97/16 - Prince George's Weekly by Prince George Citizen

June 8 10AMth to June 9 10AMth

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LOCAL ARTIST INSPIRED BY ANDY WARHOL FRANK PEEBLES 97/16 staff

The paintings come from the same traditional roots as before, but internationally celebrated artist Robert Sebastian is working in new forms. One of the evolutions in this veteran art star’s work is producing paintings on printcanvas. His original images are still for sale, and fetch thousands of dollars each, but he is also allowing select images to go into print series. He chose the canvas medium “because it saves on framing, people can just hang them as they are, and you get just the image in its raw form,” he said as he released them to the world. The first places they are on public offer are WD West Studios and Two Rivers Gallery’s Art Shop, both located in his second home of Prince George. His original home, and the place where his art career his its primary base, is Hazelton in the midst of his Gitxsan Nation ancestry. There is a sect of artists, he said, and he was one of them, that pins their career hopes on selling originals one by one. The price of a single original can be prohibitive, so the buyers become financially elite as an artist’s career develops. Sebastian wanted the average person to be able to afford his art, and have his work appreciated by the mainstream public. He has now embraced the print, where several copies can be sold at a more inclusive price. “What motivated me was Andy Warhol,” said Sebastian. “I found out he almost never sold an original. That made me think.” He has also been inspired lately by the younger generation of Aboriginal artist. He is now infusing modern images into his traditional depictions, like his recent painting of a leaping fish that has, small in the background as if looking down from high above, an airplane. Sebastian was part of the surge of west coast Indigenous art that broke out of the 1970s and ‘80s as the leading edge of First Nations cultural revival that is still building momentum today. As one of the recognized masters of this genre, Sebastian’s work is in collections all over the world, including British royalty and international governments. The Mon-

97/16 photo by James Doyle

Artist Robert Sebastian shows off some paintings in front of Two Rivers Gallery on May 23. The paintings are part of a new series of prints he is launching. treal Expos, for example, commissioned him and brother Ron Sebastian to carve a totem pole for Olympic Stadium. They presented it in 1980 at a home game ceremony with Maurice Richard, Donald and Keifer Sutherland and other Montreal dignitaries in attendance. That kind of exposure was hard-earned and came with immense responsibility, said Sebastian. The shapes, colours and subject matter of traditional Aboriginal art are not haphazard. Cultural guidelines from nation to nation and even clan to clan inform the rules around what can be represented in such art. Artists’ mastery of these genres partially includes perfecting the shapes, but necessarily includes perfecting the rules around their use. Sebastian shakes his head over the purists who claim no one from outside a First Nation should be allowed to work in the

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artistic aesthetic of that First Nation. He wholeheartedly agrees with non-Aborignal artists taking up these artistic traditions, or a Cree or Inuit artist who might want to learn to paint in the style of the Gitxan. However, he said, a commitment must be made on the part of that outside artist before they take their work to the commercial level. “You have to check the history so you know what you are doing,” he explained. “Our culture has been underground for a long time, forced there, shamed there, and it’s only been coming out again since about 1970. It’s still hurting, the pain is still great, we still feel the repercussions today. It was made illegal for a long time to even talk about sacred things, but it was through art, important activists who were extremely good craftspeople, that it started to come back and become free. That has to

be respected.” Sebastian names Walter Harris as a Gitxan art master he personally looked to as a leader, and he also saluted the Hunt family of Vancouver Island as being art activists who helped Canada begin to think early thoughts about reconciliation with the oppressed First Nations. One of the important things the Hunt family did, Sebastian said, was welcome and mentor John Livingston into their traditions. Livingston, who passed away this spring, was non-Aboriginal but became a leading figure in that region’s Indigenous arts scene. He earned his adoption by committing to the study of the art’s cultural foundations, said Sebastian. “As long as they study the meaning, learn the full history of the symbols and designs, then I am ok with anyone who feels moved to make our art,” he said. “But you have to do your work, and that means person to person, learning directly from one artist to another, over a period of time. I strongly believe in new traditions - basing all new designs off of old traditional ones - but you have to know what you’re doing. It’s also important for older generations to be open to the designs of the new generations. You have to allow youth to find their own way, express themselves authentically in their times. When you are trying to build a culture that stands for honesty, that stands for integrity, then that has to come out in the art. If you build good children, you will find some fine art come out of that. That’s so important. The art will tell you what kind of culture you have, what kind of community you have.” At age 65, Sebastian believes he has about 15 more years of vital art still ahead. Some artists, he said, don’t even start their careers until this point in life. He doesn’t want to waste the head start he has been given, especially since his life was, by his own admission, deeply troubled and painfully disrupted in his early adult years. He credits his two children as being the forces in his life that forced him to correct his path, and even that was slow and uneven in its execution. He stands now a gratefully changed man ready to take on new concepts in Canada’s oldest forms of art.

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97/16

THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2019 | 3

MARKETING WORDS IMPLY HEALTHINESS FOOD FOR THOUGHT

KELSEY LECKOVIC

he marketing of a food can make a big difference in the decision to purchase. While cost and taste are significant factors in that decision, the healthiness of a food is an equally important influencer for many, and food companies are well-aware of this. By claiming a product to be organic, clean and natural, companies give the impression that their product is not only healthier, but that the company cares more for the consumer, all while charging a premium. Since these claims are being used more frequently, it’s helpful to know how they’re being regulated and what they actually mean. Organic – “Organic” refers to the way agricultural products are grown and processed. Organic food is produced without pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, drugs, antibiotics, animal cloning, genetic engineering and irradiation and organic standards prohibit the use of artificial additives. Although there isn’t enough scientific evidence to say that organic food is more nutritious than non-organic food, or that there are specific health benefits associated with organic products, the label “organic” still carries with it the suggestion of a healthier product. While some foods grown organically may have more

nutrients, others have less than their nonorganic counterparts. As well, small differences in the nutrient content of organic foods have not been found to be beneficial to overall health. Factors including soil quality, growing conditions, harvesting methods, and the species and diet of the animal can affect the nutritional content of a food, whether organic or not. In Canada, only products with an organic content greater than 95 per cent can be labelled and advertised as organic. For products with multiple ingredients, each organic ingredient must be identified as organic in the list of ingredients. Products with 70-95 per cent organic content must state the percent of organic ingredient content and these products cannot use the organic logo. With products containing less than 70 per cent organic content, the organic ingredients must be identified as such in the list of ingredients and the product cannot use the organic logo or make the claim of being organic or containing a percent of organic ingredients. The label of an organic product must also indicate the name of the certification body that has certified the product as organic. Bottom line: A product labelled as “organic” could have varying amounts of organic ingredients and this content should be labelled. Check the ingredient list to find out what components are actually organic. Clean – Clean eating is promoted as a way of eating that focuses on whole foods with simpler ingredients. While

you might not see a front-of-package label stating that a product is “clean”, the words “free-from” will often appear instead. Claims of a product being “free from preservatives” or “free from artificial colours” embody the ideology of clean eating and are another method for food companies to appeal to our desire to be healthier. However, a product that is “free from” is not always healthy or healthier. Marshmallows labelled as “fat-free” are still high in sugar and chips labelled as “trans fat-free” are often still high in sodium and saturated fat. In Canada, a product can be labeled “free from” as long as that claim is not misleading. For example, a label of “hormone free” cannot be attached to meat, poultry or fish products because they contain naturally occurring hormones. Bottom line: Although the Canadian Food Inspection Agency prohibits the use of misleading claims, it’s important to check ingredient labels to confirm that the product you’re buying contains the ingredients you believe it does. Natural – The labels of “nature”, “natural”, “Mother Nature”, and “Nature’s Way” are often misused on food packaging. When the words “natural” or “nature” are used in a trademark name, such as in the “Nature Valley” brand of granola bars, that product must meet certain requirements according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. “Natural” products cannot contain added vitamins, minerals, artificial flavours or food additives. Products labeled as “natural” cannot

have a naturally-occurring component removed, such as removing caffeine from coffee then calling it “natural.” “Natural” products must not have been significantly altered from their original physical, chemical or biological state. Companies stating that their product is natural must substantiate that claim by providing information to consumers on the meaning of the claim. A company cannot give the consumer the impression that “nature” has made a product considerably superior to its unnatural counterparts. While “natural” products may appear healthier due to their lack of additives, they aren’t necessarily any better for you. Many foods have added vitamins and minerals, which increase their nutrient content and support certain populations in meeting their dietary requirements. For example, in Canada, folic acid is added to white flour and therefore all white flours in Canada cannot be considered “natural” because of this addition. However, the addition of folic acid helps to promote proper fetal development of the brain and spinal cord. Bottom line: If a product is labelled as “natural,” it must comply with federal requirements with regards to it’s content and the way it was produced. Natural products are not necessarily healthier and checking the ingredients label and nutrition facts panel will help you to determine the nutritional value of a food. — Kelsey Leckovic is a registered dietitian with Northern Health working in chronic disease management.

LONG PATH FROM LITERATURE TO COMPUTERS I grew up in a society with a patriarchal culture, in which women are supposed to stay home, taking care of kids and doing the housework. As a kid, there was no woman around me who I could call my role model. I didn’t want to be like my mom, I didn’t want to spend my days just cooking and cleaning. I wanted to live a different life. When I was around six or seven, I always wanted to be an actress. I used to stand in front of a mirror and practice my acting. In all of my stories, I was either a victim or a hero. In the beginning, I was just working on dialogues. I stood straight and talked instead of all the characters. A bit later, I decided to add actions. So, I taught myself how to whistle with my fingers, how to mimic emotions by my face, and when and how I should move my hands or turn my head. I was always trying to follow the news around my favorite actresses to keep myself updated. I knew there were many limitations for actresses in my country, but I still wanted to grow up and be a successful superstar. I was eight or nine when I realized I really want to be an author or a poet. I was spending a lot of time reading books and I

TRAIL BLAZING NAHID TAHERI

was reading everything, from classic novels, both original and translated, to history and science. Anything that I could find on my dad’s book collection or on my sister’s bookshelf. Instead of acting my stories, I tried to write them down. Notebook after notebook, I was dreaming of being a wellknown author. Unlike actresses, there were a few well-known women in that area at the time. So I knew I should be very very good to be able to compete and be successful in that male-dominated world. I remember that day very clearly. I was 10 and in Grade 4 and at the end of math class the teacher distributed a quiz. I was always a good student, but that was a hard one. We had literature in the next class and we were supposed to memorize a poem, which I didn’t. I was all distracted by trying to remember words, which prevented me to focus on the question in the quiz.

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mathematics for my undergrad studies. For four years, characters in my stories were numbers and operations, fractions and decimals, algebra and geometry. There was one and only one woman, who won many national and international prizes in math, who I was following, and I wanted to be like her. How about computer science? My husband asked that when we were in the middle of applying for Canadian universities to attend as graduate students. I had limited knowledge about that, however, I agreed to apply for it. That was the new thing I was looking for. I was so excited when we got our admissions, and that was the moment I realized that’s the different life I chose to live it. When I started my studies here, the big problem was there again: a few numbers of women in computer science. From acting to computer science, I have been always looking for someone I can look up to. I know what I am about to say is huge, but sometimes I ask myself how about I try and become someone else’s role model. – Nahid Taheri is an instructor in computer science at CNC.

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Literature was my favorite course; I was always shining there, and I didn’t want to disappoint my teacher. I finished the math quiz as soon as I could and started working on that poem which I don’t remember what it was now. The next day, our teacher walked in. She talked a little bit, and then called my name. Surprisingly, I got the highest mark on that math quiz! I was like “wow, did that really happen?” My teacher, a very kind and smart person, talked to me later and encouraged me to work on my mathematical mind. She said math and literature are related and I can describe the beauty of math in my stories and my poems or that’s how I understood it. Difficult decisions! That’s what life always has to offer. I knew I was good at math and I knew I wanted to write, not to become an author anymore, but to write to calm myself down. So that was not a very hard decision to make after all. Math became my passion, my profession, something I could build my career upon. It made me think deeper. Writing became my hobby, my relaxation and my meditation. It made me feel deeper. I went to university to study applied

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97/16

HURD MADE SOCIAL WORK HER LIFE SENIORS’ SCENE KATHY NADALIN

ocal radio personality Sharon Hurd has dedicated her life to helping those in need, mostly through social work. Sharon was born in the small community of Birch Cliff, Ont. in 1939 and went to the same elementary school that her parents attended when they were children. She graduated from high school at the age of 16 and worked as a clerk in the emergency department at the Toronto General Hospital. Many times, she was asked to scrub up and work in the surgery room counting sponges to make sure they were all accounted for after a surgery. Two years later she was invited to work in a plastic and reconstructive surgeon’s office in Toronto. She worked there for 10 years and then moved to Vancouver to seek out the realities of one of her favourite books called Grass Beyond the Mountains. Sharon said, “I had 13 cents in my pocket when I arrived in Vancouver. I landed a job at the Vancouver General Hospital and eventually I found a motel owner that would extend me credit until my first paycheck came in. “I still wanted to live in the country so I found a caretakers job on a big farm in Haney. It was my job to look after the horses and the chickens. I lived in what I called a small shack until I found work at the Maple Ridge hospital as a stenographer.” She moved to Quesnel in 1973; rented a small house on rural 10 Mile Lake and cooked her meals on a wood stove. Still she

97/16 photo by James Doyle

Sharon Hurd has dedicated her life to helping others.

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longed to experience the frontier life as depicted in her favorite book. She moved to west Quesnel and lived in a small cabin without power or running water on 400 acres of property on the Fraser River. She worked to set up a propane system for lights and a gravity fed water system and was able to enjoy her horses, dogs, cats and the wilderness. th She first worked as a medical stenographer at the GR Baker Memorial Hospital Featuring a great selection of cars, ALSO and later at the Holly Clinic in a similar trucks, vans & suv’s from major fleet SELLING lease, bank repossessions, dealer position. In the 1980s she was hired as the and private consigners. If you have a executive director and addictions specialist unit for this sale, it must be on the grounds by Monday, at Amata Transition House in Quesnel for June 10th, 2019 before 5:00pm, space permitting. 10 years. She was president of the B.C. Yukon TERMS OF SALE • CASH Society of Transition Houses and received • InTERAC direct payment Central Interior the Governor General of Canada’s com• BANK DRAFT AUCTIONS LTD. • CERTIFIED CHEQUE memorative medal for her contributions to • LETTERS OF CREDIT 4174 Cowart Rd. her community and country in 1992. Sharon moved to Prince George in 1995, to work at the Phoenix Transition House. Visit our Website: www.ciauctions.bc.ca She said, “The was leaving and OUR MARKETRelay IS YOUR For MARKETPLACE Life Prince George | June 9 –director 10, 2018

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offered me the job as executive director. Their mandate was to be open to all women and I knew that this was my ideal job. The Phoenix Transition House is a temporary shelter/housing for women – and their children - who have experienced and/or at risk of abuse and violence. I had ideas of how to help women who had been in prison, those struggling with addictions and other women who needed shelter and support for one reason or another. “Next came Harmony House and Celynn House both of which are affiliated with the Phoenix Transition House Society and all of which are my passion. I was raised in a family who had an open-door policy – especially during the war years. The house would be full of soldiers on leave. My parents called themselves agnostic and yet there was always a place for someone at the dinner table or a room for them to sleep when times were tough. “My father was one of six children and my mother one of five. We all lived in the same neighbourhood and we all shared what we had.” Sharon is a busy volunteer. In the past, she was involved with the boards of the Prince George Council of Seniors, the Prince George Crisis Line, St. Pat’s Halfway House and she said with a chuckle that she is a 1950s past president of the Four Lads Fan Club. She is currently involved with the Hutda Lake Wellness Project for women with addictions, the John Howard Society of Northern B.C., the Baldy Hughes Therapeutic Community, the Prince George Hospice Society, Prince George Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation and the Prince George Community Radio Society for CFIS FM – just to name a few. She was presented with the Queens Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012 and the Prince George Citizen of the Year award in 2010. For the past six years Sharon has been a radio host for the Senior Moments talk

show on the local CFIS FM 93 radio station. Sharon lost her co host Bob D’Auray when he left this good earth October 13, 2018. Bob and Sharon developed a show where topics give insight into the lives of seniors, questions they may have regarding programs, volunteers, recreation and information the listeners may never have thought much about. The program discusses a variety of issues and events with guest speakers and a few jokes along the way just to keep things lively. Sharon concluded by saying, “I started working towards a degree in gender studies at the University of Northern B.C. when I was 55 years old. I spent two years taking night school courses and have not yet completed the degree. “My goal is to share with other people what I have learned over my lifetime. I tried marriage (more than once) and it didn’t work so my social work became my life and the people I work with became my family. “I see potential in all people. I strive first to help them see their potential and then we work towards reaching their potential. It works by increments, set a goal, reach it, set another goal, etc. It can be tough if a person does not believe in themselves and so many are survivors of horrific trauma. “Prince George is the most accepting and generous community I have ever lived in and I am grateful for the support and acceptance I have received from people. I am thankful for the support and encouragement from our MLA’s, our mayor, leaders in the non profit community and my many good friends and colleagues. “I just turned 80, I have my horse, dogs and cats and I am living my coveted rural life. I have achieved much in those 80 years by over coming many challenges. I have had some happy times and I have felt sadness in the loss of good friends. I am still doing all the things I love to do and, in my mind, I believe I have discovered the grass beyond the mountains.”

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97/16

VENDORS NEEDED FOR HEATWAVE FESTIVAL FRANK PEEBLES 97/16 staff

Cultural vendors have been called to sign up for the upcoming Heatwave - Celebrate Cultures festival. This music and activities event happens June 21-23 at Canada Games Plaza in front of the Civic Centre. It is a joint production of the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society (IMSS), Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, Le Cercle des Canadiens Français, the Prince George Metis Community Association, and the Prince George Folkfest Society (organizers of Coldsnap) to celebrate the cultural diversity of our community. Ravi Saxena, executive director for IMSS, says “anyone who wishes to celebrate their culture is encouraged to do so at Heatwave – Celebrate Cultures, as even one person can set up a great booth, sell food, or participate in the fashion show.” Not sure how you or your group can be involved? A few suggestions include: • Information booth

(demonstrations of activities, a map that highlights the geological location of your culture, photos or displays of traditional dress, etc.) • Food demonstration booth (sell bite-sized portions of a traditional food for a low price) • Restaurant vendor (sell a food taster, and/or dinner-sized portions, beverages, etc.) • Goods & Services vendor (sell jewelry, art, homemade crafts, etc.; provide a service such as henna, eyebrow threading, temporary tattoos, face painting, or other goods or services that are family-friendly, etc.) • Performances (dance, sing, make music, or show Prince George other kinds of cultural or traditional talents). For the Heatwave Fashion Show, the public is encouraged to come on the Saturday in traditional clothing and participate in a fashion show to go around the world by going around the Canada Games Plaza. “This event is free to participate,

97/16 file photo

Frontal Lobotomy band member Samantha Scott performs during the lunch hour for Canada 150 Heatwave in Canada Games Plaza in July 2017. and we have unlimited spaces so anyone can come out and celebrate cultural dress,” said Saxena.

HERE FISHY, FISHY, FISHY B y a streak of luck, our family is the lucky recipient of a used fish tank. I say lucky because fish tanks are outrageously expensive in my opinion, and had we had to buy a new fish tank,

we would not have because I am cheap. We have not had a pet in the house since our dog was put down and we both felt that we weren’t quite ready for another dog, my husband is not a huge fan of

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HOME AGAIN MEGAN KUKLIS

cats and we thought that maybe some fish would be a much needed addition to our little family. I did not have fish growing up but I did have a few goldfish in a bowl when I was in university in Victoria. I had come home to Prince George for a wedding and the centerpieces were little fish bowls with goldfish swimming around. At the end of the night, I was able to take the little fishies home with me. I put the fish in a baggie, and carried the fish, their bowl and their fish food with me on the plane. This was only a few years after 9/11 and before liquid was restricted on planes. They didn’t blink at the fish I was carrying on the plane with me but the fish food set off all sorts of sensors when checking my carry-on bag. Lacking a reason not to, I was allowed to travel with Virgil and Othello and they kept me company for a few months during my studies. They died because I didn’t know what I was doing. Also, as I have been researching, you shouldn’t use tap water in a fish tank (that is likely why they died). But I’m older and somewhat wiser now and I’ve kept a couple of children alive for a while so I am moderately

Application forms and more information can be found at the IMSS website.

confident that I can keep a couple of fish alive too (I am crossing my fingers that this is true). We set up the tank last week and let it go through it’s nitrogen cycle and treated the water et cetera and were able to finally go to the pet store for a few fish. It was more expensive than I was anticipating. Our son was very sure that he wanted a gold fish and he wanted to name him Goldie. Our daughter wanted a pretty fish and so we walked amongst the tanks looking at fish before they made their choices. Our son picked a goldfish except when he looked at him/ her (because how do you tell the gender of a fish) through the little plastic bag, he announced that the fish’s name was Joe. Joe the goldfish. Our daughter was drawn to the neon tetras all swimming around erratically and picked the brightest, pinkest little fish she could find. The fish’s name is Princess Pinky. In the evenings after dinner, we gather around our little ten galleon fish tank and watch Joe and Princess Pinky swim around their watery world. The kids fight over whose turn it is to feed the fish and my husband and I try to manage the excessive amount of fingerprints on the tank. We have chairs in front of the tank and we sit and watch them swim and learn about their little fishy personalities as they go about their day. It’s soothing. I set up my laptop so when I stare off into space when I am trying to write, they give me something to watch instead of the wall. We can’t wait to get more.

ABOUT US • Colleen Sparrow, publisher and GM • Neil Godbout, editor-in-chief • Shawn Cornell, director of advertising • Call us at: 250-562-2441 or 250-562-3301

• Find us at: 201-1777 Third Ave. Prince George, B.C. V2L 3G7 • Follow us on Facebook, by going online to: https://bit.ly/2SdAmek • Visit https://bit.ly/2S9W4zW to find the location nearest you to pick up extra copies of 97/16.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2019 | 7

CNC STUDENT WINS NATIONAL COMPETITION 97/16 STAFF

A College of New Caledonia mechanical apprentice has won a national competition. The CNC student is Dustin Cathcart who studies at the Quesnel campus of the regional college. He picked up the gold medal in the Industrial Mechanic/ Millwright skill area at the Skills Canada National Competition (SCNC) in Halifax held this past Tuesday and Wednesday. Cathcart competed throughout the two-day competition performing skills such as fabricating a jack shaft base within .0001-inch tolerance and taking apart, checking, and reassembling a gear box and a centrifugal pump. “I felt confident with my work and was hoping for the best,” Cathcart said. “It was challenging but definitely a great experience. “ CNC Industrial Mechanic/Millwright instructor Sergio Jorquera attended the SCNC to support his student. He said there were many challenges throughout the competition but Cathcart’s flexibility to manage change contributed to his win. “The machinery and circumstances were different from what he was used to,” Jorquera said. “I’m very proud of him.” Cathcart qualified for the SCNC back in April when he won the Skills Canada BC Industrial Mechanic/Millwright competition in Abbotsford. More than 550 students and apprentices from across the country competed at the national event for the

Skills Canada handout photo

College of New Caledonia student Dustin Cathcart, centre, won the gold medal in the Industrial Mechanic/Millwright competition at the Skills Canada National Competition in Halifax last week. title of Canadian champion in 44 skill areas. “All of us at CNC are incredibly proud of Dustin’s accomplishment,” said CNC Quesnel Regional Principal Tim Lofstrom. “He and his instructor, Sergio,

are wonderful ambassadors for the College and the community of Quesnel.” CNC’s Dean of Trades & Technologies Frank Rossi attended the provincial round of competition and saw Cathcart’s potential to win it all.

“We hope Dustin’s success will inspire youth to consider trades as a future career, help current students connect with future opportunities, and enhance our trades community,” Rossi said.

UNRESERVED SHOP & EQUIPMENT SALE FOR NORWELD FABRICATING • JUNE 15 @ 10am

Norweld was formed in 2006 specializing in welding and fabricating for forestry, mining, commercial customers. Due to changes in the market we are shutting down operations in the Prince George region and we have been instructed to sell by unreserved public auction the assets of their operations. This sale consists of meticulously kept tools and equipment. Plan to attend this sale.

VIEWING FRIDAY JUNE 14TH - 10AM-5PM

EquipmEnt list for salE - partial list VEHICLES 2010 Toyota Crew Cab - 178,000km 2011 Toyota Crew Cab - 124,000km 1988 International Flat Deck Crane Truck 43,000km TRAILERS 2012 Ubilt 8ft Trailer Flat Deck Trailer Heavy 2015 Ubilt 17ft Trailer Flat Deck Trailer Heavy 1988 Strick 26 Van o/w Reefer 2003 Thruway 53ft Flatdeck 2005 Mirage 16ft Box-Utility Trailer 2010 Pace American 14ft Box-Utility Trailer 2007 Pace American 16ft Box-Utility Trailer TELEHANDLERS 2011 JLG G10-55A 2003 Skytrak 10054

LARGE MACHINERY 2009 Sulliair 425 Compressor 425JD3 Sullair 475 Diesel Compressor 2012 Magnum Light Plant #6 MLT3060K 2012 Magnum Light Plant #21 MLT3060K Hydmec S20 Steel Saw Hydmec Ironworker Sandblast Pot Paint Explosion Proof Cabinet HI400 Propane Heater (3) 20ft Seacans ROD OVENS Dryrod II Portable Dryrod II Table Top Gullco Portable Keef Portable Keef Table Top

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1416 Santa Fe Road Prince George, BC V2N 5T5

Tom de Waal • 250-562-5200 - Central Interior Auctions Ltd.

Sales conducted by Central Interior Auctions Ltd. (4174 Cowart Road, Prince George, BC) Terms of sale: Cash/Certified cheque. Personal or company cheques accepted with a letter of guarantee from your bank. We accept Interac direct payment. We do not accept credit cards. Owners or Sale Managers not responsible for accidents or injury on sale premises. You enter at your own risk.

Visit our website: www.ciauctions.bc.ca under ‘Special Auctions’ tab for more. Follow us on Facebook

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8 | T H U R S D A Y , J U N E 6 , 2 0 1 9

97/16

ASAY TAKING ANOTHER SWING AT WORLD CUP TED CLARKE 97/16 staff

interested in playing beyond Little League, knowing they could have a future playing internationally. Baseball Canad takes a group of 30 national team prospects to Cuba for a development camp every February and Asay said that continues to funnel new players to the team. Asay will travel to Mexico in midAugust to play in the Pan American qualifier for the 2020 World Cup tournament. She’s comfortable playing in the outfield and or at catcher, but in the past two World Cups has been used primarily as a pitcher/designated hitter. “I like pitching but I would love to get some more at-bats, too,” she said. “We have lots of good players and we have a good shot at getting into the gold-medal game and then the goal is always to beat Japan next summer. We’ve never played in a qualifier before with the national team.” The daughter of Loris and George Asay was a dual-sport athlete in her four years at Brown University, playing hockey and softball. In 2017-18 she spent six months in Australia playing baseball for the Footscray Bulldogs in a five-team league based in Melbourne. She played hockey as a forward this past season for the Northern Penguins of the South Coast Women’s League. Asay is no stranger to Citizen Field, having played the past few seasons in the Prince George Senior Men’s Baseball League for the Queensway Autobody Red Sox. Earlier this month she played

Amanda Asay got an early start with Canada’s national baseball team. She was just 17 and still a student at College Heights secondary school when she cracked the Nats roster for the first time. The following year, after leading her team in nearly every offensive category at the 2006 women’s World Cup of baseball in Taipei, she was Baseball Canada’s player of the year. Asay has been a fixture on the national team every year since, and the World Cup is the big event that binds the program. Held ever other year, she’s helped Canada win medals in five of the last seven World Cups – silver in Japan in 2008 and in South Korea in 2016, and bronze in Taipei in 2006, Edmonton in 2012 and Viero, Fla., in 2018. Gold is all that’s missing from her collection, and next year at a yet-to-be determined site, Asay says the time will be right for that championship drought to finally end. “I’ve had enough of silver and bronze,” quipped Asay. “It’s been pretty incredible that we’ve had such a strong team and the program is getting stronger all the time. The kids we have are getting better and better, we have some really good young players. The future of women’s baseball in Canada looks pretty good, the sport is definitely growing.” Asay attributes growth of the women’s game to the advent of social media and livestreamed events like the World Cup which have kept teenaged girls

Continued on page 9

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In the spotlight Darren Neufeld of Blake Productions sets up a projector for the B.C. Natural Resources Forum, which starts tonight at the Civic Centre. The forum, which will bring industry leaders and high-level political figures like federal minister of natural resources James Carr to the city, runs through Thursday.

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Key witness testifies at murder trial Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca

key witness in a trial for three men accused of a drug-related murder recounted what she saw and heard during the fatal shooting of a Prince George man two years ago. Darren Sundman, Kurtis Sundman, who are brothers, and Sebastian Martin each face a count of first-degree murder in the Jan. 16, 2015 death of Jordan Tayor McLeod, who was 24 years old at the time. Recounting events in the hour or so leading up to the shooting, Stacey Stevenson said she was in the back of a friend’s mobile home in Vanderhoof when Darren Sundman entered the room and told her to grab her belongings. Stevenson complied, the court heard, and went out to the kitchen where she saw McLeod sitting on a bar stool in the middle of the room. Darren Sundman tried to convince McLeod to unlock his phone but he refused and Sundman grabbed the phone away from him, Stevenson said. From there, they filed out of the home and into a pickup truck where Kurtis Sundman got into the driver’s seat while McLeod got into the passenger side. Stevenson sat in the middle back with Darren Sundman sit-

She said they took off and made their ting behind McLeod and Martin behind the driver, resting a shotgun between his knees. way onto a logging road where they dumped the body – it was found off the With Kurtis Sundman “driving crazy” Kaykay Forest Service Road northwest of and “going quite fast” they headed to the city, the court has heard. In the hours Prince George and, after driving through that followed, they also retrieved McLeod’s the city, travelled east on Highway 16. car from Vanderhoof and abandoned it Stevenson said Darren Sundman began north of Williams Lake after hitting McLeod with the butt of a handgun and then, just As she bent over, rolling it down a gully and setting it on fire. as they passed Prince George The Sundmans and StevenRegional Correctional Centre, placing her head son were arrested a matter of McLeod was told he would between her hours later in Quesnel after have to jump out of the truck knees, Stevenson they tried to steal an all-terwhile it was still moving “or rain vehicle and then failed to he knew what was going to said she heard evade police. happen to him.” a shot and then Under questioning from They turned onto Upper Crown prosecutor Joseph Fraser Road and soon afMartin say “I got Temple, Stevenson spent ter, McLeod did jump out. him boss.” much of Monday setting the Kurtis Sundman pulled the scene. She and Darren Sundtruck over and the three men man had been living together jumped out. Stevenson got as girlfriend and boyfriend in Vanderhoof into the front because Martin had accidenwhere he had been working at a pellet plant tally set off a can of bear spray. in the community. As she bent over, placing her head He had been selling cocaine on the side, between her knees, Stevenson said she heard a shot and then Martin say “I got him with Stevenson keeping track of debts owed boss.” Stevenson, who turned tearful as she to him. But in late summer 2014, Sundman quit his job and they began using methamtestified, said she then heard a second shot and, when she looked up saw all three make phetamine heavily while selling cocaine to cover their bills. their way across a ditch and into the bush By December, Stevenson said she broke where they pulled McLeod’s body from the up with Sundman because she “just had trees and put it into the back of the pickup.

enough of everything” and was planning to move out. At about that time, Sundman was introduced to McLeod as a supplier. Stevenson said she began communicating with McLeod via text messages and phone calls behind Sundman’s back and when he and his brother left for Merritt, she stayed behind. Stevenson packed her bags while the Sundmans were away but when she convinced McLeod to pick her up and drive her to Prince George for New Years Eve she left them behind. While in Prince George, Stevenson stayed with some friends and then, for a brief time, with McLeod. While with him, McLeod asked Stevenson to text Darren Sundman and ask if he had the money he owed McLeod. “Yes, I have his f---g money,” Sundman tersely replied. She said McLeod had been friendly to Sundman in previous conversations but also a “little bit rude,” because he wanted Sundman to pay up. McLeod had “no real reaction” to Sundman’s text, Stevenson said. McLeod asked Stevenson for some photos of her and, in response, she sent him some portrait shots. McLeod drove her back to Vanderhoof and instructed Stevenson to “pretend like nothing happened,” because he wanted his money from Sundman. Stevenson’s testimony continues today at the courthouse.

Watts makes P.G. stop on Liberal campaign tour Arthur WILLIAMS Citizen staff awilliams@pgcitizen.ca Liberal leadership candidate Dianne Watts says it’s time to reboot the B.C. Liberal Party and she’s the one to do it. The former mayor of Surrey and MP for South Surrey – White Rock was in Prince George on Monday, promoting her bid for the job of leadership of the opposition. The B.C. Liberals will elect a new leader on Feb. 3. “I offer the B.C. Liberals a fresh start,” Watts said. While good work was done by the former Liberal government, she said, “there was a level of frustration” by the voting public which resulted in the loss of 11 seats in the 2016 election. She said her experience building coalitions and leading a government in Surrey would help her to unify the Liberals and present a united front in the next provincial election. Her experience in local government has taught her that one-size-fits-all solutions don’t work for B.C., she said. “Every community is unique, and every community has unique issues,” Watts said. “As a former mayor... we deal with things on the front line. We deal with homelessness,

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we deal with crime, we deal with first responders.” Supporting local leaders and communities to develop local solutions to local programs is key, she said. B.C. municipalities have limited options when it comes to raising funds, she said, and it may be time to consider giving municipalities more tools to allow them to meet their needs. However some of the common threads she has heard while travelling B.C. are concerns about health care and affordability. While the Liberal party in B.C. is the party of business and entrepreneurship, she said, it’s also important to focus on social programs to meet the needs of British Columbians. In order to achieve that, the province will require a strong, stable government – something that is unlikely under a proportional representation system. The NDP have pledged to hold a mail-in-ballot referendum this year on changing the province’s electoral system. Watts said the NDP are jumping the gun and should first ask voters if they want the province’s electoral system changed. Then, with a mandate of the people, gather public input and present voters with a number of options. “It should be decided by the people.”

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Amanda Asay has been suiting up for the Queensway Autobody Red Sox whenever she returns home to Prince George to sharpen her skills as a 15-year member of Canada’s national women’s baseball team.

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THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2019 | 9

LIVING IN A BOTH/AND WORLD A nother column about me being wrong. Again, I love/hate this program as it reveals me to me. After all, I am all that I have – I came into the world on my own and will die all alone – (meaning you will not die in my death). I have only me in my world. Thus the better I know me, the better I can be in my life when living alongside all of you. Do not get me wrong, this does not mean I am alone, but ironically it truly does. It is both/and. I am both alone and I am not. I live in a both/and world today, not either/or. Both death and life, both black and white, both day and night. I cannot have one without the other. Yin and yang, male and female, open and closed. Clean and sober is my life today.

ASK AN ADDICT

I was wrong in my words about choice. I wrote as an addict I had no choice. I do. I do decide if I pick up a drink or a drug in my life today. How does that happen when (if ever) does choice come into play? I admit I don’t know anymore. I do know however, that in the midst of my using it is almost impossible to stop. When actively using I need help to get out, my brain has been hijacked by the drugs that I use. It feels as though I have no choice, but does it

suffering others while others would only steal the food from other men’s plates. He said the only thing Nazi’s could not take away was his power of choice. That stuck with me. I read that book in my 20s and here I am today, inching my way towards 60. Holy cow, 60 years old… and I am still ill with this horrible disease. What did I expect, after all addiction is chronic, life long, it never goes away, it only goes into remission. I only hope that when I die alone, that I don’t die with only drugs in my soul. That is a horrible, sobering, thought. – Questions for Ann? Send your submissions (anonymously, if you choose) to columns@pgcitizen.ca and we’ll pass them along.

really mean that I cannot stop on my own? I quit drinking 30 years ago, I did that all by myself. I made a choice. This is how I was wrong in my words, shoot, I hate being wrong. They say in the program that we alcoholics/ addicts are egomaniacs with inferiority complexes. That is me to a tee. I love the question of would I rather be right than happy; and in this I guess I’d rather be happy. Why then does this feel so awful to me? It is about ego. I am an egomaniac with an inferiority complex. I am so truly sick. Viktor Frankle writes beautifully about choice in his remarkable book, Man’s Search For Meaning. He wrote about being in a concentration camp during the Nazi based war. He watched as some men gave their only piece of bread to

AMANDA ASAY LOOKING TO ADD GOLD Continued from page 8

five games for the Sox in the icebreaker tournament at Citizen Field before making the move to Nelson to begin a new job. She’s now putting her 11 years of forestry-related university studies to practical use as a silviculture researcher

for the Ministry of Forests and Natural Resources. “I always love playing in Prince George and the guys are always great to me and welcoming and it’s so nice to know if I am in Prince George I can call up a few guys and find a game,” she said. “Particularly early in my

close to her new home in Fruitvale and Asay began practicing this week with a men’s team in Trail. She’ll have about a month to tune up her game before she joins Team B.C. at the women’s national baseball championship July 4-7 in Okotoks, Alta.

career with the national team the league helped me a lot. It was a really good level for me to play at with a lot of variety in the pitching. The ball is in play lots in that league and I always enjoy pitching against those guys, some of them I know pretty well.” Two of her national teammates live

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EVENTS LIST

10 | T H U R S D A Y , J U N E 6 , 2 0 1 9

AROUND TOWN Sewing Camps

Registration is now open for Sewing For Young Children and for Sewing Camps-Beginners, a pair of fiber art summer programs for youngsters being offered by the costume department at Theatre NorthWest. The Sewing For Young Children classes run July 2-5 with options for morning (9 a.m. start) or afternoon (1:30 p.m. start). This class is designed for young children with an interest in learning to sew, ideal ages 8-10 years old. The class consists of 3 hours per day for 4 days. The Sewing Camps-Beginners program runs July 22-26 afternoons only starting each day at 1:30. The ideal ages are 1015 years (as young as 8 for experienced kids) with no experience necessary. It runs three hours per day, producing a project each day. Sign up at the Theatre NorthWest website.

fering artists to your own creations made on the spot. Call 250-564-5083 or drop in to Ridge Side Art downtown to sign up for the series.

Recycled Fashion The outfits worn in the recent Trashion Show at Two Rivers Gallery were all made artistically from recycled and up-cycled common items. These ecofashion clothing statements are now on static display at the Omineca Art Centre until June 14. This additional use of art is itself a statement in sustainability even for creative expressions.

Agatha’s Appointment

Vanderhoof painter Michael Rees is the subject of the solo exhibition on now at the Rustad Galleria in the Two Rivers Gallery.

The Nechako Community Theatrics Society is returning to Artspace. The run has already begun for Agatha Christie’s classic mystery story Appointment With Death. There is still time to see the show on June 7 and 8 (all shows starting at 7pm). Tickets are $20 each and available in advance at Books & Co., and at the door. This crew and ensemble cast is made up entirely of community volunteers who are passionate about plays.

Shoot, Sketch

Jaided Music

Photographer Philomena Hughes and painter Christina Watts lead a two-part arts excursion each Monday morning through the month of June. Meet up at 6:15 a.m. (a different location each week) and apply the skills of the two dif-

Affable local recording artist Genevieve Jaide performs some of her material and hosts an open mic night at Trench Brewing & Distilling on June 7. Catch some of her infectious folk-pop and add some music of your own. Showtime is 7 p.m.

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The Prince George Friends of the Library are holding a book sale at the Nechako Branch at the Hart Mall. Friends members can shop on June 14 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Memberships are available for $5 at the door. The public can browse the books on June 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ferret Frenzy

Derek Edwards

Have you ever wondered what ferrets are like as pets? Join Ferrets North Information & Rescue Society in the library’s Knowledge Garden on June 8 from 1-2 p.m. Enjoy a short presentation, bring questions, and best of all, meet some ferrets. (Weather permitting.) This is an all ages, drop in event.

Standup star Derek Edwards comes to the Prince George Playhouse on June 9 on his Alls I’m Saying Tour. This veteran of Just For Laughs and The Debaters is considered to be among the comic elite, as evidenced by the fact that he’s a fourtime nominee, and winner of Best Standup Comic – Canadian Comedy Awards, as well as a multiple Gemini nominee for Best Performance in a Comedy. As Rick Mercer says, “Everyone knows Derek is the funniest man in Canada.” Get seats through the Central Interior Tickets website.

Motocross Racing The Rockstar Energy Motocross National Triple Crown races by Jetwerx happen June 8-9 at the Blackwater MX Park at 28100 Blackwater Road. This is the only B.C. date on this Canadian motorcycle circuit. Racers on this premier circuit are building up to a $100,000 top prize.

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T H U R S D A Y , J U N E 6 , 2 0 1 9 | 11

AROUND TOWN Huble For Seniors

metal bands of the glam era, roars into CN Centre on June 14 along with artful rockers Uriah Heap. Get tickets at the Tickets North website or the CN Centre box office.

Steampunk Railroads

On June 9 it’s Seniors’ Day at the Historic Huble Homestead (30 minutes north of Prince George on Mitchell Road – huge sign points the way). Seniors’ Day is the perfect chance for elders who have difficulty visiting Huble Homestead to make their way to the historic site. Participants can pre-register for this event, catch the bus at one of the local pick-up points, and visit the homestead for a hot lunch and dessert, entertainment, guided tours, and shopping in the General Store. The cost for this event is $15 per person, with registrants also receiving 10 per cent off all non-food merchandise in the store.

Celebrate the official international day of Steampunk with a weekend of fantasy pop-culture at the Railway & Forestry Museum. Steampunk Days runs June 1416 at the downtown historical entertainment site. Go back in time and ahead into imagination with the aesthetic that welds together Victorian glamour, Industrial Revolution imagery, and science fiction. There will be Pioneer Blacksmith demonstrations, wood-turners’ activities, crafts, rides on the Cottonwood Minitrain, and much more, all for the nominal cost of regular admission.

New Ancient Information

Canada Laughs

Get the latest information on the features and future of The Ancient Forest-Chun T’oh Whudujut Park and the adjacent Slim Creek Park. A June 10 discussion at 7 p.m. happens in the UNBC Weldwood Theatre (Room 7-238). It’s a one hour presentation by Darwyn Coxson (UNBC) and Anna McIndoe (BC Parks) on the most recent overview of the ecosystems within the two parks, as well as information on the management planning process that BC Parks is undertaking. There will be time for questions following the presentation.

The Canada Comedy Jam is coming to Prince George on June 15 at Sonar Comedy & Nightclub. Canada Comedy Jam regulars Andrew Verge, Velina Taskov, and Matt Baker are hitting Sonar Comedy Club for a hilarious showcase event. You’ve got two chances to get in on the funny before they head east on their Canada wide tour.

Weavers Convention The Association of Northwest Weavers’ Guilds holds its annual fiber arts conference from June 11-16 in Prince George. The event features workshops, seminars, a fashion show, exhibits, vendors’ market, awards, and more than 20 highlevel instructors all on site at the Prince George Civic & Convention Centre. Go to the anwgconference2019.com website for more info.

Library Sale Where better to buy books than the PG Public Library’s book sale for the Friends Of The Prince George Public Library organization. This two-part event happens at the Nechako Branch at the Hart Mall. Part 1 is June 14 from 4-8 p.m. for “Friends” members only but you can obtain the $5 membership at the door. Part 2 is June 15, open for all, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All funds raised at this book sale will support a renovation to the Nechako Branch multi-purpose room. Cash only.

Diamonds And Rust Judas Priest, one of the crunchiest

Higher Parties The Prince George Legion hosts two popular dance bands Party On High Street and Flying Machine together for one raucous night of fun on June 15. The eclectic funk-jazz-folk-rock gumbo celebrates the release of the new Party On High Street album Electric Spinach. Tickets are available at the door.

Homestead Homicide Historic Huble Homestead holds its annual murder mystery afternoon. On June 15 from 12-4 p.m. come enjoy a free-form dramatic play where the participants are the characters. There are prizes for best costume, performance, most money and identifying the script’s killer. Join the drama game by signing up for one of the show’s characters by emailing programs@hublehomestead.ca or phoning 250-564-7033.

WordPlay Changeup Erin Bauman, known affectionately as the Panoptical Poet, has been the stalwart host of the semi-regular WordPlay spoken word series held at Books & Company. Her next will be her last. New host Marc Sinclair will be on hand for introductions. Bauman said Sinclair “will carry on the WordPlay tradition while adding his own wonderful literary

DOWNTOWN

Burton Cummings, the former vocalist of Guess Who, will be bringing his solo show to Vanier Hall on Oct. 18. flare. Join me, the Panoptical Poet, one more time on Thursday June 20th to help me celebrate the ups, downs, and inbetweens of my time at WordPlay.” The poetry and prose takes voice at 7:30 p.m.

Goodsir’s Anniversary Goodsir Nature Park, the one-of-akind outdoor botanical attraction on Old Summit Lake Road is hosting its 30th anniversary. This private forest has natural gardens, a plant museum, a vinyl music museum, a network of easygoing walking trails, a beaver pond, and many other enjoyable features, not the least of which is a collection of trees and shrubs thriving in one Prince George place collected from all across Canada. Join park founder Jim Good and his supporters at 7:30 p.m. on June 21 for a casual ceremony celebrating this natural dream come to life. No appointment necessary to come walk the trails any day of the week. Guided tours can be arranged by calling 250-971-2337. Overnight camping also available. Free refreshments throughout the anniversary weekend.

Heatwave-Celebrate Cultures The Heatwave-Celebrate Cultures festival happens outside at Canada Games Plaza and Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park from June 21-23. Free activities, live music, cultural performances, food vendors, and more make this a premier summer event for the city, brought to you by the organizers of the Coldsnap Music Festival (Prince George Folkfest Society), the organizers of National Indigenous Peoples Day (Lheidli T’enneh First Nation), the organizers of St. Jean Baptiste Day (Le Cercle Des Canadiens Francais), and the Immigrant & Multicultural Services Society. It is a “heatwave” of music and culture.

Ribfest Pacific Western Brewery is hosting Ribfest 2019, a three-day barbecue party

CelebratInG Fun, FooD, entertaInment anD aCtIvItIeS!

(June 21-23) with world-class rib cooks from across Canada to tempt the city’s taste buds. They will be joined by complementary local food vendors, talented music acts performing live on-site, and the full power of PWB beer. It’s all free to attend the all-ages daytime portion (pay for the vendor wares you desire), with $5 cover charge for the +19 nighttime portions. All money raised goes to the many charitable causes of the Nechako Rotary Club.

Rock Hattrick Three bands are revving up the Omineca Arts Centre on June 28. Chiliocosm is the headliner, Cvstles is the support show, and local band The Handlebars is the opener. Chiliocosm from Grande Prairie is described as “combining soothing alternative grooves with energetic melodic punk rock creating a unique blend of emotional fueled fire.” Sherwood Park’s Cvstles is called “pop punk as interpreted by four metalheads and one sadboi.” The Handlebars will bring the “PG mayhem” based on “their own brand of rock/punk. The Handlebars bring you high energy, juicy riffage.” Tickets are $10 at the door. Showtime is 8 p.m. for this licensed all-ages show.

Homemade Funny Prince George’s Funniest Person With A Day-Job comes back to the Sonar Comedy & Nightclub stage on July 5. If you have the material, come out for the big reveal. Limited number of spots available. Contact Sonar to sign up.

KidzArt Dayz A big happy mess gets made downtown each summer. It’s time again for BMO KidzArt Dayz on July 5 & 6 inside and out front of the Two Rivers Gallery. Continued on page 14 In partnership with

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an oboe and piano recital on June 9 at 3 p.m. at Trinity United Church (3555 5th Ave). Tickets are $20 at the door.

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Summer Sign-up!

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AROUND TOWN IN DEFENCE OF PARENTS I Continued from page 11

This creative blast brings art, music, movement and family fellowship into Canada Games Plaza where everything is hands on and high fun, all for free. It runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days, and gallery memberships will be for sale for half-price to get families connected to year-round creativity at the region’s top visual arts facility.

Monster Trucks On July 6-7 the PGARA Speedway is truly the playground of power. The Malicious Monster Truck Insanity Tour comes to Prince George for a pair of shows (6 p.m. Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday) with a wild herd of mega-machines, unique vehicle entertainment, and a pit party. Get tickets at all TicketsNorth platforms.

Beastly Beauty Judy Russell Presents brings incredibly popular musical theatre show Beauty & The Beast to the Prince George Playhouse stage for 15 shows running between July 11 and 27. See the best of the city’s homegrown stage talent and the storytelling power of Disney in a live summer blockbuster. Get tickets at all Central Interior Tickets platforms.

Summerfest Downtown Prince George’s signature event in the summertime is a celebration of food, entertainment and activities for

the whole family. Live music, merchant booths, arts and culture displays and much more make this a day to circle on the calendar, headlined by the popular food pavilion. This year the extravaganza is July 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Canada Games Plaza over to 6th Avenue.

Red Green He’s colourful in name and deed. Red Green is the bumbling but pleasantly practical TV fix-it man, the clown prince of duct tape, the sage of the man-shed. This Canadian comedy icon is coming to Vanier Hall on Sept. 26 on his Red GreenThis Could Be It Tour. His PG shows are always a sell-out. Get tickets at the TicketsNorth website/box office.

World Curling Don’t let the date fool you. The event may be in 2020 but the plans are underway now and the tickets are on sale for this Prince George groundbreaker. P.G. goes global as the host of the World Women’s Curling Championships starting March 14. Get your tickets now, and spread the word to friends and family everywhere that this is the time to come spend some Prince George time, and get a close, personal view of the worldclass action the rest of the winter sports community will only get to see on TV. Oh yeah, and there’s also the great social side of curling – there’ll be no bigger party in Canada. Contact Tickets North for tickets and info.

was working on a more rational column this week, but I just need to rant. This time, instead of bashing those in authority, today, some self-righteous members of the general public are in my line of fiery thoughts. I cannot believe the ignorance of people’s comments in regards to kids being left in cars. I am not bashing the parents who make the horrible mistake of forgetting their kids in their vehicles while they go to work, or the parents who are running around doing errands and leave their kids in their vehicles for a few minutes. No, I am ranting at the people who think these kids would be better off apprehended by the state. First, let me send a shout out to the amazing people who provide foster-care. They are not the problem, they are providing loving care in extremely difficult situations, so thank you for your selfless work. The stats for children in care are, of course, biased, as the kids originate from very troubled homes. However, the numbers are startling. According to Stats Can, in 2016 in BC, 293 kids died, and 120 of those were children receiving care from the state. With nearly one million kids 19 and under in BC and only roughly 8,000 in care of the state, those numbers present a huge problem for anyone declaring the state should take the kid. Do you realize saying that means these kids should rather face those odds against them rather than take a chance with their parents? Of course, these folks, or you, if you have said that, don’t mean that. Then don’t say it, please.

THINKING ALOUD TRUDY KLASSEN

Yes, the kids in care come with baggage that puts them at higher risk, but the damage to kids from being ripped away from their not-great parents into foster homes seems to (too often) outweigh the damage they suffer from being torn from their parents. That they are placed with well-intentioned, good, professionally-trained foster parents, doesn’t seem to mitigate this damage or to improve their outcomes significantly. The long-term outcome of kids in care is terrible too. After leaving care at age 18 they are five times more likely to die before age 25. Sad statistics. Even the slow-moving bureaucracy of the Ministry of Children and Families is beginning to see that we need to find a better way to solve family violence and abuse situations. But in the meantime: just stop hating on parents. It is hard enough to raise kids in our world without ignorant comments. Maybe offer to babysit so your neighbour can run errands without the kids. Now, wouldn’t that be fun? More fun than making stupid comments? Okay, perhaps not more fun for everyone, but it would be more productive, and more helpful. Try that next time you feel like saying “They shouldn’t be allowed to have kids,” or something else similarly stupid. Thanks.

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Paramount Pictures photo by David Appleby/ via AP

Taron Egerton stars as Elton John in a scene from Rocketman.

ROCKETMAN DOESN’T SUGARCOAT ELTON JOHN TRAVIS M. ANDREWS The Washingion Post

couldn’t be further apart. One of the major flaws of Bohemian Rhapsody and other films of its ilk, such as Walk the Line about Johnny Cash and Ray about Ray Charles, is the way they tone down the less savory aspects of the artist’s life. Part of the reason seems to be that these movies are meant to create a warm glow in the audience – the same glow created by the songs that made these people popular in the first place. Viewers have to grapple with their darker sides, but only for a moment. Much like The Who’s drummer Keith Moon did with an infamous television set, Rocketman throws that formula out the hotel window. Instead of glossing over the rough bits – namely, John’s anger issues and addiction to alcohol, cocaine and sex – it focuses on them. For much of the movie, John isn’t a very likable character. He’s cruel, narcissistic, high, drunk and terrified. He doesn’t push everyone who loves him away so much as bulldozes over them. And the camera doesn’t look away. We watch John snort mountains of cocaine, only to have them return as blood dripping from his nose. Passionless sex and miserable orgy-adjacent activity fills the screen. Stomachs are pumped in full detail.

Much ado has been made about Elton John’s insistence that the filmmakers behind his biopic Rocketman not sand the edges of his sometimes tumultuous life. A piece that John wrote in the Guardian about the film, which opened Friday, has made the internet rounds a few times lately: “Some studios wanted to tone down the sex and drugs so the film would get a PG-13 rating. But I just haven’t led a PG-13 rated life. I didn’t want a film packed with drugs and sex, but equally, everyone knows I had quite a lot of both during the 70s and 80s, so there didn’t seem to be much point in making a movie that implied that after every gig, I’d quietly gone back to my hotel room with only a glass of warm milk and the Gideon’s Bible for company.” That might sound like it’s just a titillating ploy to sell tickets, but it points toward what makes Rocketman work, particularly in an age of tepid biopics like the much-awarded movie about Freddie Mercury and Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody. Though Rocketman was directed by Dexter Fletcher, who actually finished the Queen biopic after the departure of Bryan Singer, the two films

†

Setting it further apart from other movies of its kind, John’s songs – many of which might sound poppy and pleasant but are actually about sorrow and solitude – are employed during these dark moments. Rocket Man, the song that lent its name to the film, begins when John attempts a (very) public suicide. The movie remembers that our favorite songs often come from painful places, and it makes sure we remember it as well. Most biopics about musicians tend to mess with both truth and timelines, but often filmmakers attempt to stay true to the general order in which songs were released. Rocketman cares only glancingly about either, as it makes clear with its opening sequence, which finds John in a bright orange, sequined, devil outfit walking in slow motion toward what we assume is a stage. That is, until he kicks the door open and is in a 12-step meeting. The movie is filled with surreal fantasy sequences that elevate the mood in any particular moment. During John’s debut at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, he and the audience literally are lifted off their feet and begin floating above the floor for a while. Add on the fact that much of the movie is a jukebox musical, and it’s not surprising that

one of the first scenes finds John as a child, his parents and his grandmother all singing parts of I Want Love, which he and Bernie Taupin didn’t write until 2001. The ultimate result is the movie feels like John’s life, which is more effective than seeing a decades-long career compressed into two hours. As John himself wrote, the point was to “make something that was like my life: chaotic, funny, mad, horrible, brilliant and dark. It’s obviously not all true, but it’s the truth.” When Rami Malek won the Oscar for his portrayal of Mercury, a common criticism was that all the actor did was wear fake teeth and lip sync. This isn’t fully true, of course, and Malek is a lauded actor. But there is something lacking when an actor mimes singing, rather than actually doing it. Egerton, the Kingsman actor who shines in the role of John, sings every song here. The importance of this decision, which John insisted upon, adds an immediacy and emotional dynamic to these songs, even if they are covers. Elton John’s career exists in the space where fantasy meets fact, ridiculousness meets reality and camp meets certainty. Rocketman showed exactly that.

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lack holes in space are hard to see. But some black holes, especially super big ones, stand out. They gather bright rings of gas and other material.

Use the Decoder Ring to discover the name of this fun book by Jane Yolen, which is available at the library. To fill in the blanks, find the letter on the outer ring, then replace it with the letter below it on the inner ring.

This year, a world-spanning network of observatories, called the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), zoomed in on a huge galaxy called M87 to create the first-ever photograph of a black hole.

First Black Hole Photo Photo: Event Horizon Telescope (EHT)

This super huge black hole is about 55 million light-years away in a galaxy called M87.

While the existence of black holes was first discussed by Albert Einstein and other scientists a little more than 100 years ago, it wasn’t until this April that a photograph of one was taken.

Black Holes and Time Replace the missing words.

If an ___________ was able to get close to a black hole ___________ and spend a few _________ there, a strange thing would happen when he or she returned to their __________. Many years might have _______ in Earth time while the astronaut was ______ the black hole!

What is a black hole? When a star implodes, it collapses in on itself. The tremendous gravity of this can create a black hole.

Spaghettification

A whirlpool in water is similar in some ways to a black hole. Both have a core that sucks in whatever is close by, which in a black hole includes light.

Don’t Let the Name Black Hole Fool You!

A black hole is not empty. Rather, it is a great amount of matter packed into a very small area — think of a star ten times more massive than the sun squeezed into a sphere approximately the diameter of New York City. Packing all that matter into one little space causes a huge gravitational field so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. It would be like squashing all the bricks, concrete, steel, wood and glass of a large building into a tiny ball smaller than the size of a pea. Katie Bouman, a 29-year old graduate student, came up with the math and made it possible for the EHT to capture the first photo of a black hole!

What do noodles and spaghetti have to do with black holes? The closer one gets to a black hole, the stronger the pull of its gravity. As the gravity pulls things towards the black hole, they get stretched out like a long piece of spaghetti. That’s called spaghettification, or the noodle effect. Here’s what a carrot might look like during spaghettification.

Draw what you think these things might look like if they went through spaghettification.

What’s the area?

Area is the measure of how much space there is on a flat surface. Practice calculating area by measuring the sides of photographs in the newspaper. To find the area, multiply the length by the height.

Commander Toad and his crew on the spaceship Star Warts come across a black hole while leapfrogging across the galaxy. Something long, pink, and sticky grabs their spaceship and it isn’t space gum — it’s the tongue of an E.T.T. — an Extra-Terrestrial Toad! When all else fails, Commander Toad has to resort to a secret weapon from his past to save the ship from “toad-al” destruction.

O H U U P F W T G D H P W D C T

P F W Y B A

Y V P O E C H V T

Standards Link: Math: Measurement: Measure using standard units.

The words black and hole are often used in compound words. Those are words created by combining two smaller words. Use the words floating in space to create compound words by combining them with either the word BLACK or the word HOLE.

the words in the puzzle. TELESCOPE Find How many of them can you HORIZON find on this page? NETWORK A E P O C S E L E T GALAXY L N P U L L V L B E BLACK R T O I E Y E I O N EVENT SPACE N S G Z X M N H E H LIGHT E H B A I T T T E U SUPER T C L T I R W A S G HOLE N A A P R O O M T E HUGE TIME G E C P R E I H A C STAR T E K K S U P E R D PULL Standards Link: Letter sequencing. Recongized identical MATH words. Skim and scan reading. Recall spelling patterns.

Do you ever struggle with your homework? Libraries to the rescue! Most libraries have after-school programs to give one-on-one help to students. A tutor or a volunteer will provide personal help with a school assignment. Some libraries offer online help. And for students that perhaps do not have internet access at home, some libraries provide reference sources suitable for students.

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SEE SOLUTION ON PAGE 18 97/16 IS A WEEKLY PRODUCT OF THE PRINCE GEORGE CITIZEN

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TAKING A CHANCE FOR MIDDLE EAST PEACE LESSONS IN LEARNING GERRY CHIDIAC

ometimes one must risk appearing foolish in order to speak a very deep truth. As a person of Middle Eastern ethnicity, I have long felt a tie to all peoples of that area of the world. As I watch the news I see a horrible conflict between the Christians, Muslims and Jews of this region. Perhaps it is just me who feels a closeness to all of these groups. Perhaps I feel this way because my grandparents left over 100 years ago and I don’t understand the reality of the conflict. Yet, don’t we all call ourselves children of Abraham? Don’t we all recognize the person of Jesus of Nazareth, either as a prophet or messiah? As I’ve gone on to study human conflict, primarily in the area of genocide studies, I can’t help but notice that certain lessons are presented in every case. The obvious is that people are capable of inflicting horrible suffering upon their neighbours. Less obvious is that goodness and love always triumph in the end. We also come to realize that the distinctions between groups that we thought were so important are actually completely insignificant. We really are just people, amazing and wonderful human beings, filled with infinite potential. So why do we hate and kill one another? My hearth is broken with each missile strike into or out of Gaza. My heart is broken with each attack on a mosque, synagogue or church. I am driven to tears, and I am forced to look deep inside myself to find the truth of our oneness, a oneness I know is real. Humour, counter-intuitive in the face of sadness, but perhaps I can make people laugh at the ridiculousness of our selfimposed separation and the true beauty of our common humanity. If we are laughing together perhaps we can bridge the gap, perhaps we can heal together. But humour is a risk. Many may not find my efforts funny, others may even find them offensive. As a well-respected professional, am I willing to look so foolish? Yes, I have to at least try. I have to do all I can for peace and truth.

Solution to: CAPTAIN OBVIOUS GOES TO THE RENAISSANCE FAIR

So I called myself Middle-Aged Middle Eastern Guy and wrote The Jesus Homeboy Rap: Jesus is my homeboy! Jesus is my homeboy! Jews they are my homeboys! Jews they are my homegirls! Christians are my homeboys! Christians are my homegirls! Muslims are my homeboys! Muslims are my homegirls! We are all called Semites! Ahraham’s our grandpa! (Vocalized drum solo) Jesus is our homeboy! You call him messiah! You call him a prophet! Let’s go eat some hummus, So we can talk about it! (Vocalize drum solo) Then I make a comment about how many Semites struggle with punctuality, myself included, do a mike drop and walk away. I wear a black shirt I bought years ago at a Moroccan store in Montreal, set myself up in front of a bright orange wall, and bellow like a fool. I post on YouTube and social media, wondering if anyone will notice. Perhaps people will hear me, and perhaps they won’t. Perhaps they will think I’m an idiot and that I really don’t have a clue. The interesting thing is that I feel at peace with what I have done. The doubts are superfluous to the fact that I know that I have done something radical to proclaim a message which I know to be true within the depths of my being. I have countered hatred with a love song to my sisters and brothers. I know that I am a part of something bigger. The call to peace is gathering strength. I hear it in the Jewish Voice for Peace and the Independent Jewish Voice. I see it as political leaders bravely stand up to powerful lobby groups. Peace happens when we take the risk to be true to our common humanity, no matter how preposterous we may appear. You can watch The Jesus Homeboy Rap here: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=pCvClcAE6UQ Turn on the closed captions. Gerry Chidiac is a champion for social enlightenment, inspiring others to find their greatness in making the world a better place. For more of his writings, go to www.gerrychidiac.com

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PEDRO ARRIAS Victoria Times Colonist

f you can’t understand what the fuss over SUVs is all about and yearn for a conventional compact four-door sedan, the 2020 Toyota Corolla is your ride. Not a week goes by without a manufacturer announcing yet another SUV or crossover.While some manufacturers have publicly stated that they will no longer produce conventional sedans after this year, others, such as Toyota, have reaffirmed their commitment to the segment. In the past two years, the Corolla’s main competitors — the Honda Civic and the Mazda3 — have both been completely revamped.The Corolla is arguably the world’s most popular nameplate, with more than 46 million vehicles sold since it was first introduced in 1966. This is the model’s 12th generation.(This review is for the Corolla sedan. I have previously reviewed the Corolla Hatchback.)In Canada, the 2020 Corolla starts at $18,990 for the base L model and a manual transmission. I drove an SE model with a continuously variable transmission, with a list

price of $23,290.The new Corolla now sits on the Toyota New Global Architecture platform, a chassis that the company claims is 60 per cent stiffer than last year’s model.The new car rides on a new multilink rear suspension, which elevates the Corolla’s handling to a new, higher level. While its ride has always been comfortable, the nameplate wasn’t always synonymous in the past. With the upgraded chassis, the new Corolla sedan can actually be regarded as fun to drive.The new car feels more confident in corners. The SE model benefits from a sport-tuned suspension to give a more sporty feel on back roads.Toyota has also changed the product offerings to cover three groups. The L, LE and XLE now come with a 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine with 139 horsepower and 126 pound-feet of torque. The S line includes the S, SE and XSE, powered by a new, larger 2.0-litre four producing 169 hp and 151 lb.-ft. of torque. The third line is fitted with a gasoline-electric hybrid powerplant (a first for Corolla), borrowed from the Prius.The extra oomph between the 1.8- and the 2.0-litre engine is noticeable. The Corolla now pulls from

a stop with authority. While the vehicle was fitted with a CVT — a transmission not known for pulling power — Toyota added a physical first gear into the mix. This addition gives the Corolla a leg up in low-speed acceleration, putting it in the same league as a conventional automatictransmission unit.While no sports car, power delivery is linear, with ample power to pass or merge on the highway. The cabin feels more upscale than before, abandoning its econobox roots. The quality of the materials is right up to what one would expect from a Toyota — functional and durable.The driver gets a eight-inch touchscreen infotainment display with a rotary knob. Navigating the various menus and sub-menus is fairly intuitive, and the screen is sharp.Toyota includes Apple CarPlay, but Android users will go away disappointed.My tester had an upgraded option package that included a wireless charging dock for a cellphone. Legroom in the rear is the most generous in this group, at 1,052 millimetres (the Mazda3 only has 892 mm by comparison). Rear headroom is good, even for occupants approaching six feet tall.The

rear occupants get cupholders, but no vents or power outlets (parents with children be warned).The 60/40 seatbacks fold completely flat.What is impressive is Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.0 suite. Standard on all trim levels, it offers a host of features to detect and prevent a collision. It includes a pre-collision system with daytime/low-light vehicle and pedestrian detection, plus Daytime Bicycle Detection (yes, that’s its full title), lane-departure alert with steering assist and road-edge detection, automatic high beams, lanetrace assist and dynamic cruise control with radar in the CVT.Blind-spot monitoring is standard on top trims, optional on others. Hill-start assist is standard.Toyota now offers Safety Connect (available on XLE and XSE models), a system that offers emergency services, roadside assistance and help to locate a stolen vehicle.Despite the popularity of hatchbacks in Canada, sedans still account for the majority of Corolla sales, according to Toyota. While the popularity of SUVs continue unabated, those wishing the most up-to-date technology and fuel economy can now depend on the new Corolla to deliver in the years ahead.

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19,930

144

Gustafson’s Kia

noW onLy B/W

23,245

163

B/W

1912 - 20th Avenue, Prince George 250-563-7949 • 1-866-588-2542

gustafsonskia.ca

DEALER# 26131 **ALL pRicEs bAsED on cAsh puRchAsE incEntivEs. *on sELEct vEhicLEs. pRicE AnD pAymEnts nEt of ALL DEALER Discounts & REbAtEs. pAymEnt is bAsED on finAncE Discount, not cAsh pRicE Discount. sELLinG pRicE pLus $499 ADministRAtion fEE. pRicEs AnD pAymEnts vALiD untiL JunE 30, 2019. 2020 tELLuRiDE - pG11598 - 84 month @ 2.99% totAL pAiD $53,604. 2019 KiA soREnto AWD - pG11541 - 84 months @ 0.99% totAL pAiD $36,187.68. 2019 KiA spoRtAGE LX AWD - pG11565 - 84 months @ 1.99% totAL pAiD $33,667.68. 2019 KiA stinGER AWD 205h AnnivERsARy - pG11611 - 84 months @ 3.99% totAL pAiD $58,325. 2019 sEDonA LX+ - pG11574 - 84 months @ 1.99% totAL pAiD $40,410. 2019 KiA foRtE - pG11566 - 84 months @ 2.99% totAL pAiD $23,722. 220 KiA souL - pG11610 - 84 months @ 2.99% totAL pAiD $26,797. R0011670162