Prince George Citizen June 20, 2024

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Prices effective June 20 to 26, 2024.

Lining up for a deal

Former Elizabeth Fry Society financial manager sentenced in $240K fraud case

MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff

A former Prince George and District Elizabeth Fry Society financial manager was sentenced Tuesday to 2 1/2 years in jail for using two credit cards issued by the non-profit organization to run up $240,000 in personal expenses.

Rhonda Lee Bailey, 54, appeared stunned when the decision was issued. With her lawyer taking in the decision from Calgary via videoconferencing, Bailey sat alone before Provincial Court Judge Peter McDermick but with about a dozen friends and family behind her in the gallery,

The outcome was about half the amount Crown counsel had been seeking but significantly more than the conditional sentence order of two years less a day followed by three years of probation her defence counsel had argued for during a hearing in April.

According to an agreed statement of facts, Bailey had been using two corporate credit cards meant to pay for work-related travel or for purchases for the benefit of the organization for personal expenses.

RCMP had determined Bailey used the cards to make more than 1,000

transactions totaling about $240,000 over the course of five years.

The purchases included vacations, flights, hotels, meals, makeup, dog kennel fees, moving van rentals, clothing and miscellaneous online shopping. The beneficiaries included Bailey and her children.

Her scheme came to an end in May 2018 when an audit uncovered missing credit card statements.

A search followed, and they were found in a banker’s box underneath Bailey’s desk. When the organization’s executive director went through the statements, she found 13 suspicious transactions related to travel, groceries and online shopping.

When Bailey was confronted, she retrieved an envelope from her desk and handed it over “upon request” and admitted to improper use of the credit cards and apologized. Bailey was terminated from her position the next day and RCMP was contacted.

She had held the job since 2006 and had been responsible for reviewing corporate expenses and the organization’s accounting system.

She made arbitrary entries into the system related to the expenditures, “to ensure there was no obvious

financial deficit,” the court was told.

“Ms. Bailey used her financial expertise, her knowledge of the processes, the trust bestowed upon her to continue her crime without detection for a period of five years,” the statement reads.

The non-profit social services agency provides support for vulnerable women and girls and employs 68 people through 26 programs.

The discovery that the money had gone missing sent management scrambling to inform funders. Bailey’s replacement needed to spend many hours to correct the general ledger and create a moving-forward financial plan.

“All of us wondered what could have been done with the monies and how many more people that were asking for help we could’ve help,” a representative said in a victim impact statement.

In arguing for a conditional sentence, served at home, followed by probation, Bailey’s lawyer, David McLeod, proposed a plan that would have seen Bailey repay $158,000 over the course of the five years.

Crown counsel Ian Hay had called the proposal “close to dangerous” and suggested it amounted to a double standard.

“The payment of money will result

in no jail and not paying money is jail,” Hay had countered.

“The people with money to pay for their crimes don’t go to jail.”

McDermick found defence counsel’s position would not adequately denounce Bailey’s actions and deter others from committing a similar crime.

But he also noted Bailey pleaded guilty to a count of fraud over $5,000, found she had expressed genuine remorse and said he was struck by the large number of letters of support for her.

She was described as loving and selfless, a great friend and helpful, caring and kind.

The judge cited several cases depicting sentences for crimes committed similar circumstance in support of his decision.

Bailey was also ordered to pay $240,000 restitution.

In a statement read out by her lawyer Tuesday, Bailey apologized and said she takes responsibility for what she did.

“I feel ashamed, I regret my actions, I am sorry for causing so much stress for everyone involved,” the statement reads.

Bailey was given a chance to hug and say goodbye to each of her supporters before she was led away in handcuffs to begin serving her sentence.

Shoppers line up for the 8 a.m. opening of the new Buy-Low Foods at Parkwood Place on Saturday. As part of its grand opening celebrations, the discount grocery store gave each of the first 100 customers in line a discount card.

Student knows the view from Space Camp will change

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff

Sarim Syed, a Grade 8 College Heights Secondary School student, is going to change the world.

Just ask any educator who has had the pleasure of teaching him.

Sarim is going to Space Camp for Interested Visually Impaired Students at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama from Oct. 6 to 10.

Sarim was diagnosed at three years old with cone dystrophy, a visual impairment that designates him as legally blind.

“Throughout the whole time I have been at school I have required certain things which would help me grow, especially academically,” Sarim explains. “As soon as I came to Canada I required these things in order for me to learn - to complete my school work and be involved with people.”

Sarim lived in the United Arab Emirates and made the move to Prince George seven months ago.

Soon after he started at College Heights Secondary, Sarim met School District 57 Braille transcriber Irene Siemens who was able to get items Sarim needed to succeed like enlarged print text books and work sheets.

“Miss Irene told me and my parents about Space Camp,” Sarim says.

“I’m very excited to accompany Sarim to Space Camp,” Siemens says. “I am just excited Sarim has the opportunity to experience it and I know the program will be better having him in it.”

Denise Perry, Sarim’s teacher of students with visual impairments, got involved and soon Sarim was registered for the camp where students from around the world will come together during a week-long adventure that includes accessible challenges involving space science, math, aviation and simulated space

the way he sees the

world

Visually impaired eighth grader Sarim Syed, 13, is extremely happy for the chance to attend Space Camp and see what a group of like-minded teens can achieve.

and aviation missions. Perry has been sending students to the camp since 1995 and hopes to send more students from SD57 in the coming years with Sarim leading the way.

“Sarim has received the Lighthouse Visions Scholarship that covers his tuition and air travel,” Perry said.

Sarim still has to raise $2,500 to cover all other expenses.

“It’s important for Sarim to attend Space Camp because everyone who attends is visually impaired - so that’s the norm,” Perry said.

“That’s so important because right now he’s one of so few - we have 22 visually impaired students in School District 57 but they are in all different schools. The camp changes their sense of themselves and offers them the chance to do things that others can do.”

Sarim said he is happy and excited to attend Space Camp.

“I feel like science and math are a foundation to go into different branches of education and explore other things but what I will mainly focus on in Space Camp will be science as you can definitely use science as a way to help other people who are visually impaired. I want to help other people in the world who are struggling.”

It’s a great source of frustration for visually impaired people, Sarim explains, not to have access to resources that are easily available to those who are sighted. He can’t see what we see and raising awareness about what it means to be visually impaired is a priority for Sarim.

“When you can’t have access to computers and other resources

and you find out there’s a place with all these resources that you can experience to their full potential it’s something to look forward to,” Sarim says. “I’ve always been fascinated with space travel and the way space travel is coordinated so when I found out about Space Camp I had a lot of expectations about seeing some futuristic things and experiencing things to their full potential according to my visual impairment.”

Sarim’s future is based on helping humanity in some capacity.

“I definitely see a career using physics or science to benefit society,” Sarim says.

“I really want to use it to help people who have similar struggles like me or something that benefits the world as a whole to help people less fortunate.”

The Space Camp program can be accessed by the same student over several years and each year is more educationally intense. The camp creed is “just because I can’t see the stars, doesn’t mean I can’t reach for them” and Sarim is embracing the opportunity.

“Knowledge is the gateway to success,” Sarim says. “Gaining knowledge is something that can change your perception of how you view the world. I would definitely love to go to the space camp over the years to gather more knowledge and use it to benefit not only me but those around me.”

To donate to Sarim’s adventure, send a cheque to College Heights Secondary School, 6180 Domano Blvd, Prince George, BC V2N3Z4 c/o Belinda Rappel. Mark cheque payable to College Heights Secondary, c/o Belinda Rappel. Also mark cheque with allocation: Space Camp for Students with Visual Impairments. Cash or debit donations can also be made in person at the school’s office.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

New book tells the story of ‘Miracle Milton’

CHRISTINE DALGLIESH Citizen staff

He was supposed to be put down because his legs didn’t work.

At least that’s what several veterinarians suggested after assessing the tiny foal with the knock-knees.

After seeing the little horse’s zest for life owner Nicole Klassen just couldn’t do it.

She knew there was a better way through Milton’s physical challenges and now the story of Miracle Milton has been laid out on the pages of an illustrated children’s book by Prince George author Dustie Hall to inspire anyone who might not fit into the world as expected.

Milton was born early and that meant his legs were not fully formed.

“I’ve seen a lot of foals who have had issues and they go to first try to stand up and they give up and you have to encourage them to keep trying and Milton was never like that,” Klassen said. “It was like ‘I am super crooked but I am going to get up and nurse and nothing is stopping me’ – so he was just a real card right from the start. He just always had this incredible zest for whatever you were going to throw at him. He didn’t act like a disabled horse – he was into everything, so curious, he just wanted to do everything you wanted him to do – he was always playing with the water hose, always playing with a string, ‘oh, I’ll go play with this ball’ and he just wouldn’t give up.”

It was at the two-month mark that Klassen, who had consulted with several professionals specializing in horses far and wide, got the final word from the last surgeon that the surgery to repair Milton’s legs would probably do little to improve his gait and the recommendation came to seal his fate. With a heavy heart, Klassen made the appointment to have him put down. Klassen asked a photographer

friend to come out to take photos of the ill-fated foal so she’d at least have some images to look back on.

When Milton was released into the pasture and he kicked up his little legs and ran around like the joyful soul he is, Klassen reconsidered Milton’s options.

Could she help heal Milton’s crushed knees?

Through some traditional and not-so-traditional medicines and alternative therapies Klassen said she was happy to see the physical transformation of Miracle Milton whose sparkly, spirited personality is now matched with a near-healthy body of her five-year-old horse.

To have the illustrated children’s book published about Miracle

care if he had crooked knees and he just proved everybody wrong so he really truly is a miracle.”

Hall said she knows that sometimes children get discouraged in life – adults, as well – and perhaps to read about Milton’s challenges, about his tenacity and attitude, might inspire people to look at their abilities and challenges and be inspired to keep trying and doing.

As it is for everyone, life gets in the way and with challenges and setbacks to contend with, Hall finally found the right time to publish the book.

The struggle was finding the right artist to illustrate the book to capture the spirit and personality of Miracle Milton.

After years of trying and failing to coordinate with local artists, Hall turned to the self-publishing firm, FriesenPress, who offered up several artists, and it was an illustrator from B.C., JE. Corbett, who was the perfect match to bring Miracle Milton to life on the pages of Hall’s first children’s book.

Milton and His Magic Legs was something that’s very emotional for Klassen, she said.

“I am really, really touched that Dustie wrote this book,” Klassen said.

“The first time I read it I cried and even reading the back of the book makes me cry, too, because this is so touching that his story now gets to be out there.”

Hall has always wanted to be a children’s book author and had this idea to write about her friend Nicole’s horse, Milton.

“I watched his story unfold and Nicole would tell me about how this kid was such a goofball,” Hall said. “He was just so happy and had such a spice for life and he didn’t

“The illustrations in this book are second to none,” Hall said. “They are so much fun and so vibrant and so exciting. When I saw it all come together I knew it was finally going to happen. I got pretty excited, followed all the steps and put it all together.”

This book isn’t the end of Hall’s Miracle Milton stories.

“There are more stories to tell as we follow his journey,” Hall said. “So I am thinking of writing a mini series. Once I had this one in my hand I thought the sky’s the limit.”

Those interested in the book can reach out to Hall directly for more information or to make a purchase at dustiehall@hotmail.com.

Hall will host her first book launch for Miracle Milton and His Magic Legs on Friday, July 5 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Books and Co., 1685 Third Ave. Everyone is welcome to attend.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Miracle Milton cuddles with his bestie, Nicole Klassen, who saved his life despite his physical challenges. Dustie Hall has written a children’s book to inspire people who might be going through similar challenges.

A 50-year-old tragedy: Classmates remember the eight teenagers lost to the Willow River

CHRISTINE DALGLIESH Citizen staff

The Prince George Senior Secondary School’s 50th Reunion for the class of 1974 is taking place last weekend.

But not all memories were joyful ones for the 844 students who graduated that year.

It was the biggest graduating class in Canada’s history up to that year and many experienced the greatest heartbreak of their young lives when their fellow students perished during a Willow River canoe trip that took place on May 10, 1974.

Eight classmates and friends died during the canoe trip through the bolder-strewn rapids and steep rock walls of the Willow River Canyon, including Paul Trudeau, 17; Robert Haney, 18; Dwight McFarland, 18; Brian Weaver, 18; Ian Rice, 17; David Walker, 18; Murray Sales, 18, from Prince George and Jeff Pick, 16, from the Queen Charlotte Islands.

Each of the students, and those who have passed away in the last 50 years for a total of 112 students from the class of ’74, were honoured in the memorial room at the Coast Inn in downtown Prince George this weekend.

As an extra tribute to the students who died on the canoe trip a few of the people attending the reunion took a drive out to the Willow River rest area, \close to where the teens lost their lives, in the days before the reunion.

There were plenty of tears and heads bent in sorrow as the small group gathered at the memorial cairn that carries the names of each boy who died and these poignant words of comfort:

“These eight young men tragically lost their lives in a canoeing accident on May 10, 1974, in an impassible canyon just downstream from this rest area. The whole community felt the loss but their memories are still very

much alive today.”

“They were our friends,” Gerry Van Caeseele says. “It was just so horrible that it happened and there are some people who chose not to canoe with them that weekend and have to live with that and it was just horrible because there’s never really been any closure for anyone.”

At the graduation ceremony 50 years ago Carolyn (Olsen) Phillips-Cusson was valedictorian and gave the speech.

“I talked to Carolyn after she gave her speech that day and she told me about how she read the feelings of all the students because their friends were dead,” Van Caeseele recalls.

“I could just feel it,” Phillips-Cusson says. “As an air force brat who just arrived on the scene I was probably the perfect person to give that speech because I didn’t really know the people who died. I think anyone else would have

crumbled but I tell you I was a mass of jelly because I could feel the energy from the audience. I thought holy cow, I’m not even talking about our high school, our future, because everyone is thinking the same thing.”

Everyone knew the students who lost their lives, Dan Robin, PGSSS 50th Reunion committee chair, says.

“These students were sports people, everyone talked about them, there were over 800 students just in our class and in the school there were four grades so there were more than 2,000 students so you can’t make friends with them all but you heard about these guys, and some were even in your class and you can’t help but being hurt by the loss,” Robin says.

To that end, along with the memorial room there is a legacy project from the class of ’74 in the works that begins at the reunion with a silent auction of more than 90 items with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to bursaries for Prince George Secondary School students who will pursue further education geared to community service, including social work and health care professionals. The students who are gifted with these bursaries won’t be those with the highest grades, Robin added, but those who are most community minded in their current volunteer efforts who already exemplify what it takes to be a community leader

“This is a story that has been talked about for the last 50 years,” Robin says about the tragic loss of the students. “We’re hoping this reunion and the memorial will finally give people a bit of closure on this horrible thing that happened so long ago.”

“We were able to locate 70 per cent of the students,” Dan Robin, executive chair of the PGSS Reunion committee, says.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Willow is the carved bear that stands in the foyer of PGSS in memory of the eight boys who died on the Willow River 50 years ago.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Gerry Van Caeseele (left) and Dan Robin, Classmates and friends of the eight boys that passed away while canoeing the Willow River on May 10, 1974, visit the memorial cairn erected at the Willow River rest stop in memory of the eight boys that died on the Willow River 50 years ago.

OPINION OPINION

Serving on a board is a huge responsibility

It’s people’s stories that matter most

Citizen Staff

Gordon Dondale was visiting family in Prince George over the weekend when his sister opened the last week’s edition of the Citizen and spotted a familiar face in a grainy black-and-white photo.

“This looks like you,” she said, tossing him the paper.

After looking at the photo, he laughed in surprise. “It is me.”

By sheer coincidence, Dondale happened to be in town at the same time that a Citizen editor chose a photo of him for our weekly Throwback Thursday page. And his sister, Luella Lund, happened to notice it.

You’ve just joined the board of directors of a local charity, service agency, or non-profit. You’ve attended a couple of meetings, had some input, listened to what your other board members have to say and your photo and bio are on the “Our Board” section of the website. You feel good. You’re giving back to your community by being part of something that matters, and you’re being heard. You’re helping to shape the future of an organization doing something that matters to you. Providing that kind of community leadership is admirable, and we recommend doing it if you can. But there’s more to it. You have serious responsibilities, chief among them governance and oversight. Because when things go wrong, the board is accountable.

Dondale was photographed while playing for a team called the Legion Grads in a ball game here in June 1962. It’s a black-and-white photo of the then-17-year-old at the bat, a gleam in his eye, confident and ready to swing, and it’s pretty clear who it is.

she’d done. She was found guilty of fraud over $5,000 and sentenced to 2 ½ years behind bars. She must also make full restitution.

incurred a net deficit of $417,332 in 2023, with liabilities exceeding assets by $364,609. As of the end of the first quarter of 2024, the museum was showing $11,946 in revenue over expenditures, $55,324 lower than targeted. Operating expenses were expected to exceed revenue by $57,080 in the second quarter.

The figures “indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the society’s ability to continue as a going concern,” the auditors wrote, and that says it best.

Now living in Penticton, Dondale doesn’t play ball anymore. “Golf is my sport now,” he says, chatting with the Citizen at Carrie Jane Gray Park’s fastball field, with that same gleam in his eye as he mentions the game.

Take, for example, the recent sentencing of a former financial manager at the Elizabeth Fry Society here in Prince George. Rhonda Lee Bailey used two of the group’s credit cards to run up $240,000 for her own use and covered it up by falsifying business records. She stole public funds, as Elizabeth Fry draws on provincial dollars to administer its programs, and money from donors who had no idea they were funding her vacations and online purchases.

An audit caught the problem, and once found out, Bailey admitted what

Throwback Thursday is our weekly look back at the people, places and events of decades past. When we heard Dondale’s story we headed out to meet him and his wife Edna at the field, bringing along a vintage wooden bat

(from the garage of veteran sports reporter Ted Clarke) and photographer Chuck Nisbett set up the shot to mimic the original.

Dondale, who went on to work for the City of Prince George, doesn’t remember the original photo being

This was a particularly crafty crime, carried out by someone on the inside who knew how to manipulate the system. That’s why boards of directors are needed for agencies like Elizabeth Fry and others. The directors are not financially involved and have no loyalty to staff or management. They are there to represent the community and help guide the organization to be its best. In this case, financial oversight was lacking, and the crime was allowed to occur over a long period. Due diligence was absent. The board should take a close look at how this happened and how it oversees the organization’s numbers.

On a different note, we can look at Exploration Place. This situation does not involve any criminal activity, only mismanagement, and the only similarity between the two examples is the fact that the public is paying the price, whether through taxes or donations.

taken, or if he was aware of it running in the paper at the time. In fact, he doesn’t remember playing for the Grads, but said it wasn’t uncommon for him to step in to round out the rosters of other local teams back then. “The funniest thing is that I don’t remember that team name and I can’t make out what the uniform is,” as he puts it.

Exploration Place was once a family-friendly destination full of hands-on fun, busy thanks to the interest from local families and visitors. After a series of major renovations, it’s now a more science- and history-focused centre that, for some reason, has a full catering kitchen with unionized staff when it once had a popular daycare. This change has not worked, as the numbers show.

What he does remember is the fairly regular presence of the Citizen at his sporting events. “We were in the paper for 10 years. Fast pitch was really bit in town, and we got really good articles.” He notes that the paper’s sports editor at the time also played fastball, so that probably helped.

The alarm went off via audited financial statements, which found that as of the end of 2023, the society

He spent much of his amateur

ball career playing for teams sponsored by Geddes Contracting and Hart Construction. In 1966, he travelled to Rock Island, Illinois, with the local Columbus Hotel Softball Club, which represented Canada at the World Softball Tournament. A Citizen advertisement from that time indicates that Dondale was sponsored by the City of Prince George. He remembers that the team had several players from Prince George as well as a few imports. Canada came ninth in that tournament, which was won by the U.S. Dondale later played on teams that won back-to-back provincial championships.

The board of the Fraser-Fort George Regional Museum Society approved the decision to move forward with adding a commercial kitchen, a business with one of the highest failure rates,  without a proper business plan and put the project to tender without proper construction management. That should not have been allowed to happen. A major capital project went ahead before it was ready. Now Exploration Place is struggling, and the board is ultimately responsible for that.

FRONT DESK AND CLASSIFIED frontdesk@pgcitizen.ca 250-562-2441

NEWS AND SPORTS news@pgcitizen.ca

PUBLISHER publisher@pgcitizen.ca 250-960-2757

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR editor@pgcitizen.ca

Serving the community on a board of directors involves more than just showing up for meetings and smiling for the photo when something good happens. It includes asking questions of the executive director and being more than a rubber stamp, approving what ever proposal they bring forward. It means being fiscally responsible and community-minded, and most of all it means being vigilant to avoid these kinds of losses for taxpayers and donors.

So that’s one man’s decades-old connection to his hometown paper. You’re reading about it because of a couple of coincidences strung together by that sense of community, as word got to us that he was in town, and he was up for a chat. This is a perfect example of how much of a connection a local newspaper can have with its community. By telling people’s stories, we record those moments for history. It’s also a reminder of how important amateur sports can be to our city. Anyone can look up vintage game results and player stats online, but it was the Citizen sharing the pictures and stories of people like Dondale and others that mattered then and now.

Locally Owned Community Focused

EXPLORATION PLACE PHOTO

Exploration Place underwent a significant renovation and a series of changes that have affected the attraction’s finances.

Gordie Dondale, took bat in hand at the plate while visiting Carrie Jane Gray Park Sunday, 62 years after having his picture taken during a game he played in for the Legion Grads versus Prince George Tire.

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Privatization and potholes: Our highways are hurting, with no savings to be seen

One thing I love to do as I beat up my old truck on those Blackwater potholes is think about how the private highway maintenance company hired to maintain it, Yellowhead Road and Bridge, can’t afford to grade it.

Funny, because they saved a fortune last winter not plowing snow. Why not put those savings into a little extra road maintenance?

Different categories of expenses, I’m told. But in the big picture, the Blackwater is a critical stretch of road should Highway 97 South ever have to be closed.

We sure don’t treat it that way. Even in a light snow year like last year, Yellowhead Road and Bridge would usually only ever plow to Baldy Hughes, leaving the 20-kilometre stretch to the point where Emcon Road Services’ maintenance contract begins as a rutted, dangerous, potholed mess of unplowed snow for a couple of weeks at a time. If the Ministry of Highways says it’s a different classification of highway, I wonder how Emcon keeps their end in better shape?

I guess you can’t really blame YRB. It’s a system we created. We wrote the contract, and we enforce the contract. We wrote the clause that says they can use the tax dollars we give them to pay out their shareholders should there be no snow to plow, instead of investing the savings back into things like pothole repair and grading.

It wasn’t always like that.

I’m old enough to remember when we had the publicly owned Department of Highways maintaining the rural roads and the provincial highway network.

This changed in 1988, when we sold off our trucks and graders for pennies on the dollar to private maintenance companies, who basically run private monopolies.

It was part of a national trend that some provinces, like Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Newfoundland have for the most part avoided, although it’s a constant struggle.

The argument was the provincial highways maintenance operations were inefficient and wasteful. We heard the same thing when we privatized BC Building Corporation. But the privatized monopolies

we end up with don’t necessarily deliver better services let alone save us any money.

When, in 1994 we assessed what the impact of privatized road maintenance was in B.C., we discovered it was costing us $19 million more per year. Worse road maintenance has been reported in Ontario and likely the same in Alberta, although the Alberta government has obscured the data necessary for any investigation and has denied their Auditor General the mandate to investigate it.

But those of us who travel the backroads and remember the old days know.

No matter how wasteful the old government Department of Highways may have been, I have a

feeling the laziness was in us as a collective entity.

It took too much public energy to fight off the neoliberal gospel of privatization. It was too much work to ensure that public money would be used for the public good and not private gain. It took too much mental effort to accept government run services might not be perfect, but better than the alternative of privatized monopoly profiteering. Every year our taxes get higher and higher and services get worse and worse. If the past 40 years of privatization haven’t fixed things, I’m starting to wonder if maybe that’s part of the problem.

James Steidle is a Prince George writer.

Privatized rural road maintenance in B.C. may have some rural road travellers thinking about the old days when the province took care of things.

OPINION

Council considers reducing Christmas snow plowing and the impact of not clearing residential driveways

Whoever the genius that decided the best way to clear residential streets was to use graders and loader combination should be relieved of their duties.

A plow truck can clear way more streets per hour and the stuff they throw back in driveways is fairly easy to remove. If a dump of snow is driven on for a couple or three days what the grader pushes into driveways is like concrete and would destroy any snowblower that tried to move it.

When the truck or grader clears the bus route it leaves a wind row across our road that cars already get stuck.

Lowering snow removal standards will only make the city less livable and leave people with small cars essentially stranded for days after a storm.

- Bobs your uncle

Public invited to Goodsir Nature Park’s 35 anniversary festivities

Such an interesting and unique person with an interesting and unique life who followed his heart. That’s a rare thing. Good did good.

- CBGeez

How much is this costing taxpayers? will we ever be told. Who is responsible for this so called slum? What happens if the next fire takes a life? Will the judge and the lawyers step up to the plate and be responsible for what they have created. What about the trailers we are paying for? Is there going to be cameras? What about fire? When the trailers are up and running will the tiny shacks be removed or are we going to have double trouble?

- FHR

Council considers reducing Christmas snow plowing and the impact of not clearing residential driveways

Changing plowing requirements in residential areas to allow for an increased accumulation, and not clearing residential driveways, will cause all kinds of hardships for many residents. Many will have a major struggle to clear the ridge that is left.

- Youngfart

Public invited to Goodsir Nature Park’s 35 anniversary festivities

Jim is a very interesting guy, very humble and kind and the park he has made is spectacular and very interesting.

- Zangief

Council considers reducing Christmas snow plowing and the impact of not clearing residential driveways

Having moved here almost three years ago from Calgary, I can tell you that one of the most attractive things about this city in the winter is the outstanding job done by the snow clearing crews in contrast to so many other places. Yes, it is a significant investment, but it is one that is well worth it and a definite draw for people living in a Northern climate0.

Living in the Hart where we tend to see more accumulation than many other areas, I am especially aware of how quickly snow accumulations can cause headaches, and I have bragged to many people about how effective our snow removal program is.

If you asked me whether it was worth having a few more unrepaired potholes or faded street lines in order to keep our snow clearing service levels, it would be a resounding yes.

- Matthew Wilkins

Council considers reducing Christmas snow plowing and the impact of not clearing residential driveways

While on city council, thirtysome years ago, I headed up a committee to look into clearing driveways. Our first task was a survey to ask people how much they were willing to pay in added taxes for this service. Most people were willing to pay at least $100 in 1990s dollars. I recall one of the plow operators telling me it wasn’t worth it ... that nothing would work. Hi Mike! A few months later I was riding with him one night as he tried out the new blade. He was delighted at how well it worked. He became a believer! Giving up this service would be a backwards move. Some of that heavy snow and ice can be heart-attack-causing!

- Whirling Dervish

City cleans up after latest Moccasin Flats fire

L’heidli T’enneh First Nation considers adding two city properties to reserve lands

would be cost-neutral, meaning the city won’t incur any additional costs.

Prince George city council has unanimously agreed to support a proposal from the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation to increase its reserve land authority in the city.

Council voted in favour at its meeting June 12.

If approved by the federal government, the application made by the Lheidli T’enneh council will result in a municipal tax exemption for band’s administration office at 150 Brunswick St. and the Uda Dune Baiyoh (House of Ancestors) Conference Centre at 355 Vancouver St., as well as the adjacent parking lot.

The property tax loss to the city would amount to $114,046.51 in 2024.

As of July 1, the tax levy on the administration building is $63,314.23.

The Vancouver Street property brings the city $37,376 and the levy on the parking lot at 1664 4th Ave. is $13,356.

The city was notified March 19 in a letter from Indigenous Services Canada that the Lheidli T’enneh band council made a formal request that the land that encompasses the three properties in downtown Prince George would be added to the reserve.

According to the Indigenous Services Canada website, an addition to reserve:

• Contributes directly to advancing reconciliation and improving the treaty relationship;

• Improves community access to land and resources;

• Supports community and economic development initiatives for First Nations;

• Enables Canada to fulfill legal obligations established by specific claim settlement agreements.

The First Nation is responsible for negotiating agreements with local governments on such issues as service provisions, bylaw harmonization, tax considerations land-use planning and dispute resolution. Those agreements

Eric Depenau, the city’s director of administrative services, told council at Wednesday’s public meeting at city hall there are tax advantages for band members who work on reserve land.

He said the Lheidli T’enneh would be eligible for federal programs for the maintenance and operation of those buildings because it would become the federal government’s responsibility to look after those properties.

He said the application could also potentially open up federal funding streams for activities on those two building sites.

Depenau said the bulk of the dialogue between the city and the Lheidli T’enneh to work out service agreements and how they apply to zoning and bylaw policies will happen this year.

Coun. Brian Skakun asked staff if there are any other unceded territories within local government boundaries which could result in future applications to obtain additions to reserve land.

“As far as we’re aware, this is the first addition to the Lheidli T’enneh reserve lands (which) have been established for quite some time,” responded city manager Walter Babicz.

“It is the first addition that we’re aware of and it is within the city boundaries,” he said. “This is all subject to federal legislation the federal government has enacted in terms of determining what the process is.

“The reality is that once lands are handed to reserve there’s no longer any property taxes levied. But also, municipalities are not required to provide any services to reserve lands, so it’s very unlikely this would proceed without service agreements being in place.”

Citing a request for more information and a meeting of city council with the Lheidli T’enneh to discuss the service agreements, Coun. Kyle Sampson proposed the city postpone sending a letter to Indigenous

Lheidli T’enneh First Nation has received unanimous city council support to have its Uda Dune Baiyoh (House of Ancestors) Conference Centre at 355 Vancouver St. and the band’s administration office at 150 Brunswick St. added to its reserve lands.

Services Canada which endorses the reserve application.

While he supports working with the Lheidli T’enneh to hash out an agreement, Sampson also wanted to delay a city staff recommendation of a meeting between Mayor Simon Yu

and Lheidli T’enneh Chief Dolleen Logan to sign a letter of understanding, which would begin negotiations on the first addition to reserve lands in the modern era.

The recommendations subsequently passed 8-1.

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

Citizen staff

National Indigenous Peoples’ Day goes June 21 from noon to 8 p.m. at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park, hosted by the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. Commemorate National Indigenous Peoples’ Day to recognize the history, heritage, and diversity of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Truth and Reconciliation is the heart of National Indigenous Peoples Day. The Lheidli T’enneh First Nation (LTFN) will be hosting National Indigenous Peoples Day on their ancestral lands and historical village site, now known as Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park.

Goodsir Nature Park 35th anniversary celebration goes Friday, June 21 and Saturday, June 22 at 5 p.m. at 22825 Old Summit Lake Road North. Jim Good is excited to welcome everyone to the park for live music, tasty snacks, free refreshments, museum tours and endless fun.

***

Karaoke at Trench goes Friday, June 21 at 8 p.m. at 399 Second Ave.

This is a monthly event where people are invited to come and sing their hearts out.

***

Sherlock Challenge at Huble Homestead tests your puzzle prowess on June 22 and 23 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It’s an exit room-style game set in the historic Huble House. Pre-register with your group by June 20 at www.hublehomestead.ca. Tickets are $10. For casual sleuthing without the pressure, collect a game sheet and work at your own pace with the Watson Weekend activities that same weekend, free with your admission donation at Huble Homestead Historic Site, located 40km north of Prince George, just off Highway 97 on Mitchell Road. For more info or for tickets, visit www.hublehomestead. ca or call 250-564-7033.

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Derek Joyce Live at Trench Brewing, 399 Second Ave., goes Saturday, June 22 at 8 p.m. Along with Joyce the audience will enjoy performances by Aidan Galletti-Viscount &

June 22 at 2:30 p.m. and is presented by Northern Orchestra of BC at the First Baptist Church, 483 Gillett St. Come enjoy an afternoon of fantastic orchestral and vocal music featuring members of Fraiser Lyric Opera. The program includes Schubert’s Symphony No. 3 and highlights from Mozart operas. Tickets by donation at the door. ***

Prince George Move to Cure ALS goes Sunday, June 23 at 10 a.m. at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park. Be part of this fundraising effort by walking, running, rolling and donating. Start your own team by rallying friends, family and colleagues or join an existing team to amplify your impact. For more information visit www.alsbc/ princegeorgemove2024

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Prince George Move to Cure

ALS happens Sunday, June 23 at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park.

Justin Gendreau. Joyce is a singer-songwriter raised in Northern BC. His songs are a blend of humanizing narratives and spiritual reflections; hoping to capture the essence of human experience with authenticity and warmth. There is no cover charge but tips are welcome.

***

The Kickers at Nelly’s Pub goes Saturday, June 22 at 9 p.m. at 2274

John Hart Hwy. The Kickers perform classic rock and country and the musicians include Tim Yule guitar and vocals, Maurice Johnson drums and vocals and Dennis Smith on bass.

***

Stage and Symphony – Prince George Matinee goes Saturday,

B.C. comedian Leland Klassen performs in Prince George on Sunday, June 23 at Lakewood Alliance Church at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $15 online at www.lelandklassen.com. The award-winning comedian/actor has appeared on Netflix, Just For Laughs, and Dry Bar Comedy. He’s also a filmmaker and has performed on cruise ships. Community Market Junk in the Trunk goes June 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 6470 Bendixon Rd. The event, hosted by the Pineview Recreation Commission, features new items, produce and garage sale items.

***

Women’s Strike Canada goes Monday, June 24 at 2 p.m. at City Hall, 100 Patricia Blvd. This is a peaceful gathering in solidarity with American women on the anniversary of the overturning of Roe v Wade and support the fight to regain autonomy over our own bodies and existence. For more information visit www.facebook. com/events/1635104650675203

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Live Music – Big Train Acoustic Blues goes Tuesday, June 25 at 6

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

National Indigenous Peoples’ Day takes place June 21 at Lheidli T’Enneh Memorial Park.

p.m. at Legion 43 PG, 101-1116 Sixth Ave., Doors open at 6, music starts at 7 p.m. Admission is $10 at the door and the kitchen will be open from 6 to 8 p.m. There is an open bar.

Chris Goodwin Solo & Acoustic from Nelly’s Pub goes Thursday, June 27 at 7 p.m. at 2274 John Hart Hwy. Goodwin will perform live acoustic country music.

Kiwanis June Pub Night goes Thursday, June 27 at 4:30 p.m. at CrossRoads Brewing, 508 George St. The Kiwanis Club invites current and future members to gather for a drink. Future members will be treated to a beverage.

Calling All Captains and the Burden and Keeper goes Saturday, June 29 at 7:30 p.m. at Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St. Calling All Captains is bringing their Petal to the Metal tour to Omineca Arts Centre with support from The Burden and Keeper. Tickets are $25 at www.ollienorthproductions.ticketspice.com/ calling-all-captains-in-prince-george

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.

Trivia Night at Nancy O’s goes every other Wednesday at 8 p.m., 1261 Third Ave. There are three rounds per game, each round has five themed questions and five music questions. There’s something for everyone. The winning team gets a custom Nancy O’s Trivia trophy and a round of drinks,

their photo on the wall that goes into the winners’ book after two weeks. Those caught cheating will be publicly shamed and labeled as cheaters – good wholesome fun. Book your spot by calling ahead at 250-562-8066. ***

Coffee and Cars is a weekly event held every Saturday from 7 to 9 a.m. until Sept. 29 at Tim Horton’s, 612 East Central St., where people can meet up during this family friendly event that brings Prince George’s diverse car culture together.

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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.

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. ***

If you’ve got an event coming up email us at news@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.

The Edmonton band Calling All Captains, with guests Burden and Keeper, play June 29 at the Omineca Arts Centre.

Sherlock Challenge at Huble Homestead tests people’s puzzle prowess on June 22 and 23 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Local student’s essay wins national award

MATT DRISCOLL

Special to The Citizen

Eighty years after some 14,000 Canadian soldiers landed at the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, the spirit of their sacrifice is still fresh in the minds of some of Prince George’s young citizens.

Royal Canadian Legion Branch 43 recently recognized six zone winners and two provincial winners in the Remembrance Day Literary and Poster Competition.

Among those, the essay written by Grade 12 Westside Academy student Antonia Tannert was awarded first prize from thousands of submissions across Canada. Her essay, A Day for Reflection on the Past, Present and Future, will now hang in the National War Museum in Ottawa for an entire year. As well, Tannert has been invited on an all-expense paid trip to the Remembrance Day ceremony

in Ottawa on Nov. 11 where she will lay a wreath at the cenotaph.

“When I found out I’d won I was shocked and thrilled,” says Tannert. “It’s such an honour and I’m really excited about the trip. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone involved with the contest, hearing their stories and learning

Watering your lawn only once a week saves as much as 37,600 litres a month.*

from their experiences. I’m just extremely grateful for the opportunity and thankful to everyone involved.”

Tannert says she’s been entering the contest for years and sees it as an opportunity to gain new skills and delve into historical research.

“I feel that recognizing and

reflecting on the sacrifices of veterans is crucial for younger generations,” says Tannert. “I think that by understanding the challenges and sacrifices faced by those who served, and continue to serve, we can foster a sense of gratitude and appreciation, and also instill in us a sense of responsibility.”

Sandra Twizell, chairperson of the Legion 43 Remembrance Day literary and poster contest, says she’s thrilled that so many entrants from Prince George were recognized at the zone, provincial and national levels.

Twizell says Tannert’s work has a powerful effect on people who read it.

“I get choked up just thinking about it,” said Twizell.

“She has such a maturity to her work and I’m absolutely thrilled that she’s been recognized on a national level. It’s amazing to think that this girl from Prince George will be in Ottawa laying a wreath on Remembrance Day.”

Petition calls for blood plasma donations

A local advocacy group is launching a petition to bring blood plasma donation back to Northern B.C.

One small change. One big difference. And it’s even greater when we do it together. Learn more at gov.bc.ca/drought *vs 2x per week; using 2.35L/sqft on 4000 sqft lawn.

The petition at www.ourbloodcounts. com calls on Canadian Blood Services to open a new blood plasma donor centre in Prince George to serve the northern twothirds of the province. With National Blood Donor Week underway, the group points out that Canada collects less than 20 percent of the plasma that patients need from domestic donors, so the need is there.

In the past five years, Canadian Blood Services has opened or planned to add a dozen new plasma centres across the country, but Prince George is not on the list.

The city had a Canadian Blood Services whole blood donor centre from 1998 until 2015.

“Donor blood has been a big part of

my family. We’ve benefited from blood and have given in return. That’s why I’ve signed the petition to bring a plasma donor centre to the North,” said Kelli Smith, a wholesale manager in Prince George and advocate for blood donation.

Plasma makes up more than half of a person’s blood. Plasma carries water, salts and enzymes. But it also has antibodies, clotting factors, and proteins. These can be concentrated into medications for patients with a range of medical emergencies.

Donations involve using specialized equipment to extract plasma from a donor’s blood and return red blood cells and platelets to the donor.

The extracted plasma is frozen and sent to a manufacturer to be turned into immunoglobulins. These specialized medications support care for patients with kidney and liver diseases, cancer, and/or immune deficiencies.

LEGION PHOTO

Westside Academy student Antonia Tannert was awarded first prize for her essay, A Day for Reflection on the Past, Present and Future, in the Legion’s Remembrance Day Literary and Poster Competition.

Citizen staff

Bystanders save classic truck from fire

right there,” said Olson.

Doug Olson got the surprise of his life a couple of months ago when he stopped at the Eastway ESSO gas station in his immaculately restored 1967 Chevy shortbox stepside pickup.

He had no sooner rolled into the lot when flames started shooting out from under the hood.

As fate would have it that April 28 day, Austin Campbell was there at the same time, fuelling up his vehicle, and saw what was happening.

He quickly grabbed the fire extinguisher hanging next to the gas pump and used it to extinguish the flames.

“I slammed on my brakes, turned the truck off and lifted up the hood and as I did that two young guys with a fire extinguisher were

Olson, who spent hundreds of hours with his garage buddies bringing that truck back from gutted teardown stage to showroom quality, said if not for their quick thinking, he would not have the truck anymore.

“The fire was going for about a minute but it felt like an eternity,” said Olson.

The damage was limited to a couple of vacuum lines and a few hoses, electrical wires, distributor but it could have been a complete writeoff.

Olson wanted to reward Campbell and his buddy for being there to help but they said all they wanted was for him to fix the truck, which he did.

“I would have given him a kidney,” laughed Olson. “They really saved me.”

Olson figures he cracked a fuel

Drugs, cash seized by RCMP

Drugs, cash and replica firearms were found when the RCMP searched a home on Nicholson Street June 10. Police seized about

50 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 60 grams of suspected fentanyl, four replica firearms, ammunition, $2,000 in cash and drug paraphernalia. No charges were laid as the investigation is ongoing.

line struggling to put on a fuel filter, which was putting up some resistance.

He’d been driving the shiny green truck for a month when the fire happened.

Olson likes to build his own cars and trucks and has seven classics that he’s done most of the work on, including a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda and a ’56 Ford pickup that’s not yet driveable.

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TED CLARKE Citizen staff

DOUG OLSON

Doug Olson spent hundreds of hours restoring this 1967 Chevy shortbox stepside pickup truck only to see it suddenly burst into flames.

Citizen staff

Goodsir Nature Park celebrates 35 years

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

Thirty-five summers ago, naturalist Jim Good realized his childhood dream to create a Canadian botanical conservatory on his 160-acre homestead in Salmon Valley, 31 kilometres north of Prince George.

After nearly seven decades of nursing the more than 2,000 wildflower, shrub and tree species that are thriving in his forest at Goodsir Nature Park, the 74-year-old Good has added a new title to his resume. He’s now a doctor.

That became official on May 31 at the UNBC convocation ceremony when Good received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

“That was fun; I was asked to write a speech and I was told that my speech touched a lot of people, because I spoke from my heart,” Good said.

“I had people sign the guest register, ‘Congratulations Dr. Good.’ I think the novelty will be gone in probably, I said a week or two, maybe a month or so.”

His newfound fame reminded Good of his humble beginnings as an autistic child.

“I came here from Vancouver almost 51 years ago, lived in my truck camper and I was homeless but I didn’t use the word homeless. I didn’t know anybody, no family, no friends, I came to a strange town, which back then was very transient.

“Everything I’ve ever done in my life has been from scratch. I did poorly in school and made up for it. With clean living and a positive goal I was able to fulfill my dream, I was able to save money for a down payment on my first house and I sold it and bought the land.”

Summer officially arrives in Prince George on June 20 and to commemorate the park’s 35th anniversary Good is inviting the public to join the celebration that weekend.

On Friday, June 21 at 7 p.m., Good will present the original declaration he read to an audience of four when the park first opened on June 21,1989.

The ceremony will be followed by a night of live music performed by Steve Baker.

Live tunes resume Saturday at 7 p.m. when Dean Chandler takes the stage.

Admission is by donation. There will be free cake and cold beverages served.

The park is home to two special collections – the J.L. Good Vinyl Museum, with 42,000 records, mostly 45s, and the Goodsir Botanical Museum.

Goodsir’s closed-circuit radio station, CGNP, broadcasts his music selections to enhance the experience for park visitors.

Good worked as a hospital janitor and bought the land in fall of 1987. He realized his childhood dream when he opened the park two years later.

His dedication as caretaker of a unique tourist attraction that promotes biodiversity earned Good recognition from the B.C. Achievement Foundation which presented him its community award in 2022.

A university student who visited

the park paid the ultimate tribute in the guest register when he referred to Goodsir as a must-stop for all Canadians.

Good takes pride in exhibiting a live species from each province and territory in Canada, plants and trees he collected himself on cross-country treks in 1969 and 1993. Signs along the three kilometres of trails show the Latin names and common names of each featured plant and a pinpoint map shows where they were obtained.

“It’s my life’s work putting it all together,” said Good. “I started when I was six years old, going camping with my parents at Cultus Lake.

“I also started listening to my dad’s car radio and found I could carry a song in the back of my head and that sparked my second hobby, the love of music, vinyl.”

Good has built and maintained the park largely by himself, but in recent years has had health issues related to two heart attacks, which required a quadruple bypass operation. He and his wife Raine still look after the park but they rely on volunteers to take care of some of the heavier labour involved.

If you would like to help with park maintenance or are able to lend a hand for the 35th anniversary celebration to assist with parking control or give guided tours, call Good at 250-960-2337.

Goodsir Nature Park, at 22825 Old Summit Lake Rd., is open seven days per week from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Petition stops plan to change transit routes

Citizen staff

Transit changes planned for Prince George are being reviewed after concerns were raised.

In the meantime, the 88 Westgate and 89 Hart routes will remain as they currently are.

It had been proposed that 88 and 89 become 80 Hart/Spruceland, 81 Spruceland/Westgate and 82 Westgate.

The changes would have taken effect in September.

Much of the concern about the potential changes came from members of the Guru Nanak Darbar Temple, who are regular users of the 88 route. It has a stop right outside their building on Davis Road.

BC Transit and the city were considering moving that route to Ospika Boulevard, bypassing Davis Road,

meaning a walk for Guru Nanak Darbar Sikh Society members.

The society raised that concern in a petition with 280 signatures.

On June 12, council discussed the three possible changes to BC Transit bus route transit service pattern for the No. 88 Westgate and No. 89 Hart services and decided that all trips will continue to travel via existing routing or an alternate route via

Davis, Foster, and Baker Roads. That option was amended slightly to consider altering No. 16 from UNBC to McGill Crescent in College Heights. That route could be used to serve Davis, Foster and Baker Roads if staff decide to eliminate that leg from the Westgate/Hart routes.

Council directed staff to work with B.C. Transit on keeping the existing routes while considering alternatives.

Everyone is welcome to celebrate Goodsir Nature Park’s 35th anniversary on June 21 and 22.

Council considers reducing Christmas snowplowing, ending driveway clearing

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

Snow in June?

The topic of snow removal prompted a flurry of discussion at Wednesday’s city council meeting.

To try to reduce the snow and ice control budget, which is set at $10.3 million for 2024, council has directed city staff to provide the budget impact of not clearing driveways, reducing snow removal services on stat holidays during the Christmas season and increasing the minimum thresholds of 24-hour snowfalls at which city plowing crews are activated.

The city will look at changing the threshold of equipment activation from 7.5 centimetres to 10 cm (in a 24-hour period) for main arteries/downtown/hospital area/ major facilities and from 12 to 15 cm for residential streets.

Coun. Tim Bennett said a big

dump during the Christmas season that puts city crews and contractors to work on stat holidays can put a huge strain on the city’s resources.

Previous council discussions revealed that a heavy snow declaration during Christmas could drain as much as $1 million from the annual budget due to the overtime hours involved in staffing the crews.

City staff were directed to look into a strategy that would reduce the hours crews will work on those days.

Reduced service during Christmas could create hazards for first responders and Coun. Brian Skakun said that has to be taken under consideration.

Trying to find ways to cut the snow budget while maintaining street safety and the taxpaying public’s desire for swift responses to major snowfalls is a balancing

act city planners struggle with constantly, said Blake McIntosh, director of civic operations.

“We have bounced those type of ideas around for years,” said McIntosh.

“Recently it seems that those kinds of statutory holidays, especially through the Christmas season, it’s difficult to get our contractors to commit to working those hours, so we’ve been generally completing those requirements with city staff, and minimum contractors, so there has been a bit of savings there.

“A policy outlines the service levels and we administer our operation based on those service levels so if council desires to change those service levels I suppose we could bring back some options.”

A report received in November during budget consultations identified snow and ice removal

as one of the top five priorities in a citizen survey.

Coun. Ron Polillo’s motion was passed for the city to consider the possibility of not clearing driveways as a cost savings measure.

McIntosh explained to council that city crews only open driveways in areas with curbs and gutters plowed by graders and not in outlying areas that are truck-plowed.

To date in 2024, the city has spent $5,972,173 of its $10.3 million snow and ice control budget. In 2023 the city exceeded its $9.8 million budget by $972,443.

Prince George spends $25 per residence per month on snow and ice removal. Coun. Trudi Klassen pointed out that’s less the amount spent per dwelling in St. John’s, Nfld. ($30), but more than Grande Prairie ($12) and three times as much as is spent on clearing winter roads in Thunder Bay.

New B.C. tax arrears law could cost city

TED CLARKE

Citizen staff

Changes to the provincial law that requires municipalities to recover unpaid property taxes by selling properties whose owners are in arrears could leave the city of Prince George liable for exorbitant administrative costs, council heard Wednesday.

The changes stem from a September 2017 complaint to the Office of the Ombudsperson from a Penticton owner whose property was sold and later transferred to the successful bidder.

The ombudsperson made five recommendations that have been adopted by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to make the process of tax sales more fair to the original property owner.

The Community Charter requires municipalities to recover unpaid property taxes, including interest and penalties owing on those taxes, by conducting an annual tax sale public auction on the last Monday of September each year.

After the property is sold, the current owners or registered charge holders have one year from the date of the tax sale to redeem the property by paying the taxes owed, and any penalties or interest accrued on the bid price.

Failure to redeem the property within that year period will result in the title being transferred to the tax sale purchaser.

One of the changes is a requirement for municipalities to notify owners/charge holders whose properties are in tax arrears 60 days before the tax sale, which

council heard is too short a period to make the process work.

Council later approved a letter addressing those concerns to be sent to Anne King, the province’s Minister of Municipal Affairs.

Under the current law, in the year a property has delinquent taxes, the city has 90 days to notify property owners using registered mail, a process server or court-ordered substitute service.

The proposed change will require the city to execute the notification process for every property within 60 days of the tax sale.

Kris Dalio, the city’s director of finance, said his staff is diligent about letting people know about the process and their obligations.

Of the hundreds of properties with delinquent taxes each year, by the time of the tax sale that

number is usually reduced to only about 10 properties.

Dalio said costs will balloon if the city is required to do all the work to contact hundreds of property owners in just two months.

He said the cost of a registered letter is about $10, a process server will charge about $200 and substituted service would cost the city between $1,500 and $2,500 for each file.

“We can’t even start this process until after mid-May and we’d be given to the end of July to get a hold of hundreds of people for this,” said Dalio.

“If every municipality is doing it, there might not be enough court resources to do substituted service and we would be set up to be non-compliant.”

The province has implemented the new legislation but has told Dalio it won’t take effect until 2025.

Live music, traditional dance and more for National Indigenous People’s Day

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

Summer officially arrives with the solstice Thursday afternoon but the celebration in the park doesn’t happen until Friday.

National Indigenous Peoples Day festivities start at noon Friday at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park and the entertainment lineup promises something for everybody to enjoy. There will be no shortage of music, dancing, and drumming on the stage.

Community groups will connect with visitors at information booths set up around the park next to artisans marketing their handiwork, with a wide assortment of food vendors lined up to fill your belly.

Local artist Kym Gouchie will perform selections from her latest

Recording artist Mimi O’Bonsawin is the feature musician for Friday’s National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park.

album, Shun Beh Nats’ujeh: We Are Healing Through Songs.

The day also features singer/ songwriter Dani Lion, a Vancouver artist with family ties to the Dakelh people of Prince George. Singer/songwriter harpist/

guitarist Mimi O’Bonsawin is the closing musical guest, and she will wrap up the park celebrations at 8 p.m.

O’Bonsawin’s contemporary roots music draws from her Franco-Ontarian and Abenaki First

Nation influences in northeastern Ontario and her visit to Prince George comes about a month following the release of her latest album, Live In Concert.

“This event will really show off Indigenous talent as well as professional touring artists and it will show Prince George is a place that really reflects upon and appreciates the Lheidli T’enneh Nation and their contributions,” said NIPD event organizer Katherine Benny.

“The music is diverse, so it will be something for everybody. They’re not super-long sets, so if you don’t like alternative rock music give it 20 minutes and there will be someone else. There’s lots to take in.”

The Old Fort Traditional Dancers will also be featured on the Kiwanis Bowl stage.

SEE FESTIVITIES, PAGE 23

In Celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day

MIMI O’BONSAWIN, FACEBOOK

Festivities happen at Lheidli

T’enneh Memorial

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 22

Displays in tents set up on the site will reveal some of the historical significance of the region’s first human populations, focusing on their past, present and future in Prince George.

A volunteer booth will be set up on the site if you would like to help.

The Exploration Place, the museum at the south end of the park, is planning a few surprises for visitors and Origins Kitchen will be serving up gourmet treats from the menu.

Summerlike weather is moving into the city starting on Tuesday and Friday’s forecast high is expected to reach 26 C.

The Rotaract waterspray splash pad will be open for everybody to cool their heels on

Park

a hot day.

Originally known as National Aboriginal Day when it started in 1996, the name was changed to National Indigenous Peoples Day in 2017. It is a statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.

The opening two hours of the event, from noon-2 p.m. will be livestreamed on the Lheidli T’enneh YouTube channel.

The entertainment will continue later Friday evening at the Omineca Arts Centre at 369 Victoria St.

More information is available on the Lhedil T’enneh website, www.Lheidli.ca.

Major sponsors include UNBC, College of New Caledonia, Canadian Tire, City of Prince George and CN Rail.

Mike.Morris.MLA@leg.bc.ca /MikeMorrisforBC @MikeMorrisforBC

Shirley.Bond.MLA@leg.bc.ca /ShirleyBondforBC @shirleybond

Classic rides for Father’s Day

Citizen photos by Chuck Nisbett

(Left) Matthew Olsen shows his appreciation of the 340 cars that were on display during the annual Cruisin’ Classics Father’s Day Show and Shine Sunday at Lheidli

(Below, left) Kim Bickerton and Chris Last enjoy a 91980’s Caprice Classic California Highway Patrol car., complete with a couple of CHP helmets.

(Below, right): Cruisin’ Classics vice-president Doug Olson hands Grayson Barnett, 10, the award for Modified Motorcycle, a Hardley (sic) Davidson Chopper, after presenting his father the award for Stock Motorcycle, a 2008 Harley Davidson FXCWC Softail Rocker C, during the awards ceremony.

T’enneh Memorial Park.

Show & Shine attracts 13,000 visitors

Eric Paulson explains the significance of a gleaming, though beaded with rain, stainless steel Delorean to his sons Lukas, 6, and Jesse, 3, as they take in the cars on display. Visit www.princegeorgecitizen.com for more photos from the event.

(Above): James Shuby takes a few minutes to use rain from a short shower to scrub bugs off his 2007 Shelby GT 500 during the annual Cruisin’ Classics Father’s Day Show and Shine.

(Below): Retired firefighter Darren Andreychuk explains the power rear deck of his 1967 Lincoln Continental and how it opens to swallow the folding roof of the car to Kent Foreman. Three hundred and forty cars were on display to an estimated 13,000-plus attendees.

New search effort in Jack family vanishing

Relatives of the missing Jack family of Prince George have begun a new search in the Willow River area.

Ronald and Doreen Jack and their sons Russell and Ryan disappeared on Aug. 1, 1989.

At the time, it was reported that the family left their home on Strathcona Avenue in Prince George with an unknown man in a dark-coloured four-wheel-drive pickup truck.

RCMP said it appeared Ronald Jack met the man the evening before at the First Litre Pub, about four blocks away from their home, where the couple were offered jobs at a logging camp or ranch thought to be near Clucluz Lake.

The two went back to the Jacks’ home and during the early morning hours of the next day, Ronald call his parents to say he and Doreen were leaving for a “camp job,” RCMP have said.

It also appeared they took their children along after they were told there was daycare at the camp. Ronald had indicated to his parents that

they would be gone for about 10 days, and that they would be back for Russell to start the school year in September.

However, they never returned and they were reported missing on Aug. 25, 1989.

The investigation has been ongoing within the Prince George RCMP’s Serious Crime Unit since then, but police will not be involved with this search at the moment.

Our investigators have been in

recent contact with the organizers of this search and are aware of their efforts. However, the information we have been provided on the search location is not sufficient for us to attend in an investigational capacity, stated Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer for the Prince George RCMP.

She said investigators will remain in contact with Jack family members while the search is ongoing.

The man who drove off with the

Jack family was described as a white man, about 35 to 40 years old, standing 6-foot to 6-6 and weighing 200 to 275 pounds.

He had reddish-brown hair with a full beard.

Anyone with information about the Jack family should contact the Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300.

With files from Mark Nielsen and Hanna Petersen

Conditional sentence in wild chase case

A Surrey man who wielded a gun while being pursued by police near downtown Prince George was sentenced on Tuesday, June 11 to a conditional sentence order followed by a term of probation. The actions of Zakaria Benjamin Athaya, 23, prompted pursuing Prince George RCMP members to fire off five rounds during the chase. The bullets hit a home, but nobody was hurt. Athaya was one of three people inside a sport utility vehicle RCMP had tried to pull over near 10th and Carney only to see it take off. It was involved in collisions with two RCMP vehicles before it came to rest on a sidewalk along 4th Avenue near Winnipeg Street. All three occupants took off in separate directions.

An off-duty RCMP officer happened to be out for a run when he saw Athaya running and sweating profusely.

When the off-duty officer saw him reach towards his waistband, he yelled that he was a cop and told Athaya he was under arrest. He continued his pursuit until two armed plainclothed officers caught up and saw a black pistol in Athaya’s hand. Athaya ran across the street and turned around. RCMP warned that he was going to be fired upon and pulled their triggers. The bullets struck a house. No one was injured but it left the family inside the home startled, the court heard. Athaya had remained on “very restrictive” bail conditions that have included electronic monitoring since his arrest and eventually pleaded guilty to occupying a vehicle knowing a

of Winnipeg and Fourth Avenue on Aug. 22, 2022.

firearm present. Counts of possessing a restricted or prohibited firearm and wilfully resisting arrest were stayed. In all, he was sentenced to a conditional sentence order of two years less a day followed by three years probation. Terms of the CSO include that he remain at home from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., wear an electronic monitor and come no closer than 25 kilometres of Prince George. He was also issued a 10-year

firearms prohibition.

The sentence came in the form of a joint submission from defence and Crown counsels.

Athaya has the support of a “very hard-working family” and continues to work in a restaurant. Putting him in jail could be counterproductive, the court was told, by exposing him to the type of people he had been ordered to stay away from.

PHOTOS

Ronald, Doreen, Ryan and Russell Jack disappeared from Prince George in 1989 after telling relatives they were leaving for new jobs. Now, family members are returning to the Willow River area to search for clues.

MARK NIELSEN

Special to The Citizen

CITIZEN

Prince George RCMP deal with the aftermath of a high-stakes arrest in the area

Frustration as downtown wedding store windows are smashed again and again

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff

“When is it going to end?”

That’s the question Mary Simoes, downtown Prince George store owner, keeps asking.

But she never gets an answer.

“I get a lot of promises but nothing is being done,” Simoes says.

It’s the 11th time Simoes has had her Storybook Wedding store windows smashed over the last year or so and she’s had enough.

The city created green space by building retaining walls to hold the soil to grow trees in front of Storybook Wedding Shop and the loose bricks are what have been used to smash Simoes windows again and again.

She’s contacted the city many times to complain about the situation but there has been no action taken, she says.

“The city understands the frustration felt by this business owner, and by many downtown business owners at the moment,” Claire Thwaites, communications manager for the City of Prince George said in a response for request for comment.

“Our manager of bylaws, Charlotte Peters, has spoken with this owner and understands her anger at the constant damage to the property. Instances of broken windows and damage to retaining walls is classified as mischief/property damage. This is a criminal act and therefore a police matter. These incidents should be reported to the RCMP who will investigate them and if the offenders are identified charges can be forwarded to (the) Crown.”

Simoes has had her store at the corner of Third Avenue and Brunswick Street for the last 16 years or so and she said things have changed since Northern Hardware closed down.

Many homeless people that live in

the downtown core congregate in front of Simoes’s store every day.

“I hate to say it – but this is a slow day,” Simoes says, indicating the dozen or so people gathered near the store and across the street.

As she’s talking in her store, Simoes points out through the smashed window where there are people gathered to use the raised garden bed as their distribution centre. The core group divvies up the drugs and another group comes along to make their purchases.

At that very moment two bylaw services officers approach the group and quickly send them on their way.

“The police have been amazing – poor things – they have been beyond amazing. They try to help but the problem is so big now it’s hard to manage everything that’s going on down here,” Simoes says.

“One day I made the mistake of

giving a woman money when she asked me for it, the next day she asked again and I told her I didn’t have any money for her and she smashed her empty wine bottle into the hood of my car over and over again. I have to escort my customers from the store to their cars because they are afraid.

“When I get out of my car to go into the store the smell of urine and feces is what I notice first. I have people smoking their drugs and shooting up right in front of the store door, blocking customers from entering. I’ve had to keep my door locked and customers have to ring the bell to get in now because I have been robbed so many times. I can’t make an insurance claim for the damages from the windows being smashed any more because the rates are already so high.”

There is a needle exchange and a safer drug supply dispensary

nearby and Simoes believes if those services could be relocated away from downtown businesses that might help.

“Removing these gardens would help, too,” Simoes says.

“I have compassion for the people living downtown and I am very sympathetic to them but leaving them here without help isn’t working. Something has to be done. The biggest message I want to get out there is that we have to move these resources or nothing is going to change and we need to get the unhoused people living here the help they need so we can all be safe downtown.”

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Brian Styles of RC Adams Glass picks up large pieces of glass from the window display area at Storybook Wedding, corner of Brunswick Street and Third Avenue, after the window was broken by a piece of stonework (seen at right) from a nearby planter last week.

Teen boxer gets first taste of fight action

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

Liam Harvey grew up playing hockey but was never a fighter. Not until he started hanging out with the gang at Spruce Capital Boxing Club. He joined the club about a year ago and started training with Spruce Capital head coach Wayne Sponagle.

Sponagle has been kept busy in the Spruce Capital gym, tuning the 16-yearold Harvey up for his first boxing match, which happened Saturday in Quesnel at the Rumble 32 fight card.

Harvey, fighting as a 152-pound welterweight, lost a unanimous threeround decision to Josh Zackarias of Prince George, representing the The Wolf Den gym.

Harvey has been training as the Spruce Capital gym for about a yearand-a-half and knew early on he wasn’t just in it to get in great shape.

“I’ve been training here four times a week,” said the Grade 11 Duchess Park Secondary School student.

“A friend came here a little bit and told me about it so I came here and just got hooked on it. At first it was just training, but after the first two weeks I realized if I get good enough I want a fight.

“It gives you confidence, but also keeps your ego in check. You get tough guys coming in here and they realize they’re not the toughest person in the world.”

Harvey has no shortage of tough guys to spar with at the Spruce Capital gym in the basement of Best Buy electronics

Liam Harvey, 16, trains at Spruce Capital Boxing Club before a bout last Saturday in Quesnel.

store, and they hit hard.

“Sometimes it hurts but I’m getting used to it,” he said. “My nose is a little bit squishy but it hasn’t been broken yet.”

He was never a street fighter but he’s seen a couple after-school rumbles during his time at Duchess Park.

“Sometimes people put on boxing gloves and go into the alley and scrap,” he said. “Sometimes the old people who live close to there will come out to the alley to watch. Maybe every month, people who don’t like each other and they’ll go there to box.”

Harvey says he won’t have any trouble making his weight class at the pre-fight weigh-ins. He’s no stranger to the weight room and there’s not much fat on his lean and muscular frame, so it’s easy for him to maintain his weight.

Boxing has taught him the benefits of clean living and healthy eating (no junk

food) and watermelon is a big part of his daily diet.

“It’s the only fruit I can snack on and feel satisfied, I just like it,” he said. Sponagle says as long as he sticks to the game plan in his fight and does what he’s been trained to do, Harvey will find success Saturday in the ring.

“He’s a really nice kid, and he’s going to be an awesome little fighter, I’m telling ya,” said Spongale. “I started training him in September and of all the boys I’ve got in the gym he adapted to my style quicker than the other boys did. He’s very coachable.”

One other Spruce Capital boxer, light heavyweight Devlin Dwindel, was also on the Quesnel fight card. The 16-yearold Dwindel has just one fight on his boxing resume which happened in April in Calgary when he lost a threeround 3-2 decision. As it turned out his match in Quesnel against Peo Scott of

Daweson Creek was downgraded to a sparring match. The referee stopped it in the second round after Devlin landed a flurry of punches.

Dwindel, a southpaw, joined Spruce Capital in September. He’s had to balance his boxing workouts with his football practices with the College Heights Cougars as a right tackle/defensive end.

“He’s a really good kid with very high potential,” said Sponagle, referring to Dwindel’s boxing skills.

Sponagle, 78, is in his 58th year training boxers. The granddaddy of the local ring says it’s not just seeing his fighters connecting with their punches and ducking haymakers that keeps him coming back for more.

It’s the satisfaction of seeing fighters he trained coming back years later to tell him how he changed their lives for the better.

“I’ve met so many good people, that 58 years had been very rewarding to me,” said Sponagle.

“Kids need an outlet. I found out at a certain time in that kid’s life that boxing played such an important role. I’ve got lawyers, I’ve got school teachers, I’ve got guys in every profession in life who phone me and thank me for what I did for them.”

Three Inner City Boxing Club fighters represented Prince George in the ring at Rumble 32.

In a three-round lightweight (135 pound) bout, Josh Greenwood lost a decision to James Samra of Abbotsford. Cartel Niedermayer and Thunder Innis of Inner City engaged in sparring matches as part of the Quesnel card.

Spruce Kings sign a forward and a goalie

to NCAA Division 1 Colgate University starting in 2025.

12-12-0 with a 2.66 GAA and .908 save rate with one shutout.

games, Wachtel had 25 goals and 32 assists for 57 points.

The Prince George Spruce Kings have added a forward and a veteran defender of the crease to their fold. They’ve signed 2005-born goalie Carter Wishart to stop pucks for them in the 2024-25 B.C. Hockey League season. Wishart, a six-foot-one, 172-pound native of Chaska, Minn., is committed

He’s bringing two seasons of North American Hockey League junior experience from the Chippewa Steel.

This past season in 31 games he compiled a 2.99 goals-against average and .907 save percentage with two shutouts while posting a 13-1-3-2 record.

In 2022-23 with the Steel he went

In other hockey news, the Spruce Kings have announced the signed commitment of Ryan Wachtel (’06) for the 2024/2025 season.

Wachtel is a 5’8, 150-pound forward from Rumson, NJ, who spent the last three seasons at Brunswick School of the USHS-Prep League. In 90 USHS-Prep

He also added five goals and six assists for the Long Island Gulls between their 16U AAA and 18U AAA programs over the past two seasons.

Wachtel is committed to Princeton University to play NCAA Division I hockey in his home state following his junior career.

Citizen staff

Duchess Park sprinter wins at meet

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

Adam Sieben is king of the B.C. high school sprinters.

The Duchess Park Secondary School senior earned his place on the throne over the weekend when he won the 100 metre and 200m events at the B.C. School Sports track and field championships in Nanaimo.

Both wins were personal-best times for Sieben.

On Friday he took the 100m final in 10.71 seconds, shredding nearly a tenth of a second off his previous quick time, set in the heats.

Sieben finished 18 hundredths of a second ahead of second-place Pishon Haughton of Okanagan Mission (10.90).

“I’ve been racing him for a long time,” said Sieben. “It was supercool to come back. I’m always really confident in my races. I knew I could do it and it was just good to go out and execute.

“I got a really good start for both of them. I had an incredible start for the 100. Last year I got injured in the 100 finals and finished like seventh, it was a hamstring pull right at the end.”

The 200m race was even closer. Sieben edged Haughton by just two-hundredths of a second, stopping the clock in 21.78. That beat Sieben’s previous best of 22.35, also set in the heats.

“I came around the curve and we were neck-and-neck, and I just had to relax and coast to the line,” said Sieben. “He’s a great guy, I love

the senior boys 100m sprint at the B.C. Secondary School track and field championships in Nanaimo.

competing against him.”

Before Sieben’s dual sprint win at provincials, 1999 was the most recent time an athlete from the northern half of the province won the 100 and 200 m events when Kurpreet Nijjar of Correlieu (Quesnel) did it.

Sieben was given the trophy annually awarded to the senior boys 100 m champion and will have that to keep on his mantel for the rest of the year.

Sieben has signed a scholarship commitment to the University of Regina and competes for the Cougars track team this fall. Sieben got to work with Cougars coach

Sabrina Nattey last summer when she coached Canada’s national team at the U-18 North America Central America and Caribbean championships in Costa Rica. Sieben reinjured his hamstring at that event and was unable to compete.

He plans to major in psychology at Regina, one of several schools in Canada and the U.S. who tried to recruit him.

“There’s a bunch of really good young guys in our track club but nobody’s around my age, so it will be super exciting to be the younger guy on the team and have  a bunch of older guys pushing me,” Sieben said.

Sieben is entered in 100 and 200 events at the Harry Jerome Classic Saturday in Vancouver. He’ll be racing a few battle-tested pros there and doesn’t expect to win.

Also on his schedule is the Bell Canadian Track and Field Championships in Montreal, June 26-30 and the BC Athletics Jamboree in Nanaimo, July 7-9. In Montreal, he’ll get to see former Duchess Park long jumper/high jumper Caleb Emon, now in his first year with Trinity Western University.

Ten Prince George Track and Field Club athletes competed in the three-day high school championships.

In other PGTFC results, Kionae Roberts, a Grade 10 student at Duchess Park, won bronze in the junior girls 400m race, posting a time of 58.22, and was fourth in the 200m (25.82).

Sarak Aka of Duchess Park advanced to two junior girls finals. She finished sixth in the 100 m (13:15) and was eighth in the 80 m hurdles (13:08).

Hana Liston of Duchess Park placed seventh in the junior girls 300m hurdles (49.87) and was also seventh in the heptathlon.

Rachael Pruden of Prince George Secondary was eighth in the junior girls heptathlon.

Nicolas Scarpino of Duchess Park ended up seventh in the Grade 8 boys long jump with a personal record of 5.18 metres.

Madelin Standish of College Heights Secondary finished fifth in the Grade 8 girls shot put with a personal-best 8.74 m toss.

Brian Burke to speak at UNBC Legacy Night

Citizen staff

Brian Burke will be the keynote speaker during the UNBC Timberwolves Legacy Night on Nov. 21 at the Civic Centre.

Burke is a Stanley Cup champion, a best-selling author, television

personality, community activist and long-time hockey executive at the NHL, PWHL and at the international level.

After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1981, Burke started his career as a player agent in 1987. He then joined the Vancouver

Canucks’ front office, working alongside the late Pat Quinn, before becoming the general manager of the Hartford Whalers in 1992.

After a five-year stint in the NHL head office, Burke became GM of the Vancouver Canucks in 1998, and in 1999 he pulled off a series of trades

which allowed the Canucks to select Daniel and Henrik Sedin with backto-back picks. He later went on to key roles with the Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs and the NHL and led international hockey efforts. Tickets for the event will go on sale Sept. 6.

Adam Sieben of Duchess Park Secondary School poses with PGTFC coaches Lauren Matheson and Ross Browne after he won

Healthy North

Advance Care Planning

Who would make medical decisions for you if you were unable? Talking with your substitute decision maker is essential, but it’s also important to talk with others who can support your substitute decision maker. Find out more about advance care planning and Substitute Decision Makers! For more info visit Advancecareplanning. ca/resource/choosing-a-substitute-decision-maker/

ER Usage

Is the ER the right place for you? For life-threatening emergencies like chest pains, difficulty breathing, broken bones, or severe bleeding, the ER is the place to be. For routine health checkups, pharmaceutical renewals, or less urgent health concerns –call your family care provider, 8-1-1, the Northern Health Virtual Clinic (1-844-645-7811), or book an appointment with a pharmacist (for 21 minor ailments and prescription contraceptives). Visit www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/healthdrug-coverage/pharmacare-for-bc-residents/what-we-cover

Falls Prevention Grant

Do you live in a First Nations community and have an idea for healthy aging and falls prevention? Visit the Northern Health Falls Prevention and Healthy Aging Grant webpage to apply for up to $10,000 in funding: NorthernHealth.ca/services/healthy-living-in-communities/falls-preventionand-healthy-aging-grant. Apply soon as the deadline is June 30, 2024. This grant is supported by funding by the Pacific Public Health Foundation - pacificpublichealth.ca

June 19, 1989: Crews pour the foundation for a White Spot restaurant, the first in Prince George. Other developments happening at the same include the construction of a Victoria Street plaza anchored by a Wosk’s furniture store and a new Laborer’s Pension Plan of B.C. building going up downtown, across from city hall and beside the old Downtown Motel.

Citizen photo by Brock Gable

21, 1976: Duchess Park’s first graduating class is recorded for posterity. Linda Carson was the valedictorian for the school’s first graduating class, urging her classmates to “go forth into the future with optimism, determination and confidence.” Betty Fernandes was the valedictorian at Prince George Senior Secondary School that year.

Citizen photo by Doug Weller

June 22, 1964: Ed Horth displays his grin, his pipe, the tools of his trade and the results of his work in this photo.

Horth won the Rod and Gun Club’s grand aggregate trophy for trap shooting over the weekend.

Citizen photo by Pete Miller

June 19, 2008: Children dressed as flowers take part in Pinewood Elementary School’s production of How Does Your Garden Grow.

Citizen photo by David Mah

June

TO PLAY:

Obliterated

Grimace

Make beer

the grid so that every row, column and every 3x3 box contains numbers 1 through 9 only once.

3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers through 9 in the same line, column or 3x3 box.

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.

Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started.

Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3x3 box.

HOW TO PLAY:

PUZZLES & GAMES

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains

TO PLAY:

HOW TO PLAY:

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.

Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line.

You already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3x3 box.

the grid so that every row, column and every 3x3 box contains numbers 1 through 9 only once.

22nd letter

30. Pedicure subject

31. Cathedral head

32. Emerge

34. Out-of-doors

35. Enthusiasm

36. Daybreaks

38. Lunches

39. ____ role 41. Trials

46. Quaker pronoun 48. Omelet necessity

HOW TO PLAY:

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.

HOW TO PLAY:

Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3x3 box.

3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. already have a few numbers to get you started. Remember: you must not repeat the numbers through 9 in the same line, column or 3x3 box.

PUZZLE

Life Events

Our mom moved to Prince George in 1981 for a new start. She became a born-again Christian shortly after her arrival in Prince George. Her faith is what defined the rest of her life.

While still working, she started an afternoon kid’s club—this was a missionary call for her—where she brought the word of God to children in the neighborhood where she lived in Prince George. After retirement, she volunteered at Shepherd’s Corner in Prince George, where the Word was brought to street people and those less fortunate in the community. Mom always encouraged others that they were okay in God’s eyes and showed a positive outlook. She took many bible courses at Full Gospel Church, which she attended for many years to enrich her faith and understanding of the bible. She believed in the divinity of Christ and wanted to share with others how it had enriched her life so much. Mom attended the Catholic church regularly the last few years, as she appreciated the traditions and sacraments, which she had learned about in her youth.

Our family would like to thank the caring staff at Rainbow Lodge in Prince George for the excellent care our mom received in the last four years of her life. She will be remembered there for her generous smile and sense of humor.

Missing their mother are Isabella (Jeff), John (Judy), and George (Kim). Gloria also leaves behind her four grandchildren, Merrilee, Connor, Amy, and Graham, and her great-granddaughter, Lucy Julianna. She is predeceased by her infant son (1958), daughter Victoria (2003), her brother Bob (Robert) (2009), mother Stephanie (1978), father Stanley (1951), and ex-husband, Paul (2006).

In memory of Gloria, please consider making a donation to the Street Mission of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Prince George.

and son Andrew Wilson, her grandchildren Shelby Wilson-Berg (Eric), Kailah Kelsey (Kyle), Brooklyn Wilson (Josh), Paige Wilson (Braeden), Merin Wilson, Andi Wilson, her great grandchildren, Anastasia Wilson, Jaxson Hoff, her sisters Phyllis Kay, Retta Orlinis (Gary), her brother Rod Walters (Lori), her precious dog Sparkles, numerous nieces and nephews and many cherished friends. Lois loved her life on Texada Island and spent many hours perfecting her gardens and yard. She led a very active lifestyle and loved to hike, paddle board, dragon-boat race, kayak as well as play the ukulele. Lois had a passion for travelling and if you could combine travel with her love of exercise she was in her glory. Lois was gone too soon and will be sorely missed by many. There will be a celebration of life for Lois on Sunday June 23rd in Prince George – drop in between noon and 4:00 p.m. at 4163 Craig Drive. If you like, you can choose to wear green which was Lois’s favourite color and bring any memories or stories to share!

WAITE, Shelley Leigh (nee Shields)

July 27, 1957 · March 23, 2024

Shelley passed away peacefully in Palliative Care at Nanaimo Regional Hospital surrounded by her lovIng family. She was predeceased by her parents Dennis and Dorothy Shields and is survived by husband Robert Waite, her children Jackson and Haley. brother Dave (Wendy), sister Debra (Mike) and her nieces and nephew along with aunts, uncles and many cousins on the Island.

Shelley grew up in Burnaby, eventually attending SFU and then UBC in order to begin her teaching career. She started in the Langley School District but later moved to Prince George where Shelley and Rob raised their family. Shelley thoroughly enjoyed teaching kindergarten until her retirement.

Over time Shelley became more accustomed to the long, cold Prince George winters. She came to know and love some wonderful friends and close colleagues who made the winters shorter, the days warmer. Every summer Shelley and the kids returned to Burnaby to spend several weeks with the grandparents, enjoying their backyard pool and joyful time with her brother and sister and their families.

Shelley was devoted to being a loving mother, a dedicated and caring teacher and a productive member of the community. Her great sense of humour and loud laugh made her a school and neighbourhood favourite. She had a contagious zest for life and her laughter would fill every room she entered. Shelley will be deeply missed but lovingly remembered by all who knew her.

The family would like to thank those who brightened Shelley’s days with love and laughter. Special thanks those visited, and the brilliant staff and devoted volunteers at the Nanaimo Palliative Care Unit who helped Shelley and her family immeasurably with their endless kindness, care and professionalism. A celebration of life will be held in Prince George on July 27, 2024. Please email shelley27@proton.me for details.

LIFE EVENTS

SCHOLANDER, Erik

October 20, 1940 – June 5, 2024

Erik Scholander, 83, of Mackenzie, BC, passed away on June 5, 2024 at Mackenzie District Hospital and will be dearly missed by his wife of 55 years, Brenda; sons Larry (Cindy) and Rob; grand daughters Teagan and Abigail; sister-in-law Roxanne (Brendan); cousin May (Benny) and many extended family and friends. Erik was born in Woodpecker, BC, on October 20, 1940, to Einar and Stephanie Scholander and spent a large portion of his life in Prince George, BC. He married Brenda Smith in 1968 and had two sons; Larry and Rob. In 2013, Erik retired at the age of 72 after many years of service with PNR, Sky Train and BC Rail. In 2019, He and Brenda moved to Mackenzie, BC where he lived out the rest of his years enjoying retirement, home renovations, time with family and friends and gardening. Erik was preceded in death by his parents and sister Mabel. The Scholander family would like to extend their immense gratitude and appreciation to Dr. L Dobson, Dr. Mann and the incredible doctors, nurses and hospital staff at Mackenzie District hospital for their exemplary care of Erik over the last 18 months.

Condolences may be offered at www.LakewoodFH.com

her children Tim Unrau and Elizabeth Clements (Scott), grandsons Zachary and Nicholas Clements, brothers Jack and Donald Armstrong and Gilbert Baldwin, as well as many extended family and friends.

Joyce was predeceased by her husband Norm Unrau, son Roy Unrau, father Vincent Armstrong, stepmother Doreen Armstrong, mother Gladys Baldwin, and sister Beverly Callender.

Born in Princeton, BC and raised in the Similkameen/ Okanagan, Joyce married widower Norm, with his young son Roy, in 1962. A year later they welcomed son Timothy and then daughter Elizabeth in 1965, raising their family in Prince George.

Joyce was a teacher for more than 30 years and loved her students. She was a historian at heart, enjoying genealogy and recording her Scottish heritage. One of her joys was singing in the Gospel Singers Choir.

Bruce you are greatly missed by your Son Dale and Daughter Cindy.

My heart aches for your passing and I think of you every day.

Love your wife Isabel

Alexandria Bourke Gladwin June 19, 1974 - December 24, 2001 Forever in Our Hearts Dad and Mom

We love you Mom Ben, Brett & Granddaughter Elaina

Special thanks to the following for loving Joyce so well: Clasine and friends at Fort George Manor, Dr. Khan and staff, UHNBC FMU/IMU staff, Patricia for her company in the hospital, all who visited Joyce or prayed for her, and many others not mentioned but not forgotten.

A Graveside Ceremony will be held on Friday, June 14, 2024, 10:30 am at PG Memorial Park Cemetery for family and close friends.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Thursday, June 20, 2024, 2:30 pm at PG Evangelical Free Church. All are welcome to attend and encouraged to share their memories, special anecdotes, etc. about Joyce during the service.

Robert (Bob) Dondale

June 23, 1934 - June 11, 2024

It is with deep sadness and broken hearts that we announce the passing of Bob Dondale, a loving husband, father, grandpa and great grandpa. He died peacefully on June 11, 2024 surrounded by his family after a long fought battle with cancer. Bob is survived by his loving and devoted wife Elenore, children Chet (Joanne), Wendy (Jack) and Royce (Trish), grandchildren Brad (Becky), Ashley (Mike), Andrew (Annette), Amy (Warren), Kellie, Jeremy, his great grandchildren Amira, Ethan, Andrik, Kylie, Elizabeth, Ella, Harper, Jake and Austynn. Bob is also survived by his siblings Bud (Griet), Luella (Allan) and Gord (Edna) as well as aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and many dear friends. Bob was predeceased by his parents Roy and Edna, brother Jack and sister Bessie.

Bob was born in Nipawin, Saskatchewan. He moved to BC with his family in 1951. In 1956 he met Elenore, and as the saying goes, the rest is history. They were married in 1957 and were very fortunate to have 67 wonderful years together. Their family grew to include 3 children, 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Bob loved and was proud of his family, he had a close and special connection with each and every one of them. Bob was always active and was a very hard worker all of his life. He worked for many years in the logging industry, then drove bus, had his own delivery truck, managed the Catholic buses and he cut wood. Man, did he cut wood, cords and cords of wood. People from all around talked about his birch piles stacked in his field at Longworth. Bob could make or build anything, he was a self-taught master of many skills including carpentry, automotive and fabricating. He was an avid outdoorsman enjoying hunting , fishing and trapping. He loved spending time at their cabin at Longworth. There were many fun quad trips and wiener roasts on the river bank with the Longworth gang. Bob and Elenore went on many holidays together and in the later years loved taking their motorhome throughout BC to attend music festivals. They made and maintained many great friendships with fellow music lovers. Bob loved to dance with Elenore, they danced at the festivals, in their kitchen and at Longworth. Elenore and family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the Cancer Clinic team, to Dr. Nadeem and his office, and to the palliative care nurses whom were supportive and helpful as Bob endured his illness at home. Special appreciation to the amazing staff at the Hospice House, their kindness, helpfulness and caring will never be forgotten, truly Angels on earth. There will be a celebration of life on June 23, 2024, which would have been Bob’s 90th birthday. It will be at the Senior’s Activity Center at 425 Brunswick Street from 11:00 - 1:00. Please join us in celebrating a great man.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Travis Stephen Archie Galbraith, who drowned in the Willow River. He was born on, May 18, 1981 and died on May 18, 2024, his 43rd birthday. He will be missed more than he could ever have imagined.

Travis was born in Smithers BC to Randy Galbraith and Doreen Fowler, and grew up mostly in Smithers, Houston, and Prince George. While living in Prince George, he met Sharon Neufeld in February 2004. They married, four years later, on May 3, 2008. Two very special sons were born to them---Gabriel, who is now 18, and Ryder who is 14.

Travis began his MMA career in 2001 and fought until 2010. During those 9 years he fought 28 times, losing only 7 times. At one point he held two Canadian titles in two different weight classes simultaneously ---the Middleweight Champion and Light Heavyweight Champion.

In 2005, he (and Sharon) moved to Edmonton so that he could pursue his training under full sponsorship. His trainer was Shara Vigeant and his sponsor was Ken Hesse’s company BHD Tubular in Edmonton. Both Gabriel and Ryder, were born in Edmonton.

He received his coveted black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in March of 2018 under Professor Kyle Cardinal. At the time of his passing, he had already received his second-degree black belt.

Even while he was training and travelling for his fighting career, he supported himself and his family with carpentry which he started when he was 18 years old. He went on to operate his own company in

In loving memory of TRAVIS GALBRAITH

Edmonton from 2009-2016 called Midnight Ryder Contracting. He had a passion for building and became sought after because his work was second-to-none.

In 2016, he and his family moved back to Prince George where he continued self-employment as a framer, and, at times, worked for a few different framing companies, although he did like to work alone.

In 2017, he started taking an interest in hunting. After only two years in this new pursuit, it seemed he had almost mastered it, with success hunting bison, elk, moose, deer, bear and even mountain goat. Not one season went by that he did not fill at least one of his tags. His passion for hunting turned into a long-range shooting hobby as well, and even with this, he worked diligently to become the best. He could shoot 1000 yards with precision.

Upon being urged by friends, he started his own Jiu-Jitsu school called “Galbraith Jiu-Jitsu” in 2018. This was a passion of his and he wanted to pass on everything he knew to better the lives of others.

He was loved and appreciated by many, though he struggled to understand why others looked up to him so much. The respect he earned may well be attributed to his generosity, humor and passion for excellence in whatever he did.

Travis will be deeply missed by his wife Sharon, his sons, Gabriel and Ryder, his father Randy Galbraith, his mother Doreen Fowler, his brother Jody Fowler, his nephew Lukas Galbraith, and many members of Sharon’s family. (He was predeceased by his brother Matthew Galbraith on Jan 27, 2024.)

A “Celebration of Life” will be held at the Prince George Civic Centre on Friday, June 21, 2024, at 2:00 pm. Refreshments to follow.

In Loving Memory of Leslie Dawn Norbeck

Jan. 17, 1969 - June 22, 1986

Still - always - that aching, empty space within our lives - where you should be, dear Lesliewith usWe miss you so much... Love always and forever, Mom and Dana

In lieu of flowers please consider donations to the Prince George Hospice House. Forever loved and missed, but now he may rest. We hope you can join our family to honor the life of Margaret “Anne” Thompson. A celebration of her life and many shared memories will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 1pm at the Elks Hall at 663 Douglas St.

ERNA (ERNESTINE) SCHREINER

July 8, 1925 - June 14, 2024

Born: Sudetenland, Czechoslovakia

Predeceased by her husband, Karl of 55 years

She is survived by her children: Richard (Bev), Dan (Gerri), Heidi (Francis), Perry, Grandchildren: Chad (Sara), Kathrine (Breiden), Katryna (Cody), Meika, Isabelle, Steve. Great Grandchildren: Colby, Andi, Christine, Thomas. As well as many other dear family and friends. Erna was known as “Oma” to most and was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She was so blessed to be able to spend the last 8 years living at Gateway. Oma, may you rest in peace and continue your journey with Papa. We all love you and will miss you more than you know. A very special thanks to the wonderful care aids and nursing staff at Gateway as well as UHNBC PCMU staff and Dr. McCoy for their constant care and compassion. In lieu of flowers, donations to the AimHi would be greatly appreciated.

Celebration of Life will be held at:

Christ Our Saviors Catholic Church Bsmt. 4514 West Austin Rd, Prince George, BC. On Thursday June 20th at 2:00pm - 4:00pm.

Private interment will be held at Fraserview Rose Garden, Prince George, BC.

Alan Craig McKellar

(January 21, 1953 - May 22, 2024)

Alan McKellar passed away May 22, 2024, surrounded by his loving family.

Bernice Helsoe, who passed away October 5th, 2023 her final wish was to have her and her Husband, Kjell

November

1986

Bernice Helsoe, who passed away October 5th, 2023 her final wish was to have her and her Husband, Kjell Helsoe, who passed away November 17th, 1986 their ashes on her Daughter Trine’s Property at 4679 Old Summit Lake Road (off Northwood Pulpmill Rd).

What Trine discussed with her was that we grow food on our property and wouldn’t be comfortable if their ashes happened to be blowing around where we grow. Agreed was that Mark & Trine will bury their ashes somewhere with a view where they can keep an eye on us because we are there, in close with the garden soil and the root house, all year long to be in their company.

He is survived by his loving wife Tereasa Mckellar of 40 years. Alan also leaves behind his 3 children Tabitha, Jeffery, and Michael, his 2 sisters Arlene and Sharon, and his grand children Jordan, Jessica, Leighton, and Noah. Alan will be missed by his friends, family, and all who knew him.

She didn’t want to be in the Cemetery. On their OSLR property is a hill called University Hill, because if you climb to the top of it, you can see UNBC.

This will take place Thursday, June 20th at 4pm. This Picture is in front of his brother’s cabin during their visit to Norway for their 25th Wedding Anniversary in July 1986

Your gentle face and patient smile With sadness we recall, You had a kindly word for each And died beloved by all. The voice is mute and stilled the heart

What Trine discussed with her was that we grow food on our property and wouldn’t be comfortable if their ashes happened to be blowing around where we grow. Agreed was that Mark & Trine will bury their ashes somewhere with a view where they can keep an eye on us because we are there, in close with the garden soil and the root house, all year long to be in their company. She didn’t want to be in the Cemetery.

On their OSLR property is a hill called University Hill, because if you climb to the top of it, you can see UNBC.

That loved us well and true, Ah, bitter was the trial to part From one so good as you.

Nor will you ever be, As long as life and memory last We will remember thee. We miss you now, our hearts are sore, As time goes by we miss you more.

Your loving smile, your gentle face, No one can fill your empty place.

This will take place Thursday, June 20th at 4pm.

You are not forgotten loved one

This Picture is in front of his brother’s cabin during their visit to Norway for their 25th Wedding Anniversary in July 1986

Helsoe, who passed away

17th,

their ashes on her Daughter Trine’s Property at 4679 Old Summit Lake Road (off Northwood Pulpmill Rd).

Classifieds

Skilled Help

SERVICE TECHNICIAN

Culligan is looking for a Service Technician at our Prince George location.

Superior customer service skills & plumbing experience preferred.

Send resume to: recruiting@culliganwater.ca www.culligan.com

TERRITORY SALES

REPRESENTATIVE

Culligan is looking for a Territory Sales Representative to promote our water filtration and softening systems in the Prince George Region. Send resume to: recruiting@culliganwater.ca www.culligan.com/

Trades Help

EXPERIENCED

TICKETED WELDER

Peace Valley Industries is seeking Experienced Welders for shop and field work in Chetwynd, BC.

Must be a ticketed welder and have a minimum 5 years experience.

Must be a Canadian Citizen.

Not willing to train.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent.

Pay: $35.00 - $45.00/hr Accommodations provided Email resume to peacevalley@uniserve.com

No phone calls please

Services for Hire

FREE REMOVAL of unwanted cars, trucks or equipment. Call George (250) 614-8915

Garden Soil, driveway crush, shale, dump truck, excavator & mulcher & bulldozer work. Call 250.614.6667

Hay Bales For Sale

5X5 round hay bales, $275 each- net wrapped, barn stored. 250-614-6667

Collectibles & Classic Cars

For all gold, Estate jewelry, coins & currency, antiques. Unbeatable pricing, privacy assured. (250) 612-1808 24/7

Houses For Rent

20060 Upper Fraser Rd, 2 bdrm house on 1 acre, FS, $1750/mo plus utilities. Call 250-614-6667

Property For Sale

45.5 ACRES Corner of Upper Fraser Rd & Beaver Forest Rd. with good driveway & building pad. $210,000. 250-614-6667

3 Bedroom house for rent near Spruceland. One bathroom. No Smoking, No pets. $2000 per month plus add and Utilities. Call 250-596-0104

LEGAL NOTICE

Woodlot 639 Private Land Withdrawal

Please be advised the Estate of Murray McLean is proposing to remove 51.1 hectares of private land from Woodlot Licence 639, located approximately 3.7 km northeast of Shelly, BC and on the east side of the Fraser River. The parcel is described as the NW ¼ of DL 813, Cariboo Land District.

Inquiries or comments concerning this proposal must be submitted in writing to LMN Forest Management Ltd at 2891 St. Anne Avenue, Prince George, BC V2N 4Y4 by July 15 2024.

Only written inquiries received by the above date will be responded to.

For further information about this proposal, please contact Mark Clark, RPF at 250-612- 8014 or markclarkrpf@gmail.com.

Duplexes for Rent

264 Ruggles St, 3 bdrm, fridge/stove. Avail Feb 15th, $2000/mo + utilities. No pets, references required. (250)614-6667

Firewood

BIRCH Firewood in 20 foot lengths. Delivered by dumptruck load. $1100. or bucked to length $1300 per load delivered 250- 614-6667

Furnished Apartments

1bdrm & bachelor cabins, fully furnished, Apply in person- 867 17th Ave.

Get Noticed Add Colour for FREE to yourClassified ad to stand out from the crowd.

TELUS

604-620-0877

PublicConsultation@cypresslandservices.com

Public Notice / Avis Public

CLASSIFIEDS

Proposed TELUS Telecommunications Facility 64.0-Meter Tall Self -Support Tower Structure Projet D'Installation De Télécommunications TELUS Structure Tour Autoportante de 64,0 Mètres de Hauteur

Public Notice / Avis Public

Public Notice / Avis Public

Public Notice / Avis Public

Proposed TELUS Telecommunications Facility 64.0-Meter Tall Self -Support Tower Structure Projet D'Installation De Télécommunications TELUS Structure Tour Autoportante de 64,0 Mètres de Hauteur

Proposed TELUS Telecommunications Facility 64.0-Meter Tall Self -Support Tower Structure

Proposed TELUS Telecommunications Facility 64.0-Meter Tall Self -Support Tower Structure Projet D'Installation De Télécommunications TELUS Structure Tour Autoportante de 64,0 Mètres de Hauteur

Proposed Structure:

Projet D'Installation De Télécommunications TELUS Structure Tour Autoportante de 64,0 Mètres de Hauteur

Proposed Structure:

Proposed Structure:

Proposed Structure:

As part of the public consultation process required by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the City of Prince George, TELUS is inviting the public to comment on a proposed telecommunications facility consisting of a 64.0-meter tall self-support tower structure and ancillary radio equipment situated on private property at 9136 Milwaukee Way, Prince George, BC V2N 5T3.

As part of the public consultation process required by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the City of Prince George, TELUS is inviting the public to comment on a proposed telecommunications facility consisting of a 64.0-meter tall self-support tower structure and ancillary radio equipment situated on private property at 9136 Milwaukee Way, Prince George, BC V2N 5T3.

As part of the public consultation process required by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the City of Prince George, TELUS is inviting the public to comment on a proposed telecommunications facility consisting of a 64.0-meter tall self-support tower structure and ancillary radio equipment situated on private property at 9136 Milwaukee Way, Prince George, BC V2N 5T3.

Structure Proposée :

Structure Proposée :

As part of the public consultation process required by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the City of Prince George, TELUS is inviting the public to comment on a proposed telecommunications facility consisting of a 64.0-meter tall self-support tower structure and ancillary radio equipment situated on private property at 9136 Milwaukee Way, Prince George, BC V2N 5T3.

Tower Location/Emplacement de la Tour : 9136 Milwaukee Way, Prince George, BC V2N 5T3

Coordinates/Coordonnées :

Tower Location/Emplacement de la Tour : 9136 Milwaukee Way, Prince George, BC V2N 5T3

Structure Proposée :

Structure Proposée :

Dans le cadre du processus de consultation publique exigé par Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada (ISDE) et le Ville de Prince George, TELUS invite le public à formuler des commentaires sur un projet d'installation de structure de télécommunications consistant en un tour autoportante de 64,0 mètres de hauteur et de l'équipement radio auxiliaire situé sur une propriété privée au 9136 Milwaukee Way, Prince George, BC V2N 5T3.

Tower Location/Emplacement de la Tour : 9136 Milwaukee Way, Prince George, BC V2N 5T3

Lat: 53.838648° N

Coordinates/Coordonnées :

Coordinates/Coordonnées :

Long: 122.741372° W

Lat: 53.838648° N

Lat: 53.838648° N

Long: 122.741372° W

Long: 122.741372° W

Tower Location/Emplacement de la Tour : 9136 Milwaukee Way, Prince George, BC V2N 5T3

Coordinates/Coordonnées :

Any person may comment by close of business day on July 20th, 2024 with respect to this matter Please submit any comments to the following contact:

Lat: 53.838648° N

Any person may comment by close of business day on July 20th, 2024 with respect to this matter Please submit any comments to the following contact:

Any person may comment by close of business day on July 20th, 2024 with respect to this matter Please submit any comments to the following contact:

Long: 122.741372° W

Toute personne peut faire des commentaires sur ce sujet avant la fermeture des bureaux le 20 juillet 2024 Veuillez soumettre vos commentaires aux coordonnées ci-dessous :

Toute personne peut faire des commentaires sur ce sujet avant la fermeture des bureaux le 20 juillet 2024 Veuillez soumettre vos commentaires aux coordonnées ci-dessous :

Toute personne peut faire des commentaires sur ce sujet avant la fermeture des bureaux le 20 juillet 2024 Veuillez soumettre vos commentaires aux coordonnées ci-dessous :

Any person may comment by close of business day on July 20th, 2024 with respect to this matter Please submit any comments to the following contact:

TELUS Contact / Coordonnées du Représentant de TELUS : Cypress Land Services

TELUS Contact / Coordonnées du Représentant de TELUS : Cypress Land Services

TELUS Contact / Coordonnées du Représentant de TELUS : Cypress Land Services

Chad Marlatt

Chad Marlatt

1051-409 Granville Street Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2

Toute personne peut faire des commentaires sur ce sujet avant la fermeture des bureaux le 20 juillet 2024 Veuillez soumettre vos commentaires aux coordonnées ci-dessous :

Dans le cadre du processus de consultation publique exigé par Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada (ISDE) et le Ville de Prince George, TELUS invite le public à formuler des commentaires sur un projet d'installation de structure de télécommunications consistant en un tour autoportante de 64,0 mètres de hauteur et de l'équipement radio auxiliaire situé sur une propriété privée au 9136 Milwaukee Way, Prince George, BC V2N 5T3.

Dans le cadre du processus de consultation publique exigé par Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada (ISDE) et le Ville de Prince George, TELUS invite le public à formuler des commentaires sur un projet d'installation de structure de télécommunications consistant en un tour autoportante de 64,0 mètres de hauteur et de l'équipement radio auxiliaire situé sur une propriété privée au 9136 Milwaukee Way, Prince George, BC V2N 5T3.

Dans le cadre du processus de consultation publique exigé par Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada (ISDE) et le Ville de Prince George, TELUS invite le public à formuler des commentaires sur un projet d'installation de structure de télécommunications consistant en un tour ,0 mètres de hauteur et de l'équipemen io auxiliaire situé Milwaukee

1051-409 Granville Street Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2

Chad Marlatt 1051-409 Granville Street Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2

604-620-0877

604-620-0877

604-620-0877

PublicConsultation@cypresslandservices.com

PublicConsultation@cypresslandservices.com

PublicConsultation@cypresslandservices.com

TELUS Contact / Coordonnées du Représentant de TELUS : Cypress Land Services

Chad Marlatt

1051-409 Granville Street Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2

604-620-0877

PublicConsultation@cypresslandservices.com

(800) 708-7311 EXT. 257

SOURCE #12345_20240617 FOR RELEASE JUNE 17, 2024

Between, Doris Poole or anyone related, with a mobile home MHR#29809 Year 1968, at #30-1720 Prince George Pulpmill Road, Prince George, BC V2K 5P2 and Spruce Capital Trailer Park Ltd., 766 W 69th Ave., Vancouver, B.C. V6P 2W3 (778-386-8036). I, Spruce Capital Trailer Park Ltd., will dispose of the above-mentioned mobile home unless the person being notified takes possession of the property establishes a right of possession of it within 30 days from the date the notice is served on that person.

Here’s what to watch and where to watch it for the week of June 24, 2024.

Here’s what to watch and where to watch it for the week of June 24, 2024.

ON NOW: “House of the Dragon” (Season 2) -- Max

ON NOW: “House of the Dragon” (Season 2) — Max

ON NOW: “Hannah Einbinder: Everything Must Go” (Comedy Special) -- Max

ON NOW: “Hannah Einbinder: Everything Must Go” (Comedy Special) — Max

ON NOW: “BRATS” (Documentary) -- Hulu

ON NOW: “BRATS” (Documentary) — Hulu

24-June: “Out of Darkness” (R) -- Paramount+

24-June: “Out of Darkness” (R) — Paramount+

25-June: “I Am: Celine Dion” (Documentary) -- Prime Video

25-June: “I Am: Celine Dion” (Documentary) — Prime Video

26-June: “Kung Fu Panda 3” (PG) -- Peacock

27-June: “The Bear” (Season 3) -- Hulu

26-June: “Kung Fu Panda 3” (PG) — Peacock

27-June: “My Lady Jane” (Season 1) -- Prime Video

27-June: “The Bear” (Season 3) — Hulu

27-June: “That ‘90s Show” (Part 2) -- Netflix

27-June: “My Lady Jane” (Season 1) — Prime Video

28-June: “A Family Affair” (PG-13) -- Netflix (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

27-June: “That ’90s Show” (Part 2) — Netflix

28-June: “A Family Affair” (PG-13) — Netflix © 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Proposed TELUS Telecommunications Facility 64.0-Meter Tall Self-Support Tower Structure Projet D'Installation De Télécommunications TELUS Structure Tour Autoportante de 64,0 Mètres de Hauteur

CLASSIFIEDS

Public Notice / Avis Public

Public Notice / Avis Public

Proposed TELUS Telecommunications Facility 64.0-Meter Tall Self-Support Tower Structure Projet D'Installation De Télécommunications TELUS Structure Tour Autoportante de 64,0 Mètres de Hauteur

Proposed Structure:

Proposed TELUS Telecommunications Facility 64.0-Meter Tall Self-Support Tower Structure Projet D'Installation De Télécommunications TELUS Structure Tour Autoportante de 64,0 Mètres de Hauteur

As part of the public consultation process required by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the City of Prince George, TELUS is inviting the public to comment on a proposed telecommunications facility consisting of a 64 0-meter tall self-support tower structure and ancillary radio equipment situated on private property at 99808 Kelly Road North, Prince George, BC.

Structure Proposée :

Public Notice / Avis Public

Proposed Structure:

Structure Proposée :

Proposed TELUS Telecommunications Facility 64.0-Meter Tall Self-Support Tower Structure Projet D'Installation De Télécommunications TELUS Structure Tour Autoportante de 64,0 Mètres de Hauteur

Proposed Structure:

Proposed Structure:

As part of the public consultation process required by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the City of Prince George, TELUS is inviting the public to comment on a proposed telecommunications facility consisting of a 64.0-meter tall self-support tower structure and ancillary radio equipment situated on private property at 99808 Kelly Road North, Prince George, BC

Structure Proposée :

Structure Proposée :

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE,

Tower Location/Emplacement de la Tour : 9808 Kelly Road North, Prince George, BC

As part of the public consultation process required by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the City of Prince George, TELUS is inviting the public to comment on a proposed telecommunications facility consisting of a 64.0-meter tall self-support tower structure and ancillary radio equipment situated on private property at 99808 Kelly Road North, Prince George, BC.

Dans le cadre du processus de consultation publique exigé par Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada (ISDE) et le Ville de Prince George, TELUS invite le public à formuler des commentaires sur un projet d'installation de structure de télécommunications consistant en un tour autoportante de 64,0 mètres de hauteur et de l'équipement radio auxiliaire situé sur une propriété privée au 9808 Kelly Road North, Prince George, BC.

Dans le cadre du processus de consultation publique exigé par Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada (ISDE) et le Ville de Prince George, TELUS invite le public à formuler des commentaires sur un projet d'installation de structure de télécommunications consistant en un tour autoportante de 64,0 mètres de hauteur et de l'équipement radio auxiliaire situé sur une propriété privée au 9808 Kelly Road North, Prince George, BC.

628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803

Coordinates/Coordonnées :

As part of the public consultation process required by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and the City of Prince George, TELUS is inviting the public to comment on a proposed telecommunications facility consisting of a 64 0-meter tall self-support tower structure and ancillary radio equipment situated on private property at 99808 Kelly Road North, Prince George, BC

Tower Location/Emplacement de la Tour : 9808 Kelly Road North, Prince George, BC

Dans le cadre du processus de consultation publique exigé par Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada (ISDE) et le Ville de Prince George, TELUS invite le public à formuler des commentaires sur un projet d'installation de structure de télécommunications consistant en un tour autoportante de 64,0 mètres de hauteur et de l'équipement radio auxiliaire situé sur une propriété privée au 9808 Kelly Road

Tower Location/Emplacement de la Tour :

Coordinates/Coordonnées :

Lat: 54.024907° N

CUSTOMER SERVICE: (800) 708-7311 EXT.

Dans le cadre du processus de consultation publique exigé par Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada (ISDE) et le Ville de Prince George, TELUS invite le public à formuler des commentaires sur un projet d'installation de structure de télécommunications consistant en un tour autoportante de 64,0 mètres de hauteur et de l'équipement radio auxiliaire situé sur une propriété privée au 9808 Kelly Road North, Prince George, BC.

Lat: 54.024907° N

Long: 122.797983° W

Long: 122.797983° W

Senior cat’s arthritis is impacting his quality of life

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: My cat

9808 Kelly Road North, Prince George, BC

Coordinates/Coordonnées :

Tower Location/Emplacement de la Tour : 9808 Kelly Road North, Prince George, BC Coordinates/Coordonnées :

Lat: 54.024907° N

Lat: 54.024907° N Long: 122.797983° W

Any person may comment by close of business day on July 20th, 2024 with respect to this matter Please submit any comments to the following contact:

Long: 122.797983° W

Any person may comment by close of business day on July 20th, 2024 with respect to this matter Please submit any comments to the following contact:

PAW’S CORNER #12345_20240617 FOR RELEASE JUNE 17, 2024

Any person may comment by close of business day on July 20th, 2024 with respect to this matter Please submit any comments to the following contact:

Any person may comment by close of business day on July 20th, 2024 with respect to this matter. Please submit any comments to the following contact:

Toute personne peut faire des commentaires sur ce sujet avant la fermeture des bureaux le 20 juillet 2024 Veuillez soumettre vos commentaires aux coordonnées ci-dessous :

Toute personne peut faire des commentaires sur ce sujet avant la fermeture des bureaux le 20 juillet 2024 Veuillez soumettre vos commentaires aux coordonnées ci-dessous :

By Sam Mazotta

Toute personne peut faire des commentaires sur ce sujet avant la fermeture des bureaux le 20 juillet 2024 Veuillez soumettre vos commentaires aux coordonnées ci-dessous :

Toute personne peut faire des commentaires sur ce sujet avant la fermeture des bureaux le 20 juillet 2024. Veuillez soumettre vos commentaires aux coordonnées ci-dessous :

TELUS Contact / Coordonnées du Représentant de TELUS : Cypress Land Services

TELUS Contact / Coordonnées du Représentant de TELUS : Cypress Land Services

TELUS Contact / Coordonnées du Représentant de TELUS : Cypress Land Services Chad Marlatt 1051-409 Granville Street Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2

Chad Marlatt

Chad Marlatt

1051-409 Granville Street Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2

1051-409 Granville Street Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2

604-620-0877

TELUS Contact / Coordonnées du Représentant de TELUS : Cypress Land Services

604-620-0877

Chad Marlatt

PublicConsultation@cypresslandservices.com

PublicConsultation@cypresslandservices.com

1051-409 Granville Street Vancouver, BC V6C 1T2

604-620-0877

604-620-0877

PublicConsultation@cypresslandservices.com

PublicConsultation@cypresslandservices.com

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: My cat “Sticky” is 14 years old and still in great shape. He loves chasing after a laser beam and rolling around with his toys. However, I’ve noticed that when he comes over to leap up on my lap, he hesitates and just puts his paws on my leg and meows. I have to encourage him to leap, and he doesn’t seem happy about it. Could something be wrong with him? -- Janine in Gulfport, Mississippi

DEAR JANINE: At age 14, Sticky is definitely a senior cat, and it sounds like he’s beginning to develop a common senior cat problem: arthritis. Just like us, cats can suffer from stiff, achy joints as they get older.

“Sticky” is 14 years old and still in great shape. He loves chasing after a laser beam and rolling around with his toys. However, I’ve noticed that when he comes over to leap up on my lap, he hesitates and just puts his paws on my leg and meows. I have to encourage him to leap, and he doesn’t seem happy about it. Could something be wrong with him? — Janine in Gulfport, Mississippi

You’re doing a great job of observing his behavior and spotting changes in the way he interacts. Arthritis (typically osteoarthritis, sometimes abbreviated as OA) is progressive, and sometimes not noticeable right away. There are four key things to watch for:

DEAR JANINE: At age 14, Sticky is definitely a senior cat, and it sounds like he’s beginning to develop a common senior cat problem: arthritis. Just like us, cats can suffer from stiff, achy joints as they get older.

Running -- Does your cat run with a fast, fluid motion, or in stops and starts?

Jumping -- Does your cat hesitate to take jumps that were effortless in the past?

Climbing -- Does your cat walk or run confidently on the stairs, or hesitate on each step?

Booking deadline: Friday noon

You’re doing a great job of observing his behavior and spotting changes in the way he interacts. Arthritis (typically osteoarthritis, sometimes abbreviated as OA) is progressive, and sometimes not noticeable right away. There are four key things to watch for:

Approval deadline: Monday at noon

Playing -- Does your cat keep up with the laser pointer, or start to lag behind?

Running — Does your cat run with a fast, fluid motion, or in stops and starts?

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Jumping — Does your cat hesitate to take jumps that were effortless in the past?

Other noticeable behaviors, like excessive meowing, hiding away or even occasionally missing the litter box also signal that your cat is uncomfortable or in pain.

Climbing — Does your cat walk or run confidently on the stairs, or hesitate on each step?

Playing — Does your cat keep up with the laser pointer, or start to lag behind?

It’s important to consult with Sticky’s veterinarian at this point. Together, you can evaluate his pain level and function, and discuss options for improving his comfort. There are treatments for cats with OA that will greatly improve his quality of life and get him back to his old self.

Other noticeable behaviors, like excessive meowing, hiding away or even occasionally missing the litter box also signal that your cat is uncomfortable or in pain.

ARIES

In your relationship, you must express your needs and expectations clearly and confidently, even if it causes tension. This will be an opportunity to start fresh. You’ll rediscover peace and harmony.

TAURUS

A business project will keep you busy and promise good financial prospects. Despite your discretion, you’ll attract the attention of the ideal person. Be indulgent with your other half, who can sometimes be tactless.

GEMINI

You must increase your self-esteem to succeed professionally, emotionally and personally. Respect yourself and recognize your value to grow.

CANCER

Time is scarce with days off and colleagues on holiday. Plan each step carefully and get organized to avoid scheduling conflicts and unforeseen events.

LEO

As the holidays approach, you’ll drive your children around to meet with friends or relatives. You’ll secure a loan or negotiate a reasonable price for an important purchase.

VIRGO

You’ll start an open and honest conversation with your partner and express your needs and expectations while being attentive to theirs. Don’t let yourself fall into a routine and get lazy.

LIBRA

You’ll express your ideas and aspirations for

progress to your supervisor or partner. You’ll take action and be valued in all areas of your life.

SCORPIO

Get ready for an upturn in your love life! You’ll hit it off with a new flame. You’ll want to commit and may even consider living together or starting a family. Your creativity will be at its best.

SAGITTARIUS

It’s time to treat yourself. Don’t hesitate to go out with friends! Don’t forget to allow yourself moments of relaxation and well-being; you need them. Enjoy these moments of joy and happiness.

CAPRICORN

Whether you’re in a relationship or not, someone in your workplace will make

advances at you. This situation could be unsettling. Be discerning and prudent, and don’t let yourself be influenced by others.

AQUARIUS

You’re looking forward to the holidays and going on vacation with your family. If you’re going by car, take a map or a GPS, in case you don’t have a signal. This will prevent you from getting lost or taking a detour.

PISCES

You’ll be proud of your children’s remarkable grades at school. You’ll give them anything they want. Someone close to you could exploit your generosity by making unrealistic or excessive requests.

Homes & Living

What’s a pre-purchase inspection?

in a

inspection is an essential step when buying a property. Here’s what it involves.

WHY YOU SHOULD INVEST IN AN

A pre-purchase inspection aims to identify any problems with the property you’re looking to buy. This information can help you negotiate a better sale price or even consider withdrawing your offer to purchase. In short, it tells you the exact condition and value of the home you’re bidding on.

WHAT DOES AN INSPECTOR DO?

The inspector will examine the home’s condition, both inside and out. This includes the electricity, plumbing, foundation, heating system, siding, roofing and ventilation. It’s important to note that a pre-purchase

inspection cannot detect hidden defects but may point to signs of them.

Once complete, the inspector will send you a written report with their observations. The report will detail the condition of the inspected areas and indicate those that weren’t checked and why. The report may also recommend work, like replacing the home’s windows or roof.

To ensure you’re getting the facts and making the best decision, hire an experienced, trustworthy inspector.

FREE ESTIMATES

3 elements to consider when buying a waterfront property

Do you want to buy a home near the sea, close to a river or on a lake? Whether you’re considering building or buying an existing home, there are several things you need to know before moving near water.

1. HIGH PRICE TAG

Homes with direct access to the water usually have a high price tag. For example, maintaining a dock or seawall adds to the total cost of the property. You don’t get that same easy access with a water-view property and may have to rent a space for your boat if you enjoy water activities.

2. INCREASED RISK

Although properties near water offer beautiful scenery, they come with added risks, including frequent repairs due to

wind and possible flooding. Moreover, your insurance premium will likely increase and should be factored into your budget.

3. PROXIMITY TO SERVICES

Not all properties near water have the same access to certain services, such as drinking water, electricity, internet and local shops. Additionally, being close to the water doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to use a boat. Some municipalities prohibit gas-powered watercraft because of noise and safety concerns.

Are you looking forward to owning a waterfront property? Contact a real estate broker or contractor to help you find your dream home.

your dream door starts here

Welcome to luxury living in one of the most desirable neighborhoods, where breathtaking views await you from the top floor. This luxurious home features spacious bedrooms, three of which boast walk-in closets, and laundry on this level ensures convenience. The open kitchen design connects the dining area and living room, anchored by a stunning three-sided gas fireplace. Granite countertops and a massive island with seating for six, the kitchen is a chef’s delight. Through the garden door is the fenced backyard, where a beautiful stone patio beckons for outdoor living and entertaining. The unfinished basement, with an outside entrance and roughed-in plumbing, presents endless possibilities, perhaps even a suite.

3 elements to consider when choosing a contractor

Whether you want to install new flooring, knock down a wall or finish your basement, choosing a competent and trustworthy contractor is essential to get the job done right. Here are three crucial elements to look for when choosing a contractor.

1. LICENCE

The contractor you choose should be licensed, bonded and insured, ensuring they’ve met critical training and skilltesting prerequisites. These credentials can give you confidence that they’ll provide high-quality work that meets all current building codes and standards. Failing to take this precaution can be a safety risk.

2. CONTRACT

It’s essential to sign a contract that includes details like applicable standards, insurance and warranties. If a contractor refuses to sign an agreement or doesn’t take the job seriously, you can legitimately doubt their professionalism.

3. INVOICE

A detailed invoice will be essential should you file a complaint or take legal action. If you don’t have one, it won’t be easy to prove the work was completed and, therefore, to receive compensation. These three elements will help protect you if there’s a problem like an accident or faulty installation — research several contractors before entrusting one with your renovation project.

What material should you choose for your deck?

wood and plastic. It’s easy to maintain, safe and durable. However, it can be tricky to install.

PLENTY OF CHOICES

There’s no shortage of deck materials for you to choose from. Here are a few examples:

• Natural wood is rustic, customizable and affordable. However, it requires regular maintenance, which can add to the cost.

• Treated wood is a popular and affordable material. Keep in mind that it must be pressure washed and restained annually.

• Composite is made from recycled

• PVC is less common than other materials. Nevertheless, it’s durable, easy to install and requires virtually no maintenance. It can also be made from recycled materials.

HOW TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE

To make an informed decision, consider the advantages and disadvantages of each material. Consider your budget, the required maintenance and your esthetic preferences. You must also assess your long-term needs. For professional results, entrust your deck installation to an expert.

Property & Strata Management