Prince George Citizen March 16, 2023

MARCH 25TH

ON THE TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF THE LHEIDLI T’ENNEH

THURSDAY, March 16, 2023

Minidozer shovels snow

Shovelling snow can be a chore, but one Prince George resident has found a way to make it fun.

Ron Marwood spent roughly seven months designing and building a custom radio-controlled bulldozer, which makes short work of snow – as long as it’s not too deep

“The blade is only five inches high. We’ve been getting seven or eight inches… when the snow is that deep, it’s not the ideal tool,” Marwood said “(But) I’ve been wanting to build a bulldozer for years and years It’s been fun I had fun building it and I enjoy playing with it.”

Marwood is a member of the Prince George Aeromodelers club, and has been building and flying model and radio-controlled airplanes for roughly 70 years He’s built dozens of model airplanes over the years, and designed a few himself

He used a photo of a real Caterpillar D8 bulldozer as a model, and built the chassis out of aluminum deck railing

The two-way electric drive motors came from a local hardware store, and likely were intended for a car’s power seats.

“I’m still having trouble with raising and lowering the blade,” he said “It works, but it’s not perfect ”

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

Prince George resident Ron Marwood designed and built a custom remote-controlled bulldozer, which he uses to clear snow from his deck and driveway The chassis, right, is made from aluminum deck railing and electric motors from a car power seat

Marwood finished work on the machine in January, but is still working out a few bugs

In 2022, Prince George RCMP created a total of 45,465 new files, down nine per cent from the 50,182 created in 2021, according to a city report. The number of case files in 2022 is the equivalent of a new crime roughly every 11.5 minutes, or three crimes for every five residents of the city “2022 was another busy year for police services,” city director of public safety Adam Davey wrote. “2023 will see some major changes in the policing landscape The decriminalization of illicit drugs and full implementation of the Health IM system in the city of Prince George are two of several developments/initiatives that will significantly impact the policing in the city moving forward through 2023 ”

In 2022, Prince George RCMP investigated 879 assaults, 410 assaults with a weapon, 197 sexual offences, 712 missing persons, 104 robberies, 302 vehicle thefts, 747 break-and-enters, 786 thefts under $5,000, 1,327 cases of mischief to property (such as vandalism), 1,407 cases of people causing disturbances, 1,369 Mental Health Act incidents, and 223 liquor and cannabis regulation incidents, the report says. See FEWER, page 2

PRINCEGEORGECITIZEN

ARTHUR WILLIMAS Citizen staff

ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff

GRANT SOUGHT

The city is seeking a federal grant to help pay for a $3.975 million ice plant replacement and upgrade for the Elksentre Arena.

City council approved applying for $2.376 million in funding from the Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program.

If the application is successful, the city’s portion of the project – which would include a heat recovery system and replacement of the dehumidification system - would be roughly $1 6 million, according to a report presented to city council

“The Elksentre ice plant has reached the end of its life,” city director of civic facilities and events Andy Beesley said “We are doing the Kin 1 (arena) first, then the Elksentre, then CN Centre ”

If the grant application is successful, the city expects to begin work in the ice plant replacement, heat recovery system in spring of 2025, according to the report

Replacing the Elksentre ice plant is required to meet new refrigeration plant regulations that came into effect after the deadly ammonia leak at the Fernie Memorial Arena in Fernie, B.C. in October 2017. The upgrade would reduce the ammonia charge for the ice plant by roughly 60 per cent, the report says

The heat recovery system is expected to reduce natural gas consumption at

the arena by 57 per cent, saving the city roughly $17,050 per year and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 104 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

The upgrades are expected to improve air quality in the arena and reduce water consumption by an estimated 762,253 litres per year – roughly half an Olympic-size swimming pool, saving a further $1,070 per year.

“If it works out the way we have planned here, we have 60 per cent funded with another funding source,” Coun Ron Polillo said “It is good news ”

FUNDING FOR SPORTS

Nearly 140 sport organizations throughout B C are benefiting from $1 million in support from the province to host sport-related events

This includes a few past and upcoming events in Prince George

Past events in Prince George that have received funding from these grants include the cross country skiing national championships which took place from Jan 19 to 21 and received $10,000 as well as the Biathlon Provincial Championship that took place from Feb 25 to 25 and received $2,000

The upcoming Judo regional championships which take place in Prince George from March 31 to April 1 will also receive $2,000

Fewer downtown calls than seen in 2021

Continued from page 1

Prince George RCMP forwarded a total of 1,993 charges to the Crown for prosecution, down from 2,068 in 2021.

The total prisoner count for the year was 2,639, only one less than in 2021.

The RCMP received a total of 7,532 calls for service to the downtown area, down from 7,691 in 2021

The most common reasons for calls in the downtown area included mischief (1,391 calls), suspicious persons (1,321 calls), Mental Health Act/wellbeing checks (827 calls), causing a disturbance (411 calls), unspecified assistance/abandoned 911 calls (405 calls), and intoxicated/consumption in public (38 calls)

This graph shows the number of files generated by the Prince George RCMP in 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2022

Superintendent, trustees leave school district

HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff

Prince George School District 57 superintendent Cindy Heitman has left her position at the district and trustees Gillian Burnett and Betty Bekkering have resigned from their positions as school board trustees.

Heitman was named acting superintendent in January 2021 when Anita Richardson went on leave after just one year as superintendent, and was officially named superintendent by the board of trustees on Jan. 28, 2022.

The board of trustees has appointed Indigenous assistant superintendent Pam Spooner as acting superintendent, a statement released by the board said.

“We would like to thank Cindy for her 28 years with School District 57, and in particular for the past two years in the superintendent role,” School District 57 chairperson Rachael Weber said “We are pleased that Pam has agreed to step in as acting superintendent as we conduct a search for a new superintendent We remain focused on building collaborative relationships with rights holders, partners and stakeholders and working to ensure the district is meeting the needs of students.”

The position of superintendent has been a revolving door for the past seven years

Prior to Richardson taking on the role in 2020, Rod Allen served as interim superintendent from May 2019 after

Marilyn Marquis-Forster resigned less than three years after she was hired in 2016 to replace long-time superintendent

Brian Pepper

Burnett and Bekkering are stepping down after less than six months on the job.

Burnett was elected for her first term as a trustee on Oct. 15.

Bekkering is a long-time trustee, first elected in 2011 and then again in 2018, and 2022

Board of Education Chair Rachael Weber has not responded to request for comment, but released a statement.

“Every member of the Board is committed to education and importantly, brings diverse perspectives The Board has been, and continues to be, steadfast in

creating an environment where different ideas and opinions are welcome and productive debate encouraged before fact-based decisions are made – including those of governance and policy,” said Weber

“The Board remains focused on building collaborative relationships with rights holders, partners, and stakeholders in working to ensure the District is meeting the needs of students, teachers, and staff. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Ms. Burnett and Ms. Bekkering for all their hard work and wish them the best in their future endeavours.”

These departures will cause a by-election, to be held at an undermined date, as there are now two positions vacant on the board.

Parents call for school board transparency

disappointed by the decision of the Board of Trustees to remove Cindy Heitman from the role of Superintendent.”

The SD57 District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) is expressing concern and calling for transparency after the departure of the superintendent and two trustees from the district.

“DPAC is extremely saddened and

DPAC Chair Laura Weller said Heitman’s 28 years of experience in SD57 has been invaluable

“She’s always been willing to engage with parents on any topic, and has also always been keen to look for innovative

Ron Brent worst in B.C.

Ron Brent Elementary School in Prince George is the worst elementary school in B.C., according to the Fraser Institute’s latest rankings

The school received a score of 0 2 out of 10 to finish last out of 870 schools assessed Ron Brent has been consistently ranked the worst elementary school in B C for the past five years by the institute

The analysis found 64.5 per cent of Ron Brent students in Grades 4 and 7 were performing below expectations and 39.5 per cent of tests had not been written

Several other local elementary schools were near the bottom of the list, including College Heights (862nd), Quinson (845th), and Spruceland (821st).

The Prince George elementary schools that scored the highest were all independent schools - Cedars Christian (133rd), St Mary’s (141st) and Immaculate Conception (153rd)

Southridge Elementary received the best score among local School District 57 schools, finishing 228th on the list

The full report is available on the Fraser Institute’s website

ways to support students and families ”

Weller said DPAC is strongly concerned in the sudden change of leadership and the inexperience of the board, as well as the impending lawsuit from Anita Richardson, the previous superintendent “This sudden removal of Ms. Heitman, with her experience and commitment to public education and our district, is both

shocking and disappointing ” Weller said the additional loss of trustees Betty Bekkering and Gillian Burnett –who have significant experience in public education leadership – raises even more questions and concerns regarding the remaining board members in terms of trust, transparency, and their preparedness to take on their roles.

Notice of Intent

Fort George District Road Closure

Notice is given, pursuant to Section 60(2) of the Transportation Act, that the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has received an application to permanently close an unconstructed road right-of-way located approximately 14 kilometres south of Prince George, B C , near Highway 97, and consolidate it with the following adjacent lots:

• Lot 1, Block 3, District Lot 1567, Cariboo District Plan 941, except Plan PGP16630, and

• Lot 10, Block 1, District Lot 1567, Cariboo District Plan 941

A copy of the plan showing the proposed road closure can be emailed upon request

Anyone supporting or objecting to this road closure should submit written comments to the ministry’s Fort George District office at 360 -1011 4th Avenue, Prince George, B.C., V2L 3H9, or by email to DA.FortGeorge@gov.bc.ca no later than April 9, 2023

For more information, or to request a copy of the plan, please contact the ministry’s Fort George office at 250 565-4410 or at DA.FortGeorge@gov.bc.ca

HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff

First Nations demand results from RCMP probe

HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff

Regional Chief Terry Teegee of the BC Assembly of First Nations says the independent investigation into the Prince George RCMP announced last week must include representation from BC First Nations communities.

He is also calling for real results and action from the investigation, which was announced by the Mike Farnworth, the B C Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General.

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team will be the lead agency investigating the Prince George RCMP for allegations its members were sexually harassing and

abusing Indigenous girls in the city from from 1992 to 2004.

“First Nations people in Prince George have been the target of violence, racism and discrimination by the RCMP for decades,” said Regional Chief Teegee

“In this specific case, the RCMP’s own members brought evidence of continued and egregious discrimination and violence, but that evidence was ignored, and covered up These actions are unacceptable from Canada’s national police force, and the individual officers responsible must be held accountable To do so, we need a member of a BC First Nation to be part of this investigation ”

The RCMP is also conducting its own internal investigation

The allegations were brought to the RCMP by their own members in 2011, but the force refused to address them

In 2021, the RCMP’s Civilian Review and Complaints Commission published a report, which was recently made public, that the RCMP leadership had ignored these allegations

“The Province of BC and the RCMP have known about these allegations for years, but have done nothing,” continued Regional Chief Teegee.

“If the Province is going to be serious about its commitments to reconciliation, it needs to ensure that these RCMP officers face real justice I am cautiously optimistic that, after so long, we will finally see justice in this case of gross misconduct ”

Family attacked by restaurant manager

HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff

A Prince George family took to social media to explain how they were attacked by a manager at Red Robin.

In the Prince George Restaurant Review Facebook group, Janet Hillgartner explained she took her family to Red Robin to celebrate her son’s last hockey game of the season

However, things quickly went downhill when they noticed an altercation that

occurred in the kitchen with an assistant manager swearing loudly and shoving one of the kitchen workers who then walked out.

“Service quickly degraded with all of the staff suffering from the poor treatment of their coworkers,” said Hillgartner in the post.

“When my husband suggested that the man apologize for his behaviour towards his staff he became escalated He then picked up the cheese sauce and chucked it at my husband’s chest! And proceeded

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to attack him in our booth!”

She said two large men came and removed the man and another woman came over to ensure they were OK.

Vice-President of Red Robin Canada, Brian Crawford, then responded to the incident with a statement posted to the Facebook group.

“We were equally horrified to hear that our guests and a member of our team were treated this way,” said Crawford

He said the manager in question no longer works for Red Robin and they

have closed the restaurant for the next day and a half to bring in a counsellor for any team member who would like support.

“Every scheduled team member will be fully paid for this time off to mitigate any impact ” Hillgartner said she won’t be pressing charges and that her children are doing okay.

“Also, to be clear the wait staff, the kitchen, hosts etc were all very pleasant and doing their best ”

Gold mine sample good news for area mine

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

Drill sample results from eight holes dug last year in NorthWest Copper’s East Niv site 300 kilometres northwest of Prince George indicate a strong presence of gold mineralization.

The core tests revealed 7 88 grams of gold per tonne over a short interval and lower grades of the precious metal over longer intervals

That comes on the heels of test results released in December that show a large footprint of high-grade copper at the surface at the 43,000-hectare East Niv exploration site and the Vancouver company’s discovery of copper-dominant mineralization from the first 10 East Niv holes dug in 2021

“In just 24 months we have taken East Niv from an exciting exploration concept to a project with two identified zones of mineralization, several exciting drilling intercepts and multiple exploration targets,” said

NorthWest Copper president and CEO Peter Bell

Geographical mapping by NorthWest Copper also identified copper-silver veins with high-grade bornite (a soft mineral used to make gemstones) deposits that run for at least 13 kilometres

The encouraging drill results will push the company to conduct further exploration this year at East Niv, as well as its sites to the southeast -- Kwanika/Stardust and Lorraine -- that also showed strong gold and copper mineralization

Karyn Sharp has big plans for the Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut Provincial Park that she says will bring more visitors to the world’s only inland temperate rainforest

Sharp, project manager for the Ancient Forest Enhancement Project, says a large interpretive centre for visitors, a project put on hold in 2021, is set to go, funded by a $7.8 million provincial/federal

Community, Culture, and Recreation infrastructure grant

The centre, estimated to cost $3-4 million, is still in the design stage and the bid will be put to tender this spring, with

construction to begin in 2024. It won’t be staffed year-round but will be available in the off-season to provide overnight accommodation for academics conducting research projects in the area.

Flair Airlines fiasco leaves passengers cold

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff

Carl and Heather Wozney headed to the airport last Friday morning to enjoy the perks of a direct Flair Airlines flight to sunny Tucson, Arizona.

The first thing they saw was a mom comforting her two little girls crying their eyes out in disappointment that the flight was cancelled with no notice

“It’s a four-hour flight away from four feet of snow,” Carl said “We booked this about four months ago and we thought this was just a grand thing - any direct flight –anything to keep us out of YVR – is great ”

But it wasn’t to be, on the first day of spring break for school-aged kids

“We got a house sitter for our two pets, we’ve booked hotels down in Tucson, we’ve rented a car and we get

City’s

ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff

there and there’s a note at the Flair booth,” Carl said “There’s not even anyone at the Flair booth. No agent, just this note ”

On the note it said customers affected by the cancellation could call the Customer Solutions number and when people tried to call it was a wrong number.

“People were just gathered around the booth in disbelief with their jaws dropped,” Carl said. “I thought I would support any airline that would provide a direct flight out of Prince George but it’s been a horrible experience. People should be aware of this and the problem is that this small independent airline has no affiliation to a major airline so they can’t reschedule a later flight and they can’t accommodate you at all ”

“The airline regrets the inconvenience to our passengers They will be re-accommodated on the next Flair Airlines flight to Prince George from Tucson ”

jobless rate takes big jump

The number of people working in Prince George dropped by 4,500 between January and February, according to data released by Statistics Canada.

In January, there were 54,300 people holding down jobs in the city By February, that had dropped to 49,800

The number of unemployed people

actively seeking work in the city grew from 1,900 in January to 3,500 in February, and the city’s unemployment rate jumped from 3.4 per cent to 6.6 per cent.

The city’s labour force participation rate, the percentage of people working or actively seeking work, dropped from 68 5 per cent to 63.9 per cent.

By comparison, in February 2022 there were 54,200 people working in the city, 1,800 people actively looking for work and

Passengers were “impacted” on Saturday after four of its leased aircraft were seized in Toronto, Edmonton and Waterloo, Ont , in a “commercial dispute ”

A statement from the air carrier called the move by “a New York-based hedge fund” to take the aircraft “extreme and unusual.”

It said Flair would use “additional fleet capacity” to lessen the affects on passengers, adding it did not foresee any major disruptions to its route map

Company spokesman Mike Arnot said a number of Flair flights were cancelled Saturday morning, but the company had three spare aircraft to backfill those flights.

“We are truly very sorry passengers were impacted today, and are taking steps to get them on their way with minimal disruption This includes repositioning our spare aircraft to support operations,” the company’s statement said

the city’s unemployment rate was 3 2 per cent.

The city’s labour force participation rate in February 2022 was 68.1 per cent, Statistics Canada reported Prince George’s February unemployment rate was higher than the B C (5 1 per cent) and national (five per cent) averages

“We know the global economic headwinds ahead of us - ongoing effects of

the pandemic, rising inflation, as well as economic slowdowns - have placed pressure on B C ’s economy and are presenting real challenges for families and businesses,” B C Jobs Minister Brenda Bailey said in a statement. “At a time of economic uncertainty, B C continues to demonstrate resiliency. B.C. added 6,700 new jobs in February, and the unemployment rate is at 5 1 (per cent), remaining one of the lowest in the country ”

NOTICE OF CONSIDERATION

Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will not be held for Zoning Bylaw No. 2892, Amendment Bylaw No. 3291, 2023. The Regional District Board will consider the first reading of Bylaw No. 3291 at its regular meeting scheduled for 1:30 p.m., Thursday, March 23, 2023, in the Regional District Board room located at 155 George Street, Prince George, BC.

The purpose of Bylaw No. 3291 is to rezone The East 1/2 of District Lot 5683 Cariboo District Except: Plans 18334, 22857, 28636, 30380, PGP40622, and EPP1312 to permit Tourist Accommodation use on a sitespecific basis within the Rural Residential 1 zone. The Tourist Accommodation use will be limited to a maximum floor area of 150 m2 and a maximum of one unit of accommodation. The subject property is located at 15719 Old Tete Jaune Road.

Need more info? A copy of the proposed Bylaw and any relevant background materials are available for review by the public on the Regional District’s website http://www. rdffg.bc.ca/services/development/landuse-planning/current-applications/ or at the Regional District office, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., between March 6 and 23, 2023

Who can I speak to? Heather Meier RPP MCIP, Planning Leader, 250-960-4400

Building inspection change concerns councillors

ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff

Prince George city council was not informed about a change in policy which will see city building inspectors not inspecting or reviewing plans for larger, more complex buildings.

In a letter sent to city council, the city’s building inspection team raised concerns about a shift to a “professional reliance” model when it comes to commercial, multi-family, industrial or other buildings classified as “Part 3 buildings” under the BC Building Code. The policy change came into effect on Feb 16, according to the letter.

“We were not informed of the policy change allowing for self inspections starting last week Even when this bylaw was amended in 2022 there was no discussion

at all about the contractors doing their own inspections,” Coun Brian Skaun said in an email “The city manager preventing me from asking legitimate questions at council about this was a signal to me that this was not going to be discussed in public no matter what.”

The policy change should be paused until a full report on the issue can be brought before city council, he said

“I’m very concerned with what I saw in the letter and I can back it up with private discussions I have had with some current and former staff members The revelations are shocking but not surprising,”

Skakun said

“I will stand shoulder to shoulder with our employees as they continue to bring these important issues to the council and to the public They shouldn’t live in fear for their employment because they are

doing the right thing Unfortunately the focus will be more towards finding out how the media was given this information instead of doing what’s long overdue, and that dealing with these systemic issues that have been festering for the last several years,” he said.

Coun Trudy Klassen said she also wasn’t aware of the policy change until last week The letter shows a clear level of frustration by the city staff, which needs to be addressed, she said

“I am in favour of returning the tough policy decisions to council, whose job it is to make decisions so that staff is free to do their job,” Klassen said in an email “As you know, professional reliance has been used throughout many municipalities and regional districts for many years without issue We can look at best practices, but they have to be customized to fit our

unique situation Prince George has a shortage of engineers, building design technicians and building trades, so that needs to be considered ”

Klassen said she has reached out to speak to several builders and engineers in the city, who said their working relationship with the city’s building inspectors is good “and the timelines are reasonable, but as with anything, efficiencies are always possible.”

“All pointed to other jurisdictions as relying on professional reliance and that it works to protect public safety Moving forward it is imperative that we have a made-in-P G professional reliance model that ensures public safety while also taking advantage of tools to improve efficiency,” Klassen said. “Public safety is paramount in any decisions we make as council.”

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BC Rail sale a modern tragedy

What a deal that BC Rail sale was

We traded a vision of provincial development, a publicly-owned tool of collective action, for a trust fund whose mission statement describes exactly what BC Rail was providing

As well meaning as the Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT) may be, it won’t create “transformative rural development” and “community resiliency” as long as value-added wood manufacturers in places like Mackenzie can’t even get the railcars needed to deliver their product to market.

The mistake we made when we privatized our provincial rail network, strengthening the stranglehold of the national railway duopoly in the process, was multiple But chief among them was the assumption a private monopoly would care about servicing our small rural communities

Trips up the spur line? Sounds like a money loser to me It’s more profitable

HE BACK TORY MES

STEIDLE

to keep those offshore containers rolling east to Chicago

BC Rail’s purpose, especially under W A C Bennett, was to challenge the east-west national rail monopolies. It wasn’t supposed to make money, although between 1978 and 2002 it never lost money Its goal was to do what the NDIT is supposed to do, but in contrast it succeeded at the transformative level It stitched together the Central Interior on a north-south axis that changed B C forever.

If it wasn’t for BC Rail, there would be no railroad from Prince George to Vancouver There would be no railroad to Fort Nelson, Fort St James, the Peace, Mackenzie, and points in between Of course, many of these rail lines are

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

TRUSTEES BLASTED

The North Central Labour Council (NCLC) supports work environments where all workers feel secure, safe, and supported

The actions of the Prince George school board trustees over the last few months, and even more recently in the last week, have removed these conditions for over 1,000 of the associated members who are employed within the school district as well as children and families NCLC reaffirms our support for all members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community

It is concerning that the publicly elected board of education appears to demonstrate an unwillingness to be held publicly accountable

At a meeting, a Prince George man spoke transphobic and concerning messages about teachers and children.

He was then thanked for his bravery

by the board, denying the rights of LGBTQIAS+ staff and students

When one of our affiliate presidents requested to speak at the last public meeting on this topic, the request was denied

When one of our local schools was irresponsibly denigrated, the trustees of the board were silent.

This is unacceptable

Through all these attacks on public education that have occurred under their watch, they have remained silent to their employees, their representatives and the media

As publicly elected officials, we urge you to reflect on the importance of accountability for good, stable governments to the public education system and the values of that system.

Matt Baker, president, Candis Johnson, vice-president, North Central Labour Council

now barely used, some having been left to deteriorate while leaving our smaller communities and much industry in limbo.

And therein lies the failure of the prevailing wisdom of the neoliberal vision, if we can call it a vision

This failed vision prioritizes megacorp profits, globalization and “competitiveness,” even if it comes at the expense of our self-sufficiency and the very viability of our communities

More perversely, this vision will worry about megacorp “competitiveness,” even when there is no competition, even when these corporations are running near-monopolies in our communities.

Central to this vision is the belief the public shall not take action to challenge this corporate dominance To the contrary, we sell off the public assets that get in the way In this latest incarnation of feudalism, reverence for the oligarchy is alive and well

What is odd about this philosophy is there appears to be no coherent understanding of elementary economics or

SHAMEFUL STORY

The Prince George District Teachers’ Association is disappointed by the Citizen story on Ron Brent Elementary.

All of our schools are staffed by deeply caring and dedicated professionals that put the well-being of children first I suspect that Mr. Godbout has not walked a hall of a Prince George elementary school for some time

Despite all the challenges of chronic staffing shortages, COVID and macro socio economic factors, he would see staff, parents and administrators working tirelessly together to create high-quality opportunities for inclusive learning that is welcoming to all.

Did this story call upon the government to fund more supports for schools that serve neighborhoods with significant socio-economic challenges?

how the goal of capitalism is ultimately to serve the public good, not our corporate overlords.

BC Rail was slammed because it was a “government-owned monopoly” but if those critics had opened an economics textbook, they would know that’s not necessarily a bad thing Sometimes it makes sense to have a monopoly where competition would be silly, like powerlines on your street

The problem is when the public ends up at the mercy of these “natural monopolies” with no public ownership, or at a minimum, without strong anti-rent-seeking regulation.

The thing that is unacceptable is the unregulated “privately-owned monopoly.” The danger there is real and has inspired bipartisan antitrust legislation and policies for well over a century

Fittingly, our original railroad monopolies were a big inspiration for many of these policies

For some reason, we forgot that James Steidle is a Prince George writer

No.

This story only serves to further segregate the most vulnerable families in our community and vilifies the hard-working educators that choose to work in those schools

Before shaming a school and their neighbourhood, do some homework and ask yourself why those families are marginalized and vulnerable Challenge yourself to reflect on the segregation of communities that need more support, instead of shaming them.

Stories like this support the Fraser Institute’s continuous attack on marginalized communities

Their annual shaming of schools does nothing to help the people of marginalized neighbourhoods, and everything to isolate them

Daryl Beauregard, president

P G District Teachers’ Association

We acknowledge the financial support of the government of Canada Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada

cls@pgcitizen.ca

PUBLISHER 250-960-2757

carmstrong@pgcitizen.ca

READER

250-562-3301

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR letters@pgcitizen.ca

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School rankings use simplistic methods

Every year, the Fraser Institute publishes its ranking of elementary schools in B C And every year, some of the lowest scoring schools are found in the northern and rural regions of the province

What does this tell us?

To be honest, not a lot in my opinion

The ranking system used by the Fraser Institute is a simplistic model based on a few metrics. Specifically, how students in Grades 4 and 7 do on three tests – reading, writing, and numeracy. A simplistic way of thinking about education

The model doesn’t really answer the question “How are schools doing?” While the skills assessed in the standardized

AS I SEE IT

TODD WHITCOMBE

tests are essential skills, education is about much, much more than learning to read, write, and do arithmetic

It is a bit like a hockey team assessing their players by having them perform a backhanded pass to the middle of the ice from left wing It tells you something but not everything you need to know about your players

There is so much more to an education.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

SLED DECK WARNING

Trevor Lee Shine Pierce was the young age of 33 when he suddenly passed away in a horrific, unimaginable accident at home on Feb. 26.

Trevor was loading his sled onto a friend’s sled deck in preparation for going riding the next day When Trevor hit the ramp, it fell down, then came back up (like stepping on a rake effect) and hit him in the head

At the hospital that night I was told that Trevor had “unsurvivable injuries ”

We decided to take him to Kamloops to have a second opinion On Feb 28, the Kamloops doctors confirmed Trevor’s injuries and declared him brain dead

Trevor was a one-of-a-kind man – he was considerate, funny, friendly, affectionate, thoughtful, charming, cheerful, courageous and many, many other things. He went above and beyond with everything he did

On March 3, Trevor helped 13 more people

He will never know any of them, but his organ donations went to five different people.

Two of whom, the transplant team said, were rare matches and his donations were “like winning the lottery” for them His eyes, the doctors said, will give eight people the gift of vision

The transplant doctors said that the fact that my cousin administered CPR (even without mouth to mouth) maintained the viability of his organs for transplant

While I feel blessed to know that parts of him will live on in others, I want everybody to know that this was a preventable accident

New sled ramps (apparently) come with a “safety dog” to prevent the levering that killed Trevor, but over time they break off

I’ve now learned that many of these exact ramps get resold without the safety mechanism and go on to endanger the lives of so many others because nobody knows they’re even supposed to be there

Everybody must take precautions with these ramps.

They must be tied down every time you use them.

I’ve heard that another young man died in B.C. this year from the exact same loading conditions and I have no idea how many more are out there.

Please remember my husband and tie down your sled ramps to ensure your family isn’t left without their father, mother, son, daughter Shanelle Pierce, Williams Lake

FIX FOOD WASTE

UNBC keeps calling itself a green university but what about the food waste that has been going to the landfill?

The university is sending 70 per cent of its food waste so it is implied that the food waste goes to the Prince George landfill and is therefore adding in increments greenhouse gas emissions and supporting global warming

UNBC has been operating in partnership with Prince George Public Interest and Research Group (PGPIRG) to divert food waste since 1995

Also, PGPIRG is a student-directed, student-funded non-profit organization based at UNBC. PGPIRG would recruit volunteers every semester, and the participants would collect, empty, and clean the compost bins

PGPIRG also revealed that the finished compost product was used at the UNBC’s gardens and flower beds.

However, it was PGPIRG who took the responsibility from the inception to maintain the compost program running at UNBC

On the other hand, the university never took governorship and leadership to oversee a compost program Further, in winter 2019, PGPIRG announced that it would stop running the compost program at UNBC

One reason was because PGPIRG is a small research group, and they rely mainly on volunteers.

And second, the quantity of food waste had increased over the years and not everything could be used at the UNBC’s

Learning social skills, learning soft skills, learning how to interact respectfully, learning how to think critically, and learning how to think, period None of these are measured by or fit within the Fraser Institute’s rubric

They also add in the number of tests not written into their analysis It is a way of punishing teachers and schools which choose not to comply with the standardized testing model. It is not helping schools improve

To look more closely at the numbers, consider two local schools -- Beaverly and Immaculate Conception. In Grade 4 reading, Beaverly scored 566 and Immaculate Conception 540. In Grade 7 reading, 515

and 518, respectively The average across all six tests are 522 and 552, respectively. Yet Immaculate Conception is ranked 153 and Beaverly 273 Both are excellent schools despite their relative rankings

The authors say: “Where parents can choose among several schools for their children, the Report Card provides a valuable tool for making a decision ” I would suggest it does nothing of the sort And it is certainly not helping improve education

If you want to know how your child’s school is doing, schedule a visit and see for yourself. Better yet, ask your child. Todd Whitcome is a chemistry professor at UNBC

What is composting and why it is so important?

Composting is when you keep your food waste, and anything that is grown in soil or water separate from your garbage. Afterwards, this food waste or organic matter is mixed with soil to increase the production in plants

And now why should I sort and care about recycling food waste?

The best answer I can give you is because we are all in this together: on this earth, we only exist because we are protecting the environment, and the environment keeps us alive

Therefore, we should make the time to sort our food waste

If we do not, this organic matter ends up in the landfill And in the landfill, it gets buried and soon after it creates a methane gas that goes up in the atmosphere and this adds up and warms up the planet, which means we are helping to accelerate climate change.

It is time for UNBC to take the responsibility and become an example of sustainability to their students, faculty members, and the Prince George community at large

Olga Pickard, Prince George

ORGAN DONOR THANKS

I want to thank Mr and Mrs Woodford for sharing their story of their son Matthew’s death and organ donation

Last year, I lost my daughter. When I arrived at the hospital, she was on life support and brain dead

She was gone and I was there to say goodbye

The staff asked if she was an organ donor and she was able to donate her heart, kidneys and liver When we learned it helped save four persons lives, it brought some tears of happiness amongst all the tears of heartbreak

In a world where we wonder how just one person can make a difference in someone else’s life, just imagine what those four people felt when they received the phone call that an organ had been found for them

Then take two minutes to register as an organ donor and make that difference And perhaps bring a small ray of sunshine to your family during a difficult time Imagine

Lori Smith, Prince George

JT CAUSES BAD MOOD

Today I read a short but interesting letter to the editor in another newspaper It started out expressing bewilderment about how unhappy Canadian people are

It went into some thoughts that he did not object to one expressing an opinion about three things: bad behavior, racist behavior and unacceptable behavior. The letter ended with a thought that life was pretty good in Canada, despite our many problems

Isn’t it?

This left me thinking about why I am personally in a bad mood.

My bad mood relates to a bad actor named Justin Trudeau, who pretends to run Canada

Every time Trudeau slams someone as racist that does not agree with him or in the latest obscene example of threatening CBC reporters with a racist label if they did not stop questioning him on alleged Chinese election interference in 2019 and 2021 elections, my sour mood deepens. About unacceptable behavior and bad behavior, again I look at Trudeau as a major source of my foul mood A few examples: SNC Lavalin scandal, Winnipeg Lab scandal, Aga Khan scandal, WE Charity scandal, Mark Norman scandal, lesser things like Mr Dressup in India, singing Bohemian Rhapsody in a London piano bar while being point man for Canada at the Queen’s funeral and in all probability staying in a $6,000 a night butler hotel room while pretending to be a piano bar singer. On and on goes the Trudeau song, dance and dodge routine

Amazing that Canada is still one of the best countries in the world to live in My fear is that if this joker of a PM is around much longer Canada will no longer be a good place to live.

Wayne Martineau, Fraser Lake

gardens and flower beds

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

What: Public Hearing regarding Zoning Bylaw No 2892, Amendment Bylaw No. 3288, 2022

When and Where:

7:00 pm, Thursday, March 23, 2023

Via telephone conference call and in-person attendance at: Regional District Board Room 155 George Street, Prince George, BC

Applicant: Philip and Linda Asquith

Proposal: Zoning Bylaw No. 2892, Amendment Bylaw No 3288, 2022 is proposed to rezone the subject property from Rural 1 (Ru1) to Residential/Seasonal 2 (R/S2) to allow Recreation Cabin use or other uses permitted by the R/S2 zone The subject property is legally described as The Fractional South West ¼ Of The Fractional South East ¼ Of District Lot 6781 Cariboo District Except Plans 17021 17500 and H789. The address is 41765 Prince George Highway 16 W

How can I participate and provide comment?

Anyone who believes that their interest in land is affected by the proposed bylaw shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to be heard at the public hearing or to present written submissions prior to or at the public hearing regarding matters contained in the bylaw The public hearing will be chaired by a delegate of the Regional District Board.

Written submissions will only be accepted in advance of the public hearing until 9:00 am on March 22, 2023 and must be sent by: Email: developmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca

Hand/Mail: Attention Development Services,155 George Street, Prince George, BC V2L 1P8 Fax: 250-562-8676

Written submissions received before 9:00 am on March 22, 2023, will be posted to the Regional District’s website. No written submissions will be accepted after 9:00 am unless they are submitted in-person at the public hearing meeting. All written submissions must include the legible legal name of the author

Any written submissions received before or at the public hearing will become public record, be posted on the RDFFG website, and form part of the public Board agenda. By submitting a comment, you are consenting to the disclosure of any personal information that you provide. Personal information is collected and disclosed under the authority of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Seven drug deaths in January

HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff

The BC Coroners Service has published monthly illicit drug overdose death data for January 2023, which shows seven deaths in Prince George.

The data is now published through an online dashboard, which will be updated monthly It shows there were 13 deaths in the Northern Health region, which included nine deaths in the Northern Interior and four in the Northwest area

Throughout B C , 211 people died in January, bringing the number

of deaths to at least 11,195 since the public-health emergency was declared in 2016

The death rate in January was 47 people per 100,000, more than double the 20.5 death rate that prompted B C ’s medical health officer to declare the emergency almost seven years ago An average of 6 8 lives are lost every day, and 80 per cent of those who died were male

BC Coroners Service says that while the largest number of deaths continues to be reported in the major urban areas of Vancouver, Surrey and Greater Victoria, the health service delivery areas with

the highest rates of death in January were Vancouver, North Vancouver Island, Northern Interior, Central Vancouver Island and Northwest. By local health area, in 2022, the highest rates of death were in Vancouver-Centre North, Terrace, Merritt, Hope and Prince George. Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe says toxic drugs are an ever-present danger to anyone who uses illicit drugs She says recent announcements by the province about increasing treatment and recovery options are encouraging and necessary to address the tragic loss of life -with files from the Canadian Press

Runway nearing end of lifespan

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

Home to the fourth-longest commercial runway in Canada, Prince George Airport is facing a hefty bill to have that runway repaved.

The 3,474 metre (11,400 foot) runway is nearing the end of its lifespan and within the next five years will have to be dug up and replaced.

“That piece of infrastructure, we’ve kept a really close eye on it and have monitored it closely but that was built in 2009 and in this environment of severe cold and freeze-thaw cycles the expected life span would be around 15 to 20 years,” said Prince George Airport Authority CEO Gordon Duke “We’re going to get at least that much, but you can only defer that so long.”

Crack sealing and pavement repairs have been ongoing for years to keep the runway safe but Duke says the inevitable runway overlay can’t be put off indefinitely Early estimates put the cost to remove and replace the

concrete-asphalt runway at around $21 million.

The expanded Prince George runway was touted as the catalyst that would make the city a fuel stop for Pacific air freight traffic, capable of handling 15,000 flights annually.

Prince George’s location at the crossroads of two major highways, at the halfway point between the eastern United States and Asia, combined with the city’s ability to handle freight at the CN Rail intermodal facility was supposed to create demand for the airstrip, which has so far failed to materialize However, Duke is convinced regularly scheduled freight landings and takeoffs in Prince George will come eventually

‘We’re very fortunate that we have all the infrastructure and all the pieces in place for that business to start happening and it will be small steps at first,” said Duke. “But I do believe that because we’re not Vancouver - the complexity and cost of operating in those larger areas can become overwhelming – and operators are going to be looking for other opportunities.”

Turn in your old glasses

Lions Recycle for Sight is asking for your old glasses, Prince George. Old, even broken, eyewear can be used to improve the outlook of someone in another country

There is a Recycle for Sight collection box at the Seniors Resource

Centre, 1330 Fifth Ave.

All eyewear is accepted, including prescription and non-prescription glasses, sunglasses and readers

Children’s glasses are especially needed Even if the eyewear is broken, still donate them because

sometimes they can be repaired while others can be used for parts to help repair other glasses

The donated glasses will be cleaned, categorized by prescription and prepared for distribution to people in developing countries

Attending by telephone conference call: Contact the Regional District at 250-960-4400 or developmentservices@rdffg.bc.ca for the telephone conference number and instructions.

Need more info?

A copy of the proposed Bylaw and any relevant background materials are available for review by the public on the Regional District’s website at http://www.rdffg.bc.ca/services/ development/land-use-planning/current-applications/ or at the Regional District office, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., between March 6 and 23, 2023. Appointments are preferred. For more information contact Heather Meier, Planning Leader, 250-960-4400

Student housing not viable, developer says

ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff

The planned student housing project on former city-owned land at 4500 Ospika Blvd. isn’t economically viable, according to a spokesperson for Vancouver-based developer The Hub Collection Ltd.

The City of Prince George sold the land to The Hub Collection in July 2020 for $500,000, on the condition the developer would build a 256-unit student housing complex on the 5 6-hectare lot within 24 months.

On Feb 6, 2023, Prince George city council denied a request by the developer to modify the Section 219 restrictive

covenant on the property to allow development of a 118-unit seniors housing complex instead

“It’s a bit up in the air,” The Hub Collection spokesperson Mike Witherly said

“There isn’t the demand for it, and the cost went up so much The costs, they just don’t work.”

“It’s going to require city approval, so it’s got to be in the interest of the community,” Witherly said

There isn’t the demand for it, and the costs went up so much. The costs, they just don’t work.”

The Hub Collection plans to continue discussions with the city about what would a good fit for the site, while still being a viable investment, he said

Witherly acknowledged there has “been a bit of controversy about the initial sale” of the land by the city.

BC Assessment valued the land at $682,000 in 2019 and 2020.

That value has increased to nearly $3 55 million in 2023, after city council approved an Official Community Plan amendment and rezoning to facilitate

development on the site

However, the primary negotiation between The Hub Collection and the city took place in October 2019, Witherly said, based on the 2018 assessed value of $412,000

Under the letter of intent signed in 2019, The Hub Collection undertook a $60,000 geotechnical study of the land, Witherly said

Had the developer not liked what the study showed, “they had the option to kiss the money goodbye” and not purchase the site

“It made it seem like it was quite a deal on the property,” he said

“(But) it was negotiated on the 2018 assessed value ”

Petition opposes land sale near Moore’s Meadow

The land is zoned for a mix of multi-family development, single-family homes and greenbelt

An online petition is calling for the City of Prince George to work with residents and the land owner to prevent the sale of 28 acres of undeveloped private land north of Moore’s Meadow.

Lot 1 Otway Road, at the corner of Otway Road and Foothills Boulevard, is listed for sale for $4 5 million, according to an online real estate listing.

“Design plans from LM Engineering on file for multiple residential lot development,” the listing says.

Cheryl Wehr said in the peitition that the land is an important wildlife corridor between Moore’s Meadow and Wilson Park

“Development will altogether alter the environment, the wildlife, the trails and pristine quality of the park It will remove from public access the one last easily

available pristine escape that we have from city living that gives us access to true wilderness,” Wehr wrote in her petition

“We... have an opportunity to work toward protecting the park, working with the city and with developers, and others to preserve what we have today for the future. Please sign our petition so that we can work toward preserving this park as we look forward to working with the private owners, the developers and city’s new (Official) Community Plan renewal in 2023.”

ARTHUR WILLIAMS Citizen staff

Is that a missile? Local man left in disbelief

Larry Johnson did a double-take when he saw what looked like a missile being moved on the CN Rail tracks along First Avenue on Wednesday and he had to pull over to take a photo.

The metallic object was longer than the average railcar and had the shape of a rocket, with a pointed nose cone at one end and a long slender body that widens at the opposite end

“I thought it was some kind of warhead,” said Johnson. “It makes a person wonder, with all the crap going on in the world, you never know.”

CN Rail spokesperson Tyler Banick says there’s no need for concern that Prince George is in any way a stopping-off point for an advanced weapons defence system

“I can confirm it is not a missile,” said Banick “It is a separator (vessel) for a local refinery ”

from

Larry Johnson spotted this metallic object he thought was a missile loaded onto a rail freight car in downtown Prince George

Author unveils chuckwagon racing book

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

Prince George author Glen Mikkelsen has taken the reins in his latest book: The Rangeland Derby – 100 Years of Chuckwagon Racing at the Calgary Stampede.

Mikkelsen grew up in Calgary, where the sport originated and he says chuckwagon racing is the only sport that is uniquely Canadian.

“From a young age I was captured by the excitement of the races and that never diminished,” he said. “If you look at hockey or lacrosse, those have been picked up by other countries around the world, but Canadians are the ones who race chuckwagons professionally, putting it on the scale that we do in Calgary and meets across the west.”

Only 27 drivers make the cut to race in the 10-day Stampede and the Rangeland Derby is the showcase event of the daily evening grandstand shows, attracting crowds of more than 150,000 spectators each year. Winning the Rangeland Derby, the Super Bowl of chuckwagon racing, is the richest, most prestigious title for any chuckwagon team.

Mikkelsen spent two-and-a-half years researching the book and used some of his leftover notes from the previous two books he wrote about the sport

“People don’t realize it takes the families and a small community to keep these races going year after year,” said Mikkelsen “It’s price prohibitive, the talent skills are very unique, so the kids who get into it understand the time commitment that’s involved ”

On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon, Mikkelsen will be at Books and Company to promote and sign copies of The Rangeland Derby. The book is now on sale at the downtown Prince George store

Groop Gallery closing its doors

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH

Citizen staff

The very last art exhibit at Groop Gallery is on the walls right now at 1127 Third Avenue in downtown Prince George.

The Groop Gallery has been an exhibition and event space since 2009 and co-owner Melanie Desjardines said it’s time to make life a bit simpler by selling the building that includes the gallery and another space that was once a pawn shop

“It was a hard decision to make,” Desjardines said. “We bought the building that was fully tenanted at the time in 2009 and creating the gallery was my retirement plan. I thought I would do that for 10 or 15 years ”

But it didn’t work out that way.

The downtown area had been thriving at that time

Local artist Wendy Stevenson was doing a demonstration at Groop Gallery, 1127 Third Ave earlier this year

with an indoor farmers market and the outdoor market at the courthouse just a stone’s throw away

“It was a happening place down there,” Desjardines recalled “There was all these things going on and I had a blast.”

Desjardines worked at Groop Gallery for about four years before it slowed down and now her thinking has changed

“I’m a grandma, I have two little grandbabies, I have a huge garden, I live out in the country and we still have our sheet-metal business,” she explained

Desjardines wants to enjoy her semi-retirement moving forward and focus not only on family but her own artwork as an internationally renowned artist.

Joined by the Brush at Groop Gallery will be open Saturdays in March and feature an artist-in-residence from 10 a m to 3 p m Artists with works on display include Andrea Fredeen, Lesley white, Pat Gauthier, Fred Paulson, Karma Vance, Laura chandler, Lesley Kuhn, Jeanette Orydzuk, Wendy Stevenson , Rick Mintz, Megan Long, Micheline Snively and Desjardines

KIERSTEN MIKKELSEN PHOTO

Prince George author Glen Mikkelsen has released his book The Rangeland Derby - 100 Years of Chuckwagon Racing at the Calgary Stampede, on sale now at Books and Company

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

MP UNVEILS BILL

Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty has introduced a private member’s bill to the House of Commons regarding assaults against health-care professionals and first responders

“This piece of legislation, if passed, will amend the Criminal Code to consider an assault against a nurse, paramedic, firefighter, or other frontline healthcare staff an aggravating circumstance during the sentencing of the perpetrator of the assault,” Doherty said in a statement.

“While providing essential care to our communities, our frontline heroes are assaulted, belittled, and are forced to confront a growing epidemic of violence We need to work together, to ensure all nurses, paramedics, firefighters, and other frontline staff are safe at work.”

According to the Canadian Federation of Nurses Union, 61 per cent of nurses reported a serious problem with violence over a recent 12-month period and two-thirds considered leaving their jobs as a result. Nearly half of nurses (46.4 per cent) reported exposure to physical assault 11 or more times.

In 2018, Doherty saw his private member’s bill for federal support for first responders suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder approved with support from all three major political parties In 2020, his private member’s bill to create a national 988 suicide prevention hotline was approved in the House of Commons

BEREAVEMENT GROUP

A record 81 people in Prince George died from illicit drug toxicity in 2022, and every one of them left behind grieving friends, family and loved ones

A new support group is forming in Prince George for people who have lost friends and loved ones to substance use-related harms of all types Healing Hearts bereavement support will begin holding monthly meetings on April 11

“Healing Hearts bereavement support is designed to bring families together who have experienced a similar loss It is a judgement-free place to share your storey,” promotional material for the group says “We provide a safe and confidential environment for you to find support and cope with grief and loss.”

The meetings are free, confidential and no commitment is required. Meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. Send an email to healingheartsprincegeorge@gmail com for more information.

DENTAL FOR SENIORS

Give Your Smile Back is offered to seniors in need in Prince George as Family Dental Care offers free cleaning, filling or extraction on Sunday, April 16.

The application can only be accessed through the Senior Resource Centre, 1330 Fifth Avenue

All seniors will be pre-screened and contacted to schedule an appointment There is limited space available so apply at the Seniors Resource Centre as

soon as possible Only applicants without dental coverage will be considered. Deadline to apply is March 31

This service is not part of Family Dental Care’s regular services

All staff are donating their time to offer this no-cost service to seniors in need

TRADES YOUTH CAMPS

Quesnel youth are getting the opportunity to explore a career in the trades during this spring break.

Led by Red Seal electrician, Lisa Scott, the free-of-charge Young Women in Trades and Indigenous Youth in Trades camps are open to participants aged 10-13 Scott brings 21 years of professional experience to the camp as she built a rewarding career and stable life for herself and her son

“Being a single mom at a young age, I thought this could be a great career path that I wanted to pursue and create a better life for my son and I ”

She made an appointment at the College of New Caledonia (CNC) to ask about the trades and get more information. Following a few conversations with the college and a friend, she decided to pick electrical

She now has her Red Seal and has committed her time to promoting and supporting the trades through a number of organizations and committees

Recognizing that young women and Indigenous communities typically don’t encounter opportunities to receive trades-related career exposure, Scott developed this Spring’s Young Women in Trades and Indigenous Youth in Trades camps, following successful trade summer camps in 2022.

“It’s really great to see the pride the students show when building their projects,” added Scott “It’s fun to watch them develop these skills and confidence and watch what they have completed Sometimes, it’s hard to pull them away from the projects that they are working on as they are so engaged when it’s time to break for lunch ”

For further information and the camp application package, please contact Lisa Scott at lisa@constructionfoundation ca

WEEKEND WRESTLING

A former Prince George resident and member of B C ’s Indigenous Sports Hall of Fame will be the special guest at Primetime Wrestling’s two-night event at the House of Ancestors on March 17 and 18.

Dawn Murphy left her Prince George home at 16 to travel as the rookie sensation on the All Star Wrestling circuit based in Vancouver. Best known by her ring name Princess Delta Dawn, she held the All Star Wrestling women’s championship four times and toured Japan alongside WWE Hall of Famer Alundra Blayze.

Local fans will have the opportunity to meet her and get a commemorative signed photo during her appearance

The double-header is sponsored by Canadian Tire and all proceeds raised from the event support

No going back to Ukraine for local couple

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

There’s no going home to Ukraine for Illya Zhukovskyy.

The apartment he owned in Mykolaiv was demolished by a Russian missile

A subsequent fire likely would have killed his mother had she not made the decision to leave that morning to pick up supplies at a local pharmacy.

The auto repair business he co-owned is in ruins.

And after 10 years as a professional basketball player, he says his career as a full-time paid athlete is over

Since Feb. 4, Illya and his partner Anastasiia Biliaieva have been living in Prince George where they intend to stay, safe from the bombs and bullets of invading soldiers intent on destroying their country and its people

“It is my dream to stay here (in Canada) with my girlfriend to create a new life,” said the 29-year-old Illya.

“This war steals everything from me and my life. I lost my job, my professional career, I lost my apartment, I lost my father. So right now, I’ve lost everything. In Ukraine I have nothing ”

The peace and quiet they’ve found in Prince George living in Wendy and Mel McMillan’s guest house overlooking the Nechako River is as alien to them as the metre-high snow drifts they see in all directions

In Mykolaiv, a Black Sea port city of nearly a half-million in southern Ukraine, snow might fall once a year and it usually melts the same day.

Illya and Anastasiia came to Canada at the suggestion of Vova Pluzhnikov, a former basketball teammate of Illya’s who played six seasons with the UNBC Timberwolves and now works in Prince George as a banking advisor.

As a nine-year-old boy growing up in Mykolaiv, Illya was identified for his potential to play professionally He worked his way up on the U-16, U-18 and U-20 national teams and went on to play in pro leagues in Spain, Czech Republic and Slovenia

The six-foot-seven small forward was averaging 12 8 points per game for Rivne of the Ukrainian Basketball SuperLeague when the invasion happened Feb 24, a day before the playoffs were to begin.

Anastasiia, a 20-year-old university student majoring in psychology, played two years of pro basketball for the Mykolaiv women’s team in the Ukrainian Higher League

She was also worked as a referee in the pro leagues and in minor basketball She first met Illya at a practice when they were much younger and they became a couple in 2021 after she officiated one of his games.

Last April, Illya left the relative safety of Rivne, in northwestern Ukraine, to return to Mykolaiv, one of the hot spots of the war, located halfway between Odesa and Kherson

I lost my job, my professional career, I lost my apartment, I lost my father. In Ukraine, I have nothing.

Anastasiia is completing her university courses online and plans to have her degree finished by next year

She’s looking for administrative work in Prince George and once she’s finished her Ukrainian degree, she will consider beginning masters studies in psychology at UNBC.

Both she and Illya speak English fluently, which has made their adjustment to Canadian life that much easier

Her older sister is in Kyiv, while her parents want to remain in their Mikolaiv home.

Her grandfather also refuses to leave, even to seek refuge in the bomb shelter, an everyday occurrence during the first month of the war.

Her parents’ neighbourhood has been attacked just twice in the past year and has avoided the frequent shelling that has targeted electrical substations, government buildings, hotels, schools, hospitals and shopping malls in other parts of the city

“My university is destroyed – every popular university in our city has been destroyed,” said Anastasiia “Sirens are crazy in our city, for one week they didn’t stop It was a terrible feeling I can’t imagine what people felt when the rockets were falling on their building Every morning we need to check the news just to know that our house is OK today ” Illya graduated in 2015 with a masters degree in ecology and he’s hoping his Ukrainian credentials will lead to a job in Prince George

He’s had an offer to teach basketball to kids part-time and says he’s prepared to take any job until he finds one that suits his training

Besides work, their other priority is to get their own vehicle

The first few months avoiding the bombs were nervous times for the couple

Martial law was enforced

The city’s water supply pipeline was blown up, there was no heat and only sporadic power, and food was in short supply

Sirens from emergency vehicles were incessant and air raid warnings were frequent, forcing them to take shelter in underground tunnels built during the Second World War

His mother has since moved to another apartment in the city His younger sister, from a different mother, is also still in Mykolaiv

Illya’s older sister Julia, a nurse, is in England

Her work contract has ended and she has a Canadian visa and plans to come soon to Prince George Illya avoided conscription into the army due to a spinal cord infection diagnosed eight years ago and because of his father’s background as a member of the Ukrainian secret service

His dad died of an apparent heart attack six months ago.

Unable to find work in Mykolaiv, Illya moved to Germany in August and Anastasiia joined him in Hamburg two months later, where they applied for and received their Canadian visas

Their Prince George hosts and their neighbours in the North Nechako subdivision have been helping them out with rides into the city to get groceries and do chores, but they need their own transportation for when they do find work

“It’s very important for me to get a job because I have a six-year-old sister and my mom in Mikolaiv and it’s my responsibility to help them,” said Illya “Right now it’s OK for them, it’s safe for this day, but there’s no guarantee We’re scared about rocket attacks

“There’s no clean water, its all bottled water Like all Ukraine, they have problems with power stations and for 24 hours they might have just three hours of power, enough to charge a phone or laptop ”

Snowy conditions in Prince George are part of the adjustment to life in Canada for Ukrainian refugees Anastasiia Biliaieva and Illya Zhukovskyy

Wrestling legend back for weekend event

A former Prince George resident and member of B.C.’s Indigenous Sports Hall of Fame will be the special guest at Primetime Wrestling’s Prince George two-night event slated for the House of Ancestors on Friday and Saturday.

Dawn Murphy left her Prince George home at 16 to travel as the rookie sensation on the All Star Wrestling circuit based in Vancouver Best known by her ring name Princess Delta Dawn, she held the All Star Wrestling women’s championship four times and toured Japan alongside WWE Hall of Famer Alundra Blayze

Last year, she was recognized as one of the Top 100 women wrestlers of all time in Canada in the book “(Un)Controlled

Chaos: Canada’s Remarkable Professional Wrestling Legacy ”

Local fans will have the opportunity to meet the Canadian ring legend and get a commemorative signed photo during her appearance

The double-header on March 17 and 18 is sponsored by Canadian Tire and all proceeds raised from the event support the Prince George Crisis Prevention and Intervention Centre.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Princess Delta Dawn (Prince George’s Dawn Murphy) will appear at the Primetime Wrestling event in Prince George on Friday and Saturday

35-year-old photo reunite editor, skateboarder

NEIL GODBOUT

Citizen staff

A man from North Vancouver emailed me recently about a photo I took of him skateboarding 35 years ago in Kelowna for a story I wrote as a summer student reporter.

He was asking for the “impossibly long shot” that I might have some other photos or the negatives

Good news, Jon Lundgren

Here’s an additional shot I saved from that day in August 1988 and kept in a photo album

I was learning how to develop, process and print black and white film that summer, so I kept some of the prints I liked best from that summer working for the Kelowna Capital News.

We’re both in our 50s now

I’m still a journalist and he’s still skateboarding, as the attached photos show

“I’ve found a group of like-minded veteran skateboarders in the Lower

Mainland, and we’re still at it, having just as much fun as ever!” he wrote

NEIL GODBOUT PHOTO, BELOW; JON LUNDGREN PHOTOS, BOTTOM AND RIGHT

Below, Jon Lundgren skateboarding in 1988 in Kelowna when Neil Godbout took his picture and, bottom and right, Jon Lundgren skateboarding in Vancouver

Healthy North y

UNLOCK THE POTENTIAL OF FOOD.

kidney care was developed. Listen to a 2021 episode of the Quality Cast North podcast, created by NH Physician

Quality Improvement department, featuring Dr. Anurag Singh, nephrologist and Medical Lead for the Northern Health Kidney Care program

NH dietitians work to improve the nutrition and health of northerners in various innovative roles and settings.

As part of your health care team, dietitians work with clients of all ages, families and caregivers, to support their nutritional health and eating competence They provide nutrition assessment, counselling, and self-management support to help clients address their health and eating-related concerns

To learn about:

• Roles and referral processes for dietitians in hospitals, primary care, long-term care, and population health

• Primary care and outpatient dietitian services available by community

• Client and health professional resources to support nutrition for lifelong health

Check out https://www.northernhealth.ca/health-topics/ nutrition-and-dietitian-services

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON YOUR KIDNEYS?

March is #KidneyHealthMonth and checking your risk for kidney disease could save your life.

Learn about the five main risk factors for kidney disease, hear patient stories, and take a kidney health check quiz

http://www bcrenal ca/health-info/prevention-public-health/ kidney-health-month

Learn how Northern Health’s Telemedicine service for regional

https://audioboom.com/posts/7997629-long-distancemedicine-setting-up-a-rural-specialist-tele-kidney-care-servicefrom-scratch-fea

Visit https://www northernhealth ca/health-topics/kidney-care for kidney care options throughout Northern Health.

NORTHERN HEALTH IS LOOKING FOR NORTHERN BC YOUTH TO TAKE PART IN OUR YOUTH MENTAL WELLNESS ADVISORY GROUP.

You’ll help guide our campaign to reach as many youth in Northern communities as possible.

You will:

• Inspire and inform our messaging

• Create campaign names, hashtags and

• Help create video content

• Be a mental wellness advocate in your community

• Be a youth ambassador for Northern Health

• Work with a government agency and gain experience for your future

If you're interested in being a part of this important project, head over to Northern Health Volunteer Applications and apply today.

https://bttr.im/1gvdm

We can’t wait to create with you!

HOROSCOPES & PUZZLES

HOROSCOPES

ARIES

The week will start somewhat chaotic, and you’ll feel like your head is in the clouds. With the arrival of spring, you’ll leap into action. To break up your everyday routine, you’ll gear up for outdoor activities.

TAURUS

Fatigue will catch up with you this week. Let yourself be pampered by those close to you, especially your significant other You have every right to be spoiled by those you love.

GEMINI

You’ll receive invitations to participate in several exciting activities. If you’re single, there’ll be some competition to win your affection.

CANCER

You’ll be excited about a new project. You’re someone who likes taking on new challenges from time to time. Your family will support you when life gets tough.

LEO

You’re feeling some seasonal fatigue. Winter has been hard on you. This will prompt you to look for deals on a last -minute trip or getaway

VIRGO

You’ll finally be motivated to complete all the tasks you’ve been putting off. You must reevaluate your circle of friends. Avoid crowds if it’s not safe to go out.

LIBRA

You’ll get a promotion at work. You could be given some rather imposing responsibilities. Keep your head up! If you’re in a relationship, your partner will demonstrate their commitment.

SCORPIO

Don’t be afraid of change at work. Although you must participate in a training course that requires much of your time, you’ll benefit from the change and feel great pride.

SAGITTARIUS

It’s almost time to renew your lease. This will prompt you to look for a new place or buy your own home. A big dream will come true.

CAPRICORN

Be careful about what you say It could be misinterpreted. If only to clear your head, you’ll do a major clean -up or freshen up the paint at home.

AQUARIUS

Many stores already have discounts on spring fashion, and you can’t resist sprucing up your wardrobe. You won’t spare any expense. It’s an investment in yourself, after all.

PISCES

You’ll feel like conquering the world and going on a beautiful adventure. You’ll be full of ideas and propose several to your family and colleagues.

Long-legged bird

Unger of “The Odd Couple”

Heroic tale

Mentally healthy

Deuces

Set aside

Plod

Bonnets

Type of brakes

Cloud’s location

PUZZLE NO. 913

PUZZLE NO. 177

cl assi fi eds

REMEMBRANCES

- 03.16.22

Today is a heavy day as it marks one year since we lost our family’s leader, husband, father, grandfather, and best friend. Not a day passes that we don’t look for a sign that you are here by our sides. Our memories of your laugh, voice, touch and loving warm heart refuse to fade. Our hearts hurt because you taught us what love feels like.

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.”

Love you endlessly,

Your soulmate, Lucy Guignard and loving family; Sylvain, Jaci, Amelie, Jolie, Bernie, Barb, Sheldon, Austin, Nancy, Shawn, Hailey and Kaden.

Marie Trew (Kehler)

September 30, 1928 - March 6, 2023

With great sadness and much love, the family of Marie Trew bids goodbye to our matriarch who passed away in Prince George on March 6, 2023, at the age of 94.

Marie was predeceased by her beloved husband Rodney Trew, son Randy Trew and his wife Cory, infant grandson Christopher Ollenberger, parents Peter and Rose Kehler, sister Clara and brother-in-law Harold Gorsalitz.

Marie is survived by her daughters - Jacquie Ollenberger (Randy) and Barbara Liden (Robert); grandchildren - Brian Ollenberger (Megan), Bonnie Woolnough (Tim), Charity FullerEvans (Dan), Amber Trew (Taylor), Jordon Liden (Vivian), Wesley Liden (Becky); great grandchildren - Connor, Evan, Blake, Graham, Loki, Saxon, Ryyah, Markku and Olivia.

Born in Prelate SK, Marie grew up and graduated high school in Leader SK. At just 17 she pursued her childhood dream of becoming a nurse by enrolling in St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Victoria, graduating in 1949. Returning to Saskatchewan as one of very few Registered Nurses working in small Saskatchewan towns, Marie took on huge responsibilities at a young age, including becoming Matron of a hospital at 23.

Marie first met Rod Trew at a cousin’s wedding in Lemsford SK when she was 16. They met again by chance one evening at a dance after she had returned to Saskatchewan to work as an RN, and from that moment their love story began. They were married on July 4, 1953 and moved to Edmonton where Marie had a job lined up at the Edmonton General Hospital. She continued nursing in Edmonton, where Jacquie and Randy were born in 1954 and 1956. In the spring of 1960 when Marie was already very pregnant with Barbara, Marie and Rod moved their family to Fort Nelson to set up and manage a retail store for a friend. In 1962, in partnership with that same friend, they moved to Hudson’s Hope where the construction of the W.A.C. Bennet dam had begun, to establish Rod’s News and Men’s Wear. They remained in Hudson’s Hope for 34 years, where they worked hard and immersed themselves in community service, social activities, curling, snowmobiling, boating, music and dancing, lasting friendships and travel.

In 1991 they sold the store and retired, and in 1996 they moved to Saskatoon to be close to Marie’s mother Rose, who lived to the amazing age of 102. After several heart attacks and a stroke, her beloved Rod passed away in 2001. With her mother and only sister still in Saskatoon, Marie remained there until after they had both passed away.

In 2010, Marie moved to Prince George. With minimal help, and despite multiple health challenges, she was able to live fairly independently, joining two seniors’ centres, playing bridge, travelling, and making many new friends.

Like many seniors, COVID was difficult for Marie. As a very social person, the isolation from her extended family and friends and inability to travel was tough. She had an unlimited phone plan and made good use of it, spending many hours staying in touch with family and maintaining her friendships. Jacquie and Randy are blessed to have had her here in Prince George these past 13 years.

Last spring, with her health deteriorating, it was time to sell her condo and move to The Chateau. After just 5 months she moved to Gateway Assisted Living where there was the opportunity for more assistance when it became necessary. A few weeks ago, we knew she was likely not long for this world. We are thankful for the staff at Gateway, at Prince George Hospice and for Dr. Denise McLeod who has looked after Mom like she was her own mother.

We plan to gather in her honour in a few weeks. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/11187813

November 13, 1936 - March 1, 2023

Fred Schaefer was born on November 13, 1936, in Geismar, Germany. He is predeceased by his wife Susan Schaefer (Nadleh Whut’en First Nation), his parents Paul and Katherina Schaefer and his brother Aloise. He is survived by his children Paul Schaefer, Cheryl Bear and Norm Schaefer (Paulina), grandchildren Paul, Randall and Justice Barnetson, Myah and Noah Schaefer, Cheyenne Schaefer, great grandchild Legend Leech and his sisters Else, Marianne, Hildegard, Maria and Katherine. He will always be remembered for being a good man, a man of faith and integrity. He was a true gentleman who was consistently kind and generous to those around him, always happy to talk to whoever came across his path. He loved travelling on gravel roads and taking his kids for walks in the bush. He passed away peacefully on March 1, 2023, and he will be dearly missed. Fred leaves a legacy of following Jesus through his words and actions, being a man of good nature, and leading a life devoted to his family.

DUBRULE, Laurent

September 5, 1951March 6, 2023

Laurent Dubrule, 71, of Prince George BC, passed away on March 6th, 2023 suddenly after a short battle with cancer.

Laurent was born on September 5th, 1951 to Omer and Lumina Dubrule in St. Paul Alberta. He is predeceased by his parents; Omer and Lumina; brothers Vianney (Bernadette), Lionel and Denis (Marnie). He is survived by children; Danielle & Jonathan; grandchildren Vegas and Mercedes; siblings Fabian (Sylvia), Jacqueline, Edouard (Vitaline), Clement (Jeannette), Roger (Lorraine) and Fernand (Kathy) and numerous nieces, nephews and loved ones.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Assman’s Funeral Chapel, 1908 Queensway St, on March 20, 2023 at 2:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Northern Health, Big Brothers and Sisters and the Northern Brain Injury Association--as these organizations have been of great service to Laurent and his family throughout the years.

Murray Douglas Swanson

March 18, 1931 - March 7, 2023

Murray Douglas Swanson passed away peacefully on March 7, 2023 just missing his 92nd birthday by 11 days. He was known as Murray, Dad and PAPA.

Murray is loved and remembered by his children Lynne (Bob) Martin, Judy (John) Glass, Debbie (Lorne) Lloyd, Tracey (Bill) Martin, Murray (Kathy) Swanson as well as 14 grandchildren and 19 great children. Predeceased by his wife Evelyn--so loved and missed since her passing in 2015, as well as his father Melvin, his mother Winnifred and brother-in-law Don. Also gone too soon was his special companion, Libby.

Murray leaves behind his sister Dolores Wallin and brothers Dale (Brenda) and Brian (Cindy) Swanson. He is survived by many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly.

Dad loved his family, home and neighborhood. He always had a wave. Most often it was from his front window, his ride-on, or on his morning walk with his dog. The family asks that one morning you give a wave in memory of Murray, Papa - our Dad.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Terry Fox Foundation.

A Celebration of Dad’s Life for family and friends will be held on Saturday, May 13 at 1:00pm at his home.

Evan Mitzel

April 26, 1940February 23, 2023

With broken hearts we announce the passing of Evan Mitzel, Beloved Husband of Debbie on February 23, 2023. Prededeceased by mother Vivian, father Maxwell. Survived by loving wife Debbie, daughter Laurie (Terry), granddaughters Kelsey (Bryon), Sara (Krys), greatgrandchildren Brixon and Brynlee. In laws, Jen (Stu), Lib, Carole, Tom (Joanne), many nephews and nieces. No Service by request. In lieu of flowers please donate to the Parkinsons Society of B.C.

As you share the stories and the memories of how they lived their lives and how very much they meant, may you find comfort...

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

Fred Schaefer

Established Franchise Photography Business Serving Northern B.C for over 35 years

Gross Revenues of $150.000 plus annually from seasonal work Lots of opportunity to expand the business. Transition support available to the right buyer Serious Enquiries Only

Office 250-596-9199 Cell 250-981-1472

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

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

Gross Revenues of $85,000 to $90,000 Annually and Potential to expand revenues in a growing economy. Transition support available for the right buyer.

& LPs.

BUYING ALL SILVER! WANTED 9999 BULLION, BARS, COINS, ROUNDS, ALL SILVER COINS, PRE 1968 COINS, ROYAL CANADIAN MINT COINS, FRANKLIN MINT SETS, OLD STERLING SILVER, COIN COLLECTIONS +++ ALSO BUYING GOLD!!! TODD 25O 864 3521

COLLECTOR PURCHASING COINS & COIN COLLECTIONS! BUYING OLD COINS, ROLLS OF COINS, BANK BAGS OF COINS, RARE COINS, COLLECTOR COINS, OLYMPIC COINS, OLD PAPER MONEY, PRE 1968 COINS, ROYAL CANADIAN MINT COINS, US MINT, COLLECTIONS +. WANTED CANADA, USA & WORLD COLLECTIONS! Todd’s Coins 1-250-8643521

Firewood

BIRCH Firewood in 20 foot lengths. Delivered by dumptruck load. $1100. or bucked to length $1300 per load delivered 250614-6667

Mills/Equipment

1998 KENWORTH with mixer trailer, white. $120,000. 617-3373

SAWMILL, 48” head rig, hand set, completely rebuilt, $8000 obo plus parts. 250-441-3242

Sheds/Outbuildings

NEW 30’ x 50’ All Steel Commercial shop, never assembled, c/w complete set of drawings and engineer

BUYING OLD JEWELRY, COINS, OLD MONEY, COIN COLLECTIONS, 9999 BARS & COINS, ROYAL CANADIAN MINT COINS, COIN SETS, WORLD $$$ COLLECTIONS ++ TODD 25O

Genuine Rolex watches, all models, old, new,

or parts req’d. Top prices paid subject to viewing. Gold, two-tone, tri-color & Stainless. Available 24/7 250-612-1808

Skilled Help

The Prince George Citizen is looking for a freelance photographer. Interested candidates please email lsmith@glaciermedia.ca along with some samples of your best photos.

Trucking & Transport

Experienced gravel truck driver required in PG area (250) 614-6667

GENERAL LABOURER / GRAIN HANDLER

$44.29/hr. star ting

Prince Ruper t Grain Ltd. (PRG) operates a state - of-the -ar t grain shipping facility on Ridley Island in Prince Ruper t. The terminal receives grain by rail and processes, sor ts and stores grain for loading onto ships bound for markets worldwide

Qualifications:

•Minimum Grade 12 Diploma, GED or equivalent industrial experience

• Must be capable of lifting and stack ing, 50lbs, without assistance

• Class 5 Driver ’s License

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

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

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

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

Stump to Dump Contrac tor

Timber Inc in Mackenzie, B.C seeks a on a multi-year contrac t. This work will involve C TL off-highway deliveries to dumpsites on Williston Lake while staying in camps 6-7 months of the year. Provisions for low bedding to Mackenzie is included. Interested par ties should contac t Spencer Witala at Conifex Timber at

or Spencer.Witala@conifex.com

We a r e e x p a n d i n g o u r p r o g r a m s ,

j o i n o u r Te a m t o d a y !

Po s i t i o n s Av a i l a b l e i n

S m i t h e r s / H a z e l t o n s / H o u s t o n

CC R R R e s o u r c e E d u c a t o r

D e v e l o p m e n t a l C o n s u l t a n t s

E a r l y Ye a r s Fa m i l y R e s o u r c e N a v i g a t o r

Fi n a n c e A d m i n i s t r a t i v e A s s i s t a n t

H u m a n R e s o u r c e a n d O p e r a t i o n s D i r e c t o r

O c c u p a t i o n a l T h e r a p i s t

P r o g r a m A d m i n i s t r a t i v e A s s i s t a n t

Po s i t i o n s Av a i l a b l e i n

B

Fa m i l y S e r v i c e C o o r d i n a t o r

J o r d a n’s

Assets:

• Experienced Locomotive Operators / Conductors

• Four th Class Power Engineers Cer tification.

• Grain Terminal Operations Experience

• Completion of OH&S training courses such as OFA, fork lift, confined space, WHMIS, fall arrest

PRG provides an excellent compensation pack age. Currently, this position is paid $44.29/hr in addition pension, benefits plan, training, and career development oppor tunities are available. Prince Ruper t Grain Ltd is an equal oppor tunity employer

Submit your resume electronically to: hrops@prgrain.bc.ca

Only applicants under consideration will be contacted to proceed through the hiring process

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

To place your ad call: 604-630-3300

How to write a classified ad that works. To advertise, call 250-562-6666 or email cls@pgcitizen.ca

To place your ad call: 604-630-3300

ACROSS

1. Belonging to a thing

4. Pass or go by

10. Partner to cheese

11. Subjects

12. U.S. State (abbr.)

14. Bits per inch

15. Forest-dwelling deer

16. Illinois city

18. A salt or ester of acetic acid

22. Wholly unharmed

23. Cuddled

24. Bane

DOWN

1. Stain one’s hands

2. Nocturnal hoofed animals

3. Back condition 4. Popular movie alien

City of Angels

Peaks 7. Infantry weapons

Left

Atomic #99 12. Told a good yarn

Vale 17. Resistance unit

26. Global investment bank (abbr.)

27. Oh my gosh!

28. Arrive

30. Famed Spanish artist

31. Home of “Frontline”

34. Group of quill feathers

36. Keyboard key

37. Army training group

39. Detail

40. Pole with flat blade

41. Football play

42. Makes unhappy

19. Aquatic plant

20. Bluish greens

21. About some Norse

poems

25. Reinforces

29. Egyptian mythological goddess

31. Supportive material

32. Subatomic particle

33. Expired bread

35. Cereal grain

38. Goes against 41. Walkie

48. Island in Hawaii

50. Back in business

51. Of an individual

52. Painful chest condition

53. Tropical American monkey

54. Matchstick game

55. For instance

56. Even again

58. Popular beverage

59. Evaluate

60. Time units (abbr.)

43. One who does not accept

44. Beliefs

45. Indicates near

46. Brazilian NBA star

47. Grab quickly

49. Romantic poet

56. College dorm worker

57. Set of data

Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a Sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and

HOMES

REAL ESTATE LISTINGS DESIGN TRENDS

Need more space? Check the attic!

From a home office to a playroom

to a guest bedroom and beyond,

finishing your attic offers endless possibilities when it comes to adding space to your home without encroaching on your yard Such an ambitious project requires a hefty dose of preparation, though Here are some important points to consider before you dive in

• Structure Certain types of attic, such as chevron-beam structures, are easier to convert into living spaces than others You’ll also need to consider the total available space as well as the slope of the roof All in all, it’s best to have an expert assess how doable your project actually is before starting any work

• State of the roof Before starting any finishing work, make sure to properly

inspect the roof for any traces of mould, parasites or water infiltration

• Insulation and ventilation.You’ll likely need to add insulation and ventilation for your attic to stay comfortable in all seasons. Insulation can be done from the inside, or, if you want the beams to show, from the outside The latter option is more expensive

• Flooring In most cases, the floor will need to be reinforced to support the increased strain caused by foot traffic and new furniture.

• Stairs Building a safe staircase to the attic is an important investment that you shouldn’t take lightly

• Lighting For the room to benefit from sufficient natural light, you may need to install skylights or other types of windows

Otherwise, choose your light fixtures according to how you plan on using the space

• Rules and regulations. Make sure you’re aware of your local bylaws and other rules when it comes to adding a new space to your home Also ensure that the project will be completed up to building and fire safety codes

Finally,whenitcomesto decorating,usethingslike mirrorsandlight-coloured wallstocreatetheillusionofa largerspace Carpetsandroom dividersaretwowaysto separatedifferentsectionsofa largeroom Smartstorage solutionsarealsohelpfulin

maximizingthespaceavailableinyourattic

For everything else, be creative, and try to highlight the architectural character of your attic Use your imagination!

Three alternatives to wood-burning fireplaces

Looking for a fireplace that’s more environmentally friendly and energy efficient than a wood-burning one? Here are three optionsworthlookinginto.

1. GAS FIREPLACE

Convert your old wood-burning fireplace using a gas insert. It’ll provide the am-

bience and warmth of a wood-burning fireplace with the flick of a switch. If you’re already connected to a natural gas lineinyourarea,atechnicianwillconnect it to your fireplace If natural gas isn’t an option,propaneisanotherpossibility.

2. ELECTRIC FIREPLACE

You can put an electric fireplace in any room in your house that has an electric outlet. These fireplaces can heatroomsthatareupto400 squarefeet

3. PELLET STOVE

Pelletstovesusepellets,arenewable fuel source, to distributeheat They’reeasierto use than wood-burning units justfillthestoragehopper with pellets and set your thermostattotheperfecttemperature Inordertomaintain the selected temperature, a sensor will send a signal to a mechanism that drops new pellets into the fire when needed.

So which option should you go with? Get help deciding by talking to a professional He or she can advise you as to which type of fireplace or stoveisrightforyourhome

Why overpricing your home could be a costly mistake

Listingyourhouseforapricethat’sabove itsmarketvalueisrarelyagoodidea Here arethreewaysoverpricingyourhomecan backfire

1. IT SCARES OFF POTENTIAL BUYERS.

Many buyers will never see your home if your price is too high. Real estate agents won’t bother bringing clients to see your houseiftheythinktheyhavenochanceof selling it, and your property won’t show upinonlinesearchesifthepriceisoutside thedesiredrangeofmostbuyers.

2. THE LISTING STAYS UP FOR TOO LONG.

The longer a house stays on the market, the less likely it is to sell for the original price Once a listing has been up for a couple months, buyers start to suspect something is wrong with the property Even if you lower the price, it may be too late to attractinterest,andyou could end up getting less than the home’s marketvalue

3. BUYERS MAY HAVE TROUBLE FINANCING THE PURCHASE.

Even if you do find interested buyers, they maynotgettheloantheyneedforthemortgage if the appraisal shows your home is worth less than the selling price. Under thesecircumstances,thebuyersmaynotbe abletogothroughwiththesale.

Before putting your house on the market, have your agent do a comparative market analysis of your property and use the resultsasabasisforyouraskingprice

Three things to consider before buying an area rug

If you’re thinking about dressing up your living room or bedroom with a large, decorative area rug, consider the following beforeyoubuy

1. OUT WITH FASHION!

For starters, make sure you choose a rug that you like, not just a model that’s trendy Whether you like flowers, chevrons, patchwork or geometric patterns, remember that trends come and go and come back again so you shouldn’t worry aboutyourrugbecomingoutdated.

2. GO FOR DURABILITY

Saving a bit of money by choosing a lesser-qualityrugcanbetempting.However, beawarethatacheapcarpetwillwearout quickly, becoming faded, linty and raggedy to the pointwhereyouwon’teven

want it in another room. Think of your newrugasaninvestmentanddon’tskimp onthecost

3. CHOOSE THE BEST FIBRES

When you shop for the best fit, find out aboutthefibresusedtomaketherugyou’re interested in. Some excellent choices are wool, most notably that of New Zealand sheep,and natural fibres suchas:

• Hemp

• Cotton

• Seagrass

• Linen

• Sisal

That being said, some products made of synthetic fibres offer great value and are easy to care for