Prince George Citizen July 18, 2024

Building tenants battling bedbugs

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Terry Slater woke up one morning in his Victoria Towers bachelor suite and felt pain in his arm.

When he turned on the light he saw a bedbug about the size of a pencil eraser dug into the flesh of his forearm, sucking blood with a bite that left a dime-sized welt that still has not healed months later.

Slater’s problems with bedbugs started in February, four months after he moved into the 12-storey Prince George building. A year ago, the 50-yearold Prince George man lost his right leg below the knee and suffered internal injuries when he was T-boned by another vehicle on his motorcycle. Now confined to a wheelchair, he was forced to leave his job as an oilfield lease operator for Petro-Canada.

The crash crushed his kidneys and caused renal failure and Slater requires dialysis five days per week, with each treatment lasting 5 ½ hours.

Unable to walk, Slater hired a friend to come in to help clean his apartment, and that’s when they discovered his

bachelor suite had bedbugs.

“We sprayed in a corner and all of a sudden they were everywhere, they

were on the bed, all over the place,” said Slater.

He said he contacted building management and was told Victoria Towers hadn’t had bedbugs for years, adding he felt like he was being blamed for their presence.

“So they sprayed my place and the worst part about it is I’m on dialysis, so the hospital quarantined me for all five sprays. So for five months I couldn’t go in and do my dialysis with anybody. I had to be put in a separate room and stripped and checked for bugs. It was pretty embarrassing.”

Interior Pest Control applied those five monthly pesticide treatments to Slater’s apartment and in May his bedbug problem appeared to be eradicated.

Unfortunately, it didn’t last.

In early July, Slater’s fifth-floor neighbour knocked on his door, shocked at discovering hundreds of dead bedbugs in the clothes dryer in the laundry room next door to his apartment.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Terry Slater holds a jar containing hundreds of bedbugs collected from the dryer vent in the laundry room next to his apartment in Victoria Towers. With him is Doreen Blumers, who says the building has had a bedbug problem for years.

Bedbugs keep coming back to frustrate residents

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Last Tuesday (July 9), Slater said that same neighbour was in the hallway early in the morning and found the walls, floor and elevator door crawling with bedbugs. It turned out the apartment directly across the hall from Slater’s was infested. The occupant admitted he woke up to find hundreds of bedbugs crawling over him on his bed.

“He said they’re everywhere and that’s why I know they’re coming across to my doorstep” said Slater. “Something has to happen because people can’t live like this.”

Slater’s frail elderly next-door neighbour knocked on his door one day to ask him to open a soft drink bottle and as she handed him the bottle a bedbug crawled across her face.

“To see something like that was heartbreaking,” he said. “That could be my grandmother.”

Notices have been posted in the building that suites were to be sprayed again for bedbugs on Wednesday (July 17) from 1-5 p.m. and the tenants in the affected suites and their pets were required to leave their premises. Management offered tenants McDonald’s gift certificates as compensation.

Slater used silicone to seal the baseboards of his unit and said he goes through a $30 can of bedbug killer about every week to spray a towel he rolls up and puts on the floor at the front of his doorway to keep the bugs out. He finds dead bedbugs on the towel every day.

He bought a brand-new bed and couch when he moved in and both became infested with bedbugs. He said he was told by a housing official that he was the cause of the problem and was told to dispose of the bed and couch, but refused because no compensation was offered.

He was told by the exterminator who treated his place that it was safe to go back to the apartment five hours after it was sprayed, but his medical condition leaves him vulnerable to infections and he worries he will suffer adverse effects if more pesticide is sprayed in

his building.

“A hotel was not even offered to me, I lived with those bugs for five months,” he said.

He said several residents are reluctant to complain about the infestation over fears management will try to evict them. Slater is worried that will happen to him now that he’s gone public by speaking to The Citizen about his bed bug problem.

Doreen Blumers, 62, a sixth-floor resident who has lived there for 3 ½ years, says Victoria Towers has had bedbugs for “years and years,” and that Slater was not the source of the problem.

Her unit was treated for bedbugs prior to him moving there and she knows of several floors in the building with infested units.

Blumers says the bug problem is excacerbated because the building has not been kept very clean since the former manager retired two years ago.

Melodie Woytowich was plagued by bed bugs in her eighth-floor suite at Victoria Towers for five months last year. The 68-year-old has lung disease which requires constant use of bottled oxygen,

Woytowich thought the problem was solved but found more bugs in her unit two months ago. She keeps a can of Raid in her sitting room area.

She also blames the bedbug problem on the overall lack of cleanliness in the building.

In an email sent to The Citizen, B.C. Housing said the provincial government takes tenant concerns seriously and is committed to resolving the problem with a “thorough and rigorous” bedbug eradication program conducted by a pest control technician. It provides tenants detailed instructions on how to prepare and declutter units that are being sprayed and what occupants should do before and after treatments to make them as effective as possible.

“Bed bugs are a problem in most major urban centres. This is a much larger issue and not one confined to rental properties,” said B.C. Housing.

which restricts her mobility, confining her to her home.

She lived through the creepiness of bedbugs crawling on her body as she slept in her bed before they migrated to her loveseat, which caused her to suffer more bites. That went on from April to October.

“I’ve been here for nine years and I’d never dealt with anything like that that before,” said Woytowich.

She was told in an email from B.C. Housing to pack up her clothes to prepare for pesticide treatment. Workers took 19 garbage bags full of clothes to a laundry service for cleaning at a cost of $1,291 and had them returned two weeks later.

“My family wouldn’t come over here to visit or anything,” she said. “I had a chair my sisters had bought me and it had been sprayed but I was still getting bit on my legs from the material under my legs.

“My legs were covered with bites and I had them on my neck and my head. I had to pay almost $200 to get rid of my love seat and my lift chair and my housekeeper got bit.”

“We have treated 13 units in this building, as well as common areas. It is not uncommon to have to do repeat treatments. The building manager is working with the contractor to resolve all spraying in the units that are outstanding due to lack of access or preparation, and treatment of common areas continue. These areas were sprayed as recently as (July 11), and signage was in place during spraying.”

One Victoria Towers resident afraid of repercussions from the building management went to MLA Shirley Bond’s office with his complaints of bullying tactics and now has 10 tenants who have signed a form which allows Bond to represent their concerns. In its response, B.C. Housing said:

“The health, safety and well-being of residents is of critical concern to BC Housing, and we take any report of staff harassment very seriously. The tenants at Victoria Towers have access to the call centre where any communication creates a report that can be reviewed and actioned as necessary. Additionally, there is a feedback process available though B.C. Housing where comments and feedback can be provided so that the complaint resolution team can review and respond.”

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Victoria Towers resident Melodie Woytowich is ready with her can of Raid if she finds any more bedbugs in her eighth-floor apartment.

Ancient Forest threatened by growing wildfires

CITIZEN STAFF

The “only inland temperate rainforest in the world” is in danger from growing wildfires.

Multiple fires are active in the area of the Ancient Forest or Chun T’oh Whudujut Provincial Park, known for its 1,000-year-old trees. It’s located about an hour east of Prince George on Highway 16 and has been closed to the public since July 10.

As of Tuesday one of the fires stood at 40 hectares in size, B.C. Wildfire Service reported on its website, up from 10 hectares when it was first spotted last week. A lightning strike is the suspected cause.

Crews have set up a helicopter landing pad and water relay system, the service reported on X (formerly Twitter), but the efforts face challenges based on the rugged nature of the park.

“The park’s terrain, ecological and cultural values have challenged fire suppression efforts, particularly on the southern flank,” the service stated on X. The park is located on Lheidli T’enneh territory and has played a key role in the First Nation’s culture and history.

Teaming up for the Community

The fire service is working with B.C. Parks and the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation “to ensure awareness and protection of values.”

Darwyn Coxson, a biology professor at the University of Northern B.C. who played a key role in the park’s creation, said he has been following the situation closely. He called the fire’s growth concerning and hopes it has stabilized but also noted it remained listed as out of control.

He said the size of the fire is unusual. Typically, lightning cause fires will “chimney up” and burn themselves out rather than spread into the surrounding forest, he said, but the area is unusually dry due to the drought last summer followed by a winter that delivered low snowpack.

Coxson said the blaze appears to be burning through a grove of hemlock, midslope on Driscoll Ridge and 3-4 kilometres west of the trails that wind through a grove of gigantic cedar trees, the main draw for visitors to the park. Whether the fire grows large enough to reach the trails will depend on the effectiveness of crews brought in to contain the fire combined with the strength of the prevailing winds.

“The winds tend to come over the ridge and wrap around it, so they certainly could blow it directly towards the trail or even downslope if there is

a wind coming over the top of Driscoll Ridge,” Coxson said. “It really depends on weather conditions. Unfortunately, the forecast seems to be more warm weather this week.”

Even if the fire is contained at its current size, Coxson said it will have left its mark.

“The area that is burned will regenerate and there will be lots of great blueberries and the bears will have a good time there and in a hundred years time it’ll have dense hemlock but it’ll take five or six centuries where it can support the old growth-dependent lichen so it’s a real loss to the ecosystem when we lose some of these old growth forests,” Coxson said.

He said it shows how vulnerable stands of ancient are and the need to protect more of them.

In another message, the service noted that smokejumpers were being brought in to battle fires in the Prince George region. As of Monday, July 15, there were 19 fires in the region classified as “out of control,” including the ones at the park, another 20 classified as “under control” and four marked as “being held,” B.C. Wildfire Services reports.

“Parattack personnel and Jumpships operating out of Fort St. John and Mackenzie have responded to initial attack fires throughout the Prince George Fire Centre, while also providing support building constructing helipads on remote fires including the Sikanni Park wildfire,” the message read.

There are about 150 wildfires burning across the province.

Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma said Thursday, July 11 that 500 of the province’s full complement of 2,000 firefighters were deployed, but the government was seeking out-ofprovince help in case the risk escalates further.

“By being proactive in our request for additional resources, we can ensure that the lag that it often takes for additional resources to come in from out of province doesn’t impact our ability to protect communities,” Ma told a briefing.

With

BC WILDFIRE SERVICE PHOTO

Crews work at slowing the spread of a wildfire in this file photo. Similar efforts are currently underway at Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut Park.

National 988 suicide prevention hotline saving lives, says local MP behind its introduction

Todd Doherty knows the 988 national suicide prevention hotline is saving lives.

The MP for Cariboo-Prince George said he knows it’s working because that’s what he was told by a man who called the 988 service to help him through a mental health crisis while dealing with the loss of a loved one who died by suicide.

“He said, ‘I was really having a tough go last week and I just wanted you to know I reached out to 988, and I’m here,’” said Doherty. “I know we’ve received a lot of messages like that.

“They know there’s help available to them, and that makes you feel good, but it also shows that we need to do more. That mental health conversation is needed now more than ever.”

It’s been seven months since the 988 service went live across all Canadian provinces and territories, connecting people struggling with suicidal thoughts 24/7 with the live voice of a mental health professional, available anytime through the network via text or phone call.

“The last numbers that we got, it’s gone well beyond 250,000 Canadians that have used it,” said Doherty.

“It’s both text and calling and it’s being widely used, which speaks to the need to do more. I just know that there is so much more we need to be doing.”

Statistics Canada figures support Doherty’s sentiment. Every day in this country 12 people commit suicide and 250 people attempt suicide.

“That’s 73,000 Canadians that attempt suicide each year and those are the stats we know,” he said. “ We know that so many suicides go unreported

Newcomers to Canada fuel Cariboo growth

CITIZEN STAFF

According to B.C. Check-Up: Live, an annual report by the Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC) on demographic and affordability trends across the province, the Cariboo’s population grew by 2,119 residents in 2023, bringing the total population to 170,432 residents.

“International arrivals accounted for the majority of population growth in 2023,” said Corey Naphtali, CPA, CA, partner at KPMG Canada in Prince George.

Between July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2023, the Cariboo region gained 2,334 residents from other countries, more than half of whom were non-permanent residents aged 17 to 22. The region also gained 972 residents from other parts of B.C. This was partially offset by 593 residents moving to other provinces and

natural growth (births minus mortali ties) reducing the population by 594.

The average age of a resident in the Cariboo in 2023 was 42.3, slightly below the provincial average of 42.5 but up from 41.3 in 2018. Seniors (aged 65 and older) made up one-fifth of the population, compared to 17.1 per cent five years earlier.

In 2023, construction began on 296 housing units in the region’s largest municipalities - Prince George, Quesnel, and Williams Lake - less than half of the 600 starts recorded in 2022.

As of July 2023, the average assessed property value in the region’s major municipalities increased from July 2022:

because of the stigma around that, so very likely those numbers are higher.

“We have to make sure we keep talking about mental health and making sure those who are struggling know that there is help there for them.”

With inflation and the prices of food, clothing, gas and rent continuing to rise, combined with shortages of affordable housing and diminishing access to the health care system, more Canadians than ever are struggling with day-to-day anxiety trying to keep from falling into depression and Doherty says there’s more demand than ever for mental health services.

Doherty grew up in Williams Lake and lost his best friend at age 15 to suicide.

That served as inspiration to use his political seat as a federal Conservative to table a private member’s bill 3 ½ years ago that passed unanimously in December 2020 and led to the creation of the 988 service.

Prior to 988, Canada had a national suicide prevention hotline, but it was a 1-800 number, not nearly as easy to find or remember, especially for someone in a crisis state of mind.

The service is for people struggling with their own mental health concerns or those who are worried about somebody else.

Implementation of the 988 service was delayed 10 months while the Canadian Radio Telecommunications Commission worked out the bugs of assigning 10-digit area codes to all phone numbers to make the service operational. More information is available on the website, www.988.ca.

• Prince George: $460,049 (up 12.0 per cent)

• Williams Lake: $383.548 (up 15.9 per cent)

• Quesnel: $345,673 (up 12.6 per cent).

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

Doherty

Downtown’s Birch and Boar announces closure

CITIZEN STAFF

A locally owned store and eatery is shutting down for good, citing several factors including downtown issues for the decision to close.

Birch and Boar Charcuterie and Provisions, which operates on George Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue, posted the news to the company’s Facebook page on Friday, July 12.

“Hello Prince George, it is with sadness and love that we write this post,” the page reads. “Sadness because the dream has come to an end. Sadness that the hope of a revitalized vibrant safe downtown seems to becoming ever distant.”

In the post, the owners cite rising costs and parking problems and other factors in the decision, noting that with “numerous break-ins and theft, putting out literal fires everyday against the building, the business has been stretched too thin.”

The business’s last day will be Aug. 2, with the shop closing at 3 p.m. “Our hours will remain the same, Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-3 p.m., until we close,” states the Facebook post.

Birch and Boar was founded five

years ago by four partners interested in charcuterie who wanted to sell locally cured meat and other products. “After years of working on our craft we’ve decided to pursue our dream of selling

the best local cured meat and local products we can find,” reads the “about us” statement on the company website, www.birchandboar.com. The business offers food items and takeout meals, as well as catered charcuterie platters.

The owners thanked their loyal local customer base.

“The community of foodies and purveyors of charcuterie will always leave us with great memories,” states the post. “Your support up until now has been amazing and we would love to go out with a bang so if you want to grab some last-minute stuff all our grocery items are half off. Our sandwiches will be running as usual so last time to grab some brisket.”

The business is connected to a local bakery. “Unfortunately, Wildbread bakehouse’ fate is intertwined with our own,” states the post.

“Wildbread sourdough bakery will be closing as well.” Organic sourdough will be available Thursdays and Fridays until the closure.

Prince George declared 2nd best university town

CITIZEN STAFF

Prince George is rated the second-best university town in Canada according to a study carried out by an online tutoring service.

With a score of 59.89, the city finished just behind Moncton, NB (60.87) and ahead of Saint John, NB (59.40), according to a survey of 145 university towns across Canada conducted on behalf of Preply.

The score was based on affordability, social atmosphere, and economic opportunities, each given equal weighting and each on a a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the most favourable conditions.

With a score of 71.87, the city’s economic opportunities appeared to have vaulted Prince George close to the top. Moncton drew a score of 52.07 and Saint John 43.27 on that dimension.

On affordability, Prince George garnered 53.17 compared to 70.03 for Moncton and 66.37 for Saint John. (Average rent is $1,275 in Prince George, compared to $1,342.86 in Moncton and $1,275 in Saint John).

Prince George generated 54.63 for social atmosphere, compared to 60.50 for Moncton and 68.57 for Saint John. The full report can be accessed at preply.com/en/blog/ best-university-cities-in-canada/

BIRCH AND BOAR FACEBOOK

A locally owned store and eatery is shutting down for good, citing several factors including downtown issues for the decision to close.

UNBC PHOTO

Prince George is home to the University of Northern British Columbia.

People want to see better parks and more housing options in Official Community Plan

More infrastructure that protects, enhances and connects parks and open spaces was identified as a priority in a survey of Prince George residents and what they think the city should emphasize in its Official Community Plan.

In an update to city council Monday, July 8, a civic planning consultant said public feedback gathered in the What We Heard survey prioritizes pedestrian/ cycling trails and roadways in transportation and mobility planning to activate the city’s environmental protection and climate preparedness plans.

More protection of riparian areas, greenspace corridors and tree cover were also key theme in the poll.

Residents who responded want more housing options in more areas, particularly for seniors, and believe city planners should prioritize infill development and density in growth development.

The study determined 10 per cent (8,200) of the city’s population (estimated at 82,000) has been informed about the OCP during the first round of engagement, while six per cent of Prince George residents (4,920) participated.

The consultant, Urban Systems Ltd. of Vancouver, surveyed people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds, including 95 students at Prince George Secondary School, during the engagement process from September-November 2023.

Feedback was obtained through seven social media posts on four different platforms (97,000 impressions), newsletters/press releases (1,305 impressions), three town hall meetings (46 attendees), emails to 148 community interest groups and website hits (1,917 visitors).

Municipal planning staff connected with 444 visitors who attended seven popup events held between December and February at Pine Centre Mall, UNBC and the Civic Centre and at Cougars games and Winterfest.

They also heard from some of the 177 visitors who attended two open houses (April 9-10) at the House of Ancestors, which helped the consultants connect with the city’s Indigenous community. There were 18 written submissions and more than 700 comments collected.

Attendees of the open house were asked where they would like to see growth management focused by placing yellow Lego bricks on a map where they think growth and development should be focused. They placed blue bricks in areas where they want taller six-storey developments to occur.

Residents identified gaps in the existing walking/cycling network of dedicated trails/lanes that would better connect the downtown core with the

Hart, College Heights and Wilson Park, providing safer road crossings and protection for users.

Riverside parks (Wilson, Moore’s Meadow, Nechako, Birdsong, Cottonwood, and Lheidli T’enneh) should be connected through improved trails, surveyors heard.

The report also highlights the need for secure bike storage, pedestrian-only areas downtown and widened, well-maintained sidewalks.

For the city’s parks and open spaces, people want more community gardens and food-growing spaces, upgraded playgrounds, parks made out of vacant lots, a sports field in the open space north of Ospika Boulevard and more greenspace in new developments.

Residents want more dog parks, washrooms/water fountains, fire-prevention measures and protection for native species and wildlife in city parks and along trails.

A draft of the OCP is expected to be completed in August and finalized plan is to be presented for council approval in December.

Consultant Andrew Cuthbert of Vancouver-based Urban Systems Ltd. told council community members can participate in a survey and can email the consultants directly with written submissions.

More opportunities for engagement will be published at getinvolved.princegeorge.ca/ocp-review and through social media.

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Prince George needs more public green spaces and improved local trails, council heard Monday night during discussion of the results of a survey regarding the Official Community Plan.

OPINION OPINION

It’s people’s stories that matter most

Citizen Staff

With 1,000 people a day dialing 988, it’s clear there’s a need for more suicide prevention

GCITIZEN STAFF

ordon 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.

At this moment, someone who is thinking about suicide has just dialed three digits on their phone and connected with a stranger who can help.

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

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

Nine-eight-eight, or 988. This is Canada’s new suicide hotline, and it’s saving lives 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It came about through a private member’s bill brought forward by the MP for Cariboo-Prince George.

Private members’ bills rarely receive much attention. Fewer than five per cent make it very far, and even fewer than that are successfully passed.

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.

MP Todd Doherty’s Bill C-269 (An Act to amend the Telecommunications Act - suicide prevention) was adopted because his fellow members from all parties recognized how serious the country’s mental health crisis has become.

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.

In B.C., the rate is 6.9 per 100,000 population. The highest number is in Nunavut, with 72 cases per 100,000. Overall in Canada, it’s 10.9 per 100,000.

a day have contacted 988. That’s a remarkable response.

talk about it and it rarely appears in the press.

The usage rate of 988 makes it clear that there’s a need, but also makes it clear that more has to be done, says Doherty, and he’s right. Governments must look at 988 as an indicator that the demand is there and public funds must be used to offer more supports for people who are struggling.

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.

At this point, though, we can be grateful that 988 is working. Whether a person has planned it out in detail or is making a snap decision, being able to make a call to someone who can talk them down from the edge is a valuable addition to Canadian mental health supports.

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.

We live in dire times. Rising food costs, higher rents and mortgage rates, housing shortages, political division and job insecurity can take its toll on people’s mental wellness no matter their walk of life. Many consider ending it all as a flawed solution to their problems. However, when suicide happens, it leaves behind a wake of grief that compounds the ongoing mental health crisis. It’s no solution.

the country. In B.C., the rate is 6.9 per 100,000 population. That’s relatively low (but still far too high) compared to other provinces and territories; the most startling number is in Nunavut, with 72 cases per 100,000.

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.

Sadly, the number of suicides and attempted suicides in Canada is likely much higher, as many cases go unreported because of the stigma surrounding the topic.

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

Part of that is its simplicity. There’s no 1-800 number to memorize, and there’s no switchboard to navigate. No appointment necessary. When someone is in crisis, or knows someone who is, they can quickly access help by calling or texting 988.

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

According to Statistics Canada, there are about 4,400 suicides and about 91,000 attempts each year in

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

As Doherty notes in our story on Page 5 today, more than 250,000 people have called or texted 988 since it launched last fall. The hotline launched in late November, meaning that in the seven months since, more than 1,000 people

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. 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.

Doherty told The Citizen that he put this plan together because, in part, he lost a friend to suicide as a teenager. Like him, many of us have lost someone in the same way or know someone who has.

Suicide is far more common than many people realize, because we don’t

He spent much of his amateur

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We must also acknowledge the anonymous voices on the other end of the line. It takes a special kind of compassion to be able to talk to someone who is considering ending their own life. The anonymous people who take these calls should know that their communities thank them and recognize their dedication to what can’t be easy work.

Kudos to the House of Commons for understanding this need and supporting Doherty’s mission.

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.

We may not want to talk about suicide, but we can talk about 988. Tell people. Share the story. The more people know about it, the more likely they’ll remember when they, or someone they love, has hit that darkest of moments. Help is out there.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Many tree planters

OPINION Growers selling locally could take financial hit

really doing to the forests of Northern B.C.

don’t realize the harm they are

If there’s one constant in Prince George, it’s our influx of tree planters and brushers every summer.

We’ve got a new layer of bureaucracy for local vegetable producers and it raises some big questions about local food security.

On January 1 the BC Vegetable Marketing Commission (BCVMC for short) expanded its jurisdiction to include the northern half of British Columbia.

They stick out like a sore thumb in our increasingly abandoned downtown. Young, fresh-eyed big-city-looking kids out on the frontier doing their big Canadian experience: Colonizing the landscape with industrial plantations of pine and spruce trees to starve out moose and make fires worse.

Prior to this, northern producers north of the 53rd parallel were technically not allowed to sell their produce to Lower Mainland markets, which affected a couple local producers, but the new rules create more regulation for local growers selling locally.

I highly doubt the majority of them know what it is they are doing. Not in the sense that they don’t know how to plant trees, but more like what the big-picture result of their labour will be. I certainly didn’t when I started tree planting.

Anybody selling more than 2000 pounds or $5000 worth of vegetables will have to be registered with the marketing commission for a production and delivery allocation. This will cost producers $250

Last week we held our “deciduous heroes” event down at the Q3 building on Quebec and Third to talk about this. I talked with a few of the tree planters I saw downtown during the day of the event, and asked a few of them what they knew about aspen.

They rolled their eyes. “Oh, we know about aspen,” one girl said sarcastically. And what the average tree planter knows is that you don’t get paid money to plant them, and that in fact you get paid money to destroy them. They are “weeds,” first and foremost, an entirely Euro-centric concept at odds with the protein production these forests bestowed for Indigenous nations pre-contact.

Our forest industry is brainwashing entire generations of young Canadians about what has worth in our forests and what doesn’t. Many tree planters go on to have careers in journalism, literature, academia, and philosophy. We should

a year and some extra paperwork.

These thresholds are 40 years old and should be increased, to ease the burden on small producers, but the system needs updating in other areas as well.

The BC Vegetable Marketing Commission was established in 1934 to help maintain minimum pricing for growers to avoid damaging boom and bust cycles and limit the dumping of produce. The concept is similar to the dairy and egg marketing boards minus the hard quotas on production.

I appreciate the argument for the existence of marketing boards, although I’ve criticized how it works in practice. One of the problems is how these marketing commissions become a hammer of redtape that benefits the large multinational vertically-integrated retailers and food processors, not the local producers.

You could argue the vegetable marketing commission made sense when food production was local and the same rules applied to everyone. But nowadays a company like Costco can bring in produce from Alberta, Saskatchewan,

or points beyond, grown by producers not subject to the same rules and fees as local BC producers. Same deal with American-grown produce, although these imports are regulated by federal food inspection rules.

If we want to reduce the carbon footprint of our food, it doesn’t seem like this is how you do it.

Another issue are the marketing agencies.

Marketing agencies were originally groups of farmers who came together to share the costs of advertising and marketing their produce. They are now licensed and regulated by the BC Vegetable Marketing Commission. If you want to sell vegetables to the big retailers, you need to do so through a marketing agency like BC Fresh.

Prior to February 2nd, large retailers in Prince George could sell local PG produce without going through an agency. Not that they did that much to begin with, but they now have a legal requirement to stock shelves through one of the 11 marketing agencies in the province, none

Tree planters come to B.C. from across Canada and even other countries each year.

not underestimate how tree planting is contributing to the intellectual corruption of our elite.

I encouraged them to come down to the presentation and learn about their value, and one kid, all the way from the United Kingdom, did just that.

As MLA Mike Morris stood up and presented his experience on the trap line with the decimation of wildlife populations at the hands of industrial plantation clearcutting, I couldn’t help but think how confusing this must be for your typical tree planter, a class of people with a disproportionately high number of vegans and animal rights advocates.

You mean the industry we are part of is starving out animals at biblical

proportions? And a big bad trapper is telling us we should be concerned about this?

Both are important questions for the tree planter to consider, but it goes beyond that.

The aspen forest type, an entirely legitimate forest type in its own right, will sequester way more carbon, snuff out way more fire, will absorb way less solar radiation, and will bring in way more snow and rainfall to create higher streamflows and moister conditions. It will do this while supporting way more food production through moose, deer, elk, grouse, cattle, and much else.

After the presentation, including Moose, Mushrooms and Mud’s Jen Côté and her incredible story of sprayed

of whom are local.

Presumably local producers can start a local marketing agency dedicated to local produce, like what the Okanagan and Vancouver Island have, but to start a marketing agency, the application costs $21,000, is not guaranteed to be approved by the BCVMC board, which currently has no northern representation, and would be subject to significant regulation and reporting.

Local growers are expressing a lot of concern with what is happening. Local growers have new fees they have to pay, and the opportunities to access local markets will be impacted. While some local producers will be able to sell their goods down south, without a local marketing agency, access to the big local markets will now be bogged down by more red-tape.

I’m not sure our local food security and local farmers are going to all benefit from this new arrangement, but it’s not like we have any say in the matter absent more regional autonomy over our local food security and independence.

huckleberries in clearcuts north of town, the U.K. treeplanter told me he hadn’t heard this perspective before. Of course he hasn’t. If there’s one fairy tale Canadians like to tell themselves and the world at large it’s that we know how to sustainably manage our forests. Facts that contradict this are stamped out.

We have a big job ahead of us to change our practices so that this claim may once more ring true. We all want this to be true. So let’s protect more primary forests. Let’s let more of our deciduous heroes grow. Let’s lay off the herbicides and let’s lay off the brush saws.

James Steidle is a Prince George writer.

PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

OPINION

James Steidle: Prince George tree planters are misinformed about the impact of what they are doing

James is correct. As someone who worked in a sciencebased career that wasn’t directly involved in the forestry industry I worked with the BCFS many times over the years. The use of herbicide and monoculture practice of tree planting for industry plays havoc with deciduous growth, a necessary component for a healthy forest that provides for animal health and a natural fire protection from large scale fires. The BCFS has essentially become an agent of the forest industry. While this is something professional foresters are taught as part of their education, it’s often overlooked as the goal is to maximize commercial value of the forest in BC, to the detriment of long-term forest and wildlife health. While attempts to create and establish better management practises have been made over the years, we still see resistance and waffling from the politicians and senior forestry officials balking at the creation of a more sustainable Forest Practises Code.

B1

Share your views on our stories at

Prince George adopts pay parking for streets near hospital

I dislike the Hotspot app. because it requires paying a monthly subscription fee. How will people who do not own a smart phone pay for parking? If I need to visit the Civic Centre, I have to park on Patricia Boulevard because the parking lot where the Four Seasons Pool was located has pay parking that uses the Hotspot app.

Chris Reeve

Prince George oil painter infuses whimsy in her artwork

Wow! The artist is incredibly talented! It would be fantastic to see their work as a mural in Prince George. While the city’s flowerpots are beautiful, a mural would add a vibrant splash of color year-round.

S Goods

Prince George council updated on Official Community Plan

This is an excellent plan that will require dedicated efforts from our city staff and council. I hope they feel inspired and motivated to bring this vision to life.

Unfortunately, the last Official Community Plan saw minimal implementation.

DD22

Prince George council updated on Official Community Plan

The problem with “public engagement” is that the public is not engaged. It says they managed to get %6 of PGers to respond to the survey. This should not be called a publicly directed community plan if only 6% of the community participated.

They can say, “oh well we tried and not many responded”, but the problem with that, is it seems like they always get what they want with this setup- more taxes!

They shouldn’t be able to call it “public engagement” if they have failed to reach the public… send out surveys/ questionnaires with property taxes each year. Make it mandatory to fill out, or there would be an extra $100 tacked on to your property tax.

This would cost very little and would give a real picture of what the residents actually would like the city to do with their hard-earned money.

Spoiler alert: the results wouldn’t be, “fulfill all your socialist fantasies with our money” …

DD22

Dedicated Prince George worker has new wheels thanks to community generosity

Prince George is a amazing community - the people - the geography.

Despite the problems, I’m glad to be from PG.

Way to go people.

Just Sayin

Dedicated Prince George worker has new wheels thanks to community generosity

Good news and great job for giving to someone who needs and appreciates the kindness and support. We all should take note and step up rather than being so self-centered.

Sea K

James Steidle: Prince George tree planters are misinformed about the impact of what they are doing

Have you looked at any satellite images lately that are relatively up to date? Look at the entire area north of Prince George, south of carp lake and east and west of those areas. Relatively small cut blocks? You got to be kidding. There is hardly a patch of timber left, it has all been clearcut in the last 15 years and the only stands of timber left are unmerchantable timber and riparian zones.

Small clearcuts my @ss.

Chestor

Downtown’s Birch and Boar closing its doors for good I reported the use of “good” as an error and suggested “permanently” as a better term in context of the story.

We have been hearing about “downtown revitalization” for almost as long as I can recall and the vast majority of what has been done seems to be with tax payer dollars as “for profit” businesses can’t take the chance much of the time.

Thanks Birch & Boar owners and staff for a valiant effort, best of luck in future endeavours.

Renoguy

Dedicated Prince George worker has new wheels thanks to community generosity

Good man Jonathan! Good for all of you good people who had a hand in this!

Sherry Boschman

Repair Cafe, Sweet Summer Market and Pride ...

ABOVE: Eight-year-old Ezekiel Falk creates a shower of bubbles for all as he enjoys the Pride Parade with his family Saturday.

BELOW LEFT: Frances Cooper,looks far younger than her 87 years as she dances in the Pride Parade Saturday, holding a Proud Paws Grooming banner with Liz Grist.

BELOW RIGHT: Sarah and Apollo Schleich along with Frenkenstein enjoy the music and a ride.

... it was a busy, sunny weekend in Prince George

Nick Dormaar works on adjusting a bike he is working on during the Bike Repair Cafe held at the Prince George Public Library in the Knowledge Garden Saturday afternoon. The event was put on by Eco Living Community and allowed people to bring bikes in to be repaired for free by volunteers such as Dormaar. A small appliances, textiles and more repair cafe will be held at the library Aug. 10.

Citizen photos by Chuck Nisbett

ABOVE: Denise Lowley discusses the jewelry made by Russell and Edita Crick at their booth in the CN Centre parking lot for the Sweet Summer Market Saturday. The market ran from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with local vendors and artisans along with food trucks in attendance.

LEFT: Mary Simonds and Edin Gurdic talk with Keely Rommel of Silver Loon Laser Designs at their booth in the CN Centre parking lot for the Sweet Summer Market Saturday.

NOTICE OF ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL PROCESS

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to section 86 of the Community Charter, Prince George City Council is proposing to seek approval of the electors of the City of Prince George by Alternative Approval Process. The question before the electors is whether they are opposed to Prince George City Council adopting the proposed “Prince George Aquatic Centre Mechanical and Building Update Phases 1a, 1b, 2, 3, and 4 Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 9468, 2024” at the regular Council meeting scheduled for Monday, August 19, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC, without first obtaining assent of the electors by a referendum vote.

• “Prince George Aquatic Centre Mechanical and Building Update Phases 1a, 1b, 2, 3, and 4 Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 9468, 2024”

The additional capital work projects to the Prince George Aquatic Centre Mechanical and Building Update project were approved with the funding source designated as Municipal Finance Authority (MFA) debt funding. The estimated cost of the projects associated with this Bylaw is the sum of twenty-two million one hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($22,150,000).

The loan agreement with the Municipal Finance Authority (MFA) will be for a term no longer than twenty (20) years. The annual debt servicing costs for borrowing the full amounts is estimated to be one million eight hundred fifty-three thousand nine hundred and thirty-nine dollars ($1,853,939) and would result in 1.34% of future tax levy increases.

Prince George Aquatic Centre Mechanical and Building Envelope Upgrade Phases 1a, 1b, 2, 3 and 4 is a component renewal and upgrade project that will incorporate the additional phases to Project #3108 Prince George Aquatic Centre Mechanical & Building Envelope Upgrades to extend its useful service life and includes improving energy efficiency, lowering operating costs, bringing asset up to current code The project will include the following works to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and increase the building life expectancy with increased insulation, triple glazed windows and durable metal cladding systems. Repairs to the structural steel/columns and dive tank sparger system. Replacement of main entry soffits, curtain wall and air handling units cooling coils. Addition of energy recovery on air handling units. Replacement of health/life safety items including deck, lobby and visitor area tile, handrails, plumbing fixtures, fire alarm system and sprinkler heads. Replacement of moveable bulkheads, change room tiles, overhead and underwater light fixtures and emergency system lighting, in addition to interior repainting, hydronic piping reconfiguration, increased access controls, accessibility improvements, and reconfigured reception desk.

The project is to address immediate and upcoming facility asset reinvestment; to condense the number of interruptions to facility users and events; meet current code requirements, improve energy efficiencies; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; extend the expected useful service life further; and consider life cycle operational cost savings.

A copy of proposed Bylaw No. 9468, 2024, a more detailed summary of the proposed project, and a copy of the proposed loan agreements with the Municipal Finance Authority are available for public inspection at City Hall during regular business days between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

For any questions, please contact the Legislative Services Department at (250) 561-7793 or cityclerk@princegeorge.ca.

INSTRUCTIONS

If you are not opposed to the adoption of the above noted Bylaw, you need do nothing.

If you are opposed to the adoption of the above noted Bylaw without the Bylaw first receiving assent of the electors by a referendum vote, you may sign and submit an Elector Response Form indicating your opposition.

A person may not sign more than one Elector Response Form.

APPLICABLE AREA

The area to which the Alternative Approval Process applies is the entire area of the City of Prince George. The municipal Council may proceed with the adoption of Bylaw No. 9468, 2024 unless before the deadline of 5:00 p.m., Friday, August 9, 2024, at least 10% of electors submit a complete and signed Elector Response Form indicating that Council must obtain assent of the electors by a referendum vote before proceeding with the adoption of Bylaw No. 9468, 2024. For the purpose of this Alternative Approval Process, Council has determined that there are 55,126 registered electors in the City of Prince George. The municipal Council may therefore proceed with the adoption of Bylaw No. 9468, 2024 unless at least 5,512 electors submit a completed copy of an Elector Response Form to the City of Prince George before the deadline of 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 9, 2024

RESIDENTS AND NON-RESIDENT PROPERTY ELECTORS:

In order to sign an Elector Response Form, a person must either be a resident elector or a non-resident property elector of the City of Prince George. For the purposes of the Alternative Approval Process, an elector is a person who meets the qualifications referred to in section 65 or section 66 of the Local Government Act if assent of the electors were sought, either as a resident elector or non-resident property elector.

To sign an Elector Response Form as a resident elector a person must:

• be a Canadian citizen;

• be at least 18 years of age;

• have lived in British Columbia for at least the last six (6) months before signing the Elector Response Form;

• live within the City of Prince George; and

• not be otherwise disqualified from voting by the Local Government Act or by other law.

To sign an Elector Response Form as a non-resident property elector a person must:

• be a Canadian citizen;

• be at least 18 years of age;

• have lived in British Columbia for at least the last six (6) months before signing the Elector Response Form;

• have been a registered owner of property within the City of Prince George for at least the last thirty (30) days; and

• not be otherwise disqualified from voting by the Local Government Act or by other law.

ELECTOR RESPONSE FORM

An Elector Response Form must be in the form approved by the Council of the City of Prince George, or an accurate copy of the form such as a photocopy. Elector Response Forms are available on the 1st Floor or the 5th Floor of Prince George City Hall, 1100 Patricia Boulevard, Prince George, BC, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., on Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays. Elector Response Forms are also available on the City’s website: www.princegeorge.ca/aap.

The deadline for submitting an Elector Response Form is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 9, 2024.

An Elector Response Form must be fully completed and hand-signed. All three (3) pages of the completed Elector Response Form must be submitted in order to be counted.

New PG-Kelowna flights

A new direct link between Prince George and Kelowna will be available to travellers in October.

Pacific Coastal Airlines will introduce the new flight route on Oct. 28. It will involve morning flights on a Beechcraft 1900 six days a week.

The aircraft can carry up to 19 passengers.

It will connect the Prince George International Airport (YXS) with the Kelowna International Airport (YLW)

“We are thrilled to welcome Pacific Coastal Airlines’ new route from YXS to YLW, enhancing travel options for our community,” said Gordon Duke, president and CEO of the Prince George Airport Authority.

The daily flight will leave Kelowna Sundays through Fridays at 6:20 a.m. and land in Prince George at 7:40 a.m., then leave Prince George at 7:45 a.m. and land in Kelowna at 9:10 a.m.

Flights on the new route can now be booked through the Pacific Coastal Airlines website, by calling 1-800-663-2872, or through a travel agent

NEWS NOTES

Firefighter hurt on the job

A Prince George firefighter was injured while fighting a downtown house fire late Friday night.

Prince George Fire Rescue crews from two fire halls were summoned to the call and discovered upon arrive the house in the 1600 block of 11th Avenue was fully involved in flame.

The injuries to the firefighter were not critical. No other people were injured in the fire.

The cause of the fire was not released by city of Prince George communications staff.

Damage is estimated at $100,000.

Another fire at Moccasin Flats

Another structure has been destroyed by fire at the Moccasin Flats encampment.

Prince George Fire Rescue crews from two halls were dispatched to the Lower Patricia camp, at Fifth Avenue

NOTICE OF ALTERNATIVE APPROVAL PROCESS

Elector Response Forms may be submitted by hand delivery, mail, facsimile (fax), or email as a PDF document attachment, as follows:

Address for delivery or mail: Attention: Corporate Officer City of Prince George Legislative Services Division 5th Floor - 1100 Patricia Blvd. Prince George, BC V2L 3V9

Facsimile (fax) number: (250) 561-0183 PDF submission via email: cityclerk@princegeorge.ca

If submitting the Elector Response Form to the City of Prince George by facsimile (fax) or by email as a PDF document attachment, please ensure that the transmission was completed.

This notice is published in accordance to section 86 and 94 of the Community Charter and City of Prince George Public Notice Bylaw No. 9329, 2022.

and Ottawa Street, at about 6:42 a.m. Saturday and found one improvised residence fully involved in fire.

Firefighters quickly doused the flames using hand lines. Damage was estimated at $1,000.

There were no reported injuries to firefighters or civilians.

The city is making plans to permanently close the controversial encampment once construction of a BC Housing transitional housing facility on Third Avenue is completed late this summer or early fall.

Hospice hosts Adele tribute

A new fundraiser for the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society will feature the Ultimate Tribute to Adele at the

To be held at the Northern Estates Winery, the event features performer Ashley Borody singing the songs of the pop superstar.

It happens Aug. 8. Doors open at 6 p.m. at the winery on 745 Pulpmill Rd.

Tickets are available for purchase online at www.pghpcs.ca or in person at the Hospice Solace Centre but are limited. Early Bird ticket pricing is $50 until July 18, and after that $60 each.

Chuck Chin Fund gets boost

To honour the memory of beloved community hero Chuck Chin, there will be a silent auction fundraiser at the CN Centre Night Market on Tuesday, July 23 at 4:30 p.m.

Proceeds of the silent auction filled with donations from local businesses and the showpiece of one of Chuck Chin’s iconic photographs will go to the Chuck Chin Legacy Fund curated by the Prince George Community Foundation. Love Local Events is hosting the event that will see more than 100 vendors showcasing their wares to the public. There will be 14 food trucks on site so visitors can explore a variety of culinary delights and there’s even a petting zoo for the kids

Admission to the event is free.

Prince George court docket for July 8-12

MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff

This is a list of sentences for offences committed in Prince George and area.

- Clinton Levi Poitras (born 1981) was sentenced to 21 days in jail for breaching probation. Poitras was in custody for five days prior to sentencing.

DATED this 5th day of July, 2024

Ethan Anderson, Corporate Officer/ Manager of Legislative Services City of Prince George

- Terrance Peter West (born 1980) was sentenced to eight days in jail and one year probation for breaching a release order.

- David Dacosta Harding (born 1980) was sentenced to time served and one year probation for assault, being unlawfully in a dwelling house, uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm and for breaching a release order, committed in Mackenzie. Dacosta was in custody for 236 days prior to sentencing on the breach count and for 173 days following his arrest.

- Tracy Dawn Reid (born 1978) was sentenced to one year probation with a suspended sentenced for theft $5,000 or under.

- Bianca Alyssa Dennis-Naziel (born 1999) was sentenced to eight days in jail and one year probation for two counts of theft $5,000 or under and one count of breaching probation. Dennis-Naziel was in custody for two days prior to sentencing.

- Zackary William Edward Isaac (born 1986) was sentenced to 27 days in jail for uttering threats, to 15 days for possessing a weapon for dangerous purpose and to time served for theft $5,000 or under and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm. Isaac was also sentenced to one year probation and was in custody for seven days following his arrest on the theft under charge and for 11 days prior to sentencing on the uttering threats and the weapon counts.

Borody

Prince George offender faces more jail time

MARK NIELSEN Special to The Citizen

A stay behind bars will be longer than expected for a man who has nearly finished serving his sentence on weapons charges related to an alleged Prince George home invasion in the making.

With less than a month to go in the original term, Julien Naseem Abdala Yasin Lazarre, 26, is now facing more time in jail for offences allegedly committed while out on statutory release. An offender serving federal time is automatically eligible for statutory release after serving two-thirds of their sentence.

However, conditions can be imposed and if they are violated, the inmate can be brought back into custody and forced wait until they have served two-thirds of the remainder of their sentence before becoming eligible for release once again.

Less credit for time in custody prior to sentencing, Lazarre is serving a sentence of two years, eight months and 23 days.

Over that time, the Parole Board of Canada has revoked his statutory release two times and, as of June 25, he had one month left to serve when a third round of statutory release was granted with conditions.

However, it was noted in the decision that Lazarre could be facing new charges stemming from his behaviour while out on statutory release in the Lower Mainland.

And according to court records, a detention order has been issued to Lazarre on a count of being unlawfully at large from an alleged incident this past January and three counts of wilfully resisting or obstructing a peace officer related to an apprehension in April.

The original sentence was issued in August 2021.

He had remained in custody since he was arrested in September 2019, the product of a chance encounter when Prince George RCMP’s street crew unit were called to a report of a theft from

With less than a month to go in the original term, Julien Naseem Abdala Yasin Lazarre, 26, is now facing more time in jail for offences allegedly committed while out on statutory release.

a vehicle in the 1400 block of Carney Street.

Officers happened upon Lazarre and another man known to police, Devin Albert Olson, 31, in the back yard of a crack shack.

Olson was later sentenced to one year probation for identity theft.

A search of Lazarre uncovered a rock of heroin-fentanyl, 33 tablets of ecstasy, a thick wad of cash adding up to $5,720, a flip phone and a cellphone. Significantly, RCMP also found an empty pistol holster shoved into the waistband of his pants.

Another search of the area by a dog and handler discovered a loaded handgun placed on a small mound behind a nearby utility pole and a judge later concluded the markings on the holster found on Lazarre were a match for the

handgun.

Despite the weather, Lazarre was wearing a bulky winter coat with the hood up, along with gloves and sunglasses and was carrying a face mask in his satchel, suggesting he intended to carry out a home invasion at the house.

Lazarre was first released on statutory release in June 2023 with a condition that he stay at a halfway house in the Lower Mainland.

But, according to the parole board decision, it was suspended the first day when it was discovered he had been picked up at the institution by a parolee who was unlawfully at large and it was subsequently revoked in November 2023.

The second round of statutory release went awry in late January, when, according to the parole board decision,

he signed out of his residence to go to a restaurant.

A few minutes before his curfew he called staff to report that he was waiting for a taxi and was told to call staff when he got into the cab but never did.

The police department’s high-risk offender unit and Crimestoppers were notified.

Three months later, police spotted him riding a bicycle and tried to stop him.

According to police, Lazarre tried to flee and when arrested in the next block and he provided a false name and struggled while being handcuffed.

Evidence of a handgun was found on his person, according to police, and a count of possessing a weapon had been recommended but has not been approved by Crown counsel.

Co-op retailers suffer aftereffects of cyber-attack

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

A cyberattack that forced Four Rivers Co-op to shut down its cardlock filling stations for a full week continued to plague the parent company, Federated Co-operatives Ltd., which also operates Co-op supermarkets, gas bars and convenience stores in Western Canada.

The cyberattack happened on June 26. FCL called third-party computer experts to investigate and they continue to work with the company’s IT specialists to try to fix the problem created by hackers.

Four Rivers operates 16 cardlock locations in the Central Interior, including two in Prince George that were among the 298 FCL cardlock fuel stations that were closed until 8 p.m. on July 3.

The gas bars/convenience stores and the Vanderhoof Co-op supermarket remained open for business despite the attack. Four Rivers has cardlocks from Terrace to Valemount and from Fort St. James to 100 Mile House.

The company website remains offline amid worries some personal data might have been compromised in the attack. There is also a concern it might be difficult keeping all the retail stores fully

Wanted man ‘dangerous:’ RCMP

The Prince George RCMP is looking for 40-year-old Christopher Lee Champagne.

Champagne is wanted on one unendorsed warrant for the following three counts of failing to comply with a probation order.

Champagne

He is described as an Indigenous male, 6’3 (191 cm), 181 lb (82 kg), with black hair and brown eyes. Police say Champagne has ties to Edmonton and may have travelled there.

He is considered dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone who sees him should call police right away. Anyone with information about

This Four Rivers Co-op cardlock filling station at 988 Railway Ave., in Prince George off Highway 97 was closed for a full week due to a cyberattack that continues to plague parent company, Federated Co-operatives Ltd.

stocked if the company’s computer system remains constrained by the attack.

“We updated social media channels repeatedly,’ said Brad Delorey, FCL’s director of communications and public affairs. “I certainly appreciate the fact there’s lots of lessons to be learned and we will share the story once we’re allowed to, but at the current time we have to rely on the public statements we’re put on the FCL channel the local Co-ops are sharing.”

On the FCL social media sites, Facebook and X, the Saskatoon-based company explained in its latest post on

CRIME NOTES

Champagne is asked to call Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Police seek theft, assault suspect

Shaun Edward Dell, 40, is wanted by the Prince George RCMP for assault, theft under $5,000 and two counts of failing to comply with a probation order.

He also uses the alias Aaron Dell, police say.

An unendorsed warrant has been issued for Dell’s arrest.

He’s a white male, 6’1 (185 cm), 221 lb (100 kg), with brown hair and blue eyes.

Dell is considered dangerous and should not be approached, police

“It’s important to note that while this incident has been contained, upon first discovering that we had experienced a cybersecurity incident, we temporarily took a number of our systems offline as a precaution.”

Co-op has been around since 1944. In 2015 it had a staff of 23,000.

This is the latest in a series of recent cyberattacks on B.C. businesses.

On April 28, London Drugs was forced to close its 79 stores for more than week and some sensitive information was leaked after it refused to pay ransomware demands sent to its Burnaby head office.

Tuesday the steps it is taking to protect the release of sensitive customer information.

“We are aware of statements made online that data was allegedly copied from the FCL (information technology) environment and will allegedly be released. While it’s possible these allegations are related to the cybersecurity incident we previously experienced, we are still investigating with assistance from third-party experts. If the investigation determines that data was in fact compromised, as previously stated, we will take appropriate action.

advise. If you see him, contact police. Anyone with information about Dell’s whereabouts can contact Prince George RCMP at 250561-3300 or, to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

Police recover stolen vehicle

Prince George RCMP officers spotted a stolen SUV being driven on Victoria Street on Friday at about 9:30 a.m. and moved in to intercept it.

Several police vehicles converged at Victoria and 9th Avenue and officers arrested the driver, an adult male, and a female passenger within seconds.

The vehicle had been reported stolen

On May 13, the B.C. First Nations Health Authority’s computer system was also compromised and some personal employee information was breached.

On June 3, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth reported the B.C. government was investigating a series of attacks that started April 10 and were tied to a foreign state. The attacks reached 22 government emails and contained information about 19 people.

On June 25, the Cowichan Valley School District had its computer system attacked and some of its systems and operations were affected, including internet services and its website.

July 9.

Police say the investigation is ongoing.

Stay safe on local rivers

Prince George RCMP is issuing some water-safety reminders for those who may wish to take the opportunity to cool off by floating down one of the area’s rivers.

Here are some tips:

• Tell someone where you’re going and when you’ll be back.

• Avoid going anywhere alone.

• Make sure everyone in your party is wearing a personal flotation device.

• Speak to people in the community who have used the rivers before and know them well.

• Carry required safety equipment.

• Make sure to have food and water with you in case you are stranded .

Dell

What’s happening in PG

Mid-Summer Eve Artisan Market at Studio 2880 goes Thursday, July 18 from 6 to 9 p.m. This event is presented by the Prince George & District Community Arts Council. Sweet summer air, an evening stroll and an artistic vibe await guests during this evening artisan market. Explore the grounds of Studio 2880, find a variety of makers, foods, while enjoying eclectic music.

Shine & Dine goes Thursday, July 18 at 6 p.m. at Mulino Kitchen, 601 Victoria St. This event is the exclusive launch of tickets sales for the PG Humane Society’s Diamonds Are Furever Ladies’ Night that takes place on Sept. 7 at the Civic Centre. Meet animals on the patio while supporting the cause and savouring a wonderful dining experience. Tickets are $55 or for more information visit www.prince-george-humane-society/ events/mulino-kitchen

Unfold 4 Exhibition Opening Reception goes Friday, July 19 from 6 to 8 p.m at Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St. Come support new and emerging local artists from Prince George. We are excited to showcase the incredible artwork of 12 artists, including Alexa Jonuk, Alison Warner, Blair Wingerter, Britany Archer, Cybele Taylor-Ouellet, Jude Mills, Larissa Bezerra, Natália Ruiz Gonzalez, Raquel Pokiak, Ronnie Nieder Mayer, Satsi A. Naziel and Susie Maurice. Everyone is welcome to attend and refreshments will be provided.

Hardcore Icon Comedy Show goes Friday, July 19 at 8:30 p.m. at Locals by Farmhouse in the Prestige at the Treasure Cove Casino and featuring comedian Dale Ehrstien as he debuts his brand-new standup special, Hardcore Icon. Joining him are MC Cody Malbeuf and Sara Jones. Early-bird tickets start at $20 at www.farmhousecatering.ca/ events.

Kodiaks home opener vs VI Raiders goes Saturday, July 20 at gates open at 4 p.m., kickoff at 6 p.m. at Masich Place Stadium. Tickets are at www.

kodiaksfootball.com/tickets.

Downtown Summerfest goes Saturday, July 20 at Veteran’s Plaza at City Hall from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event is one of Downtown Prince George’s signature festivals. Every year guests can enjoy Summer Fun For Everyone and join the party to celebrate fun, food, activities, and entertainment.

Kids Carnival at Huble Homestead goes Saturday, July 20 from 10:30 to 4 p.m. Venture north to the homestead for a whirlwind of fun, as you and your family test your skills at carnival games with guaranteed prizes. Magic shows, old-fashioned games, the always-popular parachute, story time and crafts are on offer. Huble Homestead is a historic site located 40 km north of Prince George on Mitchell Road. Admission is by donation.

Tacos and Sangria goes Sunday July 21 from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at Northern Lights Estate Winery featuring tacos, sangria, sweet treats, music, yard games, a selfie booth. Tickets are $80+GST at www. buynorthernlightswines.com/products

CN Centre Night Market goes Tuesday, July 23 from 4:30 to 9 p.m. where a variety of local artisans, makers and vendors will be on hand to showcase their wares. Enjoy delicious culinary delights from food trucks, live entertainment and there’s even a petting zoo. All profits go to the Chuck Chin Legacy Fund.

Movie Nights in the Orchard goes Friday, July 26 at 8:45 p.m. at the Northern Lights Estate Winery, 745 Prince George Pulpmill Road and features Romeo & Juliet (the 1996 version with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes). It’s a fully outdoor event. Bring your

own chair. Tickets must be purchased online. Gates and concession open an hour before the movie starts. For tickets visit www.northernlightswinery.ca/ movie-night.

An Evening of Enchantment goes Friday, July 26 from 4 to 9 p.m. at Hunniford Gardens, 8845 Aquarius Rd. Dress up in your finest costume. All fairies, elves, witches, gnomes, magical being and those from medieval times are welcome. Event highlights include several decorated photo ops and a short forest walk, various live entertainment acts from 5 to 8 p.m., family friendly games, a playground for the littles, a curated vendor market and food trucks. Tickets for children are $6, two and under are free, 15 and older are $12. For more information and tickets visit hunniford-gardens. evening-of-enchantment.

THE WILD! PHOTO

High-energy rock band The Wild!, along with Coastal Drifters and July Crowd, will perform at the next CrossRoads Summer Street Fest & Brew Fest on Saturday, July 27 at 5 p.m. at 508 George St.

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Free Outdoor Movie Night featuring Kung Fu Panda 4 goes Monday, July 29 at 10 p.m. at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park. This event is free and is hosted by Fortis BC. Be sure to bring a chair or a blanket.

Wicked and Grim: A True Crime Podcast LIVE goes Wednesday, July 31 at 7 p.m. at Trench Brewing & Distilling, 399 Second Ave. Wicked and Grim celebrate their 200th episode by going live for the first time ever as they delve into a gripping true crime event. Includes the live recording, audience interaction – hang out with fellow true crime enthusiasts. There are door prizes as well. For more information visit www. wickedandgrim.com and tickets are $22.63 at www.eventbrite.com/e/ wicked-and-grim-live-tickets

Thursdays at the Park goes every week at The Exploration Place, 333 Becott Place, and will see Cruisin Classic Car Club parked outside so people can check out the classic cars. Origins Kitchen will feature specials at their take-out window and the Little Prince steam engine will be running from noon to 8 p.m.

Prince George Farmers’ Market goes every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. where visitors will find around 100 members offering everything from local vegetables, ethically-raised grass-fed meats, baking, fruits, hot foods, coffee, honey and jams and jellies, preserves, and a wide variety of artisan products

including jewelry and crafts.

Wilson Square Community Farmers’ Market goes every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. where local food producers fill the street as musicians play and visitors start their weekends with a round of breakfast sandwiches and hot coffee. Traditional farm fresh meat and produce is available alongside wild-foraged seasonal fiddleheads and morels, rounded out by selection of local arts and baked treats.

Craft & Chat at the main branch of the Prince George Public Library goes every Saturday from 1 pm. to 3 p.m. in the magazine corner, second floor,

where fibre artists are invited to bring their latest projects to share, vent your frustrations, brag about successes, get and give help and join in lively discussions. Snacks provided. This event is in partnership with Great Northwest Fibre Fest.

Story Walk at Masich Place is open during public walking hours at the track. Simply start at the first sign and follow the story around the track. Stories change monthly. For the public walking schedule visit www.princegeorge.ca/ masich-place-stadium

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.

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

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

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Omineca’s Coffee House Open Stage is every Sunday, 369 Victoria St., 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.

DREAMWORKS ANIMATION PHOTO

Kung Fu Panda 4 will be screened Monday, July 29 at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park during Free Outdoor Movie Night. It starts at 10 p.m.

Local artist finds success after challenging herself with a new and colourful approach to her work

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff

As an oil painter she puts extraordinary colour to ordinary things.

Brittany Kolbuc sees colour in things that don’t exist in the real world and her artwork offers us regular humans some insight into her vision.

And it’s amazing.

“Everything used to be in the box –had to be structured and just so – and that’s what my portraits were,” Kolbuc said about how she went from a portrait artist to an out-of-the-box creative.

“It was just a complete jump into colour. I have a black dog and I don’t look at him and see black. I see blue and all these different colours in him. A lot of it is actually allowing yourself to get lost in it. I have a house and I have kids and I am used to doing things properly and then you have to throw caution to

It was just a complete jump into colour. I have a black dog and I don’t look at him and see black. I see blue and all these different colours in him.”

the wind and don’t listen to the voice inside your head that keeps telling you that you’re doing it wrong.

“Now I do it wrong and things are taking off where as before when I ‘stayed in the lines’ I was just stagnant – there was no growth.”

Kolbuc, who is Taku Tlingit & Tahltan First Nations, said she feels she’s always

been artistic but it was someone special in her life that encouraged her to shine.

“It was my stepmom that nurtured me,” Kolbuc said.

“And nobody else in my family is very artistic. I never really did anything with it. I actually wanted to be a reporter – a journalist – so I never went anywhere with my art.”

Only when she moved into her own place as a young adult did she start to explore with paint.

“I did a Blink 182 logo in acrylics and oils and it took eight months to dry because I didn’t know what I was doing,” Kolbuc recalled with a smile.

“So I would draw and sketch and didn’t really paint again until about 2011 and it was not good and then I kinda dropped it again. One of my favourite things I have read is that in order to get good at something you have to be OK with being bad at it. And I was.”

It wasn’t until about three years ago that she started painting portraits as she had continued to dabble in art throughout the years, figuring out how to use oils and teaching herself colour values.

“And then about four months ago I was doing a portrait and I was so fed up with it,” Kolbuc said.

“I felt I just wasn’t going anywhere with it.”

She had to get out of her head.

“So my husband said ‘paint me a monkey and I’ll buy it from you’,” Kolbuc said.

“And I said ‘I can’t paint animals, I’ve never done that!’

She paused for a second and took a breath.

“It was a good monkey,” Kolbuc said softly.

“And I was so shocked. I could not believe I did it.”

Kolbuc had created the painting in about three hours and when she posted it on social media somebody wanted it immediately.

The tradeoff was that Simon, Kolbuc’s husband, said she could sell the

monkey if she then painted him a pig, which now graces the wall of his office –even though people who saw it wanted that one, too.

“Then I painted a cow and somebody wanted that,” Kolbuc recalled. “That’s when I decided to start a page called Oils by Brittany to see where it would go and since then I have been doing non-stop commissions. It’s pretty crazy.”

Kolbuc’s latest piece is a lighthouse. It echoes another of her works she did recently of the Northern Lights over a teepee, in honour of her First Nations heritage.

“But this one is just for me,” Kolbuc smiled.

More of Kolbuc’s work can be seen on social media. Check out Oils By Britt on Instagram and Oils by Brittany on Facebook.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

Artist Brittany Kolbuc infuses her work with extraordinary colour, like her painting of a rooster.

Family fun in the sun at Community Arts Days

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff

BMO Community Arts Days at Canada Games Plaza and Two Rivers Gallery was in full swing in the sunshine Friday, July 12 and Saturday, July 13.

The free event encouraged many arts and crafts creations with local partners including a whole host of live entertainers, workshops, community group information booths and food trucks.

The Central Interior Railway Museum had their Cottonwood Mini Rail in full operation and the fire department had a touch-a-truck event alongside the train.

Mom Randi Denicola and grandmother Kathy Denicola brought Randi’s two kids, Felix, 1, and Macy, 3, along with friend Liam, 3, down to the event where Macy and Liam fearlessly went into the oobleck walk and dared to go on a bare-footed adventure across the cornstarch-and-water concoction.

The family made a stop at Mask Mania

where Grandma Kathy helped Macy with her art project.

“The kids really like the open-ended craft time where they can explore which allows them to do what they want,” Randi said.

“I think it’s important to experience new activities and to have fun at a community event and to have exposure to different things that we don’t usually get to experience at home.”

Families enjoyed creating crazy hats, construct paper rockets to launch, paint with the help of the giant spinner, make a paper bag animal, or create their own coffee grounds fossil with REAPS, finger paint with a friend, or visit Huble Homestead for some candy and crafts.

There were also several food trucks as well as the popular artist-painted ping pong table and dancing.

“There’s a little bit of everything –the food, the activities, the information booths, the music – it’s been so much fun,” Randi said.

Youth invited to a day on the Nechako River

CITIZEN STAFF

The Rivershed Society of B.C. is inviting area young people to a day of canoeing on the Nechako River near Vanderhoof.

Paddlers ages 13 to 25 are welcome on Aug. 10. The free event, located in the traditional territory of the Saik’uz First Nation near Vanderhoof, is described as “a unique opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors while learning from environmental experts” in a press release.

“Whether you’re passionate about the environment, interested in exploring new career paths, or simply looking to enjoy a day outdoors, this event is perfect for you,” states the release.

No previous paddling experience is necessary.

Rivershed will provide all necessary equipment and guidance to ensure a

The Rivershed Society of B.C. is inviting paddlers 13 to 25 to a day on the Nechako River Aug. 15.

safe and enjoyable experience.

For more information or to register, visit rivershed.com/connect/ nechako-youth-paddle/

Saturday, July 20, 2024

CITIZEN STAFF

Mom Randi Denicola with her two kids, Felix, 1, Macy, 3, bottom right, along with grandmother Kathy Denicola and family friend Liam, 3, in the middle were at BMO Community Arts Days.

Dedicated Studio 2880 employee receives a new set of wheels thanks to community generosity

Site C reservoir filling begins late this summer

As part of the completion of the Site C project, we plan to begin filling the reservoir between Fort St. John and Hudson’s Hope in late August 2024.

There will be permanent changes to the Peace River. Here’s what to expect:

○ Reservoir water levels will rise for up to four months, by 0.3 to three metres per day. The river will widen by two to three times on average.

○ The existing Halfway River boat launch will permanently close on August 12. New boat launches will be inaccessible until at least spring 2026 as BC Hydro monitors the surrounding slopes for safety.

○ Please stay off the reservoir and its tributaries, specifically the Halfway River, during filling and use extreme caution near the shoreline.

For more information visit SiteCproject.com/reservoir or call 1 877 217 0777

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff

The Community Arts Council of Prince George & District, which operates Studio 2880, has a custodian and event assistant who relies on his bike to get to and from work.

However, Johnathan Model, who got the job at the local arts council through an employment partnership with AiMHi, hasn’t had a working bike for quite some time.

A staff member at Studio 2880 reached out Tuesday to Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty, who immediately went into his garage to get his own bike.

“But my wife reminded me that I had donated my bike to someone last year that had a similar issue,” Doherty said.

“So I went to Canadian Tire and everyone knows how great owner Selen Alpay and manager Dave (Shuvera) are,” Doherty said.

“I ran into Dave and told him what the issue was and that I was picking up a bike and I asked if Canadian Tire wanted to partner with me and he said don’t worry about it. So we picked out a bike and a helmet and a lock and presented it to John who is so worthy and does incredible work.”

Doherty gives all the credit for the new bike to Canadian Tire’s generosity.

“Once again Selen Alpay and manager Dave came to the aid of community and that’s incredible,” Doherty said.

There are many special members of the Studio 2880 community and the arts is always about diversity and is open to people of all walks of life, said Eli Klasner, executive director of the Community Arts Council.

“The CAC has had a wonderful relationship with AiMHi over the years, providing employment services for their clients who come to work with us and John’s been part of the family for the last six or seven years now and he’s one of the most kind, hard-working people that goes out of his way to do extra, never complains and always wants to

be part of the events we’re doing.”

And when it comes to doing the hard work of cleanup at Studio 2880, Klasner said Johnathan is always there to help out.

“When we realized that John’s only reliable mode of transportation that allows freedom and flexibility wasn’t available any more we knew we had to do something – it’s not fair,” Klasner said.

“John doesn’t drive, public transportation is what it is in the community but John should have the flexibility and versatility that we all take for granted. When we want to go some place we just get in our cars and go and here’s a very special person who is interested in helping out and working and making contributions to the community so that’s why it was really important for us to reach out to Todd Doherty and ask him what he thought we could do to help this person to give him the lift up, the helping hand he needed, where he can continue to enjoy his life and be a contributing member of society.”

Johnathan’s old bike was worn out and kept breaking down on the way to work.

It would take about an hour to walk to work, so he’s very grateful for the new one.

“I was happy with it,” Johnathan said, who cleans Studio 2880 and helps with setup and takedown for special events.

“It cuts down on costs, too, so I’ll be using that money on more dog food.”

Johnathan has had a shih tzu named Princess since she was a puppy. She’s about five years old now.

Over the years there have been many occasions where Johnathan got a little help from his coworkers, like taxis home when his bike broke down, or that time he got sick and an arts council guild member drove him home. And then there was that time when a delicious pancake breakfast found its way into his hands. All are appreciated, he said.

“They feel like family to me,” Johnathan said.

Johnathan Model, right, gets a brand new bike from MP Todd Doherty in partnership with Canadian Tire owner Selen Alpay and manager Dave Shuvera.

Beating the heat with a splash

Valentino Paez, 5, and his twoyear-old sister Domenica, take advantage of the sunshine and 30 C conditions Wednesday, July 10 to cool off under the jets at Roteract Waterspray Park at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park. The kids moved to Prince George a month ago with their parents from Chile. The first half of July saw extreme heat across B.C., prompting heat warnings that saw people looking for ways to stay cool.

John A. Brink releases Living Young, Dying Old

CITIZEN STAFF

Entrepreneur, author, podcast host and bodybuilder John A. Brink of Prince George has announced the release of his fourth book, Living Young Dying Old.

The book focuses on health, fitness, wellness, and longevity, providing readers with the tools and motivation to live a vibrant and fulfilling life at any age. Brink, the founder and CEO of the Brink Group of Companies, has long been an advocate of health and fitness.

He’s 83 and continues, as a competitive bodybuilder, to show that “age is more of a mindset than a number and that it is possible to maintain peak

physical condition and mental sharpness throughout life,” states a press release.

“I wrote this book to empower people to live their best lives, regardless of their age,” he said.

“Health and wellness are not just for the young; they are for everyone. Living Young Dying Old is a roadmap to achieving and maintaining a high quality of life, especially during the later years where people typically slow down.”

The book covers a wide range of topics, including nutrition, exercise, mental health, and lifestyle choices.

Living Young Dying Old is available for purchase at Books and Company in Prince George.

Enjoy a summer filled with the unexpected during public library’s reading programs

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen staff

There’s a whole World of Curiosities to be explored at the Prince George Public Library this summer.

It’s a reading program suited for any age but it’s not what one might expect.

The adult reading program challenges people to read a book with a troll, a unicorn or an alien in its pages, go into the teen section and grab a graphic novel or even make a meal inspired by something you’ve read. They even want you to read something from the year or decade of your birth – ancient history for some.

Under “Community” the challenge is to attend a local event, visit a park, a thrift shop, a local business, or volunteer your time to a favourite cause. For activities you can write a poem, learn three words in a different language, cloud watch or go for a hike. See? Not your average library activities.

In “Mysteries” you’re asked to read a paperback, a graphic novel, play a mystery game or read a mystery featuring a ghost.

For “Art & Music” read a biography of an artist or musician, read a play or a book of poetry, watch a documentary about an artist or musician or read a manga. You can even listen to an album of music in a genre you wouldn’t usually go for.

“Creating the program was definitely a collaborative effort,” Victoria Ellis, program coordinator at the Prince George Public Library, said. “Elizabeth Hannah, library assistant, worked really hard on the adult summer challenge and I think she did a great job. We always try to be creative with the programs and try to come up with new things for people to enjoy and yes, we’re a library and obviously we have books but we also have so much more to offer.”

Different challenges are encouraged including outdoor adventures like rockhounding or creative like writing a poem. It’s all about a trying something new.

“And maybe something out of their wheelhouse,” Ellis said. “We’re asking people to move away from their usual genres and try something new because it’s really easy to stay in your lane sometimes and it’s good to shake things up a little.”

Tens to Teens have more of the same but there are more visits to the library for fun events on the schedule and weekly challenges are included in each theme.

There’s Depths of the Earth that asks people to go to the river and build a tower of rocks and skip a rock on the river, read a time traveling book, make an art piece of only natural materials and send a photo of it.

Precious Mysteries is another weekly challenge and asks youth to share what kind of magical power they’d like to have and why, learn how to greet someone in another language, read a mystery book, discover a mystery and try to solve it.

Natural Curiosities ask youth to plant a seed, hose a theme family picnic or try a new outdoor hobby, write a poem based on a favourite spot to hang out in Prince Geroge, while Works of Art challenges youth to visit an art gallery, try a new kind of craft, write a piece of fan fiction based on a favourite book, create a sculpture or find a new recipe to try, draw a self portrait or go screen-free for 24 hours. Other weekly themes include

Beyond Our World and Collections and Memories.

For children ages five to nine there is the Summer Reading Program where there are weekly activities to attend at the library, like an all-ages magic show, checking out the Discovery Series, doing the Story Walk at Masich Place Stadium. Lego Time and Paws 4 Stories where children a bit reluctant to read aloud can read to a four-legged friend instead, attend a Bear Aware chat or play Games in the Garden, take part in Pajama Story Time or attend the Touch a Truck and children are encouraged to read throughout the summer.

“The over-arching theme is a World of Curiosities and each week there is a something different and we have activities to get people up and moving and in the library to enjoy a variety of activities,” Ellis said.

For all your efforts you are rewarded with a chance to win gift certificates to local businesses. Each challenge met gets a ballot into the draw for prizes.

During last year’s program there were 488 people who participated in the Adult Summer Challenge, for the Tens to Teens program there were 618 ballots entered for prize draws and in the children’s summer reading club there were 750 reading records distributed.

For more information visit www. summer-reading-program-brochures.

And to see the tasks for adults visit www.adult-summer-challenge-2024, for tens to teens visit www.pgpl.ca/ tens-teens-summer-challenge-2024 and for children visit www.pgpl.ca/ bc-summer-reading-club-2024

On top of all that the library has activity kits that are available for the public to check out with their library card.

The list includes the beginner ukelele kit, bicycle tool set kit, a birdwatching backpack, the Celestron travel telescope 70, Chromebooks, hiking backpack, and a Singer sewing kit.

“We have a lot of cool stuff here,” Ellis said.

For more information visit www.pgpl. ca.

GEORGE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Prince George Library Adult Summer Reading Program booklet offers a World of Curiosities to those who would like a little adventure in their lives.

Throwback Thursday: Week of July 18

July 19, 1976: Myra Dryden on Buckles opens a gate during the trail horse competition at the Prince George and District Saddle Club Youth Show. A mock riding trail was set up in the livestock area at the exhibition grounds and horses were expected to pass through gates, cross bridges and follow other markings. Citizen file photo

July 18, 1990: The Citizen had fun with this front-page photo, explaining: “A summer day, kids running a lemonade stand, and it’s amazing. From left, Jory Downie, 3, Shandy the collie, Alisha Downie, 6, and Daniel Caston, 5, are learning the basics of business at 10 cents a glass as they offer cool relief on Hemlock Street. They’ll learn about the government all too soon, as they had collected $1.50 before our photographer stopped by.” Citizen file photo by Brock Gable

July 19, 1965: Honours for having the “wildest” delivery in the weekend senior women’s fastball tournament went to Shirley Chapelle, regular third-sacker for Fort St. John. She was called on in the late going when pitching star Shirley Tipton tired. Lotus Inn defeated Fort St. John in the final. This photo ran on the front page of that day’s paper, with a note to see the story inside. Citizen file photo

July 18, 2008: Faces of the future: Children from the Community Arts Council’s summer day camp of the arts make their funniest faces on the stage at the Prince George Playhouse. The group was taking a tour of the facility. Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

Healthy North

End of life care

Stefanie Coutu, a Mental Health and Substance Use Clinician and an End-of-Life Guide (Doula), shares her thoughts on end-of-life care. Read this and many other NH Stories here: stories.northernhealth.ca/stories/end-life-guidesperspectives-advance-care-planning.

Heat Preparedness

Keeping your home cool during extreme heat can be a challenge, but there are steps you can take to lessen the severity:

• Switch off all unused appliances to reduce indoor “waste heat”.

• Arrange air conditioning and fans to help keep your home cool.

• Block out the sun with shading devices like shutters, awnings, blinds, and heatresistant curtains.

• Consider installing windows that reduce heat gain from the sun.

• Use temperature and humidity monitors and controls to monitor the environment in your home.

For more information on heat preparedness visit Bccdc.ca/health-info/ prevention-public-health/preparing-for-heat-events

HealthElife is a digital tool that gives you 24/7 secure online access to your electronic health record from any computer, tablet, or smartphone. You can also access the information and services of any adult, child, or elderly family member you may be supporting in care. Learn how to register here: northernhealth.ca/healthelife.

Visiting students enjoyAdventures in Healthcare

BYRON STEWART Northern Health

Health care offers a broad range of career opportunities, many of which are not well known, particularly to high school students. Adventures in Healthcare helps Grade 10 and 11 students explore health care careers, showing them what day-to-day working life looks like and which educational paths to follow.

Students sitting at t black desk practicing their scalpel skills on vegetables. On the UNBC/NLC Campus in Fort St. John, students participated in a variety of nursing activities, including safely practicing their scalpel skills on vegetables.

It’s currently offered in Prince George, Terrace/Kitimat, and the Peace Region. The Peace Region’s program took place May 13-15, with 36 students from Fort St. John and Dawson Creek attending (18 from each city). The students learned about educational pathways to careers in health care and spoke with people from local post-secondary institutions who can help and support them on their journeys.

Adventures in Healthcare is a Rotary initiative featuring partnerships with the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), Northern Lights College (NLC), Northern Health, School District 59 (South Peace), School District 60 (North Peace), the Rotary Club of Fort St. John, and the Rotary Club of Fort St. John - Sunrise.

The program featured a variety of settings where the students were welcome to observe, learn, participate, ask questions – and enjoy!

Four students being shown a

preserved piece of a human lung in a jar. Eewww! At the Multifunction Lab at Fort St. John Hospital, students were shown a preserved piece of human lung.

Day 1: The students spent the morning at the Fort St. John campus of UNBC/NLC, where they were introduced to the Northern Baccalaureate Nursing program and participated in a variety of activities in the nursing lab. In the afternoon, they learned about the wide variety of roles and career paths available in the field of social work.

Day 2: The students spent the morning in the Health Sciences Building at the NLC’s Dawson Creek campus, where they learned about two health programs, Health Care Assistant and

Practical Nursing. In the afternoon, they attended presentations on the construction of the new Dawson Creek & District Hospital and on supports for addiction and mental health in the Peace Region. Finally, they toured Rotary Manor, a long-term care facility in Dawson Creek.

Dr. Sairvan Fernandes presented to students. Dr. Sairvan Fernandes, Site Lead Resident, presented to the students on the UBC Family Practice Residency Program.

Day 3: This day focused on Fort St. John Hospital. In the morning, the students visited UBC’s Faculty of Medicine, the Multifunction Lab, Medical Imaging, the Emergency Department (including the Clinical Decision Unit and Intensive Care Unit), and the Peace Villa long-term

Coralee Oakes

care facility. In the afternoon, they visited the Inpatient Unit, Physio/Occupational Therapy, Surgical Services, and the Birthing Centre.

From homework to health care, Adventures in Healthcare aims to support and encourage students to choose a pathway towards health care … and hopefully, to return to practice their careers in our Northern communities! Group of students wearing yellow gowns and blue booties. Gowns and booties? Check! Appropriately garbed students toured the Surgical Services Department at Fort St. John Hospital Lunches were provided by UNBC, NLC and the City of Fort St. John, and breakfasts by Dan Davies, MLA, Peace River North Constituency Office.

High school students visiting the Dawson Creek campus of Northern Lights College

Creative ideas flow at Showers and Flowers

CARLY PHINNEY Northern Health

It’s not every day that I get to do the two-step at work, but when I do, I’m glad it means that patients, families, and staff are getting involved in quality improvement!

Earnest Gregoras sitting with a blanket hanging over his shoulders wearing a sun hat Resident Earnest Gregorash enjoys the festivities.

On May 2, I had the great pleasure of joining the University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC) Short Stay Medical Unit (SSMU) team at their Showers and Flowers event where a fizzy water tasting station had participants upping their hydration game.

Improving hydration can be a challenge in acute and long-term care, but it’s vital in preventing and reducing hospital-acquired urinary tract infections. Patients, families, staff, and physicians alike had fun sipping and guessing the

flavours, while also being asked for their creative ideas for how the SSMU team could improve hydration for their patients.

Because seeds and plants need hydration just like people, this event also featured a seed-starting party. Patients were able to get their hands (and in some cases their laps and feet) dirty

Let’s Fix Health Care.

while planting seeds that will eventually grow into flowers and vegetables to fill the SSMU patio garden boxes. The sun was shining, oldies tunes drifted through the air, folks (including me!) were dancing, and everyone was having fun!

Residents sit enjoying refreshments

Residents of the Short Stay Medical Unit

planted seedlings and sipped flavoured bubbly water.

This creative event was part of a quality improvement program that’s aiming to reduce the harms that sometimes happen when people are in hospital, such as dehydration. It was the brainchild of Brian Richards, Shelby Rud, and Christine Platsko – all members of the Specialized Older Adult Services team and unit leadership for the SSMU at UHNBC.

I want to thank them for their willingness to step outside the implementation box with me.

Together we proved that good ideas flow when fun is happening!

Carly Phinney started her career with Northern Health as a Registered Dietitian. After years of touching lives through direct patient care, Carly decided to explore new interests and a new career avenue with the Northern Health Quality & Innovation Team. Nowadays you can find Carly supporting quality improvement

Tips for coping with the stress of wildfires

NORTHERN HEALTH

Smoke, evacuations, loss, worry –B.C.’s wildfires affect us all. If you are feeling stressed or anxious, you are not alone.

The fear of having to flee your home, leave possessions behind and relocate can cause distress, fear and anxiety for you and your loved ones.

Even the prospect of living with smoky skies during wildfire season can cause distress.

Prepare yourself and your family: Having a clear emergency plan and kit ready for your family, pets and livestock can ease your mind and allow you to focus on other needs.

Visit PreparedBC for resources to help you understand the hazards in your location and then build a family emergency plan.

Take care of the basics: Stress takes a toll on our physical and mental health.

Try to eat well and get enough sleep. Be kind to yourself. Give and accept support. Follow your daily routine. Take a break from disaster news coverage and from thinking and talking about disaster events.

Ask for help: Whether it’s with family, friends, a doctor or a counsellor –talking helps. Crisis lines are available to listen and help anytime – not just during a crisis. People with moderate to severe symptoms that last more than two to four weeks should consult a family physician, if available. Otherwise, reach out to your nearest NH Mental Health Community Program.

Help others: Check in on older people and children. Coping may be more difficult for older adults living alone, those with mental health challenges, or those with few social supports. Reaching out to connect with them can be a big help. Visit gov.bc.ca/naturaldisasterhealth for more resources.

NORTHERN HEALTH PHOTO

Brian Richards, NH Elderly Services Clinician, mans the hydration station at the Showers and Flowers event.

Kodiaks: Faster, smarter and more aggressive

Sawyer Thiessen had his eyes opened last season playing U SPORTS football with the University of Manitoba Bisons.

As a second-string quarterback who started one game for the Bisons and played in one other, Thiessen saw firsthand what it’s like to play in a league known for developing future pros in the Canadian Football League.

“It was one of those things where everybody knows what they’re doing and everybody’s the best at what they do coming from high school,” said Thiessen, 21. “The game is faster and things are a bit more complex and if you follow your roles most likely you’re going to come out on top.

“My teammates there really helped me along and it was a really fun time and I look forward now to my journey in the B.C. junior league. I’ve heard a lot of good competition is coming out of here and I look forward to helping my team compete to win.”

Fast-forward to this year and Thiessen is set to begin his career in the B.C. Football Conference, playing for the Prince George Kodiaks.

This Saturday night the six-foot-three, 205-pound native of Mitchell, Man., will lead the Prince George Kodiaks into their third season when they host the Vancouver Island Raiders in their firstever visit to Masich Place Stadium (6 p.m. start).

Thiessen came to Prince George for the Kodiaks’ spring camp in May and has already gotten to know his new teammates well, living in the city with his billet family since mid-June. He’s confident his team of 17-to-22-year-olds will endear itself to Kodiaks fans as a cohesive group that will challenge for a playoff spot in the seven-team B.C. Football Conference.

“This team has a lot going for them,

Prince George Kodiaks quarterback Sawyer Thiessen, 21, practises with the team Thursday, July 11. Thiessen told The Citizen he’s ready for the rejuvenated team to have a successful season.

they’ve got a lot of heart and they have good coaches behind them, coaching them up,” said Thiessen. “We have a core group that can really propel this team forward.

“It’s going to be pretty cool to see how we grow as a unit on offence and then to see the defence thrive under Coach (Jamie) Boreham,” he said. “Spring camp went smooth and got the units clicking and now, in training camp, we’re just correcting the little things. It’s about the details and we’re looking forward to showing what we’ve got on Saturday and impressing the fans.”

Thiessen started playing football at age 7 and went through the ranks in minor football with the Eastman Raiders, gravitating to the Winnipeg high school league with Steinbach Regional Secondary School.

In his Grade 9 year the team moved up from double-A to triple-A and they

took their lumps, but by his Grade 11 year the Sabres won the regular season title and were playoff semifinalists. His Grade 12 season (2021) was cancelled by the pandemic.

“We had a pretty good team over there,” he said.

Former Saskatchewan Roughriders fullback Chris Szarka is the Kodiaks’ new offensive coordinator.

Thiessen says it’s been fun learning Szarka’s playbook to get on the same page.

“As a quarterback, he plays the game through me, and so if I understand what he wants from me and what he sees on a certain play then we’re going to do well as a unit, he and I,” said Thiessen. Quarterbacks Sam Sabine (Calgary) and Quinn Neukomm (Duchess Park Secondary) will start the season as the backups to Thiessen.

Six-foot-seven PG native Cayle Cowley

and transplanted Brit Jordan Brady-Williams, who stands six-foot-three, are the twin towers at receiver. Carson Briere, a 21-year-old Duchess Park grad, is also having a good camp.

“We’ve got great hands, we’ve got some height and we’ve got some speed,” Thiessen said. “We’re going to get them the ball and they’re going to showcase the talent they have and I’m looking forward to witnessing that from behind the pocket.”

The Kodiaks roster lists 91 players, 24 of whom are former Prince George high school players.

Boreham is in his second season as head coach and director of football operations and he says the team is much better organized and ready for football than last year’s team that went 2-8.

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

Dan De Palma joins Team Canada coaching staff

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

Hockey Canada’s announcement on Friday, July 12 confirmed it. Dan De Palma is going on an all-expense-paid trip to Edmonton.

But this is no vacation.

The 52-year-old Prince George native has been named to the coaching staff as goaltending consultant for Team Canada at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, May 5-10, 2025 in the Alberta capital.

Just a couple of months ago, De Palma got to hoist the trophy in Finland after Canada’s gold-medal win at the IIHF Under-18 World Championship.

“It’s a cheaper trip than the last time,” laughed De Palma. “It’s pretty cool, actually, I’m excited.”

The national team obviously likes what De Palma has accomplished in his 18 seasons as a goaltending coach in the Western Hockey League, a position he held for three years with the Prince George Cougars before he migrated south to the Kamloops Blazers. He’s heading into his 16th season with the Blazers.

He got into coaching young kids in Kamloops and in 2006 he started working with the Cougars in Prince George, where he helped Real Cyr and company get to the WHL conference final that season.

ship trophy.

Canada’s undefeated 7-0 run to U-18 gold in May was in jeopardy in the final when the Canadians fell behind 3-2 heading into the third period. But they took advantage of a five-minute power play to score three late-game goals to cap a 6-4 win over the United States.

“It’s always a tricky tournament for Canada to win because you just don’t always get the players you’d like to get with the CHL playoffs going on,” said De Palma.

“The brass felt it was a pretty good team and we found a way. We were on the ropes in the final, down 3-2 and the score flattered us. Our goalie (Carter

George of the Owen Sound Attack) kept us in it for a long stretch, he was unreal, and then we got three goals in that five-minute major.”

De Palma will get a championship ring for his role as a coach.

He gets his turn next week to show off the IIHF U-18 World Championship cup and made plans to bring it to Prince George to give his friends and family and some time with the trophy.

“It makes you think, you’ve got roots in P.G. and it makes you think about a ton of your childhood, playing street hockey with your friends and always playing for the Canada Cup or Stanley Cup either for Team Canada or your favourite team,” he said.

“It brought back a ton of memories. It just reminds you of your humble beginnings and where you all started in life and in the sport. I just feel pretty lucky they even asked me to do, let alone win it all.”

De Palma grew up in the Seymour subdivision and graduated from Duchess Park Secondary School in 1989. He had a chance to play junior hockey as a goalie but knew his own goaltending abilities weren’t going to lead to a professional playing career.

“I just decided I was better at school than I was at hockey,” he said.

He studied economics at UBC and got a job soon after he graduated at Arrow

Transportation Systems, where he now works in Kamloops as director of marketing and business development.

With the eight-team Hlinka-Gretzky Cup tournament set for Edmonton, there’s a chance the Great One himself might make the trip back to his old stomping grounds. If Gretzky is there, De Palma won’t be shy about introducing himself.

“I’ve never met him, it would be pretty special to meet him, I’m hoping he is there,” he said.

Featuring mostly 2007-born players, Canada’s roster will be announced next week and Medicine Hat Tigers centre Gavin McKenna will certainly be on it.

As a 16-year-old the Whitehorse native broke the all-time record for points at U-18 worlds with 20, including 10 goals, and in the final against the U.S. he had three goals and an assist.

“He’s just a special player, he’s real talented and just has a unique sense for the game and space and it’s pretty neat to have him on your team,” said De Palma.

“There’s 21 other (WHL) teams that wish he was on their team, for sure.”

Kris Mallette of the Kelowna Rockets was named head coach of the Hlinka-Gretzky team.

Canada opens against Switzerland Aug. 6. The medal-round games are on Aug. 10.

Fans can expect a fast and physical game: Coach

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

He’s had a full off-season to put his stamp on the team and get to know his players and says the team on the field will be much improved as a result.

“We’re going to be faster, we’re going to be smarter and we’re going to be more aggressive, all good things that should result in some better football on the field,” said Boreham.

“You’re going to see fast, you’re going to see physical and you’re going to see a defence getting on the football causing turnovers and making problems for the other team. Hopefully that sets us up to win field position and put our offence

into an advantage position that puts points on the board.

“It’s not a hope. We’re better than last year.”

Thiessen will be handing the ball to Gavin Halvorson (Sylvan Lake, Alta), a 20-year-old who was with the Okanagan Sun part of last season, and Weyburn, Sask., product Xander Shane.

Boreham says his ‘backs will benefit from a shored-up offensive line that struggled to find consistency last season.

“We have Connor Sherlock from last year, he’s authoritative, a pretty solid leader,” said Boreham.

Returning Kodiaks safety Colter

Cannon (Airdrie, Alta) missed the first week of practice but he’s healthy again and has emerged as a captain on defence. Yorkton, Sask., recruit Aidan Leslie is another one to watch at defensive back.

On the defensive line, Jason Kragt (Hixon, PGSS) has a better understanding of the game, according to Boreham, and it shows in his anticipation and how he reacts to the snap, while defensive lineman J.J. Aboagye, a sixfoot-three, 265-pound native of London, England, brings intensity and BCFC experience from the Westshore Rebels. The Kodiaks lacked a sack attack last year and that cost them a few games

but they have since addressed their deficiencies.

“We were brutal,” was Boreham’s blunt assessment. “We’re creating more havoc, for sure, but we’re also being more sound. We’re faster. J.J. and Kragt, those two guys can move, so they’re going hunt down a quarterback.

“(Former College Heights linebacker) Nick Tremblay has taken some steps in leadership. He’s better at his job this year and he’s been a consistent piece of the puzzle so far. Practice is getting testy a little bit and that’s nice. We’re practicing to the pace to have these guys ornery and wanting to take something out on somebody else.”

Prince George native Dan De Palma holds the IIHF U-18 World champion-

Prince George hosts U15 girls’ fastball provincials

ABOVE: Prince George Panthers catcher Ava-May Rivard beats the throw to Penticton Power-Smith first baseman Maddie Bystesveld Saturday during their game at Ron Wiley Stadium.

BELOW: Prince George Panthers’ Rivard bunts during the team’s game against the Penticton Power-Smith Saturday.

Young fastball players from across B.C. were in Prince George last weekend for the U15 Girls Fastball Provincials at Ron Wiley Stadium and Freeman Park.

Citizen photos by Chuck Nisbett

Prince George Panthers’ Rivard slides into home as Penticton Power-Smith catcher Matlea Tenisci leaps for

ABOVE: Penticton Power-Smith right fielder Samera Gabnol swings hard at a pitch.

BELOW:

the ball.

‘Snack’ Nachbaur hired to coach Wenatchee Wild

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

The guy they call “Snack” is back behind the bench in the Western Hockey League.

The Wenatchee Wild announced Thursday, July 11 that they have hired former Prince George resident Don Nachbaur as head coach, replacing Roy Sommer.

Nachbaur, 65, has been a WHL head coach for 19 years.

He won the league’s Dunc McCallum Award as coach of the year three times, with Seattle Thunderbirds (1995), Tri-City Americans (2008) and Spokane Chiefs (2011).

His 692 wins ran third all-time in the WHL behind Don Hay (750) and Ken Hodge (743).

Nachbaur was born in Kitimat and grew up in Prince George, where he played minor hockey before he left to begin his junior career as a high-scoring centre with the Merritt Centennials and Billings Bighorns. The Hartford Whalers drafted him into the NHL in 1979 as their third-round, 60th overall pick. He played 234 NHL games and had 24 goals, 71 points and 456 penalty minutes.

After a 16-year pro career that included NHL stops in Hartford, Edmonton and Philadelphia and a fouryear stint in Austria, Nachbaur retired in 1994 and began his WHL coaching career that year as head coach of the Seattle Thunderbirds.

was introduced Thursday as head coach of the WHL’s Wenatchee Wild.

Six successful years in Seattle led to him being hired as an assistant with the Flyers’ AHL affiliate.

He also served six years as head coach of the Tri-City Americans and spent one year as head coach of the AHL Binghampton Senators before returning to the WHL to take over the Chiefs’ bench in 2010.

“When speaking to some WHL general managers, you hear a lot of the same

things being said about Don Nachbaur,” said Wild general manager Bliss Littler, on whl.ca. “He is the best, or one of the best, head coaches they have ever worked with.

“Besides being a tireless teacher, Don prides himself on helping to make the player a better person and a better hockey player who is ready for the next level when his WHL career is over. With Don, you get a head coach who

understands that everything matters when you’re a WHL head coach – that includes practice, to the strength coaching and off-ice workouts, to the education advisor making sure the players are working hard in the classroom, to working with the housing coordinator and billets to make sure the players are being looked after.

“Don is a head coach who will hold the players and staff accountable to being the best version of themselves every day.”

He coached the Chiefs for seven seasons before he went to Europe to coach in Slovakia and Switzerland. Nachbaur was then hired as an NHL assistant with the Los Angeles Kings in 2017 and was with the Kings for 1 ½ seasons. He then joined the Calgary Flames in 2021 as an AHL assistant with the  Stockton Heat (2021-22) and Calgary Wranglers (2022-24).

The Wild is heading into its second offseason in the WHL, having moved to Washington state last summer from Winnipeg.

The team finished fourth in the Western Conference with a 30-34-4-0 record and lost a six-game, first-round playoff series to Kelowna.

“I am very excited to be a member of the Wenatchee community and looking forward to working with Bliss, the players, and staff,” said Nachbaur.

“Our fans will be proud of the commitment we make toward being a hardworking, competitive and entertaining team.”

Ewert makes Paralympic wheelchair rugby team

CITIZEN STAFF

Prince George’s Joel Ewert has made the team of 12 wheelchair rugby athletes who will represent Canada at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games this summer, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Wheelchair Rugby Canada has announced.

Ewert, who was born with cerebral palsy, completed a degree in biomedical studies at the University of Northern British Columbia and has been accepted

into UBC’s Northern Medical Program in Prince George.

He’s skilled at both wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby. He has been part of the national wheelchair rugby team since 2017.

Ewert started playing wheelchair rugby after catching the eye of rugby coaches while competing for Team BC

at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in wheelchair basketball.

He was a Team Canada member at the last-chance wheelchair rugby Paralympic Games qualifying event in April 2024 at which Canada took the silver to book its ticket for Paris.

He was a Team Canada member at 2023 Men’s U23 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship and competed at three Canada Winter Games in for Team B.C.

The team includes nine returning

members from Tokyo 2020. All five veteran players are Paralympic medallists. Canada’s last podium finish at the Games was a silver in 2012.

At the Tokyo Paralympic Games, Canada finished fifth, a result it matched a year later at the 2022 world championships.

This roster also recently was sixth at a very tightly contested Canada Cup in Richmond, BC, a pre-Games tournament that brings together the top countries in the world.

CALGARY WRANGLERS PHOTO

Former Prince George resident Don Nachbaur, shown coaching the AHL Calgary Wranglers,

Ewert

Cyclists pass through Prince George on 70-day, 4,000-mile charity ride from Texas to Alaska

CLARKE Citizen staff

They build bike riders tough in Texas.

Take for example, Ian Denning, one of the 78 Texas 4000 cyclists from the University of Texas raising money for cancer research and support services on a two-month trip from Austin, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska.

Denning was 22 days into his 70-day ride on the Sierra Route, heading through wine country in California’s Napa Valley when he was swallowed by a pothole.

Travelling downhill at about 60 kilometres per hour, he hit a patch of gravel and wiped out, landing hard on his shoulder.

Denning, a former junior hockey defenceman from Houston who played in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for the Waywayseecappo Wolverines, is used to throwing his weight around and sacrificing his body to stop pucks coming at high velocity.

Luckily for him the only thing that broke on impact with that California road was his helmet.

“I was really lucky, the way I landed I just rolled and my helmet hit my head and my first thought I have to buy a new helmet but that was a good problem to have, I’ll be alright,” said Denning, who rode in from Quesnel Thursday, July 11 for a Prince George pit stop, where his group of 25 Sierra riders met up with 26 cyclists following the Rockies Route on their trek to Alaska.

Denning, 26, a public health/government major at the University of Texas, still has a bit of road rash but was otherwise unscathed.

After a rest day he was to be back on his bike Saturday, July 13 on the way to Vanderhoof.

His group expected to be in Dease Lake by Friday and they plan to meet up with the Rockies riders in Whitehorse on July 23.

From there, they’ll have 10 days left to get to Anchorage for the end of their

trip on Aug. 2.

The Rockies riders, who rode in Wednesday from Purden Lake, left Prince George Friday, July 12, bound for Vanderhoof.

They left Austin on May 25 and have been averaging about 140 kilometres per day.

There’s also a group on the Ozarks Route traveling across Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. to connect to the Alaska Highway

Rockies Route rider Krishi Manem, a

21-year-old native of Chicago who lives in Dallas, was blown away by the mountain scenery in Banff and Jasper national parks and he also had good things to say about Prince George hospitality and the warm reception they received from the locals.

The weather so far for the Canadian tour stops has been just about perfect – warm and sunny, with no tornado warnings or 42 C heat indexes like they encountered early on in Texas.

“Every five or 10 miles we had to stop

and drink a whole bottle of water to keep us hydrated, those days were the toughest, weather-wise,” said Manem, a neuroscience major heading into his senior year at UT-Austin.

“We climbed up Pikes Peak (in Colorado) a couple weeks ago and it felt so rewarding to do the whole thing. We did 13 miles and started at 9,000 feet and climbed 5,000 feet. The hardest part about that isn’t the climb, it’s the altitude change. Once you get above 12,000 feet the air is super thin.”

Sarah Brager, 21, a journalism sophomore, grew up in Buda, Texas.

She says they don’t have the luxury of having a massage therapist to work the kinks of their tired muscles by the end of the day but the support van that carries their camping gear has an electric muscle stimulator for a bit of therapy. They encountered a few rude drivers on some of the narrower roads earlier in the trip, but Brager has been impressed with the courtesy of passing motorists on her first trip through Alberta and B.C., where highway traffic is relatively light.

“I feel like the drivers are less aggressive here, they’re friendlier,” said Brager.

“It’s been absolutely gorgeous scenery, The Canadian Rockies have been lovely. I also liked Pikes’s Peak but my favourite ride was Banff to Jasper, our longest ride yet. We did 155 miles in one day. We woke up at 3 a.m. to get on the road as early as possible. It’s the most beautiful scenery.”

The 51 riders and their support teams who converged in Prince George had a hot meal waiting for them at First Baptist Church, cooked by volunteer Monica Peacock, and spent the night at the Ewert camp on Ness Lake.

The Texas 4000 first started in 2004 and its known as the longest annual charity bike ride.

Each rider was required to raise $4,500 US and most have exceeded that. The money is mostly targeted to communities that are underserved by cancer treatment services.

TED

RON GALLO PHOTO

Texas 4000 riders cruise along River Road to reach Prince George on Wednesday, July 10, Day 47 of a 4,000-mile trip from Austin, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska to raise money for cancer research and support services.

4. Tennis-game divisions

8. Deadly snakes

12. Mimic

PUZZLE NO. 983

13. Instrument for an angel

14. Kingly address

15. Storyteller

17. Be informed about

18. Shine

19. Category

21. Beef or pork

23. Angry

27. Supply weapons to

30. Agitate 32. TV host Leno 33. Enemy

Expel 39. Fasten again 41. Chops 44. President’s no 46. Rustic

50. Too 53. Everyday

55. Behind 56. Avails

57. Shark appendage

58. Town’s kin

Choir voice 36. Refreshing drink 37. Witches

59. Apartment fee

60. Price add-on

Explosion 2. Whitish gem

6. Harness racer: 2 wds.

7. Active

8. Inquisitive one

9. Preacher’s

In favor of

PUZZLE NO. 984

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.

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. ANSWER TO PUZZLE NO. 983

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

Life Events

Damien Charles Cahoon

August 26, 1980 - July 4th 2024

With great sadness we announce the passing of Damien Charles Cahoon. His passing was unexpected on July 4th 2024.

He was born August 26, 1980. Damien is survived by his loving mother Debbie Cahoon. His aunts and uncles, Cindy Treasure, Allan and Cheryl Cahoon, Mike and Susan Cahoon. His cousins, Cody and Kirsten Cahoon, Travis Cahoon, Alyx Treasure, Kirstyn and Andrew Richards, Katy and Connor Semple.

Damien was predeceased by his grandparents Glen and Shirley Cahoon. Damien was a kind and patient soul and will be missed and remembered by the many lives he touched.

Michael Francis Willier (Mikey) from Prince George, BC, passed away at the age of 45 on June 27, 2024. Mikey was born in Prince George to Cathy and Dwayne Willier Sr. He loved family, friends, music, and music festivals. He was a very proud father of his amazing daughter Marley Willier.

Mikey is survived by his daughter Marley Willier, his mother Cathy Willier, his brother Dwayne Willier, his sister Danielle Willier, and Marley’s mom Milissa Stankovic.

He is predeceased by his father Dwayne Willier Sr. and his sisters Wanda Willier, Charity Willier, and Samantha Patrick.

There will be a viewing on Friday July 19, 2024 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm at Assman’s Funeral Chapel, with a service to follow from 12:00-1:30pm. There will be a reception from 2:00-9:30 pm at the Elk’s Hall (663 Douglas Street).

Prince George

A Go Fund Me page has been created to help the family cover funeral costs.

In loving memory of,

Barry Robert McDermid, who passed away peacefully on May 2nd, 2024, after a courageous battle with dementia. Barry’s legacy is one of love for his family, generosity, and enduring friendships. He will forever be remembered for all the amazing times, he had with so many, owning, and operating Pine Valley Golf Course, playing baseball, logging for McDermid’s and Lofting and for being that gentle soul with a fierce love.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Barry on Monday August 5th, 2024, at 3:00pm at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club, where friends and family can gather to celebrate Barry’s remarkable life. It will be a time of shared memories, and a reflection of the profound impact he had on all who knew him.

In Loving Memory of Binnie, Rosemarie Rose passed away peacefully at University Hospital in Prince George, BC.

Born on October 29, 1934 in Makwa, Saskatchewan. Rose was predeceased by her husband Donald James Binnie who died on December 22, 2006. She is survived by her children Wesley James (Joanne), Jannette Marie (Jim), Allen Donald (Cathy), Eric James (Shelly) and many family and friends including her 6 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

She will be dearly missed by everybody she touched along her journey.

Celebration of life to be held on August 24, 2024 at 11:00am St Mary’s Parrish 1088 Gillett St. Prince George, BC

In Loving Memory of

Ty Janse

The Boy with a heart of Gold Sept 25, 2006 - July 22, 2023

I miss the sound of your voice Filling the silence of the house, The feel of your hug Shielding me from life’s worries. I miss watching you grow, Learning and laughing, Reaching milestones I yearn To be there again. I miss your smiles and silly jokes, The chatter of your day, The casual kisses goodbye That I took for granted then. Now regret floods in With every mile between us, The burden of longing Heavy on my heart.....

Loving and missing you everyday Mom, Brody, Grandma and Grandpa Janse

In Loving Memory

Lillian Poirier Feb 23, 1929 - July 9, 2020

Missing and loving our mother so much. Always thinking about you every day. Love forever, your loving daughter Mary, son-in-law Gerald and all the family.

Prince George’s locally owned funeral service. We offer personalized services to suit your family’s wishes and requirements. You can count on us to help you plan a personal, lasting tribute to your loved one.

Michael Francis Willier

Elsie Toll

December 20, 1931- July 11, 2024

It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of Elsie Toll.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the Alzheimer Society of Canada in Elsie’s memory.

Funeral mass to be held at St Joseph’s church Friday, July 19th at 11am Reception to follow at church hall.

Daryl Clifford Peters

Daryl passed away in Prince George on July 9, 2024 at the age of 63.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping. He loved his family.

He is survived by his wife Doris, son Mark Dyck, grandchildren Shaelynn (Kaleb), Ariana and Anthony, great-grandchild Grayson, sisters Sharon and Ruby (Lloyd) as well as many nieces and nephews.

Daryl is predeceased by his parents Pat and Sara, brother Ken, sister Patsy (Art), and brother-in-law Jurgen.

A service will be held at Assmans Funeral Chapel,

Justis Leigh Fisher

January 6, 1994 - July 9, 2024

It is with deep sadness that we announce that on July 9th 2024, Justis Leigh Fisher lost his battle with cancer and peacefully passed away surrounded by family and friends.

Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Justis knows how truly loving and generous he was. He had a gift of making everyone he interacted with feel genuinely valued. He was an incredible father who was adored by his son. We will all miss him immensely. His love for Jesus shined brightly throughout the past 4 months, giving him peace in knowing that he was going home to be with his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Justis’ prayer was that everyone would come to know the heart of the Father through Jesus Christ.

Justis was born January 6, 1994. He is survived by his son Flynn and Brooke (Flynn’s mom), his parents Tim and Kathleen, his sisters Ambre (Dave), Janoah, Jocelyn (Adryan), and Jewel and his many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Thank you Dr. Plouffe, all the staff at Hospice and Palliative care and Northern Health for all of the help and support during this time.

A Celebration of Life will be held on July 28, 2024 at 2pm at Westside Family Fellowship (3791 BC-16) with snacks and desserts to follow.

In lieu of flowers the family requests those who wish to express sympathy to consider making a donation to Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society.

Allan S. Delwo

July 19, 1948 - May 4, 2024

In loving memory of Allan S. Delwo, who peacefully departed from us on May 4, 2024, in Kamloops, BC. Born on July 19, 1948 in Indian Head, Saskatchewan, Allan was the beloved son of John and Matilda Delwo. He is now reunited with his loving wife and devoted mother, Betty Delwo, and is survived by his sons Aaron (Corally), Hugh (Kristie) and Brett, along with nine grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.

Allan embarked on a fulfilling journey in British Columbia, earning his Insurance Broker Certification and dedicating himself to a long and meaningful career in the insurance industry. His love for people was evident in his interactions, and he often imparted wisdom, encouraging others to pursue careers they loved. An avid lover of the outdoors, Allan found solace in nature, relishing walks, mushroom picking and the liberating feeling of exploration. A spiritual man, Allan’s essence now journeys through the universe, exploring its wonders. To many, Allan was not just a father but a confidant, a course of humor and a pillar of support. His sarcastic wit, genuine friendship and unwavering loyalty endeared him to all who knew him. Allan’s roles were numerous from the friend to colleague, from brother to handyman, each role filled with love and dedication. He was a deeply cherished father, brother, cousin and friend, whose sudden passing was as peaceful as he had hoped.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date, where friends and family are invited to share cherished memories and laughter, honoring his legacy of love, laughter and camaraderie. In this time of remembrance, let us heed Allan’s wish to laugh, reminisce and smile together, celebrating a

Memory sent in love of my partner Gene Gratton who passed away July 18 2023. We love him and miss him so much. Form Loretta and family

Classifieds

LEGAL NOTICE

Woodlot 1726

Woodlot Licence Plan Amendment

Goodwood Forest Products Ltd. has prepared an amendment to the currently approved Woodlot Licence Plan (WLP) for this licence. This amendment has been prepared in accordance with the Woodlot Licence Planning and Practices Regulation. Woodlot 1726 includes crown land near Buckhorn Lake, and private District Lots described as the SW ¼ of DL 4433, NE ¼ of DL 3103, SW ¼ of DL 1986, and NE ¼ of DL 1954.

Inquiries or comments concerning this Amendment must be submitted in writing to Goodwood Forest Products Ltd at 2891 St. Anne Avenue, Prince George, BC V2N 4Y4 by August 6 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.

PROOF

LEGAL NOTICE

Woodlot 639

Woodlot Licence Plan Amendment

The Estate of Murray McLean has prepared an amendment to the currently approved Woodlot Licence Plan (WLP) for this licence. This amendment has been prepared in accordance with the Woodlot Licence Planning and Practices Regulation. Woodlot 639 is located approximately 3.7 km northeast of Shelly, BC and on the east side of the Fraser River.

Inquiries or comments concerning this Amendment must be submitted in writing to LMN Forest Management Ltd at 2891 St. Anne Avenue, Prince George, BC V2N 4Y4 by August 6 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.

House For Rent RENTAL

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

Notice of Seizure and Sale of Vehicle

Wide Sky Disposals 1989 Ltd as the storage facility operator, hereby notifies the public that we have seized the following vehicle due to unpaid storage fees:

• Vehicle Description: Green 1994 Freightliner Tractor, Plate Number 1458JV

• VIN 1FUYFDYB2RP735333

• Location of Storage: 4501 55 Street Fort Nelson, BC

• Date of Deposit: July 1, 2019

• Owner/Depositor: Robert Lloyd McAdam

Sale Details:

• The vehicle will be sold to cover outstanding storage fees.

• The sale will take place on July 26, 2024 at 2:00 PMPST at 4501 55 Street Fort Nelson, BC.

• Interested parties may inspect the vehicle before the sale.

For more information, please contact Wide Sky Disposals 1989 Ltd 250 774 6528

1 unit available in a 4plex. Contains 2 bedrooms, 1 bath & backyard access. Call 250.962.5570

NOTICE

CREDITORS & OTHERS.

RE: Estate of Stanley Berezowski and of Nassa Logging & Excavating Co. LTD., who died Oct. 18/22. All persons having claims against the estate named above are hereby notified to send particulars of their claims before Sept. 30/24, to: Dana Jardine, Executor, 8040 Shelley Townsite Rd, Prince George, BC. V2K 5X7. Dated at Prince George, BC, Jul 8/24.

WAREHOUSEMAN’S LIEN ACT

Whereas the following are indebted to Ace Auto Wrecking Ltd., dba NC

Your Exterior Cleaning Specialists

CLASSIFIEDS

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

LAND ACT: NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR CROWN LAND Take notice that Marty Larry Anderson, from Bear Lake, BC, has applied to the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Omineca Region, for a Licence of Occupation for Adventure Tourism, camping and dog training area purposes situated on Provincial Crown land located near Crystal Lake, BC. The Land File for this application is 7410327. Written comments concerning this application should be directed to Susan Spears, Authorizations Specialist, Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Omineca Region at 5th Floor 499 George Street, Prince George, BC V2L 1R5, or susan.spears@gov.bc.ca Comments will be received by Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Omineca Region up to 20 Aug2024. Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Omineca Region may not be able to consider comments received after this date.

Please visit the website at https://comment.nrs.gov.bc.ca for more information. Be advised that any response to this advertisement will be considered part of the public record. Access to these records requires the submission of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request. Visit http://www.gov.bc.ca/freedomofinformation to learn more about FOI submissions. A hard copy MAP showing the location and extent of the application area may be acquired by calling the Authorizations Specialist named above at 250-5613479.

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/

KDL Resource Management invites the public to review and comment on proposed operational development plans for Nak’al Koh Timber’s Non Replaceable Forest License A89836.

Forest Operations Maps (FOM) depict operational development plans within the Mackenzie Natural Resource District where harvesting and/or road building may occur within the next three years. The public may provide comments on the FOM(s) at any point during the review and comment period, which starts July 18, 2024 and ends August 17, 2024.

The FOM(s) is accessible for public review and comment via: online at FOM website address https://fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects#public

FOM Name FOM ID Geographic Location

NDC_2024(1) 1663 Bluestain, Manson Creek, Nation River Wildfire

Skilled Help

CLASSIFIEDS

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

HOROSCOPES

Aries (March 21 – April 19) • Taurus (April 20 – May 20) • Gemini (May 21 – June 20) • Cancer (June 21 – July 22) • Leo (July 23 – August 22) • Virgo (August 23 – September 22) • Libra (September 23 – October 22) Scorpio (October 23 – November 21) • Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21) • Capricorn (December 22 – January 19) • Aquarius (January 20 – February 18) • Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

ARIES

You may need to speak up to be heard among those close to you. Afterward, you may feel tired. Resting and taking a step back this week is a good idea.

TAURUS

This week, you’ll be flooded with responsibilities. Time will be of the essence. Even if you’re on holiday, you must manage your time to ensure you do and see everything you planned.

GEMINI

A spontaneous getaway or holiday trip will make you very happy. You might even consider returning to school to start a more exciting career.

CANCER

Strong emotions often indicate a need for change. After a deep cleaning and a bit of effort, you’ll reset your priorities and feel happy again.

LEO

You’re good at negotiating, which will help you professionally and personally. You might find some great deals while shopping. You’ll be able to resolve conflicts easily.

VIRGO

You’ll be busy this week, whether at work or home. You must pay attention to every detail to keep everyone happy, even if you’re on vacation.

LIBRA

You’ll be in the spotlight this week. People will be interested in everything you say, and you’ll feel proud. Expect applause!

SCORPIO

You’ll spend some of the week improving your home and hosting a family member. This will improve your quality of life and environment.

SAGITTARIUS

You’ll travel far to join your family on a holiday that will meet your expectations. You won’t compromise on anything to maximize your free time.

CAPRICORN

Although RSVPs to an activity have been slow, everyone will show up. Summer might even inspire you to start a new career.

AQUARIUS

You’ll be in the mood for partying and having fun instead of working. You’ll be promoted, which will make you very happy. You’ll enjoy your holidays to the fullest.

PISCES

You’ll have a lot to do this week, yet some things may seem confusing. Take some time to think before you act. Your overflowing imagination will help you create something amazing.

Have you ever thought of your home’s curb appeal?

Home curb appeal refers to the aesthetic attractiveness of a property when viewed from the street. It plays a crucial role in creating a positive first impression and increasing the overall value of a home. Enhancing curb appeal involves several key elements:

Landscaping: Well-maintained lawns, trimmed bushes, and colorful flowers can significantly enhance the appearance of a home’s exterior.

Exterior Maintenance: Regularly painting or washing siding, repairing or replacing

ESTIMATES Homes & Living

damaged roofing, and cleaning windows and gutters all contribute to a well-kept exterior.

Entryway: A welcoming front door with fresh paint or polish, complemented by well-maintained hardware and a tidy porch or entry area, adds charm and character.

Lighting: Thoughtfully placed outdoor lighting can highlight architectural features, illuminate pathways, and create a warm ambiance at night.

Details: Small details like a well-maintained mailbox, attractive house numbers, and seasonal decorations can further enhance curb appeal.

Investing in curb appeal not only improves the attractiveness of your home but also increases its market value and can expedite the selling process. It creates an inviting atmosphere that reflects pride of ownership and makes a lasting impression on visitors and potential buyers alike.

Providing a cool area & hydration for your pets during a heatwave

Creating a shady spot for your pets during long periods of heat is crucial for their comfort and safety. Pets, like humans, can suffer from heat exhaustion and dehydration, so providing a cool, shaded area is essential.

1. Natural Shade:

• Trees and Shrubs: Planting trees or large shrubs can offer natural, dappled shade. Trees like maples or oaks provide broad canopies that block the sun.

• Vines: Fast-growing vines on trellises or arbors can quickly create shaded areas. Varieties like Virginia creeper or wisteria are good options.

2. Man-Made Structures:

• Shade Sails: These fabric canopies are easy to install and can cover large areas. They come in various sizes and colors, providing both shade and a decorative element.

• Pergolas and Gazebos: More permanent structures like pergolas or gazebos offer reliable shade. Adding climbing plants can enhance the cooling effect.

• Portable Canopies: Pop-up canopies or umbrellas are flexible options that can be moved as needed.

3. Pet-Specific Shelters:

• Dog Houses: Insulated dog houses with proper ventilation can offer a cool retreat. Placing them in a shaded area enhances their effectiveness.

• Cooling Mats: Specialized cooling mats or beds can provide additional comfort. These can be placed in shaded spots for pets to lie on.

4. Water Access:

• Ensure pets have access to fresh, cool water at all times. Placing water bowls in shaded areas helps keep the water cooler.

By combining these elements, you can create a comfortable and safe haven for your pets to enjoy during hot weather. Regularly checking on them and ensuring they have adequate shade and hydration will keep them happy and healthy.

Having good insulation is not just for the winter

Good insulation is often associated with keeping homes warm during the winter, but its benefits extend far beyond the cold months. Insulation plays a crucial role in maintaining a comfortable indoor environment, improving energy efficiency, and reducing utility bills year-round.

Temperature Regulation

1. Summer Cooling:

During the summer, proper insulation helps keep your home cool by reducing the amount of heat that enters through the roof, walls, and windows. This is particularly important in hot climates, where the sun’s intensity can significantly raise indoor temperatures. By preventing heat from penetrating the building envelope, insulation reduces the reliance on air conditioning systems, leading to lower energy consumption and more comfortable living spaces.

2. Consistent Temperatures:

Insulation works to maintain a consistent indoor temperature by reducing the rate at

which heat is lost or gained. This means that whether it’s hot or cold outside, your home’s interior remains relatively stable, contributing to a more comfortable environment. This stability also reduces the strain on HVAC systems, extending their lifespan and reducing maintenance costs.

Energy Efficiency

3. Reduced Energy Bills:

One of the most significant benefits of good insulation is the reduction in energy costs. By minimizing the need for heating and cooling, insulation lowers the amount of energy required to maintain a comfortable indoor climate. This can lead to substantial savings on utility bills, especially in areas with extreme temperatures.

4. Environmental Impact:

Improved energy efficiency also translates to a lower carbon footprint. By using less energy for heating and cooling, insulated homes contribute to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, supporting environmental

sustainability efforts.

Additional Benefits

5. Soundproofing:

Insulation also acts as a sound barrier, reducing the amount of noise that enters or exits a home. This is particularly beneficial in urban areas or near busy roads, where external noise can disrupt daily life. Insulated walls, floors, and ceilings help create a quieter, more peaceful indoor environment.

6. Moisture Control:

Proper insulation helps control moisture levels within the home, preventing issues such as condensation, mold, and mildew. This is important for maintaining good indoor air quality and protecting the structural integrity of the building. Moisture-resistant insulation materials, such as spray foam or rigid foam board, are particularly effective in damp climates.

7. Increased Property Value:

Homes with good insulation are often more

attractive to potential buyers. The promise of lower energy bills, enhanced comfort, and a reduced environmental impact can increase a property’s market value. Investing in insulation can thus provide a return on investment if you decide to sell your home.

8. Health Benefits:

Maintaining a consistent indoor temperature and controlling moisture levels can also have direct health benefits. Proper insulation can reduce the risk of respiratory problems, allergies, and other health issues related to poor indoor air quality and extreme temperature fluctuations.

In conclusion, good insulation is a vital component of any home, providing benefits that extend well beyond the winter months. From energy savings and environmental sustainability to improved comfort and health, the advantages of proper insulation make it a wise investment for any homeowner.

GO FOR GOLD.

Considerations when choosing a BBQ

Choosing a BBQ involves considering several factors to ensure you select the best grill for your needs. Here are some key considerations to help guide your decision:

1. Type of BBQ:

• Charcoal Grills: Known for their smoky flavor, charcoal grills use charcoal briquettes or lump charcoal as fuel. They require more time to heat up and need regular maintenance, but they provide a classic grilling experience.

• Gas Grills: These grills are convenient and easy to use, heating up quickly with propane or natural gas. They offer precise temperature control and are ideal for quick, everyday grilling.

• Electric Grills: Suitable for small spaces or areas with restrictions on open flames, electric grills are easy to use and maintain.

They require a power source but are less portable than other types.

• Pellet Grills: These use wood pellets as fuel, offering a combination of smoking and grilling. They provide excellent flavor and are great for low and slow cooking.

• Kamado Grills: Versatile and efficient, kamado grills (like the Big Green Egg) use charcoal and have excellent heat retention. They can grill, smoke, and bake, making them highly versatile.

2. Size and Cooking Area:

• Consider the number of people you typically cook for and the types of foods you plan to grill. Larger cooking areas are ideal for entertaining, while smaller grills are sufficient for family use.

• Look at the number of burners (for gas grills) or the size of the cooking grate (for charcoal

grills) to ensure it meets your needs.

3. Build Quality and Materials:

• Choose a grill made from durable materials like stainless steel or cast iron for longevity and better heat retention.

• Check the construction quality, including the thickness of the metal, sturdiness of the frame, and quality of components like burners and grates.

4. Features and Accessories:

• Consider additional features such as side burners, rotisserie attachments, temperature gauges, and storage options.

• Look for easy-to-clean designs with removable drip trays or ash catchers.

5. Portability:

• If you plan to move your grill frequently or

take it on trips, consider portable models with wheels and foldable designs.

6. Budget:

• Set a budget and compare models within your price range. Higher-end models often come with more features and better build quality, but there are plenty of affordable options that perform well.

7. Brand and Reviews:

• Research reputable brands and read reviews from other users to gauge performance, reliability, and customer satisfaction.

By evaluating these factors, you can choose a BBQ that fits your cooking style, space, and budget, ensuring a great grilling experience.

Pankaj Sharma

Options for building an outdoor deck or patio

when buying a hot tub

Building an outdoor deck or patio can enhance the beauty and functionality of your home, providing a space for relaxation, entertainment, and enjoying the outdoors. When planning to build a deck or patio, there are several options to consider, each with its own advantages and considerations.

1. Materials:

easy to clean. It doesn’t splinter or warp but can be more expensive and may lack the natural appearance of wood.

Do you need a standby generator for your home?

2. Design:

In the event of a blackout, a standby generator can power your home. If the electricity cuts out, this appliance can keep your home’s entire electrical system running.

• Wood: Traditional and aesthetically pleasing, wood decks offer a natural look. Options include pressure-treated lumber, cedar, and redwood. While beautiful, wood requires regular maintenance, such as staining and sealing, to prevent rot and weather damage.

you don’t want a tub that’s brimming with jets, as this could lead to a decrease in water pressure.

4. PUMPS

Look for a hot tub that uses several highpressure pumps to power the jets. However, keep in mind that more horsepower and more pumps aren’t always best as they’ll consume enormous amounts of energy. The ideal hot tub will have a good jet to horsepower ratio for ideal efficiency and jet strength.

A standby generator needs to be installed outside your home, much like an air conditioning unit, and runs on propane or natural gas. Among other things, this appliance will:

entertainment area.

• Ground-Level Patio: Typically constructed from pavers, bricks, or concrete, groundlevel patios are versatile and can be designed in various patterns and styles. They are generally more affordable and easier to install than raised decks.

• Ensure your sump pump continues to work so your basement doesn’t flood

• Provide power to your fridge and freezer to prevent your food from spoiling

• Composite: Made from a mix of wood fibers and plastic, composite decking is lowmaintenance, resistant to rot, and available in a variety of colors and textures. It is generally more expensive than wood but offers longevity and ease of care.

• Keep your heating system running to prevent your pipes from freezing in winter

• PVC: Purely synthetic, PVC decking is highly durable, resistant to moisture, and

Lastly, although your hot tub doesn’t need all the bells and whistles, you can ask your dealer about additional options such as Bluetooth audio, interior and exterior LED lights and various water features. These little extras might just seal the deal.

Keep in mind, however, that a standby generator needs to be installed by a licensed professional to ensure it works when you need it most.

• Raised Deck: Ideal for homes with uneven terrain or to extend living space from an upper level, raised decks require sturdy construction and proper safety measures like railings and stairs. They offer excellent views and can incorporate features like built-in seating or pergolas.

3. Additional Features:

Additionally, standby generators don’t release fumes, such as carbon monoxide, which is a common issue with portable generators. This makes them safer and better for your overall health.

• Outdoor Kitchens: For those who love to entertain, adding an outdoor kitchen with a grill, sink, and countertop can turn your deck or patio into a full-fledged

4 benefits of radiant heating

Four benefits of radiant heating

Radiant floor heating is a modern heating solution that provides unmatched comfort. Here are four reasons why you may want to consider this upgrade for your home.

Japandi: minimalist design trend

1. IT’S QUIET

introduce subtle patterns using wallpaper or add texture with wood panels or slats.

• Create an open space that allows in plenty of natural light, and add an array of indoor plants.

Radiant floor heating is a modern heating solution that provides unmatched comfort. Here are four reasons why you may want to consider this upgrade for your home.

1. IT’S QUIET

Unlike traditional heating systems, radiant heating systems don’t make any noise. Consequently, you won’t have to listen to clanking radiators or loud vents.

2. IT HEATS EVENLY

Unlike traditional heating systems, radiant heating systems don’t make any noise. Consequently, you won’t have to listen to clanking radiators or loud vents.

2. IT HEATS EVENLY

When designing a Japandi­inspired space, always remember to keep things simple and opt for quality over quantity.

• Fire Pits and Fireplaces: Adding a fire feature can extend the usability of your deck or patio into cooler seasons, providing warmth and ambiance.(check local bylaws for options)

• Lighting: Incorporating lighting enhances the safety and aesthetics of your outdoor space, allowing you to enjoy it even after dark.

When choosing the right option for your deck or patio, consider your budget, maintenance preferences, and how you plan to use the space. Each option offers unique benefits, so select the one that best fits your lifestyle and home. Always check local regulations and building codes.

3. IT DOESN’T EMIT DUST

Since radiant heating systems don’t require vents or ductwork, you won’t have extra dust circulating through your home while you heat it. This is especially helpful for individuals who suffer from allergies.

Radiant heating is more energy-efficient than other methods. This is because there’s no heat loss through the ductwork like there would be with a forced-air system. Consequently, the cost of heating a home with this type of system can be more affordable.

Traditional forced­air heating systems employ vents to distribute warm air throughout a space. Therefore, depending on the location of the vents, the area heated may have hot and cold spots. Radiant heating systems, however, provide consistent, even heat throughout an entire space.

Traditional forced-air heating systems employ vents to distribute warm air throughout a space. Therefore, depending on the location of the vents, the area heated may have hot and cold spots. Radiant heating systems, however, provide consistent, even heat throughout an entire space.

3. IT DOESN’T EMIT DUST

Since radiant heating systems don’t require vents or ductwork, you won’t have extra dust circulating through your home while you heat it. This is especially helpful for individuals who suffer from allergies.

4. IT’S ENERGY EFFICIENT

Radiant heating is more energy­efficient than other methods. This is because there’s no heat loss through the ductwork like there would be with a forced­air system. Consequently, the cost of heating a home with this type of system can be more affordable.

If you’re thinking about installing a radiant floor heating system, make sure to research your options, then contact a certified professional to complete the job.

If you’re thinking about installing a radiant floor heating system, make sure to research your options, then contact a certified professional to complete the job.

Gardening in the heat

Gardening in the heat poses unique challenges that require careful planning and specific techniques to ensure plant health and productivity. High temperatures can lead to soil drying out quickly, increased evaporation, and heat stress on plants. To combat these issues, it’s crucial to select heattolerant plant varieties that can thrive under intense sunlight. Varieties such as peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, and certain herbs like rosemary and thyme are well-suited for hot climates.

Water management is paramount when gardening in the heat. Deep, infrequent watering helps develop strong root systems and ensures that plants receive the necessary moisture without promoting fungal growth or root rot. Early morning or late evening watering minimizes evaporation and allows plants to absorb water before the peak heat of the day. Using drip irrigation systems or soaker hoses can deliver

water directly to the roots, reducing waste and ensuring efficient use of water resources.

Mulching is another essential practice for hot-weather gardening. A thick layer of organic mulch, such as straw, wood chips, or shredded leaves, helps retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weed growth. Mulch acts as an insulating barrier, keeping the roots cooler and reducing the stress on plants.

Providing shade can significantly improve plant resilience during heatwaves. Shade cloth, garden fabric, or strategically placed taller plants can protect sensitive crops from the most intense sunlight. Creating temporary structures, like pergolas or trellises, can also offer shade while supporting climbing plants.

Soil health is crucial in hot climates, as healthy soil can retain moisture better and support robust plant growth. Incorporating organic matter, such as compost or aged manure, improves soil structure, enhances water retention, and provides essential nutrients. Regularly checking soil moisture levels and adjusting watering schedules based on current conditions can prevent overor under-watering.

Lastly, monitoring plants for signs of heat stress, such as wilting, leaf curl, or sunscald, allows for timely interventions. Providing extra water, temporary shade, or even relocating container plants to cooler areas can mitigate damage and help plants recover. By implementing these strategies, gardeners can successfully cultivate thriving gardens even in the heat.

How to stain a deck or fence.

Adding new life to an existing deck or fence

Staining a fence or deck is an excellent way to protect the wood from the elements and enhance its appearance. The process requires careful preparation, the right materials, and proper application techniques to ensure a long-lasting, professional finish. Here’s a comprehensive guide to staining a fence or deck:

Preparation

1. Gather Materials:

You’ll need a quality stain, a stain applicator (brush, roller, or sprayer), drop cloths, painter’s tape, a deck cleaner or wood stripper, sandpaper, a stiff-bristle brush, and protective gear such as gloves and goggles.

2. Clean the Surface:

Begin by thoroughly cleaning the wood. For previously stained or weathered wood, use a deck cleaner or wood stripper to remove dirt, mold, mildew, and old stain. Apply the cleaner according to the manufacturer’s instructions, typically using a stiff-bristle brush to scrub the surface. For new wood, a simple wash with a hose and scrub brush may suffice.

3. Rinse and Dry:

After cleaning, rinse the wood thoroughly with water to remove any residue. Allow the wood to dry completely, which may take 24-48 hours depending on the weather conditions. Proper drying is crucial to ensure the stain adheres well and penetrates the wood fibers.

4. Sand the Surface:

If the wood surface is rough or has any splinters, lightly sand it using mediumgrit sandpaper. This step is particularly important for older decks and fences, as it smooths the wood and helps the stain absorb more evenly. After sanding, remove any dust with a brush or leaf blower.

Staining

5. Choose the Right Stain:

Select a high-quality stain suitable for your wood type and exposure conditions. There are two main types of stains: oil-based and water-based. Oil-based stains penetrate deeper and offer better protection but take longer to dry. Water-based stains dry quickly and are easier to clean up, but they may not last as long.

6. Test the Stain:

Before applying the stain to the entire fence or deck, test it on a small, inconspicuous area to ensure you’re satisfied with the color and finish. This step can prevent surprises and allows you to make adjustments if necessary.

7. Apply the Stain:

Using a brush, roller, or sprayer, apply the stain evenly, following the wood grain. If using a brush, work the stain into the wood with long, smooth strokes. For a roller or sprayer, back-brush the stain immediately after application to ensure even coverage and penetration. Apply the stain in manageable sections to avoid lap marks.

8. Two Coats if Needed:

Depending on the wood’s condition and the stain type, you may need to apply a second coat. Check the manufacturer’s recommendations for drying times between coats. Usually, a second coat enhances durability and color depth.

Finishing Touches

9. Drying Time:

Allow the stain to dry completely before using the deck or fence. Drying times can vary from a few hours to several days, depending on the stain type and weather conditions. Avoid walking on the deck or leaning objects against the fence until the stain is fully cured.

10. Clean Up:

Clean your brushes, rollers, or sprayer immediately after use, following the stain manufacturer’s instructions. Dispose of any unused stain and cleaning materials according to local regulations.

Maintenance

To maintain the appearance and protection of your stained fence or deck, regularly inspect the wood for signs of wear or damage. Clean the surface as needed

and reapply stain every 2-3 years, or as recommended by the stain manufacturer, to keep the wood looking fresh and wellprotected.

By following these steps, you can achieve a beautiful, long-lasting finish that enhances the natural beauty of your fence or deck while providing essential protection against the elements.