Prince George Citizen August 19, 2021

PRINCE GEORGE

Meet Prince George’s toughest senior

Local athlete breaks Canadian decathlon record

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH

Olympic gold medallist Damian Warner isn’t the only Canadian record-breaking decathlete that showed us all how it’s done this summer

Prince George’s own masters athlete, Tuomas Ukonmaanaho, 76, broke the record for the men’s BC decathlon for 75-79 yearolds by more than 2,000 points and the Canadian record by more than 200 points.

“It turned out good,” Ukonmaanaho stated modestly

The decathlon is considered one of the greatest tests of overall athleticism in sports. Participants take part in 10 different track and field competitions over two days and are awarded scores based on their results.

Ukonmaanaho trains with the Prince George Track & Field Club and participated in the Greyhounds Multi Event that took place in Surrey at Bear Creek Park Athletics Centre August 7 and 8.

Tom Ukonmaanaho, 76, is the Canadian and B.C. Masters record holder in the decathlon for men 75-79 years old.

During the first day, Ukon Tom, as he’s best known, competed in the 100 metre dash (17.63 seconds), long jump (2.98m), shot put (8.92m), high jump (1.12m) and the 400 metre race (1:18.72).

During the second day, he participat-

ed in the 80m hurdles (19.39 seconds), discus (22.06m), pole vault (2.05m), javelin (26.96m) and the 1500 metre race (8:10.39).

The age-rated point system sees older

athletes compared to the best athletes in the world and ranked accordingly

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

WHAT:

CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS

City Council consideration of applications:

•TemporaryUse Permit Application No. TU000071

•“City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007, Amendment BylawNo. 9196, 2021”

WHEN:

6:00 p.m., Monday, August 30, 2021

WHERE:

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

PROPOSALS:

1. TemporaryUse Permit No. TU000071

Applicant: Robin Thibault

Subject Property: 8997 Buckingham Road

The purpose of this application is to allow the subject property located at 8997 Buckingham Road to be used as awedding ceremonyvenue. The applicant has applied for aTemporaryUse Permit to allow for “Exhibition &Convention Facility” as a permitted use on the subject property

The subject property is currently zoned AR2: Rural Residential which does not permit “Exhibition &Convention Facility” as aprincipal use. In accordance with the Local Government Act,temporaryuse permits can allow ause not permitted by azoning bylaw. These permits mayonly be issued for amaximum of three (3) yearsand maybe renewedonce for an additional three (3) years.

The proposed TemporaryUse Permit applies to the property legally described as Lot 2, Block 20, District Lot 1593, Cariboo District, Plan 1385, as shown outlined in bold black on Location Map #1 below.

Location Map #1

8997 Buckingham Road

2. “City of Prince George Zoning BylawNo. 7850, 2007, Amendment Bylaw No. 9196, 2021”

Applicant: JagdevGill

Subject Property: 2709 Petersen Road

BylawNo. 9196, 2021 proposes to rezone the subject property from RS1: Suburban Residential to RS2: Single Residential, as shown on Appendix “A”toBylawNo. 9196, 2021.

The purpose of this application is to facilitate afuture subdivision to create one (1) additional lot on the subject property,orother uses, pursuant to the proposed RS2: Single Residential zoning designation(s).

The proposed Bylawapplies to the property legally described as Lot 2, District Lot 753, Cariboo District, Plan 9785, as shown outlined bold black on Location Map #2 below

Location Map #2

2709 Petersen Road

HOWCAN IPROVIDE COMMENT?

Residents are invited to provide comment in writing

As aresult of the COVID-19 pandemic, City Council at their meeting held April 6, 2020, passed aresolution to discontinue informal hearings for TemporaryUse Permits and all other applications where such hearings are not legally required to be held.

Pursuant to Section 464(2) of the Local Government Act,City Council has waived the requirements for aPublic Hearing to be held respecting proposed Zoning Amendment BylawNo. 9196, 2021 during the Regular Council Meeting held Monday, July 26, 2021.

Submissions in writing

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

Forsubmissions to be included on the agenda for Council’sreviewinadvance of the meeting date, theymust be received by the Corporate Officer no later than 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 24, 2021.Submissions received after the noted deadline and before 3:00 p.m., Monday, August 30, 2021,will be provided to Council on the dayofthe meeting for their consideration during deliberations on the application.

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

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

Authority

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

NEED MORE INFORMATION?

Acopyofthe proposed Bylaw, permit applications and anyrelated documents will be available for reviewbythe public on the City’swebsite www.princegeorge.ca under ‘News and Notices’ beginning Wednesday, August 18, 2021.These documents may also be reviewedatthe Development Services Department on the 2nd Floor of City Hall on August 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 30, 2021,between the hoursof 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

WHO CAN ISPEAK TO?

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

INQUEST URGES CHECKS FOR MOVING PRISONERS

HANNA PETERSEN

A jury has made four recommendations to the provincial director of the BC Corrections Branch following an inquest into the death of Alexander Charles Joseph, an inmate who died while being transported. Joseph, 36, died in a BC Corrections branch vehicle on Highway 97 while being transported from Prince George to Maple Ridge.

Lyn Blenkinsop, presiding coroner, and a five-person jury heard evidence from witnesses under oath to determine the facts of his death during the inquest, which was held in Prince George between Aug 9 to 13

The jury heard testimony establishing that Joseph ingested fentanyl and methamphetamine in the van shortly after leaving Prince George.

The other prisoners in the van testified that Joseph became unresponsive and they tried to alert the corrections officers of an emergency by banging and shouting.

The corrections officers said they were alerted to an emergency when they saw the prisoners making strange motions on the video monitors.

They stopped near 100 Mile House to seek assistance from an RCMP officer who happened to be pulled over on the side of the road.

Family and friends drum for Alexander Joseph during the fourth day of the inquest at the Prince George Courthouse

As no one is on trial during a coroners inquest, the jury cannot make any findings of legal responsibility or express any conclusion of law

After deliberation the jury came back with four recommendations to the provincial director of the BC Corrections Branch:

1. To review procedures to ensure that 20 minute video checks are logged for each inmate being transported.

2. That when prisoners are being transported physical wellness checks be undertaken at a safe location at least hourly

3. Prepare plans for potential emergency situations that could occur during transportation of prisoners and conduct drills on a periodic basis to ensure those plans are adequate.

4. To consider adapting the transportation vehicles in a manner that would provide a safe and more comfortable environment for inmates.

The jury also recommended the chief coroner of the BC Coroners Service consider giving updated information regarding the coroners inquest process for family and support workers.

After hearing all of the facts surrounding Joseph’s death during the four-day inquest, the jury then had the opportunity to make recommendations aimed at preventing

The RCMP officer, corrections staff and two passersby with medical training then performed CPR on Joseph until paramedics arrived and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

VOLUNTEER FOR THE CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE

The City is seeking the expertise of residents interested in serving on the Prince George Public LibraryBoard

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

The City is accepting applications to fill one (1) vacancy for the remainder of atermending November 30, 2022.

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

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

Deadline for Applications: 5:00 p.m., Friday, September 10, 2021

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

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

deaths under similar circumstances.

The findings in the verdict confirm Joseph died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl and methamphetamine on Highway 97 near Quesnel in the late morning on October 4, 2018.

The BC Coroners Service investigates over 5,000 deaths annually

Of that number, less than one percent of those deaths are reviewed at a formal inquest.

On average, there are approximately eight to 14 inquests per year.

StartingSeptember1,2021

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

Ukon Tom smashes B.C. record

Ukonmaanaho’s efforts earned him a staggering 5,297 points, breaking the previous BC record of 3,153 points set by Danny Daniels in 2007 and the Canadian record of 5,071 set by Doug Renwick in 2017.

Ukonmaanaho was quick to set the record straight and believes the age-rated point system used in 2007 is different from the current one, but looking at some of the times and distances of Daniels’ record and comparing them to Ukonmaanaho’s performance, Ukon Tom outdid Daniels significantly in some of the events. In the shot put, Ukonmaanaho threw almost two metres farther than Daniels, the discus by almost six metres farther and in the javelin he bested Daniels by a whopping eight metres. The real difference came as Daniels opted not to finish the 1500 metre run, which resulted in a zero point score compared to Ukonmaanaho’s 442 points earned for his efforts.

Ukonmaanaho wasn’t even sure he would run the grueling 1500 metre race after two days of competing with a sore left leg but once he got there a fellow competitor, Sven Donaldson, encouraged him to stay close to him as he offered to keep the pace. Ukonmaanaho wanted to finish under 10 minutes and blew through the race in just over eight minutes, surprising even himself, he said.

“That’s what we do - we help each other

and encourage each other,” Ukonmaanaho said. “It was really nice of him - he said ‘just stick behind me, it’s going to be all right’ and so I did and it was.”

Ukonmaanaho had been waiting for the

opportunity to participate in a masters decathlon for years The hurdles heights and distance are set to be age appropriate and the open category in a decathlon hurdle sprint would be too much for the master athletes

“Us old timers wouldn’t be able to run the high hurdles,” Ukonmaanaho pointed out.

Same goes for the shot put that male decathletes use to compete in the open category is a 7 kg and in Ukonmaanaho’s age category he throws a 4 kg shot put.

“It would have been impossible for us to do it,” he said.

Masters athlete decathlons are not held often as it’s such a big undertaking to host such an event and the Greyhounds Masters Track & Field Club in Surrey took it on and Ukonmaanaho was grateful for the opportunity

Harold Marioka, the founder of the Greyhounds, personally called Ukonmaanaho to be sure he knew about the opportunity There were only 10 spots open for the men’s competition and Ukonmaanaho was

glad he got that call, he added Ukonmaanaho is no stranger to holding records. Currently, he holds the BC records for 70-74 year-old men in the 100m and 200m sprints, is on the record-holding team for the 4x100m relay for men 65-69 and the men 60-64 4x400m and the men’s 70-74 4x400m He also holds records for the 55+ BC Games in the 100m and 200m, in two age categories of 65-69 and 70-74, the 80m sprint hurdles in the 65-69 and the 4x400m powerwalk relay.

Ukonmaanaho credits his all-round athleticism to his youth when everyone in school where he grew up in Finland was encouraged to try all the events Sprinting is usually his best event.

“If my leg had been ok my 100m should have been my best,” he admitted.

Next, Ukonmaanaho goes back to Surrey this weekend as the Greyhounds, the biggest masters track and field club in BC, host the BC Masters Championships Aug. 21 and 22.

“But for now I’m just going it take it easy,” he laughed.

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

Tom Ukonmaanaho, 76, throws the discus, left, and works on his running, right, at a practice at the Prince George Track & Field Club at Masich Place Stadium.

Dognapping duo get probation

ARTHUR WILLIAMS

A shaggy dog story that started with an armed home invasion and attempted dognapping had a happy ending for the two would-be dognappers.

Judge Peter McDermick sentenced 24-year-olds Dylon Sadillo McLemore and Shayn Robert Bulmer each to two years less a day in jail, and two years probation, for breaking and entering, two counts of uttering threats and – in the case of McLemore – possession of a firearm while prohibited. McLemore and Bulmer had been in custody since their arrest on May 29, 2020, and were released last Thursday with enhanced credit for the 441 days they’d already served in jail

In issuing his sentence, McDermick agreed with the Crown prosecutor and defense lawyers that it was “an unconventional case,” and warranted a lower jail sentence than a normal home invasion involving a gun and imitation gun would.

“All (the lawyers involved) were quick to emphasize this is not a conventional home invasion,” he said. “This does not fit the pattern of a conventional home invasion.”

McLemore and Bulmer pleaded guilty to the charges, and the sentence imposed by McDermick was proposed as a joint submission by the Crown and defense lawyers.

According to an agreed statement of facts presented by the Crown to the court, the duo burst through the unlocked door of a home in the 1800-block of Tamarack Street around 6:30 p.m. on May 29, 2020

The home invasion was “a high-energy affair,” with Bulmer wearing body armour and waving a BB gun that looked like an assault rifle, while McLemore was carrying an unloaded .22-calibre rifle.

Bulmer and McLemore shouted at two men in the home, violently waking up one of the men, and demanding they hand over a dog. A toddler, the daughter of a woman who lived in the home but was not there at the time, was asleep in another room.

“They threatened to blow our brains out,” the Crown lawyer quoted from a statement by one of the victims The victims believed they were in danger and were traumatized by the incident, the lawyer said.

One of the men in the home recognized the pair, as they had gone to high school

together He talked to McLemore and Bulmer, who calmed down and explained that they were there to recover a dog that had been stolen during a break-and-enter by two women. They believed the woman who lived in the home had been part of the break-in and had taken the dog, they said, and they were there to get it back.

They lowered their weapons and allowed the man to call an acquaintance, who told her to bring the dog to the home immediately However, something in the man’s tone made the woman suspicious and instead of bringing the dog, she phoned the police. When the police arrived, Bulmer and McLemore ditched the guns and body armour inside the house and fled, only to be caught by police

Bulmer’s lawyer said Bulmer had been drinking that day and had been struggling with alcoholism at the time.

“Mr Bulmer accepts responsibility His decisions and actions on May 29, 2020, were very poorly made,” his lawyer said. “It was an event that was trying to recover some property that had been taken. Once the parties recognized each other, the guns were put down and a conversation occurs. It’s even more strange that when the police are noticed, the gun and pellet gun are left in the home.”

The lawyers for both men said they’d had difficult childhoods, both left home as young teenagers and struggled with homelessness and addiction. Since incarceration, both men had taken part in the Right Living unit at the prison, working in the prison, taking classes and, in McLemore’s case, painting murals inside the prison celebrating Indigenous culture and heritage.

Both have plans to seek stable employment and have stable housing lined up, their lawyers said.

“I want to say sorry for everything,” McLemore told the court. “We grew up together. I can say we’ll be uplifting our community.”

In addition to the jail time and probation, McDermick imposed a 10-year firearms ban on the two men and urged them to continue their positive life trajectory.

“Mr McLemore is a young man, and certainly a talented artist, and he is trying to connect with his community,” McDermick said. “Good luck, gentlemen ”

This is a page in Dylon McLemore’s portfolio that shows the artist at work on the murals that grace the walls of PGRCC.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

branch on Aug 6.

Benches, tables moved after branch kills man

CITIZEN STAFF

The City of Prince George is relocating benches, picnic tables and other amenities near certain mature deciduous trees in city parks, after a falling branch killed a man in Paddlewheel Park on Aug. 6.

In addition to moving the benches and other amenities, the city is conducting a parks inspection.

“The City of Prince George once again extends its condolences to the family,

friends, and all others affected by this tragic event,” a statement issued on Friday said.

“As this matter is still under review, no further comment will be provided at this time. A report relating to the steps taken following this incident, in addition to those noted above, will be presented during an open meeting of council at a future date.”

The city will be in contact with donors who sponsored the affected park benches.

ARTS COUNCIL’S DOWNTOWN PLAN DENIED FUNDING

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH

The Prince George & District Community Arts Council has been in the planning stages of developing a new Creative Arts Hub in the heart of downtown Prince George since 2018 but the most recent funding opportunity through the Canada Infrastructure Program has fallen through.

The City of Prince George had committed to contributing $1.5 million toward the project’s extensive renovations to make the Arts Hub happen, pending funding approval but all that has come to a standstill.

“I want to clarify the Creative Hub project was simply turned down from one funding source - there are plenty of other funding sources and ones that are probably more appropriate funding sources for what we’re doing,” Sean Farrell, the CAC’s executive director, said.

One example of alternative funding is a Heritage Canada program that is specifically set to build creative hubs, Farrell added “I don’t think for a second this project is going to lose its life,” Farrell said. “We just need to pivot and look at other funding sources and there are funding sources out there for this project.”

Farrell hopes council will direct staff’s efforts to continue seeking alternative funding to get this project moving forward in some form.

That could be to maintain the initial plan to move the Community Arts Council downtown to the location of the current indoor Farmers’ Market at the corner of Third Avenue and Quebec Street in the old BMO building.

Another option would be to revamp its existing location at 2880 15th Avenue where the arts council has been happily ensconced for more than four decades.

“Things on the ground have changed over the last few years around downtown revitalization,” Farrell said. “It’s sort of shifted, especially in the last six months to a year There’s also an opportunity - I think - for us to take a hard look at what are the expectations and goals for moving Studio 2880 downtown and have those shifted at

all. Studio 2880 on 15th Avenue has served the community beautifully for the last 45 years and the motivation to move Studio 2880 downtown was based on a vision for downtown revitalization so the question now is has that vision changed? Does it need to change?

“And what’s the role of a community arts organization in the conversation - and barring anything else there’s no reason at the end of the day we can’t stay on 15th Avenue and seek funding to rehabilitate those buildings and potentially create more space for the arts on 15th Avenue. I think this has given us a moment of pause and repose so we can revisit some of the initial motivations and strategies of moving downtown.”

For now the Community Arts Council will remain where it is and continue its vision of ‘developing our community into a recognized centre of creativity,’ Farrell added.

That statement becomes more meaningful than ever, Farrell added, as the community needs a vibrant arts and culture sector to help bring about much-needed social healing and economic development.

As pandemic restrictions ease local arts organizations will be kicking off a new season of programming and events that are open to everyone in the community, he added.

“That includes concerts, plays, festivals, gallery and museum exhibits, classes, outdoor markets, workshops, child and youth programming, social enterprise initiatives, poetry and literature publications, library and literacy initiatives, in-school learning, healing arts activities, reconciliation collaborations, cultural tourism attractions, seniors programs, arts, justice, diversity and inclusivity initiatives, community broadcasting.and podcasting... and so, so much more,” Farrell said.

“We thank all our funders, members, board and staff, Studio 2880 tenants, partners, customers, and the City of Prince George for their unwavering support of our organization, and our very brilliant and celebrated Prince George arts community,” he said.

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

City crews cordoned off the perimeter of a cottonwood tree at Paddlewheel Park after a man was killed by a falling

Mount Polley mine engineers disciplined

ARTHUR WILLIAMS

Two engineers linked to the 2014 failure of the tailings storage facility at Imperial Metals’ Mount Polley Mine have been disciplined by their professional association for unprofessional conduct.

Engineers and Geoscientists BC announced the ruling against former engineer Stephen Rice and engineer Laura Fidel last Tuesday

“A discipline hearing panel found that Mr. Rice failed to properly fulfill the role of review engineer, demonstrated unprofessional conduct by allowing a junior engineer who had little experience with embankment design (Laura Fidel, P.Eng.) to act as Engineer of Record for the project, failed to ensure sufficient observation and monitoring of the tailings dam, failed to document his review work, and failed to ensure an excavation left unfilled at the toe of the embankment was assessed to determine what impact it may have on the stability of the embankment,” a statement issued by the association said.

The disciplinary panel imposed a $25,000 fine on Rice, who also agreed to pay $107,500 in legal costs to Engineers and Geoscientists B.C.

Rice resigned his engineering licence in January 2018 and is no longer permitted to practice as a professional engineer in the province

A separate disciplinary hearing panel found that Fidel “committed several acts of unprofessional conduct.”

“The panel found that Ms. Fidel failed to ensure sufficient observation and monitoring of the tailings dam while acting as Engineer of Record, including by failing to ensure sufficient site visits and failing to monitor seepage flows which could provide evidence of a potentially unsafe condition within the embankments,” a statement issued by the association said. “Ms. Fidel also failed to ensure that an excavation left unfilled at the toe of the embankment was assessed to determine what impact it may have on the stability of the embankment, and demonstrated unprofessional conduct

by sealing design drawings for the Stage 9 embankment raise without undertaking sufficient review of the design which was not prepared by her.”

Other allegations against Fidel were dismissed by the panel.

A hearing has not been scheduled yet to impose penalties against Fidel.

On August 4, 2014, the tailings pond at the Mount Polley copper mine collapsed, sending 20 million cubic metres of water and tailings slurry into Hazeltine Creek, Polley Lake and Quesnel Lake, near the town of Likely

The disaster was one of the largest dam failures in the past 50 years, and cost Imperial Metals $67 million in clean-up costs and lost revenue.

The disciplinary panels did not make findings as to the cause of the embankment failure, which was separately addressed in reports by the Chief Inspector of Mines and Mount Polley Independent Expert Engineering Investigation.

The disciplinary hearings for Rice and Fidel were held in 2020, and each was adjudicated by a separate panel of senior professionals, the association statement said.

A disciplinary panel for a third engineer connected to the dam failure, Todd Martin, is scheduled for later this year

“These files represent some of the most complex investigations Engineers and Geoscientists BC has undertaken,” a statement released by the association said “During the course of its investigations, the regulator reviewed thousands of documents including contracts, technical reports and drawings, correspondence, and daily site reports.”

Since the dam failure in 2014, Engineers and Geoscientists BC has issued professional practice guidelines for dam foundations, updated existing guidelines and held professional development seminars

The full text of the decisions can be found online at egbc.ca/Discipline-Notices

With files from Nelson Bennett, Business in Vancouver

FALL REGISTRATION

Does yourchild love to perform?

Do youwish your children could learn aboutadifferentculture whilehaving fun?

•Dance classes arefor 4years old and up. We even have an adult class! (No experience required),

•All dancers perform at 2major events (January & June) and numerous events around PG.

•After the $35 family membership fee, lesson fees range from $25 -$45/month, depending on age (one of the least expensive dance fees in PG.)

•Most costume pieces areprovided.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION

TEMPORARYUSE PERMIT No. 248

What: Public Consultation regarding Temporary Use Permit No. 248

Owner: LeonardJack Solonas

Applicant: Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd.

Proposal: Coastal GasLink PipelineLtd. has applied for asecondTemporary Use Permit (TUP) to continuetouse a26.0haportion of the subject property for atemporary laydown yardancillary to construction of the Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project. The subject property is legally describedas Block BDistrict Lots 13061, 2930, and 2931 Cariboo District and is located in the area of Chuchinka Log Lake FSR &Hart Highway

TEMPORARYUSE PERMIT No. 249

What: Public Consultation regarding Temporary Use Permit No. 249

Owner: Pineview Trucking &Excavating Ltd.

Applicant: Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd.

Proposal: Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. has applied for asecondTemporary Use Permit (TUP) to continue to use aportion of the subject property for amulti-use site ancillary to construction of the Coastal GasLink PipelineProject. Uses will include a temporary laydownyard, stockpile site and work camp. The subject property is legally described as District Lot 12433 Cariboo District, Except Plan 18164 and PGP44215 and is located in the area of ChuchinkaColbourne FSR at Parsnip River

How can Iprovide comment? Anyone who believes that their interest in land is affected by aproposed Permit shall be afforded areasonable opportunity to submit written comments prior to the Regional District Boardconsidering issuance of the Permit.

Submit written comments: Written comments will be accepted by the Regional District until 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 10, 2021 by: Email: developmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca Hand/Mail: 155 George Street, Prince George, BC V2L 1P8 Fax: 250-562-8676

Any material received will become public information.

Need moreinfo? Acopy of the proposed Permit and any relevantbackground materials areavailable for review by the public on the Regional District’swebsite: http://www.rdffg.bc.ca/services/ development/land-use-planning/ current-applications/ or at the Regional District office, by appointment only,Monday through Friday,8:00 am to 4:30 pm, between August 16 and September 23, 2021. The Regional District office will be closed on Monday,September 6, 2021.Tomake an appointment contact the Regional District at 250-960-4400 or developmentservices@ rdffg.bc.ca

Decision by the Regional District Board: Following the public consultation, the Regional District Boardwill consider issuance of Temporary Use Permit No. 248 and Temporary Use Permit No. 249 on Thursday,September 23, 2021 during the Regional District Boardmeeting which starts at 1:30 p.m. in the Regional District Board Room located at 155 George Street, Prince George, BC.

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

City orders cleanup of trashy lots

ARTHUR WILLIAMS

The owners of four unsightly properties in the Hart have been given until Sept. 24 to clean up their acts, or the city will do it for them and send them the bill.

On Monday night, city council approved remedial orders for properties at 7695 Pearl Dr., 3962 Balsum Rd., and 3951 and 3957 Crawford Pl. A single family owns the properties on Balsum and Crawford, which are adjacent to each other

In a report to city council, city bylaw services manager Charlotte Peters said the properties on Balsam and Crawford are covered in 40 years of accumulated derelict vehicles, construction materials, trailers, mechanical parts, pipes, wood, trash, discarded electronics and other items, all in a state of decay.

“If a fire ever broke out on this property, there is no way anyone could get in there to put it out,” Peters said. “The owners are

in their 70s. If the city doesn’t clean it up, it will never get cleaned up.”

The city has been trying to get compliance from the owners since 2014, Peters said

In the past, the mess spilled over on the property of a nearby church, without the church’s permission.

In 2019 the owners, with help from their adult children, removed three derelict cars and 3,000 pounds of debris. The children, who don’t live in town, came back and removed three more trailer loads of material in 2020.

“At that point, about 20 per cent of the debris was removed,” Peter said.

There are still 14 derelict vehicles on the property, four dangerous trees threatening nearby homes, and tons of debris and building material, she said.

“I attended again today, there was a minimal amount of improvement,” Peters said.

If the city does end up doing the cleanup, bylaw services would work with the city’s procurement department to try to and recover some costs from the large amounts of scrap metal on the site, she added.

For the property on Pearl Drive, bylaw services first received a complaint about it in September 2020.

Bylaw officers found four derelict vehicles, five derelict trailers, two sheds

covered in tarps, a storage unit, a badly fire-damaged RV trailer and debris throughout the property The property is a rental and the tenant was unable to do the cleanup.

The owner, who lives in the Hart as well, has refused to do the work, Peters said.

“He did not have a plan to clean anything up, and he said it was the tenant’s responsibility,” Peters said.

“I attended this residence today and there has been some work done, but there is a long, long way to go. It would make the neighbours very, very happy if we got this cleaned up.”

Peters said bylaw services always try to work with property owners to get compliance and coming to city council for a remedial order is a final resort after other measures including fines have failed.

“We have had some success this summer… and we do have more in the hopper,” Peters said.

Coun. Kyle Sampson said the city’s remedial action is a reminder to other messy property owners that land ownership comes with responsibilities.

Allowing properties to become unsightly dumps is unfair to everyone around them, Coun. Cori Ramsay said.

“It’s really important that the community sees this action happening,” she said.

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

City council issued a remedial order for a group of properties on Balsum Road and Crawford Place, left, and another property on Pearl Drive, right on Monday night. The owners of the Hart properties have until Sept 24 to clean them up

It’s not croquet, it’s golf. On the first hole last week, I hit a line drive ball that somehow sailed between the wickets of the carts sign near the green, drawing laughs and cheers from my playing partners.

GOLF WITH GODBOUT

GOOD TECHNIQUE MUST BE ROUTINE

Each week this summer, Citizen editor Neil Godbout will share his experience learning to golf at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club. Want to get in a free round with Neil? Just drop him a line at ngodbout@pgcitizen.ca

Week 12

As a rookie golfer playing the game seriously for the first time in my fifties, proper technique consistently applied is my only way forward, as I learned last week.

My lesson with Prince George Golf and Curling Club pro Blair Scott went great and I could tell he was quite satisfied with my recent progress.

Of course, success during a lesson and driving range practice doesn’t guarantee similar quality out on the course. During lessons and practice, you identify what you did wrong with the last shot, make the corrections and pull up another ball to swing again.

During a round on the course, however, you have to live with your poor shot and then stew over it as you wait for others to play and make your way to your ball to hit again.

What happens to me a lot is if I make a mistake once, I’ll repeat the mistake over the next couple of shots because I can only work it out mentally and lack the experience to easily make the necessary physical changes.

My tee shots with driver are an ongoing battle.

I either tee the ball too low and hit low line drives or I tee too high and hit a ball that goes nearly as high in the air as it

does forward down the fairway Many golfers use their fingers or their knuckles as the tool when pushing the tee into the ground. Others gauge it by how much of the ball is higher than the top of the driver face.

Positioning my feet with driver is also a problem.

My recent playing partners pointed out that my front foot should be closer in line with the ball. As soon as I made that fix, I was hitting it much cleaner and not hitting the ground behind the ball before contact. I did that for a few holes then promptly forgot it and fell back to the bad habits. Again, proper technique consistently applied

During last week’s round, I shot a 132, which is my best of the season but a frustrating result since Blair and others say they can see my improvement and I feel I’m hitting better The takeaway was I shot a 61 on the front nine, including a bogey on the seventh and a double bogey on the eighth. I shoot bogey and double bogey golf over 18 holes and I’ll improve my score by 30 strokes. That’s the golf respectability I’m looking for.

But of course the score will take care of itself if I can consistently include the technical improvements into game play I know I’m at the tipping point of becoming a much better golfer The better technique is there but not consistently The bad habits and poor outcomes are still too consistent but are less frequent than before.

With only about seven weeks or so left in the season, it’s time to push through.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

What: PublicHearingregardingZoningBylawNo.2892,AmendmentBylawNo.3168,2020

When and Where: 6:00pm,Wednesday,August25,2021 Viatelephoneconferencecallandinpersonattendance

ThepublichearingwillbechairedbyadelegateoftheRegionalDistrictBoard.

Owner: AmyTaylorandLaneVaughn

Proposal: BylawNo.3168isproposedtorezoneaportionofthesubjectpropertyfromRural 2(Ru2)toControlledRecreationCommercial1(CRC1)topermitallusespursuanttotheCRC1 zone.BylawNo.3168alsoproposesatextamendmenttoreplacethetermCommunityHall withAssemblyHallandtopermitAssemblyHalluseonaportionofthesubjectpropertyona sitespecificbasis.BylawNo.3168alsoproposestopermittwoRecreationCabinusesinthe Ru2zoneonasitespecificbasis.ThesubjectpropertyisBlockAExcept:Firstly:PlanH789; Secondly:PartSubdividedbyPlanBCP28206;DistrictLot8501CaribooDistrictandislocated at39385&39355Highway16W.

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Who can Ispeak to? HeatherMeierRPP,MCIP,PlanningLeader,250-960-4400

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

Gauthier invited to Leafs camp

TED CLARKE

The Toronto Maple Leafs want to get a closer look at Taylor Gauthier

The 20-year-old Prince George Cougars goalie plans to accept the Leafs’ offer to attend their development camp in early September The Leafs were among several NHL teams that showed an interest in the Calgary native who went undrafted in all three years of his eligibility.

As he prepares for what would be his final season with the Cougars, Gauthier’s goal to play pro is at the heart of all he does to improve his play

“Obviously my goal going into this past year was to get drafted, but I knew regard-

less of what happens, at the end of the day the draft is just a couple of letters beside your name on the gamesheet, it doesn’t define you as a player,” said Gauthier

“I know the abilities I have and all I’m looking for is an opportunity I’m looking forward to going out there and showing my stuff and hopefully I can earn a contract with a team, and if not, I’m looking forward to coming back and putting in a good year I’m looking to improve on my stats and on my performance, trying to get to where I want to be one day, playing in the NHL.”

Last winter over the Christmas break, Gauthier cracked the Team Canada roster as the third goaltender at the IIHF world

junior championship in Edmonton. He did not play in the tournament as Canada advanced to the championship game, which ended in a 2-0 loss to the United States.

The Cougars (9-10-2-1) finished as the top-ranked wild-card team in the Western Conference in their pandemic-abbreviated WHL season which ended April 30. Gauthier recorded a career-best 2.74 goals against average. He finished with a .917 save percentage playing 15 of his team’s 22 games and compiled a 7-8-0 record. In 2019-20, he played in 50 of the Cougars 68 games and posted a 16-26-7 record.

In all four seasons as a Cougar, the team has finished with more losses than wins.

Bryce Morris deadlifts 180kg on Sunday afternoon at XConditioning while competing in the WPC Canada Powerlifting Raw Western Canadians.

Gauthier says that won’t happen again under his watch and has no reason to doubt the team will end its five-year playoff drought in 2022.

Gauthier and defenceman Ethan Samson are the two Cougars going to NHL camps in September. Samson, who turns 18 on Aug. 23, was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the sixth round of the NHL draft.

“He’s a really good young player and I think he has lots of upside in his game,” said Gauthier “He’s put in a lot of work the last couple years and it’s really good to see his hard work get rewarded. I’m looking forward to seeing what that confidence brings him this year.”

Spruce Kings back home for Oct. 3 preseason game

CITIZEN STAFF

Prince George Spruce Kings hockey fans will want to mark Sunday, Oct. 3 on their calendars.

That afternoon, after more than a year of forced exile due to the pandemic, they’ll finally get to watch their Spruce Kings play a home game live at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena on the final day of the B.C. Hockey League exhibition season.

The Kings host the Merritt Centennials that day in the last of four preseason games for Prince George. The other three

are all on the road, starting Thursday, Sept. 24 in Merritt, followed by games on Tuesday, Sept. 28 in West Kelowna and Wednesday, Sept. 29 in Penticton.

The Kings open the BCHL season Oct. 8 in Merritt and visit West Kelowna the following night. The Centennials will travel to Prince George to face the Kings in their weekend home-opening series Oct. 15-16 at Rolling Mix.

The Spruce Kings’ 58-game regular season wraps up March 18-19 at home against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE/LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

KERLEY HANGS ON TO TAKE SIMON TITLE

TED CLARKE

Lisa Kerley was 27 when she retired as a softball player and took up golf as her summertime sports passion.

That was 21 years ago, and she’s been making up for lost time on the course ever since.

Leading by eight strokes at the hallway mark of Sunday’s final round of the Northern Spirit Transportation Ladies Simon Fraser Open, Kerley was on her way to easy street and a return to the spoils of victory she sampled for the first time in 2014.

But Ann Holmes wasn’t quite ready to give up chasing the title that has eluded her on her home course in five previous attempts and all of sudden the race was on. By the time they got finished the 16th hole at Prince George Golf and Curling Club, after a three-putt from Kerley, her lead was down to three.

Holmes gained another stroke on the par 4 No. 17 but that was as close as it got. Needing a birdie on the final hole to force a playoff, Holmes bogeyed, as did Kerley, and the 48-year-old from Williams Lake once again took her strides into the winner’s circle.

“I had a great 27 holes and then my last nine weren’t so great but I still managed to salvage the win,” said Kerley “My chipping and putting was really great until the back nine and then I struggled a bit on the back, but that’s OK, I held it together.

“At the turn I’d parred the front nine and I was just apprehensive with my swing and gave back a few strokes. I knew she was catching me but I think we tied the last hole and I was pretty sure I was ahead I did four three-putts on the back so I gave up a lot putting.”

Kerley has been taking advantage of the hot sunny weather this summer and has

played 90 rounds already at Williams Lake Golf and Tennis Club. She grew up playing volleyball and softball but switched to golf while she was living in Vancouver, her home for 13 years.

Kerley led by four after shooting 74 on Saturday Holmes, a teaching pro at PGGCC, went 78-78-156

“Ann has a beautiful swing, she’s a pro, and she’s so fun to play with,” said Kerley, who finished second to Natasha Kozlowski in 2020. “I wasn’t nervous until the turn and I could feel Ann was playing well When you’re the leader it’s tough because you know everyone’s pining to beat you.

“(Saturday’s) round just felt easy, everything was easy,” she said. I made two deuces (on Nos. 5 and 10) and that helped my score.”

After Kerley padded her lead on the front, Holmes thought she was totally out of the running for the trophy She was disappointed she couldn’t take advantage of her usual long-range accuracy on the par 5s coming home.

“Off I went on the back nine and I was making some good shots and I bogeyed two of the last three holes coming in to lose by two,” said Holmes “I have a lot of firepower and I started hacking, some bad shots on each.

“(Kerley) hits a nice ball and she just plays so fast and I take so much more time. I need to get more on that part of the game.”

Holmes, who turns 50 in December, teaches lessons often at the club and also helps Blair Scott run the junior program at PGGCC which this season has 45 kids involved. She’s been playing more often this summer and has already been around the course 27 times, her entire 2020 season total.

Capitals shooting for championship

TED CLARKE

In all his years as head coach of the Northern Capitals, not once has Mario Desjardins had one of his players make the female under-18 provincial hockey team.

This time around, with seven Capitals players invited to the provincial team tryout camp set for this weekend in Port Moody, there’s a good chance that shutout streak will come to an end. The seven Capitals heading down on that trip are just too talented to not get serious consideration from the Team BC coaches. That group of seven incudes forwards Hailey Armstrong of Dawson Creek, Avery Bautista of Quesnel, Brooklyn Hutchings and Nancy Moore of Prince George; and defenceman Kasey Ditner of Baldonnel (near Fort St. John), Ella Boon of Vanderhoof and Keagan Goulet of Fort St. John. All are returning Capitals except

16-year-olds Bautista and Ditner, who played last year at Okanagan Hockey Academy.

“All those girls going to U-18s certainly deserve it and I truly believe they have a great oppor-

tunity to crack that lineup and represent the north,” said Mario Desjardins, about to begin his seventh season as Cougars/Capitals head coach.

Thirty-one players attended the Capitals’ team tryouts over the weekend at Kin 2 and in the three scrimmages - in front of an audience of mostly friends and family for the first time in more than a year – they dazzled the crowd with a display of high-level skills that backed their coach’s claim that they will be one of the teams to watch this year

“It’s exciting to see this group, for sure,” said Desjardins.

“The calibre of hockey we’re seeing is amazing considering there were no games last year. There’s some young talent coming through that are going to fill some spots that are available and they’ll blend well with our systems and the quality of players

we have out there.”

For the first time since 2013, the Capitals will have four forward lines this season. They’ll also have six players on defence, all of whom are capable of leading offensive rushes.

Karsyn Niven of Houston and Sierra Eagles of Tumbler Ridge, both in their final U-18 season, are the Caps goalies.

Armstrong joined the Caps as a 14-year-old and is heading into her third season.

“I’m pretty excited, we have a strong defensive lineup and good goalies and some interesting forwards and I think we’ll be pretty good by the end of the year,” said Armstrong. “I think we’ll be pretty comparable to last year’s team, we have a lot of new girls with good potential who have been around and I think we’re all going to bond really well and make a good team.”

CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE/LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

Lisa Kerley keeps her eye on her drive on the 18th hole on Sunday atfernoon at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club while playing in the 54th Ladies Simon Fraser Open.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE/LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

The Northern Capitals hosted their Summer Development Camp this past weekend at Kin 2.

KNIGHTS TAKE THRILLING B.C. FINAL

TED CLARKE

The Prince George Knights are triple-A provincial baseball champions

They made history on the diamond Sunday afternoon in Ridge Meadows with their come-from-behind 6-4 win over the Richmond City Chuckers in the B.C. Minor Baseball Association 18U final, becoming the first Prince George team ever to capture a triple-A provincial crown.

It certainly wasn’t easy.

Down 4-2 heading into the top of the seventh inning for their last at-bats, the smoldering Knights’ offence sparked to life.

Parker McBurnie drew a walk and scored on an RBI triple from Preston Weightman. Jacob Ross’s sacrifice fly tied the game 4-4 and after Jacob Fillion and Luka Kim each got on base with walks, Dillon Neufeld delivered a base hit with one out that allowed Fillion and Kim to score the go-ahead runs.

In the bottom of the seventh, Ross struck out the first batter he faced, forced the next Richmond hitter to ground out, and ended it with another strikeout.

“At the start we were pretty slow off the bats but I think we all had the same goal from the start of the season and we all came together in the last inning and rallied back,” said Kim, the 18-year-old Knights catcher

“I think everyone knew it was do or die at that point. We had to go, right there, and we did.”

The Prince George Knights celebrate on the field in Ridge Meadows Sunday after they rallied to a 6-4 win over Richmond in the B.C. Minor Baseball Association 18U triple-A championship final.

McBurnie and Ross handled the pitching duties in the final, allowing only a few scattered hits. With James Yandeau out with a broken hand, the other eight pitchers on the Knights’ staff got the job done.

“The sticks were backing us up, but I think our pitching was far better than any other team’s,” said Kim. “Everyone that pitched this weekend did a great job.”

Head coach Jody Hannon has seen enough out of his players over the past few years while winning five-straight provincial tournaments to know they were capable of late-game heroics, even in the face of all the pressure that comes with having

to mount a comeback in a championship game.

“Richmond came out and played a really strong game to start and the boys had a slow start for us but Parker McBurnie and Jacob Ross pitched excellent - I don’t think we gave up a hard-hit ball in that game,” said Hannon. “I’ll give it to Richmond, they put the ball in play and made us get outs.

“This is Prince George’s first triple-A crown and I couldn’t be more proud of the guys. They really bought into the program this year and at the end of the day everything went according to plan.”

The other Knights players are Riley Zum-

mack, Kobe Fulton, Jarron Fillion, James Yandeau, Logan Dreher, Dillon Neufeld, Tyson Ramsay, Chase Martin, Zach Fillion and Brody LaFavor

Cole Laviolette, Scott Walters and Tommy Kreitz are Hannon’s assistant coaches.

The Knights topped the Cloverdale Spurs 11-8 in semifinal playoff earlier Sunday The Knights had a major malfunction in that game, blowing an 8-0 lead in the fourth inning.

Richmond advanced with a 6-5 semifinal win Sunday morning over the previously undefeated North Island Cubs.

On Saturday, the Knights saw their 21game winning streak come to an end when they lost 6-4 to North Island in the final round-robin game at the five-team tournament. Hannon said that loss came at an opportune time and it did not derail their season-long ambitions.

“I think we were playing quite anxiously because of that win streak and that loss really humbled the boys to remind them that you’re going to lose games in baseball,” said Hannon. “We got that one out of the way at a good time and we came to play today and gutted out two big wins.”

The Knights started the tournament Friday with a 7-4 victory over Cloverdale, then went on to beat Richmond 2-1 later that day. Prince George also scored an 8-2 victory Saturday over the host Ridge Meadows Royals.

Extra practice during COVID good for Peebles

TED CLARKE

Brett Peebles admits it.

The pandemic has helped him blossom into an elite hockey player and he’s not alone.

Peebles already had above-average skills on the ice last summer when he cracked the roster of the Prince George 15U triple-A Cougars as a first-year bantam. But once the season came to a standstill in November after just six games, that triggered the start of his rapid progression up the ranks of his age peers.

Instead of fourth-line duty playing the best teams in the province, all of sudden, with his team forbidden by the provincial health office from travelling to other zones to play games, Peebles was drawing double the icetime competing against his Cougar teammates.

“I wasn’t very good at the start of the season last year and if we had games I wouldn’t get too much icetime because there was a lot of people who were a lot more improved and better than I was,” said Peebles. “But with all the practices we had I was always on the ice and because of it I always had the puck on me, so I was able to improve throughout the year with all those practices. We did a lot more practices than the scrimmages and all of those just helped my game a lot. The practices helped improve many people.”

CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE/LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

Brett Peebles, one of three second-year players this season on the Prince George U15 triple-A Cougars, says the break from league games and an emphasis on practice during the pandemic helped speed his development.

Peebles certainly noticed the improvements over the weekend at the U15 Cougars summer development camp at Kin 2. After hours of hitting the weights in the gym, he’s added two inches and 18 pounds to his now five-foot-eight, 140-pound frame. The results are obvious. He’s bigger, faster, stronger and more skilled and he’s become one of the dominant players on the Cougars as they prepare for the new season.

“COVID kind of threw a big jolt into the

whole system but it also gave the players a chance to focus on their skills and that focus is clearly evident out here,” said U15 triple-A Cougars head coach Mirsad Mujcin, now in his seventh season at the helm.

Just three players are holdovers from

last year’s triple-A team – Peebles, forward Jack Tidsbury and defender Josh Gendron. Peebles will move back to centre, a position he’s used to playing, after being slotted as a winger last year Gendron, whose brother Jacob plays in the WHL for the Vancouver Giants, is not as offensive-minded as his brother but has a wicked shot, makes great first passes and is tough on opponents Tidsbury, whose father Shane was a productive junior forward for the Spruce Kings, is well-schooled on hockey tactics and is usually among the first to pick up on what the coaches are trying to teach All three are strong skaters.

Lucas Woodbeck was one of the standouts during in the three-day camp and should make a smooth transition to the triple-A level, moving up from the double-A Bobcats last season. No players from the Prince George U-15 triple-A team were taken in the 2021 WHL draft but Mujcin expects Peebles, Gendron and Woodbeck will generate plenty of interest for 2022 if they continue their progressing on their current trajectory.

Other former Bobcats on the team are forwards Brody Wood and Hunter Henry, defenders Jacob McBurnie and Shea Baker, and goalie Ryder Green, who made the switch to goaltending just three years ago. Goalies Kaleb Miller and Dexter Malo also made the triple-A team.

New players from Williams Lake, Prince Rupert, Smithers, Fort St. John and Yellowknife, NWT will represent their hometowns this season playing for the Cougars.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Cynical politics behind election call

Calling an election is comparable to getting pregnant.

It’s never a perfect time, the joy and excitement is mixed with a hearty dose of anxiety and not everybody is going to be happy about it

Yet there were even more political reasons for Trudeau to go to the polls now

Four provincial elections, including one here in B.C. last fall, were held during the pandemic and before Trudeau made the call (Nova Scotia was the fifth and voters went to the polls Tuesday).

The incumbent government won all four of those previous elections, presumably riding a wave of voter sentiment that they were in good hands during these uncertain times. Trudeau may likely receive a similar amount of appreciation from Canadian voters.

The message will be he wasn’t perfect, but he was good enough when he had to be.

More importantly, from a political cynicism perspective, now is not the perfect time but as close as it gets for the Trudeau Liberals.

Based on the polls, national and regional, neither the federal Conservatives or the NDP, or their leaders, are significant threats to form government.

Put another way, the likely worst outcome is another minority government and the prospect of a return to majority rule is very real.

John Horgan rolled those dice here in B.C. last year and came out a winner.

Same thing for Trudeau?

That’s the bet.

There is risk, of course.

The polls might be off.

Voters might resent Trudeau far more than expected.

Calling an election while B.C. is under a state of emergency could cost him valuable seats in this province.

The past scandals, the mismanagement of the pandemic and the desire for change could all bubble up, as could a sudden surge of support behind either Erin O’Toole and his Conservatives or Jagmeet Singh’s NDP.

Trudeau was third in the polls at the start of the 2015 election.

Tom Mulcair seemed poised to lead the NDP to form its first-ever federal government.

Just like a pregnancy, things can change quickly and there’s little that can be done to prepare for it or alter the outcome once

it’s happening.

Speaking of pregnancies, Singh announced on social media last Thursday that he and his partner, Gurkiran Kaur Sidhu, are expecting their first child

Voters love feeling a personal connection to their candidates and parents, regardless of their age and political leanings, can look at those Instagram pictures and be reminded of the moment they announced their pregnancy to the world.

Will it be enough to spark a huge wave of support for Singh?

Probably not.

Will Trudeau still be prime minister after Sept. 20?

Probably.

But in pregnancy and in politics, nothing is ever certain.

Editor-in-chief Neil Godbout

Climate change alarm deafening

Last week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its latest report synthesizing a consensus from over 10,000 scientific papers and the work of over 2,000 climate scientists. It is not a read for the faint of heart.

Or, as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres describes it, it is a “code red for humanity.” He added: “The alarm bells are deafening and the evidence is irrefutable” and “This report must sound a death knell for coal and fossil fuels destroying our planet.”

We are likely to see a net increase in the mean global surface temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius before the middle of the century.

Of course, it is not coal or fossil fuels which will result in the temperature increase but our continued combustion of this ancient carbon

We are returning carbon dioxide to the atmosphere which was sequestered by organisms millions of years ago

And in doing so, we are changing the concentration of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere

It would be easy to point to the heat dome which engulfed British Columbia in late June and say “There’s proof. See the world is getting hotter” but that would be neither fair nor accurate.

AS I SEE IT TODD WHITCOMBE

According to the report, “it is virtually certain that hot extremes (including heatwaves) have become more frequent and more intense across most land regions since the 1950s, while cold extremes (including cold waves) have become less frequent and less severe.” But to label any singular weather event as being caused by climate change is mixing climate and weather.

Still, the heat wave was another wake-up call. This is the sort of weather climate change will spawn and while we might not see another heat dome for years, similar phenomena are happening all over the world.

The Middle East has recorded temperatures reaching into the 50 degrees Celsius range. That is dangerously hot.

We can look to the wildfires burning in British Columbia and around the world as a harbinger of things to come. As the climate changes, precipitation patterns will be altered.

Less rain and snow mean less groundwater and drier conditions during the summer months.

Our forests become tinder boxes waiting for a match to ignite a blaze. And yes, there are other issues involved with respect to forest management practices but the changing climate is seriously altering the fire cycle we have experienced for the past 100 years.

It is not just in British Columbia or California or the Midwest United States or even islands in Greece. Experts estimate the amount of land burning in Siberia adds up to more than the rest of the world combined. And that includes the fires which devastated the Amazon.

Ironically, the changing climate is also responsible for flooding in various parts of the world. Again, it isn’t the only cause, but it is a significant contributor. This is one of the issues the report tries to tease out. It uses phrases such as “virtually certain” and “high confidence” to try to distinguish data and analysis which can be causally linked to climate change. And it uses “low confidence” as well when warranted such as for the long-term trends in the frequency of all-category tropical cyclones.

The scientists who have gathered and compiled the data are trying to do their best to provide a scientifically nuanced report where levels of certainty, from statistical analysis, are expressed. Unfortunately, their language may just provide a loophole for the those who want to deny the reality of climate change to crawl through.

But the overall language of the report is very blunt. For example, there really isn’t any hesitancy to the statement “Observed increases in well-mixed greenhouse gases (GHG) concentrations since around 1750 are unequivocally caused by human activities.” As of 2019, the concentrations of the principle GHGs in the atmosphere have increased to annual averages of 410 ppm for carbon dioxide, 1866 ppb for methane, and 332 ppg for nitrous oxide in 2019. This is us. We have done this

Further, “It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere, and biosphere have occurred.”

We know what the problem is. We are now facing the consequences squarely in the face.

We really don’t need more studies telling us glaciers are retreating and forests are dying. What we really need now is to focus on how we proceed forward

How do we wean our society off of fossil fuels? The answer is complicated because they are so intricately woven into all of our daily activities, whether it is firing up the barbecue, heating the house, driving to work or running a pulp mill.

What we need now is research which will facilitate that change and maybe a federal election is a good time to ask questions of our political candidates.

Brain injury, dementia are so similar

Irecently came across an article about the signs of dementia.

It was like looking in a mirror!

I was shocked to discover that I had all 13 signs of dementia that the article described:

1. Personality changes

2. Seeing things that aren’t there

3. Struggles with speech

4. Vision problems

5. Difficulties keeping focused

6. Constantly losing things

7. Becoming bad with money

8. Being emotionally flat

9. Not moving as well as usual

10. Becoming insensitive

11. Struggling to grasp concepts

12. More anxious

13. Getting lost often.

Thankfully some of these symptoms are mild and others I have some control over how far they progress.

Both brain injury and dementia are damage to the frontal lobe. The frontal lobe of the brain governs so many important functions such as social etiquette, emotional regulation, effective conflict resolution,

BOGGLED

DIANE NAKAMURA

stress management and many more. Add physical symptoms such as problems with speech, vision and mobility and the results can be catastrophic for the individual and their family, friends and community

Dementia usually sets in after the age of 65, although early onset can occur in your 30s. There are five main types of dementia with many subcategories The most common is Alzheimer’s. I am in my late 50s so dementia symptoms could show up any time for me. However for someone like me with a brain injury (and having all the symptoms of dementia) diagnosing which symptom to what condition would be very challenging.

I’m not going to lie. I am concerned about my future because there is research that points to a strong link between traumatic brain injury and dementia. So

instead of becoming sick with worry, I am doing as much as I can to take care of my health such as:

- Getting proper sleep

- Having a daily routine

- Not consuming alcohol, drugs or nicotine

- Avoiding stress

- Engaging in activities that stimulate my brain like word games, reading, writing and listening to classical music

- Keeping connected to people who fill my soul

- Accessing therapeutic and medical help as needed

One of the biggest changes people have noticed about me is my personality. My inside voice often comes out before I have a chance to stop it. Sadly, the once empathetic and patient person is gone and has been replaced with someone who is very blunt, abrupt and way too honest. Honesty is a good thing, but my comments can come out sounding quite rude. These shifts in behaviour can happen to anybody with brain injury or dementia..

The future belongs to our youth

American musician and songwriter Louis Armstrong wrote, “I hear babies cry. I watch them grow. They’ll learn much more than I’ll ever know. And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.”

As an educator, a parent and an adult functioning in our society, I can think of no higher ideal than this. It is a statement that is empowering, humbling and challenging at the same time.

There are many things in the world that are not wonderful. We see disease, destruction and despair in the news every day. Having lived numerous decades, however, I cannot help but notice the significant progress we have made as humanity. Powerful despots are powerful no more. We no longer fear the real possibility of nuclear Armageddon as we did when I was a child. And, at the very least, we have written down the kind of world we hope to

LESSONS IN LEARNING

GERRY CHIDIAC

create in internationally accepted human rights documents.

As a teacher, I can work with my students to study where we are and how we got here. We can discuss where we might want to go, but I cannot tell my students how to get there or how long it will take to arrive. The truth is, I don’t know The truth is, we must entrust our young people with the future. They too will likely never arrive at the ideals we are striving for, but they will bring humanity closer

Giving our children the tools they will need to move the world forward is the greatest and most valuable investment we can make. It is our most empowering and

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Why did Liberals call an election?

When we listen to media coverage, the election is a gamble for political gain. The Liberals were returned to power in 2019 with a minority, creating a coalition government. So why only after two years did Justin Trudeau call an election?

Personally I think the federal government we had worked for average Canadians. Our vote actually counted and held

the sitting government accountable and Canadians learned about the intricacies behind resignations, appointments and punitive measures taken in the House from all parties.

Living through the Harper Conservative Majority, Canadians didn’t hear about the irreversible actions taken by the Conservatives until they were ousted and Canada had to recover from the damage done by their majority.

So calling an election amidst the pandemic, Afghanistan crisis, climate change

meaningful contribution.

While it is important to give our children the basic skills of reading, writing and mathematics, it is far more important that we spark their curiosity and encourage them to learn beyond what we can teach them.

It is also very important to not only discuss the kind of world we want to create, but to model it to them to the best of our ability If we want them to be respectful, we must show respect for all. If we want them to value truth, then we need to be uncompromising in our quest for truth. If we want our children to learn, then we need to be constantly learning as well. If we want them to self-correct, then we need to humbly embrace our own mistakes.

Admittedly, teaching in the 21st century is very challenging, but the best educators have always embraced these same ideals.

There are also many joys in being an educator. Having taught for over 30 years in the same community, it is rare that a

There are days I don’t recognize myself. Being emotionally flat helps because I don’t dwell on the negative. And because I have poor memory I forget and move on. When I’m asked questions like “why did you do this?” or “why did you say this?” I am hard pressed to come up with an answer. Most times I can’t the recall the incident in question. This can be perceived as I don’t care or I’m trying to hide something.

To look at me and talk to me, one would not detect I have a brain injury. This is why it’s called an invisible disability I can appear to be high functioning but I am not this person anymore. It’s the same with someone who has dementia. One minute we are “with it” and the next we have beamed up to another planet.

Whether it’s brain injury or dementia, folks with these conditions do not consciously go out of their way to be difficult I now have regrets about my grandmother who had dementia and I regarded her poorly for many years because of her behaviour The shoe may be on the other foot some day.

day goes by when I do not see a former student. They are salespeople, roofers, mechanics, electricians, doctors, dentists, accountants, artists, actors and musicians. They are my teaching colleagues and teachers of my own children. They are the parents of the students in my classroom. The magic of social media even allows me to interact with many who are far away

Today when I see young people sitting in front of me, I may not know what they will become, but I can confidently tell them that they will discover their gifts and do great things. They will encounter a hurting world and change it with their goodness. I’ve seen this happen for decades and I know it will continue, despite my own limitations as an educator.

My former students have all learned so much more than I’ll ever know, and my current and future students will do the same.

When I reflect on the future being in their hands, “I think to myself, what a wonderful world.”

being lived through in BC under a heat dome and wildfires (like our neighbours in California), inflation out of control, our failing health and education systems strained to the brink with the pressure from the pandemic, growing federal debt, and First Nations issues now becoming mainstream Canada issues, poses the question whether we would know this under a majority Perhaps the heat in the kitchen was just too much for the Liberals. Calling an election and retiring the House so politicians could board buses and planes to make

promises to address these issues instead of taking these remaining years to dig in and fix some of them?

Everyone gets the ear of government under a coalition and only the entitled or well positioned get the ear under a majority Make your vote count, so us average folk have the ear of our elected. Let’s make them do what we do every day - figure it out, and solve those chronic problems with a thread of equity and fairness!

Jo-Anne Berezanski North Saanich

Prince Georgeand area clinic information is as follows:

Youcan now book your second COVID-19 vaccine dose appointment as early as 28 days after your firstdose. Receiving asecond doseearlier is particularly important in communities experiencing an outbreak or high-transmission of COVID-19.

•Tues to Sat (10:30 am to 5:30pm)

•Prince GeorgeConference and Civic Centre

808Canada Games Way, PrinceGeorge, BC

•12+ firstand second doses

•Dropins availablefor firstand second doses (limited spaces available)

NorthernHealthclinic information continues to be available on our website and in our community groups. northernhealth.ca/health-topics/covid-19-immunization-clinics facebook.com/NorthernHealth/groups/

Fort Nelson resident

Krista Vandersteen enjoys aday by the water.

When it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine,everyone has their own reasons whytheygot the shot. Fort Nelson community member Krista Vandersteen shares whyshe decidedtoget her vaccine.

❝ Iamsopleased to have been offered my doses of the COVID-19 vaccinefor all the obvious reasons, and also to help manage anxiety related to the risk of getting COVID-19 myself, or even worse, passing it on to someone else accidentally.❞

To find out where to get aCOVID-19 vaccine nearyou, visit the NorthernHealthCOVID-19 Immunization Clinics page. northernhealth.ca/health-topics/covid-19-immunization-clinics

Krista!

SC OPES &P UZ

ACROSS 1. Antlered deer

Fearful

Load

Brave person

Trim, as a lawn 14. Sheltered nook 15. Thanksgiving dish 16. Mine shipment

Back end

Desert floor

Fine powder

Hunch 23. Fence 24. Corral 25. Aquatic mammals 27. Except 28. Kitchen hot box

29. Skating arena

30. Tennis-game units

33. Certain snake 36. Stingy people 38. Purple flower 40. Having an arched ceiling 41. Sailor’s call 42. Ala_ 43. Farm implement 44. Regal form of address 46. Chop down 48. Rowing device

49. Bikini top

50. Tricky

Land surrounded by water 21. Exhausting 24. Soda

Change to fit

Gamblers

Floral wreath

Appear as a ghost

Contest

Most peaceful

Occurrence

Unruly kid

Sips

Current measures, for short

Fair: hyph.

Golfer’s target

That dude

Tosses

Bloodhound’s clue

Prior to, in poetry

Evergreen shrubs

Waiter’s aid

Iced

Part of a sentence

Female sheep

Handwriting 9. On one’s (alert) 10. Egg-shaped 11. “Wish You Here” 19. Song of praise

PUZZLE NO. 831

HOW TO PLAY:

Fill in the gridsothat every row, every columnand every 3x3box contains the numbers 1through 9only once.

Each3x3 box is outlined with adarker line You already have a few numberstoget you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 1through 9inthe same line,column or 3x3 box

PUZZLE NO.

CL ASSIF IEDS

Celebrating Alex

This is a casual open house event to celebrate the life of Alexander Frederick Hogh for family, friends and those whose life Alex touched.

Drop by to take the opportunity to share your favourite memories of Alex while enjoying some food, music, art work, and photos.

August 21, 2021 @ the Elks Hall

663 Douglas Street Prince George from 11am-4pm

Celebration of Life for Anne Werbecky

We will be having a Celebration of Life for Anne on August 28th beginning at 2:00 P.M. Family and everyone who knew her are welcome. For directions, please phone:

(250) 612-3639

Our hearts overflow with loving memories of our one and only Amazing Son

Gary William Gordon “Junior” Simmons

October 28, 1981 - August 17, 2017

Till we meet again in the Sweet Bye and Bye What a glorious day that will be! Until then “We’ll Be Missing You”

Thinking of you always Little Brother

Love Big Sister and nieces Much love Mom and Pops

Even though my father was never around most of my life, I know he loved me and I love him and respect him, I am grateful he was my father.

Love Son Rubbyn

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

Anita Laurin 1934-2021

With heavy hearts the Laurin family announce the loss of their Mom, Anita Laurin peacefully passed away at Hospice House on August 4th, 2021. She was born on February 14th, 1934 @ St. Lazare, Quebec and is predeceased by her parents Alice & Florentin Lavoie, son Dennis, husband Edgar and son John. Anita is survived by her siblings; Georgette & Hubert, Cecile & Richard, Laura, Edmond. She will be remembered by her children; Jeannine Laurin & Steve Fillion, Luke & Twyla Laurin and Cecile & Brian Goldfinch as well as numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her favorite activities were gardening, sewing and quilting, and spending time with family and friends. Her grandkids meant the world to her. A special thanks to all the ladies at West Gable Apartments. Mom spoke of you often and you were all very special to her. She enjoyed the numerous gatherings, playing dice, cards and puzzles. Many thanks to the nurses and staff of Hospice House for the awesome care you all gave to our Mom. Dr. Mann, our family is so ever thankful for the great care mom received over the years, your companionship & kind words were greatly appreciated. Thanks to all our family and friends for all the hugs, kind words and support. In lieu of flowers donations to Rotary Hospice House would be appreciated.

BIRKS,NEEST.GERMAIN,Belinda(Bunny) February08,1954-August19,2020 Uncharacteristically,Bunnyleftthispartyearly. PredeceasedbybrotherGeorgeandparentsRuth TownsendandMikeSt.Germain,sheismissedeveryday bydaughterSarah,sistersSandyandPat,brothersGarth, DarrellandBill,BFFJudyandJoeySevignyandextended family.

RubyE.CHIASSON

January9,1934-June30,2021

Itiswithgreatsadnessthatwesharewithyouthe passingofourMom.RubyissurvivedbyTheresa,Rick (Leanna),Marcel,Rosalie(Brian)andgrandchildrenTara, Dustin(GreatgrandchildrenJacksonandEllah),Blaine (Pieteke),DaltonandBrett(Dayle)andwonderfulfriend Ed.RubyisPre-deceasedbyherlovinghusbandJudeand sonBernie,siblings,Vera,Ruth,JoeandRoy.Ruby enjoyedcamping,fishing,sewing,knitting,crocheting, cribbutmostofallkeepingeveryonewellfed.Rubywasa hardworkerherentirelifeandretiredasan "ExtraordinaireChef".TheFamilywillhaveaprivate celebrationoflifeandcontinuethatonadailybasis.If youwish,pleasedonateto,orbecomeamemberofthe PrinceGeorgeLegionBranch#43,whichRubywhole heartedlyattendedandsupported.

Obituaries

ROSALIE MEADEN 2x51.5

Gloria Joseph

1976-2021

Gloria Joseph was born on July 30, 1976, she was 45. Born and raised on lheidli tenneh territory, a wonderful and amazing daughter, mother, grandmother, sister, and auntie who passed away unexpectedly on August 11th, 2021 in the Prince George Regional Hospital.

Gloria is survived by her parents Cathy and Victor Joseph, her sisters Georgina and Corinna, and her children Emily, Amber, Lucas and Dalila, and also her grandma Josie Paul.

Gloria was well known to have an amazing personality and was always there for everyone. She was always seen walking around and enjoying the sun.

The family and friends will be gathering for a Celebration of Life for her at her home, 1043 Whenun Road on Monday afternoon to Thursday afternoon.

OBST, Beverley

Dec 6, 1933 - Aug 10, 2021

Beverley Obst went to be with her Lord and Saviour on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, at the age of 87 years.

She was born in Bassano, Alberta on Dec. 6, 1933. She was the first of six children.

In 1951 she met the love of her life Ernie Obst, a university engineering student who was working for highways in Bassano. In the fall Ernie returned to Edmonton for his 2nd year at the University of Alberta.

Bev and Ernie continued to correspond for the next 3 years. In the summer of 1952 Beverley accepted a teaching position at Stony Point, Manitoba. She taught in a one room school grades 1-3 and 7-8. She loved teaching and working with kids. Ernie said, “she was very good at working with all her students”. He would have seen her in action as he missed Bev so much, he drove out to see her. Although Bev loved teaching, she loved Ernie more and she left her teaching position to get married on April 24th,1954. Ernie and Bev were married in Calgary and spent the next sixty-seven years together having many adventures in many communities in Alberta, B.C. and N.W.T. In Dawson Creek she would hang blankets around the room to protect baby Lynn from the cold. Lynn was born in July of 1955. In 1956 they moved to Ocean Falls, B.C., where their first son Les was born in February of 1957 followed by a second son, Lee in July of 1958. In 1960 with 3 little children Bev and Ernie moved to Inuvik N.W.T. where they lived for 3 years until 1963. In August 1962 Beverley flew to Edmonton where Larry the youngest child was born. Imagine the impact on Bev and her young family moving from a small northern winter community to Vancouver, B.C.! Eventually Bev and Ernie made their home in Prince George for 30 years. Bev’s dream was to retire somewhere warm with mild winters. She chose Kelowna, B.C. where Bev and Ernie have lived for the last 25 years.

Throughout her life Bev encouraged and supported Ernie in his career. In every community she lived in Bev shared her love of music, good food, gardening, and teaching. She taught Sunday School for many years, had a large garden with many flower beds and was an excellent cook.

Beverley loved to entertain and prepare delicious meals, and snacks to share with friends and family. Bev was always there for her family and ready to come to visit, renovate, look after children and grandchildren, and celebrate their successes. She loved, encouraged and was proud of all four of her children and their achievements. She was always there to encourage them to pursue their life’s dreams.

Thank you mum for your love and support. We love you and will miss you.

Lawrence (Larry) Schneider

Feb 19/43- Aug 11/21

We are very saddened to announce Larry’s passing. He was much loved and will

be sorely missed by his wife Judy and his daughters Trina and Trish. Also missing him are his sisters Linda (Ken) and Marie (Bruce) and his brothers in law Ivan (Verna), Randy (Charlene), Ronnie (Wanda), and sister in law Janice. Larry has various cousins and nieces and nephews as well as his favorite Aunt Dorraine who will miss him as well.

Larry was pre-deceased by his Mother Letty, Father Harold, and son in law Andrew.

Larry worked for many years at PG Pulp and Paper and made many friends there over the years.

A gathering for friends and family will be held at a later date.

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

Kathleen Mary Gable (nee Forster)

October 9, 1927 - August 10, 2021

Sadly we announce the passing of Kathleen (Kay) Gable, aged 93. Kay was dearly loved and will be remembered by her family: children Kirk (Kathie), Brock, Murray (Suzanne) and Laurel (Wes Penner); grandchildren Emily (Cory), Carla (Adam), Brianna, Nate (Krista), Luke (Erin), Hannah (Tamarack), Danial, Katie, Andrew (Kristina), Eric, Haley, Eric, Jon and Alex and 11 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Bob, sister Dorothy and many other family and friends. Kay was born in Forestburg, Alberta to Jeremiah and Mary Forster. Her father, a First World War veteran, died at a young age leaving Kay, her sister and mother to continue their life during the depression by taking in boarders and working hard to make ends meet. Kay finished Grade 11 at Commercial High School in Edmonton and then went to work at Munro’s Hardware Store for many years. In 1945 as the war was ending she met Bob, a handsome young sailor on shore leave. The rest, as they say, is history.

Kay and Bob were married on August 16, 1947 on a warm summer’s evening at McDougall United Church in Edmonton. Ten years later they moved to Fort St. John. In 1965 they moved to Prince George with their four children where they lived out the rest of their adventures together. A dedicated and exceptional homemaker, Kay also worked as a bookkeeper for many years and prided herself for being ‘good with numbers’. She was an avid curler and in 1978 was part of the BC Provincial Senior Women’s Curling Championship team that went to the nationals in Newfoundland. Kay and Bob enjoyed spending summers at Bednesti and Kalamalka Lakes, traveling to Nevada in the winter and socializing with their many friends. Kay remained very close to her sister and many tales can be told about times with the Banks cousins from Edmonton. Countless meals, stories, laughs and songs have been shared by the Gables over the years and will never be the same again without Mom and Dad.

After 71 years of marriage, Kay lost Bob in 2019. The past two years have been difficult for Kay but her sense of humour and strength persisted, even as her dementia progressed and health declined. The family wishes to express their deep gratitude to the staff at Parkside Care Home for their care and friendship to Kay especially over the COVID-19 pandemic.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, August 20th at Assman’s Funeral Chapel, 1908 Queensway Prince George with a reception to follow.

Good-bye Mom, we love you and we are at peace knowing that you are again together with Dad.

Celebrate the lives of

Educator, Intellectual, Athlete, Musician, Family Man Roger Frank Hooton Fox

Roger’slifejourney beganinBareilly, IndiaonDecember21, 1931, andended peacefullyonJuly24, 2021, in Hospice House, Prince George,surroundedbyhis family.Roger,lovinglycalled Baba,issur vivedbyhis wife of 62 years, Marguerite, andhis daughters, Jennifer Fox(MichaelMcPhail)Rachael andRoger,and Pamela Dawson (Allan)Cynthia andKathr yn

He attended St.Paul’sboardingschoolinDarjeelingfrom theagesof6to14and then completed hislasttwo years in Blundell’s School, Devon, England. He andhis sistersailedonthe Aquitainiafrom SouthHampton to Halifax andtookthe train acrossCanadatomeettheir parentsinVancouver, an experience he described in the bookhewrote forhis family called,“MemoirsofaYoung Student”.Roger entered theUBC EngineeringFaculty in 1948. Aseries of summer jobs in logging camps andwiththe BC Forest Service first broughthim to theNorth.Leaving university, he continuedtoworkfor theB CForest Service in thePrinceGeorge area andthenwith BC Rail surveyingthe linetoFortSt. John. During this time Rogerand Marguerite metinDawsonCreek andbecameengaged.In1958 he returned to UB CtocompleteaBSc in Physics andateachingcertificate. He movedwithhis newfamilyto beginhis teachingcareerinDawsonCreek in 1960. Rogernot onlyhad apassion forteachingbut also forlearning, returningtoUBC foraMaster’sdegreeinEducation in 1969, andaDoctorate in Educationin1981. Rogerjoinedthe Canadian InternationalDevelopmentAgencyand waspostedtoNigeria from 1964-1967 with Marguerite, Jennifer andPamelasharing theadventure.Hereturnedtoteach in Quesnel fortwo years andafter receiving hisMaster’sdegreeheacceptedaposition in Prince George at PGSS. Twoyears laterRoger movedtoDuchess Park becoming head of theScience Departmentwhere he introducedaninnovative science labprogram.Wanting to inspireteachers, he taught summer coursesseveralyears at UVic, andone summer in Fiji.Hespent thelastyearofhis teachingcareeronexchangein Renmark, SouthAustralia,retiringinDecemberof1988. Rogerfosteredaspiritof camaraderie andgood humour wherever he taught.Heisrememberedfor hispositive interactionswithteachersand students, andfor hispranks. Rogerwas an active member of thePrinceGeorge CentralLions Club formanyyears.Healsoser ved five years on theB CScience Council.

Music wasalwaysanimportant part of Roger’slifeand he passed that love on to his children andgrandchildren. In hisyouthhesang in choirs andstudiedthe piano andorgan.Helater learnedthe recorder andloved playingEarly Music at home, with friends,and in concert. Music filled hishome, andhecould often be foundat thepiano or playingthe recorder or whisperwhistling. He also accompaniedPamela at thePrinceGeorge Music Festival.HesharedthislovewithMarguerite, singing together with the‘Friends of Opera’and the‘Prince George CantataSingers’, and participating in aMusic Listeninggroup formore than fortyyears.

Sports were an integral part of Roger’slife, both participating andwatching. In his youngeryears he played grasshockey, soccer,and tennis. Laterheenjoyed racquetball andsquash.Inretirementhebecameagolfenthusiastnot only playingthe game but also making golfclubs.

Ever theteacher he wasalwaysready to offer advice andevenwrote abook, ‘ The Swing’sthe Thing’.At79hejoinedthe Sports Center faithfullywalking thetrack threedaysaweek. He enjoyedthe deskstaff,and otherwalkershemet, always havinganew joke to tell.His family lovedtoaccompanyhim on his18laps, sharing stories andmemories.

He enjoyedmore than 30 yearsofretirement: travellingwithMargueriteintheir camper around westernCanadavisitingfamilyand exploring,spendingafew winter months in Hawaii each year,visitingJennifer in Spainand relativesinAustralia, learningtomakefurniture,and latercreatinglatch hook rugs andwall hangings to give to family andfriends

Forover fiftyyears thefamilyspent many happytimes together at theB owron Lake cabin. He modeledabalance betweenworkand leisure,alwaysmaking time fora game of crib,offeringalessonabout fishing, buildinga fire,orscanningthrough & listeningtohis shortwave radio usingahomemade antennastrungupaspruce tree He also relaxedsitting on theporchsmoking hispipe(to keep thebugs away,he said). As spousesand grandchildren were added, he sharedhis stories with whomever filled theseatnext to him.

Rogerwas akindand thoughtfulman always theretolendalisteningear or a helping hand with love.Hewould showuprandomlywithgiftsof flowersortreats to thosewho helpedhim at thepharmacy, thebank, theSportsCentreand other places. In hislater yearshebeganthe tradition of giving family giftsonhis birthday rather than receiving them andtookgreat care in choosingeachpresent.Asdementiaprogressed, he wasevenmore abletoshowhis kindness anduntil thever yend wasalwayssayingthank youand wantingtoshare whatever he had. We will miss youdearlyBaba, buthavesomanywonderfulmemories to cherish.

He wasaRenaissance manwho livedonfourcontinentsand in onekingdom

We wish to thankViolet Hubble forthe cheerful,calmcompanionshipshe provided during Roger’slastyear, Dr.Irina Isratfor hercompassionate care,the staff of the EmergencyRoomfor keepinghim comfortableand allowingthe family privacy, andthe staff of Hospice Housefor their respectful andgentlecareinhis last days. In memoriam donationscan be made to theSalvation Army Food Bank or acharity of your choice

Anton (Tony) Waycheshen

Tony passed away peacefully at Simon Fraser Lodge at the age of 89 years. He will be greatly missed by his children, grandchildren and family. Born and raised on a homestead near Kelvington, Saskatchewan, his home since the late 1960s was Prince George and he was a long-time employee at Northwood Pulp. Tony enjoyed spending time with his family and trips to the wilderness around Bear Lake and McGregor with his brother, Steve. Thanks to everyone at Simon Fraser Lodge, his doctors, medical staff, and neighbors who helped him in the last years of his life.

Sheds/Outbuildings

Look Who's Celebrating Birthday

Happy

2 Security-First Aid attendants required in the Chetwynd area. Permanent, full time positions. Please call (250) 261-1309 or email norsec@pris.ca for details.

Trades Help

• Good analytical skills

The position offers:

PEACEVALLEYINDUSTRIES (2016)LTDQUALIFIED JOURNEYMANWELDERS

Dollar Saver Lumber has openings for the following positions:

La bourers • PL aNer FeeDer ( FT)

• Gr aDers ( FT or PT ) for 1x4, 1x3 in 8’, 7’ 6’ & 5’ lengths) 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 or gobbi1@telus.net Fax: 250.561.2111

PeaceValleyIndustriesis currentlylookingfor QualifiedJourneyman WeldersforChetwyndB.C. Minimum5years experience.Pleaseemail resume to peacevalley@uniserve.com. Nophonecallsplease. peacevalley@uniserve.com

Trucking & Transport

PEACEVALLEYINDUSTRIES (2016)LTDCOALHAUL TRUCKDRIVER

PeaceValleyislookingfor Class1Driversforthecoal haulinChetwyndBCarea. Competitivewages,benefits andaccommodations provided.Minimum5years offroadexperiencerequired. Notwillingtotrainatthis time.

Pleaseemailresumeto peacevalley@uniserve.com orcallJimat250-788-5592 peacevalley@uniserve.com

place an ad call: 250-562-6666

mill requirements

• Co-ordinate Shipments of finished products to existing customers.

• Work with Mill Management to ensure optimal inventories are maintained.

• Communicate with customers to ensure their needs are being met

Preference will be given for persons

• Completed a College Course in Business Administration or have equivalent experience

• Good computer skills including proficiency with Microsoft Excel.

The successful candidate will possess the following qualities

• The ability to deal with customer needs in a calm constructive manner

• The ability to adjust to rapidly changing conditions and developments

• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

• A competitive salary and benefit package

• Opportunity to work in friendly non- bureaucratic environment

Please submit your resume to Frank Skerlak, General Sales Manager at fskerlak@lumber.ca or Bev at: gobbi1@telus.net Only those persons chosen for an interview will be contacted.

Apartments / Condos-For

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

Property For Sale

HOMES

REAL ESTATE LISTINGS

Are you familiar with LUXURY VINYL TILES?

You’re no doubt familiar with standard vinyl flooring sold by the square foot. However, did you know that this type of flooring,whichisbothaffordableandpractical,hasundergoneasignificantupgradein recentyears?

Availableintheformofmulti-coloured,interlocking slabs, luxury vinyl tiles come with many advantages. For example,they’re:

•Waterproof

•Easy to install on almost everysurface

•Similar in style to other materials (wood, stone, concrete,etc.)

•Scratch-resistant

•Low-maintenance

Thanks to their remarkable durability and versatile design, luxury vinyl tiles are

becoming an increasingly popular choice forbothcommercialandresidentialspaces.

Like traditional vinyl, the luxury version remains an excellent option for rooms prone to high levels of humidity, like your basementorbathroom.

If you plan on renovating this summer, considerluxuryvinylflooring!

Seven tips for AN ECOFRIENDLY REMODEL

Every year, the construction industry produces heaps of waste, which contributes to widespread pollution. Are you looking to transformoneormoreroomsinyourhome while leaving behind the smallest possible ecological footprint? Consider these seven eco-friendlytipsforyourupcomingreno!

1.Deal with a specialized recycling company that will take your leftover scraps insteadofsendingdebrisandotherwaste toyourlocaljunkyard.

2.Buy synthetic gypsum (which is made from recycled materials) instead of standard brands. Not only is their quality identical, but synthetic varieties are also muchmoresustainable.

3.Choosepaintthatdoesn’tcontainvolatile organic compounds (VOC). For example,water-basedpaintswithamattefinisharegenerallygoodchoices.

4.Investintypesofflooringproducedwith

materials that have been either recycled orextracted fromforestsprotectedunder theForestStewardshipCouncil(lookfor theletters“FSC”).Eco-friendlymaterials to consider include bamboo, concrete, corkandengineeredwoodproducts.

5.Prioritize plumbing fixtures (toilets, showers, faucets, etc.) that cut down on waterwaste.

6.Insulateyourwaterheatertoreduceheat lossandminimizecondensation.

7.Consideryourchoiceoflighting.Optfor energy-efficient bulbs to lower your utilitybillsandcarbonfootprint.

Three helpful tips for CLEANING YOUR GARAGE

If you’re dying to spend hours cleaning out the garage this summer, raise your hand! Nobody? How surprising! Jokes aside,thischorecanprovetobemuchless ofaburdenifyoufollowthesethreehelpful tips. So, roll up your sleeves and let’s gettowork!

1.Unclutter.Haveyouaccumulatedacollectionofdisparateitemsovertheyears, telling yourself that they may one day come in handy? Chances are, you’ve long forgotten about most of those objectsthatnowovercrowdyourgarage.If they’re still in good condition, donate them to charity or organize a (real) garage sale. Any broken or potentially toxic objects should be thrown away Check with your municipality to find outwhere,whenandhowyoucansafely

Three

disposeofhazardouswaste.

2.Clean.Beforecleaningyourgaragefrom top to bottom, make sure to put on gloves, safety glasses and a dust mask there’s nothing luxurious about the task at hand. Using a broom, scrape the ceiling and walls to loosen debris and cobwebs, and then scoop everything up with a broom or vacuum cleaner, making sure to get into all those easy-tomiss nooks and crannies. Next, wash the walls, floor and other surfaces (shelves, cabinets,etc.)withapowerfulcleansing solutionthat’ssuitableforuseontheaffected surfaces. Once the cleaning is done, open the windows and doors to allowthespacetoair-dryquicker

3.Organize. A well-organized garage isn’t just visually pleasing it’s a lot safer!Optimizeyourfloorspacebyinstalling shelving units, hooks and any other type of storage system you can findatyourlocalhardwarestore.Similarly, tomakethemost of your wall space and keep things clutter-free, tools, seasonal equipment and other materials should each have their own designated spot up onthewall.

And there you have it: your garage is as clean and organized as ever! Now, all that remains is to admire the end result before youresumeyoursummeractivities.

mistakes to avoid WHEN RENOVATING YOUR KITCHEN

Summer is the perfect time to renew your kitchen’s design. However, many homeowners, eager to get the job done fast,maycommitcrucialmistakes.Here are three common renovation traps to avoid:

1.Installing workstations too far apart. When your stove, fridge and kitchen sink are placed far apart, you lose precious time moving from one stationtothenextasyougoaboutpreparing your meals. For optimal effi-

ciency,kitchenspecialistsrecommend bringingthesestationsclosertogether toformatriangle

2.Prioritizingstyleoverquality Ifyou choose materials or appliances solely basedonaesthetics,youcouldendup regretting it in the long run. Opt for timelessmodelswithprovendurability for your standard kitchen features (like the countertops, cupboards and sink) while allowing yourself more leeway when it comes to decorative items(likecurtainsandframes).

CIRCLES AND SPHERES:

interior design

Have you noticed how popular circular shapes have become in interior design? Justthinkaboutit:suspendedlanterns,braided rattan balls, luminous garlands with rounded bulbs, decorative orbs made of stainless steel, glass or wood they’re popping up everywhere! Organic and playful in design, spheres of all sizes, colours and configurations are being used to create an alluring atmosphere in virtually every type ofroom.

Do you have one of those old-fashioned globes or retro disco balls hidden in a far corner of the house? Put it on display right away! Whether you showcase it in your living room or your bedroom, it won’t go unnoticed. To get your hands on some of the most trendsetting spherical shapes available, visit yourlocalhomedécor centres without delay.

Do you often find yourself itching to redecorate, especially when summer rolls around? If you like DIY projects, here’s one that will surely pique your interest: give your bed a fresh new look withahandcraftedcushionedheadboard!

MATERIALS

•Autilityknife

•Styrofoampanels

(2.5centimetresthickatmost)

•Sewingscissors

•Padding(polyesterorcotton)

•Fabric(ofyourchoosing)

•Astapler

•AdhesiveVelcroordouble-sidedtape

INSTRUCTIONS

1.With your utility knife, cut the Styrofoaminto30cmx30cmsquares.Fora queen-sized bed, anticipate using 15

piecestocreatethreerowsoffive.

2.Cut 15 squares of padding and place eachontopofaStyrofoamsquare.For a more cushiony finish, double or triple thelayersofpadding.

3.Cover each square with the fabric of your choosing (solid, chequered, abstract, etc.) and securely staple the ends totheback.Dependingonyourartistic skill, you can configure the squares so that they combine to form an image or a particular pattern.

4.Carefullyplacethecushionedsquareson the wall directly above your bed using stripsofadhesiveVelcroordouble-sided tape.And there you have it!

Now, step back and admire the results. Sweetdreams!

3. Neglecting efficient lighting. Think critically when choosing your lighting fixtures, as these should be neither too light nor too dark. For a functional and visually pleasing kitchen space, consider multiplying your light sources by installing built-in floodlights or otherhangingceilingfixtures. Happyrenovating!

Do you have a garage to clean? Listen to your favourite music to make the task almost enjoyable

What is a KITCHEN PENINSULA?

Contrary to the traditional kitchen island, which stands isolated from the rest of the cabinetry, the peninsula is an extension of the main counter space. Like the island, the peninsula can harbour a cookingappliance,asinkor shelving units.

Aversatile piece,thepeninsula canserveasbothaworkstation andadiningarea.In narrow dwellings with limited room, it’s often used as the main dining tabletooptimizetheamount of space available.

In terms of seating, stools are your best bet! If possible, choose models with adjustableheightsoratleastmakesurethere’senoughwiggleroom(about30centimetres)to slideyourchairscomfortablybeneaththecountertop.

Pegboards aren’t just for garages and sheds anymore. In 2017, they’re making their way into every room of the house! Increasingly,homeownersareusingthese perforated boards to decorate and organizetheirhumbleabode.Withthehelpof afewsturdyshelvesandsomedecorative hooks,youcanhangalmostanything!Here aresomeideastohelpyougetstarted:

•Accessories (hats,ties,etc.)

•Sewingequipment (spoolsofyarn,scissors,etc.)

•Jewellery

(necklaces,bracelets,etc.)

•Cosmetics (nailpolish,lipstick,etc.)

•Decorativeobjects (trinkets,masks,etc.)

•Foodproducts(oil,spices,etc.)

•Kitchenutensils-(spatulas,ladles)

•Plants(driedflowers,herbs,etc.)

•Clothes(dresses,shirts,etc.)

•Artsupplies (paintbrushes,painttubes,etc.)

Nomatterhowyouchoosetouseyourpegboards,remember:alittlecreativitygoes alongway!