An Alberta man convicted of luring a child online, and under a court order not to attend community centres where there are children, was an exhibitor at Northern FanCon in Prince George.
Bradley Lawrence Whalen was selling bobblehead toys under the business name Galactic Funko during the event, held May 13-15 at CN Centre and the Kin Centre arenas.
working the booth in Prince George,” the exhibitor said. “A guy like him… selling items that are oriented to children. These things are vinyl dolls, and yes there are adult collectors… but they’re primarily oriented to children.”
The exhibitor said they’ve seen Whalen at similar events across Western Canada.
The Fresh Tomato Pie restaurant in Prince George has two recent high hazard ratings for customers who consume the food, Northern Health has reported on its restaurant ratings web page. A routine health inspection done on April 22 by a Northern Health public health protection officer came back with
a high hazard rating. The second inspection on May 10 of the restaurant at 1739 Nicholson Street South also came back with a report of high hazard rating that showed little improvement.
According to Northern Health a high hazard rating means “the facility’s current operation significantly increases the risk of food borne illness and the operator must take immediate corrective action.
See ‘WE MAY CLOSE IT,’ page 10
In April 2006, he was sentenced to six months in jail for unlawfully using a computer to communicate with a person believed to be under 14 years of age for the purpose of facilitating an indecent act, according to documents provided to the Citizen by the Nova Scotia Judiciary and Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service. During the same hearing, he was also sentenced for robbery, wearing a mask while committing an offence, theft, two counts of fraud and mischief from separate incidents. The terms added up to three years and seven months in jail.
An exhibitor familiar with Whalen, who asked not to have their name or business identified, recognized him at Northern FanCon and was uncomfortable with him being there.
“It was definitely Brad that was
In an emailed statement, Northern FanCon Society president Lonnie Eckardt said the event organizers were notified about Whalen’s presence at the event.
“It is Northern FanCon policy that vendors identify themselves upon check in via our vendor manager in order to receive their table/vendor package. I did not personally speak with Mr. Whalen, however, I understand that our vendor manager did speak with him prior to the accusation (on check-in)...” Eckardt said in an email. “We were alarmed to find out that this individual was at Northern FanCon.”
In addition to the jail sentence issued in 2006, Whalen was also ordered to register as a sex offender for a period of 10 years and was issued a 20-year prohibition order, according to information provided by the Nova Scotia Public Prosecution Service.
ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff
CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO
COLOUR WALK FOR HOSPICE Dorothy Titchener gets decorated by two young assistants before Sunday’s Colour Walk For Hospice. See story on page 7.
WHAT:
City Council consideration of:
•Two (2) Liquor Licence Applications
PUBLIC HEARINGS /CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS
Public hearings for City Council consideration of thirdreadings of:
•“City of Prince George Official Community Plan No. 8383, 2011, Amendment Bylaw No. 9237, 2021”
•“City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007, Amendment Bylaw No. 9238, 2021”
WHEN: Monday,June 13, 2022
WHERE:
Council Chambers of City Hall, 2nd Floor,1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC
PROPOSALS:
1. Liquor Licence Application No. LL100175
Applicant: Andrea Legault for 1034857 B.C. Ltd., Inc. No. BC1034857
Subject Property: 1165 5th Avenue
Time: 6:00 p.m.
The applicant has applied to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) to permit the use of aseasonal rooftop patio at the Black Clover Pub located on the subject property
This application will facilitate the continued use of the seasonal rooftop patio which is temporarily permitted under the LCRB’sTemporary Expanded Service Area (TESA) authorization.
The hours of liquor service arenot proposed to be changed with the application as follows:
•Monday –Sunday: 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.
The occupancy load is proposed to be increased as follows:
•From300 patrons to 400 patrons.
The Liquor Licence Application applies to the property legally described as Parcel CofBlock 165, District Lot 343, Cariboo District, Plan 1268, as shown outlined in bold black on Location Map #1 below
Notice of City Council’sdecision will be forwarded to the LCRB for their review and final determination on this Application.
Location Map #1 1165 5th Avenue
2. Liquor Licence Application No. LL100181
Applicant: Walter McCue for Tandoori Nation Restaurants Ltd., Inc. No. BC0955630
Subject Property: 1232 and 1244 3rdAvenue
Time: 6:00 p.m.
The applicant has applied to the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch (LCRB) to change their existing Liquor Primary Licence located on the subject properties.
This application will facilitate an increase in liquor service by two hours for the Ignite Night Club (formerly known as Generator Entertainment Services Limited). The hours of liquor service are proposed to be changed with the application as follows:
•FromMonday –Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. to Monday –Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m.
Thereare no proposed changes to the existing occupancy load.
The Liquor Licence Application applies to the properties legally described as Lots 13 and 14, Block 44, District Lot 343, Cariboo District, Plan 1268, as shown outlined in bold black on Location Map #2 below
Notice of City Council’sdecision will be forwarded to the LCRB for their review and final determination on this Application.
Location Map #2 1232 and 1244 3rdAvenue
3. “City of Prince George Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 8383, 2011, Amendment Bylaw No. 9237, 2021” AND “City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007, Amendment Bylaw No. 9238, 2021”
Applicant: Kirk Gable for Roswitha Friedmann
Subject Property: 2361 and 2385 Hart Highway
Time: 7:00 p.m.
The purpose of these applications is to amend the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw to allow the existing houses on the subject properties to be consistent with the existing residential uses. The subject bylaws apply to the properties legally described as Lots 1and 2, District Lot 4377, Cariboo District, Plan 9186 as shown outlined in bold black on Location Map #3 below
1. “City of Prince George Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 8383, 2011, Amendment Bylaw No. 9237, 2021”
Bylaw No. 9237, 2021 proposes to amend “City of Prince George Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 8383, 2011” by re-designating the subject property from Business District, Service Commercial to Neighbourhood Residential, as shown on Appendix “A” to Bylaw 9237, 2021.
2. “City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007, Amendment Bylaw No. 9238, 2021” Bylaw No. 9238, 2021 proposes to amend “City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007” by rezoning the subject property from C4: Local Commercial to RT2: Two-Unit Residential as shown on Appendix “A” to Bylaw No. 9238, 2021.
Location Map #3 2361 and 2385 Hart Highway
PUBLIC HEARINGS/ CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS
HOW CAN IPROVIDE COMMENT?
Members of the public who believe their interest in property is affected by the proposed bylaws areinvited to provide comments to Council by the methods noted below
Members of the public wishing to provide comments to Council on the following Applications may only do so by submitting comments in writing:
•Liquor Licence Application LL100175; and
•Liquor Licence Application LL100181.
Members of the public wishing to provide comments to Council on the following Bylaws may do so by submitting comments in writing or via telephone or in person during the Public Hearing:
•“City of Prince George Official Community Plan No. 8383, 2011, Amendment Bylaw No. 9237, 2021”; and
•“City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007, Amendment Bylaw No. 9238, 2021”.
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS
Written comments received by the Corporate Officer before 5:00 p.m., Tuesday,June 7, 2022 will be available on the published meeting agenda for Council’sreview in advance of the meeting date. Written comments received after the noted deadline and before 12:00 p.m., Monday, June 13, 2022 will be provided to Council on the day of the meeting for their consideration during deliberations on the application.
Written comments may be sent by email to cityclerk@princegeorge.ca, faxed to (250)561-0183, or mailed or delivered to the address noted on the bottom of this Notice.
Written comments will form part of the Council agenda, become public record, and areposted on the City’swebsite. By submitting awritten comment, you areconsenting to the disclosureofany personal information that you provide.
ATTEND BY TELEPHONE
To participate in the Public Hearing by telephone, members of the public should dial into the meeting at least 10 minutes beforethe start of the Public Hearing by calling 1-877-708-3350, Access Code: 1269574#.
ATTEND IN PERSON
Members of the public who wish to speak to Council in person can do so during the Public Hearing in Council Chambers on the 2nd Floor of City Hall at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 13, 2022
City of Prince George open Council meetings arepublic and may be televised, streamed live by webcast, recorded, and archived on the City’swebsite for viewing by the public. By attending an open Council meeting or making asubmission at apublic hearing, you areconsenting to the disclosureofany personal information that you provide.
For moredetailed information on providing submissions to Council, please visit www.princegeorge.ca/publichearings.
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). For information or questions, contact the City’sFIPPACoordinator at (250)561-7600 or 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC, V2L 3V9.
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
Acopy of the proposed bylaws, applications, and other related documents will be available for review by the public on the City’swebsite www.princegeorge.ca under ‘News and Notices’ beginning Wednesday,June 1, 2022.These documents may also be reviewed at the Development Services office on the 2nd Floor of City Hall on June 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 13, 2022 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
WHO CAN ISPEAK TO?
For moreinformation, please contact Development Services in person, by telephone at (250)561-7611, or by email to devserv@princegeorge.ca.
‘It’s
disheartening to know this happened’
Continued from page 1
The prohibition order, issued on May 15, 2006, says Whalen “shall not attend any public park or public swimming area, where persons under the age of fourteen years are present or can reasonably be expected to be present, or daycare centre, school ground, playground or community centre.”
In addition, the order prohibited Whalen from working at jobs or volunteering in capacities that involve being in a position of trust with children under 14 and from using computers to communicate with people under the age of 14.
Whalen went by the name Bradley Sampson and was 23 years old at the time of his conviction.
In January 2013, a provincial court judge in Halifax granted Whalen’s application to amend the order to allow him to be in those previously-prohibited areas, but only if he is accompanied by a person over the age of 18, according to an audio recording of the court proceeding. The judge also updated the order to reflect Whalen’s legal name, Bradley Lawrence Whalen.
Whalen’s convictions became public in 2021, after he declared his intention to run for mayor, then city council, in Lethbridge, according to reports by the Lethbridge Herald, Lethbridge News Now and CTV Calgary. Whalen was the founder and owner of a Star Wars-themed restaurant and pub in Lethbridge called the Coco Vanilla Galactic Cantina.
When reached by the Citizen on Thursday, Whalen declined to comment on the record.
‘MY KIDS COLLECT THOSE THINGS’
Prince George makeup and face paint artist Mandy Paavola said she was told about Whalen by another exhibitor on Friday afternoon. Paavola, who operates MP Makeup Artistry, had a booth in the Kin 1 set up to do children’s face painting. Paavola said the event and exhibitor area were full of children. Admittance to the event was free for children 12 and under.
“He went to jail for luring children,” Paavola said. “His booth is fun, it’s full of toys. I have an 11- and a 13-year old. My
kids collect those things.”
Paavola said when she found out about Whalen’s past on Friday, she emailed Northern FanCon organizer Dyanne Lybbert with her concerns, but didn’t receive any response.
“They just let him stay,” Paavola said. “I would have gone and confronted him about it and asked him to leave.”
‘WE DID EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER’ Eckardt said safety is a top priority for the Northern FanCon Society.
“Obviously, the safety of everyone attending and working at our event is paramount to us. We were notified of this individual on our premises by someone at our event and we looked into it immediately,” Eckardt said. “We could not find evidence that he was not allowed in our province or that he was not to be around minors; he was not listed on the sex offenders registry. No other concerns from anyone else during the event were brought forward to us.”
Eckardt said all volunteers working with children at the event are required to provide a criminal record check, as are all the volunteers who liaison with the event’s celebrity guests – measures not taken at many other pop culture conventions.
“Still, it’s disheartening to know this happened,” he said. “Now that this has occurred, we will be taking this opportunity to further strengthen our safety measures and will be looking into our policies as we move forward regarding vendor participation. Aside from the security measures I just listed, we also have on-site security, and we do not allow children to roam freely at Northern FanCon without the supervision of an adult.”
Although the organizers have plans in place for a wide range of possible emergencies at the event, they didn’t foresee the situation like the one that happened this year, he said.
“While we are extremely glad that nothing happened with this individual, it’s still upsetting, not only to us but to those who come to our event and feel safe,” Eckardt said. “We do believe that thanks to the help of the person who notified us about this individual, we did everything in our power to keep our FanCon goers safe.”
The exhibitor area of Northern FanCon is seen in a 2016 Citizen file photo.
How can Iprovide comment? Anyonewhobelievesthat theirinterestinlandisaffectedbytheproposedPermit shallbeaffordedareasonableopportunitytosubmitwritten commentspriortotheRegionalDistrictBoardconsidering issuanceofthePermit.
Submit written comments: Writtencommentswillbe acceptedbytheRegionalDistrictuntil 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday June 14, 2022 by: Email: developmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca Hand/Mail: 155GeorgeStreet,PrinceGeorge,BCV2L1P8 ax:250-562-8676
Anymaterialreceivedwillbecomepublicinformation.
Need moreinfo? AcopyoftheproposedPermitandany relevantbackgroundmaterialsareavailableforreviewby thepublicontheRegionalDistrict’swebsiteathttp://www rdffg.bc.ca/services/development/land-use-planning/currentapplications/orattheRegionalDistrictoffice,Monday throughFriday,8:30a.m.to12:30p.m.and1:30p.m.to 4:30p.m.,betweenMay30andJune16,2022.Appointments arepreferred.
Decision by the Regional District Board: Followingthe publicconsultation,theRegionalDistrictBoardwillconsider issuanceofTemporaryUsePermitNo.264onThursday, June16,2022duringtheRegionalDistrictBoardmeeting whichstartsat1:30p.m.intheRegionalDistrictBoardRoom locatedat155GeorgeStreet,PrinceGeorge,BC.
Who can Ispeak to?
DanielBurke,PlannerII,250-960-4400
Gathering marks anniversary
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
It’s been one year since the discovery of the 215 graves at Kamloops Indian Residential School, and a gathering to commemorate the date was held near School District No. 57 (SD57) offices on the corner of Highway 16.
The same gathering was held a year previously, organized by Sonya Rock, a Gitxsan member, residential school survivor and vice-principal at Nusdeh Yoh Elementary.
“We are all gathered here to commemorate the over 10,000 children that have been discovered in 15 schools in Canada so far,” said Jennifer Pighin SD57’s Indigenous Education district vice-principal of language and culture, who MC’ed the ceremony. “There are 139 residential schools that existed so we are here to commemorate the first 215 and all those that came after and those that will be unearthed in the near future and hopefully put them back to rest in a respectful way.”
Those who attended included SD57 staff, students, residential school survivors and supporters in the community. They wore orange
shirts and carried signs to wave at cars passing by the busy highway before the hearing drumming and speeches by SD57 staff and residential school survivors in attendance.
“This week marks the unforgivable tragedy in the lives of our First Nations families,” said Lheidli T’enneh Elder Darlene McIntosh. “First of all, the shock of hearing 215 children buried at Kamloops Residential School grounds has First Nations and non-First Nations reeling with such deep sorrow and now thousands of unmarked graves are being found. We commemorate and again
ANNUAL REPORTING ON REGIONALDISTRICT FINANCES
Board, to be held June 16,2022 at 1:30
websitewww.rdffg.bc.ca
Annual Reporting on Regional District
on the Regional District websitewww.rdffg.bc.ca and
financialservices@rdffg.bc.ca
K. Jensen GM Legislativeand CorporateServices
bring attention to this unimaginable tragedy.”
SD57 Superintendent Cindy Heitman said she remembered attending this event last year and the feelings it brought out for everyone.
“It is hard to imagine that children were sent to school and didn’t go home and as I look at the work we need to do in our system, in our province, and in our country this event reminds me how important it is that we create the spaces for everyone to feel welcomed, to belong and to be proud of who they are.”
SUBMITTED PHOTO
A gathering was held Monday near SD57 offices to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Kamloops Residential School graves discovery.
City seeks $1.8M grant to reduce gang violence
ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff
The City of Prince George is seeking a $1.8 million federal grant over four years to reduce gun violence and gang activity in the city, following a vote by city council on Monday.
The city is one of many throughout Canada that are eligible for a portion of $250 million being offered to municipalities under the Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence and the Building Safer Communities Fund, city director of public safety Adam Davey said.
“The delivery and project plan have not been developed yet,” Davey said. “We had very little warning (about the grant). We wanted to take advantage of these funds.”
The city would use the money to hire a program coordinator to develop a plan to
use the money, Davey said.
“Funds can be distributed in a variety of ways,” he said, including potentially grants to local service agencies. “We are still in very early days.”
The program, developed by Public Safety Canada, is intended to help municipalities and Indigenous communities develop community-based crime prevention and intervention strategies, city manager of police support services Devon Cooper wrote in a report to city council.
The federal government is looking to start signing agreements with cities by June 15, Cooper wrote. The four-year funding would end on March 31, 2026.
“(If approved,) a new coordinator position will be hired to administer this initiative through 2026, and be directly costed to the $1.8M grant,” Cooper wrote.
RCMP PHOTO
Guns and ammunition seized by Prince George RCMP during an arrest on Jan. 14, 2021 are seen in an RCMP handout photo.
The Climb for Cancer returned to its roots this weekend for the annual gruelling ascent up the Nechako cutbanks in support of the Kordyban Lodge.
The event, now in its seventh year, raises operating funds for the lodge which provides a not-for-profit home-away-from-home for cancer patients from northern B.C. who are receiving treatments in Prince George.
“Today is not just about the climb,” said Doug Bell, planning committee chair and owner of Northern Lights Estate Winery, during the opening ceremonies.
“How do we get people to understand the climb is a symbol of what cancer patients are going through on a daily basis?”
Bell said going through a little bit of pain – like pushing yourself up the cutbanks – is a small bit of discomfort for those who are facing a significant amount of discomfort in their daily lives.
“This event started seven years ago when two people from the Canadian cancer society wandered into our office and said ‘Hey could you sell some daffodils for daffodil month?’ and we said, ‘Well why don’t we do something a little bit better?’” explained Bell.
“Why don’t we bring the community together, talk about something that means a lot to us, which is supporting cancer treatment in the north, and at the same time get a little bit of exercise?”
However, the past two years saw the event need to innovate to work within provincial restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19.
It has now returned to its original format of a one-day event in the spring with the community coming together to climb up the cutbanks supported by vendors, food trucks, and live music.
“Hearing the word cancer is terrifying and it may not even be your specific family, but it may be friends or people that you love and think about what it means if you live somewhere else and you need to come to Prince George,” added Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond.
She then told the crowd of participants a personal story about her 85-year-old friend Eva from McBride who had to come stay at Kordyban Lodge while she was getting cancer treatments.
“What it meant was that her daughter could come and stay with her and I just want everyone who helps with the Lodge to know that Eva did so much better because she was surrounded by people who love her in a place that was beautiful and it helped her through the weeks and weeks of treatments that she faced,” said Bond.
“Today is about fun and exercise but it is also about giving people that chance when they are faced with a horrible, horrible diagnosis.”
The Kordyban Lodge offers numerous amenities to help people feel comfortable and safe during their stay, including private rooms,
a media room, family room, games room, spiritual room, laundry facilities, guest computer areas, and more.
The Kordyban Lodge also offers a wig and breast prosthesis bank.
“We are almost over 800 people per year from all over the north and they don’t have to travel far towards Vancouver for their treatments,” said Snehdeep Kaur client services coordinator at the Kordyban Lodge.
“It is great to see the people coming with all of their fears and anxieties but leaving happily just having all the laughs and the cries in the Lodge - when they leave there is just friendship, friendship with staff, volunteers and with each other.”
The Planning Committee has a goal of raising $60,000 in support of the Kordyban Lodge through this event.
Participants and sponsors drummed up $50,000 in 2020, for a total of $250,000 over the six years the fundraising event has been running. The money raised through the Climb for Cancer goes toward the approximately $1-million in annual costs associated with operating the Lodge.
For more stories that you won’t find in this week’s paper, go to pgcitizen.ca
The seventh annual Climb for Cancer saw the community trek up the cutbanks to raise money for the Kordyban Lodge.
Hospice Walk makes colourful return
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
Well over a hundred people dressed in white gathered at the CN Centre parking lot to get doused in colour for the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society’s (PGHPCS) annual colour walk.
“This is the first time since 2019 that we are able to gather again and celebrate our fourth hospice colour walk. After COVID hit we kind of had to change things and we had to go virtual,” explained Sandra Kimm, hospice’s special events coordinator.
Despite the hiatus an eager crowd assembled to participate in-person and “Celebrate Life with Colour”.
Participants walked a designated route as different ‘colour teams’ threw clouds of coloured powder on the crowd.
“Today we are here because we care
about hospice and probably most of you are here because someone you love and someone you care about had the kind of support that our family had at hospice. At the very worst time of our lives, hospice gives us the opportunity to have some degree of peace and care and love,” said MLA Shirley Bond who spoke at the start of the event.
Bond lost her husband Bill in the summer of 2020.
“I remember when our family was there, we would either be sitting, laughing or playing music and sometimes we would go ‘shhh’ but the hospice team said ‘no’ that’s what this is about, this is your chance to care for one another in these days.”
Bond said she was grateful that hospice provided her family with a place of safety and comfort during such a difficult time.
The UHNBC drummers also opened the
event by performing the Woman’s Warrior song and the Men’s Healing song.
UHNBC drum group leader Wesley Mitchell explained why these two songs were especially significant for this year’s Colour Walk.
“We have one of our drum group members whose sister is waiting to get into hospice right now so when gatherings like this happen it means the world to so many people,” said Mitchell.
“Then we are going to sing the Men’s Healing song which is very deep and sentimental to me. My uncle Ron was in Hospice House and he passed on because of multiple myeloma – cancer – in 2018 so we are bringing the spirit today for the ones that we’ve lost and the ones that are about to enter the spirit world and just for every heartbeat here today.”
For the entire month of May, close to 250 individuals and teams also
participated in the ‘Walk a hundred K in the month of May’ campaign in support of hospice.
The UHNBC drummers invited Jim Terrion, who is known for his Terry Fox fundraising work over the years, to perform with them to celebrate his achievement of walking an impressive 1,612 kilometers during the month of May.
Once the walk got underway, it only took a few moments before there wasn’t a clean white t-shirt to be found in the sea of people walking the route. The PGHPCS will use the money raised from the Colour Walk to help build a Rec Room - where people can gather to share their grief.
Different from traditional grief support, the focus of the Rec Room is to develop new instrumental grief programs where those using the space will connect through various activities such as woodworking, crafting, or playing games.
JUNE 25, 2022
Saturday Evening Bingo at 6:00pm
RESULTS from last week’s polls:
Are you in favour of spending $780M to upgrade the Royal B.C. Museum?
● Yes, it’s important to preserve provincial history - 94 votes (9%)
● Yes, it generates millions each year in tourism dollars - 33 votes (3%)
● Maybe, if they could reduce the budget - 68 votes (6%)
● No, more essential projects to invest in - 608 votes (58%)
● No, another huge public project for southern B.C. - 244 votes (23%)
What does the Prince George RCMP need to improve?
● More officers - 243 votes (34%)
● Fewer officers, more mental health and addictions professionals - 140 votes (20%)
● More downtown foot patrols - 145 votes (20%)
● More time on property and petty crime - 136 votes (19%)
● Less time on petty crime, more time on major crime – 47 votes (7%)
Is Prince George a friendly community for seniors?
● Yes, Prince George has great social, health amenities - 70 votes (10%)
● Yes, but the city could use more seniors housing - 193 votes (28%)
● No, but far more affordable than southern B.C. - 192 votes (28%)
● No, Prince George has a long way to go compared to other towns228 votes (33%)
U.S. chooses guns over kids
Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr is one of the most esteemed personalities in the National Basketball Association After yet another school shooting in the United States, this time at an elementary school in Texas, which followed a mass shooting at a grocery store and another at a church, Kerr displayed righteous anger toward the politicians in his country who refuse to pass legislation to require background checks for gun ownership, despite the fact that the vast majority of Americans would like to see it put into law.
At a pre-game conference, Kerr did not talk basketball. Instead, he stated: “We are being held hostage by 50 senators in Washington who refuse to put it to a vote, despite what we, the American people, want. They won’t vote on it because they want to hold onto their own power It’s pathetic. I’ve had enough.” He then stormed out of the room.
We may be seeing a shift in American sentiment, and just as it was after the George Floyd murder two years ago, the professional basketball community is speaking out in a voice that can no longer be ignored.
The arms industry is very wealthy and powerful, and they make generous contributions to the politicians
LESSONS IN LEARNING GERRY CHIDIAC
who make sure that their coffers will continue to expand. Gun violence is out of control in the United States because of the well-funded lobby of the arms industry on all levels of the American government. This has led to some very dangerous trends in the United States.
According to the advocacy group Public Citizen:
• The United States is the only country on the entire planet with more guns than people.
• The number of guns manufactured in America has nearly tripled over the past two decades, from 3.9 million in 2000 to 11.3 million in 2020
• Americans endure more mass shootings than all other developed countries combined.
• The frequency and body count of mass shootings has increased as well in recent years.
• 13 of the 20 deadliest mass shootings since 1982 happened in just the past decade.
• There were 118 school shootings in 2018, doubling the previous
record of 59. Then 119 in 2019. Then 114 in 2020. Then 249 (not a typo) in 2021. And already 137 so far in 2022.
• The 3 deadliest years for school shootings in the past half-century are 2018, 2021, and 2022.
• Guns have become the leading cause of death among children in the United States.
Gun control is only one of several issues on which American elected officials are far out of sync with their constituents. Democracy is by its nature an imperfect form of government, but a government cannot continue to function as a democracy if it does not eventually bend to the will of its people.
Canada shares the largest undefended border in the world with the United States and they remain our largest trading partner. How do we respond to the problems south of our border?
For one thing, we need to be informed and aware of which practices are life-giving and which are not.
We also need to keep our own house in order.
And sometimes, like Steve Kerr, we need to let the world know that we’re angry
Gerry Chidiac is a Prince George writer.
We acknowledge the financial support of the government of Canada. Nous reconnaissons l’appli financier du gouvernement du Canada.
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Needles, addicts and ‘the switchblade lady’
A morning walk with city bylaw officers
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff
There’s a request for smokes. “Don’t you hand those out?”
The man walking the streets at 8:30 a.m. is miffed the answer is no.
But that’s not part of the job for the two bylaw enforcement officers making their rounds on foot around downtown Prince George Wednesday morning. But there’s plenty of other things on their to-do list during their two 12-hour day shifts and two 10-hour evening shifts that make up their week.
The pest controller who just put a garbage bag of who knows what (and I’m not asking) into the garbage bin in a back alley points out a used needle shoved behind a pipe that goes up the brick wall of a downtown business. It’s at eye level. There’s a sharps container not 10 feet away.
Bylaw enforcement officers Lee and Jenny have Kevlar in their well-worn puncture-proof gloves, so with confidence Lee pries the used needle out from under the pipe and disposes of it.
There’s a chat with shaky-on-his-feet Daniel who is on the street and seven days clean, he stops to tell us. There are telltale signs of drug use as his knuckles have slow-to-heal wounds on them – your body tries to expel meth any way it can – it makes you itchy and leaves holes in your skin when you scratch. Daniel’s four kids just got put into foster care recently. They are the reason he’s staying clean, so he can get them out of the system.
There’s a short conversational check in with an on-the-move homeless man.
Curtis just got his hair cut and bylaw officers noticed. He’s afraid it won’t grow back. They offer reassurances.
Because of his lived experience – a construction worker who got injured on the job and is now burdened with an opioid addiction that resulted in his losing his family and becoming homeless - Curtis is one of two on-the-ground consultants for Bylaw Services and Strategic Initiatives.
He offers insight into what’s happening with the homeless in downtown Prince George and why they do what they do when they do it.
Joining the hour-long downtown tour is Charlotte Peters, manager of the city’s bylaw services department.
She’s there to fill in the blanks in the conversation to offer the big picture of what it takes the eight-member team that’s assigned to the core of the city to get the job done.
“People have to recognize that the people living on the streets are just ordinary people,” Peters said. “Curtis is just a regular guy who experienced some horrible circumstances. People get so uncomfortable with the people downtown and I think they forget these are just people in a different set of circumstances.”
ground because I already had a close call with a used needle on the ground last summer. I was wearing flip flops. Yeah, I know, I’m stupid.
The $40 that got picked up and put in a zippered compartment on Jenny’s equipment belt will be kept for 30 days. If it’s not claimed the City will donate it to a charity or non-profit group as advised by the participating members of the City’s Downtown Safety Hub.
People have to recognize that the people living on the streets are just ordinary people.”
A short time later, I notice two pristine $20 bills lying on the ground in the alley we’re walking up.
Both Lee and Jenny walked right over the bills.
Not me, I was keeping my eyes on the
A man who volunteers at a religion-based drop-in centre stops Lee and Jenny to tell them he had another encounter with the switchblade lady.
(There’s a switchblade lady in downtown and that’s how she’s known? Jeepers!)
The man says all he said to her was that people could come into the centre, hear about the religion and get some food and drink and she came at him in a rage. This is the third time she’s come at him. He seemed surprised.
“Maybe don’t do that then,” Jenny states the obvious. He seemed doubtful it was anything he said that caused the
stabby rage. (The graffiti we just passed said something like ‘I hate God’ so I start putting two and two together.)
The check in at the front of the Firepit Drop-In Centre takes a bit longer. There are at least eight people who have slept there but it’s hard to get an accurate count because some people cover up with blankets and tarps and never actually peek their heads out. Who knows how many people are under there? The safety check is verbal for those people, not a visual. So there’s a lot of ‘good mornings’ called out by Lee and Jenny with some mumbled responses and some enthusiastic responses by people who have their cereal with milk already in their hands as they wander off for the day.
“Hey, I’ve got those same flipflops at home they’re pretty cool,” Lee says to one man. No response comes back.
“Ok, take care, we’ll come back in a while to see how you guys are doing!”
The point is to make sure there is no one blocking entrances, or sidewalks, so those who are pressed up against the wall are left there. At the corner there’s a huge sharps receptacle for used needles. This one is a one-way only – no backsies. Once the used needle goes in it doesn’t come back out.
There’s more of these types coming to downtown corners near you. Garbage cans in downtown are emptied every day and are placed strategically near places where people tend to congregate.
There’s a social aspect to those who hang out downtown. Even if people are housed, they’ll still come out to hang with their friends, Peters points out.
“There’s definitely a social component to downtown,” she added.
Trying to keep downtown Prince George functioning is a balancing act between helping those who are literally sleeping on the streets, supporting the businesses affected by their presence, and how the city and its supporting organizations come together to manage the situation so everyone is safe.
Bylaw services has 21 enforcement officers, and deals with different areas. There’s a team of eight designated to the downtown.
Man charged with arson from downtown fire
MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff
A suspect has been charged in connection with a fire that destroyed a downtown business last month.
Stephen Anthony Snow, 27, remains in custody on one count each of arson damaging property and breaking and entering and committing an indictable offence, according to court records.
The counts stem from an April 18 morning fire that gutted a tattoo shop in
the 1100 block of Third Avenue. Firefighters from four halls were called to the scene at about 4 a.m. and arrived to find flames and heavy smoke pouring out of the front of the building. They were able to contain the fire to the single business by attacking the blaze and pressurizing the adjacent units but damage was estimated at $1 million – a total loss.
In the aftermath, police released images from a video camera showing a man carrying a jerry can and of a pickup truck
linked to the blaze.
Snow has an extensive criminal record for offences committed in Prince George, Vanderhoof, Williams Lake, Victoria and Western Communities on Vancouver Island.
He is scheduled to appear in Williams Lake court via video conference on Wednesday for a hearing on whether he can be released on bail.
Arson damaging property carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
At about the same time as the fire
downtown, firefighters had also been called to a blaze at a four-plex in the 2100 block of Quince Street.
Two fire trucks were forced to redeploy from the Third Avenue blaze and off-duty fire fighters were called in to help with both fires.
Crews contained the four-plex fire to the original building, which suffered an estimated $500,000 in damages.
Prince George RCMP have said the cause of that fire was inconclusive and no suspects have been arrested.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Bylaw enforcement officers Lee and Jenny do wellness checks during their morning rounds in downtown Prince George.
$80m development planned for Hart Highway
ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff
A Prince George-based developer is planning a roughly $80 million development on the Hart Highway, just south of Handlen Road.
The planned Northside Crossing development will feature six buildings, each with commercial space on the ground level and 60 to 75 apartments above, Kidd Group president Bruce Kidd said.
The development is planned for a parcel of undeveloped commercial land, located at 7171 Hart Highway.
“We’re big on the Hart,” Kidd said. “We understand there is a lack of quality commercial properties in the Hart. (And) there hasn’t been a new apartment in the Hart for 35 years.”
The project would be a phased development, built out over a period of years, he said.
The Kidd Group is planning an $80 million mixed commercial and residential development on the Hart Highway.
Phase one would include a building with roughly 10,000 sq. feet of commercial
real estate and 60 apartments. Currently the company is seeking a
Alleged erratic driver charged
A woman faces four criminal charges for allegedly going on an erratic and dangerous drive in a stolen vehicle last year.
Counts of dangerous driving, driving while impaired, motor vehicle theft and possessing stolen property over $5,000 have been approved against Callie-Anne Lyn Dasilva, 29, court records show.
The charges stem from a May 18, 2021,
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rezoning for the property, to allow the mixed commercial-residential development, he said.
Kidd wasn’t sure when the rezoning was expected to go before city council.
Kidd Group has its offices in the Hart, and runs several businesses and has built homes in the area, he said.
The neighbourhood is underserved in terms of retail space and services, and is lacking in accessible housing to allow seniors to stay in the area as they age, he said.
The proposed apartments would all have elevator access, and be fully-accessible, Kidd said.
A mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units is planned.
The city’s housing needs assessment projects that thousands of new homes will be needed in the city, he added.
“We understand the market up here and this is badly needed.”
incident when Prince George RCMP received multiple 911 calls about a pickup truck progressing at irregular speeds, swerving across the road and almost hitting several vehicles while making its way along streets in the Bowl area and
towards College Heights before police used their vehicles to stop the truck at the junction of Highways 16 and 97.
She is schedule to make a first appearance in Prince George provincial court on June 22.
‘We may close it if conditions worsens’
The facility is approaching the maximum level of risk considered acceptable for its continued operation and we may close it if conditions worsen or the operator fails to eliminate the hazards.”
Both inspections found that food was not cooled in an acceptable manner and that equipment, utensils and surfaces that come in contact with food were not maintained in a sanitary condition. The
two inspections also found that the utensils and pots used for cooking were larger in size than the dishwashing sink and “the operator was told to use dishes which can fit in the sink for proper cleaning and sanitizing.” The restaurant has also been cited twice for having no staff on duty with food safe level 1 or equivalent in the operator’s absence.
A follow-up inspection is required, according to the report.
(PGFFS)
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MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff
Vernon Martin cold case a concern, expert says
MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff
It was 10 years ago that a mystery surrounding a spectacular fire and the disappearance of a prominent Prince George business owner only deepened.
On Dec. 18, 2009, the Northern Thunderbird hangar at Prince George Airport burned to the ground.
A pickup truck belonging to Vernon Michael Martin was found parked outside the structure, which he co-owned and where he had an office.
While it was presumed he died in the blaze, the build up of ice during the firefighting efforts delayed a search for his remains until spring. Four months after the fire, investigators picked through the rubble for two weeks but to no avail.
Then, in May 2012, news broke that in November 2010, RCMP in Vermillion, Alta. had issued warrants for Martin’s arrest for alleged sex-related offences involving minors. The allegations were based on two sets of complaints dating back 35 to 43 years ago.
Alberta RCMP Cpl. Roy Savinkoff recently confirmed that a warrant for Martin’s arrest remains active and his whereabouts continue to be a mystery.
“On this particular investigation there are no leads to suggest where he might be,” Savinkoff said.
Presuming that Martin made himself disappear because the chances of being convicted were high, the fact that an
Burns Lake ticket earns $2M
alleged sexual offender could still be on the loose is a concern, according to Michael Arntfield, a professor at University of Western Ontario whose work has included analyzing unsolved crimes.
“We know from studies that child sex offenders have the highest recidivism rate of any convicted offender, and those are convicts,” Arntfield said.
“This is someone who hasn’t been convicted, it sounds like, and has gotten away with it so far, so there is an added element of public safety that people should be concerned about. Wherever he is, he poses a danger, presumably, to that community.”
Fires and drownings tend to be the preferred way of staging a fake death, he said. Fortunately, Martin’s disappearance was not a case of a “homicide staged to look like a suicide” where a body is recovered but not of the person who wanted to go missing.
Evading police for as long as Martin appears to have been able to do so is becoming increasingly uncommon, Arntfield said, particularly as police move
Northern B.C. resident Margaret Gooding has been playing a combination of her own and family members’ birthdays on the BC/49 for over two decades, and on May 21 it paid off with a $2 million prize.
Gooding, from Southbank on the southern side of Francois Lake, bought the ticket at the Sne Cal Yegh Gas
towards computerized record keeping. But it’s not impossible and tracking down a culprit can sometimes be a matter of a “lucky break.”
“Recognized in a crowd in a sports game on TV or just walking down the street. There are some interesting stories about how these people get discovered,” he said.
Being caught returning to the scene of the crime or hometown is rare, Arntfield said, because of the risk it implies.
Martin would be 67 years old by now but “child sex offenders remain threats well into their old age,” Arntfield said.
When it comes to tracking Martin down, the more information the better, from favourite pastimes to tattoos or distinctive scars to notable speech patterns and other quirks.
“That’s how you’re going to get somebody to say ‘hey, that’s the guy down at the shop down the street,” Arntfield said. As it stands, Savinkoff said police have no additional details about his features other than height, weight, eye colour and hair colour.
Bar in Burns Lake.
“I’ve been playing those same numbers for 21 years,” Gooding said in a press release issued by the BC Lottery Corporation. “Those birthdays are significant to something happy in my life, and to win with those numbers it’s just another happy moment in my life!”
VERNON MICHAEL MARTIN
Canada Day celebrations returning to park
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
Canada Day festivities will once again be held at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park in Prince George on July 1.
The event has been organized and hosted by the Prince George Multicultural Heritage Society for the past 49 years, however, the event was cancelled for the past two summers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more than 30 of those years, the event has been organized by the society’s Coordinator, Marlies Greulich, who has been volunteering with the local Canada Day celebrations since 1976.
She says coming out of the pandemic the society struggled to put together the same event because it was facing a number of challenges including a loss of volunteers, a loss of connections with service providers, and increased costs.
“So, that is why this year we have asked for help and are extremely grateful for a few folks who have stepped up last minute to help our organization make this festival happen in just 5 weeks from now,” says Greulich.
With a plea to the community last week stating how close they were to canceling the planned celebrations, a number of people in the community came together to volunteer and provide their event
planning and business experience and services to support the society in hosting this year’s event.
This group of individuals includes Dave Mothus of Hell Yeah Prince George, Aimee Cassie of Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation, Kyle Sampson of Kyle Sampson Productions Inc., Craig Briere of the Kodiaks Football Club and Prestige Hotels, and Dawna Varley of the Knights of Columbus Society and BC Day in the Park.
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The board of directors for the Multicultural Heritage Society approved the plans for the festival to move forward with the support of the volunteer group at its meeting on Tuesday night.
“We are proud of the work we have been able to accomplish under Marlies’ leadership for the past 30 years and beyond, however with the challenges we are facing, like many other organizations coming out of the pandemic, we are very grateful to receive a hand this year to
help make this one of our biggest and best celebrations yet,” said president Patrick Pocha.
The Multicultural Heritage Society has funded past Canada Day celebrations with grants provided from city, provincial and federal government, and they have continued to receive this funding in 2022.
In the past, they have also sought corporate and local business sponsorship to cover the costs above and beyond what the grants covered.
“Our entire group is excited and keen to step up and help Marlies and the Multicultural Heritage Society in their time of need” said Sampson. “This event is so important, and each of us recognize and appreciate how challenging the past two years have been for so many, especially non-profits and societies like the Multicultural Heritage Society, and we just want to do our part to help them out this year to make sure they regain their contacts and re-engage the community in a positive way!”
The organizers are still seeking a number of sponsors to help make the event even more successful and those interested can contact CanadaDayPG@gmail. com for more information
The celebrations will kick off at 11 a.m. and run through 9 p.m. Friday, July 1 with a further schedule to come.
Gutsy Walk raising cash to fight Crohn’s, colitis
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff
There’s no easy way to talk about poop.
We all poop and when things go wrong with the pooper it’s not a nice conversation to have with, well, anyone.
Those living with Crohn’s and colitis are asking residents to support their cause at the Vanderhoof and Prince George Gutsy Walk for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada to raise awareness and funds on June 5 at Otway.
This year’s honorary chair is Sonja Krug who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at 17 years old and now, it’s 29 years later and through medication she’s been in remission for the last nine years.
“I consider a person healthy if they can go where they want when they want and stay as long as they want,” Krug said.
Over the years, Krug said she’s had several surgeries and now has a permanent ileostomy.
“Even though this disease has greatly affected my life, there are beneficial life lessons that I have learned,” Krug said. “I was lucky to have tremendous support from my parents, siblings and especially my husband. I joined my first support
group with the Vanderhoof/Prince George Chapter and it’s been just fantastic.”
Krug said her family has been amazing but there’s nothing like the understanding that comes from living it – like those attending the monthly support group.
“Like my mom says they don’t truly understand how I feel and what it’s like,” Krug said.
“So to talk to people that really understand – and they’re like ‘oh, yeah, uh huh,’ and they completely understand what you’re going through – that normalizes it and then you can ask them what they did and it can be very small tweaks that’s gunna make your life so much better. It’s the understanding, it’s the humour and people just get you and that really makes me wanna stay with the support group.”
The Vanderhoof + Prince George Gutsy Walk happens Sunday at the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club. Bring friends and family from 10 a.m. to noon to help raise awareness and funds to support those living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
During the event there will be a DJ, snacks, face painting, and a scenic walk through the beautiful Otway trails. If unable to walk, everyone is welcome to join in the fun and to show support for those living with Crohn’s or colitis.
CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO
Canada Day at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park in 2019.
Miracle Theatre donates $150K to hospice
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff
Miracle Theatre just outdid themselves with a donation of $150,515.03 to a Prince George charity. Its biggest donation to date. And three cents?
How did that happen?
Well, once Anne Laughlin, Miracle Theatre’s producer, explained where proceeds from the play On Golden Pond went one of the young actors who performed during the show cracked open his piggy bank to further support Miracle Theatre’s efforts.Thanks Jack!
The $150,515.03 will create a new endowment fund at the Prince George Community Foundation for the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society.
The monies raised will stay in a sustainable fund with the Community Foundation where its interest earnings will annually go to support the Hospice Society’s work in the community in perpetuity.
Miracle Theatre creates professional theatre productions in Prince George and then donates all its proceeds to local
Food bank gets big pile of spuds
non-profit groups.
Since its inception in 2017 Miracle Theatre has raised more than $485,000 for
A total of 25,000 pounds of Prince Edward Island potatoes were delivered to the Prince George Salvation Army Food Bank earlier this month.
“Mostly the 25,000 pounds of potatoes we got was shipped out right away to outlying areas and were only stored in our warehouse over night or for a couple
United Way fighting period poverty
Period poverty is more common than most people realize. At least half of people who menstruate will struggle with access to products at some point in their lives - this could mean missing a job interview or an important community event, limiting one’s access to opportunities and overall quality of life and health.
United Way of Northern B.C.’s 2022 Period Promise campaign, presented by LiUNA Local 1611, offers a solution: people in Northern BC can tackle period poverty from May 27 to June 10 by giving financially or donating period products at their nearest collection site.
According to United Way’s research:
• 26 per cent of people who menstruate in BC say that they had gone through a period without having menstrual products available to them.
• 13 per cent of people who menstruate in BC say that, as dependents, their families had not been able to afford menstrual products on their behalf.
• 30 per cent of people say that they haven’t known where to access menstrual products they could afford when their period has hit.
Further, the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation have
served to exacerbate period poverty in the province as over 50 per cent of United Way’s community partners indicated an increase in demand for their services because of COVID, and nearly 45 per cent of them indicated an increased demand for free menstrual products at their organization.
UWNBC’s Period Promise campaign aims to fill that gap by collecting products that help strengthen vital connections in the community.
“In 2021, we started the Period Promise initiative in Northern BC to great success, but this year, we have grown the campaign exponentially, reaching 11 communities and more than 51 collection sites. We are thrilled at the response to raise awareness and collect the needed resources through this important campaign! We are so grateful for all our partners in Northern BC for committing to the cause and working locally to make a difference right where they live, work, and play,” says Trista Spencer, Executive Director, United Way of Northern BC.
“A special thank you to LiUNA Local 1611 for their sponsorship, and Modern Match Lingerie in Prince George for helping us kick off the campaign with gusto!”
local non-profits including the Salvation Army Food Bank, Northern BC’s breast cancer clinic, the United Way and the Children of Prince George Endowment Fund.
Miracle Theatre’s director/designer Ted Price said he knew going into production that COVID-19 could still be an issue and sure enough 22 shows in with only three shows left of the run a leading actor was diagnosed with the virus and they were forced to cancel the last shows.
Despite that disappointment the community still came through, Price said.
“From our very first production, people have been so enthusiastic about buying tickets, participating in sponsors and being generous donors,” Laughlin said.
“This had made it possible for Miracle Theatre to both success on stage and to donate to some many terrific Prince George organizations.”
It’s not too late to donate to the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Endowment Fund by calling the Community Foundation at 250-562-7772.
of nights and they were out of here,” Roy Law, the community ministries director for the Salvation Army, said.
Potatoes were shipped as far away as Prince Rupert, Bella Coola, Fort Nelson, Chetwynd and Williams Lake and all the communities in between, Law added.
CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO
Steve Henderson of the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society, left, Anne Laughlin and Ted Price of Miracle Theatre, and Mindy Stroet of the Prince George Community Foundation.
Local couple escape B.C. resort blaze
ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff
Lucy Martin didn’t expect the morning after her 40th anniversary standing in a parking lot in a bathrobe watching the hotel she was staying at burn down.
Martin and her husband Steve were guests at the Quaaout Lodge in Chase, B.C. earlier this month when the resort was destroyed by fire.
Steve retired in March, and as a retirement present his employer had given them a gift certificate for the resort. The couple had stayed there before and had enjoyed their time.
“It (was) our anniversary weekend and we thought it was a good opportunity to go,” Martin said.
The couple drove down from Prince George on Friday. Saturday they spent their anniversary golfing, then went for a nice dinner at the lodge restaurant.
“Sunday morning my husband got up and had a shower, then I hopped in the shower,” she said. “Then he came and told me the fire alarm was going off. I threw a towel on my hair, and put on a bathrobe and running shoes. We did smell a bit of smoke as we left our room.”
Steven had the presence of mind to grab his wallet and their cellphones before they left the room, but the rest of their luggage they left behind. As they left the hotel, staff were knocking on room doors telling people to get out, she said.
“We were out in the parking lot for 10 minutes and you could see the smoke coming through the roof,” Martin said. “It took off quite quickly through the roof. At that point, our half of the hotel was totally in flames. Thankfully everyone was safe, and all the pets were accounted for.”
Martin said she heard one pet staying at the hotel was initially thought to be lost in the fire, but later turned up running around the golf course.
A local woman who lived along Little Shuswap Lake saw Martin huddled in her bathrobe in the parking lot,
and cycled home to bring Martin some clothes to wear, she said.
They were trapped there, as their luggage and car keys were inside the burning hotel. Thankfully Steve’s mother lives in Pritchard, B.C. about 30 minutes drive away, and was able to come pick them up. Their daughter drove down from Prince George to deliver them a spare set of vehicle keys so they could get home.
“(Although) we lost some valuable items, including my wedding ring set, the most important thing is that
everyone has been accounted for,” Martin said in a followup email.
Quaaout Lodge was operated by the Little Shuswap Lake Band, and Chief James Tomma told The Canadian Press that the cause of the fire is under investigation and the band is working to support its guests and employees.
Tomma says the resort, which includes the top-20 PGA-Canada ranked Talking Rock Golf Course, will be closed until the fire investigation is complete. With files from The Canadian Press
Dad’s death inspires Suicide Awareness Walk
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff
She lost her dad to suicide on May 26, 2019. He was 50 years old and his name was Norm Campbell.
Ali Carriere put a call out through Facebook for those who wished to join her for her third annual Suicide Awareness Walk held Saturday morning.
There was about a dozen people who attended in honour of those they had lost. The walk started with a drumming circle in the parking lot at the Tim Hortons on Massey Avenue and then the small group walked downtown, coming to rest at Cottonwood Island Park.
“Loss and grief are never easy,” Carriere said about the loss of her dad. “It does get easier as the years go on. It’s not something you fully recover from, it’s just something you learn to live with, you know? But I think what we’re doing is honouring him and addressing the mental health issues that go with suicide is probably the biggest thing we’re doing here. We’re bringing attention to it and almost creating a scene here in our city –or trying to anyway. We’re making noise,
making sure people are aware of the mental health aspect. People are struggling as we’re coming out of the pandemic so bringing awareness to suicide is so important.”
Ali said her dad was an awesome person who was deep in his spirituality. He had struggled with addiction and that was as a result of being a second-generation survivor of residential school. Norm’s mother Evelyn attended Lejac residential school, Carriere explained. Norm was the youngest of ten and the only son.
Darlene Campbell, Norm’s wife, said the walk was in honour of her husband and echoes the path he would’ve walked if he was still here. In honour of his memory
Darlene sang the bear song and Ali managed to get through the traveling song with the help of the others in attendance.
The drummers continued performing more First Nations songs including the Honouring the Day song. Soon after the small group headed toward downtown. Anyone needing to reach out call the Northern BC Crisis Line 1-888-562-1214 or Canadian Mental Health, Northern BC branch at 250-564-8644 or toll free (BC Only) 1-866-564-8644.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Lucy and Steve Martin of Prince George were celebrating their 40th anniversary at the Quaaout Lodge in Chase, B.C., when it caught fire.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Ali Carriere, organizer of the event, sings the traveling song in honour of her father she lost to suicide three years ago while she drums with daughter Galaxy, 3.
Parents’ refugee journey motivates UNBC grad
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
After five years and many all-nighters, undergraduate student Zoe Kore proudly accepted the Governor General’s Silver Medal at the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) convocation ceremony on May 29.
First awarded in 1873, the Governor General’s Academic Medals have become one of the most prestigious awards that a student in a Canadian educational institution can receive. The Governor General’s Silver Medal specifically recognizes outstanding academic achievement at the undergraduate level.
“It was a very rocky road,” said Kore. “I have been dreaming about this since day one of university because I received the bronze medal in high school too, so I knew about it and I really wanted to get it, but it was really hard.”
Kore started her educational path in accounting and finance, before becoming inspired to pursue healthcare and switched from the business program to biomedical studies.
While still pursuing accounting and finance, Kore joined the UNBC JDC West team and in her second year was coached by Judy Neiser, the CEO of the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation
“She let me partake in a bunch of volunteering opportunities, so I was fundraising for hospital equipment, and I dressed up as the Spirit Bear mascot and greeted families and kids and different fundraisers,” said Kore.
“Something kind of clicked with me when I did that, and I developed more of an interest in the healthcare field and it just felt empowering being able to make a difference in patients’ lives.”
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Zoe Kore will be attending the Vancouver Fraser Medical Program at UBC beginning in August, with the goal of becoming a physician.
However, Kore said what really inspired her to pursue the medical field was witnessing her dad work as an RN at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. (UHNBC)’s intensive care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“He’s been a nurse for 34 years and he’s been in the ICU for 24 years so seeing him on the front lines serving, especially during the pandemic, brought a whole new sense of admiration for my dad,” said Kore.
“Seeing him going through all of that adversity made me admire him and I wanted to so something similar and make a really big difference like that.”
Kore said she is extremely grateful for the opportunities her parents have
provided her because they were among the Vietnamese boat people who escaped Vietnam during the communist regime and came to Canada with nothing.
“They have these crazy survival stories,” explained Kore.
She said her dad left on a wooden boat that was raided by Thai pirates and ended up stranded on an island in Indonesia for nine months before he was rescued by the International Red Cross and eventually sponsored to come to Canada.
Meanwhile, her mom, who didn’t know her dad at the time, was found by a Dutch fishing boat just a few days after she escaped and was taken to Japan where she lived for two years before also
Victim’s bid to overturn decision fails
eventually making it to Canada.
“They were both refugees and came from nothing so for me to be here today I just feel super grateful,” said Kore.
“I grew up very privileged to be in the Prince George community where I felt really accepted my whole life and I’m just really grateful for all of the opportunities that my parents didn’t get to have.”
Kore said her parents really pushed for her education and were a huge support system for her during her academic pursuits.
In 2020, Kore also received the Premier’s Consultation on Improved Cancer Care in Northern B.C. Scholarship, which is awarded to an undergraduate student who exhibits academic excellence and an interest in research involving cancer treatment and patient experience.
She has now graduated with a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree with a major in Biomedical Studies and a minor in General Business.
“I was part of the platform party, so I felt really honoured to be able to go up on stage with everyone there and they presented my award at the end and it was a little bit nerve-wracking but it’s very special to be on the other side of the stage,” said Kore.
“I really pushed myself to the limit for this and so being able to be on the other side of this and seeing the outcome of your hard work is just really great and I think it’s a reflection of my hard work.”
Kore will be attending the Vancouver Fraser Medical Program at UBC beginning in August 2022, with the goal of becoming a physician.
After being born and raised in Prince George, Kore said she is excited to expand and experience Vancouver but Prince George will always be home.
A B.C. Supreme Court Justice has upheld a Workers Compensation Appeals Tribunal finding that a man who suffered serious injuries when a logging truck struck his pickup truck was still on the job, even though he had been driving home at the time.
The outcome means David Gordon Campbell’s personal injury lawsuit against the logging truck’s driver, his employer and the company responsible for maintaining the highway “cannot succeed,” Justice Nigel Kent acknowledged in the decision. Instead, Campbell will have to continue to rely on WorkSafeBC for care and treatment of his injuries. Campbell had been driving home in a
pickup truck he owned personally when he was struck by the logging truck on March 2016, and the collision occurred on the paved portion of the highway
But in a February 2020 decision, a WCAT adjudicator agreed with an application from the maintenance contractor for the highway that he was still in the course of his employment.
In his lawsuit against the three
EVENTSARE BACK!
defendants, Campbell provides a long list of alleged injuries, essentially from head to foot, many of them long-lasting.
Campbell had also filed a concurrent lawsuit seeking disability and medical benefits from ICBC. ICBC had been invited to participate in the WCAT process but declined to participate other than to adopt the submissions of the other defendants.
MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff
HOROSCOPES &PUZZLES
ARIES
Youhave alot of work ahead of you. The small details may take along time to sort out. Youmay also be promoted at work, which will materialize gradually over the next few weeks.
TAURUS
You’ll be highly charismatic. People will love, support and follow you wherever you go. You’ll suggest interesting projects to your boss and significant other,and they’ll both agree with you.
GEMINI
CANCER
You’ll express yourself clearly when it comes to money and finance. You’ll make big plans with your significant other,such as buying a house, to ensurethat you have apromising futuretogether
LEO
Now is an excellent time to ask for aloan, perhaps to consolidate your debts. Don’t hesitate to ask your boss for araise; they won’tbeable to refuse you this week.
VIRGO
LIBRA
Your health may get in your way.Find a good doctor or research treatment to improve your quality of life. You’ll see results, which will put you on top of your game.
SCORPIO
You’ll expand your network of professional contacts, grow your circle of friends and increase your following on social media. You’ll be able to combine business with pleasureatwork, at home and in your free time.
CAPRICORN
Training over the next few months will enable you to obtain anew qualification in your field. Youmay go on an adventurethat broadens your horizons and boost your self -esteem.
AQUARIUS
If there’stension in your relationship, you’ll take serious measures to find asolution. Planning quality time with your partner is essential. However,avoid topics about external problems.
PISCES
Your children will be demanding, and you’ll become involved in their various activities. You’ll also get the green light from the bank to finance aproperty or significant home renovation.
Anew and exciting challenge awaits. There may be anew beginning on the horizon. Youmay take steps to go back to school or deepen your spirituality
SAGITTARIUS
Whether at work or home, you’ll be involved in ademanding project that will be profitable over time. Youmust be patient; abundance is slow in coming. However,it’ll be yours soon enough.
If you’resingle, someone you don’tknow will offer to take you on an adventure. Abusiness trip will turnout to be profitable if you have mastery of the subject matter.Weigh the prosand cons beforemaking adecision.
25. Hamburger extra
Cauldron
Escaping
Foe
40. Nixon’s gesture
41. Twisted, as a grin
42. Knowing words: 2wds.
HOW TO PLAY:
Fill in the gridsothat every row, every columnand every3x3 boxcontains the numbers 1through 9only once
Each3x3 box is outlined with adarkerline. You already have afew numbers to get youstarted. Remember: you must not repeatthe numbers 1through9inthe sameline,column or 3x3 box.
cl assi fi eds
Celebration of
in memory of June Herdman (1937 - 2022)
Saturday, June 4, 2022
Elks Hall, 663 Douglas Street Prince George 12:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Please come share some memories, laughter and music. A light lunch will be served.
Celebration of Life
The family of Glen Richard Horning and Beatrice Leonora Horning
Welcome you to join them in sharing memories while celebrating their lives. Saturday August 13, 2022 1-5pm. Hart Pioneer Centre 6886 Hart Hwy, Prince George, British Columbia Lights snacks and beverages will be served.
In loving memory of Patrick Mathewsie
Born: April 26, 1966 Forbisher Bay, NWT Passed: June 28, 2016 Prince George, BC
He worked as a guide for a fishing/hunting company. He had a gentle, helpful soul, a quick smile and a good heart. He was taken from us too quick. I will carry a piece of him in my heart forever. We had a ceremony for him on Friday, May 27th at the place they found his body. Many considered him as nothing more than one of the many homeless people, but he was a good man, so much more than just homeless.
His parents Iola and Annie Mathewsie, now deceased. He is survived by a few family members in the NWT and 2 sons; Charles Robert Higgins and Pauloosie Waglingnig.
Kim
Leslie Ropchan
May 21, 1956 - May 14, 2022
Kim Leslie Ropchan passed away a week before his 66th birthday. He has left behind his sister; Sharlene Greenwood (David), brother Allan Ropchan, sister in law Joanne Forest, niece Jamie McIvor (Dan), niece Elaine Greenwood and great nephew Taliesin McIvor.
Thank you to all the medical staff that helped him over the years.
We will miss you brother, God has taken you home and everyone is healthy in Heaven.
Margaret Ann Girling
June 3, 1945May 25, 2022
May the Sunshine of Comfort Dispel the Clouds of Despair
Bailey,RobertJames (Bob)lifelongresidentof Prince George,BCand former carpenter at School District 57 passed away after along, bravebattle with cancer on May 23rd, 2022 at theage of 75.
Bobispredeceased by hisparents Jimand Cora Bailey andSisterBarbara Sigardson. He is survived by hislovingwifeof30years,Linda Bailey,Sisters DorothyUmpherville,LoisHeye, Daughters Mary Nycholat (Steve), Laura Saunders(Randy), Stepdaughter Lisa Redpath(Scott), Grandchildren Sydney Redpath, AliciaWebster(Nathan), Mitchell Redpath,JoshNycholat, CassidyGriffith (Trenton), JessicaNycholat, Isabelle Saunders, FletcherWifla, Marcus Wiflaand GreatGrandchildren Savannah Websterand Colton Webster.
Bobhas touchedmanyliveswithhis chatty, cheerful personalityand hisnever-ending willingnesstohelpaneighborora friendinneed. He lovedtotravel, walk hisdog,havecoffee with friends,and spendweekendsatthe cabin. He is deeply lovedand will be greatlymissedbyeveryone whohas hadthe pleasure of knowinghim.
As perBob’s request, therewill be no formal service andhewould rather us remember him in aquiet moment on our own. In lieu of flowers, adonation to thePrinceGeorge Rotary Hospice Housein Bob’smemor ywould be lovely
Margaret Ann Girling passed peacefully on May 25, 2022. Celebration of Life will be held June 3 from 1-5pm at 6610 Essex Crescent, Prince George, BC. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Parkinsons Society of BC or Prince George Rotary Hospice.
Condolences may be offered at www.AssmansFuneralChapel.com
KenSmith passed away May 19th, 2022 at theage of 74 in Prince George,B C
Survived by hislovingwifeIrene,2daughters Connee (Alan) andLisa (Ashley), 3grandchildren Aaron (Klarysa), Adam (Brook)and Ariel(Matt), and4 greatgrandchildren Brigham, Leonel,Ashtonand Alison Predeceasedbyhis grandson Kirin.
Amemorial service at Lakewood Alliance Church will be heldonSaturday May 28th, 2022 at 3pmwithRev.Dr. Ashley Olingerofficiating.
In lieu of flowers, donationsmay be made to the Hospice HouseorBCChildren’s Hospital
Paul George Minck Oct 4th 1928 –May 16th 2022
After a long and prosperous life, Dad finally succumbed to the pains and illnesses of old age.
Paul immigrated to Canada in 1951 to start a new life. Arriving in Vancouver with $30 in his pocket and not being able to speak English, he headed north to seek job opportunities, finally settling in Prince George. He worked hard to raise enough money to eventually help his parents, Hans & Margarete Minck, to immigrate to Canada He bought them a house on Edmonton Street where they lived out their years.
In 1959 he married Jette Johansen and proceeded to start a family. They raised 4 children, who then had families of their own. (Suzanne & Tom), (Hans & Holly, Mercedes, Madison, Nolan), (Peter & Dawn, Hanna, Erik), (Klaus & Patti, Liam, Kai) His family was his pride and joy.
Paul worked at numerous odd jobs, including a lumber camp bookkeeper, selling and distributing ice cream (Rose’s). He went on to own the Coca Cola franchise and was known in Northern BC as ‘ The Coke Man’ After selling the franchise, he joined Lakewood Dental Group in 1974 as their Accountant/CEO He spent the next 40 plus years helping the business of Dentistr y grow in Prince George. In 1994, he helped bring ten pin bowling to Prince George by being one of the partners of the Strike Zone Bowling Centre His work and his businesses were his hobbies.
Having survived WWII and with his father being a prisoner of war in Canada for many years during this period, he was driven to make sure his family was taken care of Mission accomplished.
Paul will be laid to rest in the Prince George Cemetery next to his parents as per his wishes. The family appreciates the outpouring of love and support, however, there will be no service per his request. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Prince George Hospice Society in his name would be appreciated
Rest In Peace Dad.
Robert James Bailey
LEANNE SCHROEDER 2x65.5 PGC002479
Obituaries
Paul George Minck of Prince George, BC passed away peacefully on May 16th at the Prince George Rotary Hospice House.
Shirley Mae Strom (nee Cheer), passed away in Prince George Hospice with her family by her side, on May 15, 2022, after a long battle with cancer She was 71 years old.
Our hearts are broken from losing such an angelic wife, mom and friend.
Shirley was the most selfless person and she touched so many lives with her beautiful spirit and big heart. The last couple of years were filled with many medical struggles, but no matter how sick she was, she was always determined When anyone else would have broken, Shirley stayed strong Through her, we know what resilience and perseverance truly look like
Shirley was born on Januar y 4, 1951 in Prince George
Shirley and husband Dave were married on May 13, 1972 and moved to Lynx Lake in 1973 where they raised their children and created so many beautiful memories. Many will always remember visiting Lynx Lake where they could always expect great company and Shirley’s amazing cooking. Shirley, Dave and their children eventually split their time between Lynx Lake and Prince George where Shirley worked at H&R Block for 20+ years as a dedicated tax preparer.
Survivors include Shirley’s husband Dave, daughter Tanya (Andrew), son Kristopher and her precious granddaughter Molly.
A special thank you to Dr Chang for extraordinar y care of Shirley over the years. Thank you to Prince George Hospice for caring for Shirley in her last days. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cancer Society or Prince George Hospice.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
nt Op er at or s
Pro-Link Logging in Quesnel is look ing forfull time equipmentoperators forthe 2022/2023 season, to run alog loader and ahoe chucker. Work is within the Quesnel area.
Email resumes to qsgravel@outlook.com
Logging and Gravel Truck Drivers
Quesnel Sand &Gravelislooking forlogging truck drivers as well as graveltruck drivers,for the 2022/2023 season. Work is within the Quesnel area.
Email resumesto qsgravel@outlook.com
BINCHE WHUT ’EN
BAND OPERATIONSMANAGER
Binche Whut ’enishiring fora new Band Manager.Full-time permanentposition, 37.5 hours per week .Responsible for super vising up to 20 individuals.AdegreeinCommerce, Business Administration, or Leadership and Management(or relateddegree); as well as three to five years relatedbusiness and managementexperienceisanasset but not required.
Please send resume to finanace@binche.ca
information, go to Binche.ca
Tŝideldel First Nation
POSITON: Full-time/Permanent Director of Public Works and Housing Flexible Work ing Environment
LOCATION: Tŝideldel Community, Chilanko Forks, BC V0L 1H0
OVERVIEW: Located in the hear t of beautiful rural British Columbia, Tŝideldel First Nation is seek ing a qualified individual to apply for the exciting career oppor tunity of the Director of Public Works and Housing
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Director of Public Works and Housing is responsible for housing, public works, and infrastructure activities within the Tŝideldel First Nation (TFN) Community. This includes managing initiatives within the Tŝideldel Community that contribute to providing quality community infrastructure and housing
CORE COMPETENCIES:
• Human Resource Management
• Financial Management
• Operations and Maintenance
• Safety and Security Management
• Planning and Project Management
QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS
• Degree or Diploma, or a combination of sk ills and experience in management, project management or another field related to the position
• Interpersonal, managerial, leadership, financial and technical sk ill-sets are required
• Excellent verbal, written and communication sk ills
• Strong computer technical capabilities
• Knowledge and/or experience in contract management and finance an asset
• Valid Class 5 Drivers License and access to reliable transpor tation an asset
COMPENSATION:
Salar y will commensurate with experience and qualifications Competitive Benefits Pack age offered
HOW TO APPLY:
Please send your resume and cover letter to Sherry Westgarde Hepper through e mail at: execassistant@tsideldel.org
Although we appreciate your application, only those selected for an inter view will be contacted. In accordance to Section 7 of the Aboriginal Employment Preference Policy, presence will be given to those of Aboriginal Ancestr y.
Binche Whut’en Job Posting
Band Operations Manager
Binche Whut’en is hiring for a new Band Manager. Full-time permanent position, 37.5 hours per week Responsible for supervising up to 20 individuals. A degree in Commerce, Business Administration, or Leadership and Management (or related degree); as well as three to five years related business and management experience is an asset but not required
Please send resume to finanace@binche.ca. For more detailed information, go to Binche.ca
Land,Water and Resource (NEN) Coordinator
Tsideldel First Nationhas an exciting opportunity fora “NEN” (water,land, and resource) Coordinator. This positionwill require managementand planning at acommunity-level, and prepare forimplementation in collaboration withthe Tsilhqot ’inNational Government( TNG) to provide aNationlevel NEN UsePlan, andassisting the communit yand the Tsilhqot ’inNation to securerecognition andrespec tfor its title, rights and jur isdic tion throughoutits terr itor yincentral Br itish Columbia.
TheCommunit yNEN Coordinator will alsosuppor tcommunit y implementationofthe ground-breaking tr ipartiteframework agreement(Gwets’enN ilt’IPathway Agreement). The Communit yNEN Coordinator is acritical component to the success of the work going forward, andisexpec tedtobring a rangeofexper iencewor king effec tivelywithFirst Nations on lands and resource issues, andtobuild off the commitments andwor kalready accomplished through the Nenqay Deni Accord that wassigned with the Province of BC in 2016.
Fora completejob descr iption please email: exec assistant@tsideldel.org or visit Lo calwork.ca
This is aregular full-time position withbenefits.S alar ywill commensurate with experience.The position will remain open until filled. Considerationofapplicants will begin on June 1, 2022. Please submit your resume and cover letter viaemail to:
Sherry Westgarde Hepper
Email: exec assistant@tsideldel.org
Fax: (250)481-1197Phone: (780) 318-4410
Address: PO Box69ChilankoForks,B.C.V0L 1H0
Management/Administration
Spruce Capital Seniors is looking for a part-time Administrator/CoOrdinator. Email resume to sprucecapitalseniors@shaw.ca or call 250-563-6450 for more information.
Trucking & Transport
Skilled Help
Spruce Capital Seniors is looking for a part-time cook. Please email resume to sprucecapitalseniors@shaw.ca or bring to 3701 Rainbow Dr (Basement) Monday-Thursday between 9 am - 3 pm. For more info call 250-563-6450
Spruce Capital Seniors is looking for a janitor, 2 times per week. Email resume to sprucecapitalseniors@shaw.ca or call 250563-6450 for more information.
The Prince George Citizen is looking for a freelance photographer. Interested candidates please email lsmith@glaciermedia.ca along with some samples of your best photos.
General Employment
Help wanted for local financial services location - an Office Assistant, 3-4 days per week, top wages plus benefits Some experience in this field would be helpful. Reply to Box 1001 c/o 505 4th Avenue Prince George, BC V2L 3H2
CARPENTERS REQUIRED
Full time positions available to start immediately. Currently building in the new Creekside Properties Subdivision in Prince George, BC.
Job Duties:
Reading blue prints, building foundations, installing floor beams, walls and floor systems. Preparing layouts in conformance with building code. Laying subfloor, installing windows, doors, moulding and hardware when required. Repair and maintain residences as required. Measuring, cut and shape and assemble materials made of wood, etc.
Skill Requirements:
5 years carpentry experience. Must have knowledge of how to operate tools and power equipment. Must have English as a first or second language.
Applicant must have their own hand tools, hard hat, safety goggles and steel-toed boots.
Work conditions are physically demanding. A typical day may require handling of heavy loads, bending, crouching, kneeling and a combination of sitting, standing and walking.
Wage will depend on experience $31 - $35/hr Extended benefits are available.
To apply: Email the office
Writing an effective classified ad is easy when you use these time-tested principles.
Collectibles & Classic Cars
Writing an effective classified ad is easy when you use these time-tested principles. How to write a classified ad that works.
• Use a keyword. Start your ad with the item for sale, ser vice offered or the job title.
• Use a keyword. Start your ad with the item for sale, ser vice offered or the job title.
• Be descriptive. Give customers a reason to respond. Advertisers have found that the more information you provide, the better the response.
• Be descriptive. Give customers a reason to respond. Advertisers have found that the more information you provide, the better the response.
• Limit abbreviations Use only standard abbreviations to avoid confusion and misinterpretations.
• Limit abbreviations Use only standard abbreviations to avoid confusion and misinterpretations.
• Include price. Always include price of the item for sale.
• Include price. Always include price of the item for sale.
• How to respond. Always include a phone number (with area code) and/or street and email address.
• How to respond. Always include a phone number (with area code) and/or street and email address.
Motorcycles
To place your ad call: 604-630-3300
To advertise, call 250-562-6666 or email cls@pgcitizen.ca
To place your ad call: 604-630-3300
Parts Trucks
Apartments / Condos-For Sale
SUDOKU
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
SETS, OLD STERLING SILVER, COIN COLLECTIONS +++ ALSO BUYING GOLD!!! TODD’S COINS 1-250-864-3521
Window treatments:
shining a light on solar shades
From blinds and curtains to shutters and drapes, there’s no shortage of materials that can be used to enhance the look of your windows One practical option is to install solar shades.
Here are some of the benefits of this roll-up window covering.
• They protect against harmful rays. Solar shades are made of a tightly woven fabric designed to block out the sun’s UV rays. The perforated material allows you to safely enjoy natural light in your home.
• They offer privacy with a view. Solar shades provide a decent view of the
outdoors while preventing others from seeing into your home. They also reduce glare.
• They help conserve energy. Solar shades help keep your home cool on hot days, thereby reducing the strain on your air conditioner This lowers your energy bills and helps protect the environment.
Solar shades are available in a range of opaqueness levels, allowing you to select a loose or tight weave depending on what you use the space for and how much light you need Visit the stores in your area to find the right product for every window in your home.
FREE ESTIMATES
Demolition projects: DIY vs. hiring a
If you want to renovate your home, you may need to remove some of the existing structures and fixtures. However, when it comes to knocking down load-bearing walls, there’s no room for error.
Here are some things to consider before you start a demolition project
THE RISKS OF DOING IT YOURSELF
Even if you have experience as a handyman and strong friends to help you, there’s a lot that can go wrong Without the proper equipment and knowledge, you risk causing major structural damage and exposing yourself to hazardous materials. Plus, there’s a chance your insurer won’t cover you if an accident occurs.
THE PERKS OF HIRING A PROFESSIONAL
Demolition contractors have the training to safely and efficiently tear down a wide range of structures. From their initial inspection of the site to the removal of waste material, you can count on a professional demolition crew to
5 areas to modernize in your kitchen
Does your kitchen look like it’s from another decade? Unless you’re going for a vintage esthetic, it’s time to bring the space into the 21st century. Here are five ways you can modernize the appearance of your kitchen.
1.
FLOORING
As a gathering place in your home, the kitchen’s floor gets a lot of wear. If yours is faded, scratched or stained, you have two options Either you can repair it swap out cracked tiles or sand and varnish hardwood or replace the entire surface. To help you make a decision that suits your needs and budget, seek advice from a professional.
2. PAINT
Whether the colours in your kitchen are out-dated or the walls have faded over time, a fresh coat of paint is an affordable way to breathe new life into a space. Consider repainting the cabinets as well as the walls You can easily add a modern flair to your kitchen by choosing a second, bolder colour for the island or lower cabinets
3.
COUNTERTOPS
Even if the material is timeless, years of preparing meals on them can leave kitchen countertops looking a little worse for wear Replacing them with a pristine surface can instantly change the look of the room. Visit specialized stores in your area to discover the wide range of materials, colours and textures available.
4.
APPLIANCES
The stovetop, oven and range hood, along with the fridge, microwave and dishwasher, are focal points in a kitchen. If yours are scratched, mismatched or out-dated, consider selling or donating them so you can invest in newer models. To get the most out of your purchase, be sure to select Energy Star certified appliances or smart devices
5.
DECOR
pro
take care of everything. Since they have the right equipment, there’s much less risk of damage or delays.
If you’re looking to hire a demolition contractor, take the time to find an expert in your region with the right credentials and a reliable track record.
Make sure the company is insured and doesn’t have any warnings or violations from health and safety authorities
A variety of accessories can be used to transform the look of your kitchen in the blink of an eye.Visit local home decor shops to find curtains, blinds, mirrors, light fixtures and more to provide the wow effect you want. Smaller items such as island centrepieces and plants can be rotated with the seasons to freshen up the space every few months.
From upgrading the sink and faucet to replacing cabinet hardware and installing a new backsplash, there are plenty of ways to modernize your kitchen. For best results, enlist the help of an interior designer.
GO FOR GOLD.
Why use a rain gauge in the garden?
Arain gauge is a practical instrument that measures rainfall.
Using a rain gauge can help you adapt your wateringscheduletoavoidover or underwatering your plants. However, to make good use of the data you collect, you must first know how much water
eachtypeofplantrequires. Youcanusearaingaugeto compare the amount of rainfall from year to year, which can help you plan yourfuturecrops.
Visit your local garden store to find a rain gauge thatwillserveyouwellfor yearstocome.
Garden shed considerations
Do you need storage space for your barbecue,patiosetandgardeningaccessories? If so, it’s time to get a shed. There are many prefabricated models made of synthetic materials, metal and wood. Here are a few tips formakingtherightchoice.
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
Plastic, vinyl and PVC sheds are resistant to water and insect damage. Moreover, they require very little maintenance. Although availableinawidevariety of designs, they tend to have a commercial look that may notsuiteveryone.
METAL
Metal sheds are lightweight, affordable and easy to assemble. If made from aluminum, the shed won’t rust. However, metal sheds are easy to dent and come in fewer designs than those made ofsyntheticmaterials.
WOOD
Wooden sheds are sturdy and can complement the outside of
your home. However, they require considerable maintenance and are more vulnerable to insects and rot thanmetalandsyntheticsheds.
If you’re handy, you can design and build your own shed. This way, you can choose its size and appearance. Furthermore, you can insulate the wallstocreateaworkshop.Butkeep acloseeyeonyourbudget.Thistype
of project can easily cost several thousanddollars.
Whether you choose to buy a prefabricated shed or build your own, make sure it’s strong enough to withstand inclement weather. Finally, check the laws and regulations in your municipality for building this typeofstructure.
