Prince George Citizen March 25, 2021

PRINCE GEORGE

Police incident upsets bystander

MARK NIELSEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Prince George woman says an RCMP officer could have handled things better when she saw him make an arrest and went over to ask him why.

Cathy Fortin said she was out delivering meals to the housebound last Monday when she saw an RCMP cruiser pull onto the sidewalk on Upland Street near Milburn Avenue and stop an Indigenous man. Fortin, who was driving, said she went on to make a couple of deliveries and then returned to the spot to see what was going on. She said the officer was still talking to the man while other people had to cross the street because the sidewalk was still blocked.

She drove by and then made a second pass. This time, Fortin saw the officer put the man in the back of the cruiser At that point, Fortin said she parked her car across the street and walked over to ask why the arrest was being made and where the man was being taken.

Fortin said the response she got was not what she expected.

“It was just ‘get back in your car!,’” she said.

When Fortin then tried to talk to the arrestee - the cruiser’s window was down - she said the officer grabbed a fistful of her jacket and her left arm, pushed her towards her car and threatened to arrest her. Fortin said she backed off because she still had meals to deliver, although she admitted to yelling some obscenities at

the officer.

“I turned into a different person,” she said.

As for the arrestee, Fortin said the man just shook his head when she asked him why he was being taken in. Fortin said she was curious because she is “always on the side of the downtrodden.”

“These poor native people, I have a great empathy for the native people,” Fortin said. “I used to be a cab driver and I’ve dealt with them on various levels. I used to be a forest tech and for a couple of summers I taught these native guys from Stoney Creek and through the Native Friendship Centre how to use saws and giving them forestry skills and stuff.”

STROKE VICTIM FILES LAWSUIT

MARK NIELSEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of a Burns Lake woman who suffered a debilitating stroke two days after she was discharged from the community’s hospital.

According to a statement of claim, Rochelle Turner, 44, attended the emergency department at the Lakes District Hospital and Health Centre in Burns Lake on June 28, 2019.

She displayed symptoms of numbness and tingling in her right arm and fingers, blurred vision, confusion, as well as slurred speech and intermittent facial tingling.

Turner was examined by a physician but no treatment was administered and she was discharged, the statement says Two days later, she suffered a stroke “so severe that she has been left with severe, permanent, physical and mental impairments.”

The single mother of four children now relies on a wheelchair and other aids to move from place to place and needs constant help with basic day-to-day tasks Her speech has been profoundly affected and she will never be able to work again.

See OFFICER WAS on page 5 See DAMAGES on page 5

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

Cathy Fortin stopped to ask a police officer about why he was making an arrest on Upland Street near Milburn Avenue.

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Planning continues for hospital expansion

TED CLARKE

Six months have gone by since the province approved a concept plan to build a new patient care/surgical tower in Prince George at University Hospital of Northern B.C.

The announcement of the $600-700 million project was made on Sept. 21, the day before the B.C. NDP government called the fall election.

The next step is to finalize a business plan, which could be complete as early as this September or as late as March 2022. Once that has been approved the procurement stage will follow to award the building contracts before construction will begin.

“It’s in the 10-year capital plan, there’s money associated with the project, it’s going ahead,” said Health Minister Adrian Dix last Friday, the day the province announced the designer of a $116 project to replace Stuart Lake Hospital in Fort St. James. “No project ever approved at concept plan stage has ever not gone ahead.”

The tower project at UHNBC will include new surgical suites, a cardiac care centre and a mental health and addictions treatment unit It will replace out-of-date infrastructure built when the original Prince George Regional Hospital opened in 1958

“It’s unbelievably exciting for Prince George,” said Dix. “It’s going to be a few years into the future of course, before it’s

all happening. But it’s going ahead. We’re building something that’s got to be there for 50 years in an area like health care, which is going to be different 50 years from now in terms of care

“The project in Prince George is critically important because of the increasing role that hospital has played in the care of people across the north. It’s a real success story because we have a fairly massive capital plan now, so getting that extra project through all the approvals and the funding attached to it was something I’m proud of. People in the area, whatever their political bent, want to see this project go ahead so I was really proud to announce it.”

As health minister, Dix first toured the

UHNBC surgical area during the summer wildfires in 2017 when the city became a receiving centre for evacuees from the region He said the new cardiac unit will be a quantum leap for patients in the Northern Health region who have to travel to Kelowna or Vancouver to get the care they need. UHNBC is unable to provide invasive procedures such as angioplasty to relieve blood vessel blockages and lacks space for its cardiac diagnostics services, which are dispersed at various locations in the building The new surgery unit will modernize operating rooms, which will help increase surgical capacity, but Dix said some major heart interventions will still require patients to travel to Vancouver

Argricultural ruling blocks treatment centre

ARTHUR WILLIAMS

A proposed addiction treatment centre outside of Vanderhoof has run into a roadblock, after the Agricultural Land Commission ruled the proposal would reduce the potential farm use of the site.

Carrier Sekani Family Services is looking to build a 60-bed, year-round residential addiction and mental health treatment centre on the site of the Tachick Lake Resort, located roughly 24 kilometres southwest of

Vanderhoof. Cheslatta Carrier Nation Chief Corrina Leween, who serves as Carrier Sekani Family Services’ board president, said getting the facility built is a matter of life and death.

A feasibility study conducted by Carrier Sekani Family Services looked at 24 potential sites, including 10 that were considered in detail, and identified the lakeside camping resort as the best location for the facility

In October 2020, the Regional District

of Bulkley-Nechako board of directors voted to support the proposal, which they anticipated would have a minimal impact on agriculture

But in February, the ALC’s north panel ruled against the proposed construction of a 25,000 sq. foot treatment centre and 20-stall parking lot at the location.

“While the Panel appreciates the social benefits of the Proposal, the Panel must consider the mandate of the Commission... to preserve agricultural land and encour-

age farming on agricultural land,” the Feb 26 ruling says. “However, the Panel recognized that the existing resort is a longstanding non-farm use, and is prepared to permit an alternate proposal to use the existing buildings on the Property for a Community Care Facility, without constructing any further buildings...”

Since then, Carrier Sekani Family Services has had discussions with the province, and Leween is optimistic a solution can be found.

Property –4500 Ospika Boulevard

The City of Prince George is considering an amendment to the City of Prince George Official Community Plan (OCP) BylawNo. 8383, 2011 to amend Schedule B-6: Future Land Use to facilitate the developmentofa 256-unit apartment complex on the subject property.This application to amend the OCP also includes arezoning application (BylawNo. 9157, 2020).

Please visit the City of Prince George website at www.princegeorge.ca/landuse for more detailed information.

The City requests written comment from anyperson, organization, or agencies that maybe affected by this amendment to the OCP.Please forward anywritten submissions by April 9, 2021 by 5:00 pm to the Development Services Division at 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George V2L 3V9, Fax: 561-7721, Email: devserv@princegeorge.ca

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

What: Public Hearing regarding Zoning Bylaw No. 2892, AmendmentBylawNo.3196,2020.

When and Where:

6:30p.m.,Wednesday,April7,2021

Viatelephoneconferencecall

The public hearing will be chaired by adelegate of the Regional DistrictBoard.

Owner: FrankandRosemarySeemann

Proposal: Bylaw No. 3196 is proposed to rezone the subject property from Residential 3(R3) to Residential/Seasonal 1(R/S1) to permit Recreation Cabin use, or other permitted uses pursuant totheR/S1zone. ThesubjectpropertyisLot11DistrictLot10127 Cariboo District Plan 2178 and is located at 1545 Summit Lake Road.

In accordance with the Provincial Health Officer Ministerial Order No. M192, members of the public areprohibited from attending public hearings in person. In an effort to adhereto provincial orderswhilestillprovidingthepublicwithanopportunitytoprovide comments on abylaw,apublic hearing will be held remotely via telephoneconferencecall.

Anyone who believes that their interest in land is affected by the proposed bylaw shall be afforded areasonable opportunity to be heardatthepublichearingortopresentwrittencommentspriorto oratthepublichearingregardingmatterscontainedinthebylaws. Commentscanbereceivedthroughthefollowing:

Submit written comments: Written comments will be accepted bytheRegionalDistrictinadvanceofthepublichearinguntil 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday April 6, 2021 by:

Email: developmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca

Hand/Mail: 155GeorgeStreet,PrinceGeorge,BCV2L1P8 Fax: 250-562-8676

Written comments received by 12:00 p.m. on April 6, 2021 (day beforethe public hearing) will be posted to the Regional District’s webpage.

After 12:00 pm on April 6, 2021 (the day beforethe public hearing) and until the close of the public hearing, written submissions can be submitted to the Regional District by email: developmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca

Writtencommentsreceivedafter12:00pmonApril6,2021(theday beforethe public hearing) and until the close of the public hearing willbereadintotheminutesofthepublichearing.

Attendthroughtelephoneconferencecall: ContacttheRegional District at 250-960-4400 or developmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca for thetelephoneconferencenumberandinstructions

Anymaterial received beforeoratthepublichearing willbecome publicinformation.

Need moreinfo? Additional instructions for the teleconference public hearing, acopy of the proposed Bylaw,and any relevant background materials areavailable for review by the public on the Regional District’swebsite at http://www.rdffg.bc.ca/services/ development/land-use-planning/current-applications/ (ElectoralArea‘G’)orattheRegionalDistrictoffice,byappointment only,Monday through Friday,8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., between March 23 and April 7, 2021. The Regional District office is closed April2and5,2021.TomakeanappointmentcontacttheRegional Districtat250-960-4400ordevelopmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca

Who can Ispeak to? Heather Meier RPP,MCIP,Planning Leader, 250-960-4400

RETIRED TEACHER SENTENCED FOR HISTORIC SEX CRIME

MARK NIELSEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A now-retired local high school teacher has been sentenced to three years probation for engaging in a months-long sexual relationship with a student in the mid-1980s.

But for the passage of time and his otherwise good conduct in the years that have followed, Kim Randall Koehn, 67, would have been sentenced to a term in jail, Prince George provincial court judge Susan Mengering said. Also working in Koehn’s favour was the fact he pleaded guilty shortly after he was charged and the fact that he has expressed a measure of responsibility and sorrow for the impact his actions have had on the victim.

Starting in roughly October 1984 and lasting until about June 1985, a then-33year-old Koehn and a then 16-year-old Karen Ann Holmes maintained a “consensual” relationship, according to an agreed statement of facts read into the court record. (Holmes waived her right to a ban on publication of information that would identify her.)

At the time, Holmes was the manager of the senior boys basketball team Koehn was coaching at Kelly Road Secondary School and had developed a crush on Koehn and began flirting with him, the court heard.

Instead of rejecting her advances, Koehn accepted her offers of hugs and kisses and took Holmes out to dinner as the team traveled to towns around the Central Interior and Okanagan.

By January, it had escalated into a sexual relationship that lasted until the end of the season.

Upon learning he could face criminal charges if found out, Koehn urged the girl to keep their relationship quiet and, in the years since, Holmes had only talked about it with family and close friends.

But also in the years since, Holmes has led a troubled life filled with alcohol abuse, depression, insecurity and anxiety, difficulty at work and and ongoing distrust and anger towards men. Both Koehn and Holmes continued to live in Prince George and, whenever they crossed paths, she would become physically ill

Holmes, who has since moved away from Prince George and took in the proceedings by phone, eventually entered treatment - a step that cost her tens of thousand of dollars in fees and lost income - and narrowed the cause of her troubles down to Koehn.

In May 2017, she went to the RCMP with her allegations.

Although the relationship was described as “consensual” in an agreed statement of facts, Koehn’s actions met the stan-

dard for a charge of gross indecency - a charge that has since been replaced in the Criminal Code with sexual invitation and sexual assault.

Koehn had violated a “position of trust,” the court was told and, in addressing the court prior to sentencing, he admitted as much, saying he let down his colleagues, friends and family.

However, he also said it was a “different time” and one when teachers did not receive training on how to deal with such situations and did not appreciate the impact such actions would have on young people later in their lives.

On whether the relationship between Koehn and Holmes was consensual, Mengering commented that it was true only in the sense that it differed from a situation where “someone grabs a woman off a sidewalk and rapes her in a bush.”

“We can’t lose sight, in all of this, that Ms. Holmes is the victim,” Mengering added.

Terms of Koehn probation include house arrest for the first year

He is allowed out for two hours, three times per week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon, except with permission from his probation officer and in instances of medical emergency.

He must also take counseling as directed by his probation officer, a step that was strongly advised he be required to take due to an apparent limited insight into the effects his actions have had, the court was told.

Koehn is also prohibited from contacting Holmes and cannot be in the presence of anyone under 18 years old except in the presence of an adult or with express written permission from his probation officer. He must also stay away from parks, pools, playgrounds and schools where youth tend to gather

If Koehn violates the terms, Crown will take a “strong position” for a jail term, the court heard.

Holmes has also filed a lawsuit against Koehn and School District 57 seeking damages.

Damages claimed ‘Officer was acting lawfully’

from page 1 from page 1

The lawsuit maintains Rochelle should have been admitted as a patient and transported to University Hospital of Northern B.C. in Prince George, where there is imaging technology and support from a specialist.

Northern Health, the hospital and the attending physician are named as defendants in the lawsuit.

In part, the lawsuit says that Lakes District Hospital failed to train its staff on the appropriate protocols to follow

for a patient arriving at the emergency department with the symptoms that Turner displayed.

The lawsuit is claiming damages for the costs incurred by her family members and relatives, and her band, the Wet’suwet’en First Nation, for lost wages and for her care and rehabilitation.

The statement of claim was filed with the B.C. Supreme Court registry in Prince George on March 8.

None of the defendants have yet filed a response and the allegations have not been tested in court.

LOCAL MAN CHARGED WITH MURDERING HIS WIFE

A Prince George man has been charged with homicide in connection with the death of his wife, Karen Jordan, in 2013.

Paul Tamasi, 57, was arrested by Grande Prairie RCMP and was due to appear in Grande Prairie Provincial Court on Monday

Evidence gathered by police in the Alberta city suggests Jordan was last seen with Tamasi in November 2013.

Jordan, 47, was first reported missing in

February 2016.

Her body was found last September after ground searches were conducted near Wembley, Alta., by investigators and members of the Alberta RCMP Special Tactical Operations Team, assisted by local Search and Rescue personnel.

The discovery of Jordan’s remains culminated a multi-year investigation by police from the Grande Prairie RCMP General Investigations Section and Alberta RCMP Serious Crimes Branch.

“I know them on various levels and I’ve always felt bad about bad about the way society treats them and to see this guy, totally harmless, getting picked on like that, got to me.”

Fortin made no mention of the arrestee being physically harmed. Had the officer just answered her question, Fortin said she would have just carried on.

“That would’ve been the civil thing to do,” Fortin said. “I mean, I wasn’t threatening.”

Prince George RCMP Cst. Jennifer Coo-

per said the officer was doing his job.

“I can tell you that the officer was acting lawfully in the execution of his duties,” Cooper said.

As for Fortin, Cooper said she “is incorrect in assuming that she had any right to the know the reason that person was under arrest, as that violates the subject’s right to privacy.”

If Fortin had thought there was anything amiss with how the officer was acting, Cooper said she can file a complaint with the RCMP Public Complaints Commission. Fortin said she won’t be filing a formal complaint.

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

What: Public Hearing regarding Zoning Bylaw No. 2892, AmendmentBylawNo.3195,2020.

When and Where: 6:30p.m.,Thursday,April8,2021

Viatelephoneconferencecall

The public hearing will be chaired by adelegate of the Regional DistrictBoard.

Owner: 1216590BCLtd.Inc.No.BC1216590

Agent: AdrianVander-VeldenandLarryRowe

Proposal: Bylaw No. 3195 is proposed to rezone the subject propertyfromRural1(Ru1)toRuralResidential2(RR2)tofacilitate subdivision,orotherpermittedusespursuanttotheRR2zone. The subjectpropertyisTheNorth½oftheNorthEast¼ofDistrictLot 2415CaribooDistrictandlocatedinthePilotMountainRoadarea.

In accordance with the Provincial Health Officer Ministerial Order No. M192, members of the public areprohibited from attending public hearings in person. In an effort to adheretoprovincial orderswhilestillprovidingthepublicwithanopportunitytoprovide comments on abylaw,a public hearing will be held remotely via telephoneconferencecall.

Anyone who believes that their interest in land is affected by the proposed bylaw shall be afforded areasonable opportunity to be heardatthepublichearingortopresentwrittencommentspriorto oratthepublichearingregardingmatterscontainedinthebylaws. Commentscanbereceivedthroughthefollowing:

Submit written comments: Written comments will be accepted bytheRegionalDistrictinadvanceofthepublichearinguntil 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday April 7, 2021 by: Email: developmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca Hand/Mail: 155GeorgeStreet,PrinceGeorge,BCV2L1P8 Fax: 250-562-8676

Written comments received by 12:00 p.m. on April 7, 2021 (day beforethe public hearing) will be posted to the Regional District’s webpage.

After 12:00 pm on April 7, 2021 (the day beforethe public hearing) and until the close of the public hearing, written submissions can be submitted to the Regional District by email: developmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca

Writtencommentsreceivedafter12:00pmonApril7,2021(theday beforethe public hearing) and until the close of the public hearing willbereadintotheminutesofthepublichearing.

Attendthroughtelephoneconferencecall: ContacttheRegional District at 250-960-4400 or developmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca for thetelephoneconferencenumberandinstructions

Anymaterial received beforeoratthepublichearingwillbecome publicinformation.

Need moreinfo? Additional instructions for the teleconference public hearing, acopy of the proposed Bylaw,and any relevant background materials areavailable for review by the public on the Regional District’swebsite at http://www.rdffg.bc.ca/services/ development/land-use-planning/current-applications/ (ElectoralArea‘A’)orattheRegionalDistrictoffice,byappointment only,Monday through Friday,8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., between March 23 and April 8, 2021. The Regional District office is closed April2and5,2021.TomakeanappointmentcontacttheRegional Districtat250-960-4400ordevelopmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca

Who can Ispeak to? Heather Meier RPP,MCIP,Planning Leader, 250-960-4400

TED CLARKE

The age of eligibility to receive a COVID-19 inoculation depends on where you live in the Northern Health region.

In Prince Rupert, where there have been recent outbreaks of the virus, anybody 18 and older is eligible to book an appointment through the vaccine call centre.

But in Prince George, the Phase 2 clinic at the Convention and Civic Centre is still open only to seniors 80 and older (born before 1941) and indigenous people 65 and older (born before 1956).

“There is a new schedule for this week upcoming that they’re provincially dropping down to age 79 at noon today, and then throughout the week in incremental changes lowering that age range, (but) we are not doing that currently,” said Northern Health spokesperson Eryn Collins.

“What is on our website (northernhealth.ca) on a community-by-community basis, it differs A number of our communities’ age-based eligibility is soon going to open to 70 years of age and older, and in some communities to those 18 years and older. In some communities, due to their population size, remoteness, logistics, it just makes more sense to open up that eligibility to a whole-community approach.”

There also could be temporary adjustments coming to vaccination schedules.

For example, Fort St. John has temporarily reduced the age limit for vaccine eligibility to seniors 70-and-older and indigenous people 55-and-older until all the appointments are filled Collins said if that happens in Prince George, where there are timeslots not getting filled for appoint-

ments, Northern Health would consider lowering the age eligibility to fill up those appointments

Capacity at the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre is 200 vaccinations per day. Each appointment takes about 10 minutes and the vaccinated patient is required to stay for 15 minutes after getting the shot to be monitored in case of adverse reaction. Last Tuesday was the first day of Northern Health’s public mass vaccination clinics. The vaccines being used are made by Pfizer and Moderna.

“Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday they did over 200 completed appointments,” said Collins.

The Northern Health call centre can be reached at 1-844255-7555 seven days per week between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Only call if you are age-eligible to keep the phone lines free.

Collins said she’s unaware when local pharmacies will be administering COVID-19 vaccines and said that decision will be made by the provincial health office.

Phase 2 inoculations are scheduled to end on April 10. After that, the province plans to open more mass vaccination sites to younger adults who will be able to book their appointments online. Details of the province’s Phase 3 and 4 vaccination plan have yet to be revealed.

“We’re continuing to plan for the upcoming clinics we already have in place and additional clinics that may be needed and in some cases those clinic dates may be moved up and start earlier than originally planned,” said Collins. “The website continues to be the best source of information for not only the eligibility to call in and make appointment schedules but also when and where individual communities’ clinics will take place.”

Age access for vaccine differs by community Vaccine rollout challenging across north, minister says

TED CLARKE

The goal of health authorities to try and immunize everybody on a scale unprecedented in the country’s history is not easily accomplished in a province as large as British Columbia.

Vast distances and sparsely-populated regions are adding to the challenges of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, and no other health region in the province is as vast and as unpopulated as Northern Health.

The entire northern half of the province is home to only about 300,000 people and getting to all of them for the rollout of the public immunization program that began last week with the start of the first mass vaccination clinics has been difficult.

“It’s not slower, but in Northern Health, because of

geographic distribution it’s more challenging,” said B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix. “At a practical level, it’s way easier in Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health to deliver vaccine.

“I think our staff in Northern Health has been more than fantastic in delivering this vaccination plan to remote communities all over the north. What I would say to the people of the north is they should be proud of the Northern Health teams that are doing that. We have a very significant effort to immunize all Indigenous communities and by the end of March that will all be done, which is an achievement.”

The Northern Health figures posted on the BCCDC dashboard do not include vaccine doses administered by the First Nations Health Authority to northern B.C. residents

“It’s complicated because a lot of the doses performed by Northern Health are First Nations Health Authority Doses,” said Dix.

Because of the difficulties of getting to the more remote communities, Northern Health plans to set up vaccination clinics that will make the vaccine available to all adults in those areas, regardless of age. Those clinics will be set up in the next phase starting in April.

“The important thing to keep in mind is we have a smaller population,” said Northern Health spokesperson Eryn Collins.

“They’re not sending us vaccine that we do not need. We know who we currently have eligible and who we are immunizing. We are receiving vaccine doses weekly and planning clinics accordingly for the people who are eligible currently to receive vaccine.”

CHETWYND GAS PLANT DISPUTE HEATS UP

Glacier Media

A Chetwynd gas plant is being decommissioned as a labour dispute at Sukunka Natural Resources’ Pine River plant continues, Unifor Local 449 says.

Sukunka Natural Resources Inc., a subsidiary of Canadian Natural Resources (CNRL), operates the plant, which is behind a Unifor Local 449 picket line.

There had been rumours the decommissioning of the sour gas facility was a closure but Unifor B.C. and Alberta director Andrea McBride said that‘s not the case.

“It’s not a closure,” BC and Alberta director for Unifor Local 449 Andrea McBride said. “It’s about taking chemicals out of the plant.”

She said the company went to B.C.’s Labour Relations Board (LRB) to get the plant deemed an essential service.

CNRL did not respond to Glacier Media queries.

The board said the plant has three states: active, safe idle and decommissioned.

It said in a Jan. 25 decision that the plant did not have to move to a decommissioned state due to the need to keep the environment and people safe from the hazards of removing chemicals down risky roads in winter

“To get to the decommissioned state, all 1.5 million litres of toxic chemicals will have to be moved off site,” LRB vice chair and registrar J. Najeeb Hassan said in the decision.

“They will have to be trucked down a 20-kilometre, mountainous logging road in winter conditions. An accident would almost certainly result in a spill of those chemicals into the environment, causing serious harm and risking the drinking water of Chetwynd being contaminated That is not an acceptable risk to impose on British Columbians, including to the drivers of the trucks. It is my view that appropriate measures must be taken to prevent that from occurring.”

The board said the plant could move to safe idle before moving to decommissioned June 1 if the strike continues.

It said that when the plant is operating normally, it has a variety of technical systems that allow it to safely operate but a labour dispute brings the continued operation of those into question, which is the reason the company approached the labour board.

In safe idle, the plant can safely sit indefinitely with maintenance and monitoring.

The company said moving to safe idle would cost about $5 million with a return to active about $8-10 million.

Tahltan oppose mine project

Glacier Media

The Tahltan First Nation is ramping up its opposition to a copper-gold exploration project in their traditional territory, and are effectively issuing an eviction notice to the company behind it.

The Tahltan say they are opposed to Doubleview Gold Corp. and its Hat project and want its operations to cease.

Recent assay results published by the company indicate the Hat project located in the Sheslay Valley, 95 kilometres southwest of Dease Lake -- has not only gold and copper, but some recoverable cobalt as well. Cobalt is increasingly in demand in electric car batteries.

The Tahltan’s opposition to the exploration project is unusual The Tahltan are arguably the most mining friendly First Nation in B.C. They support and have agreements with a number of mining companies and projects. They even co-own the drilling company that worked on the Hat property

But the Tahltan have drawn a line in the sand with Doubleview and the Hat project, saying the project is in a culturally sensitive area and that the company has been disrespectful and has failed to follow the protocols the Tahltan sets out for resource companies.

“Tahltans take pride in working meaningfully with industry partners and the province,” Chad Norman Day, president of the Tahltan Central Government, said in a press release. “But this company has con-

tinually been disrespectful and resistant to following the protocols and processes we have in place with mineral exploration companies throughout Tahltan Territory.

“We will be taking all actions necessary to protect our land and resources, including keeping Doubleview from pursuing their interests in our territory any further.”

The Tahltan Central Government has an engagement framework that sets out protocols for resource companies operating in Tahltan territory.

“Doubleview has failed to conduct its operations according to Tahltan protocols and refuses to abide by the TCG’s engagement framework,” the Tahltan say in their press release.

“As a result, the Tahltan Nation will adamantly oppose Doubleview’s continued operations within Tahltan Territory and will take further steps to ensure the company’s activities will cease.”

Doubleview has not yet responded to the Tahltan’s position.

The Tahltan say they expect the provincial government will not be issuing any more permits to Doubleview for its Hat project.

“This should serve as notice that the Tahltan Nation will not tolerate any company that attempts to operate within Tahltan Territory if they fail to build a respectful relationship with the Tahltan governments and communities through respecting Tahltan laws, protocols and the distinct title and rights of the Tahltan people,” the TCG concludes in its press release.

It’s hardtodiscuss racism. It’s awkward. It stirs up alot of strong emotions.But it’s worthit, as we work toward amoreequitable society.

Cougars set to kick off 2021 season

TED CLARKE

Mark Lamb is back coaching a hockey team again and he’s counting his blessings that in less than a week he’ll get to see his Prince George Cougars play a game again.

It’s been more than a year since he last had that opportunity – March 7, 2020, to be precise – when the Cougars put the wraps on a 4-3 overtime win over the visiting Vancouver Giants at CN Centre.

The hockey world was about to come to a pandemic standstill at that point and the Cougars got to Cache Creek in their bus for their final six-game roadtrip when the WHL season was put on pause and eventually cancelled.

But now there is light from the tunnel

The Cougars are practicing in their WHL hub in Kamloops, preparing for their season-opening game Saturday at Sandman Centre against the host Kamloops Blazers.

It will be the first of six meetings with the Blazers in a condensed 24-game B.C. Division schedule that gets underway

Friday

With no preseason games, the clock is ticking and there’s not much time to get ready for the new season.

“To try to cram a month’s training camp into a week is impossible,” said Lamb. “You’ve got to do the best you can and the kids are laying it out there They under-

stand it’s going to be quick and it’s going to go fast, so they’re working hard.

“You don’t want groin (injuries) and some guys haven’t skated for so long, so you’ve got to be really careful on the balance of working hard, stops and starts.”

Lamb has out the emphasis on skating and conditioning in practice so far and he says his players have been busting their butts trying to shake the rust off their skate blades

They worked on their passing, shooting and edge work just to get on top of their basic skills before Lamb and the rest of the coaching staff start teaching game strategies.

“They’ve been hard practices so far and there hasn’t been one complaint from me at all and that doesn’t surprise me because everyone wants to play so bad,” Lamb said.

“Their attitudes and work ethic have been excellent They couldn’t do anything for two weeks because they were in quarantine and you’ve got one week to play But everyone’s in good shape They’ve surprised me how good they’ve been. There’s a few guys who are behind but some guys hadn’t skated in a long time, they couldn’t get ice.

“A lot of the kids have done a lot of individual skill work, so their hands have looked really good.”

Lamb got his first look at Riley Heidt, the

Cougars’ second-overall pick in the 2020 bantam draft

The five-foot-nine, 184-pound centre from Saskatoon, who turns 16 on Thursday, is one of 10 rookies on the Cougars’ roster.

“He’s looked really good, a kid like that is just so keen,” said Lamb, now in his third season with the Cougars in the dual role as head coach and general manager.

“His work ethic, every drill he just works and works and he’s got high-end skill It’s not just him; guys like (Kyren) Gronick and (Koehn) Ziemmer, these high draft picks have looked really good also Practice is practice, and it’s going to be real when you’ve got (Blazers forward Montana) Onyebuchi looking at you from the other side and big guys like that when the real games start.”

Lamb says he’s been paying close attention to his younger players.

Heidt was born in 2005 and the Cougars also have six 16-year-olds (born in 2004), including F Ziemmer, F Gronick, F Carter MacAdams, D Keaton Dowhaniuk, D Jaren Brinson and G Ty Young.

“I’m watching their habits, and if there are bad habits you have to adjust right away,” said Lamb.

The Cougars have seven 19-year-olds (2001-born) battling for ice time, including G Taylor Gauthier, F Tyson Upper, F Ethan Browne, F Connor Bowie, F Jonny Hooker, F Brendan Boyle and D Majid Kaddoura and

not much time to assess them.

“That’s the problem with this pandemic, they’re basically on a 24-game tryout now, for next year,” said Lamb, “and you can only have three overagers. They know what they’re up against and it should make those guys really competitive.”

The 26 Cougar players and six staff are staying in a hotel right next to the rink and are pretty much confined to their quarters and designated team areas to avoid the risk of getting COVID

“It feels pretty darn good,” said Lamb. “It’s a privilege to play There’s a lot of hockey players that aren’t playing right now and for us it’s a privilege and we don’t want to do anything wrong and get (the virus) because we don’t want to be shut down.

“If it means we have to stay in our room, we’ll stay in our room.”

LOOSE PUCKS: Ziemmer took a stick in the mouth on the first day of practice last Thursday and lost a couple of teeth. “He looks like a hockey player,” said Lamb The Blazers play the Vancouver Giants Friday night and Lamb will be able to watch and scout his next-day opponents… The Kelowna Rockets host the Victoria Royals in Kelowna on Friday The Cougars learned last week 20-year-old D Cole Moberg will remain in the AHL with the Rockford IceHogs and won’t be coming back to the Cougars for his final season of junior eligibility

RADIO DEAL RENEWED

The Prince George Cougars have renewed its radio broadcast partnership with FM 94.3 The GOAT for the 2021 season, which starts Saturday when the Cats face the Kamloops Blazers in Kamloops.

“We are proud to call 94.3 The GOAT our broadcast partner once again, and I know our fans will appreciate tuning in to follow our games during this very unusual season,” said Cougars vice president, business Andy Beesley “It has been extraordinarily challenging to navigate through this pandemic for all of us, and The GOAT’s support of our team have never wavered.”

Fraser Rodgers is about to begin his fourth season as the play-by-play voice of the Cougars and he’ll be getting support

during the broadcasts from Hartley Miller, the dean of Prince George sportscasters, who has served as an analyst on Cougar game nights the past seven seasons.

The Cougars’ radio coverage will be also online at www.myprincegeorgenow.com.

“Vista Radio continues to be a proud partner of the Prince George Cougars,” said Kyle Wightman, Vista Radio BC North regional manager. “The Cougars are a huge part of the fabric of this community and we pride ourselves in including them in our commitment to our Northern B.C audience.”

The Cougars will play a 24-game schedule, all against B.C. Division opponents in Kamloops and Kelowna.

GAIRNS NINTH IN WORLD CUP FINALE

TED CLARKE

Tiana Gairns of Prince George put the finishing touches on her Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup season Sunday in Veysonnaz, Switzerland, finishing ninth as the top Canadian in the women’s event.

Gairns was grouped in a tough quarterfinal bracket with world champion

Sandra Naeslund of Sweden and Alizee Baron of France and finished third in the heat, which eliminated Gairns from medal contention

Naeslund and Baron finished 1-2 in their semifinal heat and in the big final, Naeslund got to the line first, followed by silver medalist Fanny Smith of Switzerland and Baron.

“I had a little bit of stacked heat at the beginning but I think I skied really well, it just happened that I didn’t quite make it through,” said the 22-year-old Gairns “I’m

pretty proud of my skiing today. They’re some of the best people on the circuit.”

Reece Howden of Cultus Lake capped a spectacular season as the series points champion with a ninth-place result. Howden and Smith, the women’s World Cup champion, received their Crystal Globe trophies on the slopes of Veysonnaz.

“Seeing that his hard work and his attitude and the way he handles himself have gotten him there, that’s just so cool,” said Gairns.

“Part of what makes us so proud to be Canadian is that in the sport of ski cross we’re always strong and when we show up somewhere people look around and they’re like, it’s Canada, better watch out.”.

Despite missing several races with injuries, Gairns ended up 12th in the standings with 217 points. A shoulder injury wiped out the entire 2018-19 season for Gairns and she suffered a torn ACL that cost her

most of the last season.

She returned to racing in December and after missing a month with a concussion and posted two fifth-place solo finishes as well as a fourth-place finish in the team event with Howden.

“It’s cool to get a solid season in the books, just to have enough results in there that I can see where I am standing in the world,” said Gairns. “It’s definitely given me the validation that I need that I am where I need be, skiing-wise.

“It’s cool. I still look at some of the people I’m racing with and I’m like, ‘wow, they’re so good,’ and then I realize I’m in the start gate racing them and sometimes I beat them It’s kind of surreal but in the best way

“Injuries are part of the game, as our team learned this year, and you have to come back from injuries at some point,” she said. “If you come back stronger and

Spruce Kings to play in Chilliwack bubble

It’s now official - the Prince George Spruce Kings will play their 2021 regular season schedule in Chilliwack.

The B.C. Hockey League announced Friday the Spruce Kings, Merritt Centennials and Chilliwack Chiefs will be grouped together in one of five pods the league plans to set up to complete a pandem-

ic-condensed schedule.

The three teams will play each other within their pod at Chilliwack Coliseum (formerly known as Prospera Centre) and will play no other BCHL opponents during the five-week season.

The other pods will be the Scotia Barn in Burnaby (host Coquitlam Express, Powell

River Kings and Surrey Eagles); South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton (host Penticton Vees, Cranbrook Bucks, Trail Smoke Eaters); Weyerhauser Arena in Port Alberni (host Alberni Valley Bulldogs, Cowichan Valley Capitals, Nanaimo Clippers, Victoria Grizzlies); and Kal Tire Place in Vernon (host Vernon Vipers, Salmon Arm

with more confidence that’s the best way to come back and the Canadian team provides us with the best resources, the best staffing and the best coaching to make it so we come back in that way.”

Gairns has been in Europe since October She was scheduoed to fly back with the team to Montreal on Monday and spend three days in quarantine in a hotel before heading to Calgary.

She hopes to be back in Prince George by Friday.

After at least 40 COVID tests, she said she won’t miss the COVID protocols and the continual monitoring of the athletes

The team had a couple positive tests in October but they were isolated right away by Alpine Canada and the rest of the team did not miss any training.

The Canadian team will be back on the slopes in Whistler for a five-week camp next month.

Silverbacks, West Kelowna Warriors).

Each team will play an 18- or 20-game schedule, to be released by the league.

The first games will be played on Friday, April 2.

No fans will be allowed in the arenas. All BCHL games will be streamed live on Hockey TV

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Ifso,thereareservicesforfinances, careerdevelopment,education, well-being,mentalhealthandPTSD tosupportyouandyourfamily.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

What:PublicHearingregardingRobsonValley-CanoeDownstream Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 1948, Amendment Bylaw No. 3192,2020;ZoningBylawNo.2892,AmendmentBylawNo.3193, 2020.

When and Where:

3:00p.m.,Tuesday,April6,2021

Viatelephoneconferencecall

The public hearing will be chaired by adelegate of the Regional DistrictBoard.

Owner: ProvinceofBritishColumbia

Agent: RajBasran

Proposal: Bylaw No. 3192 is proposed to redesignate the subject property from Agriculture/Resource to Heavy Industrial. Bylaw No. 3193 is proposed to rezone the subject property from Rural 5 (Ru5)toIndustrial3(M3).Theamendmentsareproposedtopermit Sawmill use and Wood Products Manufacturing and Processing use,orotherpermittedusespursuanttotheM3zone.Thesubject property is Block DDistrict Lot 8940 Cariboo District and is accessedfromMuseumDrive.

In accordance with the Provincial Health Officer Ministerial Order No. M192, members of the public areprohibited from attending public hearings in person. In an effort to adhereto provincial orderswhilestillprovidingthepublicwithanopportunitytoprovide comments on abylaw,a public hearing will be held remotely via telephoneconferencecall.

Anyone who believes that their interest in land is affected by the proposed bylaw shall be afforded areasonable opportunity to be heardatthepublichearingortopresentwrittencommentspriorto oratthepublichearingregardingmatterscontainedinthebylaws. Commentscanbereceivedthroughthefollowing:

Submit written comments: Written comments will be accepted bytheRegionalDistrictinadvanceofthepublichearinguntil12:00 p.m.onThursday,April1,2021by:

Email: developmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca

Hand/Mail: 155GeorgeStreet,PrinceGeorge,BCV2L1P8 Fax: 250-562-8676

Written comments received by 12:00 p.m. on Thursday,April 1, 2021bepostedtotheRegionalDistrict’swebpage.

After 12:00 p.m. on Thursday,April 1, 2021 and until the close of the public hearing, written submissions can be submitted to the RegionalDistrictby email: developmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca

Written comments received after 12:00 p.m. on Thursday,April 1, 2021 and until the close of the public hearing will be read into the minutesofthepublichearing.

Attendthroughtelephoneconferencecall: ContacttheRegional District at 250-960-4400 or developmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca for thetelephoneconferencenumberandinstructions

Anymaterial receivedbeforeoratthepublichearing willbecome publicinformation.

Need moreinfo? Additional instructions for the teleconference public hearing, acopy of the proposed Bylaw,and any relevant background materials areavailable for review by the public on the Regional District’swebsite at http://www.rdffg.bc.ca/services/ development/land-use-planning/current-applications/ (Electoral Area ‘H’) or at the Regional District office, by appointment only, Monday through Friday,8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., between March 23 andApril6,2021. TheRegionalDistrictofficeisclosedApril2and 5, 2021. To make an appointment contact the Regional District at 250-960-4400ordevelopmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca Who can Ispeak to? DanielBurke,PlannerII,250-960-4400

PGSO PLANS MORE SHOWS

Classical music enthusiasts will have four more opportunities to take in the Prince George Symphony Orchestra this season although performances before a live audience will remain out of the question.

“We held off announcing our final concerts in case the B.C. health authority orders changed to allow for indoor gatherings,” PGSO general manager Theresa Saunders said. “However, based on recent announcements, we have decided to continue streaming through the end of the season.”

On the flip side, Saunders said streaming means viewers can watch a concert as many times as they would like for the two weeks following the show’s date

Here’s a look at what is on schedule:

The Arrival of Spring!, April 11 at 7:30 p.m.: Nine musicians will play two pieces for wind quintet and string quartet: Nonet in E-flat major, Op. 38 by Louise Ferenc and Nonet in A-minor, Op 77a by George Onslow. Spring!, May 9 at 7:30 p.m.: Maestro Michael Hall and an eighteen-piece orchestra will play the beautiful Prelude de L’apre midi d’un Faune by Debussy followed by Concerto no. 3, 1st movement by Mozart featuring twelve year-old soloist Luke Chen, winner of the PGSO’s 2020 Young Artists Competition. The concert concludes with Appalachian Spring by Copland.

Peter and the Wolf, May 16 at 2 p.m.: The whole family will enjoy this special performance of Prokoviev’s

Peter and the Wolf, conducted by Hall and narrated by local radio personality Doug Jones.

Splendorous Spring, May 30 at 7:30 p.m.: The final concert of the season presents Mozart’s String Quintet, Divertimento in D Major, K136/125a and Taffanel’s Woodwind Quintet as well as the world premiere of African Suite, composed by PGSO’s acting principal violist Thomas Beckman. Tickets are $20 per household for the three classics concerts and, because of a grant from the City’s MyPG grant program, $10 per household for Peter and the Wolf.

Tickets can be purchased at www.pgso.com or by phone at 250562-0800 or in person at 2880 – 15th Ave. from 9 a.m to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday

Mausoleum expansion complete

The $1.3 million expansion of the mausoleum at Memorial Park Cemetery is nearly finished and open to the public.

Last year, city council approved the roughly 1,200 sq. foot expansion to building, including 900 glass and marble front niches for cremated remains. The mausoleum’s original 500 niches have been full since 2014, with

100 families on the waiting list to have their loved one’s remains interred, according to information released by the city In a report, city acting director of civic operations Blake McIntosh said the project was completed on time, and is projected to be $100,000 under budget

“To date, all construction works and updates are complete for the

IS THE BOX EMPTY?

mausoleum expansion except for landscaping, irrigation and window security film,” McIntosh wrote. “Full project completion is expected late spring 2021.”

Niche sales at the mausoleum began on Monday

For more information, call 250561-7500 or by emailing cemetery@ princegeorge.ca.

Airport gets upgrade grant

The Prince George Airport is getting almost $500,000 in provincial funding for a pair of safety projects.

The grant was part of $3.6 million in grants for eight airport upgrades in northern B.C.

“This year has presented challenges for all of us, but this funding will make essential improvements possible for our airport at a time when we need it most,” P.G. airport authority president Gordon Duke said.

“Creating safe travel to and from our northern communities is vital for our economic recovery, and that’s something we can all look forward to.”

The funding will also support projects at airports in Vanderhoof, Mackenzie, McBride, Kitimat, Fort Nelson, Tumbler Ridge and Atlin.

Trustees ponder raise under budget crunch

ARTHUR WILLIAMS

Members of the School District 57 board of trustees voted to give themselves a raise in July – maybe –despite facing possible budget cuts in the coming school year.

A school district policy set in 2019, calls for the board chairperson to receive an annual increase equal to the same percentage increase provided for the district’s union-exempt staff.

The vice-person’s salary is set at $1,500 less than the chairperson, with regular trustees getting $3,000 less than the board chair

“Trustee remuneration is a delicate subject,” trustee Tim Bennett said. “(And) we are looking at a very challenging budget coming up.”

As of the board’s meeting last Tuesday, the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) hadn’t decided what, if any, increase district exempt staff will receive, Bennett said.

The district’s policy requires the board’s management and finance committee to consider trustee remuneration and bring a recommendation to the board for approval before March 31 each year

Currently, the board chairperson receives $22,660 per year, with the vice-chairperson getting $21,160 per year and trustees receiving $19,660 per year, as per district policy.

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effect after the next election in the fall of 2022, he added.

“I’d never had said this when I was chair (but) the work of the chair is a part-time, and sometimes full-time, job,” he said

After four years as chairperson, Bennett didn’t seek the nomination for the position last fall and “all of the sudden, my phone stopped ringing.”

Trustee Sharel Warrington said the district’s policy on trustee compensation is clear and trustees either have to approve the potential increase or change the current policy governing trustee remuneration.

“(But) I am really concerned that we did give ourselves a lift last year and the year before,” Warrington said. “We are coming into a budget crunch. it is important that the board show restraint.”

While it isn’t a lot of money, any increases to trustee and exempt staff wages aren’t covered by the Ministry of Education and have to come out of the district’s operating budget, she added.

The district’s reserve funds have been depleted from $17 million in 2018 to only $1.3 million in the 2020-21 budget, leaving little extra money to manage any new expenses.

“We are in more restrained times now, and will be for awhile,” Warrington said. “We will be looking for ways our expenses will be reduced.”

R. Hogue (Mary Kay)

K. Dougan

J. Abram (epicure) 3rd Ave Pharmacy N. Cudennec

M.-C. Caron S. St-Pierre

Members of the Prince George District Teachers Association and unionized district staff will receive a two per cent salary increase effective on July 1.

School District 57 secretary-treasurer Darleen Patterson said that if exempt staff and trustees were also to get a two per cent increase, each trustee would receive a $453.20 per year increase, for a total cost of $3,172.40 per year

For an organization with an annual budget in the hundreds of millions of dollars, less than $4,000 is a small amount, Bennett said.

Bennett, who is the former board chairperson and now chairs the board’s management and finance committee, said it may be time for school trustees to reconsider how it compensates board members.

However, any changes should come into

Vice-chairperson Shuirose Valimohamed said voting on your own salary is a tough topic, but there is no guarantee that BCPSEA will increase salaries for exempt staff, and thus trustees.

“There might be a freeze, because of COVID,” she said.

Trustee Bob Thompson said his concerns are less about the money, but more about how it will look if the board is forced to cut spending - and possibly jobs – in the coming school year

“That isn’t a lot of money, but I’m concerned about the optics,” he said.

Trustee Ron Polillo said while it’s a tough subject, both the the district’s exempt staff and the board do important work.

“Having a fair lift, that is comparable to other union groups, is really fair,” Polillo said. “Quite frankly, I think it is deserved.”

Demolition of the former Kelly Road Secondary School will likely happen this Thursday, trustee Ron Polillo told the School District 57 board of education last week.

Students and staff from Kelly Road moved into the $44.3 million, new Shas Ti Kelly Road Secondary School in September

The former school was built during the 1960s, and had reached the end of its useful life.

Once the building is demolished, new roadways, bus lanes and parking will be developed in the area south of the new school.

The decision by the district board to name the new school Shas Ti Secondary School prompted protests last year by students, as well as graduates and members of the public.

As a result of the backlash, the board voted to blend the two names together for the new school.

Renée Trépanier &NormSchmitz

L. Sandeman-Allen (Tupperware)

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EPIC MOTORBIKE TRIP NEARLY DONE

TED CLARKE

It wasn’t enough for Ron Bedard to ride his motorcycle all the way from the top of Canada to the southern tip of Argentina.

After 18 1/2 months on the road, he turned around for a return trip that’s now taking him back to the Arctic with the added twist of a cross-Canada winter detour Haunted by a bike that gave him nothing but grief until it met a fiery fate, robbed by drug cartel gang members who gave him the fright of his life, forced to overcome river crossings on aimless goat trails through the tropics and white-knuckle rides on slippery Canadian highways, and plagued by the restrictions of a pandemic that’s kept a stubborn grip on the world, Bedard is nearing the finish line

If all goes according to plan, sometime next month Bedard will reach Tuktoyaktuk, N.W.T., to officially end his epic expedition.

After 75,000 kilometres of zig-zagging his way through North, Central and South America, Bedard first saw the Antarctic Ocean when he reached the town of Ushuaia in Argentina, where most continental drifters think they’ve reached the end of the road. But he checked the map and found there’s a naval radio station, Estancia Moat, 85 km further south down a gravel road, which is far as you can drive south in South America, so that’s where he went.

“For me it was just this real sense of accomplishment and elation,” he said “There was no tourists, no hoopla, no facilities; it’s just you at the end of the world.”

But for Bedard, that was only the halfway mark, and after discussing it with his wife Anna in Vancouver he scrapped his original plan to fly the bike back from Buenos Aires and decided to ride his way home, a return trip that’s taken him nearly threeand-a-half years to try to complete.

“In the olden days, people would cross oceans to unknown territories then had to go back the way they came and that’s what I’m doing,” said the 55-year-old former helicopter pilot, who arrived with his winterized bike and sidecar in Prince George on March 11.

Long solo trips are in Bedard’s DNA. The Edmonton native once rode a motorbike from Canada to Guatemala and also drove a Toyota 4Runner to Panama and back. He learned Spanish during the six months he spent in Belize teaching whitewater kayaking.

When he began his Arctic Ocean to Antarctic Ocean trip in August 2017, he wasn’t thinking about a return ride He thought he’d be coming right back on a flight to Vancouver, where he and his wife operate a movie-industry business that creates digital doubles of actors and movie props.

So how does his marriage survive him being away for three-and-a-half years?

“She’s totally supportive,” he said “She doesn’t feel comfortable with motorbikes so as I’ve been riding she’ll fly down and meet me for two or three weeks We met up in Mexico City; Bogota; Costa Rica; Lima, Peru; and Mendoza in Argentina and we hang out for three weeks and she flies back. We text message every day and then

Ron Bedard took this self-portrait in Argentina.

she’s part of the trip as well.”

Bedard has been staying in cheap motels or hostels along the way and his primary concern about spending the night isn’t clean sheets or hot water, it’s the safety of his bike. He likes staying close to the town centre and if he can get it off the street or store it in a hotel lobby to discourage thieves, he’ll do it.

His tour took him 16,700 feet above sea level to the gold-mining town of La Riconada, Peru, the world’s highest village but the toughest road he encountered was a 149 km stretch in the Copper Canyon in northwestern Mexico. He took some bad advice from a local innkeeper and found a scenic route through switchbacks and steep mountainous terrain. The road went right through boulder-strewn river crossings that got so rough he dumped his bike seven times. He ran out of water and had to drink out of an untreated stream, but made it through without getting sick.

Riding through Mexico was a highlight and a low poiny for Bedard. The desert, jungle and coastline scenery was unforgettable, the food was exceptional and almost all the people were friendly and willing to try to help him. All it took was one group of shady characters to ruin it. While visiting a famous cemetery, Jardine del Humaya, near the city of Culiacan he was swarmed by a group of heavily-armed members of the Sinaloa Cartel, an organized crime syndicate of thieves and drug smugglers They accused him of being a reporter and took the SD digital storage cards from the five GoPro cameras he has mounted on his bike

“They confiscated all the SD cards but said that since I was a Canadian they’d let me buy my cameras back for all the money I had on me, so basically I got robbed,” he said. “I had about 500 U.S. dollars in pesos and one $20 U.S. bill.”

sheared off three kilometres into his trip heading south from Tuktoyaktuk

He chose the Ural because it was supposedly made for off-road riding, which he had no experience in, and it was built with old-school technology. In case of a breakdown Bedard thought would be easier to fix using simple, more readily-available parts. Unfortunately, the failures of the bike became an almost daily occurrence

The last straw was in Death Valley, Calif., when he stopped on a gravel road to take a photo of coyote. He put the bike into reverse and it got stuck in that gear and he was unable to fix it, forced to back up three miles to the highway, where the bike had to be towed for the fourth time Plagued by faulty brakes, clutches, U-joints and drive lines that cost him thousands of dollars to fix, at that point, one-and-a-half months and 8,800 km into the trip, Bedard decided to cut his losses

SUBMITTED PHOTO

During an aggressive interrogation, Bedard was asked where he was from and when he told them Vancouver the man said he had family in nearby Squamish, which creeped out Bedard even more. Fortunately he wasn’t physically harmed and the thieves left one of the two cards in the swivel camera he has mounted on the back of his bike. The card that was left was forward-facing so he has the entire robbery recorded

Crossing the Darien Gap between Panama and Colombia was virtually impossible. The Pan-American Highway ends in Yaviza, Panama, leaving only rough trails through jungle marshland and mountainous forests to connect to Turbo, Colombia. Bedard knew there was no way he’d get his loaded bike through so he parked the bike and hired a couple Kuna Indian guides to take him on an four-hour 100 km canoe/walking journey to Colombia and back again. He then flew with the bike from Panama City to Bogota and drove up to where he walked out a few days earlier to resume his ride

“The country that surprised me a lot was Colombia,” said Bedard. “I was expecting a third-world country but it has such fantastic infrastructure and the cities are extremely modern and clean. The people are fantastic and the food is fantastic. Back in the ‘90s the cartels had more of a grip but the army has done a good job stepping on them so that they realize bombing people and shooting people is bad for business.”

The Honda Africa Twin 1,000 cc bike Bedard is riding now is the second he’s had on his trip. He started out riding a Ural, a Russian-made adventure bike that came equipped with a sidecar made to resemble the bikes used for military purposes in the Second World War. He bought it new for $20,000 and it suffered the first of many breakdowns when a drive train bolt

He had the bike towed to a Nevada scrap dealer who used a hydraulic crusher to destroy it and bend it into a cube He recorded its final fate and watched with his video camera on record as the flattened gas tank burst into flames Under the name UralGuy he livestreamed the clip on Facebook and it went viral with 37,000 hits Losing his bike was a big financial hit and he questioned whether it was worth continuing his trip. He flew back to Vancouver and returned to Nevada with the Honda, which has since given him 144,000 kilometres of virtually trouble-free riding

“The Honda has been a fantastic machine where every day it surprises me how much tougher it is than I am, it just keeps going,” said Bedard

Now back in Canada, Bedard battled a snowstorm as he crossed into the Yukon Territory this past weekend and he plans to spend 14 days in quarantine drinking wine and watching Netflix while he waits out his fourth COVID isolation in a year He was on target to finish his ride last August if not for the pandemic and the delays it has caused. He saw the writing on the wall a year ago in March when he was traveling up the Eastern Seaboard of the United States and watched crowds of people not heeding warnings to avoid congregating. So he hurried to cross into Canada at Niagara Falls on March 17, the day before the border closed. He went into quarantine in Toronto and saw how fast the country was shutting down and decided to put the bike in storage and flew back to Vancouver for a three-week isolation

He’s hoping to get permission from the Northwest Territories government for an exemption that will allow him to get through the Dempster Highway from Whitehorse to Inuvik (133 km south of Tuktoyaktuk) and back before the spring breakup. The road has ferry crossings over the Mackenzie and Peel rivers and he hopes to be past those crossings before the ice chunks start to flow and ferry service is interrupted for three weeks or a month. Right now the road is passable because it is an ice road. If he can’t there and back in time, he’ll leave the bike in Whitehorse and finish off the trip later in the spring

RESPECT FIRST RESPONDERS

Local resident Cathy Fortin was right to follow her instincts when they were telling her something wasn’t right when she saw a Prince George RCMP officer confronting a person on the street, then arresting that person and putting them in the back of a police cruiser.

She was also well within her right to ask why the man was being arrested While some may say she should mind her own business, police officers are conducting the public’s business and should be willing to be as transparent as possible (without violating privacy rules or compromising an active investigation) about their actions.

It’s her timing that was the problem. There is a right way and a wrong way for civilians to approach working women and men in uniform

Whether it’s doctors, nurses, paramedics, police officers or firefighters, the right way is to wait until it appears safe for both yourself and them, then simply ask if now is a good time to talk.

The question provides the same level of courtesy everyone likes to receive while they are busy on the job, whether that uniform is as a grocery store employee or the city employee clearing ice from frozen drains.

The wrong way, especially for those in emergency response, is to walk up and demand to know what they’re doing and why they’re doing it.

During the tragic Econolodge fire last July, many people had their phones out taking pictures and video as the smoke

billowed out of the downtown motel. Unfortunately, one fellow decided he should take a stroll over to talk to a couple of firefighters as they were outfitting each other with safety equipment. Why? What could this person possibly have to say to those firefighters that was essential information they needed to have at that very second to help them with their jobs?

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Thanks, ice keeper

I would like to offer my thanks to the gentleman who maintains the ice at the outdoor ice rink on Southridge Avenue in College Heights.

He volunteers his time and his equipment to keep the ice in great condition when the winter weather allows

As a winter traveller who was anchored at home this year, like many others, the opportunity to take up skating and puck handling again was a much-appreciated activity that kept me occupied through the winter The efforts of this ice keeper are enjoyed by many people. On behalf of all of them, thank you very much.

Al Leier, Prince George New view on

addiction needed

I appreciate Neil Godbout’s recent editorial about the overdose crisis we have had in BC and Canada for the past number of years. I completely agree that it is a public health crisis.

every right - as all civilians do - to question the activity and conduct of an individual police officer But no civilians should do so in the heat of the moment.

In this case, we had our reservations to do a story. Fortin sent us a letter to the editor detailing her version of events but we didn’t want to publish a one-sided account. We asked Prince George RCMP to tell their side of the story, to explain that the officer was legally exercising his duties and that there is a process if residents feel those duties were not carried out properly.

So long as you are not obstructing officers or other emergency personnel, not putting yourself in harm’s way and are on public property, you have every right to film and take pictures of first responders at work.

If you don’t have a phone with you, take some notes of what’s happening, when, where, licence plates and other essential details. Follow up by calling or visiting the detachment or contact the RCMP Public Complaints Commission.

It is good for civilians to expect the highest conduct from women and men in uniform, to question when it appears they may be abusing their authority and to seek accountability when wrongdoing occurs.

Not only is it rude and disrespectful, that individual put himself in harm’s way for nothing.

Over the noise of the fire, the spraying water, the sirens and the emergency vehicles, what the firefighters said to the man couldn’t be heard but it was a brief chat and the individual turned around to return to the sidewalk.

In this recent police incident, Fortin has

It is not good to confront police officers or other emergency personnel in the middle of a stressful and potentially dangerous situation, demanding answers. In the most serious cases, that could lead to criminal charges for obstruction.

Please stay back and stay safe

Your questions and concerns are legitimate but they can wait.

- Editor-in-chief Neil Godbout

Chan was a son, brother, grandson, cousin, nephew, friend, and, most importantly, a human being.

I was present when he entered this world and I was there to help place his body in the crematorium, shut and lock the door, and push the button that started the cremation process. I stayed for a minute contemplating his brief life before I had to leave the room. In between the day he was born and that terrible second day, I was blessed to be his father.

I don’t have any answers as to why he started taking drugs. I have decided to let that question be. All I know is that I miss him terribly, every day, as do his other family members and friends.

More effectively dealing with this public health crisis is going to take incredible political will, lots of money, and a complete change in the way Canadians view drug addiction. I invite all of us to begin that

On July 5, 2020, my precious 26-year old son, Chandler, died, alone, from methamphetamine and fentanyl toxicity in downtown Calgary. I will never forget that day as an RCMP officer came to my home to tell me the news. Chan, as we called him, had struggled with drug use (primarily meth) for the past 5 or 6 years and had struggled with alcohol use for an additional 5 years. I had always thought this outcome -of hearing from a police officer about my son’s death -was possible, but it was still a shock when it happened. I do not wish that experience on any parent.

process, starting by being more compassionate to those who struggle with drug addition.

Paul Siakaluk, Prince George

City needs to check rail crossing

Back in the 1970s, Bill Vander Zalm was building his Fantasyland in Delta and was made to adhere to all the highway rules regarding access, etc He was ticked to say the least so in the mid-1980s when he became premier, he set about dismantling highways and privatized most of the operation (good or bad).

Then came Gordon Campbell, who sold B.C. Rail to CN Rail with a whole lot of concessions It was at this time that Campbell told British Columbians that any rail expansions (like the Dease Lake line) would be done by CN at their costs We pretty well know where that’s going. I mention this as I don’t know how much Campbell and his henchmen changed the CN Rules in CN’s favour

In 1990, I was an area manager for highways and covered the area around Prince George. CN sent us a letter advising that they were going to improve the ”Miworth Crossing” and the costs would be around $50,000. At that time, there was a section of

highways run by Ron Grant where I could check just who was senior at the crossing Believe it or not the highways were there before the railway and therefore we were senior and did not have to shoulder the costs That is not to say that the other 2 crossings are senior that would all need checking, it just points to the fact that the Miworth crossing was senior Who knows what route the road took to get out to that area? Hopefully Campbell didn’t give that away when he gave CN all those concessions There is a very good chance that the City of Prince George is not on the hook for those costs.

Terry Burgess, Prince George

Bear Lake could have housed plastics plant

As a resident, I was concerned about the article saying Bear Lake did not want the petrochemical plant.

If the plant would be built, it would bring more employment to our community and replace lost infrastructure when the last downturn for the forestry happened. I will not bury my head in the sand. There are concerns but when all the cards are on the table, everyone will see and reap the benefits.

H. Hall, Bear Lake

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

A man walks across the street to talk to two Prince George firefighters as they equip themselves to fight the Econolodge fire in July 2020.

Radical feminism comes in different forms

This month at College Heights Secondary School, students have put up a women’s history month board, featuring posters that commemorate influential and inspiring women. Some of the figures include Maya Angelou, Eleanor Rossevelt, and Mae C. Jemison.

These women were remarkable advocates for women’s rights and spectacularly resilient. It reminds us of their legacy and that of those who came before, including some of the less discussed inspirations Jane Austen, for instance, who aside from being a tremendous writer, was able to marvelously defy the perceived superficiality of the regency era women in her novels, with strong, opinionated heroines.

These small acts of defiance, all worked together to advocate for women’s rights,

and it is most certainly something to be proud of but it also begs the questions: where and when and how did these strong voices and empowering actions manage to term themselves as radical? Or are these celebrated women separate from radical feminists and radical feminism?

Radical feminism is an extreme branch of feminism seeking to entirely transform the structure of society in favour of women They believe society is already predisposed against women and inherently favours men. The ways in which radical feminists go about challenging this is, as

Writing in circles

Some of you may be familiar with theatre-in-the-round, which is a kind of performance space in which the stage is surrounded on all sides by the audience.

If you were from Ancient Greece, this sort of thing would be normal to you. But though we are well-accustomed to watching hockey in this way, for the contemporary audience this manner of presenting theatre may seem strange or off-putting. Maybe this is because theatre-in-the-round offers too many differing points of view Or rather, it creates a lot of points of view that the individual theatregoer, in his individual seat, does not get to experience

Most of our media, after all, is presented to us in one dimension and from one carefully-orchestrated perspective. There is usually, in a sense, a “correct” viewing experience. When you come to see a show at Theatre NorthWest, for example, every set piece, lighting effect, and movement is designed to be seen from the front of the stage – we have what is called a proscenium stage

At our shows you don’t have to wonder

TNW PASSAGES

SOLOMON GOUDSWARD

what the guy on the other side of the stage is seeing and whether you’re missing out on some important detail. But a theatrein-the-round performance has no front. No point of view is more “correct” than any other. At this point, you may be thinking I’m leading toward some kind of lesson in relativism, but bear with me. I’m really just trying to segue into an intriguing theatrical innovation I heard about the other day. For ease of discussion, I’ll call it mail-slot theatre.

No, mail-slot theatre is not some avant-garde theatrical genre you’ve never heard of. It’s a brand new approach to presenting live performances during a pandemic, pioneered by Japanese dance company Moonlight Mobile Theatre. If you pop that name into Google, you can see a short video of what I’m talking about, but

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Teach Psalm 23 in schools

To respond to the title of the article by Trudy Klassen (“Monarchy must adapt or die”), perhaps this country and its culture must repent or die.

The preamble to the constitution mentions the supremacy of God It was not referring to the pagan gods of nature but to the one true God of the Bible, expressed in the Bible as three persons with full participation in creation

Schools cannot effectively teach morals without religion. Schools today have a religion. It is hidden under the smock of science, cultural advancement, or evolved lore and does not work. A US court case

you may guess, through a more radical approach.

Radical feminism is said to have first come about in the 1960s, starting in the United States, and then the United Kingdom, and Australia. After the prior years of seemingly demure women, you can imagine the shock the world got at the voice women had somehow been able to uncover - only it was far more than just that.

Radical feminism, at the start, is commonly connected to the suffragette movement, originating in Manchester, England. It was a movement of so-called “wild women” who did anything and everythingfrom throwing themselves under carriages, to bombing the Parliament building - to get women the right to vote.

On the flip side, a modern day example of radical feminism would be Julie Bind-

el’s claim that marriage and feminism are entirely conflicting: that marriage strictly lays the heinous trap of “perpetrating male privilege.”

This is a tricky dichotomy. It would not be far off to say radical feminism emerged from a place of arguable necessity and has morphed into madness But to be sure, women being given the right to vote seemed mad enough in the beginning of the 20th century.

It would be a curious thing to know which female figures are remembered 100 years from

now Would a poster with Eva Green and her claim that high heels “aren’t feminist” hang upon the walls? Or will it be “wearing high heels is a part of woman’s armour,” the declaration by Grace Dent?

- Noor Zohdy is a Grade 11 student at College Heights Secondary School.

declared secular humanism to be a religion and that is what it is - the supremacy of man, especially the individuals creating their own reality.

The English monarchy to me is a teetering tree about to fall, or at least break apart limb by limb, and become a shadow of itself, like a broken, rotting cottonwood tree but this is only a reflection of its people. Man has no hope or future without the salvation of Jesus Christ. Once the Queen of England (and Canada) dies, I fear for the future of our country.

There is no good government without the honouring of God by its habitants, democracy included. Democracy cannot work without it. When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 and communism crumbled, at least

basically this is theatre-in-the-round with an anti-social twist.

The company created a performance space surrounded by a circular wall composed of individual cubicles. Audience members sit in the cubicles, isolated from one another, and watch the performance in the centre of the circle through a mail-slot. While I’m not one to encourage peering through letterbox slots in general, I was struck by the simple ingenuity of this idea. Not only does it offer a safe way for people to watch a performance, it also presents a strange new kind of physical engagement with art.

Like the traditional theatre-in-the-round, this set-up fosters a multitude of perspectives. But what is especially novel here is that because of the size of the opening through which the audience watches, the audience not only cannot see each other, they also cannot view every aspect of the performance at one time They must move their bodies in order to continually reframe the performance they are watching In a limited way, they get to choose their own perspective from a set of options that shifts as dancers move around the centre

of the circle. This is a feature of the design rather than a flaw It could be avoided by substituting plexiglass for opaque walls with tiny slots. But this would make for a much less intimate and unique experience. The audience members would be seen –not only by the performers but by each other.

I think part of the allure of mail-slot theatre is the idea of seeing while remaining unseen. Isn’t this the position of the writer, who presents their observations, hidden behind their written voice or like the playwright, invisible behind actors playing out their text on a stage?

Here at Theatre NorthWest, we love hearing about different ways theatre is being made accessible around the world in spite of life’s limitations and obstacles. For now I’ll leave you with some words from G.K. Chesterton: “art is limitation.”

The photographer knows that beauty is created through framing, in limiting what is seen. The stage director knows that what is not seen can mean as much as what is. And this writer knows that if he went on forever, no one would bother to read his Citizen column.

for a while, a Christian couple was asked by the ministry of education in Russia to prepare a morals class curriculum in all the state schools - NOT to teach Christianity, just the Bible, and it worked very effectively. I saw the testimony on 100 Huntley Street, a couple of decades ago by the lady, guest on the show, who was likely born in the former USSR I cannot find references online.

Since School District 57 is asking the public how to shape future school curriculum, why not do one simple thing? Include Psalm 23 and other biblical literature in addition to Shakespeare, which my stepson is doing in an English 11 class right now Psalm 23 reads like a poem and is short. This psalm was removed from reading

textbooks in public schools in the 1960s, probably from a Grade 3 or 4 textbook Psalm 23 reads best in the King James Version, first published in 1611. It was written shortly after Shakespeare’s works. I find KJV language much easier to understand than Shakespeare. The classic “thees” and “thous” in the King James Bible were not in the everyday language at the time of authorship but were purposely differentiated for accuracy It gives greater clarity and economy of words so the singular and plurals can are indicated each time needing the context. New Bible translators use the trick to reverse the plurality and change the interpretation to their own interpretation.

Guyle Nunweiler, Prince George

Towards a full glass of water GUEST

For us on this World Water Day (March 22), our glass is half full. It hasn’t been an easy year, but one of the few reprieves for many of us during the pandemic has been a chance to go out into nature more. It has reinforced our appreciation and value of clean water and healthy ecosystems.

At this time of the year, the snow is melting, summer camping and fishing plans are being hatched, and seeds are being watered as starters for future gardens This is also the time of year when more than 300 million salmon smolts are making their way through the Skeena watershed to the estuary where they will pause before embarking on their three to five year saltwater journey Many millions more are doing the same down the mighty Fraser River.

On the other hand, our glass is half empty. We’re worried about water flows and droughts that may come from climate change this year. We’re worried about the impacts from the Big Bar landslide into

COLUMN BEV SELLARS

the Fraser River that prevented so many salmon from spawning further north.

We’re also worried about all the mining waste contaminating our watersheds The thing about this is we can prevent it. It is hard to stop a landslide; it is possible to stop a waste discharge pipe into the Fraser River or Quesnel Lake.

For more than six months of the year, Taseko Metals’ large Gibraltar copper mine dumps 24 million litres of untreated wastewater into the Fraser River every day The Xat’sull First Nation successfully appealed their discharge permit in 2005 and stopped the contamination. But the victory only lasted a year and British Columbia has continuously approved this pollution from Taseko’s mine waste dumps. This month, the T ilhqot’in National Government is

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Overdose editorial off-base

Neil Godbout’s article Overdoses A Public Health Crisis in your March 11, 2021, reads, at first, like a real call for changing the way we look at addiction, but alas, it rings hollowly inside two brackets near the end of the article: (except for trafficking, of course).

The brackets appear within a passage where Godbout says Dr Bonnie Harvey (of COVID-19 media fame) has called for the “decriminalization of illicit narcotics to take away the law enforcement component (except for trafficking of course) and focus on individual sufferers from a health-care perspective.”

Put in other words, Godbout says we should treat an individual’s addiction to illicit narcotics as a health issue but make supplying them the addictive material they desperately want a criminal offence. Now we know who to blame

The problem isn’t those poor addicts but those nasty, evil drug dealers. Yes, let’s blame them instead of government policies that restrict an individual’s access to drugs

Earlier, Godbout states, “Overdose deaths are as traumatic for family, friends and health care professionals as COVID-19 deaths.”

Really?

I don’t think so and Godbout reveals he doesn’t think so either, by pointing out we should remember that some overdoses are real people, like former Spruce Kings captain Chad Staley, and not “junkies who deserve most or all of the blame for their own personal demise.”

I note, from an article on the next page in the paper, that a new arena in the city has been named the Chad Staley Memorial

taking their challenge of the discharge permit to a B.C. Environmental Appeal Board hearing

After the nightmare of the Mount Polley mine disaster in 2014 dumping 24 million cubic metres of mine waste into Quesnel Lake, Hazeltine Creek and other area waterways, the company, Imperial Metals, was never fined or charged or penalized for the disaster In fact, they received permits to pollute instead The company can discharge wastewater into the world’s deepest fjord lake. They have been repeatedly out of compliance with their permit.

Local residents formed the Concerned Citizens of Quesnel Lake (CCQL) after the mining disaster and are currently appealing Mount Polley’s attempts to permanently dump into the lake. They are likely to appear before the BC Environmental Appeal Board before the summer.

The BC Mining Law Reform Network recently released a map of metal and coal mine sites throughout British Columbia. It found that 116 sites are contaminating, or potentially contaminating the surrounding

environment, with 55 of the sites lacking sufficient information to assess pollution risk.

We do know that mining in B.C. is contaminating water and fish – with serious ongoing risks from tailings dam failures, leaks, and toxin releases. We want our rivers to remain wild and thriving. We must do what we can to reduce threats to the wild salmon that have sustained our communities and ecosystems for generations. We want our kids and grandkids to have full glasses of clean drinking water to enjoy with their wild salmon now and into the future. There are many things we can do to better protect the health of our rivers Stopping British Columbia from permitting mine pollution into our waterways is one of those.

- Bev Sellars is a senior leader of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative and a former councillor and chief of the Xat’sull (Soda Creek) First Nation in Williams Lake. Nikki Skuce is directior of the Northern Confluence Initiative and co-founder of the BC Mining Law Reform Network.

Arena in Staley’s honor. Godbout’s attempt to “humanize” drug addiction is laughably like the B.C. government’s media campaign, StopOverdoseBC. ca, which cleverly tries to shift responsibility for formulating drug policy from the government, where it belongs, to the public with its calls to action: People who use drugs are real people. Get involved. Get informed. Get help. Backing this call up is a series of posters featuring immaculately coifed “white” people, a woman, for example, labelled as “Sister, Daughter, Drug User, Friend.”

Can you imagine the uproar if, instead, they pictured some beat up, toothless, homeless indigenous woman? Yet, the truth is, drug addiction affects a far greater proportion of the First Nations community than it does the Caucasian. Many addicts don’t look like a poster child, since they have to spend every cent they can raise and steal to support their habit.

Godbout further attempts to humanize addiction by suggesting we are all nearer the “guilty pleasure” that can become a “life-altering obsession” than we’d like to admit by asking if we could give up social media, cell phones (a bit too extreme), alcohol, coffee, sweets and pornography

I’m sure his omission of tobacco was a simple oversight but keep in mind government supplied cigarettes kill an estimated 6,000 British Columbians annually, while COVID-19 (according to figures supplied by Godbout) has killed 1,376 and drug overdoses 1,726 in roughly the same time frame.

I don’t smoke but among the items Godbout lists, I must admit I have a sweet tooth.

And, while many are decrying the dangers of sugar, I don’t think anyone is seriously recommending we ban the stuff

I may not be addicted to something but government policy on drug access is still affecting me. The day this article appeared; I was at Central Interior Native Health with a good friend dealing with a crystal meth (side) problem.

My friend got herself into a heroin/side habit after her doctor simply cut her off from the OxyContin she had been prescribed for chronic pain. Yes, the medical system creates opioid addicts and then simply cuts them off. Now that a program to make heroin available is underway in Prince George, I asked if the legalization of crystal meth was not far behind. That’s not likely, the doctor said, because crystal meth is a poison. Say, what, says I? Tobacco and alcohol are poisons, aren’t they? Yes, she replied, in a way, but crystal meth causes serious damage.

And thus, we get to the irrational approach to drug use and drug availability in our society We reserve the right to limit access to others a substance we deem harmful to them. And this is what we need to change if we want to stem the tide of overdose deaths and create a truly free society

After decades of being illegal, marijuana is available to Canadians and the many positive benefits of the chemical compounds found in pot are still being explored.

LSD, dumped in the “sin bin” without any research to justify it, is making a comeback in mental health treatment. Crystal meth may not prove to be that helpful but I suspect there are far more people relying on it to give them the energy boost to get them through their workday than we realize.

Imagine a Canada where all drugs were legal and where big pharma and smaller companies were allowed to develop drugs for all purposes from recreational to

medicinal and in between In a way, that’s hard for me because I can’t help look at the huge number of people puffing away on cigarettes (and now vapes) in Prince George and wishing it weren’t so, but I look to my belief in personal freedom to allow others to live and die as they choose. And, there’d be one other substantial benefit of such a society - the need to name arenas for drug overdose victims would be substantially reduced.

James Miller, Prince George

Tiny homes idea not the best

Having read Ted Clarke’s article in the March 18th issue of the Citizen, I can only shake my head

It would appear that Mary MacDonald’s solution for the homeless is to throw money at them in huge quantities. Granted we do have a problem with the homeless and providing housing for them, but rather than spending outrageous sums of money in these tiny homes perhaps an apartment complex would be more fitting. Maybe then, they could learn the social responsibilities of having something to care for and be responsible for with much less risk of having the investment destroyed.

A communal area and garden area can also be incorporated down the road if it appears to be a viable project All of this, I suspect can be done in a much more compact space and probably at a greatly reduced price from the tiny home concept. Why would you give a Ferrari to a person who hasn’t mastered even the rudiments of operating a pedal bike?

Baby steps are required, not one giant leap for mankind

Bob Stewart, Prince George

Greed is the real root of all evil

Larry Richards is a friend of mine from high school who has gone on to become a very popular speaker among conservative Catholics in North America. I watched one of his social media posts recently and he made a point that few would disagree with, but it’s a message that many may not like. Larry pointed out that, according to Christian scripture, the only thing that damns us to hell is to neglect our neighbour in need. There is nothing more important than feeding the hungry. For some reason, this is seen as a leftist, social justice warrior issue. Larry made his point primarily for those who believe in eternal damnation; he is trying to keep them from hellfire.

There are few religions or social philosophies that do not prioritize taking care of the poor Why then is this such an issue all over the world? How is it possible that so many have missed this vital point? How

LESSONS IN LEARNING

GERRY CHIDIAC

could a person who professes to be Christian support political and economic policies that result in a world where over 700 million people live on less than two dollars a day? Jesus could not have been more blunt in stating that this is not acceptable.

The issue is not money We all need money to survive and money is a fair reward for our contribution to the good of society

When we provide valuable service, we get paid. When people provide us with the same, they get paid as well. We all pay taxes to develop and maintain an infrastructure and support our governments. This creates a society where everyone benefits.

Expanding on this idea, former American vice president Hubert Humphrey said:

“The moral test of government is how that

government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life - the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”

We often say that money is the root of all evil It is not. Money allows us to do a tremendous amount of good in the world. It allows industry to thrive, it allows us to provide for our families, and it allows us to invest and to spend as we choose. The issue is not money, it is greed.

Greed is prioritizing profit over the well-being of our neighbour It is not paying a just wage or even any wage. It is forcing people to work in unsafe conditions. It is abusing the legal system so as not to be held accountable for our crimes.

Perhaps Larry’s statement seems foreign to us because we like to absolve people of their wrongdoing if they have wealth and power. We simply ignore it, thus creating a culture of impunity

We often forget that industrialists on both side of the Atlantic gladly invested

in Adolf Hitler’s regime. Many shared in his anti-Semitic rhetoric. Companies that exist to this day exploited the slave labour of the concentration camps and even performed medical experiments on human beings. There are companies that ran factories in both Germany and North America during the Second World War, profiting from mutual destruction and death. Yet we do not speak of this and I dare not name names in a public forum

Today we see corporations exploiting weak governments. We see limited worker rights and an absence of environmental regulations in in many places This results in huge short-term profits for stockholders, and devastation, poverty and suffering for the citizens of exploited countries. Yet, we seem so surprised when people flee their homes and ask to cross our borders.

My friend Larry’s message may not make sense to everyone. Maybe there is no such thing as eternal damnation But by refusing to speak up for our neighbours, we may well be creating our own hell.

Spewing hate easier than problem solving

On a March 18, 2020, a reporter asked “Do you think using the term ‘Chinese virus’ puts Asian Americans at risk, that people might target them?” and Donald Trump answered: “Not at all. I think they probably would agree with it, 100 per cent.”

Based on his answer, I suspect the ex-president didn’t understand the question. He subsequently spent a great deal of time labeling SARS COVID-19 as the “China Virus” or the “Kung flu.” And each time he used the term at his ongoing and never-ending rallies, the crowd went wild.

He is still at it. In a recent press release in which he claims to be the only one responsible for the vaccine, he still uses the term “China Virus.” In interviews this past week he defended the assertion. Is this all part of his playbook?

I have said this before but it seems the entire Republican Party, as lead by the Donald, is using the movie The American President as a script for dealing with the United States. Or perhaps in writing the movie Aaron Sorkin just got to the truth of the Republicans.

In the movie, President Shepherd (Michael Douglas) blasts his opponent Bob Rumson (Richard Dreyfuss) saying: “We

AS I SEE IT TODD WHITCOMBE

have serious problems to solve, and we need serious people to solve them. And whatever your particular problem is, I promise you Bob Rumson is not the least bit interested in solving it. He is interested in two things, and two things only: making you afraid of it, and telling you who’s to blame for it.”

Substitute the Donald in for Rumson and it is a pretty accurate picture of the past four years Climate change? It’s a leftwing hoax, yells the Donald. Racism? The protesters are to blame, says the Donald. Faltering economy? It is all China’s fault, proclaims the Donald.

The list of issues ducked, dodged, and dismissed is long. And his constant heckling of anyone trying to do the right thing – such as prevent the loss of lives by simple public health measures like wearing a mask – gave permission to his followers to do the same.

Calling COVID-19, the “China Virus” has led to an increase in hate crimes and harassment of Chinese citizens in the United

States and even in Canada It is churning up our underlying xenophobia. Which brings us to Soon Chung Park (74), Suncha Kim (69), Yong Ae Yue (63), Paul Andre Michels (54), Hyun Jung Grant (51), Xiaojie Tan (49), and Delaina Ashley Yaun (33), who were all killed in a mass shooting involving three establishments in Atlanta Elicias R. Hernandez-Ortiz was seriously injured in the rampage The perpetrator, Robert Aaron Long (21), was arrested by police on his way to Florida where he intended to continue shooting. However, you want to frame it (Police Captain Jay Baker said: “He was kind of at the end of his rope. Yesterday was a really bad day for him and this is what he did.”), the crime is a tragedy and definitely targeted Asian women. Six of the eight dead This is the most visible and public attack on Asian-Americans in the last year but it is by no means the only attack The number of reported incidences of harassment and assault in the United States has ballooned to over 4,000 reported since the COVID-19 pandemic began. On a per capita basis, things are worse in Canada. Would these hate crimes have occurred without the pandemic? Not likely Does the rambling blame culture of the Republicans fuel hate crimes? Yes. After all, if you

keep telling people who’s to blame, they will eventually take what they perceive as “justice” into their own hands.

This is true on all sides of the racial divides. For example, the Black Lives Matter protests would never have occurred without systemic racism. When our justice systems failed to address the issue, people did so more directly

And it is not just an American issue. Persecution exists in every country around the world Whether it is the Rohingya in Myanmar, the Weigers in China, the Rwandan genocide, or the treatment of First Nations people across Canada, there is always fear of the “other.”

Xenophobia runs deep in our character It is with our better angels we must fight the temptation to blame others for all our ills simply because “they” are different from “us.” I have said this before but I will say it again – a person is a person is a person regardless of colour, race, ethnicity, gender, sex, sexual orientation, age, or political affiliations. Everyone deserves respect.

And the last thing any political leader – be it the mayor of a small town or the President of the United States – should do is to make people afraid and tell them who’s to blame for it.

HORO SC OPES &P UZ

3. Lunar events 4. Balm

5. Mr. Ed’s fodder 6. “Long, Long ____”

7. Temporary relief

8. Smacks, as a fly 9. Deal

10. Horrible monster

11. 11th grader

19. Swimmer’s protection

21. Regard

23. Fair-haired 24. Lenten Wednesday

ACROSS 1. Summer beverages 5. Rowboat accessory

Location

Certain mineral

Vital statistic

Minimum 15. Shopper’s haven 16. Peak

Unit of farmland

18. Green fruits 20. Decaying 22. Garden vegetable

23. Infants’ aprons 24. Paid notices 26. Cast of characters 28. Fitness club 31. “Runaround ____” 32. Verify 33. Hem’s partner

“For a jolly ”

Passenger vessel 36. Nocturnal bird 37. Colored 38. Scramble (for) 40. “____ Pulver” (film) 43. Teapot

Depressed

Basker’s desire 49. Toddler’s bed 50. Annoying insect 51. Previous to, in verse

Seasoning

Eternities

Moisture

Positive responses

DOWN 1. Shells for a shotgun 2. Control knob

PUZZLE NO. 810

HOWTO PLAY:

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

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

25. Rightful

27. Familiarized

28. Foot-shaped device

29. Maul

30. Punching tool

37. Suggests

39. Tingly

40. Threshold

41. Taboo

42. Kind of dive

43. Understood

44. Italian money, once

45. and flows

48. “You My Love”

CL ASSIF IEDS

BRIAN AUSTIN PRIESTON

December 11, 1970

March 28, 2002

Nineteen years ago we lost you. Sometimes it still feels like yesterday. Forever in our hearts and our minds.

We love and miss you. Love always your family

Celebrate the lives of loved ones with your stories, photographs and tributes

In memoriam of James (Jim) Humphreys 1940 - 2011

Jim lived his life to the fullest. He loved being on the river, logging, traveling, and doing anything else that caught his interest. He was fortunate to have met his “cook” Dianne early on in life, and together they built a home in Dome Creek to raise their family. He loved his grandkids more than anything - they were his VIP’s. He was always challenging them to try new things like running the machinery, driving the ranger or helping with the potato harvest. He believed they could do anything! Jim had a special gift for connecting with people, made evident by all the friends and family that attended his funeral. He was kind, generous, fun, thoughtful, loving, and had a crazy sense of humour. He was a character! Whether you knew him as Jim, James, Grandpa Mac, Uncle, or Dad, he was a special man and is still dearly missed 10 years later.

Wood,Catherine

September5,1923-March11,2021

Catherinepassedaway,age97,onMarch11,2021.She issurvivedbyLindaandHarold,fourgrandchildren (Terry/Erin,Tracy/Alan,Kristina,Mylee/Darren)andfive greatgrandchildren(Amelia,Max,Sophie,Timothy& Bohdi),aswellasmanyniecesandnephews.Catherine ispredeceasedbyherhusbandWalteranddaughter Carol.WewouldliketothankDr.Hillhouseandthestaff atJubileeLodgefortakingwonderfulcareofCatherine. MomwillbelaidtorestwithdadinVictoriathissummer.

It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden loss of our dear Kayla.

She was born in Edmonton, Alberta on October 8, 1984, and passed away on Pender Island, BC on March 13, 2021.

Beloved Mother of Kaige Tkachuk, Katelyn Serol, and Kain Serol.

Loving Daughter of Tammy Martin and her stepfather David.

Dear Sister of Nigel Tkachuk, and Treava Went. Kayla will be dearly missed by her many relatives and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, etc., please feel free to donate to the Canadian Mental Health Society in Kayla’s name.

Online condolences may be offered at www.hwwallacecbc.com

Bill Geiger

September 11, 1943February 28, 2021

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of an amazing husband, father and grandfather, Bill Geiger.

1927 -2021

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Lillian. Lillian was born on December 29, 1927 at Eckville, Alberta and passed away March 8th 2021 at Two Rivers Seniors Home where she was living at the time of her death. Her passing has created a deep empty space in the hearts of her two sons; Darrel, Jack (Sandy) and daughter Karen (Ross), numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Peter and one grandson. Lillian was an amazing wife, mother and grandmother. The family would like to thank Two Rivers Seniors Home for all the care and support and a special thank you to Ruth and Bonnie for all their help. As per her wishes there will be no funeral.

Aug 4, 1952Mar 7, 2021

In loving memory of Calvin James Bogh, who passed away due to a long battle with many health issues.

Calvin was predeceased by his parents James & Irene Bogh. He is survived by his siblings Karen (Darrell), Faye (Norm), Brian, and Maureen (John).

Calvin enjoyed woodworking, building models, bowling and being part of the Special Olympics. He also loved fishing and being outdoors. It’s also difficult for us to see a pop can on the side of the road and not think of him. Calvin was quick to laugh, tease and come up with some goofy nicknames for his friends and family. Calvin will be missed by so many.

A special thanks goes out to his cousin Sharon for staying in touch with him, as well as Peter, his boss and good friend. Thank you as well to the many nurses in the Prince George Hospital who took such good care of him in the last 2 months. Unfortunately due to the current restrictions, there will be no service at this time. We may hold a memorial at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Kidney Foundation or the Canadian Diabetes Association.

Obituaries

In Memoriam

LILLIAN ELSIE NEIL

LINDA HARTSHORNE

Calvin James Bogh

Tkachuk, Kayla Dawn

Left to celebrate his life are his loving wife Cris, sons Regan (Melanie) and David, and grandchildren Travis, Emily, Brandon and Olivia.

PHYLLIS DUNBAR PIDCOCK

Feb 14, 1924Feb 28, 2021

Phyllis Dunbar (Cant) Pidcock was born on February 14, 1924 in Dundee Scotland. She passed away peacefully on February 28, 2021 with her family at her side in the Nanaimo General Hospital shortly after celebrating her 97th birthday on Valentine’s Day. She was predeceased by her husband of 70 years, Thomas Harvey Pidcock in 2016.

Phyllis is survived by her children, Brian, of Vancouver, Bonnie (Brian) Chappell of Rossland and Leslie of Calgary; her seven grandchildren; Tiffany (Aaron) Withington, Philippa (Greg Harder) Chappell, Sarah and Valerie Rose (Rosie) Pidcock, Alexandra, Jennifer and Andrew (Alexandra Annibale) Gibson and her four greatgrandchildren; Emiri, Leilani and Boden Harder, and Kiri Withington.

Phyllis grew up in Scotland with 6 brothers and sisters. During WWII she was engaged in war work inspecting jerry cans while spending her time off with her best friend Dot Coles at the ice skating arena. It’s there that she met a handsome young NCO in the RCAF who was on leave from his duties in Iceland. Tom and Phyllis were married on Aug 11, 1945 in Paignton, England just before Tom was demobbed and transported back to Canada to Courtenay, BC. Phyllis joined him a year later, as one of the many war-brides who came to Canada.

Tom and Phyl moved from Courtenay to Vancouver while Tom attended UBC and then to Port Alberni where he was a teacher and principal and Phyl was a homemaker, raising their three children. She volunteered in those years, and was involved in the Girl Guide movement as a Brown Owl and eventually District Commissioner. She was also President of the PTA at a number of schools that her children attended. In 1968, following their move to Prince George, she resumed her formal education as a “mature” student in the newly formed College of New Caledonia. After completing teacher training, she taught at College Heights Elementary for 17 years until her retirement in 1984. She was an enthusiastic but stern teacher who believed that each of her students could (and would!) reach their potential if the bar was set high enough and they were given enough encouragement.

Tom and Phyl were dedicated square dancers. They joined their first club in 1952 and continued to dance, often 2 or 3 times a week. They travelled to many national and international square dance gatherings and spent more than 60 years di-si-do-ing, making friends, keeping fit and having fun.

Phyl was inordinately proud of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She always maintained that they were her legacy. She was never happier than when attending another of her children or grandchildren’s graduations or performances. She took pride in each new degree received, or performance given, or race completed and she surrounded herself with many photos of these, her greatest accomplishments.

In 1989, she and Tom built their dream home on the waterfront in Parksville, BC where they had 25 very happy years together. Tom and Phyl moved into the Gardens at Qualicum Beach in 2015 and after Tom passed away, she continued to live independently in her own condominium. Tom and Phyl are now together again.

George Edward Hall

Jan 26, 1930Feb 3, 2021

HALL, George Edward Born in Polworth Saskatchewan January 26th, 1930. Passed away on February 3rd, 2021 at the age of 91, of a cerebral hemorrhage. Survived by his wife Willa Marguerite (nee Shaw) of 69 years, his brother Tom Hall, and his sons and daughters, Rick, Betty, Len, Jerry, Tricia. Grandchildren: Lyn, Dave, Kevin, Bronwyn, Abbigael, Rachel, Grace and Sarah. Great-grandchildren: Audrey, Clair, Wesley, Rebecca and Nathaniel. George was very widely respected and known to be impeccably honest, hard working and a gentleman. He grew up in the Cariboo settling in Hixon with his wife and raised their 5 children. After working as a faller for a number of years he started GE Hall Logging Ltd. Which grew to be a sizeable company, operatinging mostly in BC, and after a couple of years, in Alberta. He was a great father and wonderful husband. Always taking the big picture perspective helped him be a strong and loving leader of the family, graciously helping his family wherever needed. They lived in Mackenzie and Prince George for many years, then later settled in Kelowna, and then Misson BC; but Prince George was always home. He and Willa travelled in their retirement years, especially enjoying Mesa, Arizona. He is greatly missed, he was a great example to all who knew him. Due to pandemic there will be no public memorial service.

Judith Orline Zandberg (née Jorgensen)

May 15, 1943March 17, 2021

It is with deep sadness that we share the news that our dear wife and mother Judith Orline Zandberg passed away peacefully in her sleep in Abbotsford, BC on March 17, 2021 at 77 years old. Judy was born in Vancouver, BC in 1943 and graduated from Maple Ridge High School. She married Karl in 1963 and raised her family in the northern city of Prince George, BC. Karl and Judy moved to Abbotsford, BC in 1995 to enjoy their retirement years.

Judy is survived by her husband Karl; her children Linda (Scott) Roux, Diana (Danièle) Zandberg and Jason (Roselyn) Zandberg; her grandchildren Jackson, Chloe and Ellie; her sister Marlynn (Ken) Hardwick and her brother Douglas (Kate) Jorgensen; many brothers/sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews; and numerous dear friends. She was predeceased by her parents Lawrence and Orline Jorgensen and her brother Melvyn Jorgensen.

Judy was a beloved wife, a loving mother, a dear sister, and a good friend to many and she touched so many people’s lives throughout her 77 years with us. She was an avid and skilled sewer who, in her younger years, was known for the beautiful Raggedy Anne and Andy doll sets that she sewed. In her later years, she branched into sewing stuffed animals and other beautiful fabric crafts.

Judy was a kind woman who loved the winter, enjoyed thrifting, had a knack for remembering everyone’s birthdays, could play solitaire for hours on end, and was fascinated with the afterlife. She had a big heart and was always there to help her family or a friend or neighbour. We will miss her terribly.

Due to COVID-19, the family will not be holding a funeral, a celebration of Judy’s life will be organized later this year. Friends and family are encouraged to share their condolences, memories and photos of Judy on a Facebook remembrance site that her family created at www.facebook.com/groups/JudyZandberg

David Robin Gibson

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Robin Gibson, long-time resident of Dawson Creek, British Columbia, on Monday, February 22, 2021 at the age of 65 years. Robin was awell-known member of the community.Hebecame anoted writer of poetry,musings, and blog posts on the inter net. He published several articles for the Daily Mirror.Robin was aproud supporter of the arts and was known to encourage other up and coming artists along with rocking amean air guitar.Robin was a man of great faith and enjoyed celebrating God with many people. Prior to moving to Dawson Creek, Robin lived in Prince George for many years. While there, he was amember of the Alano Society.Robin was predeceased by his parents and is survived by his three siblings (Jane, Peter, Kathleen) and their families. Robin is greatly missed by his close friends and spirit family.May your words flow freely on your next jour ney

To read some remembrances and view his service, please visit Reynars Funeral Home at www.reynars.com.

Very Respectfully,Reynars Funeral Home &Crematorium

BORNHOLDT, RICHARD (DICK) WILLIAM

Nov 3, 1940Mar 15, 2021

It is with deep sadness we announce the peaceful passing of Richard (Dick) William Bornholdt of Salmon Arm, BC, formerly of Prince George, BC, at his home on March 15, 2021 at the age of 80. Dick was born November 3, 1940 in Weyburn, SK. He will be sadly missed by his wife, JoAnne, children and their spouses Darla (Kim), Donna (Blair), Bill (Heather), Leslie (Nicholas); grandchildren and their spouses Brandis (Paul), Lucas (Nichole), Amanda (Keenan), Robert (Courtenay), Nicholas, Noah, & Christopher; great-grandchildren Emma, Londyn, Kirk, Paxton and Maddox.

Dick also leaves behind his sister Margaret (Jack) Hill, JoAnne’s brothers Newton (Greta), Clayton (Francys), mother of his three children Iris, his lifelong friend Sam, many nieces, nephews, extended family members, relatives, and numerous friends.

Dick is predeceased by his granddaughter Sarah, son Mickey, father and mother Bill and Margaret, his sister Jean and her husband Nelson Hay, brother Ross (Doc), JoAnne’s siblings Curtis, Garry and Gayle.

Dick owned and operated Central Interior Disposal in Prince George for many years and was a strong advocate for small business owners. His ties in the community with like-minded individuals was instrumental in forming lifelong friendships. Dick and JoAnne took on new ventures after he sold his business to operate a resort in Blind Bay, BC. After retirement, he and JoAnne relocated to Salmon Arm where he found a love of collecting and restoring antique vehicles and farm equipment. He was a member of the Shuswap Pioneer Collectors Club where more friendships formed.

Dick was a very hard worker, a trait passed on to him by his parents at a very young age and that he, in turn, passed on to his own children. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought him immense pleasure and he always had a smile on his face when he was with them. His strong political views could always prompt discussion with those around him and his ability to make a joke and have a laugh was always there. His persistent, determined nature is what provided him his many successes in life and his willingness to help those in need was ever-present.

If Dick’s life could be summed up in a song, it would be Frank Sinatra’s “I Did It My Way”; and boy, he sure did. We wouldn’t have it any other way! He was loved dearly and will be missed by many.

Due to Covid-19 there will be no service at this time. There will be a gathering at a later date to say goodbye to this strong, proud man who touched all our lives.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in memory of Mr. Dick to BC Children’s Hospital or charity of your choice. BC Children’s Hospital 938 W 28th Ave. Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4 www.bcchf.ca

As

1949 - 2021 Tab Jakonen

Tab passed away peacefully with his daughters Theresa and Lisa by his side.

When I think about Tabs happiest moments, I think of the moments like when we were driving back from Hyder, Alaska and he pulled over on the side of the highway, cranked Trooper’s Pretty Lady and got my mom out of the car to slow dance, or his smile when he walked each of his daughters down the aisle on their wedding days, the pure excitement and joy when Shane gave him his leather riding jacket, like the face of a child on Christmas morning, or seeing how happy he was when Shane let him ride his brand new Harley, it was the spark he needed to go out and get his own motorcycle again. And I’m glad he did, he loved his motorcycle!

One of the last few joys he had in his life was spending time with his good friend Whiskey, a riding partner, a drinking buddy, and a confidant. Whiskey was always available to hang out and Tab spent many hours in Whiskey’s shop working on projects or just talking, Tab loved this.

Tab will be remembered as a kind soul that loved his family very much.

Tab loved and admired his brother, Jussi and would always talk about him with so much pride. But most of all Tab loved his wife Carolyn, they were a great couple, they are together in heaven now dancing forever.

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Predeceased by his mother Elsa, Father Aulis and the love of his life Carolyn Kendall.

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NativeHealing

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But he was about so much more than that. He was kind to his family and his friends. He loved music especially Roy Orbison and The Traveling Wilburys, he always had something playing on the stereo. He loved walking into the forest and cutting down a Christmas tree with his grandchildren, he loved spending lunch hours with his daughter Lisa, everyday and would make the yummiest sandwiches. He loved to make homemade pizzas for his family. He loved working with his hands, a carpenter by trade since the age of 21, he would build little wooden toolboxes and Barbie picnic tables for his grandchildren. And of course, there were the funny little things, Tab could always be seen picking up the smallest fluff off the floor.

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He leaves behind his brother Jussi Jakonen and sister-in-law Janie Moran, his daughter Lisa Giesinger, son in law Shane Giesinger, daughter Theresa DaSilva, son Donald Davidson, son Brad Smith daughter in law Michelle Smith, son Christopher Smith daughter in law Judy Gregg, daughter Danielle Smith, son in law Rick Mortimer,grandchildren; Julian, Jennifer, Vince, Summer, Darrin Billy Joe, Tyrone, Rochelle, Erin, Dillon, Eric, Brandi, Darius, Daphne, Charise and Riley. Great grandchildren; Darci, Dreden, Kieryn, Marshall, Merseus, Madison, Casper, Cedric, Nicole and great, great grandchild Rowen.

RIP Tab, We love you, have fun with Mom.

Millar prog compa

GAIL COLEBANK

2x98.8

PGC002158

COLEBANK,GordenR. February13,1931-March11,2021

ThefamilyofGordenColebankisdeeplysaddenedbyhis suddenpassingonMarch11,2021.

HewaspredeceasedbyhiswifeDorisin2013andhis sonScottin1997.

GordenwasbornonFebruary13,1931inHixonB.C.He wasraisedintheWillowRiverareas,andfromayoung agedevelopedapassionfortheoutdoors.HewasalongtimememberoftheB.C.andAlbertaTrapper’s Associationandwaswellknownforhismanufacturing andsalesofhistrappingwares.

AsanadultGordenmovedtoPrinceGeorgeandmarried DorisAlexy.Theyhadthreesonsandonedaughter, elevengrandchildren,sixgreatgrandchildrenandtwo morearrivingthisspring.

GordenmadehishomeintheHartarea.Hecouldoftenbe foundat"Joey’sSeafoodRestaurant"whichwashis favouriteplacetodine.Gordenandhiswifewereoneof theoriginal12membersofthe"HartHighlandSkiHill". ShortlybeforehisretirementfromPGSawmillGordencoownedanddevelopedwhatisnowknownas"Salmon ValleyResort".

BeingbornonFridaythe13th(1931)hewasanythingbut unlucky.Hisnicknamewas"LuckyPants".Hewasable tocatchfishwhentherewasnofishandwasabletolook downinthegrassandfindfourandfiveleafclovers.Papa wasoverlyexcitedforhis90thbirthday.Unfortunately, duetoCOVIDwecouldnothavethebigpartyhe deservedbuthedidappreciateallthecards,phonecalls andhundredsoflikesandmessagesonFacebook.He wasextremelyhappy,andhereadthemall. ACelebrationofLifewillbeheldlater. WeloveyouDad.Tillwemeetagain.

GordenisSurvivedbyhisChildren: Terry(Gail),Kelly,Lyndsy(Chris)

Grandchildren: Ambra(Scott),Mike,Richard,Kristen(Herb),Aaron (Zoe), Alecia(Chris),Chanel(Brad),Tanner(Victoria), Spencer,Sarah,Mckayla

Great-grandchildren: Keziya,Mila,Ryder,Luca,KelsynandIvy

Allan Andrew Wilson

Sep 15, 1940 - Mar 15, 2021

It is with deep sorrow and loss that we are announcing that Allan Andrew Wilson finished his life journey March 15, 2021 in Vernon, B.C at the age of 80 years

Allan was born Sept.15th, 1940 in Schumacher, Ontario and moved west with his family to settle in the Prince George and Hixon area.

Allan’s life work was in the logging Industry, he worked with his brothers in E. Wilson Sawmill, then Wilson’s Brothers Trucking. Following this, Allan and his brothers owned and operated Terry Logging LTD for many years in Hixon.

Allan and Dorothy created a beautiful home on their farm in Hixon for their three girls… Caren, Carol and Bev.

Allan is survived by his life companion Dorothy and their three daughters. Carol (Darren) Caren (Andy) and Bev. Also his much loved grandchildren Chris (Holly) Cassie (Travis) Britt (Mike) Matt, Brooke, Gage (Aya), and his very special great grand children… Rylee, Braxton and Myla.

Also survived by his brothers Ralph (Shirley) Dave ( Jan) and sister Evelyn (Al) LaChance and brother in law Ken Vaughan and many loved nieces and nephews, Donald and Sharon Mackay and Dave and Beatrice Mackay. and other close family.

Allan was predeceased by his mother Emily, his father Elwood, his brother Aubrey and sister Wilma.

Allan loved life , his energy and enthusiasm was awe inspiring. Al was quick to smile and had the ability to put people at ease. Allan worked hard, loved much and lived well.

A life well lived. We will miss you. Rest in peace … we will meet again.

Business Opportunities

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Gross Revenues of $150.000 plus annually from seasonal work

Lots of opportunity to expand the business.

Transition support available to the right buyer

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BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

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Mackenzieservicing and McLeod Lake area for over 30 years.

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Notices / Nominations

PGYSA/PG IMPACT AGM

NOTE: Takes place online via Zoom call (the link will be emailed out to our membership prior and will also be available on our website: pg ysa.bc.ca)

Date: Monday March 29, 2021

Location: Online Zoom Call

Time: 7:00pm

Table of Events: Roll Call, President’s Report, Question Period, Financial Question Period and Board Member Vote.

Writing an effective classified ad is easy when you use these time-tested principles.

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Writing an effective classified ad is easy when you use these time-tested principles. How to write a classified ad that works. To advertise, call 250-562-6666 or email cls@pgcitizen.ca

LITIGATION ASSOCIATE

Bilkey Law Corp. is look ing for a litigation associate to join our KAMLOOPS office The ideal candidate will have 3+ years civil trial experience and be capable of handling a complex file load independently Competitive compensation offered

Please submit resumes to Jen Ford (Senior Administrator) by email only to jford@bilkeylaw.ca.

Dollar Saver Lumber has openings for the following position:

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Please apply in person to: Dollar Saver Lumber Attn: Ken 9359 Nor thern Cres Prince George, BC or email keyles@lumber.ca Fax: 250.561.2111

Maintenance & Engineering Manager

Management/Administration

Chief Administrative Officer for Tsideldel First Nation. Full job description at www.tsideldel.org and application instructions. Application deadline is April 5, 2021. Resume and covering letter to katrina.elliot@4cmc.ca.

Millar Western’s Whitecourt Pulp Division is seeking a Maintenance & Engineering Manager. Reporting to the Mill Manager, the successful candidate will be an integral member of the site’s leadership team and responsible for the mill’s preventative maintenance processes, operational reliability, capital project activities, and maintenance and repair programs The successful candidate will be an Electrical, Mechanical or Industrial Engineer with a strong background in project management, preventive/predictive maintenance and asset reliability. Applicants must have several years of progressively responsible management experience, preferably in a pulp manufacturing environment, along with strong leadership, interpersonal and communications skills Experience with SAP considered an asset.

Application Deadline: April 6, 2021

Please apply online at: www.millarwestern.com/current-openings

Western is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We appreciate

Millar Western is a progressive forest company offering diverse, rewarding careers in great Alberta communities, with excellent advancement opportunities and a healthy work -life balance.

Employment Opportunity

Reliability Engineer

Millar Western’s Whitecourt Pulp Division is seeking a Reliability Engineer

Reporting to the Engineering & Maintenance Manager, the successful candidate will be an integral member of our engineering and maintenance leadership team and responsible for the development and implementation of asset reliability, availability and maintainability programs and processes for our world class BTCMP pulp mill. The preferred candidate will be a Professional Electrical Engineer with 5–10 years’ experience working in an industrial facility They will have a background in preventive/predictive maintenance, coupled with electrical/instrumentation design and project management experience and will demonstrate the ability to work in an interdisciplinary capacity Previous experience working with CMS, SAP, WinMops, and AutoCAD, will be considered an asset

Application Deadline: April 6, 2021

Please apply online at: www.millarwestern.com/current-openings

Millar Western is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We appreciate the interest of all applicants Only those chosen for an interview will be contacted MillarWestern.com a resourceful company

FI NANCE MANAGE R

Burns Lake Band is seeking a strong leader with proven financial management skills and experience to lead its Finance Department as Manager of Finance

POSITION SUMMARY : The Manager of Finance work s closely with the General Manager and is responsible for the overall financial control of the Nation The Manager of Finance establishes the accounting principles, practices and procedures for the Nation, working closely with and supervising other staff members to implement these into daily practice. The Manager ensures appropriate recording of all transactions across all depar tments, including expenditures, revenues, assets and liabilities. The Manager provides leadership to and directly suppor ts the preparation and interpretation of financial statements for the Nation and takes a lead role in developing, analy zing and interpreting statistical and accounting information at individual and collec tive levels As a senior leader, the Manager fosters and develops positive working relationships internally and ex ternally while supervising staff and building their capacity. We are seeking an individual who is at tentive to detail, has proven planning, organizational and financial management skills to suppor t successful performance. This financial role will appeal to a confident leader with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

Financial Management and Analysis:

• Provide leadership and work collaboratively with all depar tments to manage the Nations’ finances and financial performance

• Develop and implement sound financial operations, systems and procedures aligned with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)

• Oversee the management of all financial func tions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, trust accounts, revenue systems, taxes and asset depreciation

• Lead, participate and supervise the development of budgets and budget controls

• Oversee and prepare financial statements and reports to inform sound decision-making

• Ensure financial reporting and procedural compliance with all applicable federal and provincial regulations

• Maintain, evaluate and recommend improvements to the accounting systems to improve internal controls, efficiencies and decision-making

• Suppor t advancement of communit y projec ts by providing financial management and advisory suppor t ser vices

• Develop strategies, policies and protocols in suppor t of meeting departments’ mandate including sound documentation, record keeping and preparation of reports

• Set up controls to comply with securit y, privac y and confidentialit y requirements Stakeholder Relations and Communication:

• Foster positive relationships with internal and ex ternal stakeholders to leverage partnerships and suppor t a produc tive working environment

• Set up and use appropriate supervisor y strategies to provide direction, guidance, instruction and correc tion for staff

• Participate in identifying skills and training needs for staff

• Design and implement a coaching culture where positive and construc tive feedback are used as a foundation to building skills and growing capacity

• Proactively develop collaborative and respect ful relationships with all internal and ex ternal stakeholders including communit y members, partners, governments, agencies, ser vices, media, etc.

Qualifications:

• An Accounting (or equivalent) degree in a related field, with preference for a professional accounting designation such as Char tered Professional Accountant (CPA) and/or Certified Aboriginal Financial Management (CAFM) designation

• A minimum of 5-7 years of progressive leadership in financial management, including proven experience with and knowledge of computerized accounting systems, reports and payroll in First Nation band administration

• Positive experience supervising and influencing direct and indirect reports

• A demonstrated ability to coach and mentor others to build skills and capacit y

• A demonstrated record of successfully leading, influencing, and suppor ting organizational goals, projec ts, and mandates

• High level of integrit y, confidentially, and accountability.

• Strong work ethic and positive team at titude

• Sound analy tical thinking, planning, prioritization, and execution skills

• Ability to respond appropriately in pressure situations with a calm and steady demeanor

• A well-defined sense of diplomac y, including solid negotiation, conflic t resolution, and people management skills.

• Exemplar y communication skills, both written and oral with added value of strong public communication abilities

Eligibilit y:

• Priority will be given to qualified BLB citizens.

• All references will be followed up on.

• A criminal record check and credit check may be under taken.

• Interviews may be under taken in person, telephone conference or by online video

In accordance with Section 41 of the BC Human Rights Code and Section 15 of the Canadian Char ter of Rights and Freedoms, preference will be given to qualified candidates with Aboriginal Ancestry

To Apply: Email your cover letter, resume and list of at least three references to the at tention of: “Burns Lake Band Manager.” Email: cashe@burnslakeband.ca

Please ensure that you indicate in your cover letter how you meet all of the requirements for this position. Deadline to apply is: Until Filled.

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Domestic Cars

2007 Ford Focus, 159014 km, silver, 2 sets of tires on rims/regularly serviced. $3990.00 obo (250)612-1808

Motorcycles

SUZUKI Bandit 1200, great shape, recent tune-up and brakes. (250)613-5981

2006 HARLEY DAVIDSON Wide Glide. Low mileage. 250-6170443

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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

2006 F150 4x4, longbox, white, single cab. 151,564 km $7990.00 obo, must sell, moving (250)6121808

Parts Trucks

Chrome tailgate, fits 3/4 ton GMC, cover top fits GMC 6 1/2 ft box, chrome rails. Shop vac250-963-6898

Vans

2006 Ford Freestar, well maintained, approx 255,000 km. 8 new tires w/rims, many recent repairs, runs very well. $2500 obo, call Lyle 8 am-5 pm (250) 596-4409 or (250) 552-4409

V.I.M. Wheelchair conversion van. Side entry power ramp, removable front seats, loaded 2003 Grand Caravan Sport, 139,000 miles. $15,500. Will accept trades 250-981-0055 or 236-423-2297

Apartments / Condos-For Sale

Spacious, 3 level 4 bdrms, 4 baths, superb location. $277,500. 250-561-1255 Ready to sell!

Duplexes for Sale

2220 & 2226 UPLAND ST. 2 bdrm duplex w/ 2 bdrm finished suite each side. Good revenue property, in good shape. $450,000 250-614-6667 or 250568-2338

260 & 264 RUGGLES. 4BDRM, c/w appliances, fenced, $2650/mo revenue. $398,000. 250-5682338, 614-6667

Property For Sale

“DUNSTER PROPERTY FOR SALE” 115 acres with 1/2 mile Fraser River frontage. 10 acres Island. 15 acres cleared. Mixed forest. 100% reliable water source. Log cabin attached to mobile home. Water line and hydro. Easy access. Mountainscape views. Private. 250-479-5545 2294 Queensway St. Fully service, C6 zoning, will take partial trade of motorhome, trailer or pick-up.

$130,000.00 (250) 981-3583 2669 & 2679 Queensway $750,000.00 will consider partial trade. (currently operating as car lots) (250-981-3583) 45.5 ACRES Corner

1000sq m building lot, #L72NCorintoPearleco-development Honduras. Contact Recap Investments, Toronto 1-888-212-8584 for

160 Acres, 72 miles East Prince George, all weather road access year around, mixed timber, 250 feet from river frontage, creek flows through property. Electricity and phone. 250-564-4684

LAND ACT: NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR CROWN LAND

Take notice that Wendy Fountain, from Bear Lake, BC, has applied to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD), Omineca Region, for a Crown Grant for Rural Residential purposes situated on Provincial Crown land located in the vicinity of Bear Lake, described as Lot 4, District Lot 2972, Cariboo District, Plan 28931.

The Lands File for this application is 7402314. Written comments concerning this application should be directed to Susan Spears, Land Officer, Omineca Region, FLNRORD, at 5th Floor 499 George Street, Prince George, BC V2L 1R5, or Susan.Spears@gov.bc.ca Comments will be received by FLNRORD up to April 26, 2021. FLNRORD may not be able to consider comments received after this date. Please visit the website at http://arfd.gov.bc.ca/ApplicationPosting/index.jsp for more information. Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. Access to these records requires the submission of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Visit http://www.gov.bc.ca/freedomofinformation to learn more about FOI submissions.

A hard copy MAP showing the location and extent of the application area may be acquired by calling the land officer named above at 250-5613479.

5 things to consider when buying a garage door

Needtopurchaseanewgaragedoor?To make an informed decision, consider the followingfiveelements:

1. Colour Match your garage door to your door and window frames, taking intoaccountthecolourofyourhome’s exteriorcladdingormotar.

2. Style. Your garage door, from the shapeofthepanelsandwindowstothe styleofthehandlesandhinges,should harmonizewiththeoverallarchitecture of your house. For example, choose a simple,structuredmodelifyourhome hasamoderndesign

3. Insulation. Having a properly insulateddoormeansthatyourgarage willgetlesscoldinthewinterandless hot during the summer Check its R-value a measure of thermal

resistance; the higher the R-value, the better the insulation and U-value, a measure of heat loss; the lower the U-value,thebetter

4. Hardware. For a door that’s silent, durable and easy to open, choose a model equipped with high-quality tracks,springsandbearings,andmake sure that they’re adequately calibrated accordingtotheweightofthedoor.

5. Material. Various materials are available be sure to research the characteristicsofeachone Forexample, steel is more resistant to impact than aluminumbutalsosubjecttorustwood isdurablebuthigh-maintenance

Finally, to ensure your garage door’s durability, safety and performance, alwaysleavetheinstallationtothepros.

GO FOR GOLD.

Should moulding be the same colour as the walls?

When it comes time to paint a room, the moulding (or trim) presents an interesting conundrum: should it be the same colour asthewalls?

Theanswer:italldependsonthedesired effect and the look of the moulding Plain doorframes without any particular aesthetic features, for example, are usually best left to blend in with the surrounding wall. The same goes for a door that’spoorlyframed drawingattentionto crooked trim is sure to disrupt the visual flow of the room.

If your moulding is quite plain, you might still choose to make it subtlystandoutbypainting it the same shade as the walls, but in a glossier, light-catching finish.

If your moulding is ornate, don’t hesitate to make it pop! Create contrast by using white, grey or black. If you decide to go with white, make sure you choose a shade that

matches the rest of the room’s colour palette in other words, don’t use a crisp, coolwhitetotrimawallthat’spaintedina rich,warmhue.

Finally, remember that if your moulding is of a different colour than your walls, it’s a good idea to paint all the moulding in your homethesamecolour Thisisespeciallytrue when it comes to creating a harmonious overalllookinanopen-conceptspace.

Blockeddrain? Camera

Experiencingsomedrain-relateddrama?

Camera inspection is a safe and effective way to assess the state of your foundationdrain.Here’showitworks: a camera is inserted inside the drain andrecordsallvisibledetails,allowing a professional to precisely determine the origin of the problem. This makes

inspectiontotherescue!

iteasytoproceedwithtargetedrepairs while keeping damage to the rest of yourpropertytoaminimum.

Backed-up sewers, punctured pipes, sluggish flushing… to wash away all yourdrainageproblems,callyourlocal expertswithoutdelay

What to consider when choosing a railing

Bothdecorativeandfunctional,handrails

should be chosen with care. Here are a few considerations to help you make a smartpurchase.

Of course, to achieve visual harmony, you should choose a model that matches the style of your staircase and the surrounding area. But before thinking about aesthetics, it’s important to consider the role of the railing as a safety barrier especially if you have young children or share your home with anyone with limitedmobility

For example, as far as the handrail is

concerned, it’s a good idea to go with a rounded shape to make it easier to grip. For the banister, avoid horizontal bars: children can easily climb them. Also, makesurethatlittleonesaren’tabletofit theirheadsorshouldersbetweenthebars. There are various norms and regulations that govern things like minimum railing height call in an expert to make sure everythingisuptocode.

Finally,whenitcomestochoosingamaterial for your railing metal, wood, plexiglass styleisofcourseimportant, but also make sure to keep maintenance inmind.

Four clever ways to use under-the-stair space

Thinkthespacebeneathyourstaircase is lost? Think again! There are 1,001 smart ways to turn it into a useful part of your home, regardless of the configuration of the space. Here are a few ideastogetyouinspired.

1. STORAGE SPACE

Take advantage of the space beneath the stairs to create storage you can neverhavetoomuchstorage!Between kitchencabinets,alcoves,modularstorage units, baskets, bookshelves and beyond, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to neatly tucking away items of all kinds out of sight. You could even turn each individual stair into its own practicaldrawer

2. EXHIBITION SPACE

Have enough storage?Thenwhynot put in a glass display cabinet or some shelves to display souvenirsfromyour

Maximize your living quarters by making good use of the space under your staircase.

travels,familyphotos,artwork,orwhateverelseyou’dliketoshowcase?

3. COZY SPACE

Awell-defined space like the one under your stairs is ideal for a home office, a reading nook, a minibar or a cloakroom (with a cubby for each family member, forexample),amongmanyotherpotentialuses.

4. SECRET SPACE

Hidingapowderroomunderthestairs is without a doubt an ingenious use of space. A secret playroom is another option that’s sure to stir up your little ones’imagination.

How to choose the right mirror

While we mainly use them to look at perhaps even admire our own reflections, mirrors can serve a number of other purposes. They can increase the amount of light in a room, create the illusionofspaceintightareas,orsimplyembellishyouroveralldecor.Needsometips on how to navigate the multitude of models available on the market? Keep reading.

FUNCTION

First off, know that the shape and size of the mirror will depend on how you intend to use it. For example, if you want to be able to see yourself from head to toe, the mirror has to be at least half as tall as you are. To visually enlarge a space, opt for a wide,oversizedmodel.Inaplayroom,one or more mirrors cut in fun shapes animals, clouds, etc. will add a unique touch. An atypical mirror can even serve inlieuofaworkofart.

FORM

Just like any other decorative element, a mirror should match the style and palette of aroomaswellasthesurroundingfurniture.Forexample,a golden-framed mirror would look great in a glamorous setting; simple square mirrors workwondersinmoderninteriors; and a series of small mirrors would be perfect for ahallway Obviously,the size

of your mirrors should make sense compared to the overall amount of space you’re working with. A word of advice: always leave a strip of empty wall space aroundmirrorstopreventacrampedlook.

To find the perfect mirror for your needs, browse your local home decor stores or,betteryet,haveonecustommade!

Kaycie

Janine

Donna Badowski***

Jasmine

Wanda

250-219-9993 DawsonCreek

250-617-7731

Gaetano Mauro 250-960-9519

778-258-0064

Meghann Miller

Cara McLeod

Daryl Muchowski 250-960-9956

DarcyPorsnuk

CaryReed

Dawson Creek

Rob Richard

Jeff Rushton

Phair

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Julia Nelson

Vince Smallwood

Tara Tom

Dawson Creek

Rod Walker 250-617-8090

Linda Warren 250-565-5133

Nick VanRensburg 250-301-5385

Dalin Weaver 778-349-1409

Helena Samzadeh 250-975-1818 Terrace

Brandden Shandler 250-401-8262 Dawson Creek

Madison Porsnuk

Cindy Oldfield

Dawson Creek

Tammy VandeNobelen 250-566-1025 Valemount

Brad Messum

Rylee Schlamp

Kyle Todoruk 250-552-4844

George Weinand 250-960-9556

Andy Wilhelmsen 250-565-1170

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Maundrell

Mike Moseley

Plain, glass, bulletproof; made of wood, PVCorfibreglass;neutralorvivid;square, mosaic or half-moon windows when it comes to picking the right door for your main entrance, you have virtually endless possibilities to choose from. So what shouldyoulookfor?

Of course, the style of your front door should harmonize well with the architectureofyourhome.Whetherclassicorcutting-edge, your door can be used as its own decor element to add personality to your façade. When you shop, bring along a photo of your house and the measurements of the space your door has to fit into. You may also choose to have a door custom made to your specifications for a

Welcome to 1445 Van BienAve.This almostfully renovated home in 2016 is suretoplease.3 bedrooms up and 1bath. Renovationsincludenew hardwood floors, new kitchen and tile and backsplash, all new paint, fully renovated bathroom and much more. The basementincludes another large familyroom, flex room for storage or home gym and sharedlaundry.The basement also includes aone bedroom studio style basement suite with new floors, kitchen, bathroom, and much more! Could easily be madeinto aseparate bedroom or even a2bedroom suite if wanted. OSBE and large yardwith2sheds, one with power and RV parking, this homeisa must see!

This 19.9 fully fenced acreage with year round Aquaponic greenhouse is amust see to appreciate! The 4bedroom 2bath home is just the start to this amazing property!

mcleod.cara@gmail.com

Welcome to 5174 Henrey Rd. This fully updated home sitting on a large lot backing onto greenbelt with many trails is breath taking. 3bedroomsupand 1bathroom. Newkitchen,floors, paint, and much more. The one bedroom basement suite boasts 9ft ceilings, new kitchen, new floor,new paint, separate laundry and separate entrance. This suite feels like amain floor.With the large yardwith new patio and RV parking this is amust see!

Upgrades includeinsulated exteriorwalls, newer windows, newer roof, newer hotwater tank (2012)and well pump(2012). Many outbuildings include insulated chicken coop, 16x24shed, 24x24 shed, separate area fenced for goats,fencedareafor horses or cows...this could be the ultimate hobby farm. The aquaponic green houseis40x100 with attached buildingthat includes work station,biomass boiler and aspace upstairs that could be made into asuite. This is atrue hidden gem! 905 LA SALLE$324,999

final product that matches your exact visionandneeds.

Fromapracticalstandpoint,chooseadoor with good insulation properties and a low air leak rate. A good rule of thumb is to shop for Energy Star certified models. Make sure the weatherstripping is effectiveanddurable.

Youridealfrontdoorshouldbesufficiently soundproof,resistanttoshocksandeasyto maintain. It also needs to be secure: the lock and glass components should be strongenoughtostaveoffanintruder’sattempts to enter your home. Finally, the bestwaytoensurethatyourdoorplaysits partflawlesslyistoleaveitsinstallationto theexperts.

This nicely updated,three-suite, multi-familyhomeona largelot is steps away from the river and PaddlewheelPark. These units have been updated in the past five years with newer hot water tank. This large lot with two shedsmakes for agreat outsidespace

Home architecture trends

Whether you’re planning to renovate in 2018 or simply buy a home that is fashion-forward, here are four trends to knowaboutthisyear

1. MULTIPLE MASTER BEDROOMS

With more and more children living at home forlonger,oneofthenewesttrendsis tohavemultiplemasterbedrooms Thiscan also give you twice the opportunity to decorate.

2. RECYCLED MATERIALS

Going green has also been a style revolution lately. In 2018, expect to see more homes built using recycled and organic materials.

3. OPEN CONCEPT

4. LAUNDRY ROOMS CAN BE SO MUCH MORE

We’ve seen kitchens and bathrooms dominate people’s attention for a few years now. Combining style and function will onlycontinue.Thenextroomthatpeople will start to pay attention to will be the laundryroom,typicallyanundeveloped place in homes.

Whateverthecurrentfashionis,yourlocal realestateagentcanhelpyounavigatebetween what’s going to look good for now and whatwilllookgoodforthenext decade.

2017 was the year where open concept floor plans dominated not just the office, but the home as well. Expect this trend to continue this year, though it may reach its peaksoonerratherthanlater

5174 HENREY

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

1602/1642/1656

VICTORIA ST

Excellent opportunity for commercial land spanning several lots. C5/C6 zoning with city services. $2,390,000 MLS#C8036369

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

FEATURED LISTINGS

1176

Main Street,Smithers

$175,000 THIS BUILDING IS NOTFOR SALE.Interestedin being aCannabis entrepreneur? This business has an Approval in Principle from the Provincial governmenttorun aretailcannabis outletand alocation in downtownSmithers,BC. Allitneeds is the tenant improvements,personal approval by the governmentand stock and youwillbeinbusiness.Eliminate the waiting and expense of the licensing processand getstarted quickly

Do water heaters require regular maintenance?

Just got a brand new water heater? To maximize its lifespan, follow these maintenancetips.

If your tap water is particularly hard, ferrous or calcareous, it’s important that you fully empty your hot water tank once every year To find out how to proceed, refer to the owner’s manual. However, if your water heater is combustion-powered, call a professional to do the work.

If you have an old water heater that’s never been maintained, refrain from draining it; this could damage the appliance

Regular drainage will prevent sediment buildupatthebottomofthetank,whichcan damage the appliance.Buildup in a sealed combustion heater is especially hard on your energy bill, as this particular type of appliance heats water from the bottom. It doesn’t take much accumulated residue to hinder heat transfer and reduce the water heater’sefficiency

Finally, periodically check on the state of your water heater’s sacrificial anode (the component that protects the exterior from corrosion) and make surethat the safety gasket is still perfectly watertight to avoid unpleasantsurprises.

Spring maintenance: 5 key things to inspect outside your home

When spring arrives, it’s important to inspect the exterior of your home to make sure it hasn’tbeendamagedoverthewinter Herearefivekeythingsyoushouldcheck. 1.Theroof.Avisualinspectionfromthegroundorawindowwillindicateifimmediate repairs are needed. In particular, look out for curled, wavy or missing shingles.Also, checktheceilingsinsideyourhouseforsignsofwaterinfiltration.

2.Gutters and spouts. Make sure they’re still firmly attached to the house and that nothing is blocking water from flowing through them. Remove any debris that’s accumulated overthewinter

3.Foundation. Examine the concrete for cracks or signs of water damage. Even the smallest fissurecancausebigproblemsfor your home. If you see any signs of degradation, schedule a repair assoonaspossible.

4.Balconyorpatio.Cleanyourdeck thoroughly and secure any loose boards. Wood patios should be stained every one to three years. If it needs to be done this spring, sand the surface and apply your chosen stain.

5.Windowsanddoors.Checkthecaulking around each window and door, and replace it if necessary. Inspect wooden frames to make sure they don’t show signsofwaterinfiltrationorrot If you notice any major damage during yourinspection,besuretomaketheneededrepairs.

Speak with Owner & Managing Broker,Rod McLeod,Associate Brokers, David Blackand Melanie LupulatRoyal LePage, the largest Real Estate Brokerage in NorthernBC. We have acomprehensive training program to kick-start your career.

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