Gateway May2017 by Prince George Citizen

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Your community voice for the north! WEDNESDAY May 31, 2017

NEWS AND EVENTS FOR PRINCE GEORGE AND CENTRAL INTERIOR

Concert series to heat up Canada’s birthday Citizen staff

sizzling lineup of live entertainment including Bruce Cockburn will hit Prince George for Canada’s 150th Birthday celebration this summer. The Canada 150 Heatwave, a partnership with the city and the Prince George Folkfest Society, will be presenting a free eight-day concert series beginning July 1. “Thanks to the Canada 150 Fund, the City of Prince George will be celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday in style,” said Jen Tkatchuck, Civic Events Coordinator with the City of Prince George. “With a free eight-day outdoor music festival, two mural projects and a variety of other exciting community events, Prince George will be the place to be this summer.” The event will feature local, regional and nationally acclaimed artists and musicians at Canada Games Plaza for midday and eve-

Handout photo via CP

Musician Bruce Cockburn is shown in an undated handout photo. ning concerts. Canada’s sesquicentennial

celebration will also include two mosaic projects. Everyone is wel-

come to take part. “Projects are already in the

works,” said Tkatchuck. “You can check our website to see what’s coming up. We have workshops coming up in the next few weeks.” The Canada 150 Mosaic project, will invite participants to create one piece of an 800-piece mural symbolizing the community of Prince George. There are 150 murals being made in 150 communities across Canada. For those interested, visit the Canada 150 mosaic tent at BMO KidzArt Dayz on July 7-8 to participate. The mosaic will be displayed in the atrium linking the Kin Centres to CN Centre. Also, Canada 150 patchwork is in partnership with the Prince George Potters’ Guild, which will bring together artists, students and the community to design a patchwork mosaic wall portraying diversity and originality, with Prince George in mind. “You can paint whatever is important to you,” said Tkatchuck. — see MURAL, page 9

www.pgcitizen.ca | Wednesday, May 31, 2017

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Former area resident wins Daytime Emmy Frank PEEBLES Citizen staff fpeebles@pgcitizen.ca

nd the Emmy goes to... Prince George. One of the world’s most prestigious show business trophies has been bestowed on a local resident. Jenna Servatius can hardly believe it herself, and it was her hands into which the orb and angel statuette was thrust. The Daytime Emmy Award for best makeup in the world of daytime television is sitting on her coffee table in Toronto as she ponders where it might go on a permanent basis. Servatius could hardly be more removed in her upbringing from the red carpets of Los Angeles. She was raised at Ness Lake, went to Nukko Lake elementary school, then graduated from Kelly Road secondary in 2004 with her intentions set on the hospitality industry. She took courses at CNC in that field and went to work for a year at Disneyworld. — see ‘IT WAS, page 6

Handout photo

Former Ness Lake resident Jenna Servatius won a Daytime Emmy Award for her makeup expertise on the TV program Odd Squad.

www.pgcitizen.ca | Wednesday, May 31, 2017

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P.G. library gains talent from Trump-led U.S. Citizen staff

he Prince George Public Library has a new public service manager and to some extent U.S. President Donald Trump can be thanked for the acquisition. Prior to taking on the position at PGPL, Ignacio Albarracin and his family lived in San Antonio, Texas, where he had been the digital services coordinator at that city’s public library for five years. That such a controversial and polarizing figure holds the highest office in the United States was not the sole reason Albarracin is now residing well north of the 49th parallel, but Trump’s election as president helped close the deal. “Trump is part of the picture, absolutely,” Albarracin said. “If Hilary Clinton were president today, I don’t know that I would be here. The bottom line is at this point in

sons the Albarracins were looking north. time, I feel that Canada is a better place to Another is that in Texas, police have the raise my kids than the U.S. as it is today.” authority to ask people for their immigraAlbarracin was born in Argentina but his tion papers, something Albarracin said family moved to the U.S. when he was less could be particularly than one year old and he troublesome for his wife. is an American citizen. If Hilary Even though she’s a U.S. “But I grew up as an Clinton were citizen, she speaks with immigrant. I grew up president an accent. in a household where “The possibility that she we spoke Spanish and today, I don’t know would have to experience in a household of imthat I would be here. being stopped for whatmigrants,” Albarracin said. “My mom was born — Ignacio Albarracin ever reason, because any excuse can be used...to in Uruguay, my dad was me that not a welcoming born in Argentina. environment,” he said. “The message that “Apart from being throughout the U.S. – sends to me is this particular population I’ve lived in Miami, I’ve lived in Pittsburgh, I’ve lived in Texas, I’ve lived in Washington, group is not welcome.” Conversely, he said Canada is more welD.C. – I was a Peace Corp volunteer and I coming and opening. lived in Honduras. My wife is Honduran.” “Frankly, it’s an example I think my comTrump’s plan to build a wall along the patriots could learn from,” Albarracin said. U.S.-Mexican border is just one of the rea-

Another concern is a pervasive state of fear as made apparent by Texas’s opencarry law with respect to firearms, the presence of armed security and guard dogs at supermarkets and the fact that San Antonio Public Library staff received training in battlefield medicine. “It’s gotten to the point where we’re so afraid of active shooters or terrorist attacks, that we were trained, as library staff, on how to apply tourniquets, apply patches to people’s chests,” Albarracin said. There were some pull factors to go along with the pushes. Albarracin said his longterm goal is to become an assistant director or director and his new job at PGPL is a step in that direction. “This job really hit a sweet spot in terms of what I was looking for professionally,” Albarracin said, adding he plans to be in Prince George for while. — see ‘I DO HAVE FAITH, page 9

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www.pgcitizen.ca | Wednesday, May 31, 2017

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‘It was so amazing’ — from page 3 Even then, there was no epiphany that would conceivably get her to VIP seats at the Pasadena Convention Centre in amongst superstar nominees like Laurence Fishburne, Usain Bolt, Guillermo del Toro, Emeril Lagasse, Trisha Yearwood, David Arquette, Courteney Cox, Craig Ferguson and other nominees who, in many cases, are household names in the entertainment world. Before she got to the glitz, she had to go through some smaller flashes. After Disneyworld, Servatius veered to a new career path, going with her gut instead of a version of practicality she thought was more stable. It was a move that actually

pleased her mom and dad, LoriAnne and Rocky, back in Prince George, because it meant she was striving to be happy. She won the Rotary Citizenship Bursary the year she graduated, so they were confident in her abilities, no matter which way she applied herself. “She has always been very artistic,” said her mother. “She started to really come into her own when she moved to Vancouver to go to Blanche Macdonald (one of Canada’s leading schools for the fashion, makeup and aesthetics industry), but her first prize for art was for a pencil drawing she entered in the Reid Lake Fall Fair.” After she graduated from Blanche Macdonald, Servatius

A win for one would have felt like a win for all of us, but for all three of us, that was just an indescribable night. — Jenna Servatius began working entry-level jobs in the Vancouver film and television world, but Toronto came calling with full-time work when she got hired into the makeup department of Sinking Ship Entertainment, the production company behind such favourite family shows as Dino Dan & Dana, Annedroids,

Bookaboo, Chirp and the one that occupies most of Servatious’s time, Odd Squad. It was her work on Oddsquad that took the famous trophy over other nominees Live With Kelly, The Talk, Harry and The View. “The hair lady (Liz Roelands) from my show won, and the costume designer (Christine Toye) won,” Servatius recalled. “It was so amazing for the three of us to be standing there together. There are no words. We all work so hard and so closely together, so it was incredible. A win for one would have felt like a win for all of us, but for all three of us, that was just an indescribable night.” The show also won for writing and acting, so the adrenaline was

flowing like the champagne at the after-party held nearby at the Pasadena Children’s Museum. Servatius said that she was taken completely off guard by the win. At 31, she is young to be recognized so auspiciously in an industry where age improves art and hones the talent. She was also up against some heavy shows. It was only on the urging of her Sinking Ship colleagues that she prepared at all for a victory speech. She certainly had no trouble thanking the producers and other creative professionals who make the show, each episode. She genuinely likes her co-workers and enjoys the Odd Squad show. — see ‘I GET TO, page 7

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‘I get to create P.G. making Brier bid every day’ Citizen staff

— from page 6 “Every script I look forward to reading. They are so funny, and they hit the stuff the kids like, but they also include the stuff that parents respond to,” Servatius added. “And I get to create every day. I’m excited to go to work every day, even when its four in the morning. And it’s often four in the morning. That’s not even morning, that’s just the continuation of the night. And I love it.” She needs a rest, though. The upcoming season of Odd Squad wrapped during the first week of April, then came the Emmy event, so she wants to recuperate before the next project gets underway. Servatius’s success became a discussion point at the recent Creative Corner panel at Northern FanCon held at CN Centre in Prince George The moderator started the professional development discussion by getting her a round of applause from the live audience, and pointing to her success as the all-local example of why the panel was happening in the first place. The prop makers, costume designers, sound technicians and film editors at the table were there to shed light on the many fruitful professions within the screen arts industry. It was a discussion Servatius said she wish she could have heard at about 17 years of age. “I was basically told that my interest in the arts would lead, at best, to being an art professor,” Servatius said.

“I would love to go to high schools and talk about the potential of film jobs. I had no idea, in school, that this world of different professions was out there. There is so much potential for people to work in film.” The early stages of a film industry are showing signs within Prince George and, closely-related to that, is the live theatre side of the industry. Servatius said Theatre Northwest played an enormous role in her own career, even though it wasn’t consciously or directly at the time. “Do you know how many actors sit in my chair, and as we chat about where we come from, and they find out I’m from Prince George they say ‘oh yeah, I know P.G., I was in a Theatre Northwest play’ or someone they know worked for Theatre Northwest. “I can’t even count anymore the number of times that conversation’s happened. TNW really has put Prince George on the map in a way I never would have thought of. “And I love TNW. When I was a teenager I was a soccer coach for a kids’ team and the sponsor of the team would give me and my co-coach a dinner out and tickets to see a TNW play.” Servatius never had the urge to be out on the stage or in front of the camera herself but she has found love of work in that industry. She has also found a Daytime Emmy. Now she just has to find a place in her home to put it.

Prince George has filed an intent to bid letter for the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier national men’s curling championship. Intent to bid is the first stage of the bid process. The proposed dates for the 2020 Brier are Feb. 23 to March 2. If Prince George bids for and lands the event, it would be held at CN Centre, which meets the minimum criteria for spectator seating. CN Centre’s seating capacity is 5,967. The adjacent Kin Centre complex would be utilized for the Brier Patch social venue. As part of a bid, Prince George would have to make a financial commitment of $500,000 (cash or value-in-kind) for the event budget. City staff has recommended the money come from the city’s Major Events Reserve. The economic impact of hosting the Brier is estimated at $11 million to $15 million. City administration has already met with Tour-

ism Prince George and representatives from the local curling community to confirm support, in principle, for submission of a 2020 Brier bid. An estimated 500 volunteers would be needed to successfully host the championship. Any financial legacy, according to city staff, would remain with the local curling community. The 2018 Brier will be held in Regina. Bid packages for 2019 must be submitted to Curling Canada by June 30. The Multiplex (now known as CN Centre) hosted the Scott Tournament of Hearts national women’s curling championship in 2000 and the Road to the Roar pre-Olympic qualifying tournament in 2009. The 2020 Brier would be a larger-scale event than both. The Brier would bring 16 teams to Prince George – the defending champion, one from each province and territory, a Northern Ontario representative and the highest-ranked non-qualified rink from the Canadian Team Ranking System standings.

www.pgcitizen.ca | Wednesday, May 31, 2017

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Veterans Affairs office reopens in Prince George Citizen staff

he Veterans Affairs Office in Prince George has been reopened. The office, along with nine others across Canada, was closed in 2012. Located on the fourth floor at 299 Victoria St., Veterans Affairs will serve approximately 1,200 veterans from northern B.C. and Yukon. Veterans in northern B.C. like Billy Geernaert from Fort St. James, welcomed the news. “It was like we were forgotten up here in the north. Legions are closing down everywhere and services are all in the south. A lot of us here can’t deal with big cities. So many veterans haven’t been

receiving the services they need, especially older ones who can’t drive,” Geernaert said. In 2009, Geernaert, now 40, was wounded when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. He was recognized with a Mentioned-In-Dispatches for repelling the attack and safeguarding his fellow soldiers. “Our veterans need support and it’s good to have somewhere close to go. It’s so convenient and it’s always better to talk to someone face to face,” Geernaert said. “This is such a great thing,” said John Scott, service officer for Legion Branch 43 and vice-president for B.C. Yukon Command. “It’s the fact that our vets can see a qualified case worker and

speak face to face with someone and that makes a big difference,” Scott said. Scott and local legion members lobbied to have the office reopened. “I feel like we’ve really accomplished something,” Scott said. Veteran’s Affairs Minister Kent Hehr committed $78 million last August to reopen the offices. The department is continuing to hire up to 400 new employees to help ensure that veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members, RCMP personnel and first responders and their families are provided with the best possible services when and where they need them, according to Hehr. “I am extremely proud to be reopening doors that were previ-

ously closed to veterans and their families here in Prince George. “They have selflessly answered the call to serve our country and now we are answering their call by enhancing financial benefits, restoring and expanding access to critical services, expanding service in British Columbia and the territories and hiring more front-line staff,” Hehr said. Cariboo-Prince George MP Todd Doherty also praised the reopening of the office. Doherty introduced Bill C-211 before the House of Commons establishing a national framework for those military and first responders dealing with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “Having the Veterans’ office reopened in Prince George has

been on our radar for a while and something we’ve been pushing,” Doherty said. “I celebrate the opening of the office and hope that we are able to provide the best service possible to our military families when and where they need it.” The Veterans Affairs office case managers will be available to work with veterans on a one-onone basis. Services for veterans include answering questions about services and benefits, arranging pension and medical examinations, assisting veterans to complete and submit applications and receipts and meeting with case-managers. “It’s so good to know that our vets are being looked after,” Scott said.

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Mural linked to others in Canada — from page 1 “If it’s your dog or cat, your love of Prince George or just your love of being Canadian in general, all are welcome to take part,” Tkatchuck added. Each community mural virtually connects to other community murals resulting in one mural that unifies all of Canada. Throughout the country, a total of 80,000 tiles will comprise an overall image of train cars connecting Canadians from east to west. All activities are funded through the Government of Canada’s Community Fund for Canada 150, which totals $276,000. Events are being presented by the City of Prince George, the Prince George Community Foundation, the community Foundations of Canada and the Government of Canada. To participate in a workshop or for more information about the Canada 150 Mosaic project, visit canada150mosaic.com and princegeorge.ca.

‘I do have faith that things will improve’

— from page 4 “I’m not someone who’s just passing through,” he said, noting his family was invited up in February, the coldest month of the year, to get a sense of what life in Prince George is like. He will be responsible for overseeing the public service department including adult, youth, and branch services. In 2015, he won a Mover and Shaker award from Library Journal for his work in launching a digital checkout kiosk at the San Antonio International Airport. His wife, Gloria, and their two children will arrive in Prince George later this summer – on July 4 in fact – once school is out. His wife just completed an associate degree in early childhood development and may continue her studies at the University of Northern British Columbia. Albarracin still holds out hope for the United States. “I do have faith that things will improve just because they have to,” he said.

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Students focus on Highway of Tears for documentary Citizen staff

C Citizen photo by Frank Peebles

Student documentary director Tennessa Wild and videographer Alex Antoneshyn were in Prince George on May19, after rolling cameras along the Highway Of Tears.

ar wheels and documentary cameras were rolling along the Highway Of Tears this week. Two students of journalism, director Tennessa Wild and videographer Alex Antoneshyn were travelling the infamous stretch of Highway 16 between Prince Rupert and Prince George, stopping along the way to look at the cases of missing and murdered women from over the years. They were specifically interested in transportation availability and hitchhiking culture – two underlying factors in why so many vulnerable women were in a position to be violently apprehended by predators. The students looked at the Highway Of Tears Symposium Report as their starting point, zeroing in on the recommendation that a transportation system be created to service the First Nations communities along the highway. That 2006 report flowed from the forum held at CN Centre that brought together levels of government, law enforcement, community service agencies, grassroots advocates and, for the first time ever, the families of the many victims. A public dialogue was held and the report was the written representation of that discussion. It said, “Many of the First Nation Com-

The students looked at the Highway Of Tears Symposium Report as their starting point, zeroing in on the recommendation that a transportation system be created to service the First Nations communities along the highway. munities (Reserves) along Highway 16 are situated many miles from town and city centers. A majority of these First Nation communities do not have the business, recreation, or other services that are available in the towns and cities. Poverty, coupled with the need to buy essential items such as food and clothing, requires travel from these communities to the nearest town or city.” The report also said in another excerpt, “The first and most significant contributing factor for many of the aboriginal women being on the highway is poverty. Young aboriginal women are placing themselves at risk by hitchhiking because they simply have no other transportation options.” – see ‘THIS IS, page 14

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‘This is an accountability piece’ — from page 10 “They have very little money, and vehicles are considered a luxury item that many families cannot afford. The percentage of families living at, or below, the poverty line in First Nations communities is disproportionately higher than any other population segment in Canadian society,” the reporte added. “Moreover, poverty in some aboriginal families is intergenerational and is persistently present through many generations of the families. Some predators know that profound poverty exists within First Nation family units.” Noting that only the thin Greyhound bus service exists as a public transit option anywhere between Prince Rupert and Prince George, the Victim Prevention section of the report’s first recommendation was “That a shuttle bus transportation system be established between each town and city

located along the entire length of Highway 16, defined as the ‘The Highway of Tears.’” “This is an accountability piece,” said Wild, who is using this documentary as her Masters of Journalism thesis at the University of Regina. “It’s looking at the B.C. government’s inaction.” Wild is originally from Houston and is aware that a tendering process has been underway for many months to establish transportation links in these areas. No single transportation agency offered to take on the job of providing the service, as far as has been publicly disclosed from this process so far. The east-west distance is more than 700 kilometres, and the north-south branches off that Highway 16 tree are legion, making transportation logistics a significant challenge. — see PREMIER, page 15

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Premier didn’t respond to interview request ago” to no avail so far. — from page 14 The government member with the most The provincial government has publicly stated in the past that the preferred method literal hands on the issue is MLA John Rustad, being the elected member for the largof addressing people in poverty turning est stretch of that Highto hitchhiking as a travel way 16 span, a lifelong alternative is by raising Objectivity is who knows of the people out of poverty. a requirement resident Highway of Tears cases Hence, intense focus in journalism. from personal memory was put on gaps in the and is also the Minister of system leading to imbalIn documentary, Relations and ances in aboriginal educathere are allowances Aboriginal Reconciliation. Wild said tion outcomes, economic enhancement projects and made for subjectivity. she felt sure she could get interview with Rusprograms, etc. — Tennessa Wild an tad but said “he’s not en Wild said these points pointe” for the purposes weren’t enough. of her film and only the premier’s presence “Definitely not. That definitely doesn’t would satisfy her. change the focus at all.” When asked if the documentary was She intends to speak with the premier on balanced journalism, in keeping with the camera and felt dodged so far, since the requests for an interview were made “months university degree to which it is associated,

she said it was not. “Objectivity is a requirement in journalism,” she said, “In documentary, there are allowances made for subjectivity.” Many documentaries – both filmed and written – have been done on the Highway

of Tears topic. The first was directed by Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (winner of two Oscars and six Emmy Awards, named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world) in 2006. — see ‘I WANT TO, page 17

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‘I want to spark more interest in this topic, help influence others to strive towards these goals’ —from page 15 The most widely viewed was directed by Matt Smiley, co-produced by Carly Pope and Prince George’s Mary Teegee in 2015. It was narrated by Nathan Fillion, made its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival, and is available on Netflix. “Oh yes, I’ve seen all of them,” said Wild. She considered hers to be different. The bulk of the past work was “documenting the history, the circumstances, but not evoking change. We are still at a stalemate on what these communities require, what these communities are asking for.” She and Antoneshyn both expressed gratitude and inspiration at all the support their project has received. The filming portion still needs some footage from Vancouver and Victoria, than it’s into the post-production phase. Editing the raw footage into the story she wants to tell will be an onerous

task, she said, but her confidence in the advocacy she is doing will be a sure guide. The film’s deadline for her thesis purposes is Aug. 15 for a complete 22-minute television-style program. After that – a process she anticipates being a year to 18 months – she will explore the possibilities of getting it into film festivals, online viewing platforms, or even expanding it to a longer form. She especially hopes to return to the area to show the finished film in the places that helped create it. “I want to spark more interest in this topic, help influence others to strive towards these goals,” she said. “I hear a lot of ‘I’m just one person, what can I do?’ but we want to show people that you can do something as one person. “This could be my life’s work. It has that potential.”

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Tied down Daily restraint use at Northern Health care facilities above provincial, national average

Citizen staff

Citizen file photo

Gateway Lodge seniors home in Prince George had a daily restraint use rate of 46.6 per cent in 2011-12, which dropped to 32.6 per cent in 2015-2016.

he daily use of physical restraints in Northern Health’s long term care facilities was more than three times higher than the Canadian average and more than double the B.C. average last year, according to a national report. The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) said 24 per cent of residents in Northern Health facilities were physically restrained on a daily basis in 2015-2016. In B.C., 9.6 per cent of residents in long-term care were restrained daily while the national average sits at 7.4 per cent in 2015-2016. — see ‘WE NEED, page 19

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‘We need to find out why is it so high’ — from page 18 Limb and trunk physical restraints are used in beds while there are also restraints used in chairs. These restraints are sometimes used to manage behaviours and prevent falls, said the CIHI report. The percentage of patients being physically restrained on a daily basis in Northern Health has declined from 29.7 per cent in 2011-12 to 24 per cent in 2015-16. Provincially, 12.8 of long-term care residents were restrained daily, declining to 9.6 per cent, while federal numbers in 2011-12 were at 13.4 and declined to 7.4 in 2015-16. At Gateway Lodge in Prince George percentage of patients being physically restrained on a daily basis in 2011-2012 was 46.6 per cent, declining to 32.6 per cent in 2015-2016. Meanwhile, Peace Villa in Fort St. John increased its use of daily restraints, from

Meanwhile, Peace Villa in Fort St. John increased its use of daily restraints, from 35 per cent of residents in 2011-2012. Last year, it was at 40.1 per cent. 35 per cent of residents in 2011-2012. Last year, it was at 40.1 per cent. “We need to find out why is it so high,” B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie said. “Sometimes they are not even reviewing the data so they don’t even realize it’s that high. Sometimes the first step is pointing that out. This is a concern to me now that it’s been brought to my attention and I’m interested to know why.” — see UNDERSTAFFED, page 20

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Understaffed facilities may be the cause — from page 19 In April 2016, the Vancouver Sun cited a report by the B.C. Seniors Advocate addressing the high numbers of daily use of physical restraints in long term care facilities. At that time, Northern Health spokesman Jonathon Dyck said they were taking the seniors advocates report seriously and would investigate why the rates are so high. “I am hopeful that the provincial government’s recent commitment to increasing the care hours is going to help to address this because when you look at some of the

I am hopeful that the provincial government’s recent commitment to increasing the care hours is going to help to address this because when you look at some of the reasons for restraint – not all of the reasons for restraint – they can be linked to low staffing levels. — Isobel Mackenzie, B.C. Seniors Advocate reasons for restraint – not all of the reasons for restraint – they can be linked to low staffing levels,” Mackenzie said.

“So when you’re looking at bed restraints oftentimes that is because the person is perceived as being in danger of getting

out of bed and we have monitors, we have alarms that will go off when someone rises out of bed but you have to be able to get in there quickly. So if you have low staffing, particularly at night, and you have a lot of people at risk for falls and cannot get out of bed unassisted you might restrain them at night – you shouldn’t but you might and the reason you’re doing that is because you’re not confident that when the alarm rings to tell you they’re out of bed or they are getting out of bed that you’re going to be able to there in time.”

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Scammer poses as fraud investigator Citizen staff

scam in which the victim is duped into helping solve a fictitious crime has taken advantage of at least one Prince George resident’s better nature. Prince George RCMP said a scammer claiming to work as a fraud investigator for a major Canadian bank convinced the person over the phone to help him and the RCMP with a purported investigation by making a money transfer. The victim was defrauded of thousands of dollars. “Investigators would like to remind the public that the RCMP would never use the public to assist with an investigation of this

bers can be found on the back of your debit nature,” the detachment said. or credit card, or through their official “Although financial institutions do have website. security personnel • Obtain the caller’s that investigate Although financial contact information frauds, they would institutions do have and search it on the never request a internet. Often the client to assist, security personnel contact information especially by transthat investigate frauds, will be associated to ferring their own they would never request frauds and is a clear money.” RCMP offered a client to assist, especially warning it is not a legitimate inquiry. the following adby transferring their own • Never give your vice to those who money. personal information receive a suspicious to anyone who calls call: — Prince George RCMP you over the phone. • Hang-up and This is especially the contact the financase when an organization such as the cial institution or government agency the financial institution you deal with calls and person claimed to be working for. Num-

should have all your necessary information already. • Never agree to wire funds or purchase cash cards. “Wiring money is untraceable and irreversible,” RCMP said. “Similarly, purchasing cash cards and providing the scammers with the card number and security number would be very difficult to trace.” If you are a victim, immediately report the fraud to your local RCMP or police department of jurisdiction. If you are not victimized, contact the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre at 1-888-4958501 or online at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre website also offers information on common frauds in Canada.

www.pgcitizen.ca | Wednesday, May 31, 2017

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Tourism association, ex-CEO reach settlement Citizen staff

T Citizen file photo

Former Northern British Columbia Tourism Association CEO Anthony Everett is seen in a 2015 file photo.

he Northern British Columbia Tourism Association and its former chief executive officer have reached an out-of-court resolution over a long-running wrongful dismissal suit, the sides said in a joint statement issued Tuesday. Details of the resolution between the NBCTA and Anthony Everett were not made public. “I am pleased the situation has been resolved, I am grateful and proud of my time with the Northern British Columbia Tourism Association,” Everett said in the statement. “I wish the staff team and board every success in the future as they continue to work hard to bring recognition to northern B.C. as a travel destination.” Everett had filed the suit in January 2016, roughly three months after they had parted ways. Everett claimed the NBCTA “breached duties of good faith, honesty and fair dealing” when told he would no longer be employed in the position. Everett went on medical leave in July 2014 after he was diagnosed with cancer,

according to his notice of claim, and told the NBCTA he should be medically cleared to return to work in mid-September. But according to Everett, five days before he was to resume his job, he was told he could not return and to distance himself from the office until he had met with the board’s chair. Some 10 days later, they did meet and Everett was given the news he would no longer be CEO and he was offered a lesser position. The move amounted to constructive dismissal, Everett argued in his notice but the NBCTA asserts the contract of employment was “lawfully terminated in accordance with the specific provisions contained therein and that common law notice entitlement does not apply.” Everett was the volunteer chair of the 2015 Canada Winter Games and named the Prince George Community Foundation’s Citizen of the Year that same year. “Anthony was a valuable leader during his tenure at NBCTA and made significant and lasting contributions” said NBCTA board chair Victoria Olmstead in the statement. “We wish him success in his future career endeavours.”

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Wednesday, May 31, 2017

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