Prince George Citizen April 1, 2021

‘I TALKED WITH LYN LAST NIGHT’

ARTHUR WILLIAMS

Emails obtained by The Citizen through a Freedom of Information request suggest Mayor Lyn Hall met with downtown parkade developer

A & T Project Developments on July 6, 2018, two days after the company provided an updated cost estimate on the project to the city.

During a press conference on Jan. 25 this year, Hall said the significant cost overruns on parkade project were as much a surprise to him as the rest of city council. The preliminary budget for the project was $12.6 million, but the final cost came to $34.16 million – $22.46 million for the parkade, $597,138 to connect the parkade to the city’s district energy system, and $11.1 million for water and sewer upgrades in the area, and other off-site works.

Hall acknowledged he was forwarded an email from A & T partner Frank Quinn on July 4, 2018, which warned of “very large overruns” on the project, but said he never received any follow-up on the issue. An hour after former city manager Kathleen Soltis forwarded the mayor that email, with a promise to keep him informed when she knew more, A & T president Jeff Arnold sent the city a detailed spreadsheet estimating the cost of the parkade project at $19.9 million.

“I have enclosed our detailed budget for

our review on Friday and we are all about assisting in solutions on where we can,”

Arnold wrote in his Wednesday, July 4, 2018 email “Lots to talk about.”

On Monday, July 9, 2018, Soltis sent an email to then city general manager of planning and development Ian Wells, with the subject “Fw: Parkade Prince George Costing.”

“How did things go with A&T on Friday?”

Soltis asked Wells at 11:05 a.m.

“It went very well,” Wells replied via email, 23 minutes later. “We indicated that they need to continue to get the best prices, and that City could not change the partnering agreement without Council Approval Frank thought that Lyn needed to show some leadership regarding our salaries. Frank sent him a text offering to help. Call me if you need more info.”

At 7:42 p.m. on July 9, 2018, Soltis replied, “Thanks, Ian. I talked with Lyn last

night and he generally mentioned Frank’s advice to me.”

Both emails provided to The Citizen were redacted under Section 22 of the B.C Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, which says, “The head of a public body must refuse to disclose personal information to an applicant if the disclosure would be an unreasonable invasion of a third party’s personal privacy.”

On Monday afternoon, a city spokesperson said Hall denies having met with a representative of A & T Project Developments on July 6, 2018 about the parkade cost overruns, and did not receive any further updates on the subject until Well’s report came before city council in December 2020. The city released a copy of the mayor’s schedule for the day, which does not show a meeting with A & T Project Developments. In addition, the city released an unredacted version of Well’s email from

11:38 a.m. on July 9, 2018

“Note: the meeting entitled ‘legal options; was a meeting concerning the Citizen’s request regarding management salary information. In fact, Mr Wells was not an attendee of that meeting,” city spokesperson Mike Kellett said in an email. “The additional emails were regarding management salaries – not parkade costing - despite the subject heading. We needed time today to obtain necessary consents to disclose the redacted information in the email chain to you that you are referring to in your article. We trust this clarifies that the emails were not in regard to ‘Parkade costing,’ but rather in regard to senior management salaries.”

PARKADE TIMELINE

On March 11, 2019, more than eight months after the city received the updated project budget from Arnold, city council approved the amended city financial plan by adding the parkade project. Council was asked to approve the initial, preliminary budget of $12.6 million.

On Sept. 24, 2019, Arnold emailed Wells another updated budget, this time showing the project budget had grown to $22.64 million. On Nov. 19, 2019, the city’s finance and audit committee which includes Hall and councillors Garth Frizzell, Frank Everitt and Cori Ramsay, received an update on the city’s capital projects, including the parkade. The committee was told the total spending on the parkade project, as of Nov. 5, 2019, was at $16.37 million

Then on Aug. 31, 2020, city council was asked to approve the city’s annual report, which showed the total spending to date on the parkade at more than $17.96 million. It was only on Dec 7, when council received a report that the full extent of the cost overrun of the project was revealed.

- See CITY STAFF on page 4

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

WHAT:

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Public Hearing regarding:

• Proposed amendment to “City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007”

WHEN:

7:00 p.m., Monday, April 12, 2021

WHERE:

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

PROPOSAL:

1. “City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007, Amendment Bylaw No. 9189,2021”

Applicant: Zaga’sEnterprises Ltd.for Redwood Square Ltd., Inc. No. 549030

Subject Property: 1543 Victoria Street

BylawNo. 9189, 2021 proposes to rezone thesubject property from C2: Regional Commercial to C2c: Regional Commercial, as shown on Appendix “A to Bylaw No. 9189,2021. Thepurposeofthis application is to facilitate theexisting “Retail, Cannabis”asaprimaryuse on the subject property,orother uses, pursuant to the proposed C2c: Regional Commercial zoning designation(s). No changes are proposed to the existing cannabis retail licence or to the existing building

The proposed Bylawapplies to the property legally described as Lot 1, District Lot 343, Cariboo District, Plan 22956, as shown outlined in bold black on Location Map #1 below.

Location Map #1 1543 Victoria Street

HOWCAN IPROVIDE COMMENT?

Residentsare invited to provide comment in writing or by telephone.

In accordance with ordersofthe Provincial Health Officer related to gatherings and events, membersofthe public are not permitted to attend City Council meetings and Public Hearings. These meetings arelive streamed on the City’swebsite www.princegeorge.ca and the recordingsare archived forviewing at anytime.

Submissions in Writing

Residentsare encouragedtoprovide written commentstoCouncil to be includedin the Council meeting agenda package andavailable for public viewing on the City’s website.

Forsubmissions to be includedonthe agenda for Council’sreviewinadvance of the meeting date, theymust be received by the Corporate Officernolater than 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 6, 2021.Submissions received after the noted deadlineand before 3:00 p.m., Monday, April 12, 2021,will be provided to Council on the dayofthe meeting fortheir consideration during deliberationsonthe application.

Submissions maybesent by email to cityclerk@princegeorge.ca, faxed to (250)561-0183, mailed or delivered to the address noted below

Please note that written submissionsfor all applicationswill formpartofthe Council agenda, become public record and are posted on the City’swebsite. By making awritten submissionyou are consenting to the disclosure of anypersonal information that you provide.

Submissions by Telephone

In an efforttoprovide the public with options to speak toCouncil on aPublic Hearing application(s) and in accordancewith the current Ministerial Order,the City now offers participation remotely via telephone during Public Hearings.

Residents can pre-register to speak to the proposedBylaw(s) live via telephone. Pre-registrationwill be open from 8:30 a.m., Thursday, April 8, 2021 to Monday, April 12, 2021 at 12:00 p.m.Topre-register to speak to Council via phone, visit our website www.princegeorge.ca/publichearings to complete an online registration form or call 311. If you miss pre-registering,please watch the online live meeting broadcast as there will be an opportunity for you to call in for alimitedperiod of time.

Authority

Personal information is collected under the authority of section 26(g) anddisclosed under the authority of section 33.1(1) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). Forinformation or questions, contact the City’sFIPPACoordinator at (250)561-7600 or 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC, V2L 3V9.

NEED MOREINFORMATION?

Acopyofthe proposed Bylawand anyrelated documents will be available for review by the public on the City’swebsite www.princegeorge.ca under‘News and Notices’ beginning March 31, 2021.These documents mayalso be reviewedatthe Development Services office on the 2nd Floor of City Hall on March 31, April 1, 6, 7, 8, 9and 12, 2021, between the hoursof 8:30 a.m.to5:00 p.m.

WHO CAN ISPEAK TO?

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

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

COVID-19 Resources

The City of Prince George has been in regular conversation with NorthernHealth about the most reliable sources of information on novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and any assistance the City can provide residents and visitorswith reliable information about measures that can be taken to prevent the spread and stayhealthy.

People are advised to takeall necessaryprecautions to prevent exposure such as staying home when sick, disinfecting surfaces, washing their hands, and coughing and sneezing into the crook of their arms.

Formore information:

•Visit the BC Centre for Disease Controlwebsite

•Visit the BC Transit COVID-19 website

•Visit the BC Ministry of Health webpage on Pandemic Preparedness

•Visit the Government of Canada’swebsite on COVID-19

•Visit the HealthlinkBC website

•Visit the WorldHealth Organization website

•Downloadthe BC MinistryofHealth’sAdvice on Recreational Facilities -March 13, 2020 [PDF]

NorthernHealth COVID-19 Update

NorthernHealth has launched aCOVID-19 Online Clinic and Information Line to help answer questions and concerns from NorthernB.C. residents. The NH COVID-19 Online Clinic and InformationLinecan be reached at 1-844-645-7811.

Robber apologizes for catastrophic injury

ARTHUR WILLIAMS

A mugger whose daylight attack left a prominent local social worker suffering from a life-changing brain injury apologized to his victim through his lawyer during a sentencing hearing. Marshall Randolph Schulze plead guilty to robbing Diane Nakamura on Oct. 29, 2018, when she was walking along Fifth Avenue near Quebec Street. As Schulze and Nakamura struggled for control of her bag, Nakamura fell and hit her head on the sidewalk, suffering a concussion that left her unable to work, sleeping 12 to 18 hours a day and feeling emotionally dead inside, according the victim impact statement she presented to the court in November.

The robbery took place a month after the Prince George Community Foundation named Nakamura a 2018 Citizen of the Year for her work with those suffering from

poverty, homelessness and addiction.

Schulze’s lawyer, Jason LeBlond, said his client wanted to express his remorse to Nakamura, and read aloud an email his client wrote on March 11 to her and the court.

“My heart is solemnly sad I caused this distress and injury to you,” LeBlond read. “Although I can not change what happened two years ago, I will make sure nothing like that happens again. I give you my deepest and most heartfelt apologies.”

Schulze was working in construction in the Lower Mainland, where he lived, when he and his girlfriend - the mother of his daughter – split up, leaving him depressed, LeBlond said. Around the same time, he underwent surgery and was proscribed Oxycontin for the pain

He became addicted and endws up in a series of legal troubles in the Lower Mainland, LeBlond said, including a weapon and

Searchers finding lost boy ‘needle in a haystack’

TED CLARKE

For searchers looking for a lost 12-year-old Prince George boy, footprints he left behind made all the difference.

They found him safe and unharmed, two days after he went missing. The search for Luke ended Friday evening along Highway 97 south of Hixon when searchers discovered him in a clump of bushes between the highway and another road.

“One of our crews found some tracks and so we started following the tracks and it kind of led us right to him,” said Dave Merritt, search manager for Prince George Search and Rescue “We found prints in the bush and he’d just gone for a wander in the bush. He was in the trees when we found him about 400 metres from the highway.”

Searchers were told Luke is developmentally delayed and might not comprehend conversations at his age level. Prior to his disappearance, he told his siblings that he was running away. Acting on the advice of the RCMP, the search was concentrated on an area south of Hixon.

“We picked up the track Friday at 10 o’clock in the morning and then we were just trying to figure out where he was going and what he was doing after that and we eventually picked him up later in the evening.”

There was about two hours of daylight

left Friday when the search ended. Merritt wasn’t with the crew that actually found Luke and saw him later with his adoptive mother and said he appeared fine aside from a couple of bruises. The Salvation Army food truck fed the search crews, stocked by hot food prepared by the soup kitchen in Hixon and they supplied a hearty snack for Luke once he was found.

“He was trying to get to the road so he could get work his way back home,” said Merritt, a 30-year volunteer with PGSAR “It sounded like he just got a little lost and turned around in the bush.”

The search took place in a thickly-forested sparsely-populated area and it involved 42 Search and Rescue volunteers from Prince George, 100 Mile House, Quesnel, Williams Lake, Vanderhoof, Mackenzie, Fort St. James and Houston. Prince George RCMP, with help from the Quesnel detachment, had three members involved in the search, aided by a police dog team and the RCMP helicopter.

“Hats off to them and their families for something that is a vital part of living in the north,” said Prince George RCMP spokesperson Cst. Jennifer Cooper “I’m a Lower Mainland transplant and there’s not terrain like this down there anymore You could get lost here and literally no one would ever find you. Otherwise, it’s a needle in a haystack.”

drug trafficking charge in 2011, drug offences in 2015 and a mischief charge in 2018.

He made several attempts to beat his addiction, but those failed. “My family helped me apply to Baldy Hughes, nearby Prince George,” LeBlond read from Schulze’s letter “My cousin drove me to Prince George and dropped me off.”

He attended a detox program in Prince George for a week, but found the withdrawal symptoms were more than he could handle and left, LeBlond said. Once he left, he wasn’t allowed to return with a doctor’s referral.

He was alone, broke and in pain from withdrawal when the robbery occurred, LeBlond said.

“This was not a specific effort to commit assault, but a struggle for control of the bag,” LeBlond said. “Mr. Schulze, for his part, says that he just wanted to pull the

bag away. He certainly did not subjectively know that Ms. Nakamura would strike her head and be injured as badly as she did.”

After spending 131 days in custody, Schulze was released to the custody of the Joshua House residential addiction treatment program in Chilliwack, where he spent almost a year in recovery, LaBlond said.

“Recovery from addiction is not easy,” he said. “Mr. Schulze has demonstrated... an exemplary commitment to his recovery. Mr Schulze has acknowledged it is a lifelong battle and is committed to maintaining his sobriety.”

Provincial Court Judge Michael Brecknell said he faces a difficult balancing act in determining an appropriate sentence and would need time to consider all the factors before issuing a sentence in the case.

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to the provisions of Section26(3) of the CommunityCharter that the City of Prince George intends to dispose of property located at 1345 6th Avenue, Prince George,BC, legally described as Parcel 1, District Lot 343, Cariboo District, Plan BCP29643 except Air Space Plan BCP45794 to PRP Holdings Ltd. for $2,100,000.00.

Ian Wells Acting Deputy City Manager

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to the provisions of Section 26(3) of the CommunityCharter that the City of Prince George intends to dispose of property located at 2620 Recplace Drive, Prince George, BC, legally described as Lot BDistrict Lot 8180 District Lot Plan EPP96883 to 1145310 B.C. Ltd. for $2,037,750.00.

Ian Wells,

Acting Deputy City Manager

With files from Mark Nielsen

STAFF STRUGGLED WITH PARKADE COSTS

ARTHUR WILLIAMS

City finance staff spent the last three years wrestling with how to manage the rising costs associated with the downtown parkade project, according to emails obtained by The Citizen through a Freedom of Information request.

The official budget for the parkade project was $12.6 million, but the final cost came to $34.16 million – $22.46 million for the parkade, $597,138 to connect the parkade to the city’s district energy system, and $11.1 million for water and sewer upgrades in the area, and other off-site works.

A series of emails between Rob Clark, a financial analyst in the city’s financial planning division, and the city’s senior staff, show the parkade cost overruns challenged the city’s finances.

On April 19, 2018, Clark wrote an email to city project supervisor Steven Mercedes, asking about the cost to connect the parkade to the city’s district energy system.

The email was CC’d to finance director Kris Dalio and city infrastructure engineer Alan Clark. Rob Clark said he knew the original cost estimate to connect the parkade was $20,000, but asked for an updated estimate.

“Now I’m thinking the DES work may be much more significant and so I’m wonder what the cost estimate on that should be now?” he wrote. “The cost estimate will be

important, because I honestly don’t know where the money will come from at this point.”

On May 3, 2018, Mercedes provided Rob Clark with an updated cost estimate of $394,000 to connect the parkade to the district energy system.

In an email on Aug. 3, 2018, Clark provided Soltis and Dalio with an updated forecast on city’s reserve funds.

“Without surprise, we have a problem in general funds mostly precipitated by the George St. Parkade project expected overage of $7.2 million,” Clark wrote.

“My cash flow prediction seems to be holding for now Where I thought we’d be at July is pretty much where we are so far That will change as the parkade project nears completion, where I show us now approaching around $10 million by June 2019 if the predictions about its overage hold true.”

In April 2019, city staff proposed changes to allow the city manager to approve cumulative budget changes up to five per cent of the city’s annual operating budget each year.

Prior to that change, approved by city council in May 2019, the city manager could only approve cost overruns up to one million dollars on any given capital project.

However, on Feb. 24, 2020, Clark wrote an email to Dalio warning that the five per cent delegated authority wouldn’t be

“Without surprise, we have a problem in general funds mostly precipitated by the George St. Parkade project expected overage of $7.2 million.”

City of Prince George financial analyst

Rob Clark in an email to city manager Kathleen Soltis and finance director Kris Dalio on Aug. 3, 2018

enough to cover the city’s rising costs.

“Just a heads up that I estimate at this point the total budget amendment required for 2019 will come close to $10 million, putting us well over the 5% threshold,” Clark wrote. “The biggest single contributor is of course the new parkade.”

The same day, Dalio replied: “Great, thanks Rob. Can you give me an itemized list of that $10M? Just the bigger figures Kathleen will have to decide what she wants to bring to Council for amendment to get back under the 5%.”

On Feb. 26, 2020, Soltis signed a budget amendment report form – capital, authorizing $6.64 million in cost overruns associated to the parkade project in 2019 alone. The form included $5.35 million from the

city’s endowment fund for the parkade construction itself, plus $752,062 for relocating downtown sewer lines, $398,401 for relocating water lines, and $139,103 for other off-site works.

On April 14, 2020, Clark wrote an email to Mercedes to double-check the cost estimate to connect the parkade to the district energy system was still accurate.

“I’m trying to figure out how much room we have in the Endowment Fund so your assistance would be greatly appreciated,” Clark added.

“I think the budget is correct with the only exception that because we have been rushed to move this project up to the first week of May 2020, we are ensuring some additional costs,” Mercedes replied via email on April 16, 2020.

The final cost to connect the parkade to the system came in at $597,138.

After city council requested an update on the parkade costs on Aug 31, 2020, Wells emailed Clark on Nov 23, 2020 to ask for a budget update on the project.

“Not super sure what you’re asking, Ian. The budget for the new parkade is $12,613,000,” Clark replied in an email on the same day “Spending to date on that project is $22,211,276.67 and there is one pending invoice #3508 for $241,054.80 for a total of $22,452,331.47. Approximately $4.5 million of that spending has occurred in 2020 and will result in another budget amendment at the close of this year.”

Officer cleared of wrongdoing

B.C.’s civilian-based police watchdog has cleared a Prince George RCMP member of criminal wrongdoing related to a struggle with a errant cyclist nearly two years ago.

In a statement issued last week, the Independent Investigations Office said there were no reasonable grounds to believe that any officer has committed an offence.

The decision stems from a May 11, 2019 arrest that began when the officer noticed a cyclist weaving between lanes and not wearing a helmet near the corner of 5th Avenue and Douglas Street.

“The officer stopped the cyclist to issue a violation ticket and subsequently

attempted to arrest the man for unrelated offences. A struggle ensued a short distance away on Alward Street, and the man sustained a serious injury while being taken into custody,” the IIO said.

“The man was transported to RCMP cells, and medical attention was provided the following morning.”

The IIO said it reviewed statements from the affected person and several witnesses, medical evidence, detachment video and police records in reaching its conclusion.

The IIO added that the matter has been referred to the RCMP for consideration of potential issues regarding prisoner care that fall outside of the IIO’s mandate.

‘Flophouse’ clean up ordered

ARTHUR WILLIAMS

City council has ordered the owner of a dilapidated mobile home located at 7003 Adam Dr., which was the subject of dozens of RCMP calls, to clean up.

The property owner must demolish the damaged mobile home and clear away the derelict vehicles, discarded household appliances, tarps and other trash littering the yard The owner was given until April 30 to complete the clean up, or the city will do the work and bill the owner to recover the costs. If they don’t pay, the bill will be applied to their property taxes

“This is one of the worst properties I’ve seen, and I have seen a lot of bad properties in my career,” said the city’s new manager of bylaw services Charlotte Peters, a former RCMP sergeant in the city “Having this property abandoned is a good opportunity to remediate this property, because we don’t have to evict anybody.”

Peters said the property was a “flophouse” or “crackhouse,” and bylaw officers suspected that at some points people were living in a pair of derelict campers on the site, two of 17 derelict vehicles on the property. Several of the residents were identified by the RCMP as being frequent offenders in the city, she said.

Since August 2020, the RCMP had been called to the property 45 times or roughly once a week, city director of community services and public safety Adam Davey wrote in a report to city council. The complaints ranged from noise complaints to drug activity and dangerous dog complaints.

“The residents of this property had some large, very dangerous pit bulls,” Peters said. “We weren’t able to remedy that situation.”

The dogs were allowed to run loose and charged at postal workers on multiple occasions, resulting in Canada Post cancelling mail service to the neighbourhood in August, Peters said Eventually, animal control officers investigated the situation and mail delivery was restored in the area in mid-December

“People who didn’t have transportation were required to go to the post office downtown to pick up their mail,”

she said.

In addition to the RCMP calls to the house, bylaw officers were on the scene at least 17 times since May 2020. And since August 2020, firefighters were there five times – four times to respond to drug overdoses and once because the residents were burning copper wire in the yard.

On Feb. 4, the RCMP informed bylaw officers the home was abandoned and left unsecured. Bylaw officers issued an order to board the property up, but despite at least six attempts to contact the owner, he has never responded to the city

City crews boarded up the mobile home but the problems have continued.

Peters said she interviewed a longtime neighbour, and that person said that people, vehicles and trailers continue to come and go from the property at all hours of the day.

“The property owner has never stepped up,” Peters said. “I think he’s 100 per cent complicit ”

Coun Cori Ramsay said she is concerned the cost to remediate the property could be more than it is worth. If the owner refuses to pay and defaults on their property taxes for three years, it could go to a tax sale.

The city would try to sell it for at least the amount of money in back taxes and costs it is owed, but if there are no bidders, the city becomes the new owner by default, city director of finance Kris Dalio said

“I don’t want the city to end up with an inventory of properties that we’ve paid more for then they are worth,” Ramsay said.

Coun. Kyle Sampson said it’s a risk the city has to take to deal with negligent property owners.

“It’s affecting the other residents in the community,” he said. “I say we throw the book at him I have no time for people like this in our community.”

Coun. Murry Krause said the city, through bylaw services, has given the owner numerous chances to work to resolve the issues, but there has been no effort to comply

“I think of the neighbours,” Krause said. “The neighbourhood deserves some resolution on this.”

SUBDIVISION PLANNED NEAR FERGUSON LAKE

ARTHUR WILLIAMS

A developer is looking to build a rural subdivision immediately west of the Ferguson Lake Nature Reserve, according to a report to directors of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George.

The proposal, by a numbered B.C company, would see 13 lots ranging in size from 1.62 hectares (four acres) to 2.96 ha. (7.3 acres) developed on the 32.5 hectare (80 acre) parcel. A 400 metre access road would connect the subdivision to Pilot Mountain Road.

The proposed subdivision is in the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, right on the edge of city

Scratch

limits. The area was logged more than four years ago and remains mostly cleared.

The proposed site plan includes a pair of greenbelts to allow a minimum setback of 15 metres from a pair of unnamed streams on the property, which flow into Ferguson Lake.

The developer is looking to rezone the property from Rural Residential 1 to Rural Residential 2 to facilitate the subdivision. If the rezoning is approved, the developer would have to provide proof of a drinking water supply and sewage disposal system capacity for the lots, before the subdivision would be approved, a regional

district report said.

The eastern portion of the lot, closest to the lake, is in a Development Permit Area designated in the Salmon River-Lakes Official Community Plan.

Any development in that area would require the district to issue a development permit, “with the objectives of ensuring lake water quality and aesthetic scenic qualities of the lakeshore,” the district report said.

The regional district will be holding a public hearing on the proposed rezoning at 6:30 p.m. on April 8, via a teleconference. Written or emailed submissions can be sent to the regional district until noon on April 7

ticket scores Quesnel man $100,000

Brian Chase was in complete disbelief upon finding out that he won $100,000 from a Diamond 7’s Scratch & Win ticket.

The Quesnel resident purchased the winning ticket from Chevron on Carson Avenue and was also there when he scratched the ticket and found out the surprising news.

“I was scratching away and won $10, $25, and then I was scratching the Diamond ticket and I thought I won $100,” he recalled.

Chase continued to scratch his ticket, which finally unveiled that he scored the game’s top prize.

“I just put my hands on the counter and stared at it. The retailer asked if I was OK. I showed him the ticket and he said, ‘You won $10,000!’ Turns out it was a bit better than that.”

Chase immediately shared the news with his wife, and then the rest of his family which was also in disbelief

“I am a bit of a joker with everyone, so no one believed me in the beginning.”

$100,000 is the top prize for Diamond 7. The odds of winning it are one in one million, according to B.C. Lottery Corporation.

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 adheretoprovincial 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

Anymaterialreceived 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‘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

Cunningham carries Kings tradition

TED CLARKE

Strange as it might seem, considering they won the B.C Hockey League title two years ago, the Prince George Spruce Kings are still the defending champs.

They’ll take that with them on the ice Saturday in Chilliwack when they get started on the abbreviated 20-game 2021 season against the Chilliwack Chiefs.

This time two years ago, Corey Cunningham and the Kings were three-quarters through the BCHL playoffs, steamrolling their opponents in an unprecedented 16-1 postseason run. That led into their Doyle Cup regional series victory over the Brooks Bandits and an eventual one-goal loss to the Bandits in the game for all the marbles at the national junior A championship.

Cunningham was 17 at the time, not far removed from his Prince George minor hockey days, and he was a big part of that championship team. He played in all 17 league playoff games and contributed five goals and five assists to the Fred Page Cup cause. Now one of the designated leaders as an assistant captain, Cunningham is the only remaining Spruce King player from that 2018-19 team.

“It doesn’t come up a ton, but everybody in the room knows I’ve done what it takes to win, I went through everything, so I feel like most of the guys in the locker room and on the ice really look up to me,” said

Cunningham. “They know that I’ll give them the rundown if they’re not going (with the same effort) the guys we had on that championship team had that year, I’ll let them know I’ll give them confidence and help them out as much as I can. I want to be a winner I want to have that feeling again and I can bring that experience and give it to the team we have now.”

Cunningham finished second in team scoring last season with 44 points in 53

games and led the Kings with 26 goals. His speed and tenacious checking abilities and his scoring touch around the net caught the eyes of U.S college scouts and he committed over the summer to Merrimack College in Andover, Mass. That’s supposed to start next season but there’s a good chance his scholarship and his business studies at Merrimack will be deferred to 2022 now that the NCAA has granted an extra year of eligibility to its winter sport athletes who play in 2020-21. That would be good news for Kings fans who won’t get to see Cunningham in the prime of his junior career except for what they see on their computer screens on webcasts from the hub in Chilliwack over the next six weeks.

The Kings haven’t played since the league was shut down November, after they played seven exhibition games. Four of those games were against the Merritt Centennials, who are grouped in the Chilliwack pod with the Spruce Kings and Chiefs The three teams will face each other 10 teams in a season which ends May 9, with a tournament likely to follow which would involve the teams with the best record in each of the five pods. Cunningham says the Spruce Kings will be significantly improved over the 2019-20 edition, which won just 18 of 58 games.

“I think we’re an experienced team with

a lot of talent, a lot of young talent too,” he said. “Our rookies work their butts off in practice and we’re going to be a hard group to play against this year I think we can be one of the top teams, if not the best team in the league.”

In the extended off-season, Cunningham has had more practice time than he’s ever had in his hockey career and he’s taken advantage of that time to perfect all elements of his game, but especially his skating and his shot. His goal is score 20 goals in 20 games and he’ll start the season on the top line with centre Carter Cochrane and right winger Andrew Seaman.

“I think I’ve developed a pretty good shot, just changing the angles and pushing pucks and shooting in stride, there’s so much more I didn’t really know until this year, where I really tried to learn it in-depth,” said Cunningham “Alex (head coach Evin) gave me a chart and all but two of my goals (last season) were outside the dots from the goal line, so hopefully I can pot three or four from the shooting area outside the house.

“Finally we’re actually going to play, I think everyone on the team feels fortunate that we’re playing this year,” said Cunningham. “We’ve worked hard, and we haven’t taken any days off, we’ve practiced every day basically and now we get to show what we’ve done and we’re looking good.”

Remote/Mobile Division is EXPLODING

We arelooking forhigh quality HEOTrainers with prior experienceinasupervisory,ortrainer role

Minimum 10 years’ experienceinavariety of sectors preferred. Must be proficient and experienceinall machine typeslisted, Excavator –Loader –Dozer-Grader-ArticulatedRock Truck –Rubber TireBackhoe

Flexible contract available.Work as little or as much as possible throughout WesternCanada

Contract Fees based on experience–PaysWell Housing Provided

Contract available immediately in the Smithers area

Send coverletterand resume to careers@iheschool.com, please use Remote in the subject line

CUNNINGHAM

JUNIOR TEAMMATES RETURN TO THEIR HOCKEY ROOTS

TED CLARKE

It was just like old times for Ryan Howse and Brandon Manning, together at the rink again playing hockey.

Last week and again this week, they’re teaching kids some of the finer points of the game.

The longtime friends, who first got to know each other as nine and 10-year-old atom teammates playing in the Prince George Minor Hockey Association, laced up their skates last Monday as guest instructors for the Northern Ice Sports multi-sport spring camp at the newly-christened Chad Staley Memorial Arena.

Until this hockey season, Howse and Manning hadn’t skated together since they were on the verge of turning pro, playing in the Western Hockey League with the Chilliwack Bruins.

Howse joined the Bruins in 2008 as a 16-year-old after he helped the Prince George Spruce Kings get to the RBC Cup national junior A final at the end of the previous season and he played four full seasons as a left winger in Chilliwack before the franchise shifted to Victoria and became the Royals. Selected third overall in the 2006 WHL bantam draft, Howse was the first-ever pick for the expansion Bruins, who joined the WHL that year. He was drafted into the NHL three years later by the Calgary Flames in 2009, chosen in the third round, 74th overall, and scored 51 goals and 83 points in his final junior season as a 19-year-old. He ended up playing two years of pro hockey in the AHL and ECHL before he retired in 2013. Howse got into coaching in 2015 and now serves as head coach of the Cariboo Cougars 15U team.

The Northern Ice camps were scheduled while the kids were off school for spring break.

“The biggest thing is you want them to enjoy it, especially in a year like this where there’s not a lot of games but I think there’s a lot of opportunity to reach out and work on specific things and mainly keep a smile on everyone’s face and be productive,” said the 29-year-old Howse. “The best part about it is you get to do things you normally wouldn’t do in a regular year We just need something positive to come out of this experience for the kids and we think we have the right people in place to do that.”

Located at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club, the Staley rink is 125 feet long and 55 feet wide, about two-thirds as big as a regular rink.

“This is perfect because you’re touching the puck a lot, you’re always moving and you’re not spread out,” said Howse “It’s a little tighter but it’s perfect because you’ve got to make those decisions quick. Especially for

Kids in the U13 division at the Northern Ice Sports multi-sport spring camp stretch out their muscles after a morning hockey skills workout with Ryan Howse, left, and Brandon Manning.

the younger group, you get lot out of it.”

Former Spruce King forward Sam Muchalla is also one of the camp hockey instructors. Muchalla was a high-scoring winger in his three seasons with the Spruce Kings before he went on to play college hockey at Northern Michigan. The camp hockey staff also included Ty Edmonds, a former Prince George Cougar goalie, who works with Howse on the Cariboo Cougars and Chase Astorino, the Cariboo Cats’ strength and conditioning coach. All five coaches were conducting off-ice seminars for the kids in the camp.

“The things I would do to have this at a young age, you wouldn’t get me off this,” said Howse. “I did a pro-D day camp with Brandon about a month ago and that was the first time we’d been on the ice together in a camp, and with me coaching now and him having this year off this kind of made sense We kind of feed off each other, it goes really smoothly on the ice. I was the first pick in that expansion area and I stayed with that (Chilliwack) team until it ended and to do it with one of my best friends from Prince George, we were basically inseparable for the four years we spent in Chilliwack. And now to give back and share our experience, you never know who’s out here and who will one day play in the Western Hockey League of the BCHL.”

Manning went undrafted at the WHL and NHL levels but has turned his skills as a defenceman into a professional career that’s stretched over nine seasons He played his 17-yearold season with the Spruce Kings and joined Howse and the Bruins in the 2008 WHL playoffs, then played three full seasons in Chilliwack, finishing his junior career as a 20-year-old in 2010-11 with 21 goals and 53 points in 53 games. He broke into the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers and has

played 255 NHL games for the Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks and Edmonton Oilers, collecting 14 goals and 34 assists for 48 points in his career. Manning was a free agent after last season but declined the offers he received, choosing to stay in Prince George while he and his fiancée Shea-Marie await the birth of their first baby

Manning knows how valuable hockey schools were in his own development and he’s always wanted to get involved in teaching the game to share his knowledge with the kids.

“Obviously I’ve always kind of put me career first in the summer and I have had some opportunity to jump on the ice with groups, here and there, but with the off-season being so short it’s tough when you come home,” Manning said. “You have friends to see, family to see, training and getting ready for training camp so I’ve kind stayed away from the on-ice stuff.

“This year, with taking the year off, we kind of had the opportunity with Mike and Chris (Northern Ice owners Peterson and Hunter) and the new rink to do some stuff Me and Sam were talking about doing something like this for years and we had this opportunity with Ryan so for the three of us to get out here and start something is pretty cool.”

At 30, Manning is still close to the prime of his career as a hockey player and he knows there are pro teams who could utilize the services of a hard-nosed defenceman with plenty of experience tracking down the best shooters in the world.

“Watching some of the guys now I’m finally starting to miss hockey, a year without playing, and we’ll what we have this summer and we have to jump over to Europe we’ll weigh that option,” he said. “But with the baby coming we’ll just play it by ear and if hockey’s over it’s over, and if not, we’ll see what we can do.”

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 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 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 Anymaterialreceivedbeforeoratthepublichearingwillbecome 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

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

FORT ST. JAMES HISTORY BOOK CONNECTS

SCOTTISH READER TO LOCAL AUTHORS

CHRISTINE HINZMANN

When a woman from Oban, Scotland, came to BC in 2010 to see the Winter Olympics, she visited a second-hand shop in Victoria and picked up a book about Fort St. James history, thinking there might be a Scottish connection to the town.

“I wanted to browse in the second-hand shop, I often do that at home and felt it would hold a more personal souvenir of the area,” Lauren Fair, the latest owner of the book, explained.

During the years since 2010, Fair moved several times and after getting married and having two children, she finally unpacked the box that contained the book.

That’s when she found a letter from Joyce to Wayne placed between the pages of the history book and now she wants to see what she can find out about the letter and the people in it.

“I found the letter and felt bad I had it - maybe that wasn’t meant to be given away - but equally loved it more for that,” Fair said.

The book is called A Walk Through Time, published by the Friends of the Fort St. James Historic Site Society to celebrate the community’s 200th anniversary.

Fair said she looked up the society on

Facebook to see what she could find out.

Then she took another step.

The clue to the identity of Joyce and Wayne was that Barbara Robin was mentioned in the letter as Joyce’s co-author of a section of the book that Joyce had sent to Wayne as a gesture of gratitude for support and encouragement he had shown

her in the past.

Barbara Robin is a local author who wrote I Should Have Married A Cowboy in 2017 and was interviewed by The Citizen when it was released.

When Fair did some research on Robin, she found the article online and reached out to the Citizen.

“Being a photographer and often in touch with journalists I thought that you may be likely to be interested,” Fair said in an email conversation.

To unravel the mystery of how the book found its way to Vancouver Island to be scooped up by Fair in a second-hand shop, The Citizen reached out to Robin. Not only is she still in contact with Joyce Helweg, the author of the letter, but the two have been best friends for years and check in with each other every night by telephone.

Helweg and Robin both said it was important to make sure the history of Fort St. James was not lost and, as they were both writers, the decision to co-author a piece in the book was easy

When Helweg and Robin decided to join forces, they spent the winter of 2005-2006 together talking to the elders of Fort St. James to hear about the history of some of the older buildings that stood the test

of time.

Helweg offered some insight into why she sent the book along to Wayne.

Helweg, who has lived in Fort St. James since 1952, understood how much rural communities were underserved at times and when she decided to become a notary public to serve her community, Wayne Braid, who was executive officer of the Notary Foundation of BC, mentored her through the process. Helweg’s appreciation for his guidance is what inspired gifting the book.

When the Citizen contacted Braid, he said he donated the book to his local second-hand store.

“As I do with most of my books, to tell you the truth,” Braid said, who was amazing that the book had made its way to Scotland.

Braid said he knew Helweg would feel the same way about how the book went on its own adventure.

“I wouldn’t want her to think that I gave away her book that she so kindly wrote a note to me about. I just appreciated Joyce so much - she was a great notary and she was so down-to-earth and so willing to help people.”

Braid said Helweg was a notary for all the right reasons - to help her community.

When Helweg heard the book and letter had made it all the way to Scotland, she said nothing surprises her any more.

Helweg said she enjoyed co-authoring the section of the book about historic homes in Fort St. James with Robin.

“We were each other›s comma policeone was putting too many in and one was taking too many out,” Helweg laughed at the recollection.

Helweg said she’s happy to connect with the new owner of the book and with Helweg’s permission The Citizen passed along her email address to Fair.

Helweg has written two other books A Change in Direction and Bucked Off.

Bucked Off is the book she wrote most recently about her life with her husband, John, before and during their 44-year marriage and then about her grief and healing journey after he unfortunately died unexpectedly in 2014.

Lauren Fair is seen here with her family in Oban, Scotland.

CNC MAKES FACULTY CUTS

Based on student demand, the College of New Caledonia has reduced its faculty by laying off three, while seven others accepted early retirements or voluntary severance.

Over the last four years, the college saw a 33 per cent increase in full time faculty positions due to demand when new programs were introduced.

In the December quarterly report, it was reported the college employed 256 full time faculty members

“While we regret having to issue any layoff notices, we are committed to working with the affected individuals and the Faculty Association to determine what options may be available,” said Chad Thompson, vice president, academic.

CNC has added positions in accounting and finance, business management, tourism and hotel management, human resources management, diagnostic medical sonography, nursing and civil engineering technology while filling new ongoing faculty positions.

WestJet adds flight

WestJet announced 11 new domestic routes on Friday, including one offering direct service between Prince George and Abbotsford International Airport.

The new service is expected to start on June 25, and will fly twice weekly on Fridays and Sundays

“As we look to the coming months with cautious optimism, we know our restart agenda will be pivotal to Canada’s economic recovery,” WestJet president and CEO Ed Sims said in a press release. “Stimulating air travel benefits all Canadians and supports those hardest hit; with one in every 10 Canadian jobs tied to travel and tourism, the ripple effect benefits our whole country.”

Earlier last week, the airline announced it would resume suspended service to Atlantic Canada and Quebec Eight of the new routes connect cities including Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon and Ottawa to popular B.C tourism destinations in the Okanagan and Vancouver Island.

“We are at an inflection point; one that is buoyed by the rollout of vaccines, months of learning how to take appropriate precautions, and a view to Canada’s beautiful summer months that allows us to spend more time outdoors,” Sims said. “If Canadians were to shift two-thirds of their planned international-leisure travel spend towards domestic tourism, it would help sustain 150,000 jobs and accelerate recovery by one year, all while seeing what Canada has to offer.”

Strip mall in works

A Kelowna-based developer is looking to build a retail centre near Boundary Road and Highway 97. Information released by Troika Developments shows the planned Caribou Crossing strip mall set back from the highway and Boundary Road, with access off of Boundary Avenue. Construction of Phase 1 of the three-phase development was expected this spring, opening in late 2021 or early 2022, according to information on the company’s website. A spokesperson for the company did not return the Citizen’s request for comment.

Phase one of the development was expected to include a gas station, convenience store, and drive-thru restaurants or other commercial stores. Restaurants, a grocery store, hotel, and professional services were listed as potential tenants for Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the project. The project is expected to serve the roughly 14,600 vehicles per day passing by on Highway 97

NOTICEOFNOMINATION PERIOD COMMISSIONER, BEAR LAKE LOCAL COMMUNITY

Public notice is hereby given to the electors of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George that aBy-Election will be held on Saturday,June 5, 2021, to elect two commissioners for the Bear Lake Local Community for the completion of afour year term of office terminating in October,2022

Nominations will be received by the Chief Election Officer or Deputy Chief Election Officer as follows:

In person by appointment, Mail or other delivery Service

155 George Street, Prince George, BC V2L 1P8

By Fax To: 250-563-7520

By Email To: election@rdffg.bc.ca

From: 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 20, 2021

To:4:00p.m. on Friday, April 30, 2021

Schedule atime to drop offin person: 1-800-667-1959

From: 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 20, 2021

To:4:00p.m. on Friday, April 30, 2021

Originals of Faxed or Emailed nomination documents must be received by the Chief Election Officer by 5:00 p.m.onFriday, May 7, 2021

Nomination documents areavailable online at www.rdffg.bc.ca or at the following locations by appointment from April14, 2021 to the close of the nomination period, as follows:

Regional District Office,155 George Street, Prince George, BC Office Hours: Monday to Friday,8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Phone: 1-800-667-1959

Bear Lake Community Commission Office,353 Grizzly Avenue, Bear Lake, BC Office Hours: Monday,Wednesday and Friday,9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Phone: 250-972-4488

THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF NOMINATIONS IS 4:00 P.M. FRIDAYAPRIL 30, 2021

QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICE

Aperson is qualified to be nominated, elected, and to hold office as Bear Lake Local Community Commissioner if they meet the following criteria:

•Canadian Citizen;

•18years of age or older on general voting day Saturday,June 5, 2021;

•resident of British Columbia for at least 6months immediately beforethe day nomination papers are filed; and

•not disqualified by the Local Government Act or any other enactment from being nominated for,being elected to or holding the office, or be otherwise disqualified by law

CAMPAIGN PERIOD EXPENSE LIMITS

In accordance with the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, for the 2021 By-Election, the following expense limits for candidates during the campaign period apply:

Local Community Commissioner $5,000

THIRD PARTYADVERTISING LIMITS

In accordance with the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act, for the 2021 By-Election, the following thirdparty advertising limits apply:

Local Community Commissioner

$750

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on the nomination process,please contact:

Karla Jensen, Chief Election Officer (250) 960-4444

Dayna Hegel, Deputy Chief Election Officer (250) 960-4415

Email: election@rdffg.bc.ca

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION on the campaign period expense limits and thirdparty advertising limits,please contact Elections BC:

Toll-Free Phone: 1-855-952-0280

Email: electoral.finance@elections.bc.ca Website: www.elections.bc.ca/lecf

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

Anymaterialreceived beforeoratthepublichearingwillbecome publicinformation.

K.

Jensen

Chief

Election Officer

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

Seniors share vaccine experiences, concerns

CHRISTINE HINZMANN

As more and more local seniors get their COVID-19 vaccinations, they are also speaking out about their concerns with the process and the vaccine itself.

Some seniors say they called to book an appointment but were asked to call at another time Others said the walk from the Four Seasons parking lot to the front entrance of the Civic Centre was challenging for those with mobility, while others are concerned about the side effects they’ve heard others are experiencing after receiving the vaccine.

Former weekly Citizen columnist Kathy Nadalin, 73, called on March 21 and was booked for an April 6 afternoon appointment.

Nadalin also sent out an email to friends and acquaintances in her age group, telling them now was the time to book.

Responses she received were those of frustration as several people who called the next day were told there were no available spots

And for those reluctant to get the shot because of side effects, Nadalin says husband Lino has the best saying when it comes to things like that.

“Don’t ask your lawyer to talk about the mechanics of your car,” she laughed. “Ask the experts.”

So we did.

Northern Health responded by email to a request for comment and advice to help seniors navigate the system more easily.

“NH follows the BC Immunization plan, so anyone in a Phase 1 or 2 group is currently eligible and can continue to be booked into clinics. NH is still booking Phase 2 eligible groups (e.g., staff who work in shelters, supportive seniors housing, and other identified congregate settings; public and private professionals/workers who provide direct patient care in hospital, community-based, or home-based settings).”

The email continued by saying that Northern Health is taking a community approach to age eligibility

“We adjust age eligibility for calling in to do two things: (1) to manage the call volume at the call centre, and (2) to do our best to have the oldest people get their appointments first This is a challenging process, but it’s an effort to make sure appointments get filled by the oldest people first On rare occasions, appointments may fill based on the age criteria we set and the number of appointment/ clinics available. When that occurs, we add additional appointments and clinics before we expand the eligibility further.”

Northern Health warns some people may have to call back but they’re working on it.

“We are asking people for their patience; our goal is still to vaccinate everyone who wants to be vaccinated by July.”

Despite the complaint about the long walk from the parking lot to the main entrance of the Civic Centre, others leaving the building after having the vaccine said it was a positive experience.

Hazel Ozmun, 78, came with her husband Blain, 81, and said her daughter got the number for her and she had no problem with that process

Northern Health said they will also go outside of the specified age range to accommodate a couple so they can be vaccinated at the same time.

“We continue to ask people to call in on specific days based on age in order to minimize wait times on the call lines, and to ensure the older age ranges get the first appointments.”

The Ozmun’s appointment was only for Blain but when they both went in, Hazel made the request to get vaccinated too.

“You just go in and give them your care card number and you only wait for a few minutes and someone comes and takes you in and then you get a needle,” Hazel said Hazel said they weren’t worried about side effects.

“We were very happy to get in and get it,” Hazel said “Every little bit of prevention is great.”

Jim Reid, 82, and his wife Dale, 77, came out of the Civic Centre soon after the Ozmuns and shared that it took two hours to get through to make the appointment for Jim.

“And then I heard on TV that I could call for mine and when I tried I was told that Prince George wasn’t making any appointments,” Dale said. “I was told that twice on Monday and then once yesterday.”

When they got to the Civic Centre, Dale asked to be vaccinated at the same time because she is Jim’s caregiver and staff accommodated them

“They were lovely in there,” Dale said

When asked if they were concerned about side effects, Dale said she was more afraid of getting COVID-19 than she was of dealing with any side effects.

Another senior, however, is more worried about the vaccine.

Jindra Urbanic, 72, is concerned about how effective the vaccine will be if she has to wait up to four months for the follow-up shot.

“We recognize that some people may have questions about the vaccines,” Northern Health responded “Even if you only get the first dose, the vaccine is still about 80 per cent effective after two weeks. In the short term, one dose of the vaccine protects as well as two. A second dose probably gives you longer-lasting protection.”

Urbanic also raised concerns about side effects after some of her friends got the vaccine and complained of not feeling well.

“I have to wonder if the vaccine might make me sick enough to go into the hospital,” she said in a phone interview

“The vaccines are safe and they won’t make you sick, but there still may be side effects,” a Northern Health representative explained. “These might include soreness, redness and swelling at the spot where you got the injection; tiredness, headache, fever, chills, muscle or joint soreness; and nausea and vomiting. These reactions are mild and usually last one to two days About one in a million people can have a reaction called anaphylaxis. This may include hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the throat, tongue, or lips.”

That’s why Northern Health staff members ask people to wait 15 minutes before leaving after any vaccinations.

For more information visit https://immunizebc.ca/askus/questions/what-are-common-side-effects-covid-19-vaccineif-i-have-side-effect-do-i-need.

For real time updates on vaccine information visit the Northern Health website: https://www.northernhealth.ca/ health-topics/covid-19-vaccine-plan#communities

MORE VISITORS FOR SENIORS HOMES ALLOWED

ARTHUR WIILLIAMS

Provincial health officer Dr Bonnie Henry has announced changes to allow an increase in visitors to longterm care and assisted-living residents and some limited indoor religious services over the coming weeks.

The new rules for seniors home visitors will come into effect on April 1, Henry said.

“I’m very, very pleased that we can make some changes that will improve people’s quality of life,” Henry said. “There has been no group more adversely effected by this pandemic than our seniors.”

As of April 1, long-term care and assisted-living residents will no longer be required to have a single, designated social visitor, allowing for increased visits from friends and family.

Residents will be allowed to have visits from up to two adults and one child at

a time. Visitors will be allowed to visit residents in their rooms, without a staff member present to supervise.

Visitors will also be allowed to physically touch residents again, as long as infection control measures like masks and hand hygiene are in place, she said.

Distancing measures between residents will be relaxed as well, allowing more activities like communal dining to resume, she added

New residents moving into a facility will no longer be required to self-isolate for 14 days, and residents will be supported to go on outings outside the facility.

“I think this is an incredibly important step, that many families and individuals have been waiting for for a long time,”

Henry said

“It is likely that we will have more outbreaks in care homes if we allow more

people in.. But we can manage that risk, with the majority of residents and staff immunized.”

Social visits will continue to be suspended during COVID-19 outbreaks and visitors will still need to book in advance, wear masks, wash hands frequently and comply with other safety rules

Health Minister Adrian Dix said the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines to protect people in long-term care and assisted-living has been proven. In January, there were 49 COVID-19 outbreaks in seniors homes, as of Thursday there were only three.

“I am... moved at the idea that people will be able to visit again who weren’t able to visit. And touch each other again,” he said.

Meanwhile, a limited numbers of indoor religious services will be allowed between

March 28 and May 13, to allow the celebration of important holidays like Easter, Ramadan, Vaisakhi and Passover, Henry said.

“It is a trial period, if you will If conditions require us to revisit this, we will,” Henry said. “(But) I have respect... and trust in our faith communities.”

Indoor gatherings will be limited to a maximum of 50 people, or 10 per cent of building capacity, whichever is lower, she said.

Other safety measures, similar to those in place before indoor faith services were suspended, will be required, she said.

Indoor gatherings in homes with people outside your immediate household will continue to be against the rules, she said.

“This is not the year to have Passover suppers, it is not the year to have Ramadan gatherings with your family,” she said.

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

Dale and Jim Reid got their vaccine at the Civic Centre last week.

MOVIE-MAKING DISASTER AVERTED

TED CLARKE

When a freak winter thunderstorm descended from the heavens and wreaked havoc on the A Great North Christmas movie set at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park last month, threatening to destroy the pivotal Christmas grotto scene that had taken all day to set up, cast and crew scrambled to shield the wind and hail and hang on to those decorations to keep the holiday scene mostly intact.

Using ornaments and displays usually reserved for the indoor Festival of Trees, the park bandstand was decked out in finery and director James Douglas was extremely pleased with what his camera crew captured in a day of shooting that lasted into the wee hours of the night.

The next morning, when producer Norm Coyne went to review the scenes crucial to telling the story of A Great North Christmas, to his horror he saw nothing but a blank screen. The solid state drive (SSD) card used to store all that footage had crashed and Coyne’s heart sank with the sickening feeling all those scenes might have to be re-shot.

Coyne made a few calls and found a computer tech (Justin Lane of DDR2 Computer Solutions Inc.) willing to come into his Prince George office to try to retrieve the lost data. Douglas, Coyne’s Barker Street Cinema partner, had another packed day of filming ahead of him and he was purposely kept out of the loop

“Everybody who knew what was going on from the get-go made a pact among

themselves not to tell me until they had figured it out because they knew it would destroy me and I wouldn’t be able to concentrate properly on the following day’s shoot,” said Douglas.

“They so desperately wanted to protect me because we had two really big days in a row and one of them was the grotto stuff. It had the most moving parts and we had done so much setup. That was the day of the hail and rain and the hail storm and the thunder and lightning and things blew down and we managed to salvage it all and got some amazing footage, and that was the drive that got corrupted.”

It took five-and-a-half hours but it was worth it; all the scenes were restored.

“The universe smiled upon us,” said Douglas. “They were able to get it fixed

Protest demands action to save old-growth forests

TED CLARKE

Old growth forests, as they exist in British Columbia, are an increasingly-rare species-preserving resource living under the threat of our current forest harvest practices and once they’re gone there’s no going back.

Those big trees and their ability to pull carbon out of the atmosphere and the shelter they provide to unique lifeforms will be lost forever, according to UNBC plant ecologist Art Fredeen, who expressed his concerns on Friday afternoon at the Rebellion of Forests protest next to the Wood Innovation & Design Centre.

“In Canada because we’re a young country, the oldgrowth forest is almost always primary forest that’s never been touched, it’s not secondary growth that we’re trying to get to, but the problem is our forests don’t grow that quickly here in the Interior,” said Fredeen “So we’re still going after primary forest and there’s so little left In the really productive impressive big forests, there’s only three per cent of that left now in B.C.

“Let’s get away from this thought old-growth primary forest is renewable - it is a non-renewable resource. When Indigenous people lived on this land the pressures on that primary forest were very low, but we’ve exploded the population and we have mechanized forestry now that can level forests in the snap of a finger It’s a different time now We used to live in harmony with the land but the way our system is set up, we can’t. So we have to stop logging that old forest. There’s so little left, leave it alone.”

Friday’s event was organized by Conservation North to try to spur the B.C. NDP government to live up to its campaign promises before the fall election and follow through on recommendations of an independent study to review the province’s old-growth forest practices.

The report - A New Future for Old Forests - suggests the government engage with Indigenous leaders and organizations to work together with labour, industry and environmental groups to develop strategies and engage in forest management practices that will conserve biodiversity.

Released in September, the document also calls for development deferral of nine old growth areas encompassing 353,000 hectares of B.C forest

But logging continues unabated in a spine of oldgrowth spruce, cedar and hemlock in the temperate inland rainforest areas along the Rocky Mountain trench east of Prince George, and that concerns Conservation North director Michelle Connolly

“It’s been six months since John Horgan made a commitment during the election to implement the recommendations of his own old growth panel. It’s a really readable report that has what they want to do and how to implement it and he hasn’t really paid attention to it,” said Connolly.

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO Lyla and Evelyn Logan duck into the shelter of a cardboard tree used as a prop during the Rebellion of the Forests protest in downtown Prince George Friday afternoon.

and all of our files were recovered, so then they were able to tell me that night and all I could do was practically weep with joy for these people who had spent so much time during their own extremely stressful circumstance to save me that stress as well It is a shining example of how hard this local crew worked to make this thing happen.

“It would have been a real morale killer, I think, for a lot of people, but instead this circumstance turned into a real morale booster for everybody.”

Two weeks of filming wrapped up March 13 for most of the cast and crew. The movie will be in the can by May 31 and Prince George will be hosting a screening event likely in November It will be available on one of the major streaming platforms in the weeks leading up to Christmas

AiMHi opens housing to homeless

MARK NIELSEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Opening a new housing complex in a global pandemic wasn’t part of the plan when AiMHi - the Prince George Association for Community Livingfinally settled on what to do with a piece of property in the Lakewood area it had owned for many years.

However, it was a big concern at AiMHi that people with developmental disabilities

were starting to show up in the region’s homeless population in recent years.

The preparatory work for the housing project had all been done by the time COVID-19 struck, and 2020 had already been settled on as a good year to make it happen.

The non-profit organization went ahead with building five small two-bedroom homes to add to AiMHi’s diverse housing services. “And now, there are some very

excited people moving into those homes this month,” said Melinda Heidsma, AiMHi’s executive director.

AiMHi is one of B.C.’s largest providers of “community living” services. In B.C., these date back more than 60 years to a major shift in thinking around how best to support people with developmental disabilities.

Big B.C. institutions like Woodlands and Tranquille, where people once had to live

far from their families and home communities, were phased out, replaced by a new community-based system of support.

“I think we’ll be doing do a lot more in housing in the future,” Heidsma said. “Five years ago, you never saw people in the community-living sector becoming homeless, with no place to go but a shelter.

That’s something that simply can’t be allowed to happen for people with developmental disabilities.”

MORE THAN EVER, HALL MUST RESIGN

In January, a Citizen editorial called for Mayor Lyn Hall’s resignation after it was revealed that the new downtown parkade cost $22 million more than it was supposed to and additional cost overruns may have been approved without city council oversight

It simply doesn’t matter if he knew what was going on or not.

If he didn’t know, he was asleep at the wheel and failed in his duties as the only full-time city council employee, warranting his resignation.

And if he did know and didn’t take action, starting by informing the rest of city council, he failed his fellow councillors and local taxpayers, also cause for resignation.

Later in January, emails obtained by The Citizen through a Freedom of Information request showed Hall was informed of problems with the parkade budget in an email on July 4, 2018.

“Heads-up. We’ll keep you informed as we learn more,” then city manager Kathleen Soltis wrote in her email to Hall.

A day earlier, A&T Development had contacted the city with concerns and provided a more detailed budget analysis the following day showing the true cost of the parkade would be about $20 million, not the $12 million originally budgeted.

Normally quick to return calls from reporters, it took Hall a week to respond to the email revelation

When he did speak, it was to say he didn’t receive any further followup from Soltis, despite what her email suggested, and that he had been in the dark as much as the rest of city council about the parkade cost overruns until the whopping final price tag of $34 million came to light in

December 2020.

Hall also announced an internal investigation into the matter

Now emails obtained by The Citizen in a second Freedom of Information request suggest Hall not only knew about the parkade cost overruns but may have attended a meeting between A&T Development’s Frank Quinn and then general manager of planning and development, and currently acting deputy city manager, Ian Wells.

“How did things go with A&T on Friday?” Soltis asked Wells in an email on July 9, 2018

“It went very well,” Wells replied via email, 33 minutes later. “We indicated that they need to continue to get the best prices, and that City could not change the partnering agreement without Council Approval. Frank thought (email redacted).”

Later than day, Soltis replied: “Thanks, Ian. I talked with Lyn last night and he generally mentioned Frank’s advice to me.”

Three red flags pop up in that email exchange.

First, who is the “we” Wells is referring to in his response to Soltis?

Second, it now looks like the agreement with A&T was changed without council approval.

Third, and most damning for Hall, Soltis informs Wells that she spoke to the mayor the night before and he was the one who told her what “Frank” said in the meeting.

The city sent a less redacted version of this email exchange late Monday afternoon, along with the mayor’s calendar from July 6, 2018.

The response from Wells went on to say: “Frank thought that Lyn needed to show some leadership regarding our salaries.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Let’s win it together

Since Prince George is the gateway to Northern British Columbia, it is not uncommon to meet many celebrities.

The Royal Family has come to Prince George many times Along with other boy scouts at Fort George Park, I chatted with the future king.

At the Prince George Coliseum, I rushed up to Andre the Giant and got pushed by other boys, to be trapped behind him. My head got stuck between Andre’s huge buttocks and the Coliseum hockey boards. At his rear-end, my face was glued to his wet, gym suit until my brother pulled me free. At the Inn of the North, I stood with a

long line up of women, to meet Premier Bill Vander Zalm I got him to write out “fantastic” beside his name.

Like many others, I had access at the Dushess Park gym to the NDP’s Dave Barrett, who braved questions from a large rowdy crowd.

After a long delay, Pierre Trudeau came running into the old, dark, jam-packed Civic Centre like a football player, high-fiving many people (including mine) hands at a time.

In the new Civic Centre, I greeted Liberal leader Gordon Campbell at the entrance By then, I was a seasoned handshaker and I grabbed his hand, refusing to let go,

Frank sent him a text offering to help.”

City spokesperson Michael Kellett (still waiting to hear from the mayor himself) also told The Citizen that this email exchange between Soltis and Wells was actually about “management salaries, not parkade costing - despite the subject heading” and the city “needed time today to obtain necessary consents to disclose the redacted information.”

Well, that just poses more questions. If the Frank in question is not Frank Quinn of A&T but actually Coun Frank Everitt (or some other mystery Frank), why didn’t Kellett just say so in his response?

And why would Wells abruptly switch to talking about Everitt when answering a question about how the meeting with A&T went?

And if Wells still means Frank Quinn, why is a Kamloops developer giving Hall advice on how to deal with a controversy over senior management salaries at the City of Prince George?

And why was the information redacted in the first place?

And why wasn’t the email included with the first FOI request, considering both the subject heading and the question in the original Soltis email is clearly about the parkade, with no mention of management salaries whatsoever?

All of this sounds like Who’s On First?, the classic Abbott and Costello comedy routine.

But clear away the fog and it appears more than ever that as early as July 2018, Hall knew the parkade would cost far more than $12 million

That’s more than three months before

the last municipal election and nearly two-and-a-half years before the rest of city council and Prince George taxpayers would learn the truth

If that isn’t enough to motivate the mayor to tender his resignation, here are two more reasons.

First, this second batch of emails released to The Citizen clearly show multiple staff members in several city departments knew the parkade budget would cost far more than $12 million

It simply defies belief that the mayor was in the dark for years in his corner office on the fifth floor of City Hall about a fact that seems to have been internal common knowledge.

Second, the email exchange between Soltis and Wells about how the meeting with A&T Project Development went was only released in the second Freedom of Information request, even though it had the same subject heading - “Fw: Parkade Prince George Costing” - as emails released through the first FOI request.

In other words, someone at City Hall either accidentally or intentionally didn’t include the Soltis/Wells emails in the first FOI request.

And just like January, a mayor who previously loved chatting to reporters suddenly isn’t returning phone calls requesting an interview

If this is all some sort of misunderstanding or reporting that is missing key information, the Citizen has given Mayor Hall every opportunity to set the record straight He has not.

So, once again, Mayor Hall must resign - Editor-in-chief Neil Godbout

until he answered my question: “When you become the premier will you sell the province out?”

He immediately whipped his hand out of mine and happily shouted back: “Not on your life”, as he was swept into a less than spirited full house.

A year later, he sold BC Rail under a scandalous curtain.

A year before the pandemic arrived, I was absolutely thrilled to meet Bernie Sanders at a fund-raising event just outside of Burlington, Vermont.

He literally hugged many of his 150 enthusiastic supporters.

When it was my turn to get a picture

with Bernie, I told him “he was my hero.” In a low whisper, he replied: “We will win it, together”.

Prince George attracts many famous hockey players for a visit and to meet fans. I have come across many of them from the massive quite Bobby Hull, to the happy go lucky Eddie Shack showing off his Stanley Cup ring

The pandemic has literally stopped the art of meeting anyone new.

But to keep my hopes up, Bernie’s super charged positive outlook - “we will win it together” - gives me peace

Mark Clements Saint Lambert, Quebec

More effort needed to fight racism

Many Canadians know Jeremy Lin for the spark he brought onto the court when the Toronto Raptors won the National Basketball League championship in 2019. Lin came to public attention once again due to his response to an anti-Asian slur thrown his way during a recent game. He didn’t respond by simply beating the other player on the court as he has so many times before.

He spoke out and he took action He had to Enough is enough.

There has been a significant rise in reported racist acts toward people who look Asian over the past year and many of the attacks have been violent The reasons for this are complex, but the truth is racism toward Asians is nothing new For years, anti-Asian policies were enshrined in our laws, people lost their property and were unjustly imprisoned and ethnic slurs were commonplace.

Lin’s recent comments made me ques-

LESSONS IN LEARNING GERRY CHIDIAC

tion how I had acted in the past Had I done enough for my Asian neighbours, and especially for my students? Fortunately, the magic of social media has allowed me to re-establish contact with many of these important people in my life and ask them directly

Early in my career, I taught in a small high school in the United States where almost all of our students were visible minorities, the majority of them being Vietnamese It was a wonderful place to work. Despite still being on the sunny side of 30, I was given a great deal of responsibility and the freedom to put my ideals into practice. As now, I believed in regular exercise, that everyone could learn, and in the equality and infinite potential of each person. I taught, tutored our at-risk

students, coached and was the assistant athletic director.

Though the school was diverse, every culture and every person was celebrated. One visitor described us as a salad, where everyone mixed but everyone maintained their distinct flavour. We celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Guadeloupe, Martin Luther King Day and the Lunar New Year. I was even given the opportunity to introduce the Canadian sport of broomball as an intramural activity and we shared a lot of laughter.

When we competed in athletics with other schools, things sometimes got challenging and, quite frankly, it was the privileged white schools that gave us the hardest time. My players were honest with me about what was said and I told them what Jeremy Lin’s coaches must have said: “They’re trying to get into your head because they know you’re better than they are. Be the bigger person. Smile. Hold your head high and let your ability do the talking.”

Was that enough though?

I went to the school’s alumni page to find out. The response I got from the point guard on my basketball team floored me: “We let our actions on AND off the court and fields do the talking. If a player on the opposing team fell, we helped them up regardless of the color of their skin Sure, some may have heard racist remarks and what not, but we didn’t let it bother us We only hoped the ref called a fair game. Life never came with instructions! Thank you all for showing us how to be better teens, and humans along the way to adulthood!!”

Now my students are older than I was when I taught them They have families of their own and are the movers and shakers, the people building a better and more equitable world

I don’t know if we can ever do enough to end racism

I agree with Jeremy Lin, that one can be the bigger person and still tell someone that their words and actions are unacceptable. It is possible to forgive while holding others accountable for their wrongdoing.

In fact, that is what we have to do.

We keep failing The Marshmallow Test

In the 1960s, Walter Mischel, a Stanford psychologist, conducted a fairly simple test. Put a marshmallow in front of a child and tell them if they can go 15 minutes without eating the first one, they will get a second one. Then leave the room.

It is called appropriately enough The Marshmallow Test and the intent was to show that if a child has sufficient willpower to resist the temptation of immediate gratification, then it will pay dividends down the line – at school and eventually at work. Less than a third of the children were able to hold out for the full 15 minutes.

The experiment has since been repeated and some of the results questioned, particular with regard to the role played by socio-economic status and parental education. But the underlying principle, most people seek instant gratification even at the cost of losing a larger reward, has been shown to be pervasive.

From an evolutionary point of view, this makes sense. Our ancestors are those who were successful in foraging. With no guarantee of a reward at some future point, delayed gratification didn’t make a lot of sense. Eating what you have and worrying about tomorrow, tomorrow, was the key

LETTER

Helping the homeless

I have read several letters to The Prince George Citizen concerning the homeless, and yes it is something to be concerned about There have been letters about building tiny homes for them.

I talked to Mayor Hall last fall and he told me that BC Housing was going in where the present location is for NR Motors and they

AS I SEE IT TODD WHITCOMBE

to survival. I mention this experiment for two reasons. One is that scientists have tried out The Marshmallow Test on a wide variety of species and many have passed with a greater success rate than human children. Indeed, the most recent was an announcement that cuttlefish pass The Marshmallow Test.

But the second, and more important, is our present crises. Take the COVID-19 pandemic as one example.

This past week, the mayor of Miami was pleading with “spring breakers” to party responsibly, maintain social distancing, wear masks, and keep safe. And every night, it was more important for the crowds to gather and party than ensure their longterm health. Immediate gratification wins.

The same can be said for all sorts of gatherings in Canada and around the world. Vancouver police have busted up impromptu underground night clubs with 60 people crammed into downtown apartments. In London, crowds have rolled out

will be moving to a new site. B.C Housing will be coming in and I believe Renovating that old site for NR Motors. I would think there is asbestos in that building, so that would be the first thing to remove. There will be suites built for the homeless. They may just have a large room, with a bed, a bathroom, and a small living room, with a closet, and small storage space. I am not sure if they will have a kitchen, but they will need laundry facilities I don’t know if there will be a community

into the streets leading to riots with the police. In Naples, a large crowd protesting restrictions gathered in the central Piazza del Plebiscito and called for the governor to resign.

Most of those protesting or flouting the rules and laws claim they just want their life back. They want to be able to socialize, go out dancing, or go to the bar. Or they want their business back in operation

I have a great deal of sympathy for anyone trying to run a business under the present circumstances. And the sooner we get everyone vaccinated, the better But social distancing and other restrictions will be with us for longer than the vaccination campaign as the vaccine protects against the rampages of the illness but it doesn’t eliminate the virus from our population. New variants mean an annual COVID shot may become the new norm Being conscious of the capacity to pass on the pathogen will require changes in the way we do things. With regard to partying (and when did party become a verb?), this is just instant gratification. It is not necessary. It is not essential. Indeed, there are many healthier and better ways to engage socially And I know I am not going to convince anyone of that. Still, if a cuttlefish can delay gratification, surely so can adults

kitchen for them with tables and chairs. I think that would be an ideal thing for them to have, as some may not even be able to cook.

I don’t know about people donating Some may want to donate money to go towards getting the big items. For small items, there are many people in Prince George that can sew tea towels, and many people who can knit or crotchet dishcloths, something small but needed.

Some people may want to go buy towels,

What is a night of partying compared to a lifetime of good health?

It is not just the pandemic where we have to take a long view, though Consider the whole issue of climate change. Even the Conservative Party of Canada recognizes the changing climate is a real issue although a motion reinforcing that view failed at their most recent convention. But what are we doing to address the issue?

We are still one of the top three countries in the world for carbon dioxide emissions on a per-capita basis. Yes, our contribution to the total is small – about two per cent of global emissions – but we are less than 0.5 per cent of the world’s population Put another way, if the rest of the world emitted carbon dioxide at the rate we do, the total global emissions would increase fourfold!

We still have politicians who argue we can’t do anything about it without hurting our economy. This is so patently absurd I don’t know where to begin but maybe that will just have to wait for another column. Suffice it to say, we can keep having the instant gratification provided by maintaining our current lifestyles but we will miss out on a better future in the years to come

We can eat our marshmallow now but I would argue it is be better to wait and have more marshmallows in the future.

facecloths, laundry detergent, etc One really should contact Mayor Hall on that Issue, as he may be able to advise as to what to do.

It is not fun to be approached and have a male walk until he was right in front of me.

I just told him: “You can walk over there and let me go to where I want to go.”

He told me to respects his elders. Was that frightening for me?

You bet it was.

Kay Wendland, Prince George

Endless adventures for local senior

When Lorraine Knight was a young girl in Prince George, there were wooden sidewalks and if her sharp eyes spotted a glint of silver below, it was the work of seconds to pry up a plank and retrieve the treasure, if she had a hammer. You could buy a lot with a nickel back then!

Upon graduating from high school, Lorraine won a scholarship for Normal School and headed for Vancouver for teacher training. When she returned, she went to work at Seymour School, now Ecole Franco-Nord A little later she took enough time to go to UBC for her librarian’s certificate There were few school libraries at that time, so she got to be a leader in creating those programs. They were ordering their books and figuring out how to teach their students everything a library represents. Lorraine never put a book on the shelf that she had not already read.

“The library programs we started in Prince George were important. We really worked hard with the children creating these programs. There had not been anything like them before.” Lorraine recalled “The principal used to ask me every day, ‘What are you doing?’ and I would invite him to sit in on my class to see what the children were learning. Librarians were the leaders then.”

In Grades 1 to 3, they would bring the children in and show them the books and let them take some home to read. In Grades 4 through 7, they taught their students how to research a topic, find the facts and put it together in a story or report. No cutting and pasting allowed! That was where Lorraine learned to be a research specialist Inspiring her students

FOCUS ON SENIORS

CATHERINE MILLS

to keep learning pushed her, too. And then she gave it all up for five years to go sailing with her husband and youngest son.

They went all the way down the west coast to Costa Rica. Lorraine had to learn to sail a boat and be a skipper. She was the designated lifeguard for the boat, so she earned all her swimming certificates, took first aid training, and learned to scuba dive.

“When I took my scuba diving course the guy, kept calling me Mrs. Knight. I finally said, ‘For god’s sake call me Lorraine!’ I was so buoyant I kept floating up to the top. They had to put lots of ballast on me to hold me under!”

The Knights sold everything except their house, which they kept and one of the older sons lived there. Their daughter was married and working, while the other son was in university. The rest of the family went sailing They bought a 48-foot ketch, arranged for correspondence courses for the son coming with them, and set off on a five-year adventure.

“I think that was when I really grew up. We had no ocean around us in Prince George, so I had to adapt to that.” Lorraine remembered. “When I made bread on the boat and it was so hot, they said, ‘what do you think you are doing? Just sit on the curb and eat from the Mexicans.’”

After reaching Costa Rica, Lorraine says they enjoyed the best key lime pie in the world before returning to Prince George.

Knight has written First Tracks, a book about the history of skiing in the Prince George area.

And no, she won’t tell me if she even has the recipe! When sailing was done, Lorraine resumed work with School District 57 as a librarian on call and got ready for the next adventure.

Lorraine says she liked to ski fast. When her children were growing up, they started at Tabor Mountain Like her, their sons loved skiing fast. When they started racing, it was quickly apparent that the runs at Tabor were not going to be long enough,

so they got together with other parents and investors to start the development at Purden Ski Hill.

Now at 80, her love of skiing and research inspired her to write a book called First Tracks, all about the history of skiing in Prince George. Lorraine continues to stay active, writing poetry and painting with watercolors, although she tells me her daughter is the true artist. She loves staying active and finding new challenges.

Pandemic offered tiny taste of tyranny

Ayear ago, those of us born after the Second World War in the free West had little experience of shortages and serious restrictions on our daily work and social lives. While the Canadian pandemic response is not the same as living in a socialist or tyrannical regime, the past year has given us a teeny bit of a taste.

For the purpose of this article, I am using the term socialist as defined in the Oxford online dictionary, based on the word socialism: “…. and that the government should own and control the main industries.” I do not include any country in the West as socialist Social programs by themselves do not make a country socialist, so please keep that in mind

It began with a run on toilet paper

Thanks to our mostly free, capitalist marketing system, which is able to respond quickly to market forces, the toilet-paper shortage was short-lived We had temporary shortages on meat, baking powder, yeast, flour, and sugar Later, gardening and building supply shelves became empty as people turned to working at home. In most

THINKING ALOUD TRUDY KLASSEN

cases, after a few weeks supply caught up, and at worst there have been limits on how many of one item could be purchased at one time. In socialist countries, shortages of all kinds are a common occurrence and black markets are often the only reliable suppliers.

Previously, the only lineups we had experienced were the ones for the newest blockbuster movies, sports events, Boxing Day sales, and non-emergency health care. Freezing in chilly spring weather last March and April, we waited outdoors in lineups, for our turn to shop for groceries. Again, lineups for bread in socialist countries are common and not due to a one-time event like a pandemic, but rather simply a function of unresponsive government-owned and operated market systems. While travel restrictions have mostly been voluntary (despite popular percep-

tion), most of us have cancelled vacations. Previously, the only closed borders Westerners heard about were in socialist or communist countries In 2020, air travel was down around 80-90 per cent across the country. Most Canadians have taken the “do not travel” aspect of public health announcements very seriously. Local and near tourism was the byword last summer Some politicians and government officials who had read the actual guidance on travel knew that it wasn’t illegal to travel, and did so. This outraged Canadians, who felt like conscientious schmucks, and seriously damaged the credibility of the voice of government and public health officials. Previously, some of us may have even looked enviously at some aspects of modern socialist countries Logically, central planning by a single party, without campaign signs and bothersome elections, seems like a more efficient way of governing. Beijing’s ease of building ring roads in their huge cities, and mega projects which are able to displace people without much fuss in order to make way, are, at least fleetingly, the dreams of planners everywhere.

However, as the past and even current

restrictions on our lives, on the availability of goods, and our freedom to travel show, government control in our lives and markets are not freeing The messiness and mistakes of the free market are still much better than the shortages, lineups, and restricted travel of socialist countries. Shortages have been temporary, lineups short-lived, and restrictions in travel will lift soon.

One stain on our reputation is how quickly otherwise civil people were to damage vehicles with out-of-province license plates and to call anyone opposed to vaccines, masks, or lockdowns “Covidiots.”

These disagreements should be civil and not resort to name-calling.

Freedom of expression and thought, and the inevitable disagreements that arise, are necessary for a free society to flourish. The primary tool for socialist countries and tyrants is neighbours and family that keep everyone in line by bullying each other into silence, and obedience. Let’s not give in to that urge.

For the sake of personal freedom, for the sake of ample toilet paper, let’s make our brush with tyranny a temporary inconvenience, not a permanent reality

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Lorraine

Front-line workers will be prioritized forcovid-19 vaccinations over the coming weeks.Vaccine appointments for priority-based workers will be coordinatedthrough employers Do not call into the call centre,please keep the phone lines open forage-based bookings

These front line workers include:

• Firstresponders (police, firefighters,emergency transport)

• K-12 educational staff

• Child carestaff

• Grocery storeworkers

• Postal workers

• Bylawand quarantine officers

• Manufacturing workers

• Wholesale/warehousing employees

• Staff living in congregate housing at places likeski hills

• Correctional facilitiesstaff

• Cross-border transport staff

• Workers in sectors or settings prioritized due to outbreak response

Learn more: www.gov.bc.ca/covidvaccine

Some people with certain health conditions areathigher-risk “clinically extremelyvulnerable”(cev). people in this group,aged 16-74, will be able to register for their covid-19 vaccine starting on march 29, 2021, oncethey receivetheir letter.

days with information on howtobook an appointment, beginning March 29, 2021. People who receivethis invitation letter must bring it with them to their vaccination appointment.

to book an appointmentand get your COVID-19 vaccine: http://gov.bc.ca/cevcovid

Thebest resourcesfor information continue to be the NorthernHealth website’sCOVID-19 Vaccination Plan page (northernhealth.ca/health-topics/covid-19-vaccine-plan), as well as local NorthernHealth CommunityFacebook groups. Northerners areencouragedtovisit the NorthernHealth websitefor details on their local appointmenteligibilityschedules –and to call to book COVID-19 appointments based on those datestohelp the booking system operate moresmoothly and ensurethose

HORO SC OPES &P UZ ZLES

ACROSS

Had bills

Type of bean

Opposite of east

Disastrous

Fruited

Pivot

Milky stone

The works

Advancement

View again

On time

Betrayal

Stuck

Consumers

Enemy

“Take Me

Luau wreath

Lure

Witnesses

Rosie, e.g.

Raring to go

Ceramic

Tavern orders

Canola

Carriages

26. Bambi’s mother 27. Dress bottom 29. Architectural add-on

30. Cardinal’s color

31. Bro’s sibling 34. Fish snare 37. Lion groups 39. Pumpkin color

41. Action words 42. Evidence 43. Nastiness 44. Horrid 46. Soft drink 47. Snarl 48. Piglets’ mothers 51. Bother 52. “One at aTime

Snakelike swimmer

Kind of brick

Astern

PUZZLE NO.811

HOW TO PLAY:

Fill in the grid so that every row, every columnand every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1through9only 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.

CL ASSIF IEDS

William

On your birthday and ever y day Always Missed Always Loved “More than all the grains of sand...”

In loving memory of ISTVAN LASZLO HORVATH

July 7, 1938 - Budapest, Hungary

April 2, 2020 - Calgary, Alberta

Steve Horvath, beloved husband of, Evelyn (nee Heisler) of Calgary, formerly of Prince George, B.C. passed away on Thursday, April 2, 2020 at the age of 81 years.

Steve was born in Budapest, Hungary where as a young man he began playing soccer. He later became a professional soccer player in Canada. Steve escaped during the Hungarian Revolution to Germany in 1956 and then immigrated to Canada in 1957. He moved to Calgary in 1962, where he met Evelyn and were married in 1968. Steve and Evelyn moved to Prince George in 1969 where he worked at the pulp mill, and lived there until 2002. They moved to Redcliff, AB in 2002 and lived there until moving to Medicine Hat in 2008. In 2019 they moved to Calgary where he resided until his passing. Steve will be remembered for his love for soccer, humor, fishing, gardening and for being a very meticulous man.

Steve is survived by his loving wife Evelyn; three sons and a daughter, Steven (Lisa) Horvath, Teresa Lepla (Wilf Naugle), Peter Horvath (Debbie Baynham) and Jeno (Debra) Horvath; six grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; one sister Ilona and one brother Tibor (Ted).

It’s been a year and you are on our minds every day and in our hearts always. We miss you!

Nov 14, 1949Mar 15, 2021

MaryAnne of Prince George, passed away suddenly at home on Mar 15, 2021. Predeceased by her husband Robert William Rodger, sisters Audrey & Pat; sister in law Jill Cronie. She leaves behind daughter Trinda (Shawn) & Donavin; son Quinn (Rachel) & John, Jared, Jaicen, Justice & Jessica; Cindy Adams, Nikko (Kyle) Clifton; brothers Gerald, Bill, Kevin, Don, Doug & Wes; sisters Louise, Irene, Margaret & Gloria; sister in laws Nancy (Phil); brother in law Albert Cronie.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date, when COVID restrictions are lifted.

REMEMBRANCES

Our beloved sister, aunt and friend, Dianne Antoinette Rodney passed away peacefully March 23, 2021 at the age of 74 years. She will be lovingly remembered by her sister, Anita (Evan) Jones; nephews, Larry (Michiko), Sam (Kerensa); nieces Angela (Jamie), Judy (Peter), Natalie (Jason), Melissa (David) and 12 great nephews and nieces, numerous extended family members and dear friends. Dianne was predeceased by her parents and brother. She resided in Prince George most of her life, enjoying her passion of teaching children until her retirement. Dianne had a love for animals and a very kind and giving nature. A Funeral Mass will be held at a later date. A memorial donation may be made in the name of Dianne Rodney to Prince George Animal Rescue (pganimalrescue@gmail.com).

Ernest Edward Ryser

October 2nd, 1936March 23rd, 2021

Ernie passed away after a long battle with lung cancer and dementia. His loving daughters Melinda Ryser and Laura Murphy (Brendan), and brother John Ryser were by his side. He is also survived by his two loyal companions Teddy and Smokey; brothers; William Ryser, George Ryser (Debbie), and Dan Ryser; and numerous nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends. Ernie was predeceased by his wife Bev, his mother and father (John and Margaret Ryser), and brothers Thomas, Frank, and Werner.

Dad was the most kind, gentle, and selfless soul. He just loved to joke and made our world brighter every day. He loved to pick blueberries and huckleberries, garden, and most of all, pick potatoes every fall.

These last few months would not have been possible without the tremendous support of all of the care aides and nurses with the Palliative Care Program, Home Support Services, and Rotary Hospice House.

No service will be planned - but feel free to drink a good cup of coffee, an espresso frappe, or an Omineca Blonde in his memory! Donations in his name may be made to the Rotary Hospice House.

Howard John Wager

Mar 19, 1948 - Mar 12, 2021

Howard John Wager passed away peacefully at hospice in Prince George, B.C. on Friday, March 12, 2021 at the age of 72.

Howard was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on March 19, 1948 and spent his childhood years there before moving with his family to Coquitlam in 1964. After High School Howard joined the Toronto Dominion bank as a trainee for a short while, before becoming a lifelong long Bank of Nova Scotia employee in many communities in B.C. and Calgary, retiring back at home in Prince George.

Howard is lovingly survived by his wife of 33 years, Bonnie, his stepchildren Rory Chapple (Lena) of Fort St. John and Rhonda ChappleMeroniuk of Prince George, his father Warren Wager of White Rock, his sisters Laurie Dunbar of Kamloops and Janice Wycherley (Jim) of Langley and brother in law Brian Clark in PG. All the grandchildren were extremely dear to Howard (Ceyanna, Keira, Addison, Dayna and Amie) and he also made many special memories with his many nieces and nephews (Tusha, Tarja and Shaye Dunbar, Jordan, Megan and Tara Wycherley and Brody Holt), that will not be forgotten. He was predeceased by his mother, Florence Hebner (2020) and his brother in law, Rick Dunbar (2016).

Howard liked to snow and water ski in his younger years and always loved being at any lake or beach and travelling to the sunny shores in Mexico and the Caribbean. He liked reading, but was especially famous for his culinary expertise at the BBQ, always with a beer in hand. In the last few years he has enjoyed golfing and golf course marshalling and always loved looking forward to his fishing trips to the lake with his PG buddies. He was a rascal, a tease, a joker, he could give you the famous Wager ‘look’, and the biggest and tightest bear hug ever! Howard will be dearly missed by all who loved him.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

In Memoriam In Memoriam

MaryAnne Rodger

Dianne Antoinette Rodney

Obituaries

Obituaries

Obituaries

Peter John Precious

1940-2021

Precious, Peter John on March 9, 2021 peacefully at Royal Columbian Hospital, in his 81st year. Predeceased by his parents Norman and Elizabeth Precious and his wife Rozmin (Rozie). He will be sadly missed by his cousins Molly Hawkins and Stephanie James (Jack Pilfold) and their families; (step) daughter Salima Mir; brother-in-law Al Karim Rattanski and all of Rozie’s extended family and many special friends in Prince George and around B.C. and neighbouring provinces.

Born in Vancouver, a graduate of the UBC Faculty of Commerce, he moved to Prince George, working as a chartered accountant for Northwood Pulp and Timber.

John will be remembered for his generosity, volunteer work, easy going and jovial way of being, his love of jokes and being Santa at Christmas. He had an amazing recall of dates and numbers and enjoyed playing crib and poker.

Special thanks to all the staff at Fraser Health: Surrey Older Adult Community Health Services and Gateway Primary Care Network for their unfailing support; staff on Dewdney Neighbourhood at Nicola Lodge for their kind care in his last months.

Condolences may be sent to burquitlamfuneralhome.ca

Michael P. Hawryluk

November 28, 1942February 28, 2021

Mike’s family is sad to announce his unexpected passing at UNHBC on Sunday, Feb 28.

Mike will be remembered for his sense of humour and his readiness to help anyone.

Mike was born in Grande Prairie and spent his early years in the area, where he enjoyed trapping, hunting and fishing. His family moved to Edmonton and later to Golden, BC where he quit school and went to work at a sawmill. In 1962 he joined the RCAF and was stationed in Gimli, Calgary and then Toronto. In 1967, he and Jo settled in Calgary, then in 1971 they moved to PG to reunite with his family and find work.

Mike enjoyed meeting and getting to know many people over the next 50 years. First as a mechanic and owner of Mike’s Repair, then as Industrial Ed. teacher and as a small engine technician for Sears and later Little Mobile Repairs and as a retirement hobby.

Mike will be greatly missed by Jo, his life friend and wife, his sons Aaron (Justine) and Nathan, daughter Karla (Rodney) Rodrigues, his brother Daryle and family, sisters Lyn and Jean and family, sisters-in-law Inge H. and family and Jane Colburn and family as well as many neighbours, co-workers, customers and ex-students. Mike is predeceased by his mother May, his father, Peter and his brother, Richard.

The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses who cared for Mike and especially the ICU staff who treated Mike and supported the family. There will be no service at Mike’s request. Donations in Mike’s memory can be made to a charity of choice.

Steven Eugene Witte

Dec 27, 1952Mar 6, 2021

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Steven Eugene Witte on Saturday March 6, 2021 at his home in Prince George, British Columbia. Steven was a devoted husband to Linda Stacey, father to Luke and Andrew Witte, and grandfather to Benjamin, Jonathan, and Evelyn Witte. Steven was born on December 27, 1952 in Champagne, Illinois; eldest son of Ormal and Ardella Witte, brother to Craig and Marc Witte, and uncle to many nieces and nephews.

Immigrating to Canada in the late 1970’s, Steven and his family settled in the Prince George area where he worked as a rancher, logger and heavy equipment operator; later in finance. Steven loved the outdoors, spending most of his life hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting throughout the woodlands of the Eastern U.S. and mountains of Western Canada - passing his love of nature down to his children and grandchildren. He was quick to tinker with things as nothing was ever quite up to his specifications.

Steven was a man of God and a man of honor. Many times tested on his walk with the Lord, there was nothing that he would not do for family or a friend in need. We rejoice in the knowledge that he is now with God the Father, having been called home, albeit sooner than we would have liked. May you now rest, as your work on earth is done.

Tim Zerr

It is with broken and saddened hearts that we announce the unexpected loss of Tim Zerr on March 25, 2021. He was truly a special and spirited gentleman who loved others openly. Tim always took an interest in everyone he met. He had a genuine love for animals especially his beloved Mickey and his little BeanBean (aka Bella).

Tim was a light that shone through many lives that was full of love. His generosity and compassion will never be forgotten.

Tim will be forever missed by his long life partner Aurora Cozza, son Landon Gates, parents Duane and Faye Zerr, two brothers Darryl (Jodie) Zerr, Jim Zerr, sister Kristine Zerr (Ben), his brothers from other mothers, Justin Cole, Peter Cozza, Brian Hanley, his sister from another mister Giselle Hanley, his special niece Brittany McGuire, and his other numerous nieces, nephews and great nieces.

Tim was predeceased by his sister Angie Erickson.

A funeral will be held on April 1st @ 1:00p. Due to Covid-19 the service will not be open to the general public; however, a public Zoom session will be available for viewing. The Zoom Meeting ID is 8512459-2176. The password is 287121.

A Celebration of Tim’s Life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the SPCA.

the lives of loved ones with your

Established Franchise Photography Business

Serving Northern B.C for over 35 years

Gross Revenues of $150.000 plus annually from seasonal work

Lots of opportunity to expand the business. Transition support available to the right buyer

Serious Enquiries Only

Office 250-596-9199

Cell 250-981-1472

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

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

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

Transition support available for the right buyer.

ANNUAL PUBLIC MEETING

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

4:30pm-6:30pm

This year the Annual Public Meeting will be held virtually to comply with Public Health Agency of Canada recommendations on physical distancing. The 2020 Annual Report and Operational Review will be presented via zoom. Questions from the public will be taken in advance via email. Please send them to info@pgairport.ca before May 5, 2021 Meeting log in details can be found on our website: www.pgairport.ca

Bedroom/Bedding

Household Miscellaneous

1998

Mills/Equipment

Bicycles

Pet Supplies

Large cat tree-house $100.00 (250) 963-7221

Sheds/Outbuildings

Wanted

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Deadline: April 12, 2021

In partnership with First Nations Health Authority and Northern Health Authority, Lake Babine Nation (“LBN”) is in search of a MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTIONS CLINICIAN (“MHA Clinician”). This position will be the Mobile Support team that will address the gaps that make it difficult for Lake Babine Nation citizens to access and reach mental wellness and substance use programs and services; delivers outreach to communities and reserves by providingacontinuum of services such as: prevention, promotion, and education; assessments and care planning for individuals; and consultation on cultural and clinical interventions; and crisis response when communities are impacted by critical events. Its aim is to also improve and refine culturally responsive care and services for the LBN communities and individuals, supporting Community-Driven, Nation-Based local health planning.

Mental Health &Addiction Clinicianprovides comprehensive assessment, care planning and treatment coordination for designated clients and their families. The Mental Health &Addiction Clinician is also responsible for providing and developing services to maintain or improve the health and social well-being and functioning of the identified population

Job duties, but not limited to:

·Suicide prevention, intervention and post-care support

·Prevention and wellness promotionactivities (e.g. community education events)

·Intervention activities (e.g. risk assessments, mental health &addictions assessments, individual therapy, case management, and care planning for individuals in Lake Babine Nation communities)

·Integrated services with cultural resources in community,when these resources are available and connected to providers

·Crisis counselling support when communities are impacted by critical or crisis events that overwhelm local capacity or services

·Assist and support with accessing resources throughnew existing services and partners, including in-hospital capacity building; cultural safety and humility training; and other resources around service provisionand discharge plans

Requirements of MHA Clinician:

·Bachelor ’s Degree in Social Work or Master ’s Degree in Clinical Counseling (or equivalent Master ’s Degree)from an accredited university

·Two (2)years’ recent relatedMental Health &Addictions experience in clinical areas, services, and programs, or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

·Current registration with the British Columbia College of Social Workers (BCCSW); or the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC).

·Valid BC Driver ’s License and access to personalvehicle for business related purposes.

·Travel is arequirement of this position; and flexibility in relation to work schedules and locations may be required.

·Experience working with BC First Nations organizations and communities.

·Knowledgeofthe health and wellness governance landscape in First Nations health in BC, particularly relative to mental wellness.

·Knowledge of theories, practices and principles relative tomental wellness, suicide prevention, and mental health emergency response, particularly relative to First Nations in BC, includingthe current programs and services available.

·Knowledge of Aboriginal/First Nations mental wellness health system needs, including mental health and wellness issues that face BC First Nations.

·Knowledge of, and ability to apply,anunderstanding of First Nations cultural principles and protocols and ability tomanage conflict in arespectful and culturally relevant and safe manner

Interested candidates, please submit cover letter,resume, and relevant documents to:

Philine West,Human Resource Assistant P.O. Box879, Burns Lake, B.C., V0J 1E0 Email: philine.west@lakebabine.com

Dollar Saver Lumber has openings for the following position:

• Lu mber

Gr aders

Will pay competitive wages steady Work

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

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.

Trucking & Transport

Experienced

(250) 614-6667

How to write a classified ad that works.

School District 57 (Prince George)

Fulltime Carpenter Position

School District No. 57 (Prince George) is accepting applications from qualified candidates for a fulltime carpenter position in its Facility Services Department.

• Use a keyword. Start your ad with the item for sale, ser vice offered or the job title.

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

We offer a competing wage and benefits package including:

• Medical Service Plan

• Extended Health Care

• Group

To apply visit www.makeafuture.ca

The Process:

Interested candidates are required to submit an application package including:

• A cover letter highlighting your readiness for the position.

• A resume outlining your education background and experience.

• 3 professional references.

• Copies of relative certification and coursework.

Closing date for receipt of applications is April 16, 2021 at 4:00 pm.

• Use a keyword. Start your ad with the item for sale, ser vice offered or the job title.

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

• Limit abbreviations Use only standard abbreviations to avoid confusion and misinterpretations.

• Limit abbreviations Use only standard abbreviations to avoid confusion and misinterpretations.

• Include price. Always include price of the item for sale.

• Include price. Always include price of the item for sale.

• How to respond. Always include a phone number (with area code) and/or street and email address.

• How to respond. Always include a phone number (with area code) and/or street and email address. To place your ad call: 604-630-3300 Writing an effective classified ad is easy when you use these time-tested principles.

To advertise, call 250-562-6666 or email cls@pgcitizen.ca

To place your ad call: 604-630-3300 Writing an effective classified ad is easy when you use these time-tested principles.

The successful applicants will hold a valid certificate of qualification and experience as a jour neyperson carpenter The job position is responsible for carpentry work throughout the district including renovations/alterations, new construction and maintenance of school district buildings and structures.

WANTED

Royal Canadian Mint coins. Also BUYING 999 BULLION bars & coins. ENGELHARD, JOHNSON MATTHEY, RCM, MAPLE LEAFS + ALL OTHER MINTS. + BUYING all things GOLD or SILVER! Todd’s Coins 1-250-864-3521

QUICK PAY

For all gold, Estate jewelry, scrap or unwanted, coins & currency, antiques, Rolex. Unbeatable pricing, privacy assured. (250) 612-1808 24/7

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

2005 HARLEY DAVIDSON FAT BOY Anniversary Edition. 22,000 km $14,500 613-8567

2002 BMW 1150 RT motorcycle, excellent cond. $5500. (250)5643152 (250)640-8267

Sports Utilities & 4X4s

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

Trucks & Vans

2006 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

2001 Toyota Rav 4 AWD, needs clutch. $500 viewing at 2679 Queensway St -day business hrs

Four Rivers Co-o pe rative

Notice

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

of the 76th Annual General Meeting

Monday,April26, 2021 Virtual (online) Meeting:7:00pm

Register by contacting ouradministration office by Monday, April19, 2021 at: Tel: (250)567-4414orTF: (877)567-4414 or emailagm@vhfcoop.com

To Consider:

• Review 2020 Financial Statements

• Directors’Reports

• ManagementReports

• Election of Directors: Vanderhoof/BurnsLake/Prince George District 1three-year term HoustonDistrict 1three-year term Quesnel District 1three-year term

CALL FORNOMINATIONS

Interestedinletting your name standfor the Board of Directors of Four Rivers Co-operative?Directors participatejointly,with atotal of nine Directorsin planningand controllingthe affairs of the co -operative, guidedbyCo-operative Rulesand Policies,sothat it effectively movestoward achievingthe objectivesof theCo-operative.Nomination packages can be picked up at theAdmin Office,PrinceGeorge, Quesnel Agro/C -Store, HoustonorTerrace Branches.Nomination formsmustbereceived by theadministration office no later than 5:00pmonApril 12, 2021 as perrule79(2) of Four Rivers Co-operative rules

Spacious,

2220

$450,000

For

4 easy ways to revitalize your home for spring

Spring is the perfect time to refresh your home. Here are some easy ways toperkupanyroominyourhouse.

1.Add a bright rug. A cheerful print will infuse new life into the surrounding space.Justbesurethat it’slargeenoughforallthefurniture intheareatorestonit.

2.Change your linens. Curtains, bedding and towels can make a big difference in the look of a room. Swap out what you have now for brightprintsandcheerycolours.

3.Get some greenery. Plants are the

perfect design accent. If you don’t have a green thumb, mimic the look withartificialflowersorplants.

4.Refresh your walls. A fresh coat of paint can work wonders.Whether you choose a fun new colour or stick to neutrals, your home will feel brandnew

Updating your home doesn’t have to cost a lot of money If you’re on a budget, try simply rearranging your furniture or moving some of your decor around. The space will feel new and it won’tcostyouathing.

GO FOR GOLD.

Three deal breakers when buying an older

home

Whenyou’relookingtobuyanewhouse, the foundation is one of the most importantaspectsofanyhomeyouinspect.It’s literally what everything else about the house rests upon. Repairing a home’s foundation can cost in the five-figure range, so be sure to check the following

three parts of a house when doing the roundsofopen-housevisits.

LOOK UP, NOT DOWN

Foundations, by their nature, tend to be out of sight, so finding evidence of problemscanbetough.Ifthelinesofthetop floors and attic are askew, that may be a signoftroublebelow.Ifceilingsareuneven or if attic walls aren’t straight, this canalsobeasignthatthefoundationhas problems.

WINDOWS AND DOORS

Check to see if doors and windows close properly If they jam for no apparent reason, the house itself may have foundational problems.

WALLS

Your exterior walls can sometimes changetheirshapefromnormalsettling over the years and are therefore one of the least reliable indicators of foundation damage. Extreme bowing (walls sticking out in the middle), however, can be a sign of structural problems.

Consult with your local real estate agent to make sure you’re getting what you pay for when buying a home. He or she willhelpyouavoidhugerenovationsfrom thesekindsofhard-to-identifysources.

For many people, the unique character ofanolderhouseisagreatattractionon the real estate market. But such properties also have unique problems that you shouldknowaboutbeforebuying.

MOULD AND TERMITE DAMAGE

Whileallhomesaresusceptibletothese threats,olderhomesareoftenatamuch higherriskthanothers,astheyaremore often made of materials attractive to these organisms. If you see extensive termite droppings near structural elements or that mould covers more than 10 square feet of the house, you may wanttolookelsewhereforahome.

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS

If the house you’re looking at was built before1980,besuretohavetheinspector check for lead pipes and asbestos. Lead pipes and asbestos were widely used in homes before their toxic effects onhumanswererecognized.

DUBIOUS NUMBERS

Be sure to check the numbers before buying an old house. Figure out what the house would cost on the market if it was fully repaired. If the difference between that number and what you’re planningtopayforitislessthanthecost of repairs, don’t buy thehouse.

If you enjoy home renovation, an old house can be a great investment But be sure it’s worth it.An experienced real estate agent can help youthroughtheprocess of finding the right houseforyou.

Plum,lilac,lavender,mauve,amethyst violet comes in a virtually infinite spectrum of hues and shades. Soft and spiritual,it’sthecolourofmysteryand dreams. It’s also associated with both royalty and melancholy A blend of blue and red that’s sometimes warm, sometimes cool, violet leaves lots of room for creativity when it comes to includingitinyourdecor.

HOW TO USE IT

Pale, soothing shades of violet are ideal for painting large wall surfaces, while darker hues work best in small doses. Rich, deep purple, for instance, is fantastic for accent walls, bedding, or

decorativeaccentslikethrowpillows.

WHERE TO USE IT

Violetinspirescreativityandtenderness, makingitanexcellent choiceforahome officeorbedroom.Gowithalightshade tocreatearelaxingambiance;choosea darkeroneforaromantictouch.

HOW TO MATCH IT

Purple and grey for a refined lounge; plumandlilacforayounggirl’sbedroom; purple and blue-grey for a romantic, feminine space; deep violet and reddishpurpleforacozylivingroom; purple andgoldforabaroqueeffect;seafoam green and plum for a soothing office thepossibilitiesareendless.

Seven decorating tips to visually enlarge a small space

Haveasmallroomtodecorate?Makesure itdoesn’tturnout stuffy or cramped by following these seven space-faking designtips.

1.Keep it subtle. Light-coloured flooring is perfect to make a room look bigger Avoid carpet, however, as it tends to have the opposite effect. Choose wide tilesorlongfloorboardsandinstallthem diagonally to make walls appear further apart. Use the same flooring throughout yourhomeforacohesivefinish.

2.Choose shiny surfaces. Lustrous tiles, shiny ceilings and metallic wallpapersallreflectlightanddoagreat jobmakingaroomlookbigger

3.Play with perspective. A mirror placed next to a window tricks the eye into seeing a bigger space while boostingtheroom’slighting.Anicemuralfea-

turingavanishingpointisanotherclever waytocreatetheillusionofspace.

4.Sheer and airy wins the race. Dress yourwindowswithlight,airytextilesto keepvisualbulktoaminimum.

5.Light it up. Make sure every nook and cranny gets enough light by including lots of decorative lamps and spotlights in your decor Nothing beats brightness whenitcomestomakingaspaceappear larger!

6.Don’t overdo it. Keep the design minimalandfunctional byincorporating plentyofstorageandchoosingfurniture that’s transparent or serves more than onepurpose.

7.Keep a pale, cool palette. Painting walls in pale, cooler hues makes rooms appearlargerthantheyactuallyare.

MarcotteLaw Corporation has been ensuring smooth real estate transactions forovertwo decades.When youare buying or selling,we’re heretohelp save youtime, risk, and money.

Sometimes warm, sometimes cool, purple is a bold colour choice that looks great from the living room to the home office.

5806 TRENT DRIVE, PRINCE GEORGE

$384,900.00

Fantastic area, close to all schools, 4bdrms, 2 baths -backing onto greenbelt- fully finished up/ down

207 TRADER CRESCENT,PRINCE GEORGE

$429,900.00

Great investment opportunity,3bdrms, 1bath up. One bdrm &den down in separate suite. Separate laundry and entrances. Both upper and lower suites rented. Newer kitchens, windows and acarport.

652 MT.YORK DRIVE, COLDSTREAM-

$1,190,000.00

Stunning rancher with over 4200 sq feet. 4bdrms, 3baths, views of Kalamalka Lake, theatreroom, games room, wine room, gym and so much more!

2600 PARENT ROAD PRINCE GEORGE

$639,900

Beautifual 5bedroom, 3bathroom home with adouble garage and detached garage on a large lot!

Why zoning laws?

Whenbuyingapieceoflandoraproperty, it’simportanttoconsiderwhatkindofzoning laws are in place for the area you’re looking into Zoning laws (especially in residentialneighbourhoods)existtoensure thateveryoneissatisfiedwithwhatgoeson in their neighbourhood. Continue reading tofindoutwhatkindofzoninglawsmight affectyoubeforeyoudecidetobuy.

RUNNING A HOME BUSINESS

If you’re looking to buy in a residential neighbourhood and planning to run a business out of your home, you’ll definitely wanttocheckthezoninglawsbeforehand Ifyourbusinesscouldcauseunduedisturbance to others living around you, it’s likely that zoning laws will prohibit you fromdoingso,andyourbusinesscouldbe shutdown Talktoyourneighboursbefore starting a business; find out how they’d

feel about having it on their block. Often, thiswillonlybecomeanissueifanofficial letterofcomplaintissenttolocalauthorities So do your due diligence before you decideonwheretobuy.

EXPANDING AN EXISTING PROPERTY

Sometimes, when you decide to buy, you do so with the idea in mind that you’ll be expanding the property to include an extensiononthehouse Thereareanumberof reasonswhyyoumaynotbeallowedtoextend (proximity to a neighbours fence, for example),soproceedwithcautionandfind outbeforeyoumakeanyadd-onplans.

REPURPOSING YOUR LAND

Planningtobuyinaruralareawiththeintent on changing the use of the land in question?Besuretoconsultyourlocalgovernment before doing so to make sure that your lot is properly zoned for whatever changes youplanonmaking

Zoning laws exist to protect yourneighbours’interestsas much your own. They ensure that everyone is held to the same standard and that everybody’s interests are equally served. Get informed before you committo the purchase of your new home or plotofland.

Buying land: what you need to know

So, you’ve decided to build a home from scratch. While there are numerous advantages to building your dream house from the ground up, there’s one important thing to think about that many people often forget:land Findingtheperfectplotoflandis difficult Youmightthinkthatallyouneed is to find the one that seems the most aesthetically pleasing, but there are a few important considerations you need to make beforeyoubuy.

ZONING LAWS

Beforeyoubuyaplotofland,it’simportant to verify what kind of zoning restrictions exist for the area you’re looking into You want to make sure that the land surrounding the property doesn’t have planning permission for warehouses, apartment complexesorevenhighways

LOCATION

Is your desired plot part of a larger real estate development? What kind of school district is it in? What kind of view is your plot going to give you? These are all important questions you need to ask before committing to buyingaplotofland

UTILITIES AND RESOURCES

Youneedtoknowexactlywhatkindofaccess to utilities your land will have This includes water, electricity, waste managementandeveninternetaccess

FLOOD RISKS

Thecompositionofyourlandisalsoimportant Find out what kind of risk your land willbeatforflooding.Thiswilldetermine what kind of insurance you’ll need to purchasewhenitcomestimetobuild

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

Doug Phair

Lake

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

Rick McDaniel

Maundrell

Mike Moseley

Welcometo1445 VanBien Ave. This almost fully renovated home in 2016 is suretoplease. 3bedrooms up and 1bath. Renovations include new hardwood floors, new kitchen and tile and backsplash, all new paint, fully renovated bathroom and much more. The basement includes another large familyroom, flex room for storage or home gym and shared laundry.The basement also includes aone bedroom studio style basement suite with

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

Upgrades includeinsulated exteriorwalls, newer windows, newer roof, newer hot water tank (2012)and well pump(2012). Many outbuildings include insulated chicken coop, 16x24 shed, 24x24 shed, separate area fenced for goats, fencedareafor horses or cows...this could be the ultimate hobby farm. The aquaponic green house is 40x100 with attached buildingthat includes work station,biomass boiler and aspace upstairs that could be made into asuite. This is atrue hidden gem!

What to know when buying an older home to renovate

Ifyou’rehandywithhomerepairsandinthe market for a new house, investing in an older home can be a great idea. Sometimes, however,peoplewholovetobuildcanfocus too much on what they’re going to change andignoresomeotheressentialpointsabout olderhouses.Besuretokeepinmindthese threethingswhenlookingforanolderhome torenovate

1. ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Renovating an older home is best when most of the problems are simply cosmetic One fundamental issue to take care of, however, is your home’s energy efficiency

Willitbecostlytoinsulateit,orwillitsimplybeamatterofreplacingafewwindows?

2. WATER QUALITY

Notallthethingsyouneedtocheckareinside the house itself. If you have water on your property, have it tested to be sure it’s safe(particularlyifyou’llbedrinkingit).

3. HISTORIC STATUS

Ifenoughpeopleagreewithyouthatanolder home should be preserved, either your home or some aspect of the surrounding area may have historic protection status. This can, in some cases, affect what changes you canandcannot make to a house or property Be sure to check the status of any home before youbuy

Your real estate agent is an invaluable resource when navigating the complexitiesof buyingahome Contactonetoday so you can know you’re gettingthebest advice.

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!

905 LA SALLE$324,999 MLS R2526348

This nicely updated, three-suite, multi-family home on alarge lot is steps away from the river and Paddlewheel Park. These units have been updated in the past five years with newer hot water tank. This large lot with two sheds makes for agreat outsidespace.

What can a real estate agent do for you?

If you’re looking into buying a new home, you might wonder why you can’t just go at it on your own. There are a number of advantages to hiring a real estate agent to help you find the perfect house to fit your every need. A trained real estate professionalcan:

•Setupviewings •Handlepaperwork

•Put his or her negotiation experience toworkforyou

•Sharehisorherknowledgeofthearea •Offer guidance when it comes to pricingandvalue

Hiringarealestateagentisagreatway toreducetheamountofstressthatgoes with making one of the biggest financialdecisionsofyourlife.

5174

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.

dblack@royallepage.ca

250.961.9205

Buyer’s guide to windows

Buyingnewwindowsisabiginvestment

Here’s what you need to know to make therightchoice.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Make sure you choose windows that’ll provideyouwithgoodenergyefficiency, such as Energy Star certified models ConsidertheU-factor(ameasureofheat loss),watertightnessandwindresistance ofeachmodel.

TYPE

Therearefourmaintypesofwindow:

1.Casementwindowsopenwithacrank andarehighlyweatherproof.

2. Sash windows, slightly less weatherproof than casement windows, comprise two sections that slide up and down

The best storage solutions for every room in your

home

Didyoufinishyourspringcleaning only to realize you need more storage space? Here’s a room by room look at some of thebestsolutionsavailable.

KITCHEN

Install hidden trays under your cabinets to hide chargers, coffee pods and other essentials. In addition, placing pull-out shelves in cupboards will make it easier toorganizeyouritems.

BATHROOM

StoreyourcleaningsuppliesonaLazySusan to make them easy to find when you needthem.Usebasketstoholdthingslike bathtowelsortoiletpaper

LIVING ROOM

Putabowlonthecoffeetabletostylishly corralremotecontrols,magazines andotheritems. Additionally,a storageottomanis perfectforholding throwsandpillows.

BEDROOMS

Take advantage of the space under your bed by adding drawersorusingunder-the-bed storage boxes.

GARAGE

Install overhead racks near the ceiling. Thisallowsyoutoincorporatestoragein the garage without sacrificing parking space. Use this area to hold stuff you don’t need to access often, like seasonal decorationsandsportinggear.

WORKSHOP, OFFICE OR CRAFT ROOM

Mountapegboardaboveyourworkarea and use it to organize your tools or supplies. By hanging things on the wall, they’llbeeasiertofindandyou’llfreeup someroom.

In addition, be sure to use the vertical spaceinyourhome.Installshelvesabove doors, get extra tall bookcases and put hooksonthebackofclosetdoors.

3. Awning windows pivot from top to bottom, meaning they can be opened evenifit’srainingout.

4.Slidingwindowscomprisetwopanels that open laterally. This is the most affordable option, but also the least watertight.

Yourchoiceofmodelwilldependonthe style of your property as well as municipal regulations (some places requirethatacertaintypeofwindowbe used for a building’s façade, for instance).

FRAME

Window frames, which should match the architecture of your home, are availableindifferentmaterials:

• Wood is aesthetically pleasing and

eco-friendly, but requires quite a bit of upkeep and is vulnerable to insects, weatherandmoisture.

•Aluminumwindowframesarerobust, durable and low-maintenance, but requireacostlythermalbreaktocounter theirconductivity

• Fibreglass, on the higher end of the price scale, is light, durable, easy to maintainandweatherresistant.

•PVCisthemostcommonmaterialfor windowframes.It’sresistanttomoisture and corrosion and requires very little maintenance However, it must be relatively thick in order to withstand temperature variations, leaving less roomfortheglasspane

• Hybrid window frames combine two materials to reap the benefits of each (e.g PVC for the interior frame and aluminumfortheexteriorframe).

GLASS

GlassusedinNorthAmericanwindows is typically double-paned, meaning it contains an air pocket that improves insulation, or even triple-paned for further effectiveness Gases with superior insulating properties such as argonorkryptonmaybeusedinsteadof air. The glass can also be covered in a low-emissivity (Low-E) metallic film thatreducesheatloss

SPACER AND WEATHERSTRIPPING

The spacer contours the glass and ensures that it’s watertight Choose a non-metallic spacer to minimize condensation. As for weatherstripping, it should be made of a material that’s durable and able to withstand temperature variations rubber is usuallyasafechoice

Finally, even the best windows won’t performwellifthey’repoorlyinstalled callintheprofessionalstobenefitfrom qualityworkmanship.

3 springtime home improvement projects

Are you thinking about updating your home this spring? If so, these three projects are perfectly suited to the season.

1.Upgradethelandscaping.Spring is the perfect time to upgrade flowerbedsandwalkwaysoreven install a pool or hot tub. Your garden will have time to grow in and you’ll be able to enjoy your new outdoor space all summer

long.

2.Rebuild or refinish the deck. If your deck has seen better days, this is the ideal time to repair or rebuild it. Consider expanding it to create zones for eating, cooking and relaxing.

3.Replace the siding. If your siding took a beating over the winter, now’s the right time to replace it. Choose a quality product and consider using a more modern colour Cool tones like grey, blue and green have been popular in recent years.

Spring is the best time of year to tackle most outdoor projects. Just be sure to get to them before the hotter weather arrives.

Spring cleaning: are you forgetting to tidy these parts of your home?

To guarantee that this year’s spring cleaning is a success, target these often-neglected areasofyourhome.

•Refrigerator.Removeeverythingfromthe fridgeandthrowoutanythingthat’spastits expiration date. Take out shelves and drawers,scrubthemusingwarm,soapywaterandthenreplace them. Don’t use bleach or other strong cleaning products that shouldn’t come into contactwithfood.

•Bedding. Wash your duvets, comforters and pillows in the washing machine using the gentle cycle. Run the rinse cycle twice to be sure all the soap is removed. If your machine isn’t big enough to fit a comforter or duvet, or you want to do it all at once, head to a local laundromat.

the dry cleaner.

•Walls and ceilings. Remove cobwebs caught in the corners using a vacuum and wash the ceiling with an extendable sponge mop and slightly soapy water Continue by cleaning the walls in the same way and givingthebaseboardsagoodscrub.

•Blinds.Dustvinyl,aluminum or wood blinds with a vacuum or a microfibre duster onbothsides. Ifthere’sa buildup of dirt, wash with a sponge and a solution of water and vinegar Fabric shades can be vacuumed or brought to

Onceyou’redone,makeitapointtore-clean these areas every few months. This will ensure your home is tidier throughout the year andminimizetheamountofworktobedone nextspring.

OVER 100 YEARS OFSUCCESS Thinking of

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.

Helping you SUCCEED is what we do! Aspire Realty