Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer, now Vixen! On Comet, on Cupid, on Donder and Blitzen! And don’t forget Rudolph.
Wildlife biologist Doug Heard has been assigning reindeer names for at least 10 years, just so he can keep track of all the mouths he has to feed as overseer of a herd of caribou that gathers each fall at the Kennedy Siding station, 160 kilometres north of Prince George It’s always a mystery if any of the gang gets selected for Santa’s delivery detail on Christmas Eve but Heard would certainly be qualified to recommend a few candidates for the job
Caribou are known as reindeer in Europe and Asia but they are the exact same species. See FEEDING PROGRAM, page 6
Wildlife biologist Doug Heard of Pri at Kennedy Siding near Mackenzie.
Mayor overspent on hotels, travel: report
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
A CBC report has revealed that Prince George Mayor Simon Yu has significantly overspent on travel and meals during his first year in office.
A Freedom of Information request filed by CBC News, from Nov. 7, 2022 to Sept. 28, 2023, shows that Mayor Simon Yu spent more than $18,000 on travel, accommodation, meals and entertainment, nearly double the $9,500 the city had budgeted for those expenses.
The report details trips to Vancouver, Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa, which included a first-class stay at Fairmont Château Laurier that cost $759
There were more than $4,000 in meal expenses as well as $242 charge for a one-night stay at the Prestige Treasure Cove Hotel in Prince George. Yu says he made the decision to stay at the hotel rather than cab home
“I came in this role not totally understanding how the mayor’s expenses work,” Yu told the Citizen.
Yu said he agreed that some of the expenses were questionable and has vowed to pay back the $242 stay at the Treasure Cove
“I will pay back the hotel that I stayed overnight because I did not want to drive, so things like that, I can definitely do better in the coming year and be more
selective for the trips,” he said.
“After COVID, of course, inflation as well as the general increase in airfare and hotel contributed to the majority of the increase in the budget that we did not anticipate.”
Yu said he went on many trips to learn the duties as a mayor and be engaged in multiple events. He also said he needed to inform councillors of the purpose of his trips during meetings and use the city’s communications team to broadcast the events he attends
“These are things that I need to communicate to the citizens to let them see I am not going there to have fun,” adding that his full expenses will be in the public forum once the Statement of Financial Information (SOFI) report is released next year
“This will be in the public forum and anybody who feels an item that shouldn’t be happening I can directly tell them what the expenses are for and if a citizen feels that it shouldn’t be charged to the city well then I will just have to pay it ”
Yu also said he was given a $5,000 budget to redecorate his office when he was elected Mayor but chose not to spend that money.
“I didn’t spend money on that, and I used those money to help my activities. In a sense the mayor’s budget is set up slightly different from the councillors so there’s items we can move back and forth.”
Coun. Cori Ramsay published a blog on the subject saying she didn’t feel it was appropriate to comment on another council member’s spending until the item comes before council for consideration which will happen when the SOFI report comes before council in 2024
However, she said the council remuneration bylaw which sets out guidelines for council expenses and is very clear on what they can be used for and that the mayor and each member of council are accountable for their own expenses
“Who is responsible and accountable for our expenses? The answer is simple We are It’s not our staff. It’s surely not an executive assistant. It’s definitely not the city’s communications department,” writes Ramsay.
“While they can support us in providing an update as to where we’re at if asked, the responsibility lies with individual council members – at least in my opinion which has been informed by five years of governance experience and orientation sessions.”
She also said that all of council receives extensive orientation and training at the beginning of the term and also receive additional information sessions throughout the year on things like the council remuneration bylaw, the council procedures bylaw, the community charter, the local government act, and conflict of interest.
2023 was a year full of incredible achievements, including the safe completion of Coastal GasLink.
And we couldn’t have done it without your support. Thank you for being part of Coastal GasLink and making history with us.
We look forward to continuing to be a part of your communities as we prepare for safe operations for decades to come.
From all of us at Coastal GasLink, we wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.
Grocery Angels helping seniors in need
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff
They’re called the Grocery Angels at the Prince George Council of Seniors.
It’s a movement that started with people who grew up across the street from each other in Prince George who remember what it’s like not having much but always having enough.
“For us it’s all about the food,” Rose Halsall, one of the Grocery Angels, said.
Nicole Currie, who is the Meals on Wheels coordinator and a friend of Halsall’s, shared a sad story about an elderly couple who was splitting a bowl of Cheerios a day to keep from starving
So Halsall and a group of friends asked if they could provide the basic groceries so that didn’t ever happen again.
“And that’s when we got connected to this angel,” Halsall said about Terry Runions, Better at Home coordinator for the Prince George Council of Seniors, who named the group the Grocery Angels.
The group, that has now grown to 25, started off regularly providing groceries to two seniors and most recently expanded to help out three.
“Every three months we all chip in a modest amount that’s sustainable and right off the bat we were able to adopt two seniors,” Halsall said
“This group of individuals do all the shopping and the deliveries,” Runions said “Recently they delivered to three clients and on average the grocery bill was about $200 for each of them ”
Runions said she likes to chat with the client to get to know them a bit and also asks if there is something they haven’t had in a while that they missed
When dill pickle chips are considered a luxury item and a senior hugs a boxed frozen him and pineapple pizza and sighs with delight after not being able to afford the treat for three years, you know there’s something wrong in this world and the Grocery Angels have changed that
The Grocery Angels not only take the basic grocery
list but then go that extra bit to try to provide the treat, too, because it’s important the recipients know that they matter
There’s also homemade baking and canning, toilet paper and cleaning products added to the delivery
“It’s just so heartwarming,” Runions said about the actions taken by the group
Halsall said she likes it that the Prince George Council of Seniors staff operates as a coordinated team and not only do the Better at Home clients get provided what they need, it also extends to the Housing and Community Navigator and Meals on Wheels clients as well.
“They all see the need and then we can fill that need,” Halsall said
“We’re so glad we found Terry to help us with this venture. It’s so rewarding – we get cards, we get hugs, we see tears We know we’re making a difference ”
To find out how you can donate to the Grocery Angels cause or contribute items to the Prince George Council of Seniors Kindness Nook where personal hygiene products, non-perishable food items or even meal replacement drinks, can be donated, email betterathome@pgcos ca or visit the Seniors Resource Centre at 1330 Fifth Avenue.
ICBC is working together with all British Columbians to help make our roads safer.
Thanks for doing your part.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Here are some of the Grocery Angels who pool their cash to provide groceries to seniors in need in Prince George. All together there are about 25 in the group.
RCMP investigating two vehicle fatalities
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
Prince George RCMP officers are continuing to investigate two separate motor vehicle incidents that each resulted in a fatality over the course of last week.
The first incident occurred on Monday, Dec 11, when two vehicles collided north of the city near Barney Creek Road and Highway 97 North.
One of the drivers in the incident was air-lifted to hospital for treatment of their injuries.
Unfortunately, the lone occupant of the second vehicle did not survive the incident
The B.C. Coroner Service has taken over this investigation
The second incident occurred on Wednesday, Dec. 13, at approximately
5 p.m., in the Hart region of the city, near Kenworth Road on Highway 97 North
A pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle travelling northbound on the highway.
The driver of the vehicle remained on the scene and cooperated with police officers
Criminality is not suspected in either incident.
“Our condolences go out to the families of the victims in both of these investigations,” said Cpl Jennifer Cooper, Media Relations Officer for the Prince George RCMP
“It is never easy to lose a family member, but at this time of year the loss can be felt so much more deeply. Our Victim Services Unit will be working with the families to offer any needed support,” she added.
Hunting fine issued
TOM SUMMER Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Conservation Officer Service says a Dawson Creek man has been fined $10,000 for killing a bull moose during a closed season and hunting without consideration for the safety of others. Rory Friesen, was sentenced on Nov.
29 in Dawson Creek court and given a forfeiture order for the animal killed
The illegal hunting was reported to have happened in September 2020, when a motorist spotted Friesen injure the moose while it was crossing a road near Dawson Creek, and use a firearm to kill the animal while it lay on the side of the road.
TED CLARKE Citizen staff
The Prince George Chamber of Commerce is recommending that the city opt out of the province’s new short-term housing rules.
Citing a need for an inventory of rooms and/or suites for hospital staff and construction crews coming to Prince George to fill short-term positions, the chamber says the city should execute its right to not have to enforce provincial legislation which would prohibit property owners from renting out accommodation space in properties that are not part of the
owner’s primary residence
“The Prince George Chamber of Commerce recognizes the provincial need for long-term rentals to address a long-term housing shortage for residents throughout the province, for clear and consistent rules within jurisdictions for short and long-term rentals, and for support for municipalities in enforcing provincial legislation and municipal bylaws on shortterm rentals,” said Ron Camp, chair of the chamber’s advocacy committee
“However, provincial needs are not uniform While all regions of the province appear to be facing long-term housing shortages, not all regions or
municipalities are facing the same pressures from tourism as the Lower Mainland, Squamish (and) Kelowna ” Camp said Prince George is not alone in needing other types and proportions of short- and long-term housing to meet the needs of the community.
The Short-Term Accommodation Act, which takes effect on May 1, 2024, also requires online booking platforms like booking.com and Expedia to share booking data with the province starting next summer.
Short-term rental hosts will also have to join a provincial registry and a government-run compliance and enforcement
unit will be established to make sure rules are being followed.
City council, at its Dec 4 public meeting, instructed city staff to report back on how what needs to be done to opt out of the new short-term rental rules, a decision the chamber supported.
The province will allow municipalities with 10,000 or more residents to not be part of the primary residence legislation provided that municipality has a rental vacancy rate of three per cent or more
According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the current vacancy rate in Prince George is 3 7 per cent.
Feeding program boosting caribou herd numbers
Continued from page 1
This year, he has about 150 subjects to monitor and knows some by names he’s given to them based on their antlers. Not just males, but female caribou as well as calves grow antlers, which makes them unique among the deer family. Problem is, they shed their antlers every year and with that go their identities
“I would like to have them all memorized each year but I don’t because there’s too many,” said Heard
A dozen of them are wearing radio collars which allows them to be constantly monitored and others have their DNA samples stored in a database which helps with identification If he can’t identify them from year to year, Heard just gives them a new name and ID number He calls them as he sees them – Dead Eye, Fuzz Butt, Limping, The Big Kahuna – and some are just names he likes – Dopey, Sneezy, Bingo and Ford F-150. It just adds to the fun for the 73-year-old, who has found the ultimate retirement project to cap his 50-year career as a scientist
“I think it’s good for science, it’s good for caribou recovery and it’s good for public relations, this kind of stuff, that people can go and see them,” said Heard
The Highway 97 turnoff to the feed station is eight kilometres east of the Mackenzie Junction and then it’s another two kilometres on a well-maintained winter
road. The ease of access makes watching the caribou feed a popular activity for nearby residents The animals are quite used to people and they don’t mind posing for photos from the parking area but Heard said visitors should keep their distance and be wary of the bulls, especially during rutting season in mid-October when they are more aggressive
The station, which is in operation from early-November to mid-January, has eight motion-triggered trail cameras, one of which is aimed at a weigh scale at one of the food boxes As soon as the caribou steps on the scales, it trips the camera, which takes a photo of the scale readout so Heard can monitor each animal’s weight throughout the season
In August, Heard set up a livestream camera link which allows viewers to watch the caribou as they feed Powered by solar batteries, the live link is limited to four hours each day in the morning when they are most likely to feed.
A stretch of cloudy days in November left the camera batteries uncharged, which temporarily wiped out the connection and Heard is trying to find a solution to the power problem
Time-lapse clips of the feeding area are recorded daily and can be screened any time on a YouTube channel There have been three cases of caribou shot and killed
at the site and Heard was concerned the live stream camera would attract illegal hunters, but that has not happened and he’s pleased there have been no incidents of vandalism or theft at the station.
Heard started the McLeod Lake Indian Band Caribou Feeding Program in 2014 as an experiment to try to reverse years of steady decline of caribou numbers The feeding started at the same time the B.C. government began to cull the wolf population in a 20,000 square-kilometre area of mountainous ungulate habitat that stretches from the Peace Arm of Williston Lake east to the Alberta border.
The feed station is supported by the province and the McLeod Lake Indian Band Band member Destiny Rae restocks the food every other day while the station is operating She lives near the site and delivers 10 20-kilogram bags of feed from a storage facility. The caribou eat, on average, one kilogram of supplied food each day, in addition to their main food source, lichen, and several kinds of plants
The food pellets at the station are a highly-nutritious easily digested combination of alfalfa, beets, and other plant material designed to put weight on the caribou for the winter when foraging for food is more difficult. It costs about $10,000 to feed them for about three months.
Airport unveils sunflower support program
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff
Passengers travelling out of the Prince George Airport (YXS) now have access to the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program.
This initiative is a simple tool for passengers to voluntarily share they have a disability or condition that might not be immediately apparent, and would need a little extra help, time and understanding while onsite.
“Travelling can be incredibly stressful, overstimulating, and inaccessible for individuals like my children,” Prince George
resident Amanda Sopel said
“Anything that can help create environments and spaces that are inclusive of individuals with diverse needs and sensory profiles are desperately needed in all communities and public facilities
Thank you to the Airport Authority for prioritizing accessibility and inclusion and bringing this much-needed program to our local airport ”
Travellers with a non-visible disability can request a free sunflower lanyard at the check-in counters, security desk or information booth at YXS
The sunflower program is globally recognized for helping people with hidden
disabilities overcome barriers, physical and otherwise, that are often part of their everyday lives One in six people, 1 3 billion worldwide, live with a disability, many of them not readily apparent. These can include conditions that are neurological, cognitive and neurodevelopmental in nature, as well as physical, visual and auditory disabilities. They also can include respiratory and chronic health conditions such as arthritis and diabetes, chronic pain and sleep disorders
Other airports across Canada who are part of the sunflower program include Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Edmonton, and Winnipeg.
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Riley is wearing the lanyard from the Sunflower Program.
Yes, David, there is a Santa Claus
This editorial first appeared in the Dec. 24, 2013, edition of The Citizen and it’s become a bit of a local favourite for its twist on the famous “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” letter Enjoy and Merry Christmas from everyone at The Citizen!
Dear Madam Publisher,
I am soon going to be 70 years old Some of my senior friends say there is no Santa Claus.
It seems to me that still being a kid at heart and not real keen to “act my age” I think it is just fine to believe in all sorts of things I don’t have to be able to see something or have to touch it to think it could be real
At the Festival of Trees this year I watched as people of all ages came in to that Christmas Wonderland It wasn’t just the children that had their eyes wide open and expressing all sorts of excitement
I looked into the eyes of many of the older people and I could see the joy and memories flooding back with their recollections from many a past Christmas It was a sight to see.
No, it is not only children but people of all ages who believe in things you cannot see or feel.
I say to my friends and family that if you see something printed in The Prince George Citizen, then it must be so!
So Madam, please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Thank you and Merry Christmas, David Yarmish, Prince George
David, your senior friends are wrong. They have been affected by negative people living in a negative time They have been influenced by people like my managing editor, who wrote a horrible editorial, The Problem With Santa. He’s a journalist and you know what those people are like. They don’t believe a thing unless it slaps them in the face and then they write to say they saw it coming Negative minds are small minds that can’t see the size of
the whole universe and the big truths, the ones that are bigger than us and last forever.
Yes, David, there is a Santa Claus
Even the saddest soul believes in love and giving and trust. Those are the things that make us all happy, that give our small lives meaning How pathetic would our existence be, tiny creatures living on a pebble floating through the empty darkness of space, without those eternal truths.
How pathetic our lives would be without Santa Claus It would be as awful as if there were no one like you, with the heart to believe in what matters but also a curious mind eager to know the truth
To not believe in Santa Claus is to not believe in the Easter Bunny
We could ask all of the scientists at UNBC to investigate but even if they couldn’t find Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny or any other miracle of childhood, it only proves they can’t find them, not that they don’t exist.
You are right, David, to recognize that the most real things in the world are the things we can’t see or hear or touch or taste or smell but what we feel in our hearts Those joyful moments we share with our friends and family create bonds that no force can ever tear apart. No scientific instruments or the words of know-it-all writers can measure or describe these things in all of their beauty and glory
Yet they are real and are more real and lasting than anything else in all of the world They are not bound by time or by space or by the limits of our tiny imaginations or by the negative people around us who would deny the very best part of what it is to be a human being
We should be thankful to live in a world with Santa Claus A thousand years from now, a thousand generations from now, he will still be bringing cheer to everyone, young and old.
Merry Christmas, David, and thank you for your letter Colleen Sparrow
We acknowledge the financial support of the government of Canada.
Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.
NEIL GODBOUT EDITORIN-CHIEF CURTIS ARMSTRONG PUBLISHER
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Mayor’s spending is bad, his reaction is worse
Prince George Mayor Simon Yu’s pants are on fire.
His response? Pour gas all over himself.
Did he honestly believe local taxpayers wouldn’t care that he would spend $242 for a one-night stay at the Prestige Treasure Cove Hotel and charge it to the city?
He told the Citizen that he decided to get a room instead of taking a cab home and he’ll pay the $242 back to the city but that completely misses the point. He should never have billed the city for staying in a local hotel in the first place. He told the CBC, who first broke the story last Wednesday about Yu’s
spending habits in his first year in office, that his assistant booked his $759 suite at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa
Not true.
Yu booked his own room and then sent the confirmation email to his assistant, according to a follow-up email from the city’s communications manager, Julie Rogers, to the CBC.
Yu also told the CBC that it was the job of Rogers and her team to communicate his mayoral schedule to residents.
Not true
The mayor shares his schedule with city council every two weeks but doesn’t share it with her department, Rogers told
the CBC Furthermore, his schedule is incomplete.
It’s not a full accounting of how he spends his days.
Yu told the Citizen and CKPG he was given a $5,000 budget to redecorate his office when he was elected but chose not to spend that money
Not true.
He spent $873 60 on art for his office and $139 06 on office plants, expensing it back to the city.
“I came in this role not totally understanding how the mayor’s expenses work,” said Yu in an interview with the Citizen
Well, that may be true
But that’s also not an excuse, just like it doesn’t work for the speeder who informs the cop after being pulled over that he didn’t see the speed limit sign
The questionable spending is bad enough but it’s his reaction to the spending becoming public that is so galling
Blaming city staff? Blaming inflation? Blaming budget practices and spending policies because he didn’t understand them?
Yu’s got the finger pointing part right
Now the mayor just needs to stand in front of a mirror
Neil Godbout is the Citizen’s editor
City council, staff need external oversight
When you consolidate power to one or two individuals, you remove the ability for public oversight
This is where we are at in Prince George right now. The public has no real oversight into the operations of our city hall and none over our mayor and council. We don’t have a recall policy, other than 10 folks signing an affidavit to the B C Supreme Court to have an individual removed from office
Mayor and Council are in essence supposed to control the direction the city is moving toward
However, time and again power is dumped into the lap of a hired employee, removing all accountability of council and mayor to the public that elected them into office. Pretty cushy job; sit a couple times a month and rubber stamp
decisions, and not even debating them (that’s the image anyone would get from watching a local council meeting).
This hired employee is now going to oversee council’s behavior’s under the new Code of Conduct policy before council for final reading
That employee is none other than the city manager and in the event they are unavailable, the next in the chain is the corporate officer.
That’s a problem, because they are both “employees” of the city and should answer to council and mayor (though that is rarely the case over the last few years).
We need a neutral party to address conflicts of interest and community complaints in a nonpartisan manner with a full open and transparent policy right from the start.
NO MORE COAL IN STOCKINGS?
This just in!
It has been discovered that this Christmas, Santa Claus will no longer be putting lumps of coal in various stockings.
He is finding it just too prohibitive to be paying such a high carbon tax on the coal he would be required to purchase
On the other hand, Santa will finally get off the hook, since there will no longer be a need for coal in any Christmas stocking
A Civic Compliance office would address all the issues we are seeing currently and be able to handle those problems well into the future of our community Freedom of Information Requests (FOIs) should be handled by this office in full compliance with provincial regulations.
This will uphold the trust of this office and transparency of city hall to the public and serve as a resource for council and mayor to get legislative rulings on provincial policy in an unbiased manner. There would be no more confusion as to the use of civic funds and expense accounts, as this office would ensure the policies are in place to prevent misuse of funds by council and mayor.
In the event of a conflict of interest, these would be handled away from anyone who may have played a part in the
Everyone is happily ensconced in the progressive post-modern age where each individual’s perspective of the truth is a relative matter.
Nobody is wrong anymore!
Right there, that negates the need for that lump of coal. Finally, we can at last wipe our brows and thoroughly relax
Gerald Klassen, Prince George
BULL CRAP IN STOCKINGS?
No excuses, Simon.
As I read the article about our mayor spending almost
conflict including the corporate officer or city manager, both of whom interact with council and mayor. Removing involvement of these two officers and any perceived potential conflict as they are not involved in any investigation upholds the concept of open and transparent governance.
But the proposed Code of Conduct policy dumps even more responsibility and fog into any inquiry involving council, mayor and the city manager If you forgot recent history, we had a city manager who did whatever she wanted to do and withheld information from council and the public.
So consolidating power to one or two “employees” who are to answer to council and mayor is a really bad idea
John Zukowski is a downtown Prince George business owner
double the budgeted amount, I call bull crap.
Yes, he said he would pay back the local hotel cost but the mere fact he chose a $242 hotel room over a $30 cab fare is alarming and we would not have known about it if CBC did not do research.
So many council members past and present talk the talk about watching costs at city hall but do not walk the walk and I wonder why Simon, who is a very smart man, thought this was acceptable
I, as one taxpayer, do not buy the fact he had to go across the country to learn how to be a mayor.
Roland Hill, Prince George
Foster homes for pets needed over Christmas
TED CLARKE Citizen staff
Planning for Christmas at the Prince George Humane Society means finding foster homes.
It’s the one time of year when staff at the animal shelter get time away from work with their families and also a time to tackle deep cleaning, painting and renovation projects at their downtown headquarters just off First Avenue
But to make that possible they need to find people willing to provide foster homes for all those pets
Ever since the shelter opened in 2015, Prince George people have stepped up to fulfill that need
And when they do apply to foster animals over the Christmas season, more often than not they end up providing those critters permanent homes.
“We find most of those animals that end up going to homes for the holidays usually don’t get returned in January,” said PG Humane Society executive director Angela McLaren
“I think people connect with animals during Christmas. Most of the family members are at home and based on that they just become part of the family and get adopted So we get to start the new year with a fresh set of animals.”
Information on how to foster or adopt animals is on the society’s website.
There seems to be no shortage of surrendered cats and dogs needing homes in Prince George and the number of rescues at the Humane Society have almost doubled from last year.
Already this year the shelter, which has space for 30 cats but no dogs, has taken in 800 animals.
Surrendered dogs go directly to people’s homes
“We see a lot of kittens that we have to bottle-feed or we see a lot of pregnant moms and we also get a lot of medical cases, animals recovering from surgeries that need to be fostered and are ready for adoption,” said McLaren
If the Humane Society is unable to find adoptive homes, they transfer the animals to other rescue groups in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island.
Some of the pets they handle have behaviour issues such as separation anxiety or litter-box training
The society has two animal care coordinators – Jamie Walsh and Kelsey MacWestaway -- who have started a new program called Keeping Pets and People Together, in which they visit foster homes to correct those undesirable behaviours.
Of the people who accessed that program, McLaren says there’s been an 85 per cent success rate.
With veterinary clinics all over the city working at or beyond capacity, the wait list is long for appointments, even for the humane society
There’s a backlog of dogs and cats in need of spaying and neutering services which started to pile up during the pandemic and McLaren estimates 700 animals are waiting for that surgery
“We find that due to the veterinary crisis a lot of people can’t get care, so we find a lot more litters of kittens and puppies coming into the shelter from people who just don’t have access to care,” she said.
“There are not enough veterinarians and there is no emergency veterinary care from 10 p.m. – 8 a.m., and because veterinarians aren’t taking on new patients people aren’t able to get their pets spayed or neutered,” she added
The society is fully dependent on private donations to cover its operating cost and McLaren said that source of money has dropped considerably compared to pre-pandemic times.
“We’re seeing historically the lowest donations we’ve ever seen over this period of time, which really talks to the fact the economy crisis is really affecting people’s ability to donate and adopt,” she said.
“It’s a spiraling effect and I think we’re all feeling it hard.”
UFO sightings explained
There have been reports of bright red
streaking across the sky and bright white lights all in an eerie straight line. We don’t know what the bright red lights streaking across the sky were but we were able to find out that the string of white lights is a StarLink Satellite Train
If you’d like to see where those satellite trains are tracking visit the StarLink site at https://www space com/ starlink-satellite-train-how-to-see-and-track-it
Happy Pappy’s tree farm makes Christmas memories
TED CLARKE Citizen staff
When Don Ferrey started selling Christmas trees he grew on a 22-acre parcel of land a few kilometres northeast of the Prince George Airport, he knew he wasn’t going to get rich doing it.
Nineteen years later, the owner/operator of Happy Pappy’s Christmas Tree Farm figures he makes “about 17 cents an hour” for all the work he puts into producing his Norway spruce, blue Spruce and sub-alpine fir trees, but it’s well worth it to him
He does it because he likes people and seeing their reactions when they turn their annual Christmas tree hunt into what will become a lifetime memory Tree hunters come to his farm to choose the tree they want and cut it down themselves, then get to sit around a raging campfire to sip coffee or hot chocolate and shoot the breeze
He produces only enough to sell about 75 trees annually, most of them seven- or eight-footers, at $65 each. If you do the math that’s less than $5,000 a year to add to Ferrie’s pension income. For a few bucks more, he sells the odd 20-footer, like the one on display this year at Northern Lights Estate Winery, but most of his trees will fit in the average home.
“It’s a labour of love, it’s not a money-maker, for sure,” said the72-year-old Rossland native, who retired from his BC Hydro job when he was 55 “I’m lucky to pay the taxes on the land with what we get here.
“I don’t have many more trees than that. Last year I shut down early because I sold those in a relatively short time and I wanted some for this year. I want to make sure people keep coming back and they see a nice tree ”
Fewer people put up real trees at Christmas, choosing instead for the safety and predictability of an artificial tree But there’s no substitute for that Christmas tree smell and Ferrie says as long as people keep what is still a live tree well-watered, they won’t dry out and become a fire hazard.
“You’d be surprised by how much water they drink in the first three days,” he said “They come out of the bush and they just suck up that water and after the first three days they stop drinking so much ”
Ferrey bought the property in 1994, a year after part of the land was burned in a fire started by a kid at the adjacent manufactured home park A friend cleared the burnt forest and he got rid of the slash and planted clover to put hydrogen into the soil That’s when he hit upon the idea to plant trees and make it a Christmas tree farm
The daughter of one of his neighbours, Bobbi Cole, suggested the name.
The first few years, before social media, Ferrey put up signs to direct people to the farm, but the word is out
about Happy Pappy’s and his Facebook page now has 200 followers
Ferrey says it takes about 12 years to grow a spruce tree big enough to become a Christmas showpiece, while a balsam fir needs about 17 years to get up to ceiling height. He and his wife Janet live several kilometres away on a different property and he spends a lot of time on the farm fertilizing and watering the trees and physically removing weeds.
He uses no herbicides or pesticides and sometimes his trees get attacked by bugs that cause significant damage like the leader weevil It kills the crown of some of his Norway spruce and he has to cut off the top and then train another leading branch to replace what was lost and prune it for years until it looks like the perfect tree again. He only prunes his trees in the months that have the letter ‘r ’ In the hotter months they drip sap that attracts aphids.
It’s a family event for many of Happy Pappy’s customers and he remembers one boy about six or seven who came out with his dad and took advantage of the snowy slope that leads to the trees from the parking area to do some sliding.
“He was just having a ball, up and down the toboggan hill and his dad was in here having coffee with me and he came in to get his hot chocolate and said, ‘Dad, this is the best day of my life ’ That just stays with you ”
Ferrey snaps a photo of everyone who comes to buy a tree and posts them on his Facebook site and people reciprocate, sending him photos of the trees they’ve decorated in their houses.
“It’s just so satisfying,” he said “It gives us a real good feeling. It’s creating memories for the families and they don’t have to go way out into the bush to get their tree ”
Happy Pappy’s is at 5072 Shelburn Rd , about a 10-minute drive from downtown Prince George.
The farm is open Thursday-Sunday from 10 a m -4 p m , right up until Christmas Eve.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 30TH 6:00 PM Evening Bingo
$6,000 JACKPOT
$4,000 cash plus $2,000 Slot Free Play $300 Regular Games $600 Double Win Regular games $2,000 $200 Slot Free Plays X 10 Draws
CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO
Janet and Don Ferrey at Happy Pappy’s Christmas Tree Farm near Prince George.
Christmas light displays in Prince George
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff
Looking for all the glitter this Christmas?
Robert Shaw has more than 47,000 flashing lights on display in his yard all set to music at 10025 South Heights Road in Beaverly, west of Prince George.
“It is a complete labour of love for me,” Shaw of Bater Electric said
Shaw’s children are six and 10 years old and love the light display, so that spurs on his enthusiasm for it
It takes more than a week to set up and then countless hours after that, especially if things go wrong like this year He’s had to replace about 65 strands of lights because they all stopped working at once.
“And the cost adds up,” Shaw said
After so many people said they would like to donate to help ease the burden of the cost of the display over the years, Shaw thought he could direct the donations to people who really need it in Prince George.
“I always refused the donations until I had an a-ha moment three years ago and started a gofundme account where 100 per cent of the proceeds go to the Prince George food banks,” Shaw said. “To date I have been able to donate just over $4,000 to the food banks and this year my goal is to raise $2,500 ”
In 2016 Shaw started programming the lights to music. It started with 16 channels (different light strands or features) timed to music and now it’s something else.
And for the techies, here are the details that most of us would just consider the magic of it all
It has 224 channels of 5 volt and 120 volt strands and over 4,500 channels for RGB lights (lights that change colour). 14 standard controllers, 3 DMX Controllers (high quality controllers to control the RGB lights), 2 networks, a radio station, and over 7,500 feet of extension wire The computer that runs the system sends out over 50,000 signals a second to turn lights on or off all programmed to the beat of the music.
To figure it all how it was mostly trial and error, Shaw added
“But there is a small community of Christmas nuts like me that help each other out and use many forums for displays like mine across the world,” Shaw said. “In town there is Sommerville Lights and myself that have helped each other over the years I have to give a shout out to Darryl and Marry-Anne at Sommerville Lights as they have helped me out a lot over the years and now this year I bought their yard displays to add them to my display as they are slowly getting out of it ”
The light display has become so popular that leading up to Christmas there is a steady flow of traffic lined up to watch
“Sometimes we have had to wait quite a while to get into our own driveway but that is not an issue as we enjoy it that the community loves the display,” Shaw said.
The light show goes from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. every night. Tune into 104.1 FM to listen to the music while you enjoy the show
To donate to the food banks, here is the link https:// gofund me/f6f1cf6a
SOME PLACES TO SEE
If you’re looking to tootle around Prince George to see all the spectacular lights on display during this holiday season here is a list of some of the more noteworthy
We all know Candy Cane Lane gives us such a lot of things to see in their neighbourhood but for those who are new to town you can start by finding your way to Mackenzie Avenue off Upland to see the lights.
Along River Road the Central BC Railway & Forestry Museum showcases their Celebration of Lights and going into the museum to see the lights up close and personal goes from Dec 18 to 23 and 27 to 30 from 4 to 8 p m Join in the celebration of the holidays with the biggest light display in Prince George
The Northern Lights Estate Winery has their Light Up the Orchard event on now until Dec. 31 where all the light displays offer photo ops galore This is a walking tour of the orchard filled with thousands of Christmas light and festive holiday decorations For tickets visit https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/light-up-the-orchard-2023-tickets-745618945337?aff=oddtdtcreator
There are some individual home owners in Prince George that just bring that extra effort to light up their homes:
Looking for that Grinchy attitude? Visit 2451 Olds Street where the Grinch is up to his old tricks of sneaking around and causing trouble
There’s a bit of tradition that is showcased at one
house and that’s the one at the corner of McGill Crescent and Monahan Street in College Heights. Those lights have been put up faithfully for years and it is very much appreciated.
There is a sea of inflatables including a snowman playing a saxophone that you have to see to believe at the corner of Southridge Avenue and St. Anne Crescent. There’s a warning that comes with this one At 8220 Rochester Crescent just off Malaspina in College Heights there’s a giant skeleton at the back of the house but he’s facing the road. To be fair he is dressed for winter with a jolly scarf wrapped around his scrawny neck but that’s where the holiday happy ends His eyes look like they are tracking you as you slow down for the stop sign Merry creepy Christmas in the best possible way! Oh yeah, and in the front there are delightful inflatables including a darling teddy bear and a giant reindeer with a wreath wrapped around his neck
Right across the street it seems the neighbours tagged team each other so at 8219 Pr Edward Crescent you can find a whole flock of inflatable farm animals - OK so maybe Peppa Pig isn’t really considered a farm animal but she’s cute as can be and there are some nutcrackers standing watch over the herd.
At 8002 Malaspina there is a light display admired by all their neighbours. Worth a taking a look.
At 1542 Alward Street visitors will see all the flashy lights they need to get into the Christmas spirit and right next door at 1526 there’s a flock of angels on high.
At 4737 and 4738 North Meadow Road, off Foothills Blvd., sees two neighbours who are across the street from each other have lovely Christmas displays featuring reindeer and other delights that complement one another wonderfully. Worth a cruise.
Robert Shaw has 47,000 lights in a display set to music at his house in Beaverly, west of Prince George.
Tiny home delights unhoused local resident
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
Cora Calliou is 59 years old and has been living on the streets for the past six years but now has a ‘tiny house’ to call her own in Moccasin Flats.
Despite city opposition, volunteers Brad Gustafson and Phillip Fredriksson and other supporters have been fundraising to construct tiny home structures for the unhoused residents of the legally protected Moccasin Flats encampment on Lower Patricia Blvd
“This is just right up my alley,” said Calliou, two-anda-half days after moving into the structure built by the volunteers
“I’m thinking ‘god, now I got to add a few features to it. Put a couple of hooks, boards or something ’ I really like it.”
Prior to living in the tiny home, Calliou was living in a tent in the summers and would spend the winters moving from shelter to shelter.
“The workers make you feel like you are incompetent because you can’t supply your own means and stuff like that,” she said, adding that people are constantly stealing in shelters
“For them to lose a whole bag it’s like stealing their whole entire lives and that’s the truth,” she said “Then
they got to start again from scratch I’ve heard it so many times ”
She said having her own little home makes her feel independent and she’s feels better having a door to lock but is still worried about scavengers.
“But as an overall it’s nice, having your own independent spot,” she said “I really have a sense of this place I love the beauty of it.”
Calliou said she would love for other people to have
their own tiny homes, too
“You realize how miraculous how it would be for people to feel as good as I do right now, to feel as good as I feel right in my heart,” she said
“I feel like you cannot do a better thing for people that are on the street struggling to survive You cannot do enough of this. It is miraculous and extraordinary, wonderful All of those big positive words you can think of in a sentence This is how it feels It feels glorious and that’s the truth.”
In mid-November, the City of Prince George issued a stop work order on the tiny homes as the shelters are not up to code
Mayor Simon Yu said it is a liability issue as the structures do not have building permits.
“As a mayor and the city, we put a stop work order on it. We would not want to take on the liability on behalf of the citizens,” he said
However Yu also added that he does not want to criticize the goodwill of the volunteers.
“Nobody can fault that We as human beings, we see other fellow citizens suffering, and we want to act, you know, this is a natural instinct ”
The volunteers are still moving forward with the tiny home project and are continuing to raise funds for more donations and supplies
Eleven unhoused people died in 2022, report says
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
According to new data released by the BC Coroners service, Prince George saw 11 deaths of people experiencing homelessness in 2022.
In 2021, the BC Coroners Service reported 13 accidental deaths of homeless individuals in the city.
In the Northern Health region, 28 deaths of people experiencing homelessness were reported in 2022
That’s slightly up from 24 people in 2021.
Provincewide, there were at least 342 deaths of people experiencing homelessness that were reported to the BC Coroners Service
That is an increase in deaths among the unhoused population of 138 per cent in the past two years.
During the period that was studied (2015-22), there were 1,464 deaths involving individuals identified as experiencing homelessness in British Columbia, equating to an average of 183 deaths per year
There was a significant increase from this average in 2021 and 2022
The BC Coroners Service says that just as it has across all demographics and in communities throughout the province, the toxic drug supply has significantly contributed to the increased number of deaths among people who are precariously housed or experiencing homelessness
More than eight out of every 10 deaths in the review period were classified as accidental, and of those accidental deaths, more than nine in 10 were determined to have been caused by unregulated drugs.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Cora Calliou in her new tiny home
Resident grateful for suportive housing
HANNA PETERSEN Citizen staff
A pregnant unhoused woman feels safer after moving into supportive housing at the Knight’s Inn.
Candice Prince, 36, and her partner Curtis Milton secured housing after local advocate Philip Fredriksson helped the couple connect with social service agencies.
Prince had been unhoused for the past three years, living at Millennium Park on First Avenue and moving to Moccasin Flats after it was removed in September.
“It’s scary I’m glad we got out of there when we did,” said Prince.
She said when the couple was living at Millennium Park they weren’t having their things stolen and no one was bothering them but things changed when they moved to the Moccasin Flats encampment
“As soon as we move down there, it wasn’t even like a week later, that our stuff was being taken and our tent was getting cut up and it’s just scary,” she said.
Prince says she doesn’t know how far along she is yet because she hasn’t been able to see her doctor, but she was really worried about being pregnant and unhoused, especially because of her health conditions
“I didn’t know what we were going to do. We had no money and no connections or anything We didn’t know anybody We were kind of lost,” she said
“I am still nervous because of my health and my blood
clots, and my legs and lungs, and it will cause health problems with the baby.”
Milton said that having housing at the Knight’s Inn “brings down the worry” and Prince added that “it just feels more safe”.
She said that living without housing has been hard, especially because of the way they were treated.
“We dealt with a lot of rejection fighting for what we needed Just trying to get a place to stay We would go to hotels, and we would have money, but they wouldn’t let us stay there and then when we did get a hotel they would have the manager – you could just tell they didn’t want us there,” she said
“I try not to let all of that get to me It was really hard to keep calm and try not to get all angry with everybody
that made us feel like we weren’t good enough.”
Prince said she has been struggling with chronic pain since she had her first child and was taking prescription pain killers prescribed by her doctor, but really began to struggle when she lost custody of her son.
“It all started when they took my son away from me. I wasn’t doing any other drugs then, I was taking prescription and that was it, and after I lost my son, I just… I don’t know, it started the problem ”
She said her son is safe and in good hands, but she hasn’t been able to see him since last Christmas.
Prince said she feels like having a safe place to stay is the first step for the couple.
“We need to try and get a bigger home and work on that. What we have now is great. I would just like to be settled in an actual home and try and get my son back and get everything done before baby is born,” she said Milton added that now that he has housing he wants to try and get into detox and then treatment
“It’s a long ways but we will get there,” said Prince. “I just have to deal with my health and baby right now, but now that we have a place, we should be fine It is fine, but I’m dealing with a lot right now.”
This is another instalment in a series of features the Prince George Citizen will be doing to chronicle the stories of unhoused individuals within the city If you know someone who would like to share their story please contact hpetersen@pgcitizen ca
Cancer lodge guest appreciates support
There are more than 800 clients that come through the doors of Kordyban Lodge every year and Jack Sebastian, 72, of Hazelton considers himself one of the lucky ones.
Yes, he has cancer but he said he’s lucky to be here in Prince George receiving cancer treatment at the Cancer Centre for the North that is just a stroll under the covered walkway from the Lodge, where he’s staying for the seven weeks of radiation treatment
Since 2014, Kordyban Lodge has been one of seven affordable lodges the Canadian Cancer Society operates across the country for people who must travel for cancer treatment outside of their home communities
Sebastian has completed week two of seven and gets four days off to go spend Christmas with his family and then he
will return to complete the rest of his treatment.
The lump on his neck is pretty much gone now thanks to chemotherapy, he said, and he knows the radiation will take care of the rest
Sebastian said he’s grateful to everyone who has helped along the way
“It’s so wonderful to stay in such a beautiful place,” Sebastian said, gesturing to the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows in the gigantic living room at the Kordyban
Lodge
“And they are the best people – not just at the Lodge but also the doctors and nurses and all the cancer people are just amazing – they are all just excellent – they are just so kind-hearted and they are always ready to help and talk to you. They make your stay so comfortable They’ve got the right people here.”
Sebastian said when he was first diagnosed he shared the news with friends and family but when people told him he was going to die he took to his bed for a while but soon realized that wasn’t going to change anything So he got out of bed and got on with his life
“If you fight it, you’ll make it,” Sebastian said “And if you believe in prayer, prayer really helps. I pray every day.”
Sebastian is on a pension so he is on a limited income and staying at Kordyban Lodge really helps ease the financial burden
“It saved me a lot of money that I didn’t
have,” Sebastian quipped
And by staying at the lodge he can concentrate on what really matters
“The last thing we want is for patients at the Cancer Centre for the North to have to worry about their accommodations - they should only be focused on their treatment,” Simi Parhar, manager at the Kordyban Lodge, said.
To donate to Kordyban Lodge to help ease the financial burden of guests, consider donating to the Peace of Mind campaign
As people donate to the cause it ensures guests can focus on their care as they can get a subsidized rate of $30 per guest per night. Each stay includes three nutritious meals and two snacks a day, 24-hour staff supervision, amenities, parking, activities, resources and other support services For more information visit Peace of Mind Campaign or check out other ways to donate at The Canadian Cancer Society.
CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO
Candice Prince at the Knight’s Inn in Prince George
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff
CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO
Jack Sebastian, 72, from Hazelton, is a guest at the Kordyban Lodge
Hockey sisters doing it for themselves
TED CLARKE Citizen staff
From the time she first stepped on the ice to play hockey with her year-older twin sisters, Alex Boal loved the game. She was just six when her parents signed her and her sisters into the First Shift program, now sponsored by the NHL/NHL Players Association, which for $299 offers kids all their hockey gear and six introductory lessons to teach them some of the basics.
Alex and her sisters, Addison and Sydney, went on to play in the Prince George Minor Hockey Association initiation division and their enthusiasm continued to grow while they developed their skills
All that changed for Alex in her second year of hockey when the family moved to Armstrong and she was placed on a boys team that had one kid who made her life a nightmare He was a bully who hit her in the head with his stick or took the feet out from under her when the coaches weren’t looking and her anxiety got the better of her
Some of the other boys were also being mean to her and she looked for any excuse to miss games and practices Finally, she had a tearful meltdown that revealed why she didn’t want to come to the rink. When her parents confronted
her coaches and the minor hockey association to explain what was happening nothing was accomplished and their bullying accusations were dismissed One of the coaches suggested, “Hockey’s not for everybody, maybe you should put her in figure skating ”
The Boals switched the following year to Vernon Minor Hockey and all three girls thrived, playing on female teams. Alex became a goaltender and they played two years in Vernon and another two in Salmon Arm before they moved back to Prince George a year ago After a year in the female house league, Alex, Sydney and Addison are now playing rep hockey together on the PGMHA U15 Capitals
“It’s pretty cool to be on this team and
with three siblings on a team you kind of know what each other’s thinking, so it’s easier to get open and get a pass,” said Addison, who plays forward with Sydney “(Off the ice) we don’t get along, we just yell and argue pretty much all the time.”
The Capitals’ roster includes another set of twins, 13-year-olds Lily and Eve Naegeli Including the Boals, five of the 13 players on the team come from just two families
There are only a few female goalies and last season Alex was an affiliated player with the U-13 Capitals Having an in-house goalie to shoot at is a luxury Addison and Sydney take advantage of when they take shots at Alex at home.
“They’re shots aren’t very good, they just kind of throw it to the net,” said Alex.
Like most siblings, they have their disputes, and when they are feuding, Sydney is usually the peacemaker.
“We’re all equally mean to each other, it just depends on the situation,” said Sydney.
Added Alex: “Since we are on the same team we have to work together and be nice to each other on the ice ”
Like the Boal twins, the Naegelis are fraternal twins, but they are almost identical in appearance. They started playing hockey four years ago when their neighbour (Capitals defenceman Birkley Boyes) asked them to give it a try.
“It’s fun playing (with Lily), I like it,” said Eve. “More girls should try it. It’s fun being part of a hockey team, it’s fun traveling.”
McBride defenceman skating for Team Canada
The 18-year-old Saskatoon Blades defenceman is among seven blueliners named to the team last week.
The six-foot, 181 pound Molendyk was chosen 15th overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2023 NHL draft.
Canada plays pre-tournament games Dec 22 against Switzerland and Dec. 23 against the U.S. Canada begins its defence of the tournament title on Boxing Day against Finland.
From left, Alex Boal, Sydney Boal, Eve Naegeli, Lily Naegeli and Addison Boal.
McBride native Tanner Molendyk has made the cut to play for Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship that starts Dec. 26 in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Healthy North
Covid & Flu vaccine clinics
Northern Health COVID-19 and influenza (flu) immunization clinics continue in Prince George. Vaccines are free and recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. Register and book through the Get Vaccinated system (getvaccinated. gov.bc.ca) or call 1-833-838-2323 to schedule an appointment. For the latest up-to-date clinic schedule visit northernhealth.ca/health-topics/covid-19-and-fluimmunization-clinics
Mammography Screening at UHNBC
Mammograms are not something we tend to look forward to, but for those with breasts, they are necessary. Radiologist Dr. Karen Seland talks about the importance of screening mammograms and what to expect and clears up some misconceptions. Read the full story here: stories.northernhealth. ca/stories/talking-screening-mammography-dr-karen-seland. Women over the age of 40 can book their own screening mammograms without a referral or a primary care provider. Visit Bccancer.bc.ca/screening/ breast/find-a-clinic/clinic-locator to find a centre near you, or call 1-800-663-9203 book your appointment today
BC Cancer Lung Screening
Breathe Easy - Get Lung Screening. Free lung screening is available in BC. If you’re ages 55-74 with a history of tobacco smoking for 20+ years, call BC Cancer at 1-877-717-5864 to see if you are eligible. Learn more: bccancer.bc.ca/screening/lung/get-screened
HOROSCOPES
ARIES
You’ll use your persuasion skills to avoid being pushed around, ensuring everything runs smoothly
You’re right, even if the way you express yourself may lack delicacy The main thing is to obtain satisfactory results.
TAURUS
Your festivities are sure to be spectacular even if you’re on a tight budget, thanks to your creative ideas and determination. You’ll also show a great deal of affection for your partner
GEMINI
The new ideas you come up with will amaze even you Your enthusiasm will be contagious, and others will follow you, whatever your plans. You’ll succeed in organizing a memorable party
CANCER
Now is a time of reflection and introspection for some people. Take the time to recognize your successes and failures and open your mind to a new form of spirituality
LEO
You’ll be responsible for a great achievement that will be remembered for a long time, especially if you manage to bring together people who don’t get a ong. If you’re single, a colleague will take advantage of this quiet time to get closer to you.
VIRGO
You have a lot to organize to create a memorable event for your family Don’t let yourself be caught off guard. Make sure everything is ready in time for Santa’s arrival. Otherwise, the children will be disappointed.
LIBRA
Organizing a family lottery could give you the chance to round off the festive season with a trip. Either way, there’s plenty of fun to be had. You’ll show great generosity toward your loved ones.
SCORPIO
You’ll be told a family secret at a party You’ll give a speech that will move everyone. You’ll also be needed to sort out an emergency at work, even if you’re at a party
SAGITTARIUS
Don’t get involved in family quarrels, especially if they don’t involve you. Otherwise, you’ll play the role of referee to help resolve conflicts between family members.
CAPRICORN
You’ll be proactive at gatherings and won’t sit idly by You may help serve the guests. The atmosphere of the holiday season will strengthen the love between you and your partner
AQUARIUS
You’ll be the focus of attention, making people laugh with your cheeky quips. You may even receive some applause, which will naturally flatter your ego.
PISCES
For part of the week, you’ll be with your family or taking care of your children or elderly parents. You’ll also be allowed to recharge your batteries. The peace and solitude of home will stimulate your creativity
classifieds
One Final Gift
Scatter me not to restless winds, Nor toss my ashes to the sea. Remember now those years gone by When loving gifts I gave to thee.
Remember now the happy times The family ties we shared.
Don’t leave my resting place unmarked
As though you never cared.
Deny me not one final gift For all who come to see
A single lasting proof that says I loved... & you loved me.
by DJ Kramer
In Memory of our
Grandmother, Mom, Sister, andAuntie
Alice Ghostkeeper Rennie
September 29, 1940 – November 4, 2022
Claudine Rennie Serwatkewich
November 20, 1972 – January 15, 2023
When our time on this earth is done. Money and material things will not matter
But the LOVE, TIME and KINDNESS we’ve given others will shine and live on forever
All the shared LOVE, TIME and KINDNESS is deeply missed this holiday season.
Celebrate the lives of loved ones with your stories, photographs and tributes
1954-2023
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of our brother, father, grandfather and uncle Thomas Neal Russman. (1954-2023) A lifelong Prince George resident Tom had a wide variety of friends; all enjoyed his infectious smile and easy laugh. Tom was predeceased by his parents, Joe and Alda Russman and younger brother Gord. Left mourning his loss are his children, Marc Russman (Jackie) and Josee’ Kubbernus (Chris) The joy of Tom’s life was spending time with his grandchildren. Sophia, Ava, Mckayla and Max are left with fond memories of “Grandpa Taco” Also survived by sister’s Debbie and Cathy (Ralph) and brother Joe, along with their children and grandchildren, Jim Dow (stepfather), and Clemence Chasse (mother of his children)
There will be a celebration of life on Saturday January 27th at 2pm at the Spruce Capital Senior Center. 3701 Rainbow Drive.
Celebrate the lives of loved ones with your stories, photographs and tributes. Call 250-562-6666 or email cls@pgcitizen.ca to place your Announcement
MACARTHUR, CharlesAllan
March 22, 1948 - Regina, Saskatchewan December 8, 2023 - Calgary,Alberta
Allan (Al) was born in 1948 in Regina, SK He moved to BC in 1954 and then returned to SK in 1976, where he lived until 2022, when he moved to AB to be closer to his children and grandchildren.
Allan worked for SaskWater for 27 years before finishing his career with a rewarding ten years as a Health Facility Planner for Saskatchewan Health. He was an active member of the community, holding leadership roles with the Regional Health Authority in Southern Saskatchewan, the Rolling Hills Health District, the Herbert Lions Club, Optimist International, and the Chaplin-Morse-Herbert United Church Board. Allan was awarded the Premier’s Award for Excellence in the Public Service in November 2016.
Allan was predeceased by his parents, Nellie and Charles MacArthur; brother-in-law, Barry Scott; son-in-law, Darryl Colebank; and beloved son, Jason MacArthur Allan is survived by his sister, Jeanette Scott of Powell River, BC; three children, Tamara Colebank of Hixon, BC, Ryan (Nicole) MacArthur of Calgary, AB, and Carmen (Leon) Janzen of Calgary, AB; five cherished grandchildren, Brittany and Cricket Colebank of Hixon, BC, Addyson and Marissa MacArthur of Calgary, AB, and Harvey Janzen of Calgary, AB; great-granddaughter, Avery Melenka of Hixon, BC; and former wife, Sandra MacArthur of Osler, SK Allan is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends, as well as daughter Kimberley Bregg of Surrey, BC with whom he reunited later in life and grandchildren Nokomi and Jamal Rodgerson.
Allan will be remembered fondly for his great sense of humour, charming personality, and
of sports A celebration of life will be held in BC in the spring.
In Memoriam
Thomas Neal Russman
Sylvia Dorothy Christy (nee Ware)
1940-2023
CHRISTY, Sylvia Dorothy (nee WARE) peacefully passed away on November 18th, 2023 at Gateway Lodge in Prince George, BC Sylvia went to be with the Lord at the age of 83.
Sylvia was born in Fort Ware, BC on July 1, 1940, to James and Ada Ware She married her late husband Albert Christy in Prince George, BC and they had five children together Sylvia was the proud mother of six and grandmother to eight grandchildren. Sylvia was affectionately known as Sally to her friends and family Sally was a lifelong bingo player and avid puzzle enthusiast She was happy and funny and made friends wherever she went.
Sylvia was survived by her sons Robert Christy (Mary-Ellen) and Leslie Christy Her grandchildren; Jennifer Orlinis, Wesley Orlinis, Tina Dalman, Zack Dalman, Brooke Christy, Shaun Christy and Nicole Christy Her sisters Janet Colville and Shirley Ware Her son in laws Bill Orlinis and Allan Dalman, and daughter in law Donna Christy.
She is predeceased by her husband Albert Christy, sons Albert Christy, and Vernon Christy, daughters Kathy Orlinis and Jean Christy, grandson Brodie Christy, sister Violet Miller and brothers Raymond Ware and Bert Ware Shortly before her passing her partner Louis Morin passed peacefully at home
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at the Hart Pioneer Centre from 12:30 to 4:30pm, followed by a memorial service in the late spring of 2024.
Hilda “Loretta” Thibault (nee Buchi)
March 14, 1936 - December 9, 2023
With heavy hearts we say “Goodbye to our Beautiful Mom, Grandmother, Great Grandmother and Great-Great Grandmother.” Known by all as “NAN”.
Mom is survived by daughters: Debbie Sluyter and Charlene (Lyall) Hainstock, daughter-inlaw Robin Thibault (Gary), 4 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and 2 great, great grandchildren, brother/sister-inlaws, cousins, nieces & nephews
Mom was predeceased by her husband, “Dad”, August (2017), sons: August (2002), Darin (2012), grandson Ryan (2016), son-in-law Bill Sluyter (2022), parents; Walter & Cora (Albert) Buchi and brotherArt Buchi
Family gathering will be held in Spring 2024.
Aspecial thanks to all the staff of the PG Hospice House for the care and support during her
Celebrate A Life Lived
of the
it honours Contact us to find out more.
The more you give,
The more you get,
The more you laugh,
The less you fret.
The more you do unselfishly.
The more you live abundantly
The more of everything you share,
The more you’ll always have to spare.
The more you love, the more you’ll find, That life is good and friends are kind. For only what we give away, Enriches us from day to day.
TeresaPiercey-Gates
At Christmas
Remember
Gross
RON-POL Industries Inc
SHOP FOREMAN
Experienced Welding Shop Foreman required for a unionized shop in Kitimat BC.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
Established
Gross
Apply in confidence stating qualifications, experience, and references to: ron-pol@ron-pol.com
Attention Shop Manager
Dining Room Items
Toys/Games/Puzzles
Legal/Public Notices
NOTICE TO CREDITORSESTATE OF LANCE ODIORNE
Anyone having claims against the Estate of Lance Odiorne, late of Prince George, British Columbia who died March 1, 2023, are hereby required to send the particulars thereof to Mary Reyers, 1877 Queensway, Prince George, BC, V2L 1L9, before January 15, 2024.
Between PAWANPREET TOOR or anyone related with the belief of abandonment of the storage UNIT A-14 located at AAA Self Storage 6700 Pacific Street, Prince George, BC V2N 6Y2 Belongings of PAWANPREET TOUR, 13478 79AAVE, SURREY BC, V3W 222 (236 808 1272) will be dispose the aforesaid property unless the· person being notified takes possession and liability of the property within 14 days from the date of this publication, the Manager
NAK’AZDLI WHUT’EN
Request for Proposals
Janitorial Cleaning Service
Scope of Work:
Nak’azdli Whut’en requires contractual janitorial services for the following buildings:
3 Youth Centre – entire building includes main common area, washrooms, kitchen area
4 Social Development Building – 3 offices, 4 washrooms, small apartment, board room, reception area
5 Kwah Hall Building - 7 days per week, sweep & wash floors daily after hours, clean tables and chairs, set up floor plans based on Kwah Hall event calendar
6 CHL (Capital, Housing, Lands) Office building – 4 offices, common space, kitchenette & 1 washroom
Contractual Requirements:
• Supply own transportation
• Supply own janitorial cleaning supplies
• Must have WHIMIS certification
• Must have First Aid Level 1
• Must be bondable.
• Must have proper insurance coverage, along with good standing Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Deadline for RFP Submissions: January 31, 2024
Please send your proposal to:
Nak’azdli Whut’en Box 1329, Fort St. James, BC, V0J 1P0 Attention: Lauretta Prince, Office Supervisor adminsup@nakazdliwhuten.ca
FORinvitescommentsonthis application The LandsFile is 7407805. Commentsconcerningthis applicationshouldbe directedtothe SeniorLandOfficer,ArielYelland,Omineca Region,MinistryofForests(FOR),at5th Floor499George Street,PrinceGeorgeBC,V2L1R5 Commentswillbe receivedby FORuptoJanuary5,2024.FORmay notbe abletoconsidercommentsreceivedafterthis date Please visittheApplications,CommentsandReasonsforDecision Databasewebsiteat http://comment nrs gov bc ca/ for more information.
Be advisedthatany responsetothisadvertisementwillbe consideredpartofthe publicrecord.Accesstotheserecords requiresthesubmissionof aFreedomofInformation(FOI) request Visithttp://www gov bc ca/freedomofinformation to learnmoreaboutFOIsubmissions.
SUDOKU
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 box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes.
Portable
Are you looking to buy a portable space heater to create a more comfortable environment in your home or office? Here’s a brief overview of some of the models currently available on the market:
1. CONVECTION HEATERS
This type of heater uses a burner to warm cool air Once warmed, the air rises and fills the room anew Since this type of heater doesn’t use a fan, it operates silently; however, it also distributes heat at a slower rate than others. Convection heaters are your ideal choice if you’re looking to maintain a stable room temperature in an enclosed space for several hours at a time
2. FORCED-AIR HEATERS
Electric forced-air heaters, also known as forced-convection heaters,
use a fan to distribute heat On a positive note, they heat up small rooms quickly and allow home owners to orient the current of warm air in any given direction On a negative note, they’re noisier than other models and tend to stir up dust
3. RADIANT HEATERS Radiant heating systems are perfect for warming up a person; however, they don’t warm the surrounding air. Consequently, that cozy, warm sensation disappears as soon as the heater is switched off. Furthermore, it’s important to note that radiant heaters are very hot to the touch and are therefore not recommended for families with children
4. COMBINATION HEATERS
Combination heaters are understandably larger compared to
other models
With oil-filled radiators, mineral oil is heated and then the heat is dispelled by convection
These types of heaters provide longlasting warmth, as the heat produced continues to spread even after the unit has been turned off
With combination heaters containing radiant panels, however, a heat-storing mica plate replaces the use of oil The latter produces heat more rapidly than oil-based models
Lastly, note that each model produces the same grade of heat Rather, it’s the way the heat is distributed that will impact your perception of warmth
In short, the best choice will ultimately depend on your specific needs
SEVEN FIREPLACE SAFETY TIPS for a cozy holiday season
There’s nothing more comforting when the weather is frightful than dancing flames, jumping sparks and crackling logs. That being said, did you know that chimney fires are one of the main causes of winter house fires? Brush up on your fireplace safety smarts before the cold sets in with these simple tips
1.At least once per year, ideally in the fall, have your wood-burning system inspected by a professional He or she will make sure that every aspect of your fireplace and chimney is in good condition and perform any necessary repairs
2.Minimize smoke and other toxic emissions by burning hardwood that has been dry for at least five months. Are the ends of your logs cracked? That’s a good sign that the wood is no longer damp. Maple, beech and oak woods are well suited for indoor fires For best results, use small logs and don’t overload the fireplace
3.Move flammable objects (like newspapers, throws, cushions or decorations) far away from your fireplace, and always use a fireplace screen to avoid damage from embers
wood Plastic is also a big no-no Similarly, remember that it’s dangerous and highly polluting to try to accelerate combustion by squirting gasoline or kerosene on your logs
6 Have your chimney cleaned by an expert each spring This operation will get rid of as much creosote, a highly flammable by-product of wood combustion, as possible
7.Place smoke detectors in strategic locations throughout your home, namely in hallways and close to any bedrooms Test them regularly and change their batteries every six months
A VERSATILE SUBSTANCE
Wood ash contains minerals that make it useful for many household tasks Use it in homemade dish soap, window cleaner, slug repellent or, if you’re feeling adventurous, whitening toothpaste!
4.Dispose of ash safely by putting it in a raised metallic container and bringing it outside, far from your home and anything that might catch fire. The reason why you should be so careful is that ashes can stay hot for up to three days
5.Never burn painted, varnished or stained
Make your own PLAY SNOW
Are you looking for a fun way to keep your kids busy over the holiday break? Have them create their own decorations using homemadesnow!Here’sthecheapandeasy recipe
YOU WILL NEED:
• 1 box (500 grams) of baking soda
• 1 can of white shaving cream
PREPARATION
Pour 3/4 of the baking soda and 3/4 of the shaving cream into a large bowl Using a spoon or your hands, mix everything together until you obtain an even, pliable consistency (a bit like modelling clay) If the mixture is too dry, add a bit of shaving cream; if it’s too wet, add baking soda. Psst! Add a few pinches of glitter to the mix to make it extra-magical!
CREATION
Is the texture of your fake snow convinc-
ing? Perfect! Now it’s time to let your kids’ imaginationtakecareoftherest Pipecleaners, coffee stirrers, fabric scraps, plastic figurines and pinecones are all great building materials for your snowy creations
15 sweet treats to serve this holiday season
Do you want to offer your guests a selection of mouth-watering desserts? Orperhapsyouwant toserve up a different treat at each holiday event? In either case, here’s some inspiration:
man’s pudding
cookies
cheesecake
pecan pie 15.Chocolate rum truffles
Keep in mind that you can either prepare these desserts yourself or pick them up at a local bakery or pastry shop.
