Refugees from Ukraine build new lives in Prince George
MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
The Prince George Share Hope Refugee Support Society has continued to offer aid to displaced Ukrainians seeking refuge in Northern B.C. The organization, which operates under the Roman Catholic Diocese of
“I really can’t imagine what I would do without this help,” Kramarenko said. “I really can’t. Literally, when we arrived at the airport, we were met by Share Hope. They arranged accommodation for us all and found furniture for the apartment. We just arrived, and they set up everything. It was amazing support at that time.”
Kramarenko also improved her English skills with Share Hope’s help and has enjoyed the unique community of Ukrainians the organization has helped settle in Prince George.
“It was the best choice for me and my family to arrive in Prince George,” Kramarenko said.
“There are so many kind people. I feel like it’s my second home now. We have supported the Ukrainian church a lot, and I’m happy to see there is a Ukrainian community here to support each other, which is very necessary in this situation. I’m so grateful to Canadians for their support during this time.”
As of Jan. 28, 271 displaced Ukrainians have settled in Prince George, with 309 settling throughout the Northern BC region.
Vova Pluznikov is one of those who has helped the newly formed Ukrainian community in Prince George. Pluznikov came to Prince George nine years ago to play basketball for the UNBC Timberwolves. However, his family remained in Ukraine during the war.
“The past three years have been pretty difficult, considering that my whole family is still back in Ukraine,” Pluznikov said. “Obviously, what I’ve been dealing with is nothing compared to what my family has been through. I’m trying to stay in touch with them as much as I can. It’s affected my family quite a bit in many different ways. My brother had to relocate a few times. He was enlisted in the army and now he’s in the thick of it. My mom and dad are taking care of my grandpa back home. They can’t really leave the country because my grandpa is not in a great spot right now. They’re dealing with different things. It’s affected us in many
returning to Ukraine.
Share Hope reports that many newcomers to Canada still face significant hurdles, including job shortages, language barriers, and limited training opportunities.
The ending of most federal and provincial government support programs, such as those for language and job training, has made it even more difficult for Ukrainian refugees to integrate.
In addition, many new Canadians still struggle to find support for mental health, transportation, and permanent housing. These are some of the most essential programs for refugees adapting to life in Canada.
While most refugees are hopeful of making Canada their permanent home, the topic of permanent residency continues to cause anxiety, as, due to programs like CUAET, there is no clear path for many.
different ways.”
Pluznikov has been a frequent collaborator with Share Hope since its inception and has seen the organization grow tremendously since the war began.
“Charles Scott, Dick Mynen and a couple of other individuals wanted to get together and create something to support Ukrainians,” Pluznikov said.
“At that point, our numbers were quite small, but we wanted to find a way to bring the community together and create a space where people could brainstorm ideas to help Ukrainians starting from scratch. Share Hope was created with that idea in mind. I was fairly involved in the early stages. Now, with more than 200 Ukrainians in Prince George, that community has become a well-functioning, self-sustained machine.”
Pluznikov also raised close to $76,000 for the Canadian Red Cross during his charity marathon, 44 km for 44 million, a number he did not expect to reach.
“I came up with 44 because of the 44 million people who used to live in Ukraine,” Pluznikov said. “We organized that run in Prince George and divided
the 44-kilometre distance into four equal legs. It was a very good turnout. We were able to make this happen within a week. The whole community did an amazing job spreading the word about the event, the effort, and the fundraiser. We raised quite a bit of money, which is incredible. Everyone involved was shocked by how much we raised.”
Share Hope has continued to settle new families and individuals in the city, with 171 people settled in 2022 and 142 in 2023.
However, the pace of new arrivals has slowed to 84 in 2024 due to changes in the federal Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) Visa program.
Difficulty with this program stems from its temporary nature, as CUAET is only offered to Ukrainians looking to return home after the war is over. This has made the process more challenging, as newcomers face a more complicated process and are largely unsupported once they enter Canada.
Some displaced Ukrainians have moved on to other Canadian cities since settling in Prince George, with 12 others
Work permits for most new Canadians have been extended to 2027. However, anxiety still exists for those arriving after the special measures expire.
Despite these pressures, Share Hope continues to help refugees and new Canadians find resources, connect with relatives, and support their settlement process in Northern B.C.
Kramarenko told The Citizen that her family has grown accustomed to Canada and is uncertain about returning, especially now that her daughters have received an education here.
“My daughter, for starters, has only attended school in Canada,” Kramarenko said.
“She has never been to school in Ukraine. She just started French, and she is fluent in English. She doesn’t want to leave her school at all. It was a very, very traumatic experience leaving Ukraine. It’s a lot of work to engage her in school without her crying. I don’t think it would be right in this situation to bring children into another environment, even another city.”
The CUAET program statistics show that of the 1.2 million applications received, over 962,000 were approved, with nearly 300,000 arrivals by July 2024.
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
Prince George city council passed second reading of the new Official Community Plan at its Monday meeting after some members pushed for a postponement to allow for more public consultation.
That sets up a public hearing on the OCP during a special council meeting to be held on Wednesday, March 19.
At the Feb. 10 meeting, councillors decided to hold off on granting second reading to the bylaw amending the Official Community Plan and scheduling a public hearing on the new plan.
That’s because after the public hearing starts, the OCP cannot be amended without holding another public hearing and councillors expressed a desire to have more time to consider amendments ahead of time.
Coun. Trudy Klassen said in reviewing emails council have received about the new plan, it seems that some residents don’t believe they’ve been listened to. She moved for consideration of the OCP to be postponed and for a list of community groups to be consulted during the postponement.
“I think it’s time to do something grander with our OCP than what we’ve done so far,” Klassen said.
While the document is fluid, it costs developers to apply for amendments to the OCP later, Klassen said. By taking a closer look now, she said it might reduce the cost of housing in future.
She specifically referenced concerns from business and industry owners wanting more areas designated as commercial and industrial spaces and advocacy group Ginter’s Green Forever looking for more protections for parks like Ginter’s Green.
In a series of releases sent out by Ginter’s Green Forever ahead of the council meeting, the group said it was glad to see the extension of Foothills Boulevard removed from this version of the OCP but expressed concern over what they saw as the proliferation of urban sprawl near the park and called for additional protections.
She also said the Prince George Airport Authority expressed concern that it hadn’t had enough of a chance to comment on the plan. Other groups Klassen included in her motion as requiring further consultation include larger land holders, BC Transit, the BC Northern Exhibition, UNBC, Ginter’s Green Forever, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, School District 57, the Ministry of Transportation and more.
Coun. Cori Ramsay asked about what the process to amend the OCP would be like after it is adopted.
Director of planning and development
Deanna Wasnik said while the new document has been worked on extensively, it is not considered a perfect document and can be amended by bylaw similar to land use decisions made by council.
Ramsay said she was opposed to postponing the decision since she felt consultation can take place as council
questions on the OCP. He said he would like a delay in part because he has a poor internet connection.
He also brought up an email council had received from someone at the Aberdeen Glen Golf Club regarding concerns relating to sewer system extensions.
If council decided to proceed forward with adopting the plan at the meeting, Skakun said he would give notice of motion for each of his amendments and have the conversations later.
Wasnik said the original timeline to adopt the new OCP was December 2024 and further consultations would likely mean the plan returns to council for consideration sometime after May.
She also said that the city no longer has a consultant under contract for the OCP and does not have amounts budgeted for future consultation efforts.
Many of the groups on the list of Klassen’s amendment have already been contacted in the earlier consultation efforts, Wasnik said.
The mayor said he would be interested in personally reaching out to the groups in Klassen’s motion to ask about what changes they’d like to make and that he’d also like more time to review the draft OCP.
continues to approve it and it will be reviewed both in one year and after five years.
Coun. Tim Bennett moved for the decision on the OCP be postponed until after the three public hearings scheduled for that evening had concluded. That motion passed.
When discussion recommenced, Mayor Simon Yu said there would be “great value” in holding another round of consultation before council makes decisions regarding the OCP.
He said he would especially like to consult with Lheidli T’enneh First Nation as the nation is investigating land development opportunities with the airport and he would like to see how that might interact with the OCP.
Coun. Brian Skakun, who connected to the meeting remotely, said he has a minimum of 10 to 15 amendments and probably an hour or more worth of
He said a plan of such importance requires at least two or three rounds of consultation.
Ramsay pointed out that the city is required under provincial legislation to have its OCP revised by the end of the year and required to review it again by the end of 2028. She said she was willing to sit through extra meetings and consultation on the OCP but expressed concern about running out of time.
She also said she thought council should hold the public hearing to hear what residents have to say, arguing that these groups mentioned in Klassen’s motion would have the chance to comment then.
Coun. Susan Scott said she takes consultation seriously but hasn’t heard anyone offer a mechanism through which these groups would provide comment. CONTINUED
Yu said he would organize two round table meetings with representatives on Klassen’s list.
Coun. Ron Polillo said he didn’t think that was adequate for what is being proposed, also taking issue with the budget involved.
He said city staff have been working on the file since December 2023 and there has been sufficient consultation already.
The mayor asked administration to provide a ballpark estimate of how much time has been spent working on the OCP and working with the consultant; Wasnik said she could not provide that estimate and gave an outline of the public consultation done to date.
Coun. Tim Bennett said he believed that the added consultation being asked in Klassen’s motion would be setting city staff up for failure. He also said that some of the groups mentioned in the motion were vague and that a budget for extra consultation would have to be defined.
For instance, how does the city define what a “large land holder” is, Bennett asked.
Coun. Kyle Sampson said his views were similar to those of Ramsay and Polillo.
He said the organizations on Klassen’s list already had a chance to provide feedback, adding that the document will always be imperfect because it represents the viewpoints of many different people and groups.
“We could do consultation to the end of time and I don’t think everybody’s going to be happy,” Sampson said.
Should council direct further consultation, he said the list of groups should be scrapped and consultation to be opened up to everyone in the city.
The mayor rebutted by noting that Klassen’s list ends with “any other organization identified through the process.”
He said that based on the emails he’s received, he’s not convinced the city
got this draft of the OCP right and for that reason, there should be further consultation to avoid amendments in the future.
Yu seemed to take aim at city staff, saying that the OCP belongs to all citizens of Prince George and “not the people on the second floor.”
Addressing the deadline issue, Skakun said he didn’t think the province would go after the city if it saw that Prince George was working constructively to build a new OCP.
Skakun said he would essentially force a second public hearing should the process not be postponed by introducing amendments after the first is postponed.
He said it was past 1 a.m. where he was and due to time constraints, he wouldn’t be able to introduce amendments that night due to his vacation, which he scheduled a year in advance without knowing when the OCP discussion would take place.
Sampson said he struggled with Skakun’s argument because the city’s business needs to proceed no matter who’s present.
He also said he didn’t see a problem with having to hold a second public hearing to accommodate amendments stemming out of the first.
Coun. Garth Frizzell said he agreed with a point made by city manager Walter Babicz that the city can accom plish its goals by holding one or more public hearings. He said he thought the concerns raised in emails and face-toface meetings with councillors could be addressed this way.
Klassen’s motion was defeated, with only herself, Yu and Skakun voting in opposition.
Second reading of the OCP bylaw passed with Klassen and Yu voting against.
Skakun had departed the meeting prior to this vote.
The first three readings of four bylaws relating to the new OCP passed with Klassen and Yu opposed again.
Start your solar project this winter to avoid delays and ensure your system is ready for peak production by spring!
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
Mayor Simon Yu pitched using a small percentage of development fees towards the beautification of vacant or empty spaces within the city at the Tuesday, Feb. 18 meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Safety.
The committee had a lengthy discussion on the city’s approach, responsibilities and liabilities when it comes to vacant buildings and lots.
Director of administrative services
Eric Depenau said that under BC’s Community Charter, municipalities or their representatives have the authority to enter a property to determine whether it is complying with regulations, prohibitions or other requirements that the municipality has jurisdiction over.
The municipality must give at least 24 hours’ written notice before doing so, except in emergency circumstances.
Prince George’s Property Maintenance Bylaw states that owners of vacant buildings must make sure their properties are secured from unauthorized entry.
If the city finds that rule is not being followed, the owner is given notice to fix it within 24 hours if written notice is given directly to their address or 72 hours if notice is posted to the vacant building itself.
Should action not be taken at that point, the city or its representatives can take action to secure it and add the costs to the property owner’s taxes.
The bylaw also applies this procedure to deal with issues like refuse piling up on a property, littering, plant overgrowth, derelict vehicles, unmaintained driveways, sidewalks and boulevards, pest infestations, stagnant water, attracting wildlife, demolition debris, property maintenance, decaying retaining walls and decaying accessory buildings.
Since 2018, Depenau said, the city has billed residents around $139,000 to deal with all offences under this bylaw.
For hazardous conditions, declared nuisances or harms done to drainage infrastructure or dikes, council can
order remedial action to be taken, including removing or demolishing the problem in question, bringing to issue up to standards set in the appropriate bylaw or to fill it in, cover it or alter it.
An example of this Depenau cited was the Willow Inn at 1656 Victoria St., which had its business license pulled by council in 2014 and was damaged by fire in October 2018. In 2019, council ordered the building to be demolished if the owner did not do so himself.
There are also provisions for dealing with nuisances, defined in the city’s bylaw on the subject as activities which interfere with a person’s use and enjoyment of a highway, park, other piece of public or private land including making loud noises, littering, odours, accumulation of water and unsanitary conditions.
Depenau said that typically, the threat of enforcement of the bylaw is enough to get people to deal with the nuisance before the city deals with the problem and bills the person responsible.
The city has billed people for nuisances on two occasions for a total of around $12,000 since the cost recovery provisions were implemented in 2018.
Shawn Smith, the city’s manager of risk and procurement, told the committee that when determining whether Prince George is liable for problems relating to vacant buildings or nuisances, the first question asked is whether the city has a responsibility towards the circumstances under legislation, bylaws, policies or procedures. The second question is whether the
city has a procedure in place to deal with the issue. If not, there’s some flexibility in how the city can respond.
Then the city needs to consider whether its set policies or procedures are reasonable and legal and then whether it followed them in dealing with the issue. Typically, Smith said, municipalities are indemnified by the court system for following policy decisions though not always.
Liabilities are different when enforcing something set in stone, like the BC Building Code, and something discretionary, like determining whether a nuisance meets the threshold for enforcement.
In the latter case, the city must not create any further risks when responding to the nuisance and must work to make sure bylaws and regulations are being enforced equitably.
Committee member John Zukowski, who owns Pacific Body Jewellery & Piercing downtown, spoke about the potential fire risk from neglected properties, especially those in downtown.
He said there are several downtown construction sites that haven’t had anyone on them in years, but nothing seems to be done about it.
“We need to turn around and look at cleaning up our downtown and part of that includes enforcing whatever bylaws we need to enforce to turn around and get developers or whoever owns the property to either start doing something or fold it up and sell it,” Zukowski said.
He referenced the fire at the former City Second Hand store at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Dominion Street in January, which was being used for furniture storage, wondering if a commercial premise is being used for warehousing required enforcement under the city’s bylaws.
Zukowski said another downtown property, 181 Quebec St., is being used for bulk tire storage. The building was previously used by the Prince George Native Friendship Centre to store belongings and provide washroom access to people experiencing homelessness.
When The Citizen went by the building on Wednesday, Feb. 19, the front doors and windows were boarded up with a metal gate blocking access to the doors. The rear entrance was blocked by a chain link fence topped by barbed wire. Tires were not visible from either the front or back of the building, though it was not possible to see inside.
“That is a clear and present danger to the public from mass warehousing of combustible material in the downtown core,” Zukowski said. “These are the questions that I’m getting from other business owners, how come these people are allowed to do this? I do this and I’ve got (bylaw services) jumping all over me.”
Not dealing with issues like this, Zukowski argued, could lead to the city being liable to settle damages from fire incidents which just ends up spending taxpayers’ money.
He said the public wants to see progress on files like these.
The mayor said that cities he’s visited on Canada’s east coast set aside one per cent of development permit fees to be put towards the beautification of empty lots and vacant buildings. He suggested a similar program could benefit Prince George.
The mayor put forward a successful motion asking staff to prepare a report on how to improve the city’s beautification efforts and bring it back for a discussion at the committee with representatives from the Community Arts Council and Downtown PG.
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
Prince George city council directed city staff to investigate reducing snow-clearing services on statutory holidays to reduce overtime costs at its Monday meeting.
Heading into the meeting, city staff prepared a report saying that Prince George spent at least $10.6 million on snow control in 2024, more than the $10.3 million that was budgeted for.
Mayor Simon Yu said he recently attended a Federation of Canadian Municipalities meeting in Fredericton, passing through Toronto and Montreal along the way.
He said that experience reminded him that Prince George has “world class” snow removal.
Bringing up the $300,000 deficit Prince George ran in its snow control budget in 2024, Yu asked if it was a case that with climate change, one large snow dump could be more expensive than smaller, sustained amounts of snowfall.
Director of civic operations Blake McIntosh said it’s important to recognize that Prince George has certain fixed costs like staffing for the five or six months a year that snow falls.
Materials like salt and calcium used for ice control are also fixed. These costs make up about 50 per cent of the total budget.
If snow falls on a statutory holiday, that can increase costs, as well as the total amount of snow that falls.
After council passed a 2025 budget with a reduction to the snow control costs from the $10.3 million budgeted in 2024 to $10 million, Yu asked director of finance and IT services Kris Dalio whether that poses an issue.
Dalio said sometimes council gambles with snow control and comes out on top, in other years like 2020, both the budget and the reserve were blown through and required the city to dip into the operational surplus.
Coun. Cori Ramsay put forward a
motion to extend the snow-clearing deadline for 24 hours for snow events that start on statutory holidays. She said that could save money spent on overtime costs for snow clearing on those days.
While the city prides itself on good snow removal services, she said a deficit in this category would be carried forward to next year and as chair of the Standing Committee on Audit and Finance, she doesn’t want to see that.
Should the change in policy not work out, it could be changed.
A report presented at an October 2024 council meeting said that savings from doing so for all four winter statutory holidays would be $864,004.
The mayor asked if reducing overtime like this would pause any problems with collective agreements with its staff that handle snow control.
City manager Walter Babicz suggested that staff be directed to return to a future meeting with wording that carries out council’s intent without running into any issues with collective bargaining or other factors.
Council gave unanimous consent to amending Ramsay’s motion to incorporate that suggestion.
McIntosh asked that staff be allowed to investigate potential issues with reducing holiday snow clearing like preventing the city from shutting down completely under particularly hard snowfall.
He also said the city has to be careful of allowing snow to compact, which makes it harder to plow.
Ramsay’s motion passed unanimously.
McIntosh said crews have been out to open up catch basins and drains to deal with melting snow.
Not dealing with these water issues can pose their own risks and expenses down the line.
Additionally, he said, there were significant calls about “gigantic lakes and puddles” last weekend.
KENNEDY GORDON Citizen Managing Editor
The BC government’s latest effort to address the diversion of taxpayer-funded opioids into the hands of drug dealers falls far short of fixing a problem that hits Prince George and the rest of the province hard, and fails to address the root causes of the crisis.
Putting the focus on new regulations for the Prescribed Alternatives Program (safe supply) indicates that the government is trying to address symptoms but fails to address the broader issues: The sources of supply for these opioids, and the constant and increasing demand for them.
During our interview eight months ago with retiring Superintendent Shaun Wright, he commented that close to 50 per cent of people who were receiving safe supply were selling or trading it.
Health Minister Josie Osborne announced measures last week include requiring patients to consume their safe supply prescribed opioids like hydromorphone in the presence of a healthcare professional.
This policy is well-intentioned but doesn’t do much to tackle the underlying problem.
Simply tightening controls on how prescriptions are consumed does not address the crucial issue of how these drugs are reaching illicit markets.
Concerns about the “safe supply” initiative and its role in exacerbating the overdose crisis are justified. Critics of the NDP’s drug policies have been warning for years that facilitating access to
has to increase the number of beds for treatment and include abstinence based programs as a supported option so that people have a way out of their addiction.
We acknowledge the financial support of the government of
Nous reconnaissons l’appui financier du gouvernement du Canada.
prescribed opioids for people suffering from addiction could unintentionally fuel the illicit drug trade.
In response, the government’s efforts to crack down on alleged criminal behaviour by some pharmacists may offer a partial solution, but it doesn’t go far enough.
Vague references to “bad actors” are insufficient; these measures lack the specificity needed to truly address the systemic problems within the healthcare and criminal sectors.
The real problem lies in the illegal distribution networks, the gangs, and the organized crime groups that continue to benefit from the diversion of prescription opioids.
Local RCMP on Feb. 13 seized more than 700 suspected safe supply pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs, including fentanyl and methadone, outside a Prince George pharmacy.
While there’s no indication at all that there was any connection between the business and the drug dealers – in fact, there have been no allegations of wrongdoing by any Prince George pharmacists - the incident serves as a reminder of the scale of the problem
here and across the province.
BC’s Special Investigative Unit is already working with the College of Pharmacists and law enforcement to investigate pharmacy-related misconduct, yet the government’s policies appear to leave the broader issue of illegal opioid supply largely untouched.
How many more lives will be lost as a result of failing to dismantle the criminal networks at the heart of this epidemic?
Instead of patching cracks in an already flawed system, the province should redirect its focus towards dismantling the illegal distribution channels and ensure that those who are illegally diverting them are held accountable.
The recent measures announced by Osborne are not enough. There has to be a financial commitment from the province to ensure that our justice system can hire the needed Crown prosecutors and judges to hold those dealers accountable. We can’t have more cases dropped because they took too long, as happened Feb. 13.
The way to reduce the demand for opioids is through treatment and recovery programs. The province
Kennedy Gordon Managing Editor
Secure facilities for people with serious mental health challenges are desperately needed as well. If we want to help address the demand for opioids, these facilities must be included as many of those with serious mental health challenges choose to self-medicate as a way to cope.
Over the last few years the provincial government has provided housing to hundreds of people to help Prince George address the wave of homelessness we were facing. Unfortunately, in that same time, only a handful of treatment beds have been added, and none for mental health.
It’s time for the government to take a stronger stance, one that goes beyond a quick mention of problematic pharmacists and requiring healthcare professionals to spend their time watching safe supply being used. That stronger stance must also include the funding needed to effect change.
There are solutions to the opioid crisis we are facing. They involve a co-ordinated effort – with funding – from the province to ensure criminal activity is punished as a deterrent, and treatment facilities so that people can have a way out of their addiction, return to their families and build a life they can be proud of.
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JAMES STEIDLE
When the BC Liberals ushered in the era of consolidation and megacorporatization of our forest industry, I bet they didn’t think their creation would turn on them.
But that’s exactly what’s happening.
Analysts say that 2025 may be the year the American south will produce more softwood lumber than all of Canada.
We can thank some prominent British Columbians for that.
Brian Fehr, our local Order of BC recipient, has made a fortune automating Canadian sawmills before cannibalizing them and sending them south of the border.
This has included moving the Canfor Mackenzie sawmill to Plain Dealing, Louisiana, to help out Teal-Jones, shipping the old Pacific Bioenergy Plant in Prince George (co-owned by Canfor) to Dotham, Alabama, and dismantling Canfor’s OSB mill in Fort Nelson where it will find a new home in Enterprise, Alabama.
Now I’m hearing speculation he will dismantle the Polar sawmill in Bear Lake and ship it to Alabama.
Jim Pattison, another Order of BC recipient, has also participated in this. He of course owns a majority stake in 18 American sawmills through Canfor, and holds a significant stake in West Fraser, which now operates 22 American sawmills, producing more wood than in Canada.
Other Canadian firms, like Tolko, Interfor, and Teal Jones, now run mills in the American South as well.
Thanks in no small part to likely billions of dollars in Canadian investment, the Americans need less and less of our lumber. We went from providing 35% of American lumber demand in the 1990’s
to just 25 per cent now, a number that declines – and our bargaining power along with it – every time a Canadian sawmill gets shipped down south.
We can talk all day long about how “investment” has every right to pack up leave on us, especially if we don’t give the “investment” everything it demands, like massive profits for the billionaires.
But this argument ignores one fundamental fact.
If we had maintained the small mill model tied to local timber supply areas, and had we maintained competition, the industry likely never would have been able to accumulate the massive amounts of capital to sink into a competitor industry down south in the first place.
A relatively “inefficient” industry with many small competing firms would have maximized the pay-out to local
communities, workers, and suppliers. The benefits of the industry would have filled out the bottom. Instead the bottom got hallowed out and everything flew out the top and into the ether of the global financial vacuum.
If you go back to Adam Smith’s original theory on free market capitalism, the whole point of competition is that the money stays at the bottom, not at the top.
Even according to Google’s AI, “a truly competitive economy would likely not produce billionaires.” Other than a little extra to maintain the means of production, competitive markets don’t really call for obscene long-term profits like what we are seeing in Canada’s forest industry.
Smith may as well be describing our province when he said that the rate of profit was “always highest in the
countries which are going fastest to ruin.”
The explanation for the siphoning of capital and billion-dollar profits out of our public forests and into the southern U.S. is because we intentionally got rid of competition and defiled the principles of free market capitalism that supposedly guided the policy to begin with.
Our past governments, in all their glorious wisdom, decided an “efficient” industry of consolidated monopoly and monopsony players, with immense market power, would create a globally competitive Canadian forest industry.
During second reading of the Forest Revitalization Amendment Act back on May 6, 2003, which eliminated appurtenancy, Nanaimo BC Liberal MLA Mike Hunter articulated this argument: “It seems to me that the best social contract we can ask for and the best job protection we can find is through a profitable industry – an industry that makes profits that we’ll plow back into our communities.”
What a delusion that’s turned out to be.
In the past 20 years we watched in dismay as the big firms chiseled away at the workforce and the suppliers, automating production and ramping up massive efficiencies of scale.
Huge amounts of capital accumulated at the top while entire towns and communities bit the dust.
We created a monster that turned its back on us the moment they could make a higher profit elsewhere, and built a parallel industry in the heart of our newly belligerent neighbour.
Now they’ve helped create a provincial, if not national crisis.
There is only one thing left for us to do.
We take those Order of BC awards back, we block the sale of Polar to the United States, and we strip the two-timing corporations of their BC timber tenures.
James Steidle is a Prince George writer.
These numbers show nothing but numbers and tell the same old same old story of what every single city that gets snow has to deal with.
Big whoop.
What residents want to know is where the money the city has allocated to snow measures are going and how crews can be more efficient in snow removal tactics.
If you live on an arterial road like 15th Avenue it is known by many residents that snow clearing crews just waste money and time scraping ice off so that the pavement is clear to drive on.
So when the snow stops falling crews come out and do their business during the overnight, which is fine ..., but a few days after the snow has been cleared into a windrow and squished to the medians, crews come back and scrape the pavement of stuck-on ice.
I have videos to prove that is such a waste of time and money.
PG residents need to know where the money is going for snow measures because we have had more snow in 2024/25 than we did in 2023/24 season.
Winter is not done yet.
Shane Chevalier
Coach Cooper’s faith in Binnington rewarded with sweet victory for Canada CANADASTRONG!
Congratulations, boys!
Realtime26
Letter to the editor: Thanks for keeping Cottonwood Island accessible in winter
I love Cottonwood Island Park, it’s fantastic all year around, a real treasure to the city.
Would be nice to see some of the vacant properties from the centre parking lot to brinks tidied up.
Broken fencing, abandoned equipment, concrete rubble etc.
I can’t help but wonder what a cable foot bridge across the river, to the Cut Banks, Northern Lights side of things would look like Zangief
Letter to the editor: Thanks for keeping Cottonwood Island accessible in winter
Thanks for sharing that.
I’m disabled and didn’t know it was accessible for us in winter time.
The only issue left is there is no bench on the trailway for people like me who have heavy mobility issue but who are not in wheelchairs.
We are many people in that situation who walk with canes and have heavy chronic generalized pain and can’t even push a walker.
Having benchs where we can sit to rest along the trailway would certainly help going to the park enjoy nature get exercise and fresh air
Letter to the editor: Will Northern Health have enough doctors and nurses?
An increase in surgical capacity should help increase the ability of Northern Health to attract and retain surgeons that require access to an operating room.
A tale of two Northern Cities. I was bumped from a kidney stone removal in PG to give access to someone that had kidney cancer and needed priority treatment.
I understand that people get bumped for more urgent treatments.
Three months later in extreme pain I spoke with the PG urologist and he said he was having a hard time getting access to the PG hospital surgery room, he was only allowed one day a week operating room time.
I asked my own doctor to send me to Edmonton. When I got there the Edmonton urologist looked at me and the poor condition I was in and said lets do a CT scan.
Looked at the CT and said that my kidney was so extended from a one-inchj round stone that I was in danger of losing my kidney. He said come back tomorrow for emergency surgery. The Edmonton urologist said that he had two days a week operating time.
waymar10@telus.net
Editorial: Education in Prince George is abouit far more than the bottom line
There was a study looking at “class” mobility i.e. the ability of a person to move upward socioeconomically out of poverty.
The countries with the quickest upward mobility were countries with cheap or free education especially post-secondary.
Education is the best avenue for pulling yourself up by your bootstraps.
Lou Maurice
Letter to the editor: No need to buy U.S. beer when we have local options
Most of the brands you name as American are owned by InBev which is the largest brewer in the world and located in Belgium.
Having wrote that, our local craft breweries make some incredible beer.
Extending out to just central and northern BC, from Prince Rupert to Valemount and Fort St. John to 100 Mile House, there is some truly amazing beer made in this area.
Extend that even further to the rest of BC, a person could spend months trying different breweries from BC and not have the same beer twice.
Now, if our collective governments could relax the inter provincial trade laws, we could be sampling great beer from all across Canada…. Viquick
MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
The College of New Caledonia (CNC) has recently recommended the closure of several programs offered at the college, including English Language Programs (ENLA) for new Canadians.
Since a public meeting on Feb. 10, The Citizen has heard from multiple students and supporters about what the possible closure will mean for them.
One of those supporters is Prince George Share Hope’s Eva Gillis, who works with displaced Ukrainians and has, in the past, recommended the CNC ENLA course for newcomers looking to learn English. Gillis emphasized that this course is essential for teaching English in Prince George and that a gap will be left if the program is closed.
“Their teachers are excellent,” said Gillis. “Their program is top-notch. We’ve had a number of Ukrainians go through the four levels, and they were able to get better jobs. We’ve got several doctors here, and they’re studying away like mad while they also have to work. That’s the other thing with the program: It’s a two-year program. If they go straight through, they’re either going to work evenings, or one of the spouses has to work while the other one goes to school. I can’t even begin to tell you how important it is.”
Gillis also spoke about how the closure of the program personally disappointed her as someone who works closely with newcomers to our country.
“We’re a multicultural country,” said Gillis. “A tapestry of all the people from Germany, Ireland, France, and England — everybody came over here and settled our country. That’s who we’re made up of. Now, we’re going to be arrogant and say we’re not going to teach people who are fleeing from their country, looking for safety, and need to learn the language to be able to stay? We’re not like the United States of America. We’re Canada.”
New Canadians will be the most affected by this closure, as these programs are more than just a way to learn English; they can be a path to advancing
careers, becoming permanent residents, and making important connections.
One international student, Kelly-Jiyeon Park, who is in ENLA Level 2, said she may be unable to continue her life in Canada without these classes.
“I am a study permit holder for the two-year ENLA program,” said Park. “If the program is suddenly discontinued like this, my study permit will no longer be valid, which will create issues for my stay in Canada. Moreover, my child has just started making friends and enjoying life in Prince George, but I cannot bring myself to tell them that we can no longer stay and must return home. As an international student paying high tuition fees, I am unable to focus on my studies due to this abrupt notice of termination. Additionally, I have signed contracts for housing, a vehicle, and telecommunications based on a two-year stay, which means I will incur penalties if I have to transfer to another school or move to a different area. Furthermore, if I am forced to return to Korea without receiving further academic English education, it will be difficult for me to achieve the goals I had originally planned.”
Another student, Nelya Nyuhova, a refugee from Ukraine, is looking after another student attending ENLA courses.
“It is very important for my people,” said Nyuhova. “In Canada, there are people who want to be equal because
without the assistance of a translator.
Wendelin Schwab, the chair of the education council at CNC, also spoke with The Citizen and shared his opinion on the reasons behind the closures.
Canada is a country of immigration. We could have chosen Germany, where the government pays 500 euros for each person in the family and provides housing. But we did not choose that offer because we want to work and have more than 500 euros for each person in our family. We want to live our lifestyle. These are people who came to Canada not because we were poor in our country, but because of war, and only because of that reason.”
Nyuhova is a Level 4 student who will be graduating in April before the programs close; however, the student she is caring for is only in Level 3 and will not be able to finish her education if these programs close.
CNC has recommended that students consider transferring to the Immigrant and Multicultural Services Society in Prince George (IMSS) to continue their education.
However, students have expressed concerns that this level of education will not be enough.
One of these students is Ismail, a Syrian refugee, who expressed that while IMSS is good for learning basic English skills to get by in Canada, the English skills required for higher education or learning trades are not available in Prince George unless offered at CNC.
Ismail also told The Citizen that another primary reason he is learning English at CNC is to be able to translate for his son with autism at doctor’s visits
“I think the college has no choice,” said Schwab. “Honestly, this entire mess is caused by the federal government. Typically, educational institutions in Canada have had a great deal of freedom to do what we wish, but the federal government is telling us we can only accept a certain number of international students. Saying you can only accept international students to the program, et cetera, et cetera, is essentially throwing a metaphorical hand grenade in the middle of the college. Then you have to deal with the fallout.”
Schwab also said that while he personally disagrees with the closure due to decisions made by the federal government, they are stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“Honestly, I am disappointed and frustrated whenever any program comes to the education council for closure,” said Schwab. “If I had my way, we wouldn’t be doing any of this. It’s not our choice. It’s the federal government that’s decided on our behalf, whether we want it or not. They suspended the Associate of Arts English program a couple of months ago, and as an English instructor, I was very disappointed to see that. At the same time, there’s not much we can do about these program closures.
“There’s going to be great upheaval at the college, and this isn’t just at CNC. This is happening all across Canada. The federal government has essentially kneecapped all of post-secondary education with help from the provinces, as they haven’t been funding post-secondary education the way they should for the past 20 to 30 years. So this isn’t our choice, but we have to make hard decisions, unfortunately. If the board decides to cancel ENLA, I don’t agree with it, and I will be recommending to the board that we don’t do that. But at the same time, I do understand it.”
The CNC board of directors will be meeting on Feb. 28 to discuss the future of these programs.
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
The 2025 budget that will see the owner of the average Prince George home pay $13.35 more in property taxes to the Fraser-Fort George Regional District.
The district’s board of directors held its second and final budget meeting for 2025 on Wednesday, Feb. 19.
While final approval of the budget still must take place at the board’s March 20 meeting, further amendments are unlikely.
The first budget meeting held on Jan. 24, 2025 focused on the budgets for services across the entire regional district as well as sub-regional services that affect multiple of its constituent municipalities and electoral areas.
The budget items approved at the January meeting require the regional district to requisition $1,261,748 more in taxes from its residents compared to 2024.
Residents only pay taxes towards regional district services that benefit the area they live in, meaning the tax change depends on where someone lives.
By comparison, the Feb. 19 meeting primarily discussed services that affect individual electoral areas. The items discussed at this meeting required a $349,786 additional requisition increase compared to 2024.
That includes a $218,914 budget increase for fire and rescue services, $52,000 more for community grants in aid, $45,292 more for library funding, $35,444 for recreation and community halls and $473 more for street lighting.
There’s also a $2,337 decrease in TV rebroadcasting expenses for Valemount, McBride and Electoral Area H.
After a presentation from district staff, the local area budgets were passed by the board with only a single modification.
Vice-chair Art Kaehn (Woodpecker-Hixon) proposed that the community grants in aid allocation be reduced for his electoral area from $115,000 to $95,000.
His motion passed, reducing the
COLIN SLARK Citizen Staff
Transfer stations in Vanway and McBride may get recycling depots later this year because of the partnership the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George and Recycle BC.
At a meeting of the district’s Environment and Parks Standing Committee on Tuesday, Feb. 19, a motion passed to accept Recycle BC’s offer to provide two more recycling depots.
amount of total operating expenses and grants in aid from the proposed budget by $20,000. It also resulted in the tax increase for the average home in Electoral Area E going down from 7 per cent to 1.7 per cent and the overall tax requisition increase for the entire district going down from from 7.13 per cent to 7.04 per cent.
That actually means the tax rate per $100,000 of assessed value went down from $128.86 in 2024 to $118.92 in 2025, but the cost per average home went up from $222 to $225.68 because of assessment increases.
Director Dannielle Alan (Robson Valley-Canoe) advocated for the board to lobby the provincial government to properly fund volunteer fire departments as some of them are faced with either disbanding or downsizing to brigades due to a lack of funding.
BC Assessment’s 2025 values listed the average assessed value of a single-family home in Prince George as $451,000. The requisition approved by the board for the district’s 2025 budget means that home will pay about 7.2 per cent or $13.35 more in district taxes for a total of $199.67.
Here’s the percentage and dollar amount change for the average assessed home in the rest of the regional district now that February’s
deliberations have concluded.
• Mackenzie: 2.3 per cent decrease ($1.88)
• McBride: 7.4 per cent increase ($43.29)
• Valemount: 1.7 per cent decrease ($9.20)
• Electoral Area A (Salmon River-Lakes): two per cent increase ($7.66)
• Electoral Area C (Chilako River-Nechako): 1.3 per cent increase ($6.25)
• Electoral Area D (Tabor LakeStone Creek): 0.8 per cent decrease ($3.50)
• Electoral Area E (Woodpecker-Hixon): 1.7 per cent increase ($3.68)
• Electoral Area F (Willow River-Upper Fraser Valley): 6.1 per cent increase ($11.23)
• Electoral Area G (Crooked River-Parsnip): 0.7 per cent decrease ($1.20)
• Electoral Area H (Robson Valley-Canoe): 2.4 per cent decrease ($7.27)
Budget talks for the Fraser-Fort George Regional Hospital District are scheduled to take place next month. That budget will have a separate impact on district residents’ overall property tax bills.
Last September, the regional district partnered with Recycle BC to set up three principal recycling depots at the Valemount Regional Transfer Station, the Mackenzie Regional Transfer Sation and the Quinn Street Regional Recycling Depot in Prince George.
That returned recycling services to Valemount and Mackenzie after the contractor that hauled recycling bins to and from those communities announced it would no longer be able to provide those services effective May 31, 2024.
A letter sent to Recycle BC by the regional district on Nov. 14, 2024, which was attached to the Feb. 19 meeting agenda, requested four additional principal depots at the Cummings Road Regional Transfer Station to serve residents in electoral areas D, F and E, at McBride Regional Transfer Station to service both McBride and residents of Electoral Area H, at Vanway Regional Transfer Station to serve Prince George residents who don’t qualify for curbside recycling collection as well as Electoral Area C and at the Foothills Boulevard Regional Landfill to serve residents in electoral areas A and G.
On Feb. 12, 2025, Recycle BC sent a response letter approving a principal depot in Vanway and a satellite depot in McBride this year “provided that all program requirements and collection standards are met.”
CITIZEN STAFF
The BC government is ramping up efforts to make sure prescribed opioids don’t wind up in the hands of drug dealers in response to concerns about illegal activities linked to the province’s “safe supply” initiative.
The Ministry of Health recently confirmed that taxpayer-funded opioids are being diverted to the streets, a concern long voiced by critics of the NDP’s drug policies.
Health Minister Josie Osborne announced new measures Wednesday, Feb. 19 to revise the Prescribed Alternatives Program, requiring that all prescribed alternatives — medications like hydromorphone — be consumed in the presence of a healthcare professional.
This change aims to ensure that these medications reach their intended recipients and are not diverted to the illegal market. The policy is set to be implemented immediately for new patients, with existing patients being transitioned to the new system over time.
“We are committed to saving lives and ensuring those suffering from addiction get the treatment they need,” Osborne said in a statement accompanying the announcement. “However, we need to make sure that these prescribed alternatives are being used by the people they are meant for. This new requirement will eliminate the risk of
these medications falling into the hands of gangs and organized crime.”
Earlier in the week before the announcement, Prince George-North Cariboo MLA Sheldon Clare criticized the government’s “safe supply” policies, which he said are fuelling the illicit drug trade locally and exacerbating the overdose crisis.
“The NDP’s policies of decriminalization and so-called ‘safe supply’ are driven by ideology, not results,” Clare stated. “Instead of reducing overdoses, they are pumping even more dangerous drugs into communities, and even the government’s own reports now admit it.”
The recent seizure of more than 700 suspected pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs, including fentanyl and methadone by the Prince George RCMP further heightened these concerns.
The province’s Special Investigative Unit has been working with the College of Pharmacists of BC and law enforcement to investigate suspicious pharmacy activity. More than 60 pharmacies are currently under investigation for potential misuse of fee-for-service payments and illegal inducements.
The government announced it is also overhauling the fee structure for pharmacies to reduce financial incentives for
bad actors, who have been accused of attracting patients through illegal kickbacks. No such allegations have been made about any local pharmacies.
Northern Health nurses have also voiced concerns about rising violence in healthcare settings, a situation they say is exacerbated by the NDP’s failure to control drug-related crime.
“Healthcare workers don’t feel safe, and that’s a direct result of the NDP’s soft-on-crime approach,” said Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Kiel Giddens, the Conservative labour critic.
Prince George-Valemount MLA Rosalyn Bird called for a shift towards a treatment-first approach that combines responsible harm reduction with real pathways to recovery.
“The province should be focused on treatment, not enabling drug trafficking,” she said.
In addition to the new consumption rules, the province is focused on reducing opioid over-prescribing across the healthcare system.
The Ministry of Health reported that, in December 2024, 97 per cent of opioid prescriptions in the province were unrelated to prescribed alternatives, such as pain management.
A new working group will be formed with the College of Physicians and Surgeons and the College of Nurses and Midwives to investigate and reduce inappropriate prescribing practices.
MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
The Prince George International Airport launched a new program aimed at combatting sexual exploitation and human trafficking on Thursday, Feb. 20.
As part of this new initiative, travellers arriving and departing at YXS will notice a yellow rose prominently displayed throughout the terminal.
The rose is a symbol of #NotInMyCity and serves as a reminder of the need to disrupt, prevent and ultimately end
human trafficking worldwide.
#NotInMyCity was launched in January 2017 by Canadian musical artist Paul Brandt.
The initiative is dedicated to raising awareness and driving action to end human trafficking and sexual exploitation across various industries, including transportation and hospitality
More than 93 per cent of reported victims domestically are Canadians being trafficked to other provinces, #NotInMyCity reports.
Globally, 98 per cent of sex trafficking victims are women and girls, and 26
per cent of human trafficking victims in Canada are under the age of 18.
Indigenous peoples make up four per cent of Canada’s population but account for more than 50 per cent of trafficking victims in the country, statistics show.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), airports are one of the most frequently used hubs for international sex trafficking, with more than 80 per cent of international human trafficking journeys crossing through official border control points, including airports.
Common signs of a person being trafficked through transportation hubs include:
• Few or no personal items
• Not knowing travel details, such as the destination
• Appearing to be controlled, closely watched or followed, and deferring conversations to someone else
• Being frightened of uniformed security personnel
For more information about the #NotInMyCity initiative, visit notinmycity.ca.
BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A BC Supreme Court judge acquitted a man of sexual assault Feb. 21 in Prince George, after finding flaws in testimony by the complainants.
Shannon Moorehouse, who was charged in April 2024 and tried Jan. 21-24, denied ever inappropriately touching the complainants, whose identities are covered by a publication ban.
“While I did not find the evidence of the accused to be 100 per cent satisfactory, because he couched many of his answers by saying the word ‘possibly’ when giving his answers, the accused was not shaken on cross-examination,” said Justice Ronald Tindale in his oral verdict.
“Based on a consideration of all the evidence, I find myself unable to
determine whose evidence to believe in relation to the evidence of the accused (and complainants).”
As such, Tindale said, the Crown failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Tindale said one of the complainants testified at trial that the sexual assaults began in 2015 at a sleepover and “ended when COVID occurred.”
Both complainants described incidents of sexual touching when they stayed overnight, in the living room or on a chair. Tindale said there were differences. One described being touched during a camping trip, the other did not. One described being massaged, the other did not.
Moorehouse agreed he may have given one of them a massage, because she participated in a sport and often complained of sore muscles.
The judge said one of the difficulties he had was that the two complainants “clearly discussed these allegations between them.”
One of them had decided to wear a one-piece outfit to deter the accused, a strategy he said came as a result of their discussion. Tindale said the complainants had “more than a cursory discussion” about what happened in the residence of the accused.
“This raises the issue of unconscious collusion,” Tindale said.
Tindale said there were significant differences in the nature of the touch described by the two complainants, but “the Crown has not proven that the complainants’ evidence was not tainted by the discussions.”
Tindale noted there was no medical evidence, testimony from independent witnesses or other corroborative
evidence in the case. He conceded there is no way to predict how a victim of sexual violence, particularly a child, will react.
But he said the complainants kept visiting the residence of the accused when there was nothing compelling them to be there.
For instance, they were neither relatives nor babysitters for the accused and his family.
One of the complainants testified that she continued visiting so that no one else would be hurt, even though she said she knew the accused was also touching another girl.
“Taking a common sense approach to the evidence of the complainants, or explanations as to why they continued to go over to the accused’s residence over a period of six years, does not make any sense,” Tindale said.
BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Office of the Ombudsperson said it is disappointed that the provincial government has still not fully implemented a process for external inspections of BC’s network of 10 jails.
The second update to 2016’s Under Inspection: The Hiatus in BC Correctional Centre Inspections, tabled Wednesday, Feb. 19 in the Legislative Assembly, said the first external report is on its way.
“The Investigation and Standards Office (ISO) told us that it is committed to reporting publicly on its inspection outcomes,” Ombudsperson Jay Chalke wrote in his July 2024 report. “It intends to publish its first report at the end of the first cycle of inspections, in June 2025. In the meantime it intends to develop policy to guide the reporting process.”
Whether and how the reports would be redacted and summarized for publication is to be determined, but Chalke said that publishing inspection reports
The lack of regular, periodic jail inspections between 2001 and 2012 sparked the original investigation of BC correctional centres, including the Prince George Regional Correctional Centre.
would help ISO demonstrate independence and accountability.
The lack of regular, periodic jail inspections between 2001 and 2012 sparked the original investigation of BC correctional centres, including the Prince George Regional Correctional Centre, and their compliance with the Correction Act and United Nations minimums for the treatment of prisoners, known as the Mandela Rules after former South African president Nelson Mandela.
“We found that there was insufficient training and guidance for inspectors, that the inspection checklists did not adequately prioritize the health, safety and human rights of people in correctional centres,” the report said. “We also found that the inspection teams were insufficiently independent from the correctional centres they were inspecting.”
By the 2018 update, six of the seven recommendations were met. However, the province had not met the Mandela Rules about administrative and
independent inspections of the jails and access for the inspectors to interview inmates.
Since then, the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General and the Ministry of Attorney General “have made significant progress” to partially implement internal and external inspections. But “there is still work to be done.”
“In particular, the ISO needs to be adequately resourced to carry out meaningful external inspections, and it needs to address key questions in relation to its process,” said the Ombudsperson’s report.
A regular inspection program is not just a legal requirement, but a tool for oversight of the correctional system and to ensure public confidence in operations.
BC Corrections operates the 10 centres which house an average 1,800 people at secure, medium and open security levels, according to the government. Inmates may be waiting for trial or serving a jail sentence of less than two years.
RCMP Emergency Response Team members work at the scene of a raid on a home at 4102 First Ave. Monday. No further details were available.
Journalism Initiative Reporter
A provincial court judge in Prince George reserved decision Thursday, Feb. 13 on sentencing a woman who pleaded guilty to child pornography and sexual crimes.
The Crown prosecutor said B.A. 36, should be sentenced to eight to 10 years in jail, while her defence lawyer said she should serve the sentence in the community for two years and be placed on probation for three years.
Due to an existing publication ban to protect the identity of the victim and the Crown’s application to the court to anonymize the guilty person, The Citizen has chosen to use only her initials.
B.A. pleaded guilty in November 2023 to possession of child pornography, making or publishing child pornography, importing/distributing child pornography, sexual interference of a person under 16 and bestiality.
The maximum jail sentence for making and distributing child pornography is 14 years. For bestiality, it is 10 years.
The charges, sworn in May 2023, relate to offences in Prince George from January 2021, except for the importing/ distributing charge, which is from March 2022.
The identity of the victim is covered by a publication ban.
Before Judge David Simpkin, Crown prosecutor Andrea Norlund also proposed a 10-year prohibition under the criminal code from having any contact or communication with a person under age 16 or attendance at any public park or facility where persons under age 16 are present.
Defence lawyer Keith Jones proposed a conditional sentence order of two years less a day, including a six-month house arrest term, and a three-year probation period. She would be subject to a mandatory 20-year listing in the national sex offender registry.
Norlund said pre-sentencing reports indicate that B.A. is a moderate-level risk to re-offend, due to “contemporary substance use, negative peer influence and sustained victim availability.”
B.A. does not have a prior criminal
record and she pleaded guilty, thus avoiding a trial. B.A. has a Metis background, grew up in an environment of alcoholism and family violence and suffered physical and sexual abuse as an adolescent.
Norlund said aggravating factors included the highly intrusive nature of the sexual assaults, including B.A. touching the victim’s genitals with her hand and forcing the victim to touch B.A.’s genitals.
The offences were motivated by the sexual pleasure of B.A. and her husband at the time, Norlund said.
Jones said B.A. is a victim of both her upbringing and her husband.
“This is a man that she married over the Internet, never has physically met,” Jones said. “And, as you can see from the dialogue that went on between them, the text messages back and forth, there’s a great deal of controlling-type language there, and she was simply trying to please.”
Simpkin said he would need two hours to provide his sentencing decision on a date to be scheduled.
MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
Thieves stole a valuable M5 Airchime railway horn from the Central BC Railway and Forestry Museum Saturday night.
Train horns have been a common target for thieves at the railway museum. Last year, two other horns were stolen, including a rare BCR M5 horn, which was also important to the museum and its tours.
Baptiste Marcere, executive director of the museum, told The Citizen that the thieves must have had knowledge of train parts and the work being done.
“It’s clearly someone who knows exactly what they were doing,” Marcere said. “Because you can’t see the horn from below. So, you have to know it’s there on that specific machine.”
Marcere also noted that these horns can go for as much as $5,000 if sold to a collector.
M5 Airchime horns have been a staple of railcars since the early 1950s and are among the loudest horns available.
Working replicas can still be purchased on eBay or Amazon for upwards of $3,000.
Cpl. Jennifer Cooper, media relations officer for the Prince George RCMP, told The Citizen that people should watch for the stolen property on online resale sites or marketplaces and report any sightings to the RCMP’s non-emergency number at 250-561-3300.
BOB MACKIN
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The sentence of a man charged with theft under $5,000 and breaching a probation order has been suspended by a provincial court judge, Judge Peter McDermick ordered Kenneth Tyron Thomas Wiese, 37, to serve 12 months on probation.
Wiese pleaded guilty Wednesday, Feb. 19 to being in possession of a stolen bicycle on May 9, 2024.
Wiese’s lawyer, Beatrix Josephy, told McDermick that Wiese admitted the offence “on the basis of being wilfully blind. When he took possession of the bike, he should have known it was stolen.”
Court heard that two individuals had
locked their bikes outside Walmart. They returned to discover the lock was cut and bikes missing.
Prince George RCMP reviewed store surveillance footage that showed two males leaving the area with the bikes.
An officer patrolling downtown an hour after the bikes went missing found three males in the alley behind 215 George St. with bikes that matched the
description. One of the males with a bike was Wiese.
The breach charge came He was sentenced last July to a conditional discharge and 12 months probation for possession of stolen property under $5,000.
One of McDermick’s sentencing conditions is for Wiese to stay away from all Walmart locations in BC.
BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A BC Supreme Court judge in Smithers decided Tuesday, Feb. 18 that three Indigenous anti-pipeline protesters he found guilty in January 2024 of contempt of court will face reduced sentences.
Justice Michael Tammen, however, dismissed the application to stay the charges against Wet’suwet’en Nation’s Molly Wickham (aka Sleydo’), Gitxsan member Shaylynn Sampson and Corey Jocko, a Mohawk from Akwesasne.
Lawyers for the trio argued that RCMP officers violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and abused their power when they arrested Wickham, Sampson and Jocko in November 2021 to stop them from blocking construction of the Coastal GasLink Pipeline (CGL).
“The offending conduct here was serious,” Tammen said. “It involved a calculated, prolonged and well-organized attack on a court order, the actions of the accused were a clear attack on the rule of law.”
They contravened a December 2019-granted court injunction, but their supporters consider them “land defenders,” allies of Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs opposed to a project that is favoured by elected band councillors.
The hereditary chiefs’ protest campaign reached a peak in early 2020 with highway and rail blockades across Canada.
During his more than two-hour oral
decision, Tammen rejected much of the defence application.
Tammen said there was “nothing arbitrary” about the transfer of the accused from Houston to Smithers to Prince George: Houston was the nearest RCMP detachment where they could speak to their lawyers after being arrested, Smithers was the nearest detachment with cell capacity, and Prince George met the requirements of the injunction with the most-adequate cell capacity for multi-day detention in Northern BC.
Tammen agreed police removal of Sampson and Wickham’s culturally significant personal belongings caused them great stress and the issue would be taken into account for sentencing.
However, he did not find their Charter rights breached.
On the contrary, he said they received “preferential treatment” in the lockup.
Later, Tammen focused on three areas: Comments made by police directed at Wickham and Sampson; comments about Nov. 18, 2021 arrestees; and failure by police to obtain a warrant to enter the tiny house and cabin in order to arrest the occupants.
Tammen said the Charter breaches that flow from the failure to obtain the warrant “were about as minor as could ever occur with warrantless arrests in a dwelling house.”
“The arrests themselves were both authorized pursuant to the injunction and there was no doubt that the unlawfully erected structures were going to be removed and the occupants arrested,”
Tammen said.
However, on the comments to the arrestees, “I view the conduct as extremely serious, involving racism directed towards Indigenous women that is a group who have been systemically disadvantaged throughout virtually all sectors of the criminal justice system.”
At the time of their arrest, Wickham and photographer Amber Bracken wore audio recording devices, which police later seized.
The recordings captured conversations between officers who jokingly likened the red handprints on Wickham and Sampson’s faces, symbolizing murdered and missing Indigenous women, to the monstrous orc characters in the Lord of the Rings.
Tammen called the remarks “grossly offensive, racist and dehumanizing” and said they were a breach of the Charter section guaranteeing life, liberty and
security of person.
“I conclude that the alternative that is sought by the accused, a reduction in sentence, is appropriate,” Tammen said.
“Each of three accused will be convicted of criminal contempt. When I consider the question of fit sentence for each, I will take into account the cumulative misconduct of the police.”
Tammen adjourned the case to April 3 for a hearing to schedule sentencing. He ordered reports to analyze how the trio’s Indigenous heritage influenced their actions.
The protest activity delayed, but did not stop, completion of the 670-kilometre pipeline from Dawson Creek to the LNG Canada plant in Kitimat.
CGL went into commercial service last fall. In November, CGL parent TC Energy estimated final project costs remain at $14.5 billion. TC Energy said it remains on track to deliver first cargoes by mid-2025.
BOB MACKIN Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
A BC Court of Appeal tribunal has overturned a lower court ruling that said the province was immune from a negligence claim for injuries on an alleged unsafe forest service road. Leonard Chisholm sued Valemount Forest Products Ltd. and the Ministry of Forests, Land and Natural Resources
Operations after his motorcycle hit a log and crashed June 16, 2010 on the West Canoe Forest Service Road near Valemount.
Chisholm claimed the province was liable for failing to maintain the road in a safe condition.
The province responded that road use permit holder Valemount Forest Products Ltd. was responsible for maintenance. The company said the road
was not being used for logging at the time, so the province was responsible for the maintenance.
A BC Supreme Court judge dismissed the claim after the province argued in 2023 that the Industrial Roads Act provided statutory immunity.
In the Monday, Feb. 18 reasons for judgment, the tribunal ruled that the Industrial Roads Act applies only to industrial roads.
The tribunal said the judge erred because, at the time of the crash, the road was a forest service road under the Forest Act.
“The key point for present purposes is that all parties agree that the road was a forest service road at the material time,” said the decision.
“Therefore, the road was not an industrial road, and the immunity in section 24(3) has no application.”
SD57 is looking at moving Valemount and McBride primary students into the secondary school
ABIGAIL POPPLE
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The School District 57 board reviewed a report on the state of the district’s facilities during a January 28th meeting which recommended consolidating Valemount and McBride schools within the next 10 years due to declining enrolment.
According to the report, both communities will see a nominal decline in fulltime enrolment over the next 10 years: an 8.4 per cent decline in McBride, and a 5.3 per cent decline in Valemount. As this would result in the elementary and secondary schools in both communities being under capacity, the report recommends closing the McBride and Valemount elementary schools and moving all students into the secondary schools.
Reactions to the recommendation range from skepticism to outright disapproval.
Shannon Manahan, chair of the Valemount Secondary School Parent Advisory Council, told The Goat she does not think consolidation is a practical idea.
“There (has) been some talk about this before and it just didn’t seem feasible,” Manahan said, citing concerns about negative interactions between older and younger students as well as limited room in the secondary school.
McBride resident Hazel Sprecher agreed that the consolidation may be harmful for younger children. Similarly, McBride resident Lucille Mintz said there are other cost-saving measures the school district could implement before closing elementary schools.
“If this is about School District 57’s budget, maybe they should look into the high cost of [principals], teachers and staff going on out of town trips,” Mintz said.
In an interview with The Goat, Robson Valley school board trustee Bob Thompson said he has heard concerns about the proposed consolidation from many local parents.
Thompson emphasized that the consolidation is not currently being considered by the board, but he will oppose the recommendation should it come up for discussion.
“Both Valemount and McBride are communities that are struggling… another empty building on our main streets would not be a good thing for our town,” Thompson said, adding that a lack of schools may discourage families looking to move to the valley.
Closing schools may not have an immediate financial benefit for the school district, Thompson added.
“The building, until it’s sold, will have to be maintained,” he said.
“It’ll have to be heated in the wintertime, it’ll have to have maintenance done. There will still be costs associated with the school, even though there are no students in it.”
Thompson said he is not sure that the Robson Valley will see the declining enrolment predicted by the board.
“In Dunster, my community, we have several young families that have moved in with young children,” he said. “Those numbers (in the report) may not bear out.”
If the board does begin to consider consolidation, it will solicit public feedback and have several open meetings before making a final decision, Thompson said.
“It’s a 10-year plan – we’re talking about 2035. That’s a long ways off,” he added.
“There’s no discussion at the current time to do any of the things the consultant recommended.”
However, Thompson encourages Robson Valley residents to continue following school board affairs.
“It’s not time to panic yet, but stay vigilant. Keep listening,” he said. “I’m not saying that it could never happen… but remember, it’s just a report.”
This story originally appeared in The Rocky Mountain Goat.
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Prince George Hiring and Post-Secondary Education Expo 2025 goes Thursday, Feb. 27 at the Ramada. This is geared for anyone looking for a new career or education option. For a free ticket visit www.eventbrite.ca/e/freeprince-george-hiring-and-post-secondary-education-expo.
Dots on a Page goes Thursday, Feb. 27 at 6:45 p.m. at Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St. Play an orchestral instrument and want to play some chamber music and eat pizza? PGSO concertmaster takes the lead partnering with Omineca Arts Centre to celebrate amateur music-making for a program created with a grant from the City of Prince George. Upon registration at Thea@pgso.com musicians will be sorted into groups, matching up playing levels. Solo musicians or groups are welcome. Feel free to bring an instrument to hang out and socialize even if you’re not ready to play. $10 registration fee will help cover some tasty food for everyone. For all the details visit www. facebook.com/events/594782473184102.
Sugarcane Community Screening goes Friday, Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. at The Exploration Place, 333 Becott Place. The critically acclaimed documentary explores the tragic history of the St. Joseph’s Mission residential school and its ongoing impact on survivors and their families. A stunning tribute to the resilience of Indigenous people and their way of life the documentary from Julian Brave, NoiseCat and Emily Kassie is an epic cinematic portrait of a community during a moment of international reckoning. Preregistration is required as space is limited at https://theexplorationplace.com/event/ sugarcane-community-screening/.
A Night at the Oscars fundraising gala for Sacred Heart School goes Saturday, March 1 at the Ramada Hotel. Doors open at 6 and dinner is at 7 p.m. Dress up as your favourite actor or character from an Oscar-winning role or movie. Tickets are $65 each or purchase a table for $550. Volunteers are welcome. Contact Christine for more information at 250-563-5201.
Sprocket, an Enchanting Evening of Poetry & Music goes Thursday, March 6 at Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St., featuring Al Rempel and Raghu Lokanathan. There will be music, poetry, retro snacks and beverages and more. No cover charge but donations for the musician will be gratefully accepted.
Cirque du Soliel Crystal goes Thursday, March 6, Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8 at 7 p.m. at CN Centre. This production pushes boundaries of performance by combining stunning skating and acrobatic feats that defy the imagination. Get tickets at https://ticketsnorth.evenue.net/events/CIRQUE.
YINTAH three part event with Sleydo Molly Wickham & Jennifer Wickham goes Friday, March 7 at 3:30 p.m. at UNBC First Nations Centre in 7-238. This event is presented by Inspiring Women Among Us and is a reception and free screening of YINTAH, a powerful film by Sleydo Molly Wickham and Jennifer Wickham, hosted by the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, Weaving Words, NRESi and others. From 3:30-4:30 NRESi talk with Sleydo and Jennifer Wickham in 7-238 then from 4:45-5:30 reception and then from 5:45-8 p.m. YINTAH film screening. These events are free and everyone is welcome thanks to The Office of Indigenous Initiatives, Inspiring Women Among Us, and Weaving Words.
PEAK Boulder Competition goes Saturday, March 8 from 8:30 am to 7:30 p.m. at 2601 Recplace Drive. OVERhang is hosting this annual event for all climbers. There are two levels of competition – recreational or competitive and spectators are welcome. For more information visit www.overhang.ca/ climbing-gym/peak-2025.
Let’s Hear It BC Tour goes Saturday, March 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Knox Performance Centre. This is a series of live music events showcasing some of the province’s most exciting artists, including Garret T. Willie and Desiree Dawson. This is a free event and is first come first served. Registration is recommended but does not guarantee entry www.eventbrite.com/e/
prince-george-lets-hear-it-bc-tour-tickets.
International Women’s Day Vinyl Night goes Saturday, March 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Deadfall Brewing, 1733 Nicholson St. S. Larry from 2nd Thoughts will be spinning all women artists all night long and also has some vinyl for sale. Deadfall will release their brand new Pink Boots brew, the Belgian IPA.
The Cher Show presented by Bonnie Kilroe’s Celebrity Imposters goes Saturday, March 8 at 8 p.m. at the Legion, 1116 Sixth Ave. Entertainer Bonnie Kilroe creates the perfect blend of authenticity, humour and audience interaction as she brings Cher’s greatest hits to life with her own unique flair. There is Cher trivia for prizes and audience members are invited to don a Cher wig and strut onstage vying for the title of Ultimate Cher fan for prizes. Tickets are $30 for Legion members, $35 in advance at the Legion or $40 at the door. For online tickets visit www.brownpapertickets. com/CherShow.
Harmonic Vibrations Cellular Healing Session goes Sunday, March 9 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Spruce Capital Seniors Recreation Centre, 3701 Rainbow Drive. Let the vibrations guide you to tranquility. Bring a yoga mat or foamie, pillow and blanket. Please arrive 15 minutes early. Doors locked when session starts. Cost is $40. Preregistration required as there are limited spots by visiting www. harmonicvibrations.ca.
Live Pro Wrestling presented by Primetime Entertainment goes Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15 from 5:45 to 9:30 p.m. at the Prince George Civic Centre. This is a fundraiser for Duchess Park Dry Grad. VIP doors open at 5:45 and starts at 6 p.m. General doors open at 6:30 p.m. and bell at 7 sharp. General tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. VIP tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. VIP limited to 100 tickets. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Scrapbook Zone on 18th Ave, J&A Stereo +, or online at www.ticketseller.ca/tickets/ event/live-pro-wrestling.
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Shamrocks & Shenanigans St. Patrick’s Day Party goes Saturday, March 15 from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Roll-ADome, 2588 Rec Place Drive. This event is presented by Farmhouse Catering and is a dinner dance. Guinness Stew & Pachos for dinner, entertainment from Rhythm & Sound DJ, beer pong tables with prizes to be won and a dance. Door open at 6:30. For tickets visit https://www.farmhousecatering.ca/ event-details/shamrock-shenanigans.
Shamrocks & Metal Rock goes Saturday, March 15 at 7 p.m. at Omineca Arts Centre, 369 Victoria St. The Shiels Brothers Band with supporting acts Madbomb, and Smog City Syndicate will perform. Tickets are $30 at the door or in advance Black Sheep Gifts at Pine Centre Mall for $20.
Prince George Cougars vs Wenatchee Wild on Saturday, March 15 at 6 p.m. at CN Centre. Tickets at https://ticketsnorth.evenue.net/events/ CSG.
Prince George Cougars vs Victoria Royals goes Friday, March 21 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 22 at 6 p.m. at CN Centre. Tickets at https://ticketsnorth. evenue.net/events/CSG.
Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling is presented at Theatre NorthWest, #36-556 North Nechako Road, until Wednesday, March 5. Step into the charming beauty salon of Truvy Jones in a poignant production where laughter and tears intertwine like the Southern women at the salon. Set against the backdrop of a small Louisiana town, this timeless play showcases
the enduring friendships and resilient spirit of a close-knit group of women. With wit, wisdom, and a healthy helping of Southern charm, Steel Magnolias promises an emotional journey that will leave you both touched and inspired.
Content Warning: Please be advised that this production features dated language around mental health topics and body image. There are also references that are offensive and outdated with regards to racial stereotypes.There is mention of death and dying babies that may trigger reactions and be upsetting to some viewers. The show starts at 7 p.m. and there are weekend matinees at 2 p.m. For tickets visit https://tickets. theatrenorthwest.com/SteelMagnolias.
Prince George Mixed 55+ Slopitch League 2025 with practice every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon
from about May 13 to Aug. 12. A group of players is looking to put together a team for the 55+ BC Games this year. Format is seven men and at least three women 55+. Registration is April 28, 29 & 30 at the Prince George Golf & Curling Club from 1 to 4 p.m. $75 per player, cash only. For more information call Jackie Burns at 250-962-9230.
BC Old Time Fiddlers’ Jams and Lessons go every Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, 483 Gillett St. Everyone is welcome to attend. Drop-in fee is $5 at the door.
Games Night goes every Thursday at 7 p.m at Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, 3701 Rainbow Drive. Come on down and join in a game of backgammon, checkers, crib or better yet try out the pool table or dart board, please bring your own darts. Open to everyone for a $5
by Robert Harling
February 13th - March 5th
drop-in fee.
Craft & Chat at the main branch of the Prince George Public Library goes every Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. in the magazine corner, second floor, where fibre artists are invited to bring their latest projects to share, vent frustrations, brag about successes, get and give help and join in lively discussions. Snacks provided. This event is in partnership with Great Northwest Fibre Fest.
Parkinson Support Group meetings are the third Saturday of each month at 1 p.m. at the Spruce Capital Seniors Centre, 3701 Rainbow Drive. Meetings are informal and are for sharing information about slowing down the progression of PD. There are guest speakers, special events and biweekly exercise sessions and positive social interaction. Use lower parking lot beside ball diamond to access the seniors centre.
Trivia Night at Nancy O’s goes every other Wednesday at 8 p.m., 1261 Third Ave. There are three rounds per game, each round has five themed questions and five music questions. There’s something for everyone. The winning team gets a custom Nancy O’s Trivia trophy and a round of drinks, their photo on the wall that goes into the winners’ book after two weeks. Those caught cheating will be publicly shamed and labelled as cheaters – good wholesome fun. Book a spot by calling ahead at 250-562-8066.
If you’ve got an event coming up email us at news@pgcitizen.ca to offer details including name of the event, the date, time and location, ticket price and where to get them and a little bit about what’s happening, too. LOCF
He draws inspiration from his late father, his church and his community
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff
Paint what you love.
Nigel Fox, artist, most recently turned to the City of Prince George as the subject of his work.
It started when he became aware that he let the use of his artistic talent lapse.
“Recently when I was back in Prince Rupert where I grew up, I was drawing some scenery and landscapes because I have been trying to get back into the habit of things and I just had a sense that my dad was next to me and we were just quietly sketching together like when he was alive and it was quite a feeling and I feel like that encouraged me,” Fox said.
Albert Fox, an Ojibwe artist and Nigel’s father, passed away in 2012.
“Without thinking consciously of it when I got back to Prince George I got up on New Year’s morning at 5 a.m. and I just had to paint,” Fox said.
He started with his version of an old Renaissance painting by Georges de la Tour called The Magdalen with the Smoking Flame
“It’s a high contrast art form and it’s so powerful,” Fox said.
As he continued to experiment Fox said his pastor at Gateway Church, Kimi Orton, has been very encouraging.
“I have to give her credit for a lot of that because she is so humble and so encouraging of developing artists,” Fox said.
“She gets us to paint items for the sanctuary to display for the congregation. Just the development that has come from that is phenomenal. It’s not only forced me to put together some pieces that were very thoughtful, they were also blessings to myself just to not let that opportunity pass.”
That was what motivated him to take action and paint Prince George
cityscapes.
“So a few weeks ago I just started to paint normal Prince George scenes that may not have gotten attention if they weren’t painted,” Fox said.
“I posted those online and a lot of people were liking them and this whole thing with Trump and the tariffs came up and people started posting online to buy local, buy Canadian and I thought ‘hey, wait a minute!’ I wasn’t planning on riding a trend right now but this is like the perfect opportunity for that because my art is local and I am a local artist and it’s about local scenes. Does it really get any more local than that?”
The works are impressionist paintings that capture Prince George at its best.
“I have been at this for years and it really comes back to the development in my childhood and in my adult years, with the encouragement of my dad and then my pastor,” Fox said.
“And you just have to trust and develop the vision.”
He uses mostly acrylics and most of his pieces are painted on wood or canvas.
“I have been highly inspired by a number of different artists — Mike Svob and Nicholas Bott — and I am always developing my craft,” Fox said.
“I’ve been to a few Mike Svob workshops and I had the chance to get a Nicholas Bott painting a few years ago for a reasonable price so I have that as a study reference as well.”
Since Fox posted some of his Prince George paintings online he’s had some commission requests and wants to put it out there that if anyone wants their neighbourhood scene painted he would be happy to do that.
“Or if they want me to do a picture of their house and I can do that, too,” Fox said.
“I’ve been looking for ways to make this work for years. I think it’s awesome to see Prince George in a different way that maybe people didn’t see before and I want to share that.”
For more information about his work, visit www.nigelfoxartworks.com/.
MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
UNBC researcher Brian Menounos has been working to improve the understanding of global glacier loss and its effects on the climate.
The chief scientist at the Hakai Institute Airborne Coastal Observatory is seconded as a research scientist with Natural Resources Canada.
Menounos is also part of an international team that has measured and assessed how much mass glaciers across Canada and the world have lost over the years.
His findings have been published in Nature, the leading multidisciplinary science journal.
“Earth’s glaciers collectively lost about 273 gigatons of water,” said Menounos. “So, what is a gigaton? It’s a cubic kilometre. One way to visualize that is to imagine all of Vancouver Island, which is about 32,000 square kilometres. If you distribute that 273 cubic kilometres of water over 23 years, you get about 20 centimetres of water. Simply put, take all of the mass lost from glaciers over the 23 years and distribute it over Vancouver Island. You’d have a depth of about 20 centimetres.”
Menounos has also contributed to the Glacier Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise (GlaMBIE), a community effort by researchers worldwide to reconcile measurements collected from different observation methods. Unfortunately, GlaMBIE’s findings have shown a net loss in glacier mass.
“Some of the earliest measurements were made by field visits to glaciers,”
he said. “There, we measured both the accumulation of water at the end of winter and the amount of water lost in the summer. We add those two terms together, and that’s what’s called the net mass balance. Think of it like a bank account: If you deposit $500 and withdraw $200 at the end of the day, you have a healthy balance because you still have $300. But like a glacier in a bad climate, if you deposit $500 and withdraw $700, you have a loss. That’s what glaciers are experiencing.”
Since Canada is home to a quarter of
the world’s glaciers, the effects of this mass loss may be closer to home than we expect. Menounos’s studies have shown that Western Canada, in particular, has seen increased losses over the years.
“When we look at glaciers closer to Prince George and to the south in the interior, those glaciers have lost something like 23 per cent of their total volume over the last 23 years,” he said. “That’s about one per cent per year. Now what we’re finding is that the rate of loss has really accelerated. It’s a large
number because the total volume of ice is quite small relative to other areas, such as Alaska and the Eastern Canadian Arctic.”
Menounos told The Citizen that this research can help predict what glaciers will look like in the future.
He also said that his research is critically important for collecting day-to-day weather observations and year-to-year climate data. His research also assesses the possible impacts of this loss on marine and terrestrial ecosystems and sea-level rise.
TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
The Mayo Clinic defines schizophrenia as “a serious mental health condition that affects how people think, feel, and behave. It may result in a mix of hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking and behaviour.
“Hallucinations involve seeing things or hearing voices that aren’t observed by others. Delusions involve firm beliefs about things that are not true. People with schizophrenia can seem to lose touch with reality, which can make daily living very hard.
“People with schizophrenia need lifelong treatment. This includes medicine, talk therapy, and help in learning how to manage daily life activities.”
That lifeline in our city is provided by the BC Schizophrenia Society of Prince George (BCSSPG).
Located downtown at 1139 Sixth Ave., the society serves a client base of 760 people in the region. The hub of the society is its Activity Centre for Empowerment (ACE), a welcoming gathering place in the heart of downtown for people struggling with mental health problems and substance addictions.
“We don’t just serve people with schizophrenia,” said BCSSPG Executive Director Nansi Long. “We serve anyone in our community who is living with a mental illness, substance use disorder, and/or addiction. Many of our clients also have brain injuries or developmental delays alongside their mental health issues.”
ACE is the place for activities, including foosball, billiards, bingo, cribbage, board games, and Yahtzee. Staff and clients engage in weekly craft classes, tai chi sessions, swimming at Canfor Pool, and bowling once a week at Black Diamond Bowl.
Clients know they’ll find a friendly face waiting for them when they come by for a sandwich or a cup of coffee while they wait for the centre’s washer/ dryer to clean their clothes. They also have access to computers, and someone is always available to help with job applications or connect them to a
dental care program.
“Some of the people we serve every day, and sometimes they only come when they need something, but they’re always welcome,” said Long.
“We operate person-centred services, making sure people’s lived experiences are at the heart of everything we do.
All of the activities here are peer-led, guided by people with lived experience—whether as a family member, caregiver, or person with mental illness or substance use challenges.
“We also make sure that we either provide support programs or are connected to other agencies that can support families as well.”
Long says there’s stigma attached to mental illness, and many people hide their conditions, afraid to seek help for fear of being ostracized from their jobs or losing custody of their children. She knows how families can be affected, as she experienced it personally with her mother and aunt both having mental illnesses, and her oldest child living with
anxiety and depression.
“Families don’t talk about it because we don’t want to be judged,” Long said. “We don’t want people to think that we didn’t do the best we could for our family members.
“I think I did a fabulous job as a mom, but I can’t control that my child’s brain chemistry isn’t right. I’m not to blame for the brain chemistry not working, and that’s what people fail to understand: mental illness is a brain chemistry imbalance, and it can have many causes—trauma, genetics, bad luck.”
Funded privately, through BC gaming grants, and with support from the City of Prince George and Northern Health, the society operates with three full-time staff, five part-time employees, 27 volunteers, and eight board members.
BCSSPG was formed more than 30 years ago by a group of parents, including founding member Evelyn O’Sullivan. Her church, Trinity United, collects food, and O’Sullivan personally delivers monthly donations to ACE.
Feeding hungry people is one of the primary functions of the Activity Centre, which is open Tuesday-Saturday and closed Sundays and Mondays. To address food insecurity, meals are available to clients four or five hours each day.
BCSSPG keeps food supplies wellstocked, and clients pay for their own meals, usually costing $5 or less. The centre serves 40 to 50 meals per day, and there’s an outreach program that provides meals to about a dozen clients who qualify for delivery of at least three meals per week. The society partners with the Canadian Mental Health Association for holiday dinners at Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving.
“If at any time in the last six months, someone felt they had to choose between food and other necessities of life, or if they are living unsheltered, it’s all confidential, and they can come and talk to us,” Long said.
The Activity Centre opened in April 2003 as a Northern Health initiative to offer something different for people with mental health or addiction issues. ACE clients are required to be receiving services from a program linked to the health authority.
“The reasoning behind having this connection with Northern Health and other services is that we can fill in the gaps and provide background support,” Long said.
“If we see someone struggling in our community, we can help by reaching out to their support team and make sure they’re getting what they need. That helps keep people out of the emergency medical system. If we can catch someone before they’re really unwell, their support team can step in before they need to go to the hospital.”
Clients are not allowed to be under the influence of substances, and Long says they all respect that rule. Close connections with clients she’s known for years have opened Long’s mind to how addictions take hold of people’s lives. She gained a new level of understanding in a conversation she had with a man addicted to heroin.
“He said to me once, ‘I live with chronic pain and migraine pain, and the medication available to me wasn’t really working. Someone suggested I try heroin, and it took away all the pain. So, why wouldn’t I do it?’” Long said.
“I had no argument for that other than ‘I want you to be safe, I don’t want you to die from an overdose, and if you’re getting your drugs, please get them tested, or maybe consider safer supply.’ I so appreciated that he could be honest with me and trusted me enough to share his story without fear of judgment.
“I always tell him that if he ever decides he’s done with it, and needs something from me to make that happen, to call me. Because once you decide you’re done, you’ll be successful at kicking it, and you’ll take on the world.”
Many of the society’s regulars have
no fixed address. While some estimates peg the city’s homeless population at about 200, Long says that when factoring in couch surfers — people staying with friends — the number is likely closer to 300.
There are fewer people living on the streets now because temporary housing projects built by BC Housing have been completed, like the new 42-unit Third Avenue transitional housing complex that opened in late December adjacent to the Moccasin Flats encampment.
“A lot of the people that I know who were unsheltered and who we were directly helping are moving into these new housing spaces, which is making it easier for community partners to provide services because it’s easier to find them,” Long said. “We’re not
worried about where they are—they have shelter.”
But there are still people living in tents or makeshift shelters in the city this winter, and a few are still camping outdoors. Prince George RCMP reported on Feb. 4 the discovery of a frozen body near the Highway 16/97 intersection.
Winter significantly raises the danger of accidental death for people without homes, further complicating the issues of mental illness, substance addiction, and poor physical health. Long says hearing about those deaths is the toughest part of her job.
“Losing them, especially when it’s something they’ve been struggling with, like an overdose, is really hard on us,” she said. “We know there’s nothing we
could have done, but we wonder if there was something we could have changed if they had been here that day.
“Over COVID, I would say we lost 10 or 15 people we had served in the past, and that is a huge number for us. COVID hit us particularly hard in terms of those losses because we hadn’t seen those people for so long when they passed.”
BCSSPG is supporting Prince George psychiatrist Barb Kane’s online petition to bring a psychiatric hospital to serve northern BC communities, which now has 3,700 signatures.
“We truly believe that people are entitled to compassionate, quality care in their communities—near their families, friends, and caregivers—so that we can all be part of moving forward and healing,” Long said.
We asked Citizen readers to share photos of their encounters with wildlife, and they came through.
This week it’s all about moose. Watch for more in future issues and online.
From
ABOVE: Mike Nash took this photo of a cow and calf moose walking down Webber Crescent near the bottom of the Connector Trail that leads up to UNBC on Jan. 29. Nash said the two moose seemed to be healthy and free of the ticks that have plagued local moose for the past several winters.
RIGHT ‘We had this cow and calf licking the salt off our car,’ Carl Thorlakson wrote about this photo he took near Moore’s Meadow. ‘She wasn’t bothered at all by me standing so close to her.’
BELOW: Rebecca Yurkowski had a trio of moose come into her McGowan Drive backyard Jan. 29 before they discovered the berries on the tree in the front.
Send your wildlife photos, along with
and where they were taken, to
Prince George Folkfest Society are delighted to say the 18th annual Coldsnap winter music festival held Feb 5 to 9, was a tremendous success! We respectfully acknowledge that Coldsnap is hosted on the unceded land of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, and we especially thank them for their support of the festival and for the welcomes and gifts they provided to our visiting musicians. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our generous festival sponsors and funders for your steadfast support since our society’s inception, including the generous sponsors who help us thank our volunteers! We are particularly thankful for the wisdom and generosity of time from Kym Gouchie for her guidance with protocol, translation and land acknowledgements. Thanks to all our emcees and speakers who provided hosting duties and welcomes at all our events. Big thanks to Hailey Smith for the design of our beautiful Coldsnap 2025 graphics Thanks also to CCFPG for their continued collaboration. Many thanks and kudos to Connor, Danny, Brin and Rebecca for their hard work and dedication to production excellence that makes this one of Canada’s premier live music festivals. Thank you to the staff at Knox Performance Centre, and the volunteers and staff at The Royal Canadian Legion and all of our venues. We are eternally grateful to our team of amazing volunteers, mostly listed below with board members and staff. It is no exaggeration to say this festival would not happen without you and its success is a direct result of the time and work you provide. And finally THANK YOU to all our patrons, members and donors who continue to show unwavering support for us and for live music in this great city! See you next February at Coldsnap 2026!
Aidyl Jago
Al Wiensczyk
Alex Rowan
Alison Warner
Alyssa Skov
Amanda Hallmark
Andrew Macfayden
Anita Watts
Ann O’Shea
Anne Muirhead
Ayla Reidy
Barb Pethick
Beth Bresette
Betsy Trumpener
Bob Steventon
Bonnie Watt
Cameron Bache
Cheryl LivingstoneLeman
Cindy Heidt
Cindy Storozinski
Dahir Avila
Darrin Rigo
Dave Leman
Dave Read
Derek Desrochers
Diana Van Der Zande
Donnie Edbom
Dwight Wolfe
Elissa Meiklem
Elizabeth Eakin
Elvie Birks
Erin Mould
Eva Doyle
Ferris Vasko
Fraser Hayes
Genevieve Tucker
Glen Goudy
Goji Leakey
Greg Spiers
Haylee Seiter-Gill
Heike Beyer
James Doyle
Janet Giles
Jessamyn Wrightson
Jessica Endress
Jim Mullen
John Ortynsky
Josh Patterson
Julie McIntyre
Karen Limoges
Karen Mohr
Katherine Benny
Kathi Hughes
Kerry Krishna
Kevin Beyer
Kym Gouchie
Layna Witzke
Leah Lampert
Leone Gamache
Linda Parker
Malcolm McColl
Marge Lachecki
Marion West
Maureen Fotos
Meagan HowardGibbon
Michelle Dyble
Michelle Sims
Mike Fillion
Mike McPhail
Neil Brooks
Nick Dormaar
Pia Jago
Rev. Bob Fillier
Rob Watt
Robbyn Unruh
Rod Cryderman
Sam Lui
Sean Wesley-Wood
Shannon Carson
Sharon Davalovsky
Shelley Mitchell
Shelley Sivell
Shirley Campbell
Simran Jawanda
Steven Dubas
Sue Judge
Sylvia Foote
Tana Gowan
Teresa Saunders
Tom Davalovsky
CITIZEN STAFF
Barkerville is set to open its 2025 season, which will include the return of its living history experiences.
The main season will run from May 31 to Sept. 7, following the provincial government’s decision to continue supporting the Barkerville Heritage Trust’s operation of the historic site.
Along with Barkerville’s reopening, the nearby Cottonwood House Historic Site will also operate during the main season.
Visitors will be able to enjoy accessible trails and day-use facilities, with full operations running seven days a week.
For the first time since before the pandemic, Barkerville will also welcome guests during the shoulder season, from May 16 to 30. Visitors will be able to explore select shops, restaurants, and exhibits, with full programming, including guided tours, street scenes, Theatre Royal shows, and Barnard’s Express Stagecoach rides, starting May 31.
“We’re thrilled to be opening earlier this year, and to finally welcome people back in May,” said Carrie Chard, general manager of Barkerville Historic Town and Park, in a press release. “The pandemic kept us from offering this experience for several years, but we’re ready to embrace the season and share Barkerville’s unique history once again.”
In addition to daily activities, Barkerville will host special events this
Dominion Day Celebrations on July 1 will feature a parade, games and evening festivities at the House Hotel Saloon.
On Aug. 16, the Indigenous Peoples’ Celebration will return, showcasing local Indigenous cultures, followed by the Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival on Aug. 23.
Both August events, which were postponed in 2024 due to the Antler Creek Wildfire, are supported by the Province of British Columbia’s BC Fairs, Festivals, and Events grant.
“We’re excited to bring back these cherished cultural events for both visitors and staff,” said Chard. “After last year’s wildfire forced us to reschedule, we’re ready to come together as a community to enjoy what we missed.”
Barkerville’s campgrounds are now open for reservations, with the Forest Rose Campground welcoming visitors starting May 15.
The Lowhee Campground will open on June 19, and both will remain open until Oct.1.
The season will wrap up Dec. 13 and 14 with Barkerville’s Olde-Fashioned Christmas, featuring carolers, sleigh rides, fresh baking and a visit from Father Christmas.
For more information about Barkerville’s 2025 season, special events and accommodations, visit www.barkerville. ca.
David Fung will join the local orchestra for the Grieg Piano
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff
On his quest to explore parts unknown, celebrated pianist David Fung will make his way to Prince George to perform with the local symphony orchestra.
The Grieg Piano Concerto is a Prince George Symphony Orchestra (PGSO) mainstage performance taking place at Vanier Hall on Sunday, March 9, at 2 p.m.
Grieg’s thunderous opening of the piano concerto marks just the beginning of one of the greatest Romantic piano concertos, and that is the masterpiece Fung will perform while in Prince George.
Also featured during the show are pieces by Jean Sibelius and British Columbian composer Leslie Opatril. The concert ends with Dvorák’s infectious Czech Suite.
“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome a world-class talent like David Fung to our stage and to our community,” Ken Hall, executive director of the PGSO, said.
“Not only is he an incredibly accomplished international soloist, but he is choosing to come here in the prime of his career. We are proud to present this amazing artist to Prince George.”
Known around the world for his refined, elegant, and uncommonly expressive performances, Fung is a frequent guest of the world’s premier orchestras.
Based in Vancouver and New York, Fung has come to know people from Prince George during his travels.
“A part of my new chapter in life is to explore more,” Fung said during a telephone interview with The Citizen.
“Having heard about Prince George, I am very keen to visit, and I’m very much looking forward to working with the musicians there. I truly don’t know
David Fung, celebrated pianist, will perform the Grieg Concerto with the Prince George Symphony Orchestra on March 9 at Vanier Hall.
what to expect, and that’s part of the excitement because it will be my first time going there. It’s really an honor to play with the musicians and to play for your audience. That’s really exciting for me.”
Fung said it’s always important for a musician to convey the message of the composer and communicate that with any audience, big or small.
“I think that in my many music performances, it has become very clear that it doesn’t matter if it’s for one person or 100 people — the music is incredibly powerful. If you can touch one heart, I think that’s something I relish in the communication of music and enjoying the power of music that enters the ears
of one person and could change that person’s life. That’s what I am hoping to do in Prince George.”
Fung said he’s really enjoyed exploring BC and recently performed with the Okanagan Symphony for the first time.
“In the Okanagan Valley, I saw a lot of venues where people joyfully made music, and for me, that makes it even more special,” Fung said.
“In Beethoven’s time, they would make music in town halls and beer halls, doing all kinds of things. You would get together with all kinds of musicians to make music, and I think that sometimes that’s more powerful than the experience of going to a major concert hall
Having heard about Prince George, I am very keen to visit.’
and making music in a very polished venue—perhaps a place where traditionally people feel they can’t just be joyful or there are certain expectations in place.”
Fung said playing in intimate venues like Vanier Hall could break down those barriers in music making.
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‘This
“I feel very humbled to be able to play, as I am fully aware that there are many pianists. For me to have the opportunity to perform, I have to remember what a gift that is and continue performing, refining, and growing,” Fung said.
“That’s what I feel like our job is as musicians. I think sometimes one can take for granted how often they get invitations, and that can make the performance feel somewhat transactional. As musicians, we have to give every time, and we do that because of the music. I think a lot of young musicians ask me if they should do music — what life as a musician is like — and I always give the same answer: don’t do music unless you cannot live without it.”
Fung said it’s not an easy life, as he’s traveling all the time.
Over the next 45 days, Fung will see his spouse and family for just two days, so the life of a musician does come with its challenges. But he loves playing the piano.
“Inspiration — that energy and drive — always comes down to the fact that I’m born to do it and can’t live without it,” Fung said.
Fung grew up in a remote part of Australia that he still calls home.
“There’s more in Australia than one can see in a lifetime, but traveling anywhere else takes a lot,” Fung said.
“I feel many Australians have the travel bug because of that distance that separates them from many other places in the world. I continually try to remind myself that in living my life of
Pianist David Fung describes the Grieg
Concerto
uplifting music, heroic and noble, with the last movement including a Norwegian folk dance.
discovery, I am fulfilling my childhood dream. It’s in my DNA to be curious and discover. Now, when I travel, I remember that feeling of always seeking and wanting to learn about different people, cultures, and foods. I love local cuisine
from everywhere around the world, and I love learning about its people as well. That’s really exciting to me.”
Traveling is hard on the body, Fung said, and he hates always saying goodbye, but it comes with the job.
“But I remind myself we’re always saying hello too, and that’s very beautiful to me,” Fung said.
As far as his performance of the Grieg Concerto goes, Fung knows it is one of the most beautiful concertos ever written.
“I think it’s probably one of the most popular, and from those thunderous chords of the opening, one cannot forget the concerto. People recognize it whether they attend concerts or not,” Fung said.
“This is probably some of the most uplifting music, and the second movement recalls some of the most glorious landscapes of Norway. It is heroic and noble, and the last movement is a crazy, exciting Norwegian folk dance. There’s something incredible in how all three movements flow together and create this tapestry of Nordic culture and landscape. I imagine that in Prince George, if you keep driving west all the way through the mountains to Prince Rupert, an audience member would be able to picture that kind of landscape. There’s something dramatic and beautiful about where you are situated in the province.”
The Grieg Concerto is a beautiful piece, Fung said.
“This is a really wonderful work to see live,” Fung added. “It has one of the most glorious and exciting cadenzas in the piano repertoire. I think it’s one of those pieces that all audiences absolutely adore. It’s virtuosic, exciting, and beautiful.”
For more information and tickets, visit www.pgso.com/concerts/ Grieg-Piano-Concerto.
CITIZEN STAFF
he College of New Caledonia (CNC) is inviting future students and their families to explore its campuses during an open house at the Prince George campus.
This event offers a unique opportunity for prospective students to discover CNC’s more than 80 online and
in-person programs, tour the facilities and connect with faculty and staff who are dedicated to supporting academic success.
The Prince George open house is Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Open house events were held at other campuses, including Mackenzie, Vanderhoof and Burns Lake, earlier in the week.
Attendees will have the chance to explore the college’s wide-ranging programs, from trades to healthcare, and engage with knowledgeable instructors. Guided campus tours will provide insights into CNC’s learning spaces, student services and on-site facilities. Information on financial aid will also be available
All registered prospective students
will receive an application code that waives the application fee until March 31, 2025.
Two participants will also have a chance to win $1,000 tuition credits.
For more information or to RSVP, visit CNC’s Open House webpage or connect with Future Student Services.
Parking at the Prince George campus will be free during the event.
MATTHEW HILLIER Citizen Staff
Prince George is home to many great activities, outings, and events enjoyed by people across the city. However, many individuals are unable or unwilling to participate due to sensory issues.
Sensory issues often stem from individuals on the autism spectrum who have difficulty processing their senses, such as sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste.
These senses can become overstimulating, leading to emotional, behavioural, motor, and information-processing challenges.
This can manifest in various ways, such as sudden mood swings, tantrums, feeling overwhelmed, being unable to sit still, or difficulty recognizing social cues, among others.
Because of these issues, many families with children on the spectrum struggle to enjoy events the same way other families can.
One of the most important aspects of caring for a child with sensory issues is providing a supportive and understanding environment. Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to control circumstances outside the home.
“Sensory-friendly events provide a safe and welcoming space for my family – as well as many other families in the community,” said Ashleen Massicotte, office manager at Pacific Autism Family Network.
“We can experience the joy of community and connection in a space that meets our child’s unique sensory needs. These events help foster inclusion, reduce stress, and allow for meaningful participation in activities that would otherwise be inaccessible for us.”
Thankfully, Prince George is home to many events that set aside specific times for individuals with sensory issues and their families to enjoy experiences many take for granted.
For a town the size of Prince George, the number of businesses and organizations offering sensory-safe services is surprising.
Northwest more accessible for all kinds of people. She also had quite a personal connection to things that are accessible to autistic people because her son is on the spectrum. She’s very personally motivated to try and make our theatre and other aspects of our city more inclusive and accessible for people with sensory-processing conditions such as autism.”
Klepsch told The Citizen that these unique performances have been very popular with locals.
“Our relaxed shows tend to sell out now or come close to selling out,” said Klepsch.
“Which is such a lovely thing because it means people know about them and are interested. They love them and keep coming back. We see many of the same faces return for every single performance. We have such a loyal group of patrons… the tickets go quickly, and we sold out two of our relaxed performances last season, which made me so happy.”
The theatre is especially noteworthy for its attention to detail in mitigating overstimulation. For instance, the lights stay on during performances, loud or harsh noises are minimized, and theatregoers are allowed to move or make noise. There is even a pre-show introduction.
Pre-show introductions give audiences a brief explanation of the show’s themes, content warnings, actor introductions that explain character motivations and themes, and demonstrations of any loud props or effects that may be used.
A recent example is the sensory-friendly public skate that was offered by the City of Prince George on Feb. 16 It featured softer music and lighting, with basic skating instruction available for those interested.
Another notable example is the Prince George Aquatic Centre, which hosts a sensory-friendly swim from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. every weekday. The program, which started five months ago, ensures
that noise levels are kept low, and the environment is much calmer than a regular swim session.
Theatre Northwest also provides sensory-safe environments with its relaxed performances.
“Our artistic producer, Marnie Hamigami, began the program,” said Theatre Northwest’s accessibility co-ordinator, Heidi Klepsch.
“She wanted to make Theatre
This pre-show introduction is especially important for individuals on the spectrum, particularly children, who may have heightened emotions regarding what they see on stage compared to neurotypical viewers.
When the show ends, actors re-introduce themselves to the audience, often reassuring viewers that despite any harm or mishaps that may have occurred on stage, the characters remain unaffected.
Afrah Namwasa, 12, talks with Ryan Mumgalu, 2, as they work on paintings at the Canvases and Culture event at Two Rivers Art Gallery Friday, Feb 21. The free, family-friendly celebration invited people to create paintings, enjoy delicious cultural foods, hear live music and participate in games. Canvases and Culture was described as a safe space for the Black community to share stories and traditions while inviting others to experience and be educated about Black culture.
“The point of this is to differentiate reality from the world of the play,” said Klepsch.
“A lot of people who come to our relaxed performances have trouble making that distinction. They might become really immersed in the play and think that something happening on stage is real life. I could understand how that would be really distressing — like if a character gets murdered and they think it’s truly happening in front of them. That would be tremendously upsetting.”
Even better, tickets for relaxed performances are only $10.50, and caregivers and parents get in free.
Pacific Autism Family Network (PAFN) provides some of these events to families, including Halloween and Christmas parties, movie screenings, weekly park visits in the summer, and drop-in
playtimes.
Massicotte told The Citizen that one of the advantages of sensory-safe events is a sense of understanding.
“It’s important just to be in a space where everyone there gets it,” said Massicotte.
“There’s no judgment or anything like that. If we’re at the movie theatre and my kid gets excited and starts screaming, or sometimes hums when he’s excited, it’s not something we have to worry about at a sensory-friendly movie. Everyone’s kids understand.”
One person who constantly recommends PAFN events is Kristen McBurnie.
She has raised two children on the spectrum and is the leader of the Northern chapter of the Ingirls Club, a group that specializes in providing inclusive spaces for girls with neurological and developmental differences.
You’d go places and it felt like everyone was staring at you.’
McBurnie will soon be awarded King Charles III’s Coronation Medal for her work in the community.
McBurnie has witnessed families come together at these events and notes that, without these programs, the development of children on the spectrum can be hampered.
“I often see kids come to school once they hit kindergarten age, and because of their high needs, they haven’t experienced anything outside of their own home,” said McBurnie.
“The fact that PAFN is doing this now is huge. I’ve noticed there are more and
more activities every year. Before, it was maybe one or two times a year. Now, it’s almost every month. It’s amazing.”
McBurnie wishes there had been more opportunities for sensory-safe events and activities when her children were younger and sees constant benefits for the children she works with.
“I wish there had been opportunities like this when my kids were young,” said McBurnie.
“We were one of those families who didn’t go to a lot of places because there weren’t many places where we felt accepted. You’d go somewhere and it felt like everyone was staring at you. That’s the great thing about these community events. You go there, and you don’t have to worry about that judgment as a parent. You don’t have to worry about your kid feeling judged because you know these activities are designed with your kid in mind.”
Feb. 27, 1964: The PeeGees’ Mike Meehan, left, and Pete Neukomm hold some of the silverware accumulated by their Prince George team on the way to the Cariboo Junior League crown with only one defeat in league and playoff action. Meehan, a wingman, won the CJHL scoring title and Neukomm the top goalie award. Neukomm alternated with Mike Dornbierer over the last half of the season.
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY PETE MILLER
the cold along
for the Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life. The Captain Cure team raised $2,500, which was matched by Millennium Motors on First Avenue. CITIZEN FILE
Feb. 27, 1998: Jessica Nagy, 14, Rachel Rykes,15, Darrick Littlechild, 18 and Jacques Franke, 16 perform a spoof of the Spice Girls as part of an event called Take Back the Tube. The group from McBride was put together to raise awareness of stereotypes and violence in the media.
CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN
Feb. 28, 1980: The solo flight of a student pilot ended upside down on the runway at the Prince George Airport. The plane, a Cessna 182 owned by Columbia Airlines of Prince George, slid off the runway after a wheel was caught in the snow and flipped over. The pilot was not injured and continued his training the next day in a different plane. CITIZEN FILE PHOTO BY
NH Tracks shows where your family member, friend or loved one is during their surgery journey - from the time they check in for surgery until they are discharged to go home or to the inpatient unit. NH Tracks lets you to replace the hospital waiting room with a coffee shop, living room or anywhere you want to wait in comfort. Patient updates are live – if your loved one moves from surgery to recovery, the website will be updated when they move allowing you to return to the hospital when your loved one is nearing the end of their surgical journey. Find out more at Northernhealth.ca/ services/digital-health/nh-tracks
Volunteers are an incredible support to Northern Health facilities, providing invaluable assistance and comfort to patients, residents, and staff alike. Their dedication and compassion create a welcoming and secure environment, fostering a sense of community and normalcy. Read staff testimonials, highlighting the profound impact volunteers have on daily operations at NH Facilities across the North, and learn how you can get involved. https://tinyurl.com/5fjvra9h
ABIGAIL POPPLE
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Researchers at UBC Okanagan are hoping Robson Valley residents will participate in a prediabetes screening survey that is available online through June.
The survey, called Next Steps, takes about 20 minutes and can give participants an idea of whether they are at risk for prediabetes – high blood sugar that is not yet severe enough to be classified as Type 2 diabetes – says postdoctoral fellow Dr. Jessica Bourne. It includes questions about physical activity, nutrition, sleep and mental health, among others, she said.
Bourne is a researcher with UBC Okanagan’s Diabetes Prevention Research Group, which is dedicated to studying diabetes prevention at the local level.
The group created the survey to learn more about access to prediabetes care throughout B.C. communities, Bourne said.
“Statistics Canada tracks numbers on who has type 2 diabetes and what treatment they’re receiving, but there’s
no such survey for people with prediabetes,” Bourne said. “We want to get a better picture of what people currently have in regards to prediabetes care.”
The findings of the survey will be used to map which areas of the province have access to diabetes prevention care, she added.
That data can then be used to encourage the provincial government to provide more funding for diabetes care at the local level.
Aside from contributing to research, the survey could help B.C. residents
get on the path to diabetes prevention early, Bourne said.
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of mortality globally, according to the World Health Organization.
“What’s scary is that so many people are walking around living with prediabetes, but they don’t know that they have it,” Bourne said, adding that diabetes is largely preventable.
“If we can change things in our lifestyle, then there is the potential that you won’t go on to develop type 2 diabetes.”
She added that respondents are automatically entered to win a $400 cash prize draw.
Upon completing the survey, if the results indicate that the respondent may be at risk for prediabetes, they can go to a walk-in clinic, community nurse or their general practitioner and request bloodwork, Bourne said.
Healthcare providers can help with early intervention to prevent the condition from growing more severe, she said.
Currently, the group knows more about prediabetes care in urban hubs than the rest of B.C., according to Bourne.
She hopes residents of rural and remote communities, such as those in the Robson Valley, complete the survey. She added that the group is always looking for patient partners – people who have been diagnosed with prediabetes who can speak to researchers about their experience in accessing healthcare.
Those who are interested can email smallsteps.bigchanges@ubc.ca.
“It’s really important for us to capture as diverse a group of individuals as we can,” Bourne said.
“We really hope to contribute a better understanding of care access for people at risk of type 2 diabetes across British Columbia.”
This story originally appeared in The Rocky Mountain Goat.
CITIZEN STAFF
Immunization plays a crucial role in safeguarding individuals and communities from serious diseases. By getting vaccinated, people help their immune systems recognize and fight harmful bacteria and viruses, preventing severe illness or death.
Keeping up with immunizations not only protects yourself, but also helps preserve the health of the broader community and strengthens the healthcare system in British Columbia.
In BC, immunizations are readily available at public health units, doctor and nurse practitioner’s offices, as well as local pharmacies. The Immunization Schedule provides clear guidance on when you and your family need vaccinations, including options for infants, children, teens, adults, seniors, and individuals at high risk.
During the respiratory illness season, getting vaccinated against illnesses like the flu and COVID-19 is essential for staying safe. B.C. residents aged 6 months and older are encouraged to get
their updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time.
• Flu vaccine: The influenza vaccine is the best protection against the flu. It is available for free to everyone six months and older during the fall and winter months.
• COVID-19 vaccine: Vaccination remains one of the most effective methods to reduce the risk of severe illness caused by COVID19. The updated COVID-19 vaccine is available for all individuals six months and older.
Both flu and COVID-19 immunizations are available at the same time, making it easier for residents to stay protected against both illnesses this season and year-round.
BC’s immunization program is designed to protect people of all ages.
To ensure you’re fully protected, check the B.C. Immunization Schedule and talk to your healthcare provider about any needed vaccinations.
To book your immunization appointment, visit your local healthcare provider or pharmacy.
HOLLY HUGHES Northern Health
The establishment of a new pediatric clinic in Fort St. John marks a significant milestone in the community’s health care landscape.
Operating alongside the Fort St. John Primary Care Clinic, the pediatric clinic came together quickly to fill a critical gap in pediatric care following the departure of the community’s only private pediatrician.
“When the private pediatrician left in September 2024, there was an urgent need for a dedicated space to continue providing pediatric care to residents of Fort St. John and the surrounding area. We launched the new clinic in November, and it has been a crucial addition to our services in the community,” said Chantelle Wilson, executive lead for child and youth health programs.
The FSJ Pediatric Clinic operates with the support of visiting locum pediatricians, who initially see patients in person and conduct follow-up appointments virtually by telephone.
This hybrid model ensures continuity of care, which is vital for patient support and coordinating any lab work or testing required after the initial visit.
“The visiting locum pediatricians schedule clinic days based on their availability, typically offering services two or more days a month,” said Brie Cormier, clinic co-ordinator.
Patients are accepted by referral only and can be referred to the clinic by another care provider, such as a family doctor, nurse practitioner, or the
walk-in clinic.
All referrals are triaged based on urgency, and the current waitlist is relatively short, with patients usually being seen within a couple of months.
The clinic’s impact on the local community is notable. It has eliminated the need for families to travel long distances for initial medical appointments that typically last only 30 minutes.
The nearest alternatives for pediatric care are in Grande Prairie AB, or Prince George BC. The clinic also has full-time administrative support, providing an ongoing point of contact for patients once they’re referred.
“Parents are grateful for the opportunity to see a pediatrician locally. The feedback has been positive, with families feeling heard and well cared for,”
Cormier said.
Cormier coordinates the clinic now and was integral in helping to get it up and running in record time.
“She stepped up in all the ways to get this pediatric clinic off the ground in a very short period. She always came with the mindset of ‘how do we help?’ She’s an outstanding team player and someone who deeply cares about the health care in their community,” said Wilson.
Despite the success of its launch, challenges remain, particularly the lack of full-time pediatrician coverage. However, the clinic’s team is dedicated to overcoming these hurdles and growing the pool of locum support.
“So far, we have three pediatricians who have committed to ongoing
support as their schedules allow,” said Cormier.
The new pediatric clinic stands as a testament to Northern Health’s commitment to improving health care access for its youngest residents.
Resources were mobilized to make it happen in a remarkably short time, and going forward the clinic will continue to grow and adapt to the needs of the pediatric residents of the Northeast.
Residents who are looking for a primary care provider are encouraged to register for a family doctor or nurse practitioner on BC’s Health Connect Registry. The Fort St. John Primary Care Clinic also houses a nurse practitioner clinic, and they use the registry when they have space to take on new patients.
There’s a new way to screen for cervical cancer that can be done wherever you feel safe and comfortable, such as in your home or at a health care provider’s office.
Cervix self-screening is an alternative to the Pap for routine cervical cancer
screening.
In addition to cervix screening every three (Pap) to five (cervix self-screening) years, you should look out for any unusual changes to your body.
If you have any symptoms, please talk to a doctor or health care provider.
Information about how to self-screen using a supplied self-screening kit is
available at www.bccancer.bc.ca or by calling 1-877-702-5655.
You can drop off a completed Cervix Self-Screening kit (put everything inside the return envelope that is provided: device sealed inside plastic bag, and lab requisition) at lab locations throughout the province.
If you don’t want to do cervix
self-screening, you can still choose to have a Pap test.
Talk to a health care provider to discuss screening options.
Cervix screening is recommended for anyone with a cervix, including women and TTGD (Two-Spirit, transgender and gender diverse) people, between the ages of 25 and 69.
TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
Like starving dogs scrapping over a meaty bone, the Nechako Valley Vikings and D.P. Todd Trojans went at it Sunday morning on the basketball court at D.P. Todd Secondary School and only one of them would get to sink their teeth into the prize – a trip to the BC provincial double-A boys championship in Langley.
The Trojans forced the extra game in the double-knockout North Central zone tournament when they beat the Vikings on a last-ditch shot that decided a twopoint barnburner Saturday afternoon.
So there was no reason not to expect the same kind of game when two evenly-matched teams got down to playing for all the marbles in their third meeting of the tournament.
It was a defensive struggle the whole way through and it came down to two plays that ultimately decided it.
With two minutes left and the Trojans clinging to a 45-43 lead, Vikings Grade 9 forward Zeke Ferguson shook off the blanket coverage draped all over him from Trojans defender Urijah Zurowski and let go a baseline hook shot that dropped through the hoop.
The Trojans tried to move the ball up the floor but ran into a truck named Kole Shoesmith. He forced the turnover in D.P. Todd territory and got the ball to Thomas Cross, who grabbed a rebound and drew a crowd of Trojans underneath the net but he found space for a layup that hit the target and with 64 seconds left the boys from Vanderhoof had a two-point lead.
The ball went out of bounds and Zurowski held the ball for in-bound play when Ferguson stepped over the line and drew a technical foul. Markus Sale sunk the one-shot foul to make it a one-point game. The Trojans retained possession but couldn’t get the shot they needed because the Vikings
weren’t letting that happen. They took over the ball and ran the clock down to 8.8 seconds before the Trojans were forced to foul and Cross put it away, sinking both free throws.
Sale’s hail Mary fell short and the Trojans in-bounded with six 10ths of second left and got it back to Sale, but his shot from three-point land wasn’t close and the Vikings celebrated a 49-46 win.
“It was tight, we had a rough start, it was a rough first quarter, good rest of the game, we played solid D and that’s really what won it for us,” said Vikings forward Dayne Mueller, the tournament MVP, who led his team with 12 points in the final.
“We didn’t care about the loss (Saturday), we put it in the past, and we were ready to play,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll have a good run at provincials. I’m excited. We’re always the lowest seed but it’s a fun environment and it’ll be fun no matter what.”
Aiden Simrose picked up 10 points, Ferguson finished with seven and Linden Buchanan came off the bench for six points. Matthew Stubley shot a game-high 13 points for D.P. Todd, Sale had nine and Zurowski hit for eight.
“It doesn’t get any closer than that, they played hard all weekend, back against the wall,” said Trojans head coach Randy Sandhu. “Saturday was a tough day, had to take the back door and they persevered through it all.
“It was a very defensive game, a lot of rebounds, and Vanderhoof played very well. They’re a great team, they play defence very well and encouraged us to play defence very well because you have to match that energy to compete with them.”
It was an early-morning cattle call for the Vikings, who had to ride the bus in from Vanderhoof, and the Trojans appeared to have fresher legs at the start and burst out to an 8-0 lead. Cross
finally got the visitors on the board nearly seven minutes in but they made up ground quickly with Cross and Mueller hitting their shots and they led 12-11 after one quarter. It remained a one-shot game either way for most of the rest of the game.
The Vikings beat the Trojans 55-43 in a semifinal on Friday. The Trojans then got past Shas Ti Kelly Road 74-61 and beat Nechako Valley 64-62 on Sale’s last-second layup, which forced the extra game.
“Certainly a couple of terrific games, very competitive players and two really fine teams went at it tooth and nail,” said Vikings head coach Gary Simrose. “Very few mistakes defensively on either side and because the defence was so strong there were a few offensive mistakes and some of those played into the result, it was a great battle.”
SEE ‘VIKINGS’ ON PAGE 36
Spokane Chiefs forward Dwayne Jean Jr. tries to jam the puck past Prince George Spruce Kings goalie Ben Polhill Saturday at Kopar Memorial Arena. The Chiefs won 3-1, their second win of the weekend series after Friday’s 6-4 victory. The Spruce Kings start a three-game roadtrip Friday in Coquitlam and also visit Surrey on Saturday, then Salmon Arm on Tuesday before returning to Prince George.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35
Simrose, 63, has won more zone championships than he has fingers to count since taking over the senior boys team from Ron VanDolah after Nechako Valley won the 1996 provincial title. Sunday’s zone was his fourth straight and his son Aiden has been on every one of those teams.
“This is four in a row, that’s all I can remember, and there were a bunch before that, and each one is special,” said coach Simrose.
“(Aiden) and I have won four together and that’s a pretty special memory for us.”
They’ll get one more shot at provincial glory March 5-8 in Langley.
The Vikings finished 16th out of 16 last year and they’ll likely be seeded near the bottom of the provincial pool but that’s not a concern. They got their berth and they’ve got a couple more weeks together on the court and that’s all that matters to Shoesmith, picked as
Urijah ZurowskI of the D.P. Todd Trojans leaps toward the basket as Vikings’ Zeke Ferguson tries to block him during the AA Senior Boys Basketball Zones final game Sunday.
the tournament’s top defensive player.
“All of these guys have known each other since we were five and we all play multiple sports with each other, football, basketball, you name it, and it’s just this bond and level of intimacy
I feel our team has a heightened sense of,” said Shoesmith, now in his last year
with the team.
Six of the 10 Vikings on the roster will graduate this year.
Matthew Stubley, Vic Tan and Peter Macneil, the Trojans’ Grade 12 seniors, played their last high school game Sunday.
The Trojans won the City League championship but the zone title was the much bigger prize. They’ll just have to wait until next year knowing the core of the team – zone all-stars Sale, Zurowski,
Individual awards
• MVP: Dayne Mueller, Nechako Valley
• Top defensive player: Kole Shoesmith, Nechako Valley
First all-star team
• Aiden Simrose, Nechako Valley
• Jakes Samis, D.P. Todd
• Thomas Cross, Nechako Valley
• Matthew Stubley, D.P. Todd
Logan Slater and Jake Samis – is eligible to return.
“I just thought we were right there with them, thought we played a good game but it just happens in sports,” said Sale. “We can remember this game and take it to next year. We just have to keep working hard this summer.”
Said Sandhu: “It was a great season. First city championship in 11 years for D.P. Todd, nothing to be ashamed about.”
• Urijah Zurowski, D.P. Todd
• Markus Sale, D.P. Todd
Second all-star team
• Kolby Van Camp, Shas Ti Kelly Road
• Lyndon Wyer, Shas Ti Kelly Road
• Zeke Ferguson, Nechako Valley
• Everett Hollett, Peter Skene Ogden
• Logan Slater, D.P. Todd
• Andrew Blackburn, Shas Ti Kelly Road
The teams will meet again for a doubleheader to end the regular season
March 21 and 22
TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
Victoria Royals head coach James Patrick, who played with Mario Lemiuex and Wayne Gretzky for victorious Canada in the 1987 Canada Cup, thought about using the Canada win Thursday, Feb. 20 over the U.S. in the 4 Nations Face-Off as inspiration in his pre-game speech Saturday night.
“It popped into my head when I was addressing the team but I didn’t go there,” he said.
He didn’t have to. The Royals were jacked enough.
They chased starter Joshua Ravensbergen of the Prince George Cougars, the top-ranked North American goaltender for the 2025 NHL draft, from the net in the first period with three goals on just five shots. The Royals parlayed that start into a 6-3 Western Hockey League victory.
“That was our best first period in a month,” said Patrick.
“The guys were extremely keen and had jump. We put tremendous pressure on them (Cougars) in that period.”
The win moved Victoria (34-15-9) nine points ahead of the second-place Cougars (31-19-6) in the race for the B.C. Division championship although the Cougars, as of Sunday, retained two games in hand.
Victoria, which also beat Prince George 5-3 on Friday, swept their twogame set.
The teams have two head-to-head games remaining — the regular-season concluding set on March 21-22 in
Prince George.
“These were two huge games for us and we want to keep the momentum going,” said Victoria captain Justin Kipkie, an NHL draft pick of Utah HC.
The divisional championship is significant because the American and B.C. Division champions will be seeded 1-2 for the Western Conference playoffs.
So even though the Royals are third overall in the conference behind the U.S. Division’s Everett Silvertips and Spokane Chiefs, they are currently the conference second seed as BC Division leader.
The first period Saturday was highlighted by Victoria rookie defenceman Keaton Verhoeff’s rink-length rush to score his 16th goal of the season to show why Craig Button of TSN has the budding 16-year-old star ranked No. 4 overall for the 2026 NHL draft.
Also scoring for the Royals in the first were Escalus Burlock and Kenta Isogai, the latter his 29th goal of the season.
Finnish import and Winnipeg Jets NHL draft pick Markus Loponen made it 4-0 in the second period.
Koehn Ziemmer, a third-round NHL draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings, scored twice to key a Cougars surge to 4-3 before Teydon Trembecky’s 37th and 38th goals of the season, both into empty nets, put it away for Victoria.
Royals forward Cole Reschny, ranked by TSN for the first round and Central Scouting for the second round of the 2025 NHL draft, joined Verhoeff in giving pro scouts more grist for the mill by extending his points streak to 13 games with two assists.
Jayden Kraus made 23 saves in goal for Victoria. Cooper Michaluk made 19 saves and Ravensbergen two for the Prince George club, which skated as the Victoria Cougars from 1971-72 to 1993-94.
The team took on Kelowna in a Tues day-Wednesday home doubleheader, with results not available by The Citizen’s press time. Visit www.princege orgecitizen.com for updates.
The Cougars will be back at the CN Centre Friday to face the Kamloops Blazers (7 p.m.), then in Kamloops on Saturday for a rematch.
A hearty round of applause broke out after city council voted unanimously at its Monday meeting to formally approve Prince George’s next major sporting event bid for the 2030 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games.
On top of approving the bid, which must be submitted to Special Olympics Canada by March 1, council also approved up to $400,000 in spending and $100,000 worth of in-kind donations from the city’s Major Events Reserve Fund and for taking on the responsibility for any deficits incurred by the event.
Once the bid is submitted, representatives from Special Olympics Canada will visit the city in late spring for an assessment and the winning bidder will be announced in the early summer. It is estimated that the event would bring around 1,700 participants to Prince George for athletics, basketball, bocce, 10-pin bowling, gold, powerlifting, rhythmic gymnastics, soccer, softball and swimming competitions.
The city’s bid was endorsed by both the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George’s board of directors and School District 57’s board of education at their most recent meetings.
There was a sizeable supporters’ section in the gallery for the Special Olympics bid decision that included former mayor Lyn Hall and former BC Liberal MLA Shirley Bond — respectively the co-chair and director of public relations for the 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games being held in Prince
Prince George city council, Special Olympics organizers and athletes smile after council approved a bid for the 2030 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games at its Monday meeting.
George this July.
With so many in attendance just to find out whether council would approve the bid, the discussion was moved to the top of the agenda.
Introducing the discussion on the bid, director of civic facilities and events Andy Beesley called the community’s support ahead of the vote “awe-inspiring.”
He said it was “nothing short of a miracle” that both city staff and members of the community were able to put together a bid package in only a month.
Beesley said he believes that PG’s bid for the games is as strong as the successful bid for the 2015 Canada Summer Games, which took nine months to put together.
Referring to Canada’s recent cathartic victory over the United States in the Four Nations Face-Off hockey tournament, Beesley said a successful bid is a win that Prince George really needs.
Debbie Haywood, the city’s manager of event services, said the 2025 BC Summer Games would be a strong foundation for preparing for the 2030 games and that the lessons learned would help the city be a better host for the national event.
She read comments from local Special Olympics athletes who talked about how the program have helped them realize their potential, make friends and maintain healthy lives.
Possible venues for the games include UNBC, Duchess Park Secondary School, the Strike Zone, the Canfor Leisure Pool, Masich Place Stadium, the CN Centre and more.
A report prepared by city staff said that the economic impact of the 2030 Summer Games, should Prince George’s bid be successful, would be around $8 million for Prince George alone and more than $12.5 million across all of Canada.
While Special Olympics Canada does
not require a specific financial commitment, it does require host cities to act as guarantors in case the event runs a deficit. Prince George was required to do the same when it hosted the 2015 Canada Summer Games.
However, a deficit is unlikely, according to staff.
“Special Olympics Canada has confirmed that there has never been a deficit for any Games; the majority have had a healthy surplus where 70 per cent of the legacy stays with our local Special Olympics,” the staff report said.
Haywood said the province has committed to providing funds should the bid be successful and additional funding may be possible to obtain from the federal government. On top of that, she said the last two cities hosting the national games earned more than $1.5 million from sponsorships alone.
Mayor Simon Yu expressed confidence in the city submitting the winning bid.
At one point, Coun. Kyle Sampson asked those in the gallery there to support the Special Olympics to put up their hands. More than 20 people raised their hands.
Coun. Cori Ramsay asked how many communities are expected to bid. Haywood said Special Olympics organizations in each province can endorse a single bid from a community for each national games — Special Olympics BC will be endorsing Prince George’s bid for the 2030 national summer games.
After the vote approving the bid, councillors, Special Olympics athletes and organizers posed for a photo together.
TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
Take that, USA!
It’s our game and we are the champions.
Connor McDavid made sure of that when he scored the 3-2 winner 8:30 into overtime to defeat the United States and seal the deal in the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off Thursday, Feb. 20 in Boston.
It was sweet vindication for Team Canada, who lost 3-1 to the U.S. in a fight-filled game on Saturday.
Jordan Binnington was otherworldly in net for Canada and the St. Louis Blues goalie was at his best with six stops in overtime, including a point-blank blocker save to deny Auston Matthews, on his way to a 31-save game.
Jon Cooper, Canada’s Prince Georgeborn-and-raised head coach, rushed onto the ice to put the bear hug on Binnington while the celebration went on.
For the 57-year-old Cooper, a twotime Stanley Cup winner with the Tampa Bay Lightning, winning the battle of the best of the best in the fourteam tournament was another major accomplishment to add to his incredible coaching career.
But as Cooper said in his post-game interview, this one is different, coming as it did at a time when political tensions between Canada and the United States are simmering around the threat of Trump’s proposed tariffs and their potential effect on the two countries’ intertwined economies.
“I just hope Canada’s proud, because every player in that room is proud to be a Canadian,” said Cooper.
“We needed a win, not only our team, but Canada needed a win. The players beared that on their shoulders. This one was different, this wasn’t a win for themselves. This was a win for 40-plus million people, and the guys knew it and they delivered.”
Cooper stuck with Binnington as his goalie and he played every minute of every game in the tournament and proved any doubters wrong with his spectacular effort in the final. Asked
what Cooper said to him in their embrace right after the game, Binnington replied.
“He was just saying he was proud and we were just enjoying the moment together,” said Binnington. “There’s a lot of noise in this game and I think that was a moment we got to share with each other and I’m just grateful he shared that confidence in me to get the job done.
“It’s been incredible just seeing him day to day, just how he can work a room and just lead a meeting and inspire the guys. It’s been awesome.”
Cooper came to Binnington’s defence when the media questioned his ability following the loss to the U.S. and his faith in him was richly rewarded.
“To be perfectly honest, probably the most scrutinized position going into this thing was goaltending and for me it was, you’ve got your guy and you roll with your guy,” said Cooper.
“I never doubted one ounce about
much this tournament will help us moving forward as a group and myself personally. It was a massive success all the way around and for moving on to Milan this is big step forward.”
Cooper talked about the different roles his players had to take on and the adjustments they had to make in their playing styles to become a successful team in a short period of time and he’ll have to go through that again next February trying to find the right blend to bring home Olympic gold to Canada.
“The puck is on your stick for literally, if you do a stopwatch, for the best players 10, 15, 20 seconds in a game, and it’s what you’re doing in that time the puck’s not on your stick,” Cooper said. “That’s the selfless acts that go into superstars that are used to having it on their stick and they did all the right things.
ever pulling him, ever taking him out of the game. You would lose confidence in him because his gamesmanship, and his ability to rise to the big moment. And don’t judge him. You could say one slipped by him against Sweden and he made a big save in overtime. Don’t judge him. We lost to the US and that hurt, but it wasn’t the winner-take-all game.
Cooper has been selected as Canada’s head coach for the 2026 Olympic tournament to be played in Milan-Cortina, Italy and he was asked how much the experience of winning the 4 Nations title will help in build the nucleus of the team that will wear the maple leaf next year.
“To be around this group and understand who we have, how they can play, what they can do, build the relationships, which is a massive part of everything that goes into it, we’re just that much farther ahead,” said Cooper.
“It was talked about tonight, how
“They checked and you have to check. For this group of players and the talent level they have, for them to do what they did away from the puck, that’s the Canadian way. That’s going to a restaurant and opening the door for somebody to walk in first. That’s the Canadian way and they couldn’t be more proud.”
He had high praise for his captain, Sidney Crosby, one of the leading scorers in the tournament with a goal and four assists.
“He’s done so much to benefit our group, I’ll save that for the book someday,” said Cooper. “What an incredible leader. Even when you show him situations he was put in, in video, and maybe he could have done something differently he would be like, ‘I think the team should see this, they should see me make an error.’
“You think about somebody of his stature, he wants the players to learn that, ‘Hey, I make mistakes too, but I want them to see me make mistakes because that’s what leaders do.’ Just little things like that just, you take a step back and go wow.
“I see why every time he puts the Canadian jersey on he’s standing on the podium that’s just a bit higher than everybody else.”
CHRISTINE DALGLEISH Citizen Staff
She was an enthusiastic slopitch league member back in the day and now championship curler Jackie Burns wants to get the word out that she’s getting a 55+ mixed league up and running this summer in Prince George.
Burns started curling when she was 23 years old, moved away from it and then didn’t revisit it until she was 57 years old in 2012.
“I joined the seniors league at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club,” Burns said.
Burns and her 65+ women’s team brought home the gold from the 55+ BC Games held in Salmon Arm in September.
“We were the first women’s 65+ team from Prince George to compete in the games – there’s been a 55+ team but not a 65+,” Burns said.
“One day after we played at the club we were having a drink and Bev Webb, who is the lead on our team, said ‘hey, you guys, I wanna go really bad, let’s go to the 55+ BC Games’ and we all looked at each other and we all said ‘OK’.”
The group had never played together.
“We played against each other and we just decided to go and I said ‘if we win one game that’s great,’ and we went with that mentality and we gelled really well and we won,” Burns laughed.
It was at the end of the season in March last year they decided to go and then played in September in the provincial competition without any ice team.
The first game was the first time they played together, Burns explained.
This is the 65+ women’s curling champions who took gold in the 55+ BC Games last season seen here at the Pink in the Rink curling tournament held at the Prince George Golf & Curling Club Feb. 8, 2025. From left is Jackie Burns, Heather Pedersen, Loretta Musellwhite and Beverly Webb. Burns is now trying to get a mixed slopitch league started in Prince George for those 55+.
At the Games they offer practice times ahead of the tournament.
“So the girls and I looked at each other and I asked ‘do you want to practice?’ and everyone said ‘no’,” Burns laughed. “We thought we’d just wing it.”
Registered as the Pedersen Rink, Burns threw skip, Heather Pedersen threw third, Loretta Musselwhite threw second and Beverley Webb was lead.
“One lady from the Victoria team came up to us after we won and asked us where we came from,” Burns said.
“The Victoria team was such fun. They were the sweetheart team. They were just so nice. It was all so much fun.”
But slopitch is Burns first sporting love.
Back in 1985 Burns moved to Prince George she starting playing slopitch the next year and played in all different types of teams.
“It was in 2009 when I played on Syl
Meise’s team and we went to the 55+ BC Games and won silver,” Burns recalled.
In 2017 Burns was on the gold-medal winning team at the 55+ BC Games.
“Then in 2018 our mixed team called the Arc Angels won the worlds in 55+ in Kamloops and after that I went traveling to tournaments with the Ogopogo ladies team from the Okanagan ever since.”
Burns wants to start a mixed seniors slopitch league in Prince George.
“Everyone our age wants to play within our age group,” Burns said.
“It’s too hard to play against the young ones. They’re too fast and they can throw the ball a mile and I found when I played with the Ogopogo ladies down south it’s so much more fun because they’ve got the same limitations as we do. We can’t throw the ball as far or run as fast.”
There have 18 mixed senior teams in Kelowna, she added.
“Why can’t Prince George have something like that?” Burns asked.
“So we’re going to try and see what happens.”
The requirement is there has to be a minimum of three women per team 10-member team.
“We had a lot of good women ball players in Prince George who I hope will come out,” Burns said. “And even if there are ladies who have never played before, we hope they’ll come out, too.”
The Prince George Mixed 55+ Slopitch League 2025 will practice every Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon from about May 13 to Aug. 12. Format is seven men and at least three women 55+ per team.
Registration is April 28, 29 & 30 at the Prince George Golf & Curling Club from 1 to 4 p.m. $75 per player, cash only. For more information call Jackie Burns at 250-962-9230.
TED CLARKE Citizen Staff
The Northside Christian North Stars of Vanderhoof are single-A boys basketball champions of the North Central zone.
They cinched the trophy Saturday
morning in Fort St. James, completing an unbeaten 3-0 run when they defeated the Cedars Christian Eagles of Prince George 62-53 in the zone final.
That locked up the first North Central berth for Northside in the provincial championship in Langley, March 5-8.
But there was still plenty of basketball
to be played to determine that second provincial berth.
The Chetwynd Cavaliers took on the Fort St. James Falcons, vying for a shot at Cedars Christian in the final game of the tournament, and the Cavs took that one 74-63.
The battle for second place went
down to the wire Saturday night and the Eagles prevailed in overtime, beating Chetwynd 78-76 to guarantee their spot in the 16-team BC tournament.
“Kaeden Paulsen hit a running lefthanded buzzer-beater to win it, it was absolutely wild,” said Cedars head coach Jeff Ludditt.
Jean Rene Robert
It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we (Teresa and Sam) announce the passing of our beloved friend Jean Rene Robert on November 25, 2024.
Born in Joliette, Quebec, Rene moved to Prince George in the early 90’s and became the people’s favourite waiter in our city.
Please join us in celebrating Rene’s life in the ballroom of the Coast Hotel,770 Brunswick St. Prince George March 1 , 2025 at 2pm.
Mary Riesterer
January 4, 1944 - January 25, 2025
We are sad to announce the sudden passing of Mary Riesterer. Mary passed away January 25, 2025 peacefully with her family by her side.
Mary was predeceased by her husband Brian.
She is survived by her daughter Sherri and sons Shawn and Rick as well as 5 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.
Mary was a community volunteer with the St. Vincent De Paul and the Hospital Auxiliary and other organizations that help those in need. Mary touched all those who knew her.
A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.
John Joseph Zastre
July 12, 1935 - February 17, 2025
John Joseph Zastre passed away suddenly at Royal Inland Hospital on Monday, February 17, 2025.
Losing his wife Dorothy of 66 years only four weeks prior was a sadness he could bear no longer. He was born on July 12, 1935 in Ste Rose du Lac, Manitoba. He met Dorothy in Winnipeg 1955 and they were married in 1958 in Vancouver, BC.
He is survived by his children: Monique Zastre, Michael Zastre, Tony Zastre (Tina), Lucille Zastre (Matt) andTheresa Ramgren (Fred) and his grandchildren : Erin (Mike) Kugi, Sean Mulholland, Michael Doolittle, Victoria (Jerson) Marroquin, Amanda Ramgren and Rebecca Ramgren and three great grandchildren Scarlett, Miles and Felix. He was loved by his many nieces and nephews and will be missed.
John was predeceased by his father and mother, five brothers and four sisters. John and Dorothy raised their family in Vancouver and Prince George, eventually retiring in Kamloops BC. John was a skilled auto mechanic and his passions were hunting and fishing, camping and coaching softball. He was a talented guitar player and loved to sing.
Heartfelt thanks to the staff on 6 North at RIH, Dr. Conley and Dr. Pun.
If desired, donations to the Canadian Diabetic Association or the Heart and Stroke Foundation in John’s memory are appreciated.
Clifford James Klages 1932 - 2025
The end of the road was reached on January 31, 2025 by long time trucker, Clifford James Klages at the age of 92. Cliff was born in Vancouver BC and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
He worked his way across Canada, beginning with hauling pulp logs in Ontario, to working on the DEW Line, Potash mines in Saskatchewan, hauling pipes in Swan Hills Alberta, and onto the pulp mill in Prince Rupert, BC. While in Prince Rupert in 1957 he won first place in the Westwind Boat Races. Following his dream of gold panning in Dawson City, Yukon in 1959 he stopped in Prince George and never left.
This truck driver loved being behind the wheel. Holidays were spent driving – RVing exploring the country he loved. From BC to Newfoundland as well as crossing the USA from shore to shore and north to Alaska. Many trips included one or more of the 50 plus children he and his wife fostered in their 53 years of marriage.
He is survived by his wife Doreen and their children; Jayne Coleman, Shirlee, Ben, and Ria Skorepa, 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Others left to miss him deeply are; Sharon Luthi, Alison Jewitt, and Patrick Roberts, as well as many others who called him dad.
Many thanks to the caring IMU staff at UHNBC who made the last days comfortable.
A celebration of life is planned for August 2, 2025 at
Louella Dianne (Hoff) Belado January 10, 1939 - January 12, 2025
Louella Dianne (Hoff) Belado, Born January 10th, 1939, in Prince Rupert, British Columbia, age 86, of Prince George, British Columbia passed away on Sunday, January 12, 2025, at the Simon Fraser Lodge in Prince George.
Predeceased by her loving husband Joe Belado, mother Christina Hoff, Gordon and Garry.
Survived by daughter Delores Amanda (Fred). Jim (Eileen), Bill (Trude), Linda Hoff, Greg(Maureen), Grandchildren Shelby and Hayden and many nieces and nephews.
Dianne was a proud member of ladies of the Royal Purple for 40 years.
Dianne was first woman scaler at 19 in BC. Worked at Helco for many years before moving to lower mainland. Retired at 83 from Mrs. Flowers after 10 enjoyable years of delivering flowers. Loved that job and made people happy.
Celebration of life to be held, Sunday March 16th at North 54, on 3rd and Victoria street, in Prince George at 1:00PM.
In lieu of flowers please make donation to Hospice.
her later years that she had feared being alone when selling fruit on the highway. Joan often commented on how her mother struggled successfully to care for her and Patricia during the war years when their father was in the army overseas.
Joan inherited and learned from her mother’s example to work hard and succeed despite obstacles. This led Joan to become a Registered Nurse and on to being an Administrator of a Hospital Nursing Services Program, a Vocational School Nursing Instructor, and to earning a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Education, and a Nursing Diploma (Theory and Practice). Her career and achievements attest to her perseverance, acceptance of challenges, future thinking, and to her always seeking to assist others regardless of their background or position. Varied, rich and international in scope, her roles spanned Hospital Supervisor and
Quance (Fred Speckeen, Jr.).
Joan married Fred Speckeen in 1978. They were colleagues at the College of New Caledonia, Prince George, BC. Together they performed volunteer work internationally, and travelled in over 50 countries. Fred is forever grateful for her love, support, and devotion.
Joan’s many friends and colleagues speak of her inspiration, impact, professionalism, empathy, leadership, kindness, meticulous dress, her home with its art and everything in place, fine meals, and her impressive flower gardens. A family memorial is being planned for a later date. Donations in Joan’s memory may be made to the Sheaf Espiga Foundation www.sheafespiga.org that fights poverty in Central America.
David Kienzle has prepared a Woodlot Licence Plan (WLP) covering the ten year period from 2025 to 2035 for WL 249. This WLP is in accordance with the Woodlot Licence Planning and Practices Regulation. The woodlot includes Schedule B Lands in the Blackwater area.
The WLP is available for public review and comment for 30 days. Written comments should be received by Mar 28, 2025. The WLP including maps is available for public viewing at SBS Forestry Inc.
Submit written comments to: Ron Parker, RPF SBS Forestry Inc. 1541 Ogilvie St Prince George, B.C. V2N 1W7 Ph 250-561-1140
* On March 10, 1948, the communist-controlled government of Czechoslovakia reported that noncommunist Foreign Minister Jan Masaryk had died after jumping out of a window. The story was met with
suspicion in the West, but nothing to the contrary was ever definitively proved.
* On March 11, 1903, accordionplaying musician and entertainer
Lawrence Welk, aka the “King of Champagne Music,” was born on a farm in rural North Dakota.
• On Nov. 11, 1831, Nat Turner, an American slave and educated minister who believed that he’d been chosen by God to lead his people into freedom, was hanged in Jerusalem, Virginia, for leading a revolt with 75 followers through Southampton County, killing about 60 white people.
ARIES (March 21 to April 19) You find yourself making sheep eyes at someone who seems receptive. While the situation looks promising, you might not be ready for a long-term commitment.
* On March 12, 2020, after New York state and city leaders placed Covid-19 restrictions on public gatherings of more than 500 people, the Broadway
theater district announced it would go dark for an unprecedented 32 days, the longest shutdown of its history. The closure ended up being extended to the end of May 2021, however, costing billions of dollars in tourism losses.
* On March 13, 1865, the Confederacy reluctantly approved the use of Black troops, its last source of fresh manpower, as the main Rebel army faced long odds against much larger Union counterparts.
The measure did not help to save the Confederacy, since the several thousand Black men who were enlisted could not balance out the nearly 200,000 Black soldiers fighting for the Union.
* On March 14, 1924, John “Jack” Mack, who co-founded Mack Trucks, Inc., then known as the Mack Brothers Company, with his brothers Augustus and William, was killed when his car collided with a trolley in Pennsylvania.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Resist the impulse to tell tales about a co-worker. Even if your motives are sincere, they’ll be seen as self-serving. A personal situation remains unstable. Wait for things to settle down.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) The delay in getting your task done leaves you pawing the ground in frustration. Be patient. The reason for the holdup will soon become apparent. Meanwhile, an opportunity to travel comes from an unexpected source.
• On Nov. 12, 1969, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh revealed the extent of the U.S. Army’s charges against 1st Lt. William L. Calley at My Lai, Vietnam, in a cable picked up by more than 30 newspapers, saying that “The Army says he [Calley] deliberately murdered at least 109 Vietnamese civilians during a searchand-destroy mission in March 1968, in a Viet Cong stronghold known as ‘Pinkville.’”
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Your usually sharp instincts about people should be right on the cutting edge in regard to a major decision. You might want to hold off on a commitment until (or unless) you feel like both the person and project are trustworthy.
LEO (July 23 to August 22) You love to lap up compliments. But be wary of someone at work who is drowning you in an outpouring of praise. In your personal life, pay more attention to your spouse or partner.
• On Nov. 13, 1979, Philadelphia 76ers center Darryl Dawkins leaped over Kansas City Kings forward Bill Robinzine for a memorable slam dunk that shattered the fiberglass backboard. His equally memorable comment on the move, which was not his last and the sound of which spectators likened to a bomb going off: “It wasn’t really a safe thing to do, but it was a Darryl Dawkins thing to do.”
VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A perplexing romantic situation turns out to be less complex than you thought. A simple explanation soon clears up all misunderstandings.
LIBRA (September 23 to October 22)
Try to remain balanced as you cope with two emotional people. They want your advice -- but at a price to your equilibrium.
SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21)
Avoid being goaded into making stinging remarks you could later regret. Best advice: Walk. Don’t talk. There’ll be time later to deal with the situation in a way that makes you look good.
SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A family matter becomes too demanding as it overflows into several areas. Try to narrow your focus to where it will do the most good with the least drain on your time and energy.
CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) It’s fix-up time. Make plans to get things repaired and repainted around your home. A relationship could also stand some patching up before the damage is beyond repair. Schedule a physical checkup.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18)
A job that seems to offer everything you’ve always wanted might require moving to a new city. Your family offers support no matter what you decide to do. Other options will also require some hard decision-making.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Get back into the social swim. Enjoy some fun time with old friends and be open to making new ones. A previous health problem recurs, but prompt attention makes everything all right.
• On Nov. 14, 1882, outlaw Frank “Buckskin” Leslie shot and killed Billy “The Kid” Claiborne, who had publicly challenged him, in Tombstone, Arizona.
• On Nov. 15, 1984, Baby Fae, a month old infant who received the world’s first baboon heart transplant, died at California’s Loma Linda University 20 days after the operation. Three other people had received animal heart transplants, but none survived longer than a few days.
• On Nov. 16, 2001, British author J.K. Rowling’s most famous and beloved creation, the bespectacled boy wizard Harry Potter (played by Daniel Radcliffe in his first major role), made his silver-screen debut in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” which went on to become one of the highestgrossing movies in history.
As we step into 2025, interior design continues to evolve, blending aesthetics with functionality and sustainability. This year’s trends focus on creating spaces that foster well-being, embrace natural elements, and incorporate innovative technology. Whether you’re planning a full-scale home renovation or just looking to refresh a room, these key trends will define interior design in 2025.
Biophilic Design: Bringing Nature Indoors. The concept of biophilic design remains a strong trend in 2025, reinforcing the connection between nature and interior spaces. This approach integrates natural materials, such as wood and stone, as well as abundant greenery through indoor plants and living walls. Homeowners and designers are incorporating large windows to maximize natural light and using earthy, organic textures to create a calming atmosphere. The goal is to foster tranquility and improve indoor air quality, making homes feel more like serene retreats. Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Materials.
Sustainability is at the forefront of interior design, with a growing emphasis on ecofriendly materials and responsible sourcing. Recycled, upcycled, and locally sourced materials are becoming increasingly popular. Furniture made from reclaimed wood, organic fabrics, and non-toxic paints are now a standard choice for eco-conscious homeowners. In 2025, expect to see more sustainable innovations, such as carbonneutral flooring and biodegradable home accessories.
Bold and Expressive Color Palettes. While neutral tones have dominated interiors in previous years, 2025 is all about bold and vibrant colors. Deep blues, rich greens, terracotta, and mustard yellow are making a statement in living spaces. These colors add warmth and personality, whether used on walls, furniture, or accent pieces. Designers are also experimenting with monochromatic color schemes, where different shades of the same hue are layered to create depth and harmony.
Smart Homes and AI-Integrated Interiors
Technology continues to revolutionize interior design, with smart home features becoming increasingly sophisticated. AI-integrated lighting, temperature control, and voice-activated appliances enhance convenience and efficiency. In 2025, expect more homes to feature automated furniture, such as adjustable-height tables, smart mirrors, and even AI-driven home decor recommendations. These innovations make living spaces more intuitive and adaptable to daily needs.
Maximalism and Personalization. Minimalism has long been a favorite in interior design, but 2025 is seeing the rise of maximalism—where bold patterns, layered textures, and eclectic decor take center stage. Personal expression is key, with homeowners curating spaces that reflect their personalities and experiences. Gallery walls, vintage finds, and unique statement pieces are making a comeback, adding depth and character to interiors.
Statement Lighting Lighting is no longer just a functional element—it’s a design
statement. In 2025, oversized pendant lights, sculptural chandeliers, and unique table lamps are becoming focal points in interiors. Designers are also embracing layered lighting, combining ambient, task, and accent lighting to create depth and drama in a space. Smart lighting solutions that adjust color temperature and brightness based on time of day are also on the rise.
