Prince George Citizen October 14, 2021

THURSDAY, October 14, 2021

Woman taken to hospital after motel fire Sunday

Knights Inn slated to be converted to social housing by the provincial government

A morning fire Sunday in a downtown motel resulted in a woman being taken to hospital suffering from what appeared to be smoke inhalation.

The fire broke out at about 10:30 a.m. Sunday at Knights Inn, located at 650 Dominion St.

Support workers from AWAC (Association Advocating for Women and Community) were on the scene and knocked on the door of Unit 113, where the woman was staying, and helped her escape the burning suite. The woman told nurses on the scene she was the sole occupant of the suite that was on fire.

Prince George Fire Rescue firefighters, who were only a few blocks away mopping up at the scene of a large structure fire earlier Sunday on Brunswick Street, and although the suite was fully involved with fire they were able to extinguish the flames quickly before the it could spread to adjacent suites.

The motel building is worth an estimated $1.1 million and damage is estimated at $100,000.

Brian Beach was several doors down in his suite at Unit 105 when the fire broke out.

“I was just watching TV and the lady came banging on the door and said there

was a fire so I got up and gathered all my things that I had ready to go anyway,” said Beach. “I’m glad that lady warned us well in advance, I didn’t hear a fire alarms. It’s nice that they are watching. As soon as I came out I could smell the smoke.”

The fire alarms were working and the smoke did activate them.

The 44-unit motel has been leased by the provincial government to provide supportive housing for people living outdoors or in emergency shelters and is

being operated by staff from the Prince George Native Friendship Centre. It is also provides temporary housing for COVID-19 patientsorpeoplewhohavebeenexposed to the virus to allow them to self-isolate.

Emergency personnel on the scene took extra precautions by wearing personal protection equipment. Firefighters wore breathing apparatus, gloves and face shields while they provided first aid to the injured woman as she lay in the parking lot awaiting the ambulance.

“We wore our PPE, they gear up when they’re treating patients and they’re appropriately prepared when they go into afire,”saidPGFRdeputychiefCliffWarner.

“We brought the guys that were working today so we have just about everybody going now. We rally and adapt and deal with them as they come up.”

There were no other injuries. Fire damage was limited to one suite but the blaze caused smoke damage to several adjoining suites.

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

Support workers attend to a woman who escaped a burning motel suite at the Knights Inn on Sunday morning

$2.00

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.Visit pgpl.ca/board for more information on current membersand the time commitment required for serving on the LibraryBoard.

The City is accepting applications to fill three (3) vacancies for two-year terms beginning December 1, 2021 and ending November 30, 2023.

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 maybe picked up from the Legislative Services Division, 5th Floor City Hall.

Deadline for Applications: 5:00 p.m., Friday, October 29, 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.

Suspicious fire destroys downtown building

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

Fire ripped through a downtown building early Sunday morning, destroying a historic Brunswick Street structure that formerly housed RE/MAX Centre City Realty.

Nineteen firefighters were initially called to the scene at 611 Brunswick at 6:07 a.m. on Sunday and they arrived to find smoke and flames coming from the back of the wood building.

A callout brought more firefighters to the fire but they were unable to save the building and it is a total loss.

Prince George Fire Rescue deputy chief Cliff Warner said firefighters evacuated the adjacent Travelodge hotel and were able to keep the fire from spreading to that building.

“They did a good job of keeping the fire away from the hotel, the hotel is looking good and we should be able to get the people into the hotel this morning,” said

They did a good job of keeping the fire away from the hotel, the hotel is looking good...

Warner.

“The original fire was in the back of the building and we got the back knocked down but it got into the walls.”

Before it became a realtor’s office, the building was the Buffalo Brewing Company and Jordy’s Lounge. It originally opened in early 1970s as Vienna Schnitzel restaurant.

There were no injuries.

Warner estimated the damage at about $2 million. The cause of the blaze was still unknown.

“At this point it would appear suspicious, it’s still under investigation,” said Warner.

REQUEST FOR COMMENT

The City of Prince George is considering an amendment to the City of Prince George Official Community Plan (OCP) BylawNo. 8383, 2011 on 7920 Highway 97 S(subject property) as follows:

•Schedule B-6: Future Land Use fromRural Resource to LightIndustrial; and

•Schedule B-4: GrowthManagement fromRural Resource to Phase 1.

This application is to facilitate the development of light industrial uses on the subject property This application to amend the OCP also includes arezoning application (Bylaw9219, 2021).

Please visitthe City of PrinceGeorge website at www.princegeorge.ca for more detailed information. From thehomepage of the City of Prince Georgewebsite click on “Business and Development”; click on “Planningand Development”; click on “LandUse”;and scroll down to “ApplicationsinProgress”.

The City requests written comment from any person, organization, or agencies that maybe affected by this amendment to theOCP.Please forward anywritten submissions by 5:00 pm, October 22, 2021 to theDevelopmentServices Divisionat1100Patricia Boulevard, PG V2L 3V9, Fax: 561-7721, Email: devserv@princegeorge.ca

JAMES DOYLE/LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

Firefighters aim their hoses at hot spots in a fire that destroyed the building at 611 Brunswick St. on Sunday morning.

Judge reserves decision on homeless camps

Whether a judge will grant an order to the City to close down two homeless camps in Prince George won’t be known for some time yet.

After a day of hearing arguments from lawyers representing the City and the camps’ occupants, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Christopher Hinkson reserved judgment Wednesday.

Hinkson said he will give the matter some priority and hopes to have a decision ready by the end of next week but made no promises.

The City is seeking an injunction to evict occupants of camps that sprouted up this summer along a strip of land at the end of Fifth Avenue in the light industrial area east of the downtown retail and restaurant district and an empty lot on George Street across from the courthouse.

During the hearing, counsel for the City, Troy DeSouza, framed the matter as a land-use issue, saying the camps are not a permitted use at the sites and are in violation of the City’s zoning bylaw.

Defence counsel Darlene Kavka agreed but contended the order would put them in a bind and argued that Hinkson should take into account the occupants’ “exceptional circumstances.”

Due to barriers to entry into the existing stock of social housing and shortcomings

About 35 people gathered at the courthouse on Tuesday to protest the city’s attempt to close down two homeless camps in the city. A judge has reserved decision after hearing arguments from lawyers on the matter on Wednesday.

related to emergency shelters, Kavka argued, her clients will have no place to go.

She said the City’s Safe Streets bylaw would only further add to their predicament. Passed by council in August, it gives bylaw enforcement officers authority to issue tickets carrying $100 fines for “nuisance” behaviour like panhandling, open drug use and camping in public areas.

“There is nowhere in the city of Prince George where zoning bylaws will allow them to shelter overnight or during the

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day,” Kavka said. “The result is that there is no lawful way to comply with the injunction.”

Kavka went on to suggest the city is attempting a “collateral attack to force the homeless out of the city.”

Quoting affidavits from the occupants, Kavka argued they would be better off if the camps remained in place, saying they feel safer and have access to toilets, running water and garbage disposal in the form of a dumpster at the entrance to the camp at the end of Fifth Avenue.

Health care workers and social service providers can more easily find them, Kavka also said, and dismissed allegations that the camps have led to an increase in crime as unfounded.

She did not specifically cite active drug use as a barrier to entry in her presentation to Hinkson, but did mention it in documents filed in advance of the hearing.

At the start of the hearing, Hinkson made note of a recent B.C. Supreme Court decision in which a judge ruled against extending an injunction against anti-logging blockades at Fairy Creek on Vancouver Island, finding the RCMP’s actions risked bringing the court’s reputation into disrepute and went on to question the need for an order.

DeSouza said that the Fairy Creek situation is “hugely political” and that in his experience with similar injunctions imposed on homeless camps elsewhere in B.C., most occupants comply with the law. In Nanaimo, he said just two people ended up being arrested and the apprehensions were made under different procedures. With winter on its way, time is of the essence, DeSouza said.

“We’re not doing it on behalf of our own interest,” he said. “We’re doing it in the full interest of the residents who have to live there and...we are concerned about their health and we are concerned that if they are allowed to remain there another two weeks, it’s going to be worse for them.”

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

School vaccine plan raises questions

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

The Liberal opposition and local teachers say the province needs a blanket policy that will make COVID vaccinations mandatory for all K-12 schools in the B.C. and are fearful of the provincial government’s plan to leave it up to individual school boards to make that decision.

FLYERINDEX IN TODAY’S CITIZEN

Last week Premier John Horgan said vaccine mandates should be a last resort for workers in B.C. schools and that local school board trustees know better than the government what’s best for their communities.

But Liberal interim leader Shirley Bond says with infection rates continuing to be problematic across the province and vaccines proven to be effective it should not be left up to the 60 school boards to set the policy on whether school staff should be vaccinated.

“Certainly, we’re seeing the number of cases in school-aged children increase and we have parents that are concerned, we have staff that are concerned and from our perspective having a patchwork approach to whether or not vaccination should be required will be a problem,” said Bond Friday morning.

COVID exposures and outbreaks for parents, and we still are waiting for answers on (school building) ventilation and what was done during the summer, and now we see confusion and lack of clarity and lack of leadership when it comes to vaccination requirements in schools,” said Bond.

“We need the education minister and the premier to show leadership and to make sure that the Number 1 priority is the health and safety of students and parents across the province. Parents want certainty and now they are going to have to wait to reach out to their local school boards to sort out what’s going to happen across the province. This is a public health issue and it needs to be treated that way.”

Daryl Beauregard, first vice-president of the Prince George District Teachers’ Association, says the pandemic is a real threat to the health of teachers, students and parents and needs to be treated that way. He says it is the government’s responsibility to set policy on staff vaccination and how that would be enforced.

I’m quite concerned for school boards to be left on their own to make these decisions. There could be some resistance in the community, there could be some fears.

“This is a decision that the government needs to make. It has certainly looked at provincewide policies when it comes to mask use, the vaccine pass, all of those issues, and this should be treated the same. We need to have a consistently applied set of expectations. There needs to be a provincewide approach to ensure that children and staff feel safe in school and that parents have a clear understanding of what the expectations are no matter where you live in British Columbia.”

Bond, the MLA for Prince George-Valemount and a former SD 57 trustee who chaired the local board before she entered provincial politics, pointed to some areas of the province with multiple school boards, such as the Fraser-Nicola riding, which has four school boards within its boundaries. She says four separate decisions by school trustees on vaccination policy in one region will lead to confusion if differing policies are adopted by each board.

On Oct. 1, with infection rates continuing to rise across the province, the government revised its mask policy to include all students from kindergarten to Grade 3. Bond says the government’s lack of a comprehensive return-to-school policy is putting the health of students and school staff at risk.

“They had to back up on the mask mandate, they had to back up on notification of

“I personally support mandatory vaccination and I worry that not all of my members will make it through the pandemic, and vaccination is the best way I can recommend protection” said Beauregard, who heads the PGDTA health and safety committee.

“I’m quite concerned for school boards to be left on their own to make these decisions. There could be some resistance in the community, there could be some fears. I think that’s a very serious decision to be put on a group of people who I don’t know of any who have any medical experience, versus having the provincial health office working with the government and the Ministry of Education that could be implemented everywhere in all of our districts. Our members deserve to have equitable, equal opportunities to be safe everywhere.”

The B.C. Teachers’ Association president Teri Mooring, in an email sent Friday to BCTF members, the teachers’ union it supports a mandatory vaccination policy be put in place by the provincial government and that it should not be left up to individual school boards. Earlier this week, CUPE BC president Karen Ranalletta spoke out in favour of a vaccination requirement for CUPE members working in K-12 schools. The CUPE union has nearly 1,000 members employed in Prince George district schools.

School District 57 board chair Sharel Warrington said no decision will be made until after the SD 57 board has had time to discuss the guidelines. A special meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, after the Citizen’s publication deadline.

FULL STEAM AHEAD The Little Prince makes its way around the tracks at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park on Saturday morning The 109-year-old train was running 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. all Thanksgiving weekend

Man found not criminally responsible for mother’s death

MARK NIELSEN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A Vanderhoof man who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of his mother has been found not guilty due to mental disorder.

In a decision issued Sept. 21, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Martha Devlin agreed with a forensic psychiatrist’s opinion that Justin James Johnston, 43, was “acutely psychotic” and “suffering from paranoid delusions and disorganized thought processes as a result of his schizophrenia,” at the time of the offence.

Johnston’s mother, Joy Morris, 62, was found dead in her home on March 10, 2020. Investigators concluded she had died on January 22, 2020, the victim of blunt force trauma.

Two days after her body was found, her son was arrested in Penticton and subsequently detained in hospital under the Mental Health Act. Johnson was formally charged on April 10, 2020.

Much of Devlin’s decision was devoted to testimony from the psychiatrist, who testified that Johnston was diagnosed in his early 20s with schizophrenia, described as a “chronic psychotic disorder that manifests itself in psychosis and can include auditory hallucinations, delusions and paranoia.”

His state led to a history of run-ins with the law. In February 1999, when he was 21 years old, he assaulted his then wife. He was found not criminally responsible for

reason of mental disorder and, in May 2001, was issued an absolute discharge from the forensic psychiatric hospital.

After his release, there were “numerous incidents” related to his schizophrenia and non-compliance with medications that led to interactions with the police.

In November 2017, at age 40, Johnston was charged with various offences, including causing a disturbance and assaulting a police officer. He was remanded to the hospital for an evaluation and found to be acutely psychotic at the material time, although the counts were eventually resolved without a finding of being not criminally responsible due to a mental disorder.

Prior to the most-recent incident, Johnston had been non-compliant with his medications and the psychiatrist concluded he was very likely acutely psychotic at the time.

In fact, even while receiving medication at the hospital following his arrest, he remained “delusional, paranoid, and had immense poverty of thought and speech.”

“Unmedicated, Mr. Johnston would become more paranoid,” Devlin says. “His aggressive acts are triggered by his paranoid delusions. In his psychotic state, Mr. Johnston cannot gauge reality as his perceptions are severely impaired.”

In reaching her finding, Devlin ordered Johnston confined to the hospital pending a hearing before a review board. The hearing must be held within 45 days of the verdict.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE/LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

Developer seeks to build seniors apartment on Foothills

sufficient density to offset the loss of revenue from the affordable units.

A developer is proposing to build a six-storey seniors apartment building on Foothills Boulevard.

At the Oct. 4 meeting council approved initial steps for the development, however, several conditions must be met before the proposal can move to the public hearing process.

The applicant, Peter Wise, is proposing to build a 127-unit building at 1177 Foothills Boulevard.

The development is meant to support aging-in-place program for seniors which includes meals, transportation, recreation and 24-hour emergency call monitoring.

The project also includes 25 per cent of affordable units for people who can only afford 50 per cent of market lease rates. The proponent says the development needs to have

City administration initially recommended denying the application because of its location adjacent to Cranbrook Hill as a portion of the property risks landslide, erosion and sedimentation hazards.

“It is possible this ‘no disturb, no build area’ could be decreased but it would need further investigation to determine if this area is useable,” said Deanna Wasnik, acting director of planning and development services.

City staff have also noted that the development is not consistent with the size and scale of existing apartment buildings in the surrounding area and reflects a scale for development support elsewhere like downtown, along Queensway or at the intersection of O’Grady Road and Stringer Crescent.

However, before denying the project outright based on staff recommendations, Coun. Frank Everitt made the argument to advance the project so council could hear more about it from the developer.

“I would suggest that we support the application and allow first and second reading to go forward so we can get that additional information,” said Everitt. “We have had the opportunity for a couple of applications to come before us, and we make the decision before first and second reading going through. I think it is important that there’s due process and the process would allow for us to have some alternate things taken care of for the project.”

The public hearing process will be withheld until the city receives a development permit application, a geotechnical report, a servicing brief, and a traffic impact study.

UNBC tops Maclean’s rankings

CITIZEN STAFF

For the third time in seven years, Maclean’s Magazine has ranked the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) as the top university in its category in Canada.

UNBC topped the chart in the Primarily Undergraduate category out of 19 post-secondary institutions in the magazine’s Canadian university rankings released this morning (Oct. 7).

“These rankings reflect UNBC’s excellence as an institution as the best small research-intensive university in Canada,” said UNBC Interim President Dr. Geoff Payne. “The University community is one where our faculty and staff are dedicated to ensuring our students are successful in their educational pursuits through exceptional research and leadership opportunities, interdisciplinary learning, and the numerous support systems we have in place.”

UNBC excelled across a wide range of categories, from the quality of faculty, staff, and the services it offers to how it strengthens the student experience through means such as maintaining a vibrant library system and funding scholarships and bursaries.

“The Board is continually impressed with and proud of the students and employees who make UNBC such an innovative and strong University,” said Catherine Wishart, chair of UNBC’s Board of Governors.

“UNBC is vital to northern B.C., providing outstanding teaching and research opportunities that can transform the fabric of communities.”

Students also propelled UNBC to its best-ever result in the student satisfaction survey, giving high marks to their course instructors, student life and administrative staff, mental health services, extracurricular activities, and experiential learning opportunities.

UNBC achieved its highest rank ever at second spot in the category of faculty who have won national awards.

UNBC’s top ranking in 2021 is an improvement from 2020, when it placed fifth. UNBC first ranked in the top spot in 2015 and 2016, and was second between 2017 and 2019.

HANNA

Let them vote

Last month’s federal election bucked a recent trend of increases in voter turnout, with the total dipping below 60 per cent for the first time since 2008.

Although voter turnout is affected by a variety of issues, one of the reasons behind the increase in the 2015 and 2019 elections was Vote on Campus, a program that encourages youth voting and participation in the electoral process by locating polling stations on university and college campuses.

Voter turnout among young people has historically been lower than other age cohorts and Vote on Campus was designed to address this issue. The program, however, did not operate in the 2021 election because of the suddenness of the election and pandemic restrictions, a decision that likely affected youth turnout.

Post-secondary students can face a number of barriers when voting in federal elections, all of which have been confirmed by our students. Many students move away for school but keep their permanent address in their home community This makes sense when you remember that students often move around once the academic year ends in the Spring.

Elections Canada does provide some options for students, but these options are not clearly explained on the Elections Canada website nor are they enough to facilitate accessible voting. In federal elections voters have a number of avenues to cast their votes. Mail in, early voting, and on election day. The major difficulty lies in election day procedures when all voters are expected to cast their vote at their assigned polling station. In order to do so voters must provide their voter registration card and/or identification that demonstrates residency at an address within that polling district For students, as well as others who move regularly for work or other reasons, this requirement can pose difficulties as they may not have the documentation required at the polls.

Elections Canada needs to do more to encourage youth voting and participation in the electoral process more generally. Hopefully the Vote on Campus program will be reinstated and expanded in future elections, but steps can also be taken to streamline election procedures. Young people are the future of our democracy and studies have shown that if they are not engaged in the political process earlier in life, they will not turn out to vote in later years, thereby contributing to a further decline in voter turnout.

– Fiona MacDonald and Gary N. Wilson are professors in UNBC’s Department of Political Science

Bending the moral universe

Itry to be optimistic and embrace the truth that “the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice.”

When I examine the way the Canadian government treats Indigenous children, however, it is hard not to be cynical

I began my Social Justice 12 unit on residential schools by watching Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s 2008 apology to the Indigenous peoples of Canada.

My students then delved into what precisely Mr. Harper was apologizing for. As we did so, we came across an underlying theme in Canada’s policy toward aboriginal children: it has never wanted to spend the money that was needed to support their well-being.

This truth became very clear when we examined the tuberculosis epidemic of the early 20th century.

Children in residential schools

LESSONS IN LEARNING

were dying at a rate that far exceeded the national average, and the government knew that most of these deaths were preventable Rather than improve the living conditions, the Department of Indian Affairs decided not to spend the necessary funds and instead consciously chose to let children die.

As I closed my lesson on Dr. Peter Bryce, the public health specialist who wrote about this chapter of Canada’s wilful neglect in his book

A National Crime, a Canadian court announced a ruling on a case with regard to Indigenous children in the 21st century They dismissed an appeal by the federal government to again withhold funds that

would better the lives of Indigenous children.

The Trudeau government has not announced that they will appeal this decision once again, but they have not stated that they would honour it. Instead, Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said, “We are moving forward in discussions with the parties involved to make sure that people are properly compensated.”

What does that even mean? And while he said it, his surfer-dude prime minister was making plans to skip out of Orange Shirt Day commemoration services and hit the beaches of Tofino, BC.

The truth is that governments operate in their own self-interest and will not do the right thing unless their citizens insist that they do so

The arc of the moral universe really does bend toward justice, but only because good people push it in that direction.

GERRY CHIDIAC

The science and art of forestry

As we celebrated Canada’s National Forest Week last month,itwastimetoreflect on the sector’s importance to the people of British Columbia

This year’s theme, Our Forests –Continually Giving, reinforces how forests are at the heart of our identity here in B.C They are essential to a healthy environment and provide good jobs to tens of thousands of British Columbians so they can support their families.

As British Columbia’s chief forester, I’d like to highlight how we’re managing B.C. forests. This year, our goal was to plant another 300 million seedlings throughout British Columbia, with the safety of our workers and the surrounding communities beingourhighestpriority Weaccomplished that.

During the 2020 tree-planting season, almost 6,000 tree planters safely and successfully planted a record number of trees – more than 300 million – during a global pandemic.

The advice of Dr. Bonnie Henry, provincial health officer, and the diligence of tree-planting contractors and crews who worked in unprecedented conditions ensured the safety of the tree planters themselves, as well as rural First Nations and communities.

Our approach to tree planting is based on science, just like everything we do to manage forests in this province. B.C. is renowned for its commitment to prompt, science-based reforestation, as it is an important step to ensure sustainable forest management, address climate change and the rehabilitation of areas devastated

by wildfires.

Forestry has been my passion for many years, because I know forests are much more than just trees.

They are fascinating clusters of organisms that provide so much to our society, not only for the products we need for our daily lives, but also for their beauty, their contribution to cleaning our air and for supplying us with clean water and places of cultural significance. Forests are integral to our collective history

In my role, I have been tasked with guiding forestry for the Province through the “hangover” of the mountain-pine beetle epidemic, the catastrophic wildfires of 2017 and 2018, and the increasing effects of climate change. We have come from a time when we thought of our forests as a places of abundance, to a more modern awareness that forests are a finite resource.

This is not because forests are not renewable. They are the most resilient and renewable natural resource we have. However, they are finite in thesensethatthelandtheyoccupyis limited and there are many encroaching elements affecting their health. We are in times of change. I see that reflected not only in our forests, but in how we talk about them.

When I started in the forest sector more than 30 years ago, no one was talking about climate change. No one was talking about the possibility of creating biodegradable plastics from tree biomass. The idea of providing wood for rural areas to replace diesel fuel heating wasn’t in the cards, and there was definitely no thought given to carbon management. Now, all of

OPPOSED TO PROPOSED GOLD MINE IN WELLS

Osisko’s proposed Cariboo Gold Project in Wells is about what future we want for the north.

Prince George residents know Wells as the location of the Arts Wells festival, the Island Mountain Arts School, the Gourmet Ski Tour, the 7 Summits Hike and Bike Race, the Dog Sled Mail Run, Barkerville, Bowron Lake, and countless summer and winter trailheads giving unparalleled access to stunning backcountry. It is an iconic cultural and wilderness destination, and home to mountain cariboo, bears, and rare interior rainforest habitat.

Over the last 150 years, the subalpine valleys around Wells have hosted two environmentally destructive gold rushes. Time erased the worst impacts, but now Wells is reckoning with a third gold mining proposal that could take us back to 1862.

Osisko Development wants to open a huge extraction operation that would triple the footprint of Wells. Most of its above ground infrastructure, including a concentrator, paste backfill plant, and settling pond, will be located right at the entrance to town. A new transmission line will create yet another barrier to migrating wildlife, and mine traffic will increase between Quesnel and Wells. All this for short term gain – Osisko plans for the mine

the above is happening, and so much more.

Essentially, my job as chief forester is to care for B.C.’s forests for today and the future It’s a delicate balance

Many British Columbians are looking to keep forests pristine to ensure culturally significant areas remain wild and ecosystems are preserved However, others see the forest as a “working” forest to support their livelihood.

As B.C. comes to terms with a changing wood supply as a result of the various factors I’ve mentioned, we need to be open to new ways of doing things. Our work is constantly evolving in response to new knowledge, while respecting the traditional Indigenous understanding of forest management.

Sound forest management is our best tool for enhancing wildlife habitat, ensuring clean water, contributing to carbon sequestration and providing us with products and other ecosystem benefits. Our forests are changing, and we need to think about what those changes mean to the diverse needs of the forest.

Forestmanagementneedstobescience-based: biology, chemistry and mathematics, as well as ecology and silviculture. But it’s also an art While science guides the decisions I make, there are times when I must consider conflicting interests and opinions in my decision-making. That is the art of forestry, where my team and I collaborate with Indigenous peoples and use our collective experience and judgment to chart the path forward.

Diane Nicholls is the chief forester of British Columbia.

COMMUNITY POLL

Participate in this week’s poll Go to princegeorgecitizen.com, scroll down to the Community Poll, and vote!

RESULTS from last week’s polls:

Do you support the city’s efforts to remove the homeless camps downtown?

(See story on page A3)

● Yes, they are a problem and need to go. 412 votes 44.40%

● Yes, but only if they provide someplace else for people go. 258 votes 27.80%

● No, it will just move the problem somewhere else in the city. 81 votes 8.73%

● No, it’s inhumane to treat people like that. 49 votes 5.28%

● No, and the city should provide more services for the camps to reduce the issues there. 128 votes 13.79%

Should School District 57 require school staff to be vaccinated?

(See story on page A4)

● Yes, they should require all staff in schools to be vaccinated. 784 votes 45.19%

to close in just 16 years.

Montreal-based Osisko claims it has the best interest of locals in mind, but actions speak louder than words. Over the past decade of exploration, Osisko has regularly violated its tenure agreements and Wells bylaws. It is registered on the federal Environmental Offenders list under its old name, Barkerville Gold Mines.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, northerners benefited from the ability to recreate close to home. The natural resource industries have always been at the centre of work and culture in the north, but we have worked hard to build sustainable economies that balance wealth with healthy, vibrant communities. We value the hard work people have undergone to make places like Wells a centre for northern culture and outdoor recreation.

We must consider the interests of northerners when we consider natural resource projects “beyond Hope.”

Do we want our home to be just a pot of resources benefiting distant shareholders? Or do we want independent and sustainable lives for our families to enjoy for generations? Our communities are resources more valuable than gold. Let’s choose to support projects that support northern culture and environment, not undermine them. Let’s take a stand on the future we want for the north.

● Yes, but only teachers and other staff working with children too young to be vaccinated 20 votes 1.15%

● No, teachers and school staff should have the right to choose. 931 votes 53.66%

LETTERS WELCOME: The Prince George Citizen welcomes letters to the editor from our readers. Submission should be sent by e-mail to: letters@ princegeorgecitizen.com. No attachments, please. They can also be faxed to 562-7453, or mailed to Box 5700, 150 Brunswick St., Prince George V2L 5K9. Maximum length is 400 words and writers are limited to one submission every three weeks. We will edit letters only to ensure clarity, good taste, for legal reasons, and occasionally for length. Although we will not include your address and telephone number in the paper, we need both for verification purposes. Unsigned letters will not be published.

A dilly of a game

Pickleball gaining local, international popularity

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

Ralph Wood has his own theory on why pickleball is one of the fastest-growing participation sports in the world.

Not only is it lot of fun to play, but for beginners especially, it doesn’t take months of practice to figure out how to get the ball over the net.

“It’s an easy sport to learn and the thing is it doesn’t take long before you’re making the kind of shots that make you a hero,” said Wood, the pickleball coach for the Prince George Tennis and Pickleball Club.

The previous day, Rennison offered skills clinics for five different levels of ability and three one-hour Engage Sports Try It session at the Northern Sport Centre, the first of which drew 32 players, most of whom who had never played the game. It was a hectic night on the courts and Rennison wasn’t surprised the Ty It sessions drew a lot of interest. He knows why pickleball is growing in popularity.

A lot of people who haven’t played a lot of sports before find they can have success quite quickly.

“I taught tennis for years and it took me three months to get someone to rally and volley, here we can do it in 60 minutes. We can get people doing things you wouldn’t expect somebody would do in an hour. Someone told me that pickleball is much like any addiction, but it’s almost worse. It’s almost like crack cocaine when you’re taking it, you just want more, well this is the same thing, and it’s healthy.”

Wood was among three local pickleball enthusiasts who signed up two weekends ago for the Level 1 instructor’s course taught by Ontario-based coach Mark Rennison.PrinceGeorgewasthefirstB.C.stop for Rennison in a Pickleball Canada/Tennis Canada initiative to launch a nationwide pickleball coaching education program accredited by the National Coaching Certification Program.

Fourteen aspiring instructors from Prince George, Williams Lake, Smithers, Terrace and Telkwa took part in Rennison’s one-day Level 1 course at the College of New Caledonia, Oct. 3. Wood, as well as Tracey Quickenden and Jim Allen are now nationally-certified to teach pickleball with the Prince George club.

“What they’re learning to do is to be able to introduce the sport of pickleball in a safe, fun and effective way where everyone who is participating has a great time,” said Rennison.

“Anyone who has been coaching, in many cases they’re volunteers or have been helping out, and in some cases there may be some people who have been paid for their coaching but there hasn’t been any standards up to this point.

“So what we’re doing is trying to give them some foundational skills so when they do introduce the sport to new people, the people participating will have a positive experience.”

“The barrier of entry is low, you can get equipment for not much money, the pickleballcourtisthesizeofabadmintoncourt so you don’t need a lot of space and the ball doesn’t bounce much, so it’s relatively easy to start playing,” Rennison said.

“A lot of people who haven’t played a lot of sports before find they can have success quite quickly. It’s nice not having to chase ball too far over the court and it’s also really social. People make friends on the court and they find they have a new community they’re connected to. A lot of people make it their fulltime sport.”

Rennison is based in Collingwood, Ont., where he works as a professional pickleball coach.

After two decades a Tennis Professionals Association tennis coach operating his own business, Third Shot Sports, he switchedtoteachingpickleballin2014,the year he first started playing the game. As the country’s head of education for pickleball he’s developing a team of course facilitators who can deliver the coaching course anywhere.

Invented in 1965, Canada has about 350,000 pickleball players This year’s national championships attracted 789 players aged 10-80 in singles, doubles and mixed doubles events and offered open, skill- and age-based categories. Kingston, Ont., and Kelowna have hosted the national tournament and the Prince George club is considering a bid to play host to a regional event sanctioned by Racquetball Canada.

The Prince George Tennis and Pickleball Club where Wood plays, teaches and organizes club tournaments has nine outdoor pickleball courts adjacent Prince George Golf and Curling Club.

On any given weekend and most weeknights in the summer those courts come alive with the hollow sound of perforated plastic balls hitting off racquets and the laughter of the people playing.

Wood estimates the city has at least 180 regular players.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE/LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE

GOTCHA Nechako Valley Vikings player Cooper Ziler tries to outrun the tackle of College Heights Cougars defender Decker Passey on Friday night at Masich Place Stadium. The teams played to a 12-12 tie.

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PINK IN THE RINK

Northern Capitals forward Brooklyn Hutchings puts the puck just wide of the open net of Fraser Valley Rush goaltender Rebecca Noble on Saturday evening in Kin 2 during the Caps Pink in the Rink game in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Schives brings QMJHL pedigree to Spruce Kings

CLARKE Citizen staff

Dylan Schives wanted to see British Columbia with his own eyes and the Prince George Spruce Kings are more than willing to provide him that opportunity.

They jumped at the chance to sign the 20-year-old defenceman for his final season of junior eligibility to build on a resume that includes 128 games of experience in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Schives, a native of Tilbury, Ont., near Windsor, is a good friend of former Spruce King Lucas Vanroboys, a member of the Kings team that won the Fred Page Cup BCHL title and came a couple goals shy of capturing the national junior A championship in 2019. Vanroboys recommended that Schives reach out to the Spruce Kings and the team signed him in August.

“Obviously I’d heard about the BCHL and I heard of the Spruce Kings through Lucas but I never thought of it until I had this opportunity,” said Schives. “I’m really enjoying it so far, it’s a great group of guys with lots of talent and speed. Obviously there’s a lot of retuning guys, which is nice, we want some older guys with experience that bring everything to the table.

“I was really excited about B.C., I actually drove the whole way here and saw family along the way and everything is just so beautiful.”

Listed at five-foot-11, 190 pounds, Schives loves to join offensive rushes and has the skills to do that effectively.

He made his BCHL debut Friday night in Merritt and collected his first point 10 minutes into the game when he set John Herrington’s power-play goal that tied the game. The Kings went on to beat the Centennials 8-1. Head coach Alex Evin plans

Dylan Schives played 2 1/2 seasons in the QMJHL for the Quebec RempartsA before he was traded last season to the Baie-Comeau Drakkar. The 20-year-old Ontario native is finishing his junior career this season with the Prince George Spruce Kings.

to utilize Schives often on the left point on the Kings’ top power-play unit.

“We got to know Dylan over the summer in Zoom calls and he struck me as a very mature person and he’s committed to coming to a different league and coming all the way out west and that shows the commitment he has,” said Evin. “I was very impressed with him in camp. He’s a d-man that definitely can skate very well anddefendverywellandhe’sgoingtocontribute to our team hopefully immensely.

“He’s coming from a very good league and it looks like he’s had great coaching and for him it’s maybe a little more opportunity as a 20-year-old. It’s tough for those guys, they have limited roster spots at that

age and I hope PG can be a real good home for him. He’s a great skater, he’s smart, he plays hard. It kind of brings us something for our back end we were missing.”

Schives played 2 1/2 seasons with the Quebec Remparts and was traded last season to the Baie Comeau Drakkar. His coach in Quebec was former NHL goalie Patrick Roy.

“He’s definitely a winner coach, I’ll tell you that,” said Schives. “He really stresses the small things, which is great. It teaches you to be a better player and obviously you grow from it. It was always a strict team and that’s why he has the reputation he has, it’s a great way for a coach.

“We had a young team when I was there

but that team is going to be on the run for the Memorial Cup this year. They have a really good squad and I keep in touch with a lot of those guys, they’re looking real strong.”

In a 2020-21 season that had several starts and stops because of the pandemic, Schives played 20 games for Baie-Comeau, another young team, but he says he received plenty of icetime and was used in all situations and he’ll draw on that experience as one of the leaders on the blueline for the Spruce Kings.

Schives played in the QMJHL bubble based in Quebec City last season and it a strange experience without fans in the building.

“It was definitely tougher, no fans makes a difference, and the bubble made it tough too, being in hotel for all those days, but we were just fortunate that we could play,” he said. “We had 20-something games plus playoffs. We ended up losing to a strong team, Val d’Or, in the first round but just the experience of that was huge.”

Schives took a hard head shot facefirst into the boards from West Kelowna Warriors forward Riley Sharun with 41 seconds left in Saturday’s game, a 5-3 loss to the Warriors. Sharun was assessed a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct and on Sunday the league handed him a two-game suspension. Evin said Schives is not expected to be miss any time with his injury.

He and the Kings will finally get to see, hear and feel the vibe of a home crowd at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena this weekend when they host the Centennials in a doubleheader Friday and Saturday.

“For players there’s nothing better than when the fans are on your side and there’s all that noise and when I come to this arena I’m so excited to play in it,” he said.

“I can’t wait for it.”

TED

CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE /LOCAL

HANDOUT PHOTO

Stage reading showcases all-female cast

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff

When one local actor went on the hunt for an all-female production to showcase local talent, it took a while but she finally found it.

It’s a Canadian war-time era production that features five women Waiting for the Parade, a play by John Murrell.

Sandra Clermont is presenting the stage reading while also taking on a character.

But don’t get confused when you hear the list of actors joining the cast.

Clermont takes the role of Catherine, while Katherine Trepanier plays Margaret and Catherine Hansen plays Janet.

Melissa Glover plays Marta and Laura Heagy plays Eve.

There’s been a few delays in presenting the play due to the pandemic but it seems a bit serendipitous as the play goes Oct. 22 and 23 on the Theatre NorthWest stage, just a few days before Remembrance Day.

Clermont doesn’t want the label of director as the experience each person brings to the table makes the production a more collaborative effort than what usually takes place on set.

“Everyone in the cast is extremely experienced,” Clermont said, who is much more comfortable describing her role as producer. “So I’m not directing these women, it’s me being part of the process.”

Clermont and Hansen first got the idea

about a year ago when they performed together in a production Glover had directed as a stage reading of Where We Are.

“We had such a great time,” Clermont said. “I loved it so much so afterwards – it might’ve even been before we had left the green room – Catherine and I just looked at each other – ‘we have to do something else’ – her and I were kind of back and forth for about a week with some different ideas we had and we were looking for something very female centred.”

They found Waiting for the Parade.

“We wanted something where we weren’t just the accessories to the play,” Clermont said.

They quickly brought Glover on board and then the biggest challenge wasn’t who else to bring in but how they could

City denies ask for church, concert hall chairs

St. Michael’s All Angel’s Church is in the midst of renovations and has asked Prince George’s city council for funding to help transform the church into a multi-purpose concert venue.

However, council has denied the church’s request as it waits for a city-wide comprehensive arts strategy.

Dr. Marie Hay and Dwight Wolfe, both longtime members, attended the Oct.4 to ask council for a $50,000 grant towards 300 cushioned and linkable chairs to help transform the space into a recital hall.

“In moving forward into a postCOVID decade, St. Michael is expanding and enhancing the use of its large space into a safe and accessible vibrant performing arts hub,” said Hay.

The church is currently used as a home for its Anglican parish, the Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, social services outreach, and a medium-sized concert venue for choirs and other performances.

“To achieve this goal St. Michael’s needs to obtain 300 cushioned linkable concert grade chairs which would allow for great flexibility of use in this multipurpose downtown space turning it into a bustling hub of humanity.”

Wolfe explained that in April the church

embarked on a $650,000 renovation for its exterior envelope including a new roof, however not long after a severe rainstorm caused damage to the interior and basement.

An insurance company is now restoring the interior from floor to roof for about $442,000 which results in almost a complete renovation of the facility.

“This complete restoration of St. Michael has opened up a golden opportunity to turn this large well-built edifice into a multipurpose building for the people of Prince George,” said Wolfe. “The parish of St. Michael has determined that the use of this space once on a Sunday morning for a religious service is not a good utilization or stewardship of such a fine structure.”

Wolfe explained replacing the pews with chairs would allow for a comfortable 300 seat venue with a total capacity of 498 persons instead of 200 seats on hard benches.

“It is a very common knowledge that we are waiting for the arts strategy to return to council and until we see that full arts strategy, I am hesitant to make decisions regarding what arts in our community looks like because we want to see it form a whole picture,” said Coun. Cori Ramsay.

“While 50,000 doesn’t seem like a lot of money we don’t know what that grand scale is going to look like or how much we will be investing going forward.”

present it during the pandemic.

Months went by as dates were tentatively set and postponed and now with safety protocols in place and an adaptation of a fully produced traditional play turned into a stage reading the women are ready.

Glover has continued to be behind-thescenes in her theatre work during the last few years and has most recently taken the role of artistic associate at Theatre NorthWest where she supports others’ projects.

“I haven’t really had the opportunity to act on stage much in the past few years so it’s been really great to work with such a wonderful group of women who are supportive, kind, talented, funny and fun and are just really veterans of the theatre community here,” Glove said. “It’s great – I mean I still love directing and that’s what

I will pursue full time professionally as an artist but I love getting up on stage and getting a chance to act, especially in something like this.”

Set on the home front during the Second World War, the play takes a reflective look at war from the point of view of the women left behind.

Waiting for the Parade offers drama infused with humour and songs that inspired a generation through war time.

“I think it’s important that we still share those stories because I think a lot of people are forgetting because our war veterans are getting older,” Glover said.

In the play she is Marta who is of German heritage.

“Marta moved to Canada before the war and then she’s seen as a traitor – painted as a Nazi – just because she’s German,” Glover said. “She identifies as a Canadian but she also doesn’t want to forget her home – her heritage.”

Glover said doing a stage reading instead of a full-blown production could present some challenges to some but the stripped down version will showcase the true talent of the acting ensemble in this production. The focus will be the story telling and connecting with the audience.

Waiting for the Parade is a powerful play, Clermont said.

“It’s really showcasing the women that were left behind in so many different ways,” she said.

CLERMONT

GLOVER

HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff

Protectbreastfeeding:Therighttobreastfeedinpublicspaces

By Lise Luppens, RegisteredDietitian,PopulationHealthNutritionteam,NorthernHealth

HappyBreastfeedingWeek!Thisyear'sthemeis "ProtectBreastfeeding:ASharedResponsibility." Inlinewiththistheme,NorthernHealth(NH) iscommittedtosupportingbreastfeedingfriendlyspacesacrossNorthernBC.We encourageallbusinessesandorganizationsto helpbuildapositivecommunitythatrecognizes thevalueofbreastfeeding.

Didyouknowthattherighttobreastfeedis protectedbylawinBC?AsperBC’sMinistryof Justice:

•Nursingparentshavetherighttobreastfeed theirchildreninapublicarea

•It’sdiscriminatorytoaskaparenttocoverup orbreastfeedsomewhereelse

Whilethesefactsarenotnew,theymaynotyet becommonknowledge.Forthisreason,NH aimstoraiseawarenessandshareresourceson thistopic

PublicHealthProtectionteamsteps uptohelp

Throughinspectionsandeducation,NH's EnvironmentalHealthOfficers(alsoknownas PublicHealthInspectors)havecontactwith manybusinessesandorganizationsacross NorthernBC.Inearly2020,thePublicHealth Protectionteam'sadminstaffmailedinfoabout therighttobreastfeedtoover2000facilities, suchasthosethatofferfood,leisure,orpersonal services.Theysent:

•Atipsheet:“Makebreastfeedingyour business:Welcomefamiliestobreastfeedany time,anywhere”

ohttp://www.perinatalservicesbc.ca/ Documents/Resources/Breastfeeding/ Breastfeeding%20Welcome%20Tip%20 Sheet_PRINT.pdf

•Awindowdecal:“Wewelcomeyouto breastfeedanytime,anywhere”

ohttp://www.perinatalservicesbc.ca/ Documents/Resources/Breastfeeding/ Breastfeeding%20Welcome%20Decal.pdf

CarlaCeasarandDougQuibell,regional managerswiththeProtectionteam,welcome opportunitiestobecollaborativeandinnovative inreachingouttoourNortherncommunities. “Ourprogramareasfocusonprotectingour communities,especiallyvulnerablepopulations. Wewerepleasedtobeabletocoordinate, inform,andshareresourceswithourpartners.It wasourpleasuretoassistinsuchanimportant initiativeandit’sourhopethattheresources andknowledgesupportsuccessfulhealth outcomesintheNorth.”

Communitieswelcomedecaland tipsheet

Businesseslikethedecalandtipsheet. Onelocalmanagerstated,"Iamabsolutely delighted.Iwouldhavelovedtohavesuch agreatcampaign…whenIwasnursingmy ownchildren.”Anotherstaffmembershared,

InNewHazelton,theSkeenaBakery welcomesnursingparents.

“Everyoneshouldbeabletobreastfeedat anytime,anywhere.Wewanttocreatethemost welcomingspaceforfamilies.”

Somebusinessownershaveobservedthatsince theypostedthedecal,theyhavehadagreater numberofbreastfeedingclientsvisittheir spaces.

Clientsarehappywiththedecaltoo.Sydney,a localparent,sharedthisfeedback:“Ijustwanted tosaythankyouforprovidingthisdecal!It’s suchahugerelieftoseeitwhenI’moutandmy daughterneeds/wantstobreastfeed.Thankyou!”

AbigshoutouttothePublicHealthProtection adminteamwhoworkedhardtogetthese resourcesouttolocalbusinessesand organizations!Thankyouforhelpingtoprotect breastfeedinginNorthernBC.

Haveyounoticedthebreastfeedingdecalon doorsinyourcommunity?

Learnmore stories.northernhealth.ca/tags/breastfeeding

HORO SC OPES &P UZ ZLES

ACROSS 1. Catcher’s glove

5. To’s mate 8. Milky gemstone 12. Scent 13. Lobe’s site 14. Annoy 15. Skeleton component 16. Toupee 17. Mellowed 18. Wilier

20. Sloop’s cloth

22. Looking at 24. Convent denizen

27. Knock down 31. Big slipknot 33. Decreases

34. Extinguishes 35. Sports center 36. Sharpest 37. Bunk 38. Resound 40. Broadway blinker 41. Peg 46. Long narrative 49. Split 51. Dimwit 52. Bakery employee 53. Caspian or Yellow 54. Leak 55. Depend 56. Make a boo-boo 57. Thickens

DOWN 1. Crowds 2. Worshiped one 3. Actor Danza 4. Ash or spruce 5. “A Good Men” 6. Dried grape 7. Church item 8. Uttered 9. in a poke 10. Bubbly beverage 11. Was ahead 19. Go back over 21. Disregarded 23. No problem!

24. Have a_ for news 25. Applies 26. Brood’s home 27. Loose flesh 28. Folk tales 29. Dazzled 30. Number of fingers 32. Baseball call 34. Water obstruction 36. Smaller

39. Pony 40. Not any 42. Probability

43. Deteriorated

44. Rework text

45. Trims

46. Formal address

47. Expert 48. Hairstyling goo

50. Duffer’s goal

PUZZLE NO. 840

HOW TO PLAY:

Fill in the gridsothat every row, every column and every3x3 box contains the numbers 1through 9only once.

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

Inlovingmemoryof TerryRonaldSweet

Jan7,1964-Oct14,2011

Ourlivesgoonwithoutyou Butnothingisthesame, Wehavetohideourheartaches Whensomeonespeaksyourname.

Sadaretheheartsthatloveyou Silentthetearsthatfall, Livingourliveswithoutyou Isthehardestpartofall.

Youdidsomanythingsforus Yourheartwaskindandtrue, Andwhenweneededsomeone Wecouldalwayscountonyou.

Thespecialyearswillnotreturn Whenwewerealltogether, Butwiththelovewithinourhearts Youwillwalkwithusforever

Lovinglyrememberedbyfamily&friends

Inlovingmemoryof JudyLynnAgliani

Jul2,1945-Oct20,2001

Mom, you left us with wonderful memories. If we had a single flower for everytime we thought of you, we would all have a beautiful bouquet. Your love is still our guide and even though we can’tseeyou,you’realwaysbyourside.

Wemissyouforeverandalways yourlovingdaughtersGina(Dwayne), Anna(Gordon)andyourbelovedgranddaughter SamanthaLynn.

REMEMBRANCES

InlovingmemoryofmyPapa(Dad)

MarioMiotto

May8,1938-October16,2020

The leaves have fallen and the days are getting shorter again. It’s hard to believe it’s been a year already since you left. Missing you is a heartache I know will never go away Nothing will ever be the same and I still have to hide my tears when someonespeaksyourname.

Bradley Joseph Lachmuth of Kamloops, BC, passed away suddenly on October 4, 2021 at the age of 69. The family is deeply saddened by his passingandhewillbeimmenselytreasured. Brad was born on March 19, 1952, to Al and Iris LachmuthinHumboldt,Saskatchewan. Anyone who knew Brad was touched by his kindness, humor,andmildtemperament.Hewastrulya caring man and was always a source of positivity Brad operated his own car restoration business for many years prior to 26 years of foster parenting. Brad was passionate about antique cars and enjoyed the camaraderie of the Roadmen Car Clubmembers.

Remembering you is easy Life in your opinion was black and white. A simple man. Asked for nothing.Workedhardyourwholelife.

Thanks for instilling in me integrity, honesty, morals and a hard work ethic. These are the values I will carry with me until it’s my time to leave this crazy world. I will always be proud to beyourdaughter

My mind still talks to you and my heart still looks for you, but my soul knows you are at peace and innomorepain.

Brad is survived by his loving wife Lee Lachmuth, daughters Karen (Tracy) Moore and Betty (Charles) Lapeyre, son Bobby (Tyrell) McLellan, grandchildren Jaxon, Colton, Dillion, Sandra, Brandon, and Nathan, and great grandson Andy, and many foster children and foster grandchildren. Also, his brother Grant Lachmuth and wife Beth of Summerland, BC, niece Rachel Lachmuth, nephew Erik (Tennile) Lachmuth, and theirchildrenDanielle,Eryn,andPearson. Brad was blessed with many cousins, and aunts and uncles who he shared many family memories with.

Forever loved, forever missed, and forever in our hearts!

As we all pass through this world, one day life’s journey will bring me back to you. Until then...may it be fast or slow, know that I will miss youandloveyou.

I will never forget~ Katya

A special thank you to Joanne R..for helping me through this past year To our Miotto family in Italy..Youarefamiglia.

There will be a Celebration of Life held in his honouronFridayOctober22,2021at11am.This will take place at Kamloops Funeral Home, 285 Fortune Drive, Kamloops, BC. (Proof of vaccination will be required for attendance inside the building). Contributions in lieu of flowers can bemadetoKamloopsWildlifePark.

BradleyJosephLachmuth 1952-2021

REMEMBRANCES

IDORN,Rita

1933-2021

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Rita Idorn on October 1, 2021. Born in Denmark in 1933, Rita immigrated to Prince George, BC in 1956 with her husband Dan, where they lived for 34 years, building a home, raising children, and making a new life. Rita worked at The Prince George Citizen for 17 years before retiringtoSummerland,BCin1992.

Retirement years were simply an opportunity to do the things that really mattered, like golfing, growing orchids, RV traveling, gardening, wine making, and hanging Christmas lights, which began in Oct, and transformed their home into one of the must-see houses during the Holiday Season. Rita had a strong belief in hard work, pulling your own weight, and that life was what you made of it. Time was never meant to be squandered; spare time simply meant time to get busy doing somethingelse.

Rita was predeceased by her husband of 66 years, Dan, in May, 2020, and is survived by her son, Willy; daughter, Lynette (Al); and grandchildren, Derek,Mark,andErica(Brent).

No formal service will be held at Rita’s request. So live life to the fullest with family and friends andgetthemostoutofeveryday.

Words cannot express the depth of the loss we feel for our Mother and Grandmother She will be greatly missed. But she will be in our hearts forever,helpingtoguideandcomfortus.

Tosendcondolencespleasevisit www.providencefuneralhomes.com.

Cheryl“Cheri”Bilodeau (Engel/Stirling)

August29th,1961-September23rd,2021

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Cheri. She fought a long and courageous battle, but eventually succumbed to her illness surrounded by loved ones. She was predeceased by her mother Norine and her brother Randy. She will be greatly missed but fondly remembered by her husband Mike, father John (Betty), sister Tracey (Gary), daughters Ashley, and Jessica (Peter), sons Eric (Sinéad), Sean, Cam (Hannah), and Luke, her nephew Randy and her sixgrandchildren.

Cheri was born in Hamilton, Ontario but spent her formative years as an Air Force brat traveling the globe with her parents and sister They settled in Prince George in 1975, where she attended PGSS. Cheri had fond memories of the 18 years she worked for Ron Newson and Barton Insurance. Soon after she reunited with her childhood sweetheart, Mike Bilodeau and worked a variety of part-time jobs so she could stay home with her twoyoungestboysCamandLuke.

Cheri was beautiful, stylish, a great cook, a passionate mother, and had a wonderful sense of humor She was also a bit of a klutz who could have written a book with all the funny stories and oddmishapssheenduredinherlife.

Her family would like to extend the deepest of gratitude to the doctors and nurses from PGRH and the Prince George Hospice House for their compassion and care for Cheri. She is being cremated and there will be no funeral service per her request, however the family will hold a celebration of life in the spring. In lieu of flowers, donations would be greatly appreciated to the BC TransplantSociety

BarbaraColleen (KYRA)Guest

1948-2021

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our wonderful and beloved sister, Barbara Colleen (KYRA) Guest on September 28, 2021 at Age 73, at Prince George Rotary Hospice House from cancer Kyra was Born in Prince George to Robert and Barbara Guest on September 19, 1948. Kyra was predeceased by her brother Rob Guest (2014). Kyra leaves behind her sisters Susan, Judith (Barry), Lyn (Lyle), Fran (Debra). She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Kyra was a world traveller, a book buyer at Concordia University in Montreal, and a dedicated employee wherever she worked, her last job being at the Ministry of Children and Family Development here in Prince George. Kyra’s passion was belly dancing and she danced professionally in Vancouver in the years she lived there before returning to Prince George to be with the family she loved. There will be no service by Kyra’s request. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Prince George Rotary Hospice House.

Your light will shine on Kyra, you are loved we miss you so much.

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

HansChristian Johansen

1938-2021

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Hans Christian Johansen on October 2nd, 2021, in PrinceGeorge,BC.

Hans was born in Vassingrod, Denmark on January 19th, 1938. In January 1952, Hans travelled with his Mother (Rigmor Johansen) and sister, Jette by ship to New York City They stayed in Elizabeth, New Jersey with some Danish friends before boarding a bus to Victoria, BC where they joined Hans’ father, Niels Johansen andolderbrother,SvenJohansen.

The family lived in Victoria for a few years before moving to Prince George. Hans loved and had pride in the city of Prince George. Right until the end, Hansalwayskeptupwiththecurrenttrendsandhappeningsinthecity In his younger years, Hans played soccer He brought his love of the game to the city of Prince George, when he and a teammate were instrumental in establishing the Connaught soccer field. Later, he stayed involved in the game coaching both of his children’s teams and more recently was a spectator at his grandchildren’s games. When Hans was not at the soccer fields you could find him at The Farm enjoying the outdoors, puttering around, and visiting his horses.

Hans’ first job in Prince George was with West End Motors. He then moved over to selling trucks for International Harvester There, Hans met many of his lifelong friends who would later become his real estate customers. In the early seventies, Hans decided to write the real estate exam and began working for Prince Realty After a couple of years, Hans, along with some other colleagues, established Metric Realty Ltd. Hans loved selling real estate and enjoyed the people he met through it. In 1998, Hans decided he wanted to slow down and only be an agent, so he merged Metric with Doucette Realty Hans finished his real estate career with Royal LePage Aspire Realty on June 30th, 2021. Right until the end, Hans was still talking deals with his friends and colleaguesanddebatingpolitics,hisotherfavouritetopic.

Hans was a family man at heart, nothing delighted him more than spending time with his grandchildren. He was actively involved in their lives, he loved to watch them play their sports, drive them to activities, and vacation with them. Hewas“Ampa”toEllaandSofiaand“Papa”toOwenandAvery Hans is survived by, Roberta, his wife of 56 years; his daughter, Michelle (David Hohl) Johansen; granddaughters, Ella and Sofia; his son, Christian (Kelly) Johansen; grandchildren, Owen and Avery; brother, Sven Johansen; sister,Jette(Paul)Minck;extendedfamily,andmanydearfriends. There will be no service at Hans’ request. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Prince George Rotary Hospice House, where Hans spent his finalweek,ortheJuvenileDiabetesResearchFoundation(JDRF).

KellyLaurelLeeThomasson

December10,1963-September30,2021

Kelly Laurel Lee Thomasson passed away on September 30, 2021 at the age of 57 after a brief but valiant battle with metastatic lung cancer She leaves behind her daughter; Ariel Thomasson, son; Sheldon Thomasson, granddaughter; Lily, parents; Robert and Shirley Thomasson, siblings; Kathy (Michael) Kast and Jenny (Maurice) Plouffe, and many extended family members. Memorial donations can be made to The Canadian Cancer Society A Celebration of Life will be heldatalaterdate.

HenryDyck

February4,1946September25,2021

It is with profound sadness that we announce Henrys’ passing, surrounded by love at home in the Comox Valley Henry had fought a hard battle with multiple healthissuesoverthepast5years.

Henry was a well known mechanic in the Valley, master of carburetors and was skilled at manufacturing parts when they became obsolete. Heworkeduntiltheageof70.

He was a kind and very gentle man, with a great sense of humour Henry was born in a Mennonite colony in Durrango Mexico. When he was 8, his family came to Canada. They only spoke German. When they arrived in Rhostern Saskatchewan it was winter and none of the children had ever worn shoes. 1955 His family moved to Prince George. He then as an adult moved to Vancouver, then to the Comox Valley where he has lived for the last 40 years. Henry would say he was born a Mennonite but professed to be a womannonite. ThatwasinperfectHenryhumour

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Lots of opportunity to expand the business

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BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

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

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09/25/195910/3/2021

Karen Noreen Pruden, Sept 25, 1959 to Oct 3, 2021. With great sadness our family announces the sudden passing of our beloved Karen, daughter, wife, Mother, Grandmother, sister, niece, Aunty, cousin, and friendtoallthatknewher

Karen is survived by her parents, Adolph and Doris Schock; husband Roy; children Tim (Bree) and Candace; grandchildren Rachael, Madyson, Natalee and Javyn; brother Ervin (Lori); sisters Gwen (Lorne), Charlotte (Paul), Sandra (Gary) andmanynephewsandnieces.

Karen was born in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan on September 25, 1959. She moved with her family to Fort St John, BC in 1967 and then to Prince George, BC in 1973. She met and then married her best friend Roy Pruden in 1982. They had two beautiful children together, Tim and Candace.

Karen worked for and managed the PGI Foods in Prince George for many years and then Karen and Roy purchased the store in June 2003. Karen loved serving her PGI Market on 5th customers and was a pillar of the community She will be greatly missed by all the people that frequented thestore.

Karen loved traveling, fishing, camping and spending time with family and friends. She will be remembered for her beautiful smile, wonderful sense of humor and her big hugs. Karen’s greatest prideandjoywerehergrandbabies.

Acelebrationoflifewillbeheldatalaterdate.

Henry was predeceased by his parents John and Maria, his brothers Frank, Peter and John. Survived by siblings Mary, Jake (Erica), Helen (Dale), Tena (Norm), and David. Wife Robyn, Children Dale (Jen), Alvin, Tammy (Keith), Sherry (Darren), Amber, Adam (Jess). Grandchildren Craig (Alex), Brendan, Alyssa (Ryan), Brittni, Tanisha (Steven), Dannica (Rory), Dylan (Rachelle), Kurtis, Nova. Great Grandchildren Hailey, Myles, Payton, Jacob, Alexis, Abbi, Zak, Vicki, Ellie, Evie, Abel, Tucker Numerous nieces, nephews and friends. He loved his family more than life itself. They are his legacy He will be forever missed. A celebration of his life will be held in the spring of 2022 in the Comox Valley Time and place to be announced at a later date.

DANIEL LAWRENCE WERK

1959-2021

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dan Werk on September17,2021.

Born in Prince

George on July, 10, 1959, he spent his last few days surrounded by family and friends at the Rotary Hospice House under the care of an outstandingstaff.

Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother and Friend, Dan will be remembered in our hearts and inthoseofhisextendedfamily

Dan leaves behind his loving wife Glenda, daughters Darcy (John), Alison (Raffie), grandson Jameson, sister Sandra (Donnie), brothers Gordon (Audra) and Randy Predeceased by his parents Lawrence and Marguerite Werk and sister-in-law

Jennifer Dan was known to blaze his own trail through life and was strong enough to defy conformity if it did notsuithisvision.

His love of fishing was a constant theme on this path. Not just an interest but a way of life for Dan. He always approached his passion as a challenge by studying habitat and habits with insight from years of experience. Landing a prized trout brought a smile of pure satisfaction to his face followed by a release back to water as a gratifyingactofrespectfortheoutdoors. Danwillbeforevermissedbyallwholovedhim. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the CanadianCancerSociety.

KarenPruden

•Labourers

•PLaNer FeeDer (FT) •GraDers (FT or

Management/Administration

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

Dollar Saverlumber operates alumber re-manufacturing operation in PrinceGeorge.Wecurrently have an opportunity in our management group fora Sales Production coordinator.

This position is responsible to perform the following functions:

•Co-ordinate purchase of rawmaterial to meet mill requirements

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

•Work with Mill Management to ensureoptimal inventories are maintained.

•Communicate with customers to ensuretheir needs arebeing met

Preferencewill be given forpersons

•Good computer skills including proficiencywith Microsoft Excel.

Thesuccessful candidate will possessthe following qualities

•The ability to deal with customer needs in acalm constructive manner

•The ability to adjusttorapidly changing conditions and developments

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

•Good analytical skills

Theposition offers:

•Acompetitivesalary and benefit package

•Opportunity to work in friendly non- bureaucratic environment

Please submit your resume to Frank Skerlak, General Sales Manager at fskerlak@lumber.caorBev at:gobbi1@telus.net

Only those persons chosen foran interviewwill be contacted.

TRUTH IN ''EMPLOYMENT'' ADVERTISING

Glacier Media Group makes every effort to ensure you areresponding to a reputable and legitimate job opportunity. If you suspect that an ad to which you have resp ond ed is misleading, here are some hint st or emem ber. Legitimate employers do not ask for money as part of the application process; do not send money; do not give any credit card information; or call a900 number in order to respond to an employment ad.

Job opportunity ads are salary based and do not require an investment.

If you have responded to an ad which you believe to be misleading please call the Better Business Bureau at 604-682-2711, Monday to Friday, 9am -3pm or email inquiries@bbbvan.org and they will investigate.

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

Howtowrite aclassifiedad thatworks. keyword. your ad with the item for

• Use akeyword. Start your ad with the item for sale, service offered or the job title.

• Be descriptive. Give customers areason to respond. Advertisers have found thatthe more information you provide, the better the response.

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

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

• How to respond. Always include aphone number (with area code) and/or street and email address. To placeyour ad call: 604-630-3300

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

SUDOKU

PUZZLE ANSWERS ON SEPARATE PAGE

character

Getting out of by cunning

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Atomic #18

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24. 12th star in a constellation 25. Made better

Pouches 27. Nervous twitch 28. This (Spanish) 29. Tennis legend Bjorn

ACROSS DOWN

2. Football carries 3. Force out 4. Maintaining equilibrium 5. Sealed with a kiss

Type of container

Hollywood

We

Small freshwater ducks

age 13. Says who you are

Candidate

Sugar found in honey and sweet fruits

Defunct language (abbr.)

30. Hand (Spanish) 31. Afrikaans 33. Int’l interpreters organization (abbr.) 34. Treated with kid gloves 38. Leaseholder 39. Frogs, toads, tree toads 40. Popular dance 43. Sailing maneuver: tack & 44. Indicates speed of rotation (abbr.)

45. Mark

49. Health insurance

50. Custom clothing brand

21. Take too much 22. Iranian province

Records electric currents

and feathers 29. Beloved Mr T character 30. More (Spanish) 31. Beverage 32. Promotional material 33. Green vegetable 34. National capital

To any further extent

Anger

Pound

Popular Yugo

51. One who makes suits

53. Execute or perform

54. Degree of pleasantness when tasting

56. Equal to roughly 5.6 bushels

58. Blood group

59. Imaginary line 60. Hopeless 63. Darken 64. Spoke 65. Work units

41. Salt of acetic acid 42. Millihenry 44. Israeli city Aviv 45. Make wider 46. Drink containing medicine 47. Acknowledging 48. Private, romantic rendezvous 50. Calvary sword 51. Disease of the lungs 54. Fleshy, watery fruit

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Geometric design: how to use shapes in your home

Geometry, or the science of shapes, can be found everywhere in nature, from the hexagonal shape of honeycombs to the spirals inside pine cones. Consequently, it’s not surprising that geometry has been used throughout history to design attractive and interesting spaces. Here’s how to use common shapes in your home decor

SQUARES AND RECTANGLES

These are the most common geometric shapes in design. Most houses, buildings, rooms and windows are either square or rectangular These angular shapes provide a sense of security, stability and reliability. Squares work well in office spaces and can be used in any room when balanced with other shapes.

TRIANGLES

Triangles have strong, masculine energy, and they represent motion and direction. They can create visual movement in the direction of their point. When pointing sideways, like the classic fastforward and rewind symbols, they can represent either progression or backtracking When pointing up, triangles create powerful, positive and stable vibes

CIRCLES AND OVALS

Circles and ovals are symbolic of unity and eternity. They can create a sense of happiness, serenity and warmth. These shapes have soft, feminine energy. Given this, they tend to work well in bedrooms and bathrooms but can be used to add harmony to any space. You can incorporate geometrical

shapes using picture frames, artwork, wallpaper, tiles, rugs, fabrics and hardware. Look for these and other items at your local stores.

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4 ways to create a hygge home

Hygge (pronounced huegah) is a Danish word that expresses a feeling of cosiness, comfort and wellbeing. It’s a way of life that was created to deal with the cold, dark winters in Denmark. Central to this lifestyle is an inviting home Here are four ways to bring hygge into your living space.

1. ADD SOFT LIGHTING

Lighting can impact the atmosphere of a room in a big way. Replace bright, overhead fluorescent bulbs with soft side lighting. In addition, include plenty of candles. The flickering flames will create a relaxing ambiance that’s central to the spirit of hygge living.

colours, such as browns, creams and whites, and add natural wood furniture to create a serene and peaceful space.

4. CREATE A COSY SEATING AREA

How

to

turn

your bathroom into a sanctuary

Do you want to transform your bathroom into a relaxing oasis? If so, here are a few easy and inexpensive ways you can convert this room in your house.

• Swapyourfixturesandhardware. Add high-end gold fixtures and hardware to your bathroom for a luxurious look You can also spray-paint your existing pieces for a budget-friendly fix.

• Upgrade your showerhead. Invest in a waterfall showerhead or one with massage capabilities. Not only will it upgrade the look of your bathroom, but it will make your time in the shower more enjoyable

• Add storage. Sufficient storage can help

you declutter and organize your bathroom so that it’s more peaceful. Hang some shelves, mount a towel rack or add some baskets for extra storage.

• Choose calming colours. Paint is an easy way to transform your bathroom Choose pale neutrals like white, beige or taupe to create a serene environment.

• Install a light dimmer. Dimmer switches allow you to adjust the lighting in your bathroom to create the perfect ambiance.

Don’t forget to incorporate soothing accessories and calming scents. Add plants, candles, artwork and soft towels for a truly spa-like experience.

2. FEATURE THE FIREPLACE

The fireplace is a vital component of Danish culture. Make yours the centre of your home To invoke that hygge feeling, light a fire and gather with your family around its toasty glow. If you don’t have a fireplace, many streaming services have fake fireplace channels that you can display on your television instead.

3. CHOOSE WARM COLOURS

Paint your space using warm or neutral

Hyggekrog means cosy nook It’s the ideal spot to relax with a hot drink and a good book All you need to create a comfortable seating area is a decent armchair, soft blankets and fluffy cushions to curl up against

Hygge is also about togetherness and spending time with family and friends

Be sure to invite your loved ones over to enjoy your hygge home.

Kaycie

Janine

Donna Badowski***

Jasmine

Bruce

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Welcome to 1602Edmonton street. This beautiful house backsonto agreen space and has no neighbour on one side giving it aprivate feel. Just a hop skip andajump to all of the important amenities, you could easily walk everywhere. Finished to compliment it’sheritage origins this listing is not just a house it’sa home

985 Patricia starting at $599,999

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3 tips to make your home office Zoom ready

As more and more people work from home, video conferencing is increasingly being used to replace in-person meetings. Like it or not, virtual get-togethers allow your colleagues to peek inside your home

Here are three tips to make sure your home office is ready for meetings

1.Find your light. Lighting is one of the most important factors to consider when setting up for a Zoom meeting Try to position yourself so that you’re facing a soft, natural source of light. Always avoid backlighting as it’ll shadow your face and obscure your features It’s also not very flattering

2.Choose your backdrop. Avoid using

virtual backgrounds. Instead, designate a simple but elegant accent wall as your backdrop Apply colour psychology to select paint that boosts your mood and productivity For example, shades of blue are calming and promote good communication while shades of green are peaceful and easy on the eyes

3.Get rid of clutter. Keep your space tidy and free of clutter, but not empty or bare. Create the right balance by adding a few tasteful items like a plant and some artwork. Just don’t overdo it, as you don’t want your space to be distracting Don’t forget to test your camera angle so that you capture the best view of your space and yourself.

4 simple upgrades for a healthier home

Your home may be full of hidden chemicals, allergens, mould, bacteria and viruses Luckily, there are things you can do to eradicate these harmful pathogens. Here are four simple upgrades for a healthier home:

1. INSTALL A CENTRAL VACUUM

A built-in central vacuum is more powerful and effective than a portable vacuum. This appliance captures and removes dust mites and allergens, resulting in better air quality and fewer allergy symptoms

2. ADD TOUCHLESS FAUCETS

Swap your standard kitchen and bathroom faucets for motion or voice-activated models. They’re easy to install and can help stop the spread of germs.

3. CHOOSE ANTIMICROBIAL SURFACES

Stainless steel and copper surfaces are naturally antimicrobial Consider adding these materials to your kitchen sink, countertops and cabinet hardware If you don’t like the look of stainless steel, opt for engineered surfaces like quartz, which are less susceptible to pathogens than stone and other porous materials

4. CHANGE YOUR FLOORING

Choose low-VOC (volatile organic compound) vinyl flooring or non-toxic laminate flooring for your bedroom, kitchen and bathroom floors VOCs are toxic chemicals that are released from various industrial products. These chemicals can irritate your respiratory tract, damage your nervous system and may cause cancer in humans and animals.

These conversions can go a long way to making you, your family and your home healthier For help with these upgrades, contact the appropriate professional for the job.

ANNOUNCEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Cycle North Powersportsisproud to announce we havereached an Agreement with NR Motorstobuy the Marine and MotorsportsDivisions of NR.

As of October 29th Cycle North will be PrinceGeorge’s home forthe following brands @our currentlocation:

The RV division and John DeereDivision of NR will continue at their currentlocation. Solar Boats

We extend awarmwelcome to all past and presentcustomers of NR Motors into our dealershipfor parts, servicewarranty and more! THANKYOU!

NR Motors wasFounded in 1967 by Bob and Marvina Nikkel, and has remained afamilybusiness with strong values of community and integrity TO THENIKKEL FAMILYFOR 54 YEARSOF BUSINESS IN PRINCE GEORGE