WorkSafeBC inspections conducted in May and June found that Prince George Public Library employees, including management and security personnel, were at risk of violence and exposure to biological and drug-related chemical hazards.
The initial WorkSafeBC inspections at
the Bob Harkins branch of the library on May 4 and May 10 were prompted after one or more workers refused to work in unsafe conditions, following an incident in the library bathrooms on April 26.
“Based upon my review of the employer’s 2022 incident reports, I note that workers are exposed to frequent and undue levels of violence at this workplace. Nine incidences of violence have been recorded,” occupational safety
officer Steven Goodall wrote in his May 10 report. “When I asked if the refusal of unsafe work was ongoing, a worker provided a statement that the security personnel were not conducting work relating to the washrooms at the workplace, and that management personnel had assumed the responsibilities of attending the washrooms for ‘wellness checks.’”
Incident reports show what library staff deal with on a daily basis
ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff
Editor’s note: This story contains profane language.
On Feb. 24, around 3:15 p.m., a couple walked into the Bob Harkins Branch of the Prince George Public Library with no masks on, carrying food and a tray of drinks.
When a staff member told them they would need to wear masks and they couldn’t eat in the library, they became verbally and physically aggressive, according to a series of incident reports filed by library staff members.
The reports were obtained by The Citizen through a freedom of information request.
“I told them that due to their behaviour they would have to leave, the male ran up the steps toward me and told me he was going to punch me the fuck out, I side stepped and as he passed me he hit me with his shoulder and carried on up the stairs to the main floor. The female began to yell and swear to leave them the fuck alone and they could stay as long as they wanted,” one of the three reports about the incident said.
See ‘I’M GONNA BURN on page 4
The parking lot entrance to the Prince George Public Library’s Bob Harkins branch downtown.
PUBLIC HEARINGS /CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS
WHAT:
City Council consideration of first and second reading of:
1. “City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007, Amendment Bylaw No. 9302, 2022”
Comments on the above noted Bylaw for Council consideration may only be provided in writing. For details on how to provide written comments, refer to “Written Submissions” under “How Can I Participate?”.
Public Hearing regarding:
2. “City of Prince George Restrictive Covenant Bylaw No. 9265, 2021”
Comments on the above noted Bylaw for Public Hearing may be provided in writing, in person or via telephone. For details on how to provide comments, refer to “How Can IParticipate?”.
WHEN:
Monday,July 25, 2022
WHERE:
Council Chambers of City Hall, 2nd Floor,1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC
PROPOSALS:
1. “City of Prince George Zoning Bylaw No. 7850, 2007, Amendment Bylaw No. 9302, 2022”
Applicants: Devon and Amie O’Brien
Subject Property: 8366 Domagala Road (Lot 8, District Lot 2424, Cariboo District, Plan 21853)
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Bylaw No. 9302, 2022 proposes to rezone the subject property from AR1: Rural Residential to AR3: Rural Residential in order to facilitate atwo-lot subdivision of the subject property,orother uses, pursuant to the AR3: Rural Residential zoning designation. The applicants propose to keep the existing house and develop on the proposed infill lot.
In accordance with Section 464(2) of the Local Government Act,apublic hearing regarding this application will not be held as the proposed Bylaw is consistent with the “City of Prince George Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 8383, 2011” that is in effect for the subject area.
Location Map #1 8366 Domagala Road
2. “City of Prince George Restrictive Covenant Bylaw No. 9265, 2021”
Applicant: McWalter Consulting Ltd. on behalf of JST Ventures Ltd., Inc. No. 756941 and Margaret McWalter
Subject Properties: 2988 Cessna Road
(Lot 1, District Lot 629, Cariboo District, Plan EPP23281)
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Bylaw No. 9265, 2021 proposes to modify the existing Section 219 Restrictive Covenant registered at the Land Title Office under Document No. CA3032636 on the subject property in order to facilitate the development of acontractor service (i.e. storage of equipment and supplies) on the subject property by allowing outdoor storage and major recycling centreuses.
The existing Section 219 Restrictive Covenant prohibits wrecking yard, outdoor storage and major recycling centreuses onsite. The Section 219 Restrictive Covenant will remain in place and continue to prohibit awrecking yarduse.
BOUNDAR
Location Map #2 2988 Cessna Road
HOW CAN IPARTICIPATE?
Members of the public who believe their interest in property is affected by the proposed Bylaws are invited to provide comments to Council by the methods noted below
WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS
Written submissions will be accepted for both items.
Written comments received by the Corporate Officer before 5:00 p.m., Tuesday,July 19, 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,July 25, 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.
ATTEND BY TELEPHONE
Telephone participation is available for item 2.
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
In person participation is available for item 2.
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,July 25, 2022.
For moredetailed information on providing submissions to Council, please visit www.princegeorge.ca/publichearings.
By submitting written comments or speaking during apublic hearing, you areconsenting to the disclosureofany personal information that you provide. All written or spoken comments will form part of the official public recordofthe Council meeting and will be published on the City’swebsite, televised, streamed live by webcast, recorded, and archived for public viewing.
Personal information is collected under the authority of section 26(g) and disclosed under the authority of section 33(2) 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 and related documents will be available for review by the public on the City’swebsite www.princegeorge.ca/PublicNotices beginning Wednesday,July 13, 2022 These documents may also be reviewed at the Development Services office on the 2nd Floor of City Hall on July 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 25, 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.
SUBSCRIBE
TO STAY INFORMED
Subscribe to receive information and updates regarding upcoming public hearings, council and committee meetings, elections, media releases, and morebyregistering at www.princegeorge.ca/Subscribe.
CESSNA
Former superintendent sues school district board
MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff
A former School District 57 superintendent is taking the board of education to court.
In a notice of claim filed July 8 on behalf of Anita Richardson, trustees are alleged to have created a toxic workplace while she held the post and violated an obligation to act in good faith when they rebuffed her efforts to return to the position after taking a leave of absence.
Richardson was the school district’s superintendent from Dec. 18, 2019 to Dec. 11, 2020 when she took the leave of absence and was terminated from the position on Jan. 25, 2022.
According to Richardson’s claim, terms of her employment agreement held that the board could terminate the agreement “without cause” but also that the board must give notice in writing that the action is being contemplated, advise of the reasons for the move and give her an opportunity to respond.
A week before termination, Richardson said she received noticed that the board was considering the step over concern her relationship with area First Nations was “difficult and that there was a lack of trust” and at a time when trustees were “heavily focused” addressing issues raised in a special report on the matter.
In answer, Richardson said trustees were aware her relationship with the First Nations was good and that it was the trustees’ conduct that undermined it. Moreover, she said difficult relations with the First Nations existed before she had been hired and that trustees failed to seek Richardson’s advice or implement specific strategies she had developed to improve the situation.
Former school trustees Trent Derrick and Shuirose Valimohamed are singled out in the claim.
They are specifically named as defendants and are accused of working to undermine Richardson’s relationship with certain First Nations communities the school district served.
Over an 11-month period starting Feb. 10, 2020, Richardson said she “experienced a toxic work environment and bullying and harassment” from certain trustees, including Derrick and Valimohamed.
Richardson goes on to variously accuse Derrick and Valimohamed of breaching the trustees rights and responsibilities policy by failing to share pertinent information prior to a school board meeting, by having side conversations about key issues and then failing to share those discussions, attending meetings with “rights holders” and union presidents without district staff present and “communicating inappropriately with rights holder groups
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant
Part Dedicated Road on Plan BCP40229 to R.G. McLeod Developments Inc. for $385,000.00.
Deanna Wasnik Director of Planning &Development
about operational processes.”
Richardson also variously accuses the two of breaching the district’s respectful workplace policy by, in the case of Derrick, sending an email to Richardson, and in the case of Valimohamed, by virtue of her conduct on five occasions.
And Richardson alleges all the trustees breached the rights and responsibilities policy by voting on Feb. 25, 2020 to rename Kelly Road Secondary School without first seeking input from staff, including Richardson, and of breaching the respectful workplace policy through their conduct during a Nov. 17, 2020 meeting of the Education Programs and Planning Committee.
“The unlawful and inappropriate misconduct of the School Trustees, in breach of the polices, and in particular the misconduct of the Defendants Derrick and Valimohamed resulted in physical and emotional harm to the Plaintiff as well as embarrassment, frustration, loss of reputation and an inability to properly carry out her duties as Superintendent and address the issues she had been specifically hired to deal with,” Richardson says in the claim.
That was not all of the bad blood, the claim indicates.
In mid-December 2021, the board “falsely accused” Richardson of delivering a summary of the investigator’s report to
the school district offices “together with a threatening note.”
“These allegations were false and were either made knowing them to be false or without regard to whether the allegations were true or false,” the claims says.
A further effort to get a full copy of the investigator’s report resulted in Richardson receiving a version “which redacted all of the findings and facts underlying the report,” the claim alleges.
Richardson alleges the termination was “made in bad faith” and, in part, made to make her a “scapegoat” for issues raised in the special advisors’ report for which she was not responsible.
Richardson is seeking general damages from the board for alleged breach of contract and breach of duty of good faith and damages from Derrick and Valimohamed for “intentional interference with contractual relations” as well as special, aggravated and punitive damages.
According to the claim, Richardson’s employment agreement was good for five years ending on Dec. 17, 2024, with a starting salary of $194,790 plus benefits. If terminated without cause, she is entitled to one year severance if employed in the position for 18 to 35 months.
None of the allegations have been tested in court and none of the defendants have yet filed responses to the claim.
definitely not safe,’ library employee says
ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff
A current library staff member says they worry about themselves, their co-workers and most of all the children using the library every day they are at work.
The staff member said they’ve personally been assaulted and threatened while on the job.
“From the moment I step out of my vehicle in the morning, I am on edge. I’m prepared for anything,” they said. “Some of my biggest fears is (one of the children) getting poked with a dirty needle.”
If the child were to be infected with a bloodbourne illness or exposed to drug residue it could be a “life sentence,” they said.
Out of 106 library incident reports filed by staff members between Feb. 1 to March 31, and obtained by the Citizen through a freedom of information request, 10 were categorized as “Drug Paraphernalia/ Needle Found,” seven were categorized as “Drug use,” and two were categorized as “Alcohol found.” In addition, numerous reports of people causing disturbances or acting inappropriately suggested the person or people involved were impaired by drugs or alcohol.
One report, filed on Feb. 4, said that a staff member “discovered a large amount of needles, cooking tins, baggies, tie offs, and wipes as well as a dose of used narcan all around the parking level entrance.” While the staff member was cleaning the materials up, a mother with her young child stopped so the mother could warn the child to stay away from them.
‘I’m
Multiple reports over the two-month span indicated that used needles and tinfoil or other surfaces covered with apparent drug residue were found in the parking area and bathroom.
In a report from Feb. 18 drug residue was discovered on top of the toilet paper dispenser in the women’s washroom, following a wellness check on a person in the bathroom for an extended time. In an incident from March 31, a staff member was asked to check the parking lot lobby and found a woman with a meth pipe, which she tried to hide. After the woman was told to leave, the staff member found “tinfoil burnt and meth crystal residue on the concrete ledge next to where she was.”
One incident the staff person heard about involved a woman preparing a needle to inject drugs while sitting at a table in the children’s section of the library,
with children all around.
The incident reports only represent part of what is happening at the library, the library staff member said, because sometimes staff are too busy to fill out the reports.
There has been violent incidents in the library, with violence directed at both staff and library patrons, they said.
“I know that staff have been assaulted,” they said. “Fights (between library users) have broken out, both verbal and physical. Mostly not physical, but some.”
When security staff escort someone out, they are often yelling and swearing for everyone in the library to hear, they added.
“It’s definitely not safe,” they said. “The library knows, through the incident reports, what is happening. They get told multiple times a day, and still they refuse to do anything.”
The staff member said although the library is supposed to be welcoming place for everyone, keeping out people who have been banned for previous behaviour is hard because of the library’s open-door policy.
“You can’t get into Costco without showing a Costco card. The library should do something like that with library cards, or at least require picture ID,” they said.
Many of the library users who cause problems have drug or mental health issues, they said, “but that doesn’t give you the right to put other people in danger.”
In a statement, the library’s senior management, board and union leadership said that safety for staff and patrons is a top priority.
Prince George Public Library board chairperson Mike Gagel said being a welcoming and inclusive space is a key part of the library’s mission.
“This includes building inclusive and respectful spaces for members of marginalized or underrepresented groups,” Gagel said in the statement. “From a Board perspective, accessibility is paramount and we are working to remove and reduce all kinds of barriers to access so that everyone in our community is able to safely, and fully enjoy and benefit from what the library offers.”
CUPE Local 4951 president Lily Bachand said “libraries are more than just books; they deliver front-line services in our community,” in the statement.
“The Library and its workers continue to discuss measures to best serve our community’s needs, and to uphold high standards for safety in our spaces while doing so,” Bachand added.
gonna burn this whole place down’
Continued from page 1
“I could hear yelling from the main floor and I had already had the phone out and I called (911) I told the female I was calling the RCMP and she needed to leave immediately. She ran past me and up to the main floor I looked up and could see [NAME REDACTED] within inches of the male and the male was uttering threats loudly that he was going to punch [NAME REDACTED] the fuck out. The female told the male that I had called the police and (they) both came down the stairs as they passed me the male said I should just fucking beat you, they gathered up their belongings and left via the parking lot exit swearing and threatening to knock us the fuck out and kick the shit out of us as they left.”
A Citizen freedom for information request for the library’s incident reports filed at the Bob Harkins branch between Feb. 1 and March 31, 2022 resulted in 106 reports documenting approximately 93
separate incidents – nearly two a day on average.
Incidents categorized as cleanup required/janitorial, computer/IT, COVID compliance, elevator malfunction, facilities, injury/illness (minor), lost/missing personal property, medical emergency and parking infraction were not included in the Citizen’s request.
Incidents included patrons being rude and verbally abusive to staff and other patrons, fires in Canada Games Plaza, young children left alone at the library, death threats, drug and alcohol use in the library, patron and library property being stolen, discarded needles and drug paraphernalia found in the bathrooms, parking area and other places, a stolen phone that wouldn’t stop beeping, and even an unconfirmed report of someone smuggling a bird into the library. RCMP were called to the library 11 times over the two-month period, according to the reports.
In a Feb. 5 incident, a man being
escorted out the library shouted slurs at staff and said “I’m gonna burn this whole place down.”
He continued shouting and kicking the elevator doors on the way out of the building.
In a report from Feb. 8, a staff member found a man who had been asked on numerous occasions to leave the library because of drug use passed out on a computer keyboard in the Skylab.
“I asked him to pack up and leave as he had no mask on and I could see drug paraphernalia on the computer desk,” the report said. “He refused saying he was going to fuck me up. I took out my phone and called the RCMP within ear shot of him, once he heard me calling he gathered up his belongings and began to move out. As he was leaving he took a charge toward me with his fists raised and stomped his feet loudly saying he was going to do me in.”
In a March 30 incident, a man with a knife on him blocking the parking lot
entrance with a number of large bags threatened to wait for staff members in the parking lot and assault them.
On Feb. 24 around 4:45 p.m. – less than two hours after the incident where a man threatened to punch a staff member – a man and woman who had been asked to leave the library for using drugs came up the elevator. A staff member told them to leave and sent them out the plaza entrance, when another man got involved.
“From up on the stair case I heard a males voice yelling at me not to be such a fucking goof and to leave them alone. I turned around and saw [NAME REDACTED] coming down the stairs calling me a fucking goof and that I should just die,” the incident report said. “I told him to leave and he began to tell me he wishes I would die and die alone because I’m just a fucking goof. He walked out the plaza entrance yelling fuck you you goof, I just want to see you dead, fuck off goof.”
SUBMITTED PHOTO
A row of shelves at the downtown branch of the Prince George Public Library.
In his May 10 report, Goodall ordered the library to provide vaccination for hepatitis B to all workers at risk of occupational exposure, and provide workers training on the safe handling of biohazardous and chemical dangers. Goodall ordered the library to prepare a compliance report by June 7, to show it has established “procedures, policies and work environment arrangements” to eliminate, or at least reduce, the risk of violence to workers.
In a follow-up report on June 15, Goodall determined the library had complied with all the orders.
In addition to offering hepatitis vaccines to staff, library security employees, 15 frontline workers and four managers had received training in bloodborne pathogen safety. The library’s security employees
were provided with violence prevention and de-escalation training, and two library managers were provided with basic security training, Goodall wrote.
The report also outlined measures the library had taken since May 2021 to address workplace violence, including issuing stab-resistant vests to security officers in July 2021; portable radios with earpieces to security, staff and frontline workers in June 2021; installing security cameras in the library entrance in December 2021; and updating the library’s security and bathroom access policy following the April 26 incident.
A second WorkSafeBC inspection on July 6 found that library staff had not been properly trained, “in how to identify suspected inhalable substance use in the washroom areas of this workplace,” and that lack of training puts workers at
risk, occupational hygiene officer Peter Fairman wrote in a July 11 report.
Fairman ordered the library to provide proof that staff has received safety training on how to identify potential inhalable substance use and protect themselves, and to update the library’s public bathroom policy to warn workers about the potential hazard by Aug. 11.
Prince George library director Paul Burry said the library takes the safety and security of staff and patrons seriously, and has been making continuous improvements to address concerns.
The library has been working with WorkSafeBC and the library’s health and safety committee - which includes members of management and staff – for more than a year to address safety issues at the library, he said.
Improving staff and patron safety is an
ongoing process and the library is dealing with many of the same societal issues that are challenging other organizations in Prince George and across North America, he said.
“We are doing everything we can to make the library as safe as possible,” he said. “(But) you can’t eliminate the risk altogether.”
Also, he said, one of the library’s core values is being a welcoming and inclusive place for everyone, and making public washrooms available is an important service for those who may not have other places to go.
“Our rules and conduct are based on behaviour and we don’t exclude people based on how they look,” Burry said. “We have to do what we can, but it still has to be a inclusive and welcoming space.”
See editorial on page 8
House prices stay high
MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff
It’s still a seller’s market in Prince George as a typical single-family home is selling for nearly $530,000.
As of the end of June, the average price was $529,729, according to the latest report from the B.C. Northern Real Estate Board. The figure represents a $73,887 jump over the total reached by the same point last year. It is also a quarter-over-quarter rise of $9,750.
Countering the trend somewhat, sales are down. So far this year, 480
single-family homes have exchanged hands in the city, a decline of 86 sales from the same point last year.
However, 291 of those sales occurred during the most-recent quarter compared to 189 during the first quarter of 2022.
A similar pattern was seen in 2021 when 339 homes were sold during the second quarter of that year, up from 227 during the first quarter.
Market activity – as measured by sales multiplied by average price – has worked out to $254.3 million, down $3.7 million from the mark reached by midway through 2021.
Warehouse proposed
ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff
A proposed 6,206 sq. metre (66,800 sq. foot) industrial warehouse in the BCR Industrial Park is a step closer to being built, following a vote by city council.
City council approved the first two readings of a bylaw to rezone a 0.63 hectare (1.56 acre) section of 8875 Willow Cale Rd. and 1077 Boundary Rd. to facilitate the development. Final approval of the rezoning will come back before city council once a traffic impact study has been completed.
David McWalter of McWalter Consulting Ltd., who is acting as agent for Interior Warehousing and Brink Group founder John Brink, said the proposed warehouse is part of a larger expansion planned in the city.
“John Brink also owns Interior Warehousing,” McWalter said. “They want to expand by about a million square feet over the next few years.”
For reference, the Prince George Costco location is about 100,000 sq. feet, he said.
Site preparation for the development has already begun, with the delivery of more than 20,000 cubic yards of gravel
for the building foundation, McWalter said. If the rezoning is approved, Interior Warehousing is expecting the delivery of a pre-engineered building to the site in late October.
Construction is expected to be completed by the spring of 2023, he added. The facility is expected to store a variety of dry goods and employ a small number of people full-time once operations begin. City director of planning and development Deanna Wasnik said city administration is in support of the proposed development.
“The subject properties are located within the BCR Industrial Park and have City services available. The subject properties are also bound by Boundary Road (arterial) and Willow Cale Road (major collector) offering easy access to highways and rail lines to help facilitate the movement of goods,” Wasnik wrote in her report to council.
The property is currently zoned U1: Minor Utility, and BC Hydro has a transmission line next to the property, Wasnik wrote.
Interior Warehousing is seeking to rezone the property to M5: Heavy Industrial to facilitate the warehouse project.
Health centre unveiled
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
McLeod Lake Indian Band (MLIB) will be constructing a new $18-million health and community centre.
MLIB says the Health and Community Wellness Centre will be a nurturing and welcoming place for Tse’Khene culture and traditions, where the future of MLIB and its more than 500 members can thrive. The building is estimated to open for public use in March 2024.
“We are excited to begin construction on the new Health and Community Wellness Centre this July,” said MLIB Chief Harley Chingee. “The new space will allow our community members to come
together to celebrate, heal, and support one another while also accessing topnotch health services.”
The building has been a vision and goal of the Tse’Khene people of McLeod Lake for decades. In 2011, it became a top priority in the Strategic Community Plan. The goal of the centre is to create a legacy of community healing and wellness.
The Health and Community Wellness Centre will offer a larger gymnasium for community gatherings and activities, a community kitchen, private and secure offices for health and social services staff, enhanced technology to allow family members that live outside of McLeod Lake to participate in appointments virtually, and more.
Huge Hart development plan approved
ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff
City council has given its initial approval for a proposed commercial-residential development at 7171 Hart Highway, despite opposition from area residents.
In an interview with the Citizen in May, Kidd Group president Bruce Kidd said the planned Northside Crossing development will include six buildings, each with commercial space on the ground level and 60 to 75 apartments above. Kidd estimated the project, proposed on an undeveloped parcel of commercial land south of Handlen Road, would be worth an estimated $80 million when fully built out.
“The subject property is one of the remaining undeveloped parcels along Highway 97 which makes this an exciting
rezoning proposal as it represents significant investment and confidence in the Hart community,” L & M Engineering planner Ashley Thandi wrote in a letter to city council, on behalf of the Kidd Group.
“The mixed-use and standalone residential buildings would be tailored towards all demographics in the Hart including seniors, families and young professionals. The main floor of the mixed-use buildings would consist of commercial uses permitted in the C2 zone that are currently in need within the Hart community such as life labs, doctors office, service personal uses, restaurants, cafes etc., and the top floors would consist of apartment units.”
The project is expected to be built over a five-to-seven-year time frame, she added.
City council voted to waive a public hearing on the matter and approve the
first two readings of a bylaw to rezone four hectares of the 5.2 ha property. Final approval of the rezoning won’t come back to council for a vote until the Kidd Group has filed a traffic impact study and servicing brief with the city.
City council received 13 letters and emails in opposition to the project from area residents, one email in support and a petition with 59 signatures on it calling on the city to hold a public hearing on the matter to allow residents to get more information and have their say.
Many of the letters raised concerns about the added traffic the project will bring to the area.
“There is a high school and elementary school which already causes traffic congestion. More traffic around the (two) schools will not be safe for the kids. We do not have sidewalks, proper lighting,
and in the winter the streets get more narrow due to the snow,” area resident Patrice Moonie wrote in an email. “The proposed area is not able to accommodate the amount of traffic that it will create. I live in the Hart because of less people and less traffic.”
Tonja van der Pouw Kraan, and several other letter writers, raised concerns about Turner Road being used to access the development.
“Turner Rd is a small road which cannot support increased traffic flow, and will negatively affect those currently living there,” she wrote. “Secondly, both schools in the area are already at capacity, and the council should not approve multi-family dwellings that creates or exacerbates a situation that will cause school concurrency to fail for this proposal and/or other approved plans.”
What’s a public library for?
During my time as a Prince George Public Library board member from 2008-2010, followed by two years as a staff member from 2010-2012, the soul-searching questions being asked were what the library mission is and how a facility devoted to books is relevant in a digital world.
The answer given during my time at the library was literacy, in the broadest sense of the word. Besides the traditional focus on reading and lifelong learning, library staff developed programs to help residents increase their computer literacy, online literacy, financial literacy, and so on. In other words, the library offered useful tools to help children and adults navigate in the modern world. Furthermore, the library beefed up its website so residents –whether they had a library card or not – could access all sorts of databases for reliable information.
At that time, security was a group responsibility, handled primarily by the two custodians, with help from staff. Only when the custodians weren’t available was a security person brought in for support.
Ten years later and the library is being written up by WorkSafe BC for exposing employees to unsafe working conditions brought on by dangerous visitors and open drug use.
Library leadership calls its current direction “welcoming and inclusive,” with the implication that anyone critical of that direction doesn’t support inclusivity, which is nonsense. The library needs to ask itself why it must be more welcoming and inclusive than other nearby public facilities. The Two Rivers Art Gallery, the Civic Centre, the Coliseum and the soonto-be-opened pool are also welcoming and inclusive spaces but their washrooms and interior spaces are only available to users of those facilities.
Now, it seems the library’s primary responsibility is to provide open access to public washrooms and a warm space to hangout on a cold and/or rainy day for the city’s downtown street population Those are noble goals but, as Worksafe BC inspectors pointed out, librarians and library staff are not equipped for those responsibilities.
The library’s responsibility is to inspire the community to read, learn and discover, according to its mission statement. It needs to refocus on that essential duty and leave the equally vital work of helping people with addictions, trauma and mental health issues to others better equipped to do the job.
Editor-in-chief Neil Godbout
We acknowledge the financial support of the government of Canada.
Nous reconnaissons l’appli financier du gouvernement du Canada.
Critical Race Theory has merit
Given the criticisms of Critical Race Theory (CRT) on the far right of the political spectrum, I set out to understand this controversial approach to viewing our world.
The first point of CRT is to question the narrative told by our dominant society. Few would argue that “History is written by the victors.” In the quest for truth, we need to challenge that story. Genocide scholar Gregory Stanton, states “The perpetrators deny that they committed any crimes, and often blame what happened on the victims.”
The second point of CRT is to recognize the permanence of racism We remain far from the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who said, “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
The third point is “whiteness as property.” White culture sets the standard for what is acceptable. This often becomes obvious in the world of sports. Much criticism was
LESSONS IN LEARNING GERRY CHIDIAC
heaped upon NBA player Allen Iverson in the early 2000s for the way he wore his hair and adorned his body. In addition, white privilege exists. Consider the significant misfortune when we fail to give equal opportunities for education based solely on arbitrary factors like ethnicity, place of residence, and socioeconomic status. How many potential Nobel Prize winners have we failed to educate?
This leads to the fourth point of “interest convergence.” Why are gains in human rights for members of minority groups seen as gains at all? Are they not simply rights one should receive simply because one is human?
The final point of CRT challenges modern liberal thinking. We are not colourblind and everyone is not treated equally under the law. Racism exists. If you think that it does
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not, observe an undercover security person in a Canadian shopping center (they are not hard to recognize) and watch how they follow Indigenous people who are just trying to live their lives. Then ask yourself, “If I lived someplace where I was a visible minority, would I appreciate being treated this way?”
These are the key points of CRT, a theory that cannot even be mentioned in certain parts of the world. It has nothing to do with feeling guilty because one is white, despite the sensationalized perspectives we see against CRT in the media. Race is arbitrary and it should never take precedence over our humanity. If we are going to be honest with ourselves, however, we must recognize that racism has impacted, and continues to impact, the way we treat one another.
A viewpoint like Critical Race Theory simply offers us a lens to look honestly at the reasons why disparities exist, and hopefully helps us to find ways to thrive together.
Gerry Chidiac is a Prince George writer.
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How my friend became addicted and came back
DIANE NAKAMURA
Special to The Citizen
According to Brain Injury Canada, a non-profit organization based in Ottawa, approximately 50 per cent of people experiencing homelessness have had a brain injury.
This is a large percentage, with varying degrees of symptoms and outcomes.
No one can verify how many of these brain injury survivors have had multiple head injuries or if at any point they even realized they had a brain injury. These folks often do not have the support and resources they need to access proper treatment for recovery.
As someone who is struggling with a brain injury, this statistic is devastating to me. Devastating in the sense that I know first-hand what it’s like to navigate through life in a climate that is like dense fog.
My friend Kelly, age 52, has struggled most of his life to make sense in a world
that made little sense to him. He recalls having a good childhood growing up in Prince George. Kelly describes his family as close knit and his parents as loving and caring.
“I had a proper home with structure and ethics.” Kelly said. “My parents always had time for me and my siblings. I had a happy life with them.”
In 1985, he was brutally assaulted and spent three months in hospital. Kelly was told that his unknown assailant hit him over the head with a blunt instrument. Sharp migraine headaches set in immediately. His abilities to focus, concentrate, organize his thoughts and actions, problem solve and memory retention were significantly affected. It was recommended to Kelly that he attend rehabilitation but he declined because he would have had to access this treatment in Vancouver or Edmonton and be away from family support.
As time went on, Kelly experienced more head trauma, mostly from motor
vehicle accidents. It is not surprising that he did not complete high school, had difficulties maintaining employment, maintaining housing, fell into addictions and conflict with the law.
“I’ve been told I’ve had multiple brain injuries but I can’t remember all of them.”
Kelly said. “I had no control over myself. I knew something was wrong but I couldn’t figure out what it was. I wasn’t going to feel sorry for myself so I just kept going.”
His life became unmanageable when his mother passed away, followed by his father’s death six months later. Kelly recalls he could not stabilize and would disappear and “go wander around” for weeks or months at a time.
When Kelly was 29 years old, he connected with the Brain Injured Group. It was then he met executive director Alison Hagreen and established a close bond with her. It was through BIG that the missing pieces started falling into place and Kelly began learning about brain injury and how this had affected his life.
School District 57 ‘is in a dismal state’
Six superintendents in six years means something wrong is going on at School District 57. Now that former superintendent Anita Richardson has filed a lawsuit, hopefully truth will be revealed in the court case, as the public deserves to know.
The problem with all this drama is the direct impact it has on the classroom. While the adults are fighting like Kindergartners, the needs of Kindergartners to Grade 12s are being ignored. The problem with adults fighting is they are the ones in charge and rather than spending their time on providing top-notch education, it appears much time (which is money) is spent on office politics.
How much money?
I spent some time poking around and found a few interesting things: Oddly, SD57 does not post their SOFI (Statement Of Financial Information) reports on their website. Other districts manage to do this: SD70 Tofino, SD33 Chilliwack, SD85 North Van are just a few I checked.
I finally found the 2019/2020 SD57 SOFI report on the Ministry of Education
THINKING ALOUD
TRUDY KLASSEN
website. In that report I found that former superintendent Marilyn Marquis-Forster was paid $200,977.50 in the school year following her resignation on May 14, 2019. What was the money for? It couldn’t have been a payout, because she resigned Perhaps I am missing something?
When the lawsuit came out, I found the 2020/2021 SOFI report on the ministry website as well (which is still not on the district website) It shows that Anita Richardson was paid $202,405.44 in salary and $10,893.89 in expenses for the 2020/2021 school year, when she went on leave in January 2021. This is also the year Cindy Heitman, current superintendent, was paid $200,376.41 salary and $9,295.66 in expenses Paying two people to do the same job adds up. SOFI for 2021/2022 isn’t out isn’t out yet. Then there are over 40 administrators earning over $130,000
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
TAKE OUR CITY BACK
To mayor and city council, I could not believe the manager of public safety would even think about building more tent cities in Prince George.
Talk about public safety – he should be thinking about the safety of the businesses and the people living in the Bowl. What about our safety and the people that have to pay taxes to keep this city going?
He continues to maintain a relationship with Hagreen who retired from her post over two years ago.
“Alison is my second mom. She made me a better person. She wouldn’t let me forget where I came from, my upbringing and the values I was shown as a kid.”
Kelly recently moved into a supported housing program. He credits his mental health outreach worker for helping him find housing. Now having his own place, Kelly feels settled enough to get back into doing hobbies such as bead and leather work and surrounding his space with plants. Kelly acknowledges he is one of the “lucky ones” to have the support of family, friends and professional community. He is also inspired to be present and connected to his 10-year-old son.
“I’ve learned over the years that I have to be happy with what I have. No matter how little. Life is too short to be negative. I just want to be happy.”
Diane Nakamura is a former social worker in Prince George.
There should not be anybody living on this city property or any other city property and to even to plan more tent cities is crazy.
Who is looking after the garbage? What is there for toilets in the unwanted cityowned campsite? Who is responsible? Why is it Prince George’s problem to have to look after the homeless from here there and everywhere? There is no way we can provide suitable housing for all the people coming here.
each year, which totals to over $5 million. If everything is going well, and graduation rates were increasing, we could say this is money well spent. But education in the district is in a dismal state.
The responsibility lies with the trustees (who earn roughly 10 per cent of what the superintendent and secretary-treasurer pull in each year.) They are responsible for ensuring the schools are well-managed by the superintendent. This relationship has to be healthy in order to be effective. This brings us back to the revolving door in the superintendent’s office.
How much time is taken when the relationship between the board and the senior administration isn’t healthy?
Perhaps a clue to the revolving superintendent door can be found in the number of in-camera meetings, the meetings that deal with personnel issues.
There is one scheduled in-camera meeting each month to discuss personnel issues, similar to other districts. However, unlike other districts, SD57 has many, many in-camera meetings. Not just a few extra either: Here is an approximate list:
• From April 2020 to December 2020
The manager of public safety should be thinking about a solution to help the problem, not create more problems. I went to the farmers market on Saturday and across the street on the corner I nearly stepped in a dump of human waste and you can’t even walk on the sidewalk in some places.
What we need is a vagrancy bylaw and we need to send the unhoused people back to wherever they came from.
We need to take our city back.
there were an additional special in-camera 25 meetings.
• In 2021 there were an additional 35 special in-camera meetings
• In January alone of this year, before the newly elected trustees were sworn in, there were sven special in-camera meetings.
The board of trustees only ever has one employee, the superintendent, who they search for and hire to manage the district, and included in that is managing personnel. What is going on that so many in-camera meetings are required? With this lawsuit, it appears that much was going on. The problem is whatever was going on did not improve outcomes for our students. There is much to be discovered and much to be sorted out, and hopefully the public will learn more as the weeks go by.
There is an election coming in the fall, and it will be up to the voters of the district to choose someone who is actually willing to challenge the status quo in our district and improve the education our children receive.
Trudy Klassen is a Prince George writer.
Prince George has become a dumping ground for all of the other communities that have chosen not to do their part. What about our police and our hospital? They are overwhelmed. What about our ambulance? We have sirens going steady and some people have had to wait two hours to get an ambulance. I care about the city I was born in and it makes me sad to see how its being destroyed with this problem. Helen Robertson, Prince George
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New chancellor named
Lheidli T’enneh elder Darlene McIntosh has been named UNBC’s eighth chancellor. McIntosh will be sworn in at a ceremony on Oct. 21.
“I am honoured to serve as UNBC’s Chancellor and to be the first Chancellor in UNBC’s history from the Lheidli T’enneh Nation. The immense responsibility UNBC has to the region it serves is important,” McIntosh said in a statement. “As UNBC’s Chancellor, I am proud to support the goals and objectives in having this remarkable higher learning institution in northern British Colombia and I look forward to the tremendous opportunities for continued growth and diversity in our community and beyond.”
McIntosh served on UNBC’s Lheidli T’enneh Translation Initiative committee. The committee worked on the translation required for the new entrance sign to
the Prince George campus, which reads “Nizdeh Nekeyoh Hohudil’eh Baiyoh” in the Lheidli T’enneh dialect of the Dakelh language. The phrase means UNBC a “house of learning.”
McIntosh has also been a regular presence at events hosted at UNBC, providing a welcoming on behalf of the Lheidli T’enneh. She was there when UNBC permanently raised the Lheidli T’enneh flag at the Prince George campus and signed the first memorandum of understanding with Lheidli T’enneh Nation in 2016.
“Elder McIntosh has been a member of the UNBC community for years. When she offers an opening prayer or a territory welcome at a UNBC event, one instantly feels a sense of calm, appreciation and respect for the lands that our Prince George campus sits,” UNBC president Geoff Payne said.
Cancer support expands
Cancer patients and caregivers in Prince George can now access supportive care programs at no charge through the InspireHealth virtual care platform.
“When the pandemic hit, we needed to shift our classes and counselling entirely online and this online platform has worked so well that we have ramped it up and can now welcome patients to utilize our services free of charge from wherever they are in the province,” said Loveena Chera, InspireHealth CEO.
InspireHealth is an organization that provides care to enhance the quality of life of those living with cancer focusing on emotional and spiritual health. They work with other healthcare providers and organizations to identify and fill gaps in a patient’s cancer journey and to add value to the health system.
The new InspireHealth website and virtual care platform allows patients to view all services available whether they are newly diagnosed, in treatment, or post-treatment.
There is also a calendar listing of online classes available which includes strength and stretch, restorative yoga, meditation, cooking and nutrition, self-care for support people, and many more. The calendar can be viewed for the current day, week, or month.
“InspireHealth was my lifeline from when I learned of my cancer diagnosis until today and I’m fortunately in remission,” said Shiv Pannu, InspireHealth patient and advocate.
“I cannot stress enough the benefits of the support the InspireHealth team provides. I took advantage of their nutritional advice, exercise classes, and mental health supports. I encourage any individual facing cancer to take advantage of the essential support services they provide.”
Services available include help with managing the side effects of cancer treatments, stress reduction and mental health support, nutrition support, and using exercise and movement to support recovery among other things.
“Wherever you live in British Columbia, all of our counselors and services can come to you,” said Chera.
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HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
Farmers Market featuring kid entrepreneurs
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
Kids in Prince George will soon get the chance to learn about starting their own businesses thanks to an initiative at the Prince George Farmer’s Market.
Kids Entrepreneur Day is coming this August to the Prince George Famer’s Market. On Aug. 27, children between the ages of five and 18 will have a chance to run their own micro business at the market.
“We are going to have a bunch of tents go up on Third Avenue as part of our outdoor market. In those tents, we will house kids who are starting a normal business. This is our way of introducing the kids to the whole idea of what it is to be a mini-business owner and the work that goes involved,” said market manager Dyanne Lybbert, who is also a mom of six.
Lybbert said she was inspired by experiences with her own kids who started doing odd jobs to earn their own money and she wanted to give an opportunity to other kids who had the same idea.
“To come down to an actual market, go through the process of an application and pay a vendor fee, even though their vendor fee is only $5,” said Lybbert.
“But you know, paying a vendor fee
and working on product, creating it and learning the whole process of what it’s like to be a vendor, an entrepreneur, and microbusiness owner.”
Lybbert said there are already a lot of families who sell at the market and their children will participate but she has specifically highlighted Hardeman Tool, a business run by two young brothers who are blacksmiths and dress in period clothing to sell their handmade tools.
“I’ve used them as the poster kids for
Penny exhibition set for railway museum
The Central B.C. Railway and Forestry Museum in Prince George is hosting a new exhibit on an old town in the region.
Penny: Found Memories presents the story and history of the small industry community of Penny, BC. Penny is located approximately 130km east of Prince George along the Fraser River.
The community developed as a result of two main industries present in the region: railway and forestry.
Penny no longer thrives as a hub of industry however; the memories and rich history of this small community remain.
Come explore Penny: Found Memories to discover what a small industry community was like through the
experiences of industry and the stories of Penny.
Watch the video of how Penny Station was moved to Prince George, and listen to the voices of Penny residents as they reminisce on their time living in a small industry town.
Discover the kids’ section with colouring sheets, a scavenger hunt and an operating semaphore.
“The creation of this exhibit has led to so many beautiful conversations about what it means to be part of a community in the north,” curator Maria Martins said.
The exhibit opens Saturday and runs through Sept. 30 at the Central B.C. Railway and Forestry Museum in Prince George.
the whole thing because they are such a great example of what you can achieve if you want to do it.”
Lybbert said the Prince George Farmers Market has been overwhelmed with interest in the event and has tons of applications representing a wide variety of business ideas.
“There’s been so much more interest than I was expecting. Because I mean, we’re just a little farmers market, right? But it’s gone crazy,” said Lybbert.
“So far, we have some bakers, we have some growers, we have someone who is growing peas and baked goods. My own granddaughter is working with my daughter to do some tie dye. We have keychains and crafters of all sorts.”
Lybbert said she is also asking for the parents to be minimally involved as this is an experience for the kids to do on their own. However, for younger children, especially those who are just five years old, organizers do want parents to be at the booths.
“For the older kids, we’re working on creating a parents’ area so they can sit and watch their kids and be close by but let the kids do their things,” added Lybbert.
The Prince George Farmers Market is also currently looking for a sponsor for the parents’ area so they can offer beverages and snacks throughout the day and possibly another sponsor to help expand the event so more kids can be accommodated.
“If anyone in the community wants to help, we would love to have you join us.”
Anyone interested in getting involved with Kids Entrepreneur Day can email manager.farmersmarketpg@gmail.com to get more information or an application form for the event.
Naming rights for sale
ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff
The City of Prince George is looking to sell the naming rights to the Prince George Coliseum, after a five-year naming deal with Rolling Mix Concrete.
City director of recreation and events Andy Beesley said the city is seeking expressions of interest from potential sponsors.
“We also have some leads we’re following directly,” Beesley told city council. “Any new… draft agreement would be brought to a future council meeting for your consideration.”
The sponsors don’t have to be local companies, he added, but the agreement “needs to be beneficial to our community and our city.”
In a written report to city council, Beesley said that the Prince George
Spruce Kings hockey club, which is the major tenant of the Coliseum, approached the city “with a request to explore a sponsorship that would include naming rights to the Coliseum.”
“Administration would seek input from the Spruce Kings with any agreement,” Beesley wrote.
The city officially renamed the Coliseum in May, more than a year after Rolling Mix Concrete’s naming rights agreement with the city ended on Dec. 31, 2020.
The name change was delayed to prevent any confusion during the Spruce Kings’ 2020-21 hockey season.
Under the five-year deal, Rolling Mix Concrete provided $10,000 per year in cash and $15,000 to $20,000 per year in concrete to support construction of the annual Spruce Kings Show Home Lottery house.
Hardeman Tool at the Prince George Farmer’s Market is run by two brothers.
Healthy North
“More Milk Sooner”: Prince George’s Dr. Christine Brenckmann promotes hand expression of milk in low-risk pregnancies
By Lise Luppens
Have you heard about hand expressing milk in pregnancy (also known as “antenatal milk expression”)? It can help to get breastfeeding off to a good start and is an option for most lowrisk pregnancies from 36 weeks on. It’s gaining momentum among pregnant people and the health care providers who support them.
I had a chance to connect with Dr. Christine Brenckmann, a Prince George doctor who provides information on hand expression as a routine part of prenatal care.
How did prenatal hand expression come to be part of your practice?
I had heard about collecting colostrum (early milk) in pregnancy for clients who have diabetes.
In these cases, a baby might have a low blood sugar after birth, and this can be treated with the parent’s own colostrum.
However, I wasn’t aware of hand expression in pregnancy as a possible strategy for other clients, as a way to help feeding get off to a good start. One of my clients made me aware of this - she had given birth in Saskatchewan, where clients got routine support to hand express colostrum in the weeks before baby’s arrival.
I connected with Naida Hawkins, a lactation consultant with the More Milk Sooner team. Naida got me started with information, pamphlets, and colostrum collection kits. And now, for the last two to three years, I have supported hand expression in pregnancy as a routine part of prenatal care.
What does this look like in your practice?
It’s been easy to build this into my practice. For clients with low-risk pregnancies, at the 34 week visit, I give them a laminated pamphlet to read that explains hand expression. If they’re interested, I give them a kit. This kit includes instructions, a QR code to the More Milk Sooner website, syringes to collect colostrum, and labels for those syringes.
Up to half of my clients are keen to try this. Some of them collect drops of colostrum in syringes, freeze it, and bring these syringes with them to the hospital in case baby might need it. Others just do the hand expression. Some don’t see any colostrum – this is not unusual. Even so, hand expression still “activates” the milk-making cells and helps their breasts to make more milk sooner after birth.
Clients have told me that this made feeding easier and that they had more milk, compared to their previous feeding experiences.
What would you like to share with other health care providers?
Promoting hand expression in pregnancy is one thing we can do to help prevent feeding issues. It’s stressful for families if feeding is not going well, and it can also affect the health of the baby If we can help to get things off to a good start, we support the health of parents and babies, including parents’ mental wellness.
Also, when clients learn to do this before baby arrives, it’s one less thing to learn in the postpartum period, when they are sleep-deprived. It empowers parents with skills and builds their confidence: “I can do this; I can feed my baby.”
If they’re interested, pregnant people should discuss this with their doctor or midwife, to confirm that theirs is a low-risk pregnancy for which this approach is supported.
Thank you, Christine, for sharing this inspiring story It’s a simple and impactful change you have made to your practice.
For more information visit the More Milk Sooner website: moremilksooner.com
Northern Health Virtual Primary and Community Care Clinic
The Northern Health Virtual Primary and Community Care Clinic provides services by phone or through a video call. The COVID-19 Online Clinic name has changed and is now the Northern Health Virtual Primary and Community Care Clinic. The phone number remains the same. The Virtual Clinic continues to provide COVID-19 assessments for those experiencing symptoms.
The Virtual Clinic works with your family doctor, nurse practitioner, and health care team to complement the care you receive in your community, or to provide support for those who don’t have a family doctor. The Virtual Clinic provides culturally safe care to patients who need medical help after hours and wish to speak to a heath care team member (doctor, nurse practitioner, or nurse) by phone or video.
Patients can call the Virtual Clinic to access a family doctor or nurse practitioner:
• Phone: 1-844-645-7811
• Fax: 250-561-1927
• 10 am to 10 pm daily PST (including weekends and statutory holidays)
Afamily story may demand all your attention, but your focus may just be on decorating the home. On vacation, you’ll find happiness through the comforts of home and the company of family members.
TAURUS
You’reareal chatterbox. Even if you’realone, the phone and social media will keep you in the loop on specific topics. There’ll be many trips, and you’ll demonstrate great curiosity
GEMINI
Your financial situation will make you anxious, but it’ll motivate you to improve your lot. Youshould succeed in collecting the funds you need to realize one of your biggest dreams, or at least to settle some debts.
CANCER
WEEK OF JULY24TOJULY302022
LIBRA
You’ll have the inspiration to take anew direction in life and the determination to achieve significant transformations. You’ll also aspiretostart anew or finish aproject.
LEO
You’ll find yourself surrounded by alarge crowd and need to rest later.Ifyou’reonvacation, you’ll prefer relaxing or passive activities like visiting the museum or taking awalk in nature.
VIRGO
You’ll bring all your people together.You’ll organize an event that surprises morethan one person. You’ll expand your circle of friends, and your social networks may put the focus on you in some way
You’ll take aspontaneous leap into the unknown. Youmay also give moreserious thought to going back to school or starting awhole new career that moreclosely aligns with your values.
SCORPIO
You’ll make several changes to improve your inner well-being. Youmay consider adopting a morespiritual way of life. Apilgrimage will enable you to go deep with your soul.
SAGITTARIUS
Your credit cardwill take abeating while you’re on vacation. You’ll worry about your financial situation but will continue to indulge for awhile beforecoming to your senses.
CAPRICORN
Wait until vacation is over beforemaking abig decision. Take the time to weigh out the pros and cons; otherwise, the stress and pressuremay cause you to make bad choices.
AQUARIUS
There’ll be many small things to do and many details to consider,both at home and at work. Youmay need to do adeep clean to clear your mind.
PISCES
You’ll take pleasureinattending shows and special artistic events while on holiday.You may put on ashow of your own and receive ahealthy round of applause.
HOW TO PLAY:
Fill in the grid so that every row, everycolumnand every 3x3box contains the numbers 1through 9only once.
Each 3x3 box is outlinedwith adarker line You already have afew numbers to get you started. Remember: you mustnot repeat the numbers 1through 9inthe same line,columnor3x3 box.
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REMEMBRANCES
Sept 27, 1933July 16, 2015
Those we love don’t go away, They walk beside us everyday. Unseen, unheard but always near, forever loved, forever missed and held so dear.
July 9, 1943 to July 22, 2021
In loving memory, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and dear friend to so many.
It has been 1 year since you left us to be with our Lord, Jesus.
We rejoice in your heavenly reward, but you are dearly missed by all who knew and loved you. You were a blessing to all who were privileged enough to have known you.
You are forever in our hearts and we long for the day when we’ll see you again.
All our love, Your family
In loving memory of Diane Stepski
Dec 25, 1948Jul 22, 2019
Death is nothing at all I have only slipped into the next room. Whatever we were to each other We still are.
Call me by my old familiar name Speak to me in the same way you always have. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
You’re really missed by your family and friends.
February 15, 1935November 26, 2021
In honor of Verna Grace Smith, the family would like to invite family and friends to a Celebration of Life to be held on July 23, 2022. We will start with a graveyard service at 11:30 am in the memorial park for all to attend. There will be a tea to follow at the Prince George Legion - 1116 6th Avenue at 12:30 pm.
On May 14th, 2022 William Burdett passed away in Prince George at the age of 82 years.
A memorial Service will be held at 10 AM on July 25, 2022 at Prince George Funeral Chapel, 1014 Douglas Street, Prince George, B.C. He is survived by two sisters Lila Burdett (John Butler) of Vancouver and Ellen Bateman (Ted Bateman) of Saskatchewan and by his aunt Ruby and many cousins, nieces and nephews. William is predeceased by his father Edward Burdett in 1970, his mother Edith Burdett Humphrey in 2005, and his sister Rita Burdett in 2018.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of AiMHi for their warm and loving care of William over the years. They extend a special thank you to the staff at the Prince George hospital. They also wish to thank all those who gave support, time, cards and food while William was in the hospital.
Kenneth B Carter 1937-2022
With great sadness we announce the passing of our father Kenneth B Carter. Dad passed away at Hospice on June 18, 2022 at the age of 82. Dad was born June 29, 1939 in Nova Scotia to Samuel and Viola. Dad is remembered with love and admiration by his friend Marty McKay; children Ken (Darlene), Val (Norm) Bachand, Ron, Randy (Debbie), Francis (Kelly) Carmichael; loving grandchildren Jamie, Kaitlyn, Hope, Pascience, Shaunda, Sydney, also great grandchildren.
Dad is predeceased by his wife Edith Marie (May 2002), grandson Jason (2015) and granddaughter Candice (2022).
Dad moved to PG in 1969 from Nova Scotia with his wife and four children. Logging became his passion and was his career for many years. Dad enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and spending time with his family. Dad had a great love for food, we would ask “Dad, are you hungry”, to which he’d reply “No, but I can eat”. Dad loved country music, potatoes and a good dessert. Dad passed time by playing cards, watching tv and BSing with the neighbors. Dad had a beautiful smile, was a very happy go lucky guy.
You will be sadly missed, but never forgotten. May you soar with the angels and be with the family members that are waiting for you.
IN MEMORIUM
Neil Unrau
In Memoriam
In Loving Memory of Linda Spencer
William Edward Burdett
July 25, 1939 - May 14, 2022
In Memoriam
Verna Grace Smith
Mary Louise Underhill
January 18, 1952July 13, 2022
After a painful, courageous battle Mary Louise Underhill passed away on July 13, 2022.
Survived by her husband Wayne Bleich, sons: Kelly Niedermayer, James Niedermayer, brothers; Larry, Richard and Randy (Karen) and her precious kitties Buddy and Tawnee.
Louise was predeceased by her parents Mervyn and Della and daughter Robyn.
Louise was born in Vancouver but moved to PG early in life. At 3 years of age she decided to go exploring one day, she was finally found sitting down in a field where the old PGARA track was, eating strawberries with her dog Trixie by her side. That expedition took her a distance of more than 1/2 mile through bush. Louise grew up in the Peden Hill area attending school there before moving on to Duchess Park and finally graduating from PGSS.
During her life she pursued many careers; mother, cook, waitress, secretary, grief trauma counsellor, the latter of which she excelled at. Working many years counselling battered women at the Phoenix Transition House, she was proud of helping women escape domestic and street violence and was given awards by the Province for it. Her door was always open to anyone that needed to talk, coffee pot on the stove, cold beer in the fridge. She did have a sharp, salty tongue and wasn’t afraid to use it on occasion.
As a young girl she loved to go fishing and hunting with her dad. On one trip they got turned around and had to cross a swamp to get out. Dad said “sis can you make it” of course she said “Yea” so there went an 11 year old girl holding a 303 rifle above her head wading through a swamp. When they got across, she was missing a rubber boot. When dad asked what happened, she said it got stuck and came off and she didn’t want to tell him because she thought he would be mad. Dad was so proud of her. Of course when mom saw her daughter wet, covered in mud to her chest plus missing a boot, dad received grief. Louise talked about that trip for years, she was so proud. It was even brought up a couple of hunting seasons ago.
Later in life, she discovered her Indigenous roots that had been hidden and unknown because of the trauma and racism experienced by family. She was proud to be part of the Aboriginal community at large. She discovered lost relatives and a few years ago travelled to Saskatchewan for a family/pot latch reunion; actively learning to smudge and pray to the Creator. During this time in her life, she was closer to God the Creator than when she was a young girl. A member of Pioneer Girls, one summer after returning from Ness Lake Bible Camp she declared she was going to be a nun.
A few years ago at Christmas she was ordering family to get food for an unexpected special guest John when Randy said “Well aren’t you just the the Queen Bee”, a title she wore with pride, so the All Hail the Queen Bee Tour to Las Vegas for a week came about with a large contingent of family and friends. For her 65th birthday she accomplished a dream of spending 16 days in Hawaii enjoying the sand, surf, food and as many sites as she could take in.
Louise looked forward to cousin Itjha Chapman; her visits and phone chats. She also enjoyed the special bond she had with her friend Robyn Valpy. She said “ we laugh, cry and giggle together”.
Gone, but in our hearts forever.
Miss and love you Weezie.
Donations to Pulmonary Hypertension, Hospice House or Cancer research in Louise’s name are appreciated. No service by request.
Karen (Kari) Lee Gaddy
Karen passed away at home on June 3, 2022 after a 2 1/2 year battle with cancer.
She was predeceased by her mother and father Joy & Ron Anderson.
Karen was a very strong willed person. She was passionate about softball and pool, but her main passion was helping others. She organized and ran Elves For Elders for several years.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Coast Inn of the North on July 23, 2022 from 3:00 pm - 6 pm.
In Loving Memory of Jane Vandenberg Jack
May 28, 1957 - April 29, 2022
Jane is a beloved wife and mother, and an inspiration to everyone she meets. Jane is a beautiful soul with an amazing love for helping people in need. Jumpstart was her favorite charity, and she donated often.
As a request in Jane’s honor, we ask that instead of flowers, please make a donation to the Canadian Tire Jumpstart program at the Canadian Tire gas Bar (5008 Domano Blvd) and ask for Cindy.
Although we’re all grieving, let’s take some time to be grateful for the years we had together. Come prepared to share your favorite memories and celebrate the very special life of heaven’s newest angel.
When: July 31, 2022 @ 2 PM
Where: Westside Family Fellowship Church 3791 BC-16 Prince George, BC
Ignac Vohar
1934-2022
It is with great sadness that the family of Ignac Vohar announce his passing on July 8, 2022 in Prince George, BC. Ignac was born on July 11, 1934 in Melinci, Slovenia to parents Barbara and Stephen. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Johnethy (Janet) his children Charlene (Grant), Vincent (Karen), Nancy (Tom), Grandchildren Kayla (Jesse), Sarah (Sam), Rebecca (Kenton), Laurel (Zach), Mitchell (Jayden), Spencer, Sydnee, Max (Hailey) and Ethan, Great Grandchildren Natalie, Liam and Kinsley. He is also survived by his siblings Matija (Regina), Marija and Angela and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ignac was predeceased by his parents Barbara and Stephen, brothers Leopold, Alojz, Ivan, Peter and Tony.
Ignac came to Canada in 1952 at a very young age of 18. His first job was as a farmhand in Turtleford, Saskatchewan where he developed his love of farming. He moved on to working in an aluminum plant in Kitimat and then construction in Prince George where he has resided for the past 60 years adding farmer, truck driver, butcher and pilot to his skillset. He was proud that he was able to bring his brother Tony in 1960 and his brother Matija in 1968 to Canada
In 1962 he met the love of his life Johnethy Boor in Vanderhoof, BC and the two soon wed on Feb.23, 1963 in Prince George. Ignac purchased a farm in the Pineview community in 1962 as per his bride’s request and that is where they have resided for 59 years.
On March 16, 1964, August 17, 1968 and October 18, 1970 respectively, they welcomed their 3 beautiful children; Charlene, Vincent and Nancy. Ignac prided himself in creating a farm that was self-sustaining. Together, the family worked hard and devoted themselves to establishing a successful cow/calf operation and raising swine for butcher. As faithful stewards of the land, they have also grown and harvested their own hay and grain for over 59 years. The farm has now welcomed its 3rd generation.
Ignac, fondly and respectfully known as “Farmer” will be remembered by many as a skilled butcher, which brought numerous people to the farm. It was not uncommon to be invited to share a meal, a simple cup of coffee or a glass or two of vino; he always made you feel welcome. He enjoyed sharing his stories of the “old country” as a boy and how he came to Canada. There was also no shortage of stories of the experiences that led him to fulfilling his dreams, nor shortage of advice whether you wanted it or not. Ignac also served as a director for the Regional District of Fraser Fort George and was a long time member of the Prince George Farmer’s Institute.
The family would like to sincerely thank and acknowledge the incredible souls who cared for Ignac in his last days; Dr.Towers, the kind and wonderful nurses with Community Nursing, beautiful Sarah with Humble Home Care and the caring and respectful staff at Hospice.
There will be a celebration of life on FRIDAY, JULY 22 at 2:00 pm at Pineview Hall (6470 Bendixon Road), with a luncheon to follow. In lieu of flowers and gifts, please consider making a donation to the Prince George Hospice Society, 1506 Ferry Ave.
To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born and a time to die: A time to plant and a time to harvest that which is planted.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
Marquetti (Kit) Bernick
Marquetti (Kit) Bernick, age 96, of Nanaimo, BC (formerly of Prince George) passed away peacefully at home on February 9, 2022. She was predeceased by her husband, Ralph, in 1994 and her great grandson, Neil Denesyk in 2021. She is survived by her daughters, Joann (Ron) Kennedy, Lola (Blaine) Denesyk and Leona (Kerry) Orchard, 6 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Kit enjoyed golf, curling, bridge, and especially her garden. Some of her happiest times were on Gabriola where she and Ralph retired from Prince George. She will be missed by her family and many friends.
Bonnie Heyer
It is with Heavy hearts that we, the family of Bonnie Heyer wish to announce her passing on June 26, 2022. She was 69 years young. Bonnie was the third child of a family of eleven. Her mother and father are Harvey and Paula Walsh. She is predeceased by her father, sister Diane and infant daughter Catherine. Bonnie’s mother Paula and her siblings, Kathy, Beverly, Shirley, Maria, Anna, Mike, Kelly, Judy, and Andrew are all mourning losing her. She has left her husband Don of 50 years, two sons Ken and Kris, and three beautiful grandchildren, Rylen, Emery, and Elayna to whom she lovingly doted on. Her little lap dog Rosie was with her constantly.
No more pain Bonnie and for that we are eternally grateful. We will miss you always.
George Fredrick Fehr
October 8, 1945 to June 15, 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of George Fredrick Fehr in St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, B. C. on June 15, 2022.
Celebration of Life to be held July 30, 2022 at the Elder Citizens Recreation Centre 1692 10th Ave, Prince George from 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
George lived a full and exciting life, touched many lives and enjoyed sharing stories of his adventures with his family and many friends.
He is survived by his wife, Dolly, son Aaron (Jenn), daughter Denise, step-son Kelly Sanford and step-daughter Val (Cory) Torgerson.
At his passing, he left behind 6 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. George loved all children and always had time to tease and cajole them.
George had a very close relationship with his sisters, Susie Hake (Oregan, USA), Francie Porsnuk and Trudi (Gary) Dinsmore of Prince George, B.C.
He was predeased by his parents Frank & Zelma Fehr, sister Hilda, brother Oscar and brothers in law Peter Porsnuk and Larry Hake.
George’s nephews and great nephews, held a very special place in his life. He enjoyed being with them on many adventures and now, he leaves us on another adventure. An adventure we won’t be sharing with him, but his memory will live on in all our hearts.
George was a very social person and made many friends wherever he went. In the last years, he was saddened to lose some of his closest friends. He remained friends with many childhood and long time friends and had many stories to tell of their shenanigans.
Larry Schmidt
Larry Schmidt passed away June 29, 2022 at 12:40 am. He is now at peace, with his parents, Henry and Esther Schmidt from Dawson Creek. He is survived by his brother Dennis Schmidt (Yvonne) of North Vancouver, his sister Darlene Taylor (Gary) of Baldonnel, BC., and his godmother Olga Brietkruitz of Wembley, Alberta.
Thank you, Larry, for the wonderful life you made for me. Over the years we have laughed, cried, celebrated, and mourned together. I will cherish you all the rest of my days.
Your loving wife
You can contact Kathy at kathy468@telus.com
1 February 1949 - 7 July 2022
It is with great sadness we report the passing of Peter at Rotary Hospice House in Prince George.
He was pre-deceased by his father, stepfather and sister, and leaves to mourn his mother, two stepbrothers and their families. He is also survived by four brothers-in-law, one sister in-law and a baker’s dozen of nieces and nephews. Willa, his wife of 52 years will miss him most acutely.
Pete worked at the Union Oil Refinery, later Husky Oil for 35 years, as operator, Lab supervisor and Engineering technologist.
He will be remembered by his friends and acquaintances as a serious, hardworking, knowledgeable and conscientious man. It is also true that he had a sharp wit, a kind heart, and was always a decent man of strong integrity and loyalty.
Thanks to Dr. Plouffe, Dr. Hampole, Dr. Rose and the staff of Hospice House for their kindness and caring.
If you wish; in lieu of flowers, donations to Hospice House or the Cancer Society would be welcomed.
Peter Osis
Business Opportunities
Marden, Irene Ann
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our beautiful wife, mother, and grandmother.
Irene is survived by Norman, her loving husband of 50 years; son Craig (Monet), Celina Jane (CJ) and Zoey; and son Kevin (Julie), Dayna, Tanner, and Riley. She was predeceased by her father William and mother Elizabeth (Betty).
She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
There will be no service, as per Mum’s request. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
Arrangements are in the care of Everden Rust Funeral Services & Crematorium, West Kelowna Arrangement Centre (250-768-8925).
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.everdenrust.com
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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
TheNisga’aSchoolDistricthas housing to offer in some of our communities with lowrental ratesinone of the most beautiful par ts of BC! Just 97 km from TerraceBC, wherethereissomuch to do outdoors year-round!
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Notice (1) to Remove Private Land from Woodlot Licence W0643
Please be advised that 0823647 B.C. Ltd. Is proposing to remove 444.98 hectares of private land from Woodlot Licence W0643 located in the vicinity of Woodpecker, Martin Lake FSR, Giscome, Sahlstrand Rd and Redrock. Inquiries/comments to this proposal must be submitted to J. Lang, RPF, c/o Suite 260-1990 South Ogilvie Street, Prince George, BC, V2N 1X1, by 30 days from July 21, 2022. Only written inquiries received by the above date will be responded to. Information about this proposal can be obtained by contacting Jo-Anne Lang, RPF at 250-563-6567
Ranch house with 9 acres irrigated pasture All Amenities Next to Eagle Point Golf (Kamloops) 985K Will carry mortgage View Realtor.ca 250-573-3346 e-mail biffsbenson@yahoo.ca
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Section 17 of the Woodlot Planning and Practices Regulation, that a Woodlot Licence Plan has been prepared for Woodlot Licence #696 held by Quatro Resources Ltd. This Woodlot Licence is located west and northwest of Prince George; and west and south of Summit Lake. If approved by the Ministry of Forests, this plan may apply for a term of 10 years from the date of approval.
This Woodlot Licence Plan is available for public review and comment by from July 7, 2022 to August 15, 2022.
Any written comments on the plan should be mailed to: S. M. Forrest & Associates Ltd. , #100-466 2nd Avenue, Prince George, B.C., V2L 2Z7.
Please contact Scott Forrest, RPF, at 250-961-4880, or at sforrest@pgonline.com, to book an appointment to review and/discuss the plan.
WAREHOUSEMAN’S LIEN ACT
51. Requests out of dire need
53. Precious stone weight unit
Brother or sister
1. Flowing
2. Computer department
3. Lasts
4. DiFranco and Samsonyan are two
5. __ de sac
6. Merchant
7. Hosts film festival
8. State of agitation of fuss
9. A way to praise
10. Opaque gems
11. McKinley is one
12. Smallest interval in classical Western music
13. Famed designer Lauren
33. A famous “Squad” 34. Stage actor Anthony 36. Violent seizure of property 38. Saclike cavities 40. Sound units 41. Counts on
Dad
44. Woman (French) 45. A digital tape recording of sound
47. Polish Baltic peninsula
Recipe measurement
15. Occupies
18. Small island (British)
21. Misuse of the sacred
24. Covers with a thin sheet
26. Most valuable player
27. Title of respect
30. Investigated discreetly
32. Belonging to the bottom layer
35. Black tropical American cuckoo
37. Music genre
38. Indicates one is in mourning
39. Secured forever
42. Bodily cavity
55. The immaterial part of a person
56. Anoint
58. Golf score
59. Supernatural
60. Northwest Territories
61. Can be made suitable
64. A professor’s helper
65. Having a toothlike edge
67. Got atop a horse
69. Judged
70. Static balance between opposing forces
43. A dog is one
46. Chose to do something
47. Annoy persistently
49. Large hotel rooms
50. Beg
52. Docket
54. Subway dwelling rodent
55. Sources
57. Mild Dutch cheese
59. Spanish city
62. Consumed
63. Ballplayer’s tool
66. Midway between north and east
68. Atomic #3
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HOMES
REAL ESTATE LISTINGS
Buying a home within your means: what does it mean?
3 tips for paying off your mortgage faster
Paying off your home can seem impossible, especially if you’ve recently been saddled with a substantial mortgage Here are three easy tips for paying off your mortgage faster
1. INCREASE YOUR PAYMENT FREQUENCY
If you initially chose to pay your mortgage monthly, contact your lender and ask if you can switch to weekly or bi-weekly payments. This simple change is equivalent to paying one extra monthly payment each year. For example, an additional $1,500 per year means you’ll pay off an extra $30,000 over 20 years.
2. ADD TO YOUR PAYMENTS
If your current budget allows you to make
larger payments towards your mortgage, don’t hesitate to make the adjustment. You’ll pay off your loan faster and save on interest. Check with your creditor to find out what terms and conditions apply
3. MAKE PREPAYMENTS
Did you get a generous bonus or sell your classic car? You can use this influx of cash to pay off your mortgage faster. Be aware that your contract may stipulate a maximum lumpsum amount. If you go over this threshold, you may have to pay a penalty. Therefore, check with your lender to determine how much you can put down.
Contact a mortgage broker or financial advisor for personalized advice.
House-hunting is exciting However, don’t allow your enthusiasm to make you lose sight of the realities of your financial situation. It’s not enough to qualify for a mortgage You must also ensure you can make the payments over the next 15, 25 or 30 years Here are a few things to consider to avoid running into trouble.
THE ONE-THIRD RULE
Many financial professionals advise against spending more than one-third of your net income on your mortgage payments. You may be able to afford a larger payment, and your lender may agree to modify your agreement. Still, you should give yourself a buffer to ensure you have money on hand for an emergency.
TOTAL DEBT
You must consider all your debt when determining much you can afford to pay to-
wards your mortgage every month.This is a significant factor for financial institutions and helps them determine how much they’ll let you borrow. For example, if your mortgage, car and credit card payments take up half your net monthly income, the bank may consider you a high risk and lend you less money.
OTHER COSTS
Always keep in mind that the cost of buying a house doesn’t stop at the mortgage You must also factor in expenses like maintenance, repairs and municipal taxes when making your calculations
Get personalized advice from a financial or real estate professional to avoid costly mistakes.
4 ways to create shade in your yard
Here are four ways to create a cool, shaded area in your yard to help you survive the hot, sun-drenched days of summer
1. A canopy is an esthetically pleasing option that provides shade and, depending on the model, can protect from UV rays Remember to choose a triangular or rectangular canopy that’s light in colour to avoid attracting more heat.
2. An umbrella is ideal for creating a shaded area exactly where you want it. Depending on where the sun shines during the day, you can move it around or adjust the angle. Moreover, choose a large enough model that has a stand to meet your needs
3. A pergola is made of wooden slats or lattice and can be fixed or mobile It has the advantage
of being more durable than a canopy or umbrella. Additionally, you can install curtains or arrange climbing plants for more privacy.
4. Trees add coolness to your yard and are an excellent long-term solution. You can use a temporary shade source until the trees grow to sufficient size.
Contact a landscaping specialist to find the best option for your situation.
How to grow a nut tree
Fruits and vegetables aren’t the only things you can grow at home For example, you can grow one or more proteinpacked nut trees in your yard.
TYPE OF TREE
There are several things to consider to help you determine which type of nut tree to grow in your yard. The first is the tree’s hardiness In other words, how well
it acclimatizes to the weather in your area. The tree’s hardiness depends on where its seeds were grown and indicates whether it will thrive on your land
The next consideration is the species of tree. For instance, your yard must have the right type of soil for the tree to thrive. Moreover, some trees remain relatively small, while others can reach several metres in height and width. Therefore, look for a variety that’s a suitable size for your location.
HARVESTING
You can maximize your chances of producing a good crop by ensuring your tree is located near pollinators like bees You can harvest the nuts in early autumn by collecting those that have fallen to the ground and drying them out before storing them.
Visit your local nursery or garden centre to purchase your nut tree.
How much mulch?
Organic mulch is a powerful tool for gardeners However, it’s not always easy to calculate how much you need to cover your flower beds. Here’s what you need to know.
WHY YOU SHOULD USE MULCH
Mulch is a layer of organic material that covers the soil around trees, shrubs and flowers. Whether it’s made of cedar, cocoa shells, hemlock or bark, it’s an essential element for beautiful, healthy flowerbeds Mulch helps:
• Slow down weed germination
• Keep the soil cool
• Preserve soil moisture
• Reduce the number of insects and diseases
• Enrich the soil through decomposing
HOW MUCH MULCH DO YOU NEED?
Most greenhouses and big-box stores sell mulch in two cubic feet bags Moreover, horticulturists agree you should lay down
at least three inches of mulch. One cubic foot of mulch covers about four square feet of space to a thickness of three inches. Therefore, a standard bag would cover about eight-square feet of space. To calculate the total square feet to cover, divide it by eight to get the number of bags to buy.
For example, for a garden bed measuring 20 feet by six feet, the calculation would be 20’ x 6’ = 120 square feet to cover; 120 square feet ÷ 8 square feet = 15 bags.
Some nurseries carry mulch in bulk or sell it by the square yard, equivalent to 27 cubic feet You would probably need about one square yard for an average-sized project: 27 cubic feet ÷ two cubic feet (one bag) = 14 bags; 14 bags x 8 square feet = 112 square feet covered.
Happy gardening!
GO FOR GOLD.
5 ways to make your laundry room more efficient
Your laundry room may not be the most glamorous part of your home, but it’s certainly a space that gets regular use. Here are five things you need to make your laundry room more efficient.
1. A sorting station. Instead of heaping piles of clothes on the floor, create a designated space for white, bright, dark and delicate clothes This can involve placing laundry baskets on a shelf or even installing slide-out laundry drawers
2. A drying area. Some clothes do fine in the dryer, but others need to air dry. To save space, mount a drying rack on the wall, or buy a folding rack and neatly tuck it away after the laundry’s done.
3. A folding surface. A long counter that provides you with enough room to fold your clothes as soon as they come out of the dryer is ideal Consider building the counter over your washer and dryer to save space.
4. A supply shelf. Keep laundry supplies handy on a shelf near the washing machine Store laundry detergent, stain remover and dryer sheets alongside a receptacle to hold things left behind in pockets.
5. An ironing board. Having a wall-mounted board that includes space to store an iron makes it easy to quickly iron your clothes when you’re on the go
For a laundry room that’s as beautiful as it is functional, choose a colour scheme and apply it throughout the whole room. You could also use clear glass jars to hold your laundry supplies instead of storing them in their ugly, plastic containers
How to avoid indoor air pollution
Many people think of air pollution as an outdoor problem. However, studies indicate that the air in most homes is two to five times more polluted than the air outside Unfortunately, poor indoor air quality can cause serious health problems, especially when you consider that people spend up to 90 per cent of their time indoors
CAUSES
Sources of indoor air pollution include:
• Mould, dust and pollen
• Tobacco smoke
• Gases such as carbon monoxide and radon
Additionally, volatile organic compounds
(VOCs) are a leading cause of indoor air pollution. These gases are given off by many sources. Because they have a low boiling point, they can be released from products even at room temperature. They’re found in cleaning materials, personal care products, new furniture, building materials and even some fabrics
SOLUTIONS
Here are a few ways to keep the air in your home clean:
• Choose products low in VOCs, and if possible, store new furniture, carpets and building materials outside of your home for a few weeks until they stop emitting gases
• Avoid scented products like plug-in or aerosol deodorizers, candles and incense
• Make sure your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors are working
• If you have one, keep your air exchanger on at all times and clean the filters regularly
Help yourself and your family breathe easier by identifying the sources of indoor air pollution in your home and taking steps to reduce or eliminate it.
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4 tasks a master electrician can do in your home
The comfort and safety of your home largely depend on having a well-functioning electrical system. Are you thinking about making some improvements to your property? Here are four tasks a master electrician can do for you.
1. NEW INSTALLATIONS
Electricians can route electrical cables to the appropriate places, install new junction boxes and connect fittings while ensuring the finished results are fully compliant and safe
2.
ELECTRICAL RENOVATIONS
More complex than new installations, electrical renovations require an electrician to work in tight spaces like walls and attics. These areas are often closed off and sealed with insulation. Electricians can also correct defective installations or improve your setup to meet your electrical needs without increasing fire hazards or risking circuit
3. DEVICE INSTALLATIONAre you thinking of installing an elevator, sliding gate or automatic door in your home? These are just some examples of devices you can trust a specialized electrician to install for you.
4. SMART HOME CONVERSION
Home automation allows you to remotely control many elements in your home, including surveillance cameras, lighting, heating and air conditioning. Converting your home to a smart home requires the integration of several technologies. Therefore, you’ll want the expertise of an experienced electrician to do it right.
Do you have a project in mind that calls for electrical installations in your home? Contact a certified electrician in your area to discuss your needs
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3 types of home insulation
Insulation protects your residence against both heat and cold, depending on the season It also creates an acoustic barrier Whether you’re planning major renovations or constructing a new home, don’t let your insulation become an afterthought. Here are three types of insulation materials to consider for your home.
1. Synthetic. While economical and efficient, this type of insulation is harmful to the environment and isn’t recyclable It won’t decay naturally and can be flammable Therefore, it must be installed with fire-resistant materials Polystyrene and polyurethane are among the most common synthetic insulations.
2. Mineral-based. Made with raw and par-
tially recycled materials, this type of insulation is incombustible and won’t decay. It can, however, attract insects that may nest within your walls For this reason, you must replace this type of insulation every ten years Rock wool, fibreglass and cellular glass are well-known mineral insulators.
3. Natural insulators. Plant-based insulations are recyclable and don’t require much energy to produce. They also help keep your home cooler for longer during the summer months However, since natural insulators aren’t great at managing humidity, they require careful installation. Cellulose, hemp and cotton are some of the most popular natural insulators you can use.
Depending on the type of insulation you choose, you may be able to install it with a spray applicator or in pre-cut sections
Moreover, some insulation comes in large rolls or foam cubes. Some methods are more advisable than others, depending on the accessibility and size of the area to be insulated. Avoid mistakes by relying on a contractor specializing in insulation to handle your installation.
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