Prince George Citizen August 15, 2024

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Province commits to $1.579B hospital expansion

Construction of the new tower is set to begin in fall 2026

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

The province announced Thursday, Aug. 8 that it has approved the business plan for a new tower at University Hospital of Northern B.C. that will bring acute cardiac care to Prince George.

Construction of the 11-storey building, to be built southeast of the existing hospital on land now occupied by the Northern Health Unit, is expected to begin in the fall of 2026.

Completion of the $1.579-billion project, which will have a surgical suite that will include five operating rooms and 47 new beds, is projected for summer 2031.

Health Minister Adrian Dix (third from left) joins in with the UHNBC Drummers before announcing that the province has approved the plan for a $1.579 billion patient care tower at UHNBC on Thursday, Aug. 8.

The six-bed cardiac care unit will centralize the hospital’s cardiac services and will feature a 20-bed cardiac step-down unit. Once operational, it will provide relief for patients and their families who are now required to travel to Kelowna, Vancouver or Victoria to receive intensive cardiac care.

The new tower will add 36 treatment beds for UHNBC’s mental health and substance use services, bringing the total capacity to 83.

The addition will boost overall hospital capacity for cardiac, mental health and surgical services by 109 beds, from 102 to 211.

Health Minster Adrian Dix made the announcement, acknowledging the need for a new tower to replace the cramped and outdated main hospital structure that was built in 1958.

PRINCE

No helipad in plans for new UHNBC tower

TED CLARKE Citizen staff

When the province announced plans Thursday, Aug. 8 for a new patient care tower at University Hospital of Northern B.C., along with expanded mental health and substance use treatment, one thing was missing: A rooftop helipad.

The long-awaited business plan approval announcement made by Health Minister Adrian Dix revealed details of what will be included in the design to replace the aging hospital, but made no mention of air ambulance access.

“We are looking at all the options there, which don’t necessarily include a rooftop option,” said Dix.

“We would hope to formulate them soon. There are other options to bring a helicopter to the hospital. There are challenges with this space and we want to address the issues without creating those challenges with proceeding with the hospital. We’re focused on how to deliver better services and how to bring helicopter service closer and that doesn’t necessarily involve a rooftop approach.”

Prince George is the only major B.C. city that lacks the ability to land a medevaced patient at the hospital because there is no on-site helipad.

The dedicated medical helicopter operated and staffed by B.C. Emergency Health Services since December 2020 is based at the airport.

All patients brought to the city on helicopters land at YXS and are then transported by ground ambulance to the UHNBC.

the same thing. If you can deliver something five minutes away, well that’s a big difference.”

In a Jan. 29 Citizen story, emergency physician Ian Schokking, who heads the trauma team at UHNBC, said the exclusion of the rooftop helipad is a cost-cutting measure and is inexcusable because it will reduce the odds of survival for critically-injured and morbidly-ill patients with time-sensitive conditions.

He also said patients delayed in receiving definitive treatment require longer hospital stays and more recovery time which costs the medical system more.

“It’s a million dollars and it’s ridiculous to not do it, it’s wrong,” said Schokking.

“It probably saves 20 and sometimes even 30 minutes in the trajectory of a person who has a life-threatening injury when they come by helicopter. It would give at least half an hour earlier care to our sickest patients.

“Time is mortality. Your prognosis is totally dependent on how quickly you get the definitive treatment. You get there late to the party and the party’s almost over.”

Operated by Northern Health Authority, UHNBC is the referring hospital for the region, serving a population of 309,000 people in the northern half of the province.

On a good day, that ambulance ride from the airport to the hospital takes at least 20 minutes. A rooftop pad would eliminate the need for a ground ambulance.

“I agree, 20 minutes is too long and we’re going to take steps to address it,” said Dix.

“There are options that are not rooftop options that will effectively provide

Prince George Mayor Simon Yu, who attended the announcement in front of a new hospital parking lot under construction next to the BC Cancer Centre for the North, was disappointed there was no mention of a helipad in the building plan but vows he will continue to push for it.

“The short distance really means the difference between life and death, in a lot of cases,” said Yu.

“I have assurance this thing is not over, we will look at it again. It’s not part of the key construction plan right at this moment, but I’m an engineer. The design can change.”

Skakun says regional district’s

share of

hospital expansion

funding still has to be put to a vote

RDFFG Chair Joan Atkinson says the funding has already been approved in-camera

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Prince George Coun. Brian Skakun was taken by surprise by Thursday’s announcement that the province has approved a business plan to build a $1.579 billion patient care tower at UHNBC.

The plan will obligate taxpayers in the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George to cover $365 million of the cost of building of the hospital project.

But according to Skakun, who also sits on the regional district board, the board has not approved that funding in a public vote, as is required, and that vote won’t happen until Sept. 12.

“We are not authorized to enter any agreement with the province on any financial matters or anybody when there is a loan authorization bylaw that has to be voted on in public,” said Skakun, who contacted the Citizen Friday morning.

“This deal is not binding. It’s a political PR thing that isn’t binding. I would hope that (health minister) Adrian Dix knows that we haven’t voted on this in public and it’s not a done deal. He doesn’t have the money yet. We will vote on this in September at an open meeting.”

Mackenzie Mayor Joan Atkinson, chair of the RDFFG, says Skakun is not authorized to speak publicly on behalf of the regional district and said Dix’s announcement of the funding agreement was approved by 12 of 14 board members at an in-camera meeting.

“We have agreed to this funding contribution with the province of British Columbia, the Northern Health Authority and regional hospital district,” said Atkinson. “Because we are in negotiations we’ve had constant meetings and most of them were held in-camera, so the process is following the announcement that was made (Thursday).

“We are legislatively required to pass a capital funding bylaw in September.

It’s a process to complete what we have accomplished. We want this to happen.”

To come up with $365 million, which represents about 22 per cent of the patient tower project cost, Skakun said the RDFFG will be required to take out a 30-year loan. Prince George taxpayers make up nearly three-quarters of the regional district population and will be paying 70 per cent of that cost.

“We’ve had no discussion with any groups in town,” said Skakun. “The only discussion has been with the province and Northern Health. People in town wouldn’t be able to digest this massive tax increase coming, it’s mind-boggling.

“We’ll have to borrow the money, so there’s going to be debt servicing costs. There’s going to be a number of things that will come out at the September public meeting. But we’ve already

written and agreed with the province that they’re going to get the money.”

Unlike municipalities, regional districts of B.C. are not bound to follow the alternate approval process which requires 10 per cent of eligible voters to sign and submit forms that indicate opposition to a government spending initiative.

“So there’s basically no public disclosure on any of this until after the fact,” said Skakun. There’s no transparency with this regional district process. There’s been no pushback at all with the hospital tax.”

Skakun said the provincial health ministry should have waited until the results of that vote before it announced the commitment of regional district funding. He said the plan was rushed to get it to the province before the fall election, which wasn’t necessary. “We didn’t have to rush this,” Skakun said.

When Dix first announced the new surgical tower was coming to UHNBC in September 2020, the cost was estimated at between $500 million and $700 million, but inflation and supply chain shortages during the pandemic spiked prices of construction materials and the projected cost has since more than doubled.

Regional hospital districts typically provide 40 per cent of the cost of capital projects and after the Okanagan Regional District opened new operating rooms last year while covering just 20 per cent of the cost the RDFFG dug in with its demand for a similar reduction from the province in its cost-sharing agreement for the new patient tower.

“We all know we need this and we had some difficult conversations but we came to this agreement. We have locked in that number, $365 million, and if costs escalate, we know they’re not going to shrink, we are still locked in at that $365 million. We wanted this agreement done so no matter what that acute care tower costs, this is going to be our contribution.”

The new tower, which will include expanded and enhanced cardiac, surgical and mental health/addictions treatment, will replace the original acute care facility built in 1958. Atkinson said the project has been talked about for more than 15 years and said the regional district has been building up a reserve fund it will use to pay down the cost.

Construction of the new tower won’t begin until the fall of 2026, with a completion date set for 2031.

Skakun has been part of regional district meetings about the new tower for at least 18 months. He’s well aware of the problems Northern Health is facing with health-care staff shortages that have forced hospital emergency rooms in Fort St. John, Kitimat, Vanderhoof and Fort St. James to shut down their night shifts.

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:

With no relief in sight to the current staffing problems and an aging patient population, Skakun worries about the situation becoming even more dire in seven years when construction of the 11-floor hospital tower is complete.

○ 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.

“We’re supposed to contribute 40 per cent and we went into the discussion saying that’s a no-go, we don’t have the money, so we’ve got it down below 22 per cent,” said Atkinson.

○ All existing public boat launches along the future reservoir are permanently closed. New reservoir boat launches will be inaccessible until at least spring 2026 as BC Hydro monitors the surrounding slopes for safety.

“We are confident by the time we start construction of the hospital our contribution is probably going to be below 20 per cent, which makes it ‘why wouldn’t we?’

○ Please stay off the reservoir and its tributaries, specifically the Halfway River, during filling and use extreme caution near the shoreline. 6226

“Right now we have about half of our operating rooms (at UHNBC) running, and Northern Health will confirm that,” said Skakun. “Where is the recruitment and retention program that is going to get the healthcare professionals for this tower? Where are they going to stay in Prince George and how are we going to keep them here?

“I have not been able to get a clear answer on that. We’re getting (five) new operating rooms and we won’t have the personnel to run them.”

CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix offers an update on a new patient tower at UHNBC on Aug. 8.

Improved care necessary as population ages: Dix

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

He cited a projected 20-year increase in the population of the Northern Health coverage area from 309,000 to 380,000 by 2044.

“The number of people over 70 in the Northern Health Authority is going to increase at a vastly faster rate, from 32,500 to 62,000 over the next 20 years,” said Dix.

“And you know and I know that as we get older the demand for health services increases and it’s happening all over B.C. and especially here. I believe Prince George and Mackenzie and the entire region deserve to have the best hospital in northern British Columbia.

“That’s what this project is about, the highest quality, the best level of service, and it will be. We need that to recruit people, we need that because the people of the north deserve that. We need to add care in the north to ensure that fewer people in the north have to travel for care and we need better care for the people getting care now.”

Dix said the work has already begun on the expansion, with construction of a new 471-space parkade underway on Lethbridge Street next to the BC

Cancer Centre for the North, where the announcement was made.

The estimated cost of the early works of project, including the parkade construction, relocation of services from the Northern Health Unit and demolishing the Northern Health Unit building, is $103.2 million.

The cost of the new tower will be split between the province, Northern Health and the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George (RDFFG). The regional district is expected to provide $365 million of the total – $46 million for early-works preparation and $319 million for tower construction.

“It is a lot of money but it is worth it,” said Dix. “This is a lynchpin hospital and the entire region needs it.”

The project will now advance to the procurement stage.

Dix introduced Mackenzie Mayor Joan Atkinson, chair of the Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District, who told the crowd she was responsible for a model proposal that has helped transform the province’s ambulance service to enhance prehospital care, especially in rural and remote areas.

Atkinson says she anxiously awaits completion of the Prince George hospital expansion which will enhance medical care for the entire northern half of the province.

“As we are aware, the provision of healthcare services in the north does

have limitations, but with today’s announcement, long identified service gaps will be addressed and northerners will have the access to advanced healthcare closer to home,” said Atkinson.

“The Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital board is very honoured to be partnered with Northern Health and the Ministry of Health on this exciting project. Although we’ve had some challenging meeting and discussions I am very grateful we were able to come to an agreement that works for all of us.

The hospital board knew this day was coming and we have been planning for the required financial contribution to this project for many years.”

The new tower at UHNBC was first announced by Dix on Sept. 20, 2020, the day before the NDP government dropped the writ on the October provincial election.

Dr. Firas Mansour, the Prince George medical director and medical lead for the cardiac program at UHNBC, says the new tower and the enhancements and staff expertise it will attract will provided a needed boost to a hospital that serves as the referral centre for all of the people on northern B.C.

“As Prince George medical director and a physician I’ve seen firsthand the struggles we face to provide the highest healthcare close to home and I’m very pleased to see this work is underway,” said Mansour.

“Since I started working here in Prince George and northern B.C. 20 years ago I’ve seen countless number of patients who had to travel long distances, outside of Prince George and outside of B.C., for cardiac care and they often ask me why we don’t have the same facilities in the north. Although I never lost hope that we would have a cardiac centre in the north, I can say now in confidence that this will be a reality soon.

“This new tower won’t just benefit our patients, it will also provide our colleagues and all healthcare professionals with a new and modern environment to work in and ensure that we can provide the best care for everyone who would walk through those doors.”

CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE

Fraser-Fort George Hospital District board chair and Mackenzie Mayor Joan Atkinson talks about the regional district’s commitment to provide $365 million toward the cost of UHNBC patient care tower project.

Wheelin’ Warriors ready to ride to fight cancer

In her first day of fundraising, McConnachie met her goal of raising $2,500 and promptly raised her goal because, of course, there’s no such thing as raising too much money for cancer research.

“And if I can do this ride, anyone can do this ride,” McConnachie said. “I am so filled with gratitude that I am here and able to do this. It’s hard to get started but once I’m there I just take a deep breath and I am amazed at what my body can do. Look what I can do. I am upright and there’s the sun and the wind and I feel so much gratitude and a lot of that is about the people who didn’t make it and I am taking a deep breath for them. That’s for you Ron, that’s for you Darlene, that’s for you Dad. I’m sorry you didn’t get this chance. I made it, you didn’t and that’s not fair. Every day is gratitude.”

McConnachie thinks back to the time of her diagnosis and said it was triggered by another health issue and through that her cervical cancer was discovered.

“I think the hardest part for anybody who knows there’s something wrong is the period of time when you know you’re sick but you don’t know what it is,” McConnachie said.

“It’s all the tests, it’s that whole long time where you don’t know and you are literally along for the ride. That was the first time in my life where I realized I had no control. I was a leaf floating on the stream just bobbin’ along. I was quick to realize how much one human being had to count on the knowledge and expertise of others and how these people bring it – I never felt so supported in my whole life.”

She rides because she can.

With every push of the pedals, firsttime Wheelin’ Warriors of the North rider Terri McConnachie, a cancer survivor, will take a deep breath and acknowledge those she loves who have lost their lives to cancer.

“‘Ride with pride for those of us who can’t,’ my friend and colleague, Ron,

said to me just before he passed away recently,” McConnachie said. “And that’s exactly what I am going to do.”

McConnachie, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2021, will join the Wheelin’ Warriors of the North in the Tour de Cure, a 200-kilometre bicycle ride from Cloverdale to Chilliwack over two days, Aug. 24 and 25. Proceeds from the event will go to the BC Cancer Foundation and funds raised in the north stay in the north.

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Terri McConnachie, cancer survivor, is a first-time Wheelin’ Warriors of the North rider on the Tour de Cure, a 200-km ride from Cloverdale to Chilliwack.

Cycling team aims to raise $150,000 to fight cancer

SUBMITTED PHOTO

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

She’s grateful for the level of care available to her and other patients.

“Nobody wants to get cancer but if you are stuck with it, thank goodness we live in this province, in this country, in this time, because there’s been so many advances made,” she said.

“Not long ago people with my kind of cancer would not have survived it. So, again, so much gratitude.”

The feeling of not being in control didn’t sit well with McConnachie, so she kept a journal. On the outside of her journal it said ‘she thought she could, so she did’.

McConnachie’s advice for those going through it? “Oh my God, don’t doomscroll through Google,” McConnachie said. “That is the worst thing you can do.”

The best thing McConnachie did during that most difficult time was to accept that she had stage 2b cervical cancer.

“Every time I went to the gynecologist my test results would get worse,” McConnachie said. “I finally told her that I wasn’t coming in any more because

every time I did it painted a worse picture. The doc looked at me and said ‘Terri, you have cancer whether we keep testing you or not, being informed doesn’t change it.’ Oh my gosh, it was a game changer for me. I thought ‘she’s right, I have cancer.’ And what are we going to be about it? Let’s work on it. You being ignorant of it doesn’t change your status. You just gotta face it. Isn’t that just the weirdest thing? I had to hear that from her to accept it.”

The Wheelin’ Warriors group was founded by Karin Piche, a nurse, who started the group in November 2012, right after she lost a friend to skin cancer. She is captain for the Tour de Cure team to raise funds for the BC Cancer Foundation.

This year’s fundraising goal for the team is $150,000. Since 2012 the Wheelin’ Warriors of the North have raised $1.7 million in total and this year’s target is to surpass $1.8 million. Funds raised will go to the BC Cancer Foundation and all the money raised in the North stays in the North. The funds go to BC Cancer to equip the centre with critical technology, expand its research capabilities and attract world-class experts. It also supports the Patient Comfort Fund, which provides resources for patients travelling to Prince George for treatment.

“In the beginning I used the ride as an outlet for my mourning,” Piche explained. “Since then, my reasons for continuing to ride and to captain this amazing team have grown and evolved to encompass so much more. I ride to create space for people to mourn their losses, and also to celebrate life’s accomplishments and subtleties. I ride to raise money for the BC Cancer Foundation, the largest fundraising event supporting BC Cancer. Each year our team has consisted of some very inspiring and dedicated teammates ranging in age and experience, but all share a common goal: a passion for fundraising in support of cancer research and care.”

The team is always grateful for any donation. To make a contribution visit tourdecure.ca/team/ WheelinWarriors24.

Karin Piche is the captain of the Wheelin’ Warriors of the North, a team that participates in the 200-km ride from Cloverdale to Chilliwack to raise funds for the BC Cancer Foundation. All funds raised in the North stay in the North.

Province, city offer update on housing the homeless

Three projects are at different stages in Prince George

CITIZEN STAFF

The province has updated the community with information about 100 new residential units for people facing homelessness and other issues in Prince George.

They include the second phase of a three-phase project on 1st Avenue and 140/150 Ontario St., next to the first phase built at 160 Ontario St. Combining residences with health-care services, the building will include 41 supportive apartments, 10 complex-care housing (CCH) units and a ground-floor health clinic.Construction began in July. The building, a partnership between the province, the City of Prince George and Northern Health, is expected to be ready for occupancy in 2026.

The City of Prince George provided the land for the project.

“These new supportive homes and complex-care units represent a significant step forward in addressing homelessness and providing critical care for those with complex needs,” stated Mayor Simon Yu in a press release from the province. “We are pleased to see the next phase of the 1st Avenue project beginning and we are also glad to see BC Housing purchasing more property in the area to deliver more homes to those in need.”

Connective, which operates the existing 50-unit supportive housing project at 160 Ontario St., will manage the new building as well.

Northern Health will provide health services to the complex-care units, designed for people with complex health, mental-health and/or addiction issues, and operate the 9,000-squarefoot health clinic.

“Over the past two years, Connective has been honored to provide supportive homes for 50 people at 160 Ontario St. We look forward to expanding this project and meeting the needs of an additional 41 community members experiencing homelessness,” stated

Connective CEO Mark Miller, CEO.

“Having already seen the benefits of complex-care housing at the current location, we are eager to continue working alongside our partners at Northern Health on the 10 additional units of housing, with supports for this vulnerable population.”

Also updated Wednesday were the plans for what used to be the Hardwood Place Apartments at 1575 Queensway Ave. BC Housing bought the property and will turn it into 40 new units for homeless young people.

Renovations on what will be called Reconnect Youth Village will begin in the fall.

With occupancy expected in spring 2025, the building will have 40 supportive homes for youth ages 14-18 and young people aging out of care, up to age 27, in studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments.

The existing 16-bed Reconnect Youth Village supportive-housing program funded by the Ministry of Children and Family Development will move to the site from its downtown location once renovations are completed.

BC Housing provided $12.7 million to buy and renovate the building through the Supportive Housing Fund.

The Prince George Native Friendship Centre will manage the building, with eight support staff on-site around the clock.

“The Reconnect Youth Village will nurture the spirit and strength of our youth, honouring their culture and heritage, and guiding them toward a future where they can thrive with pride and purpose,” stated Barb Ward Burkitt, executive director of the Prince George Native Friendship Centre.

“Youth, families, staff and community will come together in the spirit of knowledge sharing, friendship and kinship leading to the safety and wellness of young people living in and around Prince George.”

The province has also bought a vacant property at 3177 McGill Cres., off Domano Boulevard, and plans to build 10 CCH units in partnership with Northern Health and Community Living BC. This project is in the preliminary stages, with no timelines yet set.

The operator will be selected through

a competitive request-for-proposal process.

“Supportive housing for those struggling with homelessness or those with complex-care needs is a critical aspect of healing and recovery,” stated Northern Health board chair Colleen Nyce. “We are proud to be a partner in this work, which will make a real difference in the lives of those living in Prince George.”

The province aims to spend $19 billion on supportive housing, with 80,000 homes built or underway. This includes more than 680 in Prince George.

“We know that when people experiencing homelessness have stable housing with supports, they can start to rebuild healthier lives,” stated Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing.

“People with complex health issues overlapping with housing insecurity challenges are often caught up in a cycle of homelessness. These new homes, along with access to appropriate supports, will help enable them to move out of that cycle and re-establish stability in their lives.”

This digital rendering offers a look at what the building planned for 140/150 Ontario St., at the corner of 1st Avenue, will look like. It includes gray, white, and red exterior panels.

A helipad is vital as Prince George continues to grow

KENNEDY GORDON Citizen Managing Editor

We’re glad to see the province moving forward with the muchneeded expansion and modernization of Prince George’s only hospital. It’s been a long time coming. But we had a question for Health Minister Adrian Dix when he was here last week: “Why is there no helipad in the plan?”

Dix told us why, but the answer wasn’t good enough.

We live close to some of the most rugged land in the country. We’re proud of our mountains, valleys, rivers and lakes, but we respect and fear them, too. People live, work and play in these challenging environments, and unfortunately, things sometimes go wrong. From sick residents in isolated communities to lost hikers to injured firefighters to workers hurt in remote camps, there will always be a need for medevacs. When that happens in a place without easy road or water access, there’s only one way to get help to the injured: B.C. Emergency Health Services helicopters and planes. And Prince George is where they bring them.

Air ambulances serve two primary purposes, both of which matter in Prince George, perhaps more so than in other communities further south.

First, they are used to get to people in danger and transport them to a hospital. In some cases this means flying to a small town a couple of hours’ drive away, but in others it could mean heading into the remote areas we mentioned

earlier, places land ambulances can’t reach.

The other function involves getting people from Prince George to larger centres with more advanced medical care options. In these cases, it’s quite often an emergency, and time is of the essence.

Unfortunately, for all the good our air ambulances (and their specially trained crews) can do, there’s a weak link. Our hospital has no helipad. Prince George, in fact, is the only major B.C. city that does not have a helicopter landing pad at its hospital.

As things work now, air ambulances land at the Prince George International Airport, with patients transferred to or from UHNBC – 14.6 kilometres away - by land ambulance.

The argument can be made that unlike other, larger centres, YXS is a short drive away, just outside the city, and traffic here isn’t a major issue. An ambulance can meet the chopper there and be at UHNBC in about 20 minutes (on a good day).

But that’s not good enough. Mayor

Simon Yu noted this in January when he drew a connection between industrial growth in the north and an increased need for faster, more efficient medevac services. Resource-based jobs are dangerous, after all.

We have an excellent hospital. With this latest announcement from the province, it’s about to become even better as the population both ages and grows. But without a helipad … “This hospital is the regional trauma centre and how do we tie in with our city and region’s 911 program when this helipad is not there?” Yu said at the time. “It doesn’t make sense.”

There’s no drive to add it at the local level, either. Earlier this year, we heard this from Steve Raper, vice-president of communications and public affairs for the Northern Health Authority: “It’s not part of this current business case for the tower at this point,” he said, adding that the concept wasn’t off the table and would be explored at some point.

There must be a helipad added to the mix, and soon. On the roof would be ideal, but there are other options that

should be considered.

Many hospitals in Canada have helipads at ground level. That may be where the province is going with this. Dix told The Citizen that the lack of a helipad at this stage of the plan doesn’t mean there will never be one, just that the province is considering plans that won’t require the pad to be built on the roof.

“We are looking at all the options there, which don’t necessarily include a rooftop option,” Dix told us. “We would hope to formulate them soon. There are other options to bring a helicopter to the hospital … We’re focused on how to deliver better services and how to bring helicopter service closer and that just does not necessarily involve a rooftop approach.”

This is somewhat encouraging, at least. However, let’s not forget how slow this hospital expansion process has been. It will be years before the expansion is complete. We have to have a helipad sooner. Prince George will soon have a new Leonardo AW 169 twin-engine BC Emergency Health Services helicopter; it should be based where it’s needed, not at the airport.

Let’s hold Dix to what he told us and continue to remind the province just how much Prince George needs this vital service, and how important it is that we shave that last 20 minutes off the most difficult journey some people will ever have to make.

Kennedy Gordon is The Citizen’s managing editor. Reach him at editor@ pgcitizen.ca.

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CITIZEN PHOTO BY CHUCK NISBETT

The air ambulance serving Prince George is based at the airport, as the University Hospital of Northern B.C. does not have a helipad.

Cameron Stolz Owner

Terresa Randall-Stolz Owner

acknowledge

financial support of the government of Canada.

reconnaissons l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.

OPINION

Summer wildfires have long been a fact of life in B.C.

As I See It

On average, British Columbia has experienced 1,483 wildfires per year over the past decade. We are certainly on pace to exceed that number this year.

The number of fires varies from year to year, from a low of 653 in 2011 to a high of 2213 in 2023. But the trends would definitely suggest the number and severity of wildfires is increasing year over year.

Fortunately, Prince George has not suffered a major fire yet.

The city is doing what it can to prevent a major firestorm with plans to remove underbrush and thin forest stands. Certainly, small fires in our region can be dealt with through the actions of municipal and volunteer fire departments. But the sort of conflagration which has devastated Jasper is still a possibility.

After all, we live in a forested landscape with lots of fuel at our doorstep. We also keep building new developments into existing forests, such as the housing along Tyner Boulevard. It is

LETTERS EDITOR

Salmon Valley School should welcome students again

There is a provincial election this fall. I am not voting for a party. I am voting for a candidate who promises, swears they can improve something local, like open the Salmon Valley School. It is a good-looking school, with a great-looking school yard.

I live in Prince George now, but 40 years ago, I lived in one of the local rural communities, and was on a committee to save our rural schools, which at that time the Prince George School Board

rural British Columbia communities have had to deal with the threat of wildfires this summer.

likely only a matter of time before our region suffers a heat dome sufficient to dry out the woods and allow a fire to take hold. Housing in forests will be susceptible to the sort of fires we are seeing elsewhere.

An underlying question: “Is the burning of B.C. a result of the changing climate?” If it is, then things are only going to get worse. Climate change

had under threat, wanting to close what many were calling “surplus school space.”

Closing the school in a little town has a negative effect on population and growth and lowers real estate values. Over the years since, many local towns lost schools, but not the school taxes. Think about it. This year Prince George is in a need to add many portables, modular buildings set up in Prince George school yards, on wooden blocks as a foundation, spending near $5 million each, instead of opening the only school north of Prince George, Salmon Valley with 70 children in that town.

would seem to promise more fires, more frequently, causing more damage and destroying more lives. It would be easy to say the answer to that question is “yes” but there are more factors at play than just the recent heat domes and increasing surface temperature. Don’t get me wrong – the overall increase in the mean surface temperature of the planet, which has

So, I want to vote for a candidate who makes a local difference like this. What local improvement will you make?

Harry Ulch

Prince George

Every child, born or unborn, has precious value

In the early Roman Empire, many children were treated in a very disposable way.

Before the Roman Empire finally legalized Christianity in the third century, Roman law allowed infants to be put to death by exposure to the elements. The arrival of the Christian Gospel put an entirely new and refreshing perspective

exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius for the past 13 months, is definitely a contributing factor. But fires have claimed B.C. towns and cities before.

In 1886, Vancouver burned to the ground. Of the 400 structures in the brand-new city, only two were left standing. In 1868, Barkerville was destroyed by fires as 116 homes burned.

However, in the past few years, we have seen fires destroy Lytton, threaten Kelowna and Fort St. John, force evacuations in the southern interior and destroy large tracts of forest and brush. In Alberta, Fort McMurray and now Jasper have been heavily damaged by forest fires.

The population of B.C. is growing, with more than 5.1 million people in the province. Our cities are pushing into forested landscape. More people are taking advantage of the outdoors.

The B.C. Forest Service estimates that 42 per cent of fires are human-caused. And as our population keeps growing, the likelihood of fires caused by human interactions will continue to increase.

Add in hot, dry summers and it is not a question of will B.C. burn, but when will it happen? And what are we doing to prepare?

Todd Whitcombe is a chemistry professor at UNBC.

on the true value of infants in that society.

Sad to say, we have regressed for some time now.

We need to revitalize our sadly declining culture by once more paying heed to the truth and wisdom of Jesus in St. Mark 10:14. “Suffer the little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of God.”

Every child, born or unborn, has precious value.

It is time our society becomes more accommodating of what is truly good, and right, and virtuous.

Gerald Klassen

Prince George

Many

OPINION

Prince George can’t move forward without a rejuvenated downtown

The editorial states the proposed new buildings beside Park House will be the panacea to cure all the ills of the CBD. There are a couple of problems with this.

1. A shovel has not yet touched the ground to start construction.

2. Park House is vastly outnumbered by shelter type housing. The North Star Inn, Knight’s Inn, Atco Village, Moccasin Flats and Phase 2 of the high-rise at the end of 1st Ave are but a few that have popped up recently.

The inhabitants of the transitional housing flood the downtown core on a daily (and nightly) basis to access social services.

Downtown might stand a chance if the welfare office, the soup kitchen, the Fire Pit, the needle exchange, etc. were all moved to the lower end of Queensway.

Not good for the businesses that remain but police could heavily patrol the area.

Until the core issues surrounding the homeless and addicted in the CBD are addressed, downtown will never be what these starryeyed Pollyannas envision.

S Goods

Prince George can’t move forward without a rejuvenated downtown

I truly hope the city recognizes the value of gradual, consistent improvement.

While multi-million dollar upgrades are necessary, small enhancements year after year can make a significant impact. Expanding public art and adding more murals would be a great start.

I personally believe downtown Prince George has fantastic potential — its low-rise architecture and diverse buildings give it unique character.

Now, we just need a bit more investment from the city to accelerate progress. Let’s see them support local artists by commissioning murals and public art to further enhance our downtown.

Would also love to see the city lean into creating a beautiful walking path along Patricia Blvd to connect downtown to Cottonwood trail.

Bobs Your Uncle

Seniors Fair at BCNE Thursday on opening day

A lovely event for seniors but could the organizers please put a sign by the tables and chairs near the food vendor that says “Seating only for customers while eating.” In previous years our experience has been a number of seniors purchase a drink or a bite to eat and then roost for the rest of the afternoon while others have nowhere to sit while eating.

A little consideration goes a long way at an event like this.

Thank you!

Lyn Grandma

Province approves UHNBC surgical tower business plan

It’s true that staffing shortages are a critical issue everywhere in Canada. I can share something that may give folks hope.

Those announcements by the federal and provincial governments to cut the red tape and improve foreign recruitment? They have actually done that. I am personally aware of a few foreign trained physicians (European) who are delighted that instead of a complicated four-year process, it is only about a year.

They are really excited to be coming here and at least two of them want to be in northern BC. Since the shortage of staff was predicted over 30 years ago, I think it fair to say that all governments since the mid 1980s have failed us as that would have been the time to try to turn things around. It’s NOT going to be a quick fix.

PG Archer

Letter to the editor: Fight crime with the return of corporal punishment

The first fallacy we have is addicts want to get better. They don’t. They like being stoned. Forced treatment is the only solution - preferable to breaking hands. But, currently the right to be an addict trumps society’s right to peace and safety.

Are the judges to blame?

Depends. Are the prisons half empty? I suspect they’re full. Are we willing to increase taxes to build more prisons to jail more thieves/addicts? Judges can’t send people to jail if there’s no room. If we built prisons, incarcerated addicts, we’d get around the forced treatment problem because they’d be in jail for crime, not addiction. But then, for sure some judge would find that unconstitutional.What we need is a politician willing to overrule the judiciary with the notwithstanding clause. Of the current options in B.C., only one party seems willing to do that.

Drew Kerr

Celebration of life held for photographer Chuck

Chin

His photos were the next best thing to being there. A true asset to Prince George who will be sorely missed.

Randy Flavel

Celebration of life held for photographer Chuck Chin

What a lovely way to show appreciation to Mr. Chin and all he did to present our city in such a positive way.

Gail Elcheson

New (temporary) home, new swag for Tourism PG

The Basecamp Boutique is located in a shipping container at Canada Games Plaza

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen

Staff

Tourism Prince George moved to a container at Canada Games Plaza in the heart of downtown earlier this year and has some new swag to show off at their Basecamp Boutique.

There are beer glasses, a snapback hat featuring a retro Mr. PG, Mr. PG air fresheners, and a new stuffed toy bear designed by an Indigenous artist. There are even some new shirts on the rack.

Tourism Prince George will be moving into its new permanent home located between the Civic Centre and the Prince George Public Library, but that won’t be until later this year.

So for now they are in the shipping container.

“We’re trying some different things,” said Colin Carson, Tourism PG CEO. “We’ve got some great local partnerships with organizations like Exploration Place that make the Mr. PG stuffies and AiMHi who make the wooden Mr. PGs and we found some great other vendors as well. We’re just trying to see what people like and trying to adapt.”

Tourism Prince George looked at a lot of different options when it came to considering a new location for the Visitor Centre that was located on First Avenue for many years.

“The biggest challenge on First Avenue was that it was somewhat convenient for vehicle traffic but only if you were coming from the East and the location is not ideal for the rest of the vehicle traffic coming into town,” Carson said.

“We were not really convenient for foot traffic. The strategy we really undertook was to see what we really should be focusing on – vehicle or foot traffic – and then find the best location. That led us to doing a lot of research, looking at the trends and really understanding the visitor centres that are still being utilized, especially in BC, focus on that foot traffic.”

Once they decided to focus on foot traffic, the next step was researching

the best locations.

“With the civic and conference centre right here and about 850 hotel rooms within walking distance, the Two Rivers Gallery, and Connaught Hill in the summertime and the beautiful new Canfor Leisure Pool, the conference centre is probably our biggest tourism driver we have,” Carson said. “So a lot of factors. It ticked a lot of boxes. I think it’s going to be a little bit of a change in terms of

visitors in RVs and stuff to find us. We are working with the province to get the signs changed and that will direct people to this location where there’s a large parking lot.”

There has been a lot of positive feedback on the move, he added.

This new location is part of a bigger project that was announced this spring that will see Canada Games Plaza hosting an open-air container market and

year-round skating rink with seating.

With that in place wlater this year it will attract more visitors to the space.

“It will also attract local residents as we see on Foodie Fridays,” Carlson said.

“This space just becomes a great location for people to hang out, whether that’s locals or visitors and we’re committed to making that even more so.”

For more information visit tourismpg. com/

Colin Carson, Tourism Prince George CEO, shows off some new swag at the container at Canada Games Plaza. Some of the items available, as seen in the photos below from Tourism PG, include Mr. PG snapback hats, drinking glasses and Mr. PG air fresheners.

UNBC researchers reel in $5 million to study salmon

The project includes a new lab building along the Quesnel River

CITIZEN STAFF

A team of University of Northern British Columbia researchers has landed $5 million in funding to study the impacts of climate change and human activity on salmon.

It’s one of the largest competitive grants in the institution’s history, UNBC states in a press release.

The research team will be led by Prof. Ellen Petticrew of UNBC’s Department of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences and Jason Raine, manager of the Quesnel River Research Centre (QRRC).

“We have a strong research team, combining backgrounds in physical, chemical and biological aspects of aquatic systems. While this project and funding is focused on the Quesnel watershed, we expect the findings to be

applicable to other large lake systems in the Pacific Northwest which are undergoing climate change,” Petticrew stated.

Researchers will use the funds to study the impacts of climate change, including drought, flooding and wildfires, as well as human activity on salmon habitat and ecosystems in the Quesnel watershed.

Construction of a new building with wet and dry laboraties as well as space for teaching and community outreach at the QRRC site in Likely, B.C. is included in the project. The UNBC facilities department is co-ordinating the building’s construction.

The funds came from the British Columbia Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF), which is co-funded by both the Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia and is administered by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

“This significant investment from the BCSRIF will enable UNBC researchers

to delve deeper into understanding the impacts of climate change on salmon ecosystems and to develop strategies that can help preserve these species for future generations,” stated UNBC president Geoff Payne.

“This project exemplifies UNBC’s commitment to inspiring discovery through research and mobilizing that knowledge so it can shape policies and practices for a sustainable future.”

The funding will also support improvements to hatchery infrastructure, including upgraded wells and electrical services for water supply, additional tanks for broodstock holding and improved early life stage biosecurity in the QRRC incubation room.

Hatchery improvements will allow the facility to raise Chinook salmon to help address recent population declines due to the 2019 Big Bar Slide and other natural and human-caused stressors on stocks, the press release states.

“Salmon are key species in British

Columbia, both for the role they play in the ecosystem as a food source and for their cultural value,” stated Paula Wood-Adams, UNBC’s vice-president research and innovation.

“Funding from the BCSRIF allows UNBC researchers to continue to explore the impact of climate change on salmon populations and the infrastructure improvements will provide more opportunities for UNBC to expand experiential learning through field schools.”

The research team includes UNBC faculty and adjunct members Stephen Déry, Peter Jackson and Philip Owens, University of British Columbia researcher Bernard Laval and Fisheries and Oceans Canada research scientists Daniel Selbie and Svein Vagle.

The project, which will also include collaboration with the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance, will also involve post-doctoral researchers, graduate students, summer students and research associates, UNBC reports.

New funding for a UNBC research team will support work at the Quesnel River Research Centre in Likely B.C., where scientists are studying the effect of climate change and human activity on B.C. salmon.

Canada Energy Regulator

Notice of public hearing GH-001-2024

Westcoast Energy Inc.

Application for the Sunrise Expansion Program

The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) has received an application from Westcoast Energy Inc. (Westcoast) for approval to construct and operate the Sunrise Expansion Program (Project) pursuant to sections 182, 214, 97, and 226 of the Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CER Act). This Project involves building approximately 137 kilometres (km) of 42-inch diameter natural gas pipeline in 11 pipeline looping segments in British Columbia, extending southwest from Chetwynd to the Canada-United States border near Sumas. The Project also involves work at existing compressor stations and a meter station, as well as the construction of approximately 34 km of power lines.

Westcoast also seeks various exemptions under the CER Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Onshore Pipeline Regulations, and further seeks an order affirming that the Project’s costs will be included in the T-South cost of service and tolled on a rolled-in basis. Westcoast intends to start construction as early as the second quarter of 2026, subject to receiving regulatory approval. Its target in-service date is 1 November 2028.

Hearing participation

The Commission of the CER is currently assessing whether Westcoast’s application is complete, having regard to comments received on this issue. It will hold a hearing for the Project if the application is found to be complete, such that it can proceed to assessment. Those participating in any hearing can do so in one of two ways:

• A commenter may share their views with the Commission in a letter of comment. They cannot be asked questions about their letter of comment, nor can they ask questions about Westcoast’s or intervenors’ written evidence or provide argument. Commenters are not eligible for participant funding.

• An intervenor may, among other things, file written evidence, ask questions about Westcoast’s and other intervenors’ evidence, and provide argument in accordance with a hearing timeline. An intervenor that files written evidence must answer any questions asked about their evidence. Intervenors may be eligible for participant funding (learn more at http://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/pfp).

Those wanting to be intervenors must register and be confirmed as intervenors by the Commission. Commenters may sign up to be notified by email when the commenting period opens. Registrations and sign ups must be done through the CER’s online Participation Portal found at http://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/ participate

Registration and sign-up opportunities will be available from 1 August 2024 until 29 August 2024

Need help?

https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/applications-hearings/ view-applications-projects/westcoast-energy-sunriseexpansion-program/index.html

sunrise.help@cer-rec.gc.ca

1-800-899-1265

Régie de l’énergie du Canada

Avis d’audience publique GH-001-2024

Westcoast Energy Inc. Demande visant le projet d’agrandissement Sunrise

La Régie de l’énergie du Canada a reçu une demande de Westcoast Energy Inc. (« Westcoast »), déposée aux termes des articles 182, 214, 97 et 226 de la Loi sur la Régie canadienne de l’énergie (« LRCE »), visant la construction et l’exploitation du projet d’agrandissement Sunrise (« projet »). Ce projet prévoit la construction d’un gazoduc d’une longueur approximative de 137 kilomètres (« km ») et d’un diamètre de 42 pouces comprenant 11 tronçons de doublement pipelinier entre le sud-ouest de Chetwynd et la frontière canado-américaine près de Sumas, en ColombieBritannique. Le projet comprend également des travaux aux stations de compression existantes et à une station de comptage, ainsi que la construction d’environ 34 km de lignes de transport d’électricité.

Westcoast demande également diverses exemptions en vertu de la LRCE et du Règlement de la Régie canadienne de l’énergie sur les pipelines terrestres, ainsi qu’une ordonnance confirmant que les coûts liés au projet seront inclus dans le coût du service sur le réseau T Sud et que les droits seront intégrés. Westcoast a l’intention de commencer la construction au deuxième trimestre de 2026, sous réserve de l’obtention de l’approbation réglementaire. La mise en service est prévue pour le 1er novembre 2028.

Participation à l’audience

La Commission de la Régie de l’énergie du Canada évalue actuellement si la demande de Westcoast est complète, compte tenu des commentaires reçus sur cette question. Elle tiendra une audience relative au projet si la demande est jugée complète, afin de pouvoir procéder à l’examen. Les personnes qui participent à une audience peuvent le faire de l’une des deux façons suivantes.

• L’auteur d’une lettre de commentaires peut transmettre une lettre à la Commission pour lui faire connaître son opinion sur le projet. Aucune question ne peut lui être posée au sujet du contenu de sa lettre, pas plus qu’il ne peut lui-même en poser sur la preuve écrite de Westcoast et des intervenants ou présenter de plaidoirie. Les auteurs d’une lettre de commentaires ne sont pas admissibles à l’aide financière aux participants.

T-South pipeline system

Système de pipeline T Sud

T-South pipeline system

Système de pipeline T Sud

T-North pipeline system

Système de pipeline T Nord

Proposed pipeline loop

Boucle de pipeline proposée

Proposed powerline

Ligne électrique proposée

Existing compressor station

Station de compression existante

Project design is under development and configuration of pipeline loops, compressor units, additional compressor station modifications, and powerlines are subject to change.

T-North pipeline system

Système de pipeline T Nord

Proposed pipeline loop

Boucle de pipeline proposée

Proposed new compression

Nouvelle compression proposée

City/Town Ville

• L’intervenant peut, entre autres, déposer une preuve écrite, poser des questions sur celle de Westcoast ou d’autres intervenants et présenter une plaidoirie, conformément au calendrier de l’audience. S’il dépose lui-même une preuve écrite, il doit alors répondre aux questions qui pourraient lui être posées à ce sujet. Les intervenants pourraient être admissibles à l’aide financière aux participants (pour en savoir plus, consultez le https:// www.cer-rec.gc.ca/fr/demandes-audiences/participeraudience/aide-financiere-participants/index.html).

Les personnes qui souhaitent participer à titre d’intervenant doivent s’inscrire, et la Commission doit confirmer leur statut. Les auteurs d’une lettre de commentaires peuvent s’inscrire pour être avisés par courriel du début de la période de sollicitation de commentaires. Les inscriptions doivent se faire à partir du portail de participation en ligne de la Régie, à l’adresse http://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/participer Il sera possible de s’inscrire du 1er au 29 août 2024

Besoin d’aide?

cer-rec.gc.ca/fr/demandes-audiences/voir-demandesprojets/westcoast-energy-projet-agrandissement-sunrise/ sunrise.aide@cer-rec.gc.ca | 1-800-899-1265

Proposed powerline

Ligne électrique proposée

Existing compressor station

Station de compression existante

Map is for illustrative purposes only and not to scale. Project design is under development and configuration of pipeline loops, compressor units, additional compressor station modifications, and powerlines are subject to change.

Proposed new compression

Nouvelle compression proposée

City/Town Ville

For detailed Project mapping, please refer to: enbridge.com/sunrise La carte est à titre d’illustration seulement et n’est pas à l’échelle. La conception du projet est en cours de développement et la configuration des boucles de pipeline, des unités de compresseurs, des modifications supplémentaires des stations de compresseurs et des lignes électriques est susceptible de changer.

Pour une cartographie détaillée du projet, veuillez vous référer à : enbridge.com/sunrise

Former Northern Health CEO named to Order of B.C.

CITIZEN STAFF

The former CEO of Northern Health has been named to the Order of British Columbia.

Cathy Ulrich of Prince George, who retired last year, is one of 12 people to receive the province’s highest honour this year. She was recognized for her for her legacy of leadership and innovation in Northern Health care, the province states.

Ulrich joined Northern Health in 2002, and served as president and CEO from 2007 to 2023.

Before taking that post, she was vice-president of clinical services and chief nursing officer for the health authority for five years, which came after she spent years working as a nurse in rural northern communities.

A ceremony will be held at Government House in Victoria on Sept. 4.

“The recipients have made advances in sustainability, reconciliation, health care, technology, arts and business.

I am amazed by their dedication and innovation, and I look forward to celebrating their installation into the Order at Government House.”

In addition to Ulrich, this year’s appointees include:

• John Anderson, West Vancouver, for transforming global farming with sustainable practices and championing community causes

• Brenda Crabtree (Xyolholemo:t),

“This year’s recipients are impressive, not simply because of their outstanding contributions to their communities but also because of the diversity of their achievements,” said Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin, chancellor of the Order of British Columbia.

Vancouver, for being an enduring champion for Indigenous artists

• Karimah Es Sabar, West Vancouver, for being a pioneering force in B.C.’s health care and life sciences sectors

• Howard Grant, Vancouver, for bridging cultures and advancing Indigenous rights

• Lily Lee, West Vancouver, for her contributions in education, health care and housing

• Don Mattrick, Victoria, for transforming B.C.’s tech landscape from a basement startup to global leadership

• William P.J. McCarthy, Burnaby, for his historic and transformative support of health care and community as one of B.C.’s most impactful philanthropists

• Colin James Munn, North Vancouver, for shaping Canadian music with his guitar mastery, and unwavering dedication to his community

• Imant Raminsh, C.M., Coldstream, for enriching B.C.’s cultural life as a composer, conductor, teacher and mentor

• Elana Rosenfeld, Invermere, for her business acumen leading Canada’s largest organic coffee company, unwavering commitment to sustainability and championing of conservation efforts

• Gary Segal, C.M., Vancouver, for his philanthropic contributions to health care

“On behalf of the people of British Columbia, congratulations to those being appointed to the Order of B.C. for 2024,” said Premier David Eby. “You’ve made it your life’s work – through your leadership, art and generosity – to make life better for British Columbians. You represent the best of the best in our province and serve as an example to us all. Thanks for all that you’ve done and all that you will go on to do.”

Ulrich

Trailer fire causes $50K damage at Moccasin Flats

A new transitional housing project nearby is close to ready

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

An early-morning fire Friday, Aug. 9 at the Patricia Boulevard encampment known as Moccasin Flats destroyed a trailer and its contents but resulted in no apparent injuries.

Prince George Fire Rescue crews were called to the scene near the encampment warming shelter close to the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Ottawa Street at about 3:30 a.m. Friday and found the trailer in flames.

The fire was quickly extinguished and a search determined there were no occupants.

Damage was estimated at $50,000. The cause of the blaze is undetermined and remains under investigation. Since the camp was established three years ago there have been dozens of structure fires.

The city plans to close Moccasin Flats this fall and move the residents to an

CRIME NOTES

Four arrested after shots fired during home invasion

Four people were arrested after shots were fired during what police are calling a home invasion robbery in Prince George early Friday, Aug. 9.

Police were called to a Lalonde Road home at about 12:30 a.m.

A suspect vehicle was spotted on 15th Avenue and, after failing to stop for police, crashed near the intersection of 15th Avenue and Alward Street. One suspect was arrested while three others fled on foot.

Police found a second suspect hiding under a vehicle, while the other two were tracked by a police dog and found near the University Hospital of Northern B.C. All three were taken into custody. One male was treated at the hospital and released for incarceration. The vehicle was seized.

adjacent site off Third Avenue where BC Housing has assembled trailers that will serve as a 43-room Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) transitional shelter facility.

The site will also include an amenity trailer with a dining area and commercial kitchen, office space, a meeting

A firearm found near 15th Avenue and Foothills Boulevard is believed to have been involved in the incident. The investigation was ongoing at several locations Friday.

All four suspects, ages 21, 22, 23 and 49, remain in custody. Police say they are involved with organized crime and are not from Prince George. It’s believed that the home was targeted, but no motive has been determined.

The home’s resident was not physically injured.

Police are asking for anyone with dash camera or security system footage showing Lalonde Road, 15th Avenue, Ospika Boulvard and University Way from midnight to 1:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9, or anyone with any other information, to contact investigators at 250-561-3300.

Wanted by the RCMP: Liam James Willy Mitchell

The Prince George RCMP is looking for Liam James Willy Mitchell, who is

room and a designated smoking area.

The provincial government is providing BC Housing $4.1 million in funding to establish the camp.

City council approved $468,000 in funding to pay for sewer/water hookups and raise the ground level of the camp, which is being built on a flood plain.

wanted on two endorsed warrants for possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, mischief under $5,000, uttering threats and breach of release order.

Mitchell is a white male, five foot 10 (178 centimetres) and 141 pounds (64 kilograms). He has brown hair and green eyes. Police say Mitchell is considered dangerous and should not be approached, and to call local police if he’s spotted.

Anyone with information about where he may be is asked to call RCMP at 250-561-3300, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).

The local RCMP detachment issues a photo and description of a person sought on warrants each week, calling it Wanted Wednesday.

To ensure the health and security of residents and the community the site will be fully fenced with controlled access and security cameras.

The trailers are all equipped with a sprinkler system and all residents will have the protection afforded by fire alarms, smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.

Canada Post has a reminder for local dog owners

Canada Post is reporting an increased number of incidents involving dogs and mail carriers in Prince George.

Carriers must have access to mailboxes and front doors, Canada Post advises.

“This is our No. 1 priority and responsibility as an employer to every employee.”

Canada Post asks this of dog owners:

• Be careful when you answer the door, so your dog does not slip out.

• Keep your dog inside, in a fenced yard or tied up far from the front door or mailbox.

• Keep front doors and fence gates closed.

• Keep your dog away from the screen door, even if it is locked.

• Please ensure you have your dog on leash and under control when out walking.

Mitchell

CITIZEN PHOTO BY TED CLARKE

This trailer near the warming shelter at the Moccasin Flats encampment was destroyed in a fire on Friday, Aug. 9.

What’s happening in PG

BC  Northern Exhibition (BCNE) goes Thursday, Aug. 15 to Sunday, Aug. 18 and is presented by the Prince George Agricultural and Historical Association during its 112th northern exhibition with the theme Cows Just Wanna Have Fun. There’s the midway, a beer and cider festival, equine events, Heritage Lane with live demonstrations, 4H, Seniors Day on Thursday in Kin 3, Home Arts & Horticulture entries on display, a food court and vendors. Tickets for adults 18 to 54 are $10 each, youth 12 to 17 are $5 each, seniors 55+ are $5 and $2 on Seniors Day, Aug. 15. For more information visit www.bcne.ca/bcne

Ghostly Hounds with Clanna Morna goes Thursday, Aug. 15 at 8 p.m. at the PG Legion, 101-1116 Sixth Ave. Celtic and old-time haunting folk music from Victoria comes to Prince George. Ghostly Hounds is the folk project of Francesca Mirai, singer songwriter banjo player accompanied by Finn Letourneau on fiddle and vocal harmonies. Doors open at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are $15 or $20 at the door. For advance tickets visit www.madloon.ca/ tickets/p/ghostlyhounds. ***

Mid Summer’s Eve Night Market goes on Thursday, Aug. 15 from 5 to 8 p.m at Studio 2880, 2880 15th Avenue. Explore the grounds of Studio 2880, find a variety of makers and food while enjoying eclectic music. Vendors can register at www.studio2880.com/ programs/artisan-markets.

***

10 Years of 720 goes Saturday, Aug. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St. Considered as one of the most integral rock bands to come from Prince George, Studio 720 is celebrating 10 years of their local brand of rock ‘n’ roll. Special guest opener is Connor Rogers. Tickets are $7.20 in advance or $20 at the door. For advance tickets visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/ ten-years-of-studio-720-tickets.

***

AWAC’s 30th Anniversary Celebration goes Saturday, Aug. 17 from 11 a.m.

to 2 p.m. at City Hall. There will be food, fun and music during this free community event to celebrate the Association Advocating for Women and Community. ***

Dean Chandler goes live Saturday, Aug. 17 from 8 to 10 p.m. at Trench Brewing, 399 Second Ave. Chandler is a singer songwriter, guitarist, originally from Prince George. His original and cover sets include an eclectic mix of rock, country and folk music with a Canadiana focus. There is no cover charge but tips are always welcome.

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RathRat Arts Collective Inspo Collab Jam Workshop goes Sunday, Aug. 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St. The workshop begins with a simple warm-up game including dice and prompts, then leads into a group/pairing creation collaboration. Bring a friend or a small group, maximum five, to put together one piece of work together. Solos are also welcome to come and create. Check out art pieces of this month’s artist in residence A Utopia and Our Dystopia presented by RathRat Arts Collective.ell.

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Create Reusable Surface Art:

Introductory Class goes Thursday, Aug. 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Medicine Wheel Cafe, 1696 Larch St. Quickly create a piece of  high-end wall or shelf home décor. Discover the joy of creating unique, high-end decor that transforms a home and reflects personal style. This beginner workshop is perfect for anyone looking to unleash their creativity, meet like-minded people and take home a beautiful piece of art. For more information visit www.facebook. com/events/177388732010812

Movie Night in the Orchard featuring Austin Powers – International Man of Mystery goes Friday, Aug. 23 at 9:15 p.m. at Northern Lights Estate Winery, 745 Prince George Pulpmill Road. Yeah, baby! This will be a groovy night under the stars on the orchard side of the winery. Bring a chair and get ready to laugh. There is a concession. Tickets are $13 for adults, $7 for children 3 to 17 and children two and under are free. Venue opens at 8:15 p.m. Tickets must be purchased online at www.northernlightswinery.ca/movie-nights

Summer Garage Sale goes Saturday, Aug. 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 3701

Rainbow Drive. This event is hosted by the Spruce Capital Seniors as a fundraiser and the non-profit group will gladly take all donations. Call the Centre at 250-563-6450 to arrange a time for drop off between Monday to Thursday anytime between 9 to 3.

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Junk in the Trunk goes Saturday, Aug. 24 and Sunday, Aug. 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Park Drive In Theatre & Raceway Fun Park, 9660 Raceway Road. Join in the epic buying and selling event with all proceeds from renting a space going to Ness Lake, Nukko Lake and Pilot Mountain Community Halls. Adult vendors $15 for one day, $20 for two days, children vendors 12 and under $10. To register visit junkinthetrucksale.wixsite.com. ***

Market on the Hill goes every Tuesday until Aug. 27 from 5 to 9 p.m. at 3740 Winslow Drive. This event is hosted by the Hart Highland Winter Club. Vendors will be on sight to sell their wares. The Hart Team will be cooking up burgers and hot dogs available to purchase by donation.

Northern Lights Estate Winery’s next Movie Night in the Orchard features the comedy spy spoof ‘Austin Powers – International Man of Mystery’ on Friday, Aug. 23 at 9:15 p.m.

CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE

Hart Sunset Market goes Wednesday, Aug. 28 from 4 to 9 p.m. at the Hart Pioneer Centre parking lot at 6986 Hart Highway. Shop favourite local vendors and food trucks. To register online visit www.justsugarcookies.ca.

Foodie Fridays at Canada Games Plaza goes August 9, 16 and 30 from noon to 4 p.m. where there will be a variety of concession and food truck offering a variety of lunch options and sweet treats and there will be games and live music to enjoy as well.

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Thursdays at the Park goes every week at The Exploration Place, 333 Becott Place, and will see the 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 on 3rd Avenue downtown from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. where visitors will find around 100 vendors offering everything from local vegetables, ethically-raised grass-fed meats, baking, fruits, hot foods, coffee, honey, jams and jellies, preserves, and a wide variety of artisan products including jewelry and crafts. ***

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

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

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.

fibre artists are invited to bring their latest projects to share, vent 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.

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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.

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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 Horton’s, 612 East Central St., where people can meet up during this family-friendly event that

brings Prince George’s diverse car cul ture together. Time to bring out those projects.

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Wilson Square Community Farmers’ Market goes every Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 250 George St. where local food producers fill the street as musicians pay their instruments 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 a selection of local arts and baked treats.

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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 by donation. Sign up is on-site. There are some house instruments provided but feel free to bring your own creative tools for expression. First timers and emerging artists are encouraged to experiment and collaborate with others. Please share and invite friends and family to build audience, engage and cheer on local artists in a fun, relaxed and safe environment.

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

Hixon 50/50 winner raises the roof

Hixon Fall Fair and Parade director Pat Suter (left) congratulates Judy Judsonm the winner of the Hixon Community Association Raise The Roof 50/50 raffle, who won $5,772.50. Proceeds from the draw will go to repairing the roof at the Hixon Community Hall. Organizers of the annual Hixon Fall Fair and Parade sold tickets at the Superstore in Prince George in the days leading up to last weekend’s celebrations in the village. For more photos from the fair and parade, turn to Pages 24 and 25 today.

Hospice recognized for having highest standard of care

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH

Citizen Staff

The Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society (PGHPCS) achieved accreditation from the Hospice Palliative Care Ontario (HPCO) program.

The society, which provides end-oflife care to community members, has met a comprehensive set of standards to achieve the highest levels of best practices and evidence-based care.

“I am grateful to our dedicated staff and volunteers at PGHPCS for their hard work in helping us meet the accreditation standards,” said executive director Donna Flood.

“This achievement is a testament to their unwavering commitment to excellence and compassion. We are proud to be the first organization outside of Ontario to achieve this status.”

The HPCO accreditation not only validates the hospice society’s commitment to providing top-quality care but also signifies the organization as a

Prince George Hospice Society has just been recognized for a high care standard.

leader in the field.

The leadership began in 1995, when the Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society was built as the first standalone hospice in B.C. with support from the Prince George Rotary Club.

In 2023 Prince George Hospice was the first Home Hospice program offered

in the country to focus on supporting those who wished to die at home.

“We are proud to be at the forefront of innovative hospice care and have been invited by other hospice societies across Canada and even in the UK to share our work and help them learn from our programs,” Flood explained.

“We are also grateful to the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), which has been a close partner in ensuring that all our work is evidence-based, enabling us to be a centre of excellence in care.”

The Prince George Hospice Palliative Care Society is an independent not-forprofit organization dedicated to providing compassionate care and support to individuals and their families during life’s most challenging times. Programs and support services are developed based on the needs identified by the community.

The PGHPCS receives 44 per cent of its funding from the Northern Health Authority and relies on donations from the community to raise more than $2 million annually for programs. There are no barriers to accessing any of the hospice programs, ensuring that everyone in need can receive the care they deserve.

For more information about programs hospice offers visit pghpcs.ca.

PRINCE GEORGE HOSPICE SOCIETY PHOTO

Maxine Wilson has lived in Prince George since 1946

She was washing dishes at the hospital for $1 a day when she met the man she would marry

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH

Citizen Staff

Maxine Wilson has lived in Prince George for 78 years.

Things tend to change over time and Maxine, who just turned 98 on Aug. 8, thought it might be time to share some of her experiences as a longtime resident of the city.

Moving here from North Battleford, Saskatchewan in 1946 at 20 years old, Maxine found work washing dishes at the hospital for $1 a day.

Maxine remembers the doctors stationed at the army hospital, recalling that there were four great doctors, including Dr. Lyons, Dr. McArthur, Dr. Chambers and Dr. McKenzie.

The hospital still standing in Prince George was built in 1958.

“While I was washing dishes one day a young man walked in and asked me where the storage room was,” Maxine recalls how she met her beloved husband, Andrew Wilson.

“As I helped him unload the produce, I asked him where he was from.”

He was from Saskatchewan, too. He came from Nipawin.

A few weeks after their first meeting the pair ran into each other on the corner of Third and George while they were both with friends. They decided to go for coffee at the Shasta Café on George Street and the rest, as they say, is history.

Andy and Maxine married on Aug. 20, 1948 and rented a little two-bedroom house in South Fort George on Queensway for $30 a month.

Maxine went to her very first movie in 1949. She and Andy saw Disney’s “Lady & The Tramp.”

Soon the young couple saved up enough money to buy their first home on Hamilton Street in South Fort George. It cost $500 and had three bedrooms.

On Dec. 2, 1950, their first son, Norman, was born. When Norman was two months old, the little family sold their house and moved to a farm and

in exchange for Andy’s labour got a room there. Maxine was able to grow a wonderful garden and entered exhibits into the fair for prize money.

Soon after that they moved to a small house at the corner of Queensway and 20th Avenue while Andy sold sewing machines in Williams Lake. Their daughter Jean was born on Aug. 1, 1952.

Andy built a bigger house on the corner lot while he was working for Singer. They sold the house and moved to an army house on Ninth Avenue close to Duchess Park.

As life went on they eventually moved into a large acreage in Pineview on Graves Road, known then as the Old Shelley Road, in 1955. The following year Maxine ordered 100 chicks, some to produce eggs and some for butchering and lucky she did as the following year things took a turn no one could have predicted.

In the fall of 1956 Andy put a pulley system in the top of the barn that would lift the hay from the wagon into the loft. Unfortunately, something went very wrong while he was working with his brother one day and Andy fell from the

loft, breaking his back, foot and ankle. He was in a full-body cast for several weeks.

Maxine was able to sell chicken eggs around town and after Andy recovered enough he starting working for a real estate firm. Andy continued to sell real estate on and off for years and he sold cars, too.

The family moved away from Prince George for a few years, spending some time in Penticton where they had their third child, Allan, who was born March 16, 1959. They moved back to Prince George and lived west of town.

Andy was working at Commonwealth Trust and Maxine sold encyclopedias. They moved back into town to Hemlock Street and bought a house for $18,000. Their late-in-life baby, Helen, came along on April 16, 1969 and the house on Hemlock Street was where she grew up.

Andy decided to change careers and went from pressed suits to work clothes when he bought his first truck to haul wood chips from Lakeland Mill to the pulp mill.

“Wilson Trucking made our first real money,” Maxine recalled.

That was after they were married for more than 30 years.

They celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary at their Hemlock Street home and soon after Andy sold the trucks.

Unfortunately, Andy passed away in 1986 and that spurred Maxine to move to Panorama Place, an apartment complex on 15th Avenue.

She started to travel after that, going to Hawaii, taking cruises, and driving around B.C. and to Saskatchewan to visit family.

“I loved to drive and really enjoyed my trips,” she said.

When Maxine turned 92 she decided to move to Gateway Lodge.

“I thought it would be nice to get a little help,” Maxine said. “Surrounded by four children, eight grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, I feel lucky to have such a wonderful family.”

CITIZEN STAFF PHOTO

Maxine Wilson, 98, has lived in Prince George for the last 78 years. Here she holds the book she has written for her family about her early years in Saskatchewan, with a photo of her grandparents’ homestead, where she was born in 1926.

Don’t toss it out ... The Repair Cafe can fix it right up

Citizen photos by Chuck Nisbett

Members of Eco Living Community (ELC) held a Repair Cafe: Small Appliances And Textiles Saturday, Aug. 10 at Prince George Public Library.

The Repair Cafe saw volunteers gathering to use their skills to fix items brought in by the public.

In all 16 repairs were attempted on items including laptops, microwaves, lamps, jackets, and drapes, with 11 being successfully fixed.

Members of UNBC’s Spark Lab were available to try to solve problems and brought a 3D printer to assist in repairs.

An electronics repair specialist, seamstresses and Fibre Arts Guild members were on hand to help and to teach people how to conduct their own repairs.

The library will have updates on future Repair Cafe dates.

Volunteers Rachel Pagdin and Caleb Mueller, from UNBC’s Spark Lab, work with Gail Wolfe to see if they can figure out why her fan is ejecting dirty debris.

Volunteer seamstress Margaret Tayti helps Roman Bata repair his backpack.

Eco Living Community’s Repair Cafe had a 3D printer on hand to assist in making repairs by creating parts they may need.

Below: Volunteer seamstress Renee Gallant (right) works on shortening curtains for Amanda Bill.

The haunting of Corless House in downtown PG

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Seeing two young girls rushing up and down the stairs, a man walking the expanse of the store right through to the front door, and hearing heavy footfalls coming from the second floor are all part of the sights and sounds experienced at Sisters Rock’n Gems.

The head-scratcher is that these reports are all about the ghosts that are said to haunt Corless House at 1276 Fourth Ave., Specialty Avenue, in downtown Prince George.

“When I come in here I feel very positive energy – I don’t feel anything negative ever,” said Sue Bloomingdale, co-owner of Sisters Rock’n Gems. “Right from Day 1 we’d hear a bang or some really heavy footsteps from the second floor and I’d be like ‘somebody snuck in the window!’ and I’d go running upstairs and there’s nobody there.”

Many customers and staff have shared their experiences and say they’ve seen spirits, especially one tall, thin man who walks with confidence around the store.

Bloomingdale believes it’s most likely Richard (Dick) Corless, who owned Corless House and lived in the home with his family from 1919 to 1947. The house was built in 1917.

Corless was a pioneer Prince George businessman who held several jobs during his lifetime, including car dealer, furniture dealer, undertaker and coffin maker.

“So customers have said they’ve seen this man and they see his wife standing a bit behind him,” Bloomingdale said. “When it gets busy in here, they go upstairs and two girls that are in long dresses play up and down the stairs. I have seen spirits but not the two little girls but I have definitely heard them.”

Bloomingdale said the ghosts play tricks on her, too, by moving stuff around quite often.

“We had a psychic here at an event called Evening of Clairvoyance and there were about 20 people here,” Bloomingdale recalled. “We were all sitting here and it was really quiet and

all of a sudden we hear ‘stomp, stomp,’ really loud.”

So once again Bloomingdale went running upstairs only to find nobody there.

“I’ve seen a spirit as real as you and me and I’m talking to it and of course he wouldn’t talk back and it turned and walked out the closed door,” Bloomingdale smiled. “And I’m like ‘holy crap!’

You know what? I’ve always kind of believed but until you actually see it …

And people who say that it’s not true – perhaps they’ve never seen anything themselves and I say ‘whatever.’ I’ve seen flashes of light where there’s no source of light, lights turning on and off and things moving without any other explanation.”

One day a customer came into the store wanting to get a banner off the wall over the couch in the back.

“She was a very nice lady and she said she had wanted to get the banner but there was a lady there in spirit,” Bloomingdale explained. “And she said ‘I think it was your mom and she wants you to know that she’s here with you and this has never happened to

me before and I’m really scared and I’ll probably never come back to your store,’ and she walked out.”

Bloomingdale said she knows spirits are in Corless house.

The question is: where did the little girls come from?

Bloomingdale has a theory.

In 1918 the influenza pandemic hit, killing an estimated 50 million people worldwide. It’s considered one of the worst pandemics in history.

“Dick Corless was an undertaker for about 15 years and when the plague hit his funeral home was so full he couldn’t fit all the bodies there,” Bloomingdale said about the research she had done.

Bodies were brought to be piled in a shed in the back yard of the family home until spring thaw when they could be buried, she added the information she had been told by community members.

So perhaps the two young girls dressed in long white dresses were part of that, Bloomingdale theorized.

“When we first moved the store here and started realizing there was spirit

here we had a psychic come in and she told us they were happy we were here and they protect us,” Bloomingdale said. “And I believe that. When the explosion happened (Aug. 22, 2023) there was no damage.”

Corless House is a little more than half a block away from the explosion site of the old Achillion restaurant located at 422 Dominion St.

Bloomingdale gestured to all the art hanging on the walls, the jewelry on racks, crystal balls and artwork on tables.

“Look at this place – nothing fell,” Bloomingdale said. “Nothing in the whole store was damaged and all my neighbours had their windows blown out – including the frames – and even those further away from the blast had damage, but not us.”

She said they’ve been lucky.

“I don’t know why the spirits don’t move along but they’ve never bothered us,” she said. “I think maybe they like it here. You can believe or don’t believe. Once you’ve experienced it, then you know.”

CITIZEN

Sue Bloomingdale, co-owner of Sisters Rock’n Gems, located at Corless House on Specialty Avenue in downtown Prince George, talks about her experience with ghosts in the store.

Wounded mare found on logging road has her foal

CITIZEN STAFF

A horse found 10 kilometres down a logging road near Fort St. John has had her foal.

The mare, who was given the name Spirit, was pregnant when she was found. She had lesions on her skin, some raw, and was covered in hives and welts.

“We were contacted by a conservation officer about Spirit, and we were able to find a foster in the area who could take her in,” stated Christy King, the BC SPCA’s interim program manager for farm and equine animal care services. “We are so thankful to the conservation officer for notifying us and the foster who was able to respond so quickly. She drove her own truck and trailer down the logging road to rescue Spirit and then coaxed her into the trailer. Spirit was a bit shy at first, but eventually she walked into the trailer.” It appeared that someone had already

tried to treat Spirit’s wounds, King said, but the care wasn’t enough.

“Once the appropriate topical medication and oral antibiotics were prescribed it was amazing how quickly her skin started to clear up. She is looking so much healthier now,” she said.

Spirit’s owner was located and chose to surrender her to the BC SPCA.

Her foal was born on July 28, and was given the name Journey.

“I am happy to say that Spirit and her foal are doing very well,” said King, adding that the name was given in honour of Spirit’s difficult journey before she found care.

Spirit’s foster has decided to adopt her, and Journey will be available for adoption once she is weaned, which won’t be for several months.

To learn about fostering animals, visit spca.bc.ca/ways-to-help/volunteer/ farm-animal-volunteer-opportunities

To donate, visit spca.bc.ca/ donations-emergency-foal

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

Moonlight Movie Tour visits PG with ‘Migration’

CITIZEN STAFF

The animated movie “Migration” will be screened in Prince George on Aug. 26 as part of the Beem Credit Union’s Moonlight Movie Tour.

Admission is by donation. Proceeds will go to the Prince George Child Development Centre.

The film can be seen at the Park Drive-In Theatre, 9660 Raceway Road. Gates open at 7:30 p.m. and tHe movie starts at 9 p.m. It’s the first time Prince George has been on the tour.

“Migration,” starring the voices of Kumail Nanjiani, Elizabeth Banks, Keegan-Michael Key, Awkwafina and Danny DeVito, is the story of a family of ducks who attempt to migrate from New England, through New York City, to Jamaica.

Beem Credit Union, formed through the merger of Gulf and Fraser and

Interior Savings (which has two branches in Prince George), is hosting the tour across the province from Aug. 27 to Aug. 29. The financial institution partners with non-profits in each community, and since 2008 has raised more than $210,000.

While the Prince George event takes place at a drive-in theatre, other stops on the tour will see a large screen set up in an outdoor location, like a park. All the films being shown are recently released family-friendly animated movies.

Other stops along the tour include Fort St. John, which will host a movie night Aug. 17 with “Kung Fu Panda 4” at Centennial Park. Proceeds from that will go to the North Peace Gymnastics Association. Other communities will see the movie “Elemental.”

The farthest north the tour goes is Fort Nelson on Aug. 21.

BC SPCA PHOTO

Spirit and her foal Journey are doing well. Spirit, pregnant and wounded, was found on a logging road near Fort St. John.

Seniors are in the spotlight for BCNE’s opening day

CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff

Cows Just Wanna Have Fun is the theme for this year’s BCNE but seniors want to get in on the action, too.

The Seniors’ Fair takes place on the first day of the four-day exhibition, Thursday, Aug. 15, which is designated as Seniors’ Day.

Entry into the grounds for the 112th annual country fair is set at a toonie for those 55+. The special Seniors’ Fair takes place in Kin 3 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Prince George Council of Seniors is hosting the annual event geared for a little fun and a great lunch.

It’s set up to answer all those questions mature adults might have about life, leisure and supports available for them as they age gracefully.

There are 44 organizations with information booths seniors can explore, including non-profits like seniors’ centres, Red Cross, Hope Air and the Kidney Foundation of Canada. Also in attendance will be those focused on health like a dentist, Hearing Life and CNIB.

There’s also Volunteer PG, Northern Sports Centre, YMCA, along with the Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North up at the university that will showcase all the latest on how to make your life easier using the most modern tech.

“We’ve got CIBC coming out this year to talk about bank fraud,” said Malhar Kendurkar, executive director, Prince George Council of Seniors.

“It is such an important thing that seniors, and others, need to know about.”

Once the brain is in gear and seniors are ready for a little fun, Spruce Capital Seniors volunteers are bringing the giggles with a little light axe throwing, indoor lawn bowling and cornhole.

And of course, the Prince George Council of Seniors will have their support teams in attendance to answer all inquiries about the Meals on Wheels and Better at Home programs, Caregiver Support, Community Connector

Seniors’ Fair is the opener to this year’s BCNE where those 55+ can get through the gate for a toonie on Thursday, Aug. 15. The exhibition goes until Sunday, Aug 18.

and Senior Housing Navigator.

“We’re all really excited to be at the BCNE this year to talk about our services,” Kendurkar said.

“To have a little fun with the theme Cows Just Wanna Have Fun, our community connector Melanie thought we should do a little game of Pin the Tail … on the cow.”

This year the Council of Seniors offered an outside vendor the chance to provide lunch instead of managing it themselves and Chaa Tayo Bubble Tea & Wings, celebrating flavours of the Philippines, took up the challenge to provide a budget lunch for $10.

“The menu looks really good and it’s super-affordable,” Kendurkar said.

The food served will be seniorfriendly spice-wise, he added, so it will be suitable for palettes used to more mild flavours.

There are four options including Chicken Adobo Rice, Pansit (noodles) and a barbecue pork skewer, Pansit and Lumpia (spring roll) and chicken wings and flavoured fries.

There is also a side order of Soimai (dim sum) for $5 and a wide variety of drinks including Bubble Tea will be available, too.

As usual visitors can pick up Seniors Fair Passports. They can get boxes checked off at the booths they visit, fill out their names and phone numbers, then have some fun picking out the most outstanding booths, including best

theme, most colourful, most interactive and overall favourite before handing them in to be eligible to win one of the hourly prizes.

Parking is free at the BCNE and Thursday’s entry fee for Seniors 55+ is only $2. The BCNE is presented by the

Prince George Agricultural and Historical Association.

The BCNE goes from Thursday, Aug. 15 to Sunday, Aug.18 at the Prince George Exhibition Grounds.

For more information including entertainment schedules visit www.bcne.ca/.

Fun times at the Hixon Fall Fair and Parade

Kicking off with a parade down Highway 97, which was closed to traffic, the annual event continued with a day of down-home events and more before capping off with a dinner and dance featuring live music.

by Pat Suter

The Chris Goodwin Band headlined the Hixon Fall Fair on Saturday, Aug. 10 in the community south of Prince George. Other events included the homecraft show, agricultural exhibitions, games and more.

Photos

The province closes the highway for the parade each year

The Hixon Fall Fair took over the village south of Prince George over the weekend, opening with a parade and featuring plenty of activities for visitors.

In addition to the games and bouncy castles, the fair also included the minirail from Central Interior Railway Museum in Prince George.

Inside the community hall, the fair featured agricultural, arts and homecraft exhibits of flowers and plants, fruits and vegetables, grains and forage, hooked rugs and cushions, leatherwork, candles, feather craft, string art, jewelry, ceramics and pottery, textiles, baby items, slippers, doll clothes and tatting, centre pieces and bedspreads, knitted socks and gloves, hand sewn men’s and ladies’ clothing, pillowcases, needle point, tablecloths quilts and more. The exhibits also included food and canned goods.

The fair wrapped up with a community dinner followed by a dance featuring music by the Chris Goodwin Band from Prince George.

Part of the fair’s fun was a Raise the Roof Raffle, with proceeds going to the $53,000 replacement cost of a new roof for the community hall.

Something’s definitely different around Prince George this summer ...

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

Are you missing that high-pitched buzz in your ear?

Do you long for the chance to test your reflexes with a quick swat at a blood-sucking mosquito?

Didn’t think so.

In case you haven’t noticed, one of summer’s most annoying pests has been largely missing in action this year.

On any given day in Prince George, visitors to outdoor parks - Moore’s Meadow, Forests for the World, Pidherny Recreation Site, Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park - are finding them mostly devoid of mosquitoes.

It’s safe to go into the woods without bug repellent, even in Cottonwood Island Park, where the flood channels at the confluence of the Nechako and Fraser Rivers usually produce thick clouds of skeeters that can drive visitors away.

For the first time in years, you can go out on your deck on a warm summer evening and not be eaten alive.

So what’s the reason? Did the dragonflies suddenly take over their turf? No - it’s the weather.

“It’s been pretty dry, so that would be the most obvious explanation,” said Steffan Lindgren, a UNBC professor emeritus of forest entomology. “I don’t think that the cold snap (during winter) would have affected the populations all that much.”

It has more to do with moisture and the lack of precipitation in the previous two years that has led to this summer’s depleted mosquito ranks.

“Drought will affect them because a lot of mosquito species will breed in small temporary water bodies. Even tires lying around collecting water will be a breeding source of mosquitoes,” he explained.

“I think also the snowpack was low last winter, so meltwater wouldn’t have been as available.”

Prince George is home to at least 29 known mosquito species, none of which spread diseases. But they do leave itchy

where are all the

mosquitoes?

Dry conditions over the last couple of years have reduced the local mosquito population, a forest entomologist explains.

bites that cause some people to swell up in red welts that can last for days.

Each female mosquito can produce as many as four broods per year and each brood contains between 200 and 300 eggs, which can lie dormant for months on the ground. All they need is water and the right conditions to start hatching.

“They build up pretty fast,” said Lindgren. “If you go into a spruce forest you tend to find a lot more mosquitoes than in a pine forest, just because it’s a more humid environment.”

Lindgren taught forest entomology for 21 years at UNBC and now lives in Nanaimo. During his teaching days he spent weeks with his forestry students on field trips in the forest. He knows what it’s like to have to dress from headto-toe in bug-repellent clothing and wear mesh over his face to keep from being bitten.

Lindgren knows the terrain around Prince George intimately. He’s been through enough summers to know that with few mosquitoes around in early

August we might make it through the rest of summer unscathed. But that can change in a hurry.

“The key is availability of breeding resources,” Lindgren said.

“Depending on the temperature and conditions it can take as little as days for mosquito larvae to develop, all the way up to a month. The worst of it should be over and once you get a frost or two you should be safe. They’re going to be around, depending on where you are. If you go away from water any distance it’s not so bad.”

One solution comes from the city’s pest management mosquito control program, which utilizes a third-party contractor to sample water pools from late April through June. If the larvae populations are high enough those bodies of standing water were treated with natural bacteria larvicide.

As for next year ...

“They can bounce back very quickly from low populations, so if you get the right conditions they’ll be bad,” Lindgren said.

B.C. has one unique type of the

insect

UNIVERSITY OF B.C.

Mosquitoes are well known insects and most of their characteristics are described in the introduction to their Order, the Diptera. They are a successful group, surviving in their present form, presumably with similar behaviour, for 100 million years or more.

The reason might be because they exploit a wide variety of habitats for their air breathing immature stages, from a small rot cavity in a tree to the swampy expanses of the Arctic tundra. The adults also fill a variety of niches, from the seashore and river banks to the mountain tree lines.

We have 48 confirmed species and subspecies in the Province and another 14 are known from adjacent territories just across our borders (click here for more details).

Unique among our mosquitoes is Mansonia perturbans, the only member of its genus to reach Canada, whose larvae and pupae are adapted to pierce the air-filled roots of cat-tails and similar aquatic plants. They overwinter as larvae still attached to the plant at least as far north as Prince George where swamps and marshes must be almost entirely frozen.

Soon after they emerge, males of many species form large swarms at dusk and dawn and females fly in and mate before starting their search for a blood meal. Males are relatively shortlived but females receive enough sperm in one mating to fertilize several batches of eggs. Females may take several bloodmeals and mature and lay several clutches of eggs if they survive long enough.

Throwback Thursday: Week

Aug. 15, 1977: Karen Ephrom, 9, of Vanderhoof and her sheep Freckles show off their first-place ribbon from the Prince George Exhibition’s Cutest Animal Contest. The Ex, now called the BCNE, set a new record that year with 46,000 people attending, Attractions included loggers’ sports, chariot and chuckwagon races, an old-time fiddling competition and the RCMP Musical Ride.

Ex president Jack Harrower credited the expanded Kin Centre and paved midway grounds for some of the success. Citizen file photo by Tim Swanky

Aug. 12, 2013: Avtar Takhar, 16, Dylan Tarasoff, 15 and Troy Prince, 16, take flight in the Cliffhanger ride at the B.C. Northern Exhibition (formerly the Prince George Exhibition). The midway was once again a popular stop that year, as were the 4-H shows, firefighter games, draft horse pulls, barrel racing, live music and more. This Citizen file photo is uncredited.

Aug. 18, 1961: The popularity of picnic and camp sites in the Prince George area is extremely high, but a shortage of both results in overcrowding of the few there are. Such is the case at Bear Lake, north of the city, where as many as 600 vehicles were clocked into the picnic area on a single Sunday this summer.

B.C. Parks Branch photo

Aug. 15, 1987: Art Arcangel is so proud of his success with the Philippine-style zucchini that he’s planning to enter them in the Prince George Exhibition. In this, his second year at growing the seeds a friend brought from his native country, he’s found they grow to about 10 centimetres during the summer and then zoom to a full length of about 16 centimetres (41 inches) in a week. Citizen file photo by Lisa Murdoch

Healthy North

Healthy North

See a pharmacist

See a Pharmacist

HealthELife Minor Enrollment

Physical Activity Resources

Have a minor medical complaint? Book an appointment with a pharmacist today! Get assessed by a pharmacist for a number of minor ailments, including pink eye, urinary tract infections, canker sores, and more. You can also get prescriptions for contraception at the pharmacy. Book an appointment with a prescribing pharmacist near you - online or by telephone (1-833-882-0022). In many cases there is same-day availability. For more information visit: www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/ content/health/accessing-health-care/pharmacy-services

Have a minor medical complaint? Book an appointment with a pharmacist today! Get assessed by a pharmacist for a number of minor ailments, including pink eye, urinary tract infections, canker sores, and more. You can also get prescriptions for contraception at the pharmacy. Book an appointment with a prescribing pharmacist near you - online or by telephone (1-833-882-0022). In many cases there is same-day availability. For more information visit: www2.gov. bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/pharmacy-services.

Calling all parents and caregivers! Children aged 11 and younger can now be signed up for HealthELife. This gives parents or caregivers direct access to the child’s health record without requiring a proxy relationship between the adult and child.

Using HealthElife has benefits:

• Easy and secure access to your personal health information online

• Faster lab results and medical imaging reports including x-ray and ultrasound

If you live in a rural and remote community, virtual services can help you access services not readily available in your home community. Both physical activity resources and physiotherapy services can be accessed virtually! Whether you’re looking to speak to a physiotherapist or participate in an exercise program, virtual services can connect you with what works best for you wherever you are. For more info, visit: Northernhealth.ca/health-information/physicalactivity/virtual-and-home-based-activity-options .

• Conveniently view your upcoming lab appointments Sign up for HealthElife today at: northernhealth.ca/healthelife

Preparing for smoke

NH Connections

Northerners are learning to live with wildfire smoke. Each year, spring and summer bring lingering smoke for weeks (and sometimes months) in many communities. It’s important that we plan yearround to protect our communities, even before the smoke rolls in. Read how smoke can affect our heath and the ways you can prepare for smoky conditions here: Stories.northernhealth.ca/stories/ smoky-times-how-communities-can-help-young-families-wildfire-smoke.

Booking your trip with NH Connections is now just a few clicks away. Online booking is now available at NHconnections.ca. Simply fill out a confidential form and receive your confirmation and ticket via email. Don’t worry, you can still call our Connections booking staff at 1-888-647-4997 for assistance with booking. Get onboard to the medical assistance you need – Visit NHConnections.ca

An end-of-life guide on Advance Care Planning

It can offer people agency and control within largely uncontrollable circumstances

STEPHANIE COUTU Northern Health

Like most people, I’ve come to appreciate death and dying as much more than medical eventualities. My experience with these natural and often profound human processes has contributed to connections with others, with my heritage, and to more spiritual connections.

Through my roles as an Indigenous (Métis) end-of-life guide (doula), social worker, and mental health provider, I’ve recognized Advance Care Planning (ACP) as a means of empowerment, advocacy, and reconciliation. ACP is both deeply personal and collaborative, promoting self-determination, respect, accountability, dignity, cultural safety, and relationships, amongst other guiding professional principles and amidst the inevitable.

Reflecting on personal experience, my stepmother’s advance care plan supported my family during the one-year period following her terminal cancer diagnosis: It served as a roadmap for navigating the otherwise impossible decisions that appeared around every corner and accompanied each treatment phase.

This one-year timeline was a sort of gift, providing her with time to explore care options, consolidate her plans, and express her wishes to key players while still capable.

ACP offered my stepmother agency and control within largely uncontrollable circumstances. Knowing that we as a family were honouring her wishes

brought peace and dignity to her final moments, and comfort to our grieving hearts. As a result, I understand the reassuring effect that ACP has, not only on the individual preparing for end of life, but also on others who are a part of their journey.

In 2022, I completed the Indigenous End-of-Life Guide (Doula) Training via Métis Nation BC and Douglas College, with instructor Jennifer Mallmes, co-founder of the End-of-Life Doula Association of Canada. I attended the course in Terrace, BC with 15 other Métis women to learn how to provide death- and dying-related supports to people in our Northern BC communities and beyond.

Course insights undoubtedly shaped my perspective on ACP. As a group, we unpacked how broaching death, a topic often considered taboo or approached from a clinical standpoint, can include elements of joy, inspiration, humour, practicality, and honesty, regardless of one’s role in providing end-of-life care.

Jennifer advocates for normalizing death and dying as natural and unpredictable processes that people can and should prepare for. Similarly, ACP can be completed by almost everyone, irrespective of any life-altering diagnosis, illness, or anticipated life expectancy.

As students, we were prompted to contemplate our own advance care plans. Engaging in ACP, I realized that

EMAIL: coralee.oakes.mla@leg.bc.ca #401-410 Kinchant St., Quesnel Serving Cariboo North since 2013

such planning requires considerable time, reflection, exploration, research, and courage. The evolution of my advance care plan, marked by several revisions, reflects my growing comfort with visualizing and preparing for my death, as well as the adaptable nature of ACP in supporting people through different life stages and events.

The course highlighted intersections of ACP and culture, such as views and beliefs about life and death, traditional customs, historical influences, and practical factors like location and available resources.

ACP involves understanding and honouring people’s diverse end-of-life needs and preferences, thereby promoting cultural safety. I see potential for ACP to serve a reconciliatory role by enabling and empowering Indigenous people to uphold their rights to practice end-oflife customs and receive care that may diverge from standardized Western healthcare practices.

Course teachings revealed my misconceptions and gaps in knowledge regarding the formal, legal, and administrative components of death and dying.

For example, key topics covered in ACP include the distinction between Temporary Substitute Decision Makers (TSDM) and named representatives, along with different types of representation agreements like Standard Representation (Section 7) and Enhanced Representation (Section 9). Both forms can be found in the My Voice Advance Care Planning Guide.

NORTHERN HEALTH PHOTO

Stefanie Coutu, a mental health and substance use clinician and end-of-life guide (doula), offers some information today on Advance Care Planning.

ACP is all about making informed decisions about care

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

Did you know that Section 9 agreements are necessary for appointing representatives for personal care and health care decisions, including those related to life support and medical interventions? Have you considered who should be making these decisions on your behalf in case of an unforeseen event?

ACP holds significant relevance within my professional roles as a social worker and mental health provider. As a process, it embodies guiding principles and ethics.

For example, ACP emphasizes empowering people to make informed decisions about their end-of-life care, aligning with the social work principles of self-determination and autonomy, and practice standards for informed consent.

ACP addresses social justice and inequalities by ensuring that people

from diverse backgrounds have access to culturally and otherwise meaningful end-of-life care options.

Social workers, with their emphasis on advocacy and empathy, play a crucial role in facilitating ACP discussions, especially among underserved populations who may face additional barriers in accessing health care and social services.

Using communication skills (micro skills), cultural competence, and the ability to navigate systems and family dynamics can be invaluable in guiding individuals and loved ones through ACP.

As a deeply personal process, ACP requires a person-centred, individualized approach. Using ACP as a tool, social workers may inherently promote human rights, dignity, and respect in end-of-life care decision-making.

ACP holds particular significance within the mental health field, especially for individuals dealing with risk factors

Let’s Fix Health Care.

such as substance use, self-harm, violence and abuse, unsafe housing, and suicidality.

Encouraging clients living with these challenging circumstances to engage in ACP discussions is crucial. As health care professionals, our inherent bias toward preserving life often shapes our therapeutic approaches and treatment decisions. Yet incorporating ACP into our practices can help normalize conversations about death, dying, and grief/loss, while also reducing stigma and shame surrounding high-risk behaviours and potential outcomes.

I sometimes feel that our health care system has lost touch with the naturalness of dying and the importance of family and community involvement throughout this process.

In acknowledging this disconnect, we may have also lost touch with how to best support people going through it.

Still, I believe that humans possess an innate understanding of their needs for

ACP holds particular significance within the mental health field’

this journey — whether intuitive or via other ways of knowing — and ACP is a powerful tool for ensuring these needs are met.

I remain committed to advocating for ACP across all my roles, which includes discussing ACP with clients accessing MHSU services, and providing end-of-life guide (doula) services within my private counselling practice.

I urge you to engage in ACP for yourself if you have not done so already, and to encourage your loved ones and patients/clients to do the same.

Stefanie Coutu is a mental health and substance use clinician and end-of-life guide (doula).

Wildfire smoke poses risks

CITIZEN STAFF

When smoke from B.C. wildfires prompts Environment Canada to issue special air quality statements, the weather agency also offers the following advice to protect your health.

The fine particles in wildfire smoke pose the main health risk. As smoke levels increase, health risks increase.

People more likely to be impacted by wildfire smoke include seniors, pregnant women and pregnant people, people who smoke, infants and young children, people who work outdoors, people involved in strenuous outdoor exercise and people with an existing illness or chronic health condition.

Those who are more likely to be impacted should reduce or reschedule strenuous activities outdoors or seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms.

Listen to your body and if you experience symptoms, consider reducing or stopping strenuous outdoor activities.

Symptoms can include milder and more common symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation, as well as serious but less common symptoms such as chest pains or severe cough. If you think you are having a medical emergency, seek immediate medical assistance.

Limit time outdoors. When indoors, keep windows and doors closed as much as possible. When there is an extreme heat event occurring with poor air quality, prioritize keeping cool. Always seek out and follow health guidance from local authorities.

Protect your indoor air from wildfire smoke. Actions can include using a clean, good quality air filter in your ventilation system and/or a certified portable air purifier that can filter fine particles.

When spending time outdoors, a well-constructed, well-fitting and properly worn respirator type mask (such as a NIOSH-certified N95 or equivalent respirator) can reduce your exposure to the fine particles in the smoke.

Local Sports

Prince George Kodiaks fall 48-28 to Valley Huskers

Running back Xander Shane takes advantage of the blocks provided by the Kodiak offensive line to find his way through the Valley Huskers Saturday at Masich

Stadium. Below left: Prince George Kodiaks defensive back Jerome Darko twists in the air in an attempt to get his hands on an errant pass from Valley Huskers quarterback Tyran Duval. Below right: Kodiaks running back Jaxon Boyda keeps pushing forward against the Valley Husker defense.

Citizen photos by Chuck Nisbett

The Prince George Kodiaks suffered a home-field loss Saturday night, falling to the Valley Huskers (who play in Chilliwack) 48-28 at Masich Place Stadium. Next up for the Kodiaks in B.C. Football Conference action is a road game against the undefeated Okanagan Sun at the Apple Bowl in in Kelowna on Saturday, Aug. 17. That game is at 4 p.m.

Hometown fans can catch the team’s next game at Masich Place on Aug. 24 when they take on the visiting Kamloops Broncos.

Above:

Place

Fastball in the family: Two generations of River Kings are chasing the ISC World Championship in Surrey

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

The Prince George River Kings had very little time to savour the win on the field in Regina at the Canadian Native Fastball Championship.

Ninety minutes after they wrapped up a 2-1 win Sunday, Aug. 4 over Oshwegan Redmen of Six Nations, Ont., to claim the men’s division title, the River Kings were at Regina Airport, checking in to board their flight back to Prince George. That’s right, the championship game ended at 3:30 a.m.

“It was scheduled for 10:30 p.m., which was a mistake in itself, and then they got behind after a couple games with extra innings and we started at 1:30 in the morning and finished at 3:30 a.m.,” said the River Kings’ 55-year-old coach/second baseman, Randy Potskin.

“The flight’s booked at 5 a.m. so we basically celebrated for half an hour, went back to the hotel and showered, checked out and headed to the airport - it was no sleep for 24 hours. (Monday) was a rough day for me. I slept good (on Tuesday).”

Behind the pitching of Steven McNaughton of Vancouver, who threw 22 strikeouts in the seven-inning game, the River Kings earned runs in each of the first and second innings and survived a late-game comeback attempt from the Redmen.

“(In the fifth inning) one guy got a hit and they bunted him to second base and he got to third base on a fielder’s choice and scored on a passed ball,” said Potskin.

“Then a guy struck out and the catcher (Cole Laviolette) missed it with two outs and that was the run they scored. We got some lucky breaks for sure and a couple double plays.”

Josh Anderson of Vancouver threw 12 strikeouts for the River Kings to beat Oshwegan by an identical 2-1 score earlier Sunday in the A-final.

Prince George beat the host Regina Golden Hawks 2-1 to book their ticket to

the A-final.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Hawks walked Nicholas Potskin intentionally to load the bases and Tyson Ghostkeeper drove in a two-out walk-off hit to end the game.

The River Kings hadn’t won the title since 2006, which ended a remarkable seven-year reign as Canadian native champions. They’ve won it nine times in total.

Eleven other local players are on the River Kings roster, including Nicholas Potskin, Jarrett Potskin, Derian Potskin, Evan Potskin, Tre Potskin, Chad Ghostkeeper, Tyson Ghostkeeper, Justin Fillion, Cole Laviolette, Jaeger Bush and Joel Walkey.

“We came second last year and third the previous year, so the young guys were close,” said Randy Potskin. “Our

goal between me and Chad was to get them over that hump.”

He was one of three River Kings players who shared the victory with their sons. His sons, Nicholas, 27, and Jarrett, 29, played shortstop and centre field respectively and it was the first time Randy has earned a team trophy playing with his boys.

“It was very sweet, especially when you can do it with the family, friends and your own kids,” said the 50-year old Potskin. “That’s been my goal for many years, to play with my boys and hopefully win a championship. It was extra special this year.”

Chad Ghostkeeper, the River Kings’ 53-year-old catcher, coached the final game, watching his 26-year-old son Tyson play left field.

Evan Potskin drove 15 hours from

That’s

been my goal for many years, to play with my boys and hopefully win a championship. It was extra special this year.”

Prince George to Regina to be there as a River Kings fielder with his son, 26-yearold son Derian, who played right field.

Tre Potskin, whose father Joey, Randy’s brother, died of a longterm illness in March, was unable to make the trip to Regina due to work commitments, but was in the River Kings’ lineup in Surrey when they started the International Softball Federation world championship Saturday, Aug. 10 against Mexico.

The Mexican team was coming off a second-place finish at the American Softball Association championships and was ranked 11th. The River Kings are ranked 22nd.

“We’re in tough for sure, it’s a big jump for us, but I think the guys are up to the challenge,” said Potskin, a veteran of five ISC championships.

“You’re playing with the best fastball players in the world. The last time the tournament was in B.C. was 1997 in Victoria and that was the first time the River Kings ever went to world’s. Now we’re going back as River Kings with our kids, who were babies at the ballpark, when we were there at world championships.”

The River Kings and Vanderhoof Rippers are among 24 teams from 15 countries entered in the nine-day tournament.

Seven other B.C. teams are entered in the men’s championship bracket and five teams from B.C. will be in the hunt for the masters title.

The top-ranked New York Gremlins will be bringing chucker Jack Besgrove of Australia, considered the world’s top fastball pitcher.

PRINCE GEORGE RIVER KINGS/FACEBOOK

The Prince George River Kings line up for a humorous ‘batting practice’ in this fun photo from their Facebook page. The team is in Surrey competing in the ISC World Championship.

Playmaker Megan Holyk signs with Timberwolves

UNBC ATHLETICS

As the 2024 Canada West women’s soccer season approaches, the UNBC Timberwolves have added another talented playmaker to their midfield and wing.

Head coach Neil Sedgwick has announced that Megan Holyk of 100 Mile House has committed to the Green and Gold for 2024 and beyond.

Holyk, a 2022 graduate from Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School returns North to Prince George after attending TRU last year.

It was Holyk’s previous Timberwolves FC club experience with Neil Sedgwick and Jo Bray that opened the door for her to join the TWolves.

“I’ve been working towards this for a couple of years,” reflected Holyk who at first wasn’t sure what her soccer future would entail in 2024. “Last year I felt discouraged at times, bit after talking with Neil I’m super excited to be here and to have the chance to play in front of my family and friends and show them

Speed in the sun at PGARA

James Bednar (No. 28) leads Lawrence Barks (No. 18) down the front straight after the Street Stock Main Event got back underway following a crash on Turn 4 on during the PGARA Invitational on Sunday, Aug. 11. The event, held over the weekend, produced some action-packed racing for fans, with local classes represented on the track.

what I’ve accomplished.”

Holyk’s initial impressions of her new teammates and her re-introduction to Neil Sedgwick have been seamless. She adds, “Everybody is super nice here. My teammates are super welcoming. Everybody is equal and they all just want to

help. Neil is great. I’ve had him before with Jo at Timberwolves FC. He’s a great coach, knows what he’s doing, and he explains things so well.”

“Megan has joined us after spending a year at TRU and her progress has already been massive,” adds Neil

Sedgwick. “Megan is a quick study and has shown she can take messaging and implement. She’s an exciting prospect for us.”

On the pitch, Holyk prides herself on her ability to think the game, her speed, and her ability to finish when the opportunity presents itself. The transition to Canada West will undoubtedly feature some growing pains, but Holyk is taking it in stride. “I’ve never played at this high level before, but I’m excited to see and face the strong players on the opposing teams. It’ll be a good challenge.”

Off the pitch it was the Wildlife and Fisheries program at UNBC that proved to be a major selling point.

“The Wildlife and Fisheries program at UNBC was something I really thought I would enjoy,” shared Holyk, who enjoys skiing and swimming during her down time. “I’m nervous about learning the ins and outs of a new campus, but the small class sizes and the beautiful campus are perfect and overall I’m very excited to be learning new things.”

UNBC ATHLETICS

Megan Holyk of 100 Mile House will be on the field with the UNBC Timberwolves this season.

Northern Bounce boys teams come home with medals

TED CLARKE Citizen Staff

After three straight second-place tournament finishes the U-14 Red boys from Northern Bounce Basketball Academy finally got the sweet taste of a final-game victory they craved all season long.

They capped off an undefeated 6-0 run at the four-day Canadian Club Basketball Championships in Langley on Sunday, Aug. 4 with a 54-34 win over Raincity Boys Purple of Vancouver in the 14U Gold Division final.

“It was just an unbelievable job all season by our U14 Red team,” said Northern Bounce Academy owner/ founder Jordan Yu.

“Their record was 26-2 and they made three tournament finals and they got it done at this nationals. They were in the finals of every single one and lost some close battles in championship games. I think just the lessons learned from those tight games that they’ve been in, they were forced to deal with in this last tournament and they went 6-0 in the Gold Division, which is the best we’ve ever done in that division in that age group.”

Coached by Reid Roberts and Joel Mueller, the U14 Red roster includes Brody Black, Carter Simpson, Zeke Ferguson, Lucas Murrin, Tyce Mueller, Christian Lucarelli, Ali Kora, Isaac Mogus, Liam Low, Nathan Del Rosario, Memphis Chesworth and Sawyer Roberts.

In other medal results, the Northern Bounce U16 boys coached by Nick Novak competed in the highest-level Platinum Division and came home with bronze. They went 4-2 in the tournament, defeating Fraser Valley Prep U16s 75-49 to guarantee a podium finish Sunday.

That team includes Dayne Mueller, Teagan Vanegmond, M.J. Kim, Kabir Bhathal, Tolu Bankole, Jack Sales, Jake Samis, Colby Van Camp, Urijah Zurowski, Wyatt Hill, Hunter Anderson and Markus Sale.

“We normally don’t enter the Platinum Division because it can get pretty ugly, it’s really high level,” said Yu, who started the academy in 2017.

“But the U16 boys went 4-2 and got

Northern Bounce Basketball Academy U14 Red won the Gold Division at club basketball nationals in Langley. The team includes: Carter Simpson, Lucas Murrin, Isaac Mogus, Liam Low, Memphis Chesworth, Sawyer Roberts, Tyce Mueller, Nathan Del Rosario, Zeke Ferguson, Christian Lucarelli, Ali Kora, Brody Black. Head coach: Reid Roberts; assistant coach: Joel Mueller.

a bronze medal, the highest we’ve ever finished in the Platinum Division. Everyone’s been putting in so much time from April to this last tournament in August and I’m just so proud of the players and coaching staff and parents

who got behind us. We’re starting to see the fruits of a lot of our labour, it’s just so great to see us competing at these high-levels now at these tournaments.”

The previous week at nationals in Langley, four Northern Bounce girls’

Other Northern Bounce teams who competed are shown in the smaller photos below. They include:

(Top left) U16 Black Boys Gold Division: 3-4 - 5th place. Team includes Lucas Dresen, Carson Connelly, Caleb Fuller, Jeona Gill, Julian Victorino, Jaylen Kirkness, Andrew Bertrand, Leyton Brade, Ismael Andrews, Oliver Provencher, Neil Henderson, James Seward.

(Top right) U13 Boys Gold Division: 2-4 11th place. Team includes Angus York, Jack Rowe, Malik Ngabo, Van Jepson, Hargun Billing, J.D. Ngosa, Adley Paulsen, Seiji Cronje, Noah Black, Vinay Madhok, Parker Adams. Head coach: Jordan Yu; assistant coach: Mani Ngabo

(Centre left) U14 Black Boys Silver Division: 1-5 - 15th Place. Team includes Griffin Michaud, Spencer McKenzie, Sawyer Chamberlist, Mason Chamberlist, Kruz Powar, Asante Manyimbiri, Matteo Gauthier, Caden Seward, Isaac Franke, Jake Birkhiem, Joshua Cabilao. Coaches: Jason Murrin, Garth McKenzie, Paul Powar.

(Centre right) U16 Red Boys: 4-2 and won bronze in the Platinum Division. The team includes Jake Samis, Colby Van Camp, Urijah Zurowski, Wyatt Hill, M.J. Kim, Hunter Anderson, Markus Sale, Kabir Bhathal, Tolu Bankole, Jack Sales, Dayne Mueller, Teagan Vanegmond. Head coach: Nick Novak

(Bottom left) U11 Boys Open Division: 0-4 10th place. Team includes Taeis Mathiscyk, Blake Olson, Neo Ngabo, Matteo Scarpino, Tristan Pavich, Jarvin Elardo, Isaiah Manhas, Jimmy Mortlock, Emmett Yu, Devon Seward, Amani Rugema, Henry Novak, Grady Mogus, Mason Yu, Easton Mathiscyk.

(Bottom right) U17 Boys Silver Division: 4-2 Record - 5th place. Team includes Zachary Kirkness, Matthew Stubley, Alex Lucarelli, Lyndon Wyer, Finn Thielmann, Harsh Cheema, Atlin Mogus, Conor Burbee, J.B. Burguillos, Rvnoor Thandi. Head coach: Illya Zhukovskyy

teams finished with medal wins. Based at the Roll-A-Dome, the Northern Bounce elite team program has about 130 players, while the elementary academies (kindergarten-Grade 7) involve about 200 players.

NORTHERN BOUNCE PHOTOS

Life Events

Dan Palumbo 1953-2009

You left us beautiful memories your love is still our guide although we cannot see you you’re always at our side

Edith, Sean, Steph, Ethan & Ariana, Brittany, Mitch & Roman

Sherrie Ellen Viberg

With sadness, we announce the passing of Sherrie Ellen Viberg after a short battle with cancer. Sherrie passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at hospice house on July 28th.

She was predeceased by her mother, June Barlow, husband Harland Viberg and life partner Dean Ward. Survived by her children, Diana Hampe (Darren), Darren Viberg (Fiona) and Carla Viberg (Shawn). Grandchildren: Tyrone, Samantha, Dustin, Mariah, Kristen, Cole and Jude. Great Grandchildren: Ryder and Autumn.

Sherrie loved gardening, cooking, playing Scrabble, travelling and organizing family events. She thoroughly enjoyed her grandchildren and was over the moon about her great grandchildren. Thank you for her exceptional care to the staff at Northern Health (Rapid, Home Care), Optimum Health Care, Rotary Hospice House, Dr. Higgins and Dr Mader! Special thank you to Theresa MacIsaac for keeping her garden going when she wasn’t able to. This brought her so much joy to see everything looking so beautiful!

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 7th at 12:00pm at Sherrie’s home.

Guy Kristian Sept 20, 1968 - Aug 14, 2019

Five years since you left us. Forever in our hearts.

Love Mom Arna, Ben, Bonnie, Diane & family

Mohinder Kaur Sangha

With great sadness, we announce the passing of Mohinder Kaur Sangha. She passed away peacefully in her home on August 2, 2024.

Predeceased by her husband, Sowarna, she is survived by her three children. Her daughters, Rajinderjit (Bahadar), Satinderjit (James) and son Darshan (Paramjit). Her legacy continues with her granddaughters, Dasheena, Daveena, Aliya and Amira.

Mohinder was born in the village of Mehangerwal, Punjab, India on June 7, 1942. She married Sowarna in 1958 and immigrated to Canada in 1966. She and her husband settled in Prince George where they had their three children. For many years, Mohinder worked at the Caribou Restaurant before retiring.

Mohinder wore her heart on her sleeve. Her compassion and love for friends and family was always unwavering. She always had a kind heart and saw the silver lining in everything. We can only hope to be half the person she was. Mom, you will always be missed. We take comfort that you are with dad and watching over us.

We would like to give a HUGE thank you to the Prince George Hospice team for all their support in mom’s final time of need. Thank you, Deidre, for getting mom’s care started. Thank you, Leanne, for taking such care with mom. And a special thanks to Kathy for navigating us through this difficult time, always being there each and every time. We are eternally grateful.

Services:

Akand Path held from August 8, 9 and 10th at Guru Gobind Singh Sikh Temple, 443 Kelly Street, Prince George, B.C.

Funeral Services held Saturday, August 10th at

LIFE EVENTS

In honour of our dear Devin James Singh Thandi, who passed suddenly one year ago at age 28; “I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one, I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when the day is gone.

I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways, Of happy times, and laughing times, and bright and sunny days.

I’d like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun,

Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.”

Forever in our hearts.

Torall Wendall Scott

November 14, 1940 – April 20, 2024

Ever loved husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend.

Survived by Wife, Patricia Sons, Dean, Todd (Bev), Aaron Grandchildren, Anton, Daniel, Alina, Briana, Ella, and Audra

Great Grandchildren, Bianca, Bennett, Oliver, Theodore Siblings Jack, Ina, Yvonne, Margarite Brothers and sisters in law Clifford, Evy, Heather, and Dana

Torall arrived in B.C. from Sask. In 1957. He worked at Clearlake Sawmills from 1960 – 1967 and for Flynn brothers until 1970. In 1971 he and his brother Gene moved to Vanderhoof to build L&M Lumber where he would work until his retirement in 2011.

Celebration of life will be held at 302 Reid Dr in Vanderhoof on Aug 24 from 1pm-4pm

It’s with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Carol Ann Anderson (Lundin) formerly of Prince George, on July 14, 2024 in Kelowna, at the age of 76. She loved her cat, fast cars, fishing, bridge, and playfully teasing people. Carol is predeceased by her parents, Irwin and Dorothy Lundin, brothers Lloyd and Leonard, and niece Waynita. She is survived by sisters Gloria and Eileen (Steve), brother Ole (Louise), sister-in-laws Gloria and Betty, and numerous nephews and nieces.

Mary Gundersen

Peacefully on Friday, August 2nd 2024, at the age of 91, at Carlingview Manor in Ottawa. Loving wife of over 60 years to the late Rolf Gundersen. Predeceased by parents Daniel and Dorothy (nee Rank) Chisholm.

Proud mother of the late Frank (Sandie), Leif (Debra), Laureen (Tony). Beloved grandmother of Christine, Carl, Jennifer, Kristian, Morgan, and Mieke. Cherished great-grandmother of Deanna. She will also be missed by brother-in-law Morgan (Betty) Gundersen. Predeceased by brother John Chisholm.

June will always be remembered for her devotion to family and love for the North Shore Community.

The family would like to thank the staff at Carlingview Manor for their care and dedication.

In lieu of flowers, In Memoriam donations to the Salvation Army are appreciated by the family.

or call 250.562.2441

As per June’s wishes, a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in Burnaby, British Columbia.

Condolences and Sharing Memories at kellyfh.ca

June

Carol Ann Anderson

Classifieds

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

Firewood

BIRCH Firewood in 20 foot lengths.

Delivered by dumptruck load. $1100. or bucked to length $1300 per load delivered 250- 614-6667

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

Services

for

Hire

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

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.

Booking deadline: Friday noon

Approval deadline: Monday at noon

Public Notice: Forest Operations Map Review and Invitation for Comment.

In accordance with the Forest Range and Practices Act, OBO Forest Management GP LTD. and Spectrum Resource Group invites the public to review its Forest Operations Maps (FOM ID: 1722) in the Mackenzie Natural Resource District. The FOM describes areas proposed for Cutting Permit and Road Permit development within the next three years starting on September 15th, 2024, and ending on September 14th, 2027. We welcome your comments and feedback during the review period starting August 15th, 2024. Please submit your comments by September 14th, 2024.

The map is accessible for review and comment submission online at: https://fom.nrs.gov.bc.ca/public/projects#publicNotices

Alternatively, in-person review and comments can be scheduled and completed at the following location during regular office hours (Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM): 1960 Robertson Road, Prince George, BC, V2N1X6

Comments may also be submitted by mail to the above address or submitted via phone or email at: 1-250-564-0383; etorres@srg.ca

250-614-6667 Hay Bales For Sale

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

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

IC Expert Painting Ltd. is an expanding company located in Prince George, BC and servicing central and northern BC. We provide industrial, commercial, and multi-family finishing work for new construction and are seeking an experienced painter supervisor to join our team.

Required Skills:

• Safety focused

• Minimum 5 years of related experience

• Knowledge of prepping surfaces for painting

• Ability to climb ladders and operate atop lift equipment.

• Knowledge and ability to operate a sprayer

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs.

Additional Skills:

• Experience managing projects and staff

• Vinyl installation experience

All IC Expert Painting Employees:

• Have a safety conscience approach in all tasks and are able to maintain a clean workspace

• Must be punctual

• Have a cell phone

• Possess a valid drivers license and a reliable vehicle

• Have a positive, personable attitude

We offer:

• Continuous year-round work

• LOA and travel expense

• Costs covered to obtain your safety certifications

• A fun, diverse, and challenging work environment

Wage: Based on experience, plus benefits.

Contact: info@icepainting.ca

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

WANTED

STEEL STUD FRAMER

Steel stud framer for Prince George job on Bear Road, approximately 4 to 5 months Max Flynn 949 Joan Cres Victoria BC 250-818-2217 maxflynn949@gmail.com

The Prince George Citizen is hiring!

The Citizen is seeking an Advertising Manager.

This position would include the following responsibilities:

• Co-ordinating the efforts of our existing sales team, including setting budgets, goals and plans to reach and exceed targets

• Developing marketing plans for new and existing clients, utilizing our first-party and third-party audiences

• Analyzing existing features and projects and introducing new products and solutions

• Networking within the community and acting as an ambassador and champion of The Citizen and our marketing solutions

Qualifications:

• A proven track record in sales and sales management

What we offer:

A base wage plus commission, with full benefits

How to apply: Please email owner@pgcitizen.ca

Who we are:

The Citizen is Locally Owned, Community Focused. We are the region’s leading source of news and information, and have been for more than 100 years. We love our community and strive to make it even better.

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

ARIES (March 21 to April 19)

A previous misunderstanding continues to taint the atmosphere to some extent during the early part of the week. But cooler heads prevail, and the situation eases by the week’s end.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20)

While the artistic aspect of the Divine Bovine is well-served this week, your practical side is also getting the sort of recognition that could lead to a new and well-deserved opportunity.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20)

With home-related matters taking on more importance this week, now could be the time to make some long-deferred purchases. But shop carefully for the best quality at the best price.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22)

Con- gratulations! While a family problem might still rankle, it should be easing, thanks to your efforts to calm the waters. Also, a workplace situation seems to be moving in your favor.

LEO (July 23 to August 22)

The Big Cat’s energy levels should be rather high these days, and you might do well to tackle any tasks that still need doing. This will clear the way for any upcoming projects.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22)

Someone’s criticism might not be as negative as you perceive. Actually, it could be helpful. Discuss the matter with your critic, and you both could learn something valuable.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22)

A business matter could cause some friction among your colleagues. But once again, that logical mind of yours comes to the rescue. And the sooner it does, the better!

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21)

There still might be some heated temper flare-ups out there. But your sensible self should advise you to stay out of these situations until things cool down and calm is restored.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21)

Changing your mind could be the right thing to do if you can’t resolve your doubts. You might want to discuss the matter with some- one whose advice you trust.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19)

The Sea Goat’s merrier side dominates this week, and this means that despite your usual busy schedule, you’ll be able to squeeze in parties and all sorts of fabulously fun times.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18)

An educational opportunity could offer a lead to something other than what you had planned. But keep an open mind, and before you decide to turn it down, check it out.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20)

The Piscean wit and wisdom you have helps you work through a situation that might have been accidentally, or even deliberately, obscured. What you unravel could prove to be very revealing.

Be careful not to over-heat when working outdoors

Tackling outdoor home projects during hot weather requires careful planning to avoid overheating and ensure your safety. Start by scheduling your work during the cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or late afternoon. These times typically offer lower temperatures and reduced sun intensity, helping you stay cooler as you work.

Wearing appropriate clothing is essential. Opt for lightweight, loose-fitting clothes made from breathable fabrics like cotton or moisture-wicking materials. A widebrimmed hat and sunglasses can provide additional protection from the sun, while

Homes & Living

sunscreen should be applied to exposed skin to prevent sunburn.

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day, even if you don’t feel thirsty. Avoid sugary or caffeinated beverages, which can contribute to dehydration. Taking regular breaks in the shade or a cool indoor space is crucial. Resting for a few minutes every hour can help prevent heat exhaustion and allow your body to cool down.

Use tools and equipment that minimize physical exertion, such as electric or battery-powered devices, to reduce

FREE ESTIMATES

strain. If your project involves strenuous activities, consider breaking it into smaller tasks spread over several days to avoid overexertion.

Finally, be mindful of the signs of heatrelated illnesses, such as dizziness, nausea, or excessive sweating. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop working immediately, move to a cooler place, and seek medical attention if necessary. By taking these precautions, you can complete your outdoor projects safely and comfortably.

GO FOR GOLD.

Suggestions to keep wildfire smoke out of your home

Keeping wildfire smoke out of your home is crucial for maintaining indoor air quality, especially for those sensitive to allergens or affected by respiratory conditions. Here are some effective strategies:

Close Windows and Doors: During peak pollen times or when there’s wildfire smoke in the air, keep windows and doors closed as much as possible. Use weather stripping to seal gaps around doors and windows to prevent outdoor pollutants from entering.

Use Air Purifiers: Invest in a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter air purifier. HEPA filters can capture airborne particles like pollen and smoke particles effectively. Place purifiers in commonly used rooms and bedrooms for best results.

Maintain HVAC Systems: Ensure your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems have clean filters installed and are well-maintained. Consider upgrading to filters with a MERV rating of 11 or higher, which are designed to trap

smaller particles.

Create a Clean Entryway: Place doormats both inside and outside your doors to capture dirt, pollen, and other outdoor pollutants on shoes before they enter your home. Encourage family members and guests to remove shoes upon entering.

Monitor Pollen Levels: Stay informed about local pollen forecasts, which are often available through weather websites and apps. Try to plan indoor activities on days when pollen levels are highest.

Change Clothing After Outdoor Activities: When returning from outdoors during pollen season or when there’s smoke in the air, change your clothes and take a quick shower to remove pollen or smoke particles from your body.

Close Vents and Use Recirculate Mode: When driving in a car during wildfire smoke events, close the vents and switch to recirculate mode to minimize smoke

entering the vehicle.

Stay Informed About Air Quality: Keep track of local air quality reports, especially during wildfire season. Limit outdoor activities on days when air quality is poor, and keep windows and doors closed.

Use Natural Remedies: Consider using natural remedies such as saline nasal rinses or eye drops to reduce pollen exposure and alleviate allergy symptoms.

Stay Prepared: Have an emergency plan in place if you live in an area prone to wildfires. This includes having N95 masks on hand to protect against smoke inhalation if evacuation is not immediate.

By implementing these strategies, you can significantly reduce the infiltration of wildfire smoke into your home, creating a safer and more comfortable indoor environment for you and your family.

Tarissa Boulding

Pankaj Sharma

Star gazing and watching the Perseids from your backyard

Stargazing and watching the Perseids meteor shower from your backyard is a magical experience that connects you with the wonders of the night sky. The Perseids, one of the most anticipated meteor showers of the year, occur annually in mid-August, when Earth passes through the debris left by the Swift-Tuttle comet. The result is a dazzling display of shooting stars that can be enjoyed without the need for any special equipment.

To maximize your stargazing experience, start by choosing the right time and place. The Perseids are best viewed in the late evening to early morning hours, with the peak usually occurring after midnight. If possible, pick a night when the moon is less bright, as moonlight can wash out the fainter meteors. Finding a spot in your backyard that is free from light pollution is also key. Turn off any nearby lights, and allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness

for about 20 minutes before you begin watching.

Comfort is essential for a prolonged stargazing session. Lay out a blanket or set up reclining chairs that allow you to look up at the sky comfortably. Bring along some pillows, and perhaps a warm drink or snack, to make the experience more enjoyable. Dress warmly, as even summer nights can get chilly, especially in the early hours.

While no telescope or binoculars are needed to watch the Perseids, a pair of binoculars can enhance the experience by allowing you to explore other celestial objects between meteor sightings. You might spot planets, constellations, or the Milky Way itself, adding to the beauty of the night.

Patience is crucial when watching meteor

showers. Meteors often come in bursts, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t see one immediately. As your eyes adjust and you become more attuned to the night sky, you’ll likely spot more meteors streaking across the heavens. The Perseids can produce up to 60 meteors per hour at their peak, so with a bit of patience, you’re sure to be rewarded with a spectacular show.

For those interested in making the most of the experience, consider using a stargazing app on your smartphone. These apps can help you identify constellations, planets, and other celestial objects, making your night of meteor watching even more educational and exciting.

Lastly, sharing the experience with family or friends can make the night even more special. Gather your loved ones, lay back, and enjoy the show together. Stargazing is not just about watching meteors; it’s about

connecting with the universe and with each other, creating memories that last long after the meteors have faded.

How to efficiently water your lawn and garden during water restrictions

Watering your lawn and garden during times of water restrictions requires careful planning and efficient practices to keep your plants healthy while conserving water. Water restrictions are often implemented during droughts or in regions with limited water resources, so it’s essential to adapt your watering habits to comply with regulations while maintaining your landscape.

Start by understanding the specific water restrictions in your area. These may include limits on the days and times you can water, the duration of watering sessions, or restrictions on certain types of irrigation systems. Once you know the rules, you can adjust your routine accordingly.

Prioritize watering the most critical areas of your landscape. Focus on trees, shrubs, and perennial plants that have deeper root systems and are more challenging to replace than annuals or lawns. Young or newly planted trees and shrubs are especially vulnerable and should be given priority.

Watering in the early morning or late evening is crucial during restrictions, as this reduces evaporation and allows the water to penetrate the soil more effectively. Avoid watering during the hottest part of the day, when water loss to evaporation is highest.

Consider using more efficient watering methods. Drip irrigation systems, soaker hoses, or hand watering with a hose equipped with a shut-off nozzle can deliver water directly to the roots of plants, minimizing waste. These methods also comply with many water restriction guidelines. Mulching around plants is another effective strategy. A layer of organic mulch, such as wood chips or straw, helps retain soil moisture, reduce evaporation, and suppress weeds that compete for water.

If you have a lawn, consider letting it go dormant during periods of water

restrictions. Lawns can survive on minimal water, and while they may turn brown, they will often recover when normal watering resumes. You can also consider replacing parts of your lawn with drought-tolerant plants or ground covers, which require less water.

Rainwater harvesting is another sustainable option to consider. By collecting and storing rainwater from your roof, you can supplement your garden’s water supply without relying on municipal sources. Check local regulations to ensure rainwater collection is allowed in your area.

Finally, monitor your garden closely during water restrictions. Look for signs of stress, such as wilting or yellowing leaves, and adjust your watering practices as needed. Grouping plants with similar water needs together can also help you make the most efficient use of your limited water supply.

By adopting these strategies, you can maintain a healthy lawn and garden while respecting water restrictions, ensuring your landscape remains vibrant and sustainable even in times of scarcity.

Refer to local water use restrictions.

a viewing

407 Gillet St, unit B $1,400 includes utilities Bed-2 + Den Bath-1 Kitchen-Fridge and Stove Living room- Fire Place Feature Laundry- Ensuite Laundry Extra Details- bright and spacious Pets- 1 Pet Negotiable Parking- Yes No smoking Tenant insurance is required.

1319 Porter Ave

Lower Unit B BEDS-2 BATH-1

YARD-Yes KITCHEN APPLIANCES- fridge, stove LIVING ROOM-Yes DINING ROOMYes LAUNDRY-Yes-shared STORAGE-Yes-sheds PARKINGYes-driveway PET FRIENDLYYes small pets considered with deposit. UTILITIES-Included $1300 monthly No smoking Tenant insurance required

106-2478 Upland Street

$1150 1 bedroom 1 bath Fridge Stove Dishwasher. Walk out yard Hydro not included. Pet allowed

HOMES & LIVING

494 Irwin St

$1,650 utilities included Above Ground Basement Unit BEDS-2 BATH-1 KITCHENFridge, Stove, and Over- Range Microwave LIVING ROOM- YES YARD- YES LAUNDRY-WASHER/DRYER PARKING-OFF STREET PARKING No smoking Tenant insurance is required.

2892 Upland Street.

$1400 This is a bright and updated basement suite. This unit features 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and in-suite laundry in a spacious entryway. This unit has 1 spot in the driveway for off street parking, and shared use of the backyard. Utilities are included in the rent price. No Pets. No Smoking.

Upland St 2bed, 1 bath, top level

Negotiable

1737 Redwood Unit B Price $1,550 Available now! * BEDS- 3 BATH- 2 YARDShared KITCHEN APPLIANCESFridge, stove LIVING ROOM/ DINING ROOM- Yes LAUNDRYYes, in suite PETS-1 Negotiable with deposit UTILITIES- Included EXTRA DETAILS- Basement suite No smoking

849

Harper Street

$400.00 Garage Unit Perfect place to store your car, bikes or a good space to create a work shop. 350 square feet. Hydro is not included.

FEATURED RENTAL OF THE WEEK

FEATURED RENTAL OF THE WEEK

379 RUGGLES UNIT A

Price $1650 BEDS- 2 BATH- 1

YARD- Yes, Shared. Large shed, Shared KITCHEN APPLIANCESFridge, stove, dishwasher. LIVING ROOM/ DINING ROOM- Yes

LAUNDRY- Yes, shared. PARKING- 1 Off street parking PETS- 1 Negotiable with deposit. UTILITIES- Included

110 Claxton Cres

$2000 Beautiful 3 bedroom home located in heritage area. Top floor only rental. Kitchen has a fridge, stove and dishwasher. Large patio deck off the kitchen and shared yard space. Separate laundry as well. Utilities included. No smoking. Pet negotiable.

7491 Southridge Ave

Available September 1st, 2024

Lovely full house available for rent and is close to Southridge elementary school. 3 bedroom 2 bathrooms plus furnished basement. Upper Kitchen includes fridge, stove and dishwasher! Lots of cabinets. Large double car garage to store your cars in during winter! Large backyard with deck and extra storage. This wont last long! Apply today! No smoking Tenant insurance required

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS

2459 Carmicheal Plc

$1600.00, utilities included, with cap ground level basement suite. BED-2 BATH-1 KITCHEN- large Fridge, Stove, Dishwasher LIVING ROOMYES LAUNDRY- ensuite laundry Extra details- Patio space under deck Parking-one parking on driveway Pets- 1 pet negotiable No smoking Tenant insurance is required.

Thinking of Smart Locks for your home?

Here are a few options

Considering high-tech locks for your home is a smart move, especially in today’s age where security and convenience are paramount. Traditional locks have been the standard for centuries, but advances in technology have brought about a new era of smart locks that offer enhanced security features, remote access, and integration with other smart home devices.

Enhanced Security

High-tech locks provide superior security compared to traditional locks. Many smart locks come with features like encrypted keypads, biometric recognition, and automatic locking mechanisms. Biometric locks, which use fingerprints or facial recognition, ensure that only authorized users can gain entry, eliminating the risk of lost or copied keys. Additionally, these locks often include tamper alerts, so you’re immediately notified if someone tries to force entry into your home.

Convenience and Remote Access

One of the most significant advantages of high-tech locks is the convenience they offer. With smart locks, you can lock or unlock your doors remotely using a smartphone app. This means you can let in a guest or service provider even when you’re not at home, without the need to hide a spare key outside. Some smart locks also allow you to create temporary access codes for visitors, which can be programmed to expire after a certain period, enhancing both security and convenience.

Integration with Smart Home Systems

High-tech locks can be integrated with your existing smart home system,

to consider

providing a seamless connection with other devices such as security cameras, doorbells, and lighting systems. For instance, when your door is unlocked, your smart lights can automatically turn on, or your security camera can start recording, adding an extra layer of security. Many smart locks also work with virtual assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple’s Siri, allowing you to control your locks with voice commands.

Monitoring and Notifications

Smart locks often come with monitoring features that allow you to track who enters and exits your home. You can receive real-time notifications on your phone whenever your door is unlocked or if someone attempts unauthorized access. This feature is particularly useful for families, as it allows you to know when your children arrive home from school or when a service provider has completed their work.

Increased Peace of Mind

With all these advanced features, hightech locks provide peace of mind that traditional locks simply cannot match. The ability to monitor your home’s security from anywhere in the world, combined with the assurance that only those you trust have access, makes smart locks an excellent investment in your home’s security.

Considerations

However, it’s important to consider potential drawbacks, such as the reliance on power or internet connectivity. Some smart locks have backup keys or battery options in case of power failure, but it’s essential to choose a model that

suits your needs and offers reliable performance.

Investing in high-tech locks for your home enhances security, adds convenience, and integrates seamlessly with modern smart home systems, making it a forward-thinking choice for any homeowner looking to safeguard their property.