Prince George Citizen April 25, 2019

InSight probe detects ‘Mars quake’

B.C.’s top health officer calls for drug decriminalization

Lindsay KINES

Victoria Times-Colonist

British Columbians should no longer face jail time or a criminal record for possessing small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use, the provincial health officer states in a new report.

Dr. Bonnie Henry recommends the urgent provincial policy change as way to mitigate the ongoing overdose crisis that continues to kill three to four people a day.

Henry says the “war on drugs” is widely recognized as a failure that does more harm than good by stigmatizing people who use drugs and preventing them from getting help.

“Decriminalization of people who possess a drug that reflects personal-use-only is, I believe, a necessary next step for our province,” she told reporters at the B.C. legislature. “It’s a mechanism we can (use to) stop both the incredibly high toll in B.C. and make harm reduction services more accessible and available to people who need them.”

The federal government has made clear it has no immediate plans to address drug policy beyond the recent legalization of cannabis, Henry said.

“But in the context of the continuing overdose crisis that is affecting families and communi-

ties across B.C., the province cannot wait for action at the federal level,” she writes in her report, Stopping the Harm: Decriminalization of People Who Use Drugs in B.C.

“Immediate provincial action is warranted, and I recommend that the Province of B.C. urgently move to decriminalize people who possess controlled substances for personal use. This is an important additional step to stem the tide of unprecedented deaths.”

Henry says one option would be for Solicitor General Mike Farnworth to use the Police Act to set “broad provincial priorities” for dealing with people who use drugs.

“This could include declaring a

public health and harm reduction approach as a provincial priority to guide law enforcement in decriminalizing and de-stigmatizing people who use drugs,” the report states.

The approach would use administrative penalties instead of criminal charges and allow police to link people with health and social services.

Henry admitted that the Police Act has not been used in this context before. “But I say what other crises do we need to have to be able to use those powers?”

The other option would be for government to amend the Police Act to prevent police forces from spending money to enforce simple possession offences.

“It would basically say: ‘That’s not how we’re going to deal with this issue,’” Henry said.

Victoria Police Chief Del Manak, who attended the news conference with Henry, said there is already de-facto decriminalization of simple possession in some jurisdictions.

“I can tell you from the Victoria Police Department’s perspective, I dedicate zero resources to minor drug possession,” he said. “What we do is we target drug traffickers who use violence – whether it’s physical violence or sexualized violence – to prey on the most vulnerable in our communities.”

— see ‘TO SAVE LIVES, page 3

Third shooting suspect arrested

Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca

Three down, one to go.

A third of the four suspects in the shooting earlier this month is now in custody, Prince George RCMP said Wednesday.

Kenneth Munroe, 33, was apprehended during a traffic stop on Tuesday at about 1:30 p.m. near the corner of Victoria Street and Strathcona Avenue.

Despite an attempt to disguise himself, Munroe, who was a passenger in a pickup truck, was arrested without incident and taken into custody, RCMP said.

Police remain on the lookout for Eric Vern West, 38.

“Eric has to be tired of looking over his shoulder,” Cpl. Craig Douglass said.

“He has to be tired of not knowing who to trust and where he should hide next. He should do the right thing and turn himself in to police, because we will continue to actively search for him until he is arrested and taken to court.”

West is described as Aboriginal, five-foot-11,180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

West is considered dangerous, RCMP warned, and urged anyone who sees him to call 911 immediately.

Also in custody are Kyle Devro Teegee, 31, and Joseph Karl Larsen, 26, from the April 5 incident in an alley adjacent to the 2200 block of Quince Street.

At about 4:15 p.m., RCMP responded to multiple reports of

a gun shot.

WEST

Teegee was arrested nearby and a man suffering from a single gunshot wound was found in a dark-coloured SUV a short time later. He was taken to hospital for treatment. Two days later, Larsen was found in a 2100-block Tamarack Street home and arrested. All four have been charged with one count each of extortion with a firearm, attempted kidnapping, assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm. West has also been charged with possession of a dangerous weapon and Teegee has also been charged with obstructing a peace officer.

RCMP believe the incident was an altercation between two groups known to each other and related to the drug trade.

Anyone with information on where West may be is asked to contact the RCMP at 250561-3300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca.

HENRY

Canfor announces production cuts in B.C

Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca

Canfor Corp. said Wednesday it will temporarily curtail operations at all British Columbia dimension mills, effective this coming Monday, due to low lumber prices and the high cost of fibre.

The curtailment will reduce Canfor’s production output by approximately 100 million board feet, the company said. The curtailment will translate into a week of downtime for all of Canfor’s B.C. sawmills and an additional week for its Mackenzie operation.

Canfor has 13 sawmills in Canada, with total annual capacity of approximately 3.8 billion board feet. It was the latest in a series of curtailments that Canfor began late last year. West Fraser and Conifex have made similar moves.

Sawmills saw their gross margins plunge to unprofitable levels...

— Hakan Ekstrom

In a report issued last week, Hakan Ekstrom of Seattle-based World Resources International LLC said sawmills across North America saw their profit margins fall substantially during the second half of 2018 after reaching record highs over the second quarter.

“Sawmills in British Columbia have also seen the prices for lumber in the U.S. market come down substantially during the second half of 2018,” he said in an email previewing the com-

pany’s latest edition of Wood Resources Quarterly. “Despite the weaker lumber market, sawlog prices still increased from the 3Q/18 to the 4Q/18 because of tighter supply and a rise in hauling costs. Sawmills saw their gross margins plunge to unprofitable levels and many companies decided to take market-related downtime in late 2018 and early 2019.”

According to Madison’s Lumber Reporter, the price of kiln-dried, random length Western Spruce, Pine and Fir stood at US$336 as of April 22, down from US$348 the week before, US$402 the month before and US$556 at the same point a year ago.

Contract talks also remain outstanding at a handful of Canfor sawmills where workers voted against ratifying deals that had been tentatively reached with the United Steelworkers.

Charge laid in pedestrian collision

Citizen staff

A local driver has been charged in relation to a pedestrian-involved collision last fall.

The B.C. Prosecution Service has approved a charge of failing to yield to a pedestrian under the Motor Vehicle Act against Khalid Ayub Kahn, 53, Prince George RCMP said Wednesday.

The development stems from a Sept. 15 incident when, at about 3 a.m., a 66-year-old Prince George man was allegedly struck while crossing an uncontrolled and unmarked intersection at Fifth Street and Victoria Avenue.

“The Prince George RCMP wish to remind the public that drivers must yield to pedestrians crossing at all intersections, whether there is a marked crosswalk or not,” RCMP said.

Khan was issued a summons to appear in court on May 22.

Public urged to be careful when outdoor burning Cantata Singers mark 50th anniversary

Frank PEEBLES Citizen staff fpeebles@pgcitizen.ca

A curve of gold will glint on the Prince George Playhouse horizon this weekend. A 50th anniversary will be celebrated with the golden hum of community love. Few organizations of any kind can claim 50 consecutive years of enterprise and achievement, so it’s something to sing about, but never better than by the Prince George Cantata Singers themselves. The venerable community choir is calling their 50th anniversary special event

A Curve of Gold as both a title on the marquee and an underlying theme. The golden anniversary is an opportunity to sing a collection of their greatest hits, their gold records as it were, and look back on five decades of quality music. Curve of Gold is line from a poem called Barter by famed lyric poet Sara Teasdale. In it she writes “Life has loveliness to sell, Music like a curve of gold, Scent of pine trees in the rain, Eyes that love you, arms that hold.” The reference to a flash of luxury – it could be a nugget in a miner’s pan, it could be a shaft of sunshine behind a cloud – struck a vein with the Cantata members.

“We have a special piece of music we’ll be singing that night, a piece no one has ever heard before,” said Valerie Chatterson, a singer with the choir since 2016 and their board’s vice-president. “The piece was written by Gerda Blok-Wilson, who will be there with us to hear and celebrate. We commissioned her to write it for us, she is a composer and also our former music director, and she based her piece off of that Sara Teasdale poem that gave us our title. She called the piece Life Has Loveliness To Sell and she has dedicated it to the memory of her mother, Catherina ‘Rini’ Blok, who was a founding member of the Prince George Cantata Singers. We are so honoured to be able to sing it at our special concert.”

The current music director, Neil Wolfe, went searching for selections to sing that have been particularly successful for the choir over the years. He drew out some classics of the pop-vocal genre, and also emphasized diversity to show off the

Cantata flexibility. There is Four Strong Winds, Blue Moon, Both Sides Now, Wild Mountain Thyme, Song For the Mira, and many more. From the Gershwins to Leonard Cohen, from Kipling to Yeats, the show is designed to showcase their diversities as much as their technicalities.

The musical anchor for the Cantata Singers is piano accompanist Maureen Nielsen.

“We could not be as an effective a choir without Maureen. We appreciate her so much, she is fantabulous as a musician and a friend of the choir,” said Chatterson.

But Nielsen is not the lone instrumental guest for this anniversary event. The list of special musical friends sharing the stage includes Flora Camuzet on cello, Ariane Crossland on flute, José Delgado Guevara on viola, Gabrielle Jacob as first violin and Josette LaForge as second violin, and David Schulte on guitar. All are well known and acclaimed performers. Some of the choir members will also get the opportunity for solo singing, as needed by the material Wolfe has chosen. The featured singers for Curve of Gold include first soprano Chatterson, baritone/bass Barry Booth, first soprano

Melissa Goffic, first soprano Marina Hill, bass Norman Lee (he will also recite a poetic selection), bass Ronald Prochot, and first alto Joanne Shaw.

A very special addition to Curve of Gold is a look into the choir’s future. The Cantata Singers will host the District 57 Tapestry Singers, the citywide choir of school-aged singers led by Carolyn Duerksen (accompanied by Nielsen, Evie Ladin, Fabiola Toyata, Barb Parker and Katherine Benny), for a special youth showcase within this celebration of the past. The young voices will sing a five-song set including a pair of tunes coperformed with the Cantata Singers for a mass chorus.

To complete this circle, the original members of the 1968 Cantata Singers will be celebrated by their peers of 50 years hence. Two of them, Colin Dix and Kay Lim, have reprised their positions in the Cantata Ranks as recently as this past Christmas’s Messiah concert. A slide show of the choir’s early days will be one of the momentous features of the night. Curve of Gold will be performed on Sunday evening at 7 p.m. at the Prince George Playhouse. Tickets are on sale in advance at Studio 2880 or at the door while supplies last.

‘To save lives... we must focus on the health of all British Columbians’

— from page 1

“That’s where the efforts are put,” Manak said.

He acknowledged, however, that other departments might take a different approach.

“So perhaps this is an opportunity to have a discussion with the province on looking at what can we do to come up with some standardization and some policy, perhaps even some guidance on how police deal with minor drug possession.”

Potential customers are reading this ad right now. Call 250-5623301 to advertise in The Citizen today Subscribe today to get local

sports, A&E and more delivered to your door five days a week Call 250562-3301

Dr. Keith Ahamad, medical director of the Regional Addiction Medicine Program at Vancouver Coastal Health, welcomed Henry’s call for an end to the practice of criminalizing people who use drugs.

“This decades-old policy has influenced the health care system to essentially ignore addiction as the health issue that it is and has really left us crippled to respond to an addiction crisis that we now find ourselves in,” he said. “To save lives, eliminate suffering and save tax

dollars, we must focus on the health of all British Columbians.”

Henry noted in her report that Portugal decriminalized simple possession in 2001.

“Evidence has shown that this drug policy model, along with other interventions (e.g., harm reduction, prevention, enforcement, and treatment strategies) has led to an increase in treatment uptake, a reduction in drug-related deaths, and importantly, no increase in drug use rates,” the report states.

Citizen staff

Given the current and predicted weather conditions in northern regions of the province, the B.C. Wildfire Service is encouraging members of the public and industry personnel to exercise caution when doing any outdoor burning.

The weather forecast has been calling for increased winds in the Peace region, which will experience low relative humidity and little precipitation. It will not take long for grass to dry out and become flammable, especially in windy conditions.

There are currently no open burning prohibitions in effect within the Prince George Fire Centre’s jurisdiction. However, people wishing to light an open fire must watch out for changing weather conditions and follow all open burning regulations to help reduce the number of preventable wildfires.

They should also take the following precautions:

• Ensure that enough resources are on hand to control the fire and stop it escaping.

• Do not burn during windy conditions. Weather conditions can change quickly, and the wind may carry embers to other combustible material and start new fires.

• Create an appropriately sized fireguard around the planned fire site by clearing away twigs, grass, leaves and other combustible material, right down to the mineral soil.

• Consider conducting smaller burns around the perimeter of the main fire site before lighting the main fire. This will create a fuel break and help prevent the fire spreading beyond its intended size.

• Never leave a fire unattended.

• Make sure that any fire is completely extinguished and the ashes are cold to the touch before leaving the area for any length of time.

Anyone planning to do large-scale industrial burning or conduct a grass burn larger than 0.2 hectares (Category 3 fires) must obtain a burn registration number ahead of time (at no charge) by calling 1 888 797-1717.

Burn registration numbers are entered in the open fire tracking system, which allows the BC Wildfire Service to track open burning activity throughout B.C.

Anyone conducting an open burn must check local venting conditions before lighting any fire. If the venting conditions in the area are rated “poor” or “fair,” Category 2 and Category 3 open burning is restricted.

The venting index can be obtained by calling 1-888-281-2992, and is also available online at: www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/epdpa/venting/venting.html

Anyone conducting an open burn must comply with the Wildfire Act and air quality control legislation. If an open burn escapes and causes a wildfire, the person responsible may be held accountable for damages and fire suppression costs. It is the responsibility of that individual to ensure that burning is done safely and in accordance with regulations and any current burning restrictions. Check with local government authorities to see if any local burning restrictions are in place before lighting any fire.

To report a wildfire, unattended campfire or open burning violation, please call 1-800-6635555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.

HANDOUT PHOTO

The Prince George Cantata Singers will mark their 50th anniversary.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Highway 97 remains at singe-lane alternating north of Prince George Highway 97 will remain at single-lane alternating at Summit Lake for some time yet.

A Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure spokesperson said Wednesday the stretch 29 kilometres north of the city, will remain in that state “until cleanup works are complete, which is anticipated to be later this week.”

“Peoples’ safety is our top priority, and we are doing everything possible to maintain safe road conditions,” the spokesperson added.

A flagging crew has been in place since early Tuesday morning when flooding forced the stretch between Mitchell Road and Summit Lake Road to single-lane alternating.

“This appears to be due to heavy rains coupled with the frozen ground in the area. The water level has peaked and is starting to go down now,” the spokesperson said.

— Citizen staff

Document shredding event on Saturday

The Prince George Crime Stoppers Society will be hosting a document shredding event this Saturday.

It will be held at the CN Centre parking lot, just off Ospika Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“This is a chance for members of the public to shred personal or important documents, helping to ensure they will not be a victim of identity theft,” organizers said. Shred-it Mobile Shredding Services will be on hand to dispose of documents. The service will be provided for a minimum $5 donation and is not meant for business owners.

All proceeds will go towards supporting the Prince George Crime Stoppers Society.

— Citizen staff

Climb for Cancer on Saturday

The Climb for Cancer is ready to take to the Cutbanks this Saturday.

From noon to 4 p.m., participants will scale the hill to raise funds for the Kordyban Lodge. And in the lead up, those interested in participating are welcome to sign up and collect pledges, either as individuals, families or teams by going to bit.ly/pgclimbforcancer2019.

You can also enroll on the day of the event, which will be based out of the Northern Lights Estate Winery.

Kordyban Lodge provides a home away from home for people diagnosed with cancer and it costs $55 a day to host a guest. For more information on the Climb for Cancer, contact Dave at david.duck@telus. net or 778-349-4485 or Doug at doug@ northernlightswinery.ca or 250-981-3684.

— Citizen staff

City issues emergency evacuation map

The city has released a map showing residents where to turn in the event of an emergency evacuation.

It depicts 18 assembly points, all of them schools, divides the city into nine zones – five of them consisting of the city’s garbage collection zones and four where the service currently does not exist.

“The map is based largely upon the current city garbage collection map, due to the fact that residents are already familiar with the map’s coloured zones,” the city said in a press release.

The schools were chosen as assembly points “based on their centrality and traffic flow in each evacuation zone.”

The map also shows the location of the city’s reception centre for evacuees at Exhibition Park.

A high resolution copy is available for download on the city’s emergency response web page (https://bit.ly/2Zx4fXH, scroll down to the bottom of the page.) And copies will be mailed out to all residents next year.

Also, on May 15, the city will be hosting an open house to show the progress of the Emergency Program and Community Wildfire Protection Plan and gather feedback. Further event details will be released when they are available.

The work is part of developing a strategic plan aimed at improving the city’s readiness for all foreseeable emergencies. A progress update will be presented at this coming Monday’s city council meeting. — Citizen staff

House for healthcare

Copper Falls Custom Homes owners Jeff Stewart and Brent Scheck stand in front of this year’s Copper Project custom home being built in Aberdeen. The proceeds of the sale of the house will go to Spirit of The North Healthcare Foundation. Last year the company donated $90,000 which was shared between three areas of health care: breast health imaging, the dedicated maternal OR and four ortho video operating room towers.

Tsilqhot’in wildfire report calls for Indigenous training, infrastructure

Amy SMART The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — The leader of a First Nation nearly encircled by blazes during one of the worst wildfires seasons in British Columbia’s history says building firefighting capacity is urgent as another season approaches.

The Tsilqhot’in First Nation released a review of the 2017 wildfire season Wednesday detailing its experience and making 33 recommendations, including infrastructure upgrades, sustained funding for firefighting training and a one-stop reimbursement process for First Nations.

Chief Joe Alphonse said while there have always been fires in the region, climate change is making them more common and severe, so there’s no time to waste.

“If you roll the dice and think this won’t happen again, you’re not going to win,” Alphonse said.

“Right now this year, we’re probably looking at the driest conditions we’ve ever seen in the Chilcotin. We had no winter up there.”

The 2017 wildfires burned more than 1.2 million hectares of land in B.C., cost $600 million and forced 65,000 people from their homes. The Tsilqhot’in made headlines when about one third of its members refused to evacuate their territory and stayed to fight the blazes instead.

“We live in a fire zone, always have. Our nation, our elders, generation after generation, kids growing up will hear their

grandparents talk about fighting fires on horseback, hauling buckets of water from the rivers up to the fires,” Alphonse said. Alphonse has been a vocal critic of the wildfire response by the federal and provincial governments, saying their failure to recognize Indigenous knowledge and firefighting skills posed a greater threat to the First Nation than the fires themselves.

“When the fires hit, people automatically assumed we don’t know what we’re doing,” he said.

But he also told a crowd at the University of British Columbia that the six communities that comprise the Tsilqhot’in lack some basic infrastructure and resources that would better equip them to protect themselves and hope to fireproof their homes and communities.

The report, called The Fires Awakened Us, does not propose a specific budget for implementing its recommendations, which also includes more fire halls, geotechnical work to stabilize banks and an Indigenousled emergency centre with culturally-appropriate meals and other features.

B.C.’s minister of forests, Doug Donaldson, said the government has begun acting on feedback it received from the First Nation, as well as 108 recommendations made in an independent report last May to overhaul disaster response practices after the 2017 wildfire and flood seasons. He said the province believes it has already addressed 18 per cent of the recommendations in the Tsilqhot’in report.

Porter playing aboriginal art gala this weekend

Frank PEEBLES Citizen staff

fpeebles@pgcitizen.ca

Imagine your friend is celebrity musician and host Art Napoleon, and he calls to ask you to cover for him as the master of ceremonies and VIP performer at a cultural event for the Aboriginal arts. What’s a Juno-winning international blues star supposed to do?

Of course Murray Porter said yes and started packing his piano for Prince George. Porter plays the blues the way they were originally intended – as story salve for the wounds of life.

The blues can convey all the emotions of the inner rainbow, but they sit down on a bench made of skilled musicianship and raw honesty. The great original masters from the dusty Mississippi and the dirty streets of St. Louis were performing as much for the audience of the soul as they were for paying customers.

These pioneers were under the boot of a ruling class who didn’t care about their poverty or their strife. When you grow up a Mohawk child on the Six Nations Reserve of Ontario’s Grand River Territory, you understand that spirit.

You take it into your creative songwriter heart and your dedicated piano fingers all the way to concert halls and radios of the

world, like Murray Porter did.

For the Aboriginal star of the Canadian stage, it all began on cold nights when the airwaves of Six Nations were crisp enough that songs could slide in from radio stations in Chicago and Detroit.

One night he heard a tune called The Thrill Is Gone and the little Indigenous boy’s thrill was ignited.

He heard the deejay call that stuff a certain name so Porter clutched his nickels and dimes down to the record shop and focused on one section of vinyl, the one marked The Blues.

“I bought all the blues records I could afford,” he said.

He was learning music and that style became his go-to genre. He started to seek out performers and found one Canadian act not too far away from his home on the reservation – The Downchild Blues Band “and we became close friends,” he said emotionally.

He found others to feed his blues fire with as well, even closer to home. He got to spend time with a fellow Mohawk-Canadian who was already a superstar south of the border.

“I had Robbie Robertson and all kinds of people to look up to,” Porter said.

“Robbie’s been to my house. I was able to connect with these people on a personal level.”

Now he wants to be that trail

guide now that he has been to musical heights himself. He has performed from D.C. to the D.R. (Washington to the Dominican Republic), from K’san to Kahnawake. He has shared the same audience with Sam ‘Soul Man’ Moore (twice), The Neville Brothers, Tom Cochrane, Marcia Ball, Buffy Ste. Marie, and many others.

The two top collaborations, though, happened on the same night. He was performing a show at the Tulalip Casino north of Seattle when he got word that the mainstage double-bill needed an opening act. Would he be willing to warm up the crowd for B.B.

King and Etta James?

“He was the nicest man that I’ve ever met. Like a grandfather. A wonderful, happy, beautiful man,” said Porter of King, who did the most famous version of all of The Thrill Is Gone.

James was different, though, he said, then grinned like a child.

Porter spotted the famed matriarch of the blues sitting alone in her trailer, so he cinched up the nerve to knock. When he explained he was the opening act that night, a Mohawk blues player from Canada, she suddenly threw the door open.

“She said ‘wait a minute. You’re native?’ and stuck out her hand,” he said. “I thought she was going to shake my hand but she pulled me onto her lap and she gave me a big, red-lipstick kiss on my cheek and she said ‘us brown people gotta stick together.’ And I went floating out of the trailer on wings of Etta’s lips. I couldn’t believe it.”

Blues players always mark themselves by their level of authenticity. It’s almost impossible to convey the blues if you haven’t lived them. For Porter, that wasn’t hard to coax out of his personal experiences. He talked about how he and his brother played hockey as children but couldn’t be on the ice at the same time because they could only afford one pair of gloves, so they

swapped every shift.

Once, as he skated on the ice of the Waterford Arena, one of the white people standing alongside the boards spit on him through the chicken wire puck barrier. The fan called him “a dirty Indian” which ripped his little child’s heart. His coach could do little more than tell him he was smarter than someone so ignorant, so he didn’t have to feel bad about someone else’s idiocy.

That and a lot of other Aboriginal reality formed his intelligence and came out through his pen. The piano he played was all blues, but the lyrics were all shades of red, cultural and emotional.

He used humour a lot. He titled one of his albums 1492 Who Found Who, he has a peppy tune called Rez Bluez, and he laughed about how “I’m a red man, singing the black man’s blues, living in the white man’s world.”

Porter will be in Prince George on Saturday night for the fourth annual Ying’hentzit Art Gala in support of arts scholarships and other cultural programming by Carrier Sekani Family Services.

Tickets are available via the Central Interior Tickets website. The evening features a banquet, silent auction, art auction, live painting by local artist Carla Joseph, a dance with the band Vagabond, and other entertainment.

PORTER

Trudeau’s white supremacy game

Perhaps the two most harmful myths in modern society is that only racists traffic in racism and that white supremacists are a handful of disorganized actors.

In her book Bring the War Home: The White Power Movement and Paramilitary America, Kathleen Belew shatters both illusions.

Racism is deeply embedded in global and Canadian life, from historical injustices to present-day prejudices at the personal and community level.

White supremacists are numerous, well-organized and well-financed, not in the United States but also in Canada and around the world.

Although Belew focuses on the 20 years in the United States between the end of the Vietnam War and the Oklahoma City bombing, she stresses that the American white power movement consistently flares up after significant armed conflicts.

The Ku Klux Klan was born in the aftermath of the American Civil War, first led by a Confederate general. The Klan enjoyed enormous mainstream popularity in both Northern and Southern states during the 1920s, after the First World War.

A similar bump was seen after the Second World War but it was the national trauma of Vietnam, combined with significant social and economic disruption, that give birth to

modern American white supremacy.

The 9/11 attack and conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan energized white supremacy for a new generation.

Belew’s exhaustive research unveils white supremacy as a durable social movement that comes with its own defining texts, its own intellectual leadership, its own communications and cultural platforms, as well as a variety of different sects providing numerous entry points.

The unifying ideal bonding the movement is the unshakeable conviction that white peoples around the world are in danger of being wiped out by the growing, invading hordes of black and brown populations. Their hatred of other races is seen as a matter of self-defence.

Whether he knew it or not, when Donald Trump announced his candidacy for president by declaring that Mexicans are surging into the United States to rape American women, he was tapping into a powerful white supremacist sentiment around protecting the sanctity of white femininity.

The Canadian Press reported this week that the federal government has been pushing its international allies to recognize white supremacy as a global security threat but has been met with opposition, most importantly and least surprisingly from the Trump administration.

This is not to say that Trump and his political allies are racists and white supremacists.

Rather, they are shielding those who are, by buying into the myth that when these people shoot up black churches and Jewish synagogues, bomb federal buildings, stage public protests and clash with civil-rights activists, they are just a handful of bad apples, violent lone wolves making “good people” with similar convictions look bad. It’s much easier to limit the problem to disturbed individuals and ignore the underlying racist stereotypes and white supremacist infrastructure which nurtured those people and gave their hateful fanaticism a home among like-minded believers.

The Justin Trudeau government should be commended for pushing the United States to politically recognize a significant domestic security threat (the FBI and other American law enforcement agencies have been diligently disrupting white supremacist groups for decades).

Full marks to Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland for speaking out about white supremacy at the United Nations and working with other foreign governments against these violent hate groups.

This noble and important international work is overshadowed, however, by the mounting efforts of federal Liberals to use white supremacy as a political weapon

Not so sunny for Liberals right now

This year has been rough on the Justin Trudeau Liberals.

The prime minister has been accused of interfering in a criminal prosecution involving SNC-Lavalin. Even the Liberals most recent re-election budget has generated little interest from Canadians and, surprisingly, the media. Things aren’t so sunny in Trudeauland these days.

In the midst of all this, the government is pursuing its legislative agenda and urging senators to pass Bill C-69, which seeks, among other things, to replace the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency with the Impact Assessment Agency and replace the National Energy Board with the Canadian Energy Regulator.

I bet many Canadians have never heard of C-69. Yet this bill has the potential of totally disrupting our energy and natural resources sectors. I don’t fault anyone for disregarding this legislation since it’s rather technical in nature with more than 350 pages. Quite honestly, it would probably put most people to sleep.

However, I urge Canadians to pay attention to it because its impacts are far-reaching. Bill C-69 (along with government bills C-48 and C-68) will further erode Canada’s competitiveness in terms of attracting capital into our resource development sector. It threatens the very fabric of our Canadian prosperity.

If Canada can’t get major projects off the ground – like pipelines, high-frequency trains, bridges, clean electricity projects and transmission lines, marine terminals – we risk serious harm

to our economy. Naturally, this implies fewer good-paying, family-supporting jobs for Fred and Martha – your everyday Canadians – and less revenue from royalties and taxes to fund our country’s many social, health and education programs.

And don’t get me started on trying to reduce Trudeau’s yearover-year deficits.

Senators recognize the significance of this bill and the sweeping impacts it can have on our economy and our environment, which is why we have taken the extraordinary step to take this bill on the road in the form of the Senate committee on energy, the environment and natural resources’ trip to Western Canada.

Some – like environmentalists who are likely concerned we will further expose the negative impacts of this bill – argue this decision to travel is unnecessary. I, on the other hand, feel this was the right decision considering the witness testimony we’ve heard in Ottawa.

In fact, the committee has already held more than 30 hours of hearings in Ottawa and heard from dozens of witnesses, including premiers and ministers, industry, Indigenous representatives and other stakeholders. Some of the testimony is seriously troubling.

Over the course of our meetings, many issues have been raised and given us much to

consider in terms of amendments including on matters related to predictability and certainty for proponents; assessment timelines; regulatory independence; inefficient bureaucratic red tape; ministerial discretion; the lack of a designated project list; factors to be considered when assessing a project; poorly defined concepts; the removal of the standing test; and more.

For those who argue that Conservative Senators are stalling the passage of this bill, or that the committee doesn’t need to hear from so many witnesses, I would say that more than 40 per cent of the witnesses who appeared at the House of Commons committee represented the government of Canada in some capacity.

To my astonishment, there were no pipeline companies, no port authorities, no natural gas companies and no resource sector service businesses or local mom-and-pop shops that would be affected by the bill.

The Liberal-dominated committee heard from zero provincial governments.

Of course, this does not surprise me. Based on my calculations, nine out of 10 provinces have concerns of various degree regarding this bill, some calling it unconstitutional and federal infringement on provincial jurisdiction and others calling for its outright defeat. Bill C-69 needs serious improvement, and I’m committed to making it better because Canadians deserve better. Richard Neufeld is a senator for British Columbia. Prior to his appointment to the Senate in 2009, he served as a B.C. MLA for Peace River North.

against Andrew Scheer’s Conservatives.

Despite the fact that the Liberals have their own tarnished record of business deals and friendships of convenience with intolerant individuals and organizations, Trudeau has already signalled his intention to tarnish the Conservatives as alt-right conspiracy nutjobs. That’s a dog whistle, of course, because what his supporters hear is that Conservatives are racists, white supremacists and a threat to Canada and Canadians.

Besides being ridiculous, this kind of political rhetoric is harmful and dangerous. There are plenty of rational reasons to disagree with Trudeau and his government.

Opposing his stance on gun control doesn’t make one a gun-loving lunatic building a weapons cache in time for the impending apocalypse.

Opposing Liberal policy on refugees and immigration (never mind Trudeau’s own flip-flops on the issue) doesn’t make one a xenophobe.

Opposing his version of Indigneous reconciliation doesn’t make one a racist.

Opposing the carbon tax doesn’t make one a climate change denier.

Trudeau is right to shine a light on the dangers of white supremacy but to smear political opponents with that brush to fuel his re-election efforts is shameful.

—

Editor-in-chief

Neil Godbout

A plea from B.C.

Dear Canada: We write to you as lonely patriots, isolated again on the left coast, smug and sanctimonious on the one hand, shivering with dark expectation on the other. With four-fifths of our country’s population under conservative provincial leadership, and with the country itself under seemingly no national leadership for the time being, we find ourselves governed as peculiar outliers at a time our government sold us on the idea of being profound mainstreamers. True, it is remarkable at times that we would have such selfesteem. We bear taxes none of you would deign to have. We bypass economic resource opportunities you would kill to have. We have mysterious, conspicuous wealth and maddening, ceaseless poverty. We force people from our big city with unaffordability, then charge them record prices to drive back in to work. We publicly oppose the pipeline expansion even though we privately tell pollsters we support it. We can’t win a Stanley Cup to save our lives (then again, neither can you). And we call where we live, without any trace of self-irony, beautiful.

We somehow consider ourselves leaders, and it has been true in our history that many Canadian innovations have started here and progressed eastward. The development in 1911 of the egg carton comes to mind, as does the 1937 innovation of the walkietalkie. And in some seriousness, if we are lucky our glacial-paced Indigenous recognition will carry panoramic quality to parts of the country that seem locked in a time capsule; as they say at the end of most broadcast reports about anything complex, the jury is out and time will tell.

But we need to face the fact that some of our priorities are not those of the rest of the land, that the mountain range is both ideological and geographical, and that we will pay an even heavier price for our hubris now that our neighbouring government’s legislature has, in economic terms that we hope are not to be taken literally, reverted to mean.

For four years there, the Albertan political landscape was turned on its head, but our government turned its head on fellow NDPers in power. It will never be known if that change of power could have

been sustained, given that conservative political parties healed themselves sufficiently to unify for the next fight they knew they were owed.

That our government did not see fit, though, to swallow a shortterm squabble for a long-term opportunity – stop at some point its economically, politically expensive opposition to a pipeline expansion and work with fellow NDPers to lead the economy into a newer, greener era – will be judged as a mistake of ego, condescension and self-destructive strategic folly.

Once again, then, we have lost the plot and find ourselves incompetent in leading others and vulnerable in defying the national will. And if we are worried, we are justified.

Our neighbour will place the full-court press to bring our businesses its way, and any perusal of the economic indexes suggests it’s not a bad time to budge – purchasing power is 25 per cent lower in Vancouver than in Calgary, rents are 63 per cent higher. Their new premier promises the country’s lowest tax rates, and our premier promises the most intrusive government.

Our neighbour might also put the full-court cap on shipments of oil and gas our way. Many of us are old enough to remember shortages of something other than bandwidth for streaming and will know what might now hit us. And some of us – the ones who think iPhones grow on trees or that their veggie burgers are charbroiled with solar – will get a rude taste of mundane life when there is a shortage of fossil fuel.

We are despondent, dear Canada, not only because our gas prices might require a line of credit, but because we might pay the price of playing it alone, even if we know it will be nothing like the pummelling our neighbours took for years and only slightly like the foot we kept on their necks as they writhed.

Such is the price of a place that thinks every successful business must pay.

Sincerely, in worry, British Columbia

LETTERS WELCOME: The Prince George Citizen welcomes letters to the editor from our readers. Submissions should be sent by email to: letters@pgcitizen.ca. No attachments, please. They can also be faxed to 250-960-2766, or mailed to 201-1777 Third Ave., Prince George, B.C. Maximum length is 750 words and writers are limited to one submission every week.

Mailing address: 201-1777 Third Ave. Prince George, B.C. V2L 3G7 Office hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday

General switchboard: 250-562-2441 info@pgcitizen.ca

Shawn Cornell, director of advertising: 250-960-2757 scornell@pgcitizen.ca Reader sales and services: 250-562-3301 rss@pgcitizen.ca Letters to the editor: letters@pgcitizen.ca

General news: news@pgcitizen.ca Sports inquiries: 250-960-2764 sports@pgcitizen.ca Classifieds advertising: 250-562-6666 cls@pgcitizen.ca

Website: www.pgcitizen.ca

Website feedback: digital@glaciermedia.ca

Member of the National Newsmedia Council A division of Glacier Media SHAWN CORNELL DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING

KIRK LAPOINTE

First ‘Mars quake’ detected by InSight probe

Sarah KAPLAN The Washington Post

For months, the spacecraft sat very still in the vast, empty expanse of a flat Martian plain, alone and undisturbed but for the thin whine of an alien wind.

Back on Earth, operators at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory were getting worried.

The whole point of the InSight mission was to track the Red Planet’s quakes, shakes and tremors for clues about its interior. But the spacecraft hadn’t felt so much as a twitch in the ground beneath its three feet.

“The longer we went without a quake, the more questionable or doubtful we were becoming that we’d be able to do the science we came to Mars to do,” said Bruce Banerdt, the principal investigator for the mission.

Then, on April 6, InSight’s seismometer picked up a faint, eerie rumble – the sound, scientists say, of what is likely the first quake recorded on the surface of another planet.

“Finally,” said Banerdt, “we know Mars is seismically active, we know it’s talking to us.”

Now, he continued, “it’s just a matter of being patient, waiting and listening, and collecting the quakes as they come along.”

Scientists have long sought to explain how Mars, which looked a lot like Earth when the two bodies formed 4.6 billion years ago, became the desolate desert world we see today. Most think the Red Planet’s defunct internal dynamo might be the culprit.

Constant churning inside Earth generates a magnetic field that protects our surface from radiation and helps us hold onto our atmosphere, but evidence from ancient rocks suggest that Mars’s magnetic field faltered about three billion years ago. InSight is designed to figure out what happened by using seismic waves – the subterranean ripples produced by quakes –as probes.

“It’s almost like an x-ray,” Banerdt said. The spacecraft’s exquisitely sensitive seismometer can track subtle changes in the waves as they pass through Mars’ crust, mantle and core.

“Every time you have a Mars quake that gives you one more slice through the planet,” Banerdt said. “Eventually we want to build up a number of these slices to create a 3-D picture of what’s inside.”

But it takes a quake to generate these waves – and none seemed to be happening.

Banerdt was asleep at his California home when a fresh batch of InSight data was relayed from the Martian surface to seismologists in Switzerland. The scientists noticed a consistent, persistent signal in the data. It was completely unlike the sporadic shaking they were used to seeing from gusts of wind and the creaks and crackles of the spacecraft warming and cooling beneath the sun.

By the time Banerdt woke, his phone screen bore an urgent text message: “Teleconference in half an hour.”

“I jumped right out of bed,” he recalled.

“It was exciting.”

The scientists traded PowerPoint slides and debated interpretations. In a recording released by NASA, in which the seismic

wave frequencies have been sped up to make them audible to human ears, the signal sounds almost like an airplane taking flight.

Finally, they decided that the signal must come from a very small quake – about magnitude 2 or 2.5. Dozens of temblors just like it occur in southern California every day, utterly unnoticed amid the noise of human activity and ocean waves.

The Martian signal was also prolonged; it lasted nearly 10 minutes, unusual for a seismic event this small.

This is probably a result of fractures in the Martian crust that cause signals to bounce around, like echoes in a labyrinthine cave.

The signal, which Banerdt described in a

Measles vaccine saves countless lives

Editor’s Note: This is an updated version of a column that first appeared in the May 13, 2015 edition of The Citizen.

There is only one thing that I know of for sure – we all die.

That may sound a bit more morbid than I am trying to be but it is a simple truth. We are born, we grow old, and eventually we pass on.

How long do we have on Earth? Who knows? Even the best actuarial tables and mathematical calculations get it wrong more often than they get it right. This is why life insurance is such a risky business at the level of an individual.

During the past 150 years, though, our life expectancy has changed. We are definitely living longer and healthier lives.

I should point out that life expectancy is a statistical measure of how long a person will live based upon expectations for a group of individuals. That is, if you have ten people and five die at the age of five while the other five live to be 80, then the average life expectancy for the group is 42.5 years and yet no one actually only lived that long.

A better measure of the changes in our life expectancy might be “typical life span” or something like that. However, such measurements would be hard to define and calculate.

In any case, at the beginning of the 20th century, life expectancy at birth on a worldwide basis was 31 years of age. By 2010, that number had increased to 67.2 years. Yes, we have more people alive on this planet and they are living much longer.

It is a large part of our population boom. Why this has occurred is due to many factors but public health measures are predominant in the list.

Epidemiologists calculate that 85 per cent of the increase in our typical life span is a consequence of various public health measures.

Diseases such as diphtheria, measles, pneumonia, and influenza are not the deadly killers they were of old. Clean drinking water and proper sanitation has virtually wiped out cholera in the developed world. And childbirth is not a life-threatening proposition due to sterilized equipment and medical professionals. According to the Center for Disease Control in the United States, the number one public health measure in the 20th century was the introduction of immunization through vaccines. There is no doubt vaccines save lives.

We often forget this in the developed world where most of deadly diseases have such a low incidence they have faded from our collective consciousness.

It was not long ago vaccines for the measles were not available and it was common for the disease to run rampant through a school. With broad adoption of the vaccine, measles cases dropped British Columbia to the point where we were counting single cases. More recently, because of lower vaccination rates, measles is once again on the rise with 26 cases already reported in 2019.

We had effectively eradicated measles from our population although it still exists in other countries around the world. Vaccines have virtually eliminated many other diseases such as polio and diphtheria. Small pox is deemed to have been eradicated as a consequence of immunization programs.

A report in Science goes one step further in analyzing vaccination against the measles.

The measles virus acts as an immunosuppressant leaving people who have contracted the disease prone of other opportunistic infections. This has been known for a number of years.

RELATIVITY

TODD WHITCOMBE

However, it has always been assumed the effect was short-lived lasting for only a few weeks at most.

Using population-level data, researchers have been able to show measles-induced immunosuppression has a much more prolonged effect lasting approximately three years.

For a child, this serious harm to their immune system significantly increases the chance of infant or early childhood mortality. What is perhaps more telling is the correlation between the measles and, say, pneumonia six months later has been missed.

In other words, measles itself might not kill a young child but it will allow other diseases to do so.

The introduction of mass vaccination against the measles has reduced childhood mortality rates by between 30 per cent and 50 per cent in resource-poor countries. In impoverished regions of the world, mortality rates have dropped by as much as 90 per cent after vaccination was introduced.

This effect is not simply a consequence of reduced deaths from measles itself. It has a fairly low fatality rate – somewhere around 1 in every 1,000 cases.

It is a consequence of not leaving children immune compromised as a result of getting the disease.

The introduction 50 years ago of measles vaccines has resulted in striking reductions in childhood mortality and morbidity.

Measles control has been one of the most important public health measures of the past 100 years and not just for controlling the disease itself. It has prevented millions of deaths from other opportunistic infections.

We are now living longer, healthier, and happier lives because of vaccines and other public health measures.

keynote address at the Seismological Society of America’s annual meeting Tuesday night, wasn’t large enough to function as the kind of “x ray” scientists had hoped to find. But it is still “like catnip” to them, Banerdt said.

“This is a whole new planet that we’re opening up to seismology,” he said.

Models using the new discovery suggest that the spacecraft should witness as many as a few dozen quakes over the course of its two-year mission.

“It’s going to be a little bit sparse and tight. We’re going to have to really squeeze the data for all its worth,” Banerdt said.

“But it’s putting us in the right ballpark to do that kind of science.”

Robot navigates live pig heart

The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Scientists have created a small robotic device that guides itself safely through a beating pig’s heart, demonstrating what such tools might one day do in surgery.

And they borrowed some tricks from animals to do the job. To find its way to a specific point in the heart, the thin tube called a catheter gently tapped its path along heart walls and to a valve, much like how cockroaches skitter along walls and rats reach out with their whiskers.

Researchers said experienced doctors were a little faster threading catheters into place. But the team say robotic devices might one day do routine steps

in operations so doctors could focus on more complicated tasks. The study was published on Wednesday in the journal Science Robotics.

InSight’s domed Wind and Thermal Shield, which covers its seismometer is seen in a NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory handout image. On April 6 InSight recorded a “Mars quake” proving the Red Planet is seismically active.

Feds offer funding for abandoned bus routes

Camille BAINS

The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER — The federal government will split funding for bus service on rural routes abandoned by Greyhound in northern Ontario and Western Canada but Transport Minister Marc Garneau says only British Columbia has so far taken him up on the offer.

“This is something that for over 60 years has been a provincial responsibility,” he said of Ottawa’s decision not to subsidize Greyhound or previously get involved in funding inter-city bus travel.

Garneau made his comments Wednesday after meeting with B.C. Transportation Minister Claire Trevena. It was the fourth discussion between the ministers on a 50/50 cost-sharing plan to service routes that were dropped when Greyhound shut down operations last fall, citing a loss of $70 million over six years.

“We will wait to see if other provinces come to us,” Garneau said, adding the federal government is expecting B.C. to provide a list of unserviced routes as well as costs for the two-year arrangement.

He said the federal government will also pay half the cost for the BC Bus North Service the province began last year at an expense of $2 million to offer connections between Prince Rupert, Prince George, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson and Valemount.

BC Bus North includes service along Highway 16, the so-called Highway of Tears between Prince George and Prince Rupert, a route that was cut with Greyhound’s departure, causing considerable concern among Indigenous communities affected by dozens of murders and disappearances of women over the last few decades.

Terry Teegee, regional chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations, said short-term funding could again lead to unserviced routes in communities if private companies can’t make a profit so both levels of government need to make a

CP FILE PHOTO

Greyhound bus driver Brent Clark prepares to drive to a parking lot after arriving in Whistler from Vancouver on Oct. 31, 2018 for the last day of service on that route. The federal government will share the cost of subsidizing bus routes in Western Canada and Northern Ontario, Transport Minister

Wednesday.

long-term commitment to serving traditionally underserved areas.

The government has tried to address that issue by forming “working groups” in all 10 provinces that are considering long-term solutions for inter-city bus travel across Canada, Garneau said.

B.C. is currently evaluating expressions of interest from several companies bidding on servicing routes, Trevena said.

“We are trying to ensure that gaps are covered. It’s a vast province and we don’t want to leave anybody stranded without safe and affordable ground transportation,” Trevena said.

“Highway 16 was highlighted and necessarily so. We now have a system running along Highway 16,

not just BC Bus North.”

Teegee, a member of the Takla Lake First Nation, said governments need to consult with First Nations in order to get a good understanding of routes.

“Perhaps it doesn’t need daily service, perhaps every other day,” he said, adding other areas may need more service, especially during summer months when people tend to hitchhike when a bus doesn’t show up, putting themselves in danger.

“We’ve always stated that First Nations communities are underserved and transportation should be considered an essential service in that it is a priority,” he said.

The Saskatchewan government said in a statement it was forced

to wind down the Saskatchewan Transportation Company in 2017 after a steady decline in ridership and millions of dollars in subsidies. It said Ottawa offered a share of $10 million to western provinces to subsidize transportation routes but didn’t follow through on the province’s request.

“We wrote to minister Garneau asking for more information about the federal program and received no reply. Saskatchewan has encouraged the federal government to provide this funding directly to private-sector transportation companies to improve services for the people with disabilities, vulnerable people and northern communities.”

Political risks will drive away private money

Ten years and twenty pounds since I had skated with a team, or skated much at all, I still clung to a misplaced sense of superiority.

Having once worn an A on my peewee jersey, pride was a yeasty stain, difficult to wash off.

A decade of school, work, changing diapers, and sitting at a desk was evident in my pearishness. My castoff hockey gear had crossed over from nostalgic to the stuff the thrift store wouldn’t take. But I wore the old tube skates, the ugly broken orange helmet, and tiny fauxleather elbow pads, just to raise eyebrows. Me on the third line right wing, struggling to keep up, and a kid 10 years my junior to my left. His shiny CCM helmet was wasted on him. This chirpy punk had no prefrontal cortex, but still nervously scanned the bleachers for NHL scouts. At some point midway through a playoff game, my left-winger starts yelling at me on the bench for slacking off, at which point, my own impulse control falls out the hole in my broken helmet and I bark right back at him. No longer even talking to each another, we took our heads of steam out on the ice, and dominated the rest of the game, purely out of the heat generated by our own spat. It was a weird pivot, but it worked very well for the team. And we became buddies, without ever having resolved the earlier debate. The free world’s left wing-right wing argument has a long history of constructive discord. Until recently, it has managed to generate decent outcomes because at the end of the analysis, both sides knew how to press broadly in the same direction. Whatever the leaning, the economists all wanted more or less similar outcomes.

Today’s right-left hyperbole is not so much characterized by differences in ideals but dys-

function as to what a conversation should even look like. Opinion leaders on either end are content to wing out for the day’s most ridiculous shriek, as if indignant notoriety were more important than peace and prosperity. Insolent Muppets jockeying for a Nobel Prize.

One interesting way to get to the bottom of things is to follow the money. And by that I mean follow the private money.

In other words, study the enterprises that people are willing to freely engage in with their own funds. If information is reasonably well-dispersed, this might be a good test for the aggregate judgment of potential hurt or gain of an idea.

More specifically, since governments rely heavily on the willingness of investors to buy their public bonds (i.e. to lend them money) what are the criteria a private lender might use to evaluate the credit risk of a given political system? It’s actually fairly intuitive, at least in the free world. Potential hazards of lending directly to a government, or to one of its resident businesses or individuals might include:

• The risk of expropriation of assets. (Don’t just think Venezuela or some other pineapple republic. Think National Energy Policy right here in Canada, 1980-1985.)

• Government default of credit (measured in part by the extent of the tax burden already placed upon citizens. Higher taxation levels mean less flexibility to absorb unseen government shortfalls in the future).

• Imposition of foreign exchange controls,

(effectively shrinking the nation’s currency, and repaying sovereign debt with devalued money).

• Potential adverse effect of deteriorating economic conditions, which could result in political and social unrest.

• Likelihood of excessive interference in market mechanisms – (Think of China ham-fistedly manipulating its stock markets)

• Political corruption (i.e., something more than garden variety – generally in countries where government is not accountable to its citizenry, and thus more erratic, unruly.)

• The jurisdiction’s balance sheet. (Is it already too heavily in debt?)

• Key industries within its borders (their prognosis and the impact on tax base).

This only scratches the surface. Think about the gazillions of dollars private interests lend to governments the world over at this very moment. Nobody is compelling them to lend the money. They do it because they expect it back, with interest.

The motivation to analyze the risk is enough to keep geeky economists busy for the foreseeable future. Some other risk measures include: projected and historical budget balances, budget surplus/deficit to GDP, projected revenue and expense growth/shrinkage, revenues to GDP, program expenses to GDP, revenue (tax burden) per capita, debt per capita, and on and on it goes. (If you fell asleep reading this paragraph, I just proved my point. Analysis isn’t sexy.)

Economists and politicians bicker over the subtleties, but the money will simply stop flowing their way in the free world if they are too far offside on too many of the above risks.

In the circle of legitimate debate, among those with either a good read on reality, or their own skin in the game, the parameters of discussion are not nearly as wildly divergent as your newsfeed might imply. And no student protest, no Facebook rant, no Twitter tirade, or Instagram meme can change that.

Mark Ryan is an investment advisor with RBC Dominion Securities Inc. (Member – Canadian Investor Protection Fund), and these are his views, and not those of RBC Dominion Securities. This article is for information purposes only. Please consult with a professional advisor before taking any action based on information in this article. See Ryan’s website at: http://dir.rbcinvestments.com/mark.ryan.

low and helped to pull the Toronto stock market down from its record high. The Canadian dollar traded at an average of 74.21 cents US, the lowest level since Jan. 3 and compared with an average of 74.51 cents US on Tuesday. The move followed the central banks’ latest interest rate announcement to keep its key interest rate target on hold at 1.75 per cent. Much of what it announced was expected, but it surprised some by dropping any mention of future rate hikes, said Candice Bangsund, portfolio manager for Fiera Capital. “The growth forecasts were much more bearish than what the market was expecting so taken together the dismal outlook for the Canadian economy and the fact that they abandoned their plans to raise interest rates of course weighed on the Canadian dollar... and on Canadian financials,” she said.

The Toronto stock market’s heavyweight financials sector fell 0.86 per cent led by the Royal Bank of Canada as bank profitability would be constrained without any move to increase net interest margins.

The energy sector decreased 2.3 per cent as oil prices fell following a weekly report pointing to U.S. crude inventories growing 5.5 million barrels last week, far exceeding analyst forecasts. Shares of several large Canadian energy companies decreased, led by Crescent Point Energy Corp. and Suncor Energy Inc., which dropped 5.6 and 3.5 per cent respectively.

The June crude contract was down 41 cents at US$65.89 per barrel and the June natural gas contract was up 0.1 of a cent at US$2.50 per mmBTU.

The June gold contract was up US$6.20 at US$1,279.40 an ounce and the May copper contract was up 1.65 cents at US$2.91 a pound.

Industrials trailed only the cannabis-heavy health care sector in gaining 0.55 per cent as Transat AT., Bombardier Inc. and Canadian Pacific Railway increased. The Calgary-based railway’s shares were up 2.7 per cent on the day despite missing analyst expectations Tuesday after markets closed. “While they may have had a tough quarter last quarter, the outlook longer-term looks fairly bright,” said Bangsund. Overall, the S&P/TSX composite index closed down 82.88 points to 16,586.52.

Marc Garneau said on

Spruce Kings begin Doyle Cup quest in Brooks

Ted CLARKE Citizen staff

For the first time in their 23-year history the Prince George Spruce Kings are crossing the provincial border into Alberta as champions of the B.C. Hockey League.

The Spruce Kings have a date with Doyle Cup destiny on Friday when they take on the Brooks Bandits in the opening game of the best-of-seven series at Centennial Regional Arena in Brooks.

The Kings earned that right a week ago in Vernon where they completed a four-game sweep of the Vipers to capture the Fred Page Cup and become the first community-owned team to win the BCHL crown.

The Kings’ bus left Wednesday morning to overnight in Calgary, the hometown of Kings defenceman Dylan Anhorn, the only Alberta native on the team. It’s a dream come true for Anhorn to take on the Bandits for the Pacific regional junior A hockey championship just two hours away from his roots, with both teams already qualified for the national tournament May 11-19 in Brooks.

“We’re staying in Calgary tonight and it’ll be a cool experience to be so close to home and having family be able to come out and watch,” said Anhorn.

“Our group is focused and we’ll be ready to go. Two playoff runs with more or less the same group is going to give you a lot of experience and confidence going into a national championship and this Doyle Cup coming up here is going to be a great test for us.”

Anhorn, 20, is heading into the final month of his junior career and the Kings’ extended playoff run will mean a short off-season before he makes the jump to college hockey next season playing for Union College, an NCAA Division 1 team based in Schenectady, N.Y.

Anhorn’s puck-handling ability and steady work habits in his own end helped set the tone for the Spruce Kings, the best defensive team in the BCHL all season. Just as he did the previous postseason in a 24-game run that took Prince George as far as the league final, he’s stepped it up offensively in the playoffs with three goals and 10 assists in 17 games.

The Kings swept three of their four BCHL series during a recordsetting 16-1 playoff run. They started with a five-game series win over Coquitlam, then dispatched Chilliwack, Victoria and Vernon in the bare minimum. No other team in the 58-year history of the league has won the Fred Page Cup with just one loss on its postseason record. “It’s really special whenever you

win a championship and when you break a record like that it’s something that’ll stick with you for a lifetime,” said Anhorn. “It’s incredible just to see the community’s support behind us and all the friends and families that have been able to share the moment with us, it’s something we’ll never forget but we’re not finished yet.

“We know Brooks was a strong team going in and knew we’d probably face them if we want to win our goal of a national championship. Speaking with the guys I know from Alberta they say they’re a real tough test but we think we’ve got the group to do it, so we’re ready to go.”

Kings winger Patrick Cozzi says his team learned from the adversity that came with their five-game loss to Wenatchee in the 2018 league final. Now that they’re champions they carry the swagger he thinks will take them to the Doyle Cup and beyond.

“We’re much more prepared on how to handle it and I think we’re going to do great,” said Cozzi, a Colorado College recruit who ranks second in team playoff scoring with two goals and 19 points in 17 games. “We’ve watched a ton of video on (the Bandits) and they look good, they have good systems, so I think it’s going to be our toughest series but it’s nothing we can’t handle. Either way, we have a good chance of winning it here which will be good for our fans.”

The Kings wrapped up their first BCHL championship last Wednesday with a 3-1 win in Vernon which culminated a 3913-1-5 regular season in which they finished just one point behind Chilliwack for first overall.

“It’s taken a lot of hard work throughout the year, every single practice, every workout, every single thing we did as a team, it all came together and everyone bought in and that’s why we had success,” said Kings defenceman Layton Ahac, who has 17 playoff points. “It’s a surreal feeling, just to do it with this group is unbelievable.”

The fast and physical Bandits shredded the Alberta Junior Hockey League record book this season. They went 57-3-0 and finished with 114 points. They posted nothing but wins in 30 games on home ice and ended the season on a 33-0 clip they extended to 35-0 before they lost to Canmore in overtime in the playoffs. Brooks drew a first-round playoff bye and went 12-3 on their way to winning the Inter Pipeline Cup – their fifth AJHL championship since 2012.

“To me, Brooks is probably the Victoria Grizzlies times two in the fact they’re high-octane, they’re deep at every position and their regular-season record just goes to show you how good a team they are,” said Kings general manger Mike Hawes. “For us to have success against them, especially here

in the Doyle Cup and further into the national championship, we’re really going to have to ramp up our game.

“I don’t know if they defend as well as we do but certainly they’re a very skilled team with depth at every position, so they’re deep on defence as well. But defending isn’t just about defence, it’s about the six-man unit on the ice. I think that’s our strength is how well we defend and we’re able to capitalize on our chances when we get them.

I expect they’ll defend well and I expect they’ll threaten offensively every chance they get and have some good goaltending.”

The Bandits will host the first two games of the series Friday and Saturday. If the teams split those two games a third game would be played in Brooks.

If either team wins both games, the Kings will host Game 3 Tuesday night at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena, with Game 4 to follow on Wednesday.

In either scenario the Kings will be on home ice for the fourth game Wednesday, with if necessary games in Prince George scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Head coach Adam Maglio and assistant coach Alex Evin have spent hours this past week dissecting the Bandits’ game video to devise a plan to diffuse a team that outscored its opponents 66-34 in the playoffs.

“It is a best-of-seven and nothing changes in how we’re going to go about this series, the only thing that’s different is the schedule with the home-and-away stuff, but I think we have the advantage being on the back half here (in Prince George),” said Maglio. “We want to do our job and it would be nice to be back sooner, if you sweep the first two you get to come home sooner.”

Despite the fact both teams have already punched their ticket to the six-team national tournament Maglio says there will be no shortage of motivation to keep winning.

“It’s a very good Brooks team and it’s going to be a tough series but there’s pride on the line, BCHL versus the Alberta league,” he said. “They’re a well-structured team with skill up front and they’re a very aggressive team but they seem to play within a very good system. They’re very good offensively but if you look at their shots against they’ve averaged (close to) 20 shots a game this year. It means they know how to defend.”

The Kings will be without the services of defenceman Liam Watson-Brawn, 20, who suffered an upper-body injury in the Victoria series and played just Game 4 of the Vernon series.

The games will be broadcast on CFIS FM 93.1 and webcasts are available through Hockey TV.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY JAMES DOYLE

Prince George Spruce Kings captain Ben Poisson raises the Fred Page Cup over his head on April 18 at Rolling MIx Concrete Arena after the Spruce Kings arrived home after defeating the Vernon Vipers the night before to claim their first BCHL championship.

The Spruce Kings head to Alberta to take on the Brooks Bandits during the best of seven Doyle Cup championship.

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin reaches for the puck against Carolina Hurricanes

on Wednesday in Washington.

Hurricanes stun defending champion Capitals in double overtime

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON — Jordan Staal tied it in the third period, Brock McGinn scored in the second overtime and the Carolina Hurricanes stormed back to stun the Washington Capitals 4-3 in Game 7 on Wednesday night to eliminate the defending Stanley Cup champions.

McGinn dived to prevent a goal in the final minutes of regulation and then scored 11:05 into the second extra period, and Petr Mrazek made 34 saves to continue an upset-heavy first round of the NHL playoffs. Carolina had the first nine shots of the first OT and 11 of 15 total, with coach Rod Brind’Amour’s group showing it had plenty left in the tank.

Carolina showed the same never-quit attitude that helped it end the NHL’s longest playoff drought after a decade by forcing a deciding seventh game and erasing a 3-1 deficit in it. Topline forwards Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen beat surprisingly shaky Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby, who allowed four goals on 42 shots.

“Time and time again we’ve just manned up,” said Hurricanes captain Justin Williams, who had an assist on McGinn’s winner. “It would have been easy to fold up, especially against a team like that. ... Our guys really fought.”

The Hurricanes’ surge back in the series without concussed winger Andrei Svechnikov and injured winger Micheal Ferland made it the first time in league history that

all four division champions were knocked out in the first round. Game 7 losses by Vegas and Washington on back-to-back nights eliminated the two teams from last year’s Cup final in succession. In one of the strangest first rounds in recent history, the Hurricanes beating the Capitals doesn’t even rank at the top of unlikely outcomes after Columbus swept Presidents’ Trophy winning Tampa Bay and Colorado closed out Western Conference top seed Calgary in five. With all four wildcard teams winning, Carolina now faces former Capitals coach Barry Trotz and the New York Islanders in the second round starting Friday in Brooklyn.

It looked after a lopsided Game 5 and a couple of two-goal leads by the Capitals in Game 7 that

they were poised to move on. But the Hurricanes closed the gap in the second period, tied the score on Staal’s third goal of the series 2:56 into the third, forced overtime and celebrated on Washington’s home ice.

Williams – Mr. Game 7 with an NHL-record 15 points in the deciding games – and the Hurricanes celebrated their first series victory since 2009, while the Capitals lost in the first round for the first time since 2013. Despite goals by Andre Burakovsky, Tom Wilson and Evgeny Kuznetsov and a monster game from captain Alex Ovechkin, Washington fell to 4-8 in Game 7 during the Ovechkin era.

The Capitals joined the Predators and Penguins as teams that all won at least one series each of the past three years but failed to get

out of the first round in these playoffs. They were hurt by a seasonending torn left hamstring to defenceman Michal Kempny and a broken collarbone on winger T.J. Oshie, whose appearance in the final minutes of regulation fired up the crowd but wasn’t enough to spark an OT win.

NOTES: Jaccob Slavin set a Whalers/Hurricanes franchise record for assists in a playoff series with eight... Williams improved to 8-1 all-time in Game 7... Svechnikov missed his fourth consecutive game after being concussed in a fight with Ovechkin on April 15. ...The Capitals fell to 5-12 all-time in Game 7 and 3-9 at home. Up next Carolina will visit the Islanders in Game 1 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Friday night.

Gauthier, Team Canada taking on Latvia in world under-18 hockey

The Canadian Press

UMEA, Sweden — Canada (4-0) will face Latvia (1-3) in the quarterfinals at the world under-18 hockey championship today (10:30 a.m.).

The Canadians clinched top spot in Group A with a 6-2 win over the Czech Republic on Tuesday . Canada scored six unanswered goals

against the Czechs after falling behind 2-0.

Alex Newhook, Dylan Holloway, Philip Tomasino, Nathan Legare, Jamieson Rees and Peyton Krebs scored for Canada. Goalie Nolan Maier made 23 saves.

Radek Muzik and Marcel Barinka scored for the Czech Republic. Goalie Lukas Parik stopped 52 shots. Two Prince George Cougars are playing in the tournament.

THURSDAY’S GAMES Sixth Draw, 10:30 a.m.

Men Paterson vs. Matsumura, Bottcher vs. Tardi

Women Kovaleva vs. Rumyanceva, Tirinzoni vs. Scheidegger, Sinclair vs. Wrana. Seventh Draw, 2 p.m. Men Gushue vs. Epping, Mouat vs. Dunstone, Koe vs. Schwaller

Women Homan vs. Kim, Stern vs. Flaxey

Eighth Draw, 6 p.m.

Men Carruthers vs. Tardi, Paterson vs. Shuster, Jacobs vs. Edin

Women Carey vs. Sinclair Tirinzoni vs. Kovaleva Ninth Draw, 10 p.m.

Men Muyres vs. Schwaller Bottcher vs. Mouat, Jones vs. Flaxey

Women Einarson vs. Scheidegger, Hasselborg vs. Silvernagle

FRIDAY’S GAMES Draw 10, 10:30 a.m.

Men Dunstone vs. Carruthers, Edin vs. Matsumura

Women Carey vs. Kim Draw 11, 2 p.m.

Men Koe vs. Epping, Jacobs vs. Paterson, Mouat vs. Tardi

Women Hasselborg vs. Stern, Scheidegger vs. Rumyanceva

Draw 12, 6 p.m.

Men Edin vs. Shuster

Women Kim vs. Wrana, Tirinzoni vs. Einarson, Homan vs. Carey, Jones vs. Silvernagle

Draw 13, 10 p.m. Men Bottcher vs. Carruthers, Koe vs. Gushue, Epping vs. Muyres PLAYOFFS SATURDAY, APR. 27 Draw 14, 10:30 a.m. Tiebreakers (if necessary) Draw 15, 2 p.m. Women’s Quarterfinals Draw 16, 6 p.m. Men’s Quarterfinals Draw 17, 10 p.m. Men’s & Women’s Semifinals SUNDAY, APR. 28

Championship, 12 p.m. Semifinals

Goalie Taylor Gauthier played the first two games in net for Canada. He stopped 39 of 42 shots in Canada’s come-from-behind 5-3 win over Finland on Thursday, then helped backstop a 7-4 win over Switzerland on Friday while blocking 24 of 28 shots.

The United States won Group B and will face Finland in the quarterfinals. Belarus will meet Russia and Sweden will face the Czech Republic in the other quarterfinals.

The semifinals will be played on Saturday with the medal games to follow on Sunday.

Centre Matej Toman played in Tuesday’s game against Canada, his only tournament appearance so far, and was held without a point. The Czechs (2-2) finished third in Group A.

AP PHOTO

center Greg McKegg (42) during the second period of Game 7 of an NHL hockey first-round playoff series

Stephen WHYNO

Avengers: Endgame poised to topple box-office records

NEW YORK — By any measure, the release of Avengers: Endgame is a movie-theatre event unlike any other.

When the 22nd film in Marvel Studios’ saga opens in North American theatres tonight, it will land on more screens than any movie ever has in U.S. and Canadian theatres. And even still, the 4,600 theatres the Walt Disney Co. has lined up may still not be able to keep up with demand.

Beginning Thursday night, many theatres will stay open round-theclock. Seventeen AMC Theatres won’t close for 72 hours straight. Some $120 million in presales have already set records on advance ticketing services Fandango and Atom. AMC’s website was crashed by early Endgame ticket buyers.

“It looks like we’ve gotten Thanos’ snap,” AMC said at the time.

Just how massive the ticket sales will be by the end of Sunday has been one of the one of the industry’s favourite guessing games. Can it clear $300 million domestically? Is a $1 billion worldwide weekend possible? Will Avengers: Endgame eventually rival the $2.8 billion total gross of Avatar in 2009?

Regardless, records will fall

– and they have already started to. Disney said Wednesday that Avengers: Endgame grossed about $107.2 million in China on Wednesday, where it first opened. That’s already the most lucrative single day ever in Chinese theatres. Only Star Wars: The Force Awakens had a larger single day gross, and its one-day $119.1 million haul came from both U.S. and Canada theatres.

“This is a seismic box-office event,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. “This is like the 100-yearflood of movies.”

The current opening weekend record is held by the last Avengers movie – the 2018 preamble to Endgame, Infinity War.

It debuted with $257.7 million domestically and $640.5 million worldwide.

Both of those records are likely toast. The worldwide haul is certain to be obliterated because Infinity War didn’t debut in China until two weeks later. Endgame is opening worldwide more or less simultaneously everywhere except Russia. Estimates range from $260 million to $300 million domestically, and between $800 million and $1 billion globally.

Helping the cause is that reviews, at 97 per cent fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, have been

among the best for any Marvel movie. Endgame concludes not just the arc of the Avengers movies but signals the completion of the 22-movie Marvel Cinematic Universe, as mapped out by Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige. Feige has been tight-lipped about what the next phase will be, though he has new reinforcements. Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox brings Marvel’s X-Men and Deadpool under the same roof.

Endgame will give a muchneeded jolt to the box office, which is running about 16 per cent behind the pace of 2018. Ironically, though, the weekend won’t be much an improvement over the same time frame last year since that’s when Infinity War opened. And no other wide release is daring to open against Endgame. Ultimately, the only thing standing in the way of Endgame is Endgame, itself. With a running time of three hours and one minute, theatres won’t be able to fit as many screenings in per day as they’d like to.

“It looks like the demand is going to outstrip the supply but theatres are doing their best to keep up with that,” said Dergarabedian. “Look, there’s only 24 hours in a day and it’s a three hour and one minute movie.”

Cosby renews attacks on trial judge as he seeks bail

The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA — Imprisoned actor Bill Cosby is renewing attacks on a Pennsylvania trial judge as he again seeks bail while he appeals his sex-assault conviction.

Lawyers for the 81-yearold Cosby filed a bail motion Wednesday with the state Superior Court.

They complain that Montgomery County Judge Steven O’Neill has not issued a post-trial opinion explaining key trial decisions in the seven months since Cosby’s conviction.

The defence needs the opinion to pursue Cosby’s appeals.

There is no deadline for judges to file their opinions, and some spend many months on them in

Jake COYLE The Associated Press

AP PHOTO

Susan Downey and Robert Downey Jr. arrive at the premiere of Avengers: Endgame at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Monday.

complex cases. The motion accuses O’Neill of harbouring a personal grudge against a defence witness. O’Neill’s office says he won’t have a comment on the motion.

Cosby is serving a three- to 10-year prison term for drugging and molesting a woman in 2004.

COSBY

A Lovely Lady Has Passed From This Life

INGEBORG IRMGARD IRMA ANDRADE

Born April 13, 1935, in Berlin, Germany, passed away peacefully in her sleep, April 11, 2019 in Jubilee Lodge at UHNBC. Predeceased by her soulmate, Manuel Andrade, in July of 1988. No service by request. In lieu of flowers, make donations to an animal shelter of your choice. Inge did love all animals.

Kunka,Rosanna April14,2019

BornApril11,1957,inSclater,Manitoba,Rosanna Kunkapassedawaypeacefully,surroundedbyloved ones.Sheispre-deceasedbyhermother,Mary Lylyk;father,NickKunka;brothers,Eddie,Casmer, andOrest;andsister,Christine.Rosannaissurvived byherlovingchildren,Melanie(Adam)andKyle (Adrianne);wonderfulgrandchildren,Keeganand Abbygale;formercompanion,BruceLangstaff;her sisters,JeanandKatie;andbrothers,Melvin,Nester, andMetro. Rosanna’spassionwasspendingtimewithfamily andfriends.Shelovedbringingpeopletogetherfor chatsandlaughs.Rosannaspentmuchofhertimeat theUkrainiandancehall,baseballfields,andschool, supportingandcheeringonhergrandchildrenin whateverventuretheyweredoingthatday.Rosanna lovedcookinglargefamilymealsandvolunteering hertimepinchingperogiesandwrappingcabbage rollswithherUkrainianfriends.

Rosannawillbesadlymissedbyallthatknewher. PleasejoinustoCelebratetheLifeofRosannaon May11attheYalenkaCommunityHall,933Patricia Boulevard,between3pm-5pm.

Peter Schmid 1929-2019

Peter Schmid died on April 18, 2019 at the age of 90, survived by his loving wife of 61 years Lisa, children Fritz (Odette), Peter (Diane), Josie, and Doris (Stephen) Bennett, nine grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and brothers Huldreich, Hans, and Wilfried. Peter was born in Gsang, Frutigen, Switzerland on Feb 28, 1929, the second of 8 children. He served two years in the Swiss army and trained as a Cabinet Maker before immigrating in 1952 to work at logging in the Columbia Valley. Peter met his future wife in1956 when he arrived at the Rock Creek Hotel for a meal late one night just as Lisa, the lovely Swiss cook, was finishing her shift. They married in 1957 and moved to Prince George where Peter built their first home. That first winter was spent with plastic sheeting for windows and plywood floors, but in time they realized their dream home on an acreage on Chief Lake Road. Peter joined the maintenance department at Northwood Pulp Mill in 1965, where he worked for 26 years. He unleashed his creativity and old world craftsmanship at home in his workshop, where furniture, farm repairs, toys, and innovations magically materialized. He was also happy to use his skills to help his children with their own homes. Peter & Lisa also enjoyed square dancing with the PG Northern Twisters and socializing with the Swiss Club. They retired to Creston and later Salmon Arm and spent their time gardening, huckleberry picking, square dancing, traveling, and cross-country skiing or hiking with the grandkids. Peter will be sadly missed and remembered for his commitment to family, work ethic, and honesty, as well as his epic 3-year woodpiles and radiant smile. Peter’s family extend a heartfelt thank you to the caring staff at Mt Ida Mews where Peter spent the last two years of his life, and to doctors Keith and Laura Hepburn who cared for him over the years. Peter requested that there be no funeral service. Share memories and condolences online through Peter’s obituary at www.fischersfuneralservices.com

Ellen Gertrude Bracey May 27, 1930April 16, 2019

It is with great sadness that we announce Ellen’s passing peacefully in the early hours of April 16. Ellen was a long time resident of the Prince George area living a full life on their farm at Cresent Lake. Ellen is survived by her children Lorraine and Dave Solmonson, Charlie and Rosemarie Bracey and Shane Bracey. Predeceased by her husband Art Bracey. Special thanks to everyone at Simon Fraser lodge for Moms care during her last years. A service tea will be held at the Hart Pioneer Centre, 6986 Hart Hwy, Prince George, from 12:00-4:00pm on April 27, 2019.

WALFORD, Alma:

Peacefully passed away April 18, 2019 at the age of 85. Dear Mum, you will be greatly missed. Widow of John, survived by loving daughters Christine (David) and Claire (Barry); nephew Christopher, and nieces Katie, Becca and Helen. Alma was born and grew up in England. Emigrated to Canada in 1966 and came to Prince George in 1972. Enjoyed gardening, movies, books and travelling. Was very fond of animals, particularly cats. Funeral service Thursday, April 25 at 3:30 PM, Lakewood Funeral Home, 1055 South Ospika Boulevard, Prince George. In lieu of flowers, please donate to SPCA, 4011 Lansdowne Road, Prince George, BC, V2N 2S6; (250) 561-5511; https://spca.bc.ca/locations/north-cariboo/ scroll down and click on red ‘Donate to this Location’ button.

BOWES,Glenn

October14,1960-April15,2019

Withdeepsorrowweannouncethatlovinghusband, father,brotherandfriend,GlennBowes,haspassed. Hetouchedmanypeople’sliveswithhishumourand kindness.Hewassuperfunnyandfulloflife.He foughtillnesswithdignity,thinkingofhisfamilyright totheend.Amemorialwillbeheldlaterinthe summer.Ifyousowish,pleasedonatetothePrince GeorgeHospiceHouseinGlenn’sname.Ridingwith theangelsnow.

Vernon Wayne Christy Sept 19, 1961 to Apr 17, 2019

It is of great sadness we announce the sudden passing of Vern Christy. Vern will be remembered as always being there for all family and friends in need of help. Predeceased by his father Albert, brother Al, sister Jean. Vern is survived by his mother Sylvia (Lou), sister Kathy (Bill), brother Robert (MaryEllen), brother in law Allen, sister in law Donna, brother Les, nephews Brodie (Tara), Zack, Shaun, nieces Tina (Alex), Brooke, Nicole, his great nieces and nephews Dallas, Clayton, Cassidy, Fallon, Navaeh, Lauren, countless family and friends, second mother Shirley. Celebration of Life will be held at the Hart Pioneer Centre, 1-5pm Sunday April 28, 2019

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Established Franchise Photography Business Serving Northern B.C for over 35 years

Gross Revenues of $150.000 plus annually from seasonal work Lots of opportunity to expand the business.

Transition support available to the right buyer Serious Enquiries Only Office 250-596-9199 Cell 250-981-1472

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Established Franchise Tax Preparation BusinessMackenzieservicing and McLeod Lake area for over 30 years.

Gross Revenues of $85,000 to $90,000 Annually and Potential to expand revenues in a growing economy.

Transition support available for the right buyer. Serious Inquires Only Office (250)997-9003 Home (250)997-5538 Cell (250)990-0152

To everyone who joined in the celebration of my 90th Birthday, and those who could only be there in spirit. Thank you all so much for your kind words and good wishes. I shall treasure them. A truly joyous occasion made more memorable by your presence. Cheers Joan.

And to my dear family above and beyond! Love you all, from Auntie, Mum, Gram, GG

Adult & Youth Newspaper Carriers Needed in the Following areas:

• Hart Area

• Driftwood Rd, Dawson Rd, Seton Cres,

• Austin Rd.

• • Lakewood

• Pilot, Limestone, Mica, Nelson, Selwyn, Valley, Urquhart, Quartz, Azure, Elkhorn Pl & Cres, Ochakwin, Bowren, Chingee Ave, Dome Ave, Cascade Ave, Delta Pl, Jackpine, Quentin Ave.

• • Lower College Heights • O’Grady Rd and Park, Brock, Selkirk, Oxford, Simon Fraser,Trent, Fairmont, Guelph, Gladstone,Hartford, Harvard, Imperial, Kingsley, Jean De Brebeuf Cres, Loyola, Latrobe, LeicesterPl, Princeton Cres, Prince Edward Cres, Newcastle, Melbourne, Loedel, Marine Pl, Hough Pl, Guerrier Pl, Sarah Pl, Lancaster, Lemoyne,

• • Upper College Heights

• St Barbara, St Bernadette, Southridge, St Anne Ave, Bernard, St Clare St, St Gerald Pl, Creekside, Stillwater.

• • KGV Area • Wainwright St, Burden St, Irwin, Harper, 1st, 2nd, Douglas, Hammond,Nechako Dr, Carney, Douglas, Melville, Tofield, Alward, Ewert St, Freeman St, Gillett St, Laurier Cres

Central

Pineview

Domano

and

FORMER LOCAL ARTIST UNVEILS

No matter how basic or refined your taste in art, you get one central first impression from the new book by Keith McKellar: wow, that is colourful. All other views jump off from there.

There’s really no other way to depict his subject matter. When your muse is the neon sculptures climbing the walls of Vancouver’s downtown eastside, shouting out the names of their storefronts and theatres, then only the poppiest and proudest palette will do.

McKellar is known by an artist’s pseudonym, laughinghand, and he puts the humour of his brushstrokes into this tribute to a neighbourhood that grew from grit into sadness and despair but now that this is fading, there is a mourning process even for that, and laughinghand caught it in the pages of this art book like a news photographer snapping a slow motion riot.

McKellar knows the nooks and cracks of the downtown eastside so affectionately because he chose it, after moving from his town of upbringing and formation. That would be Prince George. Before he was laughinghand there, he was inquiringmind here. Now he can turn that page.

By authoring this book, entitled Revolving W and Flying Pigs: A Neon Journal, by investing so much painstaking time into each painting of the neon landscape of Hastings Street and its neighbours, McKellar washes the feet of that besieged neighbourhood. There is a dignity granted to the once handsome subculture trying hard now to spark pride despite its black eyes and broken teeth. McKellar found a nobility under

the grime. He followed the electric rainbow and did not find a pot of gold, but he did find other radiant colours buzzing inside their glass tubes proclaiming the places within the place.

Any examination of the neon signs of that neighbourhood would be laughably incomplete without one in particular. The Smiling Buddha Cabaret is so iconic to Vancouver that the band 5440 made that sign the cover art and that name the title of what is inarguably one of the best rock albums ever made by Canadians, and part of its zeitgeist is that Smiling Buddha anchor. McKellar has it on page 14 of the 60-page book, establishing early how relevant this display of memories is.

Seymour Billiards, Cates Towing, The Elbow Room, Sun Tower and the Naam Restaurant (well outside the downtown eastside, but well inside the point he was making) that can’t be unseen if you walked that neighbourhood over the past few decades.

He also stares right into the come hither eyes of the seedy bars of the area: Balmoral, Niagara, Astoria, and Cobalt.

There is a special berth given to Chinatown. Vancouver band Doug & The Slugs had a hit with their song Chinatown Calculation, a colourful ode of the same kind. It was the same magnetic combo of

It covers a lot of the concert venues that pumped the heart of Vancouver through the halcyon years of Vancouver’s emergence onto the world stage. McKellar has immortalized the Commodore Ballroom, The Yale, the Railway Club, the Orpheum, the Vogue. He has also included the mythological Stanley, Ridge, and Park Theatres among others.

He goes deeper, though, into the strange markets like Save-On Meats, BC Collateral Pawnbro kers, and the Sunrise.

little greasy spoon cafes, newspaper building, bakery, and corner stores that drew in McKellar for his colour tally. Vancouver’s Chinatown is apart as much as it is within, like a moon whose planet is the one in orbit.

independent businesses like

Along with their brilliant likenesses, McKellar also painted them in words. Each painting is accompanied by a poetic essay that deepens the presence of each building. Of the thuggish Cobalt rooming house and bar he said it was “a hard and brittle place with a long catalogue of calamities and troubles etched in its walls. A huff and a puff away from falling down in a heap of torture, tears, and hysterical laughter.”

These are the words of an artist

who’s lived the neighbourhood, not just walked through with a camera. So much of this Vancouver is as charming and as vital as a newcomer off the boat from some faraway homeland, but its stitching has come loose, its colour has faded, its shoes are worn and there’s no repairing it.

Only through the tough love of

an artist can the beauty of decay be preserved as an artifact before it falls to the knockout blow of eviction notice and gravity, not necessarily in that order. It might only be possible to paint such a vividly humane and unblinking likeness of a place if you’ve fallen in love with it, as the sailor falls in love with a favourite harbour.

Handout image by Keith McKellar Save-On Meats is one of the Vancouver landmarks colourfully chronicled in Keith McKellar’s new book Neon Journal.

LONGTIME VOLUNTEER CELEBRATES ‘BLESSED’ LIFE

Retired school teacher Joyce (Armstrong) Unrau was born in Princeton, B.C., in 1936. Joyce said, “My mother was not able to raise me so by the time I was 10 years old I had been farmed out and raised by 12 different relatives. When my father remarried, I was able to have a permanent home and I helped my step mother with my two little brothers.

“I graduated from Similkameen Junior Senior Secondary in Keremeos and in 1956 I started a one-year emergency teaching program at the Victoria College of Education. They called it an emergency teaching program because of the extreme shortage of teachers at the time.

“I took the program and went straight into teaching with the agreement that I would attend summer school for the next four years, take required extension courses with assigned professors and other courses by correspondence. I always said that God designed this program just for me. I had no money so the program was a perfect chance to save the money needed for summer school while I worked as a teacher.”

Joyce was teaching in Fort St James when she met B.C. Forest Service engineer Norman Unrau at a church event in 1961.

Norman, a widower with a nine-yearold son, was born in Grunthal, Man. in 1927. He moved to British Columbia in 1952 and found work with the B. C. Forest Service in Hixon in 1960.

They married in 1962 in Fort St. James. Norman’s work caused them to move to Aleza Lake in the Willow River/Giscome area, then on to Victoria where their son Tim was born in 1963 and then to north Surrey (Newton).

They moved to Prince George in 1965 where their daughter Elizabeth was born. That fall, Norman was sent to work in the Finlay River area and the family moved into a forestry trailer in the Finlay Forks Camp.

The Forest Service established a centre of operations at Finlay Forks to oversee the clearing work as they prepared to flood Williston Lake as a reservoir for the W. A. C. Bennett Dam. Norman’s job as an engineer was to map out roads and the logging processes to prepare for the flooding.

Finlay Forks (also called Finlay Junction) was located at the confluence of the Finlay River and Parsnip River. The town no longer exists. It is not a ghost town, but instead it lies submerged beneath the waters of Williston Lake.

In the spring of 1967, when Norman’s work involving the flooding of Williston Lake was completed, the family moved to Hudson’s Hope for work around the

SENIORS’ SCENE

KATHY NADALIN

W.A.C. Bennett Dam. Months later, they made their final move back to Prince George.

Thirty-five years later and in his mid 70s, Norman found the time to write a book about his work at Finlay Forks entitled Under These Waters. Few people today will remember what it was like before Williston Lake was flooded but thanks to Norman you can read his accounts, of those who were there, in his book written in 2001 (or find it online at www.bcfs100.ca/docs/pdf/0/380.pdf).

Norman was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis while working at Finlay Forks. He had to move from field work to office work until he retired in the mid 80s.

After 50 years of marriage, Norman passed away in 2013 due to a massive heart attack.

Over his lifetime, he wrote a total of seven books with several of them relating to his medical condition.

Joyce was a stay-at-home mom and later went to work as a part-time teacher.

Over the years she worked as the principal’s relief, program advisor, enrichment, learning assistant, preparation relief and librarian in schools mainly at Ron Brent,

Joyce Unrau in her home in Fort George Manor and as she was on her wedding day with husband Norman in June 1962.

Central Fort George and Buckhorn.

She retired in 1998 after a 35-year teaching career and then took over as a full-time caregiver for Norman.

They had three children: Roy – a retired pulp mill worker, Tim – a councillor for juveniles at the University Hospital of Northern B.C., and Elizabeth (Scott) Clements – a Northern Health administrative assistant.

Joyce has been an active member of the Evangelical Free Church of Prince George since 1967 serving as a Sunday school teacher, deaconess, working with catering and in the church library.

Other volunteer work consisted of

many years of delivering books to seniors on behalf of the public library. She served as a guide and the secretary treasurer for the Pioneer Girls for 23 years and currently volunteers with the Gospel Singers choir at the Elder Citizens Recreation Association.

Joyce said, “I now live at Fort George Manor and I love it there. I have been blessed all of my life by the Lord. I am enjoying my retirement with my biggest joy being the time I spend with my two grandsons Zachary and Nicholas.”

The Gospel Singers at the Elder Citizens Recreation Centre are proud to present their spring program Joy in the Lord on Saturday, May 11th at 7 p.m. and again on Sunday (Mother’s Day), May 12th at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are now on sale at the office at 1692 10th Ave. Tickets will also be available at the door.

97/16 photo by Brent Braaten

An Integrated Approach to Community Safety

At a meeting with stakeholders a few weeks ago, I discussed a different approach to address the increasing social justice problems plaguing our communities today. Did you know that on average, only 30% of a police department’s file load is criminal? The rest is comprised mainly of social justice issues related to addictions, mental illness, homelessness, public intoxication and general poor behaviour. Perhaps it is time to separate the criminal part of policing from the social justice part and prevent our most vulnerable from entering the criminal justice system in the first place.

Allowing criminal investigators to focus on bringing criminal investigations to a successful conclusion without the distractions associated to social justice issues, will lead to increased charge approvals by crown counsel and increased rates of conviction. To prevent entry into the criminal element, we need to integrate resources from social services, health departments, BC Housing and the myriad of other agencies and provide a robust wrap around service to society’s most vulnerable right from the first time they come to the attention of authorities. The focus should be on the individual, customizing the intervention specific to their needs.

Morris MLA

Prince George-Mackenzie

Evidence shows that intervention targeting risk factors can be effective and efficient in reducing crime and other social problems.  A single agency, sharing information, resources and most importantly, sharing outcomes, will change our communities.

The police and the criminal justice system are often used as the default to address societal issues causing homelessness, addictions and the consequences of mental illness. The mechanism to filter out societies most vulnerable needs to take place long before a criminal investigation or court outcomes change their lives forever. A model that also embraces a robust community restorative justice program would provide improved outcomes.

The city of Prince George along with several supportive agencies have taken positive steps towards an integrated model. Perhaps the time has come to take that last bold step toward an integrated approach.

Office: 102-1023 Central St. West, Prince George, B.C. Phone: (250) 612-4194 Toll Free: 1(866) 612-4194

Mike.Morris.MLA@leg.bc.ca • www.MikeMorrisMLA.bc.ca /MikeMorrisForBC • @MikeMorrisForBC

Mike

REMOVING FLUORIDE WAS A

The City of Calgary voted to end fluoridation of their water in 2011 and during this time, the number of children with tooth decay has increased –completely unsurprising to those of us who believe in science.

Sarah Reigler from the CBC reports in an article from Feb. 25: “Between 2013 and 2016, the number of children seen by the Alex Dental Health Bus — which provides mobile services to children in schools in high-needs areas — jumped from 798 to 1,607, with the biggest demands for service coming from low-income or otherwise disadvantaged families.” This is a 50 per cent increase in three years.

Calgary has an exceptionally brave city councillor, Diane Colley-Urquhart, who was willing to repeatedly ask for a motion to research the effects on children in Calgary since fluoride was removed. It took her two times before other city councillors would support her motion – not because the councillors didn’t believe in the health benefits of fluoride but because supporting fluoridation is a form of career suicide for municipal politicians.

In 2018, Windsor, Ont. voted to reinstate public water fluoridation after it was reported that the “number of children with tooth decay or requiring urgent oral health care in the region increased by 51 per cent in 2016-17 compared to 2011-12.”

I do not have the numbers for the amount of children in Prince George with increased tooth decay because our city council has not requested a report on the effects of no fluoride in municipal water from Northern Health. I would like them to ask.

I am looking for a brave city councillor who believes in science and knows that voting to end fluoridation was wrong. We have city councillors who are perfectly aware that fluoride is good for the community at large however they have little interest in putting themselves out there to do what it right until rational public opinion will provide some political cover. The problem is that everyday people who believe in science are typically not as vocal as the misguided rantings of the antipoison brigade.

The argument against fluoridating our water supply usually is some variation of “you can’t put that in our water – its poison! Here’s some bunk ‘science’ to support my irrational point of view.”

Except that argument is flawed. Unless these people also love dysentery, polio, malaria and cholera and rally to reject chlorinated water, their viewpoint doesn’t hold much weight.

Sorry folks, I believe in science.

A brief message to the anti-fluoride army that will immediately call my house and send me quasi-threatening messages on my personal Facebook account: there is nothing that would ever encourage me to call someone at home because I disagree with them. I will never send you a message on your personal Facebook

97/16 file photo

Jai Hilton, a student from Van Bien, has his teeth polished by Sam Childs, a CNC Certified Dental Assistant student last May. The college promotes oral health for local children through its annual Seal in a Smile program.

account or comment publically (except in this format) about how much I disagree with you. Consider if you would be really keen on receiving angry phone calls from strangers before dialing. Instead of getting your back up and angry typing a message to me that I will not read, I strongly encourage you to read what the following, reputable sources have to say about the benefits of the naturally-

occurring mineral called fluoride and how it has been safely used for over 75 years: Health Canada, the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control, the Canadian Dental Association and the American Dental Association.

If your article is written by a “health practitioner” who did not go to medical school, do not send me the link. I’ll stick with proven science, thanks.

A WELCOMING PATH TO RECONCILIATION

It is said that what happens to one person impacts all of us. While this may seem absurd to some, as I gain experience in life, it becomes ever clearer to me that we share a common humanity.

I have been teaching high school students about genocide for over 10 years now. In the final project of the course, students research a topic of interest to them and present their findings.

Many choose to report on issues which relate to their own relatives. Some have talked about parents and grandparents who survived the residential schools or a long lost uncle who endured the Holocaust. Others draw into question English government policies regarding the Scottish land clearances or the Irish potato blight. Some present the experiences of their families in fleeing more recent conflicts. All who do research related to their background speak with a combination of pride and sadness.

I have to admit that part of my motivation for teaching this course has been to reconcile the histories of my own family. On one side I have Germans, who were at the very least complicit as racist policies took hold in their government in the 1930s and 40s. I recall sitting with family in modern day Germany asking myself how such a horrible thing could happen in such a wonderful place. The answer, of course, is that these things can happen anywhere. It is up to us, as informed citizens, to stand with those who are targeted and let it be known that no form of discrimination is acceptable. I honour my German ancestors by speaking this truth.

On the other side of my family, I have Syrian refugees fleeing persecution by

LESSONS IN LEARNING

GERRY CHIDIAC

the Ottomans in the early part of the 20th century. Perhaps they looked at what was happening to their Armenian neighbours and asked, “Are we next?” History shows that they made a good decision, as the number of Christians living in the Middle East continues to diminish.

For years, I saw no connection between my own history and that of the Indigenous peoples of Canada. I knew that Canadian policy was aimed at destroying their way of life and that what happened in the residential schools was wrong. I knew that I needed to teach this ugly piece of our history, but I did not feel that it was my own story.

Then I began studying the spiritual aspects of Indigenous culture, a wisdom which my own church tried to erase. I found my neighbours to be very inclusive with regard to this aspect of the healing process; I felt in no way judged and I was simply accepted as the person I am.

As I learned about the medicine wheel, I felt my own life coming into balance. I realized that the wound inflicted on the people who welcome me to their territory is the same wound that was inflicted on my grandparents when they had to flee their homes.

In other words, we share a common humanity. Where one is harmed, we are all harmed. Where one is healed, we are all healed.

As I walked out of the medicine wheel experience, I realized I felt no animosity toward the Ottomans and their descendants. I only felt peace and a solidarity with my grandparents, as well as a deep sense of gratitude toward my Indigenous teachers.

I also knew that I had to tell about my experience. Far too often I hear non-Indigenous Canadians say, “They need to get over this. We suffered too you know.”

Yes, you and your ancestors did suffer

and the wounds endured are very real. Be aware, however, that First Nations people are not trying to take anything from the rest of Canadian society, they are simply trying to welcome us on their journey of healing, a journey that is for all of us on the shared path to reconciliation. — Gerry Chidiac is a champion for social enlightenment, inspiring others to find their greatness in making the world a better place. For more of his writings, go to www.gerrychidiac.com

97/16 file photo

Heather Holland wipes away a tear while sharing a story of a relative that was a survivor of the Indian Residential Schools during Orange Shirt Day at CNC in September 2017.

UGANDA FUNDRAISER NEXT SATURDAY

FRANK PEEBLES

97/16 staff

Success can be measured two ways, for the Northern Uganda Development Foundation (NUDF). In addition to the ongoing development projects this notfor-profit society helps to coordinate, they are also celebrating the 10th anniversary of one of their main fundraisers.

On May 4, the Prince George-based organization will host the annual African Dinner at the Columbus Community Centre.

“Join us for a traditional Ugandan dinner to raise money for NUDF projects,” said a statement issued by the group.

In addition to the unique cuisine there will also be silent auction items and family fun. Children 10 and younger are free to attend and regular tickets are $40.

The group was co-founded by UNBC professor Chris Opio, who was born and raised in Uganda before coming to Canada for academic pursuits. He con-

tinues to teach and do scientific research based in Prince George.

NUDF was also co-founded by Geoffrey Odongo, a UNBC alumnus now living and working back in his home country of Uganda, but still maintaining close ties to Prince George as he manages the efforts of the NUDF on the ground.

All money raised by the foundation goes to “design, fund, and deliver development projects that empower villagers in Northern Uganda to create economically self-sustaining lifestyles that include safe water, adequate food and shelter, and access to fundamental health care and education services, maintainable without further aid.”

Tickets to attend the dinner are available at Books & Company and at the UNBC Bookstore. Seats can also be purchased, or any form of support arranged by contacting Opio (250-961-9221 or chris@nudf.org) or fellow foundation member Andrea Byrne (andrea.nudf@ gmail.com or 778-689-2160).

97/16 file photo

Chris Opio, a UNBC professor and founder of the Northern Uganda Development Foundation, is hosting the annual African Dinner to raise funds for the Northern Uganda Development Foundation.

BUS SERVICE READY TO HIT THE ROAD

A Williams Lake bus company will soon begin service between Prince George and Surrey.

Adventure Charter and Rentals’ inaugural run is set for May 2, when it’s scheduled to leave Prince George at 8:45 a.m. and arrive at the Scott Road Skytrain Station at 7:31 p.m. It will stop at 20 other communities

along the way. The fare will range between $65 and $110 one way, depending on how far a client travels.

The schedule, which features twicea-week service between the two cities as well as twice-a-week runs between Williams Lake and Kamloops, has been mostly well received since it was posted online at www.adventurecharters.ca.

“Overall, it’s been excellent,” operations manager Randy Gertzen said.

The business has been in operation for more than a decade. It provides a daily run to to the Mount Polley mine and a charter service for schools, teams, First Nations, and other groups.

Moreover, the company used to do emergency runs for Greyhound, which left a void when it pulled out of Western Canada in October 2018.

“We used to do their runs if they were broke down or short of drivers and we

had seen what their ridership was like,” Gertzen said. “We had also seen what they had for overhead costs. We’re a family-run business, we’re a lot leaner, we don’t have the big overheads. So hopefully, if our ridership is where we would like to see it, we will make a go of it.” Tickets can be bought online and must be purchased in advance so drivers know where they have to stop and where they can just pass through.

FAIR WAGES COMMISSION TO HOLD HEARING IN PRINCE GEORGE

97/16 STAFF

The B.C. Fair Wages Commission will be in Prince George to gather the public’s views on ways to close the gap between the minimum wage and a living wage. The commission will hold hearings at the Coast Inn of the North on May 13.

A living wage is defined as the hourly rate at which a household can meet its basic needs based on the actual costs of living in a specific community and is generally higher than the legislated minimum wage set by the provincial government.

Anyone wishing to present their views in person to the commission is asked to book a time in advance by emailing FWC@gov.bc.ca. All meetings will be open to the public.

Written feedback can also be provided through the same email.

For more information, and the most up-to-date list of in-person sessions, visit: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/fairwagescommission.

For more information on living wages in Canada, visit: www.livingwagecanada.ca

SPECIAL NEEDS COMMITTEE TO VISIT CITY

eligibility processes for those with special needs.

Michelle Stilwell, deputy chair and MLA for Parksville-Qualicum.

The all-party Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth will be in Prince George on May 22 as part of gathering public input on how to improving assessment and

“We are interested in hearing directly from parents, caregivers and other stakeholders about barriers and challenges, and how processes and supports can be simplified,” said

“The committee wants to find solutions that better serve children and youth with neuro-diverse special needs and their families.”

A hearing will be held at the Civic Centre, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Those interested in making a submission are asked to register at www. leg.bc.ca/cmt/cay.

Written submissions are also accepted at the same address until 5 p.m. on June 7.

97/16 STAFF

97/16 STAFF

The Prince George Citizen is looking for photos taken within the boundaries of Fort St. James to the North, Quesnel to the South, Valemount to the East, and Smithers to the West. Photos may be published in our 2019 Explore the North Magazine, with a chance for your photo to appear on the cover!

win an awesome prize package from surplus Herby’s!

Please provide the following information along with your photo:

• Brief description of the area the photo captures and why you would recommend it to others (no more than 60 words)

• Your name for photo credit and authorization for us to publish the photo & description

We will accept photos at our office #201 - 1777 3rd Ave, or by email (jpg format at 300 dpi) to northern_explorer@pgcitizen.ca. Please include ‘Explore The North’ in the subject line. We will only be able to publish a select few photos but would like to thank everyone who made a submission. Photos will not be returned.

ANGER SURROUNDS ADDICTION

Thank you for all your responses via email and letters. Your replies, comments and thoughts help clarify my own. In this, I identify gaps in my logic and become aware of faulty thinking.

Many people are angry at addicts like me. I get that. Remember, I grew up in an alcoholic family. My father was an alcoholic. He was a happy drunk yet despite this, his drinking impacted us all. My younger brother lives in a perpetual state of anger and rage. My father quit drinking 15 years before his untimely death at age 60. My father is gone yet my younger brother still lives with his rage.

Addiction is destructive, horrible, it hurts all those around. John Bradshaw was one of the first to discuss how addiction hits family systems. He uses the analogy of a child’s hanging mobile to explain. When hanging in healthy balance and harmony, all mobile pieces move nicely together. When one piece is hit (by addiction), the entire mobile is impacted, the whole family system is disturbed.

If you remove one piece of the mobile, that is, cut addiction/addict out of your life, the mobile becomes lopsided, it does not function well; the whole family system continues to move with anger and rage. My dad is dead, yet my brother still simmers.

Anger is dangerous for alcoholics and addicts like me. Resentment is the number one offender for us. Unaddressed, it keeps us addicts trapped in our disease. We are not like you normies (we call non-addicts ‘normies’); we cannot afford the dubious luxury of these negative feelings. When in the midst of our disease, we addicts forget this. Anger and resentments are useful to us; they are like gasoline to our fire. Addiction rages, it burns everything around, it consumes what it can; a wildfire needs fuel.

Anger, self pity, remorse – these are fuel to our fire, necessary for our addiction to live.

So how do I, an addict unknown personally to you, address your anger? I

ASK AN ADDICT

damaged so many people in my path of destructive use. Saying sorry no longer works. What matters is what I do. I write this column, expose myself to you, to your rage, in an attempt to make amends for my past.

I am sorry for your pain, the anger that you feel. I am responsible, my actions, my way of being, brings that to the forefront for you. I realize my apology may enrage some even more. “You are not responsible for my anger, how dare you apologize?” You might next say to me. All I know is that anger begets more anger.

After time, the continued expression of, the continued feeling of and the continued revisiting of one thing over and over again, habituates the brain to that one only thing. Neural pathways to this one aspect develop, and over time with repeated expression, the anger pathway becomes strongly entrenched. Soon there is no escaping, the pain may even go underground. It may become unconscious until something or someone like me, enters your world, triggering it out, all over again.

Thank you for being honest, for expressing your feelings, your anger and pain. Your words help clarify my thinking. I am grateful for that. I hope my column promotes discussion. I hope it opens up dialogue between us addicts and you. My column may not address your anger/pain but I hope it is a beginning for us addicts, to begin to hear how you all, on the other side, may be feeling towards addicts, like me.

– Questions for Ann? Send your submissions (anonymously, if you choose) to columns@pgcitizen.ca and we’ll pass them along.

PGSO SHOW APPEALS TO KIDS

According to sources deep inside PGSO’s command centre, the musicians set to blast off on their next mission are having so much fun they are spacing out in rehearsals. They have been mooning over the material they get to perform for the city’s kids.

This concert is the return voyage of the Starship PGSO. Last year, the musicians took the kids on a trip to the moon with Captain Klein, commander of the orchestra’s brass section. This year, they will be returning to Earth in Captain Klein’s Next Adventure.

“It was our most popular concert of that series,” said conductor Barbara Parker, the artistic director for the three-show children’s series. “This year, Captain Klein will have another, very different adventure. All this fun is, of course, directed at the children in our

community. But we have also found that sometimes the parents and grandparents appear to have at least as much fun as the kids during the performances.” These are dangerous space treks fraught with villains and phenomena that could suck the orchestra into a black hole or blast them into another dimension. Captain Klein and his crew stabilize the science and soothe the savage beasts with music. They use their wits and their instruments to complete the saga. Some familiar music from the outer limits will help set their course.

“The musical aspect of these productions is the most challenging,” said Parker. “It takes time to find a variety of musical selections that represent different styles and musical periods, but will

Continued on page 11

GENDER ROLES HARD TO GRASP

Change can be good, and is often needed to improve justice, but we need to be careful of unintended repercussions. As we work to improve the lives of transgender and intersex people, we need to have a broader imagination. As a child, being conservative Mennonite and all, I was taught a few role differences for men and women. Having babies and keeping house (usually) was for girls. Being a pastor and bringing home the bacon was (usually) for boys. One thing I was never told by my parents was that I should behave in a more feminine manner. My aunt tried to teach me feminine ways, but then she moved 7,000 kilometres away and thus was no longer much of an influence. As a result, I don’t know how to bat my eyes or look down demurely, nor do I step aside for a man approaching me on the sidewalk. I am protective, combative, frequently argue, find myself in disputes challenging authority and ask pointed questions. A hammer and nails, an oiling jug and bicycle chains, these are the things that kept me busy as a young girl. My favorite colours and patterns are bold, not soft and ruffled.

Barbie? Well, I didn’t cry when my brothers bit off her toes, I was angry. Dolls and babies? Well, let’s just say it cost me some critical thinking when 17-year-old me found myself marrying a man who loves babies. Sometimes it seems that my sole claim to any shred of “femininity” or female quality is low upper body strength, the contrary ability to bear children easily and my body’s ability to squeeze every bit of energy out of every single calorie I consume. So, if my little self was in school today, what would I be told about who I was? Would I be encouraged to explore my identity on a broad spectrum of acceptable female qualities? Would I be encouraged to identity as potentially male? Would I be told that since my interests lay in non-traditionally feminine stereotypes, I was possibly not a girl? Would

THINKING ALOUD

TRUDY KLASSEN

I be told that since I love to debate and usually prefer the male conversation in the room that I was likely male? Would the normally confusing adolescent years result in removing my ability to bear children because a well-meaning but ill-informed advocate helped me discover my male identity? Would my parents, trying to support me, and seeing my many male tendencies, agree?

The current clumsy handling of transgender advocacy and awareness is unfortunate. In efforts to create acceptance for gender diversity, we need to be careful to not give girls the message that their non-typical interests and strength are male characteristics. Girls should not ever feel the only solution for a strong, mechanically, minded girl, is to become a man. This would be an insidious form of misogyny.

Let’s not revert to narrow ideas of femininity, where strength, boldness, and a preference for Tonka toys over Barbie dolls, will once again be the domain of men and boys. Efforts to accommodate and teach about gender diversity need to be carefully, scientifically, taught, so that we don’t damage another generation with incomplete or unscientific ideas about gender. I may not be the one in charge of how this is taught in schools or people’s homes, but I do have a right to speak up; loudly, decisively, with authority and boldly, in order to protect the gains of feminism. I may not fit the typical female box, but I am a woman.

I want us all to see women as diverse and strong. Women and girls don’t need to be pigeon-holed back into neat and tidy boxes, just because we lack imagination in correcting historic wrongs.

Continued from page 10

keep children engaged. Then, each piece must be edited to an ideal time limit of a minute or two. The goal is to engage and expose, but we have to keep in mind the short attention span in the audience.”

This series of kinder concerts has become a popular attraction for the PGSO each year, with one concert focusing on percussion, one focusing on strings and woodwinds, and one focusing on the brass instruments. Each one has a storytelling structure built around it.

“We can’t wait to continue this series into the future and see where it takes all of us,” said Parker.

“The process has been fun, but also challenging. It is fun thinking like a kid again, and writing material that will make them laugh, entertain them, and educate them without it being obvi-

ous that they are being educated. I love creative projects, developing support characters and finding props to help with messages and story lines.” Captain Klein’s Next Adventure blasts off on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Prince George Playhouse. The musicians and the kids are all stars in this kinder event. Book passage on this musicianship by logging on to the Central Interior Tickets website.

TERRIBLE, THANKS FOR ASKING Podcast helps people work through grief.

MINNEAPOLIS — Tears spill down Nora McInerny’s face as she stares at the recording studio’s ceiling.

“That was when the doctors told her the cancer was going to kill her,” the interviewee is saying.

“Wow,” McInerny says, letting the word rest in the air. The pause stretches far beyond a comfortable one. McInerny has a pained look on her face, yet she appears every bit the polished modern woman: her blond hair is curled, her red lipstick is still in place and there is a scarf tied in a perfect knot around her neck. In another studio, she could be working on a show about the latest fashion trends or young women in the workplace.

Instead, she’s hosting a podcast about the horrors that face humanity: cancer, suicide, sexual abuse, mass shootings.

Welcome to Terrible, Thanks for Asking, the podcast about “the complicated nature of difficult experiences,” as McInerny says.

Each week, the podcast digs deep. It allows listeners to think about the pain we live through, how we face it, tackle it, collapse under its weight. It gives permission to grieve, to go on living, to be happy and sad simultaneously. It’s about everything that life can throw at us and the myriad ways in which we must reimagine our lives. As McInerny writes in her newest book, No Happy Endings: A Memoir, “death is not the only time we start over.”

And McInerny is an expert in the subject.

Terrible, Thanks for Asking and all that has come after was born out of McInerny’s own grief. She launched it in 2016, as a 33-year-old single mom, just two years after losing her first husband, Aaron Purmort, to brain cancer. Weeks before Aaron died, she also suffered a miscarriage and watched her father die. Aaron’s obituary, which they wrote together, went viral, and people began contacting McInerny. “So many people... were reaching out to me, a complete stranger, in the middle of the night to talk about the worst thing that ever happened to them, and it wasn’t because they were all friendless or familyless,” she remembers. “It was just because the people around them were afraid to talk to them or didn’t want to remind them of their tragedy.”

Episodes include guests such as a young man with cerebral palsy; a woman who almost died in a fire that killed her boyfriend; an emergency-room doctor who watched her husband die in the hospital where she works.

Each story is filled with almost-unspeakable pain. And yet, the podcast has been listened to more than 14 million times.

When Aaron was dying, the couple formed a nonprofit organization, Still Kickin, that gives no-strings-attached grants to people who are struggling. One recipient, a domestic violence survivor named Andi, recalls how the grant helped her move and support her family “during a very dark time.” This grant was “a bright light to me amidst so much darkness.”

Each week, the podcast digs deep. It allows listeners to think about the pain we live through, how we face it, tackle it, collapse under its weight. It gives permission to grieve, to go on living, to be happy and sad simultaneously.

After Aaron died, she started the Hot Young Widow’s Club, an online group, where thousands of young widows and widowers voice their struggles and triumphs. In those first months after Aaron’s death, she wrote the book It’s

Okay to Laugh: (Crying Is Cool Too) and started the podcast. No Happy Endings came out in late March. This spring, she is touring with Terrible, Thanks for Asking.

McInerny’s goal is not to sensationalize death and tragedy. “I know how it feels to just be somebody’s sad story. Nobody wants to be a sad story,” McInerny says. Instead, she aims to make a show that is about understanding the complex mix of joy and pain experienced by one person.

This means that if she’s doing a story, for example, about two law enforcement officers whose baby died of SIDS, she doesn’t spend weeks researching the various causes of infant death. Instead, she tries to understand an individual story. So McInerny lets the bereaved family talk with little interruption. The mother speaks through tears as she recalls seeing her husband the moment after tragedy hit. “All I could think of was hold it together,” she says, “because your husband just watched our son die.”

Her authenticity has brought some unexpected voices to her podcast, such as Nation Hahn, who was drawn to the podcast because he felt she could tell his story in a way that other media had not. His episode, which focuses on how he processed the murder of his wife while being simultaneously thrust into a media

YMCA Healthy Kids Day

M ay 5 • 11:00am-3:00pm CANADA GAMES PLAZA

Presented by:

spotlight, gave him a platform to tell his whole story.

“I admire (McInerny) for her tenacity and willingness to explore tough issues while building community,” Hahn says. “As someone who is still very much experiencing grief years later, ‘Terrible, Thanks for Asking’ offers a path forward, helpful advice, and reminds me that I am not alone in the face of this terrible loss.”

McInerny says her goal is to promote empathy instead of pity. So even though the topics she covers can be quite grim, the show itself is not. She laughs often while talking to guests and usually gets them to laugh, too.

“I don’t want the show to be a relentless bummer,” she says. Still, she believes in the importance of facing difficult subjects head-on. “We do a really good job, especially the U.S., of making sure we avoid everything uncomfortable,” McInerny says. But running from pain is impossible, because “it will catch you eventually. So you might as well be open to the experience and open to witnessing those experiences in other people because someday something terrible is going to happen to you or to someone you love. Actually, that’s a guarantee.”

Washington Post photo Nora McInerny hosts a podcast about “the complicated nature of difficult experiences.”

THE WASHINGTON POST

Home show

The Northern B.C. Home and Garden Show, presented by the Canadian Home Builders Association of Northern B.C., runs Friday through Sunday at the Kin Centres. Hours are 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults (13 and up), free for kids under 12 and $6 for seniors and students.

Studio 2880 show

Painter Darin Corbiere is the artist in the spotlight with his new exhibition at the Studio 2880 Feature Gallery. Entitled Seeing Things In A Different Light: Changing Perspectives, this special presentation of the Community Arts Council will run until May 9.

FanCon art duel

An art duel crosses paintbrushes at the official FanCon Pre Party at the Pine Centre Mall. Stop by on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to get a sneak peak of vendors, play games courtesy of Game Quest, have your face painted, get photos taken, and enjoy three rounds of a head-to-head art joust between local painters. The winner takes on celebrity superhero artist Andy Poon on the FanCon mainstage May 3-5.

Comedy fundraiser

Improv Schmimprov comes to Artspace on Saturday. It’s the first show of 2019 for the local improv comedy group, and this one is a fundraiser for the Learning Differences Centre. New theatre games, new comedy sketches, new jokes, and $20 at the door to raise money for children with learning difficulties.

Indigenous art gala

The annual Ying’hentzit First Nations Art Gala hosted by Carrier Sekani Family Services happens Saturday at the Uda Dune Baiyoh (House Of Ancestors). Celebrity musical host Murray Porter leads this night of sumptuous meal, art auction, and dancing. Local star painter Carla Joseph will do a live work of art for special auction. The featured artist among the many with works in the show is Trevor Angus, maker of Aboriginally themed jewelry. Tickets are $65 each or tables of eight for $500, available at Central Interior Tickets website. All proceeds to support arts and culture programs across numerous local First Nations.

PGSO concert

The children of the city have been looking forward to Captain Klein’s Next Adventure, the sequel to the first Captain Klein concert event last year presented by the Prince George Symphony Orchestra. The

COMING EVENTS

new tale, with its PGSO accompaniment, happens at the Playhouse on Saturday at 2 p.m. This show features the orchestra’s brass section, and it starts with Captain Klein on the moon making his way to earth, meeting interesting characters and having adventures along the way. Get tickets via the Central Interior Tickets website or at the door while supplies last.

Cantata gala

The Cantata Singers continue to celebrate their 50th anniversary. On Sunday is their gala concert led by musical director Neil Wolfe and accompanist Maureen Nielsen entitled Curve Of Gold. This show is at the Playhouse starting at 7 p.m. with special guests School District 57 Tapestry Singers and several local guest musicians. A special commemorative piece, Life Has Loveliness to Sell, was composed by the group’s former musical director Gerda Blok-Wilson, especially for the 50th anniversary. Tickets are available at Studio 2880 and at the door.

Library exhibit

The Federation of Canadian Artists has a members’ show on display at the Bob Harkins branch of the P.G. Public Library opening on May 1. This group exhibition by the Central Interior Chapter runs through the month of May.

6x6 art show

The Best Damn Little Art Show Ever is coming up May 3 from 7-9 p.m. at Groop Gallery downtown (1127 3rd Ave.). This is the annual 6x6 art show and auction, where the artists are a mix of brand new and well established and all creations limited to six inches in any direction. It is a fundraiser and a great way to showcase the local arts scene.

Tickets are $10 to attend, and participants are encouraged to bid, bid, bid. Advance tickets can be purchased at Studio 2880.

Ebbs on stage

A new musical duo has formed from a pair of well-know Prince George performers. The Ebbs is comprised of soloist William Kuklis and Trundled band member Joe Shea. The pair brings years of experience creating and performing music, and combine a range of instruments and vocal harmonies.

The Ebbs perform live at Trench Brewing & Distillery (399 2nd Ave) on May 3 from 8-10 p.m. Special musical guest Finn ScottNeff will also perform. There is no cover charge.

Symphony date night

The PGSO presents Spring Breezes, a

“date night” symphony show at the Ramada Hotel ballroom at 7:30 p.m. on May 3 featuring the orchestra’s professional core as they play selections of jazz, classical and pop all while enjoying snacks and beverages. Tickets available via the Central Interior Tickets website.

FanCon beams in

Northern FanCon is on. The city’s definitive pop-culture event takes over the CN Centre complex from May 3-5 with superstar guest Edward James Olmos, sci-fi star Amy Acker, original Hulk actor and strongman Lou Ferrigno, Hollywood favourite Alan Tudyk, and so many more from the world of acting, cosplay, film production, art, writing, and more. Tickets are on sale now at the Tickets North website or at the door.

Song geeks unite!

Award-winning local vocal ensemble Nove Voce is hosting a night of geeking out with song. The choir will perform May 4 (yes, as in, May The Fourth Be With You) as a complementary show to Northern FanCon happening the same weekend. The choir will be at the Prince George Playhouse at 8 p.m. to sing selections from video games, and sci-fi franchises, “all your favourites including Star Trek, World of Warcraft, Harry Potter and so much more,” said director Robin Norman. Tickets are $20 at Books & Company or the door.

Mayor’s ball

The Mayor’s Black & White Ball For The Arts happens May 4 at the Prince George Civic Centre, with cocktails at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7. Attire is formal with a black and white colour theme. Purchase your tickets at the Theatre Northwest website. All money raised is shared between Theatre NorthWest, the Prince George Symphony Orchestra and the Community Arts Council.

Uganda dinner

The 10th annual African Dinner happens May 4 at the Columbus Community Centre to raise funds for the Northern Uganda Development Foundation. Tickets to attend the dinner are available at Books & Company, at the UNBC Bookstore. Seats can also be purchased, or any form of support arranged by contacting Opio (250-961-9221 or chris@nudf.org) or fellow foundation member Andrea Byrne (andrea.nudf@gmail.com or 778-689-2160).

New moon

Kirtan Fusion with Danielea Castell is a New Moon Ceremony involving chant, singing, dance, and sound weaving on May

5 at 2 p.m. at the Zandra Ross Lifestyle Studio (575 Brunswick Street).

Kids play

Theatre Northwest hosts the children’s play Jack And The Bean on May 9 and 10. Written by Linda Carson, directed by Kim Selody (both former PG theatre professionals), this is an enthralling new spin on the old story of Jack And The Beanstalk. Showtime is 6 p.m. both nights (get tickets online at the TNW website). Perfect for ages 3-9, fun for any age.

Quilt show

On May 10 and 11, come see the biggest collection of quilts and quilt art of the year, presented by the Prince George Quilters’ Guild at their Fly Into Spring show and sale (this year the quilters will be demonstrating a kite theme). Tickets are $5. It includes vendors with quilting supplies, door prizes, raffles and more all at the Prince George Golf & Curling Club. Times are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

PGSO concert

Art Of The Dance is the final mainstage show of the season for the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, with a very special guest performer.

Enjoy Lehar’s Merry Widow Waltz, Brahm’s Hungarian Dances, Marquez’ Danzon No. 2, Smetana’s Three Dance Episodes from Bartered Bride, and Strauss’s On the Beautiful Blue Danube. Also joining us for this evening will be the winner of the 2018-2019 Integris Youth Concerto Competition. The show is May 11 at the Playhouse at 7:30 p.m. Get tickets via the Central Interior Tickets website.

Rap night

Omineca Arts Centre is the stage for A Night Of Rap & Rhymes on May 11 at 8 p.m. All welcome, tickets are sliding scale from $10-$20 at the door. Kids are welcome (licensed event). Bring your own poetry for the open mic component. Featured performers are telephone switches, The Brain Porter, theWETuntreatedCEDARshingle and GRIM.

Lake fundraiser

May 11 is the Save The Lake fundraiser at the Westwood Pub, all money raised goes to purchase a weed harvester for Tabor Lake. Burgers and auction. If you have a business and can donate or help please call David Mothus at 250-961-7664.

These kids are facing a decision to make about spending money. What would you do?

These ZING sneakers are super popular with the kids at my school. But they cost $69 a pair!

These generic sneakers cost $29. They’re not nearly as fancy as the ZING sneakers, though.

Which pair of sneakers should Kevin choose? Give at least three reasons to explain your choice.

Which is the best deal? The small can of fruit juice or the 64 ounce size?

A lot of young movie stars wear the jeans at left. They are $80. The generic ones in the middle are $30. And the used pair at right is $8 at the thrift store.

Which pair of jeans should Emma choose? Give at least two reasons for your choice.

3

Find four 4-digit numbers in the newspaper. Copy the numbers onto a

Find the words in the puzzle. How many of them can you find on this page?

With a BLUE crayon, circle the coins that add up to the amount shown on the top coin purse. Then, use a RED crayon to circle the coins that add up to the amount shown on the bottom coin purse. Have a family member check your work. You should have 5¢ left over if you circled the correct coins.

Make a list of free birthday gifts you could offer family members that wouldn’t cost you any money.

© 2019 by Vicki Whiting, Editor Jeff Schinkel, Graphics Vol. 35, No. 20

PUZZLE 1

PUZZLE

SPEECH ARTS FESTIVAL STARTS SATURDAY

The words will rattle and roar, whisper and wail in the spirit of constructive competition.

Each spring the Speech Arts and Drama Festival ushers in the warm weather with waves of odes and storms of sonnets. This is the 37th edition of the public speaking arts show, and spokesperson Grace Arnott said the event is on an upswing.

“There are some categories where growth was really noticeable,” said Arnott, one of the city’s speech arts coaches. “We had an increase in the number of adults this year, doing solo work or groups, and that’s really

exciting. If more adults can take part, that will really resonate within the community.

“We have definitely seen a growth in the participation of the schools,” she added. “I think we can credit Julie Fisher, she’s the arts coordinator for School District 57 and I know she has been trying to get teachers to get their classrooms involved, especially in the choral speaking categories. Her job is to encourage the arts where she can, and the word is out that our festival is alive, well and doing really well.”

The festival is structured to develop the personal skills of public speaking and literature appreciation at the same time. It presents itself as a competition

for reading and reciting works of poetry and prose, but floating under that surface fun are skills like personal confidence, strong communication abilities, and the charisma for bringing words and ideas to life.

One of the city’s best known actors on the Canadian stage and screen grew up participating in the Prince George Speech Arts and Drama Festival, and she is coming back this year as one of the adjudicators for the competition.

Alana Hawley-Purvis is a working actor (she was a regular actor in the famed Stratford Festival, co-star of the movie The Great Fear, plus many other credits) and she has been an instructor and adjudicator internationally, but

never lets Prince George fall from her attention.

Joining her as the other adjudicator at this year’s competition is Nitisha Rajoo, who also has global experience as an actor, director and educator in the oratory arts. She is on the board of directors for the Jessie Richardson Awards, advises on drama education practices in schools, and leads a creative teens’ program at The Arts Club Theatre in Vancouver.

The festival this year starts Saturday and runs to May 2. All sessions are scheduled for the Weldwood, Wintergarden and Canfor Theatres all at UNBC. Admission is by donation and program booklets are for sale for $8 each.

“The

The competitors are aged seven and older. Some are working towards attaining higher levels in the Royal Conservatory of Music’s speech arts program, while others are simply having some personal fun.

“There are more than 370 separate entries this year,” said Arnott. “This is one of the largest volunteer-run, professionally adjudicated Speech Arts and Drama Festivals in all of Canada.”

Some of the participants, depending on age and category, will go on to compete at the provincial level May 26-30 this year held in Chilliwack.