks like hardwood, but did you know that there are porcelain and ceramic tiles that also mimic the colours and textures of wood? These products are both attractive and incredibly durable.

2.

If you dream of luxurious floors made of natural stone or exotic wood but they’re not in your budget, vinyl is the answer. With both floating tile and adhesive sheet styles, this material can imitate the bamboo, concrete or tile flooring you dream of for a frac-

tion of the price. Vinyl’s also an ideal choice for bathrooms and kitchens because it’s both durable and waterproof.

3. METALLIC EPOXY

If you’re looking for bold, cutting-edge flooring, this is the top choice for you. The mix of epoxy and polyurethane allows you to create any look and colour you want, making it perfectly suited to your style and your home’s design esthetic. It will turn your floors into works of art.

4. ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIALS

Hardwood, bamboo, cork and stone are eco-friendly flooring options that are easy to maintain, repair and recycle. These “green” materials are classics and will add value to your home.

Go wild with special paints

Paint retailers have a wildly diverse array of choice when it comes time to pick out a tone or texture for your home decorating project. Here are three new types of paint to tempt you.

WATER REPELLENT PAINT

With the so-called “lotus effect,” water slides over the surface of this paint, washing away any dirt. This phenomenon means that water repellent paint could be called self-cleaning. Not surprisingly, it makes a lot of sense to use this paint primarily in rooms with high humidity or that need cleaning on a re gular basis, such as bathrooms or kitchens. This versatile and highly durable product can also be used outdoors.

CHALKBOARD PAINT

MAGNETIC PAINT

This unique paint is filled with ferrous particles, allowing you to transform all types of surfaces into magnetic boards. After applying the magnetic paint, you can overlay other colours, wallpaper and even chalkboard paint. Then you can use magnets to attach notes, drawings, photos and maybe even some sweet, romantic messages.

Applying chalkboard paint lets you transform any object or surface into a blackboard. With some chalk and a section of wall covered with chalkboard paint, you can draw pictures, post your to-do lists and a weekly menu, create a play area for the children or draw up a family calendar that can be easily changed every month. Note that it doesn’t have to be a blackboard; this kind of paint comes in a wide variety of colours.

VINYL

JOHN HART PEACE RIVER HIGHWAY CHETWYND

52 unit Days Inn good occupancy and with 50 unit RV park beside the hotel for sale as well. Great location on the highway an attractive investment opportunity with all the economic activity in the Peace. For further information on financials and contact listing realtors. $7,000,000 MLS 184582

100’ x120’ modern airport hanger.Includes office, board room and living quarters. Direct access to runway.More details available. MLS #C8027895

park on 7acres great highway exposure beside the Days Inn. The RV has lots of room for expansion to expand this investment and grow your cash flow with servicing available.For further information contact listing realtors for financials and occupancy an well worth looking at.$1,300,000 MLS 184583

LEASE

1,800 block of 1st Ave. Industrial zoned with RETAIL/OFFICE applications. Highway access. Various locations and sizes available.

757 PRESTON RD.

1.76 Acres in City Limits. Zoned RM1 (Multiple Residential). Price $499,000 MLS #C8033659

This nicely updatedmain floor includes newflooring in the living room,bathroom, bedroom, hall,

This exceptional house in the desirable Woodlands subdivision is astunner.With 2beds upstairs and awalk-in closet in masterand spa-likeensuite. 2 entries through the garage,one intothe laundry and one intothe entryway makethis an ease to bring in groceries. Thecustomkitchen boasts high glosscontemporary whitecabinets and quartz counters with agas stove and anicegreyisland. Thefully Finished 2bedroom basement with large living room and separateareafor agym or kids craft spacemakes This basement greatfor the family with teenagers or justfor the visitors who have their ownspacewith a4piecebath. The beautifully landscaped yard with planter boxesand privacypanels on deck makethis your ownlittle retreat. Nothing left to do but move in and enjoy!

This 0.25-acrelot on the quiet street of Taft Dr,locatedclose to all the Hart amenities, is abeauty! 2-bedroom 2-bath with full ensuiteand open concept is amust-see!!

How to make your home more ENERGY-EFFICIENT

If you want to decrease your carbon footprint while paying less for your utility bills, reducing the amount of energy your household consumes is key. Here’s how to make your home more energy efficient.

USE ENERGY-EFFICIENT LIGHTING

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are better options than traditional incandescent lights. LEDs are the most energy-efficient, consuming about a quarter of the energy of incandescent bulbs. What’s more, they last 10 times longer.

SEAL OR REPLACE WINDOW

Heat loss and gain through windows account for about 25 to 30 per cent of residential energy usage. You can make your windows more energy-efficient by adding weatherstripping, installing blinds or curtains and ensuring that window edges are well-sealed with caulk. In addition, consider replacing damaged or poorly insulated windows with energy-efficient ones that are double- or triple-paned.

TUNE UP YOUR HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEM

Get your furnace, air conditioner, water heater or other appliance professionally serviced on an annual basis. This will help ensure your heating and cooling system runs at peak efficiency year-round. In addition, be sure to perform any regular maintenance tasks recommended by the manufacturer such as replacing the filters.

CHOOSE ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES

Look for the Energy Star label when buying large appliances such as refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves and televisions. Energy Star-certified appliances use 10 to 50 per cent less energy than standard appliances. In addition,

choose bathroom fixtures that conserve water such as low-flow showerheads and toilets.

To maximize your efforts at making your home more energy efficient, consider hiring a certified energy auditor. This professional can evaluate the inefficiencies in your home and provide expert recommendations.