Prince George Citizen March 21, 2024

Relaunch of Citizen focuses on pro-Prince George content

Prince George Citizen owners Cameron Stolz and Terresa Randall-Stolz announced the relaunch of the 108-year-old newspaper on Thursday morning.

As part of the relaunch, the community will see a new visual identity, a ‘locally owned – community focused’ tagline, and an unapologetically proPrince George editorial direction.

“It’s been about six weeks since Terresa and I purchased The Prince George Citizen from Glacier Media and one of the first things we wanted to do was to take some time to understand the organization, understand the business and get to know our employees,” Stolz said. “We had the discussion about where they want to take the paper and where we want to take the paper – how we bring the newspaper back to being a relevant part of people’s lives and realizing that it’s a significant part of our community.”

Stolz said they are also looking at the

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff

New owner of The Prince George Citizen, Cameron Stolz, speaks

Prince George Boston Pizza fined $7,000 for serving liquor to minor

TOM SUMMER Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Mac’s Pizza Ltd., the operator of the Boston Pizza location on West Central, has been fined $7,000 for serving liquor to a minor, with the fine handed out by the Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch on Feb. 21.

The branch’s decision noted the offence occurred on July 28, 2023, with the restaurant serving liquor to a minor employed as an agent under the branch’s “Minors as Agents Program”, a sting operation compliance tool.

A liquor inspector of 17 years with the branch was called as the sole witness to the incident. The inspection team sent to the Prince George area consisted of two liquor inspectors and two minor agents.

“The selection of licensee facilities for inspection on the day in question was random,” notes the decision. One of the minor agents was 18 years of age and the other was 17 years of age.

The inspector attended the Boston Pizza around 2:54 p.m. on July 28, and sat at a patio section, observing the two minor agents who were sent in after her. One of the minor agents ordered a beer, and the other water. No IDs were checked, according to her testimony.

The inspector took pictures of the beer and the minor agents at their patio table, and informed the manager of the Boston Pizza of the contravention, paying for the beer before she left.

The $7,000 fine has a payment deadline of March 21, 2024.

Bearmaggedon of 2023 brought unprecedented numbers of hungry bruins to Prince George neighbourhoods

euthanized. Wright said the police usually get about a dozen bear-related calls each year. Last year it was well over 100.

To say B.C. conservation officer Eamon McArthur and his co-workers were run off their feet last summer dealing with bears in the city would be a huge understatement. Last year’s Bearmageddon resulted in more than 2,000 calls for service to the conservation office.

The majority of those calls came during July, August and September when the city was overrun with black bears wandering in from the surrounding forests looking for food to fatten up for winter hibernation.

Drought conditions most of the year dried up the berry crops that bears usually feed upon and led to wildfires that chased the animals closer to food sources in the city. They feasted on fruit trees and residential garbage placed in bins that were left unsecured by homeowners.

McArthur joined RCMP Spt. Shaun Wright and Insp. Darin Rappel at Monday’s city council meeting for a report on what happened in 2023. Police assisted conservation officers on multiple close encounters between bears and humans and were on the scene when some of the 77 bears were

Two other bears were shot and killed in the city last year, bringing the total to 79, In 2022 there were 43 euthanized bears and 38 met that fate in 2021.

In 2022, the Prince George district conservation office fielded 145 bear complaints in August. Last year the August number rose more than tenfold. The sheer number of calls each day last summer proved overwhelming for the four conservation officers, whose territory stretches west to Cluculz Lake, east to Holmes River east of McBride, north to McLeod Lake, and south as far as Cinema. That’s as large an area as the country of Belgium.

McArthur is also in charge of the Mackenzie district, which had similar bear problems last year.

It’s also the duty of a conservation officer to watch for poachers and follow up on tips about people hunting illegally. This year, Mc Arthur will have one additional C.O. working with him in the city but he told council there’s enough work to easily put 10 to work.

“We don’t have the staff,” said McArthur. “Some of the officers were brand-new and

they got thrown into this maelstrom of bear calls. We can call on assistance from other officers in Vanderhoof and Burns Lake, who did help us instrumentally.

“We took a lot of the calls where bears were not on-scene and we forwarded those calls as an attractant or citizen garbage issue to the bylaw office to investigate.”

In his presentation to city council at Monday’s city council meeting, McArthur stressed that homeowners have to do a better job at limiting the attractants that bring bears to their yards. Fruit trees, whether the fruit is edible or ornamental, are still a big concern, as are unsecured garbage bins.

The city issued public pleas for people to keep their garbage bins inside structures until pickup day and to keep them secured

with tie-down straps. But not everybody complied and that led to bears becoming habituated and remained close to residential areas, knowing the bins and their smelly contents were abundantly available as a food source.

Bears broke fences climbing from yard to yard and while he can sympathize with property owners who have to pay for the damage McArthur said that’s not enough to get them shot. But if they start pulling out windows, following or chasing people that can be enough to convince him to use his gun to destroy the bear.

“We don’t want it to become a predatory bear, especially in the realm of the city, that’s a major safety concern,” McArthur said.

“I’m looking toward it being another bad year and I hope I’m wrong.”

TED CLARK Citizen staff

Relaunch focuses on local content

Continued from Page A1

online newspaper and how to make the changes so that it better reflects the City of Prince George.

“What became very clear during those discussions early on was that we have a local owner now and as the local owners Terresa and I want to be focused on our community,” Stolz said. “We think there’s been far too much time and effort spent covering things that are provincial and national and although those are important, I think for Prince George, we really want to hear what’s going on locally and to that end we have a new tagline, that really resonates well with where we’re going and where we want to take the paper and the online newspaper and that is ‘locally owned and community focused’.”

Everything The Prince George Citizen does moving forward is about being a locally owned product, focused on the community, he added.

“We will be unabashedly pro-Prince George in our coverage and how we look at things,” Stolz said.

“We want to be engaging in our own community and also recognizing we have a surrounding community where there is a desert of news media.”

Stolz cited the shortage of news coverage in Mackenzie, Vanderhoof, Valemount, and Fort St. James.

“In purchasing the paper from Glacier Media, we wanted to make sure this institution that has been around since 1916 remains as an integral part of communication in a time when we see social media spreading misinformation so widely and readily,” Stolz said. “I think it’s important that we have a credible and reliable source of information where if people want the facts about what’s happening in our community they can come and find it in the print edition and on our online presentation.”

Investigative journalism will still be part of the newspaper’s mandate moving forward, Stolz said.

“I think part of being pro-Prince George is doing that kind of work,” he added.

Holding the City of Prince George

accountable for their overspending on the downtown parkade led to city council and staff changing policy and improving communication moving forward, which is a prime example of a change made because of Citizen investigative reporting, Stolz said.

“Because of that reporting the City is changing how they handle the procurement processes and that is good for the City of Prince George and that is pro-Prince George,” Stolz said.

“It also means that there are likely to be fewer cost overruns on future projects, which is also good for the City of Prince George and for the citizens who live here.”

The purpose of the paper as it continues with its investigative pieces is to acknowledge there is something wrong and hopefully inspire change, Stolz added.

“It’s important to share these issues with the public to make them aware of what’s going on,” Stolz said.

Online page views for The Prince George Citizen website are greater than

Take notice that Dylan DeSousa of Civil North Consulting Ltd. has applied to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation for a permit to extract rock/aggregates from a site located at: Part Sw1/4 District Lot 2555, Range 5, Coast Range 5 Land District, Except Plan R/W Prp13909, Ex S’ly & W’ly 25 Metres

The owner has filed with the Chief Permitting Officer, pursuant to Part 10.1.1 of the Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia, a proposed mine plan and a program for the protection and reclamation of the land and watercourses on the site

A copy of the permit application, including supporting documentation, is available for public viewing by request to MMD-PrinceGeorge@gov.bc.ca.

Any person affected by or interested in this program has 30 days from the date of publication to make written representation to the Chief Permitting Officer, Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, c/o the Regional Inspector of Mines, Omineca/Northeast Region at MMDPrinceGeorge@gov.bc.ca.

all other local media outlets combined.

“That is a significant presence in Prince George,” Stolz said.

Another piece to the pro-Prince George mandate is to further support the community by committing $100,000 of dedicated advertising and promotional space for local non-profit organizations during the first year of operation.

In addition, the weekly paper has seen the page count increase from its usual 24 pages to 32 pages – focusing on more substantive local coverage.

Stolz expects to be publishing 40 pages by next month.

He also indicated that further changes to improve the newspaper and the online news site are expected in the near future.

“Today is the start of a new beginning,” Stolz said. “Terresa and I are enthusiastic about The Citizen’s future in Prince George, and there will be more exciting announcements coming soon.”

TOM SUMMER

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Conservation North and the Bulkley Valley Stewardship Coalition say UK-based Drax Group is still sourcing logs from old growth forests in BC, which includes areas by Prince George and Smithers.

“In a recent radio interview, Drax representative Joe Aquino claimed that Drax stopped sourcing logs from old growth forests in 2023. However, findings by UK and BC-based environmental groups found that this is not the case,” notes a press release from Conservation North. The logs have been turned into

pellets, shipped to Europe and Asia and burned to produce fuel for electricity, as Drax Power is Britain’s largest power plant, controlling most of BC’s pellet production.

CBC’s The Fifth Estate found that Drax had been operating in areas that include BC’s old growth and primary forests, and the company’s March 2022 annual report, acknowledged that fact in fine print.

“We were surprised to hear a Drax representative claim that they did not procure old growth logs after 2023. An in-depth analysis shows that this company continued to source logs from old growth as recently as January 2024,” said Len Vanderstar of the Bulkley Valley

Stewardship Coalition in Conservation North’s press release.

Biofuelwatch UK, Conservation North, and the coalition analyzed government data to track the origin of logs and their destinations, explained the release, determining Drax had obtained logs and chipped wood from Priority Deferral Areas in 2023, which were designated as rare old growth forests, and continued to procure old growth wood for their mills this past January.

“A provincial government data leak last week revealed that the BC government was in the process of ‘deleting’ some of these old growth areas identified by the technical committee and allowing

business-as-usual logging in them,” continues the press release.

A technical committee for the Province identified and mapped old growth forest types as Priority Deferral Areas in 2021, including high and near-term risk areas of irreversible biodiversity loss if logged, notes the release.

“Many of these Priority Deferral Areas continue to be logged throughout the province by forest licensees,” they added. 103 loads of logs were received by Drax from companies logging old growth in January, explained Michelle Connolly of Conservation North, noting 39 of those loads came from blocks overlapping with Priority Deferral Areas.

Crime report shows Lower Mainland gangs making city more violent

TED CLARK Citizen staff

Increased criminal activity related to gangs from the Lower Mainland moving into northern B.C. is an alarming trend for Prince George police, city council heard in a report delivered at Monday’s public meeting.

RCMP Supt. Shaun Wright delivered the 2023 crime statistics for the city that shows there were 2,673 violent incidents police had to deal with last year, up eight per cent from 2,472 in 2022, while incidents of assault rose to a four-year high (1,449) up 11 per cent from 2022.

Yearly increases were also noted in the number of charges of aggravated assault/assault with a weapon (455) and robbery (149, up 43 per cent from 2022), while there were fewer sexual offenses (186) and fewer breakand-enters (615) in 2023 compared to the previous year.

“The disturbing trend we’ve seen going back at least over the last two years which is certainly picking up pace is the push from individuals involved in the Lower Mainland gang conflict up into Prince George and the level of violence and criminal sophistication that brings with it,” said Wright.

“Those are province-wide and interprovincial networks definitely involved in high levels of violence. The violent gangs pushing up into Prince George has resulted in many of the violent offences, including some of homicides and shootings that we’ve had.”

Prince George has already had two homicides and is on track to equal last year’s eight homicides. By comparison, Vancouver had 15 homicides in 2023. Of the eight local homicides the

majority of suspects were out on bail for violent offences when the crime was committed, including some of the 50 people in the city on electronic monitoring.

Downtown Prince George and the Moccasin Flats homeless encampment remain trouble spots. The first homicide of the year happened Jan. 5 when a man was shot inside the warming centre at Moccasin Flats and later died after about a week in hospital. Since then there have been two other shootings in the camp and multiple stabbings.

“For us, Moccasin Flats is the busiest 300 metres we have in town and it will be for some time,” said RCMP Insp. Darin Rappel.

“We escort BC Ambulance in (mostly for overdose cases) for their safety and that’s also true of Prince George Fire Rescue. We are in there multiple times a day. It’s a vulnerable population (of 35 residents) and they are at risk of being robbed and beaten and assaulted. In turn, many of these victims are victimizers themselves, it’s a bit of hierarchy. There’s always somebody bigger and meaner than you around the corner and sooner or later you will be the victim.”

“There’s a significantly high rate of violence and an equally high rate of non-cooperation when we speak to the victims down there.”

Police are seeing a concerning rise in violent street-level crime such as robberies and they are at a loss to find a solution. They recognize that unabated drug use with only occasional mental health and addictions interventions and the glaring lack of residential treatment centres to get people to stop using illegal substances will continue to spike crime rates.

2023 crime statistics.

SHOPLIFTING STINGS LEAD TO STORE ARRESTS

The RCMP worked with larger retail outlets to conduct Boost and Bust shoplifting stings using undercover officers and store security to apprehend people stealing items from store shelves and dozens of arrests were made. The sting operations typically involved four or five officers working over one or two days. They’ve seen fewer arrests and fewer repeat offenders, which indicates to the RCMP the program is effective.

Loss prevention officers do have the authority to stop shoplifters but Wright said the police are better equipped to handle making those arrests.

“We’ve seen a very disturbing alarming trend over the last year or two of the brazenness and the level of violence used by these individuals,” Wright. “When confronted they’ll often pull bear spray or knives or needles and threaten these individuals and it can be very dangerous for them. If they’re willing to step in and bring the resources we’re willing to partner with them.”

The RCMP continued to use bait cars and bait bikes to nab habitual thieves.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

From left, RCMP Insp. Darin Rappel, RCMP Insp. Shaun Wright and BC Conservation officer Sgt. Eamon McArthur attended Monday’s Prince George city council public meeting to discuss

UNBC Innovation Hub to test latest AI wound care technologies

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff

The Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North (CTAAN) at UNBC will use its connections across the region to introduce and validate innovative new technologies in healthcare aimed at advancing patient outcomes and equity in treatment.

CTAAN is involved in a national research initiative that aims to revolutionize wound care treatment, using artificial intelligence technologies to standardize treatment and improve patient outcomes. Healthcare education, wound care education and screening tools have been

historically developed for and from lighter skin tones, resulting in disproportionately poor outcomes for patients with darker skin tones.

Diabetes wounds alone are the cause of 80 per cent of major amputations in Indigenous populations due to limited accessibility and equity of remote wound care.

Digital, Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster for digital technologies, announced a co-investment with Swift Medical, a global leader in digital wound care, to deploy three pioneering technology tools poised to transform patient care by offering better wound evaluations, reducing variability in treatment approaches and identifying risks more accurately.

Working in collaboration with the National Research Council, CTAAN is one of a group of partners validating the project.

“This research has the potential to significantly impact accessibility to treatment and patient outcomes in northern and rural communities,” Dr. Richard McAloney, the Centre’s director, said.

“CTAAN is uniquely positioned to introduce these innovative new technologies to the region.”

“We’ve developed the connections, partnerships and processes that allow us to test, pilot, adapt and implement new technologies in real-world settings throughout rural and northern B.C. and

beyond,” Dr. Shannon Freeman, CTAAN’s academic director, said.

“Digital is excited to build upon the over 5 years of investments we’ve made in applied AI with this latest announcement,” says Nadia Shaikh-Naeem, Vice President of Programs at Digital, said. “We look forward to the potential of the partnerships within the Advanced AI Wound Care Network to deploy Swift Medical’s enhanced wound care solution within northern, rural and Indigenous communities by working alongside partners such as University of Northern British Columbia’s Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North, Brightshores Health System and Giishkaandago’Ikwe Health Services.

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Claire Nielsen: For the love of a dog

The human–dog relationship is something I have thought a lot about over the years. I have loved dogs my whole life and cannot remember a time when I didn’t have a dog. My family has had many different kinds of pets including fish, hamsters, horses, rabbits, birds, lizards, cats, ferrets etc, but nothing ever comes close to the relationship I have had with our various dogs.

There are some great and meaningful cross-species relationships with other animals, but I’d like to focus on the canine/human connection in this article. The relationship we have with our dogs is unique and quite unusual in the scope of animal behaviour and human-animal relations. It is characterized by a long history of mutual dependence, companionship, and emotional connection.

Dogs were among the first animals to be domesticated by humans, dating back tens of thousands of years. This long history of coexistence has resulted in a deep bond between the two species. Dogs are highly attuned to their human companions’ emotions and often provide comfort and support during times of distress. Interacting with dogs has been shown to have numerous health benefits for humans, including reduced stress, lower blood pressure, increased physical activity, and improved mental well-being. The presence of a dog can also promote socialization and a sense

of community among humans. There is something about dogs that stirs in us a connection that we may not even have with other humans. This is because, for the most part, dogs are capable of unconditional love. They are the only animal species in the world that routinely comes back to unconditional love for their humans. No matter how neglected or mistreated a dog may be, it is the most compassionate of animals –often seeking out their humans to offer loyalty, forgiveness, comfort, protection, companionship and adoration. This cross-species relationship between humans and dogs is completely unique. Humans do not love each other unconditionally. We can hope to learn unconditional love for our spouses or children or friends, but during times of conflict we usually become defensive, competitive or combative. We feel victimized and in our justification of feeling victim, we may be angry or resentful. We are rarely unconditionally loving when dealing with our own resistance or that of another. Unconditional love is a great goal to work towards though. We can learn a lot from our dogs, who know how to love

There is something about dogs that stirs in us a connection that we may not even have with other humans.

their humans will all their heart. The crazy thing is, that dogs are not unconditionally loving with each other. Dogs are all about pack mentality with each other. They are competitive and continually posture to determine their doggie status. Older dogs are alpha over the younger dogs, letting them know ‘who’s boss on a daily basis until the day when the younger dog becomes big enough and confident enough to dethrone the alpha and the tables turn. They do not have compassion for each other for the most part, stealing food or even preventing the older weaker dog from eating. This natural instinct for alpha dominance is very natural in the wild with all canines and eventually the old ones will be driven from the pack to starve or be eaten by other predators. So how do these animals who are still governed this natural instinct also have the capacity to unconditionally love human?

I like to think there is a spiritual component at work here. Without being confined to any particular church or religious belief, my personal definition of the concept of God is the energy of unconditional love. Many religions will

agree with the idea that their Creator is unconditionally loving. In looking at the unconditional love of a dog, I think that there is no mistake that we named this animal a word that is a reflection of the word God. (Dog is God backwards – DOG/GOD). So I see dogs as a heavenly gift as it were – a reflection of the love of God. Of course, this is just my opinion, but it attests to my immense gratitude for the family dog, particularly all the ones I have loved who have all loved me back.

I have been following a Youtube channel lately by Rocky Kanaka called ’Sitting with Dogs’ Rocky goes into humane societies or shelters and literally sits with dogs who are deeply traumatized, fearful or neglected. It doesn’t take him much to earn their trust and make a connection with them. It is inspiring and heart warming. Please support your local shelter by considering volunteering, supporting financially or adopting a dog rather than buying one from a breeder or puppy mill.

Claire Nielsen is a health coach, author, public speaker and founder of www.elixirforlife.ca. The information provided in the above article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional health and medical advice. Please consult a doctor or healthcare provider if you’re seeking medical advice, diagnoses and/or treatment.

Ethnic fraud and the court systems

Last fall, I wrote two pieces on Buffy Sainte-Marie and the allegations of ethnic fraud leveled against her. It easily generated the most feedback I have received from any of my pieces in the Citizen.

But I think the best comment I received was from my mother who asked, “What now?” The short answer is nothing. Buffy is retired, and while some of her awards and recognitions were, or might have been, premised on her being First Nations, strictly speaking her career was not. Oh, it added to her image, but the same can be said about both Johnny Cash and Cher, who at various points in their careers made similar claims.

And the same is true for Joseph Boyden, Carrier Bourassa, and Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond. Heck, Joseph Boyden is still writing and putting on workshops after being “cancelled;” a surprisingly common outcome of being “cancelled” for those who are not snowflakes and/or perpetually grieved.

A recent court case, however, highlights how ethnic fraud can have clear legal implications. In it, former Baptist associate pastor, Nathan Allen Joseph Legault was convicted of making and possessing child pornography. His sentence, was lenient, especially considering that he used his role as a pastor to interact with two girls in his church. Given the numerous examples of

sexual abuse within churches in Canada and around the world, it is somewhat surprising that one of the justifications for this lenient sentence was the support he had from “his wife, parents, siblings, other church members, friends, and members of his former church,” but that is a conversation for another day.

As part of his trial, Pastor Legault requested a Gladue report be produced. Named after the Supreme Court case R. v. Gladue in 1999, these reports are meant to help judges follow Section 718.2(e) of Criminal Code which states they must consider “all available sanctions, other than imprisonment, that are reasonable in the circumstances and consistent with the harm done to victims or the community… with particular attention to the circumstances of Aboriginal offenders.”

The spirit of the law is restorative justice and rehabilitation and given the ongoing debate over whether our justice should be based on punishment or rehabilitation, it should come as no surprise that Gladue reports are controversial. It should be remembered, though, that both perspectives intend to reduce recidivism. It should also be remembered the whole point of a Gladue report is to consider the life experience of Indigenous offenders. That raises the question of ethnic fraud. You see, as the judge pointed out, Mr. Legault only recently self-identified as Métis and then as part

of an organization – the Painted Feather Woodland Métis – that many people consider to be fraudulent.

The judge in this case did not rule on that matter, but it does highlight an aspect of Indigenous identity that many people are not aware of. Indian status is determined by the Indian Act and based on descent. Band membership, which was divorced from Indian status in 1985, is determined by the First Nation in question.

Strictly speaking, neither the Inuit not the Métis have status or band membership. The closest thing the Inuit have is enrollment under an Inuit land claims agreement, aka a treaty.

As for the Métis there is Métis membership or citizenship in a Métis organization or government. It might sound similar to band membership, except there many Métis organizations and/or governments in Canada at the moment and they not only have different definitions of what it means to be Métis, but also clearly disagree over who is and is not Métis.

This province alone has two Métis organizations: Métis Nation BC and the BC Métis Federation, and mirroring this on a national level the two largest Métis organizations are the Métis National Council (MNC) and Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF). The MNC and MMF cannot entirely agree on who is Métis, but they both agree that organizations like the Painted Feather Woodland Métis, colloquially known as the

eastern Métis, are not.

Indeed, the accusation is sometimes made that these organizations provide Métis membership to anyone willing to pay them money. A situation that is complicated when you recognize that, unlike a Indian status card, which if genuine is always a piece of government identification, Métis membership cards are not and only fall into that category if the Métis organization issuing them is a Métis government.

So we are left with a situation in which an already controversial part of the Criminal Code -- Gladue reports -- is combined with the controversy of who is and who is not Indigenous.

The end result is a court ruling in which the judge not only comes out and says he is disagrees with a plea deal, but feels “compelled by Canadian law to endorse it,” but also warns of a coming tsunami of ethnic fraud related to the perceived benefit of saying you are Indigenous in the criminal justice system.

I understand why plea deals and Gladue reports exist, but clearly something is broken in the justice system if we are handing out conditional sentences to those making child pornography.

Daniel Sims is a member of the Tsay Keh Dene First Nation and a professor in the First Nations Studies program at the University of Northern B.C.

Indigenous arts hub needed in Prince George

Last week I had a great conversation with my 93.1 CFIS community radio show “Local Matters” I co-host with Nicole Fraser, I had a great conversation with Angelique Merasty Levac of Angelique’s Native Arts on Dominion Street and her friend and artist Shirley Babcock. Angelique is a Cree artist from Manitoba who practices the traditional art of birch bark biting. Her work is in private collections around the world including in that of the late John Candy. Shirley was born in

Williams Lake and practices art here in town.

Prince George is lucky to have these amazing women.

We talked about Angelique’s book and her life and the incredible journey from growing up in the wilds of Manitoba and living off the land, speaking Cree until she was 15, to her life as an artist and entrepreneur. If you get the chance, check out her shop and gallery and learn about her story.

One of the things we talked about was how to support and grow the Native Arts scene in Prince George.

In many other communities Indigenous art, culture, and technology gets a lot more love than it does in our community. This is particularly apparent when you travel to the Yukon.

With a population half the size of Prince George’s, the Yukon runs rings around us

in promoting and showcasing Native Art and culture.

The Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism association has a wonderful website with links to 17 locations where people can support Native arts. It seems like every little community has a place that celebrates Native arts.

We do have a Northern Indigenous Arts Council through Studio 2880, and of course Angelique’s Native Arts, but it seems like we could be doing more to promote this sector here in town.

One thing that we could do to support this sector is getting more accessible workspaces happening.

Every time I drive by the boarded up Northern Hardware I see a huge opportunity in this regard. We could get some

woodworking equipment set up in the basement and get some accessible studio space happening. Weaving, beading, carving, textiles, leatherwork, metalwork, and language, art, ecology and foraging classrooms could all be part of this. A flexible gallery space could be the storefront.

Imagine walking in there and seeing Canoes on strongbacks, paddles, snowshoes, clothing, birchbark baskets and backpacks, drums, and other traditional technologies being produced. Obviously carvers would have some space to let those woodchips fly. Can’t find any high quality carving knives anymore? No problem, let’s get knife and tool-making workshops happening. Let’s get people learning how to forge, grind, and sharpen steel, basic skills we need to nurture and maintain.

Cougars head into homestretch leading the West

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

The Prince George Cougars are getting hot, real hot, at just the right time.

Four road games, four wins, all in the space of five days have the Cougars on a 15-0-1-1 streak that’s put them on top of the WHL’s Western Conference standings heading into the last week of the season.

The Cougars (47-15-3-0) have already set the Prince George record for most wins in a season, dating back 30 years when the franchise moved north from Victoria.

Sunday in Langley the Cougars beat the Vancouver Giants 6-3 on the strength of two goals each from Terik Parascak and Zac Funk and a 25-save outing from Joshua Ravensbergen.

Parascak, since named the WHL’s Tempo rookie of the week, also collected a pair of assists and moved

into the 100-point club. He now has 42 goals and 103 points in his rookie season to remain ninth in the WHL scoring race.

Funk continued to add to his team records for most goals and most points in a single season.

His 67th of the season early in the third period was a toe-drag beauty through the slot he finished with a backhander past goalie Matthew Hutchinson that stood as the gamewinner.

Funk also set up Jett Lejoie for the insurance goal eight minutes into the period. Parascak capped the scoring with an empty-netter.

The game came to a halt midway through the second period when Cougars winger Hunter Laing suffered what appeared to be a head injury when he collided with two Giants. Matthew Edwards was given a major penalty and game misconduct on the hit, while a stretcher was brought in to carry

Laing off the ice and was taken to the hospital.

Riley Heidt picked up three assists and remains third in the league in points with 114, five behind Funk, who holds a one-point edge over Moose Jaw’s Jagger Firkus.

The Cougars started the weekend in Victoria, beating the Royals 6-1 and 10-4. They started their trip Wednesday in Kelowna with a 6-5 overtime win over the Rockets.

Prince George is now two points ahead of the Portland Winterhawks

(46-15-3-1) for first in the West and they got some help Sunday from the Seattle Thunderbirds, who beat the Winterhawks 5-4 in overtime. P.G. native Nico Myatovic had the lone assist on Sawyer’s Mynio’s OT goal. The Cougars have two games left – a home-and-home series with the Kamloops Blazers Friday in Kamloops and Saturday in Prince George. Portland is down to its last three games this weekend, one against Tri-City and two against Seattle.

Accessibility advocate challenges city council to take a ride in a wheelchair

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

Ken Biron has challenged Prince George Mayor Simon Yu and city councillors to put themselves behind the driver’s seat of his mobility scooter.

Biron, 58, drove his scooter 14 blocks from his Third Avenue and Winnipeg Street apartment to City Hall so he could attend Monday’s public meeting to provide a report as acting chair of the city’s Advisory Committee on Accessibility and Inclusion.

Biron spoke about the group’s efforts to implement the 2023 work plan and outlined the work they have done to identify and remove barriers (physical, social and attitudinal) that make it difficult for people with mobility problems to access public buildings, sidewalks and roadways.

He then asked council members if they would like to try it out for themselves getting around the city using a wheelchair.

“We’re always trying to get city council to grab a wheelchair and drive around the city, it’s fun,” said Biron.

“It would be an experience for anybody, and for them to see what the problems are. If they had it themselves, it would be fixed – all they have to do is experience it.

“British Columbia and Canada as a whole are aging, people are living longer and there’s a higher incidence of mobility problems and getting your driver’s licence taken away. Your living conditions are changed when you’ve got a device like this. I live without a vehicle, it’s very common.”

Biron was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when he was 34, and within a year the disease had progressed to the point where his mobility was seriously impaired.

“I actually walked into a wall in 1999 and my life changed,” he said. “In 2000 they said, ‘You’ve

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got MS,’ and it took my five years to wrap my head around that.

“I was an active worker. I was in the (army) reserve force as a civilian instructor with cadets and worked in the forest service for many years of my youth firefighting. Sad to say, most of the time it either takes an accident or an illness and then they discover the barriers. I want to do something about it and this is how I’m going to do it.”

He’s been riding a motorized scooter since 2002. His current ride is limited to 10 kilometres per hour.

When it’s too snowy or cold or he has travel far from his home, Biron relies on BC Transit’s handyDART door-to-door and fixed-route service. He said all the buses in the city are easily accessible to him and his scooter and that puts Prince George ahead of some Canadian cities.

“We had the most successful transit in the nation, we would drop our ramps at every stop, all the operating hours seven days

a week 365 days a year. If somebody with a device can get to a bus stop they can take them.”

Biron said Prince George has changed for the better in recent years and he has better access to public facilities and the city has made sidewalk improvements with more corners installed that drop down to street level. The biggest change for him, which came out of the pandemic, is virtual meetings became commonplace and he no longer had to leave his home to attend meetings in person.

But there’s still much work to be done and he continues that through his work on the committee and as a part-time administrator at Handy Circle Resources.

“Getting to this meeting is a lot easier than it was a decade ago,” he told council. “We’ve come a long ways we’ve come so far, but we’ve got way further to go.

“I hope that Prince George eventually becomes a city that accepts everybody in the world to come here.”

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Ken Biron relies on his electric scooter to get around the city and used it Monday to get from his home to City Hall, where he gave a report to city council about accessibility issues.

Arendz gives Canada a gold-medal sweep in individual events at Para Biathlon World Championships

TED CLARK Citizen staff

Prince Edward Islander Mark Arendz completed the triple crown over the weekend at the inaugural Para Biathlon World Championships, winning gold in all three individual events.

Best of all, he did it in his home country with his family watching from the crowd at Otway Nordic Centre.

The 34-year-old native of Hartsville, P.E.I. went into the weekend having won the 7.5-kilometre sprint and the 12.5 km distance race, and his steady aim and strong skiing stride pushed him to the top of the heap again on Saturday in the men’s standing sprint pursuit.

Arendz went 10-for-10 on the range to avoid the penalty loop and crossed the finish in 11 minutes 18.9 seconds to claim his third gold medal of the

competition in Prince George.

“It’s fantastic,” said Arendz, who had just one missed target in his three individual wins.

“Only earlier this year (at the World Cup in Martell, Italy) was the first time I’ve ever been able to do the triple at a venue, and that was pretty special. And to do it here, my first time at a world championships, on home soil with my brother here, my parents watching –it’s unbelievable.”

Ukrainian Serhii Romaniuk claimed silver and Benjamin Daviet of France took the bronze medal.

On Sunday, Arendz teamed up with Brittany Hudak of Prince Albert, Sask., and captured bronze in the team sprint.

That was Canada’s eighth medal in the four-day competition. The four-member Canadian team placed fourth overall with seven medals (four gold and three bronze).

Natalie Wilkie of Salmon Arm won

Canada’s hardware haul from the Para Biathlon World Championships includes four gold and two silver. Mark Arendz won three of those gold medals and teamed up with Brittany Hudac, far left, to win bronze in the team sprint. Hudac won two bronze, while Natalie Wilkie, centre, captured gold and bronze.

gold in the women’s standing 7.5 km sprint, sharing her win with Liudimyla Liashenko of Ukraine. Wilkie also won bronze in the 12.5 km race, while Hudak was the bronze medalist in the 7.5 km sprint and just missed the podium in the sprint pursuit, placing fourth.

Sit-skier Derek Zaplotinsky of Smoky Lake, Alta., was fourth in the 7.5 km and fourth in the sprint pursuit.

Kendall Gretsch and Oksana Masters, the dominant duo in the women’s sit-ski class, had some time to make up after their team sprint qualifying races and started third. Despite three misses for Masters in her second shooting bout, the Americans reeled in Ukraine and Germany to win gold in 22:22.1.

Although it was windy Saturday and Sunday, Gretsch shot clean and had just one miss all week, in the 7.5 km sprint. Gretsch went through the entire 2022-23 season without a miss.

Gretsch/Masters stopped the clock 12 seconds ahead of silver medalists Vasyl Kravchuk and Taras Rad of the Ukraine, while Germans Andrea Eskau and Anja Wicker took bronze

The last race in the team sprint Sunday combined standing and vision-impaired disciplines and Liashenko teamed up with Bohdana Korashuk to win gold. Standing skier Leonie Maria Walter and guide Christian Krasman combined with Lin Kazmaier and her

guide Florian Baumann to win silver, just ahead of Arendz/Hudak.

Kazmaier and Walter finished first and second respectively in the three women’s vision-impaired individual races as the dominant Germans combined with Johan Recktenwald and her guide Pirmin Strecker to lock up all three podium spots earlier in the week. In the men’s vision-impaired class, Olexander Kazik of Ukraine and his guide Serhii Kucheriavyi won the 7.5mn and sprint pursuit races and were third in the 12.5 km.

Anthony Chalecon of France and guide Florian Michelon celebrated gold in the 12.5 km race, silver in 7.5 km and bronze in the pursuit.

Jaroslav Reshetynskyi of Ukraine, with guide Dmutro Drahan, also won three medals – silver in the 12.5 km and bronze in the 7.5 km and pursuit.

The Ukrainian team, with 23 athletes, won 20 medals (eight gold, seven silver, five bronze). Germany totalled 13 medals (3-6-4 ), while the United States was third overall with eight (4-1-3).

Canadian sit-ski medal contender Colin Cameron, a native of Bracebridge, Ont.,who won gold in the 12.5 km biathlon in Prince George at the 2019 World Para Nordic Championships, was sidelined with sinus infection that kept him out of the Para Biathlon races. But he intends to race this week in the Para Nordic World Cup Finals at Otway, which starts with the 10 km middle distance biathlon race on Wednesday.

Three cross-country skiing events will follow. It starts with the five km classic on Thursday, freestyle sprints on Saturday and a 20 km freestyle race on Sunday.

Sit skier Ethan Hess of Pemberton and vision-impaired skier Leo Sammarelli of Vancouver will represent their home province in those races, along with Wilkie.

The other Canadians entered this week include: Emma Archibald of Fall River, N.S; Christina Picton of Fonthill, Ont; Lyne-Marie Bilodeau of Sherbrooke, Que; Jesse Bachinshy of Kenora, Ont; and Levi Nadlersmith (guide) of Boissevain, Man.

Owner’s quick action saves dog from icy plunge

TED CLARK Citizen staff

Brian Skakun’s morning walk Saturday along the Fraser River trails south of the city turned to near-disaster when his dog Kato left the safety of the shore and fell through the ice.

The seven-year-old Siberian husky/ Malamute cross was clinging to the surface gripping the ice with his paws with only his head above the water when Skakun and his son discovered his dangerous plight.

They grabbed a 25-foot log and another tree length about eight feet long and Skakun used his makeshift ladder to spread his weight over a wider surface as he crawled out onto the ice to try to rescue Kato.

“I always take my dog hiking with me and he does not like water, said the 61-year-old Prince George city councilor. “We got down by the river and I was taking a bit of a break and the next thing I know I hear him whining and looked and saw he went through some ice sticking out from the shore,” said Skakun.

“I grabbed (the logs) and I thought if I just kneel on them and crawl out and get him I’ll be OK and I wasn’t

worried about myself drowning but I took my cell phone out and my keys out and went out there.”

With his son Jake recording video with his phone from the shore, it took Skakun about five minutes to get to Kato. He reached in and grabbed him by the collar to pull him back onto the ice and they made it back to dry land without further incident.

“He was terrified because he’s never been in water like that,” said Skakun.

“He had probably been in the water 10 minutes and he was just keeping his head up and his front paws were just dug into the ice. Some people say, it’s a dog, what happens if you had gone in? I figured I was well-prepared and my weight was distributed across the ice and I was able to get right near the soft ice where he was and pull him out without sinking in at all.”

The spot where Kato broke through was a deeper part of the river where an outcrop of land created an eddy current. The water wasn’t moving swiftly but it was deep.

“He never goes on ice and I’ve never seen him do that before and this time he must have thought the ice was safe,” said Skakun.

“Had he gone under the ice he

Brian Skakun uses logs to distribute his weight so he could rescue his dog Kato, who fell though the ice Saturday on the Fraser River.

would have drowned, but I thought I’ve got to a get out there and grab him,” said Skakun.

“The funny thing is I got him on shore after and he just stuck right beside, I couldn’t give him enough

affection for the rest of the day. It was like he knew, something happened. We do those kinds of thing for our pets. He’s not afraid to protect me and I just returned the favour.”

Skakun doesn’t recommend doing what he did because he easily could have gone through the ice as well, but he could not bear to see his best friend suffering on his own.

“I figured I was safe enough that in the worst case scenario I might have got wet, but I would have been able to pull myself out with those logs and I wasn’t worried about myself going in,” he said. “There was probably another seven or eight feet of ice and if he had gone under there where do you go? Most of the other areas along the river had no ice at all.”

There were a couple lessons learned.

“I’m not going to bring him to the water in the springtime when there’s ice and I’ll bet you he never goes out on ice again as long as I have him,” he said.

Prince George city councillor Brian Skakun with his dogs Kato, right, and Tika. On Saturday Kato fell through the ice on the Fraser River and Skakun had to act quickly to free him from his icy trap.

TIPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF:

• Know that reputable organizations will never ask for your personal information through email or text.

• Ignore communications from unknown contacts.

• Delete suspicious messages as they can carry viruses.

• Don’t reply to spam messages, even to unsubscribe, and don’t open any attachments or follow any links.

• To verify a hyperlink without clicking, hover your mouse over it. Carefully check if it is accurate.

• Update your antivirus software on all devices.

• Never use the phone number or email address provided in the suspicious message— use contact information listed on verified websites.

PHISHING AND SMISHING SCAMS

BE ON THE LOOKOUT. MESSAGES ARE EASILY FABRICATED!

As we spend more time online, fraudsters are getting more creative with scams in the digital space.

Phishing is when you get an unsolicited email that claims to be from a legitimate organization, such as financial institutions, businesses or government agencies. Scammers ask you to provide or verify, either via email or by clicking on a web link, personal or financial information, like your credit card number, passwords and social insurance number.

Smishing is the same thing, except it occurs via text messages. These messages often copy the tone and logo of organizations you trust, and usually include a call to action. They take many shapes and forms but the bottom line is that they seek your personal details.

IDENTITY THEFT

Help ensure your identity remains yours alone!

Scammers are always on the lookout to collect or reproduce your personal information to commit fraud. Thieves can make purchases using your accounts, obtain passports, receive government benefits, apply for loans, and more. This could turn your life upside down.

Fraudsters use techniques that range from unsophisticated to elaborate. Offline, they can go through trash bins or steal mail. Online, they can use spyware and viruses, as well as hacking and phishing.

They look for credit card information, bank account details, full name and signature, date of birth, social insurance number, full address, mother’s maiden name, online usernames and passwords, driver’s licence number, and passport number.

Identity theft is a serious crime!

TIPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF:

• Never provide your personal information over the phone, via text message, email or the internet.

• Avoid public computers or Wi-Fi hotspots, such as in coffee shops, to access or provide personal information; they put you at risk.

• Create strong and unique passwords for each of your online accounts. Password-protect your devices and home Wi-Fi network.

• Use a secure and reputable payment service when buying online—look for a URL starting with “https” and a closed padlock symbol.

• Avoid giving out personal information on social media. It can be used along with your pictures to commit fraud.

• Always shield your PIN when using your card. If you hand it over to a cashier, never lose sight of it.

• Shred and destroy documents with personal information.

Sale of merchandise scams

Scammers can pose as buyers.

If you sell items online, either personally or as part of a business, you need to be careful who you sell to as there is a risk of being targeted by tricksters who want to take your merchandise, money, or both.

In one version, the fraudster will agree to buy your item without seeing it. You’ll get a PayPal or email money notification that claims the payment is pending.

The catch is, the notification will say the payment will only be released when you provide a tracking number for the goods. By the time you enter the tracking number, you’ll have already

shipped the merchandise only to learn that the payment notification was a fake.

In other cases, you might get paid with a fake money transfer, a fraudulent cheque or a stolen credit card.

In another version, the scammer may send you a message that says the payment can’t be sent due to a problem with your PayPal or bank account. You’ll be asked to pay a fee to obtain a business account to complete the transaction. The scammer offers to pay the fee if you reimburse them using a transfer or wire service. If you agree, the “fee” money will go to the con artist.

TipS To proTecT yourSelf:

• Always meet in a local, public and safe place to complete an exchange.

• Beware of generic emails with bad grammar.

• Beware of far away buyers who want to buy products or other items without seeing them.

• Verify the sender’s email address—scammers will often create addresses that are very similar to legitimate ones, with just one or two different letters.

• Never send money to get money.

SecuriNG your HoMe

Securing your home is paramount, especially for seniors seeking peace of mind and safety. Implementing a few key measures can significantly reduce the risk of break-ins. Begin by fortifying entry points with robust locks and deadbolts. Reinforce doors and windows with security films or laminates to deter forced entry.

Well-lit exteriors are a natural deterrent, so install motion-sensor lights around your property to illuminate potential hiding spots. Consider a home security system with features like cameras,

alarms, and 24/7 monitoring for added protection. Get to know your neighbors, fostering a tightknit community that looks out for one another.

Avoid advertising your absence by utilizing timers for lights, radios, or TVs to create the illusion of an occupied home. Finally, be cautious about sharing travel plans on social media. These simple steps empower seniors to create a safer living environment, promoting both security and peace of mind in their homes.

Caledonia club skiers/biathletes earn medals at B.C. championships

TED CLARK Citizen staff

Prince George skiers Tanner McConkey and Natalie Hoehn earned a share of the medal spotlight over the weekend at the Teck BC Cup cross-country championships in Salmon Arm.

Representing the Caledonia Nordic Ski Club, McConkey won silver in the U-18 boys 7.5-kilometre freestyle race, while Hoehn was the silver medalist in the U-16 girls skate race.

McConkey was a constant medal threat in BC Cup events this season

and placed third in the U-18 aggregate standing, while Hoehn posted a fourthplace season finish.

Her sister Maisie Hoehn placed second overall in the U-14 girls aggregate list.

Meanwhile, at the Odlum Brown B.C. biathlon championships at Whistler, Caledonia athletes coached by Ali Cadell captured 11 medals.

Oscar Nelson dominated the junior boys category, winning gold in mass start race Saturday and in Sunday’s sprint, while Maisie Hoehn won silver in each of the junior girls races.

Gabby Hoehn and Ewan Hawes each earned two trips to the podium. Hoehn was a double-silver medalist in senior girls while Hawes finished second in the senior boys mass start and third in the sprint.

Nathaneal Dean earned silver in the senior boys sprint, Alaiah Turner sprinted to silver in the youth women’s race and Sky Cadell was the bronze medalist in the junior girls mass start event.

The Caledonia club will be sending five athletes this week to Nakkertok, Ont. (near Ottawa) for the national

cross-country ski championships. Races start Saturday and the event goes for nine days.

McConkey Natalie Hoehn, Odin Witso, Garnet Ditto and Aidan Cotter will represent the Caledonia club.

“There’s not a lot of snow so it could be very interesting,” said Caledonia cross-country coach Tuppy Hoehn.

”They’ve got really warm temperatures in the forecast and not a lot of snow to work with – the story of our winter. “I’m so sad we’re leaving here when skiing (at Otway Nordic Centre) is so good.”

Canada finishes Para Nordic finals with medal surge

CANADIAN PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE

Collin Cameron of Bracebridge, Ont., highlighted a four-medal day for Canada in the distance races Sunday with silver to conclude the Para Nordic World Cup Finals.

Derek Zaplotinsky of Smoky Lake, Alta., Natalie Wilkie of Salmon Arm and Christina Picton of Fonthill, Ont., each added a bronze.

Canada ends the competition with 10 medals (three gold, two silver and five bronze) for third overall at the 16-country event.

In the men’s 18-kilometre sitting race, Giuseppe Romele of Italy won gold in one hour and one minute and 24.8 seconds. Cameron, the sprint victor on Saturday, followed in 1:02:12.7 and Zaplotinsky, the five km winner Thursday, took third in 1:02:15.9.

‘’I just wanted to go out and have a solid race,’’ said Cameron, who ends his only World Cup appearance this season with a gold, silver and bronze. ‘’As we kept going I just felt better and better and it was exciting to move into second on the very last lap.’’

Picton, a member of the 2022 Paralympic team, was third in the women’s sitting race with

The men’s sit-skiers leave the stadium to head out onto the course for Sunday’s 20-km race at the Para Nordic World Cup Finals at Otway Nordic Centre.

Lyne-Marie Bilodeau of Sherbrooke, Que., in fourth. Anja Wicker of Germany was the winner.

‘’To get some hardware at the end of a race like that is a bonus,’’ said Picton, who, like Cameron, missed most of the season with illness.

‘’The conditions got sloppier so it was important for me to stick to

my line and not fall on the sketchy areas.”

Temperatures soared above 20 C, which had most of the racers down to their T-shirts during the race. Wilkie marched to the podium for the third time this week in the women’s standing 20 km race with her second bronze. Vilde Nilsen of

Norway was the victor.

Wilkie was also third in the sprint and second in the five km. She placed second to Nilsen in the World Cup cross-country season standings in the race for the Crystal Globe.

‘’For me today was more mentally tough,’’ said Wilkie. ‘’Every lap I just wanted to withdraw because my body wasn’t feeling good but I just kept telling myself to keep going. It was worth it in the end. I’m so happy I finished.’’

Emma Archibald of Fall River, N.S. was eighth.

Taiki Kawayoke of Japan won the men’s standing 20 km. Mark Arendz of Hartsville, PEI, a double medallist this week, was fourth, less than a minute from the podium.

Jesse Bachinsky of Pemberton and his guide Levi Nadlersmith of Boissevain, Man., were seventh in the men’s visually impaired 20 km.

Zaplotinsky, Archibald and Bilodeau all ranked third in their respective categories in the final FIS World Cup cross-country standings. Sunday’s events completed eight days of racing over the past two weeks at Otway, which started with last week’s Para Biathlon World Championships.

Upcoming events in Prince George

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff

Cry-Baby: The Musical at Theatre NorthWest and presented by UNBC Musical Productions goes Friday, March 22 to Sunday, March 23, with matinees Saturday at 1 p.m. and evening shows at 7 p.m. The entertainment features a live band. This is a love story between Baltimore Bad Boy and Good Square Girl. Filled with catchy tunes, plenty of dancing and enough camp to fill a beach, this is a musical event you don’t want to miss. Tickets are $10 for students and $20 for general admission. Recommended for those 16 and older. For tickets visit Cry BabyThe Musical tickets

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Prince George Dance Festival goes until March 23 at Vanier Hall, 2901 Griffiths Ave., there are morning and afternoon sessions each day and a dance festival gala on Saturday, March 23 at 3 p.m. Tickets are available at Prince George Dance Festival Tickets. ***

Comedy Night on the Farm goes Saturday, March 23 at 7 p.m. for an evening of laughter at the Farmhouse Restaurant located at Prestige Treasure Cove Hotel & Resort. The Farmhouse is excited to welcome talented locals including renowned comic Mike McGuire from Laftrax Comedy. Tickets starting at $20 at Eventbrite. ca.comedy-night-on-the-farm-tickets.

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Live Music with the Chevys goes Saturday, March 23 at Trench Brewing & Distilling. The Chevys are a fourpiece Prince George band that is dedicated to creating a rockabilly music experience that was most popular in the 50s. he Chevys are Brad Martin (drums) Dale Doiron (Drums and Vocals), Dennis Smith (Stand Up Bass) and Tim Yule (Vocals and Guitar). No cover charge but tips are welcome.

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Genevieve Jaide Album why am I like this? Release Party goes Saturday, March 23 at 8:30 p.m. with Patchwork and Susie Ruth at the Legion 43, 1010-1116 Sixth Ave. Tickets are $20 at the door or $15 in advance at Madloon tickets for Genevieve Jaide album release party.

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Wellness North & Business Expo Prince George goes Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Prince George Civic Centre where people can immerse themselves in a sanctuary of health and wellness. Explore the latest trends, products and services geared for health. Including interactive workshops, fitness demonstrations and there’s a business excellence zone to explore. General admission is free and non-perishable food donations gratefully accepted. For more information visit www. livewellpg.ca

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Stretch & Sip goes Saturday, March 23 at 12:30 p.m. at Deadfall Brewing Co., 1733 Nicholson St. South. Join

Deanna for a 45-minute yoga session with a pint of your choice to follow. Tickets are $25. Email Deanna to sign up at deanna.danskin@gmail.com.

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Studio 720 goes Saturday, March 23 at 9 p.m. at Nelly’s Pub, 2280 John Hart Highway. Studio 720 will bring you the face melting rock & roll people crave. Join the chaos and shake the Hart with us. No cover, first come, first serve. This event is for 19+.

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Prince George Cougars Retro Night presented by Indigenous Policing Services goes Saturday, March 23 at CN Centre at 6 p.m. This is the last chance to see the Cougars in action before playoffs. Specialty Retro jerseys and merchandise, $50,000 guaranteed mega 50/50 jackpot, post game sake with players and a special free entry for a jersey off the back raffle to win a game-worn jersey presented to you by the player. For tickets to the game visit https://ticketsnorth.Cougars retro night

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Spring Small Business Fair goes Saturday, March 23 and Sunday, March 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at the Prince George Roll A Dome, with 100 vendors showcasing their wares.

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Miracle Theatre Presents: A Comedy of Tenors by Ken Ludwig goes until April 3 at ArtSpace above Books & Co., 1685 Third Ave. This is a laugh-out-loud production. All proceeds go to purchase Structural Protection units to keep Prince George safe in the event of a wildlife. Tickets are $37.50. Purchase at Books & CO., or by phone at 250-563-6637.

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Open Mic Nights are presented at Cait’s Sweet Bites & Beanery, 3831 Austin Road West in the Hart Shopping Centre, from 7 to 9 p.m. every second Wednesday of the month. People are invited to share their songs and music, poetry, comedy in a casual setting to try something new. Everyone is welcome to attend as a participant or a supportive audience member. For more information email devon.w.flynn@gmail.com.

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Craft & Chat at the Prince George Public Library is presented by Great Northwest Fibre Fest organizers who are hosting this fibre crafting group every Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. on the second floor in the magazine corner. This is a free drop-in group and everyone – all ages, all experience levels - are welcome to attend.

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Omineca’s Coffee House Open Stage every Sunday 369 Victoria Street from 3 to 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome to step up and share their talents, stories and art forms of all kinds including but not limited to musical, literary, comedic and performative expressions of our diverse community. Refreshments and snacks by donation. Sign up is on site. There are some house instruments provided but feel free to bring your own creative tools for expression. First timers and emerging artists are encouraged to experiment and collaborate with others. Please share and invite friends and family to build audience, engage and cheer on local artists in a fun, relaxed and safe environment.

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If you’ve got an event coming up email me at cdalgleish@pgcitizen.ca to offer details including name of the event, the date, time and location, ticket price and where to get them and a little bit about what’s happening, too.

BRENT BRAATEN PHOTO

Starring in Miracle Theatre’s A Comedy of Tenors, from left to right is Michael Charrois, Ian Farthing, Quinn Churchill, Maggie Trepanier, David Rosser, Lucia Frangione and Missy Christensen. The play is presented at Artspace, above Books & Co. until April 3.

A Comedy of Tenors, the farcical fundraiser presented by Miracle Theatre

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff

Miracle Theatre presents A Comedy of Tenors by Ken Ludwig until April 3, but don’t let the title fool you.

Just because the hilarious play is about four tenors, doesn’t mean it’s a musical.

This farcical comedy is set in 1930s Paris where four tenors are preparing to perform the concert of the century at a stadium filled with screaming fans. The fun starts in the hotel suite that sees the tenors, two wives and three girlfriends coming together and that’s where things start to unravel.

Miracle Theatre creates professional theatre productions for the enjoyment of the community while donating proceeds to a good cause. This year Ted Price, director and designer, and Anne Laughlin, producer, will gift the City of Prince George with a Structural Protection Unit for wildfire mitigation, which is a container filled with pumps, hoses, sprinklers and water delivery attachments and tools.

Price said he wanted people to know that this fundraising effort is for equipment that can potentially save people’s homes in Prince George.

“We had to put our proposal forward to city council because they had to agree to accept this gift and one of the city councillor’s said ‘we are a city in a forest’ and that stuck with us as we realized we are really very vulnerable,” Price said. “We have the second biggest municipal footprint in the province, Abbotsford being the biggest. Mile after mile of the Prince George boundary is up against a forest.”

Price pointed out that on the west side of Foothills Boulevard there are no fire hydrants but a lot of homes.

“This equipment is designed to cope with that very situation,” Price said. “The equipment can also be used beyond city limits to squelch a fire before it actually gets into the city because that’s the terrible, terrible fear that once it gets into the city and starts burning up all the structures, including homes, that’s where you get a Fort McMurray.”

A Structural Protection Unit is part of the plan for City of Prince George but it was to have one in the next five years and Price and Laughlin wanted that expedited.

“We want it here by the spring so it’s on stand-by for the wildfire season,” Price said. The equipment has been lined up by City staff and is on order so that once the funding is in place the purchase will be completed, he added.

“We have to raise $180,000, which is a scary number to raise putting on a play but we are determined to do it,” Price said. “We will make that happen and we will have the equipment here in time for fire season.”

A Structural Protection Unit has the means to protect as many as 75 homes at once.

It is a water line that goes down the middle of the street and then branches off to each house and drenches the property as the fire approaches so that the combustion level becomes very low, Price explained.

“A fire official explained to me that it is 90 per cent effective,” Price said. “And the homes that usually don’t get saved are those who have highly combustible materials on the property. We are hoping as people become aware of what we are raising funds for, they will get behind the idea. We want people to know that we’re trying to keep ticket prices down, they are $37.50, so people of ordinary means can

come out and have a helluva good time while contributing to a great cause.”

Ian Farthing, actor/director, who takes on the role of Max in A Comedy of Tenors, said having that philanthropic piece as part of the production is really something special.

“I direct more than I act but every so often a project comes up and I think ‘oh, that might be fun’ and I have worked with Ted (Price) before and I consider him a friend and I know the good work they do here and the fact that it’s for the community is a really big sell for wanting to come to Prince George to do this project,” Farthing said.

“It gets you right in the heart.”

Canadian actor director Ian Farthing who took his professional training in the UK and now lives in Vancouver, said his character, Max, is the son-in-law of the producer of the concert who used to be his assistant and has now progressed to professional opera singer.

“The play is set in 1936 and it’s a stadium concert for 30,000 people – bigger than anything that’s ever happened before in the opera world, so it’s a really big deal, especially for an up-and-coming singer like my character, who gets to sing with the

Pavarotti character, Tito Merelli,” Farthing said. “But of course, this is a farce and as soon as we get there and get all excited about the concert things start to go a little wrong – or a lot wrong - and that’s where the fun comes in. People quitting, presumed affairs, wannabe affairs, everything you want in a farce.”

Ted Price wanted to make it clear that the play is not a musical.

“If people love musicals and come for that they will be disappointed,” Price said.

“There’s one song in the whole thing. It’s really a comedy.”

“And you don’t need to know anything about opera to enjoy the play,” Farthing added. “It’s not about opera. And as an actor, there’s nothing better than being in a play where you are making people laughand laugh a lot. It’s so rewarding and we all need a laugh right now.”

Miracle Theatre’s A Comedy of Tenors by Ken Ludwig goes until April 3 at ArtSpace above Books & Co., 1685 Third Ave. All proceeds go to purchase Structural Protection units to keep Prince George safe in the event of wildfire. Tickets are $37.50. Purchase in person at Books & Co., 1685 Third Ave., or by phone at 250-563-6637.

Lucia Frangione and David Rosser star in Miracle Theatre’s Comedy of Tenors at Artspace, above Books & Co., until April 3.

Throwback Thursday: Week of March 21

“George Campbell Loses His Life Crossing Fraser,” proclaimed the front-page headline in the March 20, 1924, edition of the Citizen.

“A man of about thirty year,” Campbell was carrying a pack with his belongings at the time and it was guessed he chose cutting across the ice, instead of walking a couple of miles to the bridge, to catch the train that would have taken him to one of the logging camps west of the city. Two men heard his cries for help and ran to the area.

“They did not catch sight of Campbell, but out on the ice, about fifty feet from the bank, they saw a cap, close to open water.”

Police recovered his body two days later a short distance from where it was believed he fell through the ice.

***

Under the headline “Your School Problem,” an ad taken out in the March 23, 1944, edition of the Citizen invited residents to an open house “to see your high school in action” on March 29.

“Avail yourself of this opportunity and see why a new Junior-Senior High School is necessary. Do not be misled by those not acquainted with the facts,” the ad urged. “Vote FOR the school bylaw.”

***

March is National Social Worker Month and the only local resident to have a statue immortalizing their contribution to Prince George is the legendary social worker Bridget Moran.

“Bridget finished for good, result

of explosive scene,” the Citizen headline declared on the front page of the March 20, 1964, edition of the Citizen.

Moran attended a sitting of the legislature in Victoria after she was suspended from her job for communicating with the press and branding the government’s welfare services as “sick, sick, sick.”

“Mrs. Moran sat in the public gallery to hear herself branded ‘disloyal’ by a Social Credit backbencher,” the story read. “The result was explosive debate and the certainty she will never get her job back as a Prince George social worker.”

While this week 60 years ago was perhaps the darkest time in her professional life, Moran’s social work career in Prince George was not done, nor was her work as a social activist, and her work as an author was still 25 years in the future.

***

Jumping ahead a few days, the March 23, 1964, edition of the Citizen featured an aerial shot of a huge train wreck about 100 kilometres east of Prince George. Miraculously, no one was killed and only an engineer “suffered cuts and shock when three locomotives 18 cars of his 46-car freight were derailed.”

Fifty years ago, Billy, John, Laura and Sam Masich, the children of Tom and Anne Masich, appeared with their dog Putt Putt on the front page of the March 21, 1974, edition of the Citizen.

Putt Putt’s life was saved by an open-heart operation performed at the College of Veterinary Surgeons in Saskatoon after Prince George veterinarian Dr. Alan Olson “detected a heart murmur when the pet was brought into his clinic for a routine rabies shot.”

Dr Olson “made arrangements with

the Saskatoon college to have the necessary operation performed free of charge,” the story said. “The only cost to the Masich family was the $49 return air fare to Saskatoon.”

***

Lastly, it’s been 40 years since a cute three-year-old by the name of Landyn Fellers appeared on the front page of the March 21, 1984, edition of the Citizen, staying dry under an umbrella bigger than him.

Any Citizen readers know what Landyn’s up to these days?

The Prince George Citizen archive can be found online at pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. Neil Godbout is the former editor of the Prince George edition and a current member of the Prince George Heritage Commission.

HOROSCOPES

ARIES

Youmay need to negotiate skillfully in various contexts such as at work or with your friends or partner to achieve harmony.You’ll have to make compromises andadjustmentstocultivate happiness in all your relationships.

TAURUS

At work, you mayexperience some confusion and conflict. This could prompt youtostartthinking about acareer change. Take the time to weighthe pros and cons and get advice from those closest to you

GEMINI

You’ll find yourself in aposition to stand out. This could transform your life in thelong term. Your valuewill be highlighted in avariety of ways, boosting your self-esteem and self-confidence.

CANCER

Youmay decide to move soon, especially if the family home hasproved toobig since your children left the nest.Inyourrelationship, change could strengthen or rekindle your passion.

LEO

Your outspokenness will be evident as you express openly what others thinkinsilence. Asecret could leave you perplexed forawhile. The Full Moon will have arevealing effect.Arevelation will show you the wayforward.

VIRGO

If you’re strugglingfinancially,you could discover some interestingsolutions. You’ll finally get the opportunity toinvest in aproject dear to your heart or,atleast, to redecorateyourhome.

LIBRA

This will be an activeand dynamicweek. Youmay need to shake things up with certainpeople. Even if you prefer keeping the peace, it’stime to assert your position to reestablish harmony with those close to you.

SCORPIO

Your talents will increase tenfold, opening the door to aspiritual awakening. You’ll develop adeeper perspective and greater empathy,allowing you to see things in anew light. The artist in you could also be revealed.

SAGITTARIUS

Apost on social media could inspireyou. Someone close to you will play akey role in helping you become the person you’ve always wanted to be. This will guide you towardfulfillment and happiness.

CAPRICORN

If you have ajampacked week, make suretospace out your appointments to avoid scheduling conflicts and minimize the pressure. Time is precious; carefully manage yours.

AQUARIUS

Youcould decide to radically change your life on a whim. This transformation could involve going back to school or starting anew career in line with your deepest aspirations.

PISCES

The heart has its reasons, which reason knows not. Even if you try to rationalize asituation, your emotions will influence your choices. Sometimes, you must step out of your comfort zone to move in the right direction.

Life Events

In loving memory of Mary Jane Assman

Celebration of Life for Les Hannam

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” A.A. Milne

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mary Jane Assman on March 15, 2024. After a complicated battle with Alzheimer’s disease, Mary Jane passed peacefully at the age of 77, in the company of her family.

Jeanne (Jean) Neilson

January 30, 1950March 10, 2024

It is deeply saddening to announce the passing of Jeanne Patricia Neilson, aged 74. She passed away peacefully on the 10th of March, 2024, in the loving care of Bill Neilson and under the excellent care of Community Nursing.

May 22, 1949Mar 2, 2024

Jean is survived by Bill, her husband and best friend of more than 50 years and their cats Shoko and Tyebe. Jean lived a busy and successful life travelling around B.C. with Bill on his construction jobs. In 1980, they landed in Prince George, B.C. She went back to school and on to CNC to get an associate degree in Criminology. Jean worked for Kitso Yoh and other support groups until her Arthritis became too overwhelming. Jean, in retirement, enjoyed travelling to visit friends. In loving memory of my brother

Mary Jane was born on May 27, 1946, in Prince George, B.C. to John Assman Sr. (1912-1976) and Kate Assman (1919-2016). Life took Mary Jane many places, including Edmonton and South Surrey, but she was always a Prince George girl at heart. Among her fondest memories were the countless summers spent at Cluculz Lake; whether around the campfire, playing cards or visiting over percolated coffee, it was a place that drew her home for years after she had moved away. Mary Jane took great pride in her career, right from her earliest days working at the bank through to her 30+ year tenure in the airline industry. Her career produced treasured, lifelong friendships along with countless adventures and experiences around the world. Work was never just a job for Mary Jane, but rather a source of joy and genuine fulfillment.

Mary Jane is survived by her brother Herb Assman (Julie), her sister Donna McBurney (Terry), her nephews John Assman (Maureen) and Joe McBurney (Kim), and her nieces Beverly Assman (Mike Noonan), Judy Neiser (Richard George) and Kate Zaytsoff (Ryan). Known affectionately as “Auntie”, “Aunt” and “OAJ”, she was a great-aunt, and a great-great-aunt, to many more whom she adored and enjoyed.

At Mary Jane’s request, no memorial service will be held. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to BC Children’s Hospital, a charity that she was proud to support. Mary Jane would want you to know that even as her memory faded, she never forgot a familiar face and she long cherished and reflected on the moments she spent with the family and friends who meant so much to her throughout her life.

Obituaries

Wanke, Heather Anne (nee Kerr)

May 11, 1959February 29, 2024

It is with heavy hearts we share the news of Heather’s passing.

Predeceased by her mother Marion, Heather is survived by her father Harry (Molly); daughter Kandace (Jesse); son Brandon (Brianna); grandchildren Gage, Vaughn & Brooklynne; siblings Lauri, Jackie (Ralph); James (Doris), Tony (Ina), Bob; and stepfather Ernest. Countless other family and friends share in their sorrow.

Fly swiftly with the hummingbirds our sweet Queen of Purple.

Celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.mccallgardens.com

Paul Sperling

1940-2024

Paul Sperling, 82 years of age, of Prince George died February 17, 2024 in his beautiful hand built home of natural causes.

He was born on April 20, 1940 to Gottfried Sperling and Lilly Sperling (nee Henke) in Lissa Poland (now Germany). Paul immigrated to Canada in 1956. He learned English on the job, building a pipeline in northern Canada and continued in the construction industry for his working life. He retired as a highly respected crane operator. The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115 celebrated his 50 years of membership in 2016. He was an avid gardener, carpenter and out doorsman. He was passionate about living close to the land, growing much of his own food, caring for the forest and having the smallest ecological footprint possible. One of his passion projects was developing locally adapted vegetable varieties through saved seed, including a variety of salad tomato that could survive -4 degrees Celsius. Paul is survived by his sisters Elfriede Elhers, Erna Geissler and Step-daughter Jayme Melrose. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gottfried and Lilly Sperling.

A Memorial Celebration of his life will be held on Saturday May 18th 12:00 noon to 4:00pm @ his home 5690 Meurmann Road Prince George, B.C. Memorials or donations may be made to Lheidli T’enneh, as Paul passionately supported indigenous ways and issues.

REMEMBRANCES

Obituaries

Clendenning, Frederick "Fred" H.

November 28, 1942 -February 29,2024

Born in Vancouver, BC, Fred Clendenning was abeacon of light in the hearts of those who knew him. On February 29, 2024, Fred peacefully passed away, leaving behind a legacy of selflessness, honour, and unwavering dedication to community service.

Fred leaves behind aloving family -his devoted wife of 48 years, Vera; daughter Lisa (husband Terrence); son Edward (wife Angela, grandkids James andThomas); and amultitude of friends and extended family members.

ACelebration of Life in honour of Fred Clendenning will take place on Saturday, April 20, 2024, 1:00pm to 4:00pm at the Hart Pioneer Center, located at 6986 John Hart Hwy, Prince George, BC.

Obituaries

In Loving Memory of Raymond Lowell Blois

1962-2024

Raymond was born in Prince George, BC on May 18, 1962. He

spend all his work and play time in and around Pr. Geo. He operated logging & road building equipment for various logging companies. You were a one-of-a kind guy, until one pushed the wrong button.

Raymond left “suddenly” on Feb. 16, 2024, at the age of 61. Predeceased by his baby brother Roddy in 1964, and father Lowell 1971.

Raymond leaves to mourn in shock; mom Carol, stepdad Ervin, brother Russell, sister-in-law Becky, and niece Mackenzie. Also, uncle Terry and aunt June and their families and good friend Paul and friend Deanna. Cremation.

Share memories and condolences with the family through Raymond’s obituary at https://www.fischersfuneralservices.com/latest-news/

Please join us to celebrate their lives on March 31, 2024 at the Prince George Golf & Curling Club at 1:30pm

Arlene Margaret Van Blarcom

October 19, 1950December 31, 2023

Donald Richard Van Blarcom

October 21, 1949January 13, 2019

Don and Arlene, Survived by: Daughter Dana (Kirk), and Grandchildren Cole (Megan), Kennedy (Spencer), Carmi, and Keira. Brother Donald (Angela), and children Arthur and Hanna

Murray Allan McDermid

August 28, 1953January 5, 2024

Murray is Survived by: Daughter Melanie, and Grandchildren (Hudson, Shya, Yarah, and Maverick) Son Travis, and the Mother of his Children Marilyn (Barry). Brother Donald (Angela), and Children Arthur and Hanna

email: cls@pgcitizen.ca or call 250.562.6666

Fond memories linger every day, Remembrance keeps them near.

Robert(Bob) ProsperBalcaen passed away peacefully on February 19th,2024, aftera very briefillness.Bob wasbornJanuary 6th, 1941,atGrace Hospital in Vancouver. He waspredeceased by hisparents,Roseand Buster (Prosper)Balcaen,granddaughter Chantelle Robinson,and hislifelong friend DarrylPleasants.He is survived by hiswifeofalmost 63 yearsHazel,childrenWard, Lee, Corrine, Margaret Robinson (Rodney),Lisette Doucette (Martin), grandchildrenJohnand Diana Balcaen, Josieand KimRobinson, Charlotteand NatashaDickerson, OscarDoucetteand great-grandson Macklan, brothers Bill (Sharon), Keith, Maurice(Gail)and Danny (Diane), sistersBonnieSiddals (Larry)and Brenda Bond (Rick), cousin David, as well as numerous nieces andnephews BobgrewupinMcBride,B.C., where hisparents hadreturnedtoafter WorldWar II. Aftergraduatingfrom high school,heworkedbrieflyasa firefighterinPrinceGeorgebefore joiningthe RoyalCanadianAir Force, whereheservedasa radar technician andelectronics instructor during theColdWar.While in theAir Force, Bobwas posted in Quebec,Mississippi,Ontario,Alberta, Saskatchewan andManitoba, but it wasduringbasic training in St.

Robert ProsperBalcaen

January6,1941- February 19,2024

Jean,Quebec, whereBob metHazel, theloveofhis life.Theymarried whilestationed in CFBClinton,in aQuonset hutusedasa Catholic Church on base.After nine years in theAir Force, they returned to McBridetoraise theirfamily. In 1968,Bob startedhis electronics business from theirfront porch andin1969, he opened Balcaen Electronicsnextdoor to Balcaen ClothiersinsideGieger’sMovie Theatre. He laterbuilt astorefront at 411MainStreet, whichbecame thefamily’scornerstone as Hazel andthe children worked theretoo. Eventually,Balcaen Electronics sold appliances to almost every family in McBride. With attentionto detail,Bob also stockedevery part imaginable.His forwardthinkingwas instrumental in bringing the first television signal to theRobsonValley in the1970s.

An extremelyproud resident of McBride, Bobdid whatever he couldtomakeita better placefor everyone.Bob welcomed anyone whowalkedintohis life,accepting each person at face value. Everyone gotthe “benefitofthe doubt” that they were honest andsincere.He puteveryoneatease, andalways asked, “How canI help?” He became arolemodel to numerous relatives, friendsand “extra children”, even a fewtradespeople. Bobwas always availabletoprovide counseland advice,heloved this Valleyand everyone in it Bobservedseveral termsas

alderman,aswellascouncilor on theRegionalDistrictofFraserFort George.Heproudly served theRoyal Canadian Legion,Branch#75 for56 years, oftenacting as president, vicepresident, director andbingo caller! Bobfound many ways to ensure that thenextgenerationwould have strong memories of theValley, such as donating hisvansfor Pioneer days,schoolsportseventsand theatreproductions, andspeakingat schoolsonRemembrance Day. Hisbooming voiceannouncedalmost everyevent in McBride, whether drivingthrough thecommunity announcing pancakebreakfastsfor PioneerDays, MCingskating events, or calling theLegionbingo from hisGrummanwhenCOVID-19took bingotothe streets.

OneofBob’s many passionsincluded travelinginthe motorhomewith Hazel, visiting friendsand family throughout WesternCanada, andalsositting by the fire in his shop discussing currentevents, “bullshitting”the nightawaytelling storiesand jokes.

Bobwas highly independentand self-reliant anddrivenbya wellhonedmoral compass. He livedlife on hisown terms. Hisprioritieswere clear: family andcommunity.Hewas tremendously proudofhis family, andoften sang thepraises of his wife,childrenand grandchildren. Bob made sure no childorgrandchild ever went without. Forthe past ten years, Bobdevoted himselftocaring forHazel as sheadjustedtolifewith

health challenges.Bob accepted it all, ensuring he didall that he could to help thoseheloved. Thesewords fall shortindescribing theprofoundlossfeltbyfamily andmanyfriends.Flowers are respectfully declined.However, donationstothe RoyalCanadian Legion,Branch#75 or theMcBride andDistrictHospitalAuxiliary in Bob’shonourare greatly appreciated.

TheFamilyexpresses deep gratitude forthe compassion,kindnessand professional care Bobreceived during hisbrief stay at McBride Hospital.Weare forevergrateful. TheBalcaen family wouldlike to thanktheir many friendsand neighbours whochecked in on Boband Hazelduringtheir staysin hospital andwerethere foruson many fronts.Thank youtoDennis andIrene Rejman,Donna Perkins andAndyWernerfor supportingus with thegiftoftime, meals, goodies, kindness andgenerositythrough both ourparents’illnesses. We wouldalsoliketothank those whohelpedBob andHazel live safely andcomfortably in theirhome. Thankyou Olivia Vizza,Valerie Watson,AndyCarr, CindyKelly,as well as Shayne,Sarah andParker McCrea

AMcBride community barbecue will be held as acelebration of Bob’slife on May18th, 2024,ata location to be announcedata laterdate.

PRINCE

REMEMBRANCES

Donalda (Donna) Katherine Nichols

It is with heavy Hearts we announce the passing of our Mom Donalda (Donna) Katherine Nichols (Fladager) on March 9th 2024 at the age of 90

She passed away peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her family. Donna was born November 25th in a small cabin in Meath park Sask. Married to the love of her life Milton Nichols in 1958. Predeceased Oct 5th 1993.

Survived by her five children: Brent, Jackie (Jim), Sharon (Lorry), Brian, Wendy (Jay), grandchildren: Steven, Michael, Jessie, Rebecca, Justin, Curtis, Joshua, and Jared, greatgrandchildren : Russell, Kane, Corbin, and Jakob.

Donna was loved for her easy going personality and her dedication to Family she loved a good laugh

Special Thanks to the staff at the Jubilee Lodge

She will be missed by all Rest in peace

There will be a celebration of life at a later date

To place an ad call 250-562-6666 or email cls@pgcitizen.ca

George Gerald Korack

August 14, 1947 - March 1st, 2024

It is with great sadness that we share the unexpected passing of George Korack on March 1st, 2024.

George was born in Vancouver, BC on August 14th, 1947. He began a long and successful career with Pacific Great Eastern Railway/BC Rail in May of 1967 at age 19, and after holding several positions within the Engineering Department, he retired in 2005. In his retirement, George was active on the Buckhorn Regional District Water Board.

George was a talented baseball player and participated competitively, well into his retirement years. He also enjoyed many years of golfing and curling.

George was kind and considerate, quick to laugh, always teasing and there for you if you needed anything. He will be greatly missed.

George is survived by his longtime companion and best friend Tana Rebagliati, his sisters, Rose (Bob) Robertson, Shirley VanWinckel, nephews Warren (Bernadette) VanWinckel, and Ross VanWinckel. He is pre-deceased by his father Stan Korack, mother Bessie Korack, and brotherin-law Carl VanWinckel. No service by request.

Mori, Diane H.

November 19, 1942 -February 11,2024

On February 11, Diane Mori, 81, passed away peacefully due to natural causes.

Diane was born in Lytton, BC, and later moved to Prince Rupert for most of her childhood. She graduated from Booth Memorial High School. After getting her teaching degree from UVIC, she taught in Dawson Creek, Kamloops, then made her final move to Prince George, where she had asuccessful teaching career working as an elementary school teacher for over fourdecades in the Prince George School District until her retirement.

Besides her love of teaching, Diane was active in many sporting activities throughout her life,such as golf, curling, skiing, exercise class, snowshoeing, travel and volunteering for many community groups.

She delighted in the company of her friends and family, a nice meal, aglass of wine, music, shared laughter, and, above all, agood game of golf.

Diane is preceded in death by her parents,Kazu and Yoshi Mori and her sister, Janet Ronson. She is survived by her nieces Rhona (Robin) Woodhead and Selina (Jamie) Storey; great nieces and nephews Akemi, Ryan, Kaiya, Hunter, Erin; and amultitude of great friends who will forever remember her for kind and generous nature. She will be sadly missed but forever in our hearts.

In accordance with Diane’s wishes, there will be no

YourSpirit

I know that no matter what

You will always be with me.

When life separates us

I’ll know it is only your soul

Saying goodbye to your body

But your spirit will be with me always.

When I see a bird chirping on a nearby branch

I will know it is you singing to me.

When a butterfly brushes gently by me so care freely

I will know it is you assuring me you are free from pain.

When the gentle fragrance of a flower catches my attention

I will know it is you reminding me

To appreciate the simple things in life.

When the sun shining through my window awakens me

I will feel the warmth of your love.

When I hear the rain pitter patter against my window sill

I will hear your words of wisdom

And will remember what you taught me so well’

That without rain trees cannot grow

Without rain flowers cannot bloom

Without life’s challenges I cannot grow strong.

When I look out to the sea

I will think of your endless love for your family.

When I think of mountains, their majesty and magnificence

I will think of your courage for your country.

No matter where I am

Your spirit will be beside me

For I know that no matter what

You will always be with me.

by Tram-Tiara T. Von Reichenbach

REMEMBRANCES

PEARSON, David Arthur

June 24, 1941 - February 27, 2024

David Pearson, a cherished father, brother, husband, partner, esteemed businessman and long-time resident of Prince George, where he lived for over 50 years, passed away peacefully on February 27th, 2024. He was born on June 24th, 1941, in Victoria B.C.--the beloved son of Olive and Chet.

David’s life was a testament to resilience, passion, and love. He shared his journey with two remarkable women: his devoted wife, Sharlene Greenwood, and his ex-wife and lifelong friend, Shirley Prentice. With them, he built a family filled with love, laughter and unforgettable memories.

His children, Edward Pearson, Jonathon Pearson, Mary-Anne Streibel and Jennifer Pearson were the lights of his life. He poured his heart and soul into being a loving and supportive father; guiding them with wisdom, kindness and unwavering love. His legacy of compassion, integrity and strength will live on through them and the values he instilled in each of them.

David’s grandchildren include Jacob Couston, Noah Couston, Faye Pearson, Devon Pearson, Anna Streibel, Mathias Pearson, and Oliver Pearson. Each held a special place in his heart and he cherished each one. Grandpa David will be treasured forever.

As a businessman, David’s entrepreneurial spirit and dedication were unmatched; leaving an indelible mark on the business world. His integrity, leadership and innovative approach set him apart; earning him respect and admiration from colleagues and competitors alike.

David was deeply rooted in Prince George. He dedicated his time and resources to making a difference. His generosity touched countless lives, leaving behind a legacy of kindness and compassion.

David’s passing leaves a void in the hearts of all who knew him. Yet, his memory will forever be a source of comfort and inspiration. His love, laughter, and wisdom will echo in the halls of his home and the hearts of his loved ones for generations to come.

A Memorial Service to Celebrate David’s Life will be held in June of 2024.

David Pearson will be deeply missed but never forgotten. May he rest in eternal peace.

Condolences may be offered at www.AssmansFuneralChapel.com

Obituaries

In Loving Memory of

Beverley Anne Arnold (m. Sambad, m. Surlan)

November 13, 1936February 29, 2024

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear mother Beverley Arnold. Bev went to sleep on the evening of February 28th and passed peacefully at 2:10 am on February 29, 2024. Bev was born on November 13, 1936, on the family farm near Rokenville Saskatchewan to parents Myrtle Arnold and Elmer Arnold. In 1942 Myrtle and Elmer moved their young family to British Columbia, settling in Vancouver while spending summers with family in Summerland. Bev was raised in East Vancouver, attending Laura Secord Elementary School and later Vancouver Technical High School. At the age of 17 Bev found her true calling in the hairdressing profession where she went on to excel, winning the district trophy and competing in the provincials across Canada. Bev loved hairdressing for over 30 years, Bev also taught hairdressing and judged competitions.

Bev was an avid golfer and member of the Prince George Golf and Curling Club for many years. In 1990 Bev moved to her lakeview home in Peachland right across the road from Ponderosa Golf Course where she was a member and continued to golf for many more years.

Bevy was a strong lady and a force in life. She was the life of the party, with her quick wit and kind nature she made many lifelong friends wherever she went. Bev was always ready with a smile and a song on the tip of her tongue. Bev had a beautiful voice and was asked on many occasions to “get up and sing a song” at many functions. At the request of her children, Richard and Laurel, Bev was honored to sing the Rose at their respective weddings, making these events much more special.

Each Loss

Each loss is very different,

The pain is so severe. Will I ever stop missing

This one I loved so dear?

Good times we had together,

The moments that we shared We didn’t have to tell each other

How much we really cared.

I never dreamed you’d go away, Never thought of sorrow.

So sure you’d always be here

Took for granted each tomorrow.

Now my life is all confused

Since you went away. You took a part of me

And for help I daily pray.

Because I Love You So

Bev was predeceased by her parents Myrtle and Elmer Arnold, and brother Vernon Arnold.

She is survived and dearly missed by her children Richard Sambad (Margaret Lee) and Laurel Heynsbergen (Jack).

Bev is also survived by her grandchildren, Kailee Gillert (great grandchildren Amelia and Evelyn), and Zachary Sambad (Desiree) (great grandchildren Presley, and Emerson), as well as numerous extended family and friends across Canada and the United States.

We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to the staff and doctors at Smith Creek Village Care Home for their kindness and care making Bev’s past 5 1/2 years comfortable.

Our mother is a never-ending song in our hearts, of comfort, happiness, and Joy. We may sometimes forget the words, but we will always remember the tune.

But when God sent you to me

He never said that you were mine, That I could keep you always –

Only borrowed for a time.

Now, He’s called you home, I’m sad and I shed tears.

Yet I’m glad He loaned you to me

And we had these many years.

Obituaries

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IN THE MATTER OF THE BANKRUPTCY OF TRU-ARC WELDING SERVICES LTD.

NOTICE OF FIRST MEETING OF CREDITORS (Section 102(4))

Notice is hereby given that Tru-Arc Welding Services Ltd. of Fort St. John, B.C. made an assignment in Bankruptcy on the 13th day of March, 2024. The first meeting of creditors will be held on the 1st day of April, 2024 at 4:00pm at 306-2755 Tutt Street, Kelowna, B.C. Trustee

Darrin Surminsky Ltd

306-2755 Tutt Street Kelowna, B.C. V1Y 0G1 778-484-9933

NOTICE UNDER THE AGE OF MAJORITY ACT

I, JACQUELINE NADINE SOULE, having attained the age of 19 years on November, 13, 2000, hereby issue this notice in accordance with the Age of Majority Act. This declaration is intended to clarify and protect my legal standing, preventing any potential misunderstanding, slander, libel, or defamation.

I confirm that, in compliance with the Age of Majority Act, I am free from any legal disability and have reached the age of majority.

I explicitly state my intent to autonomously handle any legal matters, thereby waiving the necessity for a litigation guardian or additional representation.

In accordance with the Age of Majority Act, I assert my obligation to provide this legal notice, refuting any assumptions to the contrary. I categorically reject any claims made by the BC College of Nurses and Midwives that contradict my legal status and private business practices. It is imperative to note that my business; Red Tent Collective, operates under a private member agreement and is not accessible to the public.

To address any prior, ongoing, or future misconceptions about the nature of my business, I clarify that Red Tent Collective is a private entity, not open to the public. Individuals seeking membership are cordially welcomed.

This notice serves as a deliberate effort to align my legal status with the public interest, disavowing any false representation of my business or practices for the official record.

Any written objections related to my private practice, declaration of age of majority, or business practices outlined in this notice should be submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to Jacqueline Soule at 13351 Tea Creek Estates Rd, Charlie Lake, BC, V1J8K7.

IN THE COURT OF KING’S BENCH OF ALBERTA JUDICIAL CENTRE OF CALGARY

NOTICE TO: DEREK BOWEN

TAKE NOTICE that the Plaintiff has filed a Statement of Claim on April 26, 2023, Action No. 2301-05458, in the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta, Judicial District of Calgary, claiming against you, amongst other things, general damages, special damages, plus costs arising out of a motor vehicle accident which occurred on or about July 30, 2021, at the intersection of McKnight Boulevard N.E. and Aviation Boulevard N.E.

The grounds alleged are stated in the Statement of Claim, a copy of which may be obtained from the Plaintiff’s lawyer, at Mcleod Law LLP, Third Floor, 14505 Bannister Rd. S.E., Calgary, Alberta, T2X 3J3. Telephone Number, (403) 278-9411, or from the Clerk of the Court, Calgary Courts Centre, 601 5th Street S.W., Calgary, Alberta T2P SP7.

Your whereabouts being unknown, the Court has ordered substitutional service upon you by the within advertisement. Should you wish to oppose the Claim or obtain notice of further steps in the proceeding, you or your lawyer must file with the Clerk of the Court and send to the Plaintiff’s lawyer a Statement of Defence or a Demand of Notice. If you fail to do so within 22 days from the date of this publication, the Plaintiff may proceed to note you in default, and you will not thereafter be entitled to notice of any further proceedings, and the relief sought by the Plaintiff may be given in your absence.

DATED at the City of Calgary in the Province of Alberta, this 13th day of March, 2024.

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Canadian province (abbr.)

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Utter repeatedly

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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.

ON SEPARATE PAGE

Silk or cotton garments

PUZZLE ANSWERS

(abbr.)

Do water heaters require regular maintenance?

Just got a brand new water heater? To maximize its lifespan, follow these maintenance tips.

If your tap water is particularly hard, ferrous or calcareous, it’s important that you fully empty your hot water tank once every year. To find out how to proceed, refer to the owner’s manual. However, if your water heater is combustion-powered, call a professional to do the work. Regular drainage will prevent sediment buildup at the bottom of the tank, which can damage the appliance. Buildup in a sealed combustion heater is especially hard

on your energy bill, as this particular type of appliance heats water from the bottom. It doesn’t take much accumulated residue to hinder heat transfer and reduce the water heater’s efficiency.

Finally, periodically check on the state of your water heater’s sacrificial anode (the component that protects the exterior from corrosion) and make sure that the safety gasket is still perfectly watertight to avoid unpleasant surprises.

If you have an old water heater that’s never been maintained, refrain from draining it; this may damage the appliance.

What to consider when choosing a railing

Both decorative and functional, handrails should be chosen with care. Here are a few considerations to help you make a smart purchase.

Of course, to achieve visual harmony, you should choose a model that matches the style of your staircase and the surrounding area. But before thinking about aesthetics, it’s important to consider the role of the railing as a safety barrier — especially if you have young children or share your home with anyone with limited mobility.

For example, as far as the handrail is

concerned, it’s a good idea to go with a rounded shape to make it easier to grip. For the banister, avoid horizontal bars: children can easily climb them. Also, make sure that little ones aren’t able to fit their heads or shoulders between the bars. There are various norms and regulations that govern things like minimum railing height — call in an expert to make sure everything is up to code.

Finally, when it comes to choosing a material for your railing — metal, wood, plexiglass — style is of course important, but also make sure to keep maintenance in mind.

5 key things to inspect outside your home

When spring arrives, it’s important to inspect the exterior of your home to make sure it hasn’t been damaged over the winter. Here are five key things you should check.

1. The roof. A visual inspection from the ground or a window will indicate if immediate repairs are needed. In particular, look out for curled, wavy or missing shingles. Also, check the ceilings inside your house for signs of water infiltration.

2. Gutters and spouts. Make sure they’re still firmly attached to the house and that nothing is blocking water from flowing through them. Remove any debris that’s accumulated over the winter.

3. Foundation. Examine the concrete for cracks or signs of water damage. Even the smallest fissure can cause big problems for your home. If you see any signs of degradation, schedule a repair as soon as possible.

4. Balcony or patio. Clean your deck thoroughly and secure any loose boards.

Wood patios should be stained every one to three years. If it needs to be done this spring, sand the surface and apply your chosen stain.

5. Windows and doors. Check the caulking around each window and door, and replace it if necessary. Inspect wooden frames to make sure they don’t show signs of water infiltration or rot.

If you notice any major damage during your inspection, be sure to make the needed repairs.

How to choose the right mirror

While we mainly use them to look at — perhaps even admire — our own reflections, mirrors can serve a number of other purposes. They can increase the amount of light in a room, create the illusion of space in tight areas, or simply embellish your overall decor. Need some tips on how to navigate the multitude of models available on the market? Keep reading.

FUNCTION

First off, know that the shape and size of the mirror will depend on how you intend to use it. For example, if you want to be able to see yourself from head to toe, the mirror has to be at least half as tall as you are. To visually enlarge a space, opt for a wide, oversized model. In a playroom, one or more mirrors cut in fun shapes — animals, clouds, etc. — will add a unique touch. An atypical mirror can even serve in lieu of a work of art.

FORM

Just like any other decorative element, a mirror should match the style and palette of a room as well as the surrounding furniture. For example, a golden-framed mirror would look great in a glamorous setting; simple square mirrors work wonders in modern interiors; and a series of small mirrors would be perfect for a hallway. Obviously, the size

of your mirrors should make sense compared to the overall amount of space you’re working with. A word of advice: always leave a strip of empty wall space around mirrors to prevent a cramped look.

To find the perfect mirror for your needs, browse your local home decor stores — or, better yet, have one custom made!

HOMES

GO FOR GOLD.

Should moulding be the same colour as the walls?

When it comes time to paint a room, the moulding (or trim) presents an interesting conundrum: should it be the same colour as the walls?

The answer: it all depends on the desired effect — and the look of the moulding. Plain doorframes without any particular aesthetic features, for example, are usually best left to blend in with the surrounding wall. The same goes for a door that’s poorly framed — drawing attention to crooked trim is sure to disrupt the visual flow of the room.

If your moulding is quite plain, you might still choose to make it subtly stand out by painting it the same shade as the walls, but in a glossier, light-catching finish.

If your moulding is ornate, don’t hesitate to make it pop! Create contrast by using white, grey or black. If you decide to go with white, make sure you choose a shade that

matches the rest of the room’s colour palette — in other words, don’t use a crisp, cool white to trim a wall that’s painted in a rich, warm hue.

Finally, remember that if your moulding is of a different colour than your walls, it’s a good idea to paint all the moulding in your home the same colour. This is especially true when it comes to creating a harmonious overall look in an open-concept space.

Experiencing some drain-related drama? Camera inspection is a safe and effective way to assess the state of your foundation drain. Here’s how it works: a camera is inserted inside the drain and records all visible details, allowing a professional to precisely determine the origin of the problem. This makes

Blocked drain? Camera inspection to the rescue!

it easy to proceed with targeted repairs while keeping damage to the rest of your property to a minimum.

Backed-up sewers, punctured pipes, sluggish flushing… to wash away all your drainage problems, call your local experts without delay.