GATEWAY TO THE NORTH - MAY 2016 by Prince George Citizen

GATEWAY

Your community voice for the north! WEDNESDAY May 11, 2016

NEWS AND EVENTS FOR PRINCE GEORGE AND CENTRAL INTERIOR

Mewes both star and fan Frank PEEBLES Citizen staff fpeebles@pgcitizen.ca

ason Mewes is part of a character franchise few other fictional protagonists can equal. It isn’t often that the character an actor plays in a movie takes on a life of its own, and walks off the screen to meet fans in person, like Mewes will two weeks from now in Prince George. Other examples include the Slapshot movie goons the Hanson Brothers, Canadian urban dirtbags The Trailer Park Boys, and to an extent you could include The Blues Brothers. Up at the top of that list would have to be Jay and Silent Bob. Mewes has played Jay in that equation since his schooldays friend and film director Kevin Smith (Silent Bob) invented the two characters. They first appeared in Smith’s famously indie smash debut Clerks, released in 1994. After that, the two reprised those quirky roles in Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, and a fan movement was soon so strong it morphed into their very own stuff: Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, Jay & Silent Bob’s

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Jason Mewes, right, and frequent collaborator Kevin Smith pose in an undated file photo. Super Groovy Cartoon Movie, a video game project called Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch, and they have appeared in

various music videos and comic books as well. Mewes said the two met back when he

was 13 and Smith was 18 at a community centre in their New Jersey hometown. — see MEWES, page 3

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Mewes appearing in The Flash — from page 1 Smith worked there, Mewes dropped in there frequently as an alternative to the gritty homelife he was born into. Smith loved comic books, and Mewes was gifted many of them by Smith, and eventually it grew into a shared experience for the two of them as they grew up and developed their friendship into a Hollywood power-pact. It’s a relationship that has suffered heavily over the years. Mewes and Smith freely discuss the severe addiction to drugs the Mewes flailed in for several years, causing his estrangement from a lot of his closest supporters. Although Smith bore the brunt of much of Mewes’s dysfunction, and had to impose a professional distance between the two, Mewes’s recovery process (so far about six years clean and sober) got Smith’s considerable backing. Part of that is a Jay and Silent Bob podcast they frequently produce, where they sit together in front of a live audience and banter about just about anything, and interacting with the fans, all of it broadcast to a large worldwide audience on the internet. Another sign of the Smith-Mewes strong bond will be broadcast to the world only a few days

before Northern FanCon opens. Smith was tapped to direct an episode of The Flash and in turn he tapped Mewes to appear on the show as an actor. It ties their most present activities right back to their comic book beginnings. So would Mewes ever like to play one of those heroes he devoured from the pages of those New Jersey used comic books? “I wouldn’t turn one down, but I like watching so much, and I wouldn’t want to watch myself. I don’t like watching myself act. It’s weird,” he told The Citizen. “But something I’d love to eventually play is like a Hannibal Lecter, something dark and serial killerish. I feel like it’d be fun and a challenge, and it’d be cool to do something that different. But a superhero character? I wouldn’t say no to it, but I’d almost rather sit in the audience and just watch.” He feels like he was born at a perfect time in popular culture. First, he was a kid when comic books were torrential with cool characters and wily plot-lines, then, as an adult, he was there for the modern technological breakthroughs in filmmaking together with technological breakthroughs in the ways audiences can watch those shows. One of the reasons superhero shows are so plentiful

(Something) I’d love to eventually play is like a Hannibal Lecter, something dark and serial killer-ish... But a superhero character? I wouldn’t say no to it, but I’d almost rather sit in the audience and just watch. — Jason Mewes right now is because an entire culture of comic book fans suddenly had the tools to bring those surrealist effects to life. As a fan, he has been left with his mouth hanging open at the things he is seeing done with the heroes and villains of his youth. And he wants to see more. So many characters are ripe for liveaction. So which ones would he most like to see? “I was going to say Dead Shot, that’s one of my favourites, but they are coming out with the Suicide Squad movie,” said Mewes.

“That’s a character I’m really excited about, because they are finally having him in the full costume and everything. “Martian Manhunter is one of my favourites, and he’s in the new Supergirl TV show, so they are doing most of them. I’m stoked. They did him in Smallville but he never turned into his alien form, he was just the human John Jones, so it was cool in Supergirl – he turned into what he is in the comics. “That’s what I think is so awesome about now. It’s cool that in movies and TV shows they can do all that, and they’re coming out with all these characters. They’ve got the Daredevil TV show, they’re doing Punisher, and they’re going to be doing Power Man and Iron Fist. Deadpool, now. It’s just great. All the characters I’d like to see, really honestly, they’re doing it. “I would like to see them do Darkseid, but I feel like they’d have to do it as part of the Batman/Superman project. They had the parademons and they had the omega symbol so it looks like they’re hinting around to Darkseid, but he’d be tough.” He felt the pangs of disappointment at the design of another beloved character, Apocalypse, as envisioned by the X-Men movie franchise, so he is concerned

about Darkseid being done weakly. He also has strong fan feelings for the character Archangel and hopes that persona gets a strong treatment in some future movie project, along with the associated Horsemen of Apocalypse characters. If you let Mewes muse, he could go on for hours about topics like these. He has evolved from Jay leaning against many a convenience store wall in the 1990s into a producer, a screenwriter, an actor with many credits apart from Kevin Smith projects, and he has an eye on directing as well. The craft of filmmaking, storytelling, and sluicing life through artistic filters – even ones with foul mouths and lewd behaviour – is what he does anytime he’s awake. He’s the perfect kind of star – the kind who is also a fan – to be a VIP celebrity guest at Northern FanCon. Mewes will be at CN Centre in person for the pop-culture extravaganza, including a live interview on stage for the audience, and autograph/ photo sessions available. FanCon passes are on sale now. It runs May 13-15 at the CN/Kin Centre complex. For information and to buy tickets, log onto www.fancon.ca.

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Urban playing P.G. Frank Peebles Citizen staff fpeebles@pgcitizen.ca

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Keith Urban will play in Prince George at CN Centre on Sept. 13 with Dallas Smith and special guest Maren Morris.

rince George has had its fair share of superstar concerts. Many within the touring entertainment industry have suggested P.G. has actually punched above its weight, in that regard. Another belt will soon be cinched around this city’s cultural hips. Few country music artists are as huge, right now in the collective consciousness, as Keith Urban and he bring his “ripCORD World Tour” here this fall. “Simply… it is one of the biggest shows ever to come to Prince George and the CN Centre,” said

Glen Mikkelsen, manager of the venue. Keith Urban has long been hailed as one of the music industry’s best live performers who has always given his fans electrifying and unpredictable shows with eye-popping production and a set list that is saturated with many of his hit songs (20 have gone to the top of the country charts, and he’s one of those special breakout artists who get appreciated by pop crowds as much as traditional country fans). His on-stage presentation has been called electrifying and emotional, fast-paced and unpredictable, an explosive experience, a roller coaster ride. — see ‘OUR CANADIAN, page 5

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‘Our Canadian shows have always been off the hook giant parties’ — from page 4 Add in the fact he’s married to film superstar Nicole Kidman, he was one of the judges on megashow American Idol (also on The Voice in its Australian version), and he’s won more awards than any mantle has room to hold. “Our Canadian shows have always been off the hook giant parties,” said Urban. “From the very first shows I ever did, there was a synergy with the audience that’s only grown stronger over the years. I can’t wait to bring the ‘ripCORD World Tour’ to everyone this year.” Opening for Urban are two other bright lights in the country

world. The first name on the undercard is Texas folk-pop-country songwriter Maren Morris. She is more than a rising star. She has already been to the top of the Billboard Heat-Seeker Album Chart, her self-titled EP has was streamed more than five million times in its first two weeks, and she has made the “next big thing” lists by CMT, Rolling Stone Country, VEVO and other platforms. But P.G. fans will pay particular attention to the main Canadian attraction on the marquee. Dallas Smith is coming along for this wild ride. The Vancouverbased national treasure has earned piles of Juno Award and

Canadian Country Music Award attention, he already has plenty of gold in his record collection, and the best part of all is his taste in bandmates. Prince George musician Jer Breaks, a popular draw in this town all on his own, is one of his sidemen. Keith Urban may not get a cheer as big as the one the CN Centre audience may lay down for the return of homeboy Breaks. Breaks, Smith, Morris and Urban are all descending on CN Centre on Sept. 13. Ticket prices range from about $100-$150 (service charges and taxes are extra). Tickets went on sale May 6.

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Keith Urban performs during his 2015 Raise ‘Em Up Tour in an undated handout photo.

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City hosting festival to mark Canada’s 150th anniversary

Citizen staff ext year Prince George will be a stop for a national “interactive media touring festival” celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation. Prince Goerge city council unanimously supported the request for $50,000 – cash or in kind – needed to participate in SESQUI, short for “sesquicentennial.” “This funding would cover costs associated with the parking lot rental rates, temporary safety fencing, garbage receptacles, and more,” said a staff report, adding the funds would be pulled from the Major Events Reserve. That, in turn, comes from city’s Gaming Revenues. In the past it’s helped fund the 2015 Canada Winter Games, the 2016 Canadian Native Fastball Championships, and

Joly the 2016 BC Midget Tier 2 Championships. “It’s actually a really incredible event,” Di-

ane Bilodeau, the city’s event coordinator, told council during a meeting in April. “We are hoping it will be working with school programs… We’re working with it to be hosted at Exhibition Park and we’re hoping to also pair with other events to create a 150 celebration.” The traveling exhibit will have three domes that create “a 360 degree cinematic experience, interactive content, live events, online activities and education programs.” “It showcases the best in Canadian culture and innovation,” a staff report said. “The domes attempt to create the level of excitement and up-selling of national pride that our country felt during Expo 67.” The free festival is expected to come to Prince George for five days in May or June. In March, Ottawa announced $9.5 million in support of the event. “The SESQUI cultural tour will highlight our country’s treasures and bring together

Canadians from coast to coast to coast,” said heritage minister Melanie Joly in the release. To tie in with Canada’s 150 celebrations, the city is creating a fund committee “to promote and have strong community engagement throughout the year with focus throughout the month of July 2017,” a staff report says. This summer, Bilodeau said she’s working with local groups to offer fitness programs and a July Art Walk. “We’re trying to activate the Plaza this summer,” said Bilodeau, who is also working on a number of upcoming events, including the B.C. Summer Games bid in 2020 or 2022. “It certainly has been a fast and furious ride in this role,” said Bilodeau. Her position was created as part of the 100th anniversary celebration, to “build on successes of 2015.”

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Big slide Christine HINZMANN Citizen staff chinzmann@pgcitizen.ca

giant slip and slide will take over University Hill in Prince Goerge on July 2 and shut down the road from Tyner Boulevard to Foothills Boulevard for most of the day. Imagine going on a 325 metre waterslide, just you and your tube, all for the greater good of the community. The Northern B.C. YMCA is hoping to raise more than $25,000 for the Strong Kids campaign that allows children and families in need to access the YMCA pro-

grams for memberships, Camp Kanannaq, the Aurora Leadership Program and Neighbourhood Scholars. Right now, one in five children need financial assistance to participate at the YMCA, said Stephanie Mikalishen, coordinator of philanthropic development and camp programs at the local YMCA. There’s no risk of road rash. The sliding is safe and easy for all ages. There’s a foam mat between the road and the slide, there are inflatable walls built into the two-lane slide to keep everyone safe and each person is provided a tube to slip and slide their way down their lane. — see EARLY, page 8

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Early sign up key to getting a ticket

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The Fun City Sliders waterslide has toured the world, and is coming to Prince George on July 2.

—from page 7 The key to joining in the fun provided by the Fun City Sliders is to sign up online for the newsletters that will provide the latest information and get that all-important ticket information because these events take place all over the world and sell out really quickly. There’s an option to buy one try at the slide just to say you did it, a triple the fun jaunt and an unlimited all-day pass. “There will be notifications sent to those who are signed up for the newsletter and there’s also a select number of tickets that will go on sale periodically and that’s how you’re going to find out the information to get in on those deals,” said Mikalishen. To help the fundraising efforts along the YMCA will also have a barbecue on sight. Sign up for the newsletter at www.funcitysliders.com or visit www.nbcy.org for the link. Check out exactly what you’re getting yourself into by going online to: bit.ly/1SR2FtZ.

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School district adopts rural education measures Samantha WRIGHT ALLEN Citizen staff sallen@pgcitizen.ca

fter a full day in McBride on April 6, school trustees faced a full night of discussion on rural education after months of consultations led to 14 recommendations. Sports teams travelling into Prince George can now be billeted at John McInnnis Centre, for example. “I think that’s going to be a real plus for teams in Mackenzie, Valemount and Mcbride,” said chairperson Tony Cable, adding the rural schools can also sleep students in their gyms. “That will encourage Prince George teams to come up to tournaments that (rural schools) may want to host. “It’s sort of a two-way deal so it should work quite well.”

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The School District 57 board of trustees met in McBride on April 6 to discuss, among other measures, a report on improving rural education. McBride secondary school is seen in a 2012 Google Maps image. Finding better modes of transportation for school trips got a second nod. It’s more

complicated, though, as the district will have to consider creating a society or work-

ing with existing groups in order to comply with safety and legal regulations. It will be worth it, the report suggested, since the costs are extremely high for the remote areas, which pay for a bus to drive from Prince George, do the trip, and then drive back. “We’re going to ask staff to do more work to see what we can do to help out in the transportation area,” Cable said. “That’s another very expensive issue for the Robson Valley and Mackenzie area.” But some recommendations missed the mark. School District 57 will retain Prince George in its name at least until it has dealt with the bigger issues. Trustees faced the question of a name change to better reflect the region but elected to push that conversation down the road, if at all. — see ‘WE STILL, page 11

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‘We still have a lot of work to do’ — from page 10 “It’s not going to help the rural students in any way and it would be nice to do but there’s always cost involved, and there’s a lot of time for trustees and staff to research it and the board just felt at this time there were other issues that were much more important.” After touring both schools in McBride, trustees ditched the idea of a district principal of rural education. “It became quite loud and clear when we met with all the different groups that this one wasn’t something that they really thought there was a need for and could support. What they were thinking if you’re going to spend money on a district principal, they would rather that money be spent on the ground to support teacher assistant, teachers and possibly more admin time for the principal in the school,” he said, so that

We’re definitely going to try video conferencing but try to do it as inexpensively as we can.

— Tony Cable motion died on the floor without a trustee to second it. Whether there was money for that position or if that funding could be diverted isn’t a sure thing, with the district facing a more than million-dollar budget shortfall. “We still have a lot of work to do,” said Cable, noting last year it did find room to hand each rural secondary school $75,000. “From what we heard that was very useful and it was very helpful to the schools. It would be fantastic to be able to do that but

we just can’t say at this time.” The province’s Next Generation Network will make connections for rural students to video into other classrooms, but trustees heard that approach is only desirable in some circumstances. “You really have to have motivated students. It’s a good possibility but it’s definitely not the total answer,” Cable said. The cheapest option came in at a price tag of $100,000 to $200,000 while the Cadillac version edged in on $1 million. “We’re definitely going to try video conferencing but try to do it as inexpensively as we can,” he said, adding there’s more to consider, like “if we have the money to put towards that, look at the possibilities and where the equipment can be stored.” That decision was deferred to the May 31 meeting, when the budget is also expected to be tabled.

Cable

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College of New Caledonia projecting budget surplus Christine HINZMANN Citizen staff chinzmann@pgcitizen.ca

or the first time in many years, the College of New Caledonia is projecting an unexpected $1.8 million surplus at year end. Last year, there was a $2.8 million deficit and the college was forced to make changes to address the deficit and to ensure long-term financial stability, said Vincent Prince, CNC board chair, during a board meeting Friday. “These measures plus an unanticipated increase in enrollment has resulted in a projected surplus of $1.8 million for the 2015/16 budget year. “In light of these events the board has decided to delay adoption of the 2015/2016 budget. A special meeting of the board will be held next month to look at the 2016/2017 budget and whether it needs to be revised in light of this new information.” Steve Nycholat, CNC board member, spoke on behalf of the finance and audit committee and said during the special meeting the board will discuss the cause of the variances in the budget in great detail and how they need to improve forecasting of the budget. Carole Whitmer, a faculty member since 1987 and one of the founders of the dental hygiene program, expressed some concerns about the budget surplus in light of all the

Prince cuts of programs like the dental assisting, dental hygiene and aboriginal early childhood education programs and the resulting layoffs of staff made at the college. “I have a concern as a public member, as a faculty member, as a parent who has a student here, about the management of the college budget,” said Whitmer. Sheldon Clare, CNC board member, said he is leaving the board and won’t be part of the budget discussions. “I really do encourage a sharp pencil and a vigilant look at this and a willingness to revisit the decisions that have been made with a view to correcting matters or rebuilding relationships and maybe restoring some things that have been lost,”said Clare. The next scheduled board meeting is June 3.

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Salim

New citizen disavows oath to Queen Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca

rabon Salim loves Canada. The Queen? Not so much. Immediately after taking the oath during a citizenship ceremony in Prince George on Friday, he presented a letter to the judge announcing he has disavowed his pledge of allegiance to the Queen. “My core values can’t accept the medieval idea of monarchy in 2016 as it creates social divisions and hereditary hierarchy in social privileges,” Salim says in the letter, which he also sent to John McCallum, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. “I highly regard that every child’s birth is royal for every parent. It is hard for me to regard someone as royal simply because he/she was born in a so-called royal family. I like to look at my three little boys with a high pride of self esteem that they are socially equal to any other member in this Canadian society.” A mechanical engineer at Canfor Pulp, Salim, 38, grew up in Bangladesh but has also lived in Saudi Arabia, Japan, Australia, the Philippines, the Netherlands and even England before he and his wife, Famina, 32, decided Canada is where they wanted to settle down. — see DISAVOWING, page 14

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Disavowing oath has no impact on citizenship — from page 13 It was while studying for the citizenship test that he learned he would have to swear allegiance to the Queen. “We had been looking forward to staying in this country and then this pledge thing,” Salim said in an interview. “It was actually bothering me... I thought that I have to do something about this.” There was a time when the monarchy actually had power but is now seen almost exclusively as a figurehead whose primary job is to cut ribbons and wave to the public. The Royals are also a major tourism draw for the United Kingdom. However, there have been occasions where the Queen’s representative in Canada, the Governor General, has had to make substantive decisions. For example, in 2009, Michaëlle Jean prorogued parliament in response the Opposition’s notice

If this person subsequently exercises their right to freedom of expression to disavow their oath, the disavowal has no legal impact on the oath-taking under the Citizenship Act. Therefore, the person’s status as a Canadian citizen is unaffected. — Remi Lariviere, Ministry spokesperson it intended to defeat the Conservative minority government in a motion of non-

confidence just six weeks after the federal election. That said, the prime ,minister appoints the Governor General, not the Queen. Salim isn’t the only one who questions whether allegiance to the Queen is appropriate. In Australia, in particular, the issue of whether to declare itself a republic and cut all ties to the royal family bubbles up every once in awhile. It’s an idea Salim supports. “Canada also should be a republic,” Salim said. “It should be a country to set an example.” Because Salim waited until after the ceremony to disavow the Queen, he is free and clear of any possibility of being deported or exiled as a result. “Once a person takes the oath of citizenship at a ceremony, they become a

Canadian citizen and receive a certificate of citizenship,” Ministry spokesman Remi Lariviere said in an email. “If this person subsequently exercises their right to freedom of expression to disavow their oath, the disavowal has no legal impact on the oath-taking under the Citizenship Act. “Therefore, the person’s status as a Canadian citizen is unaffected.” Famina hasn’t taken the oath yet and Salim said he does not want to influence her decision on whether to follow his footsteps. “It’s her choice,” he said. Salim likes the Queen as a person and was glad to see her celebrate her 90th birthday recently. “This lady’s awesome, the way she smiles, the way she talks,” he said. But that was still not enough for Salim to overcome his misgivings.

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Climb for Cancer conquers cutbanks Ted CLARKE Citizen staff tclarke@pgcitizen.ca

S Citizen Photo by James Doyle

A climber stops to cheer on her way up the cutbanks on April 23 while taking part in the first annual Climb for Cancer.

ix-year-old Linden Shelford didn’t like getting dirty wet sand in his shoes but was determined to keep following the steep trail to the top of the Nechako River cutbanks. He was having fun racing his mom, Tania Kroot, in the inaugural Climb For Cancer to support the Kordyban Lodge. Linden might have been one of the smallest climbers but was without a doubt one of the largest fundraisers, collecting $1,120 for the cause. He went door-to-door in his neighbourhood asking for cans and bottles and also had success convincing his grandparents, aunts and uncles to contribute. “It was a little hard,” said Linden, referring to the climb. The event raised more than $25,000 for the Kordyban Lodge. For three years, the centre has provided affordable lodging and meals for patients and their families who come in from out of town for treatments in Prince George at the adjacent B.C. Cancer Agency Centre for the North. “My mom is currently battling cancer and (Linden) doesn’t know about it, but granny has been going through chemo for a while, in Comox,” said Kroot. “I’m proud of him,

he is a kid who raises money.” Shawn Ouellet joined the Climbing Cougars – a team of 12 women and two men sporting white Prince George Cougars T-shirts – who got behind the event and made the strenuous climb to the top of the hill. Some made the trip twice. The wife of Cougars owner Ernest Ouellet grew up in Prince George and while her father was fighting cancer years ago, he had to go to Kelowna for his treatments and live there with relatives for two months. She’s thankful the lodge and cancer clinic are now there to serve the people of the northern B.C. so they don’t have so far to travel. Paula Manning, part of the Cougar clan Saturday, knows what the lodge has meant to more than 2,200 patients who have filled rooms at the lodge 8,500 times since it opened in March 2013. “It’s helping people in need, people who come from out of town and need a place to stay and gather and just be a family,” said Manning. “They need that comfort from family and friends. It makes you feel good about raising money for a place that can help people. “It was tough, I hadn’t done it for a long time,” Manning said of climbing the cutbanks. “It got the legs burning. Maybe I’ll give it a go again this summer.” — see ‘IT’S JUST, page 19

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‘It’s just a good thing to do’ — from page 18 Crystal Lafontaine, a licensed practical nurse at UHNBC, often cares for cancer patients at the hospital. She and the rest of the Albino Winos put on some face paint to stand out in the crowd as they waited in line to head up the hill. “My mom recently got diagnosed with breast cancer so, here we are, raising money for the Kordyban Lodge,” said Lafontaine. “It’s a great cause, everyone’s been touched by cancer in some way or another. It was easy getting donations, from family members. No doctors. Maybe (they will donate) once they see us.” On a rainy Saturday afternoon, Jules Hadden was one of the first to tackle the hill along with her companion, Ian Hoag. “Ian heard about it first, and recently I’ve known two people who got cancer and it’s

My mom recently got diagnosed with breast cancer so, here we are, raising money for the Kordyban Lodge. — Crystal Lafontaine just spread so fast,” said Hadden. “It’s just a good thing to do.” “Everyone has been touched by cancer and it’s just a good opportunity for us to get out and help the cause,” said Hoag. “I’ve climbed up there a few times and the rain helped pack the sand a bit and made it a little easier.” The climb attracted 189 participants. Pat Bell made it to the top in six minutes 41 seconds, a record time for the 59-yearold former MLA. — see ‘WHAT A GREAT, page 20

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Citizen Photo by James Doyle

Climbers make their way down the cutbanks on April 23 after reaching the top during the first annual Climb for Cancer.

‘What a great start to an annual event’ — from page 19 Bell and his son Doug came up with the idea for the climb while passing by the cutbanks to their Northern Lights Estate Winery. “What a great start to an annual event, I think this could become a real hallmark in Prince George over time – we’re hoping to be well north of $20,000 for this event for sure,” said Pat Bell, who started his climb just ahead of Mayor Lyn Hall. “I’ve been driving down here every day for the last almost three years and I see people climbing it all the time, so I thought there’s got to be an opportunity to do something here that would be good for the community and when the Canadian Cancer Society approached us, that was our opportunity.” Margaret Jones-Bricker, the northern

regional director for the Canadian Cancer Society, is also a marathon runner and she took advantage of the climb as an extra training session to prepare for a September race. She knows as well as anybody what the lodge means to the region. “People from the North have been able to stay closer to home and are able to visit their family and friends staying there at the lodge and it’s changed them; they know there’s a safe, welcoming environment closer to where they live,” said Jones-Bricker. “I always remember when Dr. (Winston) Bishop (who retired as an oncologist in 2014) commented on the fact he believed, that in addition to the treatment, there was a healing in the emotional side that can be offered through that kind of an environment, and I believe that.”

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‘Bear jams’ causing traffic snarls on highways Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca

rivers are asked to refrain from stopping if they see bears alongside the road. “They cause what’s known as ‘bear jams,’” B.C. Conservation Officer Service deputy chief Chris Doyle said during a teleconference with provincial media. “People stop to photograph the bears, look at the bears or feed the bears and the problems with that is it causes bears to be habituated to people. “It also causes bears to get hit by vehicles on the highways because if they are getting fed they are going to be attracted to those cars. They may dart onto the highway quickly.” Doyle said bears are attracted to the

roadside during the spring in particular because the vegetation there usually greens up sooner than it does elsewhere. “We’re asking drivers who see bears on the side of the road to just keep moving and not stop to photograph and definitely not stop to feed the bears,” he said. During the first three weeks of April, conservation officers had received over 300 complaints about bears although Doyle said it’s too soon to say if the trend is higher or lower than in previous years. In 2015, more than 15,000 complaints were received. Doyle also urged home and business owners to contain attractants that can draw bears onto their properties now that the animals out from hibernation. The owner of an apartment complex in New Hazelton was recently fined $3,150 for negligent storage of the building’s garbage, Doyle noted.

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Prince George RCMP Cst. Sonja Blom and Michell Quinn, psychiatric nurse, of the Car 60 initiative pose for photo in June 2015.

Car 60 program a success

Citizen staff fter a year offering a new mode of care to those in crisis, the organizations that brought Car 60 to Prince George are calling it a resounding success. The program, also known as the Urgent Community Response Team, pairs plain-clothes RCMP officers in an unmarked police car with nurses trained in mental health and substance use services. Launched in April 2015, that shortened year alone had the team respond to about 600 calls. The program, based on a similar initiative in Surrey, launched after the local RCMP identified it needed support when dealing with mental health and substance-related calls. “The Car 60 Program has provided a more thorough first response and aftercare intervention for these clients. From a strategic and innovative perspective, it has provided wrap-around care that goes beyond putting a Band-Aid on the momentary crisis,” said Supt. Warren Brown in a press release issued Monday, also the launch of Mental Health Week. Typically, general duty officers respond to calls and will refer to Car 60 if the clientele fits. The team will then assess the person to see if they can be referred to local community resources or taken to the hospital. The team averages 66 calls a month, of which about 16 need “intensive” support and are apprehended under the Mental Health Act. On average 11 calls a month

result in a person being hospitalized. “Up until the Car 60 Program, when a crisis occurred in these peoples’ lives, our response was simple yet inadequate; stop the crisis and transport them either to jail or the local hospital,” Brown said. “From a community perspective, I believe this is a better use of our resources as it identifies root causes.” Shirley Bond, MLA for Prince GeorgeValemount, called the approach an innovative tool that offers a “more appropriate response.” “We know that the number of people interacting with police and the health care system that have mental health and or substance use problems is growing, and we want to ensure that the resources are in place to support these individuals in need,” Bond said. Northern Health’s director of specialized services for the northern interior said it’s part of a strategy to improve access to care in the city. “This program will see people in need connecting with those they know and trust in the health care system for supportive follow-up care,” said Aaron Bond. The set-up gives the responders the ability to make better connections, build trust and take the time to understand a patient’s situation to provide better on-the-ground and follow-up support. “We’ve received overwhelmingly positive support from the community, general duty RCMP, and Northern Health staff,” said Const. Sonja Blom.

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Gov’t vows crackdown on people interfering with firefighters

BURN NOTICE

Christine HINZMANN Citizen staff chinzmann@pgcitizen.ca

T Cp file photo

Trees burn near a road in Fort McMurray, Alta., on May 3.

he B.C. government is pledging harsh punishment for people who fly drones over a wildfire, who are boating on a lake where an air tanker needs to fill up, or motorists or campers who go into restricted wildfire areas. “If you interfere with firefighting efforts you are going to be eligible for up to $100,000 fine and one year in jail,” said Premier Christy Clark during a press conference on April 22 at the Prince George Fire Equipment Depot. “The biggest thing we are worried about at the moment is drones on the scene because it’s a new phenomenon and there are more and more of them.” — see ‘BEFORE THIS, page 24

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‘Before this problem gets even worse, we’ve got to tackle it’

Citizen file photo

Premier Christy Clark announces new measures to crack down on people interfering with firefighters at a press conference in Prince George on April 22.

— from page 23 “The problem with drones is it’s impossible to identify where they’re coming from,” Clark added. “So as we’re talking about this we’re working with law enforcement and RCMP to figure out ways we can, for example, find a way for the drone owner to be identified.” Public awareness could be the key to preventing future problems. “It’s hard to believe that anyone would think that it would be OK to fly a drone on top of a forest fire while there are men and women putting there lives at risk in helicopters and on the ground,” said Clark. “I mean, really, it’s almost incomprehensible and I’m sure those people exist though. So we could be thinking about education at the front end – the point of sale for the drone – so people know you don’t fly it at an airport, which sometimes people do, you don’t fly it over a forest fire, which sometimes people do.” Clark said registration to identify the drone owner and ways to get them out of the air using technology are also being considered. “And then holding people accountable if they get in the way,” said Clark. “Before this problem gets even worse, we’ve got to tackle it.” A lot of people in the fire suppression business say it feels more like August than

It’s hard to believe that anyone would think that it would be OK to fly a drone on top of a forest fire while there are men and women putting there lives at risk in helicopters and on the ground. — Premier Christy Clark April, said Clark, especially in the wake of the 150 fires that have burned in British Columbia so far and specifically the 34 wildfires that started in a single day in the northeast this week. “We are already three times the average and this may be the worst fire year in 15 years if not 30 years,” said Clark. “This is the new reality in British Columbia and it means we need to continue to make more investments in fighting fires.” There has been $27 million more invested every year to prepare for emergencies and fight fires, more air tankers mobilized earlier every year and more than 200 BC Wildfire service staff have been deployed in the Prince George Fire Centre. — see PEOPLE, page 25

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Thinkstock file photo

Operating a drone which interferes with firefighting operations could result in a fine of up to $100,000 and one year in jail

People start a third of fires —from page 24 More than 1,400 fire fighters are available this season and another 1,600 are available in an emergency, added Clark. Over a third of the wildfires in B.C. were started by humans last year. “Which means they were avoidable and preventable,” said Clark. “It would mean that men and women standing behind me (gesturing to the firefighters on site during the press conference) that fight these fires and put their lives at risk wouldn’t have to do it a third of the time if all of us were a lot more careful.” Clark said failure to comply with fire restrictions will bring a fine that’s more than tripled to $1,100. Clark said she’s hopeful the fines will help people to obey the rules around fire safety.

“I think for people who are a little bit less careful, sometimes fines make an impact and can make a real difference,” said Clark. “Sadly, we need to make examples sometimes of people who aren’t obeying the law and I think those higher fines are part of it.” Human caused fires start with cigarettes, a spark from a campfire, a chain saw, or a vehicle’s brakes or kids playing with matches, added Clark. Two boys, nine and 12, playing with matches was the very cause of a fire at Valley View Road in the Hart recently. “Those are things we all need to education ourselves about because British Columbia, like the rest of the world, is getting dryer rather than wetter,” said Clark. “And this problem is only going to get worse as climate change overtakes us.”

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UNBC senate approves engineering program Samantha WRIGHT ALLEN Citizen staff, sallen@pgcitizen.ca

lbert Koehler still has the proposal he wrote up 20 years ago to bring a civil engineering program to Prince George’s university. He was in senate chambers on April 27 when the University of Northern B.C. approved the program.

“It’s one step. It’s not the final step… because the Ministry (of Advanced Education) still has to approve it and it has to come up with funds but I’m quite confident that there are some negotiations going on about this,” said the city councillor. The Board of Governors would still have to approve it in the upcoming budget, but Koehler said it was a move years in the making. It will still be several more years

It’s one step. It’s not the final step… because the Ministry (of Advanced Education) still has to approve it... — Albert Koehler before the degree is finalized,

however, as UNBC gets down to the business of getting the on-theground details in order. “Now we have the high level picture of what the program going to look like, what the courses are, the time frames for graduation,” said Dan Ryan, interim vice-president academic and provost. “But there’s still a number of elements … with respect to developing the co-op program, fleshing out the new courses we have

to develop and putting all those process in place. “And of course any infrastructure that we need.” There are too many elements in play to nail down a certain timeframe, he said. “The earliest we could do it is 2017 but that’s a very aggressive timeframe, which I’d be happy if we hit it but I’m not sure we would.” — see ‘I THINK, page 28

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Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

Albert Kohler reviews his 1998 proposal for an engineering program at UNBC in his office on April 28.

‘I think it’s important for our community and for the north’ — from page 26 Funding is key, Ryan said, but the plans are still too preliminary to make an estimated amount public. “It’s always great when we put a lot of work into something and you. Actually see it starting to come to fruition but that being said it is one step closer. There’s a lot of other steps before we can offer the program.” The push for the program has been ongoing the six years Ryan has been at the university. Much of that has been from the industry. “It’s been a challenge I think from the industry in order to get the expertise they need to come to the north and stay in the north,” Ryan said. Koehler, of course, was one of those voices. In 1996 Koehler, who runs his own consulting engineering company called Tribotec International Ltd, first drafted a proposal for a industrial engineering program. Then again in 1998. “Nothing happened then, those were the

first years of the university and obviously a lot of other things had to be done.” He compared the need for skilled engineers in the north to the Northern Medical Program’s work keeping physicians in the north, which Ryan echoed. “This is a great opportunity for students to come to UNBC to learn about engineering and develop their roots in the north and ultimately when they graduate, set up shop in the north,” said Ryan. And, if the north is to diversify its economy and grow it, it needs this program, Koehler argued. “I think it’s important for our community and for the north in general because there’s a tremendous gap between supply and demand. Corporations cannot find the people they need,” said Koehler, who also chairs the city’s education committee. “Technology is driving the economy here and elsewhere and we cannot neglect it here in Prince George. How can we have a university and college in the midst of an industrial area and not have an engineering program?”

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Fabbro sacrificed head, family time for fastball Ted CLARKE Citizen staff tclarke@pgcitizen.ca

ino Fabbro didn’t see the ball coming. But like a Muhammad Ali haymaker, it arrived with a knockout punch. Until that hard stitched-leather grapefruit nailed him square on the head, Fabbro’s only concern was keeping the inning alive for his team in what was a close game of an all-Prince George playoff final at a Kelowna senior men’s fastball tournament. “It was a double-play ball to Eddie Dent at shortstop and I’m running from first base to second base,” said Fabbro. “We needed

the run and I didn’t slide and Eddie threw the ball and hit me in the head and then he hit me with his body and I was out cold.” Fabbro was taken to the hospital, knowing by the time he left the field his team was losing badly. Still feeling the effects of a concussion, he was released and his wife Lori decided to drive him back to Prince George. His tournament was over. “We got to about Winfield (22 kilometes away) and he phones the ballpark in Kelowna and said, “How are we doing?’ and found out they came back after he got hurt,” said Lori. “He said, ‘Turn around, we have to go back to the park, and he went back in the game, because he wasn’t out (and

Fabbro was still an eligible player), and they won.” Looking back on four decades of making fastball history in Prince

George as a player, coach, manager and league administrator, it’s not the games that Nino Fabbro remembers best, it’s the people he’s met along the way, and many of those old pals showed up Saturday for his induction into the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame. “It’s what happens after the games are all over, that’s what it’s all about,” said Fabbro. “Right now it’s people like Chad Ghostkeeper and Randy Potskin, and there are others, who are coaching the youth and doing things for them.” The highlight of Fabbro’s 20year playing career at third base came in 1977 when he helped the Navy Ensigns bring the provincial

senior B and Western Canadian titles to Prince George. After he quit playing, when he wasn’t serving as an umpire or making improvements at the ballpark, he found time to coach his kids’ minor softball teams and was at the helm of a long line of successful junior and senior fastball squads. “We got a lot of satisfaction winning games we had no chance to win,” he said. “We played a senior A team from Grande Prairie (in the early 1990s) and we were a junior team with Gibby Chasse, Randy Potskin, Chad Ghostkeeper, Johnny Pagnotta and all those guys. We beat them, and the money we won paid our way to the provincial championship.” — see ‘I STARTED, page 30

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‘I started when I was seven and quit when I was 77’ — from page 29 Fabbro sacrificed much of his free time to promote fastball and realizes his family paid the price when he was only rarely around the house during ball season. One of his greatest legacies is Spruce City Stadium, which – with him as the guiding force – underwent major renovations in 1990 while he was president of the Spruce City Fastball Association. Fabbro convinced local businesses to get involved and gathered donations of material and equipment, and he had his students at school build the roof trusses and the outfield bleachers in prefabricated sections. Fabbro retired in 2002 from his job as a building construction teacher at College Heights secondary school and has lived in Peachland since 2010. The accomplishments of three other hall of fame inductees were recognized Saturday at the Hart Community Centre. Hockey

Claffey player/coach/official Orv Claffey, baseball administrator Audrey Foster and fastball coach/builder Charlie Ghostkeeper, who died in 2012, were included in the 11th

induction ceremony. “I always enjoyed hockey – I only played it for 70 years, that’s not very long, is it,” said a beaming Claffey, who turned 82 on Sunday. “I started when I was seven and quit when I was 77, when I had both knees replaced. I wanted to play more but didn’t want to take the chance of hurting my knees.” Claffey, who came west from Saskatchewan at age 17 in 1953 to play for the Prince George Lumbermen senior team said the only time he was hurt had nothing to do with the physical demands of the game but a manager’s decision to cut him loose from the Prince George Mohawks of the Cariboo Hockey League in 1969. “Trent Beattie brought in Bob McCusker, a good friend of his from the Vancouver Canucks (of the old Western Hockey League) and he took my card, so I went out to play in Houston (for the senior Luckies),” said Claffey. “We won the championship that year with the Luckies and here they didn’t even make the playoffs. I was quite happy about that.” Foster got involved with baseball because her kids were playing and she started out as a volunteer with the Nechako Little League in the late-1970s. As District 4 director she started the Challenger Baseball League for players with mental and physical disabilities in 1993. In 1996, Foster brought the Canadian Little League championship to the city for the first time. Hosting the sixteam tournament at Joe Martin Field was a mammoth undertaking made possible by a

small army of volunteers. “That Canadian Little League tournament was a big one, and thank heavens we got the Multiplex (now CN Centre) when we did because we ran a concession there and got hundreds of volunteers there through working that one winter at Cougar games,” said Foster. “People would stop and talk to us at the hot dog stand or the ice cream stand and the next thing, they were signed up and they had a job. Nechako Little League was the second-largest Little League in B.C. We only had kids from six to 12 years old involved and we had 457 kids.” As a taskmaster, Foster got people involved in making improvements to Joe Martin Field and was the instigator behind the project to build the four-diamond complex known as Volunteer Park. Charlie Ghostkeeper’s wife Lucy accepted the Hall of Fame plaque on behalf of her husband, who died of cancer at 73. Their four children, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren attended the ceremony. Charlie’s involvement in getting kids involved in sports and teaching them to respect the rules of games they played was his greatest legacy. That spirit lives on in the city’s annual aboriginal fastball and hockey tournaments. ‘He would have been proud of this but he didn’t like to be the centre of attention, he liked to be in the background of everything,” said Lucy. “He just loved helping children. He tried to help them as much as he could.”

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